Lost: The Layouts

Ha! They weren't actually lost. But they were either published in Creating Keepsakes, or in a book, or in the Ella blog a while back. So it's time to share them here. (By the way, I might be the only person in the world to have never watched a single episode of Lost. Should I rent the whole shebang and watch it from the beginning? Mel, I know what you are going to say.)

I love this layout. It's not my usual style, but it features photos of me and my dad, and those are rare. We were just goofing around with my iPhone when he last visited. My parents live abroad, so I don't see them often.

As seen in the August 2010 issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine.
Copyright Creative Crafts Group. Posted with prior permission from the publisher.

This layout was created for my friend Barb's challenge for the Ella blog. She challenged a few scrappers to use up old stash (you can read the article here.) I have a lot of old stash.

This next one was also for an Ella blog post. I asked Jenn and Cindy to create a layout about/inspired by a favorite blog.

And lastly, a layout I created for Ella's Stretch Your Sketches book. Have I shared how much I love that book? A lot! That Donna Jannuzzi knows her shizz. It's one of my favorite Ella books. So very useful.

And that is that.  I'm currently working on Mosh Posh's October kit. Pretty groovy. I'll be back in a few days to share some sneak peeks.

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Boy Book Downloads

Pulled myself away from the TV, tea, and knitting. Well, actually I'm putting together my middlest's elementary school directory. It's a long, laborious, and boring process. So I took a break, and was indeed watching TV (Coco Before Chanel), drinking tea (green, iced), and knitting (this cardi). Then I started to feel really guilty. Why is it that moms are so bad at taking time for themselves? Sigh.

Anyway! Here are the promised downloads. They are both used in layouts found in the Essential Guide to Scrapbooking Boys. The personality questionnaire form I used to make the layout in the previous post. Super easy to use. Print it, trim a little off each side, paste it onto a piece of cardstock or patterned paper (8.5" x 11"). Then add your kid's photo, fill out the info, add another strip of patterned paper: DONE!

And the labels I used to create a layout about the things I find in my kids' pockets (uh, McD's hash browns! All over the inside of the washer. Half-eaten sandwich! Crayons!) Alas, I can't share that layout here. You'll have to get the book to see this one. But the labels can be used in so many other ways.

Lastly, I also used another cool freebie. Found here in my friend Jenn Olson's blog. She kindly created and shared stamped messy splotches saved as jpegs. I used those to make a layout about my children's attraction to dirt.

Enjoy! And if you create something with these, please share a link to your layout? Thanks!

Now back to the directory. (And iced green tea.)

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So Excited!

The Essential Guide to Scrapbooking Boys is out! And I'm ridiculously excited about it, not only because I contributed a few layouts to it, but because those are some of the best layouts I've created so far. Really! Plus, my middlest is featured in the page of content. He's going to be so stoked to see that.
Here is a peek at one of my layouts (you can get a closer look by clicking on the photo).

I'm also going to be sharing the form I used in the layout above, and the labels I used in another layout. Come by later this week for those. I gotta get them prepped and uploaded (you'd think it would have occurred to me to do that months ago. But not really.)

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Oh. Oops!

I did plan to come back a few days ago and share my Mosh Posh layouts.

My bad.

Uh, anyway.

Here we go:

This is my favorite layout this time around. I must confess it's because of the little guy in the photos, and not because of the design/colors/products. Taken on his fifth birthday, he was wearing the cake hat I knit for his first birthday. It was a too big back then, so it still fits. Or so he claims. I've taken photos of him wearing The Hat on each of his birthdays so far. I don't think it'll work next year. Sniff.

I love the photo of the kids playing together on the beach. The journaling talks about my wish for them to always be loving and caring towards each other. Alas, not an everyday thing around here.

I've used butterflies in layouts regularly for the past two years. And I'm not sick of them yet! Sorry. In case you are wondering, the big white butterfly is a Quickutz die. I couldn't find it on their website, so I'm assuming it was discontinued.

