Graceful Fall

Today was Trey's field trip. His class went to a local state park to learn about seeds, and farm life 100 years ago. This is him trying butter. They made it fresh in a little jar. Than the park director smeared it on crackers for all the children to try.

I saw some lovely sites while I was out there. I snapped photos of these flowers by the learning center. It was a touch gloomy when we first arrived. The rain held off allowing for a nature walk for myself after the kids headed back to school.

I haven't done something like that in years. I used to love going to a local park before kids. Somehow, quiet walks under fallen leaves doesn't happen with little people under foot yelling! I really enjoyed the walk. It was just me, for about an hour, walking down a path covered with fallen leaves. I had a river to my right, and crickets chirping to my left.

Two years ago, Gabi had a field trip here. I saw a bridge, and had fallen in love with it. I thought it would be a beautiful place to take photos of, or have the kids stand on it. I had no kids with me, but my journey with the trees today started because I wanted to snap some photos of that bridge. So, here's the bridge.

Isn't it beautiful? I just found it so charming so many years ago! Can't you just picture it covered in snow? Not that we see much snow here. Or Spring flowers blooming near by it?

Than on my way back from the walk, I found something I had missed

the first time. There sitting on a small branch, not too high up on the tree was a bird's nest. It was just right there! I couldn't believe it.

This park is all about nature, as you can see some of the trees are huge and untouched by man. So, it was neat to see a bird's nest so close to see.

It turned out to be such a lovely day to take a stroll thru the trees. I felt so refreshed from the busy Sept and Oct I've had. Only to get thru it, to realize it's time to get ready for the holiday madness! It's November already!

To top of such a lovely day, Gabi's report card came home. She made A/B Honor Roll at school! This is her first time for real grades! She had two A's and two B's! I was so happy for her, and she was way proud of herself!

Spread your wings

This is one of my favorite scrapbook pages. All the elements came together perfectly. The colors are so fun. I had wonderful photos to work with. Embellishments that matched the papers perfectly! I used DCWV paper pack, Nana's Kids glitter stack. I used their spring 2008 stack for my base. I used my favorite scrapbook called "Cherish" by Jeannette Lynton for the layout.

I had taken the kids to our local park and snapped some photos. Gabi looked so cute in her little dress. Gabi had also been diagonsised with ADHD at the beginning of second year. We chose to medicate her, which was a hard road to cross. For her, that was the best decision we could have made. She flourished so much last year, and continues to do so this year. So, this double page was made around that change in her, because she really spread her wings and took off last year.

Printing on Vellum

This was a really cool thing to find out about years ago. A friend of mine, Diana, gave me this idea, and from then on, I've been best friends with vellum. I use it to print titles for scrapbooks and journaling blocks. On SCS they have this even cool thread that has computer printer codes to print the fonts in colors of CTMH and SU inks! Genius! I use it all the time when I'm scrapping to have the printer ink match my colors. For this page, I had my title match sage shadow, and pixie pink. I don't like my hand writing to much, so I try to do as much as I can on the computer. I know some people say it takes away from the personal touch, but honestly, I feel like if they can't read it, than it's not doing a lot for me! Here is the link for the printer codes at SCS. http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=137318

The other cool thing about this page is all the fun little details. I used TAC's Running stitches stamp set, and paper pierced at each end. I adore photo anchors, which I first saw in a CTMH catty. Oh, man, that was love at first site! I used SU scallop circle punch. Paired that with TAC's Squiggle ladybugs in SU pixie pink, topped off with Star Dust stickles, and used pop dots to pop them out on the page. Finally, Kissy Fit brads from Queen and Co. complete my list of embellishments on this page.

Amanda's Glitter Card

Amanda totally threw me when I got to her kit. I wasn't quite sure what to do. But that girl is a wiz with acetate! Shoot, she's been published making a card with acetate, and she's a past teacher. She's taking a break while she chases her little strawberry around the house! Anyhow, once I got things going, I think it turned out fine. I colored the back side with sharpies. I took some crystal effects, and layered the ghost with a fine white glitter. Than I layered up the sentiment to make it show up. See the bright green? I love bright green! Than I added eyelets to stick it all together. I had a piece of scrap from Barb's fence from her card, so I added it beneathe the ghost to make it look like he was behind the fence.

Tammi's Fluffy Pirate

This kit came from Tammi. Look at that mustash! Fun! I ran the scallop circle thru the cuttle bug folder. I really like how that looks. I used some new Martha Stewart glitter I found at Walmart on the feather. It matched the colors so nicely. And who doesn't love a little bit of bling!

Kim's Boo Kit

How cute is this chap?! This is a TAC stamp set called Trick or Treaters. Kim said she fell in love with the set from seeing some stuff that another Lostie, Cindy, had been making with the set. I enjoyed this kit! I love bright papers, and she sent them to play with! I realized afterwards that I totally forgot to add some embellishments. Chalk that up to my crazy life lately! I did, however, do a move that I see Kim do often on her cards which was to put that top layer over the scalloped purple layer before putting it all together. But I might have to go back and add something to this card. But I do think it's darling just like it is!

Barb's kit.

This one threw me at first. She'd sent an orange base, and I was lost at first. Granted, I must have been the only one, because all the other Lostie cards rock with this kit. Anyhow, I went with a techinique that Michelle Zindorf does that I adore. So, I think my Halloween sky looks pretty cool! I added her fence that she enclosed, along with the moon and the cat. I was very pleased with the end result! I added some white gel to the tree, and outlined some parts with the clear glitter pen.