Scrapalicious

CT Layout "From my Valentine".

2012-01-28T15:36:00.000+01:00

I think Valentine's Day is something really over commercialised. I haven't celebrated it for years, not really since high school actually. At that time it was still cute to send the boy you had a crush on some cards. But now? I am married to a fantastic guy who deserves some attention every day. Not especially on Valentine's Day.

But OK, in America this is still huge for some reason. Maybe I am just to down to earth for that ;-) The digital world is being floated by love themed kits. And most of them are pink....why pink? Red is the colour of love I would think. But it's pink all over the place. Yari from Jady Day Studio is no different than others on that field. So she re-released a kit from last year. I do like it, but it's full of candy related items and well...I am just not into Valentine's Day. So I tried to make a different kind of layout. I choose a photo of our wedding. Now that's love right?

In my journaling I tried to explain the "adventure" I am talking about. I see our marriage as one big adventure you go through together and this is year will be an adventure, that's for sure! I am full of confidents that we will be good parents. And I wouldn't think of anyone else to do that with!

See you soon!
XOXO

Pure love

2012-01-21T13:36:00.000+01:00

Last Monday we had our second ultrasound and everything was ok again. Our little one grew double during the last 10 days....and on the photos you can really see a baby now. It's getting more real for us every day. But I do have my insecurities, probably like every new mom to be. Still, I feel completely fine and I notice the tiredness is also getting less and less every day. But there is so much going on inside me. I can't wait untill I can feel the little one. I am not really sure what I should feel or not, so everything is new and exciting.

Forever love - Julie Billingsley
Template halfpack 29 by Cindy Schneider
DJB Love me some Laura

Now, we are more than 12 weeks. So we are more and more in the less risk zone. But I know from reality around me that you absolutely have no garantee untill you have your little one in your hands, healthy and all. I always thought that what happened to others will not necessarily happen to me too. But now that I am pregnant I am little more scared than I thought. I try not to let it get to me, but that's not always an easy task.

Fortunately, most of the time I just enjoy the attention you are getting when you are pregnant. I must have a smile around my face 90% of the time. I don't want to miss anything from this pregnancy, but I do wish it was August already. Can't wait to have our little one in my arms!

See you soon!
XOXO

CT Layouts "Starting Anew" and "The ones we cherish"

2012-01-15T14:16:00.000+01:00

Last week I forgot to post my new layouts for Jady Day Studio. It's been two weeks full of new releases and re-releases. Last week Yari re-released "Starting anew". You can use this kit for almost anything, new year, new job, new house....but also new baby! So I decided to scrap the ultrasound picture we got last week. I can't really see a baby in it, it's more like a seahorse or something but I really love this picture. It makes it all more real that there is something growing inside of you. Because although I am feeling tired most nights, I can't complaint about other things, because there aren't any. I don't have morning sickness at all and believe me, I was afraid of that big time! My collegue and friend Caroline had a worst case of morning sickness with her last son....boy, she felt sick!

And this week Yari had a new release "The ones we cherish". A very bright kit! It reminds me of spring and picknicks and stuff. I like it. But I wanted to scrap something we did recently, our very short trip to Paris! I had most fun at the Eifeltower. I've been to Paris a couple of times before and every time we see the Eifeltower from a distance somehow. So this time I wanted to see closely! And it was a beautiful day too, no rain or something. We had so much fun!

Tomorrow we have a new ultrasound. I am so excited. My head says I have nothing to worry about, but I am a little nervous about it! I want to see (and maybe hear) that heartbeat again!

See you soon!

