AdornIt Blog Hop!!! Welcome!!

Welcome to Lovingly Created, my personal scrappy blog!

So happy you've popped by during the AdornIt Blog Hop Party! Here's a link to where the party STARTS in case you just happened across this and want to start back at the beginning! Makes it more fun!

In the summer of 2006 we took our first ever REAL vacation as a family. We rented a motorhome ("RV") and drove to Prince Edward Island for about a week. All six of us had a wonderful time!

On the way home to the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, we made a detour to visit the Fundy Geological Museum in Parrsboro, NS. Imagine our laughter, when, as we passed a body of water, we saw a... a....a....yes... it was!!! A sea monster!

I have been working away (blissfully, I might add, LOL) at scrapbooking the photos from that enjoyable 2006 vacation. The following 12x12" layout is all about that "See {a} Monster" memory, and the photo we took to document the unusual sight!

Journaling:
On our way home from our PEI vacation, we visited the Fundy Geological Museum in Parrsboro, NS. On our way there, we saw a "sea monster" in the water! We had to stop and take a picture. The thing that made us laugh most about it was the large number of seabirds resting on the coils of the "monster!"

Font:
Latha

Papers:
Textured cardstock: "Reed"~ Bazzill
Smooth cardstock: "Lime Delight"~ Bazzill Smoothies
Sparkly Cardstock (circle patt): My Mind's Eye "Laundry Line" collection
Distressed look green pp: unknown
Bubbly scalloped strip pp; scrap of "Phoebe" collection by BasicGrey
Swirly pale yellow and green paper: Basic Grey, scrap from "Gypsy Romani" collection

Ink:
Khaki Green: Ink it Up! dye ink stamp pad 1027-14 [for journaling block]

Paint:
Orient Acrylic Paint Hunter Green ZD200-41
Folk Art Acrylic Paint (Plaid) Clover #923

Embellies:

Curvy Bracket~ Bazzill Chips 302713 Chipboard: Brackets

Mermaids trimmed from early August 2007: Accord Publishing Scrapbooking Calendar

Starfish and Seahorse - both part of same diecut, separated- unknown brand

Orange fish, yellow fish rub-ons: American Traditional Designs; Sun & Sand Mini RO-1104

"Coral" - apple blossoms cut from Tracy Whitney Designs "Tea for Two" collection pp.

Here is how I made it look like sea coral:
1. Turned & adhered blossoms to background so it appears that they are "growing" upward from the sea bottom.
2. Inkssentials Glossy Accents by Ranger was applied thickly along branches and flowers.
3. Let dry.
4. Glossy accents reapplied.
5. While still wet, glossy accents sprinkled with "pink" Scrapbook Shimmer from the boho chic set (LOTS!) and excess removed.

Mermaids' tails:
1. Inkssentials Glossy Accents: RANGER
2. Making Memories Scrapbook Shimmer Kit "boho chic" in aqua and green
3. Suze Weinberg Designer Series Glitz Stickles "Mermaid" SUS25092: RANGER

Surface of star fish (texture):
Platinum Stickles SGG09696: RANGER

Starfish outline:

1. Black Diamond Stickles SGG15123
2. Making Memories Scrapbook Shimmer; "boho chic" in brown applied.

Starfish blue bubbles:
Glossy Accents applied to each bubble for dimension.

Surface of star fish (texture):

Suze Weinberg Series Glitz Stickles "Mermaid" SUS25092: RANGER

Other tools:
Cutterbee scissors
CM Multipurpose Tool
White Sewing Machine- medium zigzag stitch
Green Thread- Feature Value Art D703
1/8" Foam Layering Squares: Scotch 008C

One other special tidbit... I am thrilled to say that this is my 125th LO of 2009. I am so excited that it was also a Blog Hop layout, and that I was privileged to share it with you all.

Thanks for coming by! I really appreciate it. Enjoy the rest of the summer!!

The next scrapbooker on the AdornIt Blog Hop for you to visit is KIM ROSE. Here is her Blog addy: http://www.kimrose.typepad.com/

Have fun on your bloggy trip today!

Basic Grey Challenge Blog is BACK!

Wahoo! They'll be having challenges every 2 weeks.
Have a peek!
The site loooks great and there is a yummy prize to be won!
Just go right here to check it out!
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Deanne's Going "Green!" LOL

In August, Deanne is going to post a green project every day on her blog. Now if you know Deanne, you know she has the best and most FUN ideas, and (being a teacher) she explains everything so well, while including lotsa pics!

