Toot! Wendyzine's A Memory Keeper's FL Vacation

17 of my Disneyworld layouts have been published in Wendyzine's ebook: A Memory Keeper's FL Vacation.

If you are planning a trip to Florida, or simply want to relive one you took recently, this 212-page PDF ebook will help take you down memory lane. It's filled with tips specifically for the memory keeper in each of us, tackling both scrapping topics and pre-planning.

In addition, get loads of scrapping inspiration with over 70 Florida-themed layouts complete with credits and tips on both travel and scrapping. Layout topics by 13 scrapbookers include Packing, Orlando, Disney World, Animal Kingdom, the Beach, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Legoland, Magic Kingdom, Sea World, St. Augustine, Universal Studios, Cruising, Dining Out, Downtown Disney, the Resort, Farmer's Market, Festivals, the Wetlands.

Be sure to download the 14-page pdf sampler available for free at the store.  Just look for the link for immediate download. 

INCLUDES:
212-page 8x8 PDF eBook
5-page 8.5x11 Tips Only Printable Pages 4501
 

The Trumpet Player | Photos | In the Grove | Rock the Beat

Ok, I had to do a matching layout featuring Liam with his trumpet.  I am rather pleased with how both pages turned out. They match but are not the same.

Liam really wanted to look good...he looks rather dapper doesn't he? The photos aren't the best quality because I took them really, really quick as Liam didn't really want me to do it. So I said to him, "go over there and let me take a few quick shots of you."  I like how nonchalant he looks in the second photo below.   He is growing up into a rather handsome young man, but then again, I am biased. :)

 Credits:
--Rock the Beat kit by SAS Designs @ Bits2kits
--Opposites Attract Temp.by Dawn Inskip @ SBG  4434

The Flute Player | Photos | Rock The Beat

Hey, you know what? I just realized that I am loving having the photos along with the scrapbook page on the same post. You can see the the photos individually, as well as others that don't make it into the page, and the final result.  I am not sure why I didn't do it this way before. Chuck it up to live and learn. :)  

Anyway, I've been  wanting to document Kaylie's progress with her flute playing, now, finally, got a chance to do it. She enjoys playing the flute, though not so much the practice. :)  However, you can't have one without the other.


The flute is such a pretty instrument. I like the streamlined look, the keys and sweet melodic sounds.  While I love the gold tone of the instrument, I really love the way that it looks in black and white. The shiny silver against the stark black background I think allows it to stand out more, don't you think?

Credits:
--Rock the Beat kit by SAS Designs @ Bits2kits
--Font: Janda Everyday Casual by Kimberly Geswein
--Guacamole Templ by Little Green Frog Designs. 4429

The Kiss | Kiss

This is an old photo, but I like it so much. The kids were little and still very spontaneous.  A simple photo, a simple kiss, a simple page...just the way I like it. While the photo was taken many years ago, I vividly remember taking the photo and the moment that it happened. :)


Credits:
--Finishing Touches Vol. 4 by Dawn Inskip @ Scrapbookgraphics

--Kiss kit by Dawn Inskip @ Scrapbookgraphics

--Tape from Ministry of Magic by Dawn Inskip @ Scrapbookgraphics  4407

Sweetness Captured | photos | Captured Collection

Kaylie looked so sweet and innocent and looked absolutely fabulous in her pink polka dot dress.  I bought it for her a couple of months ago while I was out shopping. I knew that she would love the colors and that it would look perfect on her. I was right on both counts.  She loved it and couldn't wait to wear it for the first time to her band concert. And again a couple of days later for the choral concert. Here's a couple of close up shots. 

The layout: While the photos are great, I had to turn the photo black and white in order for it to stand out in my layout.  I just loved the background paper and its soft flowery colors, but it was competing with the photo.  I supposed that I could have stacked the plain aqua blue ppr. on top but it would hide the pattern, which is the reason I wanted to use it. The paper is just too gorgeous to be hidden.

Credit:
--Vellum Alpha by Dawn Inskip @ Scrapbookgraphics (part of the template bundle)
--Finishing Touches Vol. 4 by Dawn Inskip @ Scrapbookgraphics
http://shop.scrapbookgraphics.com/Finishing-Touches-Templates-Vol.04.html
--Captured collection by Dawn Inskip @ Scrapbookgraphics
 http://shop.scrapbookgraphics.com/Captured-Collection.html
--Photo wrap from Cowboys and Indians kit by Dawn Inskip @ Scrapbookgraphics
 http://shop.scrapbookgraphics.com/Cowboys-and-Indians-Kit.html

Pluto and Goofy | Disney LO 125

During my trip to Disney, I kept thinking about Mom and how much she would have enjoyed a trip to Disney World. She was kind of goofy and loved posing for pictures with the Characters.

