Sorry it's been awhile....

I would like to say I have just been soooo busy lately, which is why I have not blogged. Yes, I have been busy but not overly so. No, my excuse is.....are you ready for this? I started reading the Twilight books on June 1st (day after my last post). It is June 12th and I am on book 3, Eclipse and 100% ADDICTED! I would be much further along with Eclipse except Scrap Orchard did this really cool challenge about videos and I have been sucked into watching them. And, not to mention the usual digi-duties I have on my weekly plate. Today......soon.....maybe right after I finish the post and eat lunch I am nestling down and planting my nose back in the book!



So yes, I am working my way to becoming a complete TWERD! Never ever ever thought I would even like the books let alone, crave them! Well, it's Edward & Jacob I crave, lol. I am still just torn between what "team" to be on. But, enough Twilight talk.



Mom & Dad celebrated their 51st anniversary on June 6th. They didn't want any gifts but I twisted their arm into letting me taking them out to dinner. We went to Bella Milano's up in Edwardsville. A delicious Italian restaurant where I have ate the same thing all 4 times I have been there......Pasta Three Way (ravioli stuffed with meat, spaghetti & mostaccoli smothered in a few different cheeses & baked to perfection in their homemade sauce). I {heart} their salad, too. Has crisp pieces of prosciutto through out....oh so yum!



Looking forward to Father's Day next weekend and then just around the corner will be Trevor's 2nd birthday! Speaking of birthdays.....Blake, Caiden's big brother, turned 5 on the 9th! Happy Birthday Blake!!!!!!!! I will post a more recent photo later....this one is about 2 years old!

And, here is what I have worked on since I last posted........

Utah State Template by Scrapping With Liz @ Scrap Orchard also using the kit, The Great Outdoors by Ziggle Designs @ Scrap Orchard This was one of my panoramic shots of Bryce.....oh how I want to go back!!!

One Photo Template Set from Scrapping With Liz @ Scrap Orchard. Also using the kit, Strolling Through The Park by Ziggle Designs @ Scrap Orchard

This was taken just as we entered the Capitol Reef National Park. I almost look tiny on this huge fallen tree, lol.


I double teamed my efforts on this one. I used the template set, Zine Style Templates, by Scrapping With Liz & the kit was Two Peas In A Pod by Lyndsay Riches & simply.scraps at Scrap Orchard. Both released the same week so I killed two birds with one stone! These are various photos of Caiden & Trevor over the last 2 years.


Also using the kit, Two Peas In A Pod but no template....all my design. Brian & Trevor being silly!


Fingerprints No. 5 Template set from Brandy Designs using the kit, Perserverance, both at Polka Dot Plum Haven't scrapped Molly in awhile....she's so stinking pretty!




Using Big Daddy, a collab between Amy Stoffel & simply.scraps @ Scrap Orchard. Again, my design....no template, yay!!! Kind of a "then & now" them with a photo of my daddy long before I was a glimmer in his eye and another one from just a few years ago! He so cute!


Ahhh, Calypso, by Amanda Heimann Designs as she guests at The Digi Chick this month. I fell IN LOVE with this kit!!!! More Molly!!!



Another one using Calypso My happy little bouquet of fresh flowers that are all still going strong even a week later. Well, the 2 large, orange gerbera daisies pooped out but the rest are still happy!

And that catches me up for now. Have a great day....whatever day you are here visiting my little blog! {smooch-smooch}

xoxoxo

Just popping in on this Sunday morning before I start getting ready for church to say hello. Hello!!!! It is Memorial Day weekend, which generally means a 3 day weekend for many hard working folks. I apologize in advance if you are not one of the lucky ones to have Monday off :( This weekend has long since become a "summer kick off" marker weekend. I would love to know the statistics that show just how many bottles of BBQ sauce, packages of pork steaks-hot dogs-brats & burgers are sold and how many gallons of iced tea are consumed on this one day alone!

