October True XOXO Challenge Layout

I admit I've been trying to adjust to the new Fall schedule. This school year, Riley has more activities than ever. I just read through a book I got at the library about tantrums and all things normal with kids. I really didn't feel anything helped because Riley truly is a great kid. But the interesting thing is that it suggested that a child should not have more than TWO extracurricular activities. Do you agree with this? If she only had two...look at what we'd be missing. I know some parents (personally know they) fill up every hour of every day with an activity so they don't need to pay extra for childcare. Some don't care to spend time with their children either. I actually spend time with Riley talking about and teaching her more about her activities. It's easy because I danced professionally. But again, I've gotten sucked up in the chauffeuring and I feel like I only prepare lunches and snacks which has not left any time to scrapbook. I don't even take photos anymore because I am always in the car.

I did manage to get my layout done for the True XOXO Instagram challenge.  

I spent quite a few hours on this but I actually didn't change the cardstock too much from it's original state. I used PanPastels to do a little bit of extra shading around the edges of all of the elements. The ribbon is from May Arts...it's velvet. I haven't played around too much with the PanPastels since I got them back in June. But I have another challege coming up and needed yellow chevron. I didn't have paper with a chevron patter nor did I want to diecut anything at 3am. So here came my thought about changing the color of the ribbon.

I used the sponge applicator and swiped it across the ribbon. Easy as that. Seriously! Then I sprayed it with fixative. Yes, I did that too in the middle of the night indoors. I don't have an iPhone and I know I've played around with various photo apps. My phone doesn't compare to my camera so I used Lightroom to edit my photo. After about three Presets, I had an over saturated photo that is an Instagram wannabe. I added a white box behind the image (as a layer in Photoshop Elements) and gave that a shadow. Once I was done with my coloring, I created my own sparkly mist out of Ranger Perfect Pearls and water. This layout is full of color and sparkle in person. There are also gold ring stickers by Starform which I ordered through Glitter Ritz/Elizabeth Craft.

I had so much fun just shading in the colors that I want the new musical costumes to use PanPastels too. Okay that would be way too expensive, but I can just imagine the possibilities. Have I mentioned that this year's musical is going to be The Lion King? Yes, you may lose me again when I begin designing costumes but this time my friend says I have to take you along for the ride in my costume making process.

Fabric scraps on layout

Now that I can sew a straight line (or a line at all), I decided to use the left over fabric for a layout from Riley's skirt that my mom made for her. Remember the one she said I could pass off as my own work? Yeah we don't need to mention how it got me in trouble when I was in the 2nd or 3rd grade. She had written my essay on world peace for school. It was so damn good that I had to read it in two school assemblies. Guess that's why I can write a paper now and get an A even though I have no real clue on the subject. But I won't be doing that again any time soon.

I used Prism cardstock (left over from Memory Works retreat), May Arts twill, Oriental Trading brads, My Mind's Eye "today" cardstock saying, American Crafts acrylic letters, Zip Dry, and Maya Road rubons. Oh and the fabric was from JoAnn's. I wanted to originally make Riley's American Doll Riley (I can't believe she named her doll after herself but it is what it is) a matching skirt but there wasn't enough length.

Cupcake shaped layout

Here's my day 2 shaped layout. It's a cupcake. . . we love cupcakes around here! I created the Pazzles file off of the Maya Road chipboard mini album. So if you are interested in a JPG template or the WPC file, let me know. . . . SEI papers, Pixstix (embossed puffy paints), Colorbok, Oriental Trading.

I also wanted to show you the hanging canvas panels I made for Riley's preschool teachers. I'm starting to think I have a style with these photo extraction type of layouts. Paper layouts the sun goes on the left. The digital layouts I put the sun on the right. Kind of weird. . . I used Prima (of course) paper and flowers, Hampton Arts stamps, school house from ScrapbookGraphics.com, Fancy Pants trim, Glimmer Mist, May Arts ribbons. Panels from Dick Blick. Using my stash baby!

The green layout is Rusty Pickle with Prisma Color markers. And the other one is Prima Marketing papers and flowers, Rusty Pickle chipboard, Fancy Pants stamps, Autumn Leaves stamps.

MLS mini album

I used My Little Shoe Box paper and tags to create this mini. I added some Prima flowers to the front and scraps of Doodlebug Designs and bling. Ribbon from May Arts. It's not quite finished but I wanted to get it out of the way and put it in my gift pile.

Just an average day

I think I'm getting really used to staying at home. Can't say I like it much. Anyways, right now I sure don't know why I didn't plan on going to CHA. I guess it was procrastination. I RSVPed to the SEI party and got a few calls from a few manufacturers asking if I was going to attend but now I have to go to a birthday party for a family member; would have gotten the new lines of papers free. Oh well. You know I just don't know what it is with people who give invites days before an event. I could go on but won't. Or more like I shouldn't.

Just quick layouts today. . . one really simple with a hidden journaling card using K&Company. And the other is SEI's Cupid's Candy Shop with Oriental Trading eyelets, Basic Grey fibers, May Arts ribbons and a Maya Road chipboard heart from their heart book.