Happy Birthday! Jakey turns 2!

Oh Jakey!  I can't believe you're 2 today!

Well, not really until 11:37pm tonight!  At this time two years ago, I was just finishing a late breakfast with my friend Sheri.  We expected you to come right on time, tomorrow, February 1st.  My doctor was coming back from Las Vegas & inducing me in the morning.  But, true to you're, "I'm always in Charge!" attitude, you had different plans.  We managed to go out to dinner with Delaney, to the same restaurant we visited the night before she was born.  And then came the excitement, we rushed to the hospital at 10:30pm and you arrived at 11:37pm.  Just couldn't wait 23 more minutes, huh?

Well, we are very excited you finally arrived....I guess after waiting 7 years for you, the last minute rush of your birth was just part of your plan!

I love you!  Happy Birthday!

I can't wait to see what excitement and adventure your 3rd year brings to us!

Layout of the Week - Valentine Card

For my Layout of the Week this week, I'm sharing a card I created for a class I'm teaching soon.  We'll be making 4 cards and a gift box for the class, so I'll have more fun Valentine things to share soon!  I wanted to keep this card simple and quick.  And as you can tell from some of my past Layout of the Week projects, I love using paper strips as a quick way to get a layout started.  I found the idea for this card in an old issue of Card Trends magazine.  The original card had a Spring theme and felt flowers backing the buttons.  I thought it would be fun to add the die cut heart to the design, afterall it is a Valentine...can there ever be too many hearts on Valentine's Day?  I love the idea of using the corner rounder on just the top of the card!  Can't wait to use this idea in a scrapbook layout!

If you've been thinking about making your own Valentine's this year, it's time to drag out those supplies and get started!  Valentine's are the perfect way to use up those scraps you've been saving.  Just dig through your piles...yes, I know you keep your scraps in piles...doesn't everyone?  Find all those fun Valentine colors, add in whatever you can find in there that sparkles, grab some odds & ends of ribbons & buttons and you're ready to go.  Quick cards just take a little measuring & cutting of your scraps!  Add a ribbon & a button or two and you're done!  If you're feeling especially creative, add a rub on quote or saying to one of the paper strips or even to your ribbon.  The special Valentines in your life will love your handmade cards and you'll even save a little money using up those scraps, so buy yourself a truffle the next time you're near a Moonstruck store!  OK, maybe that's my plan, but it will work for you too!

Have a great weekend!

Supplies

Cardstock:  American Crafts, WorldWin

Patterned Paper:  Bloom & Sweetheart from the Smitten Collection by 3 Bugs in a Rug

Twill Ribbon:  Creative Cafe

Buttons:  Creative Cafe, Boxer

Floss:  DMC

Die Cut:  Quickutz

Corner Rounder:  EK Success

HUGE Sale at Whimzee's Starts TODAY, Jan. 25th

Click to learn all about the Whimzee's Scrapbook Studio Winter Purge Sale! Get awesome deals with different specials each day while you help us whittle our inventory for the big count this weekend! There's a coupon in the link too! Stop by the Store at 16630 SW Shaw Street, Suite K, Beaverton, Oregon 97007 or call (503) 259-9130 for more info!

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Layout of the Week - BELIEVE Bo Bunny My Word Chipboard Album

Sorry about not posting a Layout of the Week last week.  Between regular duties, jury duty & a sick kid, time just flew by.  But I do have a special project this week.  I want to share the album I created to commemorate Jake's 1st Christmas.  I love the Bo Bunny My Word Chipboard Albums and BELIEVE is my favorite one.  These albums are great to display on your coffee table or mantle where people can grab them & quickly flip through them.  When I created this one, I wanted to use bright colors and traditional red & green to create a fun album the kids would love.  I chose Reminisce's Snow Globe collection as my paper & stickers for this project.

If you're interested in how to create your own My Word Chipboard Album, click the links below for step by step instructions and photos.  I created this class last Fall for the scrapbook store blog I write.  You could also use these techniques for other types of chipboard albums.