My Sunday school group has a gathering every year to kick things off, although, this year we will be missing several people but I won't elaborate on that! I am very excited to say I was told to take Tuesday off work so my 3 day weekend is now FOUR!!! Thank you brother....you made my month :)

I have been busy keeping up with the (now) FIVE creative teams I am on for digital scrapboooking. I just recently applied to be on the team for Scrapping With Liz. Liz makes amazing template sets. The only reason I applied after saying "no more" was because she is exclusively at Scrap Orchard where 3 of my other teams are. I have to use 100% Orchard products in two of the 3 layouts I do for her each month so that will be easy-peasy and allows me to kill two birds with one stone, so-to-speak. I realize unless you are a fellow digi-scrapaholic and on a CT you have no idea what I am talking about. Trust me, it's a good thing. However, the one thing that takes SO much time when it comes to being on CT's is getting the layouts your create for your designers posted in all the various galleries. Along with that, keeping track of the links so your designers know 100% you are keeping up with your end of the bargain. And, there is the enabling.........I totally stink at this. So, I took a night recently and reorganized myself for the upcoming June requirements. I created a word document that has various things that need filled in for each kit I work with for a designer. It has a place for the kit/store name...link to the product in the store it is sold at...URL link of the kit preview (for enabling)...a place to put the various gallery links when I post the completed layouts...a place for links for any enabling I do with that kit. This document is stored in its' own folder inside the specific folder that houses the actual kit. I have also started going through my pictures and copying pics to this folder as well. That way, even if I cannot scrap a page right then, I have an idea of some photos I would like to scrap with for that kit. I feel very excited to try out my method for June to see if I can do a better job for my designers and not feel stressed in the process. After all, this is a hobby and it shouldn't stress me out!

Well, I need to be cutting this short. I have gobs of layouts posted. Here goes:

Created with Walking On Sunshine by Tracie Stroud & Jennifer Barrette. The wave shapes were taken from a Wave On Wave template set by Amanda Heimann

This was for a Speed Scrap at Scrap Orchard yesterday afternoon!!! This is by far my favorite SS layout ever!

Created with Serendipity by SuzyQ Scraps

Created with Birthday Bash by Wild Dandelion Designs & Nee Nee Designs

Using the same kit as above.



Using Fancy Free by Wild Dandelion Designs & a template from Scrapping With Liz called Heart Templates

Created using the kit, Curious, by LCC Amy Stoffel & a template from the set, Variety Temps, by Scrapping With Liz

Created using The Happiest Grab Bag from Wild Dandelion Designs & Tracey Howard. The template is from Lots of Circles set by Scrapping With Liz

Created using Dino Safari from Brandy Designs

Created using Refreshed by LCC Amy Stoffel. The wave cut out was created using a wave shape from the Wave On Wave template set by Amanda Heimann Designs

Created using Curious by LCC Amy Stoffel

Created using Going Green by Amanda Heimann

This was done for a May Lift Challenge for Amanda Heimann's blog. I lifted this layout from Chelle (aka Roxxygerlie)




This was created using Lucky The Kit by Amanda Heimann Designs

I created this for a blog post for Amanda's blog last week.

Well, I told you I had lots to show you. Have a great memorial day and be safe!

xoxoxo

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Happy Birthday Caiden....

Caiden, I cannot believe you are two already! You are growing too fast and these photos prove it!

Using Little Blue Box by Tracie Stroud & Empty (alpha) by Amanda Heimann Designs

Love,
Tanti

xoxox
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Hump Day Post

I really don't like that I am not blogging as much as I used to :( Thought I would jump on and say hello to my many...okay, 3 followers, LMBO!

There has been lots going on at work and in my life personally recently. Work has finally picked up again so that is a definite praise. I would really like to take a Fri/Mon combo off just have some time away but not sure that is happening anytime soon.

Many many prayer requests being lifted up this last week. Bill Satterthwaite (father of my bff's DD) recovering from colon surgery & now battling a severe blood infection. Shawn Smith & his family in the loss of Shawn's father. However, his dad came to know Jesus during his battle with cancer so we also rejoice in knowing he is fully healed & walking in heaven right now. My mom continues to have complications from her knee replacement surgery. Swelling in her legs (lymphodema) and more recently battling a terrible headache. A friend of mine is moving this weekend and we have yet to find just 2 strong guys to help with the heavy/bulky items. One of my digi-world friends, Trina, lost her grandmother to a stroke this week and is having a very hard time with the loss. Just so many needs.

I, myself, have some good news. My blood work came back normal with the exception of some elevated cholesterol. So, I have reset my eye appt and go in Friday to get my new glasses. Can't wait to no longer have blurry vision in my right eye!

I am beginning a new journey starting in May.....more on that later though. Yes, I am keeping you in limbo so deal!

Leaving you with some recent layouts or at least layouts done since my last post:

Done for a challenge about reflections using She's A Hoot by Wild Dandelion Designs

Caiden looking so happy as he runs around on Easter day!

Using a collab kit from Amanda Heimann Designs & SuzyQ Scraps called Going Green

Same kit....the boys on Easter Sunday while hunting eggs!

Gorgeous kit Amy Stoffel is coming out with on 4/23 called So Delightful

Same kit....another RAK layout for Ramona (her girls are so easy to scrap!)

