Let's pretend for a second that instead of the fabulous weather in Ak last week, it actually rained like I thought it would...I had planned to share these layouts, better late than never, right?

This one I did for Houston's birthday, I feel so blessed to have her as a friend.
Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket, Studio Calico, October Afternoon, Collage Press
Alphas: QK BeautyQueen, others hand cut from SC paper
Embellies: Making Memories, Collage Press, Jenni Bowlin


This layout is all about Sienna showing off her body parts...




Patterned Paper: Fancy Pants
Journaling Spot: Ali E brush from Designer Digitals printed on Kraft, Making Memories tiny alphas
Embellies: Fancy Pants Buttons, Bazzill Flower


She loves stuffed animals, so when I found these barrettes at a gift shop I knew they would be perfect, good thing I didn't expect them to stay in her hair very long...


Patterned Paper: Sassafrass
Alphas: American Crafts thickers
Journaling: Ali E. for Designer Digitals printed on kraft
Embellies: Tim Holtz tickets




This pic is actually from a few years ago, but it could have easily been last week, in fact if I hadn't done this layout right before I left I probably would have come home with an identical photo. More cosmo early bird, I love this paper, it makes me so happy every time I look at it, in this one I fussy cut the pinwheel paper to make it eyelet like.



Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket
Embellies: October Afternoon stickers, Making Memories frame and buttons, AC ribbon
Journaling Spot: Collage Press

Catch Up Post #2

I always love the journaler's junction challenges in Pea Land almost as much as I love the girlies that host the challenge. I made a resolution to do all the challenges this year, so far I'm not off to a great start, but there's always time to catch up...and that's exactly what I did...this layout is from a challenge a couple of weeks ago 'Scrap your BFF'

I found this picture of Shelley and me at Disneyland circa 1981-ish. You can't really see in this layout photo, but my face is grumpy, grumpy, grumpy and look at Shelley so smug and happy, no doubt this pissed me off even more. Luckily the years heal many wounds. I'm so thankful for our adult relationship, even when one of us (usually me) acts like a one of these kids.

Yep, that's a stacked button on the flower. I can't stop myself.

10 on Tuesday...Inspiration Addition

This morning I got out of the shower singing 'I love a Rainy Night', but not so much a rainy morning and thought I should blog about it. Then I remembered that Ducky requested that we all blog about how we're inspired by each other and that that was my plan for this week's 10 on Tuesday. All the sudden my mind was singing 'inspiration' to the tune of the Chili Peppers Californication. Which reminded me of the Shell Silverstein poem 'ation'. Which reminded me of high school debate(yep nerd and proud of it). Which reminded me that I have that experience to thank for much of my success later in life. Mind you all of these thoughts rolled through in the 2 minutes brushing my teeth.(yes I have a timer on my toothbrush) All worthy blog topics, but not today.

Today is about inspiration...I know I've said it before, but it's just one of those things you can't say enough. The ladies listed to the right have all been such an inspiration and joy to get to know and without a doubt the best thing that's happened since I moved here.

1. From Heather...Journal, baby, journal. And not just the easy, happy stuff. When I think about my books and what I hope to pass on I hope that my pages will me as meaningful as this one of Heather's. It will forever stand out as one of the best.

2. Vivian...using my beloved circles in a new ways and reminding me that I love the look of a cardstock frame. I agree with Arleigh that her love for Thickers is contagious.

3. Rachel...lower right hand corner. :)

4. MK...challenges, oh the challenges, I can work with 'scary papers'

5. Speaking of scary papers...Ducky is just about the best in the biz at working with patterns that have me running for the woods. When MK issues one of her challenges, Ducky's gallery is the first place I for inspiration.

6. Emily...take pictures of and journal about me, bonus points if I can work in buttons, hand stitching or ric rak.

7. Houston...Houston's love for birds is also contagious, but I love that she's always willing to try and incorporate new techniques on her pages.

8. Tara...I am inspired by Tara's story telling ability. Her blogs are always entertaining.

9. Kelly...who doesn't have a blog, but should to show off her wonderful cards. You can see some her great technique ideas on the Scrapbook Destination blog on Friday.

10. Becky...inspired me to do my first(and only at this point) digi page and to use digi elements on gridded paper.

Video Thursday PSA

So did you see the bear?

I thought this was a great reminder to watch out for cyclists. It's amazing how fast an accident can happen. An Alaska friend was hit by a car (ok more than a car. a 3/4 ton chevy truck)a few years ago while he was riding his bike. The asshole that hit him, tried to take off...luckily witness followed and he was caught. That didn't help my friend who after being struck, suffered a seizure was taken to the hospital by ambulance where it was discovered that he had a fractured skull which caused bruising and swelling of his brain and still years later still has remaining memory problems. In addition to a brain injury, he had numerous broken bones including separated shoulders and a fractured pelvis. It took a long time, but I know he's riding and racing again and some blessings came along with the heart ache. It was a lesson for all of us that life is fragile and you can't ever take anything for granted.

In honor of Kevin I'll leave you with one of his favorite quotes that I also happen to love...

Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion... you must set yourself on fire

I love fall

I finally made it out to take some fall photos yesterday. Here are a couple of my favorites. There is this great open space park between our house and Denver. I felt a little guilty not having the dogs, but it's a little challenging to take good photos and manage two dogs at the same time. The trail runs along the creek and then climbs up a bit into the canyon. I love the colors of the leaves and the contrast between the bark, leaves and water. In the midst of all of the traditional colors of fall,

I came across these precious purple flowers. It's almost as if they're the last piece of summer holding on for as long as they can to remind us that even though winter is coming summer will come again.


One of the many reasons I love fall is that it is a feast for the senses. Leaves and color changing for the eyes.



For taste, it's time for one of my favorite treats... Caramel Apples. Yumm-O. I like to make them myself...whenever I buy them at the store the apples always seem to be mushy and I like my apples crisp, plus you can sneak a couple of caramels during the unwrapping process. I made a few for a special treat the other night and this was the only one left today so I had to rescue it from it's loneliness.




Finally a little something for the sense of smell, nothing says fall like Pumpkin and I'm a sucker for a good pumpkin spice candle. Funny because I'm really not of pumpkin pie but I love the way this candle smells, it just makes me feel warm and cozy.










Tomorrow is a big day...the Colorado 2 Peas circle crop is finally here. I have been looking forward to meeting other Co scrappers and it's been a month in planning. I have everything packed up and ready to spend an evening scrapping tom. The challenge is to complete 12 2 page mini layouts in about 9 hours, basically a half hour per layout. Since I'm a super slow scrapper, I'm a little worried about the time crunch, but excited at the thought of coming home with a completed album. Of course that's what they said about CKU and I just finished my last project this week...but this time other's are doing the work for my book. We had a fun set of questions/quizzes to start the thought process. I'll post the finished project on Monday.