2 more DSM challenges left

I am trying to finish the DSM August challenges before the month is done and also catching up with my things after the one week vacation I had. I know I already promised once that I'll come back with pictures and some stories from this trip, but please bear with me and let me finish everything that has a deadline.:)

Now I have the lyric challenge done and will come back in a little bit with another layout for the technique challenge. For the lyric challenge I used the Boys, boys, boys kit by Roseytoes Designs.

Back with the technique challenge where I am actually still trying to figure out how to use different shades in the same layout. Anyways, for this layout I use the August BAK kit and decided to show a little piece of Romania - a place I wished I knew about before and take my husband there for a visit. The place is a Monastery and it is situated in the north of the country. Who knows, maybe one day we'll come back and try to visit as much as possible in Romania.

MIA and a quick layout

I am on vacation till Monday and computer time is very limited. I will be back next week with a more extensive account of what happened and where we've been, but I just wanted to post the final step of the DSM progressive challenge. The final step says:  Title, date and journal on your page.

So here is my layout in its final version:

Leaving a legacy again

Once again it is time for the leaving a legacy challenge from DSM. This time it had to be a page about someone important in our lives and we had to have 70% of the page journaling. Here is the journaling from mine- just in case it is too difficult to read from the layout.

a. Conceived in U.S., you traveled safely in my tummy both to Romania and Jamaica. You gave me a lot of

trouble the first four months of my pregnancy, but it was all worth it and I’d do it again. I wanted you to be

a boy, but you decided to be a girl so I switched from Alexandru to Alexandra and gave you my best friend’s

name Blerta. Thus you ended up with an international name, an Albanian name and an English family name.

b. When you were 13 months old I had to go to work and be away from you for almost five months. Those

were some of the toughest moments from my life and after that summer I promised myself to be near you as

much as possible and see all the good or not so good things that you do.

c. You are now 4 years and 3 months old and you act like you know it all. You ask to be treated as a miss and yet you love to play with cars. You ask to wear dresses and have your sun glasses match your outfit and yet you don’t take care of your things. You like to go out for walks and yet you want to take a cab because “your feet are tired.” You want to wear perfume and yet you climb on anything you can. You like to eat ice-cream and yet it is too cold for you. You like to tell me I love you and yet you do things you know will upset me. You like to do it all and yet I have to remind you that you are only 4!

Daily Downloads

There are several blogs where you can collect free kits just by simply following thier blogs, forums or store and downloading the daily piece of the kit. These daily downloads are usually offered for about 24 hours so most of the time there is enough time to download the bit no matter where you are. However if you miss a day or two you have the chance of getting it later if you join the forum and post a layout. For more details you have to read the terms from each daily download that you are hunting. I am following the DSDI daily downloads which start today and the Gotta Pixel daily downloads. DSDI Daily download is Splash - a ten part kit created by JenC Designs. The kit is also available for purchase at the DSDI store. Gotta Pixel has four designers offering weekly daily downloads. the week from August 15-21 -is Litabells Designs week. She offers a kit called Chocolate Overload.

Today I have step free from the DSM progressive scrap challenge: Add another frame. Attach your framed and matted pictures in some way. Add 4 or 5 more elements and stitches (these are separate from the attachment items). And this is my layout so far:

more DSM challenges

Here is my embellishment challenge. I did the layout making a little road from the mandatory element we had to use and using the Spring has Sprung kit from RoseyToes Designs. The photo was taken today and Alex is holding a little clay frog.:)

I use the same photo for the added inspiration challenge because I really like the way this photo came out and she looks almost like the Disney's princess and her frog:). Anyways, for this challenge I used the BAK August kit.

back with the scap this way challenge

I was telling you about this challenge in my previous post and how I did not know what to do with it and yet almost messed up my font challenge because of it. Anyways, here are thy lyrics I am going to use:

Wise men say, only fools rush in.
But I can't help falling in love with you
Shall I stay? Would it be a sin?
I can't help falling in love with you

As the river flows gently to the sea
Darling so we go, some things were meant to be
Take my hand take my whole life too
'Cause i can't help falling in love with you

We all know the song sang by UB40 and this is my layout for the word FALL-ing - the layout is created using the kit Happiness is... by Modern June.

