Family Visit 2012

Well, here we are again.  I think this time it has been over a year since I posted.  I have scrapbooked several layouts this past year and will work on getting pictures to post.  For now, you will have to live with pictures from our recent trip to Louisiana and South Texas to visit our family.

Bridging to Brownies

Figuring out how I wanted to do her bridging from Daisy to Brownie in Girl Scouts was tough. I finally got through my mental block and got it done. I like how the pocket holds her certificate and the program. I used K&Co scout paper and embellishments. I am glad I got this one done since she is about to bridge from Brownies to Junior.

The Boys

I love these pictures of my brother with his sons. Alex, Andrew and Aidan are so cute and such good kids. I used the cricut to cut the patterned paper into the label and quickutz border dies for the dots. I stamped the journaling spot and then cut it out with spellbinders nesting dies. I wrote who what where and viola I was done. The colors remind me of young active boys and I love how it turned out.

Knitting 101

I am finally getting around to posting some mostly finished layouts I did at my February retreat. You probably can't tell but the paper has a very crafty feel which is perfect for this layout of mom teaching Ashleigh how to knit. I still need to do the journaling which is the story of my crafty life but I really like the simplicity of this one.

Ice Skating??

We have had some super crazy weather here is Lewisville all week. Ashleigh and David have been home since Tuesday and I have worked just two days this week (Monday and Thursday). We have had ice and freezing temperatures. To add to our messy roads and yards it snowed today. Due to the temperature not getting above freezing it looks like it will stick around for a full day. Just to further illustrate how icy it is, David pulled out his ice skates and took a spin on the sidewalk and street yesterday! It is just unbelievable.

Art Exhibit

The Lewisville Independent School District has an art exhibit in town showcasing the Elementary kids art work. They chose about 20 kids from each school. Ashleigh's Crazy Craziness was picked!! David and I are so proud of her. She was embarrassed to go see it but we loved it. I was amazed by all varied pieces from these talented kids. Once we get her catcus home, we are framing it and hanging it up.

Loree

Pinkies Up!

On my quest to make 2011 the year I finally finish gobs of layouts, I took a day off the first week of January to stay home and scrap. They next few posts of layouts are just a sampling of what I was able to complete. In all cases it was a matter of getting the journaling down. To accomplish my goal I have determined I am going to need to hand write some of my journaling. I am okay with this and know it will be appreciated once I am gone.

I love the way this layout turned out. I will never forget how it took me three different retreats to get the tea put and cups put together. That is from a special Quickutz die which unfortunately does not come with directions. Needless to say it was worth the time and effort and I have another page in mind for them. Luckily I took picture of assembly so it should not take as long!

Loree

Valentine Cookies

I bought the felt embellishments just for this page. I love them and the soft touch they added.

Winter Snow

I love how this turned out. The title was cut on my cricut while the snowflake border is another custom die from Quicktuz. I blinged it up and never looked back. I will work on finding other uses for that snowflake border because it is so beautiful!

Loree

Disney 2011

I know I have been MIA on my blog. It has been a year where I have not scrapped as much as I wanted. However, I have big plans for 2011 starting with a retreat in February.

Anyway, on to vacation pictures. My manta for this Disney trip was "Disney is the Happiest Place on Earth". It really is my happy place unless I am scrapping. I love the decorations, sights and spending time with my family. I have included a few of my favorite pictures. David went this time specifically to ride the rides with Ashleigh and they had fun cramming in as many as they could.

The first couple of days they still had the holiday decorations up which were beautiful. On Wednesday, they were down so I we have pictures with decorations and without!

I got to watch all the parades I wanted and do the things I was not able to do last time. Mom was a gem and watched Ashleigh so David and I could go have dinner at this restaurant I really wanted to go to. It is Narcoosee at the Grand Floridian and it was divine!

We shopped, walked, ate and had lots of fun. It is exhausting but well worth the tired. I hope to be able to go back in 4 years with my brother and his family. I am excited to see how the boys react the first time they see it. There is just something magical about it.

