Page Maps....Relax

I'm three months shy of having Owen's "Baby Book" done...well, the third scrapbook for his first year!!!  Can you tell he's an only child!  Anyway, I'm hoping to get it all wrapped-up so I can feel like I've finally accomplished something!  I decided when I first started that I'd do each month with the same paper pack and just make it work.  So, far, I think it's worked out...you've got to love how versatile CTMH paper packs are.  This is the last page I had left to do for "Month 8" with Perfect Day.  Don't you just love those little feet...I have such a weird fascination with those little chubby toes! ;O)  Owen's crossed his feet like that since he was teeny tiny, people always ask me why I pose him like that...how in the world do they think I get him to sit still like that intentionally!  

I used another great sketch from Pagemaps, I'm so glad I thought to check them out again!  I've had a lot of fun with their sketches lately and look forward to doing more.

I had just gotten two new punches on clearance from Michaels and was excited to put them to use.  The first is the Martha Stewart Scroll Lace punch and the other was EKSuccess notebook.  I was surprised that despite the fact that EKSuccess technically makes both punches, I really preferred the Martha Stewart version.  But, I did like that the EKSuccess punch locks...anyway, just surprised at the differences.

Paper:  Perfect Day
Cardstock:  Twighlight, Olive, and Colonial White
Ink:  Twighlight, Olive, Bamboo, and Cocoa
Stamps: Cobblestone Alpha
Other: Stickles, EKSuccess corner rounder and Notebook punch, Martha Stewart Scroll Lace Edge Punch

Pagemaps...Those Big Brown Eyes

O.k., my husband and I were debating if the way I photoshopped this photo of Owen is creepy or not.  But, I think I like it and if nothing else, it definitely makes the point that I wanted it to! ;O)  I used one of the PageMaps sketches posted this month.  I haven't used their sketches in a while and had forgotten how much fun they are!  I wish I had put the title a little bit lower, but, its too late...I tried to move it, but it tore the paper and I don't have another of the flourish rub-ons...so, I guess I like it where it's at! ;O)  For those that don't know already, Owen's initials are "O.W.L." and his nickname is "Hoot".  So, I like to try and include owls into his pages wherever possible.

Paper: Caprice

Cardstock: Colonial White

Ink: Cocoa and Creme Brulee

Stamps: Large Friendship Alpha, Small Chocolate Alpha, You're a Hoot, Comments, and Dream Wishes

Other: K&Company Rub-Ons and Zig Pen

Fish-On Page 2...

So, here's page 2 for my Fish-On layout.  Not at all what I was envisioning and I may have to take a second stab at it later!  These pictures are all of my little man on our road trip to Fairbanks last month.  Fairbanks is between a 5 and 6 hour drive from here and nothing but two lanes and lots of trees between!!  The drive is SO boring!! ;O)  I hadn't been up there in ages, and it's been even longer since I went up for fun instead of work!!  But, we made the most of it and tried to stop a couple times both directions to stretch our legs.  Owen did an excellent job on the entire drive and even seemed to enjoy our "photo ops"!! ;O)

The layout for this second page was from CTMH's Reflections book.  If you want to know more about the first page, see this post.  

Paper:  Animal Cookies Creative Basics

Cardstock: Honey, Black, and White Daisy

Ink:  Desert Sand, Tulip, and Black

Stamps:  Outdoor Trek and Hook, Line, and Sinker

Other: Stickles

Carving Memories....

These days, I have two aspirations...the first, to use up this ridiculously huge stack of paper I've accumulated and secondly to get better at color challenges!  It became glaringly apparent when I attempted Heart 2 Heart's last color challenge (Tulip, Buttercup, and Black) that I need work in this area!!  So, while I was contemplating taking on another color challenge, I came across this entry at A Creative Life.  Janine does amazing work and in my opinion, one of the best at color challenges!! 

I loved the colors in this challenge and immediately thought of the last of my Halloween pictures from 2009.  Plus, the color scheme was similar to the other page I'd already done (see details of first page here)...so, I kind of cheated.  O.k., I really cheated, plus there's absolutely no grey in any of my paper, I'm easing into it! ;O)  

I also used the Inspired Blueprint Sketch #28 to get started, but, rotated it to accommodate all of my landscape pictures.

My pumpkins look off in this picture, in real life they match the paper exactly.  Weird huh!  I absolutely love our Autumn Leaves and can't believe that CTMH retired them.  I've never seen anything like them anywhere else and use these very sparingly!!

Paper:  Felicity

Cardstock:  Desert Sand, Cocoa, and Colonial White

Ink:  Autumn Terracotta and Cocoa

Stamps:  Homestead Alpha and Homestead Alpha

Other: Recollections Rhinestones, Stickles, Martha Stewart Punches, and Just Blooms Autumn Sunflower flowers and Fall Leaves (retired)

Heart 2 Heart Sketch Challenge...City Scape

I've been pretty busy the last few weeks and haven't had much time for scrapping.  In fact, I missed last two week's challenges over at Heart 2 Heart!!  I was on such a roll before that!  Oh well, I was excited to get back to it this week with my favorite kind of challenge, a sketch from the Close To My Heart Card Sketch Book, Wishes!!

Dave's Granny is celebrating a birthday in a few days and as usual, I'll be late getting the card to her.  But, I don't think that comes as a surprise to anyone anymore!!  I struggled to color this darn bear, I don't know why, but, I've never had much luck with him.  I love him though!! ;O)  I finally settled on watercolor paper and pencils.  I'm still not 100% happy, but, if you knew how many renditions I went through...you'd understand why I settled!!!!

Hope you all have a wonderful week...mine's going to be a bit stressful.  I'm looking forward to the end of July, things should get better at work for me then!

Paper: Veranda Level 2 and Creative Basics

Cardstock:  Juniper, Creme Brulee, and Colonial White

Ink:  Juniper, Creme Brulee, and Tsukineko Rich Cocoa

Stamps:  From Me to You (sentiment), The Best Way (Bear-retired), and Flower Pot

Other:  Martha Stewart Corner Punch, Strathmore Watercolor paper, CTMH Watercolor pencils, Spring Blossom Just Blooms, Creme Brulee Ribbon, and an old Connections Club Reward-Adhesive Pearls