Treasure Yesterday Final Freebie

Hi!  I wanted to make sure I get the final download of the kit up before my busy weekend. So this is going to be quick and not very prettty.

 Here is the link to the 3rd and final part of the Treasure Yesterday Kit.  I hope you enjoy the kit as much as I enjoyed making it.
 

Have a wonderful weekend!

New Layouts and Pass the Book Winner

I've been busy enjoying our beautiful summer weather the last few weeks.  It's been warm and sunny and not much rain. Prefect.

Thanks to the daily in take of Vitamin D, I've been in a wonderful mood. That means I sleep better and have more energy. Which means I've been more creative!

Here's a few layouts I've done the past week.

 The layout above was for the weekly challenge over at Jessica Sprague.

This was for the birthday celebration at Jessica's web-site.  I used a few random photos of the five of us over the past year. I'm really enjoying these types of layouts that use photos over a period of time. I'm still working through the Finding Photo Freedom lessons, but the more I get done the more I want to have everything set up so I can make more connections.

Now on to the Pass the Book winner. Nothing really fancy on picking the name.  I put the names in a hat and let my little one pick a name.

The winner is.....Beverly.   Please email me with your address and I will get the book in the mail to you this week.

Treasure Yesterday - Part 2 Freebie

Thank you to everyone that downloaded and commented on the kit.  Here is part 2 of my Treasure Yesterday Kit, part 3 will be up next week.  Once you get all three parts here is what you will have.

Here's another layout I did using the kit.  I also used a template from Roadside Design and the flower and clock from Lauren Grier's Kit Forever Always.

Hope you enjoy the kit. I would love to see what you create with it, so please leave a comment with a link.

12 on Twelve

I'm a little behind on posting my 12 on Twelve project.   The idea is to take 12 photos on the 12th of each month. For May I forgot to take the photos on the 12th, but did take them on the 13th, so I'm fudging it a little.  The photos are from our Mother's Day outing to the Detroit Institute of Art.  I took the template that I've been using and changed it up a little because I was getting bored with it.  I'm hoping to have June's page done soon...so stay tuned.

Pass the Book

I took the jump back in April and entered into one of the Pass the Book, year two post. To my pleasant surprise I was picked by Cheri to be the next recipient of "the Artist Unique" by Carmen Torbus.

This book is so gorgeous to look at and full of inspiration. It is jammed packed with techniques using everything from crayons to paint to clay. As I went through the pages one thought kept coming to my mind - art journal.

I have a journal that I bought in Disney that I wanted to use for a special project. Over the last year, I've been putting sticky notes with favorite quotes on the pages. I figured I would make an art journal using these quotes as inspiration. After looking through the Artist Unique, I wanted to get creative.

The first technique I tried was drawing with your nondominant hand. Because you are using your nondominant hand the pressure to be perfect is removed from your sketching. It was easier to play and experiment without little Ms. Perfect whispering in my ear. 

After doing that, I was intrigrue by some drawings made using NeoColor II Water soluble pastels. These are wonderful tools. You can use them like a crayon or add water for a water color look. I used these on my first page of my new Quote Art Journal.  I used the NeoColor for the rainbow and I used paint for everything else.

The final technique that I have something to show you was a fun one. Again it was one to help release the perfectionist tendency many of us (me) have. The technique is called Develop an ink blot.  To do this, I put some paint on my page and put a scrap piece of paper over it and pushed down. After lifting off the scrap paper I repeated the process a few times to get a few blots on the page. I let the paint dry over night and then looked at the blots and turned them into the first thing I saw. 

So now it could be your turn to flip through the pages of this wonderful book. If you are interested in receiving this book, please leave a comment and let me know. I will draw a name for the lucky winner on June 25 and mail it sometime that week.

Life Skills

Are our children too spoiled? Do they expect adults to do to much for them? I've been asking myself these questions lately. It all started when I came down to the breakfast table one morning and my boys were seated at the table. Just sitting there. Waiting. When I walked in they told me they wanted cereal for breakfast. I looked at them and thought I haven't been doing my job if they can not even get a simple bowl of cereal.

I told them they could get their own breakfast and at first they were surprised. But I'm glad to say, they were able to make a bowl of cereal. Good, I haven't been slacking that much.

