June's design team layouts...

This month's kit was just awesome. So boyish and and I loved the colours from Paper Loft's Dude collection. I used lots of twine, distressing and ink to really 'grunge' it up. There was so much to use in this month's kit I'm sure I'll be creating with it again.

I really don't have a lot of pictures of my boys together. They are often running in opposite directions so it's hard to get them in one shot. This is a pic of them goofing around at the cottage last year.

I added the knotted twine but otherwise everything was from the kit.

There were lots of gears in this month's kit so I decided to cut them out and use them as a backdrop for this pic of Wyatt. I put each brad through loosely and then ran the floss from each one and then smooshed the brad down to hold it in place.When I saw the 'What a dork!' title I knew exactly which photo I wanted to use.

For this layout I used a sketch from an old issue of Creating Keepsakes to get started. I really liked the blocked look. I added the rub on and mini letter stickers. The gears were in the kit and I used vintage photo ink on them.

Instead of making a card this month I decided to complete a project I've been meaning to get to for awhile. I bought these heavy duty chipboard letters from a bargain store in the US. I already have Wyatt's completed but was waiting for the right paper to finish Holden's. Well the green in this line is the perfect match to the walls in his bedroom so I went for it. I used the digger stickpin I made for last week's Friendzy Friday (so not planned!) and added some more twine. I can't wait to get it hung up on his door!

Tip: Glossy Accents (my go to product for everything lately!) was perfect for sticking the twine in place. I just love G.A.!!! Seriously, I should be a paid endorser for it!

I had a great time working with this month's kit especially since I got to create while at the cottage gazing out at the lake!

Make sure to take a moment to check out all the other designer's amazing creations over on the the TSF gallery.

at the cottage for an extended 2 - 4 ....

Isn't it nice to get away?

We just got back from a wonderful 6 day getaway to our cottage in Oliphant (between Wiarton and Sauble Beach). The weather was absolutely outstanding. I packed sweaters and trackpants and for the first time that I can remember we didn't use them at all! With the exception of a wet, gloomy Saturday the weather was all sunshine and warmth.

The boys were totally in their element there. Dirt, water, bugs (check out our ever so fashionable bug hats), sand and frogs. Funny, sad story about one frog that Wyatt caught. He was holding it ever so gently as he carried it up the cottage steps to show me. The frog was wriggling around and jumped right out of his hands and into....his dad's steaming hot cup of coffee!! Wyatt and Holden were devastated and I kept trying to explain that it was an accident. Poor froggy, boiled to death in a cup of Timmie's.

after Saturday the bugs were almost completely gone

Wyatt was completely obsessed with mud. These pics were taken at 7 pm, still warm and beautiful!

Holden kept taking running leaps into the water. He LOVED it! The water is super clear and shallow where we are so it's perfect for the boys (all sand, no rocks).

We spent our days at the beach in water that felt warmer than it did all summer last year. I hope this is the way all the weekends will be this year.

Hope you had a wonderful long weekend too!

~ oh and I did manage to get some scrapbooking done too but you'll have to wait a few days to see those photos!

Can I have a snack?

I'm pretty sure I hear these words about 25 times a day. I really dislike the word 'snack' because it's the first word I hear every morning. I know that with two growing-like-weeds boys that they are soon going to eat me out of house and home but seriously are they never full??? I try to limit their sugary snacks, easy on the cookies etc and fill them up with fruit,yogurt etc. Wyatt's favourite snack right now is apples and peanut butter and Holden loves his strawberries. I'm grateful that they love fruit. At least they are getting to an age where they can get most snacks themselves so long as I leave them prepared in the fridge. I can't imagine what their teen years are going to be like. I'm going to have to work nights just to pay the grocery bill!

What do your kids like to snack on??

Happy Mother's Day

To all the moms out there I hope you have a wonderful day!

Here are a few poems by Joanna Fuchs that are perfect for my sister and my mom and how I feel many days (I'm sure you do too!)

