A few layouts

Over at the Apronstrings' Yahoo Group, there is a Chillin' Winter Challenge going on. During each of the 12 days after Christmas, a new challenge will be posted. Each challenge is for a new layout. So far, I've completed three challenges, and we are on day 4. I'll catch up when I'm off of work starting on Wednesday for a nice looooong weekend.

Here are two of my challenge layouts.

Keep an eye out of the January Apron Strings Kits, they go live in early January! Sneak peeks are available on the Apron Strings website, under resources. Look at the December 2008 Newsletter to see what's coming in January! (two of my favorite companies - Basic Grey and Pink Paislee!)

Happy Birthday Alexa!

My baby girl, is FIVE! I'm still in denial. She seems so grown up and in September, off to Kindergarten. (EEK, definitely not ready for that!)

With my mom (nana), the night she was born:

Christmas eve:

Happy Birthday to my beautiful girl!

Finally, I've reached 2001.

Because, I now own an Ipod. A shiny new Silver 8 gb Nano. Welcome to the 21st century Maria. (In my defense, I do have a generic MP3 player...) Now I just have to figure out how to use it. And sync it.

Joy banner. (if it took me any longer, Christmas would be over)

Finally finished this! Hand cut the banner from chipboard, covered it with Basic Grey Mistletoe and Pear paper, die cut the scalloped frames (Martha Stewart glitter), some old K&Co chipboard letter I painted and glittered (MS), pearl strands from Michaels, die cut and glittered chipboard stars.

Every piece slides along the ribbon, so it can be taken apart for storage.

What do you think? I've got to find a place to hang this above our fireplace.

Well, I'm no Tim Holtz.

But I did have fun trying out some of his techniques from the "12 Tags of Christmas." I turned some tags in to Christmas cards for coworkers.

I made the tag "envelope" from Basic Grey Mistletoe and Pear paper. Lots of distress inks on the tags. The back of the tag has the card sentiment.

2008 Memories mini-album

Just wanted to post my latest mini-album. I made this for my IL's as a little Christmas gift.

You can see the rest of the pages here:

http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/pg.asp?cmd=display&layout_id=1422245

There are too many images to post in this thread. I used mainly October Afternoon, Cosmo Cricket and We R Memory Keepers paper, Elles' studio calendar tags, Pink Paislee stamps, Stickles, Prima flowers and gems. I kept with a very simple layout on each page.

ok, really, back to cards and cookies...

Who doesn't love a giveaway?

And seriously, if you like to scrapbook, this is a fabulous giveaway opportunity:

http://lifeaslou.blogsome.com/2008/12/20/christmas-mini-album-pages-6-7-plus-150-give-a-way/#comments

Not to mention the mini-album she is creating is stunning! Great inspriation. :)

Just a quick post for now, back to card creating. And cookie creating. And I need both by tomorrow morning and I haven't started either. EEK.

Hopefully I can get back on later and post my Christmas Joy banner.

6-10 inches of snow predicted.

I hope they are wrong. Because, if we are still at the TB screening tomorrow and there is a snow day, it would not be good. At. All.

And, seriously. I'm soooo not a morning person. These 5:15am wakeups are not for me. No way. No how. I can't wait until this week is over.

Woweeeee! I've been asked to join the Apron Strings Design Team!

I still can't believe it! I submitted 3 layouts and one altered item (a card and a matching gift card holder) earlier this month for the 2009 call and heard back yesterday! My term as a "Sous Chef" for their monthly kits starts in 2009 and I am scheduled to design in March, June, September and December. I. Am. So. Excited! The alternating months and kit sizes (there are two per month) will work out perfectly.

This is my first time ever submitting for a team, let alone even a layout.

You can see the items I submitted here:
http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/pg.asp?cmd=display&layout_id=1417470

http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/pg.asp?cmd=display&layout_id=1405637

http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/pg.asp?cmd=display&layout_id=1400788

http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/pg.asp?cmd=display&layout_id=1372619

Thanks again Lori and Kathy!

I could be creating...

but, I'm typing instead. (and my husband is snoring) I'm blaming my lull in work on "glue that needs to dry." But, I think I've bit off more than I can chew. I'm finishing a mini-album for my IL's, I have one to do (from start) for John's Aunt and Uncle, plugging along (slowly) on my December Daily, Christmas cards to mail out, a "JOY" banner and "NOEL" hanging partially finished. And, I haven't wrapped a thing. Oh boy.

I did however, hook my dad into taking the girls next Saturday for a sleepover. John and I need to do some serious wrapping that night.

And, to top it off, all next week I'm on Tuberculosis duty at work. No lunch hours. Which is when I was planning on doing some of my projects. We do get to start early and leave early, but it's going to be a long week helping screen almost 900 students and staff. Fun, fun, fun.

Off to see if my glue dried...

Cookie Sheet Advent Calendar

It's taken me way too long to finish this,but for my first attempt, I'm pleasantly surprised.

I picked up the cookie sheet (non-stick) at Target, paper is Making Memories, various chipboard letters and die cuts, inks, number stickers and rub-ons, stickles, chipboard letters and glimmer mist. I laid out the 5x5 grid with scallop squares alternating red and blue paper. This cookie sheet advent calendar was inspired by the ones Katie Watson posted at Two Peas. I'll probably make another one (I have another cookie sheet) sooner or later.

Genetics or the high chair?

What do you think?

Ava, taken yesterday:

Alexa, at 2 years old:

Guess that chair is more comfortable than it looks!

December daily - 12/2

Slowly...but surely....

I chose a cherished picture from 2003. The last Christmas picture as a family, that my mom was in. It's a "film" picture, so I scanned it in and cropped it down a bit. It really is a blurry, tilted picture. But, it is irreplaceable.

Looking at that picture makes me happy and sad at the same time.

December Daily - cover and 12/1.

Here are my first two pages. 30 more to go! ;)

This is my basic format. Some will have typed journaling, others handwritten.

December Daily Album

This year, I've decided to keep a journal/scrapbook of our December 2008. Several ladies at A Million Memories are doing this as well, so I hope to have lots of inspiration. For my first picture in December I took one of the snow we had last night. Our first "real" snow that stuck around. (It's kind of dark here in the morning!)
I'm keeping with a very simple scheme, one I found in the "Mini Albums in an Evening" issue from Simple Scrapbooks. I'm using an 8x8 album and KI Memories papers I've had forever sitting in my scrap area. Each page will have one or two pictures, some journalling and some quick, easy embellisments. Once I get my first page done, I will load it up along with my cover page. I'm hoping the simpler I keep this, the easier for me it will be to catch up each week.