Beauty

Beauty comes in so many shapes and forms, and my niece just overflows with it.  Of course, that's a completely unbiased opinion. :) 

The picture I used is from her Confirmation.  This was one of those layouts that easily came together.  As soon as I printed the picture, I knew exactly what papers I wanted to use.  

This layout was created for Scrapbook News and Review Magazine, so head on over and take a look around.

Layouts Inspired by Tybee Island

Both of these layouts were in previous issues of Scrapbook News and Review Magazine and I can finally share them. They were inspired from a recent trip to Savannah and Tybee Island, GA. Such a beautiful area to visit and full of history.

The pictures on this first layout were taken in the Savannah City Market, right in the middle of the historic district. The horses are used for carriage tours through the cobblestone streets of the city. We just happened along when they were all resting.

The pictures for the second layout were taken at the Tybee Island Lighthouse in the Lighkeepers cabin. My niece found a mirror and was playing with the camera. She did manage to get a good picture of herself.


There are my inspirations, what's yours?

Twins on Parade!

Both of these layouts were in the February issue of Scrapbook News and Review Magazine and now I can finally share them with the world.

I had so much fun creating this layout. The picture was taken at my nephew's last birthday and I couldn't resist snapping these pictures. Sheyla was trying her hardest to get that cake! The background was just randomly painted with colors to match the confetti on the cake. The border and all the chipboard elements were also painted to match.


This second layout is of Emily, approximately six months after she was born. It's just such a precious picture of her. Everything on this layout is from My Creative Scrapbook Kit Club.


You've now seen two of my biggest inspirations with scrapbooking. Have you found your inspiration?

Family

This layout was done for a challenge at
Better Living Through Scrapbooking. The challenge was to create a layout without a title or journaling and to let the picture speak for itself. The additional challenges were to use something other than adhesive to attach the picture (I stitched on the top left hand corner of the photo), use a shimmer mist (I used a concoction of perfect pearls, distress reinker, and water), and use some sort of distressing (I used my sanding block on the background patterned paper).


The picture was taken over the past weekend. All of the family was together for the twins' second birthday. We had just gotten home from lunch and the it was nap time for the twins, and apparently for Cristy also. It's such a precious picture, it just begged to be scrapped.

Christmas Ornament Tutorial

As promised, here is part two of my Christmas Tutorial. As an added bonus, the entire project was made by my 12 year old niece Taylor. So for those of you out there with children, this is a great way for your children to help with the Christmas crafting. And with a little help from Mom, this project can be made by younger children also.

Gather all supplies.


Print and cut out template.


Trace birds onto back of patterned paper. Be sure that the birds are facing opposite directions as they will sandwiched together in a later step.


Carefully cut out the birds. Tip: If working with a younger child, this would be a step the parents would need to complete.


Apply adhesive to the backs of the birds.


Sandwich the two pieces together.


Apply ink to the edges of the bird.


Accordion fold a 6in doily.


Unfold doily and add desired ink color.


Cut a 1in horizontal line where you want to place the wings. Refold the doily and insert through cut until halfway through.


Unfold doily so it mimics wings.


Apply a thin line of quick drying glue to the innermost edge of the left side of the doily and adhere to the innermost edge of the right side.


Add a half pearl to each side of the bird for an eye and it's ready for gift giving or even adding to packages as decoration.



Crafting with the young ones in the family is a great way to get in that much needed quality time, plus it keeps little hands busy for hours.

Merry Christmas everyone!

One Spooky Night

The munchkins are home with bags full of candy. And how cute are these guys? A pair of bumble bees, a Jedi knight, and a witch in training who thinks she's too old to dress up.

This is Emily with all her curls and ringlets.


Then there's chubby little Sheyla.


Then we have all four of the munchkins together.


And I'm loving this one with Sheyla sticking her tongue out.


Here's wishing everyone a spooktacular night!

Savannah/Tybee Island/Pirate Festival

What a fun weekend! Pirates and wenches everywhere, live music all day and all night, and loads of other entertainment for the kids and adults. Then there was the dolphin tour and trip to the top of the Tybee Lighthouse with an amazing view. And don't forget the food at The Crab Shack and The Lady and Sons, YUM! And we ended the trip with a walk down River Street and a stop at The Candy Kitchen.

The vidoes are from the dolphin tour. They are such beautiful creatures and to watch them play and roam in their natural environment was amazing!

Layouts of Tybee

Time once again to share some layouts. All of these were in the July issue of Scrapbook News and Review Magazine. All of the layouts are from a trip to Tybee Island last year.

This one is of my niece who told me in her best grown-up impersonation "Don't take any pictures of me sleeping". What else could I do but get pictures?


This is from one evening where everyone took a walk on the beach and the kids were gathering sea shells.


Lastly, this was from the wedding we attended that weekend. Big thanks to Liz for letting me use her daughter's pictures in my layout. Isn't she adorable? My fave pic is the top one with her just staring at the cake so completely mesmerized.


Hope you've enjoyed these layouts and they bring you some inspiration for your own creations!

Weekend Creations

My oldest niece is spending the weekend with me and the first thing she always wants to do is make something. So I let her pick through a few items I had and she decided on the wall plaque. She did almost all the work herself - she picked out the stamp she wanted to use, colored in the image, picked out the patterned paper, painted the wood plaque. The only thing I helped her with was cutting out the stamped image and cutting the patterned paper. I think she is well on her way to being completely hooked on paper crafting. :)



We also went to see Toy Story 3 in 3D yesterday. Definitely worth the money to see this one in theatres. There was a spot near the end that had me in tears and the very end of the movie is so wonderfully sweet. I think next on my to see list is Shrek.

