Girly kaleidoscope

Man! I am on a blogging ROLL!~ This is what...3 in a row for me? Anyhoo, my BFF Kim and I learned how to make these wicked awesome kaleidscopes at a weekend crop we went to, and we were hooked. She a little more than I, I will admit. She actually turned her obsession into a business. Check out her website if you'd like to have one made for you.

This is the first one I made when I got home and actually had the chance to print reverses of pictures. (Note: get them done at Costco or online like Snapfish. Walmart doesn't play nice anymore and charges more for a reverse.) I apologize for the background clutter in the pic, but it just wouldn't have that kaleidoscopey feel if I just layed it flat like a regular page.

It's amazing how many different kaleidoscopes you can create with the same pictures, just by angling it a bit different. This project definitely massages the left side of the brain, and makes you appreciate your 9th grade geometry teacher a little more. You wouldn't believe how easy they really are...

Believe Album

I have a huge collection of stuff waiting to be altered, and I never actually do it. I'm a sucker for those clear buckets (what the hell do you ever do with something like that?), jumbo wooden clothespins, clipboards, empty formula cylinders, etc. I'm thinking family totem pole, dunno. Here is one of my many Bo Bunny chipboard albums with my favorite line of paper, Basic Grey. If you're like me, though, you have a hard time letting go of the paper. It's almost like I enjoy hoarding it more than actually using. Yes, it's a sickness, but now that our 2 scrapbook stores went out of business, it's a little more critical to make every centimeter count. Thank God for A.C. More (they kick Michael's butt-oot)!

Preschool- Lexi

I panicked the other day when I realized Lexi is starting kindergarten this year, and I haven't started a year-by-year school album from her previous years of preschool. And now that Rich is home for the summer, I've been able to play more. Now I've got to churn out a baby album for Madeline! I'm already seeing Back-2-School ads...where do the summers go??

My excuse

I thought I might need an excuse as to why I haven't had time to do much scrapbooking (and by "much" I mean "any"). Who can blame me? I think I'm getting the better end of this deal anyway. Especially with our perfect 72 degree weather lately. What kind of mom would I be if I stayed holed up making pages rather than making memories?? (Okay, that's what I tell myself.)

BTW- any suggestions for a princess themed 3 year-old birthday party are much appreciated!

Call Me Repetitive

When Lexi finds something she likes to do, just have a seat because it's going to be a while. She must have jumped off her "secret ledge" in the pool 50 times. Lucky us, Savannah wanted to join in the fun too. Next time they'll be tall enough to touch the bottom, and we can enjoy our fruity umbrella drinks. At least I will. Rich will be butting in line at the waterslide... : )

Beamer 1998-2008

My Sweet Beamer Boy,

Had I known it was going to be your last day on Earth, we would have gone to great lengths to make it your very best. We'd ride around town in the bitter cold with all the windows down, so you could hang your head out. We'd fill up the jacuzzi tub with warm water and let you splash and swim, your favorite pasttime.

I would have given you a whole bag of M&Ms because they were always forbidden, and we'd play tennis baseball until I couldn't lift the bat. It wouldn't matter how many sheets you ripped up playing "Hide-the-ball" and "Where's Beamer?"- they'd all be fair game. We'd end your perfect doggie day with you sleeping on our bed with us like you did when you were our only baby. I have a hard time accepting that it was "your time" because it was so short. We love you, Beamer. You'll always be our #1.

Kissing Bridge

An oldie, but goodie. This 2 page spread took longer than any other by almost double. I worked on this bridge diecut for 2 days, measuring and cutting by hand. I like to make my own super big diecuts anyway, so this is my piez de resistance'. (Hey, I'm not French, and yes, I realize I just tortured it.)

Just in case you're wondering about the kissing bridge...it is on the campus of The College of William and Mary where we were married, my husband is alum. The legend goes that if you kiss your future spouse on this bridge, the only way to make a "clean" break-up is to toss the person off of the bridge. It's not deep, but I rest easy knowing Rich couldn't get one of my LEGS over the railing much less the rest of me. Yep, he's stuck with me...

Water Baby

If you're considering a visit to the Bahamas resort Atlantis, wait until the kids are walking- there is zero stroller access. Other than that, the place is unreal! Waterslides, animal life, and food everywhere! My mom had the unusual knack for putting DD#2 to sleep in the pool. The lazy river was all it took for me. If you go, I recommend the conch fritters, yum!

Our Little Hokie

We are diehard Hokie fans!- class of '98 here. (Yes, Matt. I'm old, shut-up.) This is DD#2 at just 4 months old and already geared up for the game. My husband and I attended the first home game last Fall after "the tragedy" at 9 months pregnant. The nosebleed seats almost put me in labor, but it was so worth it to hear the crowd go absolutely bonkers when they played "Enter Sandman." I'm not much of a Metallica fan, but when I hear that song, I immediately want to start jumping up and down like a student spectator. HOKIE, HOKIE, HOKIE HI- TECH, TECH, VPI! Wooo-hoooo!!

Fabulous!

The sad reality is my oldest just has more scrapbook pages. She must have 3 baby books of nothing but her. My middle child has better pages because my art evolved over time, but fewer of them. And the baby? Fuh-get-about-it...I have to remind myself to take pictures.

So here is one of many of DD#1 playing dress up. FABULOUS! What you don't see is her Uncle Matt actually squeezing into a size 2T tutu. Why did HE get all those genes??

Ship Rek-ked

Everybody else is doing it!... I'm so high school, I'll admit it. When all my other friends started blogging their art/crafts/issues/scrapbook pages and in my sister's case- alien experiences, I decided, what the hell? I don't really have any goals for this blog, except to have fun and see where it goes.

So this being my favorite page is where we will begin. My sister and I were in the middle of entertaining our kids playing dress-up when an impromptu photoshoot seemed like a good idea. Who doesn't love pirates, and, as I'm sure you'll see in the near future...Johnny Depp? Arrr we loco??