Yay! The first Layout of 2011 :)

Well, seeing how it has been over two months since I even made a full 12x12 scrapbook layout, I am quite excited that the first layout of the new year has already been finished! Let's hope there are many more to come. :)

Supplies: Patterned Papers (Cosmo Cricket Mr. Campy and Togetherness) Cardstock (CTMH)Stickers (Border - Cosmo Cricket, letters - SEI and Doodlebug) Journaling Spot (Jillibean Soup) Stamps (Journaling Jots by CTMH) Brads (CTMH) Diecut (Apple from A Childs Year Cricut Cartridge - Provo Craft).

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I'm loving a new year. I feel a fresh start.
I'm choosing to be happier with where I am in life and what I am, and I'm choosing to be more hopeful. So much of life is about what we choose to see and do, isn't it?
I'm hoping to be more organized and, thus, productive. :)
I'm working to be more fit spiritually, and physically as well.
Hummm.....it's a lot, but I think it will be very worth it in the end. It all takes effort and time....and stamina, sitcking-to-it-ness. :) I think I've got it in me! Hooray for a new year!

JAG

My Top 10 Favorite Layouts of 2010!!

I thought it might be fun to share some of my favorite layouts from this last year.

It's funny how at the beginning of the year there were lots to choose from, but ever since Joshua started school the layouts I've completed have been few and far between. Life is truly full of the best things right now, with family and faith being at the top of the list, but I do hope that I am able to find a little more time for scrapping in this new year than I have the last few months. I miss the time for me, honestly, and not having had much of it recently makes me realize that it is an important part of my life, too. So here is to a new year and to finding....no CREATING... balance in my life! ;)

And without further ado...my 10 favorite layouts of 2010 (in no particular order):

JAG

Dear Scrapbook Room,

Oh how I miss you! You have been turned into a stash-anything-Christmas-or-Birthday-related MESS! I hope to unearth you soon! I have so many fun things that need me to play with them! :)

Love,

Me

Yeah, it's been way too long! I would love to post some fun creation, but I have almost literally made nothing in over a month! I say almost because I have been doing a December Daily Album that is {mostly} up to date. Once it is {really} up to date I will share some pages with you! It has been a lot of fun, and definitely a tradition I want to keep doing from year to year.

Anyway, I'll be back soon...........

JAG

halloween pics

BOO TO YOU! :)

Happy Halloween y'all!

Just had to share some cute pictures of my kiddos in their costumes,

ready for our trunk-or-treat Saturday night.

This year they chose Spiderman and a Fairy Princess.

Grace started out as a ballerina,

then moved to fairy,

but couldn't quite leave out the princess,

so we ended up combing them all!

Joshua wanted to be Spiderman from the very beginning.

I even offered to buy him the little fancier costume with the muscles,

but he wanted this one and nothing else.

Easy Peasy...all I had to do was sew a tutu,

and once the tulle and I fought it out,

it wasn't too bad! :)

I love seeing them all dressed up and excited for the holiday!

And I was glad we got some pictures before Grace biffed it while running across the yard and got dirt from her chin to her knees! :) There is always something!

Too Cute!

Hope you had a fun Halloween!

JAG

Sisters - this one is for you Maren! :)

Hello there.

I should be getting to bed, but instead here I am, with a new layout to share with you! :)

There is a challenge going on at the American Crafts blog to create a girl themed layout with at least two AC products. Well, I have been wanting to do some layouts about my siblings, and since I have been blessed with three wonderful little sisters this was the perfect inspiration to get me started on those layouts.

I created this layout about middle younger sister, Maren.

She rocks. Really. I admire her a lot.

The pictures of her are from a little Senior Pics photo shoot we had. She was kind enough to be my photography guinea pig. :) It was fun because she is a lot more cooperative of a guinea pig than my children are!

Supplies:

Patterned papers (City Park by American Crafts), Card Stock (CTMH, Georgia Pacific, and Paper Studio), Alphabet Stickers (American Crafts), Badge (Flair by American Crafts), Pearls (CTMH), punches (Martha Stewart and Fiskars).

And a little close up of the journaling, just in case any of you are like me and like to know the story behind the pictures: :)

Well I think that is it! I am excited the weekend is almost here. It is going to be a busy one, but full of lots of fun things. We have a new couch being delivered (YAY!!), a football game, a soccer game, a birthday party, and a baptism to go to! It's going to be a good one!

JAG

A little pick-me-up :)

Well it's been kinda "blaahhh" around here the last couple of days. Actually, I should rephrase that, I've been a little "blaaahh" around here. :) (Hence the lack of blogging) Everyone else seems fine like normal. I've been feeling very little motivation to do much beyond what absolutely has to be done, but I finally dug out the fall decorations and put them out, and I've given my blog a little face lift in hopes that it will inspire me to a little bit of a cheerier outlook - I think it is working! I love yellow, something about it makes me happy, so we are off to a good start I think! And when you add to that this above pictured Christmas layout that I LOVE, why I am think I am feeling down right cheery!

For this layout I used paper and stickers from Crate Paper's North Pole line. I also used letter stickers from American Crafts, My Mind's Eye, October Afternoon, and Jenni Bowlin. It's an alphabet schmorgasboard! :)

Does anybody else listen to Christmas music in October? I know some people have rules...no Christmas music until after Thanksgiving, etc... but I can't help myself. December is not enough time to enjoy to all the fabulous Christmas music I want to listen to! Besides, I am actually working on my Christmas cards (in hopes of avoiding the all-nighter that I have been known to pull on Dec 22nd!) so it gets me in the festive mood! :)

Oh, and I am working on a fun winter layout for a winter contest on the Cosmo Cricket blog, so you will have to check back soon!

Thanks for stopping by today!

JAG

A couple of new things

Hi y'all.

I just had to show off this 'Welcome Baby' banner that I made for my friend's baby shower we had at my house the other day. I have been loving all the banners I have seen around so I had to try my hand at it.

I used the Cricut Calligraphy cartirdge on this to cut out the triangles, scalloped triangles, circles, and the little onesie.

I kept this one pretty simple because I didn't have a ton of time, but thought it turned out so cute, I may make a fall or halloween banner next!

And here are a few quick cards.

I've made several lately, but it still seems

I've hardly made a dent in my stack of scraps! :)

I love yellow and gray together....something about it just makes me happy!
I think I may give this one to JBG's teacher.
He is loving her and kindergarten, and I am so grateful for that!

So I finally broke down and ordered some new things from this last CHA. I was trying so hard to resist, but I just couldn't. And when my dear husband wanted to indulge me......
well, I couldn't say no, now could I? :)
A little Cosmo cricket, October Afternoon (I ordered their Seaside papers...think I'm going to
L-O-V-E these!!!), My Mind's Eye, and American Crafts.

Yea, that ought to hold me for a while! :)

JAG