Scrapbooking Friends

June's 10 on 10

2011-06-11T11:18:00.001-07:00

I kind of forgot as the day went on. So I only have 7 out of 10. But for my first time, I'd say I did pretty good. :)

10 am: I was taking my morning meds.

11 am: I was checking email and writing an important email in return.

12 Noon: Picking Emma and Ian up from Kindergarten.

1 pm: Quiet time, with Emma and Ian watching a Barbie Movie in the basement.

2 pm: Making a Potato Salad for our grill party in the evening.

3 pm: Dropping off Spencer and Ian for Soccer Practice.

5 pm: Picking up Spencer and Ian from Soccer Practice and Emma from a friends house.

A Few Scrap Projects

2008-03-02T12:30:00.000-08:00

This past weekend was Scrap Freak's One Year Birthday Bash. It was a lot of fun and Team Freak did an awesome job of having some great challenges and games for us. I even won Scattergories. Staying up until 4:3oam to play those games really paid off. I can't wait to see what my prize is. :D

Amy, from Team Freak, asked if she could use one of my card sketches during the Birthday Bash. It was fun to see which one she chose. Thanks Amy for thinking of me.

Anyway, I didn't get to participate as much as I usually do or even as much as I wanted to. Hannah had her Slumber Birthday Party Friday Night and I have been exhausted as well. But here is what I did accomplish!

Accordian Mini Album Outside

Accordian Mini Album Inside

Circle Card Sketch

Door Hanger

Pillow Box

A Few Cards

2008-02-24T11:39:00.000-08:00

I sat down at my scrap table this weekend for the first time in almost a month. Here are four cards I made for the February Freaky Friday Card Challenges over at Scrap Freak.

Photo A Day--January 28 - 30

2008-01-30T12:05:00.000-08:00

Here are my pictures from the last 3 days!

Monday, January 28:

Took pictures of layouts I had done previously. So, not a new layout, just a new picture.

Tuesday, January 29

Shantal at her Dance Concert. It turned out so dark. Any advice on how to avoid this? And what about fixing it? I have Photoshop but don't know really how to use it yet.

Wednesday January 30

The boys were in the shower and I just couldn't help snapping this picture. They love being together. Spencer is a great big brother to Ian.

I spiked Ian's hair after the shower and had to get a picture of it. It was too funny!

Two New Cards

2008-01-27T13:25:00.001-08:00

Here are two new cards I made tonight for the Freaky Friday Card Challenges over at Scrap Freak.

The first card I had to use something sparkly. And since my stickles had not arrived yet, I used some Heidi Swapp Bling. I also used Crackle Paint and Thickers on this card. It was my first time using any of the three products. I can't wait to use them on a layout.

The second card I really love. I had to use the color red. And I really love the color combo: Red, Black and White.

Photo A Day--January 27

2008-01-27T13:13:00.000-08:00

Caught the kids and Gardner playing Twister tonight. Hannah got this game at McDonald's this weekend. Hannah was telling me not to take a picture of her butt. Although, I couldn't help take pictures. They were having such a great time.

Photo A Day--January 26

2008-01-27T13:08:00.000-08:00

Shantal was giving the two smaller kids piggy back rides before bed.

Photo A Day--January 24

2008-01-27T12:58:00.001-08:00

Hannah and Ian both were wearing the kids backpacks from school. They have to have certain types of backpacks here in Germany and they are big and bulky and heavy. Look how big they are on Ian. Luckily, his backpack was totally empty. Backpacks here are called "tonister".

Photo A Day--January 23

2008-01-27T12:43:00.000-08:00

Yet another fine thing I tried this week. It is a apple pocket or something like that. It has diced apples inside and it was yummy. Not as good as the "mini schnecken" the other day, but still something to hinder my losing weight saga.

Photo A Day--January 22

2008-01-22T14:08:00.000-08:00

I think this is my newest addiction to helping me not lose weight during the month of January. These are called Rosinenschnekes. Basically translated to Raisin Snails. But really, they are like cinnamon rolls, without the cinnamon. They are so tasty, sweet and yummy!

