Mariance's corner

January contest

2012-01-29T16:52:00.000-08:00

Finally got the time to make a new page. It is for a contest for Cool Scraps Digital monthly contest. The contest ends January 31st and here is my entry for it:

The page was created with a kit offered for this contest only and The freebie is a Personal Use page only. Here is the preview I made for the contest:

and here is my page with a photo in it:

2012?!?

2012-01-05T10:49:00.000-08:00

I can't believe almost a week passed since the new year started... Ever since I started working full-time and getting home around 7 in the evening, I've hardly had time to write on my blog, let alone do some quick pages or take parts in any contests. Of course I wish I had more time for the things I like, but I guess I am not the only one who wishes this.

Right now, all I wish for is a lot of health and strength for my family and friends and for everybody else, even people I don't know... I wish them all a better year than 2011 and may all their wishes come true this year... I have some wishes for the new year too and hopes, but they will remain mine for now and if they come true I might consider sharing them with you.:)

Most of the year it's just me and my baby at home - well she is almost six years old, but she will always be my baby. Now I am lucky enough to have my mom visiting as well as my husband home with us. Of course, my whole schedule is upside down with the two of them at home cooking and cleaning and taking care of the house and the dogs and all, and I know this is going to be one more reason for me to miss them when they go. But I know me and my baby will be okie and busy too... I think there will be another post on the blog soon with some updates about what happened in 2011, but until than stay safe and come visit me again.

Scrapper Idol Contest week 2

2011-10-09T12:44:00.000-07:00

here is my week 2 layout:

SS 274

2011-08-18T12:38:00.000-07:00

Stuff to Scrap offers several speed scraps during the month and they all offer participation prizes. They have the shcedule posted for the month and one or two days before the speed scrap is scheduled, they post the participation prize so you can decide if you want to do the speed scrap or not. From my point of view if you like the prize it's more than worth doing the challenge because you win twice: you have a new layout and a new product. For this speed scrap i used elements and papers from UP by JMC Designs and a ribbon from Tropical Colors by Adriana's Cafe.

I love...

2011-08-17T21:10:00.000-07:00

Last challenge for this month for Sunshine Studio Scraps: the word challenge. The biggest challenge for me was making as many layouts as possible with the same kit. So I will ask the designer of the kit if I could offer these layouts as personal use Quick Pages. Once again I used All about Funk by Web Designz by Kristi.

Since this challenge was about journaling, I decided to write about the thinks that make me happy and don't put any pictures. There are quite a few people and things that make me happy and I didn't want to put pictures of some or be forced to make a top.

circles

2011-08-17T18:31:00.001-07:00

This layout is also for a challenge at Sunshine Studio Scraps and I used for it the same kit; All about Funk by Web Designz by Kristi. For this challenge we had to use an alpha for our title and I loved how the circles in the font matched the brown paper with circles ad how they both brought out the picture with Alex wearing a dresses with circles.:) So the title was more or less obvious and I ended up loving this layout for its simplicity and symmetry.

Summer time

2011-08-17T17:02:00.000-07:00

August is my month off so both me and Alex are on vacation. This is also valid for all the kids so we pretty much had a full house or a full yard all the time. The only bad part of August is that since it is hurricane month, there's a lot of lightning and thunders and a LOT of rain. Thinking about it I think we had rain almost every day. It's not an all day long thing, but it's still frustrating. One of the afternoons, when it rained in the monring and we got some sun after, the children decided to play some volleyball and I decided it was a good opportunity for me to take some pictures. The result of the two is a new layout created with the kit All about Funk by Web Designz by Kristi.

brothers

2011-08-15T21:36:00.000-07:00

I love simple layouts where the main thing is the picture. So when I had to scraplift a layout from Hanizah from Sunshine Studio Scraps I know immediately. She has several designs that I love, but this one in particular was calling me. Since it was a simple, but elegant layout and I didn't need a lot of elements or papers I used All About Funk by Web Designz by Kristi.

and this is where I got my inspiration from: Hanizah's layout

Beautiful children

2011-08-15T20:38:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I don't feel like scrapbooking or I don't know where to start. This is when I am thankful for templates and use them. I am very picky when it comes to my work as well as others' and oftentimes I start with a layout and delete or move layers around till I am satisfied with the way the layout turned. This time, the template was provided for the August template challenge from Sunshine Studio Scraps and it was created by Christy HC. The kit I used was one of Jen C Designs' kit called Tranquility. I took all the pictures as usual and put elements instead of all the text spaces. I really like how this layout turned out especially since I have three beautiful children in it.

Capture it... better next time

2011-08-15T18:23:00.000-07:00

These are not the usual pictures I like to put up, but I am doing it for the Sunshine Studio Scraps. One of their challenges is about taking pictures. This month the show off was pictures you missed for different reasons. Mine are so obvious that I don't even need to explain them. My baby and the other kids wanted to see how the roller skates work, but since they only fit my little one and she can't do it by herself, everybody was pretty much involved in the process. They helped her put her gear on, helped get in the yard and made sure she didn't fall. They took turns pulling her from one side to the other of the yard and every time she got to the gate she wanted a picture or two with somebody, which of course was more than fine for me. Obviously I took some pictures with them apart from the ones they were posing in and here are some of the not so good ones.

QP for Divine Digital

2011-08-14T19:07:00.000-07:00

Divine Digital offers a download a day kit just like many other scrapbooking websites. The designers here also offer extra bonuses on their personal blogs or websites and I made this QP in order to make an extra paper pack that goes with the kit offered in the download a day section. The kit is called Oh BE! Be! Baby and it is collaboration between three designers. Perfect for all the new born pictures and with a lot of blue or pink elements,it actually works for toddlers too. So here is my page:

Coolscrapsdigital QP contest August 2011

2011-08-14T11:07:00.000-07:00

I am early this month, but the kit we had to work with is so beautiful I just couldn't wait to play with it. I also have a lot of new pictures with my little one and my other two kids. Yes, we got them to stay with us for two weeks, so I tried to make sure they are okie and enjoy their time here. We played family games, we played video games, we had a party, we went to the river and to an amusement park. We also had a bunch of their cousins coming over all the time so I literary had a full house most of the time. At one point there were about thirty of us in the house, but anyways... it was fun.

Now back to the contest. The kit we got to work with is called Aftermath and it is created by Chili Designz. You can buy her kit from the store's website http://coolscrapsdigital.com or if you want you can enter the contest here. The contest is open till August 29th if you can meet the deadline.

Here is the preview of the kit I worked with:

and here is my quick page:

This is the preview for the contest:

One thing I love about this template is the fact that you can rotate it and choose your favorite position of it before you put your picture in it. If you would like to download it and try it for yourself, you can do it in the gallery's website: Cool Scraps Digital Gallery QP Contest.

