XoXo Blog Hop Winner and Reminder!

Happy Monday, all!
It was another super busy weekend in the Harper household, with Kaleb playing in two tournament soccer games and Zack playing in one. Add to that the Opening Night performance that Zack had on Saturday, and I am worn out!
Anyway, I wanted to take a minute to let everyone know my winner for the XoXo Blog Hop! I tossed all the names into a basket and had Mr. Kaleb Michael pick a winner, and he picked out Ms. Kayla's (mustangkayla) name!! So Kayla, just send me your information and I will get your GC out to you!!

Also, before I go, I want to remind everyone that there is still time to enter the October XoXo challenge. The deadline is October 31 :)

Have a wonderful Monday!!

Just a Reminder....

You still have time to participate in the True XoXo Blog Hop! To get started, just head over to the True XoXo blog and get started! Remember, there are lots of prizes up for grabs!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Birds of a Feather Crop Challenges

Happy Tuesday, All! I just wanted to take a few minutes to share some of my latest layouts. Last weekend I played along with the Birds of a Feather Birthday Crop, and was happy that I completed 8 of the 10 challenges! I'm a SUPER slow scrapper, so 8 in one weekend is HUGE for me! 

Challenge One: A Woman Never Reveals Her Age

For this challenge, we had to take our age and add that many of one particular embellishment to our layout. So, since I'm almost 40, I went with 40 tiny rhinestones that I added as centers to some of the background paper. I used this older picture of Miss Taylor Quinn and lots and lots of Simple Stories papers. 

Challenge Two: Celebrate Yourself

 For this challenge we were asked to create a layout that celebrates ourselves.  I had tons of fun creating this layout! I used the September Scrapbook Circle kit and loved playing with the fun colors and patterns! Throw in some of the fun stickers and my layout was complete.

Challenge Three: Banner Fun

This was a hard challenge for me, because we had to use a banner on our layout. Now, anyone that knows me, knows that I don't DO banners. I have always struggled to use them on my layouts, so I knew this one was going to give me fits. However, I did some surfing over at Two Peas and Pinterest and found the idea for this half circle banner. I then grabbed a favorite picture of Mr. Toby, added the October Birds of a Feather kit, and the layout was complete.

Challenge Four: Life is a Journey - Let's Celebrate It!

 This was a pretty easy layout for me to complete. Of all the journeys that I've taken in my life, and will take, being a wife and mother is the most important one to me. So, I pulled this picture of my kids and dh, grabbed the August Birds of a Feather kit and a Pagemap sketch and went to town! 

Challenge Six: The Year You Were Born

 This was a recipe challenge. I had to use four pictures, five different papers, eight of my favorite embellies (I went with flowers) and a one word title. I used pieces from a Scrapbook Circle kit and then added pieces from my stash, too. A Pagemap sketch helped me finish the layout.

Challenge Eight: Birthstone Monochromatic Layout

 For this challenge, we had to pick our birthstone, or the birthstone of a family member, and create a monochromatic layout based on its color. I lucked out because my birthstone is the garnet....I LOVE the color red....and the October Birds of a Feather kit had some of the perfect papers and embellies needed for the layout. I added these super funny pictures of Toby (taken by Miss Taylor Quinn) and the layout was complete!

Challenge Nine: Make a Wish

 For this challenge we were asked to create a layout about something that we wish for, right now. I had several ideas, but decided to go with my dream house. So, I scanned a copy of the house that I would love to someday have out at the land, pulled out another Pagemap sketch and grabbed more of the October Birds of a Feather kit.

Challenge Ten: Party Lyrics 

 On this last layout, we were given a selection of Birthday songs to chose from, then had to create a layout based on the selected song. I picked "When I'm 64" by the Beatles and then grabbed a favorite layout from one of my favorite artists over at Scrapbook.com, Lucy E. I loved playing with all the Crate papers and embellies....this is one of my favorite lines!

Well, it's been storming and raining tonight, so I'm off to grab a blanket and do a little reading before bed. Have an awesome night!  Oh, and by the way, don't forget that the True XoXo Blog Hop is still going on until October 20. 

It's a True XoXo Blog Hop!

Happy Thursday and Welcome to the True XoXo Blog Hop! If you have been following the hop, you should have been directed here from Kimmy Jaster's blog. If you are just stopping by for a visit and want to join the Blog Hop, just hop on over to the True XoXo Blog and start at the beginning. Then follow the links on each lady's blog, through to the end.

