Great weekend away!

Myself and 3 of my scrappy friends had a great weekend away last weekend! We went to a bed and breakfast out in the middle of nowhere called The Shack! The atmosphere is so relaxing, all our meals were prepared for us and we all met our scrappy goals for the weekend.

I had bought a Gypsy for the Cricut 2 weeks before our weekend away. My friend Sara bought one a few days before. We spent a lot of time figuring out the ins and outs. I LOVE MY GYPSY!!!! I laughed when Lynne sent me a text not even 12 hours after our weekend ended and she had bought one. We definitely enable each other when it comes to scrappy purchases.

I always try and focus on a specific album at weekend retreats. I worked on pictures from our Smokey Mountain vacation last July. I now have 30 pages out of 56 completed. I was hoping to have it done by the end of March, but that hasn't happened. Imagine that. LOL!

The pages I managed to get done.... Yes, 2 full days of scrapbooking and this is it....

















When planning for a crop or weekend getaway, I find it very helpful to put "page kits" together. I put 2 or 3 patterned papers, 2 or 3 colors of cardstock and the pictures in a bag. I also try and pick a sketch online or from one of the CTMH idea books for each layout. This makes it so much easier.... then I don't have to spend "thinking" about what to do. I can spend my time talking, eating and putting the page together.

Of course, I still bring way more then I will ever get done, pack more then I need and rarely accomplish all I want to get done. But, we always have a great time!!!

Extra Special Picture......

 

This LO is using a couple techniques from the CTMH Magic idea book (9034). I like to include some hidden elements on my pages from time to time. This idea book has a lot of great ways to add moving / hidden parts on your pages. Since the picture of Tyler didn't really match the papers, I decided to make it a pull out. Plus, it adds a little surprise and interest when looking through an album.
The banner title was stamped using the Pennant Alphabet stamp set (E1018). Love it!!!! Banners are all the rage right now. You can make a banner across your page with just about anything. Stars, circles, rectangles, sports balls, etc.....

 

The first hidden element is a pull out picture of Tyler. I used the CTMH canvas buttons for "the handle". These pictures are extra special for many reasons. I never knew what I looked like as a baby until I was 25. All or our baby pictures were burned by my moms lovely ex-husband. Nice huh! My Aunt found this picture in her stash of pictures and mailed it to me. I stared at it over and over when I received it. Then when I compared it to Tyler and Emily's baby pictures, I could not believe how much Tyler and I looked alike as newborns. Hmmmmm....... A little self psychology here.... maybe this is why I take so many pictures of my kids. LOL.

 

 

The second pull out is for some extra special journaling. I really wanted the page to focus on the pictures, so decided to tuck the sentimental journaling away.

The papers are from Graphic 45 Once upon a springtime line. Vanessa at The Scrapbook Nook in Ludington asked me to work with them. At first I had a hard time deciding what pictures to use, as soon as I came across my baby picture, the gears started turning. All you need is a little inspiration for a great creative day!