Shoe fashion show!

When I got home on Friday, there was a pretty pink package waiting for Hope from Aunt Debbie and Uncle Kevin.  So when Hope got home from school she found it and unwrapped it.  She got SO excited because it was the box of Disney Princess shoes she has been begging for (for almost 2 years).  Her comment was "I wanted these for so long" (in a really high pitch excited voice), "and I finally got them".  I think Aunt Debbie has moved into favorite aunt status at the moment.

So without further ado, here she is modeling (almost every pair):

You can't tell in these pictures, but that morning she wanted to have three piggy tails in her hair.  So rather than argue about how silly it looked I just went with it (she has her own sense of style).  After she put her hat on she decided the back one hurt her head and wanted it taken out.  So she looked like she had a piggytailed mullet.

Today, we went to see the movie Yogi Bear.  I made a deal with her earlier this week that if she didn't have any accidents the rest of the week, we would go to the movie.  Well, it worked, which is good since the beginning of the week didn't go so good.  I had to get her back on track by giving her something to work towards.  

So after the movie we walked around the mall and ended up at Creative Kidstuff toy store.  In the back they had a table set up with Dot to Dot paint daubers (for kids).  She had a lot of fun with them and of course wanted to buy them.  SO, we made another deal to have a good week and we would come back on Saturday and get a box.  I hope we do.

Alright, on to some scrappy news...

I made these two cards with the scraps from the Born to Ride layout in my last post.

Well, that is all for tonight.  Have a great evening!

Darla

Project 12-are you in?

I have recently started following the Scrapbook & Cards Today blog, and came across Project 12.  There is a new sketch  provided each month, created by Becky Fleck.  I love all her sketches and almost always start a layout with a sketch.  Sometimes it doesn't look like the sketch when I am done, but it might have elements of the sketch in it.

Anyway, I think my scrapbooking goal for 2011 is to complete the Project 12 challenge.  Here is where you can get all the information if you are interested.

Anyway, here is what the January 2011 sketch looks like.

Here is my layout and some close up shots of the journaling and embellishments.

The pictures could be better, but it is kind of cloudy out today and the pictures I took yesterday when the sun was out got eaten by an old camera disk (thrown away by the way).

The background paper had a texture that was like leather, which supported the topic of the layout.

I also used papers and embellishments from My Minds Eye, Little Yellow Bicycle, Pink Paislee, and American Crafts (thickers).  The 2 and brackets were cut using sizzix machine.

Well, one month done, 11 more to go!  I hope this will encourage me to get caught up on some of my layouts left to do for 2009 (just a few, which this was one of them) and 2010.  Go ME!

Later!

Ideas for 2011!

Last night I was reading the latest issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine, and they had layouts that were inspired by song titles and/or lyrics.  For several years now, I have had lots of songs that bring back certain memories, some good, some sad, some funny...you get the pictures.

So I decided that I wanted to try and complete some of these ideas into layouts in 2011.

Here are some of my songs:

Waitin on a Woman, by Brad Paisley:  This is a layout I want to create about my dad.  He had four daughters and of course mom, and was always waiting on us.  The video to this song shows a man sitting on a bench, and that is always where we would find dad, waiting.

The House that Built Me, by Miranda Lambert:  I love this song and it just reminds me of my childhood home, so I want to write some memories of home, growing up.

It Won't be Like this for Long, by Darius Rucker:  This song came out when we first started having potty training and severe sleeping issues with Hope, and I just kept telling myself it won't be like this for long (still waiting on a few things).  :)

The Dance, by Garth Brooks:  This reminds me of all the troubles we have weathered through the years, but we wouldn't be where we are today without those times.

I Saw God Today, by George Strait:  The first time I held Hope.

The Breath you Take, by George Strait:  Memories of Hope and how I want to cherish each of them.

Where I'm From, by Jason Michael Carroll or Small Town USA by Justin Moore:  This one is also out the small town where I grew up.

The Best Day, by Taylor Swift:  I love the story of this song about a mother and daughter.  Last summer I changed my schedule at work so I had one day off early and Friday's off so Hope and I could go to the pool.  The first day we went to the pool, she told me it was the Best Day Ever.  It was so awesome that we could have that fun day, and many more last summer.

Your Gonna Miss This, by Trace Adkins:  Again, more memories of Hope and the funny things she does that I will miss when she is grown.

She will be loved, not sure who sings this but it is several years old:  This was our first possible adoption baby that will always hold a special place in my heart.  I still remember her birthday, etc. and wonder and hope that she is loved.  I know her home life is not stable, so all I can do is pray that she is loved.

Ok, that is a lot to complete, so I don't plan on doing all of them in 2011, but now I have a list to reference when I come across the perfect photo(s) for each song.