Now, if you do decide to Blog Hob with us, there are a couple fun prizes up for grabs. The BIG prize (this one will go to one lucky winner who visits each blog AND leaves a comment) is the True XoXo Guest Design Team spot for December! This means that the winner will have access to the True XoXo facebook page and will get to play along with us for the entire month of December! Also, I am offering up a little prize of my own. One lucky winner will win a $10 gift certificate to A Cherry on Top! In order to be eligible for this prize, you just have to leave a comment for me :)

Now, for this Blog Hop, each of the True XoXo Scrap Chicks was to challenge one of the other ladies on the team. For my challenge, Ms. Kimmy challenged me to create a layout using products for ONLY three manufactures. So, I grabbed the current Birds of a Feather Kit and went to town! I used products from Jilliebean Soup, Crate Paper and Imaginisce. I then grabbed some random pictures of our new puppy, Mr. Toby....and went to town!

Here is my finished layout. I loved layering all of the different papers and patterns in this kit, and the Crate chipboard pieces were so fun to layer and use. Add lots and lots of ink to the mix and the layout was complete!

Thanks so much for visiting my blog and for participating in the True XoXo Blog Hop. To continue the Hop, just head on over to Maria Otake's blog, our September Guest Design Team member. Remember, if you finish up the Hop...that is, you visit each True XoXo Scrap Chick's blog and leave a message (along with the XoXo blog) you will be entered for a chance at the December Guest Design Team member spot. And...to add a little spice to the Hop, for any layout/project that you complete that is based on a team member's challenge or layout, we will throw your name in the hat for an additional chance at being our December Guest Designer. Be sure that your project/layout is linked the the Blog Hop post over at the True XoXo blog, under the Blog Hop post.

Off you go, to Ms. Maria's blog. Before you leave, if you like, I'd love to have you add yourself as a follower to my blog. Have a great day and I hope you enjoy the rest of the XoXo Blog Hop!

Thanks so Much for all the Birds of a Feather Blog Hop Participation! And the Winner is.....

Good (Early) Morning! Today at noon is the start of the XoXo Blog Hop, so I hope that you will all join us for that. Let me tell you, I've had a sneak peek at the other ladies' layouts/projects and all you Blog Hoppers are in for a treat! 

Anyway, before that happens, I want to go ahead and get a spot for the winner of the Birds of a Feather Blog Hop winner. I haven't picked my winner, yet, but hope to do it later today. So, look for an update to this post later this afternoon or early evening. 

Okay, now please wish me luck. I have to go on a field trip with my 8th grade class, and since they are a trying group....it should be an interesting day! Have a great Thursday!
**Okay, I used the un-scientific method of asking Mr. Kaleb to help me pick a winner. I asked him to pick a number between 1 and 19, and he went with 7. This means that Jenelle is the winner! Congrats, Jenelle!!! Please send me your email info and I will get your GC info out to you! Thanks so much to everyone that visited my blog during the hop and played along with us!

It's a Birdie Blog Hop!

Happy Friday and Welcome to the Birds of a Feather Birthday Blog Hop! Hopefully, you have been directed here from Ms. Krissy's blog. If, you are just visiting (and weren't directed here from Krissy's blog), please join us for the complete Blog Hop. All you have to do is start Here, and visit each of the girls. Please note, at each blog you will find a special BOAF badge with a word. If you visit each of the blogs (in order) and write down the words from each of the badges, you will complete a special birthday message. That message could help you win an AWESOME Bella Blvd prize package provided by Birds of a Feather Kit Co.!!!

Since Amy is celebrating the first birthday of Birds of a Feather Kit Co. we were asked to use a Birds of a Feather kit (current or past) and create a Birthday Themed project. I decided that I wanted to use the yummy July kit (full of lots of Cosmo Cricket and October Afternoon) to create this layout for Kaleb Michael. Since Kal's birthday is in June, these pictures were perfect with the summer-themed kit. I started with the October Afternoon background paper, found in the paper add-on kit (I LOVE lined ledger type papers) and then built the page around it, using a Sketchy Thursday sketch as guidance. I decided to ink all of the elements using my black Dew Drop, to help give everything a little extra pop. The journaling was done straight on the background paper (See? Just one reason I LOVE ledger paper!!) and I used the OA journaling tag and mini alphas to create my title. Because the mini alphas were a little large for my tag and what I wanted to say, I simply trimmed them down to the perfect size.

And a couple of close ups. I love to layer my elements, and these OA tags are perfect for just that, along with the Kaisercraft flowers (yep...I love to use flowers on all my pages, even ones for my boys).

And here is the title tag. I love using alphas on my layouts, and these OA alphas were the perfect size for what I needed.

Finally, since this is part of the Birds of a Feather Kit Co. birthday celebration, I've got a present for one lucky person who comments on this post: a $10 gift card to A Cherry on Top! Since we are cropping all weekend long, and since the challenges are due by the 12th, I will post my blog winner around the 13th. You do not have to be a follower of my blog, but if you like what you see, I'd love for you to stick around and become a follower.

