Happy Birthday America!

I am proud to be an American. I am proud of the freedoms we have within our society. I am proud and honored to continue to have these freedoms that have been fought for throughout history. One of our favorite traditions is going to the parade. This is a layout I created with my son Kaleb when we went to the parade with my grandmother back in 1995.
It's always fun to capture traditions and create with favorite photos.
I also like to create "traditional" holiday photos out of the "regularly" themed paper.
I hope you like this "take" on one of our ways we celebrate the 4th of July each and every year.
Happy Birthday America!

It's the most Wonderful Time of the Year...

The Christmas Spirit is really nipping at my nose. I am finding that I am rummaging through old photos of Christmas' past and it always makes me nostalgic for family and friends that are no longer here on this earth. Traditions play a huge part in our home and I am finding that they are slowly but surely changing in ways to accommodate the ever growing ages of my children as well as myself. One of my favorite traditions is watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. I simply love this old photo from the 1950's from the Spirit of the Parade. It officially rings in the Season of Love and Hope. I have noticed as I have started to look into windows and specialty shops that ornaments of the old and new collide with vibrant color and styles that were once a "trendy" season of design are now mixed with the "new trends" of Christmas Decorating. Hues of many colors are coming into play that are not of the "traditional" colors of red, white, gold, and green. But colors of pink, blue, silver, and orange are now becoming colors that will grace mantels and Christmas trees world wide. While I enjoy looking at the new colors and the new trends, I tend to revert to the old that brings up smells, feelings, and glimpses of memories that give me a sense of security and love.

I saw a purple Christmas tree the other day and it was simply stunning. I would have never thought to bring the color purple into Christmas decorating but this tree was magnificent in style and grace. It was refreshing and new. Vibrant in its glory and well appreciated by my eye, My heart longs of Christmas old. I just am not sure if I would see a purple ornamented tree 5 years from now in my home although it was funky and fun. This is what is so wonderful about art and those that find new ways to make a striking statement that can linger as well stimulate ones creative spirit. Yes, it is that time of year and I love that beyond the money and gift giving one thing remains constant in our society are the traditions that are upheld by the average American family. Nostalgic, looking back, or simply embracing the new with the old is what drives us to drag out those cute little crafts that we made as children and remember how we felt when we gave it to the one we love and cherish. The feeling of accomplishment and pride in whatever we make and choose to give helps us to not only reflect but know that each year the season brings us hope for another year.

I am creating lots of wonderful Christmas items this year and hope to share a few with everyone here. But I do know one thing...my heart swells with the content feeling that I made another addition to our ever growing Christmas decoration collection that will be remembered and cherished for years to come.

Foo Foo and Over the Top!

Yepper, I really went all out using up some of my scraps to create this miniature Birthday Party hat as a topper to my daughter's presents instead of a traditional bow.

I chose her favorite colors and used lots of glitter on the butterflies. The party will be held outside and of course, I wanted to incorporate lots of color for her birthday fun.

So, here are some peeks to the party hat and gifts I have adorned.

We do not have a particular theme this year.
However, we are going to a farm and all of the children will get to ride ponies!

I plan on making cupcakes and to make things easier...ice cream cups!
Oh yeah, the butterflies...they are a stamp from STUDIO CALICO!

The packages are all different sizes and I used American Crafts Ribbon to add that splash of more color! So, if you are thinking this is gaudy...then you are right.
Sometimes you gotta have a lot going on to make a statement!

I have much more to create for this super fun Birthday Party for my baby girl who will be 6 years old.
Amazing how time flies!

The Layering Perspective

The Layering Perspective

I have not competed in scrapping competitions as of late. I have just been scrapping for the love of the scrap. However, Bad Girls is having an 8 week competition that is in class form. So, I signed up. I signed up to be inspired and gather new techniques. The gallery is already full of wonderful layouts by a variety of scrapbook artists. The first class is on the "Layering Technique" that can be any medium and form as long as there are layers. So, I took the plunge this morning and created my first layout for this competition. So, if you would like to be challenged and would like to gather great inspiration...check out Bad Girls and gander to the gallery for incredible uploads that will sure to get your mojo working! My main concentration was on patterned papers and layering simple with transparent butterflies.

I love these patterned papers by American Crafts. The colors are fabulous.

My overall design was kept simple. I tend to go over board with product on my pages and sometimes a little says a great deal. What is that saying? Less is more? Time tells all stories though...right?

Full Circle!

Well, I have recently celebrated another birthday. My wonderful husband surprised me and took me to Chastain Amphitheatre to see Cheap Trick, Heart, and Journey in concert. It was a hot humid evening but the atmosphere just could not be beat! So, I have been going through old photos and came across a photo that was damaged by time and light. I scanned the photo and cropped it to the best of my ability and tried to enhance the color. I am thinking it was too damaged to really show the fun and funkiness of a homemade outfit that my mother made for me. But I find it interesting that in 40 years this fashion of prints has come full circle and is once again in the world of fashion and it finds it way onto scrapbooking papers as well. Fun, Funky, and Full of Color!

I often wonder what happened to these outfits that my mother sewed with great detail and affection. Oh well, that is a story that will not have an ending. So, this brings me back to Chastain Amphitheatre Park. They will be having a "HIPPIE DAY" with the music from the late 1960's and early 1970's when the Age of Aquarius was in full bloom and ideas as well as music was stretching the envelope of reserved parents. I remember my mother was quite the BEATNIK and loved out of the box fun things. Beads, Flowers, Colors, and Art filled our home and my mother was on the cutting edge of women's rights and completing her law degree. Funny, I do not remember her wearing these funky colors to court. But then again, I am sure she only let me see and know limited things from this time. But I do remember being the center of her attention during a time when our country and the youth had much to say.