Babies, Paper and Song

Creative Memories Layouts

I've been working on an assignment for Creative Memories this week--- man, they are adding new products by leaps and bounds-- and I realized that I haven't shared many of my layouts for them here. That's because most of them are being saved for their publications. However, I found a bunch of layouts from the last year in the Creative Memories Project Center  It's always interesting doing layouts for a manufacturer because you are working within pretty strict parameters, with very specific products. Sometimes, those kind of limits can actually make you more creative, though! I love these layouts:

 

Halloween Wrap Up

A few days after the fact, I'm here to share photos and stories from Halloween. Although it probably worked out well for most people to have Halloween on the weekend, for me it made it absolutely crazy. I had two shows on Saturday, and I decided to go home in between to be with the girls. (I am, by the way, the only parent in the show who was crazy enough to do this!) So, I left the theatre at 4:15, picked up pizza on the way home, got there to find the kids ready in their costumes (good job Daddy) so that I could take photos outside while it was still light. After that, I brought them back in, took off the costumes, fed them, wasted 30 minutes until it was dark enough to justify trick-or-treating, but the costumes back on (with warmer stuff as well), then went with them to three house before racing back to the theatre for 7:00. I was pooped, needless to say!

This was the first year that Audrey really understood Halloween, so that was really fun. Lily, of course, has no clue. She would take candy from the first house, put it in her bag, then take it out and give it to the people at the next house. Pretty funny.

I am still dead tired, recovering from a cold, and not ready to go back to work tonight-- but I know full well that I get more rest than most, so I can't complain!

 

 

 

My Challenge for November, and a Winner

 

I do not have a green thumb. Though well intentioned, I have never been able to keep a common house plant alive more that a few months. My best friend used to bring them to me as a house-warming gifts (so often did we move about), convinced that someday she would hit upon a species I would be able to nurture. Never happened.

True, I have kept two children and a dog alive and, most would agree, thriving for several years now. However, children complain loudly if not fed about 6 times a day, so that doesn't really count. (I am always thankful that, in a pinch, scrambled eggs and toast can count as dinner.) As for dogs, our Millie gets fed first thing in the morning and again at 5pm, sharp. She starts looking at us expectantly at around 3:30, and if you haven't sent the Eukanuba clanging into her food dish by 5:02, there will be hell to pay. (She is also not above taking matters into her own paws, trolling the counters for loaves of bread, unfinished cups of milk and, as was the case last night, an entire Costco package of dried apricots. This morning I cleaned up about a grocery bag full of stomach reconstituted dried apricots. The joys of dog ownership.)

My point is that while small beings will make their hunger known, house plants suffer in silence on the shelf. They don't even start turning brown until it's too late. For me, house plant neglect is just another thing to feel guilty about. And yet they are one of the best things to have in your home to improve air quality by removing pollutants. They're green...literally and figuratively. It seems worth the effort. So I'm going to try again. I think I'm going to set up e-mail alerts to remind me when to feed this plant. After all, all he wants in a spot at the window and some water twice a week. He makes no real demands on my time. He doesn't require feeding, changing, dressing, or bathing. He ask so little and gives so much. Surely I can manage to keep him going, can't I?

Stay tuned and see.

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Thanks to everyone who joined in on my little giveaway! I loved hearing all about your Halloween traditions! The random number generator spat out number: 8

Here is number 8:

"Saw the great giveaway on the Two Peas boards and thought I'd join in. Thanks for the chance and congrats to you!

Alas - our Halloween has come and gone. Where we live they had trick-or-treating on Thursday. Today seems like a bit of a let down, sadly. I did take my kids (4 yo DS and 1 yo DD) out to see their great-grandparents all dressed up in their Indian/Native American costumes this morning. A very successful smile mission! We also took them some of little mini-muffin brownie spiders and ghost cookies that we made last night."

Posted by: Hilary H | October 31, 2009 at 02:15 PM

Congrats to Hilary! I'll be forwarding your e-mail address to Clickin Mom, so keep an eye out for a message from them!

Scrap Heaven

Wow, you guys, it has been an incredible couple of days in my scrap world. Although I have been pretty sick with a bad cold, my spirits were buoyed by two really exciting scrap opportunities.

It all started when I found out that I was a finalist in a competition on the Ella blog (see link right). I am a bit of a geek, and immediately got out a piece of paper to keep track of the votes:

I know, I'm a freak. I even had a piece of cardstock on which I had accidentally printed one of the photos for that layout, so I used it to keep track. The top two people were supposed to get the gig, and the competition was fierce! I was in second for a long time, but then dropped to third by just a few votes. Bummer. What a surprise, then, when Angie Lucas announced that the top FOUR people would win! So, I am doing a layout for one of their up-coming e-books. The concept sounds awesome, and the top-secret authour is really on the ball. I can't wait to see how this all come together!