Fun Day in Atlanta

The entire day yesterday was spent in Atlanta. First, we went to the Georgia Aquarium. Then we walked next door and went to the World of Coke. The aquarium was awesome. So many creatures that most of us would never see up close and personal if it weren't for exhibits like this. There was an open tank were you could touch small sharks and sting rays. The shark feels like velvet. There were other open areas where you could touch sea anemone and starfish. This is one larger viewing areas. There were manta rays, sharks, giant grouper, and tons of other little fish.


This is from a walk through tunnel where the creatures are literally swimming around you. Amazing close-up views of the animals.


How cute is this guy? The otters were really fun to watch.


Over at the World of Coke, there was tons of Coke memorabilia and we got to taste different drinks from around the world.

Fun In The Sun

So I'm finally getting around to scrapping some of the pics from Tybee that were taken back in October. What can I say? I've been busy. :) The papers are Fancy Pants and fit perfectly with the pics, even if the paper is green (ick).



Who knows? Maybe I'll find some time to get the rest of the Tybee pics scrapped.

One Year Old

Ok, so I'm just a bit behind. They were a year old on February 19 but I just now go the pictures from my sister. I spent the afternoon yesterday with her and all four of the kidlets.

What a difference a year makes though! They have both grown so much.

This is Emily.


And this is Sheyla.


Now compare this to just a year ago. This was taken about three hours after they were delivered. Emily on the left and Sheyla on the right.

Merry Christmas To All!

Wishing each and everyone a very Merry Christmas! We had our family Christmas celebration yesterday and everyone had a wonderful time! Because of everyone's schedules these days, it's not often we are all able to get together at once. The twins are 10 months old now (gasp!) and we able to open a few gifts.

And of course I have to share a short clip of little miss Sheyla laughing and dancing. Such a cutie!

How Quickly Time Flies

Hard to believe the twins are nine months old and the holidays are just right around the corner. Seems like just yesterday we were celebrating the new year and the arrival of the babies.

Yesterday the twins were Baptized and of course there was a huge party afterwards. I wasn't able to attend the Baptism so I'm waiting on someone else to send me picstures so I can share but I do have a few pics from the party.


Mom and Sheyla


The entire clan. It's not very often we are all together.
Myself, Mom, Felix, Pollo, Grandma, Emily, Taylor, Cristy, Sheyla


Mom, Sheyla, Grandma, Emily, Felix, Taylor


Mom, Emily, Sheyla, Grandma

I forget to pics of the cake once it was finished so by the time I had a chance it already had a few places in where where people were tasting and the top of the cake was a bit lopsided because people were bumping the table. Oh well, it was stll yummy.

Playtime

I got in some playtime with the twins yesterday. Gotta love baby time! Hard to believe they are now almost five months. I love this age, they are laughing, smiling, cooing, so much fun to play with.

Emily and the closeup. This pic rocks! Taylor was holding her and got a bit close to the camera and this is the outcome. For sure this will be on a layout in the near future.


And then there's Miss Chubby Girl (aka Sheyla). This child is a bottomless pit and it shows. She has the chubbiest cheeks that you just can't help but pinch.


Why did I have a house full of family yesterday? Just having a little early birthday celebration for me. I admit it, I'll be 21 this year! Come on, surely you believe that? OK, so I'll actually be 33, not afraid to admit it.

Life At 1,600 Feet

Ok, maybe not life, but a day. I took my niece and nephew to Stone Mountain yesterday. Despite the triple digit heat and humidity, it was a really fun day.

Ready for a history lesson? Who are the figures carved into the face of the mountain? President Jefferson Davis and Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson (and their favorite horses, "Blackjack," "Traveller," and "Little Sorrel," respectively). The entire carved surface measures 3 acres, about the size of three football fields. The carving of the three men towers 400 feet above the ground, measures 90 by 190 feet, and is recessed 42 feet into the mountain. The deepest point of the carving is at Lee's elbow, which is 12 feet to the mountain's surface.


The top of the mountain is a landscape of bare rock and rock pools, and it provides views of the surrounding area including the skyline of downtown Atlanta, often Kennesaw Mountain, and on very clear days even the Appalachian Mountains. On some days, however, the top of the mountain is covered in a heavy fog, and visibility can be limited to only a few feet. It was a bit cloudy yesterday but what a view!

Stone Mountain is a granite dome monadnock in Stone Mountain, Georgia. At its summit, the elevation is 1,686 feet and 825 feet above the surrounding area. Stone Mountain granite extends underground 9 miles at its longest point into Gwinnett County.

In addition to the historical and antebellum sites, there are plenty of child friendly activities - rock climbing, miniature golf, boat rides, 3-D shows, and lots more. And on a side note, I was amazed at the level of courtesy the staff showed, despite the heat and crowds. Kudos!

Growing Babies

I have to share some updated pics of the twins. They are really getting big now and seriously chubby with cheeks that you can't help but pinch. Hard to believe they are almost four months old now.

This is Sheyla.


And this is Emily.

First Holy Communion

No, not mine but my oldest niece's. It was a beautiful ceremony and all the girls were stunning in all white. Taylor is only 11 and looks all grown up and almost as tall as me. Where has the time gone?

This is Taylor and Cristy outside of the church.

Myself and Taylor outside of the church.

Taylor and the twins who are now 11 weeks old (Sheyla on the left and Emily on the right).

Taylor at home just before leaving for the church.