Spring into Banners

Hi everyone!  Hope your Monday is off to a great start...mine is obviously a little slow.  lol  Today I wanted to share with you a banner I made for Clear Scraps using  the Small Pennant Banner and some beautiful Echo Park Victoria Gardens papers that have been in my stash.

 I love the mix of papers here with some odds and ends on my desk....And look at those beautiful dragonfly mirror embellishments that are now available from Clear Scraps as well.  Swoon....

For now this banner is hanging, but I think I may add a few photos on the backsides of the banner...after all, because of the clear acrylic I already have paper covering it, and turn it into a fun little mini

Hugs.

Clear Scraps and Echo Park = Mini Album

Hi everyone!  Today I want to share with you a fun mini album I created using the Sassy Mixable 8x8 album from Clear Scraps and the gorgeous new Echo Park Collection, Simple Life.

I filled the Sassy Mini Album with the wonderfully fun and bright Echo Park papers and bits of flowers and lace.  The beautiful acrylic pages allow the fun embellishments from the collection and papers to peek through the other pages, while the shaped chipboard helps break things up for a more cohesive look.  I really like how the Echo Park Collection kits come with all kinds of fun embellishments and cards to decorate your projects to make them special.

Be sure to check out all the fun shaped mini albums and other products at Clear Scraps.

Hugs

Sisters Scrapbooking

Happy Monday!  I hope you are off to a great start this week.  It is set to be a hot one here.  Sigh

Anyway, today I wanted to share with you a quick layout I made using some older Echo Park papers.  I really am determined to cut through some of that stash.  lol

Another photo of my girls together.  It really makes my heart sing, and I am ever so grateful for the love my children have for one another.  They honestly are each others best friends and enjoy spending time together.  Keeping it simple and just trying to get things done.  A bit of Rock Candy Distress Paint on the card stock for texture and some lightly distressed papers.  I really wanted to highlight the photo.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs.

What a Banana - The Sampler

Hi everyone! Today I want to share with you a project I made using the fabulous Royal Birthday Wishes  August kit from the Sampler.

 Loving the fun colors and cute stickers in this month's kit.

 The bold, graphic designs are so fun.

And went so well with Brighton dancing in his banana costume.  For our cabana champs swim meet we always have a spirit relay and this year our graduates had decided to dress as their school mascots to participate.  Of course, with Brighton going off to the University of California Santa Cruz, being a banana slug....a banana suit was just perfect.  lol

Be sure and grab your kit before they are all gone.

Hugs.

Nancy

Sun Day

Hi everyone!  Today I want to share a layout of the girls playing on the beach.  So many times, here in Northern California we are rewarded with cold, foggy beach days.  This year however the days we have gone have been incredible, warm and full of sunshine.

 

It seems lately that most of my time is spent doing DT work, it is kinda nice to make a project just for me.  And, it is nice to work through some of my stash.  This time some older Echo Park papers and stickers as well as some super cute Studio Calico canvas pieces I bought forever ago.  

Of course, I couldn't resist adding in a little flower from Hydrangea Hippo.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Hugs.

Nancy

Miracles Momma Monday - Easter Layout

Hi everyone!  I hope you had a great weekend.  Mine....busy.  I can't believe Mackenzie is 15!  And, I actually convinced her this year to have a party!  Yesterday my house was filled with teenagers listening to music, playing video games, hanging in the hammock and of course eating everything they could find!  lol  Actually, we did BBQ...but they do eat quite a bit.  lol

OK, well enough about Mackenzie's party....how about a bit of scrappy goodness.  Today Heather has a fabulous sketch up on her blog and you know I had to play along.

Here is the sketch....

And here is my take....

Ainsley dying Easter eggs just a few weeks ago.  She had selected a golden egg decorating kit...which turned out not to be dye for the eggs...but paint.  While they looked quite lovely, it really wasn't the same as dunking in the cups.

I used the new Echo Park Sisters mini theme kit, some lovely Studio Calico ephemera, a couple of Maya Road stick pins, and some gorgeous Thickers....lastly, I used some of the washi tape I have been hoarding.  Not sure why I am hoarding it...I love the colors, the patterns, I just haven't really figured out a good way to use it?

Anyway, I hope you have a great day!  For us...back to school and planning Brighton's Graduation Party.

