Whoa.... Wednesday!

 Happy Wednesday everyone!  We're into week five at school and I'm slowly getting my life "organized" and establishing MY routine!  CSI is keeping us hopping this month with their collaboration with Once Upon a Sketch.  I didn't have my layout finished in time for the reveal last Friday, but there's still time to play along with the current challenge!! 

My evidence includes:
tree/branches - TH Holly Branch die and some old faux wood fence Paper Studio papers
birds - I used my MS bird punch and some really old Colorbok Transparencies
flowers - I created my flowers with a mini heart punch and scored them down the center.  I then adhered the hearts to a piece of scrap paper and built up my flower.
newsprint pattern - Pleated Bazzil border cut in half
border - I layered MME Andrea Victoria papers, Golden Damask and back of Stripes after punching w/ two of my favorite EK Success punches. 
misting - I misted my TA Mists on my G45 paper hearts to bump down the brightness
woodgrain - the faux wood fence Paper Studio papers and a tag made from Creative Imaginations wood paper.

My journaling is in the form of a "newspaper article", 
Day At the Zoo
by:  Mom  October 2004
Today, Mom took Erin & Sarah to the Ft. Worth Zoo.
There the family enjoyed viewing gorillas, tigers, bears
and lions...

My second tag documented the "Daily Routine" we had developed since moving to Texas.   And both of these tags are tucked up and behind the picture of Sarah. 

If you're looking for some color ideas, or some product prompts or need a sketch to jump start your creativity, now's the time to head over to CSI and play along.  We have two fabulous sponsors and there's still an opportunity to throw your hat in the ring!

Not in the mood to scrap this week but still want a chance to win some Blog Candy??  Well here's your chance.  Head over to Cat's Blog.  Hop thru the blogs being shared.. be sure to leave comments at EACH blog as well as AT Cat's Blog... one random kitty can win some fabulous Blog Candy!!  And you'll see some wonderful creations by some great women.  You might even be inspired to join along there too!!  :D  Come on... here kitty kitty kitty....

Always

Playing again over at Colorful Creations.  I'm finding it's a fun site to find ways to use your scraps and stir up the creative juices. This time I did the June sketch challenge.  However, I was also inspired very much by their DT member Andrew's word challenge.  His inspiration word was SWEET.   

I began to dig thru my scraps and stash.  I had some papers lefter over from another challenge we did at CSI, they were MME Follow Your Heart and Lush collections and Pink Paislee's Botanical Collection.  I'm loving the Pink Paislee collection soooo much.  And again, I'm a self admitting "non-pink" type of person.  But to find a reason to use these papers, make me very happy!

I loved the chippies by MME, because for what ever reason, I can't grasp the banner concept.  BUT they have a pre-made chippie in their collection  NO BRAINER.  And I did a little Prima too...  Again, not my usual style but kinda dug it! 

What I DO love creating are tags and I've had LOADS of inspiration again from Andrew at CC.  This tag I created was some canvas scrap adhered to a #8 tag,  I spritzed it with Tattered Angels Mists, rubber stamped my image with Staz-On and colored it in with my Faber-Castell water color pencils.  A little touch of Stickles and I was very happy.   I tucked this tag under one of my paper blocks, so I can enjoy the layout.

This layout is based on my SWEET dd Erin.  We took a trip to Hannibal, Missouri last year and had a wonderful time.  I so enjoy looking back on the photo's.  I caught Erin unaware in the is photo.  It was late afternoon and we'd finished our riverboat tour.  So, we were just lalla-gaging about.  

Thespian

I stepped out of my box.  I did another challenge over at a site called Colorful Creations, I've been absent for so long, I actually wondered if I still had a membership there!  But thank goodness it's still valid, because my gf Kristie Taylor, is on the DT over there and she has a great recipe challenge up for this month.
I won't reveal too many details, go on over and check it out for yourself!  Play along if you can, this was fun..
I think the biggest challenge for me was the chipboard.  None of my chipboard matched the colors of my layout, so I had to cover it all in patterned paper.  So lots of cutting, sanding and finessing these little buggars.  The first chipboard is the frame around Miss Madison and Taylor, the second is the flourish on the lower left, it's by Pebbles - Chips and the last is the flower in the lower right by Pebbles.

The rest just fell into place after that.  Thanks again Kristie for the inspiration and the giving me something new to "chew on"... Here are a few more pics for you.

These are pictures from the Thespian Banquet.  My son was inducted that night and received his letter for drama as well.  His date Madison also received recognition One Act Play, received her letter amongst other achievements that night.  The kids were encouraged to dress as silver screen actors, Madison chose Lauren Bacall and Taylor chose Humphrey Bogart.  Loved their choices!!    Thanks for viewing and browsing around! :D

 

Senior

Oh I'm so over due for some scrap time!  But it's Taylor time right now.  My dear son is graduating, thus so many layout featuring him lately.  Bittersweet I'm telling you!!
This week over at CSI, Case File #20 was full of some wonderful challenges!  For me I actually struggle with reds.  And my usual philosophy is to embrace my unliked color and RUN!  But I love greens and brown way to much and since time is the essence for me, I took the "easy" way out.  I kept things simple and even tucked my journaling under the photo to preserve "space".

My journaling is very straight forward this time.
"Taylor ~
Know this and keep these present in your thoughts..
1. You are loved so much.
2. We will NEVER stop loving you, no matter what
3. There is ALWAYS a solution to every problem.  It just depends on how hard you search for the soluction
4. Video games are a source of entertainment and escape.  Not a lifestyle or considered a means to an end."

My evidence for this challenge are:
Spirals -  I attempted the journaling in a spiral and found I suck at it.  So, instead I took twine and created spirals on double sided tape. 
Dots - I used several patterned papers.  red & yellow MME "From the Bright Side" line & an English brand I won like three years ago (it's the dark green circle)  it matched so well!
Insects - Not very sure if they're an insect but I used cut outs from G45 with the moths, and fussy cut from some Pink Paisley.
Stitching - I attempted some machine stitching down the right side of my page...not sure if you can see it.. but it's there.
Kraft background - I used TIM HOLTZ resist kraft!!  LOVE it...
Felt Accent - I had one random piece of vine felt left from another project, perfect!  Slapped it on and called it good
Retro - My old junk, gears, gadgets.. junk on my desk.   Taylor has an old soul and doesn't even know he's "retro" but he is.

That's about all for now... off to the next project and to tackle that mile long "To do" List.  Next week is the Baccalaureate and then the Graduation.  Family and friends.  Then we head to Austin for Solo State Finalist Competition!!!  So many photo ops and so many I need to catch up on!!