XOXO

New beginnings

2012-01-07T17:24:00.000+01:00

And you can take that very literally ;-) Now that we told most of our friends and family I am so thrilled that I can share this news with you too! Eric and I are expecting a little munchkin somewhere in August! For a lot of people it was absolutely no surprise as I am very open about me wanting to be a mom. I have been ready for about five years, but I didn't want to do it alone when I was single. And after that Eric needed to get used to the idea first ;-)

So...after our wedding the story starts. And I never expected to be pregnant so quickly. I've been on birth control for over twenty years and I really expected that my body need to quit all those hormones first. But you can count also...we got pregnant in our second try already! Last Wednesday we had our first ultrasound. At that time we thought to be around 10,5 weeks but due to the fact that my cycle was short first month and we tested positive quite late I expected that I was put back a few days. I didn't expect 11 days though. Our little one was playing hide and seek already so it couldn't be measured really well. That's why we will get an extra ultrasound on the 16th to check the size again. Most important of this visit and ultrasound though was ofcourse the heartbeat....and it beated nicely! I was so releved when she said that!
Now the time is there to document everything we go through....from visits to our midwife to shopping for babystuff. I just want to remember everything again after a few years. And show it to our child when it's old enough to understand. I have been scrapping like three layouts already. Now I can finally show them to you. So excited about all of this.

And although I am only 9,5 weeks pregnant I feel absolutely fine. As it is our first baby I do have some insecurities about what I am feeling inside my body, but untill now everything seems quite normal ;-) I don't have any morning sickness at all. But I can't eat and drink everything anymore. Then my stomach starts protesting! I feel excited but also tired....and I am so emotional. I can start crying about nothing at all. Does this sound normal to you? LOL....

And both our parents are so thrilled! For my parents it's not the first time they will be grandparents but I'm their only daughter and that's a different experience than a daughter in law. Although the endresults will be no different. For Eric's parents this will be the first time...especially my mother in law is very enthusiastic. She wants to tell everyone, LOL. Also my friends and collegues reacted very positive. Everybody is just happy for us. Probably also because they know how much we wanted to be parents.

So....you will probably see a lot more pregnancy related layouts in the coming weeks/months.

For the first layout I used Here we grow by Dani Mogstad. For the second one I used Pickles and Icecream by Libby Pritchett and for the third one Project 2012 by Libby Pritchett. Templates are by Cindy Schneider and Sula Designs (freebie). I lifted her layout Clean Slate 2012. Font is DJB Love me some Laura.

So....now off to eat something...

See you soon!

XOXO

Year in review 2011

2012-01-01T14:34:00.000+01:00

At the end of the year I really like looking back on all the great moments and maybe some less great of this year. Last year I decided to do that and I felt good about that. 2011 was one of the better years of my life.

OK....2011 in a nutchell:

* We really feel at home in our house.

* We decided to got married.

* A nice Queen's Day.

* Great vacation in Italy.

* Nice weather in Spring.

* Not so great weather in Summer.

* We had to say goodbye to Zoë.

* We could say hello to Eddie and Bailey.

* We both had a great bachelorparty.

* We had the best wedding ever with the best weather we could think of.

* Fun with family and friends.
* Playing with leaves in Fall.
* Our fastest trip ever to Paris and back.
* A great Christmas Eve and Christmas days.
* And New Year's Eve was fun too.

So...a whole new year in front of us.
I am excited to know what this year brings us!

See you soon!
XOXO

CT Layouts "A perfect birthday"

2012-01-01T13:48:00.001+01:00

First of all, I would like to wish everyone a very happy New Year and all the best for 2012.

A boy's perfect birthday by Jady Day Studio

Write on my cake alpha by Jady Day Studio

Template set 112 by Cindy Schneider

DJB Love me some Laura

Last week Yari re-released her fabulous birthday combopack. I so love these kits. They are bold, full of fun elements and very easy to use!

I really need to make more photos in 2012, because for these layouts I had to grab back in older photos. I still laugh about these adorable photos of my little nephew Luca when he turned one in February 2011. He's just too cute not to photograph!

And for the girly version I grabbed back to photos of 2008 when I turned 30. I really have to say that my life really got better after 30. I got to live on my own, met Eric and finally got married in 2011. So...I love my life after 30!