On top of that, I checked the Collage Press blog on Wednesday night to see who was on their new DT, and was totally shocked to see my name there! I just assumed that they would contact the successful applicants in advance-- nope! There was my name. I couldn't believe it. I sent in my application about an hour and a half before the deadline, and I was a little silly in some of my answers. For example, when they asked "Why do you think you should be a part of the team", I answered that every team should have "not too frou-frou scrapper. Very important, indeed." Lol! And they still picked me. I am so excited because I just love Collage Press products, and I am so excited to get started! 

To celebrate these two amazing opportunities, I am giving away a $50, one year membership to Clickin Moms , donated by Kendra at Clickin' Moms:

 

This site features great and easy to understand tutorials, lessons and challenges. All of the contributions are from fellow members who are more than happy to help and give advice to one another.

They host amazing photography vendors who offer us discounts and group buys on their products. They frequently donate prizes for our photography contests.

Just leave me a comment here about your Halloween plans (costumes? fun jack-o-lantern face? not celebrating?)  by Sunday at midnight PT, and I'll draw on Monday-- don't forget to come back to see if you're the winner! ***you must be a new subscriber to Clickin Moms to win!***

Thanks to everyone who voted for me on the Ella blog, and thanks to Miriam at Collage Press for choosing me for this year's DT.  Here's to putting yourself out there, and going for your dreams!

BOO! Mwa-ah-ah!

A layout and a vote

Hey all! They're having a vote for a guest designer over at Ella Publishing. Have a look and vote for your fave!

Ella Blog

and here are my latest two LOAD layouts:

The last one is based on an ad from Donna Hay magazine. It's actually a Mazda ad, done in the style of her articles. Donna Hay  is kind of like the Australian Martha Stewart, but more laid back and simple. Her magazine is pure eye candy-- and fabulous recipes. I could do nothing but copy her magazine for layouts and be totally happy!

You Gotta Love a Day Off

While most of the city is heading back to work, today is my day off and I am very happy about it. I had a long weekend at work, and I am quite zonked today! I took a little walk with Lily this morning, after dropping Audrey off at school, but I'm planning to just hang out at home the rest of the day. Definitely some R and R in store.

I did a few layouts over the weekend for LOAD. Some paper, some digi, some hybrid... one more week to go!

 

 

Yes, I love those pumpkin photos of Lily-- they're just so cute and seasonal!

Budding Artist

This is Audrey's doodler masterpiece. Evidently this is Daddy, wearing a tiara, because he is a princess. He also has some pretty serious teeth.

Hand Me Down Pumpkin

While Audrey was at school yesterday, I took Lily outside to take some photos in the cutest little pumpkin outfit. My sister lent it to me. Both of her kids wore it, and it's on loan to me for Lily. To be honest, I can't remember if Audrey wore it or not. At least, there is no photographic evidence I am aware of. It likely would have been too big on her, the autumn she was one. Lily, though, is the perfect age for this adorable outfit! My sister says people always ask if it's homemade, but my Mom bought it on one of her trips to San Diego.

 

 

 

Of course, Lily was just happy to toddle around outside, climbing the stairs to the neighbours' houses, etc. She was really mad when I brought her back inside. Poor little pumpkin.

P.S. Less than a year ago, she was wearing a different pumpkin outfit. Can you believe the difference?

All Better

Hey Everyone-- I'm all better. No need to worry. My face now looks like I just have an extra sweep of blush on one side, and I'm barely sore at all. Glad to end this work week, though-- I am pretty wiped.

As my husband makes nachos for me downstairs-- his specialty-- here are my recent layouts for Layout a Day. I have continued the digi trend since:

a) There are some FAB new templates out by Cathy Zielske and Ali Edwards, my scrap gurus.

b) I can upload them directly to flickr, without printing, embellishing, scanning, and then adding to flickr.

c) I can scrapbook ON THE STREETCAR! Seriously? Yeah. I am revisiting digi in a whole new light.

Here is my dilemma, though: while digi is great for catching up on layouts and telling stories, it just isn't as artistically satisfying for me. That's the truth. I know that 20 years from now it isn't really going to matter to the girls, but it does matter to me in the moment. So, I think after LOAD I will be using digi more often... but I can't see myself totally switching over. I need to touch paper...and buttons... and stickers... what can I say? I like to make a mess.

 

 

 

Warning: Ponchos May Be Hazardous to Your Health

Last night, while walking to the streetcar, I tripped while crossing the street. I had my hands up under my poncho, for warmth, and couldn't get them out to catch myself. So, I went face first into the concrete. My knee also took it pretty bad. This morning I am sore all over, have a bit of limp and, well, this is my face:

Nice. So, I am staying home today to rest. I wouldn't be able to waltz with this knee. I'm counting myself lucky that I didn't hit my nose or my mouth.

Even lying on the couch with frozen corn on my face and knee, I managed to upload my layout for LOAD October. Seriously. I am determined not to miss a day! I've been continuing on the digi track, mostly because I have some layouts due for SACT, and I just don't have time to do more paper scrapping. Here are my last two:

 

Okay, back to icing!