Sail Away

Today is the last day of the month...already...whew!!!  Time is flying and I can't believe how fast it's going!

We're still hanging out in Florida and it has rained for most of the day :(  It seems to be clearing up and I hope that the rain is over for a while because it's really hard to keep three kiddos entertained in a condo for very long.  Luckily, my hubby took the boys to a museum a few miles away with my dad and my brother so that eases the stress a bit.

Here's a few photos from yesterday...

 My brother, hubby, and son went parasailing yesterday morning...they were super excited!

 I didn't take these photos and I haven't edited them yet, but they turned out pretty well.

Up, up, and away!

And they're all safe and sound back on the boat minus one pair of sunglasses ;)

OAN:  I'm really excited for August to begin...it's my birthday month, school resumes, and I'm going to join in on my first Photo-A-Day Challenge!

Here's the list for August...

I hope you join in on this challenge with me, it's super easy and fun!  You can go to www.fatmumslim.com.au to check out more details, but basically you take a photo every day using the daily prompts to document your month.  Then you can share them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, your blog, or any way you would like!  I'll be posting my daily pics on my Instagram feed.  You can follow me on there @adriennealvis.  I haven't decided if I'll put them up on my blog every day...I'm thinking maybe doing one big collage at the end of the month instead.

Greetings from Destin

We arrived in Destin around 5:00pm on Saturday, so yesterday was our first full beach day :)

Today we spent the morning on the beach and in the pool at our condo until it decided to rain for a spell around lunchtime.

Here's a few photos I've taken over the last two days...

 I love this view!

 We found a friend!

 The "pirate ship"

Sandy toes

 Trying to catch a wave

The kids are having fun and are so excited to be here...it's just so nice to get away for a while...

Hope you're having a great day!  TFL!

You Are...

Well, I'm doing the last few loads of laundry and packing up our suitcases because by this time tomorrow we'll be driving to Florida and trying our best to keep the kids occupied in the car for 12+ hours on the road :)  Fun, fun.  But it will all be worth it when we wake up on Sunday and walk out the door to the beach!  Yay!  We're definitely all due for a vacation and some R&R....can't wait :)

Here's a layout I recently completed using some random leftover scraps and my Elmwood Park kit +Add-ons...

I took this photo of my daughter swinging one day after swimming lessons.  She's getting so big, so fast and I just wanted to document this happy moment of her doing one of her favorite things :)

The "YOU ARE" sentiment and the "LOVE YOU" thought bubble were cut out using my Cameo.  I misted the "YOU ARE" sentiment using some Mister Huey's Cameo mist.  I filled the little glassine envelope to the far left with some butterfly mistables and sequins.

I'm off to finish packing and just a reminder to be prepared to see a lot of vacation photos very soon :0)  You can also check out my Instagram feed @adriennealvis to keep up with our travels.  I'm also going to jump in on the Photo-A-Day Challenge for August on the 1st and I'm super excited because this will be my first time participating and it's my birthday month.

Have a great weekend and TFL!!!

Every Mile Makes Me Smile

Here's my spin on the Weekly Challenge at SC...

This week's challenge is all about making a long title for your page using at least three fonts, letter stickers, or die-cuts.  I don't know if my title is very long, but I really liked how this page turned out with the mix-up of fonts :)

The "smile" and the bicycle are cut files that I purchased from the Silhouette Online Store.  The "mile" is just the negative from the "smile" piece.  I really like to use every bit of paper when I scrap so this worked out perfectly for my page.

I took this photo the other morning while I was on my bike ride.  I've been riding my bike almost daily since May and I have really enjoyed the results!  I feel so much stronger, healthier, and refreshed after each ride and that's really been my motivation to get through these hot summer months on my bike.

I used my Elmwood Park kit +Add-ons for this layout and I misted my background "sunburst" with a mix of Mister Huey's Mists.

I hope you're having a great week!  I'm wrapping up around here and getting ready for our trip...
We leave for Florida on Saturday!!!  I can't wait!!!

TFL :)

Project Life Week 20

Here's my PL spread for the week of July 16th - 22nd...

I put this week together in a fast and furious way due to time, but I still like the way it came out.  Once again, very colorful and bright thanks to my Elmwood Park kit from SC.

We were very busy most of the week and weren't at home very much, which is very rare for us, but it was a great way to make the week fly by...only six more days until our Florida vacation!

I took the kids to the movies on Monday (we saw Ice Age Continental Drift), swimming on Tuesday at our local pool,  we visited Grandma and the dentist on Thursday, and I got my vehicle checked and ready for our trip on Friday.  I haven't added the photos I took over the weekend yet, but I will at some point.  I had a lot of great shots and I'm planning on slipping them into a 6"x12" photo sleeve.  Just trying to mix it up a bit ;)

I hope you're having a great week!  TFL!!

