Guess what arrived on my doorstep today? :D

ETA: Okay, ladies! I just thought I would let you know that these things are HOT! Seriously! They just went up yesterday and there are only 6 left of the Homeroom Kit and 13 left of the Extra Credit. If you want these you better run! Eeeeek!


************************************************************


Look what arrived with a big THUD on my doorstep today! That's right two BRAND NEW Noel Mignon kits . . . Homeroom and Extra Credit! Ooooooo! Baby! Can't wait to dig into this bad boy! :D :D :D

Homeroom (Main Kit) $36.99

Extra Credit (Add On Kit) $13.99

And just in time to scrap the kids photos from their first day of school! Here they are all gussied up and ready to go this morning! I am so proud of them for facing a new situation head on! They are stronger and braver than I will ever be! Jensyn was impressed with the bathrooms at her new school, "Mom, they are exquisite! They have marble!" Owen said he made lots of new friends . . . he just doesn't know their names. And Maryn was mostly thrilled that her Kindergarten classroom had a sandbox. It's a good start that's for sure!



On top of all of this fabulousness, Noel Mignon has a new challenge that went up today. This time it is a Pottery Barn Color Challenge by my fellow DT member, Michelle Lanning . Great colors! I'm definitely gonna do this one again! I mainly did the green/brown/orange with just a few touches of the raspberry red. I'm hoping to do another layout with the raspberry front and center. I also want to incorporate the the little touches of blue from the inspiration piece . . .

September Work In Progress Kits

I have a Sneak Peek layout for you today using one of these gorgeous kits! :D :D :D

But first, let me show you all of them! Get your checkbooks ready! ;)
CLICK HERE to pick some of these up for yourself!

September Main Kit - $32 (SOLD OUT) :(

September Add On Kit - $26

September Project Kit - $30

Photo Card Kit - $20

I told you there would be a lot to look at! :D Doesn't it make you want to send the kids off to school and SCRAP! Hehehehe!

My sneak peek layout is all about a little collection of these:

Without knowing it I started a collection of milkglass pieces when I bought this very first one on a whim. I just fell in love with the scallops (the scrappy part of me loved that right away) and the overall shape! Before I knew it I was picking up more pieces of it to store odds-and-end in around my scrap room. I don't know if any of it is valuable, but it is to me! I think they are pretty and they make me happy! That's all that counts, right?

Do you have a collection you could scrap a page about?

Happy Monday!

Jana

2 Down -- 2 to go!

Two parties down! Two to go! LOL! I know it's bad to look at it that way, but that's usually how I have to motivate myself to get through "party-week" every year!

Owen's birthday party and the family party turned out to be so much fun! I love when all the planning pays off and the event just flows, allowing us all to just enjoy the day. It makes all the preparation worth it!

I took a bunch of pictures, but sadly I didn't realize that I hadn't replaced the memory card into my camera (probably during one of my "panic cleans" for a realtor last week), so all I have are a few from this morning after Owen had opened his presents and I realized my ditzy mistake. :(

Happy 7th Birthday, Owen!

My dad always takes a ton of pictures, so I have those from the family party last night. But the ones I am especially heartsick about are all the ones I took of Owen and his friends that he won't see again because we are moving. :( I just feel awful about it. I know I'll get over it, but those are pictures I really wanted for him.





Alright! No more moping! I have some layouts to post! :D :D :D

The first couple of layouts are created using the upcoming September Sweet Pea Scraps kit. LOVE this kit! Probably because these colors are among my favorites to scrap with! Red, blue and green can scrap ANYTHING, I tell ya! Seriously! And just check out the yummy embellishments! The postage stamps and flowers, the brads, the chipboard, the metal!!!! LOVE it ALL! :D

I loved these pictures of my kids and their cousins from a 4th of July parade this year. When Allison sent me her fabulous sketch, I knew immediately that I would use these photos! Here is a link to the So Sketchy! blog featuring this layout. Be sure to browse around at everything else that was posted this week! Tons of inspiration over there! Most definitely a place you'll want to stop at again and again!

Supply List:

(September Sweet Pea Scraps Kit) Papers: 7 Gypsies Family Dates, 7 Gypsies Kensington, 7 Gypsies Provence Making Memories Varnished Postmark; Scenic Route Chipboard Circles Save the Date; Prima Paper Flowers, Making Memories Passport Canvas brads, American Crafts Glitter Chipboard Thickers LAX in Powder, USPS cancelled stamps (from kit), thread

This layout is using the same September Sweet Pea Scraps kit, but this time I used Sketch #63 from Sketch This. Okay, seriously? Have you stopped over there?! I'm in constant awe at the creative minds over there. Check them out!

