Last of the pink pages

Well as usual with these colour weeks, I have had some serious decision making issues as I scrolled through all my old pink pages. My three daughters are seriously not into pink now, but of course when they were little we lived in a world of pink.  I did a layout of my clothesline with all the pink clothes hanging on it once, my fellow simple girls might remember it.

So even though my girls mostly refuse anything pink nowadays, I do have a pinkish layout that is new, I only did it a few weeks ago. It uses some Instagram photos that I printed at home myself. If you haven't yet got onto Instagram, wow, you might want to look into it. LOVING it. If you have a smartphone, there's no excuse - do it now, but apparently you can get onto it with out one - Sharon? Is that right?  You don't have to share your photos with the world if you don't want to on instagram (you can be a private user), but if you want to share them, you can.  I choose to share my photos with a select few, and it is so fun to see the photos that my few friends have taken and share mine at the same time with them.  Anyway, I am loving the blur tool, and the filters that instagram allows, and I'm loving taking really cute pics without having to haul out the camera.  I even took the photo of my layout on my phone (by getting directly above it!!).

I find it fascinating, that the world now TRIES to take photos that have heaps of grain and 'noise' and weird colour - that look 1970's ish, considering they spent years trying to get rid of those elements out of photography.

So here's my most recent layout, that has bits of pink.  Watermelon-y warm pinks.  Still finding very old scraps of patterned paper to use!  Can you believe I still have remnants of this old American Crafts paper?? (Black/white one on the right).

This next layout is SIX years old!  That bubby is now eight . I always liked the composition of this layout, and it is decidedly pink, flower and all, so I share it with you.

And this last layout below, is a 'calendar' of the month of February, 2007 for middle daughter. A nice reminder of what we did back then, and how we filled our days.  Also, fairly 'pink'. Might be good to go back and revisit this calendar idea now that life is busier as the kids are older.

 

Hope you have enjoyed our 'pink' week. Next week  - a NEW colour!

Bye, 

Nicole xx

Saturday sketch (no. 4)

Hi all!  Here's a sketch challenge for you. After a rainy RAINY week here in Sydney, today is spectacular, so all Sydney readers, get out there and enjoy it!! Scrapping can wait (til tonight, anyway). Saturday night raging consists of cardstock, a computer, and some patterned paper!

So today's sketch can use as many photos as you like really. You can fill those top three coloured blocks with photos, or just fill two of them, and fill the other with paper, or as I did, I got 5 small photos into the two horizontal blocks.

I also have a 12 x 12 version for you if that is your preference. The main vertical photo would be good as a 5 x 7 or even a 6 x 8 in the 12 x 12 size.  The main photo is approx 4 x 6 in the 8.5x11" layout. 

My take on the sketch is below. Every year we have a gingerbread making Sunday afternoon in the weeks leading up to Christmas, and every year it get scrapped. I like scrapping traditions, and seeing how big the children get in basically the same photos from year to year. If you've known me or my scrapping for several years now, you may well be sick of all my ginger bread pages!

If you give the sketch a go, post a link to your blog or flicker page so we can see!!


Nicole xx


And here's a 'gingerbread tradition' layout from 4 years ago. Similar colours, smallerr kids! (but slightly different sketch!)

Remembering their toys

Meet Jesse and Woody from Toy Story.

Chances are you've already met them if you have kids! These two have been played with in our house for close to eight years now, and they have definitely seen better days. They get put in pot plants, endure makeovers, and have regular excursions to the back yard. They are still played with constantly and much loved. And it is for this reason I have wanted to record them down on paper for my girls. I did a double page layout for each of my younger daughters.

 

Both girls got the same first page (which is a Cathy Z template found here and then printed as an 8x10 photo), and the second page is an 8x10 enlargement of each girl.

Here's the other daughters second page photo.

If you want to see how I scrapped this toy cow for my eldest girl head over here.

 

I think it's a great thing to do, to scrap the play things that mean a lot to your kids. Won't they love to look back on it when they are all big and grown!

What favourite toys could you document for your kids? Or maybe you still have a special toy, from your childhood that you should record? Please share!

Nicole xx

Talent ...

My younger child has an extraordinary talent of acquiring all sorts of things when she assists in shopping expeditions; this talent is multiplied when she is shopping with a Grandparent or an Aunt or Uncle.

She is also stubborn when it comes to naming her creatures, animals, dolls and toys. Most items are given a name and once she has decided, no amount of coercion dissuades her. These rare and precious lizards are no exception.
I love that I caught a photo with her pointing to the writing on top of the box, she is a beginner reader you see, school starts next year and she has an insatiable desire to read things and tell me that purple starts with P and so does pink and puppy! But, T starts with tree; did you know?