SS 272

2011-08-13T19:43:00.001-07:00

Running from one speed scrap to another, but loving it. Most of the speed scraps you see are from Stuff to Scrap and the layouts are made with products from their website. The best part of it is that you can use freebies offered by their designers to take part in the speed scraps, o you don't necessarily have to buy products to do a speed scrap. For this one I used Denim and Daisies by Scraps and Pieces.

SS 271

2011-08-10T20:36:00.000-07:00

One more speed scrap means one more layout and one more prize. It also means a little bit of time for myself and since I'll start working full time soon, I am trying to take advantage of the time I still have. For this layout I used HD Creations kit Make a Wish. For more beautiful kits and speed scraps you can check Stuff to Scrap. I am sure you will end up having lots of fun.

Speed Scrap 270 at STS

2011-08-04T15:44:00.000-07:00

I did not do all the speed scraps at Stuff to Scrap, but as often as I have the time, remember and like the participation prize, I'll do my best to finish a pages following all the rules. Today I used a kit by Digi-Designs by Nicole. The kit is called Baby of mine. I know my girl is not a baby anymore, but there are still plenty of ways to use the kit even if you do not have a new born in the family.

Speed Scrap 269 at STS

2011-08-03T22:02:00.000-07:00

I just took part in a speed scrap at Stuff to Scrap and I finished right on the deadline. It wasn't an usual layout for me because one of the rules was not to use any pictures, so I had to do a lot of journaling. It was also tricky because I decided to go with a mini kit and an add on so not too many elements or papers, but I was lucky to do it just with the two of them without having to waste time to look for yet another kit to match them or to redo my layout with another kit. I used Adriana's cafe Softly Add on and Scrapteam2008- Citrus. Now it's past midnight here and I plan to have a long fun day with the kids tomorrow, so I have to go to bed, but I promise to be back with ther layouts and maybe a few QPs this month. Happy August to all!

last challenge for July

2011-07-31T17:59:00.000-07:00

Here is my last challenge for July. I am happy I made it and got 6 points at Sunshine this month. I used the I love to read kit by Inspired Designs.

Sunshine Studio Scraps challenges part 2

2011-07-29T22:05:00.000-07:00

I got two more challenges ready for Sunshine Studio Scraps: the capture it challenge and the scraplift challenge. For the capture it I have pictures from graduation - in July most school have graduation ceremonies in Jamaica - from the play ground - July is summer school for some and vacation for others - and from the yard - having a little splash in the year while washing the carpet and cleaning the house.

For the scraplift challenge we had to choose a layout from Mandalue's gallery and use it for us. There were several layouts I like, but I decided to go with this:

and this is my take on it:

For this layout I used the kit I love to read created by Inspired Designs

Sunshine challenges batch 1

2011-07-26T22:06:00.000-07:00

It's almost the end of the month and I didn't do as many layouts as i would have wanted. I did however won a couple of kits and got a few coupons, but sometimes by the time I get home with my little one and do something around the house it's already time to go to bed. Days go by really fast and now I am only a few days away from my vacation and just a month and a half away from the new school year. I am really thinking that if now I don't have so much time for my layouts and challenges, once I start working full time I won't have time at all for it... not something I want to think about and when I think about it i am not happy...

In the meantime, I decided to try and do the six challenges from Sunshine Studio Scraps. I have three of them done and a few more days for the next three. I hope they will count because this month it's mostly all about 4th of July holiday and red, blue and white colors.

Xmas in July

2011-07-26T19:21:00.000-07:00

No, I did not get the months mixed and I know there is no Christmas in July, but every year some of the scrapbooking websites, stores and forums have a few days with Xmas related products during the summer months, usually in July. So I decided to have a little fun since i can't hardly wait for Santa to come this year, and did a Xmas greeting card. It is actually part of a challenge at Divine Digital and I got to use both the template and the mini kit provided. ere is the result:

Coolscrapsdigital QP contest July 2011

2011-07-15T20:17:00.000-07:00

I am taking part again in the Quick Page contest at Coolscrapsdigital. The contest is a monthly one and if you have a blog and you sign up for the contest you receive a free kit to work with and have a chance to win some gift certificates. This month's kit is called Happiness by PrettyJu Scraps Design.

Here is the preview I made and posted in the gallery:

Here is my quick page with pictures in it:

And here is the download link to my page (image linked to download):

This time I also made a couple of clusters and a cluster frame. All of them are for personal use only and all the credits go to PrettyJu Scrap Design.

Please let me know if you save and use them in your layouts. I'd love to see the result. Thank you and come back soon.

Speed Scrap 264

2011-07-15T14:32:00.000-07:00

Just bee happy

2011-07-10T10:01:00.000-07:00

I have a new layout today; one I made with elements and papers from Misses BeeHaven blog train.

Crafty Scraps for july

2011-07-03T18:30:00.000-07:00

I have two layouts that I did for Crafty Scraps.
The first is for Hide Find and Design

The next one is for the July Caboose

STS week 3

2011-07-03T10:42:00.000-07:00

A one picture layout with a 150 words reflective journaling.
I used the I heart milk mini by Designs by Christi

The journaling says:

Less than a year ago we moved on the other side of the world so that we could be with daddy in our own house. You are only five years old, but you never cease to amaze me and although you do not fully understand everything that is going on and how big this change is for us, you are the one that gives me strength to go on every day. When we moved to Jamaica you didn’t know English, you didn’t know anybody except for Daddy and so everything we NEW for you: new place, new people, and new language. Now, half a year later, you speak English and even the Jamaican dialect called Patois; you are doing extremely well in basic school and you have a lot of friends.

The first day I took you to school, two months after we arrived in Jamaica, I saw a little girl who was always answering all the teacher’s questions. Towards the end of the school year, you started answering all the questions too. I am still amazed how quickly you adjusted to your new life and how many things you’ve learned since we came.

On your first school report ever, your teacher wrote: “Alexandra has done exceptionally well. Her adaption to the the use of the English Language as well as her adjustment to the Jamaican classroom was beyond expectation. Alexandra must be commended for her high and continued level of performance. You have done well Alexandra Lewis.”

And not only did you do great in school and can now add numbers up to twenty and can read better than other children your age, you also got medals for the Sports Day where you came second and third in the races. For all these and many more I am always proud to be your mom and I thank God for giving me such a wonderful girl. I LOVE YOU Alexandra!

STS week 2

2011-06-24T21:58:00.000-07:00

recipe:
1 word title - LOVE
2 photos
3 frames - double framed recolored blue , 2 circle frames
4 shapes - 2 hearts, one circle, one rectangle
5 unique papers - red and blue for background, hearts made with paper with flowers,
circle made with paper and the paper underneath the pictures is lightened.
6 fasteners - 2 brads, 2 double staples
7 ribbons/ricracs/strings/swirls/flourishes - 4 red flourishes, 2 white strings and a blue ribbon
8 buttons - 3 yellow buttons and 5 blue buttons
9 leaves -
10 flowers - 4 white flowers, 3 yellow flowers and 3 blue flowers

I used Megan's Creations - Summer Sunset Mini Kit and Scrappin' Serenity - This Wonderful Life Mini.