That morning really got me thinking, what skills should my boys have at their ages. Of course I did a quick search on Google and pinterest to see what others thought about this issue. I found dozens of blog post or articles about Life Skills that everyone should know.  After looking at a few, I print one out and crossed off the items I knew the boys knew and circle the ones that I felt they should be working on.

Some of the items on my list for the summer: clean the bathroom, help put groceries away, wash dishes by hand, do laundry, cook simple meal.

This insight couldn't have come at a better time either. During the summer months my boys get more chores then during the school year. I'm making some of these life skills lessons part of their weekly chores.

Here's a sample of one of the boys chore chart for June/July.

I'm hoping this turns out to be a good experience for all of us. Where they become more responsible and maybe I can have a break once in awhile. :)

Treasure Yesterday - Day 1

We treasure our yesterday's and those of others when we document our thoughts and feelings.  I'm hoping that the kit I created, Treasure Yesterday, will help you document your heritage photos.

As I mentioned in this post, I created this for a contest.  Since the kit didn't win, I decided to do my very first freebie on my blog. I broke the kit down into three downloads that I will be posting each Saturday, so you will need to visit again to get the complete kit.

Even if you are not a digital scrapbooker you can use this kit. Just open the file and print on your favorite paper. 

Here is the link to Day 1 download of the Treasure Yesterday Kit.

Here is a page that I created using the kit and a template from Roadside Design.

All I ask, if you download the kit, please come back here and let me know what you think. I'm new at designing digital supplies and would love any and all constructive ideas.  I hope you enjoy the products as much as I enjoyed making them.

Project 365

I'm happy to report that I completed another month of Project 365.  I really love the iphone apps that I've been using to help me with this project.  Now I will admit that some of the photos were not taken on the exact day that they show up in the calendar.  That's what's nice about some of the item photos I like to take because they can be used as a filler for days that I didn't remember to shoot something.  This month I struggled more then others. I just feel like I'm taking the same photos each day.

Here's a brief description of each of the photos.

1. Up Hill Farms field trip

2. Final drawing for Drawing class.

3. Post recover drink

4. Early Cinco De Mayo dinner.

5. Had hair highlighted

6. Working on meal plans

7. Boys after Music Concert at school.

8. View of my passenger seat - purse, jacket, work bag.

9. Photo of inside of car.

10. Celebrate Husband's birthday with a cookie cake.

11. My new purse.

12. New shoes for everyone.

13. DIA visit

14. Went to bank.

15. Opps...I must really love my new purse I took two photos of it (just noticed that)

16. My computer desk.

17. Breakfast

18. Reading

19. Photo of paper that I'm purging.

20. Our baby birds

21. Morning routine - having breakfast with oldest.

22. Last soccer game.

23. Raffle basket

24. First cherries of the summer.

25. Nature walk.

26. Idea for art journal.

27. Me and my baby.

28. Ken and the boys.

29. Another photo of my purse...I really like my purse!

30. Updated photo of baby birds.

31. Pinwheel in garden.

End of the School Year

Another school year has come to an end. The boys have learned and grown so much since September.

We were blessed to have some wonderful teachers come into our life this year. I know the boys adored each of them.

I think back to the beginning of the year when we first find out who the teacher will be. We never had any of these teachers before so it was a time of wonder and worry. What type of teacher are they? Are they a good fit for my child? Will they understand the unique differences of my child? Now that we are at the end of the year, I'm happy to say it was a Good Year.

As a thank you to these wonderful ladies I decided to make something for their classrooms. I found the inspiration one day while I was exploring pinterest. 

I added the teachers name to the top (I smudged the name in the photo) and put a note of thanks at the bottom.


The teachers loved the posters and I was happy to create something to brighten their rooms each year.

My Lose is Your Gain

If you have been reading my blog for the last month, you might have notice in my goals that I was working on a design contest that Jessica Sprague was having called Designer Discovery.  The contest was to design a mini kit for Echo Park. The winners kit will be made into a paper product that will be distributed world wide.

