Summer - Guest Design Post at Sketches4All

Hello my scrappy friends,

I was invited to Guest Design this month over at Sketches4All. I am super excited! I am hosting this month's challenge. I am definitely a 2-page girl and LOVE sketches. I take way too many pictures for single page layouts. If I am using a single page layout sketch, I typically find another that I can use to create a single - double page layout. Pagemaps is one of my favorite sketch sites for inspiration. I also journal on every page I create. I am documenting memories for my family, my daughter and myself so I believe telling the story is huge component to that. My challenge this month is to create a double page layout using the following Pagemaps sketch and journal somewhere on your layout (hidden journaling is fine):

This is from Pagemaps April 2013.  I used smaller photos and tweaked the layout so I could add journaling and another photo. Here is my example:

I added stickles to the cardstock popsicle, the pink star, the "such a happy day" chipboard, the birds wing, the ice cream tops, and the border punch along the right side. I also inked a lot of the edges in pink and used little rub-ons directly on some of the pictures. This is my daughter and her cousins swimming and eating popsicles at Nana's house.

Come on over to Sketches4All and play along with my challenge this month.  What do you get for playing along? The chance to win this awesome RAK:

Included: papers from Fancy Pants & Crate Paper, chipboard accents from Crate Paper, Rub-ons from Fancy Pants, transparency from Fancy Pants, ghost shapes from Heidi Swapp and miscellaneous twine and ribbon.
Here are a couple of close-up photos of my layout:

Materials Used:  paper - Carta Bella; chipboard - Carta Bella; ric rack - Wrights; journaling block - Carta Bella; ink - CTMH; stickles; stickers - CTMH; border punch - Martha Stewart; rub-ons - unknown; thickers.

For this layout I used the color scheme for CSI case file No. 82.

For the evidence I used funky scallops (the border punch along the right hand side), a bird, and wet medium (stickles). For the testimony I used multiple photos with captions, the captions are the white rub-ons.

Thanks for visiting!

Well Baby Exam - New Layout

Yes, I am still posting layouts from my scrappy weekend. I managed to get quite a few completed, even with the two little girls (2 yrs). We took them swimming, shopping, to the park, painted, colored, stickers, etc. So I am very content with my production, LOL! This is DD at her 4 month well baby exam.

I used the June Embellish It Club kit for this layout. 

I played along with Scrapping Everyday Miracles - July Main challenge. The challenge is to create a layout about someone's "favorites"... it can be a page about yourself, your child, your spouse, your parent...well, you get the idea...it can be about anyone you choose. I think hearing what people enjoy about life can be one of the greatest ways to get to know the heart of that person. It can also be a great way to connect with someone to do things they enjoy, we can bless them.  The scrap twist that you need to include on your project is to use some kind of "office supply item" some ideas would be paper clips, binder clips or staples.

I created a layout about my two favorite people - my husband and my daughter. My dear daughter is my favorite even when she is crying. My heart fills with love and I would do anything to take away her hurt. My hubby is just a wonderful husband and daddy. He leaves work in the middle of the day to be with Maddie and I as she gets her shots. He is the epitome of strength and compassion. He is tender holding our daughter, yet strong when she needs to be given her shots. Her cries just melt me and I'm quite useless. No matter what, no matter where, these are my favorites! For the scrap twist I used a file folder, a paperclip, washi tape, and staples.

I'm also linking up with Paper Issues - Um, WOW! We Love Chipboard. 

Here are a couple of close-up photos:

Materials Used: paper - We R Memory Keepers and Simple Stories; chipboard - Simple Stories; letter stickers - Basic Grey & Thickers; stickers - We R Memory Keepers; paper clips - K&Company; film strip - Tim Holtz; popdots - Forever in Time, twine - unknown.

Thanks for visiting!

Enjoy the Everyday - New Layout

Hello again! 

This is another layout I completed this weekend with my scrappy friends! It is a layout of our little new family back in 2011, DD was only 2 months old. I used the June Embellish It kit to create this layout.

I played along with Colorful Creations - July Inspired challenge. This challenge was to be inspired by something in the photo below:

I was inspired by the red and black colors with the spurts of yellow. I also was inspired by the symmetry of the plates and napkins and created this hexagon symmetry to replicate.

I also played along with Sketches4All - Technique Tuesday Week 4 - to use a banner. I used a little chipboard banner in the upper right. 

This is a really basic layout, but it is complete so I am moving on...LOL!

Here are a couple of close-up photos:

Materials used: paper - Simple Stories and Echo Park; chipboard - Simple Stories; twine - unknown; border punch - Martha Stewart; ink - CTMH.