I’ve been watching you be a mother, Sis,
And I just want you to know,
I admire you and respect you, because
As a mom, you are a pro!
I love you, Sis, and now I see
You’re amazing in every way;
You’re my sister, a mom and a friend as well;
Happy Mother’s Day!

Mom, we miss you so very much

On every Mother’s Day;
And not just then, but every minute,
Since you went away.
You were the center of our lives
Before your soul passed on;
It’s just so hard for us to believe
That you are really gone.
But we celebrate the life you lived
And all the things you gave us;
Our wonderful memories, Mom, of you
Are the things that will comfort and save us.
Please think of us, as we think of you
With hearts so full of love;
We’re looking up at you, sweet Mom,
As you look at us from above.
By Joanna Fuchs

I Want To Be Locked Up
(Thoughts from a harried mom, who is beginning to think some time in a minimum-security, white collar crime prison is looking pretty good.)

I want to be locked up
Away from everything,
Free from all the craziness
A mother's day can bring.
No planning, shopping, cooking
Three healthy meals a day,
Served up with love to finicky kids
Who throw most of it away.
No constant interruptions,
Dirty laundry on the floor,
Driving everyone every place,
Sibling rivalry (It’s war!)
No one asking me to do things,
Getting mad if I forget,
Me giving up my very self—
I’m the family marionette.
Prison sometimes looks appealing
(Or maybe the looney bin),
I get free time and three square meals;
With nothing to do, I win!
I want to be locked up
For freedom, time and such,
There’s just one obstacle for me:
I love my kids too much!

Here's hoping all the moms out there find a moment or two to relax today.

I so enjoy a challenge...

For National Scrapbook Day I attended a crop at Two Scrapbook Friends. I originally said 'no' to going because it has been a rather scrap happy month but I caved (twist my rubber arm) when a couple of friends said they were going. I had to go for Friday to give my family some time with me over the weekend. When we arrived we were told about a bingo challenge they were running throughout the night. Get a line, get a prize. Who doesn't like prizes??? Then we were told if you get a full card there was another prize. My friend Darcy got right to work. She was a machine! Afer completing 4 layouts she had completed her card. She won a great prize of new adhesives and pop dots. I realized I was pretty close too so I pushed to finish and won as well. HOORAY!! Those who know me know what a pop dot addict I am so it was the best prize for me. Anyhoo, it was a great night with yummy food from Ennio's and hilarious conversation with the ladies sitting at our table. It's always so fun to get together with fellow scrappers and just enjoy our addiction together!

Here's the bingo card:

And here's the two layous I completed using everything on the card! (try and spot them all in the layouts)

This layout of my friend Jessica's girls is from them getting caught throwing Easter grass all over their house (my boys were also involved!)It is also based on a sketch by Joanne as part of the National Scrapbook Day challenges on the blog. If you need some inspiration have a look.

I have always wanted to do a layout incorporating one of the boys' drawings. As I was saying to the ladies at my table this is not one of my favourite layouts in terms of composition. One of them pointed out that it will be a favourite when I look back on it though.

After the craziness of trying to get the bingo card filled I managed to finish one more simple layout using some MME from last year.

I had planned to put ribbon with these tags but it wasn't doing it for me so I shredded the grosgrain and stuck it randomly under the buttons. Never done that before!

Another great crop at TSF. Can't wait for the next one!

Happy National Scrapbook Day!

I have lots to share about this wonderful weekend but just wanted to share that I got a little shout out on one of my favourite blogs today. I encourage all scrapbookers and crafters alike to take a peek because there are some amazing ideas on this blog.


http://ideasforscrapbookers.blogspot.com/2010/04/happy-national-scrapbook-day.html

I'll be back later with more including May's design team reveal.

I wish my husband understood what an important day this is and felt compelled to give me presents!! LOL
Hope you all found a little bit of time to get scrappy this weekend! :)