Stuff to Scrap contest

2011-06-19T19:43:00.000-07:00

The last contest I am taking part in is at Stuff to Scrap (STS) and it is called This Scraper's Got Talent. For this contest you get a template to play with and mix as you want, here is what I did with it using the Snookum kit created by Christin's Creations.

Happy Father's Day to the best Daddy in the world - you know who you are. I love you!

Round 3 of the contest

2011-06-18T20:47:00.000-07:00

Here is my layout for round 3 of the contest. The kit we had to use is called Escape created by Dancing Princess Designs.

Coolscrapsdigital QP contest

2011-06-17T21:13:00.000-07:00

I am taking part in a Quick Page contest at Coolscrapsdigital. The contest is a monthly one and if you have a blog and you sign up for the contest you receive a free kit to work with and have a chance to win some gift certificates. This month's kit is called Devout Memories and is created by Kaklei Designs. You can find her kit in the Coolscrapsdigital store and the quick pages made with her kit in the QP Contest gallery.

Here is the preview I made and posted in the gallery:

Here is my quick page with pictures in it:

And here is the download link to my page (image linked to download):

contests and more

2011-06-14T19:14:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's Friday night again and I've promised a few days ago when I posted these layouts that I'd come back the next day and explain what is going on. I returned to this post way later that I wanted, but I am here now, so here it goes.

Every month I like to take part in some challenges and this month I signed up in three contests. One of the contests is the QP contest from Cool Scraps Digital (CSD) and you can find more about it from my previous post here. Another contest I signed up for the the Supreme Team XI Contest from Go Digital Scrapbooking (GDS). Again all the contestants received a kit and were asked to make a layout with it. For Round 1 the kit was Live Fully by HollyAnn Designs & Debra Anderson. My layout is the one with the heart frame. Well, everybody passed Round1 so in Round 2 we received the Military Girl kit created by Andrea Gold. My layout for Round 2 is the one with Alex. I also passed to Round 3 and I have to create a new layout with a new kit - will provide name of kit and designer once Round 3 is finished - I still have to do the layout.

Round 1:

Round 2:

Last contest I signed up for is this month is taking place at Stuff to Scrap (STS) and it is entitled This scrappers got talent. For this contest we got a template and some rules and we are supposed to make a layout using STS products - Still have to do this layout too.

In the meantime I did a layout for Crafty Scraps June caboose and I collected all the elements for the HFD no. 12. The HFD challenge just started so I will leave it for next week and concentrate on the two layouts with deadline. Wish me good luck and please come back and visit. Thank you.

another one

2011-06-12T17:17:00.000-07:00

I think this is going to be the last layout I get to do this weekend since it's already 7pm and I have to give my kid a bath and wash her hair. I also have to take a shower and iron our uniforms, yes, or uniforms. Here if you are a student you have an uniform and if you work, most places also have an uniform. I find pluses and minuses both in having or not having an uniform. Okie, here is my layout made with the Black Tie Affair kit created by Amanda Kay and Designz by Kristi.

my things

2011-06-12T15:17:00.000-07:00

With all the floods, tornadoes, fires and earthquakes happening lately, it seems that more and more people are thinking of the things they would take with them in case of emergency if they had to leave their house. Keeping in mind that one cannot take too many things and nothing too big and without thinking too much about it: What would you take with you? Here's what I would - they didn't fit in one picture, so I made a layout with them. The papers and the button are from the kit It's all me by Inspired Designs and Studio Demo.

is scraplifting copying?

2011-06-12T14:14:00.000-07:00

Most of the forums I've seen have a challenge where you have to scraplift a layout from a given designer. If I take the challenge I'm always thinking if one calls this copying or getting inspiration. The other thing is that sometimes you make a layout and hen you find a similar one or a template who looks a little like it. How do you know who did it first and whom got the inspiration from whom? Anyways I have the June scraplift challenge for Sunshine Studio Scraps.

This is the layout I decided to scraplift - it was created by karlakaleidoscope

and this is make layout created with the Take my picture kit by Inspired Designs

weekend is almost over

2011-06-12T09:10:00.000-07:00

Cook, clean, wash, do homework, squeeze in a layout or two... weekends can be so busy sometimes and I sure miss a little bit of help and a lot more time for sitting around and doing things I like. I wish for some time for my self, a good book and a big iced coffee, a little breeze and a great swim. I have to wait a little bit more for that to happen, so until then I am ready to post one more challenge for Sunshine: the template one. For this one I used the kit Fallin' for you by Amanda Kay and Madame Wing.

Sunshine June challenges

2011-06-11T22:48:00.000-07:00

I've started working on my June challenges and did one for Sunshine Studio Scraps with the word DAD in it. I used the Take my picture kit by Inspired Designs and one of Jen C Designs templates. I found the quote on the internet and it says the author is unknown, but the saying was really cute:

The greatest gift I ever had
Came from God; I call him Dad!

almost mid-June already?!?

2011-06-11T00:03:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's already mid-June and I did not post not even once. Well, 1st of June was International Children's Day and my little one got a couple of coloring books with some fancy shining pencils. Also 4th of June was my grandmother's birthday and I did call her, but I still want to tell her "Happy birthday!" one more time. I do have a lot of friends who have birthdays in June or had birthdays in May, so to all the Gemini and not only: Happy birthday and may all your wishes come true!

Well, now, if I am posting it must be Friday - seems that there is a pattern regarding my posts, and like I've mentioned is almost the middle of the month and I still didn't start working on my usual monthly challenges. However, lately I take part in some speed scraps and chat at Gotta Pixel - when I remember about them; and now I have a layout created with Connie Prince's kit Do It Yourself Project.

last two challenges for Scrapable

2011-05-30T17:38:00.000-07:00

Here is my scraplift challenge. This month the designs for scraplifting belong to Amy! I used the May BAK - Moonlit Stroll.

The last challenge for May is a mystery challenge where we have to write a letter as journaling - I decided to write a letter from the "now" me to the "then" me. Here is the result:

Quick page

2011-05-29T20:03:00.000-07:00

I made a quick page with one of Jen C Designs' kit called Live, Love, Laugh. I also used one of her template, but changed it a little bit. IF you like this kit or want to see more of Jen's kits check out the links above. Jen also has a 30% off coupon for her personal store on her blog. Please keep in mind that this Quick Page is for personal use only and that all the elements and papers used are created by Jen C Designs. Thank you.

Download

If you like this page and you decide to download it please leave me a comment. Thank you!

