Another quick layout share

So I'll admit, the pics of this one aren't what I'd like them to be, but I had to share nonetheless.

Made using the Scraptastic Barn Door kit...

 Awesome Studio Calico wood veneer hearts outlined with red Liquid Pearls.

 The light made the chevron print circles (punched from the SC papers) hard to see. Hand stitched.

Shimmerz all over the background paper.

Thanks for looking!

True XOXO Challenge #33: Back to September!

It's time for another True XOXO Scrapbooking challenge, and this time it's all about September and unconventional supplies. September means back to school, and for moms everywhere, it means a host of other things.

For me, it means a return to baking (who wants to heat up the kitchen in the summer? Not this girl!) and kitchen time, when I prepare things to make school days go more smoothly. I make mass batches of waffles and pancakes to freeze (healthier than store-bought frozen waffles/pancakes), homemade syrup to pour on said waffles/pancakes, muffins, breads, crackers, granola bars, etc. I just love the baking! When I saw the parameters of this challenge, I was stumped...until I remembered all of the great kitchen supplies I've been hoarding in a drawer in the craft area for quite some time now.

From there, this page was born:

 That's little ol' me chillin' on my toy horse. I got the Polaroid from my grandmother's photograph collection, something I inherited when she passed away, and it includes her handwriting along the bottom. Apparently, this horse was dubbed "Bucky the Wonder Horse," and I don't know if that's what the toy was called or if that's what my grandmother called it...either way, nice to have the documentation. You'll see that it's patterned paper-free, something I don't do often, and only includes Simple Stores Summer Fresh alphas, banner sticker, and word stickers, as well as Kaisercraft pearls. I pulled out five different colors of bread ties and tags, and decided to use the popsicle sticks for a frame. I was going to ink them up but decided they would look better au naturale, save for the word stickers and pearls. Baker's twine threaded through bread tags made the perfect banner to accent the title!

 I am soooo lovin' how the twist ties/pearls look!

Head on over to the True XOXO blog to see what the other DT members pulled out (check the great use of washers on one of them, blew me away!) and enter your own layout using unconventional supplies for a chance at a guest DT spot! Can't wait to see what inspires you :)

Happy Labor Day, off to a cookout (as long as my oldest isn't sick anymore...fingers crossed...I want my cheeseburgers!!)

xoxo
Khristen

(not so lazy) Saturday

Trying to adjust to hubby's new schedule is *hard.* I have gotten used to him being home by 4:30 or 5 every night, with weekends off, ever since he switched from 4 years of 3rd shift hell. Well, now another change...after letting someone go, they put hubby in his shift, Tues-Sat 10-6:30. I guess it is way better than 3rd shift, but it isn't that great when it comes to dinner time, my Arbonne business (events and meetings are held at 6 or 7 typically and I don't have a reliable sitter), and our normal Saturday plans, like parties, barbeques, and playdates. Poor Patryk has cried each night, wondering when he can play with The Exalted Daddy.

With my down-and-out mood today, I figured a mix of activities would keep my mind elsewhere. I picked Rileigh up from a sleepover, treated Patryk to a doughnut for breakfast, cleaned the bathroom (much needed), headed to a shower for an hour or so, finished the laundry, made some protein bars, and SMASH*ed. I have recently decided this is a great substitute for scrapping when I run out of pics and don't fell like printing out new ones or digging into the piles of boxes of old photos. Today, I used the Ben & Jerry's Factory Tour brochure and ticket from our recent trip to VT. I thought it should be Smash*ed as there are no pics of this event, and wanted to document that we did it. I love how it turned out (but don't love that my Smooch black spritz ended up all over my hands and even on my leg as it was clogged.)

 Page 1: Fancy Pants Country Boutique Barn Door wood plank paper and die cut folder; Houndstooth & Dear Lizzy Thickers; Sassafrass pink swirl alpha; Scenic Route alpha; black SMASH* pen to outline some of the letters; MME Funday Happy Days stamps; Buttercup Liquid Pearls.

 I turned the file folder into a place to hide the journaling, covering it with the stamps, and outlining it with Liquid Pearls.

 I love mixing alphas!!

 Page 2: Cut a slit in the background paper to slide the brochure into (used my Glue Arts Advanced Tape Glider to affix a piece of paper on the other side to make a sort of pocket); Smash* Swatch washi tape, all patterns cut out and stuck down randomly; EK scrabble tile alpha stickers outlined on top and bottom with Smash* pen; Studio Calico wood heart spritzed with black Smooch; Jillibean label sticker; Smash* date stamp; MME Funday Happy Days number stamp.

 Love all these patterns and the punch of color it gives the layout. Also love these SC wood pieces!

Yeah, I kind of screwed up on the date stamp, but the effect is still kind of cool, right? (Right?! Help me out here!!) It is, after all, the first time I used it :)

So that's it. *STILL* waiting for hubby. Missing him a lot...especially since Patryk is Meltdown Central this afternoon. He really misses his daddy! I guess it's back to the craft table, the best way to turn my frown upside down :)

xoxo
Khristen