DO NOT OPEN!

I'm a junkie for Treasure Box Designs bear and birdie die cuts! I felt a huge need to upgrade my collection of gift tags for this year.

Also, I have made a special "something" for my sister too, but I'll post those later.

Anyway, I will have several posts this month featuring Christmas gift tags!

Supplies:
Christmas Ribbon from HL
My Craft Spot Stamp
Holly and Berries brad
EP: This & That 6x6 PP

Thank you!

For the past two or three years, a special client at my work place has provided a holiday lunch for our staff members. I personally feel that only a hand made card will do for saying thank you to such a wonderful client and her furry family.

I loosely followed a sketch by MojoMonday.

The reindeer is a "bobble head" from Treasure Box Designs.

Supplies:

Die Cut from TBD
Spellbinder Die
Leaf Punch
My Craft Spot stamp
Echo Park 6x6 - Christmas This & That
Brad (holly leaf and berries)
Small swiss dots embossing folder

I AM GETTING A BIG BROTHER?

As a parent you worry . . . constantly. Am I making the right decisions? Is my child thriving and happy? etc. etc. Now imagine that child wanting to go to a foreign country for 10 months?!

My husband and I bit our nails and chewed over whether or not to host a foreign exchange student for those 10 months. We believe we are good people with something positive and rewarding to offer any child (actually a teenager) in our home. We worried how our son was going to handle another person in the house. 

It wasn't until after we finalized the paperwork and got approved to host a student that we told our six-year old son the news. His reaction was priceless.

"I am getting a big brother?!!" 

"When is he coming?"

"What's his name?"

"Is he here yet?"

All in the space of 10 seconds, my child rattled off his excitement. He was just so THRILLED with this new found addition.

I have talked a little about Tobias (the big brother) in my previous blog posts. He has been with us for three months now and fits into our family as snug as a glove.

This layout was fun to do and came together very quickly. I used a lot of October Afternoon scraps and followed this sketch from Pinterest.

Thanks for stopping by today!!

I used the arrows and the airplane to point to Germany, the country our student is from.

Supplies:

October Afternoon scraps of paper
Stitching
Thickers
Tiny Letter Stickers
More stickers
Wooden Embellishments - you can find some here
Buttons

No friend Like a Brother

Here is my first layout of my son and exchange student together. Now, I have plenty of photos just not plenty of time to be crafty! This was fun photo to scrap cause these two really are just like true brothers!!

I followed this sketch from Pinterest.

Before making this layout I put on my scrapbook wishlist a whole bunch of doodling templates. I have a feeling I'll want to doodle on most of my future layouts of these two! I am also going to have to increase my stash of "boy" embellishments!!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies:

EP: Notes to Self PP and stickers

Diamond Doodling Template

Camera embellishments

Rub-on

Wish you a Merry Christmas

Treasure Box Designs

Gotta love Christmas cards, right? 

Followed a sketch by MojoMonday #316.

Thanks for stopping by today!!

P.S. I didn't really think this needed a long explanation.

Supplies:

Die cut file by Treasure Box Designs
Stamp by My Craft Spot
MME 6x6 Vintage Christmas

Hello

Hello! Today I would like to share with you a special layout about our foreign exchange student from Germany. Meet Tobias!

He has been with us since August, but I only recently got some photos printed to get started with.

Tobias is not necessarily camera shy, but I do find that taking photos of him while he is actually not looking at the camera seems to capture a more true essence of him.

Scrapbooking about a teenage boy is definitely interesting! With my little boy, I can still put cute bears and bright colors on his lay outs and stay true to his personality. While making this layout about Tobias, I felt I didn't have enough distressing or spray inks. I seem to have misplaced my distressing tool. Boo!

I might be buying more Tim Holtz's products this year.  My sister should appreciate how that makes me giggle with glee!

I followed this sketch by color conspiracy for this layout.

Thanks for stopping by today!

The photograph.

Supplies:

BoBunny: Et Cetera Line

Stitching

Brads

Metal Embellishments

Thicker Letters

Dymo Labeler

Wooden Embellishments

Canvas Tags

Tickets

Ribbon

Christmas Bird

Yes, expect my next several blog posts to be about Christmas cards. I hope to throw in a layout soon unrelated to Christmas.