This will be a treat lemme tell ya! I can't wait!

She is giving you a chance to both participate and win some Blog candy! Go See!!

Here is that link. :O)
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Divine Purple Pony '07

Yes, it's Miss Oakley.

Kate took these pics at the barn while Keyday was in labour for her little filly, Dee.

Oakley always wore "purple" as that was the colour Kate had chosen for her!

We bought Oakley in October 2007 for the kids.

She really IS Kate's pony, though. Beautiful girl!

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PEI Swim! (Monday Challenge at Sisterhood of Scrap!)

This is a set of beach photos that Peter took of us swimming at Linkletter Provincial Park, Summerside, PEI on our first EVER family vacation (2006)! We had rented and RV and it was just awesome! Thanks Mom for the beach cover-up you made me! Love it. I even swam in it!! Too busy with the kiddos to think of going onto the sand and taking it off. Oh well, it covered a multitude of sins! LOL! You can see Bryan swimming in the background. Kate and our dog Ocean plus Daniel were in the water too! More page layouts to come! Wonderful summery memories!

The challenge here was to use at LEAST ONE circular photo in your layout. :O)

Have a great day all.

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Kids' Artwork is a love of mine!

I adore seeing the kids' artwork, done at home and at school. It makes me smile!

Our sweet little boy (6 here) looks like a very bad dude! OHMY!! This is Noah. I have NEVER seen this expression before! So cute...

1. Noah's First Day at Big School in Sept 2007- Grade Primary...he coloured a bear picture! Usually he has no interest in colouring so of course I had to save it.

(In retrospect I could have just taken a pic of it and scrapped it with several other pieces of art he brought home. I may still do that!)

2. School Artwork from Noah, Grade 1: Layout was scrapbooked using a sketch by my friend, Deanne Burton.

Daniel (almost 9 here) creating a PacMan maze out of Play-doh before school.

June 2009

3. Daniel 's Parrot: created in Grade 2, with Miss A.

4. Artwork not yet scrapbooked: Beautiful Flower created at school, Grade 3, by Daniel Cole
using torn magazines! (TY to Ms. B.)
I think I'll scrapbook this photo of the artwork rather than the actual artwork due to the acidity issue.

5. "Painted flower" by Daniel, done in Grade 2, Ms. A.'s class

6. Lion: This stripey lion is a creation Daniel made in Grade 2... June 2008... TY Lauren!! Yes, I kept it and it took me a year but I did finally "do it up" on a page~ LOL! He had such a great year~!! 7. Pie Chart: The pie chart below is smthg Daniel drew a few days ago (July 2009) and which I SNAGGED and scrapped! LOL. The total is not 100% and it looks like he spends his life watching TV and playing video games! I reproduced his journaling on the left hand side of the page with his own spelling. LOL Kids, eh?? SO CUTE !
*Drawn at home July 2009, he has titled it "Now."*

Kate Lillian (13 1/2) and Oakley in June 2008

Grade 8 "Grad" photos by Kristie Innes

8. Here is some of Kate's artwork from 2002, when she was the same age as Daniel is now (8). She's now 15 1/2! This is a particularly beautiful drawing!
[I did this layout in November 2004.]

Journaling reads: "Artiste"
From the time you could hold a pencil, Kate, we knew you were artistic. You drew, designed, cut, pasted and created at every opportunity. The day you brought Daddy and me this drawing in February 2002, we knew you had something very special in your heart.
It's your blessing, your gift.
Let it fly free.
Vase~ A still life by Kate Lillian, age 8
February 2002
9. And... more of Kate's artwork. I think she drew this amazing dragon in 2006-07, but I JUST scrapped it! I Used a zig-zagged machine stitch to accentuate the idea of the roughness of a dragon's scales & spikes. Yellow braided trim is a scrap from sewing class, from my Mom-in-law, Christine: I love using up those smidges of braid and trim~Thanks! Yellow patterned ribbon at the bottom was from Basic Grey's LilyKate Collection.

10. Here is some "Exo-Force" artwork from Bryan, now 14. He did this drawing when he was 11 yo, in 2006... I love it! Thanks to my friend Shannon for the funky circle paper!

Thanks for checking out the kids' creations! I really appreciate it!

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Be a winner!!

A new stamp company called La-La Land Crafts is starting up and the gal who is the founder has some GREAT Blog Candy treats up for grabs! She will be marketing some gorgeous stamps very soon-- go see the little gal who is their character mascot- she is SO cute!