So....let's talk about New Year's resolutions. Last year I wanted to lose weight. Well....I did....but I gained it too. Today I even weigh a few ounces more than last year! And I wanted to enjoy life more. I think I did do that. I can enjoy the little things more which make me more relaxed.

A girl's perfect birthday by Jady Day Studio
Template halfpack 11 by Cindy Schneider
DJB Love me some Laura

But for this year I decided not to set really personal resolutions. No weightloss, nothing like that. No I just want to continue enjoying my life. With Eric, with our cats, at my job, with my friends and family. And capture that! So I want to make more photos.

And to make better photos so I will be attending a photography class....for beginners. I know a little about my camera and I think I know the difference between all my tools but I hate using them because I am not good at them so I get louzy photos. In about 2 weeks I have my first class of six....Yeah!

See you soon!
XOXO

X-mas Eve

2011-12-25T14:31:00.000+01:00

Oh, I am so stupid!!! LOL....In my last post I wrote that I've already been married for two months....but it's already three months! Time flies.

Deck the halls - classic by Kristin Cronin-Barrow
Template set 11 by Kay Miller
Font: DJB Holly Berry Wonderland

Furthermore, I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2012. We spent X-mas Eve with my side of the family at my brother's house. We had a few wonderful hours there. A real Christmas eve dinner. And the kids had a great time too....

Today we will spend X-mas dinner at my friend Mariska's house. But untill then, we are lazy here. Eric is gaming and I am scrapping a bit. I made some fun photos last night. Anouk had gotten a K3 dress from Sinterklaas and was very proud to wear it. With her hair like that she was a real "Josje". She is becoming so grown up already....almost five! And I have to laugh about Luca. He's loud...but so cute! He likes the camera. As soon as he sees the flash he starts screaming and laughing with his mouth wide open. I really love them both so much....

See you soon!
XOXO

Wedding album front

2011-12-23T14:22:00.000+01:00

So..it's been already two months since Eric and I got married. Time really flies. Although most of our photos were taken by a professional photographer I wanted to make my own wedding album. Eric and I both thought something selfmade was more precious because we could decide for ourselves how many photos we wanted in there and which ones. The photographer was not there the whole day and he couldn't split himself in two. But I did want an album which showed the whole day, so making it myself is the best (and probably the cheapest too).

But....as I started making this album, I found it was harder than I thought. You want to show everything at it's best. Putting the photos in their right spot was not the biggest problem. No....the colours, because I made it rather hard for myself chosing red in my dress! I had really beautiful wedding kits with pink in them...nope....green was also not an option and blue makes it a little Christmas like. And I didn't want that too. So, I chose red/white/grey/black. Sounds a little funeral like, but if you don't put in too much of the black I believe it's rather beautiful. And Eric saw this page and said OK! LOL! I thought I'd ask him for his approval before I did the whole album!

So this is the first page. Most of the items are from Jady Day Studio's Temple marriage but I also chose some reds from Love me do and J'adore by KCB.

OK, off to do a few (ahum) layouts!

See you soon!
XOXO

May Faves

2011-12-18T15:53:00.001+01:00

I have received some fun remarks on my last blogpost and also by email. So....no, I won't stop writing here. I still have fun in creating my blog and writing about my life and my pages. I just thought I might me writing only for me.

So...everybody ready for Christmas? Eric and I decided not to celebrate much this year. Our wedding was expensive enough and we will be going to Paris for a few days soon! So...no Christmaspresents in the Meijer home this year. We are just grateful for what we have had this year.

But as 2011 slowly comes to an end, you look back and also to the future. I have set myself a few small goals for 2012. Mainly scrapping goals. Because all other goals usually aren't really succesful for me.

1. I really want to finish our wedding album. I have put all photos in their right place, but I am still searching for the perfect kit to decorate the whole album without it becoming dull. I am thinking of J'adore by Kristin Cronin-Barrow in combination with Temple marriage by Jady Day Studio. Now finding some courage just to start all of this.