Photo A Day--January 21

2008-01-22T14:05:00.000-08:00

One of the challenges over at Scrap Freak was to take a picture of letters. I have a plague that has the letters FAMILY. And across those letters is the phrase, those we live with, laugh with, love.

Photo A Day--January 19

2008-01-22T14:01:00.000-08:00

Every Saturday Morning, I like to make breakfast for the family . So today, I made waffles. The kids love them.

Photo A Day--January 17

2008-01-22T13:54:00.001-08:00

The kids took Showers tonight and I got some good shots of them playing inside the shower. But not for the internet. So here are some after shots for ya.

Blog Challenge: Song

2008-01-18T12:04:00.000-08:00

So the blog challenge for this week over at Scrap Freak was to tell about a special song that I have with a special someone. The only person I have a special song with is my husband. We watched the Movie, Pure Country before we got married in 1993. And we both fell in love with this song and ever since, it has become "our song".

I Cross My Heart
By: George Straight

Our love is unconditional
We knew it from the start
I can see it in your eyes
You can feel it from my heart
from here on after
Lets stay the way we are right now
And share all the love and laughter
That a lifetime will allow

Chorus:
I cross my heart
And promise to
Give all Ive got to give
To make all your dreams come true
In all the world
Youll never find
A love as true as mine

You will always be the miracle
That makes my life complete
And as long as theres still breath in me
Ill make yours just as sweet
As we look into the future
Its as far as we can see
So lets make each tomorrow
Be the best that it can be

Chorus

And if along the way we find a day
It starts to storm
Youve got the promise of my love
To keep you warm

Chorus

Blog Challenge: Firsts

2008-01-18T01:17:00.000-08:00

What was your first...

1. concert? I am ashamed to admit this, but it was Richard Marx

2. car? Oh gosh, I can't remember the name of it. But my second one was a Chevy Sprint.

3. job? Mc Donald's.

4. scrapbook layout about? My Wedding

5. grade teacher's name? Hmmm, don't know which grade teacher. I'll go with my 3rd grade since I can remember that. It was Ms. Bigger. Used to call her Ms. Booger

6. pet? A dog named Casper. Got hit by a car.

7. vacation as an adult? Las Vegas for the Night. I used to work for an Airline and would fly stand by for free.

8. boyfriend's name? Scott Dixon

9. living arrangement after moving out of your parents' home? Lived in an Apartment . It was off campus housing in Provo, UT.

10. scrapbook message board to be a member on? AOL. I was a swap-a-holic

Photo A Day--January 16

2008-01-16T12:41:00.000-08:00

I speak a lot about the homework battle that I have every day. Here is a picture of Spencer and Shantal doing their homework today. Not a very good picture. I will have to try again tomorrow.

Photo A Day--January 15

2008-01-16T12:30:00.000-08:00

Emma's smile is so contagious. She was loving her braids yesterday and when I said, "Let me take your picture, she was all smiles and giggles. "

All she wanted was to give him a kiss. But he didn't want her to.

Photo A Day--January 14

2008-01-16T12:26:00.000-08:00

These are some Magnets that I altered. I put paper around them and then put rub ons, flowers, chipboard, ribbon, ect on them.

I decided I need a lot of practice taking these kind of pictures. I usually take them at night as soon as I am done with the scrap project I am working on. And the flash kept bouncing on the magnets and ruining the picture. I have to figure out how to avoid that.

Photo A Day--January 13

2008-01-13T11:40:00.001-08:00

Here is my photo today. Don't know what I actually think about it. But I took it all by myself.

My Newest Digi Layout

2008-01-12T14:21:00.000-08:00

This is Hannah's first day of school here in Germany. In Germany, the kids start school when they are 6 years old and start with the 1st grade. It is a huge deal and they have an "Einschulung" before their real first class day. It is a day to introduce them to the school.

I am in the process of making a few more pages with all the pictures I have from that day and then will be doing a page of just journaling to go with it. So you can learn more about this day when I get the journaling done.

