Biker Chick

Today's post is not really scrapbooking related, but it's a photo I just had to share.  

As you know, if you've been reading for a while, my Dad is still in NY visiting the family after taking his cross country ride to take his brother Mike's ashes home.  He, along with my Aunt, Uncle, cousin & several other family members went to an organized Ride in my home town.  

This was the picture my Aunt sent me:

My 85 year old Grandmother chillin' on a chopper.  

Seriously, best picture ever!

Just Add Water

I don't know about you guys, but I have a few stickers.  Just a few.  (This is the point where anyone who's ever set foot in my craft room busts out laughing and cries of  "Are you frikkin' kiddin' me??" can be heard throughout the land.)   Ok, so in the name of honesty, I'll admit that I have more than a few stickers.  Ok, maybe I have this:

Ok! Ok!  Maybe I have 3 of them.  But they're all organized by theme and I can put my hands on whatever it is I'm looking for  in seconds....  

Yeah, that excuse doesn't work well on Steve either, but for whatever reason it never stops me from buying more cute stickers when they go on sale or clearance.  Unfortunately for me and my book of excuses, the bins are full.  As in "stuffed-way-beyond-capacity-gonna-explode-any-second-and-spew-stickers-for-miles-around"  kinda full.  So, I'm trying hard to use some of them up.  (hmmmm, have I said that before?)   

So here is my first using-up-the-stickers layout.  It was really kind of fun to get off the 3-D bandwagon and find ways to use them. Pictures of cute little monkeys in swim goggles help with that too.

And for those of you that don't live here in North Texas, let me just clue you in...   

Late June = hot as crap, but still gonna get hotter

so scrapping about trips to the pool is in my future.  The pool is  the only way for The Whitest Person Alive (AKA: Me) can make it through the summer with out impersonating the Wicked Witch of The West and melting into a big puddle of goo.  Taking the monkeys with me just makes it that much more fun to photograph.

Since we go so often, I'll need a little inspiration.  Leave me links to your favorite pool layouts and I'll try not hold it against you when you look better in a bathing suit than I do.  

 

Happy Swimming!

Texas Girl

Hello ,my poor, neglected friends.  I haven't forgotten you.  I have been so busy with school the last few days that I haven't had a lot of time to scrap.  But I did get a couple of layouts done yesterday that I wanted to share.

Supplies: PP: Bo Bunny, Buttons: Wrights Chipboard Alpha: Creating Keepsakes

Supplies: Cardstock & PP: DCWV, Cricut Cartridge: Cursive 101, Buttons: Dritz

I hope you have been getting lots of scrapping done!  

Now, back to homework.

Father's Day Cards

Today I am mailing Father's Day cards.   I pulled out my Wild Card Cricut Cartridge for these cards.  This is one of those cartridges that I bought, but seem to only really use for the font. In keeping with my "Using Things Up" theme this summer, I'm going out of my way to use my cartridges more often.

This one is for my Dad

This one is for my Dad's twin brother.  He lived with us for a while when I was a kid and we've always been really close, so I always send him a card on Father's Day card too.

This one is for Steve's Dad. He has the biggest sweet tooth of anyone I know, so we always tease him about being the Cookie Monster.

My Dad is in my hometown in Upstate NY with Rob & the rest of the family, so I have to get them out today.

I would love to see what you came up with for Father's Day!  Leave me a link in the comment box!

Friends Chipboard Album

Shortly after I moved here to Texas (just over 3 years ago), I received an email from one of the local scrap stores that they were moving locations & having a huge moving sale.  Well, as it turned out, they weren't moving, but going out of business.  Still, I had quite the shopping spree at 70-90% off.  Some of the fun things I bought were class kits left over from classes that had been previously held.  While cleaning up after my shelf-collapsing issues a couple of weeks ago, I re-discovered my stash of class kits (and several forgotten paper stacks, and a pile of monthly mail-order kits, and a whole huge folder of rub-ons that I didn't know I had and 8 duplicate sets of clear stamps that the stamping fairy must have left for me, cuz I know I didn't buy that many duplicates and...... well- you get the picture).  I've decided that it's really about time that I use up some of this older stuff.  So I put this little album together and  I've gotta say, I think it turned out really cute! 

Supplies: Flowers: Prima, Brads: Spare Parts All Others: Bo Bunny

Steve suggested that I should do something similar to this with a "Sisters" theme, so  I think that's what I'll do when I get back from school today.

Hope you all have a sunny, scrap-filled day!