All of the Birds of a Feather Kit Co. crop challenges and games can be found in the forum. The grand prize is going to be a kit of your choice! To add to the fun, the boutique will be having a BIG sale this weekend, too!

If you've made your way through the blog hop, you'll want to keep going so that you can be entered to win a prize package of Bella Blvd products, valued at $50! You'll need this word to add to your collection for the mystery quote:

Now, you'll want to hop on over to Karen's Blog to continue with the celebration. Enjoy the rest of the crop, and I sure hope you will join us over at the forums for a weekend full of scrapping, games and fun!

Happy Tuesday! We are super busy tonight, but I wanted to take a minute to share a couple of my current layouts.

This first layout was for the September Birds of a Feather Kit Co. Photography challenge. We were challenged to scrap a layout about our town and what it is famous for. Anyway, I took this picture of one of the signs found throughout our town. I then used the September Scrapbook Circle kit. I had so much fun just playing with the fun papers and alphas on this one.

This next layout was created for the October Birds of a Feather Kit Co. color challenge. The colors we were asked to use were a perfect match to the October Birds of a Feather kit, so I used it to create this layout. I also used a sketch from Sketchy Thursday. Again, I had tons of fun playing with this one!

Okay, time to head off to soccer practice and Zack's soccer game. If the high school boys' team wins tonight, they will be the SCOL champs for the third year in a row! I'm super excited/nervous, especially since Zack is only a freshman.

Have a wonderful rest of the day!

Good Sunday Evening!

I just checked in over at Scrapbook Circle Kit Club, and was thrilled to see the new October kit reveled! When I saw the kit, I was reminded of crisp clear autumn mornings and flea market Saturdays.

Check out this month's kit:

Included Patterned Paper

Pebbles Fresh Goods Simple Joys
Pebbles Fresh Goods Window Display
Lilly Bee Memorandum 9 to 5
Jillibean Homemade 6 Bean Barley Pearls
Fancy Pants School Days No.2 Pencils
Lily Bee Memorandum Whiteboard
Lily Bee Memorandum Time clock
Crate Farmhouse Cross Stich
Crate Random Textile

Included Embellishments

Pebbles Fresh Goods Embossed Masking Tape Stickers
Studio Calico Scrap Pad
2 Elle’s Studio Today Tags
(styles will vary)
Pink Paislee Sawdust Wood Alphabet
Shabby Chic Crafts Chevron Journaling Tag
(colors will vary)
Elle’s Studio Red Pennants Embellishment Page
Aqua Twine
Scrapbook Circle Printable

See? I told you it was a yummy kit! I can't wait to get my hands on this kit!

Well, time to get things ready for the upcoming week. Why does it seem like the weekends just fly by me? At least I have a crop to look forward to this coming weekend ;)

Okay, I just had to share what I did this weekend. I went shopping and picked up a few things for Mr. Toby. Along with some mini tennis balls and chew sticks, I picked up this:

Okay, I always swore that I would NEVER have a little dog....and I would NEVER have an animal that I dressed up...but to be honest, Toby gets so cold in the morning, so I wanted to get something that help keep him a little warm. And, since I'm all into being honest...I had to go with the skull sweater because, well because it was just so darn cute :)

Okay...off to do a little more scrapping. I can't wait to share some of my new creations with you. I am going to be doing two blog hops this month, so there will be lots and lots of excitement going on this month :)

Happy Saturday and Welcome to October! Can I just say that I totally love the fall season and I love everything about this time of year :D

Since it's the first of the month, that also means that today is the reveal of the October XOXO newest challenge. This month was so fun because we were challenged to grab inspiration from Instagr.am Now, I'd never heard of this App, and since I don't have an IPhone, was totally in the dark about what it all meant. However, once I started searching online, I was able to find lots of inspiration from the tint of the pictures. And, that led to my layout. I pulled out some cardboard from a past Birds of a Feather kit, tore it, spritzed it with white paint and threw on some mist. Then, I grabbed my stash of Sassafras Lass papers and embellies and went to town. I love how everything came together for this particular challenge.

Now, here are the rules if you want to play along with us over at the True XOXO Girl challenge blog:

The idea is to find inspiration, or scraplift, any of these layouts. Color, design, subject or wording - you may find inspiration in any or all of these. Enter as many times as you like.

• Show your layout on your blog, and link its specific post in the comments section. -or-
• Put your layout in your favorite gallery if you don't have a blog, post in comments. -or-
• or Mister Linky is working below - yay!!

We'd love to know what inspired you, if you have time to write a little about that.

Layouts are due Oct. 31st, midnight your time.
The team will vote on their favorite and the winner will be announced November 5th.
Winner will be our November guest design team member; she will be invited to hang with us in our super secret True XoXo design team Facebook group during November, find out how XoXo designers get their inspiration and will have a layout posted for December blog entry.))
Winners are eligible once every three months.