2. Become a better photographer. I will be attending a photography class starting in about 4 weeks, so I hope this will improve my photos.

3. Take more pictures. They don't really need to be high quality, but I just made too few photos this year.

4. Scrap for me....and journal. I am on one CT at the moment for which I need to create weekly pages when she comes with new kits. I really love doing it, but I also notice that I don't scrap for me. In my own pace. Maybe that's because I also work 32 hours a week, but I sometimes have trouble keeping up, especially when she has a last minute kit. So decided not to call for CT's anymore....and there might be one exception ;-)

5. Make monthly pages. I started doing this only recently. I think you still can do that after a year. I've done May faves today! It was so much fun creating this page again, with the memories I have from that month. It was our vacation in Italy that made this month very special. And I really love this photo too!

See you soon!
XOXO

CT Layout "The one that I want".

2011-12-11T09:15:00.000+01:00

This new kit in the Scrap Orchard store is one I was looking forward to for a while now. One of my fellow CT members asked for a Grease themed kit as one of her kids was playing in a musical based on this movie. And because it really is one of my favourite movies ever (together with Dirty Dancing and Sound of Music) I really wanted to document that!

The one that I want by Jady Day Studio
Template set 109 by Cindy Schneider
DJB Love me some Laura

I think I saw this movie over 50 times, maybe even more than that. I can speak out all lyrics and sing along with every song in it. It just makes me smile! I searched on the web for photos of my favourite scenes, but frankly, it's one by favourite scene for me, LOL!

Ok, something different to share with you. I am thinking of stopping with my blog. I don't get a lot of readers anymore and I think most of them will see my layouts on the different galleries too. Only my mom is checking out my blog regularly. So I would like to ask you: do you want me to stay? If yes, please respond to this post....

See you soon!

XOXO

CT Layout "Winter Wonderland"

2011-12-07T19:40:00.000+01:00

Oh I am embarrassed! I now see that I already promissed you this layout in my previous post! See title....I think I just forgot. Sorry!

Winter Wonderland by Jady Day Studio
Template set 9 by Kay Miller
DJB I love DJB fonts

But....Yari is being featured at the DigiShopTalk this month and gold members will receive this beautiful kit she made. I'll be honest: at first I thought it all would be to much blue. But how can I ever doubt her designing skills....this kit is awesome. Together with the beautiful templates Kay Miller is designing, the kit is so well used! I also love all the layouts my fellow CT-members created. Go and see the Facebook page for those!

Ok, sometimes I really realize that I'm not making enough photos period! So, I decided to take a class in photography. I am starting in January and I am so excited about it. Finally I will learn how to use my camera properly, LOL! So, for this layout I used a few older photos from two years ago. We had a great white winter back then! I like winters....and snow....as long as I don't have to drive anywhere!

See you soon!
XOXO

CT Layout "Magical Christmas" AND "Winterwonderland"

2011-12-03T15:16:00.001+01:00

It's been a busy week for me....on all levels. At the beginning of the week I didn't feel too well, had a lot of headaches and was a little feverish. So I decided to take an extra day off on Tuesday. I need to go to work on the last and first day of the month, and I had to be ok by then. I slept a lot on Tuesday, can tell you that!

Magical Christmas by Jady Day Studio & Studio Flergs
Listmaker templates by Cindy Schneider
Roundabout alpha by Fee Jardine
Striped alpha by Meghan Mullens & Cindy Schneider
DJB Love me some Laura by Darcy Baldwin

Furthermore, Yari surprised us with a new flow of MOJO and made this incredible cute Christmas kit. Bright colours, beautiful embellishments. It was a collab with Studio Flergs. I love it...Yari is Queen of themed kits and I am more of a general scrapper, but every week she amazes me again.

