Love Bug

I used to be one of those scrappers that HAD to create in chronological order.  With only one child, that was easier to do.  Now with three, I go with what is inspiring me at the moment.  That also means that yes, Madeline is three, and I’m still working on her baby album.  And that’s okay!  No mommy guilt, here.  
Had I done this layout three years ago, I wouldn’t have considered felt hearts or crimped strips.  (Okay, the crimped strips are pretty 2007)  BUT!  I didn’t have my Cricut back then for the funky lettering, and that’s brand new heart-themed paper from Close to My Heart.  So there ya go.  Lexi may have a bursting baby album, but Madeline’s is more evolved.  I’ll call that win-win.

Easter Layout

I definitely need some ideas to mix up our Easter traditions.  The Easter bunny strings up the house leading each kid to her basket, but that’s getting weak.  I need to go bigger.  Any ideas??

Spring felt topiary

I’ve seen this little project on so many blogs, that I had to give it a shot.  Talk about easy!!  Before I go through the steps, I better give credit where credit is due.  Here are some of my favorite examples.
Simply Designing

The Modern Cottage

The Boatwright Family

So here are my three easy steps…
Cut out three inch circles of your fave color felt.  (I used about 60 or 7 sheets of felt)


Fold each circle in half twice.


And finally pin to a styrofoam ball.  DONE!


I’m considering constructing a huge “R” for our porch (but that’s a loooot of felt.)  Good thing I have child labor available.  : )

Wishful Thinking Layout

Here is one of the layouts I did for Lexi’s half sleepover birthday party this past summer.  Having 15 girls here ranging in age from 3-8 made Simon (my nephew) feel like a rooster in a hen house.  He appropriately used the floor to ceiling mirror in our basement to get himself pumped for the occasion.  However, it didn’t even phase him that he didn’t get to stay for the party.  Heading to the movies and pounding a giant bucket of popcorn with Uncle Rich was just as good…

The One and Only...Jasmine!

Even people who don't like dogs like our Jazzy.  She's just a good pup!  And she had some pretty big paws to follow.  Beamer was the stuff they write Oscar-winning screenplays about, but Jazzy has to be the easiest-going dog that ever existed.  Our kids can pile-drive her, dress her up, tease her with treats, and she comes back for more.  My favorite part about Jazzarella, though, is the special relationship she has with Rich when neither of them think I'm looking.  I knew what I was doing when I sent him out to pick out our pup.  : )

Beachy Layout #2

I’m sharing this beach layout today to show why I journal to my children.  Each one has a crafted journal that I write in once or twice a month- just letters detailing their growth, events, development, and funny anecdotes.

This layout is from 2008, but I just now completed it.  Without the journals, there’s no way I would remember the details on our top 5’s.  So maybe the journals are just a crutch for a lazy scrapper, but I’d like to think the girls will enjoy them when they have children of their own.  And yes, that's my mother trying to scare my kids "Creature from the Black Lagoon" style.  Thanks, ma!

Winter Tropics

For Valentine’s Day, my in-laws gave the girls new Speedo bathing suits and Hawaiian hula monkey nightgowns to get us excited for our trip to Hawaii.  It worked!  Although, we’re not going until June, browsing our itinerary and the beautiful sunshine we had yesterday is all we needed to get through this last wintry push.  (Weight Watchers should help with the rest…)  So here is a beachy layout I completed at a recent retreat.  I love you, Summer!  Please hurry!  : )