Credits:
-Vellum Alpha (Bonus alpha if you buy the Template Bundle 01) by Dawn Inskip @ Scrapbookgraphics;
--Weather Report Collection by Dawn Inskip @ Scrapbookgraphics

--Photo Emphasis Vol. 11 by Dawn Inskip@ Scrapbookgraphics 4386

Life is what You Make It | Photos | That's Life

I did say that I would try to make an effort to include/upload/share more photos in my blog again, didn't I? Well, I am coming through. Here are some photos and the layout that goes along with them. :) 

The story: The other day I took the kids to the park. They were having a great time swinging on the swings, though they were not swinging the usual way of up and down, instead Kaylie was leaning with her had back almost touching the ground - see photo next to the doodled graphics. An accident waiting to happen if you ask me. Can you guess what will happen next? And it is not because I didn't warn her!

Liam, well, he was twisting around in circles until the swing could turn no more. Then he'd let it loose and spin out of control. Below is the page with some of the photos I took.   

--Machine Stitched Papers 2 by Dawn Inskip @ Scrapbookgraphics

--Finishing Touches Templ. Vol. 5 by Dawn Inskip @ Scrapbookgraphics

--That's Life kit by Dawn Inskip @ Scrapbookgraphics

Look what I can do, Mom! (Click to enlarge)

Liam, help me get down!

I'm Ok

Call Me

Let's Talk kit by SAS Designs @ Bits2kits
Close Encounter by Little Green Frog Designs @ Scrapmatters 4312

Woody the Cowboy

I can't do a page about Jessie and not do one for Woody! :) Dawn's Cowboys and Indians collection was perfect for it.  The collection is loaded with a ton of fun stuff, but I think my most favorite element was the horseshoe.

--Cowboys and Indians Collection by Dawn Inskip @ SBG
http://shop.scrapbookgraphics.com/Cowboys-and-Indians-Collection.html
--Guacamole templ. by Little Green Frog Designs
--Stacked ppr. template by Wendy P.  4299

Jessie the Cowgirl

Another page for my Disney world vacation album. We watched the afternoon parade at the Magic Kingdom where Jessie and Woody made an appearance.
--Cowboys and Indians Collection by Dawn Inskip @ SBG
[ link ]
----Flaming Hot templ. by Little Green Frog Designs @ Scrapmatters

Safari Trip #1: Pictures

Going to the safari is my most favorite part of going to the Six Flags Great Adventure park.  It is a self-guided go-at-your-pace tour.

The amusement park is alright, but I find that now that I am, should I say it?, 'older' I don't enjoy the queasiness in the stomach feeling. I am not a fan of heights either, but will get on to make Kaylie happier.  As it stands right now, Kaylie and Liam are the only ones that get to go on most of the rides.  I am not crazy about roller coaster, especially if they are of wooden construction. Kaylie wants to get on all of the roller coasters, but I won't let her go by herself. Liam refuses to get on them. So, throughout the whole trip, they are bickering over who gets to do what. This is what I have to look forward to all summer long. And then they wonder why I don't take them more often. Gee, with so much fun, I can only handle one trip a week. (insert sarcastic smile here).

I will show you the safari pictures first, then do another post with the amusement park rides/kids.  4275

What's Missing From my Blog?

I don't know why it happened, but my blog isn't a reflection of me anymore.  I mean, I love the way it looks and I am still posting the layouts which share part of the story, but I have let it lapse where it really counts: in the humanity department.

As I looked at my previews blogs, the one thing that I loved about them is exactly the same thing that is missing from this one: the personal photos, the little stories that may be trivial, but makes one smile.  The photos that trigger memories and emotions long forgotten.

Somehow, I've lost my "way."  Not so sure how I let it happen.  Could it have been after my one-week stint at the hospital last May?  I suppose it is always the same thing. You let it go for one week, then two and before you know it it has been a few months, then a half a year and so goes the vicious cycle.

I have taken photos, but somehow the joy I derived from it suffered and kind of withered.  Maybe I let the fact that the kids are growing and aren't as interested in having their photos taken rob me of the joy...

I mean, in the last six month's  I've only posted 2 sets of photos: when Kaylie turned 11 years old at the beginning of the year, and when Liam turned 10 years old last week.Surely, there were other worthy moments that happened in that 5 month period?!
 
Now that I am cognizant again of what's missing, I'll try to change it. I will try to rekindle my interest in photography and take more "moments of grace" as I call my candid shots.  I will post them here because that is what my little corner of the web (this blog) is for.

I will come back later with pictures from last week's trip to Great Adventure and with photos of the kids' instrument concerts. 

What about you? Have you experienced the same thing? How did you overcome it?  

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