Julie's Bo Bunny Chipboard Album Classes

Class #1 - Gathering the Supplies
Class #2 - Choosing & Adhering the Paper
Class #3 - Trimming the Paper
Class #4 - Painting the Edges
Class #5 - Ribbon, Ribbon & More Ribbon

This last weekend, I started a new Bo Bunny My Word Chipboard album.  I chose FRIEND to create a birthday party album for Delaney with photos from her 8th birthday party.  She had a tie dye slumber party, so I was looking for very bright patterned papers.  I chose Limerickey from Basic Grey and it's perfect.  I'm ready to paint the edges, so I'm about 1/2 way done.  I'll be sure to share it with you once it's all ready to go!

But for now, here's my BELIEVE album for you to enjoy!  Remember, January is the perfect time to put together an album with all your memories from last Christmas...while you still remember them! :)

For all you VGNO partiers...

Would you rather have Bob or Jillian as your trainer?

(I've been working out with a group of mom's at school this week, to the Biggest Loser DVD's, and I'm strongly a BOB person!  Can't deal with people yelling at me while I'm attempting to work my as off!)

Help my store win a free Cosmo Cricket collection!

Just a quick note!  I really am working on this week's Layout of the Week post! :)  But first, a special request:

Please help my local scrapbook store win free products!  In this economy small businesses need every advantage they can get.  Please click HERE to go to Cosmo Cricket's blog and check out their new releases for CHA Winter.  I am a huge fan of Cosmo Cricket and these latest collections are beautiful, my favorite is Material Girl!  In order to help Whimzee's Scrapbook Studio win, please leave a comment under the post mentioning our store!  As a bonus, if the store you mention wins, you win an individual set of the collection too!  If you're interested in learning more about Whimzee's Scrapbook Studio, check out the BLOG I write for the store or visit the Online Community's SITE I moderate for the store!

THANKS so much for your help!  And remember to support all the small businesses in your area!

Layout of the Week - December Daily Album Part 1

This week I want to share my latest project with you.  I was looking through the blogs in November and came upon this great idea in two blogs that I read often by Ali Edwards and Katie the Scrapbook Lady.  The idea was to create an album with photos & journaling on a page for each day in December.  Both ladies suggested getting all your supplies together, some new, some old, collected from all your other left over past December projects.  Next create a page for each day in December, so that when each day comes, you can jot down a thought or two and take a photo.  Then when you print out your photos, you just have to stick them on their page and viola!, you've got a finished album to remember one of the most memorable months of the year!

Well, OK, that is an awesome idea.  And I had every intention of following it to a T....I gathered my old supplies and of course found some new ones at the store.  I checked out all sorts of holiday layout ideas.  I cut little number tags on the Cricut.  And then December came along.....

You'll notice that I haven't had a chance to attach some cute ribbon and put the number tags on each page...but they are coming soon! I also plan to add a few fun embellishments to some of my pages. I'll take photos of all the pages again, once the project is finished & share them with you!  (Oh...and I do know that Christmas is spelled incorrectly on Page 1 of my album!  So strange to have a manufacturer spell a word that important incorrectly, we are supposed to receive a new shipment of this paper at the store soon!)

I did shoot a photo each day, well, most days!  Some days I shot an extra photo, something that was important to me in December, a centerpiece, some special ornaments, so that when I forgot...as I knew I would...to shoot a photo on a given day, I'd still have one to put on that day's page.

I began my album in November, but I was only able to get 5 pages done before the rush of December began!  Then I was caught up in all the decorating, special festivities, party planning, wrapping & Christmas pageant practices.  Once the excitement died down, between Christmas & New Year's, I was able to complete a few more pages and have the photos printed out.

So I thought I'd share what I've been able to create so far.  I hope these photos can inspire you to create some projects to honor your memories of this holiday season!

Happy New Year!

OK, this is for all you VGNO Girls!

I did the macarena with a surfer in your bathroom because that's how I roll!

:)

I think mine's pretty great!

Now, for those of you who I've totally confused, consider yourselves invited to the coolest blog party on the web!  Ann's Virtual Girls Night Out!  If' you've got a blog, head on over & put yourself on the blog hop list.  If not, just click on the names on the list to join in!

You'll meet tons of new bloggers & some great new friends by participating every Friday!

Ann's always got a cool video for us, along with a stiff drink (you know you need one!) and a great party game, I like this week's the best!

Ann's one of my Portland "homey"'s, so head on over  & tell her Julie sent you! :)

(OK, totally screwed up spelling & grammar on that one I'm sure...)

Happy VGNO!