Scrappy goal for 2011 met!

Back in January, I set a scrappy goal for the year. I decided that I wanted to complete 104 pages/layouts. That goal meant scrapping 2 pages/layouts a week all year. I thought that would be doable -- was it ever!!

Today, I completed layout 104 and I'm thrilled. I am especially because I set 3 big goals for the year and today I met the third of 3. The first was to get published in a printed magazine and I will be in the July issue of Scrapbook Trends and the October issue of Creating Keepsakes! The second was to get onto a design team -- and I did! I am a layout designer at My Sketch World! The third was the page goal and here I am !! So, today I set another concrete goal for the year. Fingers crossed I can get there!

Here it is! Layout number 104! I love the layout itself and I love the photos. I based the design off of the sketch that Shimelle posted this week.

To celebrate, I will do a giveaway later in the week so keep watching!

My Sketch World March layout!

I realized I gave you a sneak peek, but never posted the whole layout! DUH! Silly me...

Anyway, this was a really nice, simple sketch and I loved using it to get my feet wet with the MSW (my sketch world) sketches! I am so looking forward to next month!

it's a dogs life

You know, those dogs have it made! Okay, at least our dog, Holly Golightly, does. She sleeps all day, eats when she wants and plays. She gnaws on bones, takes walks and lays on the big bed. Sounds like the life! I took these fun pictures of her last night with my iphone and I knew I wanted to scrap them!

baseball pants

There is just something about Harrison that makes him obsessed with everything his brothers do. He does homework, practice spelling tests, wears a backpack AND plays sports complete with baseball pants, sleeves and cleats.

So, here's a layout, with Studio Calico's State Fair line and inspired by a Becky Fleck sketch, that shows Harrison in his glory!

Off to First Grade

Every week Studio Calico has a challenge based on a sketch -- commonly referred to as the Sunday Sketch. I loved this week and I loved the items used, so I pulled them out and went to work. (they all came from this month's Studio Calico kit, Into the Woods, except the kraft doily) I wanted mine to be similar to Lisa's, but not the same I got the feeling I wanted!

Joy is all around us

This week's sketchy thursdays sketch looked fun so I thought I would give it a try. I had been wanting to use this KI Memories snow calendar paper, so I worked it in and used some yellow. LOVE this color combo!

Most everything is from Studio Calico's Into the Woods kit. (The only thing that isn't is the corrugated frame from Jillibean Soup!)

little BIG boy

I had these photos in the stack of ones I wanted to scrap and this layout just sort of flowed once I set them down to arrange them. Add a little washi tape and VOILA -- you have Crop Suey's challenge -- using tape on a layout!

Bubbles belong...

When I saw the sketch over at the A Million Memories blog, I knew I had the perfect pictures! AND, as luck would have it, the perfect Cosmo Cricket papers. I couldn't wait to finally have a few moments to sit down and whip something up! These Social Club papers and embellishments are FANTASTIC.

Preschool spring photos

Yesterday and today I took the children's portraits at Harrison's preschool. It was fun AND hard work. Taking Harrison's was...interesting. Mostly because he wouldn't let go of Ms. Felisa's dog, Roxie.

In an effort to unwind, I made a layout about yesterday's activities using Sketchy Thursday's sketch.

You are a boy through and through

I have 3 boys. The first is the classic oldest child, responsible, a little rigid and a bit cautious. The third is the quintessential youngest child. He is full of personality, a charmer and knows how to get exactly what he wants.

The second? Aside from being able to define middle child to a T, he's a boy through and through. He plays with guns and swords, he loves legos and action figures and he LOVES to play sports. This kid is just wonderful, lovable and special.

I wanted to do a layout that used these adorable pictures that capture him. I was in luck because the My Minds Eye sketch was perfect for the photos. And, I had a stack of new MME products to use!

Chomping at the bit

I'm chomping at the bit to show you my whole layout from My Sketch World. However, it's not been revealed over there yet..so I will wait.

However, I have another fun one to show you! LOVED these photos. So happy with how the layout turned out!

One more winner

Seriously, I'm thrilled you're all here. And, I know it's a lot to ask, I do...but I hope you'll stick around and see what I have to show you. I try and update lots and show lots of fun layouts (mostly) ... but I'll understand if you don't have time for another scrappy blog!