On June 11th, they announced the 25 kits that made it to the next level of voting. Unfortunately, my kit did not make the cut. There were so many lovely kits and over 60 entries. Good luck to those that made the cut. The next voting is a public vote, if you would like to vote go over to this post for more information.

So how is this a gain for you? I have a kit now that is just collecting dust.  I decided that I will put the piece of the kit up for a free download.  I need to pull some of the pieces apart and make it into a digi kit and find a free site to host the downloads. If you have an suggestions on a free site please let me know. I plan on having it up this weekend.  But here is a peek at what the kit looks like.

Make sure to come back this weekend to get the freebie. All I ask is for feedback so I can improve on my designs.

Ten on 10

If you are visiting me from Shimelle's blog, welcome. I'm glad you stopped by. If you are an old friend, I'm glad your back.  It's the 10th of June, so that means it's time for Ten on 10. This month I decided to make a simple list, the 10 things I would like to do over the summer.

• Go strawberry picking and make jam.

• Run at least two 5K.
• Drink some frozen daiquiris in the backyard.

• Go to Drive-in movie with my family.
• Have friends over for a BBQ.
• Go on weekly bike rides with my family.
• Make homemade ice cream.
• Go to a fireworks show.

• Read at least 6 books.
• Go to the beach.

What activities do you enjoy doing over the summer months?

Family x12

Welcome back to another Family x12 blog hop.  We are a group of ladies that are supporting each other in taking one family photo each month. Because of this blog hop I remembered to get a photo of all five of use over the Memorial Day holiday. My boys were wrestling around on the floor so I gave the camera to my brother and told my husband to get on the floor with the boys.  It's not your traditional family photo but it's something that you would see quite often if you stopped by - Everyone on the floor playing around.

Thanks for stopping by, your next stop on the blog hop is over at Jo's Blog.  Here's is the complete list of participates.

Margie         http://xnomads.typepad.com/blog
Carol Anne     http://www.scrappingthoughts.com
Monica         http://questtoperfectimperfection.blogspot.com
Jo             http://www.mrsbeee.blogspot.com
Ruth           http://www.chattycraftyartypig.blogspot.com
Jill           http://jillconyers.com
Claire         http://www.clairesmillie.wordpress.com

Round Up Time

It's round up time again.  It was another extremely busy month with lots of end of the school year activity. 

1. What types of media did I enjoy this month?

Took Logan & Kyle to see Lorax.

Reading: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Lover Reborn by J.R. Ward, A Treasure Worth Seeking by Sandra Brown

Watched Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1 & 2, How to Train your Dragon

Movie: What to expect when your Expecting

2. What did my kids do/learn this month?

William had 5^th grade health video at school.

William moved up a level in swimming.

Kyle had field trip to Detroit Zoo. Learned about the different habitats of the animals.

Logan had field trip to Upland Hills Farm.

The boys had their classroom music concerts at school.

Kyle & Logan had a music recital for piano and violin.  This was Logan’s first recital.

Went on 5^th grade field trip to Greenfield Village.

Kyle had last soccer game of session. He decided not to play next session.

 William had orthodontist appointment.  We need to go to Oral Surgeon to get a “shadow” on his x-ray checked out.  Everything is fine.

3. What fun things did I do with my family and/or friends?

Went to Upland Hills Farm for 1^st grade field trip.

Celebrated Father-in-laws birthday. Went out to dinner and baked a carrot cake.

Ken took Kyle & William to see Avengers

Had coffee with my friend Michelle.

Went to the DIA for Mother’s Day. Saw puppet show. Drew pictures in the gallery and enjoyed walking around looking at the art.

Took boys to Family Swim Time at their swim school.

Took Logan & Kyle on 1.25 mile hike at Stony Creek.

Spread mulch in flower beds. (family project)

Had my Aunt and brother over for Memorial Day BBQ.

Went to Volunteer Movie Night at our school. Had a great time and won a $20 Gift Card to Target…Always Awesome!

Not real fun, but had a garage sale.

4. What creative things have I done this month?

Created a flyer for 3^rd grade end of the year party.

Cleaned and organized my craft supplies.

Finished my Kit for Art of Digital Design Class.

Entered the Designer Discovery Contest at Jessica Sprague with my Treasure Yesterday Kit.

