So, I go to one of my aunt's houses and she has this camera sitting on her table.  Oh, man!!!  My uncle said I could borrow it after my kids were out of the house, LOL!  Anyway, now, I am REALLY in the mood for a camera.  When I went to go and talk to the people at Best Buy and they mentioned a few things to consider when buying a camera.  First, the Canon dSLRs have a live feed through the digital screen in a certain setting of the camera - which is not listed in any of the reviews as I remember reading them.  Second, Best Buy does offer classes to learn how to better use your camera and all of its settings.  They can come to your home or you can set them up there at Best Buy (and both options are not that bad in price).  So, keep your fingers crossed that nothing comes up in the next four months that I have to spend any other money!!

A bit of Whimsy!

And now, for a bit of whimsy!  :)

I whipped these cards up in no time flat!  The bases that I've been using are pre-made (pre-scored with envelopes in the package), because I haven't quite adventured into making my bases when I can get them so cheap from Hobby Lobby!   This card features two punches from Stampin' Up.  I absolutely adore Stampin' Up's punches.  They're even better now that they are made in pocket size for storage, but I love them no matter what.  The "notebook" punch was used down the side of my coordinating green (from the scrap pile) and then the scallop was done to border the paper from a stack that came with an organizer from "the book man" at school.  I also used some chipboard that I got in a mega stack at Hobby Lobby in their line of products.  Of course, it was half off!  I also love to accent in ribbon - just a simple knot around the stem of this leave and done!

This card, I used paper from the same stack (Paper Block) and scalloped the edge at the bottom.  Again, a simple flair of chipboard accented with ribbon and DONE!  Since I don't get to do much boy stuff - it seems to be that my cards are becoming very girly - Likey likey!

The dragon fly card uses a technique I LOVE to do.  I scallop the card front and then scallop the paper I am going to put on the face and leave some room to see the base of the card.  That Stampin' Up! border scallop punch really got some action today!  Here again I used the chipboard from Hobby Lobby and the paper from the Paper Block stack I purchased.  Thanks for checking in to see what's new - be on the look out for the next scrapbook page to come!  :) Melissa

The Children's Muesum!!

I love to take the boys to the Indianapolis Children's Museum!!  It never fails that we learn something new, have an unbelievable adventure and are exhausted by the time we leave.  This layout features pictures that are actually taken at the end of our trip - so smiles are forced! The layout is so simple because I used things from Close to My Heart's Stardust Paper Pack.  The green background paper, card stock to mat the pictures and quote as well as the border sticker at the top, line sticker at the bottom and the Discover sticker.  I chose to "hang" the quote sticker by using Stampin' Up's Hemp twine and two brads.

 I adhered the twine in the middle of the quote with a glue dot (which I would not advise to do again) that is still sticky where the twine doesn't cover.  I learn something new with the things that don't quite work! 

These pictures are from the glass exhibit.  I continued using the Stardust package.  The border sticker and the star sticker in the center is from the package or the coordinating stickers that go with it.  Because the pictures were so busy, I didn't want to do too much, but yet wanted to keep the "theme" of my paper the same so the pages flowed together as you look through my album. 

The last page features pictures throughout the museum and again uses paper from the Stardust Package, just a different choice of paper than the green.  I again used the coordinating stickers to embellish the layout.  These pics are also matted in a card stock from the same package.  I love using packages from CTMH - they've got everything you need. 

Here is a close up of the stickers I layered on to my page.  These stickers are not as thick as chipboard; however, they are about as thick as some of the thin cardboard packaging you get with some products.  I'd like to think of these stickers as "thickers" because they're heavy duty.    I can't say it enough I love me some CTMH. 

First Day

As the start of school approaches, I thought it would be a good idea to share what I did with my oldest son for his first day of Kindergarten.    This paper is from the DCWV premium "Grade School stack."  I like to pick these up from Hobby Lobby or Jo Anne's when they are on sale.  Because my loving son has Aspergers, nothing can be too serious at our house.  He loves to play - so that is why we have quite a few silly shots of him.  Since they so encapsulate who he is, they're quite appropriate to document his life. 

I used some of my old Creative Memories star stickers from a random package as well as a school bus sticker.  Kindergarten was preprinted on the background paper above; however, I used letter stickers from the beach layout I did previously to title the page on the right.  I also used some of my old phrase stickers that I bought from Hobby Lobby a few years ago.  I'm trying to use up the old so I can buy new and tell you where I've gotten it at!  :)

This layout will go opposite the previous one.  The stickers are from the old School days package from Creative Memories.                                                I hope you have enjoyed my layouts.  Feel free to copy them, or deviate from them.  More soon!  :) Melissa

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Mommy Rhapsody http://vimeo.com/11621957 This video made my afternoon, I hope it will make yours!! Enjoy! :) About this video: "www.churchonthemove.com twitter.com/cotmtulsa Producer - Whitney George www.twitter.com/whitneygeorge Director - Chris Munch twitter.com/cmunch78 Written by - Chris Munch, Whitney George Angie Woods www.twitter.com/angiewittywoods Adam Bush www.twitter.com/ambushcreative Andrew Dale www.twitter.com/drewberdale Andy Chrisman www.twitter.com/andychrisman Track recorded at - www.creativeaudiolab.com Track produced by - Marcos Cruz & Andy Chrisman Performed by - Angie Woods, Tanya Baker, Cheryl Wood, Lucas Chrisman Lighting - Daniel Connell Production Manager - Andrew Stone"

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LOVE,

Cameras, Cameras, and more cameras

So, I'm looking into new cameras. . . It will be a while before I get one.  I want to go to the dSRL level.  It is a digital, but an entry level professional.  My bestie is looking at a Nikon D3000, and I am eyeing an Canon Rebel XS.  (Although, I REALLY want the T1i one or even the really the T2i, but come on now, those are a little on the pricey side for my fun times at home).  What are you shooting with?  What is your fav? 

A few of the most recent 10

These following pages are some recently done work.  I am only "a year behind" with my boys' albums.  I really take pride in that.  Sometimes, it is because it is the simple stuff I do, sometimes it is because I don't take pictures for a few months.           Sadly,  I have discovered though, that my camera is HORRIBLE for taking these kinds of pictures.  I am half way there now to a good camera; however, that means I still have a LOT of saving to do.   

This two page layout was "my creation," but probably scraplifted from somewhere, it's pretty traditional.  However, it uses my new stamp set from Close to My Heart! 

The little date marker there, yep - that's a good one!!

I used a kit from Hobby Lobby to complete this page.  The yellow card stock was supplemented from a pile of scraps.  The stamp in the top right corner on this page was one I picked up from Stampin' on State Street.  I drove by there last week, and I don't know if they're still open :(  I liked them for my little business.  Anyway.  This was just an easy done page, I do a lot of my own journal writing.  My mom passed away almost ten years ago, and I cherish what papers she wrote on (call me crazy, but I do), so I feel it is important that I write on my pages and journal. 

This paper was from Target's Dollar Spot last year.  I love shaped paper, but don't often use it in my layouts.  I used up some old stickers from when I first started scrapping to embellish and then just used the alphabet stickers from the Summer Fun Packet featured above from Hobby Lobby. 

To feature this picture, I matted it and then inked the edges with a Close to My Heart Ink called Star Spangled Blue.  I love to ink edges of things and purchased a small set of stipple brushes today from Michael's that I am sure to use.  I love inks!!!          

I hope you have enjoyed these samples of my recent work.  Feel free to leave comments.  Let me know what you think, what's missing, what I should add, or a product you're interested in seeing.