Scraplifting Myself

A couple weekends ago I vowed to create at least one layout. During naptime I was able to get 3 layouts 80% done. The trick? I only used my scraps and I lifted myself.

Original Layout (Sept 2011):

New spin on it:

Original (November 2011):

New spin on it:

He's our Sweetheart

I'm challenging myself to make at least 10 layouts ONLY using scraps that are on my desk.

Layout #5
TITLE: Sweet Heart
I can't stop making bow ties for him. He's just too cute!

Depleting the Scrap Pile

I'm challenging myself to make at least 10 layouts ONLY using scraps that are on my desk. I am having so much fun with it. 

The photo for this layout has been on my to-do list for close to 2 years. Why? Because I love the image so much that I wanted to find the perfect paper, blah blah blah. With my current challenge of only using what is in my scrap paper pile that wasn't an option. And guess what? It came together in under 45 minutes. Go me! 

Layout #4
Title: The Walking Dead
Photo of Bennet as a Zombie School Girl (All her idea) from Halloween 2011. 

Why yes. . . I do still scrapbook

To answer a question that no one other than me may be asking, YES. I do still scrapbook. I recently did a deep clean/organization of my studio and organized all my scraps. I'm challenging myself to make at least 10 layouts ONLY using scraps that are on my desk. It's liberating! And I am scrapping super quick- no going back and forth about which product to use. LOVE IT!

Without any further ado

Layout #1 
One of Scout's favorite things of 2012 was her date with Dad to see The Avengers. Inspired by this layout. 

Layout #2

Layout #3

More to come! 

Look at You

A couple weekends ago I snuck away to my friend Casie's house for some much needed CREATIVE time. My friends Jess and Kim joined the fun as well. I was able to complete 4 pages- one for each child. Here is the first boy page I ever created. 

TITLE: Look at You

Seven Months

I haven't really been able to scrap much lately because my scrap area looks like this:

instead of the 'normal' this: 

We are still working hard on our basement remodel with the hopes of having it done before Mitten makes his/her arrival in less than 2 months

Making my 7 month layout had been on my "Want To Do" list for a week or so and it was bugging me to have it still listed- so. . .  I carefully carved out space enough to crawl over the chair and pile of stuff to get into my Scrap Cave the other night to finish it.

TITLE: Seven Months
Journaling: My due date is two months from today. I am still feeling good and getting around pretty well. You really like to move around ALOT at night and put on a show for your Dad.  I think you still have plenty of room because you tend to roll from one side of my belly to the other & back again. Your Dad & Uncle Mark have been working so hard in the basement trying to get our home ready for your arrival. It will continue to be a busy, whirlwind time, but I am confident that we’ll get it done in time to bring you home. 9/21/12.

Space Available

It seems that my free time is being squeezed more than usual. Between sewing projects, reading, normal house/family stuff, working full time- the hours fly by fast! But I am making the time to keep my pregnancy album as current as possible. If you'd like to see all my pregnancy layouts in one spot here is my Pinterest board.

I love this layout for several reasons. I love the photo. It is true to life and really captures what is happening right now. I love the story behind it. I love that I got my feelings to paper.

Journaling:

This is a typical scene. The moment I lay down on the couch all three girls figure out a way to not only be near me, but ON me at the same time.  In all honesty, it isn’t always the most comfortable. It’s a complicated dance of feet, limbs, belly, pillows. . . 

But I try to take a step back and relish in the fact that they want to be near me. I can do this for them. I can make the space. 

My excited children fighting for room on my lap- leaning in close to tell their new sibling they can’t wait for his or her arrival.

Bennet asking questions about how I’m feeling. “How’s your leg Mom?” 

Scout wanting to use my belly as a pillow to feel Mitten nudge her in the head. 

Ellie poking me in my belly button saying “Baby Mitten in your tummy. There!” 

And in time I’ll make the space for one more. 
Sept. 20, 2012

Half Full

Another no-photo page for my pregnancy album. I guess I have a lot to say or a lot that I want to remember.

I started this design with the half-circle journaling as the focal point. I sat there staring at it and realized that it resembles the shape of my pregnant belly right now. But thank goodness my belly button doesn't resemble the 3 circle element. :)

Journaling: 9/7/2012

A Night Out

The photo of the three of us is blurry but still somehow perfect. Last summer the big girls and I went to 400 Block downtown and watched 'The Muppets' for Screen on the Green. I packed a brown paper bag filled with a popcorn and M&M mix and orange soda pop. BIG treat! We snuggled in our lawn chairs and blankets and made it about 3/4 of the way through the movie before they both admitted they were ready for bed. Ah- my girls!

