Let’s Just Play All Day

So back in April 2016 (which just happens to be where I am currently scrapbooking. Ahem.), we were in the middle of a major home renovation.  There was dust, and dumpsters, and wallpaper to strip (it had GOLFERS on it!).  There was also shopping!

This layout uses mostly the 6x6 paper pad from Echo Park, called Happy Camper.  I passed over the line when it first came out, but when I found the 6x6 locally a few months later, I decided I NEEDED it.

And apparently I did, as I have used it a ton since then.

The photo is of my 3 checking out the tractors in Lowes, while we shopped for light fixtures.  They were bored, other than this 5 minute interlude.  Still need to write in my journaling though!

I mixed in some October Afternoon Farm Girl ephemera and some random bits I had out, as this layout was made while we were in temporary housing and I was limited to 2 Iris cases and a box.  It’s amazing what you can do with a little, right?

See ya soon!

Brother-In-Training

Surprise!  After 7 years, we found out we were expecting a new little one in 2014.  This was unplanned and unexpected, but quickly became an exciting event we all looked forward to.  Perhaps no one was more excited then my 7 year old, who was happy to be the youngest no longer.

As the youngest, he had very little previous experience with babies, and so one day it came up in conversation that a baby’s head must be supported at all times.  We practiced with a baby doll, and so this photo came about. 

I used some ancient Webster’s pages paper on this layout.  I think I was saving those gorgeous flowers for a special layout.  Some subtle misting in the background,lots of layering, a few Thickers, and three black journaling spots fussy cut from some Echo Park Paper complete the page.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Lego Festival

There are a few things in life that are very easy choices.  Having coffee every morning, for example.  Also, when the local mall puts on a free Lego Festival, you go!  Especially if you have Lego lovers in your home.  And I do!  As a mom of 4, I’ve been a member of the Lego injury-in-the-dark club for at least 8 years.  Ha!

Seriously, though, this festival was pretty cool.  Amazing life-sized Lego creations that took thousands of legos to build (and must have weighed a ton)!  We took a couple of trips there during the month-long event, and I use a few of my favorite photos on this layout.

I started with the idea of bold colors to accommodate the colors of my photos, and chose the background paper from Echo Park and the flowers from some ancient Jenni Bowlin that has been in my scrap drawer forever.  Some leftover arrows from a recent Silhouette cut brought everything together.  I like that it’s an unexpected combo.

I used some white acrylic paint on the background to highlight and soften, and a few droplets of mist just for fun. 

Thanks for taking a peek!

Smiles, and Lots of Them!

Ok, so… I’m apparently a negligent blogger.  I’ve been creating, but we added a new baby to the family, renovated a house top to bottom, and moved twice all in the last 18 months.  Somehow, the blogging never fit into this crazy year!  Imagine that!

So now I have 4 kids, a house that is 95% finished but needs constant cleaning (refer back to the 4 kids), and a tiny scrapbook nook that is fully functioning.  No more excuses!  I am stretching my blogging legs as we speak. 

This layout is one that I created for my albums a few months ago.  I mostly scrap in chronological order, and I’m about 18 months behind, so I’m reliving 2015 with each layout. I started this one with some white cardstock and mist, then dug into my scrap drawer for some bits to form the two columns along the edges. 

This photo is of my kiddos and husband on a 3 wheel bike we rented for a Saturday outing in Sofia, Bulgaria (where we lived at the time).  We had done this before, and when it was time to move back to the USA, we let the kids each choose one final activity.  My oldest chose these bikes (and not to worry, the baby didn’t actually ride.  He only sat there while the bike was still.  I needed my photo op!)

The die cut doily is hard to see in photos, but I tried to highlight it with some Enamel Accents from Inkessentials.  These might be my favorite new things to add as a finishing touch to a page.  The flowers are from Echo Park and Crate Paper, and the bicycle is BasicGrey. 

Thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy the lovely weather and pop back in again soon! 

Alyssa

Dream Big!

Hi All!  It's been too long!  Today I have a dreamy layout to share.  I made it with a random assortment of products I unpacked from storage (finding things you forgot about- yay!).  First though, I layered up the foundation with some Crafter's Workshop stencils.

This leaf stencil has to be my favorite stencil to date.  So versatile!  And the arrows?  Well, it was a way to make a fairly feminine layout a little more masculine without detracting from the feel.  

I just adore this photo of my 3 from the days right after the Chicken Pox Haze of spring 2015.  Finally, all 3 feeling well enough for a pic!  You can still see some battle scars though.  :)

Thanks for having a look!

3 Amazing Boys

I posted last week with one of the last photos taken of my guys before Ezra arrived.  Now, here is my first layout featuring my 3 guys.  (I really need some new photos of Milena so I can do some girly layouts!)

I started here with some multi-colored misting, then dug into the scrap drawer for some Echo Park Paper.  There’s also some really old Studio Calico here (maybe their very first line?) and some Pink Paislee. 



I love those cork arrows.  They were the last thing I added and I think they really brought the whole page together.  I’m digging this cork trend (it is still a trend, right?  Please say yes)! 
~Alyssa~

All New Times and Seasons

I enjoy a good scraplift.  Especially when I have good reason to scraplift one of my favorite layouts. 

A few years ago, I created this layout, featuring a fun photo of my older son (now 8- yikes!).

When I was looking for inspiration for scrapping Ezra’s birth announcement, I came across this layout and realized I still had some of the same Echo Park paper.  That’s how this layout was born (pun intended).  I even borrowed the title, which seems appropriate given the way this little guy has changed the entire landscape of our family.  :)

 

There’s not a lot of complicated stuff going on here, just some fun layering and paint spatters.  I think my favorite part is the small “hi” beside the photo.  It adds a  little bit of fun on a fairly serious layout.  :)

Thanks for peeking!

~Alyssa~