Give Yourself a Present!

This mini album is my response to Stacy Julian challenge Give Yourself a Present.
That's what she said:
• Snap ten or twelve photos of your life right now. Or find recent photos that you've already taken.
• Compile these photos in one of these super-cute Bazzill Mono-Mini albums (keep reading)
• Keep or carry this album with you, tucked in your purse or desk drawer for one full year.
• Promise to glance through the album every time you stumble upon it or pull it out.
• On October 1st, 2009, create a scrapbook page about your experience.

I used the photos from the last two weeks of September and put them in the little minibook made using One Little Book Template from 3D Design challenge blog. The whole book is done from one piece of 12x12 cardstock! I added a ribbon closure and a patterned paper cover. I wanted to keep it very simple so I just dressed up the cover with my favorite Heidi Swapp mask and some paint. The little chipboard heart is by Heidi Grace.

2 weeks

It is Saturday, October 4th and that means my baby is 2 weeks old! The time is flying too fast :( Oh, and my little sister had a birthday today. Happy Birthday little sister! Love you!

Thank you all for the wonderful comments! I am going to print them and add to the Eli's greeting cards. Thank you, thank you! He is the sweetest little guy.

Here is Lila holding his hand. Too cute!

Few days ago we had another new arrival. My new sewing machine had arrived!! The best part - I won it during the chat with June Mellinger organized by Lead Fiskateer Rebecca! June is the Director of Education for Brother International. I was thinking about getting the sewing machine for a while and this will be perfect for me.

Now I just need to decide what to sew! :)

Few days ago I finally finished a project that I started in August. It is a star shaped mini album from the class taught by Tena Sprenger. It has 7 pages. I put 2 baby pictures of each of my kids. I still need to add one picture with 3 of them together. I love how it turned out.

The last thing for today is the layout made for Design You Life class by Cathy Zielske. The subject of this week is symmetrical balance.

Eli Oren-Dahan

He is here

40.3 weeks

and still waiting.
BUT, while waiting I actually did some cute projects.

This card is based on Fiskars September card sketch When I saw the sketch I immediately thought about felt squares. The scallop blade of my Fiskars rotary trimmer cuts felt like butter!
I added few stitches with the embroidery floss and added some purple glass beads to the orange strip. Then pumpkins are punched out with Fiskars Halloween squeeze punch. Here is another project that I finished few days ago. I started it when Miss E. wasn't even one yet..... Yes, that gives us about 7 and a half years.... LOL
I really wanted to finish it before the baby comes, so it is done now and in it's frame. I just need to figure out how to finish the back side of the frame.
I will finish with a sneak peak of another recently completed project. I can't share yet because it didn't reach it's final destination.

Still waiting

Today I started my 10th month of pregnancy. Unfortunately it looks like the baby is not aware of it and doesn't show ANY signs of getting ready to be born. So we are waiting. Maybe tomorrow?? Tomorrow is a good day...

Got sushi?

Here is something I made for the Baker's Dozen challenge on fiskateers blog. I was looking through the pile of photos at my desk looking for the black and white photo for the challenge and found this one. It one of favorites photos of my sister! Everything else just felt in place.

Here are 13 items I had to use:
1. black and white picture - check
2. doodling - I had to look for sushi drawings on the web for this one
3. 3 or more different papers to be used - 3 pp from Collage Press
4. ribbon - scallop felt ribbon
5. double matting - check
6. chipboard - 2 Scenic route chipboard circles
7. sticky note - from the prescription pad
8. shaped brads (not the norm) - black arrow
9. hand cutting - the ? sign
10. title must be "Got________?" ( you fill in the blank!) - check
11. staples - attaching the ribbon
12. sticker(s) - Scenic Route alpha stickers
13. inking - the ? sign and the edges of the layout

How are my sushi doodles?? Good thing I usually don't draw on my layouts! LOL

On the other front we are just waiting, enjoying having grandma here and doing some shopping.

Miss E. really didn't want to join us on the recent mall trip. As a reward she was able to use my camera. We ended up with 20 shoes pictures and few cute ones.

like this self portrait :)

Little boys and sunflowers

Two new layouts from yesterday! Not bad for 39.1 weeks pregnant elephant... oops, scrapbooker.

This is my favorite! Kelly Jo runs a challenge on Fiskateers message board to make a layout using your baby photo. I didn't have any of my baby photos but I found an adorable photos of the little boy that 21 years later became my husband. Isn't he cute??


All products used are from Jenni Bowlin August kit except one copper raindot. I think she has the best kits ever! I always can find one that will work with my pictures.

The second layout is for the Wendy Jo garden challenge. This year we planted a tiny garden. The sunflowers ended up being in shade so they grew really tall :) The fell down eventually and now they are in the vase decorating our dinner table.

Jenni Bowlin June kit with Heidi Grace chipboard.

Here is the tip for making a title in a circle. Use one of the supersized USX templates! I just put the template on my page to mark where I want the title and arranged the letters along the edge of the template. Perfect circle!

Today is the early release day at school. The girls will be home at 2pm. We have some shopping planned with the grandma and maybe more scrapbooking later today :)

One sheet box

Not a lot of crafting is going on in my house in these days. But I managed to make this cute little box using the template from the 3D Design challenge blog . It is a new blog with some cool 3D templates - it will be very useful for the upcoming gift season :)

The box is done from one sheet of 8.5x11 cardstock. I added some embossing using the Fiskars texture plate and used the Fiskars USX to cut the tag. The cat is done with the new Halloween Fiskars squeeze punch. I just had to use it! LOL The little dots are done with CTMH liquid glass.

But what should I put inside??

First day of school

Finally! :)

We had a good summer but it is time for the school year to begin. time to get back to schedule and time for me to get my few free hours back. Not for too long. I am 38 weeks today so the new baby can be here any moment. I hope he will stay inside for another 2 weeks - I am so NOT ready yet.

I snapped some pictures before I sent the girls to the bus today. They are so big!

I didn't upload anything for a while. Here is the layout I made after watching the video with Mel Sanchez Love the wired ribbon look!





Few weeks ago I made this clipboard and the matching gift card holder for my neighbour. She was Ella's summer school teacher and was kind enough to take Ella every morning to school with her. That was very helpful and I wanted to thank her. She is a teacher assistant in our school so I hope she will find the clipboard useful :)

I have a huge list of errands planned for today. The clock is ticking! I hope to be able to post more this week.