Friday Scrapbooking Update

Ugh! I've been so bad at posting lately. I have lots of new layouts to post. :) Scroll down for scrapping updates.

To start off with, last Friday was so depressing. Almost no one at work dressed up for Halloween. On the way home I think I saw only a dozen houses with lights one. I only saw a few trick-or-treaters. It was sad because when I was a kid almost all the houses had lights on and there were tons of kids out trick-or-treaters. My sister said the only people who stopped at our house was a group from a hayride. It didn't make much sense. In the past there have been more than that. And to add to the mystery and sadness of it all was that it was a beautiful night. It wasn't cold, raining, snowy, or windy.

On Tuesday, Melinda and I went to go vote. We normally go in the morning and are almost always the youngest people there. There seemed to be a good turnout, which was good to see. I love going to go vote! I remember my 18th birthday so clearly because I was so excited to go to the Secretary of State after school to register to vote. And am proud to say that I have voted in every election since. Its important to use our right to vote. A lot of people struggled for a long time to give me that right. I was happy that Dave Camp won re-election! YAY! Congratulations to Obama and Biden. I'm happy that the election is finally over. It seems that each Presidential campaign gets longer and longer.

Scrapbooking updates:

Last week Britt, released a really cute alpha, "Razzle Dazzle."



Ship of Dreams - Pictures of me at Titanic the Experience in Orlando from January 2007.



This week Britt had several new products. First is a super versatile kit, "Let's Kick It." If you purhcase this week before Thursday you will get a bonus alpha included in your download.



Here is what I scrapped with it and the bonus alpha:

Bear Facts - Mei Xiang is the National Zoo's female panda. She is so beautiful!



My Sister - One of the things I am most thankful for is my sister. She is my sister, but also my best friend.



Also new today is "Pretty Scalloped" and "Date Stamp Classic"





Here is the layout I did using the Pretty Scalloped papers. These are gorgeous!

Beary Cute - A photo of me as a little girl. The teddy bear was the photo studios, but so cute!



So go pick up all those awesome Britt-ish Design products! :)

Since I've been a bad blogger, I have lots of layouts to post from the past week and a half.

A Trip to Monstropolis - This was the layout I did for a telephone game at the DISboards. Photos are from Mike and Sulley to the Rescue at Disneyland.



Disneyland Shirts - For a challenge at the DISboards about Disney clothing. I decided to scrap the shirts we wore at Disneyland.



- Another DISboards challenge layout. This was a color challenge. I scrapped the first time I ever rode the Haunted Mansion. When I was growing up it was always closed when we went. When we went in 2005 I finally got to ride it and fell instantly in love!



Movie Night - For the evening Speed Scrap the other day at ScrapMatters. I used photos of when Cassie decided it was her turn to pick out a movie to watch. Isn't she cute? She likes movies about cats.



A Splashing Good Time - For the daytime Speed Scrap at ScrapMatters from last week. I used photos of Melinda playing in Lake Huron in Mackinaw in August 2008.



Silly Little Bear - Another Speed Scrap layout. This was last week's evening one. This was a challenge for me. The instructions were quite challenging. I am happy how it came out though. And isn't Tai Shan a cutie?



Where everybody knows your name! - From today's daytime Speed Scrap. When we were in Boston last year, we had lunch at the replica Cheers restuarant in Faneuil Hall. It was so good. The pickles were nasty though!



That's all of them! Sunday Melinda and I are going to see "Madagascar 2." I'm excited! YAY! I love the penguins, monkeys, and lemurs. :)

Later!
Melissa

Looking on the "Bright Side"

Britt is amazing! She just got back from Disneyland and created a brand new kit that is out of this world fabulous!!! It's called "The Bright Side" and full of bright, bold, vibrant, beautiful colors. Definitely one of my favorites.



For a limited time if you purchase "The Bright Side" you will get the bonus alpha FREE. No need to add it to your cart, it will be included in your purchase. So don't delay!

Here is what I scrapped with it:

Under the Sea - Melinda and I on King Triton's Carousel at Disney's California Adventure. I love the bright colors of the ride. Instead of horses the animals are sea animals. Melinda just had to ride an otter. She found a super cute purple one.



Time of my life - This was for the Everyday Magic #2 challenge at ScrapMatters. The task was to photograph the clocks in your house.



No real plans for this weekend. I'm hoping to get a bit of scrapping done. Especially since I keep hearing that evil "S" word in the weather forecast - snow. YUCK! It's too early for that. So it seems to be a good weekend to stay home and scrap.

Cyndi at ScrapMatters is hosting this week's daytime Speed Scrap:



Check out the participation prize by Britt:



I am definitely going to try to be there! The participation prize is just gorgeous!

That's all for now.

Later!
Melissa

Layout overload!

