Builder's Club

This is my final layout for the Pop Off The Page class.  I really enjoyed it and I'm kind of sad it's over :( It was such a great class with so much inspiration and awesome ideas...Jen Jockisch is AMAZING!

This photo was taken at our town's homecoming parade last week.  My oldest, Garrison, got to walk in the parade because he joined the Builder's Club.  The Builder's Club is all about helping the community by having fundraisers, food drives, toy drives, etc.  I'm so glad he joined and he's really excited about it since it's his first "club" experience :)

I used what's left of my September Kit, Central High, +Add-ons from Studio Calico.  I never thought I would use those wooden cog wheels, but obviously, this layout was perfect for them and they added just enough to the "boy" and "builder" theme I had going on.  I tucked my journaling away under the number "5" die cut inside of the library envelope to the right (which is my favorite thing on this layout).

And of course I added some awesome Freckled Fawn washi for the finishing touch!  Love.That.Stuff.

Happy Wednesday!  TFL!!

Love @ Last

Here's the truth...my kids fight with each other...a lot...and this past weekend was no exception.  I blame it on lots of different factors such as age difference, three being an "odd" number (someone's always feeling left out), lack of attention? (maybe), myself, and just good ol' fashioned sibling rivalry.

Lately, I feel like no matter what I do, it's not right and it's not enough.  I'll get over it and I'm gonna hang in there, but it's been a rough couple of weeks and I'm hoping that I am doing the right things.  Being a mom is TOUGH.  But, I wouldn't trade it for anything...and here's why...

Sometimes I get little glimpses of them actually caring for each other and enjoying each other.  Sometimes I find them playing really well together or sticking up for each other, cheering each other on for small accomplishments in school or at home...sometimes I see how much they really do love each other, even if it's not been the norm around here lately :)

Here's a layout I created for this week's Sunday Sketch at Studio Calico...it kind of goes along with my above rant :)

I spent a big portion of yesterday backing up my photos to an external hard drive and removing them from my laptop to free up some space when I came across this great shot of my oldest son, Garrison and my little girl, Avery.  It was taken on Father's Day this past June when we were eating out at a local restaurant with my side of the family.  They were cuddling up on a couch after we finished dinner smiling, giggling, and really enjoying each other's company...ahhh...I do treasure moments like this, especially after a long week of constant fighting and arguing.  The little journaling tag I tucked away on the left side reads..."Sometimes you two actually get along and love each other, lol!"

I veered off from the sketch a bit by layering a lot of papers and embellishments close together.  I also switched up the spots for the photo and the circle shapes and adjusted the title placement a bit, too.  I've been wanting to use those adorable tags for weeks now and this seemed like the perfect opportunity!  And check out that NEW washi I used to cover a few wood veneer banner pieces!  Freckled Fawn had a huge shop update last Friday and a sale, so you should definitely go check it out!  And there's a new color challenge up on their blog :)

I used my Cameo to cut out all of the turquoise card stock pieces.  I found all of the cut files at www.silhouetteonlinestore.com.  The rest is from this month's Studio Calico Main Kit +Add-ons and my Pop Off The Page class kit.

I hope you're having a smooth Monday!  Thanks for looking!

In The Spirit

I tried posting this yesterday, but I was having technical difficulties :)  Apparently a lot of people on Blogger are having the same kind of problems I am...something about a yellow box popping up and not letting you log in properly.  Hopefully, the wonderful folks at Google get it all straightened out soon!  

Anyhoo, here's another layout I completed for my Pop Off The Page class at Studio Calico...

I made this page for the Week 3 Challenge, which was to use 10 random things on one layout, whether they go together or not.  I just grabbed whatever was lying on my craft table and started layering.  My favorite thing on this layout are the gold puffy stars (surprise, surprise!)...I just think they really make the page pop!

These photos were taken last weekend when we broke out the fire pit.  Roasting hot dogs and marshmallows over an open fire really puts me into the Fall spirit!  It's one of my favorite Fall traditions.

I used my SC September Kit +Add-ons, some gold foil Thickers, and one of my favorite stamps from www.lifelovepaper.com.

I hope you're having a wonderful weekend and maybe roasting some marshmallows of your own :)  Don't forget to check out all the new washi tapes over at www.freckledfawn.com!  They're also having a big sale so don't be afraid to go crazy!  TFL!