Sped Scrap layout for Gotta Pixel

2011-05-29T17:15:00.000-07:00

This speed scrap was a bit challenging for me because it asked to use a patterned background. I don't really like to do that because I think if the background is too crowded, the layout itself will look overcrowded after I add a frame and a few elements. So once I decided to try and to the layout for this challenge, I had to look for some papers and elements that would work good together. Keep in mind there were some steps I had to follow. I used two kits: one from A+ Designs - My girl and one from Colie's Corner - Just the girls

follow me

2011-05-27T22:19:00.000-07:00

Not on Facebook or Twitter... I am actually talking about one of the Scrapable challenges called 1,2,3, Follow me. As usual for these challenges I am using the month's Build A Kit which this month is called Moonlit Stroll. The nice thing about doing all the layouts with a big mega kit is that by the end of the month, when you finish your challenges, you also have a mini digital book. So here are the layouts for the 5th and 6th challenges and I have two more to go.

Almost a layout a day

2011-05-27T19:24:00.000-07:00

May is almost gone and I just realized how busy I've been with all the challenges and going to work and taking care of my little big girl. I was so busy I didn't even realized I have this blog for a year already! So Happy Anniversary for me and hope to be able to keep it up. I don't have a speech or a layout right now, but I still have to finish 4 more layouts till Tuesday evening and it's already 9 pm here, so I'd better get to work and come back later to show you something.

Scrapable new layouts!

2011-05-26T19:30:00.000-07:00

I am trying to finish all the challenges before the end of the month. Today I have the desktop challenge which means I finished 4 and have 4 left. Hopefully I can finish them this weekend. I used the MAY BAK Moonlit Stroll.

Scrapable, here I come!

2011-05-24T20:18:00.000-07:00

Eight challenges.
One mega kit: Moonlit Stroll.
One font.
One template.
One letter as journaling.
One list for one layout.
One scraplift - I hope someday someone will choose me for one.
Let's roll...

Here, there and everywhere

2011-05-24T15:58:00.000-07:00

Not quite everywhere, but at Sunshine Studio Scraps. Here is my last challenge for this month and for this one I used It's All Me by Inspired Designs and Studio Demo and a template from Create a book Template Pack 2 by Christy Haig Creations.

Up next, challenges from Scrapable. I have to make eight layouts for the Scrapable challenges so that I can get my gift card:) so wish me luck and come back to see my layouts.

Capture it!

2011-05-23T19:50:00.000-07:00

This is a challenge that takes place at Sunshine Studio Scraps although it is not a scrapping challenge; it gives one material for a next layout. I was lucky enough to have a picture taken last weekend. I actually managed to have a photo session with Alex and her cousin, so it worked out really well for me. It was raining and the light went out so we went on the veranda and car porch for a little bit of fun. The kids were making and bursting bubbles and I was trying to capture it all.

Last layout for the Project Pixel!

2011-05-23T17:34:00.000-07:00

Here is my last layout for the Project Pixel from Gotta Pixel. For this layout I used as background a paper from A+ Designs' kit My Girl and the elements used are from Crisdam Designs' Trouble Maker Element Pack. Now wish me luck to get one of the gift card from the bigger prizes!:)

still working on Sunshine challenges

2011-05-22T20:51:00.000-07:00

I still have a couple of challenges to do for Sunshine Studio Scraps so here is one of them. This is the word challenge and of course the word this month is MOTHER! I found a wonderful quote from Linda Wooten and although the pictures are not only with me and my girl, I think they work really well with the quote. The first picture is with Alex and her god-mother, the next one with the man who decided to make me a mother, the next one is from our wedding - father, mother and child - and the last one is with me, mother, and my child. The kit I used is It's all me by Inspired Designs and Studio Demo.

quirks

2011-05-20T21:09:00.000-07:00

This is probably the most difficult challenge I've ever done. First I wasn't sure what quirks were, then I wasn't sure if I should write about me or somebody else and then it seemed strange not to use a photo. Eventually I came up with this layout made with Mye De Leon Designs' mini kit Splendor.

one more layout for a speed scrap

2011-05-16T15:57:00.000-07:00

I did this layout for one of Connie's speed scraps. She has a lot of nice kits and I like spending some time in the Gotta Pixel forum or chat; it's always fun and always a coupon or a little prize. For this layout I used one of Connie's kits: Do it yourself. The only element I used, that was not from her kit, but still from a Gotta Pixel designer, was the stars scatter;I took it from Mye De Leon's kit Retro Craze.

When I started the layout, I wasn't sure what to do, but then I decided to do something about my house. Thus I ended up using a picture with hubby working on the house, one with a freshly painted room and of course one where the most tired person of the house, Alex, is sleeping.

one more Sunshine layout

2011-05-15T22:09:00.000-07:00

I've recently discovered the Sunshine Studio Scraps, and only because I love one of their designers, Jen C Designs. Of course once I got there and saw the rest of the kits, the challenges and the gift certificate you can get I was pretty much hooked. So, after I won the five items in my wishlist and got two extra ones, I decided i really have to do some of their challenges. This layout is made with I'm falling for you by Meredith Cardall and the challenge was using pattern papers in the layout. I was lucky enough to have a nice photo shoot with my daughter - something that didn't happen in a long time - so I had the kits, I had the pictures, I did the layout:

Crafty Scraps

2011-05-15T19:09:00.000-07:00

When it comes to Crafty Scraps,there are a couple of layouts I do for their site every month. One layout is always for the Hide, Find, Design kit and one layout is for the monthly caboose. For both of them you receive the papers and the embellishments you can use in the layouts and you also get a few rules for each layout. The Hide, Find, Design is actually a mini blog hop where seven or eight designers give one or two items you have to use for the layout. For the monthly caboose, you have to download the mini from the forum and follow the rules. Once you complete a layout and you post it in their forum, you get your prize which is always a really cute kit or mega kit.

This is my Hide, Find, Design layout:

And this is my May caboose layout:

Sunshine Studio Scraps challenges

2011-05-13T14:40:00.000-07:00

The challenges at Sunshine Studio Scraps are really fun and each of them gives you 1 point. When you have 12 points, which usually happens in about two months, you get a $10 gift card. This is the biggest gift card I've seen given in a forum for taking part in their challenges. For the scraplift challenge I used the kit: Take my picture by Inspired Designs and the layout scraplifted is created by chrislewis2 and entitled The girls

Here is my take on it:

I also have a recipe challenge layout that I made with Jen C Designs' kit Happy birthday and with a template from Create a book template set 1-3 by Christy Haig.

The next challenge I did was an answer to the question: Why I scrap? I guess the answer is obvious enough: it is because of my little girl Alexandra and because of my creativity side. For this layout I also used a template from Create a book template set 1-3 by Christy Haig and the kit It's all me by Inspired Designs.

