Fall - Winter 2010 Scrapbook Pages

As promised, I mentioned that I would share some scrapbook projects that I completed within the last six months. For now, here is the first set from about August-December 2010.

As you can see, I've been playing some catch-up with my layouts. I finally created a layout of my son during our summer visit in 2009. We have been making it a habit to visit the park located behind Fayette Mall in Lexington, Ky. That visit was also unique because we made a trip to a local instant-print photography shop to get some "pro" photos done. It was an interesting experience to say the least.

Last year, a good portion of my immediate family celebrated my mom's birthday at my brother's house. My mom got some great gifts.. especially one she's been hoping for.. forever - a KitchenAid heavy duty mixer. She was so excited she even hopped with glee! I think that was the best part of the day, seeing my mom so happy that she screamed and hopped when she opened the gift.

Not long after we moved to Montana, the snow came down and it stuck. The first huge snowfall we received was a really cool experience. Cassius was super excited about winter being here that he and his dad did guy things outside like engage in snow ball fights and building a snowman.. who lasted up until the end of January. Now, the poor snowman is a sad mound of snow.

Here in Whitefish, we have immediate access to a ski mountain. It takes, maybe, 15 minutes to get to the top from our house. On opening weekend, Cassius got his first private ski lesson from his instructor, Mark. he learned the basics like how to ski in "pizza" formation so he doesn't go too fast and how to properly get on and off of the magic carpet. In the photos below, he is wearing the winter hat that our friend, Jennifer, knitted for him. Everyone loves that hat.

I finally got around to scrapping some of the photos from the May 2010 France trip. I totally goofed on my title with my thickers.. but corrected the spelling after I took this photo. I really should just break out my camera again to get the correct photo... but alas.. "D'Amoise" is actually "D'Amboise." In the wise words of Homer, "I am so smart. S-M-R-T!" lol

In 2010, I came to the realization that I hardly have scrapbook pages about some of the major milestones that Cassius lived through. So, to get some of those moments recorded, I give you "First Tooth." Isn't it so cute.. just a tiny little tooth nub that you can barely see.

I tell you, Cassius is one lucky kid. He pretty much got to live through a lot of experiences in his short little life than I got to experience in my first 25 years of life and then some! I think my first trip to the beach was when I was 8. Of course, we lived in NM and my parents were supporting a household of six kids - infant to college students. But seriously, you can't say that the boy isn't enriched.

A lot of these scrapbook pages are the result of me participating in online scrapbook crops at one of my favorite sites online, Scrapbook Deals 4 U which is now Scrapbook Daisies. The group of women who participate at the site are wonderful and inspiring. They help keep my hobby in check (by giving feed back, ideas and periodic challenges to scrapbooking). Anyway, enough being sentimental. Honestly, if it weren't for them, I would never scrapbook about myself. Its really hard to find a photo of myself, too, because I'm usually the one behind the lens. This layout is about my 29th birthday party.

Last summer, before we made the big decision to move to Montana, we came for a visit. Our first stop was in Missoula. We found this cool little park and carousel by checking out the "things to do" flyers in our hotel lobby. When we checked out the next morning, we decided to drive over for a visit. No regrets on that side trip.

Once we made it to Kalispell, we gave our friend, Damon, a call. He took us sight seeing and one of the highlights of his tour included a trip to Glacier National Park. This place is incredible. I can't wait until the weather warms up and we can go hiking here.

I realize that this is out of order.. but, on our family summer vacation, we camped in Yellowstone National Park. Here we are at Old Faithful.. enjoying the smell of "1,000 buffalo farts" of which that is geysers and hot springs. Ok, forgive me for the flatulence reference... I'm just quoting James and Cassius and their disapproval of the smell.

Again, another scrap page about me in Paris. I hope to go back again. ASU just announced that there will be another trip in 2012... I hope to go!! J'adore Paris!