These last few layouts were created using gorgeous kits by Noel Mignon. The first one is made using the Memory Lane kit. (I added some Jenni Bowlin Red Tab stickers and Kindergarten RubOn Letters .) If you would like to read a tutorial on how to create the dimensional flower accents, head on over to the Tips & Techniques blog.



Check it out! Grab some Scenic Route Chipboard Stars , a few scraps of blue paper, and some white buttons, . . . now add them to the Passionate Kit and you are ready to scrap your patriotic photos! Gotta love a kit that does double-duty like that!





Tomorrow is the first day of school for my kidlets. I'm so nervous for them!!! (completely new school, new friends, new teacher, new EVERYTHING!) But I know deep down inside they are going to do great! Keep your fingers crossed that their mom doesn't lose it. *blush, blush* I'll be back soon to let you know how it went!

Epistle of a Catch-Up Post

ETA: I know I promised some layouts tonight, but in all honesty, I am so darned pooped. I think I'm going to hit the hay and upload them on Sunday. Thanks for your understanding! Jana


Hi. I'm so sorry. I haven't been around this week and this is why. My kids will start a new school next Monday AND three of their birthdays are next week. YIKES! Party-planning-central going on right now! Along with all the craziness at the new house, we're running around like chickens with our heads cut off. Please forgive me?

Sunday
Realtor brought a client through our home = spending the day cleaning and then vacating our house

Monday
Another realtor scheduled to come through the house with a client = vacating house to KEEP it clean from the day before
Realtor cancelled last second - GRRRRRR! - BUT, rescheduled for Wednesday, YAY!!!!
Spent the morning at the new house with landscapers/concrete guys deciding the back patios of the house, approving tile plans, and closet organizer installation begins
Discuss what overgrowth needs to be ripped out in the backyard to get ready for landscapers next week
Write/Mail out invitations to family birthday party this Saturday

Tuesday
Patios poured

Decide/Discuss/Implement changes to the rockwork in the front of the house to facilitate better flow to the front door from the street

Hanging lights at the new house deciding heights, etc.
Save the "Charlie Brown" tree (the one in the middle of the picture) from my husband wanting to rip it out of the backyard along with the thorn bushes and yucky bushes

Back-To-School party for Jensyn given by gals in our new neighborhood (So sweet!!!) She was too embarrassed to let me take any pictures of her.

Wednesday
Clean house again for the rescheduled realtor
Vacate the house with the kids
Discuss placement of driveway layout with landscapers/concrete guys

Write and deliver birthday invitations for son's birthday party Saturday
Start writing Maryn's birthday invites to be delivered tomorrow
Jensyn goes on lunch/pedicure date with her cousin, Samantha

Thursday
Shop for party favors for four parties (Family and Owen's party Saturday, Maryn and Jensyn's parties next week)
Find amount of marble for one bathroom was miscalculated, There won't be more in for another month, Had to go choose another marble
Deliver Maryn's party invitations
Deliver Thank You's to various neighbors and friends for all the sweet parties they've thrown for us lately
Took the kids to Back-To-School night by myself (Kevin had a speaking-engagement) to introduce the kids to their new teachers and familiarize them with their new school (NERVES are HIGH!) They didn't let me embarrass them with photos again, darnit! Don't they know I'm a scrapbooker! LOL!
Stay up until 1:00 a.m. putting together goodie bags (I have movie theaters, Star Wars, Wizard of Oz and Zoo animals on the brain all at the same time! LOL!)




Today
Rock fireplace in basement just finishing up . . . now they can move to the main floor (YAY!)

Decorating kitchen for Owen's party
Discussing entrywalks with concrete guys
More light placement

Who knows what else!!! :D

Did I mention that on top of all this I have no food in my house so we are eating out every meal. I bet you want to come live with me, huh?

Upcoming!
Tomorrow is Owen's party at Noon. We are making lunch and then taking him and 13 friends to see Star Wars: Clone Wars. YEP. I'm crazy. Call it, "feeling-guilty-we're-moving-and-want-the-kids-to-have-one-last-chance-to-party-with-their-friends" week.

From 6 to 9 is party with my family. And then Sunday is Owen's actual birthday. I haven't even had time to shop for his presents! Maybe tonight while he's sleeping I'll head over to WalMart.

Monday my kids start at their new school. Maryn's birthday is on Thursday, along with a Swimming party with her friends. We leave out of town Friday. Saturday is Jensyn's birthday and then we drive home from our vacation Sunday to be at my niece's birthday party Sunday night. I think we'll plan Jensyn's friend party for the next Saturday, but I haven't figured that out yet. LOL!

Can you tell I'm feeling a little crazed right now. I think I need a nap.
So sorry to dump all of this stuff out there. I just wanted y'all to know what I'm up to. That way if you don't hear from me again until mid-September you'll know why. :D :D :D

I do have some layouts to post. I'll try and make it back tonight to get those up.
Keep your fingers crossed I can make it through these next few weeks!