Weekend gone, but busy is still here

2011-05-10T17:51:00.000-07:00

I am still trying to finish all the shopping before all the sales are gone and use all my coupons. Today I found out I am the winner of a wish list giveaway at Sunshine Studio Scraps and ended up winning seven free kits! You can imagine the grin on my face.:) So while shopping and downloading, I've finished one more layout for the Project pixel Challenges at Gotta Pixel. I used Retro Craze by Mye De Leon Digital Designs and as usual I used pictures with Alex and created this one especially for her.

Busiest weekend ever

2011-05-08T00:06:00.000-07:00

First weekend of May should have been a nice relaxed one with Mother's Day and all, but instead it was a nice busy busy because of all the speed scraps, contests and sales going on all around the digital scrapping websites.

I am not going to stay and write a long post now cause it's already 2 am, but I wanted to finish a layout before going to bed. I did it for a speed scrap at Gotta Pixel and I used two kits: one from A+Designs - My girl and another one called So Stinkin' Cute by Mye De Leon & Mandy King.

For this layout I also used So Stinkin' Cute by Mye De Leon & Mandy King.

Another layout for a speed scrap at Gotta Pixel. this time I used Just breath from A+ Designs.

Project pixel challenge 1

2011-05-05T21:14:00.000-07:00

Okie, the time has come for me to edit my posts. There are special challenges on Gotta Pixel this month and I am planning to take part in as many as possible especially because of the prizes or coupons you get if you do a layout for a challenge and there are also some drawings where one can get some bigger coupons. This is the first challenge and as the title suggest it has to be about stuff currently going on in my life. For this challenge I used the kit Heart Strings by Connie Prince and also a 5x7 brag book template from Connie Prince.

May already!

2011-05-05T19:25:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's already May!!! My little one turns 5 next week and I also have a birthday at the end of the month. School is back in session and it looks like the rainy season started in Jamaica, and believe me, when it rains here it rains really hard. All I can pray for now is that with these rains the Internet doesn't get damaged because this month is a crazy busy month for me in terms of scrapbooking. As most of you know, this weekend is the International Day of Scrabooking. Of course, several site are considering MAY the scrapbooking month so they are offering all kind of challenges and sales and prizes and things like that. I check the sites I usually visit and decided to take part in some challenges from Scrapable, DSDI, Stuff to Scrap, Crafty Scraps and Gotta Pixel.I also found a new site I like and plan to take some challenges there; it is called Sunshine Studio Scraps.

The first layout I did this month was part of a Speed Scrap at Stuff to Scrap. This was the first Speed Scrap I ever took part in, but I wanted to do it because of the coupon I got for participating. I had to do the layout in one hour instead of two hours which is the usual period of time for a Speed Scrap, but it was worth it. As participating prize I got a kit called Snookums from Christin's Creations. For the layout I used a kit called Love my Dino from Designs by Abbe and the flower and the leaves are from Secret Garden kit from Scrapable.

I will be back with more challenges this month, so stay tuned!

last challenge for April

2011-04-29T08:09:00.001-07:00

When I posted this, I didn't even have time to write anything about it. I used Jen C Designs - Connected add on and ended up buying the kit. the name of the challenge is Order Up and takes place at DSDI. I had a picture with Alex pretending to talk on the phone and I thought it was perfect for the challenge name. Here is the result:

DSDI challenges

2011-04-25T12:05:00.000-07:00

This weekend is the first time in a long time that I have time to work on some different challenges for a different forum than Scrapable. The only thing is that I don't have to many new pictures. I miss having a walk around with my camera and taking pictures here and there, so in the mean time I have to work with older pictures. And I love some of these pictures. I made a layout with Jen C Designs' kit Tub Time again and used a picture with my husband. I love him, love the picture and love the place it was taken in. The journaling on the picture is from one of my poems There's no paradise.

Sometimes the challenges where you have to use certain lyrics or quotes are the ones that can pose a lot of challenge. The text for this layout was from Tim McGraw's song My Best Friend. I used a kit from Scrapable called Home Grown.

on to some more layouts

2011-04-24T18:26:00.000-07:00

This is a long weekend and all the children are on holiday which means I have a little more time for myself. The Easter bunny came this morning with lots and lots of chocolate, just like my little one ordered; all the cooking and baking was done since Friday and Saturday, so today was reserved for new layouts and coffee while chatting over the internet with my mom. Now that I am done with my Scrapable challenges, I decided to make some more cute pages that go for the DSDI challenges. Both places have some really nice challenges and things in the stores, so this is actually a fun way for me to win some points towards a gift certificate or a coupon. I also did a layout using a mini kit made by Elena, one of the few Romanian bloggers that like scrapbooking. Thanks for the mini kit Elena!

The following are layouts made for DSDI. If you go to their forum and go to The Works challenge you can pick up a mini kit for free.

For the next layouts I used Jen C Designs' kit Tub Time, which I've won on her blog. I used the kit to do two layouts for a DSDI challenge:

The next layout is made with a kit I won on Digi Shop Talk. The kit is called Bunny Tales and was created by MJ Scraps.

working on the last set of challenges

2011-04-24T12:37:00.000-07:00

I am working on the last three challenges for Scrapable. When I am done with them I will have the 20 points needed for a gift certificate. I made a layout for the 1,2,3 Follow Me challenge and a layout for the Mystery challenge. For both of them I used the same kit, the April BAK and the journaling I used in the Mystery challenge are from Disney's movie Dumbo. Now I have one more challenge to work on, so I'll add the layout later in the same post.

RAK at Jen C Designs

2011-04-20T17:17:00.000-07:00

Jen is coming out with a new kit and one lucky person will get it - maybe me:). If you are not familiar with her work, check out her blog and store and I am sure you will become a fan of her work. I for one already have 12 of her kits and I am planning to get at least a couple more. Actually my wish list has 10 items on it, but I can only wish for one at a time. There is only a sneak peak of the kit she is RAK-ing, but I for one, am sure it's a great kit. There are several posts, couple of them recent, where you can see layouts I made with her kits. So go check her out and try your luck.

wish it today and hopefully next wednesday

2011-04-20T15:50:00.000-07:00

Jen C Designs is making someone's wish - for one of her kits - come true every Wednesday this month. Not only that but she is giving one more chances to try and make the wish come true. All in all you have four chances: leave a comment on her blog, twit about the post, share it with your friends on facebook and blog about it. Well, this is my fourth chance and I am wishing for Jen's Happy birthday kit. Here is a preview of it and it's linked to the store:

So if you want to wish for a kit, got to her store and then wish for it on her blog. Good luck all!

need ideas

2011-04-18T17:00:00.000-07:00

I am not talking about creative ideas, but rather tips on how to have more time to post and do some of the things I like to do. I am doing the same thing over and over again every day: go to work, work, come home and work some more in the house; so by the time I get to sit in front of the computer and check my e-mail and maybe try to work a little on a layout or another, it's actually time to put the little one in bed. And you know how it is, when you wake up at 6 am every day and work pretty much all day, at 8 pm the pillow is winking at you too. Thus there are times when me and my little one fall asleep in the same time or if I don't fall asleep I am too tired to put the computer on.