Another from our family summer trip of 2010. We hopped by Seattle's famous Seattle Center and got to go to the top of the space needle. Afterward, we walked around and saw this incredible fountain. The boys couldn't resist and had to run amok through the sprays. You can't tell, but the boys are soaked in the photo of them with the Space Needle in the background.

There you have it.. most of what I completed in the fall-winter of 2010.

Time to dust off the ol' blog...

Geez, its been six months since my last post. I figure that now is as good a time as any to get back into the swing of things, blog wise.

A lot of changes have happened since my last post in August.

1. Our little family moved to NW Montana. We are enjoying the winter and sometimes the sub-zero temperatures that come along with it.
2. We are expecting a little girl due in April.
3. I'm taking it easy with my photography. I still have some clients in Arizona who I meet with every couple of months. Yet, I find that here, there is no real market for a commercial photographer. Thus, I am slowly re-marketing myself as a family/children/infant photographer.
4. I am still attending classes at ASU, albiet online - they are classes nonetheless.

So, in the meantime. I've also worked on a few crafting projects.

In the next post, I'll be sharing some new scrapbook layouts that were completed in the last six months.

But in this post, I wanted to share that we finally got around to reupholstering our dining room chairs. Upon moving to Montana, we had to leave the other set in Arizona, as it was way too large and heavy to transport. We brought with us a slightly smaller, more moveable dining set that has been in my partner's family awhile. Yet, considering its age, the chair seats were in pretty bad condition.

Luckily, Jo-Ann's had an incredible sale not long ago on home decor fabrics at 50% off and we got to recover our seats for less than $4 a chair.

The end result:

Some New Sewing Projects!

Well.. In the days leading up to me starting the fall semester at ASU, I dusted off my sewing machine to knock out a few projects before I didn't have time to do any crafting thanks to upcoming homework assignments.

Our first order of business (after deliberating over colors the last three years...), we finally decided on a paint color to repaint our hideous walls (colors that came with the house). We chose a nice, inviting white paint with a hint of yellow. (If you're more inclined about specifics, its the Behr Premium Plus - with primer included - in a shade they call Ivory Palace.)

Note the original vs the new below:

Well... Since we were working to improve the appearance of our interiors.. I made up some valances to cover the not-so-pretty wooden blinds that hang in the windows.

And.. while I was at it.. I finally got to a project I have been putting off forever.. Making dining chair slip covers. With a little boy around, its tough to keep things clean ALL the time.. so, in the event that something spills on his lap and onto the seat, it will be an easy fix by washing the covers.

So, there you have it. The projects I managed to complete last week. Projects this week include some easier tasks.. like doing a few more scrapbook pages.

Dry Spell

Its been a long while since my last blog post. I've been very busy since the beginning of the year.

In January, I began my internship for the level 300 Commercial Photography class at ASU-Poly. I got to meet some great, bright students.

Shortly after my classes ended, I had about a one to two week break before I left to spend a week in Paris and the Loire Valley in France. This trip was incredible. About four students from the aforementioned class went along on this trip. Our trip was actually a photographic workshop focused on Architectural Perspectives.

I came home with a new appreciation for the world and people in it.

After France, I spent a few weeks knocking out some photography projects before I went on to start my road trip. I went with my folks to visit my son in Kentucky for a week.

When I returned, I went with my little family to see the western states. This trip was incredible as we got to see a good part of Yellowstone Park, the Space Needle and the California coast line. I loved it! It was hard to come back to the triple digit heat in the valley!

So, I'm keeping myself busy as of late by catching up on scrapbooking pages of my adventures in the last couple of months.

News for 2010

Hi Everyone!

I've been busy with school for the last few weeks and trying to find a groove that works for me as far as homework and housework goes. I haven't had any time to scrap! :(

On the bright side, during my attempts to get organized for school, I did put all of my layouts in their respective scrapbooks so I can focus on this year. You know what I discovered? That I haven't scrapped very many pictures of my son's 2nd year! So, in addition to his current developments, I'm going to focus on scrapping his 2nd year too.