Hugs

Nancy

Merry Page Drafts

Hi everyone!  I am just thrilled to share with you a little secret.  As you probably know, I love the sketches over at Page Drafts and have played along a few times.  I was just thrilled when Em asked me to help out with her Christmas Cheer release!  You have got to go over there and take a look at all the talented ladies work...I feel like such a slouch.  sigh

Anyway...there are seven gorgeous sketches to work with, and I am not teasing when I say the talent over there is crazy.

For now tho....here are mine.

Each layout features one of the five Christmas trees we set up this year.  This first project is the big tree in the living room...not the prettiest tree ever, and that is a story unto itself, but it is 12 feet tall and nearly impossible to get a photo of.  This multi photo sketch offered the opportunity to highlight bits and pieces of the tree.

 And here is a smaller tree, this one in my office.  It features lots of penguins.  I think penguins are ever so cute, and the fact that our summer swim team is the penguins...well......

So that's it for me today....I also have posts up over at Hydrangea Hippo and the Sampler today that I will be back to show you soon.

Hugs.

Nancy

5 Reasons - The Sampler

Hi everyone!  Today I wanted to share with you a project I made with this month's kit from the Sampler, Warm.  This is of course Mackenzie, hanging out at a swim meet.  I have had this photo on my desk for a while and thought it would be fun to scrap it with the reasons she swims.  She came up with all the things that would make me hate it...and then informed me it is a swim thing.  I guess that is code for teenager?  Anyway.....  I used a sketch from Creative Scrappers, #225.

I am loving the "do it yourself" Thickers that came in the kit.  Not only are there a ton of alphas, but there are numbers and symbols as well.  And of course I am having fun playing with the sequins, gorgeous Eclectic by Echo Park papers, and October Afternoon chipboard.

Don't forget about the card and sketch challenges that will be closing soon.  You don't need to have a kit to play, and there is a good chance you could win a prize!

Hugs.

Nancy

Astronomy

Hi everyone!  Hope you are having a great day!!!  Me...getting ready for the transit of Venus.  I have always been interested in astronomical events and these last few weeks haven't disappointed.  First the Solar Eclipse, and today the transit.  In just a few hours I will lug my huge ole telescope out to the yard so that we can watch.  And yes, I have a solar filter...I will not (and you shouldn't either) ruin my eyes looking at the sun.

A few weeks ago we watched the solar eclipse and I had to of course take photos...which meant this....

 goodness...who knew that taking photos thru the eyepiece of a telescope would be so difficult.  lol

Mackenzie of course refused to let me take any photos of her...sigh.  Hopefully today!

I used some old miscellaneous Fancy Pants papers to complete this layout, along with some brads from Echo Park left over from my Sampler kit.

Well, back to work for me.

hugs.

Nancy

If I Knew You Were Coming - The Sampler

Hi everyone!  As I mentioned yesterday I have tons of new projects to share.  Gotta love a weekend away when there is lots of time to crop.

Today I am sharing a project I made with this months kit from the Sampler, Two Scoops.  As usual, Holly has come up with a great mix of colors and textures for us to play with, and when I saw the sketch from Lisa Dickinson I knew I this would work perfectly.

Ainsley was so proud to make her first cake from scratch all by herself.  Quite the budding little chef.

And I just love all the beautiful colors and textures in the Sampler kit.

Super cute little wood buttons from Prima Marketing.

And fun brads from Echo Park.

This months kit is just packed full of fun.  So be sure to pop in and pick up your Sampler kit soon.  And don't forget there is still time to play along with us at the sketch and card challenges as well.  You can find them here.

Well, back to work for me.

Hugs.

Nancy

Hooray for Friday

I am so glad it is Friday...words can not begin to express how glad I am that tomorrow is Saturday and I can relax and sleep in....and SCRAP!  lol

Lucky for me, last weekend I had plenty of time to do that and so I have things to show you this week.  lol

First off we have Mackenzie baking cookies.  I used a sketch from Sketchabilities and my Echo Park Holly Jolly papers.  And a bit of splattered mist in the background.  This time Mr. Huey in Heirloom Blue.

I have been having so much fun lately mixing and matching my alphabets.  I love that so many collections are coming with different sizes and types of alphas...just wish they weren't flat stickers.  I still love a bit of dimension.

And here is Ainsley in her elf socks.  They are so cute with the fur cuff.  More Echo Park papers here mixed with a few leftovers from my Sampler kit from December.  Chevrons are supposed to be big this year, so I couldn't resist cutting them out of my paper.

And here are more mix and match alphabets.  This time mixed with some corrugated alphas from Jillybean Soup.

