Happy Sunday!

Yesterday was a productive day. I finished two more layouts for the X marks the Crop challenges at Treasured Scrapbooking.

This challenge required you to use yellow with red/white patterened paper. I am in LOVE with the BG June Bug! This one was a challenge to lift a design team member layout - the "hook" is you had to turn the layout upside down - too fun!
Here is my layout:
I lifted and flipped Live by DebbieFitz. Very fun and clever challenge.

Don't forget to leave a comment on this post for a chance to win the Pay It Forward RAK! Enjoy your day!!

Woo Hoo - lots of scrappy fun this weekend!!

Good morning ladies!
There is a whole lot of scrappy good fun happening this weekend!! First off - I have a RAK to give away!

The RAK is the second leg of a pay it forward train! It started with the Willowtraders Blog Hop. While that is fun and motivating all on its own - last weekend I received an unexpected very pleasant surprise! The super talented Nicole - Made by Nicole - Not only shared her creative work - she also was giving away a RAK. Guess what! I won!! In the spirit of paying it forward - and the appreciation of Nicole's generosity - I thought it would be fun to Pay it Forwad with my own RAK! So - this is what I am going to give to one fun guest here on my blog!Four brand new sets of thickers, one scenic route black alpha, one set of fontwerks labels, a Prima chipboard alpha and two stamp sets! I think it would be fun to have a PIF train - win a RAK - host a RAK. What do you think? Have you ever been part of a PIF train? Do you think it would be fun? Leave me a comment on this post and on Monday morning I will pick a winner. The "goods" are already in the envie - I just need the winner's address and off they go! Will it be YOU?

Also - Treasured Scrapping is having an X Marks the Crop! It has been going since Monday and there are a billion fun challenges posted on the board and you have til the end of the weekend to upload for some great prizes! I plan on working on it all weekend! Here is my first layout for Julie's Ahoy! Show me your Treasure Challenge!
Journaling reads:
Treasure comes in so many possible forms. One thing I have learned in life is that the physical things mean so much less than the relationships we have in life. After 30 years that statement became crystal clear to me as I lived the journey of this angel’s birth vicariously through his mama’s pregnancy and birth. Once he was here, his mama selflessly shared every aspect of him with me. From surprise hugs to picking boogers to cuddles and having him fall asleep on my chest to dirty diapers to the ultimate – a simple “Auntie Lisa – I missdid you today. That statement from his little mouth brought tears to my eyes. Jamie – I missdid you too! He is my greatest treasure.

Have a peacful productive Saturday!!

Construction Challenge Aug 11-12

2 Boyz on Vacation!
I wanted to play with depth, dimension and edgies with this layout. I used a lot of pop dots to stagger the height of the strips of Patterened Paper. This "layout" will actually be framed for the mom of one of the boys. A memory gift of her vacation.
Tomorrow is Friday! That means the Willow Blog Hop!!

Be sure to check back because I am going to do a RAK this weekend. It is a very special RAK and I will tell you all about it tomorrow!!

Construction Challenge August 9-10

Had fun doing this layout! Lots of layering and bits.
I used the flowers I made from the tutorial posted on Saturday.

Construction Challenge August 7-8

For the construction challenge August 7-8, I decided to lift a layout from the Work In Progress gallery!

Here is Jamie Pate's Virginia Beach layoutAnd my feeble attempt to lift Jamie's layout - I used the August WIP kit too!
OK - believe it or not - I started out flipping Jamie's layout to accomodate my pictures - then it took on a life of its own as often happens when I lift. :)
Have a fantastic DAY!!

Treasured Hunt Challenge #1

I don't think I mentioned that I entered the Treasured Scrapbooking 2009 Treasured hunt. I was selected to be part of the 25 that move on to the first challenge. I am in serious need of participation right now so I am challenging myself every way I know how. ;)

The challenge: Create a ONE page layout (paper only - no digital)

Layout must include:
- at least one circle (3 inches or bigger)
- torn paper
- only ONE photo
- journaling....and the journaling must include "I wish someone had told me that..." It can be as long or as short as you like but must include those words.

My Layout:Wow - ok I think I needed to do this challenge. A little emotional purging.

Here is the journaling:
I wish someone had told me that... Pain is the Good Lord’s way of telling you to back up and reassess your situation. Whether physical, mental or emotional – you are not making good choices. Placing your hand on the hot stove is painful – not a good physical choice. Repeatedly throwing your heart to someone that does not want it is painful – not a good emotional choice.

Supplies:
Making Memories PP Varnish Passport Great Escape
Scenic Route garden Grove Joy Street (Circle cut from this)
Prima Flower - Summer Singles-Apple Map
Doodlebug Shin Dig Black glitter alpha
Ribbon-Michaels
K&Co Aoctopus to Zelephant Adhesive Borders
October Afternoon Cardstock Stickers-Road Map
Making Memories Great Escape Masking Tape
Ledger Paper-Staples
Paper Bag Heart (recycled bag) this is torn paper
Martha Stewart loopy punch
EK Success Punch-Binding Edge

Back is better went to Chiro yesterday - no floating bones! No surgery! I have 3 bulging and degenerated disks, arthritis en mass and a bone spur. All is livable so life is good!

Recycled Flower Tutorial

Paper Bag Flowers (Based on the idea of tissue flower tutorial)

I saw this tutorial on the blog above and cold not wait to give it a go myself. I wanted to recycle materials I have around the house so I substituted the paper bags from studio calico for the tissue paper. I also received a new phone book so I am using the old one for flowers too! Supplies you will need:
Paper bag or newspaper or tissue paper or your old yellow pages ;)
Brads
2" flower punch
Mists - I used Maya Mists and Glimmer Mists
First step - cut approximately 10-15 flowers with your punch from your selected paper. The more layers you include - the fuller the flower. Next stack the paper flowers on top of each other and pop a brad through the middle. I use my scissors to punch a hole in the center then insert the brad. The color of the brad does not matter as you will not see it when you are done so if you have old yucky colored brads - now is the time to use them up.Now is when the fun part begins - I was a little leary about the right way to scrunch up each layer - but let me tell you - just go for it - this project is very forgiving once you are donw. I pinched up each layer towards the middle and the pushed it down a little as I went.
Keep scrunching each layer up.
Until you complete all layers of paper. Once I was done - I worked the top a bit - flattening it out and spreading it flat on the bottom layers.Next - a few spritz of your favorite mist colors - I mixed up my colors - red maya mists then gold glimmer over it. A little blue maya with silver glimmer.
The flowers above were made with the paper bags.
Here are some made with the old phone book!Let it dry and there you have it!
I plan on using some of these beauties on a layout today. Check back later for a completed layout!

Thanks for all teh good back thoughts ladies. The insurance coompany came through when the MD requested te MRI and I went yesterdya to have it done. Results on Monday. Still wicked sore but the pain pills make it possible to get up. I cut them in half because I do not like taking them. Hopefully on Monday we will have a plan to make this right!! I am still scrapping today!