I will try and do giveaways periodically, not to gain your loyalty, but because I know I love them, too!! (I have a good one sitting in my drawer for when we get to 50 followers!!)

Without further adieu, I have one last winner!

HEATHER! Email me at aj_mcgarvey AT msn.com and I will send out some crocheted goodness!

THANKS AGAIN!

Cosmo Cricket

I love Cosmo Cricket. They are, hands down, one of the most fabulous. Julie, Eric and Lindsay are AMAZING and the products are...well, um, the best. Great designs and they just make sense. These new lines (social club, salt air, etc) are out of this world amazing. I couldn't wait to make something fabulous with them.

THEN, there's the opportunity to get a layout published in the AMAZING Scrapbook Trends. Like, the best layouts and great inspiration. I had to play along. Like, I am supposed to be in the car on the way to Arizona and I'm sitting here finishing up because I HAD to do this.

Here's my play on the super fun sketch!

Everything you see here is Cosmo Cricket. Who needs anything else??

more winners

Whew! That is fun! I have 3 more winners to announce since we made it to 30!

Here we go...

So, that makes the winners: LORI, YVONNE and ELLIE A! (In addition to Joce!) YAY! Send me your email addresses aj_mcgarvey AT msn.com and I will send those doilies right out to you.

And, don't forget the drawings will continue until Monday morning, so you still have a chance. I have doily hearts and butterflies to give away as well, so you might find a couple of those in your mail box. And, if we get to 50 I have a much bigger prize to giveaway. (Okay, it's not a silhouette or anything. But, it's fun and you'll like it!)

the winner

So, quickly we got to 15 followers! And the winner is...

JOCE! Email me at aj_mcgarvey AT msn.com and I will get your information to mail out your doilies! Everyone, else keep entering your comments below and becoming followers. I will keep the drawing open until Monday!

sneak peeks and a giveaway!

It's finally almost here! My first reveal of my sketch at My Sketch World!

On Sunday, the second sketch of the month will be revealed and you'll see my layout. Until then, you will have to enjoy these sneak peeks! I had lots of fun with new Jillibean Soup and some corrugated shapes. LOVE these items!

(Scroll down to see details about my giveaway!)

So, once I get to 15 followers I'm going to a giveaway. FUN, right?! You will receive a set of doilies from Debbie that were used in this month's Studio Calico add-on kit, Sunny Clearing! You may or may not get yellow doilies, but I promise you that they are ADORABLE and gender neutral! Boy, girl, dog, cat ... you can use them on your pages or cards!

To enter? You must be a blog follower (click on follow!) and you must leave a comment. Once I get to 15 followers, I will give away a set. When I get to 20, I will give away another set of goodness from Debbie. How does that sound?

more fun!

It's that time, another layout courtesy of the people over at Sketchy Thursday! Another fun sketch, another chance to scrap more memories. It's a win-win!

Here's my take on this weeks' sketch!

My kids absolutely, positively love Andy's parents. I love making layouts that show it!

MA

Harrison, and my other two boys, have always had this thing for Andy's dad. I guess it's really more of an obsession than a thing. Like, worship. I've always called them Papa's Minions. As they get older this changes a bit, but while they are young..watch out. Papa is #1. We all know where we stand in relation to papa.

Last week, Andy's parents visited and for the first time ever, Ma reigned supreme! So in order to capture that, I used Sketchy Thursday's April GDT layout to show the special time!

These are the moments

There are truly moments in this life I want to remember. Mostly, they aren't ones that happened at a significant event or at a meaningful time. I think that they are mostly from the ordinary moments, the things that celebrate the people in my life the way that they truly are.

My boy, my love, Sawyer. He's the silly one of the bunch, the truly boy child. Loves imagination and toys, he plays and he's silly, all on his very own. Just one of the things that makes my heart swell and makes me so happy he's mine.

A week?!

In my defense, my father in law was here all last week. I was truly on my toes. BUT, I still have a cache of layouts to share! I'm up to 84 for the year, which I am SO very excited about. Do you remember that my initial goal was 104. So, soon I will be there. YAY!

Here's one I created last week as my challenge over at my sketch world. My challenge was to use mini photos! Anything less than 2x3 counts and as many or as few as you like. Easy and fun, right? I thought so! Mine features a whole bunch of mini photos that I took at CHAW '11.

Keep checking back. As soon as I get to my 104 layouts I plan to do a fun giveaway!