Thanks for visiting! 

Days of Summer - New Layout

Happy Monday! I am having a blast with my scrappy friends and little girl in Oklahoma this weekend. Here is one of the layouts I created. It is from the August Embellish It kit. It is DD second week of swimming lessons. The swimming lessons were from the neighborhood Olympic swimmer and were fabulous. Maddie learned a ton and had a ball.

For this layout I played along with The Studio Challenges - July 7th challenge to use twine. I wrapped twine around the photos on the right side and used brads at the edges. I also tied bows with twine on the sunshine brads.

I also played along with the Two Peas CHA '13 - challenge #2 to scrap the relationship between two people. The relationship I chose was my daughter and I.

Finally, the Frosted Designs - Fabulous Friday challenge was to scrap the great outdoors. How perfect are these photos for that challenge?

Here are a couple of close-up photos:

Materials used:  paper - MME, Simple Stories; stickers - Simple Stories; tags - MME; brads - MME; stamps - CTMH; ink - CTMH; twine - unknown; thickers; border punch - Martha Stewart; pop dots- unknown.

Thanks for visiting!

Project Life - Week 29

Welcome to Project Life 2013! If you are new to my blog, welcome! I hope you will stay a while. I'm Jessica, wife to Juan, mommy to 1 year old Maddie. I am also an electrical engineer by day and I am participating in Project Life, a different way to record our lives by taking one photo a day. This was inspired by the fabulous Becky Higgins who has put together a wonderful kit to make this challenge easier.

I am using the digital kit on shutterfly (hopefully Olive once it has been released), find more info at http://www.beckyhiggins.com/blog. This digital version uses Shutterfly and is SUPER easy to use! See my completed pages for 2012 using the Shutterfly Cobalt kit HERE.

And finally, my POTW (pictures of the week):

Tuesday - Maddie has suddenly discovered that she can remove her clothes. Today after she took off her shirt, she was determined to see how far up she could pull her pants. She is such a goofy little thing, so full of joy and spunk!

Wednesday - I have been working 65-70 hours a week for months so I took a vacation day today to read. The new Charlaine Harris book came out, the final Sookie Stackhouse novel and I was super excited to read it. What a fabulous and restful day! The book was awesome by the way.

Thursday - Another Pinterest dinner - Healthy Slow Cooker Chicken & Brown Rice. This was really easy and pretty good, except I accidentally put 1teaspoon in lieu of 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, so it was too spicy.

Healthy Slow Cooker Chicken & Brown Rice

Ingredients:
1/2 large onion, diced
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups shredded cooked chicken
2 1/2 cups chicken stock
1 cup uncooked brown rice
2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
salt & pepper, to taste
2 cups frozen peas
freshly grated parmesan cheese

Directions:
Grease the slow cooker insert (to help keep the rice from sticking).  Put the chopped onions, garlic and chicken into the slow cooker.

In a medium bowl, stir together the chicken stock, rice and seasonings and microwave until just boiling… around 4-6 minutes, depending on your microwave!

Pour the rice/broth mixture over the onions, garlic and chicken in the slow cooker and stir to combine.  Cook on LOW for 4-5 hours, or until the rice has absorbed all the liquid.  About 15 minutes before serving, stir in the frozen peas and cook until they are just heated through.

Serve warm with freshly grated parmesan cheese on top, if you’d like.  So comforting!!

Also today, Maddie has suddenly decided she not only doesn't want to wear clothes, but she doesn't want to wear a diaper. She took everything off 3 different times this afternoon and ran around the house slapping her tummy and saying "happy, happy".  She has also started saying "change diaper" when she is poopy or full. I think it is definitely time to start potty training.

Friday - We went to Marco and Gracie's this evening for dinner.  Maddie and Isabella had a blast playing and then the girls went swimming, at least that was the plan. Maddie suddenly decided she didn't want to get in the pool.  I think maybe it was a bit cold. It was still a nice evening with family.

Saturday - Maddie loves puzzles and is getting very good at them.  Here wooden puzzles seem to be too easy for her so we bought her her first real puzzle. It only has 12 pieces and she needs a bit of help, but can actually figure it out. She can get the horse, cow and chicken every time.

Sunday - Maddie and I spent the day shopping with Nana for Sesame Street things for Maddie's 2nd birthday. She was an angel the entire time and quickly passed out on the car ride back to Nana's with her water bottle still in her little mouth.

Thanks for visiting!