Ice Cream (Everyday)

Here's my take on this week's Sunday Sketch over at Studio Calico....

I had these photos of my youngest two kiddos eating ice cream at the fair a few weeks ago.  It was all we could get them to eat because they were too excited about riding the carnival rides!  Don't ya just wish you could eat ice cream for supper everyday?!

I used bits and pieces from SC's September kit +Add-ons and the Pop Off The Page class kit.  I also stuck very close to the sketch because it's Marcy Penner's and I absolutely ADORE her work!

My favorite things about this page are the grey star washi and the gold foil Thickers I used for my title.

Oh, and be sure to check out www.freckledfawn.com on Friday, September 21st...there will be lots of new washi to get your hands on!  I. Can't. Wait.

Happy Wednesday!  TFL!!

Freckled Fawn Pinterest Challenge

There's another great challenge up for you over at www.iamdoe.blogspot.com...the Pinterest Challenge!  All you have to do is find some inspiration from something you've pinned and create something from it!

It's super fun and super easy, so I hope you give it a try!  

Here's my inspiration pin...

And here's my take....

I just love the graphic layout of the inspiration piece and I thought my Instax photos were perfect for replacing some of the banners!  

I started off with a more muted color palette in mind, like the piece itself, but quickly changed my mind once I got my hands on September's SC kit +Add-ons, Central High.

This was the first time I used my vintage typewriter for my journaling on a layout...a few mistakes, but I think it adds to the "coolness" factor, lol!

My favorite thing about this layout is the bright green "You Are Here" banner I used in my title.  I wish I had about twenty of those things! 

So now it's your turn!  Link up your creation using some inspiration from Pinterest to the Freckled Fawn blog by October 1st and you could win a Freckled Fawn prize pack!  Good luck and happy pinning!

Vacation Mini

If you follow me on Instagram (@adriennealvis) you know that I promised a mini album post today.  A very chunky mini album, btw.  I whipped this one out in two days, which I believe is a new record for me, lol!  I was really inspired by the PDF's about the mini albums in my Pop Off The Page class.

Well, here it is...Enjoy!

I took a lot of photos using my Instax camera on our trip to Florida back in August.  I couldn't wait to get them into an album!

I used a blurred Instax photo for some of my journaling using a Slick Writer (left page).  I also used this month's Main kit +Add-ons from Studio Calico.  And lots of washi from Freckled Fawn!

I hid my journaling on the right page under the envelope flap.  It was my niece's first vacation!  How cute is she?!?!

The "We Were Here" stamp that I used throughout the mini came from www.lifelovepaper.com...I love that stamp!!!

The paper bag on the right was some leftover packaging from the "We Were Here" stamp.  I thought it was perfect for the page about building sandcastles!  Plus, I love to use product packaging whenever I get a chance :)

The "Hello" stamp on the left is also from www.lifelovepaper.com.  I used my Cameo to cut out the "love" circle on the right.  Then I made a little sequin-filled window out of it using some vellum and my sewing machine.

I filled this tiny glassine envelope with some Prima flowers and then used the back for another photo (see below).

I think my favorite thing about this mini is the little "hello" tag I placed in a glassine bag on the right page!

I used my vintage Royal 440 for the journaling on the left...love that thing!

The End!

Super chunky!

If you made it to the end of this post then you're a trooper!  I hope your Monday is rockin'!  TFL!

Up High

Happy Friday friends!  I'm ready for the weekend and for a little R&R.  Plus, it feels like Fall today so maybe we'll haul out the Halloween decorations sometime tomorrow.  The kids will be thrilled!

I have a layout for you today that I made for this week's Pop Off The Page challenge.  The challenge was to scraplift a layout from one of the class PDF's.  I decided to scraplift Rahel Menig's amazing layout from the first PDF.

Here's my take...

I had a lot of fun with this one :)  I layered a glassine bag, a brown paper bag, a doily and a few journaling cards from the Central High kit around the photo of my son (in the yellow shirt) riding one of his favorite carnival rides at our local fair this year.

I made the banners out of washi tape and white cardstock and layered 'em up under the glassine bag...and the puffy gold stars are my absolute favorite thing about this layout.  Who doesn't love puffy gold stars?  They were part of this month's SC kit + Add-ons.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!  TFL!!!