to be set afoot

This one I'll write and rewrite and probably write once again before this post goes live (but, yay! Blogger let me cut and paste so I avoided a 4th rewrite!). Such is my life! I've been so incredibly focused on my own self that I haven't had a lot of time to give - I hate that! Working on healing, you see: a new ankle sprain and an old fracture in the right one. Tried an air cast for 3 weeks then doc put me in a boot. Well, Friday was my day to get out of my boot! Walking tall and proud today! Well, maybe not so tall (at five foot), but happily, for sure!

With all this happening, I've been watching for scrapbook layouts and photo ops with just limbs and body parts. One of my favorite things to do when the kids were little was to scrap their tiny feet, their little hands, even their cute button noses. 

I was going to go borrow a friend's baby pictures or the baby feet that Karen Russell offered to those of us in her class, but the same day I got to take off my boot, I played in the sprinkler with the kids. Quite literally, mind you, as McKenna picked up the sprinkler and totally got me soaked. One of those joyful super laughing moments I won't soon forget. How can you be mad when you're sopping wet?!

So, with scrappable body parts on the brain, I became completely focused on the kids' feet as they jumped through the sprinkler over and over again. There was as much joy in their toes as was in their faces. I didn't get the perfect feet photots, but I'll keep trying! I did get the cutie at the bottom of this post, though. =)

As I can now almost jump for joy, won't you do the same thing? Look for closeups hands, feet or whatever seizes the moment. You can always creatively crop a photo to include just that portion, but capturing in the moment is so much more fun! 

p.s. - both of my images are out of focus =( but that doesn't mean I won't keep trying! Above are Matthew jumping and McKenna's feet.

Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day is a United States Federal holiday that is observed on the last Monday of May. It has become the unofficial start of summer and is celebrated with cookouts, picnics, parades, fireworks, and opening day of public pools. But the true meaning of Memorial Day is to remember the men and women who died while in military service.

This week's challenge:
draw some inspiration from Memorial Day and use it on your layouts. Maybe you will choose to scrap about BBQ and pool parties. Maybe a layout dedicated to the military or your country. Or maybe a page remembering someone special in your life.
Link back here by Thursday night for a chance to win a prize. Can't wait to see what you create!

winner and fixed link!

My apologies for the bad link on the Wednesday freebie.  It is fixed in the original post and can also be found HERE.  Thanks!

Today we have a winner from our graduation challenge.  Brenda created this layout:

We love how she included her daughter's writing, multiple pictures, and journaling.  What a darling design!  Her blog, Carrot Topx3 is absolutely adorable--give it a peek! 

Brenda, you have one week to email me at dora@scrapstreet.com for your prize.  Please use Blog Winner in your title.  Goodies will be on their way to you! 

Thanks for playing!  Stop in tomorrow for a new challenge!

Paper Musing

I love talking to fellow scrapbookers and gaining insight about their creative process. The one thing that rings true with most is that they are looking for unique ways to add interest to pages. I am a huge fan of relying on the patterns in the papers you are working with to accomplish this small feat!

Looking at a sheet of paper to find a flower you can cut and layer might take a little extra time, but saves money and makes your page a one of a kind! I am a personal fan of making my own borders by looking for curved, scalloped, zigzaged or diamond patterns. I did just that when creating the layout below!



I placed my photos and elements at the top of the page, a design layout I love to use! It lacked pizzaz though so I decided to cut along the loopy pattern in the red paper. I liked it, yet it still needed something so I cut a second border and laid it underneath. It adds so much! And it didn't cost a thing!



Try using your paper as your muse! You never know what inspiration you will discover between or within the lines!

Happy Thursday!
Stacey

5-26 Freebie!

Welcome back to Wednesday!  How is your hump day moving along?  Would it go a bit better with a freebie?

Janice has another cool layered template for us today.  This one is perfect for multiple photos or to show off pretty papers in a kit.  Give it a peek:

And a darling example:

For download click here: GET ME!  We would love to see what you create!  Stop back anytime and share.  Have a super Wednesday!

Posting this week's challenge a bit late. Just got home from my daughter's high school graduation ceremony. She graduated with honors so I am, of course, the proud momma.

Do you remember YOUR high school graduation? I remember mine. Sometimes it feels like it was yesterday. Sometimes it feels like a lifetime ago.

It's funny the things you remember. I don't remember the speech I gave. I don't remember our class song or who I sat next to (which I'm SURE were majorly important things at the time). I remember all the girls wearing white dresses and all the guys looking uncomfortable in their shirts and ties. I remember staring at the big tiger painting on the gym wall behind the podium (we were the Tigers). I remember being a bit sad, scared, happy, and excited all at the same time. Definitely a big milestone.

So this week's challenge: scrap a pic of yourself in high school!! Awww...c'mon...you KNOW it would be fun! No? Ok, it doesn't have to be pics of you. Doesn't even have to be high school. Just do something school related. Got some photos from ballgames, prom, homecoming, harvest carnival, etc? Well now is your chance to scrap 'em.

Link back here by Thursday night for a chance to win this week's prize.

Oh...and by the way...GO TIGERS!!

Symmetry & Me

I find it downright silly that even when I get the chance to create one scrapbook page for myself, I still feel the need to be challenged. If I can't find a challenge online to fit what I want to work with, then I end up challenging myself. This page was no different! It was the first page in a long, long time that I created for myself, by myself. You'd think that would be fun and relaxing, right? Well, it was - that and challenging! For some reason, I challenged myself to a symmetrical page. Maybe it's because I'm striving for balance these busy May days? I don't know about that, but nothing is ever symmetrical in my life - not my scrapbook pages, rarely my photography, not the interior design of my house; maybe only that I have to chew m&ms equally & symmetrically (2 greens, one for each side... a red and a brown and a red and a brown... don't ask!) Too much information? Perhaps. =)

So I cut and adhered away at my best attempt at a symmetrical page. Lots of strips and a few buttons as well. I did cheat a little on the photograph I used. Couldn't be that predictable. I hope you enjoy and go for some symmetry in your next page. (If you do, please comment and link!) Being so in balance actually created a whole bunch of new scrapping ideas... maybe I'll have a few new symmetrical ideas for you in a few days!

Blessings!
Lindsey

Swingin' by Lindsey Krauss. Supplies: Paper, buttons: Basic Grey, Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper,
Ink: Staz-On (Tsukineko), Pen: Sakura.

Journaling: May 2010 -- McKenna, you love the porch swing as much as Mommy does!
Been a while since I posted one of these - enjoy!