Life is This...

Got Sketch 99

No one was happier than I when I recieved an email from Lynn the blog cordinator (and my fantastic team mate with Collage Press) to participate in this weeks new sketch over on the Got Sketch Blog.  I always love working with Valeries ideas and so I once again jumped at the opportunity.  I really don't know why I don't use sketches more often because I love the "non-thinking" part....its easy peasy and I am usually so pleased with the results.

With being so involved currently with Library of Memories - I have once again made a concocious decision to  scrap stories or more meaningful pages becuase really years from now its the stories that are going to matter - not the products so much...maybe I should have remembered this after my rather abundant new CHA products I have sitting in my scraproom currently (insert emberrased smiley here)

Well at least I used up a tinch of it on this layout...

Hard @ Work

Well I hope your all having a great Wednesday....the sun is shining here today and it is a beautiful spring day.....got me motivated to actually jump on the treadmill this morning...bathing suit season is just around the corner...ACKK!!  

A Sunny Thursday...

Hi everyone....

Not much to share here today....

Im up to my eyeballs with DVD's that Im making for Jared's year end football party tomorrow. Everyone says that I am stressing about nothing... but then I gave the family a preview and they were blown away... hee hee they think Im the next Steven Speilberg... little do they know I have a secret weapon...a little program called iPhoto, iMovie & iDVD ;)

It is finally sunny here today so I am going to take a break and hop in the shower and get out of this house for a bit.  I feel like it is draining all of my energy... bluk... I am thinking a trip to Henrys camera centre is in oder since I dropped my camera a while back and my 18 - 200mm lens broke (it wont stay in place when I move the camera)... soooo... great excuse to update to a better one!

I will leave you with some scrappy goodness... but not too much!!  

Here is a snippet of my layout for Collage Press this month...Yummy!  We are woking with Sweet Shoppe and it is still my favourite line of theirs....make sure you check out the blog for my DT mates awesome work....mine will be up shortly as well..

Until then...

 

Hugs..

 

The day of nothing...

Have you ever had those days.  You know the ones - you wake up - walk to the couch - slouch around there for a bit - go downstairs promising that you will go outside and rake those leaves in just a few minutes. Turn on the TV.  Watch some Sunday afternoon football (yup I know I do enjoy football) fall asleep - wake up - lounge some more....

Ugh... that was my day today.  Not only mine but my wonderful husband joined me on this adventure of laziness as well.  And for a bit I had our youngest in my grips of couch potato syndrome!!

So many plans, so much to do, and so little energy!!  We finally came out of the abyss earlier this evening and decided to at least make my munchkins some dinner... well ok by make I mean drive to Wendy's to get some burgers....and after they forget to include the dressing for my salad even that was unproductive like the rest of my day.  I need to go back to bed and have a do over.

I did happen to get one thing accomplished today...

I think I managed to talk my youngest son out of purchasing one of these...

 

... and yes that is a bearded dragon!!!

As well as winning the laziest mom of the day award - I am positive that I am also among the top three in the "Depriving you child of any sort of pet" awardl!!

We went to a football party last night (for the coaches - and NO it had nothing to do with why we laid around all day feeling hungov... uhm tired) and the hosting house had one of these.  Well actually a few of Jared's friends have these as well - and lets just say that he's been bugging for one for a bit.  He almost had me talked into it... they aren't all that bad...Im not Deathly afraid of them... but I would NEVER ever admit that on this blog....

I think the only way out of this is to work on my Darling Husband for that dog that me and my two sons want....he didn't actually say NO today...but Im not certain if he was awake when we asked either?

After all a dog would lay with me all day and keep me company while sleeping on the couch... oh yeah so would that reptile thing...shhh don't tell!

Have a great week everyone...I hope it brings you everything that you desire!!

Lori

 

Back in the saddle again...

I should have known after I sat on a bike again after 20 + years that hoping back on isn't quite as scary as it seems.  Not quite as intimidating or as daunting as that first ride.. but equally as nerve wracking...  after almost 3 months of not even so much as sniffing my adhesive - I pulled out my supplies (more like dug out of the massive storage room pile) and started putting paper to trimmer.  Yup that's right.. you heard it hear fist...I Lori created a scrapook page... not just one but two and get this... altered projects as well... GASP!!!

And I have to thank Collage Press... for allowing me the opportunity to play once again and kicking my but into gear. It was honestly like therapy... only with much less sleep... it felt so good to create something with paper and oh so pretty embellishments rather than drywall and paint.

So yesterday on the Collage Press Blog was Designer Days.  It was bittersweet for me actually.  I was so happy to be creating once again... and yet it is our last assignment for the team before the new DT call goes out and it is one gig that I really don't want to end. 