Since I wasn't feeling well last week and didn't have a lot of time this past weekend to post any new layouts, this one is going to be layout overload! :)

Paradise Pier - I created this one for a telephone challenge at the DISboards. Melinda and I in front of Paradise Pier at Disney's California Adventure



- For the Past Matters challenge at ScrapMatters. The photos on page 1 are my Great-Grandmas, Grandparents, and Parents. These are questions that I want to find out about my family. The second page is my answers to those questions.







Belle - Melinda and I with Belle at the Toon Town Fair at the Magic Kingdom in January 2007. This was for a Speed Scrap at ScrapMatters



A Day in the Life of Cassiopeia - For the Everyday Magic #1 challenge at ScrapMatters. I followed Cassie around for a day. She got a bit annoyed, but was a good sport.







Magical Memory - This was the layout I did for the challenge I hosted at the DISboards and also for the Roadmap to Scrap challenge at ScrapMatters. The theme for the DIS challenge was to scrap a special Disney memory. I choose to scrap about the extra hour we got to spend at Disneyland after it closed as part of the Year of a Million dreams promotion.



1st Visit - For a Tuesday Template challenge at ScrapMatters. The theme was to scrap a "first." I selected to do our first visit to Disneyland.



Kilimanjaro Safari - Another Tuesday Template challenge. Photos from the Kilimanjaro Safari at Animal Kingdom from January 2007.



Surrounded by Beauty - For the evening Speed Scrap this week. I used a photo from the Lincoln Park Conservatory in Chicago. This is probably my favorite part of the Conversatory. Its beautiful!



Soaring High - From the daytime Speed Scrap today. I used photos from us on Dumbo in January 2007. I LOVE Dumbo. Its one of my favorite rides at Disney. Its a must ride each time we go to the Magic Kingdom.



WHEW! That's all of them! For now! Also I was selected to be part of the ScrapMatters Gang! YAY!!! I'm so excited.

That is all for tonight. There will be more to post tomorrow. :)

Later!
Melissa

Weekend Update

This past week has been a long one! On Monday I didn't feel good and spent most of the week under the weather. Still not 100% better, but definitely feel better than I did. I hate being sick. It always seems to take longer to get better than it does to get sick.

Since I felt so awful most of the week I needed something to cheer me up so I finally purchased a new digital camera. I've had my Kodak CX7430 camera since February 2005. It still takes beautiful photos, but it was time to get a newer one.
I decided on the Canon PowerShot A590 IS.



I'm so exited!!! Its still a point and shoot camera, but it has tons of really awesome features. It has gotten lots of good reviews. So far I've been really pleased with it. I can't wait to take it to Florida. I need to familarize myself with it before we go.

On Saturday Melinda and I took Mom and Dad to Frankenmuth for their 35th Anniversary. Pat met us at Zehenders. We thought since it was Sweetest Day that if we went early when they opened it wouldn't be too busy. Pat got there before we did and got a table. It was a ZOO!!! TONS and TONS of people. There was almost no parking. The food was good though. I had the Chicken Prima Vera. Melinda, Mom, and Dad all had one of the world famous chicken dinners. Pat had Chicken Parm, which he said was good. After lunch we went downstairs to the bakery and bought some baked goods. Since it had been a while since my parents had been to Frankenmuth we took them to Bronner's. It was crazy, but not as bad as November or December. We were there probably 2 hours. I had to pry Melinda away from the lighted village houses. They had some cute Disney pieces. We each bought some ornanments. Melinda and I got an advent calendar with chocolate in them like when we were younger. LOL We got a really cute Red Wings ornament. I took a bunch of pictures inside that I will try to upload when I get a chance.

Today I hung out with Pat a bit before he went back to his house near Detroit. I always enjoy spending time with him. I probably won't see him again until next month when he will come up for his birthday and Thanksgiving.

Melinda and I had an unexpected visitor today. It was our best friend growing up that I haven't seen in probably 4 years. I was totally shocked. It was nice to see her again. Even though we lost touch I still would often think of her and wonder what she was doing.

I enjoyed tonight's episode of the Amazing Race. I loved that they finally got to go to New Zealand. I loved Phil's dad as the greeter.

Since I was sick most of last week I still didn't finish reading "Son of a Witch" yet, but I did purchase "A Lion Among Men." Hopefully I can finish SOAW tomorrow, but I need to get some scrapping done. Ugh. Being sick just really messed up last week.

I'm just hoping that this will be a better week. That's all for now.

Later!
Melissa

"Glam"orous new layouts

I love Fridays! I love being able to post the layouts I've been working on for Britt's new products. Today Britt has the perfect product if you want to add some glitter and glam to your products:



And she also released "Bunches of Flowers" which had previously been a Speed Scrap participation prize. It's 25 gorgeous flowers in various shades.

Here are the layouts I scrapped with these products

Someone is sleeping in my bed - Cassie loves to burrow under the blankets on my bed. She, however, doesn't like to be disturbed when she does.



