Words of Wisdom Found on Pinterest :)

I have found many great quotes and sayings on Pinterest that I have *pinned* there. Some I plan on using as inspiration for scrapbook pages. Others I just want as a daily reminder for my life.

Like this one. I've seen it before, but lately it really resonates with me. I'd like to think that I try to do all these things and more. But I know that I am not a perfect person! I fully embrace that. And am lucky to have good friends and people in my life who accept me for who I am :)

But that doesn't mean that I can't continue to try and be the best person I can be.

Especially as a role model to my children.

It's a lot to think about some days.

And then I came across this one pinned by Lisa Truesdell...

It's such a simple thought that has so much power! I have witnessed a lot of kindness recently that gives hope. But I have also been disheartened at a lot of things that I see on a daily basis. Whether it's in the news, the city, society in general, or people who choose to hurt rather than help. And I think to myself, if everyone could just keep this simple thought at the back of their head, life would, could be a much better place for so many.
So this is going to be my challenge to myself on a daily basis. "Above all else, be kind".
And hopefully I can help make the world a better place :)

Scrapping My Nephews :)

It's my turn to post on the Scrapgal Blog this month, and I chose to do a tutorial on turning a piece of patterned paper into a misting mask! You can see the entire step by step explanation of the project there.
My finished layout uses product from the Heidi Swapp's Street Smarts line and Glitz Design rub-on's. These supplies made me think of some photos of my nephews I took recently :) I think this is the first layout that I have done about them in a while! But they are definitely layout worthy to me! They are amazing boys who make me very, very proud :)
Now that I have done this layout, I am seeing masking possibilities in all sorts of places. What is the most unusual thing you have ever used as a mask for misting, painting or stamping?

Tree Climbing at the Gardens!

I went a little over this month and created five projects for Scrapgal.instead of the usual three. I just ended up having so many ideas that I wanted to scrap with the two lines Jenn sent me. And now I am sharing the last completed project. Although truthfully, I am working on a little mini with the scraps :)

The colors seemed to go so well with these photos of my son at the Botanical Gardens Forest Festival back in May. We had so many photos that I knew I wanted to do a two page layout to fit several on and keep them their current size to kind of tell the story. The little "And Then He Said" journal card seemed perfect as well to share some of his thoughts on the experience. Which he LOVED!


Plus, these cardstock stickers from the line came in handy once again! I loved that big tree sticker and knew it was going on this layout. But I also added several more. All product is from Scrap Within Reach, the Paper Boy line except for the alphabet stickers and tree rub-on's from Basic Grey. I also used the Bumpy Road punch from EK Success for the green paper at the bottom!
I also plan on using that extra mini album I am working on to store the extra photos for Evan :) I will leave spots open for him to journal in the book now or later!

Standing in the General Admission Line All Day Yesterday on a Hot, Hot Day...

was so, so worth it!!!

to be this close to the Edge.

And Adam when he came to our side

And not to far from where Bono stood. I love this shot of the four of them playing together!
It was a GREAT show! It was so amazingly hot and they played one of the best shows I have been to in a long time! :)
Mike took over 700 photos with the DSLR that I want to go through, so I am sure I will share a few more this week. But I promise it won't be anywhere near 700 ;) And I am not editing a single one (see dude's bald head in photo above) With the DSLR he was able to get amazing shots.

Between the U2 concert and a surprise 40th party Mike threw me the night before, it was a great weekend! :)

In Honor of U2 Coming to Town Tomorrow Night...

here is a layout I created for Scrapgal
this month about Evan's first U2 concert two years ago :)

The story is about how I think he became the biggest little U2 fan ever and his experience at the concert!
Looking forward to tomorrow!! :)

*Photo Banner*

This month in my design package from Scrapgal, Jenn challenged us to create something using clothespins :)

She had also included this fun orange netting and the first thing that came to mind was "Banner". A photo banner to be precise

Since I was using die cut tags from the Street Smarts collection by Heidi Swapp, it was great to display these photos I had taken recently of my nephews with their skateboards.

I inked the edge of each die-cut and covered them with mod podge. The next step was to hot glue them to the clothespins. I twisted the netting a little at each spot where I wanted to place the clothespin and hot glued that as well! Quick, easy and simple :)

U2!

So I don't like to post on-line about trips to much before we are going out of town, but this past week we were in Chicago visiting family and of course seeing U2 :-)

Evan went with us again and this time we were in the RED ZONE! A fabulous place to be if you are going to see U2 this tour. It's auction based and the area is sectioned off on each side of the outer stage. There is a smaller crowd in there then the general admission areas, so that was nice as well. We were in the RED ZONE in Ireland as well back in 2009 and loved it! We got there early so as you can see by the above photo, we got an excellent spot by the rail on Adam's side. That silver platform behind Mike and Evan there is the outer stage!!

Evan and I posing for the camera!

And Evan alone while we were waiting for Mike to come back from the car. The lens he originally had on the DSLR camera was to big. So they made him take it back. But they let him in with the smaller lens thank goodness :)

Bono coming towards us at one point...

and pausing to look down right at us (faint)! Seriously, he is right there!! :)

And Adam put on quite a show for our side. It was AMAZING! :)

Evan thought so, too! He couldn't believe how close they were. And I have to admit, since I have been this close several times, I think I spent more time watching Evan's reaction than the actual stage :) I will also say that once you have been this close, it's kind of hard to be farther back. 

And how fun was it that a crew member gave Evan and another little boy down further from us an official band set list! That is getting framed along with some photos and our tickets!

A shot of the big screen and the main stage.

I have to say U2 fans are incredible! Everyone on our side was so friendly! Especially to Evan. When he started to crash a bit not to long before the band came on, I went and sat with him at some seats set up at the back of the zone area. But right before the band came on, he jumped up and ran back to the railing. Everyone in our area was cheering for him!
We also spent some time chatting with two sisters who were behind us. One was eight months pregnant, but she handled it so well. I think I would have been fainting with the crowd, the heat at the beginning and just standing so long being eight months pregnant.
I know. I did it back when I was pregnant with Evan, but we had seats then thank goodness. I think that is the first time I ever sat through half of a U2 show :)
Anyway, great night and great concert as usual! One we won't be forgetting any time soon :)

Turning 40 and a New Month at Scrapgal!

I did celebrate my 40th birthday on Wednesday. And I did have jury duty that day. But it all turned out fine :)
No big fanfare. And instead of doing a list of 40 things to do when I am 40, I am thinking of working on another type of list. Forty amazing things I have done in my lifetime! Because really, I am feeling like celebrating accomplishments rather than what I haven't done :) :) I may share it soon.

In other news, my kit this month from Scrapgal contained a fun collection from "Scrap Within Reach" called Paperboy! But I discovered it works just fine for a "girly" layout :)

I used three patterned papers, including one for the background. Plus the die-cut stickers for this layout. The pleated ribbon is by Pink Paislee. And I used alphabet stickers from American Crafts, Basic Grey and October Afternoon, with a little bit of Studio Calico white mist on the background for a "paint" feel as well.

Here is the sticker sheet. Which I am also using for a layout about Evan's tree climbing expedition. And two of the patterned papers.

I used the first one for my background paper.

And this one to create embellishments and paper strips for journaling :)
I am also using this layout for my challenge over at Scrapgal this month - Use buttons and trim/ribbon on a project.

I will be posting a few more projects throughout the month using this line and another "skateboard" line I received by Heidi Swapp. Can't wait for my nephews to see those projects as they love skateboarding, and I had some photos I took of them at Evan's birthday party :)

And am also really excited that the new members joining the Scrapgal Design Team are being announced today! :)