042714 Happy Birthday, blog!

Hard to believe it's already been two years...
Thank you to those of you who keep peeking in for a little visit!

This little spot of mine in cyberspace has been a real joy.
A great catalog of some of my scrap journey, plus our new normal.

I feel like I should make a few resolutions for this upcoming year.
Will have to think on that for a bit...

042414 CKC April Member Challenge Bloghop

Oh, goodie!

One of my favorite parts of the month at Counterfeit Kit Challenge blog :~D

Each month on the 4th, 12th & 16th we are given a unique challenge.

It's your option which you choose to unveil here at the hop!

This month I chose Challenge #1: Blog Design Challenge:  

Visit each of our Design Team Members and choose a blog design that 

you think you can translate into a scrappy project.  Look at their color scheme, 

theme, or perhaps an element and use that on your card or layout.

 The full list of Design Team member blog links is on the CKC sidebar.

Stephanie's fun & funky blog header caught my eye.

 

Her header actually became a wonderful sketch for my page.

I was able to incorporate all of the main elements in a quite literal way yet in keeping with my subject.

I used some 6x6 Crate Paper Little Boy Blue papers for my "skyline", 

blinged up my Dear Lizzy sun embellishment, and some sky/clouds/hearts 

washi with punched clouds made dimensional with pop dots.

 

"Celebrate" became my title intro & Stephanie's sequins morphed into stars.

I hung my photo series on baker's twine with lime chevron washi.

This was a double challenge page as I used blurry photos for the 

Whimsical Musings Challenge #129 from a few weeks ago.

The full title "Celebrate - Today You Are 1"

These photos were from Cooper's first birthday on April 1st.

You might remember that one of my April Fool's statements

was that I have a grandbaby with a birthday on April 1,

and some of you didn't think it was true, hehe...

He was so excited that he kept clapping for himself, a new skill.

I would have loved to do a page from every blog!

It was another really creative challenge that got my mind racing.

Now YOU be sure & make your way through the entire list. Here's the Blog Hop order ...

Jemma   http://just-jimjams.blogspot.co.uk
Tina       http://tinasscrapcorner.blogspot.com
Isbaha    http://isbahashome.blogspot.fr
Lesley    http://ohblogitifyoucantbeatthem.blogspot.co.uk

Annie     http://www.artyfartyannie.co.uk

Elaine     http://chidkids26.blogspot.co.uk

YOU ARE HERE: Leslie @  http://lcsmithsaved-outofthemire.blogspot.com

NEXT GO TO:  Kate @ http://kateblue.blogspot.com

Virginia  http://celtichouse.blogspot.co.uk

Kim        http://texassantagertrudis.blogspot.com

Maggie   http://maggiebscrapblog.blogspot.fr

Julene     http://julenebydesign.blogspot.com.au

Lisa        http://lisahausmann.blogspot.de

Don't miss a thing - always loads of inspiration!

And be sure you post to Mr. Linky when those creative juices get flowing :~) 

041614 CKC Challenge #3

Over at the Counterfeit Kit Challenge blog it's time for yet another creative challenge,

and you KNOW how easy-peasy it is when you start with a kit full of scrappy goodness?

 

Challenge #3 BIG TITLES: Use a big title 

(or extra large sentiment) on your crafty project!

My daughter posted this photo on FaceBook with the caption,

"Hanging out with my mini me today".

Perfect play on words for a BIG TITLE!

Some sheer elements as per the CSI kit inspiration.

Elements fussy cut from DCWV Vintage Collector paper were just right.

Two cupcakes, two balloons, even two staircases!

The heart on the brick wall? Lovin' the grunge.

The perky jot of flowers finishes off the color scheme nicely. 

Now you get busy & choose a big 'ole splashy title for yourself.

It's a great way to use a lot of real estate on your layout.

Don't forget to post to Mr. Linky.

040414 Date Day Saturday & A Little Bit of Spring

Last weekend we headed down to Livonia & parts beyond.

Breakfast from Tim Horton's - coffee & everything bagels w/cream cheese.

First stop? Cantoro's Italian Grocery

So what did we get?

Next: my new favorite place!

 This place is HUGE with awesome products.
There is another room as large as this plus a crop room that seats 60!

Good thing for my budget it's not too close to home.

And just see how fun these gals are!
(One of the ribbon ladies helped me out - so friendly!)
 

This is what I got

Onwards!

 

A little something for Chloe

Finally got a pic of this guy on the way home.

"Mephisto" by John Suave at  James F. Atchison Memorial Park 

Lunch at Famous Dave's

Our favorite appetizer - salmon spread

To ToysRUs to shop for the birthday boy,but these just made me GRIN out loud! 

They are having WAY too much fun, lol

Free Tractor Supply Grand Opening hat.

I am the queen of the dorky selfie - you can't even see the hat, lol.

 Had such a lovely day together...

And then this week, Spring is beginning to show her pretty face.

So delighted that the orioles have returned!

040114 CKC April Counterfeit Kit Reveal

In honor of April Fool's Day we are turning things inside out & upside down
at Counterfeit Kit Challenge blog this month, beginning with the inspiration kit NOT being inspired by a KIT - eh?
We are changing it up with an inspiration from CSI-Color, Stories, Inspiration... pay close attention!

 THE SCHEME  translates into the colors for your kit.

 THE EVIDENCE  are themes you can use/embellishments you can add.

 THE TESTIMONY  are ideas you can make from your kit!

This should be interesting... 

first I pulled plain cardstock as close 

to "The Scheme" colors as possible.

I wanted to have these colors in front of me
as I trolled my stash to assemble my kit.
Let's see what's in the Magic Blue Box this "Softly Spring" day!

First my papers...

DCWV Vintage Collector Stack (2), Webster's Pages, FabScraps, Crate Paper, DCWV, Tim Holtz, Pebbles, Pink Paislee

Some extra smaller sized paper pads...

Teresa Collins, Prima, 7Gypsies, Sassafras, Crate Paper

Some washi - well, a LOT of washi!

Assorted makers of washi & vellum, DCWV Vintage Collector Stack paper & sticker sheet from Kaisercraft

Some sequins...

Some glitter...

Stickpins...

And the rest of the kit!

And seeing that it is April Fool's Day we have another special bit of fun for our followers!

Look at my 3 facts, guess which one is NOT true & post your guess in the comments of THIS post.

1.  I won a baton twirling championship in junior high school.

2.  I almost lost my hands in a chainsaw accident.

3.  One of my grandchildren was born on April Fool's Day.

You have until April 16th to enter.  Only one guess per person per blog will be counted, but you can comment on EVERY BLOG! A winner will be chosen by random number generator from all eligible comments on all blogs in the hop.  The winner & the bogus Design Team factoids will be announced on the CKC blog on April 18th.

Now hop on to the April Fool's Day BACKWARDS ORDER blog hop! 

 

Stephanie:  http://skylinepaperie.blogspot.ca

Lynnette: http://www.sassyscrapper2010.blogspot.com

Lisa: http://lisahausmann.blogspot.com

Leslie: http://lcsmithsaved-outofthemire.blogspot.com

HOP HERE NOW:

Lesley: http://ohblogitifyoucantbeatthem.blogspot.co.uk

Julene: http://julenebydesign.blogspot.co.uk

Jemma: http://just-jimjams.blogspot.com

Angela: http://colestoucan.blogspot.co.uk

Guest Designer Maggie: http://maggiebscrapblog.blogspot.fr

Bethany: http://inspiredscrapper-bethany.blogspot.com

Leslie S