(Kelly) "Goodbye, Fall!"

Well, although Winter doesn't officially begin for another month, it always shows it's face a little early up here in northern MN. So, while I wanted to title this layout "Hello, Winter!" I could not, because technically we are still in the Fall season! I used Creative Scrappers sketch # 184, and this is also for the November recipe challenge at ClubCK. 

(Erin) "Say Cheese!" Sketchy Thursdays 11.17.11

I'm glad that the Thanksgiving holiday has passed and that I survived my 5-day trip to be with the in-laws...and that I had the time to get a scrappy page done today (even though that time SHOULD have been spent cleaning my house...)! This layout is for the current sketch over at Sketchy Thursdays! TFL :)~

Sketch Along Tuesdays 11.29.11

Good Morning, I'm a little late getting this going this morning!! So I'll get right to it! Here is this week's Sketch Along Tuesday's sketch by Karin for Frosted Designs, great sketch, isn't it?!

Here is Erin's take:

Here is Kelly's:

Head over and check out the inspiration on the blog, and play along for a great prize from The Paper Bakery!!

(Erin) Winner @ Get Picky!!

I just discovered I was chosen as the winner of the November Sketch Challenge #14 over at Get Picky for my layout "My Guys". So happy they enjoyed that page as much as I did :)! This really has been an amazing month for me, I am so blessed...See the post here, along with two other amazing honorable mentions from Sarah Groen and Lindy G :), and stop by there tomorrow for their newest inspiration challenge!

(Kelly) TPV Spotlight!

I just checked over at The Paper Variety, and saw that my layout that I submitted for this week's challenge was featured as one of the Sunday Night Spotlights! That's so exciting, since this is the first time I've participated in one of their challenges. A good end to a great weekend! To see my layout and the others featured, and to check out the awesome challenges over there, click the link above!

(Kelly) "I'll Always Cherish.."

Happy Sunday :) I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!! I'm here to share a layout I made using Creative Scrappers sketch # 183! I was cleaning up my desk and found this picture, and was inspired to create something with it. The sketch has 3 photos, but I really just wanted to use this one!!

(Erin) "North Woods Mama" OUAS Nov. 15th Sketch Challenge & Scrapbookers Anonymous "D"

I really loved the current challenge over at Once Upon A...Sketch. We were asked to combine their Nov. 15th sketch with the following journaling prompt: What is the best part about being a woman? I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to scrap this photo of myself and the deer I harvested this last Friday on my birthday, and explain in some hidden journaling what it means to be the woman I am. If interested, the journaling reads as follows: "What does it mean to be a woman? It means so many things~ strength, love, understanding, intelligence, sustainability, flexibility, adaptability...women have to evolve, grow with, and adapt to their situations in order to survive.

I know what that is all about~ and what I like best about myself as a woman.
I live a life and do things most women could not- and would not do. I live without runing water, sewer, cell phones, and TV. I heat my home with a woodstove- with wood I haul in myself- and tend to it day and night. I lived 11 months with no toilet at all, 8 months without an oven, and 2 months with no roof while we were under construction. I can carry an 80 pound jug of water in each hand, can cook on top of my woodstove, and hunt to feed my family.

My most important role, however, is as a mother. My body has endured 7 pregnancies and 4 losses- one of these losses taking a fallopian tube. My 3 living children were produced with my remaining fallopian tube that, because it was damaged and blunted due to unknown reasons, the doctor said I had about a 10% chance of ever having children.
I had my 3 children in less than 4 years. (God is wonderful).

Being a woman is a powerful thing. We are instinctively about survival, for the sake of our children, our husbands, and ourselves. And I'm proud to say that I am a strong, enduring, and adaptable woman who does what it takes to make sure her family lives a life filled with enrichment- even though the type of life we live would not be what most would choose.

To me, it's perfect."

I am also using this page for this month's "A-Z Challenge: The Letter D" over at Scrapbookers Anonymous. For the letter D (challenge that motivates you to use up pieces of your stash based on the current letter), I used DOILIES, DISTRESSING, AND DEER.

Thank-you so much for taking the time to stop by and check out this very special page :).