Keep an eye on this company - it looks like it'll be a good one!

Here is that link again: La-La Land . Be sure to enter her contest to win some GREAT treats!!

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The Final Design Team Reveal

is now posted at Deanne Burton's Blog: Just my Sketches. I'm sad that she won't be continuing on with her regularly scheduled sketch work, but her decision makes perfect sense and is explained on her blog.

Deanne, just a few words for you... it has been an honour and a pleasure to design layouts with your sketches~ THANK YOU for giving me the opportunity to be a part of your "Just My Sketches" Design Team for these last months!

You know I am one of your biggest fans... there will not be a single scrapbook on my shelves with out a "Deanne" sketch-inspired layout in it!

((HUGZ)) girl! Looking forward to "sketch treats" when you have the time!

Everyone, please go and check out the beautiful work of Team 2 in Deanne's final DT reveal.
THANKS!!! My layout is there as well. It features a pic of Pete...one of my faves!

~

Where we are: BEST place on Earth!

Our Home...

June 20- Pics of our home minus the cedars which Pete removed that day. Lots more room for garden! (Now it's filled with perennials & a few annuals-- what a difference a few weeks can make.)

The brown Iris plants that we have in our front garden~

I love being here. Need I say more?

Well, maybe a few more pics from our gardens...

God does all the work: I just watch...

Thanks for popping by! ((HUGZ))

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5 New Christmas Cards!

Must be Christmas in July or something! I got my 5 cards done for the "Christmas Cards All Year 'Round" blog's July Challenge! The cards had to be red white n' blue. Here are mine...Kind of a lighthearted bunch.

They were fun because~

1. I got to use my reindeer and penguin foam stamps...

2. I had the chance to use a corner stamp I had never tried...

3. Loved using RED STICKLES!!

4. Four words: Red and blue ink!

5. The idea of making Christmas cards in July means that December will be easier card-wise!!

Thanks for looking, everyone!

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Christmas Cards All Year 'Round...

is SUCH a great site for Christmas card Challenges! I absolutely LOVE it! Check out the July CCAYR Challenge. If you do it, we'd LOVE to see your creation! Please share! ~

Two new creations!

Above: How can U B 5?~ Noah on his 5th birthday April 23, 2007- with his beloved Boston Cream Donut and a "#5" Candle!
Doodling: Black fine tipped CM pen.
Rub-ons: BasicGrey.
Used Heidi Swapp Edge Distresser.
Orange doodle: Li'l Davis Designs"Heart Doodles."
Paint: DecoArt yellow and red mixed, coated with MM Clear Glitter paint.

JOURNALING READS:

Noah, looking back at these photos I remember how totally INCREDULOUS I was that you were 5. Five! How had that happened? Our baby... FIVE??!

Thinking about it, I know that we'd been fighting HARD for you since your diagnosis with Autism Spectrum Disorder [ASD] aT age 2 1/2 yrs. Those NEXT 2 1/2 years had been fraught with stress, but also the joy of seeing you blossom and fit into our family- the loveable soul that you were then and continue to be to this day [you are 7 now!] will never change. I love you then and now and forever. Love, Mommy

Below: Wagon Rider~ This is Noah at age 4 1/2 yrs on our way home from PEI with on an overnight stop at Five Islands, NS. We went fort a walk thru the campsite and he rode in style! LOL

The scrappy details...I was so excited to use up some older patterned paper, PLUS the Tonka embossed tag and signs, here! Looks pretty good despite the slightly "dated" products. Truck is wooden: Make it Special (= Dollar Store!) Red mesh "ribbon": Make it Special.

Lettering from Sizzlit "Nouveau" font, using the sign patt paper.
Based on a Feb 1, 2009 Sketch by Deanne Burton: "Just my Sketches" blog.

JOURNALING (hidden via pull out tag, as seen below) reads:
Noah, this was one of the last times we took you for a wagon ride! You can tell it's almost too small!!
(Early Sept 2006)

Hope you enjoyed these as much as I have enjoyed creating them!
~

Design Team Assignment!

My Design Team Assignment card is posted in the reveal post at Christmas Cards All Year 'Round today!

And, here is what it looked like!

Thanks to Maggi for the gorgeous K&Co supplies which coordinated perfectly and were awesome for this assignment! Yes-->I had to do a red white and blue Christmas Card! How unusual, but it was SO much fun and pushed the envelope just a little bit. Thanks for the excellent challenge Deanne!

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