Here We Go!

On Monday, I shared how I turned bits and pieces from old kits into a mega-kit.  Since my goal is to use up the new and improved kit that I've created, I'm attempting to scrap one layout a week using things found in that lot of papers and embellishments.  (We'll see how that goes...I'll keep you updated!)

My first layout is based on a couple pictures of my boys wearing their Steelers' thermals:

This page is a bit "grungier" (if that's even a word) than I usually do, but it seemed to fit with the theme.

As a bit of background, my husband and I are both from western Pennsylvania, so we're Pittsburgh Steelers fans.  We transferred to south Georgia in 2008 for my husband's job, and after a year or so of living down here, I stumbled on some Steelers shirts at our local Old Navy.  Of course, I had to buy them for my boys!  ;)

Back to my layout - the Thickers were white fabric, but I took the yellow acrylic paint and colored them:

I also used the paint and some black ink with the roller stamp to create the page border:

In the above picture, you can see that I distressed the edges of the patterned paper and pictures, and painted and inked around the journaling circle.  There's also some polka-dot rub-ons thrown in there...I was totally channelling my inner Christy Tomlinson!  :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Take One, Two, Three...

A few weeks ago, I shared that I was in the process of purging my entirely-too-large scrapbook stash.  I'm happy to report that the purging process is done.  I'm waiting for some priority boxes to arrive in the mail so I can start prepping these goodies for etsy.  Right now, it's sitting in a rather large pile in a small room off our kitchen...my cats think it's a great treasure hunt.  ;)

While I was cleaning though, I went through all my old kit clubs and pulled out the bits and pieces of each that I really liked.  I ended up with a bit of a mega-kit:

I have made it a priority to use this hodge-podge kit that I have created, so I pulled out a couple photos and chose the elements that I felt best coordinated with my pictures.

Tomorrow I'll share the layout that resulted.  :)

Today I was busy attempting to take our Christmas picture (because I am determined to get cards out this year!).  After more takes than I wish to recount, I still don't have a picture for our cards.  To give you an example of what I was working with, here are a couple shots:

I'm just thankful that no one ended up in the lake!  We're planning to take a few more pictures tomorrow.  Hopefully I'll get a winning shot from that batch!

I did get one nice photo just before we headed home: 

(I know my boys love me because they agreed to hold hands for this one!)

How are you spending this Thanksgiving week?  This year, I'm very thankful that we're keeping things small (just my hubby and me and our boys) because it takes a lot of the stress out of the week.  We're taking the whole week off school and the boys and I are going to spend the next couple days crafting and baking and relaxing together - and taking pictures.  ;)