Holiday weekend is over!

Here are a couple of shots today I took for my next Photography Club meeting on Tuesday. I missed last month's meeting because of vacation. So I'm not really sure what this month's assignment was, except to photograph a person. Who better to photograph than Allie?

We had planned to head to the arboretum on Friday to shoot some "leaf" photos, but it was just too chilly for this whimp!

I realized today was my last opportunity before the meeting to really get a shot. I covered a board with wrapping paper (to use as the background) [I got this cool tip from Holly of Pink.Sugar.Pop]. I tried to make Allie's too long bangs gracefully cover her face. I sat her next to a window for optimal natural light. Then I put Clay holding white posterboard opposite the window to reflect light back onto the dark side of Allie's face. I took a couple pictures with a candy cane, but that just wasn't exciting me. So I made Allie a hot caramel apple cider and put it in a festive holiday cup. I told her to have fun drinking it and that a face full of whipped cream would be cute. She was plenty happy to oblige. Check out the results for yourself:





I had to convert the photos to black and white because Allie's pink camo pajamas clashed with the tan and red Christmas tree background. I can't wait until I can get some constructive criticism from the class. It's always helpful to hear other's suggestions.

Here are a couple of layouts I never got posted:



The above layout was created with mostly Daisy D's papers and embellishments. But there are a few other products thrown in there for good measure.

The below layouts were created with Doodlebug. I just couldn't stop working on these layouts. Finally I had to step away from the pen and call the layouts complete.





We went to the in-laws this weekend. Every year I make a digitally scrapped calendar for myself, my mother and my mother-in-law. The great news is that I've finished 7 out of the 12 layouts! It's always so much work creating these. I don't have any of the layouts on this computer, so I'll have to post pictures of those later. Like maybe after Christmas since my mom reads this blog.

Well off to finish dinner. Have a great week!

Did a little scrapping this weekend

and I did a little shopping too!

First here are my finished layouts for my December 8 layouts class at Captured Memories.







While there, I finally got to shop the Creative Cafe. I love the product. Danelle had such a great idea with this concept. I couldn't buy everything that I wanted because of pricing questions but that's probably not a bad thing since I spent plenty of money already. I'll hit the other items next time I go in.

Today I had 4 of my bunco buddies over for the afternoon to make cards. They were whipping out cards left and right and I finished a whopping "1" card while they were here.



Of course there was quite a bit of detail with this card.



It's my submission for CMK's Scenic Route Roxbury card contest this month.



Win or lose, I love it...even if it took me over 3 hours to complete!



There are a couple of tags, and a pocket for goodies.



Somebody will likely get it for Christmas...but it just might have to be Clay if I can't part with it!

So I finished this card and Allie did 16! And they are quite cute. I sure which I could work at her pace.


And she even had sayings/sentiments in many of them. Aren't the cotton ball snowmen cute in the back. But both of our favorite is the one in the front row on the left with the fireplace and the stockings.

Well off for dinner and maybe even clean up this mess a bit.

Natural Beauty

I created this layout for CMK's December Guest Designer opening. I was their guest designer last December so I had to wait a whole year before applying again.



I don't think I have EVER spent so long on a single layout. And it is without a doubt the heaviest layout I have ever created. I knew early on in the design process that this would be something I would want to hang on the wall so I didn't worry about the weight or "going outside the lines". I plan to paint up a canvas or maybe put it in an old window frame and hang this up somewhere in my living room. The colors would be perfect. I really want to make the giant heart into a pillow. Wouldn't that be beautiful? I really think I'm going to make me a giant felt pillow to put on my old church pew.

Here's a little close up of some of the detail:



Here is the challenge:

Construct a layout around things you are thankful for. You must use warm tones, you must use felt, you must use ledger paper, there must be a heart, must use at least 2 photos and there must be journaling.

So I think I have all the bases covered. Hope you all can spot the heart! You may have to look closely but there are 2 photos. I converted these photos to sepia, printed on transfer paper, cut to a heart shape, and ironed on to a muslin. I think I sewed on this layout forever. Lots of hand sewing and quite a bit of machine stitching as well. Isn't that ric rac cute? It is so tiny and fun to sew on the layout. And to top it off, I used Daisy D's product on this. So now I'm gonna throw myself in the hat for their DT search.

Call me a lucky gal!

Because I just got this paper storage display:



I'm in love, and maybe in a little bit of trouble from my husband who has banned me for putting another piece of furniture in the house (I'm also working on getting the accompanying shelf to go with it). I've got almost all my paper in here and organized and labeled with the contents. But shhh....I've got too much paper and now that it's on display my husband will notice that to, so my mom and my sister are on the way over to my house right now to relieve me of some of it. So nice of them to help me out on this. But oh my....I've made a total mess of my scrappy area while trying to organize (how does that happen). So I guess I'll be doing a little clean up while the "shoppers" are here.