Project Life - Week 28

Welcome to Project Life 2013! If you are new to my blog, welcome! I hope you will stay a while. I'm Jessica, wife to Juan, mommy to 1 year old Maddie. I am also an electrical engineer by day and I am participating in Project Life, a different way to record our lives by taking one photo a day. This was inspired by the fabulous Becky Higgins who has put together a wonderful kit to make this challenge easier.

I am using the digital kit on shutterfly (hopefully Olive once it has been released), find more info at http://www.beckyhiggins.com/blog. This digital version uses Shutterfly and is SUPER easy to use! See my completed pages for 2012 using the Shutterfly Cobalt kit HERE.

And finally, my POTW (pictures of the week):

Tuesday - Typical lunch scene at our house.  Maria and Alfonso are still watching Maddie during the day and Juan often comes home at lunch to visit Maddie. Maddie waits at the door daily saying "papi, papi" in the afternoon when I am home with her and Juan comes home she says, "daddy, daddy".  She is definitely learning as much spanish as english.

Wednesday - baked pasta bolognese.  Dinner tonight, although I have no idea where I got the recipe. I couldn't find it when I went to post this. It had spinach and cream cheese mixture and was quite yummy.

Thursday - Our home right now. I love our home and I love that Juan and Maddie walk through the neighborhood almost everyday.

Friday - We had a Casino afternoon at ccrd today. I spent the whole time at the blackjack table.  I even won a door prize, a $25 gift certificate to the Cheesecake factory.

Saturday - Maddie and I attended a play date this afternoon at my friend, Janet's house with her daughter Audrey. Danna and Sarah joined us along with brand new baby Ian, and Kaitlyn and Ryan. The kids played in the pool, had lunch and then played for awhile in their playroom. Maddie had a great time. Maddie wore the adorable little dress that Nana made her. It is a little big still, but she will grow into it.

Sunday - Maddie in the super cute ribbon skirt and shirt that Nana made her. She liked her "tutu" and kept pulling on the ribbons. Nana babysat this afternoon so Daddy and I could go to a movie. Maddie loves going to Nana's house and always cries when it is time to leave.  

Thanks for visiting!

Project Life - Week 27

Welcome to Project Life 2013! If you are new to my blog, welcome! I hope you will stay a while. I'm Jessica, wife to Juan, mommy to 1 year old Maddie. I am also an electrical engineer by day and I am participating in Project Life, a different way to record our lives by taking one photo a day. This was inspired by the fabulous Becky Higgins who has put together a wonderful kit to make this challenge easier.

I am using the digital kit on shutterfly (hopefully Olive once it has been released), find more info at http://www.beckyhiggins.com/blog. This digital version uses Shutterfly and is SUPER easy to use! See my completed pages for 2012 using the Shutterfly Cobalt kit HERE.

And finally, my POTW (pictures of the week):

Tuesday - Daddy brought some work home today and Maddie had a great time with the binder clips. She is so inquisitive and was determined to figure out how these thing work.

Wednesday - Maddie loves balloons and definitely has Mama's legs, poor thing.

Thursday - Today is the fourth of July. To celebrate, we went to Summer Adventures at Fair Park. It was discount day, only $15 each and Maddie got in free. She had a blast in the water, there were very few people, and unlimited rides. There was also a train building and a sand box area. We were there for about 4 hours and didn't even do half of what there was to do. Great place! This evening we walked to the corner to watch the Country Club's fireworks. Maddie tried desperately to stay away but didn't last long. The fireworks started at 9:15pm, but after her long day out, she was exhausted.

The video of the fun she had playing in the water is here.

Friday - Today I met baby Ian Kuchera.  He is just two weeks old and new Mommy Sarah is doing well. This afternoon, Maddie and Daddy ate popscicles, but Maddie wanted Daddy to understand that his was "orange". She knows all her colors, so smart.

Saturday - Daddy put together a little table and chair set for Maddie and she was right there "helping". This afternoon she had a strawberry cucumber popscicle that Mommy made with cucumbers out of the garden.

Sunday -  We took Maddie to the bookstore so Mommy could get the new Charlene Harris book. Maddie loves books and had a blast "reading" and digging through all the books in the children's area. She was very upset when it was time to leave.

Monday - Last season's Dexter is finally out on DVD. We watched the entire series in about a week.  This is the final season, don't know if I can wait a whole year to see how it ends. Also Maddie is suddenly counting! She's been counting to two for sometime, but three always seems to trip her up. She figured out three this past weekend and went straight to five!

The video of her counting to five is here.

Thanks for visiting!