That's my oldest immersed in his favorite activity: reading, with his tattered stuffed rabbit Pudding in his arms. This has been his favorite thing to do since he learned to read at age 5. He's 12 now, and still doing so. I love that. Wondering how long he'll keep that rabbit.

And that is it for now. Sorry for the delay. This weekend, I was thinking about sewing a little bag to carry my current knitting project. I usually use a ziploc, but I'm thinking I need something cuter. Nothing elaborate, just something better than crinkled plastic.

Have a great weekend!

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Weekend in Review

And another weekend went by. Fast. But this time, I actually have something to show for. I spent half of  Saturday wrapping mandus (Korean dumplings) and wontons to be squirreled away. Love having food in the freezer for those nights I can't face going out again, but can't quite muster enough energy to create a whole meal.

I also finished my Mosh Posh projects which I'll post tomorrow (see them here right now). Got the gerbil cage cleaned (well, I got the kids to do it. But surely I can claim that as an accomplishment in itself.) And found a clarinet for my middlest.

Today is the oldest's birthday. TWELVE! Holy cripes, when did I get old enough to be the mom of a twelve year old? One more year, I'll have a teen in my hands (more like slipping through my hands?) Meanwhile, I'll enjoy his still-sweet personality. His choice for dinner? Cracker Barrel! Apparently, I haven't taught this kid well.

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In Search Of

A good adhesive.

Ever since Kokuyo stopped selling their roller-dot-y dispensers here in the US, I've tried quite a few other brands. Most were very disappointing.

But as I was perusing my Target recently (and I mean perusing, as in, I was walking every aisle, including the men's hair care section), I noticed this Scotch roller-dot-y thing.

It looks a lot like the Kokuyo, no? It was kinda pricey. A little more than the Kokuyo. But I bought it anyway, because peoples, I'm desperate.

Tried it last night, and it's almost exactly like Kokuyo! Yea, mama!

Two differences I've noticed so far:
1. The dispenser is not exactly the same. So there's no recycling the old Kokuyos I was saving. And the "lid" on the tip folds downwards towards the dispensing side. Kinda on the way.

2. The dots are slightly blue. I don't remember Kokuyo being slightly blue. Were they? I can't remember that far back (I can't remember what I ate for dinner last night.)

But hey, those are issues I can deal with.

So there you have it. A good substitute. And nope, I'm not affiliated with Scotch.

I need to find a place that sells it for cheaper and stock up. Just in case this one gets discontinued too!

eta: Jenn pointed out that Scrapbook.com has them pretty cheap in six-packs. Six-packs = good stuff. Think beer, stomachs, and now adhesive. YES!

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Cupcakes and A Winner!

It's the middlest's tenth birthday. And I just finished icing the cupcakes to take to his school. Yes, half of the school day is over. Ayi.

But I think these turned out cute. Simple and cute. And a bit preppy.

And we have a winner of Ella's Essential Guide to Scrapbooking Girls: Kataroo who wrote:

GIRLS??? GIRLS!!! I have two little girls and I LOVE ALL THINGS GIRLY :) Would LOVE to get a lookie at this ebook :)

And you do get to have a lookie! Yeah! Please email me at milesofpaper[at]gmail[dot]com.

Now, I have to run and deliver these sugar bombs before school is out! Have a great day (we'll be celebrating with sushi later)!

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Awesome Book Giveaway

Is it "giveaway" or "give away"?

Anyway.

Ella Publishing just came out with this super cute book about scrapbooking girls. I've read it and love it. And while this is a girl specific book, I think all the ideas can be easily adapted for boy layouts. If nothing else, it's filled with some pretty great eye candy by some of my favorite scrappers.

And I have one to giveaway (give away)! Woohoo! Drop me a comment, and I'll pick a winner by next Wednesday.
BTW, please check back to see if you won. I can't see everyone's email, so I won't be able to email you if you win. Thanks!

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