With Easter coming and all and me having to figure out what we are going to eat and what the bunny will bring and when to squeeze some shopping in my schedule, my days are quite hectic so thanks to the challenges i am trying to make before the deadline, I get to relax a bit. These past few days i did a challenge for Jen C Designs, a layout for the Hide, Find and Design from Crafty Scraps and I am working on a challenge from Scrapable.

Jen has a lot of things going on on her blog and this week is a recipe challenge and to do it I used two of her kits: I'm funky and Great Expectations Girl.

For Hide, Find and Design I used their elements and followed the rules. Here is the outcome:

And the challenge from Scrapable I will post it in another blog when it will be done.

nice inspiration

2011-04-13T18:10:00.000-07:00

I did a challenge for Scrapable April Scraplift and we had to choose one of Photoqueen's layouts. She has several clean and elegant designs, but I did a little birthday party invitation. Here is her take:

and here is my take:

I'm on to the challenges

2011-04-09T21:02:00.000-07:00

It seems that I am on a roll here, doing a challenge after another. I guess I am trying to do as much as possible during the weekend because truth is during the week between going to work and spending time with my little one and cooking, I don't really have time for scrapping. So here is the Scrapable April template challenge. I am not a fan of templates where the picture is to the very left of the page, but I think this one came out pretty nice. And more importantly I got an "excellento!" from my little one. :)

challenges everywhere

2011-04-09T18:08:00.000-07:00

This week was the first week I spent in my new home without my better half. A lot of things that he did or we did together showed up on my to do list. So today I tried to be as productive as possible. I washed two loads of laundry, re-arranged a closet, swept the house and put back clothes, toys and other things and in between all these I managed to make 3 new layouts. Two of the them, the ones for the two fabulous JEN designers are posted in my previous post, so now I want to post the Scrapable April desktop challenge layout.

The layout for the Scrapable April font challenge is here and the font we had to use is 28 DAYS LATER.

Jen's challenges

2011-04-09T10:49:00.000-07:00

Today I have two layout for two challenges. The first layout is a scraplift of another layout done by Crystal and it I did it for Jen C Designs new challenge. As I've mentioned before you can see Jen C Designs' challenges on her blog and get a chance to win some of her wonderful kits. Here is Crystal's layout

and here is my layout created with Jen C's kit Hope for Tomorrow

The next Layout I did was for Jen Reed April 2011 blog challenge and to do it I used one of her mini kits called Serenity.

maybe I'll have time for a couple more layouts this weekend, but now I have to go and get some cleaning done. Sure wish hubby was around to help me with some of it so I could have more time for scrapbooking:)

April challenges

2011-04-08T18:03:00.000-07:00

I am trying to get back in the game, taking part in some challenges that is. The old DSM is now the new Scrapable. I started by doing the April BAK kit challenge and also used one of the templates included in the mega kit.

I also made a layout with Jen C's template and her kit Memory Lane. The layout was done for her month long challenges due to her blog anniversary and since she is one of my favorite designers, I am trying my luck in winning some of her newest kits.

I have a last challenge layout for Crafty Scraps April Caboose. Just the layout made with their mini kit and following their rules.

Off to bed now, but I hope I'll have a little more time this weekend for a few more challenges and posts on my two blogs. Have a great night you all!

easier said than done

2011-03-27T19:09:00.000-07:00

I said I was gonna try and post more often, but it seems that I cannot post more than once a week usually on a Saturday or a Sunday and it looks that this weekend is going to be a very short post too. I've decided to enter the DSM challenges again and they are now called Scrapable challenges. So starting with April I'll be back in business and will definitely post more often. So see you soon.

Another cool challenge

2011-03-19T21:16:00.000-07:00

Today is challenge's day. I've just finished another nice challenge from Crafty Scraps. The challenge on this blog runs from March 15 to April 15 and it is called Hide, Find and Design or for short HDF. For more details on the challenge check the Crafty Scraps blog. Here is my layout:

New challenge

2011-03-19T18:11:00.000-07:00

I have several blogs I am trying to check every time I get to spend some time on the internet. Right now I am trying not to miss any of JenC's daily downloads and to check as often as possible Craft Crave. Today I found a really nice blog with a wonderful challenge. The blog belongs to Jen Reed and I decided to do her March challenge. You can see my layout below and if you like it and you also want a free mini kit, you should go to Jen Reed's blog and do the challenge.

new layout

2011-03-12T12:43:00.000-08:00

This is my March Crafty Scraps Caboose challenge. Everybody wants something with green and spring so my layout has a lot of green in it. I'm not going to write long here because i want to post a couple of things on my other blog:

Mariance's other corner

so here is the March layout:

one more layout

2011-03-09T12:52:00.000-08:00

It sure pays to have a day off:) helps me catch up with my blogging and the different layouts I am making for challenges. Short post now, but sweet layout.

Logo and business cards

2011-03-09T09:38:00.000-08:00

I told you I started working in Jamaica. I work at a dental lab named Eurodent. So after several ideas and drawings, my boss decided to go with a very stylish tooth we found on Fotolia. So my boss bought the picture from them, along with an extended license and I changed the colors and made the business cards. The final result looks like this:

Once again I would like to give all the credit for the tooth to Ratshot who sells through Fotolia. Thank you Ratshot for this stylish tooth.

new layout

2011-03-08T20:40:00.000-08:00

I have a new layout made for the December 2010 Caboose Challenge from Crafty Scraps. If you have ever done one of the caboose challenges, you know you need to follow a set of rules when you make your layout. Sometimes these rules are really easy to use, other times they may seem more challenging. This particular challenge had 7 rules. Below is my layout and just to give you a break from seeing Alex in all my layouts, I used a picture of my puppy, Sara. She is a female German Shepard, so pink is quite appropriate for her. We got her before Christmas, so she really fits in this layout.

Mission: Moving to Jamaica - part 5

2011-03-08T19:59:00.000-08:00

Well... after getting the internet back I decided to start doing a bit of scrapping or digital scrapping now and then. I posted a few things about the last four months of my new life in Jamaica and about my little one and her new adventure at school. Also I tried to catch up with getting some of the wonderful freebies out there. You ladies, who offer CU and S4H freebies: THANK YOU VERY MUCH and for the rest of the bloggers, thank you for allowing me to inspire myself from your wonderful designs.