Later

Loree

Daycare Holiday Show

Ashleigh has been taking guitar lessons since September. She has done so well and learned so quickly. Her instructor, Philipe, says she is a joy to teach. Well, at Ashleigh's daycare the Children's Courtyard they do seasonal shows with the holiday show last night. On Tuesday Ashleigh decided she wanted to participate. Philipe was game and came up just for the show to play with Ashleigh. They performed Overboard by Justin Bieber. They decided that Ashleigh should just sing since she did not quite have down the sign and play thing yet. Two of Ashleigh's friends danced behind them which was just distracting to the crowd. However, Ashleigh did not stop or get flustered when the kids laughed at Haley and Krissy. I can not even express how proud of Ashleigh I am. Just this past summer she would not sing at Girl Scout day camp. They almost called me to get her she was crying so much. For her to do this and do so well is amazing to me. I am in awe of my little girl :)

Trip to Louisiana

I spent the week of July 4th down home visiting with family. Ashleigh and I got to see everyone and had a good time. Ashleigh stayed with mom and John so mom can teach her how to quilt while I can back home. Last I heard, they have been making good progress and I have a feeling Ashleigh will be hooked on quilting. I can't really blame her :)


I will say that not having Ashleigh around this weekend has been different. She has gone on sleepovers before but to wake up and know she will not be home has been bizarre. Having that third person in the house does add some noise and I find myself thinking it is too quiet. I am sure that once I get used to it, she will be back. I miss her but know she is having the time of her life making memories that will last forever.

I did not get my camera out enough but here are a few pictures.

Loree Leigh

Vinyl

We have some neighbors who have a daughter Ashleigh's age. In the course of play dates and such, I have come to learn that Tori's grandmother scrapbooks and loves Twilight. She has mastered the vinyl and made this for her car. I think it is funny and she offered to make me one or one with another saying. I am pretty sure David objects to me putting Edward on my car but we shall see :)

Another crafty thing

So Linda in my office moved into a new house this spring. She asked me to make her a No Soliciting sign for her door. I agreed since I knew it would not take long and I do love Linda (most days). I used my Gypsy to find the frame and insert which I cut on my expressions machine. I had the dog bone paper from an old project. I used it for the letters as well which I cut using my Quickutz Lemonade font. I also had some left over stickers from that project which I added to just give it a little more pizazz. I like how it turned out and hope she does too. Linda's baby is her dog Bunny so I thought she would appreciate the dog theme.

Loree

I was feeling crafty

I have a stack of finished layouts I need to take pictures of and post but this past weekend I was feeling crafty. I have been wanting to try vinyl with my cricut machine for a while and finally got brave enough to try it. I started with a purple metal bucket for Ashleigh's teacher Mrs Jackson. After several attempts of putting her name on the bucket I decided that it was just going to have to be the J. I added some swirls and flowers and I think it turned out cute. I am thinking about adding buttons or bling for the center of the flowers to give it a little punch.






The next thing I decided to do was some glass etching using the vinyl. I think my O should have been bigger and that I should have left the cream on longer but think it turned out well overall. Especially since this was my first attempt.



You can't see it real well but I will certainly get better at it in the future. I have lots of ideas running around in my head. Later.

Cricut Fun

Grace spent the night and I decided it was time to pull out my two new cricut cartridges Once Upon a Princess and Create a Critter. Grace and Ashleigh got to pick which critter or princess, colors and help with the cuts. We all had a blast making all the cool shapes from those cartridges.

Life can change on a dime

OMG OMG OMG David has a job!!! He actually starts today. I think the entire process took a week and a half. I don't know much since I am in tax busy season but I know someone wants to pay him to show up everyday. Really, that is all I need to know. When I know more, you will know more. Just a hint, it probably won't be until after April 15th :)

Phantom of the Opera

Emily and I went to see Phantom yesterday. I have gotten pretty darn good at taking photos of us holding the camera out. I really like this picture of us and love that the chandelier is in the background.

Emily actually had tickets for next weekend which we did not realize until we got there. Luckily for us, they were able to switch them out for seats for that show and we still had a wonderful view of the stage. I have not seen this show in so long it was almost like seeing it for the first time.

Now I just need to get tickets for Wicked which is coming this summer. I REALLY want to see that one.