Here is a layout I actually made last year, but I don't think I ever posted it because it was a gift for Joe for our Anniversary.  I was actually based on a song from the 1970 (love 70's music for some reason) by Orleans, called "Still the One".  After all these years, Joe is still the one for me.  :)

In the pictures it looks like a funny shadow running through the middle of the page, but it was actually black tulle I tied around the layout.

The heart was actually inspired by a card I saw in a magazine.

The papers were from an older Making Memories line.  I only had two papers, the die cut and one other paper.  The background was from Basic Grey.  Other supplies from Prima, Jenni Bowlin and SpellBinders (heart die cuts).

Well, I got off work a little early today, so going to edit some photos and enjoy some time before Hope gets home from school.  We have a play date to finish putting together the Toy Story lego train she got for her birthday.  It is pretty cute and I love building with Legos!

Darla

It's Cold!

Well, there is not much going on here today.  Just work and trying to stay warm getting to and from school/work, etc.  Luckily, the wind didn't blow the snow around too much and cause more problems.

Hope is learning so much in school lately, and she is reading to me as we speak.  So cool to hear her do that.  She has thought she was reading for quite some time, but it was always books that she had memorized.  She is looking at a brand new book, so she is ACTUALLY reading.  So proud!

Ok, now on to scrappy business...by sharing a few more cards.

These were cards I created using the paper scraps from the Valentine card kit I got from The Scrappy Gourmet about a year ago.

They are both very similar with just a few differences on each one to make them unique, but simple.

Well, Hope wants to go finish reading her book, so keeping it short!  

Goodnight!

Darla

Mom, guess what!

This is what greeted me at the door today when she got off the bus!

Hope lost her first tooth today, in more ways than one.  

It has been snowing out all day today, and during the afternoon recess they decided to go outside for a little bit.  Well, she said it fell out and she lost it in the snow.  I couldn't help but giggle just a little in how she said it.  I told her we would just write a note to the tooth fairy tonight so she would know where to look for it.  

Now her and all the neighborhood kids are playing out in the front yard with the neighbor's lab who is running all over like a manic.  It is pretty funny.  And they are shoveling the driveway.  Gotta love that and all for the price of some hot chocolate and Ritz crackers.

On to the birthday tea party...

This was Hope and her doll (she doesn't have a name yet) waiting for her party guests to arrive.

Here they are in their matching dresses.  Lovely!

Here are all the guests and their dolls.

These were the neighborhood girls before they went home.  The twins had to leave early for soccer camp, and they were pretty tired after a slumber party the night before to celebrate their birthdays.

Now on to some other scrappy stuff...

I saw a card similar to this one in a magazine and thought it was really cute.  So this is my version of it.  The ribbon was left over from a Victoria Secret gift card box.  I also added pink gems to the chandelier (after I took the picture).

The chandelier was from a Teresa Collins transparency, so I have several more version of the same card to show you later.  I did some different things with the ribbon and put on different sentiments to put my own spin on it.  I will share those later after I get a chance to take pictures of them.  

Here it is with the gems.  It just gives it a little more shine.  

I better go check on the kids.  Have a good night and stay warm!  I am hoping for a snow day tomorrow, so keeping my fingers crossed.

Darla

Birthday Celebrations!

Well, one (actually two) parties down and one more to go this afternoon with a few friends from the neighborhood (and the twins).

This morning Hope wanted to wear a dress to school for her Birthday.  So here she is waiting for the bus, walking around in her snow boots and dress.  Too cute!

We took rainbow cupcakes to Hope's classroom today for treats.  Don't they look yummy!

Here is Hope and her teacher, Mrs. Nelson.  The class is singing Happy Birthday to her.

Grandma Karen baked a chocolate cake for Hope's birthday.  It was also very yummy!

Then we got to the important stuff...the PRESENTS!  We made her wait all day until after supper and cake before she could open her presents!

She is totally in LOVE with the new Barbie and a Fashion Fairytale movie she got for Christmas, so she got the dress up dress to wear while she watches the movie.

Since we are having a tea party with her American Girl doll, she got a new dress to wear to the party.  And of course, it came with a matching dress for her doll!

She got several more tag books, which should be fun since she is really starting to learn lots of new words and reading early reader books.

My favorite was the Toy Story Lego sets she got.  This one was the trash compactor set, and she got the train set too.

And finally, the Birthday toy pollution photo!  Yikes!

Alright, I need to go finish things up for the party.  Hope you are all having a great day!

I will share some more cards soon!

Darla

Happy Birthday Hope!