Another upcoming release from Amy Stoffel & Krystal Hartley called Artesia & yep, another RAK for Ramona...this kit was made for these photos!!!

Kit called Out Of This World by Brandy Designs @ Polka Dot Plum

Same kit...Trevor and his classic Trevor face!

And so, now I can relax for a few days since I finally blogged! Hope the rest of your week is filled with abundant blessings!!

x0x0x0
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Ahhhh.....spring!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The weather has been absolutely gorgeous with the exception of 1 1/2 days this past week. I {heart} spring. There is something about watching the world around you gradually change from brown & barren to green & alive. Easter Sunday was down right nearing "hot". Okay, maybe I was flashing a little but still.....I was sweating. Oy!

The week after Easter flew by. I literally felt as though I woke up Monday morning exhausted from a fun filled Easter the day before and suddenly it was Friday. I am sure the time flying has nothing to do with the fact I am now on FOUR creative teams! Yep, you read it folks, FOUR! I now happily create for Brandy Designs @ Polka Dot Plum, LCC Amy Stoffel - Amanda Heimann Designs & Lyndsay Riches all at Scrap Orchard. However, I was asked by Amanda to do some other creative work for her apart from the usual layout creations and I agreed. So, I am not actually required to do layouts for her. I get to put my skillz for creative writing into effect by coming up with the 1 to 3 sentence kit descriptions for the kits she designs. It's fun!

Today I went to a baby shower in the morning for a short time and came home, opened the windows, turned on the stereo & cranked it and proceeded to do some Fly Lady cleaning. I spent 30 minutes in each room. I am amazed at what I can accomplish in 30 minutes when I know I am being timed. It makes me stay focused. The livingroom was decluttered, dusted, & vacuumed. The bedroom was totally rid of all clothes piled up everywhere & vacuumed. The bathroom was....well, I really just emptied the trash, cleaned the sink-mirror-knick knacks & toilet. But, it looks so much better just doing that! I had already worked on the kitchen earlier in the week but it still needed things done. I admit, I didn't do anything in the kitchen today. However, I did accomplish quite a bit so I gave myself a break and decided to catch up on some DVR'd shows I had recorded.

I didn't take a nap today like I thought I would so I am getting tired. I will leave you with a ton of scrapbook layouts to look at.....

Some old pics of Trevor I used with this kit called Happy Go Lucky from Scrap Orchard.

I did this for a challenge at Scrap Orchard where we had to use the title Lucky. I love the Funky Brushed Alpha by Brandy Designs!

This is another challenge layout where every element on our page had to be a circle excluding, of course, journaling & our title. This template by Scrapping With Liz was perfect for this challenge.

This is the first kit I officially worked with for Lyndsay Riches and it is called Talkin' About Boys. Good thing I have 2 adorable boys to scrap about. Here they are on Easter being bombarded with gifts, candy & camera flashes!

Another kit from Lyndsay Riches called Spring Flings & Easter Things and a freebie template from Brandy Designs. Caiden is giving his Nana a sweet kiss!

A gorgeous kit from Brandy Designs called Flock Together.

Miss Amy has a new kit coming out on April 16th and I have done 2 layouts with it but just don't seem to be able to do it justice....his is one of my feeble attempts.

....and here is the other one.

Her most recent release is April Showers Bring May Flowers and is a collection of 2 separate kits along with a word art pack. These colors are classic Amy!!! And this photo shows our "classic" Trevor!

...same kit from Amy

This was done for a color challenge where we had to choose coordinating colors from a color wheel. I opted to use 3 colors all next to each other....yellow, yellow-orange & orange.

Another one using the April Showers Collection by Amy and a fabulous template from Scrapping With Liz

This is one using Amanda Heimann's template set, Wave On Wave, and I paired it with her recent kit, Spring Fling!!

A "just for the heck of it" layout using Amanda Heimann's kit, Spring Fling

I do NOT like this one at all. Too many different styles trying to happen on one layout!

I love love love this photo of Caiden. Just look at that sad little face! I used Amanda Heimann's Wave On Wave template & various papers/elements from Pretty Happy & A Beautiful Day

These next two are RAK layouts (random acts of kindness) for a fellow Scrap Orchard friend, Ramona The Pest. She graciously sent me some photos of her darling daughter's so I could scrap something other than BOYS! This is Olivia

....and here is Abby!

A random layout I did using one of my fave Butterfly House photos...

Some Easter shots of Caiden

Good night....thanks for stopping by :)

xoxoxo