Photo A Day--January 12

2008-01-12T14:09:00.001-08:00

Saturday is one of my grocery shopping days. And after I got home, I thought of getting my camera. I am so glad I did.

When ones goes grocery shopping here in Germany, they bring their own bags or baskets to pack everything into. If you use the ones at the store, you pay 10 cents to 25 cents per bag.

Like I said, Saturday is one of my grocery shopping days. I also go on Mondays and Thursdays. But Saturdays is my big day. And today was an especially big day as I drove to a further out store called Real to get things like Pasta, sauce, shampoo, cleaning supplies and all in big quantities that I don't have to go again for another month.

Aldi is where I normally shop and there I buy drinks, fruit, vegetables, bread, dairy, meats. But they only have a limited variety and they don't have everything one needs.

Photo A Day---January 11

2008-01-12T14:03:00.000-08:00

Every Friday we do a Friday Family Movie Night. The kids get to stay up a little bit later than normal since there is no school or church the next morning. It is something the kids look forward to all week.

Tonight they were watching, Aladin, King of Theives.

I've Entered the Digi World

2008-01-10T00:28:00.000-08:00

Over at Scrap Freak, one of our Freaky Friday Challenges was a digital Layout. Chickie gave a great tutorial and walked us through making a layout step by step. Everyone seemed to get it but me. For some reason, it wasn't working right. Granted, I had never used Photoshop before as I had just gotten it from my sister in December.

Anyway, After three hours, I had completed my first digital layout. Then, the next day (which was yesterday) I took the plunge and decided to try it again. It went much faster. And then last night, I made a third one. I don't know how hooked I am on the digi layouts, but I am intrigued enough to see if I can figure it all out and to keep practicing.

Here are my three layouts in order of completion.

Photo A Day--January 9th

2008-01-09T10:28:00.001-08:00

Ian does not like binkies at all. But he loves his bottle. Doesn't matter if there is nothing in there, he wants to have it in his mouth and will carry it everywhere. Today I found him doing this. I couldn't help but take a picture of it. Two must be better than one!

Photo A Day--January 8th

2008-01-09T10:23:00.000-08:00

Today was the kids last day of Christmas Break. They decided to use Shantal's tea seat and have a tea party while the two smaller kids were at nap. Well, I didn't even think about taking a picture of them until they were cleaning up. I found them in the bathroom washing their dishes.

A Photo A Day--January 7th

2008-01-09T09:58:00.000-08:00

Monday, I went shopping at a store named Aldi. They have specials every Monday and Thursday. On this particular day, they had their Carnival costumes on sale. They dress up for carnival like we do for Halloween. Here are some hats I bought. they were 2.99 each and the kids LOVE them.

Photo A Day--January 6th

2008-01-06T12:49:00.001-08:00

My subject for tonight is Emma. She is 2 1/2 years old. She was up late tonight so I put her in my bed and gave her a stack of books. Since I remembered I still needed a picture, I grabbed some close ups of her. I couldn't decide which one of the two I liked best. I think I like the first one is slightly winning in my eyes. She is definately a cutie.

Photo A Day--January 5th

2008-01-06T12:29:00.001-08:00

My picture for today started out being a picture of my scrap area. How messy it was. And of course, I was planning on cleaning the area and was going to do an after picture. Well, I did that. And then afterwards, I got a few more pictures taken that I had not planned on, and well, I just had to share.

Scrap Area Before

Scrap Area After

Ian has been a little bit sick these last few days. He cries an awful lot. I think he is teething. Anyway, he is way off his sleeping schedule. And then he is up until like 1am. For those that know me, know that my kids are in bed at 7pm. So this is a huge difference. I just had to take a picture of him crying. Isn't that terrible of me.

These are dads shoes. They seemed to make Ian stop crying every few minutes.

We would catch him putting on the shoes and wanting to walk around the room. If the picture is close up enough, you can still see the tears in the poor boys eyes from crying. But at least we had a few minutes of peace when he was walking.