One of our theme's this month is "Back to School" and it is also happens to be one of my favorite times of the year.  It is a time of new beginnings,  new hopes, a new season, and a time to say goodbye to the lazy days of summer and hello to crisp fall air here in Ontario. My kids were excited to start back to school this year... of course they weren't thrilled at me taking their back to school photo's - but they need to learn that it is a photo opportunity that I couldn't possibly give up LOL!!

My first layout is of my oldest son, who started high school this year.  We have been discussing how it is a new beginning and a fresh start for him.  This is the most wonderful time of his life and I know that he really can be anything he wants to be so I decided to use that as my "Back to school" theme for his page this year as you can see here:

NOTE: I have to apologize for the not so great quality of the photo's of the projects below.  First I had the photo's developed at Walmart instead of printing them at home with my printer still in storage - really not impressed at all with the quality. Im still working my way around iPhoto and I desperately feel lost with out my Photoshop Elements...and when I went to download it onto my Mac - they are releasing the new version next week...so I was basically helpless when it came to my usual photo editing assignment techniques - which honestly I am very anal about....so please over look this.

The Sky's the Limit

MATERIALS USED:

Collage Press Paper:    Knave of Hearts - Summers Day, Queen of Hearts & Crafting Strips, Die Cut Dollop - Ledger 

Collage Press Knave of Hearts: Journaling Cards, Die Cut Rings & Shapes

Collage Press Chip Letters (covered with Queen of Hearts paper)

Other Products used: Maya Road (Acrylic Clock), Making Memories (metal button), Tim Holtz (metal washer), Jenni Bowlin (Sticker-ruler), American Craft (Thickers)

My A+ Boy

Here is layout # 2 I did based on the fact that I had all of my supplies pulled out - and I was just so darn excited about scrapping again - I scoffed at the prospect of sleep and decided to scrap my youngest son's back to school photo's as well - and I had lots of fun playing with my goodies on this layout. One of my favorite things about Collage Press products is that most of their product lines go together so well - that when I was making this layout I could have very easily substituted papers from the Citrus or the Jackson Lodge Line as they all had orange that went with these photo's so well!!  I honestly could use every last piece of paper I have been given on this team...they are all so scrumptious!! OK so back to my layout:

MATERIALS USED:

Collage Press Papers:    Knave of Hearts - Charming
Grayson Hall - Market Paisley 
Sweet Shoppe - Sugar on top 

Collage Press Knave of Hearts: Die Cuts & Rings

Collage Press Journaling Cards:     Fresh & Sweet Shoppe Collection 

Collage Press Alphabet Cardstock Stickers: Grayson Hall and Knave of Hearts

Collage Press Crafting Pad: Jackson Lodge

Other:  Pressed Petals (letter A), Pencil & Black ribbon (unknown)

Thanks for letting me share!  Be sure to check back sometime later this weekend for my altered items that were posted as well.  These were so much fun to create...it has me thinking about doing many more of these... the problem... I love to make them... but I really don't like displaying this kind of stuff... LOL!!

Check back this weekend when I will post the two items with some basic instructions as well... and to encourage you all to get out your Collage Press goodies... I will be posting a give away as well.  Stay tuned and have a great weekend!!

Lori

 

As my world turns....

I think my last few posts have been apologizing for not keeping this thing up to date...sigh....but the truth is after some comments and concerns by my blogging/scrappy friends....I will update you on my not so exciting but ever busy life.

Unfortunately here in Canada we only have 24 hours in a day (I think that they should make a country that includes 48 hrs/day) guaranteed it would be filled with housewives by the first month (and if possible would love a sunny warm climate - not too much to ask is it LOL!) Anyways - with my limited time and schedule full with stuff...again its is my blog that is going to the world of "Im being ignored and its really ticking me off"!!

As my internet is down at home I am updating this from my office...so back to work I get...year end needs to be finished...but first I will update you on my happenings during the last weeks of my absence..not too exciting but maybe you will feel a connection again...

To update my last post Adam did not win American Idol....THAT is a shame!!!  Like Mike but something is not right there...Adam should have won...

Jared did not continue with the all-star football....they changed the age limits and he was actually a year too young...good excuse for him to quit..and not get squashed even more by the 50+ lbs the other players had on him.

Baseball is in full swing...not getting into that whole mess...defiantly not the same this year..but all things must change.

Regular season football starts tomorrow with opening day...back to every night of the week with a sports commitment.

