3 year old

Seems like a lot longer ago than almost 4 months. Sure is cute though!

Following Shimelle's sketch this week I created this bright and colorful layout using Harrison's birthday portraits. {better photo coming in daylight tomorrow!}

{supplies: cardstock: Bazzill/Patterned paper: KI Memories/letter stickers: american crafts/date sticker: Jenni Bowlin/ribbon: maya road/birthday cake journaling spot: elle's studio/adore ticket: shabby chic crafts/crepe paper flowers: lucky girl goods/misc: vintage button and bakers twine}

last class

So, I created this layout based on this week's sketchy thursday sketch! I did change it up a bit though - actually quite a bit. I really loved the layout but then decided I really wanted to modify it for these, not very good, cell phone photos.

{supplies: patterned paper: Cosmo Cricket/letter stickers: American Crafts/sticker: KI Memories/velvet ribbon: Anthropologie/misc: vintage bingo card, vintage yellow button, bakers twine and milk bottle cap}

pumpkin patch

These photos were a total treat to scrap. They took me way back to late November 2008 when Harry was still a peanut and had no hair, Cam still happily rode the horses and Sawyer didn't have a care in the world...those were the days!

{supplies: patterned paper: Lily Bee designs and Making Memories/Cardstock: Bazzill/Velvet Flowers: Maya Road/White Buttons: Jenni Bowlin/Misc: Vintage Dictionary pages, vintage blue button and bakers twine}

disneyland at night

i thought of something else. something i didn't list yesterday, but i got to thinking about while working on this layout. i don't go crazy with the embellishments. i see the pages that are loaded with embellishments, the pages that either cost $9 or it took 3 plus hours...it's just not for me. obviously it works for loads of people. not me. give me a few simple embellishments and some patterned paper and i'm good to go. it takes all types. though, i do think that this is what makes me more like the average scrapbooker - instead of like the others.

i love getting my stories told. i love being a quick scrapper with a simple style. i love it all.

so, back to the topic at hand. the sketch support sketch #2. I loved it since it wasn't only 1 photo, so i thought i would give it a try. here's my take!

{supplies: cardstock: bazzill/patterned paper: cosmo cricket/doily: maya road/ribbon: american crafts/letter stickers: jenni bowlin and american crafts/sticker: jenni bowlin/resin flower: making memories/other: bakers twine, vintage button, wish ticket}

3 man band

these boys are a good time. well, when they aren't arguing and fighting. they truly come up with some great stuff. like, a band. complete with singing. and drums.



{supplies: patterned paper: sassafrass lass/cardstock: bazzill/letter stickers: jenni bowlin and american crafts/stick pin: maya road/crepe paper flowers: lucky girl goods/misc:vintage bingo tile}

all stars

This is a layout that actually made me think a lot. Not about the design or what to use, those came naturally. I thought about scrapbooking in general.

The first thing that really hit me was about how and why I or a regular average person scrapbooks. Mostly, and honestly, I want to scrap the events in our lives. I want to get the memories down on paper in a lovely way so that we can always remember these times in our lives. I want to enjoy the creative process and make something that I think is really pleasing to the eye.

Sometimes, I want to scrap moments too. Things that happen in our everyday lives that I don't want to forget. A look, an expression or a funny thing that is said. Those are important things that I want to remember as well, but these are a smaller percentage in my albums. I think that this is true for most average scrapbookers. Those moms that maybe get an hour or tw

o a week to put something to paper -- the ones that go to a crop once or twice a year with friends.

I like to make my pages beautiful. I do. There are layouts that I'm especially proud of. But I don't sew on my pages, for the most part. I don't know how and I don't own a sewing machine. Even if I did, I wouldn't sew on all of my pages. That would really prohibit me from getting my stories told in a timely manner. (Now, don't misunderstand. I'm still over 2 years behind in my albums. But, I also kind of enjoy being behind

!) I don't like adding things that are inconvenient - hence why I'm reluctant to use a die cut machine (even though I own 5!) over letter stickers or other embellishments. I truly want my stories told. I want our memories recorded.

The other thing that I got to thinking about was using my stash. I have stuff in my stash that is literally 7 years old. However, I always find myself reaching for the stuff that is new. The latest and greatest, if you will. That's what I liked so much about this layout. I used items I've had in my stash for multiple years. You know what else? I told the story AND made a page I like. This is the best kind of scrapbooking, I think.

{supplies: cardstock: bazzill/embellishments: making memories, deluxe designs and my minds eye/letter stickers: american crafts/misc: ribbon and patterned paper}

my little family

Shimelle put a great sketch up the other day that would focus on a yummy piece of patterned paper. And since my one true weakness is patterned paper, this was great for me. Now, to pick a patterned paper and a photo waiting to be scrapped...I knew the perfect one was out there!

{supplies: patterned paper: October Afternoon/stickers: October Afternoon/letter stickers: October Afternoon and American Crafts/crepe paper flowers: Lucky Girl Goods}

having so much fun SLEDDING!

Can you believe it? Sawyer's first time sledding was when he was 6 and a half! We moved to California when he was 3, from NJ, so he'd never had the opportunity for sledding. (That I remember. HA HA! But, I'm pretty sure he didn't!)

Anyway, a holiday trip to Iowa provided a great opportunity to sled.

{supplies: cardstock: bazzill/patterned paper: echo park/letter stickers: making memories and american crafts/other: buttons, mica flakes and bakers twine}

Play Ball

Another week, another try at Sketchy Thursdays!

Totally fun layout and fun old pictures of the boys playing basketball in the yard.

Best part of all of this? Challenges are helping me get all kinds of photos scrapped. WOOHOO!