Blog Challenge: All About The New Year

2008-01-06T03:09:00.000-08:00

1. Will you be looking for a new job? No. My visa to live here in Germany states that I can not work while I live here.

2. What will you do different in '08? Show more affection to my husband because I love him more than he realizes since I don't show it that often.

3. New Year's Resolution(s)? Of course the same as every year: To lose weight, to control my temper, to be a good Mom and to get more organized.

4. Any trips planned? Oh, I want to go to America. That is a given. But we are also looking into taking the three bigger kids to Disney Paris.

5. Wedding plans? Nope. :giggle:

6. Baby plans? Tubes tied this year is my plan.

7. Major thing on your calendar? So far, the major thing on my calendar would be Scrap Freak's Anniversary Crop in March and then the visit from the in-laws in October.

8. What can't you wait for? The Sun to finally shine in Germany.

9. What would you like to see happen different? I would love to see my kids get a long more and less fighting. I wish they would be more loving one towards another.

10. What about yourself will you be changing? I want to become a nicer Mom.

11. What happened in '07 that you didn’t think would ever happen? My mom came here to Germany to visit me.

12. Will you be nicer to the people you care about? I sure hope so. That is one of my goals.

13. Will you dress differently in '08 than you did in '07? Probably not.

14. Will you better your relationship with your family? Once again, I hope so.

15. Will you do volunteer work? I always do volunteer work. So I am going to say yes.

16. Do you expect '08 to be a good year for you? Yes.

17. How much did you change from this time last year til now? I have changed a lot. Being new in a foreign country last year was really hard. But now, I am more experienced. I've grown a lot through the trials and hardships I encountered.

18. Will you still be friends with the same people you are friends with now? I hope so. I need to work on keeping in touch with old and new friends. Because it is sad when we move on.

19. Major lifestyle changes? Oh please let me become skinnier.

20. Will you be moving? Nope, doesn't look like it is in the cards for this year.

21. What will you make sure doesn't happen in '08 that happened in '07? I have no idea.

Photo A Day--January 4th

2008-01-04T15:40:00.000-08:00

Gotta love our tile! lmao

Photo A Day--January 3rd

2008-01-04T01:58:00.000-08:00

Gardner went to the store to pick up something to try to hook up our television today. But instead, he came home with this. I am very excited as I have been wanting one. It is not as nice as what I used to use at the Gym when we lived in America. And it really is a cheap thing. But that is the point. We couldn't afford something more expensive. And hopefully it will help me get back into shape this year. I need help after having the last two kids.

Photo A Day--January 2nd

2008-01-02T13:54:00.000-08:00

We have lived in our house for over a year now. We have a sauna in our basement and we have never used it before except to hide christmas presents.

Tonight we used it for the first time. So I tried to take pictures of it. It is hard to take a picture of something that has such a narrow door.

I'd love pointers if you have some to share. I'm including three pictures.

Color Challenge--White

2008-01-02T03:38:00.001-08:00

Scrap Freak is starting a Photo Color Challenge once a month. For January, the color is white. There is no prize if you win, it is really just for fun. So I am trying to decide which picture I should submit as my entry. Which one do you like best? Number 1 or number 2?

Number 1

Number 2

Photo A Day---January 1st

2008-01-02T03:33:00.001-08:00

Here is my picture for Tuesday, January 1st. It is of my little Ian. He is now 16 months old. He has learned some sign language. He is doing the sign for eat. He was wanting something that Gardner had.

Scrap Freak Layout Swap

2007-11-16T02:12:00.001-08:00

Here are the layouts I did for the Scrap Freak Layout Swap:

Kristin: Advice for a College Graduate

Kim: Dawn

Sara: Blank Recipe Pages

Angie: Recipe Book

Charlotte: Christmas

Denise: Family and Christmas 07

Wisconsin Scrappers Un-Circle Journal Layouts

2007-11-16T01:33:00.000-08:00

Here are some layouts I did this past month for the Un-Circle Journal Swap over at Wisconsin Scrappers. I really hope you ladies like what I did and that I followed instructions good enough. I always worry that I missed something.

