Christmas Hats

The first of many (I hope) Xmas layouts!!!

Become

I am getting back into scrapping and have found that Challenges provide the greatest spark for me right now. This layout was for the Frameworthy challenge at scrapbookgraphics and the artist we were to be inspired by is Ingrid Dijkers who is all about Artist Trading Cards, Altered Books and Collages. You can see her work here

The piece I chose is one of her ATCs and here it is:




And here is my layout!

Innocence

I did this layout for a challenge which required me to use all white papers and elements. I love the way it turned out.

Christmas is coming...

We

For 32 months, it’s been just the three of us - a sweet, little trio. In less than six months, we will become a quartet. We are excited and can’t wait to meet this person who will change all of our lives so dramatically! But for now, we are also enjoying our time together as a tight, family unit - we are mobile, spontaneous and indulgent. Parades, circuses and adventure fill our days while dreams of our expanding family fill our nights.

Finally...a layout!

Santa's lap!

Brian took Declan to the Parade Company's Holiday festival today. In the warehouse, they had all the floats set up, all the crazy giant puppet heads, a carousel, carnival rides and games, a DJ with dance floor AND Santa Claus. The boys had a wonderful time! Declan DANCED a lot and told me that that was his favorite part. The most amazing thing though was that he wanted to go and say HI to Santa (despite an outspoken aversion to sitting on Santa's lap). He walked right up to Santa, gave him a high five, climbed onto Santa's lap and told him what he wanted for Christmas! Brian was AMAZED and thrilled. I'm so sorry that I missed it, but I'm so happy that my guys got to share that together. Here's the Santa pic. (and Declan is DEFINITELY going to be getting the gift he asked for!)

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Zoo Boo

On October 30th, Brian and I took Declan to the Zoo Boo at the Detroit Zoo. It was our first time and we were very happy with the whole event! We went at the 6pm time slot and highly recommend it since we were there until almost 8! There were Treat Stations along the zoo path right up to the Bear fountain. There was a "haunted" reptile house that was NOT scary or haunted at all, just decorated with some cobwebs. It was really cool to see all the reptiles at night, they did seem to be more active! At the end of the trick or treating stations, there was a tent with games and prizes! Brian and Declan enjoyed that immensely! We also had some cider and donuts and then FINALLY went home. Declan was enthralled and wanted to see more "Candy Givers". He was a little disappointed that we couldn't see some of his favorite animals, like the butterflies and the hairy pigs, but all in all, it was fantastic!

Halloween preview

Here's a quick preview of Declan's Halloween Costume for this year - Buzz Lightyear!

Amazing how a movie that is over ten years' old is still inspiring young astronauts everywhere! Wait, I think it's just awesome Disney marketing! :)

layouts

Where have you been, Melinda?

Haven't posted much lately and have had more than a couple people ask me about it, so I thought I'd fill in the rest of you. A few things have been taking up some time around here. One - I'm in this anonymous digital scrapbooking contest and I can't post my layouts on the blog until the contest is over, so there are THREE layouts that have not been seen as of yet. Two - The family has been a little sick lately with various flus and bugs. And Three - I'm in the middle of setting up a little cottage-business (too small to call a home business) where I intend to do some scrapbooking-for-hire and I was researching and building a website, making business cards and flyers. Here is the link for my fledgling website - although it's not done yet - feel free to check it out! Scraptivated

Eyes of blue and Melody

Rufus

Here's one of Rufus. And now Brian says I have to do one of Daisy! ;)

Sweet Ride, My Beautiful Child

One for Brian

This one is for Brian - the love of my life. Maybe I don't say it enough - so here it is! :)

Feed Me!

Hawk and Jump for Joy

Two (different zoos) Zoo Pages!

Toledo Zoo:


Detroit Zoo:

Ssshhh...

Fall is Upon us

It's September, people! I am appalled! How did it come to this? Time is passing me by and I am a little freaked out. People said that time would FLY after having kids and apparently, that was TRUE and not just a bunch of hooey. So, Declan is BIG now. It's official. Example 1. I was using my scrapbook paper cutter to cut up some layouts and Declan indicated that he wanted to try. I said "Sorry honey, this is for grownups only" He nodded and said "OK". But then, he reached for the paper cutter! I pushed his hand away and said "NO! This is for grown-ups!" And he just looked at me in absolute surprise and said "I AM a grown-up! I AM I AM I AM! I'm BIG!" So, I started to miss the big, chunky, squishy baby that he used to be and this layout was born. (that and fall is UPON us!)

Couple more layouts

More layouts

Stuffy stuff again!

More layouts - don't miss the Dream Cruise pics!!!

Three new layouts!

Bragging and two + layouts!

So, I just want to brag that it has been 8 days since we started potty training and Declan appears to be fully trained!! He has had no accidents since the first couple of days and has been in big boy pants (NO DIAPERS OR PULL-UPS) since Sunday!!! And on top of that, the last two nights he has had a dry diaper in the morning! Yes, he poops for toys. And he pees for pride! ;)


Grandma is the little one in the hand-me-down coat that doesn't quite fit her yet!


Another photo swap! I did this with the photo from Kelsey:


And this is what Kelsey did with the photo of Declan!

More stuff

Here are a few more layouts

Stuffy stuff and layouts galore

Just a quick note to say that Operation Potty-Training is proceeding nicely, thank you! Day 5 and we had ZERO accidents people! ZERO! (patting self on back) :)

And some layouts:
The Glow



Sugar Buzz



And I did a photo swap with a fellow digital scrapper and here is what she did for me:



And what I did for her:

Giraffe Encounter

Two camping layouts