(Kelly) "Kids in the Sticks"

Good Afternoon!! I just finished a fun fall layout, possibly my last, because I took very few pictures during our very short fall season, and now we have a blanket of snow! I was inspired by a couple of different challenges for this one (yay, multitasking!!). The first is from a challenge from The Paper Variety, it is an inspiration photo challenge (see photo below) I was inspired to create a fall layout, and was also inspired by the colors in the picture. There is also a fun challenge over at Scrapbooker's Anonymous, to somehow use the letter "D" for inspiration. I chose "Distressing" for this layout, I distressed the handmade leaves, and the paper I matted the photos with, and the background cardstock. I used a sketch made by Caroline over at ClubCK, for her weekly layout challenge, check it out here. Here is my layout! Thanks for stopping by!

 The Paper Variety inspiration:

(Erin) "2 Mos." BITW "Adore" Challenge and Creative Scrappers #181

I used the fabulous sketch #181 from Creative Scrappers to complete my Bird is the Word "Adore" challenge! Monthly milestones are something I have always kept track of with all of my kids and doing scrapbook pages for each of them is always an easy go-to idea. Here I combined these adorable photos of my little girl Aspen with the following journaling:

"Beautiful girl, at two months you ADORE your mom! You always have the brightest smiles just for me! You love to talk, looking @ your black & white picture books, putting your hands in your mouth, & looking in the mirror. Also you got to be a lady bug for your first holiday- Halloween! You are sweet, so adorable, & we love you lots! Aspen Leigh, Nov. 3rd, 2011."

(Kelly) ClubCK Gallery Highlight!!

I was so excited to see my layout "The Chase" was featured in this week's gallery highlights over at ClubCK!! To check it out, and see the other amazing layouts chosen, click here!!!

(Erin) Honorable Mention @ LGS!

I stopped over at Let's Get Shabby and saw that my "Happiness is Here" layout was chosen as an honorable mention for challenge #29! I've been playing along with their site for a few months now and really enjoy their challenges promoting shabby chic loveliness :). Join in on the fun~ the new prompt will be revealed on the 25!

(Kelly) "Sweet Moments" Sketchy Thursdays entry

Good afternoon!!! I just wanted to share my layout for this week's Sketchy Thursdays sketch. I am disappointed in how it photographed, due to the gloom and clouds, but I can't change the weather!! So, the colors are off a bit. But I think the page turned out simple and sweet, like I planned. These photos were taken just last night, of Lilah and I cuddling on the couch--a rare event, these days, since she is so "go go go!" Thanks for looking!!

*December kit reveal* Artful Delight!!!!!!!!!!

Today I get to share with you the December kit from Artful Delight, and Leeanne also has some special offers for you!!!! I am SO impressed with this kit, it is SO gorgeous!!! Starting in December, you can see inspiring projects from the DT made with this kit at http://artfuldelight.blogspot.com. If you are interested in purchasing this kit, past kits, or any of the other goodies in the store, head to www.artfuldelight.com. Anyways, I'll get right to showing you the kits, and be sure to read below for some special offers. Here is the Scrapbook kit:

this kit will include:

Basic Grey Picadilly collection (12x12 sheets - 1 each)
Farm Life
Home Sweet Home
Blue Plate Special
Cloth Feed Sacks
Lemongrove Avenue
Bread Box
Eat at Joe's
Fresh Baked Bread
Flap Jack Breakfast

Authentique Gathering collection (12x12 sheets - 1 each)
Together
Harmony
Bloom

Lily Bee Design Head Over Heals collection (12x12 - 1 each)
Slushie
Dreamy

Coordinating Cardstock - Bazzill (12x12 - 1 each)
Turquoise Mist
Green Tea
Red Rock
Jacaranda

Embellishments - sizes and color may vary per kit
1 package American Crafts Thickers - Jewelry Box in White
3 - Basic Grey Picadilly collection Wood Buttons
1 package - Amy Tangerine - Hi Friend Remarks stickers
1 sheet - Authentique Gathering collection Icons
3 - Basic Grey Picadilly collection -Metal Flowers
5 - Amy Tangerine - Field House Paper Leaves
1 package - Basic Grey Picadilly collection - Die Cut shapes
approx 10 yards - Orange Twine - Really Reasonable Ribbon
1 yard - Light Blue Ric Rac - Really Reasonable Ribbon
1 yard - Orange Seam Binding - Really Reasonable Ribbon
1 Artful Delight handmade Orange Felt Loop Flower
1 Artful Delight handmade Light Blue Felt Loop Flower
2 Artful Delight handmade butterfly embellishments
1 large handmade rosettes (Debbie)
1 handmade circle scallop (Debbie)
2 handmade brown and white flowers (Debbie)
1 handmade orange and white flower (Debbie)
*the picture shows 2 large handmade rosettes but it will only include 1*