{supplies:cardstock: bazzill/patterned paper: echo park/letter stickers: jenni bowlin/embellishments: jenni bowlin and making memories/misc: metal rimmed tag and bakers twine}

Cosmo Cricket

This is a shout out to all of the wonderful people at Cosmo Cricket. They make a wonderful product that I love to use. And, they are a company I would love to design for! Would you vote for me? Click here ---> COSMO CRICKET and scroll down a bit. On the right side you'll see my name, Jennie McGarvey. Vote for me!!

And, a few layouts using the yummy product.

baby

Look at this cutie! I happen to think he was one of the 3 cutest babies ever! Following this weeks Studio Calico layout, here's what I came up with!

{supplies: patterned paper: cosmo cricket/letter stickers: american crafts/crepe paper rosette: lucky girl goods/stick pin: maya road/flower:prima/misc:vintage button and bakers twine

an ordinary day in january

Yesterday afternoon, Andy took the boys down to the park just for a bit to blow off some steam. They rode and rode and rode until it was time to come home. They were all smiles and enjoyed their afternoon!

This is actually the Sketchy Thursdays layout turned on it's side. How fun!!

{supplies used: patterned paper: Cosmo Cricket/Letter Stickers: American Crafts and Cosmo Cricket/Family Ticket: Shabby Chic Crafts/Other: vintage milk bottle cap and vintage velvet leaves}

Fun with Donald

So, in November, we went to Disneyland. That in itself isn't too interesting. However, taking pictures with Donald, the jokester, always is!

Donald posed for his required photos and then started playing around, including pretending to take harrison's lolli. We were all amused. :)

So, here's a layout I made using fabric per the weekly Studio Calico challenge. TOTALLY fun. The letters FUN are fabric and so is that "lollipop". I used the basic design from one in the gallery (by jbarksdale. It was super cute!)

{supplies: patterned paper: october afternoon/letter stickers: october afternoon/crepe paper flower: lucky girl goods/straight pin: maya road/other: washi tape and milk bottle cap}

crawling

It's just amazing how fast Harrison is growing! 2008 hardly seems that long ago...but comparing him now to then is just amazing.

Here he is, on the brink of crawling.

{supplies: stickers/patterned paper: Creative Imaginations/pin: maya road/other: vintage buttons, button and bakers twine}

Coast

So, I found a challenge that fit this gorgeous photo! Okay, well, maybe not. But, I knew I wanted to use this lovely photo.

Wee Memories was having a ribbon challenge. Here's my take! Vintage lace trim and gorgeous velvet ribbon!

{supplies: patterned paper: 7 gypsies and making memories/velvet ribbon:anthropologie/letter stickers: cosmo cricket: embellishments: sassafrass lass,making memories, jenni bowlin and pink paislee/other: vintage lace trim}

all about me

So, lucky me! I found a local-ish (Long Beach!) scrapbook store I've never been to. (A Million Memories) SCORE! Guess what else? They have on-line shopping AND a great blog with challenges, a great design team and KITS.

Anywho, they have a challenge right now and I decided to jump right in.

Here's what I came up with following their sketch (super simple, but really I am a simple scrapper!):

{supplies: patterned paper: Echo Park/alphabet stickers: american crafts/embellishments: maya road and jillibean soup/misc:buttons and kraft cardstock

world of color

A layout about an 'eh' night at California Adventure. In my opinion, there is no bad day at a Disney Park. However, this night was pouring, we were not enjoying our $70 worth of picnic meals (don't do it!) and there were still crowds. But, as the journaling says, at least get got to cross something off the list!


{supply list: patterned paper: KI Memories and Little Yellow Bicycle/Letter Stickers: American Crafts/Embellishments: Maya Road, Martha Stewart, Jenni Bowlin, and Lucky Girl Goods/misc: vintage buttons, bakers twine, kraft die-cut, ribbon and enjoy tag}

New Years Eve!

Here's a little layout for the Sketchy Thursdays 1.13 layout of the week.

{supplies: patterned paper: jillibean soup and making memories/die cut paper: jenni bowlin/ribbon: american crafts and anthropolgie/chipboard accent:american crafts/punch:martha stewart/admit ticket: vintage bliss/crepe paper flower: lucky girl goods/other: vintage bottle cap}

Thanks for looking!

February Guest Design Team Member Challenge

Since I'm planning on really getting moving on scrapping this year (2011!!!!!) I decided to jump in with both feet. A friend pointed me in the direction of Sketchy Thursdays and for my first day visiting, I LOVE IT!

So, without further adieu, my layout.

{cardstock:Bazzill/patterned paper: KI Memories for Archivers/Letter Stickers: American Crafts/Die Cut paper:Jenni Bowlin/Punch: Martha Stewart/Crepe Paper Rosettes: Lucky Girl Goods/Other:Vintage buttons and bakers twine}

more, more, more, okay!

Harrison LOVES to jump into the pool. Loves it. However, you are never where he wants you to be and he always has to direct you.

{patterned paper: studio calico/letter stickers:american crafts/paper rosette: lucky girl goods/journaling card: bananafishstudio/buttons}

I'm going to miss this

Just a little layout, inspired by another I saw.

Harrison is growing so fast and I know I'm going to miss all of these little things about the kids while they are young. It's so difficult now, but it's all worth it.

{patterned paper: Basic Grey and KI Memories/Embellishments: Maya Road, Sassafrass Lass/Vintage Button}

2011

I've made only 2 goals for myself this year in 2011. One, to follow my word of the year: CELEBRATE. To celebrate my life, it's ups and downs, it's successes and it's ordinary moments.

Two, to create at least 104 crafty items and blog about them. Could be a scrapbook layout, could be a planner, could be a banner, could be spraypainting a found item and repurposing it. Whatever it is, I hope to share it here twice a week.

With that, here's the very first layout of the year. It happens to even BE about my word of the year, CELEBRATE!