back to DSM challenges

While trying to do my scrap this way challenge I kept changing things and did not know what I wanted to do with it so... I simply put it away and started the font challenge. The idea for this layout came from browsing through the BAK August kit and seeing all those cute butterflies. Of course, none of them as cute as mine - Alex was a red butterfly at one of her preschool shows. There were two other butterflies - a white one and a yellow one, but they were both played by boys - thus she was the only girl butterfly. Now while I was working on this challenge, my mind was still trying to figure out something for the scrap this way challenge. What's the big deal you might ask? Well the challenge for scrap this way sounds something like this: your challenge this month is FALL....your LO can be about fall, your elements can be "falling" off the page, your titling can have the word fall in it, the colors can be fall themed....how ever you want but I must feel fall either the season or word from your LO!!!

So while I was working for the font challenge - where I made a mistake... good thing I didn't post the layout yet; it hit me what to do with the word FALL  - cheesy or not all I have now in my head is the UB40 song "I can't help FALLing in love with you..." So, yes, this is what I am going to do for the scrap this way challenge.

Now back to the font challenge, I did my butterfly layout and even wrote a little title on the page so that I could use the required font. What did I do? I used a combination of other two fonts.:) well I guess I am falling in love more and more with my husband and can't put my things in order. Thus realizing my mistake while writing this post I changed the font and now I have two versions of the same layout. The first one is the good one:)

Quick challenge for another forum and will return to DSM challenges

This is a challenge made with all the papers and elements provided by six different designers all of whom create for Crafty Scraps. The prize for this challenge is another kit created by them. If you want to know more about this challenge and how you can win a free kit, please check their forum. In the mean time here is my layout using a photo I took the first day of preschool with my little one.

August color challenge and more

Working on more DSM challenges. The august color challenge is based on the newly releases kit For the boss created by Z Pink Boudoir Designs I am still not confident enough in making my own mini kit using a color palette, so doing a new layout with her kit was a lot of fun.

Last layout for today

OKie, last layout for today is the layout i did for the DSM Scraplift challenge. I had to choose a layout made by g6scrapped and redo it my way.

 The layout I decided to do is:


















My take is a layout created with a DSM August new release kit Boys, Boys, Boys created by Roseytoes Designs.

Let the layouts roll...

Not too much blah blah here. I just want to post my second step of the DSM Progressive scrap challenge so that I can start working on a new challenge. 

The second step said: Matt and frame of your pictures and place them vertically on your layout. Blend 1 picture into your plain background. Add a border horizontally on your page and add 5-10 like elements (buttons, stars, hearts, etc) on your page. 

Here is my BAK August challenge. I used two mini kits created by Paper Planes and Z Pink Boudoir Designs.

Giveaways... and 1$ sale

Well not mine, but I will tell you where you can get some great giveaways for your paper scrapping and card making. Searching through today's freebies, I stumbled upon a great blog, JLJ Designs Crafting Blog, and she has a lot of freebies you can download too. Apart from her candy, as she calls it, she also has the links to several other blog who offer paper scrapping and card making products as giveaways. All you have to do is to become a follower of the certain blog, post a comment on it and if you have a blog, blog a little about it. It's just as easy as 1,2,3... and you have the chance to win a wonderful gift. Good luck to all. Am happy I found this blog and I hope I win.:)

The $1 sale is available, still, at DSM. Of course i took advantage of it yesterday and bought quite a few wonderful kits; enough to keep me busy this week and let me get my points for the $5GC.:) So I should get more and more layouts posted these days, as I complete my challenges.

My new desktop - is a challenge

I started putting up on my  desktop all the new layouts I make. So now I've just finished a desktop challenge for the DSDI forum. I used their Tutti Frutti kit and there is the outcome, a bit too colorful I think, but I used the template offered and wanted to see what I would end up with. Who knows, I might like it better tomorrow:) It happened to me before that I didn't like too much a layout and it got to be one I liked very much later....

blast from the past

This is the DSDI challenge where you get to scrap about your pet if you have one or any other friend's pet. I did a page about one of my brother's dogs called Muki. My brother and his wife had him for a few years and then one day the people that were working on the house left the gate opened and the little dog went for a walk. We all looked for Muki for days in a row and they even offered a reward, but the little dog could not be found. We suspect that someone took him and decided to keep him instead of giving it back. Muki was very dear to all of us and I am sure he is now watching over my brother's dogs from the dogs' heaven. They also had a German Shepard called Athos who died just recently so now they only have one of Muki's grand-kid and they will buy a new puppy soon. Anyways here is the page and may the both rest in peace and guard the gate to heaven.