And here is the Card kit:

his kit will include:

Basic Grey Picadilly collection (6x6 sheets - 2 each)
Farm Life
Home Sweet Home
Blue Plate Special
Cloth Feed Sacks
Lemongrove Avenue
Bread Box
Eat at Joe's
Fresh Baked Bread
Flap Jack Breakfast

Authentique Gathering collection (6x6 sheets - 2 each)
Together
Bloom

Lily Bee Design Head Over Heals collection (6x6 - 2 each)
Slushie
Dreamy

Coordinating Cardstock - Bazzill (8 1/2x11 - 4 each)
Turquoise Mist
Green Tea
Jacaranda

Embellishments - sizes and color may vary per kit
1 stamp set - Paper Smooches - Word Up
1 package Basic Grey Picadilly collection Wood Buttons
1 package - Amy Tangerine - Hi Friend Remarks stickers
1 sheet - Authentique Gathering collection Icons
3 - Basic Grey Picadilly collection -Metal Flowers
3 - Amy Tangerine - Field House Paper Leaves
approx 10 yards - Orange Twine - Really Reasonable Ribbon
1 yard - Light Blue Ric Rac - Really Reasonable Ribbon
1 yard - Orange Seam Binding - Really Reasonable Ribbon
1 Artful Delight handmade Orange Felt Loop Flower
1 Artful Delight handmade Light Blue Felt Loop Flower
2 Artful Delight handmade butterfly embellishments
2 small handmade rosettes (Debbie)
1 handmade circle scallop (Debbie)
2 small handmade orange and white flower (Debbie)
1 - 0.5 fl oz bottle of Glossy Accents

Don't these kits look amazing?!?!? Yeah, that's what I thought :)

Here are the special offers, good Nov. 24-27:

Black Friday/Holiday weekend specials
Coupon code to use for $5 off (min order $10) - HAPPYHOLIDAYS
Also there is no coupon needed but there will be free shipping on orders $50 or more. ($75 min purchase and weight limit restriction on International orders)

There will also be additional items other than the kits in the store, including Crate Paper collection packs (yum!), and chipboard shapes, and American Crafts Adhesive value packs, go check it out!! 

I cannot wait to start working with this wonderful kit!!

(Erin) Winner @ Challenge Me Happy!!

I was talking with Kelly on the phone today and she informed me that I was chosen as the winner for Challenge #10 "Anything Goes" over at Challenge Me Happy! Wow, very excited that the design team chose my "Little Guy" layout and gave me the opportunity to win that amazing kit from Mollys Scrapbooking! Way cool :)! Be sure to check out their site, they offer two challenges a month and have some great prizes, along with a fabulous design team for tons of inspiration!

(Erin) "15 Months" KIU November Challenge

I have really enjoyed participating in the challenges over at Kraft It Up! and was really excited to be an honorable mention over there last month! I love kraft and they always have fun prompts to get your creativity going, and this month is no different. The current challenge is to create a kraft-based layout and include "unique" journaling. It took me a little bit of thinking on this one, but ended up settling with the idea of having the journaling flow through the center of my page within some torn layers. This was one of those layouts that started out with me almost not liking it or questioning it, and ended up being something I actually liked :). I have really been into layering and I love all the layered elements here, from the paint and rub-ons to the lace, twine, and paper strips, to the flowers and wooden flourishes. I really enjoy it when I can see art just appear out of nothing! And more importantly, I love that I have done some more documentation for my family :). This blurry photo of Gunner was the only one I managed to get of him pressing a clear CD against his face, fascinated that he could see through it! He was being so goofy but not letting me get any pictures. So I thought by doing something unique with the blurry photo would make me comfortable with using it on a layout while at the same time being able to preserve for me that silly memory! I just love how funny he is right now and I hope he will enjoy looking back on the little quirks of his that I have recorded...

