Classic tantrum

I just got my hands on my new-to-me camera. A Fuji S2 which I bought from my lovely photo whiz friend, Karen. I have not had any time since I got it nearly a week ago to actually spend time taking photos. Today was my day. Seth was home (daycare is only Tues-Thurs) and the sun was shining! We braved the -8 weather this morning and went for a quick walk along the shoreline as the sun came up. He made me feel like the paparazzi, throwing his hand up to block my view of his face while shouting, "No kankyou! No picker a me!" It was all pretty funny.

After school, we walked to pick Noah up and managed to make the most of a few photo ops, complete with the 'not ready to go home yet' tantrum photos! This one might just wind up as a scrapbook page.

layout challenge coming right up...

Year in Review Teaser

This is what has become of all those lovely new scrap products. This is my "Year in Review" mini book that I'm teaching at Courtenay Recreation throughout this month. There are segments within the book which feature the Sarabinders tabbed dividers and pockets too. I didn't hold back with embellishments either! I still have to do the journaling but I love it so far. I think I feel a "mini-book" trend starting. I just feel downright creative and motivated today!!

Edit: if you want to see more of the book, go to 2Peas and you can see most of the pages. There's a 20 page limit so I had to skip a few. You might want to do this class!

monday is good

After a very long and drawn out holiday, I have to say how much I am loving today even though it's a Monday. The kids are back at school and despite the madness that plagued my home over the holidays, I am inspired and ready to create. I have been reading Ali Edwards blog and her challenge for the new year is to define our personal goals with just one word. I have been pondering this and I keep returning to the idea of meditation. It is so easy for me to take on more projects and complicate my life unnecessarily (I've never been accused of that, right?!) so my goal for this year is to pare down my projects to take the time to work on the ones that give me peace and offer me a chance to meditate. Funny that I can meditate while I work. In fact, sometimes, I get so deep into my meditative state when I'm creating, that I can barely keep my eyes open.
For my blog followers, I want to know how you define your goals for 2007 and why. This is me asking you to post comments and I want to see more than one comment on here! LOL
I don't know how y'all are spending your monday, but I'm making an exciting trip with my toddler to the grocery store and then I just GOTTA SCRAP!!!! Maybe I'll get my project done from the materials in my last post and then I can post the pic. Make sure to check back and see how it's comin'.
Happy monday!
V

I love my UPS Delivery guy

It's wonderful when the UPS guy shows up on my doorstep because it always means he's got a package full of treats for me! Today's arrival was no different. I had been plotting for weeks as to which items I would order from the new CTMH Idea Book and I finally placed my order last week. I love opening the box and deflating all the packing pillows (thank God they're not popcorn!) and taking out each and every article from the box. This package was full of supplies for all my class samples and a few things for wedding invitations that I'm making.
I have to say, the new Level 2 Paper Packs for this season are such a treat! I have two of the pink & brown paisley "More to Adore" kit. I am so excited to start on this sample. It's for the "Year in Review" class starting up on the 18th. This class will feature Sarabinders which are the most amazing ring bound chipboard mini books, just BEGGING to be altered! I'll post a teaser of the sample when it's done. I should tell you, there's only room for 6 people in that class so you might want to get a spot early before they're all snapped up!

Challenge 2

While it has been some time since I last posted, life has been anything but dull. I have had a houseful of 4 adults in addition to myself and my husband, and an extra 4 kids on top of my own two. That makes a total of 12 people living under my three bedroom duplex roof! The new year has definitely made an unforgettable entrance. I know this post is going up a day early, but both of my kids came down with the flu today so I doubt I'll be online tomorrow.
Despite all the chaos I have still managed to prepare for this week's challenge. I was exploring the Creating Keepsakes website and found the coolest tool! Use this link to go to their site and try it out! . The challenge for this week is to use their tool and create a page or two using your own customized challenge (sketch included!).
My random challenge for the layout posted included criteria such as using stamping, brads and the title block being sideways. Like always, I did modify the sketch to suit my photos but the end result was clearly inspired by the original concept.
This challenge was a really great way to inspire me to resume scrapping after the holidays and I managed to get just a little bit less behind in my catching up than I was before.
Meanwhile I have officially booked my first wedding of the year and am very excited to be working on creating invitations for some very lovely couples. Watch for updates on those weddings and be sure to post links to your work. I look forward to seeing what you create!

Happy New Year
Vanessa