You Make Me Smile

One of the girls on the 2Peas message board (which can be found HERE if you're interested in conversations with other scrappers) asked if anyone ever used "Kid Quote" stamps by Inkadinkadoo.  Inkadinkado 9 Clear Stamps  I have 2 sets (but I"m pretty sure there are more of them out there, as well as wood mounted versions) of these stamps and think they are super cute!  I used one on Steve's birthday card this year. 

Supplies:  Cardbase: JoAnn Craft Essentials, PP: DCWV, Stamps: Inkadinkadoo & Stampendous, Ribbon: Wrights

I mostly use them on cards, but do occasionally use them on layouts too.   I love the goofy things kids say.  

Have a summery fun day! 

OOPS!!

I was really happy with this lay out until I noticed the great big OOPS on it.  Can you find it?

 

Supplies: Cardstick & PP: DCWV, Alpha & Flowers: KI Memories

 Yup.  It's right there in front of ya isn't it?  Oh well.  Not every layout is perfect.  Besides, who's gonna notice a little thing like that when they're busy drooling over the Oh-So-Cute boy in the pictures?  

Hope you all have a super smiley day!

Silly-ness

I'm not sure what I was thinking when I made this layout, but I've gotta say- it makes me laugh every time I look at it.

Supplies: Cardstock: DCWV, Stickers: MAMBI, Paper: Colorbok, Tab Punch: Murvy, Corner Punch: EK Success, Cricut Cartridge: Doodletype

 

(For those not in the know-- I spent a good part of 2009 -and 2008, for that matter-- battling with the shrubs in front of my house.  I HATED those things. They were planted by the previous owners of the house who didn't trim them & planted them way too close together, so they were constantly trying to merge with the shrubs on the other side of the sidewalk and completely block the front door.  It is my belief that they were planning on eventually overcoming the whole house, thus forcing me to live like a Hobbit. I had to defend myself.  Thus, the war began...)

Your challenge for today is to scrap photos from an ordinary event in a silly way.   Don't forget to post a link to your challenge page in the comments section.  I want to see what you came up with!

Flippie Girl

Today's layout is another from the '09 album.  Yes, it is about flip-flops.  I'm obsessed with them.  I love love LOVE them.  As of today, I own 23 pairs (As I mentioned, this LO is from my '09 album, so not all 23 pair are shown.  That would be in this year's album!  lol).  And have no doubts that I will buy more as the summer progresses. What can I say?  As noted in the journaling: they are as close as I can get to being barefoot without being a total heathen. 

Supplies: PP & Cardstock: DCWV, Embellishments: JoAnn Craft Essentials

Today's challenge is for you to photograph & scrap your obsession.  (The one that's not scrapbooking!)

I would LOVE for you to leave a link to your challenge page in the comment box.  

Can't wait to see what you create!

Home Sweet Home

Today's layout is one for my '09 Album that is still in progress.  With Steve getting ready to move in and lots of changes coming, I felt the need to document the things I loved about my home while it was still just mine. 

My challenge to you today is to photograph & scrap some of your favorite things in your home.

Happy Scrapping!

Baker City Mike's Big Ride

Last August, my family went through a very tough time.  On August 19, my cousin passed away very unexpectedly. When my father called his older brother Mike to tell him the news, Mike told him that he felt that he was likely next.  They had a conversation about what Mike wanted when the time came.  It was decided that his ashes would be returned to our home town of Watertown, NY so that he would  rest at home, with the family.  He told my Dad "I gave you your first ride on a Harley, I want you to give me my last."    He died just 4 days later.  

Respectful of Mike's wishes, he is being returned home.  At 6am, West Coast time, the Big Ride begins.  Dad, along with a few old friends from home, will be leaving LA to take a cross-country route that will include Route 50, the last 2 lane coast to coast highway in the country.  Along the way, they will be making webcasts to send out to let us know of their progress.  You can see them here http://www.steveweedproductions.com/

My contribution to the trip was a small album that I put together for Dad to fill with pictures of Mike.  When people asked questions along the way, he wanted to be able to show them photos of Mike and explain what they were doing.  

 I left the pages empty because I knew that Dad had very specific thoughts as to which pictures he wanted to use and I wasn't sure that I had them all.

When I spoke to Dad this morning, he was in high spirits and ready to go.  I'm know how important this is to him and I'm thankful that he's able to do it.  I'm thankful that he was such amazing friends who love him so much that they shipped their own motorcycles from NY to Los Angeles  so that he wouldn't be making this trip alone.  And mostly, I'm thankful to be part of such a wonderful family, who love each other so much.

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend and hope that you will keep watching the website.  Dad will be thrilled to watch the ticker climb, with each hit to the site.  

Have a safe trip Dad! I love you!