You Are Me

As Bennet grows and changes I am seeing more and more of myself in her. I wanted take the time to do a layout that documented some similarities that I'm seeing between Bennet and me. I really wanted to write the letter by hand, but I got too wordy :)

This layout was inspired by an ad for a challenge at the ScrapFreak Leap into Scrapping Crop. The crop is open through Wed. so there is still time to play!

Bennet at 6

Took all the things Bennet loves at age 6. Everything from Mo Willems and strawberries to Bruno Mars "Runaway Baby" and Stoli Kitty.  I was inspired by this layout at Pencil Lines by Cathy Brancieq http://scrappingangelsuk.typepad.com...ba87d7e970d-pi

On a side note- I can't get enough of the little Lily Bee alphabet stickers. I just love em!

The good, the bad, the crying

Contrary to what the photos on these two layouts show I really am a caring, sympathetic mother. However, when the camera is ready to snap a photo I snap the photo. The good, the bad, the crying.

Last Easter Bennet got her head stuck in the wrought iron fence at G&G Sweeney's. Not surprised. I wanted to create the look of a fence/jail so I took a bunch of thin paper strips and stitched a black box around the photos. (The Unpleasant Side of Life Challenge at Inspired to Scrap)

 Then there is Scout. She is a superhero tomboy who doesn't mind creepy crawlies so I was really surprised to see this reaction. Pure terror. Of course now she sees this photo and wants to show it off. Crazy girl. On a side note- the orange chipboard letters I used for the title have been in my stash for at least 4 years. LOVE using up product!! (Freaky Friday Poster Inspiration challenge at ScrapFreak)

2 Wheeler

Finally getting around to posting this layout. I took the journaling directly from this blog post.  We had some warmer weather a couple of weeks ago and she was begging to ride her bike. Soon Bennet- soon!

Valentine's Day Cuties

I was inspired by this Valentine and made some for Bennet and Scout to hand out to classmates. As Bennet wrote out all her classmates names on her cards I was instantly transported back to my childhood. Wasn't that the best part of Valentine's day? Well that and the candy!

And look at Scout's face. The kid cracks me up. Today on the way to school she said, "Mom- I have lots of funny phrases and funny faces!" Sure do!

I made the shirts and skirts. I wonder if I can hammer out a skirt for Ellie for tomorrow.

Love Love Love

I was asked to contribute to the Valentines Crop happening at Piece of Scrap. (http://www.pieceofscrap.org/) I took the opportunity to make something lovely for our walls.

I love red. I love handstitching. I love paper scraps and I love grids! I took all my favorites and made a simple Valentines wall art piece.

Supplies:
8 x 10 frame (I found mine at Kohl's for $7.00)
Various colors of floss
8 x 10 background paper
Patterned Paper scraps
Alphabet stickers
Buttons, brads, miscellaneous embellies
Pencil
Ruler
Heart template (I used a punch and used it as a stencil. A chipboard heart would work great too!)


How To:
1. To make the grid I found the middle of the page (5 inches down and 4 inches in)
2. From there I measured out and made boxes that were 1.75 x 1.75
3. Stenciled my heart template in pencil and stiched with floss.
4. Machine stitched my white grid lines (optional- you could simply erase them or go over them in a black pen)
5. Added my patterned paper squares.
6. Found 3 red alphabets for Love love love!
7. Ready to frame! I took the glass out and put it behind the paper for support.
8. Already thinking of making a St. Patricks Day one with shamrocks!

Pause

I said I was going through a stipping phase right? I created this photoless layout for my Book of Me. I took the journaling directly from my blog post last week.http://nkbsweeney.blogspot.com/2012/01/happy-tears.html

Rosy

I am going through a stripping phase. A paper stripping phase that is. I love taking little strips of my pretty patterned paper and using up every scrap. I found this layout on my friend Monica's Pinterest wall and ran with it.

I pulled the red and green from my coat and Scout's hat. I wanted to keep the focus on the photo so I made that entire section shades of blue. Photo from 2011 Winter Break at the cabin.

Sleep Walker

I made this layout as a class sample for the just-wrapped sketch class at Inspired to Scrap.

I love Now & Then layouts. Each year we walk with the YWCA in the United Way Kick-Off Parade and every year Ellie falls asleep. The photo on the left is from Sept. 2010 (8 months) and the right is from Sept. 2011 (20 months).  

10 Things on Thursday

1. A couple of weekends ago Bennet went MN to spend time with my Mom and Dad. And to see the Lion King at the Orpheum with my Mom. A very special 6th birthday present. She hasn't stopped singing Hakuna Matata since she came home. She was blown away!
2. Nick started teaching at UW-Stevens Point last week. Monday and Wednesday mornings will be early for all!
3. We recently rented "What's your Number?" with Anna Faris and Chris Evans. Perfectly predictible
rom-com but we liked it.
4. I finished this book a couple weeks ago. It started strong and then became a little too predictable.

5. I finished this book last week. It started a bit slow but by the middle I was sucked in. It was on all the  Best Books of 2011 lists. An overall good read.

6. Conversation with Scout in the car after school. Me "So what did you have for lunch today? Scout "Oh Mom- it was a-licious (delicious). It was biscuits with a-licious gravy on the top. You really should try it!" The girl LOVES gravy!
7. Two years ago today was my due date with Ellie. We had her 2 year old check up yesterday. She is topping the charts at 36" tall and nearly 33 pounds.
8. I'm hoping to get some Valentines Day projects done this weekend. In between loads of laundry!
9. The Walking Dead comes back in less than 2 weeks!
10. Bennet really wants to go ice skating. We'll see if we can squeeze that in this weekend as well.

Same Day Birthday

It's no secret that my favorite color is red. And I love using a splash of buttery yellow with it. In fact, my kirchen is red and yellow. Perhaps that is why I like this layout so much. I usually use kraft, white or a simple pattern as my background but challenged myself to use this Bazzill Swiss Dot red that had been in my stash awhile.

I created this layout as a sample for the latest Inspired to Scrap class. Bennet shares her birthday (12/21)with her Great Grandpa and my cousin. I used the banner flags along the bottom to show their ages.  This photo was taken in November 2011.

TITLE: Same Day Birthday

Journaling: Three generations all born on December 21.

Supplies: Bazzill cardstock, Echo Park paper, Pink Paislee paper, Lily Bee Designs alpha, Basic Grey alpha, Echo Park alpha, Maya Road mist, Twinery twine.