(Kelly) Artful Delight projects!

Good Morning, and happy FRIDAY!!! I am here to share 2 more layouts I made with Artful Delight's November kit! I'm gonna warn you...I am so in the Christmas mood, a little early this year! (My tree is already up...) So, I have 2 Christmas layouts to share! Have a great day!!

(Erin) "My Guys" Get Picky Sketch Challenge #14

I've been obsessed with Basic Grey's "Picadilly" line ever since I saw it and was lucky enough to get my hands on some! I just love the cozy patterns :)! Get Picky put out a great sketch for their sketch challenge this month and I couldn't wait to get started- and use my new collection. I had a lot of fun with all the circles, distressing, fussy cutting, layering the die cut flowers, playing with lace...and dedicating a layout to the very special guys in my life :). I'm not happy with the picture of the layout, however...but it's later in the afternoon and the lighting isn't that great...will try to remedy that tomorrow. Thanks for taking a look!

(Kelly) "What a Goofball!" Sketchy Thursdays entry

Wow, my 3rd post today!! Be sure to scroll down to see my KIU layout, and Our Frosted Designs reveal!! I made this crazy/messy layout using this week's Sketchy Thursdays sketch! It was so fun and quick to put together. Thanks for stopping by, again!! Have a great afternoon!

(Kelly) "The Chase" KIU Nov. Challenge

Erin has introduced me to some really great challenge blogs, and I have been checking them out and found one I particularly love, Kraft it Up! They have great monthly challenges, that always involve using Kraft plus one other requirement. This is my first time playing along with them. Their November challenge was unique journaling. For this challenge, I made a fun layout of Lilah chasing Erin's chickens around the yard when we went to visit recently..she couldn't get enough of them!! I decided to do my journaling up one side of the paper strips, and then down the other. I'm happy with how this layout turned out, I used some fun fabric flowers I made, too! Thanks for looking!!

Sketch Along Tuesdays 10.15.11

Good Morning!! Gonna keep this short and sweet today :) it's Sketch Along Tuesdays time again over at Frosted Designs, and we are here to share the sketch!! Be sure to head over and check out all the DT's inspiration, and play along, too!! Here is Karin's gorgeous sketch:

Here is Kelly's take on the sketch:

And here is Erin's layout:

Thanks for stopping by!!!!

(Erin) Club CK Gallery Highlights!

One of my most favorite layouts to date, "Little Guy", is featured in this week's Gallery Highlights over at Club CK! See it here, along with all the other great picks!!

(Erin) "Chicken Little" WW1 November Challenge

My little Gunner was so adorable in his little chicken costume on Halloween, and I thought that the November challenge over at White With 1 (white + bright color + flowers) was perfect for getting some of his photos scrapped! I chose to do shades of orange and I'm pretty happy how it turned out- lots of layering, misting, paint, twine...just had fun with this one!

(Erin) "I'm a Racehorse!" Sketchy Thursdays 11.10.11

This is definitely Wyatt at his best! He has the funniest imagination...on this particular occassion, I was in the ER w/Aspen as she was pretty sick and Josh was at home with the boys. Wyatt was watching the movie "Racing Stripes" and he disappeared out of the room only to return with a pair of underwear on his head, struggling to pull the holes over his eyes. Josh asked him what in the world he was doing and Wyatt proudly announced, "I'm a racehorse!" He even grabbed a fly swatter for a whip! Too funny...I used this week's Sketchy Thursdays sketch to put this funky layout together!

(Kelly) "All Bundled Up!"

Ok, I'm just gonna say it...happy 11-11-11!!! Alright, I'm sure we're all gonna be sick of hearing that one, so I'll move on ;) We got our first snow here yesterday, so it is just perfect that I am posting this layout today. The photos on this layout were taken last November, and it was the last day that was warm enough (but not very warm..hence the bundled up baby) to take a walk with Lilah in the stroller. We have definately hit that time of year, again!! This is my 2nd design team project for Artful Delight, using their fabulous November kit!! Lemme just say, I LOVE this kit...so perfect for this season!

