great plains

YUM! I'm hungry just thinking about this delicious, thick and cheesy pizza from one of my favorite places ever!

This photo has the best story behind it and I couldn't wait to get it down onto paper. And the paper? Well, the chevron from Authentique is GENIUS! This line was part of my September kit from yourscrapbookstash.com and I am IN LOVE with Authentique.

I wasn't sure -- I mean, it's a little feminine and a little frilly. You know what, though? It's really not. It worked just fine for a boy mama like me.

school time

Harrison goes to a lovely little preschool and I wanted to get a couple of pictures down on a page to remember the fun he has there and how stinking cute he looks while he is at school. Enter these photos and this week's Sketchy Thursdays sketch and we have a winner!

what eight looks like

My middlest son has been eight for almost 6 months. bad me! but, I wanted to capture all of the wonderful things about him at eight years old. Here are a few...

THREE

We're in the home stretch to four...but I'm determined to squeak out every last bit of three. I want to enjoy that he still says "biz" instead of because and he'll wear funky shoes with shorts. (Cowboy boots or faux uggs!) I want to enjoy he's still little and three because four definitely sounds so old...

feel better soon

I have a friend whose daughter is sick and in the hospital. So, the other day I whipped up a card to send to her in the hospital. Just a quick and cute share!

I used my September Studio Calico kit, Glee Club and some Mister Huey in Piglet and Blue Grass to jazz things up!

back to the ball field

I love the My Minds Eye challenges! A fun sketch and great products? What's not to love?

So, this month I followed the sketch, subbing a square for a circle and came up with this. I love that it's a fun layout about baseball but doesn't look like your typical sports page!

Love all of the fun colors that are in Lime Twist! And the patterns are to die for!!

washing the dog

So, here's what happened. This morning, I went to let the dog in. She'd been digging in the mud. She was muddy and I had to wash her off. She's a golden retriever, so she looks hilarious wet -- so i took a couple of photos with my instax.

After I came in, I was thinking of what page to make next...then I realized it was Tuesday and I should check the Sketchy Thursdays sketch. And, this page was born.

I used my Studio Calico September kit, Glee Club. One of my very favorite pieces is in here -- the number border sticker. I need about 32 more of those.

beach bliss with Sassy Lil Sketches!

Yea!! It's once again that time...time for my Sassy Lil sketches reveal!

I must say, I LOVED this sketch. And the layout I created with it? One of my favorites this year. I loved the Boardwalk kit by Studio Calico and that pair it up with the sketch? WOOHOO!

Anyway, here's the sketch and my take on it!

And, the Sassy Lil Sketches sponsor this month!? AUTHENTIQUE PAPER!!

A halloween layout plus a {WINNER}

This past weekend I worked in snippets of stolen moments on this fun halloween layout. I knew I wanted to make a 2 pager with these papers (Studio Calico kit) and photos. It so happened that Jessy Christopher put up a 2 page sketch on the your scrapbook stash blog and it was perfect. I modified it to suit my needs but it was perfect. Happy as a clam with this one!

Now, for the winner, random.org says that MARGIE gets the stamps! So, Margie -- send me an email at aj_mcgarvey AT msn DOT com and I will get those out to you!

Have a great day, friends!

Paper Issues BLOG HOP and a GIVEAWAY!

Okay, so I'm a little late to the game. Friday's will do that to you -- okay, they will to me. So, please forgive me. Anyway...

My layout for the blog hop. Last Sunday, 09.11.11, my family, some friends, and I went to the Angel v. Yankees baseball game at Angel Stadium. It was a perfect day and there was an amazing tribute to the heroes and their families of 09.11. I took a couple of photos and whipped up a layout using my 3 Scrappy Boys add-on kit!

And, for my giveaway! A lucky winner will win a set of Studio Calico label stamps!

If you would like to win, leave a comment BY MONDAY AT 8:00 am telling me what scrappy item you're lusting after right now!

Now, finish hopping, will ya?

Also, the Paper Issues Etsy Shop is offering a 25% discount if you use this MAGICAL code:

HOP25

Altered Girls
1. Lori Hairston
2. Susan Tutt
3. Shellye McDaniel
4.Lana Bisson
5. Peg Hewitt
6. Amy Baldwin
7. Leah Crowe
8. Sabrina Alery
9.Lowri McNabb
10.Hilary Kanwischer
11.Kim Castillon
12. Cassie Box
13. Wendy Antenucci
14. Christina Colón
15. Kimmie Sue


Scrapbook Girls
1. Crystal Beshear
2. Michelle Hernandez
3.Joanna Bandelin
5. Jodi Baune
6. Holly Humbert
7. Monika Wright
8. Jennie McGarvey
9. Melissa Priest
10. Joan Liddle
11. Tiffany Call
Card Girls

1. Jeannie DeGruccio

2. Bethany Crowell

3. Corri Garza

4. Cathy Dippolito

5. Gretchen McElveen

6. Diana Fisher

7. Kristy Dalman

8. Kelly Ratcliff

9. Ruby McGuire

10. Jess Mutty

Paper Bakery September Reveal!