Well, while I have a few free minutes left of my nieces nap, I guess I should try and get something done.

Hugs.

Nancy

Something is Wrong

So, the other afternoon, I was sitting at my scrap table, finishing up these two projects.  Such a lovely day.  Ainsley was singing Christmas Carols at the top of her lungs.  So, what was wrong?

Echo Park Apothecary, Pink Paislee alphabet, The Twinery twine.

Thank goodness these Halloween photos are just about done!  At the rate I am moving I should be getting around to my Christmas photos somewhere around July 4th!  lol.  Thanks to Scraptastic for the super fun papers.  Back to work.

Hugs.

Nancy

Sassy Cards

Hello Everyone!  Well, the Sassy send of is still going with more sketches still coming.  Today I made two cards using this weeks sketches.

 Here I turned the sketch on its side...mixing it up and all!

Echo Park patterned paper, Imaginisce chipboard, Prima flower, Daisy D's Ribon, Vintage image  vintageholidaycrafts.com

And here is my other....

Echo Park patterned paper, alphas, Daisy D's ribbon, Prima flowers, Vintage Image vintageholidaycrafts.com

I used Ranger crackle accents on the vintage images to add more deth.  I am very pleased with how they turned out.  I am really going to miss Cherie's sketches.  She makes card making so easy!

Be sure and pop over to the Sassy Lil' Sketches blog for your chance to win one of 8 ebooks and snag a few more sketches for your portfolio.

Hugs.

Nancy

This Summer

I have been really lax this summer about blogging.  It isn't that I haven't been scrapping, or that I don't still love you all, it is just that finding the time to sit down and type is difficult some days.  I am hoping with school getting ready to start that I will get back in the habit soon.  Anywho....

I found this layout I did of Brighton that I hadn't shared yet.  I am not sure that I just love the way the title came out, but since I struggle with boy pages I am calling it done.  Sorry for the bad photo...don't know what happened there.  hee hee

Echo Park Everything.  hee hee

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs.

Nancy

buddies

Hi everyone.  I hope you are having a great day wherever you are.  I wanted to just drop in today to share a layout I made of Ainsley and one of her little buddies at the pool.  Ainsley, being the baby of the family, always tries to find younger children to baby so she can be the big girl.  Fortunately, there is never a shortage in our neighborhood.

Echo Park Patterned Papers, Prima Marketing flowers, alphabet, bling, Melissa Frances resin, Bic Mark-its.

I decided to use some of my new Echo Park Victoria Garden collection as well as a few Prima flowers, bits of bling and alphabet.  I couldn't resist throwing in a doily and a Melissa Frances resin piece.  I even took the time to hand color the resin to make it match using my Bic Mark-its.

Well, back to the grind.

Hugs.

Nancy

Friday

It is still crazy busy around here.  Lots going on with cabana season rapidly approaching, testing, school.  Ainsley is doing a bit better getting her work done.  But it is hard going and she just flat out refuses some days.  How do teachers do it?  Dang...how did I do it with the other two.  It isn't like I have never schooled a 9 year old before...heck, I have been doing this for 9 years....

Anyway, on to bigger...better and brighter.  A few new projects with Echo Park papers.

This first one is using the For the Record papers that are available at Catch the Moments kits.  I really loved the colors and patterns in this collection.  They are a little less geometric than other collections I have played with and even have a bit of distressing.  Right now you can get this kit for only $12.95!  What a great price.

I have had this photo of Ainsley and some swim friends on my desk since last summer.  It was taken at the cabana club the night of the overnighter.  Not sure if I should have pulled it out afterall as thinking of the overnighter...staying up all night chaperoning, dealing with...well...100+ children all night and then cleaning up the mess...... But such a cute photo and the new Playground papers were perfect.  I mixed in some Ruby Rocket chipboard, my favorite Thickers, a felt from Basic Grey. That blue flower???? it was made from a doodlebug paper frill.    This was one of my sample pages over on Ideas for Scrapbookers for layouts with no squares or rectangles.

Well, lots to do this weekend.  Fun stuff.  I can't believe it, but Phil and I are going out, the two of us...on a date...with another couple we know.  This will be the second time this week we have gone on a date!  We went to a friends vintage release dinner Wednesday and now this tomorrow.  Amazing huh.  lol  And I have tickets to tonights ballet.  Woo hoo!!!!  Adult stuff.  hee hee

For now though...back to the children and the housework.

Hugs.

Nancy

Fun Friday!