Here is what I created. You will notice that there are lots of similarities in the layouts. Some are even down right exactly the same. I love that about swaps. I would never be able to have the same thing for all my own pages. But to do them for someone else, I can get away with it.

Kathy R: Snow Days

Kelly: Friends

Kim: Hustisford

Kristine: Love Quotes

Kathy H: Ducks

Andrea: Wedding

Dannelle: The Gifts

Kathy A: Sisters

Amy: Mom

A - Z's of Me.....Part 2

2007-08-20T06:43:00.000-07:00

OK, so I have not done A - Z's of Me Part 1 yet. I will get to that.

Scrap Freak has blog challenges. And this weeks blog challenge is to complete this list of A - Z and then post it on my blog. So here it goes. Maybe you will learn something new about me.

A - Available or taken: Taken
B - Best Friend: Don't really have one right now.
C - Cake or Pie: Pie
D - Drink of choice: Water
E - Essential Item you use everyday: Computer
F - Favorite color: Blue
G - Gummy Bears or worms: Worms
H - Hometown: Ratingen
I - Indulgence: Chocolate
J - January or February: January
K - Kids & Names: 5: Shantal, Spencer, Hannah, Emma and Ian
L - Life is Incomplete Without? My Family
M - Marriage Date: December 18
N - Number of Siblings: 6
O - Oranges or Apples: Apples
P - Phobias or Fears: can't stand being closed in. Doors have to remain open.
Q - Fave Quote:
R - Reason to Smile: When my kids do something nice for someone else.
S - Season: Fall
T - Traffic Tickets: 1
U - Unknown Fact about Me: I clean my belly button when I shower
V- Vegetable You Don't Like: Lima Beans
W - Worst Habit: Bad Words.
X - Xrays that you have had: Collar bone, toe, chest
Y - Your Fave Food: Mexican and Chinese
Z - Zodiac Sign: Cancer

I Got It!

2007-08-20T02:15:00.000-07:00

So, I got my first order from Scrap Freak today! I am soooo very excited. I have a friend here in Germany who has an APO and lets me have things mailed there. So I got my first scrapbooking purchase in over a year.

I'll have to take pictures later for you to see what I got. But, I ordered some Scenic Route paper, Crate Paper, Heidi Swap Flowers, Heidi Swap Ghost expressions and Maya Road Flowers. Everything was packaged sooooo very nicely.

My friend, Coni, also ordered from there. I have her stuff here and of course, I fondled over everything of hers before I even opened up my stuff. Made me sad that I did not order the Sassafras Lass. She also got some Maya Road Cubes. I love the cubes but want to get some wooden ones instead. Then I will alter that thing!

Well, I did make 4 cards this past weekend. Here they are!

This card is for a card challenge over at Scrap Freak.

Also A Scrap Freak Card Challenge

Another one of Amy's Famous Card Challenges at Scrap Freak.

This is for one of my Sketch Challenges that will be coming up on Thursday. You are getting a Sneak Peak!

First Week of August Layouts

2007-08-09T12:30:00.000-07:00

Here are some layouts I did last week.

This layout I made using a sketch from Sketches! With Multiple Photos! It is from the August Contest Sketch. If you haven't seen it yet, go take a peek. There is a $10 Gift Certificate to the winner of the Contest! There is a link off to the right hand side of my blog.

This layout was also inspired by a Sketch from Sketches! With Multiple Photos. I used it for a Story Telling Challenge over at Scrap Freak. I had to use an email or Blog entry for my journaling.

This was for Living On The Edge Challenge over at Scrap Freak. We had to use a edged border. I used Basic Grey Paper and cut along the circles to make the scalloped edge. There is a pull out on the right hand side for the program of the Music Concert.

This was also for a challenge over at Scrap Freak. It was an inspiration Challenge. We had to scrap lift one of our own layouts. Not my favorite layout, but it got done.

Kids Scrapping

2007-08-09T12:18:00.001-07:00

So the girls keep asking me to let them scrap. I made each of them a cd album. Here is Hannah doing her first pages. I of course, did her front cover before I gave it to her to fill the inside.

