And Though She Be Little, She Is...

Fierce!

Just look at her face while "fencing" against her older sister, lol.  This is the product of watching Barbie and the Three Musketeers!  Don't mess with the dress, let me tell ya!  Of course I win Mother of the Year award for taking pictures instead of trying to stop the violence. LOL.

This is my first layout using the November Sweet Peach Crop Shop's sweet kit. There are some rich and deep colors in this kit. I love the pink and plum especially!  It's not a color combo I would normally pick but I like it!

I painted the wooden letters by Pink Paislee with some Shimmerz Pearlz Blue by You.  I chose these colors because it matched very closely to another contrasting color included in the kit. You can see from the picture on the right.  That's my little tip: do not do more work than you have to. Leverage the colors chosen by the kit maker :)  Here is a close-up of the letters on my layout, such an adorable font.

I think we are mostly ready for the big event tomorrow night.  Alas, we must wear coats to cover up the adorable costumes, but I do hope the kids would pose with their Doodlebug bags so I can take some pictures :)  Happy Halloween!

Doodlebug - Monster Mania

All week long this week, we are showcasing the Monster Mania collection on Doodlebug's blog. Today, two of my Halloween theme projects were posted on the blog and here they are.

I can't tell you how good it feels to have made these trick-or-treat bags for the kids.  For the last three years, they have gone out trick-or-treating with Macy's shopping bags, un-altered.  If you think I'm joking, do you see the red star of Macy's on the right in certain people's hands? :)  The kids did not mind of course but some of my scrappy friends have ridiculed me for not putting forth any effort!  Even our dear neighbors made a comment about these red star bags and mocked me for them, lol.

I didn't even plan on altering these two bags until I finished my Sweet Witch layout below on Sunday.  As I was waiting for guests to arrive, I thought to myself... since everything was out already, I wonder if I have a couple of shopping bags that I could use to alter...  (The Macy's bags are still full of candies from last year)  And voila, I threw these together in a matter of 30 minutes.  I don't have a picture of the back, but they are decorated as well.  Of course, the kids immediately went on to fight over who gets which bag! Ugh, it did remind me why I let them use boring and un-altered Macy's bags!  LOL.

This year, she's going to be a witch as we have finally said goodbye to the Dragon costume!  We got good use out of that Dragon costume and now it's been given to Uncle Steve :)  Well, let's just say, come Halloween, she'll be holding one of these two fashionably altered shopping bags and layers more clothes to keep her warm!  And I believe the prospect of getting candy will entice her to smile and pose for me again, even if it is a little cold outside :)

Here are some close-ups of this layout.  Isn't this collection absolutely adorable?!  Don't forget to check out Doodlebug's blog for non-Halloween projects using Monster Mania as well!  Thanks for stopping by!  Happy Haunting!

My Host Parents

I still call them Mom and Dad.  It all started when I asked if my 10th grade Home Room teacher would ask his parents to bring me an SAT book since they were coming to Senegal for a visit... Then they integrated me into their family 20 years ago when I first came to the U.S. and now 20 years later, they are Grandma A+ and Grandpa A- to my kids :)  We never did lack any humor in our relationship.  For example, I did not mind being called a "twit" by Dad even though Mother told him to stop lest he hurt my feelings.  So much history, so much to document, and perhaps that was why I found it difficult to really say anything on this layout.  I do know what they would say when they see this :)  Can I get copies of this picture?  Yeah, I even have a few printed already :)

Using Jillibean's Sweet and Sour collection, this is my last project as their guest designer and I absolutely loved the two collections I had chosen to work with: Sweet and Sour and Apple Cheddar!  I have been very happy with all projects I produced and I think I did them proud!

Here is a close-up of the title using the woodgrain chipboard letters from Jillibean Soup. It's really totally adorable stuff! And yes, I give thanks to these wonderful and amazing people in my life. I give thanks to God who brought us together.

I am pleased to say that I finally made a few new layouts this past weekend :)  I think one of them will be on the Doodlebug blog sometimes this week.  Woohoo, new content :)  I also made trick-or-treat bags for my kids this year.  The un-altered Macy's shopping bags will be officially retired this Halloween.  Maybe my Halloween photos will be better this year too without the big RED star of Macy's :)

One update on my United Way auctions at work... half of my stuff have bids on them and we have three more days to go :) 

Cards - Jillibean Soup & Doodlebug

I really have not been scrapbooking. It's been three weeks now!  Instead, I've been making cards nonstop for a while.  Next week begins our annual United Way auction, and after nearly 10 years of planning to be organized each year, I am actually organized this year!  I had prepared close to 50 cards and envelopes, photographed them, uploaded them to the company auction site, and they are ready for the grand opening next Monday! 

Meanwhile, here are a couple of cards I made for Jillibean Soup.  It was my first time using a pad of 6x6 papers and are they ever wonderful for cardmaking. As a scrapbooker primarily, I don't buy patterned papers in such sizes, so it was a delightful experience to try these mini-stacks and I can totally see how these product address a need in the cardmaking segment of the market!! I am a fan!!

This banner was created with My Favorite Things' Die-namics banner dies. Of course I used a trusted SRM sticker sentiment as well.