Hooray for Fridays!  And this one is extra special because I am headed out to a scrap book class at my lss.  I can't even remember the last time I took a class at the store.  The last time I took any class what at CHA over a year ago.  And this class is taught by Marion Smith, whose work I love and adore!  I am totally excited.

Of course, before I head out, I wanted to share a few projects with you...and also show you a kit I just got from Catch the Moments.  I hope to play with it this weekend.

Isn't this kit adorable?  This is the Bouquet Kit from Catch the Moments Kits.  And it is just gorgeous.   You know I had to get the kit with all the add ons.  hee hee 

And here are a few layouts I have been working on.  Ainsley, when she was 3, playing dress up.  We have her as Harry Potter and a magician.  You wouldn't believe the box of dress up clothes my children had. 

Echo Park- Walk in the Park patterned papers and stickers, American Crafts rosette and alphabet.

And here is Ainsley, learning to sew.  She really enjoys using the machine and is getting quite good at it.  

My Minds Eye-Quite Contrary patterned papers, Cosmo Cricket - Material Girl cut outs, Prima flowers, American Crafts Alphabet

Well, off to the ballet, and then my class.  Hope you have a great weekend.

Hugs.

Nancy

Hooray for Friday!!!

Yep, it is Friday and I should have some time to play this weekend...and I should be getting a box of yummy Prima goodies today!  So, who cares that it is cold (mid 50s) and raining.  I will lose myself in the beauty of my new goodies!  lol

Speaking of new goodies...Did you see this over at Catch the Moments Kits?  Love!  Can't wait to get my hands on it.

And I guess some other people are with me because Devon said she has already sold quite a few.  If you love this as much as I do, you may want to hop right over and take a peek.  Filled with yummy Stella and Rose papers and goodies from American Crafts.  There are even Prima flowers in the add ons (which you know I had to have).

So, with lots of Prima and kits and yummies on their way I am a most happy girl.  You know what else makes me happy?

These....

I made this layout with the last of my big sheets of my Scraptastic Boys Will be Boys Kit.  And yep, not a boy in sight on this one.  lol  Why should boys have all the fun with these fun bright patterns?  They were perfect for Ainsley and her chocolate covered strawberries.

Echo Park Patterned papers, prima and Maya Road flowers, American Crafts and Pink Paislee alphas, Webster's Pages Eyelet trim.

Here I mixed a bit more Echo Park paper, this time from Wintertime, with some Bo Bunny.  Mackenzie was having such a good time on the tubing hill.

Echo Park patterned paper, Bo Bunny die cut paper and embellishments.  Making Memories alpha

Well, there is a have finished project on my desk (Your Memories Here) and the children need help with their work.  I need more coffee...and with this cold and rain, I see chicken noodle soup in my future.

Until then....

Hugs.

Nancy

This Weekend was.....

Scraptastic!!!!

I was so lucky to have Jessica invite me to GDT for her fun club Scraptastic.  And I was thrilled to receive the Echo Park Little Boy line to play with.  While my boy is no longer little, I just love the playful patterns and bright primary colors.  The kit came with everything you could want...cardstock, patterned papers and fun embellishments.

The kit came super fast, just in time for me to throw it in my bag and head to a crop over at Our Paper Place!  I got to spend my night chatting with both old and new friends while playing with paper.  What could possibly be better than that?

This first project features photos from a few years ago when we went to Fort Collins for vacation to see Phil's family.  We took the children to a local farm where they were able to play on the farm equipment and pet animals.  They have grown up so much since then.  sigh  Now I can't get them to go to the farm.  Really it is all I can do some days to get them out from their video games.  lol

Did I mention, that we got to Colorado by train?  For some reason, we got it into our heads that travelling by train would be quite an adventure...and it was.  Who knew that train travel was so much fun, so relaxing....as long as you didn't need to get anywhere quick.  hee hee...Really tho...it was very nice.  They had a fabulous restaurant with great food and service, beautiful scenery, movies at night...what more could you ask for?  Well, trains that ran on time would be nice.  lol  We plan to do another train trip some day.  It really was that much fun.  Think next time it will be the Pacific Coast Starlight.

And finally, here is Brighton just a few months ago.  Can you tell how much he enjoys my taking his photo?

And, I still have quite a few goodies to play with later so you may be seeing more of these fun colors soon.

Well, gotta run.  I will be back tomorrow with some fun projects for Your Memories Here and Ideas for Scrapbookers.

Hugs.

Nancy