XOXOXOXOX,
Jana

I can feel Fall coming!!! YAY!

It was in the 80's today. So nice! At night, when we cruise around in the car with the window down, instead of a hot, breeze we are starting to get a breeze with a bit of a nip to it! LOVE it! YAAAAAYYYYY! :D :D :D It gets me all excited for my absolute favorite season . . . AUTUMN! (What's your favorite season?)

I spent the afternoon making some simple cards with the leftovers of the fabulous August BackPorch Medley kit. I need to do this more often! It was fun! I love using up scraps! :D :D :D

Birthday Wishes (ribbon, flowers, and buttons from my stash)

Love You

Thank You (ribbon from my stash)

Thank You for Everything (ribbon & button from my stash)

Thank You (that cute flower stamp is part of the August Add-On stamps)

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Hugs,
Jana

"The Joys of Creation"

The incredible teacher of our Sunday School class referred to this talk in her lesson. I really love this message and wanted to pass it along to all of my scrappy friends in cyber-space! ;)

**********************************

The Joys of Creation Delivered By: Lloyd D. Newell

Nancy was eight years old when a teacher looked at her drawing and spoke six words Nancy would never forget: “You’re not very talented, are you?”

The words not only embarrassed her, they burrowed inside her, creating a firm resolve never to make a fool of herself by attempting to draw or paint again.

It took more than five decades for Nancy to outgrow this image of herself as a clumsy, artless, and uncreative person. Today Nancy knows something she wishes she could have understood when she was eight: the reason we create is not for the praise of others but because we love something so much we want to see it exist.

That’s what creative people do. They bring to life things that didn’t exist before.

Creativity is one of the great, mysterious hungers we all have as mortal souls, and there are as many ways to express this divine drive as there are people who feel it. Some of the most creative people in the world never pick up a paintbrush, sit down at a piano, or fill a page with words. Yet because of them, the world is filled with scented gardens, warm quilts, and loving relationships. Sometimes the most important thing we create is as simple as a smile.

Many of us have something we’ve always wanted to try to do but never quite got around to it—perhaps because we lacked the confidence, or maybe because we were afraid we would fail. The good news is this: when we set aside our fears and begin to create, we make not only our lives but our world more meaningful and more wonderful.

One wise man put it this way: “God left [the] world unfinished. . . . He left the problems unsolved and the pictures unpainted and the music unsung that man might know the joys and glories of creation.”1


1 Attributed to Alan Stockdale by Sterling W. Sill in Conference Report, Apr. 1960, 70.

**********************************

Also, here are a couple more layouts I completed recently. I had fun just playing on these. Mixing and plopping things down on a whim. It's been awhile since I just "played". And even though they aren't perfect in every way . . . I had fun creating them.

This one is for this week's sketch at Sketch This (#62). Be sure to check out what the other designers cooked up! YUM!


And I created this one for the current Becky Fleck Sketch Challenge at Noel Mignon.com Come over and play! Who doesn't love a sketch AND the winner will receive a $10 GC to the store!



Have a great weekend!
Jana

Scrap Room & House Photos

Here are the pictures I promised of the new house. I hope you don't mind that I share these with you, I'm just so excited at how everything is finally coming together! It's been a process that began July of 2007 that we have poured our hearts and souls into.

I can't believe that we will be living there in less than 2 months!!! (Hopefully sooner!) We wanted to be in before school starts, but that just isn't going to happen. Bummer. It's actually going to be good. Three of my kids birthdays are the last week of August, so that will give us a chance to have Big Birthday/Good-Bye parties with their friends. Our next hope was to be moving over Labor Day weekend. But I don't think that is going to happen either. We'll get in when we get in. I think it will be mid to late September. Whenever it is, it will be worth the extra time to get everything done right.

I'll show you my favorite room first -- My Scrap Room! :D :D :D The panels at the bottoms of the first photo are the front of my desk (just so it makes sense).

View of Scrap Room from the Hallway


Scrap Room - View Looking Left as you first enter the room


Scrap Room - Desk and Main Area


Scrap Room - Rubber Stamping/Painting Area (to the right as you enter the room)


Scrap Room - Bonus/Storage Area


Scrap Room - View of Main/Stamping Area from the Bonus Area


Scrap Room - View of French door from Bonus Area


And here are some of the other rooms. :D

Maryn's Room


Camryn's Room


Jensyn's Room


Owen's Room


Mud Room Lockers/Bench


Laundry Room


Living/Dining Room


Looking towards Entry from the Kitchen Nook


Great Room off of the Kitchen


Kitchen


Thanks for coming by!
Jana