(Erin) Sketchy Thursdays fave :)

Thrilled that "Love Bug" was chosen as a fave over at Sketchy Thursdays this week. See here!

(Erin) KIU & WW1 Honors!

I've been checking both Kraft It Up! and White With 1 tonight and was excited to see that I was an honorable mention at both sites for their October 2011 challenges! At KIU, they chose their top 3 and 2 Honorable Mentions ("My Rock." was selected as an honorable mention) and at WW1, they also choose a top 3 and 1 Honorable Mention ("Road Rash" was selected as the honorable mention). This is very exciting to me as I feel that both sites are very competetive as there is just so much talent...I love what I'm learning along the way, both from fellow scrappers and through the great challenges offered at these sites. I've said it before, it's always so much fun to be a favorite, or even a runner-up...it's encouraging, and makes you want to be even better. I'm so thankful for all the wonderful blogs out there that keep me motivated and doing what I do.
Have a great night!

(Kelly) "When We Were Kids"

Good afternoon!! Well, I've had to spend most of the day laying on the couch with a sore back, but I couldn't resist scrapbooking this afternoon while Lilah naps!! I was going through my photos, and found some of these of me and Jeremy, back in the first few months we were together. I couldn't help but think about what life was like back then, with the freedom to spend all of our spare time just with eachother, doing whatever we wanted to do. It was nice, and it's nice to remember, but I would never change things. One thing I really notice, though, is how much younger we look in these photos, which were only taken a couple of years ago!! Anyways, the current Creative Scrappers sketch (#181) is awesome!! I decided to use it for this layout, but I flipped it sideways to suit my photos better. I used a bunch of goodies from the October kit from Artful Delight, I am in love with Bo Bunny's Et Cetera line, it's just gorgeous! Thanks for taking a look!!!

(Erin) "Happiness is Here" Let's Get Shabby Challenge #29

Let's Get Shabby has a Monochromatic color scheme for Challenge #29, and living in the woods, many of our pictures have an earthy tone to them, and especially a brown tone this time of year! So it was an easy choice to go with the beige to browns color palette. When I look at a picture like this one, I almost get overwhelmed by how beautiful it is where I live. I can't believe that I ever wanted to be anywhere else, and it was the best choice I ever made to move back to where I came from. Life isn't always easy for us and we have to work very hard to live our every day life, but I can honestly say that I would not trade it for anything else in the world. And to me, that is true happiness :).

(Erin) "Little Guy" Challenge Me Happy #10

I loved that Challenge Me Happy offered an "Anything Goes" prompt for Challenge #10! It was so fun to create a layout without restrictions or guidelines and just see where it took me :). I recently took this photo of Gunner playing outside and I fell in love with it. How cute is his little bear hat? I love the colors too, from his camo coat to the fall colors in the background, and I had a great time bringing those colors to life in this layout. Thanks so much for taking a look!

(Kelly) "2 Little Punkins"

Good afternoon!! I'm trying my best to scrap my Halloween photos before Christmas fever hits me and that's all I can think about, lol...I love these photos of Gunner and Lilah with our pumpkins, aren't they cute??? (Gotta love Gunner's classic "cheese" face..) I used this week's Sketchy Thursdays sketch!

(Erin) "Love Bug" Sketchy Thursdays 11.3.11

I was really excited to get these photos of Aspen in her super cute Halloween costume scrapped, and this week's Sketchy Thursdays sketch seemed to suit them just perfectly! Isn't she adorable? Love how this page turned out...other than it's very cloudy and I can't get a good picture...hopefully I can fix that later. But here's what I have for now...

(Erin) "Together" BITW "Together" Challenge & CS #180

Happy Friday!! Today I used the Creative Scrappers sketch #180 to complete my layout for the Bird Is The Word "Together" challenge. I chose to scrap these pictures of Wyatt and his cousin Bear on a typical day for them. If you look closely, you can see there is a bungee cord connecting the two bikes...while trying to take off in opposite directions...and you can just see the angst on Bear's face in the picture on the left! So this page is about how, together, they always manage to make things far more difficult than they need to be. They definitely love to hate eachother...or hate to love eachother, if that makes any sense, haha. Thanks for letting me share...