Incredible - Melinda and I with Mr. and Mrs. Incredible at Walt Disney World in January 2007. This time Mr. Incredible behaved himself! LOL In 2005 she was flirting and hitting on all the ladies. In front of Mrs. Incredible!!! I made the logo with the glitter paper and the Incredibles font.



Say Goodbye - This was the last photo we had taken at Disneyland. It was as we were leaving Disneyland. It's always so sad to leave Disney.



Last night was a super fun speed scrap at ScrapMatters. Here is the layout I created:

My Pal - The photos are me with Mickey at Walt Disney World in 2007 and Disneyland in 2008.



No exciting plans for this weekend. I need to take some photos for a "day in the life of me" layout for a challenge at ScrapMatters. Our local library is having a used book sale, so I may go check that out. See if I can find anything good.

Speaking of books . . .



A Lion Among Men by Gregory Maguire is the third book in the Wicked years. It comes out on TUESDAY!!!! I can't wait!!! I'm rereading Son of Witch right now to refresh my memory. I need to finish it by Tuesday.

That's all for now! I should go read! :)

Later!
Melissa

Layouts and some exciting news!!!

At the DISboards I hosted a "telephone" challenge. It was so much fun watching the layout change from person to person. Here is the layout I created:

A Trip to Wonderland



I created this layout for the weekly challenge this week at the DISboards that Britt hosted.

Once Upon a Dream - Cinderella Castle from our January 2007 trip.







The other day the Travel Channel DVD, Paranormal Destinations, that Melinda ordered arrived and the episode about Salem inspired the next layout.

In Memory - This is the Salem Village Witchcraft Victim's Memorial in Danvers, MA. Danvers was once known as Salem Village, but has spent the past 300 years distancing themselves from the Witch trial hysteria and it definitely shows because you don't see many traces of it at all. In 1992 they built this memorial for the victims. Its on a small little quiet street in almost the middle of nowhere. It is beautiful. The day we went my sister and I were the only people around. The text around the edge is the words from the victims. It may look like something is misspelled, but there was no standard spelling in the 17th century so they are spelled as they were back then.







I will have more layouts to post on Friday. :)

Now for the news . . . WE'RE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!!!! Melinda and I are taking Mom to WDW in January and meeting up with Aunt Joyce and Aunt Nette. YAY! Its a little over 3 months until we go. We will be staying at Pop Century again! I love Pop Century. I can't wait!!! We have reservations for breakfast at Akershus in Norway on Melinda's birthday.

Ok, that's all for now. :)

Later!
Melissa

Halloween Nightmare!

Britt released her first ever Halloween kit, A Halloween Nightmare yesterday. It is full of ghoulish goodies!!! If you purchase this week you will receive a free bonus alpha!



Here is what I scrapped with it:

Is that a ghost? - Photo is from the ghost tour we did at Gettysburg in April 2007. I have no idea if it is a ghost or not, but this was the only photo the yellowish orb appeared in. Very spooky!



Beware of hitchhiking ghosts! - This is one of my favorite photos from our Disneyland trip. Melinda and I hanging out with the hitchhiking ghosts in front of the Haunted Mansion.



Britt's other new release this week was Witchy Woman which is soooo cool!!! I had the perfect photos for! :)

Totally Wicked!







So go pick up those ghoulishly cute new products!!!

Now time for some other new layouts. I was able to do both Speed Scraps this week at ScrapMatters. The first one was from Tuesday's evening speed scrap.

Let's Boogie! - Melinda and I on Francis' Bug Boogie at Disney's California Adventure. I loved it and she didn't quite care for it.



This was the one I did for Wednesday's daytime scrap:

House of Seven Gables - An outdoor shot at the House of the Seven Gables from our New England trip last year. Its so sad that it has already been a year since we went out East. I wanna go back!!! LOL



Orchard House - This was where Louisa May Alcott wrote, "Little Women." The photos on the right side are scans of postcards we bought since they don't allow photography inside of Orchard House.







Antietam National Battlefield - I wanted to include a layout or two about Antietam for my "Places I've Been" book so I created a two page overview of it. All photos are from our June 2006 trip.







Precious baby - This was for one of the new challenges at ScrapMatters. I used a photo of my mom when she was a baby. I used the gorgeous new kit by Erica Zane and Mari Koegelenberg called "Berry Crush."



And the last one for today.

Toronot - The intro page for our July 2000 trip to Toronto. I really want to go back!!! I'm waiting until Yzerman has been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. As soon as that happens, we are so going back! :) The photos are all scanned in since it was in the pre-digital age. We didn't take many photos, which is another reason for going back.



So that's all of the new layouts. I'm stil working on my challenge layout for the DISboards, but have a fairly good start on it. Today I went to one of the local apple orchards to get some cider and donuts! YUM! I had my camera with me, but didn't check the batteries before I left and they were dead! AHHHHH!!! I wanted to get some photos of the fall decorations and such. Oh well. Will just have to go back and buy more cider! LOL Other than that, no plans for the weekend. Just a lazy, quiet weekend.

Later!
Melissa