Inspired by this layout.

Tick Tock

Sharing another layout I made for my pregnancy album. I just bought the small wooden stars (Studio Calico) and I am addicted! They'll probably be on every layout for awhile. 

Title: Tick Tock

Journaling: And just like that I’m 29 weeks & in the 3rd trimester. Unbelieveable to think you will debut in a  little over 2 months. I am still feeling pretty good most days. You are starting to be   more active ,especially at night.Your sisters get a kick out of watching you kick me in my tummy. for the1st time i don’t  have to take iron supplements - woohoo! heartbeat 125bpm . measuring on schedule. 13 lbs.+   

Design lifted from this layout. By Allie Hamblin.

At a Loss

Last week my obstetrician, Dr. T. Connolly, died suddenly from a massive heart attack. It's really taken me back. Just a sad, unfortunate truth. I have always preached that scrapbooking is not only a creative outlet but also my therapy. I stole some quiet time last weekend to put my thoughts and feelings to paper. I still feel the loss, but it helped provide some clarity. 

Journaling: Dr. Connolly has been my O/B for all of my pregnancies. From the first time we saw 2 pink lines with B to the last time those tell-tale lines appeared with Mitten.  He eased all my first-time-Mom questions and concerns with his amazingly laidback bedside manner. He looked at Nick and I and said, “It’s a GIRL!” when Ellie made her arrival.  Over the course of 4 pregnancies our relationship has become more casual and relaxed– “here we go again” There wasn’t a visit that went by that we didn’t somehow acknowledge how fast time flies and how much we loved every second of raising a family. 

This caring, selfless man passed away suddenly this week. His contagious smile won’t be greeting me next week at my appointment. He won’t give me a pat on the shoulder with a “see you soon”. He won’t be here as we complete our family. I couldn’t have asked for a better doctor and he will be truly missed.

Photography by: Photography by JDesigns

Still Scrapping

August came and went in the blink of an eye. Between trips to Bay Beach, G&G Camp, Chicago for Nick and me- it was just a blur. We (by 'we' I mostly mean Nick) are in the middle of a major house remodeling project so our basement and scrap studio are in total disarray. It's actually physically difficult to make it to my space. But I did put on some steel toed boots and carve my way in. 

TITLE: Little Birdie Sit

Journaling: The look on your face says it all. You loved feeding the birds at Wildwood Wildlife Park. June 2011. 

I was inspired by the patchwork look of Scout's skirt and created the quilt/grid look. I did some machine stitching as well.  I had this photo in my stash for a long time. When in doubt- go with the good old grid! 

TITLE: Remember all the good times. 

Journaling: You says yard work can't be fun? What's more fun that 3 girls in a wheel barrow going for a ride? Daddy powered around the front yard bringing wide eyes and wide smiles.  Summer 2011

I had these photos printed for close to a year and finally made myself put them to paper!  

 TITLE: You are a Fish! 
Journaling: This summer you really fell in love with swimming. Your confidence in your new skill just shine on your face.  Summer 2012

I lifted this layout of mine.

More on Mitten

I won one of the Grand Prizes during the ScrapFreak summer crop- a gift certificate to TwoPeas. It was burning a whole in my e-pocket so I ordered up a bunch of new scrapbook goodies. But- before I dug into my new box of product I whipped up two more pages for my pregnancy album. The first shows a current belly photo although I really popped more this past weekend. The second shares the story behind our nickname for baby #4- MITTEN. 

TITLE: 5 Months 

Journaling: 25 weeks. I’m wishing I could slow down time. I just feel like time is flying! I’ve been feeling pretty good lately, just the normal aches and pains. I do feel smaller than I was last time but this time next month I’ll be saying the opposite.   Trips to the bathroom have increased as well as my need to snack! 

I have had the acrylic number 5 in my arsenal for YEARS! I'm guessing 5 years at least. I knew it would come in handy at some point. 

TITLE: Mitten
Journaling: It all started with Bennet and got progressively more creative with each pregnancy. Your Dad doesn’t like cutesy or food realted nicknames for babies when they are in utero. And since we don’t find out the gender we want neutral nicknames. First there was TRUCK. Then came LEG LAMP followed by THERMOS. We call you MITTEN. Each name, has a backstory related to either the season or timing of when we found out about you . It’s kind of weird, but it’s just how we do it. 