I've already told you about Alex school, but now I have a new information for you: I hope that she will start a new school from September. The new school is close to my work place and it is also a very good preparatory school. We will have an interview and an assessment a week from today, so please keep your fingers crossed for us and send a good thought our way. I know she is smart enough to go to this school. Alex is not even five and she can read simple words and she can spell quite well and add numbers that sum up to fifteen. Not bad for a kid who was not speaking any English three months ago. :)

In my next post I will tell you about the new logo from my work place and the new business cards I made for them. But until my next blog, I want to post my newest layout made with the November mini kit from Crafty Scraps.

Mission: Moving to Jamaica - part 4

2011-02-24T17:52:00.000-08:00

In February it was my turn to enter the real world and get a job. I was very lucky and got a nice job at a dental laboratory. Also in February we managed to get the land line installed and eventually the internet working. Now I am trying to catch up with my e-mails and hoping to get back in shape soon regarding the challenges I was taking part in. I missed the deadline of my last gift certificate, so now I have to work twice as much to get it back. I also missed a lot of wonderful freebies and great challenges, but I knew I had to give up some of my daily things when I moved to Jamaica.

However, things are slowly getting back to normal and now I have to learn to juggle between being a full time mom, a full time wife and having a part time job. I would make my part time job a full time one, but unfortunately the two hours journey to home and the fact that my five years old would be home alone for most of the afternoon, stop me from being in the office for eight hours every day. Hopefully, next September, when Alex is supposed to start preparatory school, I will turn my part time job into a full time one.

In the meantime, I hope I will have enough time to join some challenges and make some new layouts. I will start my “come-back” with a few photos of my new home and new life.

I have some photos with the V-day cards I made for my husband.

Mission: Moving to Jamaica - part 3

2011-02-22T16:32:00.000-08:00

In January, we decided Alex knows enough English to get around and send her to school. So once again she had to adjust to a new environment, a new teacher, new class mates and a completely different educational system. If in Romania she was going to kindergarten and was in the second year, in Jamaica she is going to basic school and thus she is in grade two. Here she has to wear a uniform and a special physical education gear. Her uniform is light blue and dark blue and her P.E. gear green. She wears green every Wednesday and her color is green because she is in the “green house”.

Every school has a Sports Day and on that day the “houses” in the school compete against each other. The academic year is divided into three terms and she started with the second term of the second grade. I will say this - with the risk of you thinking I am bragging: Alexandra is a very good student and she already caught up with the rest of the class. It’s almost as if she’s been with them from the very beginning.

I’ve already mentioned how different school is and if Alex is adjusted to it because she doesn’t know a lot about other educational systems, I still have trouble understanding some of the steps of this system.

Mission: Moving to Jamaica - part 2

2011-02-21T16:49:00.000-08:00

November passed between working on the house and packing and unpacking our things. On my husband’s birthday we got the first dog, a mix between German Shepard and Golden Labrador. We named him Scout and a week later we got him a little friend to keep him company in the yard when we are not home. The second dog we got was a pure breed, a German Shepard and we named her Sara although in her papers she is Nicole. There is a difference of about three weeks between the dogs, Scout being the older one, but now the difference is not noticeable anymore. When we brought Sara, she was so small neighbors thought she was a cat. J Now, three months later you can see she is going to be a gorgeous dog.

December was moving in month as well as painting and cleaning. We also did a little shopping and spent some of the money we had. We also spent the first Christmas as a family in our house. The kids got a play station and a couple of games as well as other little gifts. I baked for the first time in my life and both the cake and the cookies were gone before the New Year came.

Jamaica - random

2011-02-20T16:10:00.000-08:00

Although I did not have time to digiscrap or internet to do any challenges, I tried to pick up the camera from time to time and capture some of the new moments in my new life and things around us. I won't show you the boring pictures with how my house looked before and after having windows, or before and after being painted. I won't show you how I tiled the bathroom or what appliances we bought. Yes, I do have pictures with all - had to show my mom that I am living comfortably and that everything is okie. So I will show you one of the first pictures I took with Alex in Jamaica as well as a couple of plants and trees from my street.

Mission: Moving to Jamaica - part 1

2011-02-20T16:02:00.000-08:00

I can’t believe it’s been almost five months since I posted something on my blog. A lot of things happened during this time and there were a lot of new things I had to get used to and live without. First of all me and my little one moved from Romania to Jamaica. Yes, pretty much the other corner of the world, but I am not sorry we moved. We arrived here beginning of November and while for Alex it was just a matter of weeks to pick up both English and Patois, I was worried about the big change in her life. When we got here, the only familiar face she knew was her father’s whom she only saw on the web cam for the last two and a half years.

Their meeting at the airport was like love at first sight. The two and a half years of talking on the phone or in some chat were wiped away with a kiss and a hug. From that moment on it was Daddy this, Daddy that, but it didn’t mean I got a break. I had to be there with her all the time. In the beginning I was her interpreter, but as time went by she picked up more and more words in English and she didn’t need me around so much anymore.

Last part of the October progressive challenges

2010-10-29T15:23:00.000-07:00

I have three more days until I am flying and the whole house is a mess. I am almost done packing my bags, but I still have to pack some boxes my mom will send next year. Thus, I will be more than short and just show you the final page in the October progressive scrap and hope to be able to take part in some challenges in December.Wish me luck and pray for me and my family. Thank you all.

step 3 and some more...

2010-10-24T16:50:00.000-07:00

I have step 3 of the progressive challenge done:

it's way too late for me now, but I'll be back with some news and maybe a new layout tomorrow. Stay safe!

step 2

2010-10-14T13:15:00.000-07:00

I have the second step of the DSM progressive challenge done and ready for display. I also have some new post on in my other corner of the blog :) See you there!

NEW Blog!

2010-10-13T09:24:00.000-07:00

I have decided to give up my personal website because right now I cannot afford the housing costs. I will however keep my domain name and hope hat sometimes in the future I will be able to put my web page back up. In the mean time I decided to start a second blog - the twin sister of Mariance's corner. The new blog is called Mariance's other corner. This is where I plan to post my poems, prose, photography and designs. Mariance's corner will continue to be my place to showcase my digital scrapping and other layouts I will be making.

If you have the time, please take a moment and visit my other blog too and tell me what you think. Thank you.

Mariance's other corner

trying again for a giveaway

2010-10-13T03:32:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of giveaways on the internet and I stumbled onto one I'd like to win.

This is what I could win if I am lucky enough. You do not have to buy anything or do anything to get a chance to win this except post a picture on your blog and spread the word. You can find more information about this giveaway at Tiddly Inks.