Reworking my In-Design Class – Started working on brochure for company.

Put together the 1^st grade raffle basket to the end of the year carnival.

Finished another semester of school with a 4.0. 

My Final drawing for my Illustration Fundamentals Class

Did 5 layouts this month!

5. What special or unusual purchases did I make?

I received a new point and shoot camera for mother’s Day. An Olympus Tough TG-820.

Had to get wood replaced around some of the windows.

Purchased glasses for Logan.  He looks so cute!

6.  What were my fitness/health accomplishments this month?

Had scan done at Chiropractic’s office.  Was interesting to see what the results were but it’s still a lot of guess work. According to the scan my body is very well balanced.

Played soccer each week with friends.

Started Julian Michaels 30 Day Shred. Finished level 1.

7. What were my accomplishments this month?

Working out daily again. Really enjoying the 30 day shred because it’s only 20 minutes, but not easy.

Entered a design contest.

8. What were my disappointments this month?

Still not running. I just haven’t been in the mood.

9. How did I do on my goals for the month?

Work out at least 5 days a week: Doing that.

Work on weekly overall routine: Didn’t work on this. Our schedule is going to change in two weeks when school is over. I’m going to get a plan together for that time.

Relax – Not doing great with this. I’m trying to get to bed by 10 and I’m doing that 3-4 nights a week. Need to get that up to 7.

10. Anything else noteworthy to include?

Goals for June (in no particular order):

Finish brochure for office.

Get Weekly Routine figured out.

Finish 30 Day Shred.

Father's Day Card & Free Lightroom Template

My cyber friend Lissa asked me to test our a Lightroom Print Template that she created. I was more than happy to assist, especially since I've never tried on of these template before.  Instead of using the template for a photo college, I decided to use some of my digital scrapbook supplies to make a background for a card.

It was so easy to create this grid background with the template. I love how it turned out.

The papers and most of the embellishments are from a kit over at the Sweet Shoppe called Tell me about Dad.

If you would like to get your hands on this free template, go over to Lissa's blog to download it.

One Little Word Blog Hop

Welcome back to another month of the One Little Word (OLW) Blog Hop.  If you are unfamiliar with One Little Word be sure to visit Big Picture Classes or Ali Edwards Blog for more information. My other OLW 2012 post can be seen here.

This month was another writing prompt. We needed to document some things we would like to tackle this year to help us with our word.

Change is definitely an on going process. Most of the items on my list are on-going tasks to change my life. Each month after I do the prompt, I like to go back and look at last years prompt and see how my two words differ. I was so surprised to see many of the same things on both list.  My list this year had the following items (sorry about the bad photos):

  

The first five on my list last year were exercise, meal plan, drink more water, declutter and garage sale.  Looks really similar to this years list. At first this bothered me, like I was not getting anywhere. But then I realized it's all a process.  I don't think you are truly ever completely organized and decluttered and I don't ever want to stop pushing myself to exercise and eat right. So it's all good.

 Thank you for stopping by and spending a little time on my blog, I hope you enjoyed your stay. Your next stop along the hop is over at Ruth's blog. If you get lost along the way, here is a complete list of blog hop participates.

Margie        http://xnomads.typepad.com
Monica        http://scrapinspired.com
Jenn          www.studiojenn.blogspot.com
Lisa          http://backtoallen.com
Kimberlee     http://scrapsandsass.blogspot.com                 
Donna         http://holimess.blogspot.com/
Monica B      http://questtoperfectimperfection.blogspot.com/ <----YOU ARE HERE
Ruth          http://suburbansahm.blogspot.com
Kara          http://iwannabemewhenigrowup.blogspot.com
Nikki         www.inkyart.com.au
Amanda        http://scrappnbee.blogspot.com
Cheri         http://scrapdreams.blogspot.com
Veronica      www.veronicanorris.typepad.com
Kelly         http://mindingmynest.com
Carolina      www.micinnamons.blogspot.com
Naomi         http://poeticaperture.com/
Missus Wookie http://www.mrswookieswanderings.blogspot.com/
Brighton      www.simplebrighton.com
Jill          http://jillconyers.com/
Cindy         http://seriousplay.typepad.com