Blake is getting ready for Grad coming up in June.  Where did the time go...as I said to him the other day...I need to learn to be a parent of a teenager...I know how to parent a kid...but this teenager thing is a big learning curve. He is REALLY flexing his Independence muscles.  Its hard to let go and still hover at the same time LOL!  Love him to death...defiantly takes some getting used to..talking about girls...girlfriends...NO...your still MY baby.  Then I think about what I did at that age...and back under the covers I go...hoping when I wake up he will be screaming in his crib for me and this will all be a dream...One I can be more prepared to handle when the time comes...

We've been invited to a wedding coming up in June...taking the kids and staying over in Toronto...going to be lots of fun.  As a matter of fact we are taking out the bride to be tonight...limo to Toronto...staying over night...should have lots of stories to share (or maybe I won't want to share ;)!

Belly dancing is over....can't tell you how much I loved it.  signing up again in July for the next session and can't wait for SSeptember session...including recital and all...OMG  whatt a riot that is going to be!!  Lots of fun...great exercises and I highly recommend everyone trying it!

Weight Wwatchers is still taking myweekly contribution as well...both in terms of depositing my weight with them (for them to dispose of permanently - not to be misunderstood that I am letting them just Borrow my weight for a short period of time) and in monetary value as well.  Im down 15 lbs and while I have another 15 to gostill...Im determined and this time around it has defiantly been a Life style change.  I feel so much better..but again its just finding the time for fitness that is the thorn in my side still...

So now on the scrapping front....

Wow I have so much to catch up on..so many layouts to share...so much exciting news to shout from the roof tops...but I will contain that for another day...and keep you all in suspense for a little bit...to be honest not quite sure what I can share right now so mums the word.

I have not one but 2 kit reveals to share with you from Just Cre8.  This months kit is so bright and fun = perfect for all things boy...Head over to the site and check out all of the great work done by the design team...here...

AND if your in a scrappy mood this weekend you will find inspiration oozing out of the computer monitor with our 2009 Happy be Scrappy Online Crop starting today and going all weekend strong.  Be sure to come by and check us out...lots of challenges...games...and projects.  YOu can see the schedule here.

I haven't mentioned Destination Create that I attended over National Scrapbooking Day put on by The Scrapping Nook.  It was so much fun..and I am still so thrilled to have taken a class with Caroline - owner and founder of Maya Road.  I attending her Home mini album class..and Wow Wow Wow....it was so much fun..learned how to do those awesome yo-yo flowers - lots of techniques - lots of products to try..and all I can say is that I am in love with all things Maya.  If you EVER get a  chance to attend one of Caroline's classes...DO IT!!!  I can't even tell you how generous she was with product...So much more that you would need to complete the project..Plus little goodies thrown in as well..Fabulous!! On top of the class I had a great time hanging out with my scrapping buddies and fellow teammates Holly and Jennifer...as well as former Just Cre8 member Katrina..love that girl...so funny.  And it was great to see others like Angela, Jen B, Karen, and of course Patti and Elia the owners of The Nook and all of the rest of the gang.  We all had so much fun..and the best part it was a really productive weekend for me - as I completed 4 layout the entire weekend..love that.

I must not forget that thanks to my girl Jenn...she absolutely twisted my arm and I am now a owner of a Cuttlebug system. Ok ...um...can I just say...WHAT TOOK ME SO LONG!!!!!  I am drooling over the embossing templates...(made some pretty cool mothers day cards that I love) Even tooka photo of them..but again that's another day.  And I actually took the plunge into the deep end and bought a quickutz font (This one) and a roll of vinyl cause everyone knows how much I LOVE my Skribblz Creative Series...but no matter what I did I couldn't convince Katrina to continue with them outside of the Just Cre8 kits...so sad...So this is my solution.  Am pleased with the result...and did a layout that I love...but I can't share that until later (wink wink) I hope you all get a chance to see that coming up!

My library of Memories class is winding down.  I am so sad to say that I have let that slide to the side as well (at least my blog wasn't lonely in the corner by itself). The good news is that I have purchased all of the required materials and am completely ready to implement the system.  I have done some of it...but my time restraints currently just honestly made it impossible to dedicate that much time to the system right now.  It is definitely on my things to do list...right at the top...but I think this project is going to be completed with baby steps..little tiny baby steps.

And last but certainly not least...I just received yesterday my package of Collage Press goodies!!! It includes all of their new releases...and all of their die cut Paper...OMG I am in heaven!!  I have had a few LSS inquire about me teaching a class using their product so if you are in the area than stay tuned..I will let you know anything as soon as I hear more or finalize any deets!

Ok so there you have it...if you have read this far that Wow...you are as addicted to blogs as I am.  LOL!!  Have a great weekend everyone..and head on over to Just Cre8 where the party is starting!