In other news, I have an interview on Monday as a part-time office manager at a local, private photographer's studio. I hope I get the job, it seems so exciting to learn the ins and outs of a real photography business (which i hope to run in the future).

I was also selected as this semester's intern at my university's photo studio. So I'll be helping with the "beginner" classes the same day I have my in-person class on campus. This internship also lets me go on assigned shoots for the university by agencies or organizations that hire us for their events.

Also, in May, I'm going to France!! I'm so excited! I have to seriously fund raise for this though. And am trying to find other ideas besides selling my prints so I can go. The trip is in May and I paid 10% of it already, I just need to finish paying the fees by April 1st. Its going to be a challenge but I know that it will be worth it :-)

So please, if you can, stop by my website to purchase a print from my Send Me To France gallery. I'll be adding more as the weeks go on but these images are just to start.

Send Me To France

So, thats whats going on. After I catch up in my classes, I'll be back at my scrap corner ready to share pages again (hopefully this weekend).

First Time Using Embossing Powder

I finally took the leap and decided to venture into the world of embossing powders. After educating myself with a few helpful tutorials on YouTube, I went out for my supplies (compliments of the save 40% coupon from Michael's) and tried it out for myself.

It was super easy and I can't believe I waited this long to try!

Anyway, I created this card for a SD4U challenge - to create a card from scraps.

Here it is!

 

Supplies I used (aside from paper scraps):

• Heat tool
• Pigment Inks (Color Box Black & White "cat eyes")
• Clear embossing powder
• Prima flowers (cut in half and glue dotted to the back)
• and pop dots (dimensional foam adhesive)
  

Wow, what a long break!

I hope everyone has recovered well from the holidays. I, too, have been busy with preparations and the whole 'easing out' process.

I had some unfortunate news with the passing of a relative and another of a friend over New Years. It was such a sad time but one in which you are reminded to appreciate those still around us. In doing so, I know that this year, I am going to make a greater effort in voicing how I feel about people who mean the world to me. Also, make a greater effort in voicing thanks to those who help and gratitude to those who are appreciated.

Anyway... I had a great idea from the ladies at a forum I frequent.. and that is to post my top 10 favorite scrap pages that I made last year. Bear with me, I hope this blog doesn't go too far along.

1. 6 Months - this is my baby chubbs Cassius teething in his room at our old house. I loved that room and so did he. The floors were perfect for little knees and the colors were vibrant.

2. Fun in the Sun - This was our family's first trip to the west coast - San Diego specifically. We had a great time at the beach. This was on Cassius' 3rd birthday.

3. Into the Twilight - Life is about doing fun things with great friends. This is my friends and I acting like school children - giddy for the release of the Twilight dvd.

4. Splish Splash - Living in the Phoenix Metro area, we have many days of hot sunshine. What better way to cool off than to jump in the pool?

5. Mostly Sweet - Every day moments is what a lot of scrapbooking is about. My toddler is Mostly Sweet. There are some days that can be a challenge but, for the most part, he's a good boy.

6. Hey Sugar - I love doing things with my family. Cassius and his Aunt Hillary and I made Christmas cookies this past holiday. They were delicious and were fun to decorate.

7. Los Dos Molinos - Last year, I celebrated my birthday with my nephew Nick at this fabulous mexican restaurant in Phoenix. The food is hot! We had a great time and it was an awesome way to catch up.

8. Loveable - My son sure is loveable. He enjoys sporty things, trains, cars and reading.

9. Rocking Chair Rides are FUN - This is my dad and my nephew Noah. He is too darn adorable! I love his little swoop nose.

and 10. Friends in Pooh Corner - Our first trip to Disneyland was awesome. I was surprised to see my shy little boy run to give Rabbit a hug.

There you have it. My top 10 scrapbook pages from last year.