My MESSY Scrap Space

2007-08-09T12:12:00.001-07:00

Well, here are the pics I promised of my scrap space. Oh, my, my! It sure is messy!

Challenges and Cards

2007-08-01T01:21:00.000-07:00

OK, so I did scrap this past weekend. It is time for me to get those uploaded. They were all done for challenges over at Scrap Freak. Did you know I only started making cards in May? I have to say I did another card, but I absolutely hated how it turned out, so there fore....I am not sharing.

Also, I have a layout that is almost finished. I would scrap more if I could pull myself away from this darn computer and all my scrappy online friends. I do need to get two more challenge layouts completed before Saturday so I can earn a total freak blinkie over at Scrap Freak. Otherwise, I will need to just be content with being a total freak wanna be. :D

Today, I am going to try and clean my scrap area. It is a total mess. And I have to teach an online class over at Wisconsin Scrappers on Saturday. So I better get my area clean so I can have space to work. I should take before pictures so you can see how bad it actually is.

Two Peas in A Bucket's Blog Challenge for today is: How did you come up with the title of your blog? Well, I'm not going to answer that since I answered that very question in my one and only other post on here. You can go read it if you haven't already.

And then, Scrap Freak's Blog Challenge for this past week: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1!

Name 5 favorite television shows: Survivor, The Amazing Race, Gilmore Girls, Everybody Loves Raymond, Friends (I'm a reality TV Show Junkie!)

Name 4 favorite memories: Camping at the Beach while growing up, Cruise for our 10 year Anniversary, Getting Pregnant for the first time when we thought we could never have kids, Getting Married

Name 3 things you want to do before you die: Become a Grandma, Enjoy Traveling, Have a clean house for more than 10 minutes at a time.

Give 2 names that you would use NOW if you were going to have a new addition to the family: Hayden and Rachel

Name the one thing that you're working on now to improve your life: Trying to lose weight. Not happening very well since I am not giving up my chocolate. But I am getting my exercise in.

Rockin' Girl Blogger

2007-07-30T12:53:00.000-07:00

This week I have been tagged the "Rockin' Girl Blogger" by one awesome scrapper, Jess. Thanks girlie :)

So it is my duty to pass it onto five people.
1. Jamie
2. Bethany
3. Tracy
4. Amy
5. Tamara

All of you girls rock and thank you all for your friendships!!! They all are rockin scrappers and are awesome to chat with! :) Just wish we lived closer :cry:

Enjoy your awards, ladies. Put them on your blog, wear them proudly, and pass them on down!

My New Blog

2007-07-30T11:51:00.000-07:00

Wow, I must be a blogging Freak! This is my fourth blog. Why am a starting yet another blog? Well, for starters, Rebecca from Scrap Freak challenged me too. And who am I to back down from a challenge? :)

Second off, I have never had a blog for my scrapbooking addiction. Yes, I have two blogs for sketches that I design, Sketches! With Multiple Photos and Sketches! {Cardmania}, but I don't upload any of my personal work there. I don't talk about where I hang out, the things I have learned, my joys and excitements when it comes to scrapping.

I was putting this on my regular blog, Living in Germany. But I have realized that my family and friends who are not scrappers don't care about it. So, I don't talk so much about scrapbooking anymore on there. And personally, I don't like it. Because quite frankly, It is a huge part of my life.

So I decided an outlet for my scrapping was something I really should have. And that is how this blog came about.

The name.....well, I used to organize scrap weekends while I lived in Wisconsin. The name I used for those scrap weekends was: Scrapbooking Friends. So I thought it would be a fun thing FOR ME, to use that name here. I have to admit, I LOVED putting those scrap weekends together. We had weekend crops approximately 9 times a year. My crops were almost always full, with waitlists. What a fabulous feeling. And another thing......I was pretty darn GREAT at organizing these events.

Well, I guess this is a start for my new Scrapbooking Blog. I still need to get a cool banner (oh Jess!). And I have scrap projects that I worked on this past weekend I will have to share. But for now, my first post is complete! I hope you will keep checking back.