I can't believe my baby is 6 years old!  Every year I always remember what I was doing on this day.  As some of you may or may not know, we were chosen (through adoption) by a very special girl to be Hope's mom and dad.  I was at work most of the day, but knew that J was at the hospital, in labor.  I didn't have much else on my mind that day, and everyone kept asking me what I was still doing at work.  What else was I going to do?  At least I wouldn't be at home going crazy wondering what was going on.  :)  That day was so crazy.  See, originally, we thought we were going to be adopting a boy.  She had two ultrasounds done and both times they told her it was a boy.  Well, they sure were WRONG!  :)  The social worker called us the morning she was born and said, "J hadn't changed her mind, the baby was fine, but things didn't go like we thought they were going to go".  We didn't really know what that meant, but J had wanted to call and tell us herself.  Well, eventually the social worker called us back and said, "It's A Girl"!  Later that night, we got to go meet Hope for the very first time.

That was the BEST day ever.

We have an open adoption, so we still keep in touch with Hope's birth family.  They will always have a very special place in our hearts.  Thank you for such a wonderful gift.

Anyway, onto year number six...

Last night, Grandma Karen and I took Hope to get a birthday manicure, while we got pedicures.  She wanted a rainbow, with one color on each finger.  The people just smiled and laughed.  She knew exactly what she wanted!

I forgot my camera, so these were taken on my phone, so the quality isn't that great.  Oh well!

Here she is waiting for her nails to dry.  She thought it took FOREVER!

Here are the colors that she chose, and they had to be in a special order.

This was just before we left.  She was a happy girl!

Well, I need to get the birthday meal started.  The neighbor girls just came to get Hope to play, so I can enjoy some time with the Grandmas.

Everyone have a good night!

Royalty!

I present to you my royal family...

Hope made a crown for herself, Reilly and Grandma Karen, who came to visit us this week for Hope's birthday.

We went to dinner at Red Lobster to celebrate Karen's new chapter in her life.  It was really YUMMY! (and totally not on my diet).  I am sure the birthday treats later this week won't be either.  Oh well!

Well, not much else to report, so will just share a few more cards.

The metal heart was made by putting two Christmas hooks together.

Well, that is it for tonight!

Darla

Cowgirl Up!

Ok, I got a chance to take some photos of the mini-album I completed this weekend.  I am so excited to show it to you, so here it is.

Almost the entire album was made with My Minds Eye papers and other embellishments, with a little Prima, Fancy Pants, Making Memories and K& Co.

Well, I need to keep it short as I need to get Hope to bed.

On a side note, I am watching the end of The Biggest Loser tonight.  My friend Evon's brother, Rulon, is a contestant on the show this season.  So I will be rooting for the YELLOW team.  Go team Go!

Goodnight!

Darla

Valentine Projects

Well, now that the Christmas and Birthday projects are done (or almost after this weekend), I can start sharing some Valentine goodies I made this weekend.

The wallhanging was from a kit I purchased from The Scrappy Gourmet.  I changed mine up just a little, but followed it mostly how it was created by the designer.  I have it hanging on our front door.

I created all of the original cards too, and then I had some extra papers to work with (along with a few papers I picked up myself).  Here are two cards I created.

This is one of my favorites that I created.  The heart is from the Pink Paislee Parisian Anthology chipboard box of assorted shapes.  The metal words were from Making Memories.

The only extra on this card was the metal word and the ribbon.  I did use Tim Holtz broken china distressed ink on the doily.

Well, we are getting ready for a busy week.  Hope's birthday is on Friday.  I think I am going to make the cake this year.  After my wedding cake this summer, I am anxious to try something else this time.  I am not going to bother with fondant.  I will just use regular icing to decorate the cake.  I might even make a few cupcakes too.  Darn, there goes the diet again!  I keep telling myself after all the birthday festivals are done, then I am going to get back on track.  I have a wedding in AZ to get in shape for (in February), so time is ticking away!  

I have several more cards to share, so stop back again soon!

Have a good evening!

Darla

New Year with New Projects

Wow, was I busy getting scrappy this weekend...which included LOTS of glittery papers.

I actually completed an entire mini-album in one evening (well almost done).  I need to get the right size of rings to put it together and then I will get some photos of it.  Can't wait to share it.

First I will share the Birthday invite I made for Hope.  She got an American Girl doll for Christmas, so we decided to have the neighborhood girls come over (with their own dolls) and have a "tea" party with cake.

I searched through my clipart and found this teapot shape.  I printed it out and traced it out on the paper I wanted to use.  I used a paper from My Minds Eye-Lost & Found collection.  Love it!  I used a lot of it this weekend (hence the glitter comment earlier).

This is how the invite opens.

 My little pea got home from Grandmas earlier tonight, and it was really great to have her home again.  I am refreshed from lots of scrapbooking therapy.

Ok, that is all for tonight. 

Darla