For this layout I used papers and elements from two kits:

Jen C Designs - Spring Fling

Modern June - Happiness is...

August Altered Art

I bet that when you read the title you thought of something really art related. Well, I guess it all depends on how you look at it. This time it's a challenge at DSDI and it translates through making a layout that it's not the usual square. I made one using JenC's kit Charley's flowers. I just wanted to practice more on clustering things so I made a simple design with lots of flowers.:)

The next challenge has a cute name too. It is called Can you dig it? and it's actually doing a layout having as inspiration as certain ad or another layout. For this I had a template offered by the host of the challenge so it as easy enough. I used the lines and arrows and journaled a bit so I should get my points. :) Yes, you guessed, I add points and then later transform them into gift cards. My husband keep laughing at me because I am so happy when I get a $5GC. :)

my first DSDI layout challenge

Today I did my first layout for a DSDI challenge. This month's challenge hosted by JenC Designs is the Color challenge. I used her I'm Funky kit to make a layout and of course show off my little girl.:) I love JenC's designs and bought quite a few of her kits and won some others.:) I have to say this challenge was really fun since I wanted to use as many papers as possible without making the layout look to crowded. I think I managed to do it, but we will see if anybody else dares to comment on my layout. There are several other challenges at DSDI and there is a point system that lets you get discounted stuff or free kits; I'll tell you more about it when I have enough points:). 

If you like my layout and you like the colors, maybe you want to have a better look at the kit and get a discount to buy the kit from DSDI. The link with the challenge, the kit and the discount coupon is here. Come and have some fun and don't let me be the newest person on this forum:)

last two layouts for the caboose challenges

Okie I have one more layout for the caboose challenges and one layout that I am ready to show you. This one was a little simple because there was a template I had to follow, so it should have taken me less time to do it. Beep! wrong! try again! It took me a bit of time cause there were some rules I had to follow and I wish I had some more elements or papers to work with. Anyways, here it is and I'll be back with the last one in a bit.

The heroes of this page are my little nephews: Matei and Ionut. :)

This was the last one. Good night all and thanks for stopping by my blog.

So cute!

The March caboose challenge is definitely for you if you have sons, nephews or grandsons that you want to scrap about. The challenge itself seems pretty simple, but when you get down to doing the actual layout you find out what the real challenge is. In case yo want to give it a try just do a layout, any kind of layout following these steps:

• 1 photo
• 2 papers
• 3 elements
• 2 different fonts - one of the title and one for journaling.

Here is mine featuring my little nephew who just turned two. Happy birthday Matei - 22nd of July.

Fonts used Crash and Espresso.

something about myself

The May caboose challenge asks me to journal something about myself. There can be as little as a thing or as much as a thousand things that I can say about me. I am not going to bore you with them although you probably figured out some things about me and I even posted a few things about me in earlier posts. The only thing I am going to say about myself now is what I wrote in the layout: 

"This is one of the most recent pictures I have and I have it just because I wanted to show my husband my new hairstyle. I am usually the one behind the camera so pictures of me are kind of precious, especially with me alone in the frame."

Going back....

The Crafty Scraps forum has a monthly challenge called the caboose challenge. Yesterday I did the August challenge and today I am planing to do at least another two challenges from previous caboose challenge months. June is done and I am ready to post it here and on the forum and then I'll come back with another layout. Still waiting to see the new Monday releases from DSM because I want to buy the new BAK August kit and do my challenges. In the mean time I'll be working on the Crafty Scraps challenges and then maybe on the DSDI challenges. I think Gotta Pixel also has some nice challenges, but we will see how much time I have for these.