Now onto my first two official cards designed for Doodlebug, you can see more inspiration here and get the supply list for my cards. These Create-A-Card from Doodlebug are cute enough to mail as they are!  Gosh, the colors are just so colorful and cheerful!  This banner here is even easier to create!  Both banners are glittered cardstock stickers from Doodlebug. Peel and stick!  I did add a little 3-d foam dots behind the tip of the triangles to help them pop out a little bit.  Adorable stuff!

I went with a non-Halloween theme because I have plans to use the adorable Monster Mania collection on a layout this weekend.  I finally am going to scrapbook again!  Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Now, an Apple Picking Mini Album

This is the third consecutive post with an apple picking related project. 'Tis the season I suppose :)  I created this mini-album for Jillibean Soup as their October guest designer.  The mini-album (box and chipboard pieces) is by Maya Road.  I finally put it to good use after having it in my stash for probably three years now :)  I am always reminded how much I enjoy making these mini albums when I make them, but I dare say that I have only made a couple this entire year! 

The size of the interior pages of this mini are almost the perfect size for the Bite Size Bits of the Jillibean Soup papers. Basically, I add the photo on one side of the chipboard piece, add the cut down Bite Size Bits to the other side and journal.

One more photo of the cute little box from the right hand side.  The chipboard apple is also a Maya Road one, perfect size for my project!

I spent the weekend making cards for our annual United Way auction.  In fact, I haven't made a layout in nearly two weeks and I feel completely out of practice and a little terrified!  It's just like exercising, if not done in two weeks, the first time will result in much anxiety and hurt!  I must get myself into this mode again, here's to hoping that I will have something to show later this week!  

Home Orchard

When DH bought and planted two apple trees in our backyard, I thought "No way, we can't grow apples!" But that's what I think no matter what he plants, and so far, other than the dead banana tree (kidding), everything has grown and produced just fine. It will always remain a mystery and miracle to me, how if you plant a seed or sapling, stuff will just grow from the soil and produce fruits or vegetables!  I will never cease to be amazed!

This year, we had a big harvest of apples from our two trees.  Now in their third year, they were prolific!  We made a point of picking them one Saturday morning, and I did not really plan ahead as she was clearly wearing things don't coordinate with the apples, lol! 

I used the Work in Progress October kit for this layout.  These photos were "collaged" in Picassa and printed as 5x7 prints.  I didn't even have to cut them apart for this grid design layout!  It's super easy and simple to do!

Okay, so this punched out squirrel came in the kit, and it is entirely too appropriate here as many of our apples were "picked" by squirrels.  Quarter-eaten apples strew the lawn sometimes.  Eventually, we just left a few apples under the tree to save them the hassle of having to "pick more," but that did not always help :)

I also made a card with some leftovers from the kit, just a quick note :)

Ah yes, I think that's two posts in a row on apple picking!  I don't think we are quite done with that theme yet!  There will be more to come!  As I have said before, my life evolves around fruits during non-winter time :)

Beaten by Travels...

I am back from the cold windy Southern California to find that DH had to dig into the boxes labeled "Summer 2012" for clothes for the kids this past week!  I am bound and determined to enjoy our lovely weather by sleeping it away... lol.

I am so so so tired from attending a conference for work. 6.5 hours of sessions every day and nightly events to attend.  The hotel was really clean but noisy and uncomfortable.  The result is a completely wiped out me!  I will recover and resume my regular blogging reading and posting. Meanwhile, I see this was the layout Jillibean Soup had shared last Tuesday and so I can post it now.

These photos were taken last October when we had a few warm days!  I don't think we will be going to the apple orchard this year because we have harvested plenty apples from our own yard this year!

Here are a couple of close-up photos. I think I rather enjoyed playing with the circular elements on this layout. And can this collection be more perfect for my theme? :)

A short post for tonight as I'm headed to zzzland...  Have a wonderful day!

2 Sharpen 48 Pencils

School started less than a month ago and after all the sharpening I had to do, I figured I might as well get a few decent pictures of the pencils to scrap!  The perfect opportunity presented itself in WIP's October's add-on kit. Thus documented is the tale of me sharpening 48 pencils, lol.  They aren't all pictured of course, after all, her little hands couldn't hold all 48 of them together. Yes, I did have her try :)

I printed the journaling on one of the tags and used the other for the title.

Also, my first guest designing post for Jillibean Soup is going up today. It's very exciting of course, so please stop by Jillibean's blog to check it out. 

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

Welcome to the Sweet Peach Crop Shop's blog hop! You can start at the beginning here at the Sweet Peach Crop Shop's blog.  At each stop along the way, we are showcasing a favorite product by the DT member.  So be sure to stop by all the blogs, leave a comment, and be entered into winning that person's favorite thing :)

Here on my blog with this layout, I am sharing how I used my favorite thing: Elle's Studio's Lil Snippets: "Sunshine" tag.  I trimmed the "hello sunshine" and used it on the side as the title for the layout. The rest of the tag is used for my journaling.  I am really into this kind of grid layouts recently. It is so easy to create and can showcase so many photos at once!

Here is a close-up photo of the part of the little tag.  I added a button for fun :)

So if you would like to win this tag, please leave a comment.  Angie, the DT coordinator will pick a winner from the entries on my blog as I will be away on a business trip. So good luck to you as you hop and post!

Thank you for stopping by today! Your next stop is chez Julie, please go see what her favorite thing is and be entered to win!