Croptober, Plain and Simple

I am apparently suffering Writer's Block today.  That or I'm brain dead.  I can't get a thought, or at the very least a coherent thought, in my head to save me.  Which means we'll just go right to today's challenge.

I did a search on Pinterest for "Fall Layout" and found this one.  The link led me to Yahoo Images, but luckily the designer had her watermark on it and I found her at her blog Aly Stamps.  First, how cute is that wee one?  I love bald-headed babies - which all my kids were; so sweet.  

Now, for the layout - clean, quick, easy.  Seriously, this is one of those 30 minute pages - super easy to mirror for two pages and totally easy if more photos are needed.  This one translates easily to a pocket-page design, too.

NOTE:  A little prep for tomorrow's challenge.  Pick one and post your selection in the comments.  The key will be provided tomorrow.  Witch or Warlock?

Link up your creation to the comment section for a shot at the October drawing. 

Happy Thursday,

Winner, Winner!

I said last week if you completed two of the five challenges from last week I'd toss out something extra to ya.  Two of you completed two or more of the challenges.

Deanna and Patchi - you'll each get something extra with your upcoming kit.

And then there's the matter of September's Goody Pack.  Eleven layouts were created using the sketch challenges last month.  If you haven't looked them over, do so because they're inspiring.  The September winner is Rebecca K!  I'm not sure I have your address since the move to the new site, Rebecca, so can you send your information to lori@apronstringskits.com?   Thanks :)

Now the rest of you. . .Go Create and Win!

Spirit, Football, Dancing and Croptober

Sorry about not getting a post up yesterday.  Which means today's will be jam-packed!

First a recap.  Friday was Color-Day during the High School Spirit Week.  Each grade wears a different color - Juniors were Navy and Freshman were Columbia Blue - or light blue to you boys.  I think the Sophomores wore White, but not a clue what the Seniors wear.  Togas?

The football game on Friday night was as cold as predicted.  But the high energy and insane win of 47-7 for the home team kept people warm until the last few minutes when the cold finally seeped into feet and fingers.

Saturday was the finale.  The culmination of a lot of running and shopping and primping and prepping.  The dance.  Here are my two, followed by them with their two.  Both kids went with dates but met up with larger groups.  Really large groups.  Given the photos I have after the kids left were only from my daughter, I see I'm going to need to have a sit-down with my son about capturing his High School years in photos.  Maybe I should have asked his date to snag me photos.  Mama needs photos.

Today your challenge comes from a Pinterest search for Fall Banners and lead me to Tami Sanders's blog.  I love banners for decorating (they are on my list of crafty to-do's), but they also provide great inspiration.  They can show you how to scale back - there's only so much room on those little flags, or how to add more - barren banners aren't good.  They're also a good inspiration for grouping and layering.

Use this banner as your inspiration for today.  Mix papers.  Use twine.  Give your card, layout or other project texture by mixing it up.  Distress  something.  Love on the colors.  Ink an edge or two.

Link up your creation to the comment section for a shot at the October drawing. 

Happy Wednesday,

Snow, Spirit and Soup

I went to bed with rain splattering the windows.  No big surprise - the weather guessers called for it.  I woke this morning and peeked out the front door window to find the rain was now huge, fluffy, white flakes falling and covering the lawn.  This was at 6:00.  By 6:30 there were squeals coming from the second floor as the 5 y.o. discovered the snow.  He was so excited, opening blinds to show anyone he could drag to a window.

 

 

By 10:00 the sun was playing hide-and-seek with the clouds making the colors of Fall pop.  I enjoyed them all on my way back home after meeting a friend for coffee.  The sun appears gone again for the remainder of the day.

 



 

Day Four (Thursday) of Spirit week brought the coolest temps (until today) of the week.  Which figures, it was Beach Day.  My daughter and her pals looked beach ready.  My son and his pals looked more like the group that wandered onto the beach after hitting the bar up the road.  My son had taken off his lei, though I do see a pair of water wings, and a couple nods with Hawaiian shirts, board shorts and flip flops.  Dudes!

Tonight, with temps falling into the 20's, is the homecoming football game.  I'm not fully informed of the plans, but there better be coats and gloves in the hands of people leaving this house.  I'll also need to drag out some canvas to cover the garden.

I didn't cook from Pinterest this week, but if you're looking for some Pins that have been tried, you can find them HERE on the I Cooked That board.  With the cold, snowy day I will be making Chicken and Dumpling Soup and if I get off here, some bread to go with it.  Dessert will probably be just brownies.  I'm feeling the need for chocolate on a day like this.

Soup is quick and easy to make and leave for the family if your intent on this Friday is to take part in the Croptober challenges from this week.  Today your inspiration comes from a Pinterest Fall Card search.  This one caught my eye immediately.  I followed the Pin by Hip2bsquare to Scrapbook.com's gallery.  Copy the card exactly, change up the colors and sentiment for a different take, use it to create a layout, or shoot, I love the banners - how fun would they be big and hanging on my mantle!

Link up your creation to the comment section for a shot at the October drawing. And if you create at least two items from this week and get them linked up by Sunday night, I'll find something else to reward one person with.

