a 2 page sketch for you

Can you believe it?  I'm not sharing a layout related to challenge masters today.  Nope...  I'm going to share with you another sketch that I created and a sample layout.
Believe it or not, I have found that I really enjoy creating sketches.  Most people have fancy sketches created in some computer based program.  I, however; create mine on a scrap of paper first then I try create it on the computer.
Here is the sketch I did.  It's obviously a 2 page sketch with multiple photos.

Are you wondering how I created this on the computer?  I don't have any fancy software, so I have to rely on my basic knowledge of microsoft word.

• Open a new document
• Choose insert picture from the insert tab
• choose new drawing.  A box will show up to determine a size that you want to work.  For a 2 page, I chose the size to be 3 inches in height and 6 inches in width.
• Go to the top tabs and choose insert, then insert picture.  At this point, I like to view auto shapes as my starting point.  There is no sense in recreating the wheel.
• I chose a rectangle to start.  I placed it where I wanted it in the image area. Next, I copied it and pasted it so that I would have the same size for the 2nd page.
• Keep doing the above steps until you get all of the elements that you want.
• You can edit the shading of the image by then right clicking to bring up the next menu.  Choose format autoshape.  This will bring up a new set of menus.  In the first tab, Colors and Lines there is a section that says fill.  Choose the drop down menu and pick your color of choice.
• Another thing you can do is to choose the layering techniques that you want.  If you have a square and a heart, but you want the smaller heart to be in the forefront then you will right click again.  Then choose order.  This will give you another menu of choices.  The choices are bring to front, send to back, bring forward, and send backward.
• Continue all of the above steps until you complete the sketch.  

All of this sounds very confusing, but after the first few attempts, I am sure that you can do it.  If I can, being as I'm a novice computer operator with no formal training...then I KNOW for a fact that you can.

Going back to the sketch I created.  I also wanted to show you my sample.

Photos are of my DH and neighbor boys on July 4th.  The boys were determined that they were going to get my DH in the pool.  HaHaHa...  just thinking about it makes me giggle.  They struggled with him for about 45 minutes before mom and dad intervened and asked them to give Mr. Tim a break!  LOL

I can't wait to see your sketch attempts.  Be sure to drop back and link me up so that I can check them out!

Have a blessed day!

Crop til you drop!

 My friend, Jan and I went to a charity crop several months ago.  We had a great time and both of us were able to get plenty of pages done.
Unbeknownst to me...she managed to capture this photo of me.  Of course, I caught her off guard too.

So help me out.  When I go to a crop it seems that I pack everything but the kitchen sink.  I have to have my punches, my cricut, papers, pens, stamps, embellies, buttons, ribbons etc...  It usually takes me 2 trips to get everything into the building...  and then once I start cropping I have to allow a full hour for clean up and re-packing.  How do you all do it???  How do you manage to minimize what you take? 

Have a blessed day!

Challenge Masters.... Technique

WOW!  I have to tell you that I am in love with the technique challenge this month on Challenge Masters.  The DT out did themselves with awesome samples and tutorials.  Check it out here

With such great inspirational samples, it was difficult  to create something as rewarding.  But, I gave it the old college try and this is my creation.

Photo is of my oldest DGD and her mom.  They were at some waterpark enjoying the day.  It certainly is a wonderful photo.  Thank you to my DS for sharing it with me.

I would love to see your creation following the technique challenge.  Be sure to come back and let me know to check it out!

If you have a minute to check out another blog.....Debby is having a huge give away!!!

Check it out here

Have a blessed day!

last one

Whew!  The end... the last of the photos of layouts that I have done this year...  or should I say the last of the ones stored on the computer.  I stil have several that I haven't taken photos of yet...  Imagine that!  LOL..  Life really has gotten in the way of my blogging and scrapping these past few month.  Hopefully, things will settle down for the fall and winter and I can get a few more things accomplished.  Or at least maybe I can stay on top of things.

Some may know that my DH is a volunteer firefighter.  I love to go to their practice burns and take photos.  I am very thankful that their Chief allows me to do this.  Of course, I always give a copy of the photos to the chief and they use some of them for their video display at their different events.
In this particular layout, I used wallet sized photos.  I haven't worked with that size too often and find them to be quite the challenge...  But I do find that I can get more on a page in a more pleasing manner.

What size photos do you prefer to work?  Do you print them at home or do you have them printed elsewhere?  If you use wallet size and have them printed elsewhere, what do you do with the remaining photos? 


Have a blessed day!

challenge masters... Color

There are tons of awesome challenges on Challenge masters right now.  With that being said, I have been working on them 1 day at a time.
Today's post is for the Color challenge....

 The colors are awesome...and not ones that I would typically put together.  I spent alot of time going through photos to decide which ones might coordinate with the sample.
Here is what I came up with.

I really like how this came together.  The photos are of my oldest DGD learning to swim.  I think she is part fish.  LOL.

So, let's see what you can do with these color combos.  Be sure to hit Challenge masters and enter your creation for a chance to win the awesome monthly price.

Have a blessed day!

Almost done

Can you believe it??  I am almost done posting the layouts that I have done this year!  WOW!!!  I sure thought I had done more than I had...guess I better get busy and make these last few months count!

This layout features my DS with his science project.  He was in second grade and had to make a project using a soda can.  He finally decided that he wanted to make a windmill.  My sister helped him to cut the can and to shape it into the fan.  We didn't want him to get cut on the sharp edges or with the tin snips.  Then my DS put the rest of it together himself.  I think he did a fabulous job.

What kind of creative projects did your kids do in school?  How do you capture the moment?  How much help did you give them???  What was their inspiration?

Have a blessed day!

Those photos of moments you weren't there

Today I'm posting a layout from photos in which I wasn't there or even a part of the time.  The photo is of my wonderful step daughter, Pam with her precious kitty.

Do you have photos from a time that wasn't part of your life?  How do you scrap them???  I am struggling with the few photos that my DH has from his first marriage.  I know these photos are part of his life and important in his childrens life, but I am REALLY struggling with scrapping them.  I get the photos out, pull out ones I want to scrap..put them on the desk...but then????  I have no inspiration...Is it because I wasn't there so I am struggling to tell the story?  Is it because I feel left out of that time in their lives? 
I would love for someone to share their experience with scrapping them.  I would love someone to help me to get through this block that I have when it is time to scrap them.  Advice????

Have a blessed day!

Old photos

Just another day??  Not for my kids...  when they were young we had some awesome friends that owned 200+ acres and several 4 wheelers.  They considered themselves so lucky to have the opportunity to ride for miles and miles on the track that our friends had designed for the kids.

 

Today's post seem to be of older photos when my kids were wee little things.  This particular layout is of my DS showing off the results of his first fishing trip with his Aunt and her friend.  He had so much fun and had managed to bring home the bacon at the same time!

Who has been working on scrapping some of the older photos???  Are you having troubles remember dates, people, faces, events???  How are you journaling about the photos???  I admit that I am struggling with the journaling and even the dates...But at least the photos are there to remind my kids of the moments.

Have a blessed day!