Today we spent the whole day at the swimming pool with Alex diving and trying to do all kind of tricks in the water. Then we took a ride with a little kiddie train that goes around the center of the town and got home just in time for her to eat her dinner and say she is sleepy.:) When she sleeps I have a chance to stay and work on the computer, so since I've finished the June caboose challenge, here ou go:

challenge for a mega free kit

I've just finished a challenge for the Crafty Scraps forum. They give you a free mini kit, give you the instructions and once you are done with your layout you post it and then receive a free mega kit. So I did it.:) My first challenge for another forum/blog except DSM. I am also planning to do some challenges for the DSDI forum and the STS forum. We'll see how I'm doing with the time. Anyways, here is my layout and I am waiting for my free kit now:). Lots of new stuff to work with since I won some more kits anf bought a couple from Jen C Designs. She is a designer at DSM and DSDI and she also has her main store. Find her on Facebook and follow/like her. I think she is great.:)

template challenge again

Here is my August template challenge from DSM. I am using the newly released kit Happiness is... by Modern June. and while working on this challenge I also won a kit from Jen C Designs - following people on Facebook is worth sometimes.:). The kit I got is Coffee time and I am a coffee lover, so... 

August challenges here I come!

I  started working on my August challenges and started with the simplest one, but one that has a deadline: the progressive scrap. The first step is really easy, but not being allowed to move your papers/elements after completing a step of the challenge can make it a bit difficult.I like it all the same. And talking about challenges I've fund a few more places where I want to do some challenges so I hope I'll have the time to do everything I want.

Also about kits and freebies, I won a really nice kit called Candy Land. As soon as I get the chance to make a layout with it, I'll post it here, but in the mean time you can check the kit by clicking on the name.

Today was raining almost all day long and there were a lot of thunders and lightning, so I wasn't able to work as much as I wanted on new layouts. I kept myself busy with packing two boxes, weighting them and measuring them so that I could e-mail some shipping companies and find out some shipping costs. I also did a new hairstyle for my little one- I am getting more and more creative at combining different kinds of tails into one hair-do.:)

Okie, it is now time for my first august layout - or beginning of a layout. I just want to say that most of the layouts you will see on these blog during the month of August are going to be created with the "Happiness is..." kit created by Modern June - this is an August new release at DSM.

time for new challenges

It is time for some new challenges, so I will be busy these days with creating some new layouts. I bought a couple of new kits, so I will have a lot of fun working with them. The only problem I have with working on layouts is that I never have enough time to do them, however I always end up spending hours in front of the computer. This usually means less sleep for me, but I enjoy working on the computer so much, that it doesn't matter anymore.

My mom is going to be on vacation, so I will also have to help her with some things around the house and in return she will watch Alex for me so I can do my layouts. :) I like this trade and Alex is in a posing mood again, so I don't have to beg her for a new photo session. These being said, you'll start seeing a lot of new layouts on my blog, starting this weekend. So stay tuned and let me know what you think about my work. Thanks all and have a great weekend.

Today is one of my friend's birthday so Happy birthday Maya. She is also my little girl's God-mother. :)

getting closer...

I didn't write a post in a week or so and frankly I have no excuse for it. I can't believe it's August already and we are leaving in three months. I added a little ticker on the blog, to keep me posted on how close the Day is and I have my husband who keeps telling me how many days he has left till he goes home. My mom is going on vacation starting next week so we will get to spend some time together and maybe go a few days in the north of the country and visit some old friends and relatives. I tried to take some new photos even if I don't have planned photo sessions for different challenges and I am looking forward to starting the August set of challenges from DSM. These challenges do not only bring me gift cards or other small prizes, but they also keep me busy and make me practice and improve my skills.

These days that I've been absent from the blog, we went to the pool and visited my brother and his family; cleaned my mom's house and my grandma's house and today we went to a story reading in a bookstore close to us. I am not going to post any layouts or photos today because I am still in the process of sorting things in my computer and making more space so I can work on new layouts. Thanks for visiting my blog and please come back soon.

As for the contest I took part in, I didn't win it of course, but learned a lot from it and got an awesome free kit and a bunch of nice comments for the layouts I did. So all in all it was a very productive experience for me and I liked it so much that I am willing to try it again soon. I saw some people got really disappointed they didn't win, but I am a fighter and I like challenges and if i didn't win this time, I'm sure I will another time.:)