Inspired by this layout. I did the journaling in InDesign.

Love

I absolutely adore these photos of Scout from last Valentine's Day. I made the older girls a ruffle heart tshirt from scraps and a matching skirt. Isn't she cute? 

Bay Beach

For the last two years in August my Mom makes the trek from MN for a quick visit. Our full-day together involves a day-trip to Bay Beach Amusement Park in Green Bay. They have 16 rides.  Even better is the fact that tickets cost 25cents a piece. Most rides are 1 ticket but never more than 2. Can't beat that! 


Last year Bennet was SUPER excited for her very first roller coaster ride. Unfortunately she was a little too short. "Maybe when I'm 6 1/2 Mom!". Well- now she is 6 1/2. We are enjoying the 3rd Annual Bay Beach Day today so we we'll see if she was able to ride the Zippin' Pippin!


Here is a layout of Ellie from last year's trip. 


TITLE: Giddy Up

In This Spot

Yesterday I called my mother-in-law from our Guys Who Grill event to see if she could bring some serving spoons. Her response, "Sure- I think I have some leftover from your wedding" as if our wedding was last month, not nearly 9 years ago. September 6, 2003. Bless her heart. She came through with the spoons like a champ!

That conversation reminded me of our wedding and the fact that I have a related layout I've been meaning to share.

Here we are- newly married. )On a side note- our niece Morgan, whose face you can see, just turned 15! WHAT!)

I took this photo of the girls on Easter 2011 sitting under the arbor where Nick and I exchanged our wedding vows. 

Journaling: In this spot Nick and I were married. We exchanged our wedding vows under this arbor
at his parents house in September 2003. Fast forward eight years to 2011 and our three
daughters can be found sitting underneath it. It all started right there in that spot. 

Half

This week I hit 23 weeks or the 5 month mark. This pregnancy is really going fast. I am consciously trying to savor all the "lasts" of it as much as I can. And as always- I am trying to get my thoughts to paper.

One For Each Girl

I've been busy sneaking some scrappy time this summer. I love getting back to it after a slow-ish spring. 

TITLE: Sept. June. 

Photos from Bennet's first and last day of Kindergarten. The changes are AMAZING! I've used this layout design before and just lifted myself. And once again I raided my scrap pile. Some of these papers are close to 5 years old. 

TITLE: Create Art
I had the chance to be a chaperone one of Scout's 4K field trips to the Center for the Visual Arts. I love the photos where she is focusing on her project. So quiet and intense. Inspired by this layout.  I love the Pink Paislee wooden letters I used for 'art'. I may need to pick up some more.

TITLE: Just Us

Just a simple layout with photos of Ellie and I that I took while playing on the pontoon. I even broke out my seldom used Stickles to add some sparkle to the sun. 

Wednesday Wednesday Wednesday

The journaling tells the story:

One night your family was watching ‘The Addams Family’ movie. Your Dad looked at me at said, “How about the name Wednesday for a girl? I totally like it” I gave him a look that said - You.Are.Crazy. No way. Not gonna happen. Somehow the joke (well- to me it’s a joke. I think he’s serious) has passed onto your sisters. They are now working diligently to convince me on the name by chanting, “Wednesday! Wednesday! Wednesday!” during dinnertime. Even Ellie enthusiastically gets in the action using arm pumps. I told B, “I just don’t like the name Wednesday honey” to which she replied, “Well, what about Monday then.” Heaven help me

Baby Belly Growing

I am still loving the simple, 8 1/2 x 11 format that I'm using for my pregnancy album. Plus- keeping it to a central color theme really helps streamline the process as well. I guess by the 4th kid I've lived and learned. 

TITLE: Showing

Journaling: Here I am at 18 weeks. Starting my 4th month. At my 15 week appt. I finally got to hear your heartbeat. Pounding away at 150 bmp. Thump thump. I lost 3 lbs. from my first check up but I know that the weight will come. I still wear some regular clothes but those days are numbered. My belly has definitely popped in the last month.  Last week I felt you really moving for the first time. I forgot how crazy & creepy it feels at the beginning.

TITLE: The Very Sight of You
Journaling: Besides holding you in person, there is nothing quite like seeing you on an ultrasound. Your biggest sisters Bennet & Scout joined your Dad & me for our anatomy scan. Once they realized what they were looking at they were in awe. “Mom- I see Mitten’s back! I see the heart- right there Mom! Dad- you see it?” The results show that you are 100% healthy. Nothing to be concerned about. Just how we’d hoped. June 26, 2012