There are a lot of ways I I could use this giveaway in so right now I am dreaming with my eyes wide open. If you don't want this giveaway, please keep your fingers crossed for me.:)

something dear to me

2010-10-12T14:29:00.000-07:00

For one of the challenges I did, I had to do something related to birthdays. I didn't want to do one in particular, so I decided to do them all. Here is the result:

almost done

2010-10-12T12:38:00.000-07:00

I'm almost done with challenges for this month. I already have 17 points so I only need 3 more to get to the 20 I need. I have the first step f the progressive challenge, which means I will have 18 points after I complete this challenge. I am also planning to work on another challenge and with a bit of luck that one will be worth 2 points.

This challenge is made with my pictures and the DSM August BAK.

Numbers again

2010-10-10T14:54:00.000-07:00

1 year.

1 blog.

6 months.

100 published posts.
22 countries from where the blog was viewed at least once.
167 visitors on the blog.

22 days until going home.

58 layout for 58 challenges at DSM.

93 comments on the layouts.

Thousands of pictures taken with my camera.

Too many years since I haven't seen my best friend.

6 years since I graduated university and got my tattoo.

4 and a half since I am a MOM.

Almost 4 years since I said I DO.

Too many days since I saw my love.

Less than a month till we are moving in our house.

1 dog - ordered.

Few things still left to do where I live now.

2 plane tickets.

One new life together.

I've already said too much so I am just going to say one more thing:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLERTA! - you are always in my heart, the sister I've never had. I love you.

As for my newest layout, I made it with Jen C Designs' kit - Memory Lane.

will miss WINTER

2010-10-09T14:46:00.000-07:00

I know it's not even mid October, but I did a new layout and used some of the few pictures I have with Alex playing in the snow. I know I am not going to miss winter and all its cold, but I have to admit that there is a special something about a white Christmas and I know Alex will miss playing with snow although she is not crazy about putting too many clothes on. The ideal would be to wear her swimming suit and yet play in the snow without catching a cold. Until I figure out how to do that, here is my layout:

3 more challenges

2010-10-08T15:52:00.000-07:00

I've just finished the added inspiration challenge, so I am left with three more challenges for the month. Early month this one because I have to worry about packing and sorting through my things. I still have some things here, but they go into two categories: things I have to take with me and things I can ship next year. I am also helping my mom sort through her things and making sure our things did not mix. Alex had a cold this week again so she is on a forced vacation. I still plan to take he two more weeks to preschool so that she spends some more time with her little friends, but she can't go unless she is feeling better.

Now here is my layout and although I used papers from the OCT BAK, i played a little more with the blending modes. Here is the result:

Halloween...

2010-10-07T16:21:00.000-07:00

I know it is still early to talk about Halloween, but this year I don't think Alex will make it to the party. Reason being, that Halloween is the night we start our journey so we will be busier saying good-bye and making sure we packed everything than thinking of a costumed party. This being said, I know she has a great time last year at her first Halloween in preschool and I know she liked her costume too. I know I spent hours cutting all the butterflies and sticking them on her outfit so that she could be the Butterfly princess.

Quick one

2010-10-06T14:03:00.000-07:00

Alex is sick. I took her to the E.R. earlier today. She got a shot. She cried a little. Fever is down. She is sleeping now. A restless sleep. She likes to feel me close to her. I worked a little. I have a new layout. Followed instructions from "Scrap this way". See result:

Scraplifting

2010-10-05T14:52:00.000-07:00

I like the Scraplift challenge. It give you the opportunity to choose your favorite layout from a certain member of the forum and do your version of it. Oftentimes, while I am browsing through other designers' layouts, I'm thinking " Neat idea! - my photos would look great in a similar template... I should try this sometimes." Scraplifting someone gives me the opportunity to do exactly that and show some appreciation to a designer's work.

This month's designer chosen for the Scraplift challenge is Jacque aka play4school. She has a lot of great layouts, but I liked this one in particular:

and here is my take on it, using the DSM October BAK:

numbers, days, points on the list

2010-10-05T13:52:00.000-07:00

These days it's all about numbers, days and points on lists. I still have quite a large to do list with a lot of points on it. Alex still has 13 days of school, I've just shipped 5 boxes to our new home, people from 20 countries visited my blog, I'm getting close to 100 posts, and so on. Also I am trying to get my 20 points in the DSM challenges, but this is not something new for you. Anyways, I have a new layout ready and hopefully will have the time to work on the next one.

lyrics challenge with a twist

2010-10-05T08:22:00.000-07:00

For this month we have to do a song that has a number in it or in the title. One of the songs I like a lot is Will Smith's song - Just the Two of Us.

Here is my take on it:

First one for October

2010-10-03T15:25:00.000-07:00

It's already October and I can't believe I am getting ready to move to another country. I already shipped 5 boxes and I will have a bit of extra luggage too. It's amazing how many things one can get in a few years and how difficult it is sometimes to let go of some of your memories. Well, it's not only my things I have to take care of, but Alex's too. She is only 4 and "a quarter" - as she says - but she "needs" her toys, her books, her things. It's okie, she is still my baby girl and since she is the smallest she gets away with a lot of things.

Anyways, I know this month I will make all the DSM challenges I need for my $5 GC, but I am not sure this will happen starting next month since I will have a lot of things to do: unpack, help Alex adjust to a new country, a new language, a new home, etc. We will take it one step at a time and when she will feel comfortable she will go to preschool too.

Enough about me and my brat. This blog should be more about layouts and hopefully soon about some freebies. In the mean time, here is my first October layout:

one more to go

2010-09-29T01:31:00.000-07:00

I told you I've been buzy buzy like a bee these days. Here is another layout I did for the leaving a legacy challenge. I wanted something simple and since the layout was about Who I Am, I decided to put a picture of me and one of the poems I wrote. The poem is called Me and somebody else and I wrote it while in university. I liked this challenge because it gave me the possibility to to combine the present with the past - new picture, old poem.

I still need to do one more layout in order to get my 20 points and thus a $5 gift card and I am going to do the technique challenge. I didn't write in a long time the forum I do these challenges in, but I guess by now all the people visiting my blog know I am talking about the challenges from Digi Scrapbook Mania or simply called DSM. So if you like what you see, you should know it's all done with their kits and that there are some wonderful designers there and a lot of fun challenges.

And here is my last layout for the month of September:

Welcome October, my last month before moving to a new home!

working on the last 4 challenges

2010-09-28T15:06:00.000-07:00

I have four more challenges to do til the end of the month which is in two days!!! I've actually just finished the added inspiration one so I have three more to go. This means enjoying my work, commenting on my layouts and pictures please and not too much blah-blah from me. I'll have a bit more time to chat and all when I am done with these challenges and I'm done sending my things. Both should happen by the weekend so keep your fingers crossed so I can have a little bit more time this weekend.

final step in the progressive challenge

2010-09-28T02:08:00.000-07:00

Quick post tonight. I got a lot of the things on my list done so right now my to-do list has only three items on it and these I'll deal with tomorrow hopefully. Right now I have another challenge ready so here you go: