The Really BIG Squishy Hug

I was thinking of making the title of this post "No longer an 8.5 x 11 Virgin" but I figured I might get some really strange people visiting the blog! lol {Did you know that search engines will find your blog based on what the title is? If you want people to be able to find you doing a search, put the keywords in the title that you think they will be searching for.}

Back to why you're here...I've had an 8.5 by 11 album for a few months but this is the first time I've completed a page for it. It was fun to be not so square! =)

This is the sketch I used for the layout - a PageMaps sketch from January....and the materials were mostly all from a mini-kit from Scrap For A Cure.

It's been over a week since I've scrapped before this one...I miss it but life has been pulling me in too many other directions lately. It's a good thing I was so productive the first part of January!

My Pretty Chicks {Prima: The Tropics "Mango Cherries", Sassafras Lass: Sweet Marmalade "Sugary Sweet"}

This LO is for a sketch at The Scrappiest - it's my first time using one of Liz's sketches! This month's prize is some of Studio Calico's Home Front collection and I would LOVE to have some ;)Everything except the journaling spot is from the Scrap For A Cure Cinnamon Girl Kit. The papers in this kit are not what I normally would buy but I'm trying to step outside my comfort zone a little bit =) Oh, and I also added some stickles to the centers of all of the flowers on the paper with the rows of flowers...but it's hard to see in the picture. Thanks for looking! Don't you love that "Toddlers & Tiara's" grin she has going on?! hehehe

Batty For You {Pink Paislee: Twilight - Nightfall and Eclipse; Basic Grey Eerie Black Doilies}

It has been ONE WHOLE MONTH since I've been able to sit down and create something for myself and even then, it wasn't scrapbooking layouts. I've got to admit that while the countdown calendar sure is cute, it was very difficult to find a variety of treats that would fit inside the mini-muffin tins! Sweet treats were easy enough to find, but if you're looking to put little trinkets/toys in there you might need to upgrade to two regular size tins....

Since the last time I scrapped was over a month ago, the pictures left on my desk were Halloween. I had only been able to make one layout using the Scrap For A Cure Fright Fest kit so I broke into it and whipped up 2 layouts. My first experience with Pink Paislee paper - and I love it. Now, I've very excited that the newest kit from my scrapbooking club also has Pink Paislee - for Valentine's Day. I see what all the fuss is about for PP!

I liked the Basic Grey Doilie paper so much that I wouldn't let a single scrap go to waste. I took all of the scraps and pieced them together for the circle background in this layout:The only thing in this LO not from the kit was those gold thickers...Don't you love the little bat pin?So I feel a little odd scrapping Halloween in December but hopefully I'll get caught up soon :) Both LOs were based on a sketch (20 and 18) from 52 Sketches...52 Weeks. I was sad to hear that Julie won't be continuing to add to the site in the new year and I hope that she'll be able to keep the site open for us to go back and use old sketches.

Thanks for stopping by - I hope to be back to updating regularly now!

Spooky House {Basic Grey: Eerie, Scrap for a Cure: Fright Fest Kit}

I've been watching several monthly kit clubs trying to find one that I think is priced within my price range but has enough supplies to keep me from going out and supplementing too much ;)

I knew I had to have the bonus kit at Scrap for a Cure back in October because of all of the Halloween goodies. Oh. My. GOSH! Did I ever pick the right kit to be my first one :)

I did not supplement from my stash at all for this layout and I barely scratched the surface of what's in the kit. You will be seeing many more pages come from it! I wanted to hide one of the pictures in the LO because it's not from Halloween night but shows the fake teeth that she got at this house. Her cherry dress didn't quite match the rest of the page but you don't notice it since it's hidden under the house! I couldn't help but cover that acrylic house with the house paper...too cute! And I *heart* those Bingo cards...

And now that I've seen pages done with their current November kits...I'm going to ask Santa for the girl kit - hehehe.

I have a fall page that I'd like to post but I need to wait for a sunny day so I can better capture the dimension on the LO....Maybe we'll have sun tomorrow!

Thankful 4 U {My Mind's Eye: Free Bird "Love"}

I created this layout for a challenge at Scrap For A Cure to create a LO based on what you are thankful or grateful for. I did this based on some of the people that I'm thankful for (not all, so don't be offended if you didn't make this LO!). The 4 and fact that there are 4 people is not coincidental :) I'm already brainstorming another layout that lists some of the things that I'm thankful for...like red wine! lol Because you know I love sketches I also based the LO on one of Julie's sketches...#28. I rotated the sketch which I've never done before! I plan to go back and use the sketch again without rotating it because I like so many of the examples I've seen done that way.

I have been missing around here lately...just catching up after being gone for a trip and dealing with sick kids. I do have another layout done that I'll get up for tomorrow - using a Bo Bunny die cut page!

Thanks for stopping by and thanks to everyone who leaves me nice comments :) It sure makes a girl feel good!