Friday Faves!

This week I decided to feature my 5 favorite activities! So, in no particular order:

1. Scrapbooking (Duh!)

2. Playing with my kids and being thier mommy. We were taking/giving piggyback rides today!)

3. Reading. Some of my favorite authors: Karen Kingsbury, Gayle Roper, Kathy Herman, John Grisham, Karen Ball, too many more to name, really.

4. Spending time with my hubby.

5. Hanging out at Barnes and Noble.

Have a happy weekend, and don't forget to leave me a comment and share your favorite activities with me. Then, make sure you make time for as many of those activities as possible this weekend!

~Alyssa~

Wednesday

Just popping in for a quick update. I have been busy with Scrap N' art stuff today. We are gearing up for work to start on the July/August edition (already!). I am also cleaning and meal planning in preparation for our friends Santos and Jordan joining us for supper tomorrow.

Here is a layout I did last night. I am going to submit to the Basic Grey gallery, I will let you know if I hear anything back from them. :)
~Alyssa~

Saturday "Work"

Here a few quick layouts I finished today. I am not over-the-top excited about them, but as I recently told a friend (hi, Heidi!) we can't be perfect all the time. :)


This first one is for YMBD's Saturday challenge. To see the challenge, check out their blog (link in my blog list!) Thanks for the inspiration, Heather!


The second one is one I did for fun using DCWV'S new Le Creme stack that I won recently.

Happy Weekend!

~Alyssa~

Friday Faves!

Time for Friday Faves again! I love doing this, because not only do I get to look at things I love, but because doing this means it is Friday!

1. My first favorite today is the new CD by Francesca Battistelli. You can hear a few of the songs from this CD on my music player here on my blog. I have been listening to them over and over. My favorite is "I'm Letting Go."

2. I love the things that are different. If there is a quirky or odd one in the bunch, that will be the one I am most attracted to. I love being just a little different from everyone else. I love uniqueness!

3. Spring! Enough said.
4. Coffee. I drink it every day, and it still seems like a special treat. I especially love the occasional Starbucks treat!

5. Having a potty trained daughter! If you have been following my blog, you know that this has been a struggle for the last 6 months, but I can finally say, I THINK SHE'S GOT IT! I don't even worry about taking her out in public with big-girl pants on. Whew! SO happy about that!

Have a wonderful weekend!

~Alyssa~

Contests!

Check out the giveaways this week at Vanilla Joy! There is awesome stuff for crafters of all kinds today!

www.vanillajoy.com

A Few Projects...

I haven't shared any layouts or projects in a while... so today I am going to share a few!

First, this is the layout I did for March PageMaps. You can see all the sketches and examples at http://www.pagemaps.com/.
This layout was done with a Pagemaps sketch for BackPorch Memories GDT contest.

And this one is for the MySpace Group called Scrapbook Challenges. I am part of the team that designs using Pamela Young's fabulous sketches!

Hope you are having a wonderful Wednesday!

~Alyssa~

More things that inspire me

For today, I thought I would share a few more things that inspire me. Then I would love to hear from you about what inspires you!

5. Scrap supplies. New supplies are always inspiring. :)

6. Colors. New color palattes inspire me, and they can be found anywhere. When I see one, I can't wait to scrap it.

7. Sunshine. Even in the winter, sunshine inspires me and makes me smile.

8. A clean house. If the house is clean, I always feel more creative. Why is that? I have no idea. I just know that it works. It''s great motivation to keep things clean! :)

Today is supposed to be 70 F and sunny! Yeah!! I think the kids will be outside a lot today. I am also planning to go for a long walk (excercise!) when they wake up from their naps. Which reminds me, I need to shop for some summer clothes soon, I have none!

So, that's where I am today. Hope you have a wonderful day.

~Alyssa~

Inspiration for Sunday... and Monday!

So today is an interesting day. The sun is shining (yea!), and it is warming up a little, so spring is certainly in the air! That alone is enough to inspire me, but I thought I would take Colleen's challenge from the Scrapdango forum and blog about somethings that inspire me.


1. Spring. I love everything about it, and those first days of being able to open the windows make me feel creative and ready to create.


2. My children. I know this is a common one that you already know about, but it's true. My kids and their photos inspire me to scrap. Who could resist these pictures?

Checking out her shadow:
First time this year with bare toes outside!

3. A Challenge. Right now I am scrapping for the Scrapdango DT call. I have completed two layouts, and I have one more and a altered item or card to complete, and I am loving the way things are coming together. It is nice to have a break from Scrap n' Art work and challenge myself in another way. And I would love to make the Scrapdango team, they have gorgeous kits, and the forum is a lot of fun.

4. Last but not least, my faith and the desire to leave a legacy of faith and heritage inspire me. I want my kids to know what I think, how I feel, and what I believe, even if I am not around to tell them. THAT is why I scrap, and that is what keeps me going, even if there is no mojo.

Of course, I should also mention that I do LOVE the feeling of completing a layout that I am proud to share and claim as my art. Don't we all?

Happy Sunday!

~Alyssa~

Anyone Scrapping?

Anyone scrapping this weekend! I am, and I will be cropping at YMBD!

Come join me at www.yourmemoriesbydesign.ca... it is a fantastic crop with tons of prizes adn YMBD bucks flying everywhere!

~Alyssa~

Fun crop news and more sickness...

What a blast we had at the Girls Day Out Crop in Williamsport on Saturday. The food was terrific, the friends were fabulous, and the prizes were rocking. We scrapped from 10-10, ate lots of food, and laughed a lot. The funniest part of the whole day was when Lydia turned her back and Kim rearranged all of her stuff... then we got to watch Lydia groping all over the place for the things she needed. The best part of the entire day for me, though, was completing a layout that I have had in my head for a long time and having it come out just as I had imagined it. Unfortunately, you are going to have to wait until May 1st to see it. Check out the Crafty Secrets feature in that issue if Scrap n' Art to see what I am talking about. :)

Elijah has been sick all weekend. At the worst, he had a 105 degree temp yesterday afternoon. We were alternating Tylenol and Motrin, and sponge bathing him. Thankfully it cam down quickly, and after a day of antibiotics and a night with him sharing our bed, he seems to be feeling much better. The Doc wasn't sure what was up, but thankfully the medication seems to be helping. 105 is kind of scary!

Thanks for reading!

~Alyssa~

Check THIS out!

Thanks to my dear friend Vicki Parker, my new blog look is up and running and looking fabulous (if I do say so myself!). Vicki made this banner for me. Isn't she awesome? No plans to change it again for a long time, so I hope you all like it too!

If you like the look of my banner, be sure to check out Vicki's store to see her fabulous digi kits you can use to make your very own banner. My banner uses the new kit "Spring Romance." You can see more of Vicki's work at her blog: http://vicki20.blogspot.com/.

Thanks Vicki!

~Alyssa~

Two Big Reveals!

Woo-hoo! March 1st has arrived!

The March/April Scrap N' Art is now available. Subscribe for free at www.scrapnart.com, then download your issue... and make sure to check out the cover layout. That's right... I made the cover!

To see my PageMaps layout, click on http://www.pagemaps.com/mar09maps.htm to see the big March reveal! Then leave me a comment and let me know what you think.

Enjoy all the eye candy, ladies!

~Alyssa~