Tractor Time

Here's my take on this week's Sunday Sketch Challenge at SC...

Jubal got up early this past Saturday to take the kids to the tractor show with my brother and my dad.  I opted out of going because I needed to get caught up on some projects and chores before we leave on vacation this weekend.  It was nice to have a few hours to myself at home...that hasn't happened in a long time.

I used my Elmwood Park kit +Add-ons for this layout.  I really love that blue and white striped aqua washi.  I stuck close to the sketch this time and printed off my photo at 6x8.  I haven't scrapped a pic that large in quite awhile and I really liked the switch up from my normal 4x4 size.

There's still time to sign up for the Trendspotting class over at www.studiocalico.com/classroom.  I can't wait until it starts on August 1st.  Lots of fun trends, cut files, and downloads with this one!  Go check it out!

Happy Tuesday, TFL :)

Zoom & Zoom

Hello blog friends!  It's Monday and I finally got around to finishing last week's Weekly Challenge over at www.studiocalico.typepad.com over the weekend.  

Here's my take on the "larger than life" title challenge...

I used my Cameo to cut out my title "Zoom & Zoom" using a free downloaded font, Hamburger Heaven.  The super large chevron was also cut out using my Cameo and I decided to fill it to the brim with lots of little bits of paper and embellies.

Once again, I used my Elmwood Park +Add-ons for this layout.

I had this great photo of my oldest son, Garrison, riding his skateboard that I couldn't wait to scrap.  I don't get as many shots of him as I used to, so I'm always stoked when I get a good one!

Happy Monday!  I'm off to run errands and visit the orthodontist's office.  TFL!!!

Morning Hello

It's Friday :)  Whoo Hoo!!!  One week from tomorrow and I'll be chillaxin' on the beach in Florida for a whole week!  I can't wait!  I've already started packing a few things :0)  I'm giving you fair warning now that there will be a lot of vacation photos making their way onto my blog the week after next...just so ya know!

Meanwhile,  I've sort of been playing hooky all week and haven't been home much so today I'm catching up on laundry, chores, and scrapbooking :)

Here's a layout I just completed...

I'm still using (and loving) every bit of my Elmwood Park kit from SC.  

I cut out the "I Love This" thought bubble and the chevron banners using my Cameo.  

I woke up the other morning feeling refreshed and ready to start the day after a small rain had moved it's way through our neck of the woods.  I opened the door, looked outside, and listened to the birds chirping and singing away.  It was just one of those moments that I stood still and just felt utterly content and happy.  I snapped this pic using my iPhone and used my favorite apps, Snapster and Picfx, to edit it.

My kids have exactly four weekends left until school starts so we're trying to make the most out of what we have left before Mr. Routine comes back around.  I'm ready for a change of pace and I will welcome Mr. Routine with open arms :)

Have a fabulous weekend!  TFL!

Hello, Farmer in the Dell

Here's my take on this week's Sunday Sketch Challenge at SC...

I think this is the first layout I've ever done using a photo of just my husband...no kids, no me, no us...just him...crazy, huh?

This photo of my husband was taken right at the end of planting season back in June.  He actually had locked his keys inside of his truck and I had to come rescue help him get a ride back to the house one evening.  I was sitting in the car when I snagged this shot of him climbing over the barbed wire fence in the field.

I used my July kit, Elmwood Park +Add-ons, from Studio Calico for this layout.  This kit is turning out to be my favorite one so far from SC, so I'm trying really hard not to hoard any of it!

I used my Cameo to cut out the arrow and the "hello" thought bubble.  Both of these cut files were included in the Summer Stamp School kit.  I painted over the "hello" with a paint dabber from Jeni Bowlin.  I think the color is called Spice Tin.

I hope you're having a wonderful week!  Happy Wednesday and TFL :)

Project Life - Week 19

It's that time again...

Here's my Project Life spread for the week of July 9th - 15th...

Most of the supplies I used for my spread this week were from this month's SC kit, Elmwood Park.  

It was just another normal week around our house...the kids finished up their swimming lessons and we were out and about all weekend.  It's still super hot and dry around here and I'm really starting to get sick of it.  I'll be ready for fall when we get back from vacation in a couple of weeks.

The highlight of my week was getting to escape one evening and take my friend out for sushi.  She's getting ready to move away and it was sort of our "last" sushi date for awhile.  I'm really going to miss her :(

OAN - I'm this week's featured layout over at www.studiocalico.com/membergallery for my "Insta-fun!" layout!  Yay!

Happy Tuesday :)

Hey Girl, You've Got Some Big Shoes To Fill

Happy Monday everyone!  I'm trying hard to get back into the swing of things this morning, but it's been tough.  I've got a lot to do and I just don't feel like doing any of it!  I haven't been sleeping well lately and I'm just tired...I'll get motivated eventually hopefully!  