Off to start bread and brownies, look over my recipe for tonight and come up with a plan for the weekend.

Happy Friday.

I Had To & Croptober

Hi, my name is Lori and I love Starbucks coffee; the more fru-fru the better. However, it's definitely a "treat."  I don't drink it everyday (coffee everyday, yes. Starbucks coffee everyday. . .not so much).  But darn it, they sent me a half-off-your-drink code this morning.  It was like a little gift on my phone.  What was I supposed to do??

Spirit week is rolling along.  Here's my two High Schoolers in their team gear from yesterday, oh, and the wanna-be-big-kid in his favorite shirt.  Then there's my daughter and her peeps in the halls.  And finally, at the bonfire last night with her boyfriend.  My son only got to see the set up for the bonfire.  He and the car-full of Freshmen I was toting to church for Confirmation classes all looked longingly out the window at the firetrucks on hand, the barricades and the wood pile that would later blaze away.  I felt so bad they couldn't enjoy this year's bonfire.  My daughter said this was her first one as well - huh?  Why hadn't she gone before?  He does have three more years to attend, I say to try to assuage the mom guilt.

Today it's Beach Day.  I saw my daughter's gear. . .my son's I heard a report on.  It's his sister's lei that's apparently the nod to the Beach for him.  I guess it works for him. 

Yesterday I asked you, "Ghoul or Ghost" and had you put your answer in the comments and that you'd get the key today.  And here it is:

• Ghost - Include something sheer on your project
• Ghoul - Distress something on your project

If you'd like to play along today, just pick Ghost or Ghoul and include the appropriate item.  Link up your creation to the comment section for a shot at the October drawing.  And if you create at least two items from this week, I'll find something else to reward one person with.

They say snow is rolling in later tonight and that we might actually see some here in the Denver area.  My 5 y.o. started singing Christmas songs.  He's gonna be bummed.

Happy Thursday,

It's a Grande Kinda Day & Croptober

I rolled out of bed this morning with remnants of "the bug" in the form of a cough.  That annoying non-cough where you need one good cough to stop the chain, but can't get it so all you do is continue these lame coughs.  Hmmm. . .so what can fix it?  Ahhh. . .Cinnamon Dolce Latte of course.  And because it's a particularly aggravating non-cough, I think a Grande is called for instead of my typical Tall.  I'll regret it later because I'll have all that nervous energy, but hey, my cough is going away!

Monday was the start of Homecoming week for my two High Schoolers.  As tradition calls for there's all manner of spirit activities - like Neon Day (Monday).  My daughter (with the orange headband) and her pals below.  My son wore a nice bright shirt, but it's tough to get him to do selfies with his buds.  I like the tape my daughter provided to help a couple boys get in the spirit of Neon.  Yesterday was Generation Day - Freshmen dressed as babies/toddler - my Freshman son did not participate in this one.  He refused to wear the footy-pajamas suggested by myself and his sister.  Go figure.  Juniors were "grown-ups." I suggested my daughter, the Junior, go with an arm-full of dolls.  Nope.  Briefcase?  Nope.  Wooden spoon in a pocket, apron on, smudge of flour, baby in a carrier, purse slung over a shoulder, permission slips in another pocket?  Nope.  So she dressed as usual and headed out. 

Today is Team Day, dress in your favorite athletic apparel.  With the (much anticipated) NHL opening day being yesterday, my daughter's in her Bruins garb and my son is decked out in a German soccer team jersey.  The 5 y.o. seeing the trend, and liking to match his sister, donned his "B's" shirt as well and rolled up his fleece pants (she was wearing leggings).  Before heading the 5 y.o. off to school, I switched out the rolled up fleece for a pair of black shorts; a tad warm and bulky the fleece was.

Today's Croptober challenge I searched Pinterest for a Halloween layout and found this one, which lead me to ScrapMatters member gallery and ShanScraps' layout.  I love the clean and simple format - I think it's digital, too.  It is part of a two-pager, so you can follow the link to see both sides.  Use whatever you need from the layout (the subject, the layout, the colors, a technique (she's "stitched" and "stamped") to inspire your work today - card, layout, pocket page, mini album, decor, whatever.

Link up your creation to the comment section for a shot at the October drawing.  And if you create at least two items from this week, I'll find something else to reward one person with.

NOTE:  Prep for tomorrow - post your answer in the comment and the key will be provided on Thursday - Ghost or Ghoul?

Happy Wednesday,

Croptober!

You know what's exciting?  Croptober!  You know what's better?  To crank out the first challenge first thing. . .gets the creativity off to a big jump.  You know what's not fun?  Having no Internet to post the first challenge.  Boo!

That's life.  So we'll just turn this bad boy out now.  This month challenges will vary, but the October prize pack is your reward for cranking out pages and cards.

If you're like me, you probably have something of your October kit from last year.  Whether it's scraps, a pack from the kit, or maybe the entire thing - which just means you have more to choose from.  Below you'll find the Smaller kit, Bigger kit and the Card kit.

 

 

Create your card, layout or pocket-page layout using whatever you have of your October '12 kits.  Now, if you don't have the kits you can still play along simply select a color-scheme from the kits and grab from your own stash to do your creating.

Happy Tuesday!