I KNOW I followed a sketch by MojoMonday, just not sure which one.

Supplies:

Treasure Box Designs: Bird
MME PP - 6x6 - Christmas
Two-Edge Punch
Spellbinders
Rhinestones

Under the Mistletoe

I am getting a rather late start on my Christmas cards!! I'm completely in love with Treasure Box Designs' new Bobble Head series. PERFECT for cards!!!

I mean, who wouldn't want to meet this super cutie under a mistletoe!??

I used sketch #300 by MojoMonday.

Thanks for stopping by today!!

Supplies:

Treasure Box Designs - Bobble Head Gingerbread Man
My Craft Spot stamp
Spellbinders Label
PP is Teresa Collins 6x6 - NOEL
stitching

Baby Girl

Hello Peeps! Just a quick hello with my newest baby girl card.

Follow sketch #300 by MojoMonday.

Supplies:

Treasure Box Designs - Bobble Head Bear
Buttons
Metal Diecut from MyCraftSpot
Stamp from MyCraftSpot
Doodlebug Design 6x6 Sugar and Spice
Stitching

HB

Treasure Box Designs

Today I am showing you this card I made for my son's birthday. I followed the newest sketch by MojoMonday #314.

I did put this card together in record time as I already had the bear made. I also used the modern version of saying Happy Birthday!

Thanks for stopping by today!!

Supplies:

Doodlebug Designs - boys only PP
Sticker Letters
Piercing Tool
Treasure Box Design SVG file

HAPPY HARVEST

It has been a very long while since I have made a LO using mostly die cuts. I ALMOST forgotten how much fun that can be. This LO actually came together quickly - after I got all the pieces cut out and put together how I wanted.

I didn't feel the need to journal on this LO as I felt the pictures speak for themselves.

All the die cuts came from Treasure Box Designs. But I did quite a bit of mixing and matching of several files to get the look I wanted.

I followed this sketch #309 from scrapbook challenges.

Supplies:

BoBunny's Apple Cider Collection
-pattern paper
-stickers
-brads
Treasure Box Design SVG files
Stitching

SEIZE THE DAY (Please use handles provided)

Hello peeps! I know, I've been very busy and really haven't been much around. One of the things I've been so busy with is my new photography website and blog. Please check it out at www.vivianrlakephotography.com

My latest LO is of my son learning to ride his bike without training wheels. If you are a parent, you know what a big deal this is!! Also, as a parent, you can probably relate to what I'm about to reveal.

You see, these pictures have so many meanings. They helped my son realize that Daddy was no longer holding on, that he was riding without help. These pictures not only capture a huge milestone, but also show how big my child has gotten. (Right after he learned to ride, we got him a bigger bike.) But the most profound meaning to these pictures is that they convey the first steps to true independence.  This moment happened in the Spring of 2013. Ever since this day, my son truly began playing and making friends independently of us, his parents.  After a few turns in the neighborhood with one of us, he immediately began exploring riding alone. Crossing the neighborhood street came quickly after. And very closely after that came new friends. So honestly, this LO is a mother's joy and heartbreak as I watch my son grow up oh too quickly.

Supplies:
EP: Scoot PP and stickers
October Afternoon die cuts
Rub-ons from somewhere
BG Brads
Paper Piercer
Wooden bicycle
October Afternoon buttons

100% Boy

Hey there! Today I would like to share with you my latest LO.  I have been too long away from my beloved hobby and am having a hard time navigating around my scrap room.

To be honest, I didn't really know what title to give this photo. So much is actually going on behind the scenes. The hat my son is wearing was new and he pulled it off so well! I am trying constantly to improve my photography skills and was wanting to get a fabulous shot of my son with his hat. At first, he was being a total goofball and uncooperative.  So I dug down into all the information I've been piling into my head and asked him to talk about his friends at school, which is what he is doing in this photo.

So this LO is actually about many things: my goofy kid with his scrapped knees, his new and awesome hat, and me.

Thanks for stopping by today!

EP Paper - All About a Boy

Stenciling, wooden embellishments, stickers and buttons

From CC - Boys will be Boys. I distressed the blue paper.

Taking a photo of a photo is too hard. Here is
the original photo.