Anyway, here's a layout I finished recently using my SC Elmwood Park kit +Add-Ons...

My little girl is always trying on my shoes and I had this cute pic of her with my favorite pair of flip-flops on that I just had to scrap.  I just hope her feet don't turn out to be as big as mine when she gets older!  Ha!

I heat embossed the grid stamp with some black embossing powder and my heat gun to add a little texture.  The "Hey" thought bubble was cut out using my Cameo and is a cut file from Studio Calico's new digital line of products.  I cut it out on white card stock and then painted it orange.  I also added some washi behind it to make the letters stand out a bit more.

I've got to get in my craft room today to work on my Project Life for this past week...I haven't even started printing pictures out yet!

Have a good one and thanks for looking!

happy dance

I'm just hanging out here doing a little happy dance!

Here's why...check it out...http://studiocalico.typepad.com/studio_calico/2012/07/lotw-1.html

I just want to say that I'm honored to be SC's LOTW and I don't think I could create without all of their amazing products and fabulous inspiration!  They're the best and they have the best community of scrappers and creative minds!

Thanks again SC members and designers!

I also just found out that my "Insta-fun!" layout was spotlighted at One Story Down yesterday!  Wow!  I'm beyond amazed and walking on cloud nine today!

Have a great weekend everyone and TFL :)

in a glitch

I just want to apologize for the technical difficulties I seem to be experiencing here on my blog.  I can't figure out what's going wrong and why I can't change any of my settings :(

Insta - fun!

I got a chance to participate in the Weekly Challenge on SC's blog again this week so here it is...

I used my Elmwood Park kit + Add-Ons for this layout and I even tried a new technique on my page, stamping with bleach!

I used bleach to stamp the "lined circle" stamp onto my aqua card stock for a subtle background effect.  I was super nervous about trying this technique because I was worried to death I would spill some bleach on myself or my supplies, but I didn't spill anything....this time!  Ha!

The challenge was all about using banners and buttons, so I incorporated them both into this layout of Avery hanging out by the lake.  I used Instagram, Snapster, and Picfx to edit my iPhone pics.  Hence, the title "Insta-fun!".

I absolutely love those huge resin flowers that came with the kit.  

OAN - I'm officially starting the countdown to our beach vacation today!  16 days from now we will be arriving in Destin and relaxing on the beach.  So. Excited.

In the meantime (to help pass the time, ha!), I'm starting to make lists of things we need to pack, buying some travel items, and planning out what tasks need to be completed in the next couple of weeks before we leave.  School starts one week after we return so I want to be ready and not rushing around trying to get everything together when we get back from Florida.  Oooh!  I can't wait to do nothing but lay on the beach for a week!  So. Excited.

Happy Thursday!  TFL!

You Are My Sunshine

Here's my take on this week's Sunday Sketch at SC...

I used SC's Elmwood Park kit +Add-On's for this layout.  I misted my background card stock with several different colors of Mister Huey's mists.  Sunset, Water Cooler, Taxi, and Gold to be exact :)  I added a bit of water to make the colors a bit more subdued and then took a paper towel and blotted off the excess ink.  I used my Cameo to cut out the starburst and the "You Are My Sunshine" frame.  

I didn't follow the sketch exactly, but I had this photo of my son, Jubal, swinging at the park and I really liked the upward effect of the shot so I thought it would be perfect inspiration for this sketch :)  I tucked my journaling away behind the tag on the right.  

Happy Wednesday!  TFL!

Project Life Week 18

Here's my PL spread for the week of July 2nd - 8th...

I was going back through my PL archives because I mis-numbered a week back in June...so this really is my Week 18.  I started Project Life in March instead of January so my weeks are numbered differently :)

This week's spread turned out very colorful and bright :)  Me likey!  I'm using new product from Studio Calico's July Kit, Elmwood Park.  I'm loving every bit of the kits this month, very fun!

This week seemed a little strange to me because of the holiday on Wednesday.  Plus, my hubby had to work nights so that made it feel even stranger.  Honestly, the whole week felt like one big week-end.  I guess I can't complain about that, ha!

Okay, if you couldn't tell from the photos above, I'm slightly obsessed with my new photo-editing app, Snapster and all it's glorious rainbow effects it creates on my pics.  I love the way it makes each photo feel like summer...

This week we spent two days (including the holiday) on the water with friends :)  I took the kids to see the movie "Brave" at the theater.  We had two more days of swim lessons and Avery got her physical for Pre-K, which she will be attending in the fall.  I'm still riding my bike almost every day (very early in the morning because we were still in triple digits all week!) and I've spent quite a lot of time in my craft room as well.  

Here's a quote I thought fit our week perfectly, well, except for the rain part :0)...

OAN - It did finally rain on Sunday evening...like a lot...I'm so thankful for that even though it's too late for our crops to produce anything.

Happy Tuesday!  TFL!