Let me tell you -- this is a kit you DO NOT want to miss. Between the main mini album and the add-on, you are getting an amazing kit from the Paper Bakery!

Here's the mini album, Goodbye Summer

And here is the add-on kit, Hello Summer!

They look gorgeous, don't they!?

I got the add-on to work with and let me tell you -- there are some FUN pieces I loved in there. Let me show you a little of what I made with the add-on!

And my favorite:

This was an amazing day. We spent it with friends at the San Clemente State Beach. While the kids were riding the waves and I was digging my toes in the sand...the Barnum and Bailey circus train went through! The train tracks are steps from the beach and we got to see the circus train. It was so fun and incredibly fascinating. I love that beach!

Anyway. As you can see, I created 3 layouts and 2 cards with this $11 add on kit! I had left overs and I have plans for those!! I can go on and on about the main kit -- the gorgeous goodbye summer mini album! These kits are in short supply, so go order yours now! And, while you're at it -- tell Sarah I sent you!

born this way

So, when I saw the Sketchy Thursdays sketch this week, I KNEW I had to do it. Not only does it appeal to my sensibilities, but I had the perfect photos, too.

Now, when I broke out my Studio Calico kit, Glee Club, I felt like it'd be a good fit for these fun photos. I think it was!! BUT, it was hard for me to put the bottom photo askew. I mean, the crazy nature of the photos totally called for it, but I am not a fan of crooked photos. So, the OCD in me wants to rip it off and straighten it. BUT, I'm not going to. NOPE. Not gonna do it.

The road

Last week on the your scrapbook stash blog I posted a tutorial on how to heat emboss chipboard. TOTALLY not new or revolutionary, but I had showed someone how to do it not that long ago -- so I figured there had to be some other scrappers out there that didn't know or wasn't sure.

Anyway, the layout showcasing the heat embossed chipboard is the one below, created with my August kit. I ended up loving this layout and it's completely not my style -- style and content wise.

family traditions

I hope everyone here has had as wonderful of a weekend as I did. We packed in lots of fun and plenty of time for remembrance of 09.11. Now, however, it's time to show you a layout!

Last week, Heather posted a challenge on the 3 Scrappy Boys message board! Her challenge was to use one of the September Page Maps! Of course I wanted to play right along. I used my September add-on kit and whipped up this quick two pager!

I wish I could show you the layout side by side, but it's just not in the cards. However, take a look at those embellishments!! This kit was one of my favorites ever! I loved the papers and the embellishments. I kept the overall layout simple, like always but dressed it up a little with the embellishment cluster on the right.

I think you should go check out the challenge and play along!

buried treasure

When I saw this past Sunday's Sunday sketch over at Studio Calico, I knew that I had the perfect photo for it. So, I dug in with my Boardwalk kit and created a layout that I'm very happy with. :) 6 layouts done with this kit and still going strong. Wonder what my final tally will be?

the ride

Whew! After a big birthday (10 for my biggest boy) and now my littlest is sick -- I'm running to catch up. But, with a few spare moments here's a layout I created with my new yourscrapbookstash kit for September. Serious love for this Amy Tangerine stuff -- it's fun, funky and easy to use! I have a list a mile of long to create with the rest of the goodies I have, so keep an eye out!

Anyway, the page. I used Alyssa's 09.02 sketch to make this one -- a little mist gone wrong turned out good!!

indiana boy

What happens when you pair the 3 Scrappy Boys September add-on kit with Sketchy Thursdays? A freaking fantastic page, that is what!

This kit is just wonderful with goodies from Pebbles and some other fun stuff thrown in. The sketch is a perfect one for that one special photo (or more if you choose to alter the sketch, which I often do!).

Yes, this cutie (and the other two, as well!) is about to become an Indiana boy. The house is secured, the area scouted and the plans finalized!

best friends do everything together

This page is a wee bit bittersweet to me. See, we are moving soon. We're uprooting our lives from Southern California to Southern Indiana in a few short weeks. We've lived here for 5.5 years and it's all the kids really remember. We're going to be leaving their school, their sports teams and...their friends.

So, a simple layout about friends swimming together makes me feel a bit sad, knowing soon we will be leaving this all behind...

Could you BEE any cuter?

It's funny because I wasn't sure how I was going to use this paper. I bought it because I loved the honeycomb/hexagon pattern and the little bumblebees. Honestly though, I thought it'd become part of the stash.

Enter this picture of Campbell. All I could think of was how cute he is eating his ribs with a mess all over his face. Could he BEE any cuter? Even at nearly 10? Nope, not to me.

first

It's funny how with a young child their lives are all about firsts. First bath, first steps, first smile, etc. That trend continues into their toddler years too. Before you know it you are recording other firsts, like first soccer practices. Where has my baby gone?

I used the Boardwalk kit (August) from Studio Calico and I think it fit perfectly!

Congratulations!

Just a quick card share today, nothing spectacular. As usual, same disclaimer is necessary! I'm not a card maker, nor do I pretend to be. However, sometimes I need a card or I have an assignment to make one. So, I do my best!