Amy

Christmas...

yep I said it!! It's times ladies to embrace it, time to get into the spirit and time to watch the bank balance decline at an ever so rapid pace ;)

This is an oldie but a favourite. I do love the simple joy of taking kids decoration shopping. They get so excited at the first sighting of the decorations in the shops. It really is "the most magical time of year"!
What are some of the more simple things you enjoy at Christmas?

Diane

An Oldie ...

In the last two weeks I have posted brand new scrap pages, this week I have an older one. It's from the first round of Design Your Life by Cathy Zielske over at Big Picture Classes, I'll have you note ... it's a double page layout ... not my favourite sort.

Anyway, this is an entirely paper page and I used some thickers and Bazzill cardstock, I can't remember where the brad is from, to me it looks way too big for that position on the page, but that's how things go sometimes.
I think this class is still available and many of the templates are available in a digital format at Designer Digitals, have you taken DYL? Which sketches/templates were your favourites? Do you still use them?

Amy

I've been everywhere, man...

on the sunny coast of Far North Queensland...no sorry I am not...that is NEXT WEEK. This week I am driving to all parts, south east west and return. Tis a busy, crazy week.

But here is a little something I whipped up before the crazy started.

A simple blocked page that fits in five photos, a little summary of the kids together for the middle childs album. Am quite enjoying throwing pictorial summaries in with stories with more depth, detail and personality.

Sharon

The Big Bike

Now I have to admit I'm still unsure if I'm happy with this page, but I think its a lot to do with the colours! They are so not my go to colours. I'm much more of a blue person. However, when your children go to a school with a Brown and Yellow uniform, there is just no getting away from these colours at times!! I do like the layout though, its nothing fancy, but not only does it have 5 photos, it also leaves me room to tell the story which is much more important than the colours!

Don't forget you can join in on our challenges at any time, just make sure you leave us a comment so we don't miss any. I'll be back tomorrow with my challenge...see you then!

Challenge Two

Hi, welcome to challenge two.
Just before I get started there are a couple of things to let you know.
All of our challenges will be labelled in the sidebar to the right of the blog, you can always access the challenges and you can add a link to each challenge whenever you feel like it - there are no deadlines, so, when you should be folding washing but you'd prefer to procrastinate, come on over and find some inspiration and take it from there! On that note, if you do decide to add a page to our flickr pool or within the link widget, please leave us a comment ... remember those 2.8 children we have each? Well, they are keeping us on our toes and we do not want to miss your pages, if you can, please comment on the particular challenge to which you are linking.

During the week we have had some interesting discussion in the comments section. We are all trying to respond to your questions and comments - if you do have questions we will respond to them within the comment section rather than sending you a direct email - these questions and general comments are giving us plenty of further blog fodder ... keep them coming!

On that note, let's get on with this week's challenge.

Journaling.
I'm not going to talk about which category you fall into, the love it or the hate it one that is, but rather, offer you a quick and easy solution. This doesn't work for all pages and in all instances but it is a great way to capture personality and it certainly helps to bring an 'in the moment' feel to your pages.

Conversation.
Parts of conversation.
Things people say - all the time.

This is my favourite way to journal, it does catch me out though, I have been known to drive all the way home from the school drop off chanting something one of the kids have said ... I know, I know, I need a notebook, and I do have one, but often forget it in the mad rush to get out the door in the mornings, it's a full time job remembering to remember stuff some days!

I've got a couple of examples for you today, one is a cardstock and letter sticker page with five random and unrelated photos of my son.

The other is a digital page with something my daughter said recently - the template is by Ali Edwards and the papers are from Oscraps.

The girls have had a few things to say about this challenge too, let's see what they have come up with this week.
First up is Nicole, she has captured a conversation that takes place every single time I head out to the supermarket with my daughter, I am glad I am not alone!

Next, Emma made this fantastic and vibrant page about her son, I love her paper choices and this design is one I hope to 'lift' some time soon .... after I stop giggling at her journaling though!

Keeping with the theme of scrapping conversations out of the mouths of sons, this next fabulous digital page is from Sharon. As a mum, you have got to love this next stage of independence don't you?!

Finally today, Diane has a wonderful hybrid page that focuses on a conversation with her daughter, but is also about her son.

There you have it, this is challenge two .... recording a conversation or a part of a conversation in your journaling. When you are ready, leave your link and comment to either flickr, your blog or online gallery - we can't wait to see what you come up with!

hugo & amaris

Some 'memory keeping' about my daughter and her cousin.