I decided to make a photoless layout again. I wrote down my ultime favourite Christmas songs ever. Every year on the 6th of December radio stations start playing Christmas songs. After Sinterklaas. I can't wait to listen to those songs which return every year. My favourites are some classics but also a few which are more recent. At least, my face will turn happy when I hear "All I want for Christmas" by Mariah Carey.

See you soon!
XOXO

Log Your Memory #48

2011-11-29T16:48:00.001+01:00

It's already week 48 so time for a new challenge at Log Your Memory. We can clearly see the end of 2011 now. And then you realize time flew by this year! This week we had to document about something we take for granted. I chose a who in this case. It's so easy to take your own husband for granted because he's always there and such. I just don't want that. I think our love is very special and we need to remind each other about that.

RULDS2 Temple marriage by Jady Day Studio & Melissa Bennett
J'adore by Kristin Cronin-Barrow
Template halfpack 24 by Cindy Schneider
Round a bout alpha by Fee Jardine
DJB Love me some Laura by Darcy Baldwin
DJB Constance Beaugard by Darcy Baldwin

I so love this photo of Eric during our wedding. At this point he hadn't seen me yet. He just arrived at our home with our fabulous wedding truck! He's so handsome in his wedding suit! I took a peek from the attick and everyone was excited about the firetruck we had as our wedding car.

It will be no surprise that our wedding is the most important event of 2011 for us. There hasn't been a day since that I haven't thought of it. We just had the perfect day everybody speaks about. The weather was great, everything went well and we both said "yes" ;-) So, a perfect day!

And I really hope we will think of this day for years to come. I am so not taking our love for granted! Marriage is something you work for.

See you soon!
XOXO

CT Layout "Winter memories"

2011-11-24T20:45:00.000+01:00

This week is Farmer's Market at Scraporchard.com. All sorts of elements and kits for just 1$ each! Yari from Jady Day Studio made four very cute minikits, featuring every season of the year, so there's a winter memories, spring memories, summer memories and autumn memories. Really adorable. I made a layout with the winter memories.

Winter Memories by Jady Day Studio
Template by Cindy Scheider
Font: DJB Constance Beaugard

Not a lot of people know that baking is, besides scrapbooking, one of my favourite things to do. But I don't do it often enough. A long time ago when I was very little, my grandma and I baked cakes together and after she passed away I tried myself and it turned out that mine was just as good as grandma's was. Last year I attended a workshop for cake decorations with fondant and marsepan. The cupcakes on the photo were my first try after that workshop. They didn't turn out really great as I just had too little colours of fondant. But they were delicious, LOL!

See you soon!

XOXO.

April faves

2011-11-20T19:06:00.001+01:00

Three posts today....I guess that looking around on the internet isn't that bad afterall. After doing that I had so much inspiration that I even wanna do one more. But the whole day behind the computer is not good. LOL....or is it?

Everyday story telling by Kristin Cronin-Barrow and Jenn Barrette.
Kinda clean stitches by Traci Reed
Template by Nettio Designs
Font: DJB Love me some Laura.

My April faves. Looking at this photo makes me smile. I can easily remember the feeling I had during that photo. It was Queen's Day and we were at a carnival....in a ride, trying to make photos where we both were on! This was one of the few that were OK enough to publish LOL. Yeah, we had fun, so that's what I want to remember most.

This weekend Kristin Cronin-Barrow and Jenn Barrette came with a scoop kit...."Everyday storytelling". I can tell you, you will see more of this kit. I can promise you that. I love every bit of this kit. It's huge, has a lot of patterned and solid papers and the embellishments are so cool. I am in love with the journalcards. If you browse the SSD Gallery you will see many more beautiful layouts with this kit. I love it!

From now on I will put the credits under the layout.

Now, off to see some tv...I am kinda curious to see the American Obese series. The series made in Holland were already pretty awesome. So much respect for those persons who lost a great deal of their weight.

See you soon!
XOXO

March Faves

2011-11-20T15:13:00.001+01:00

What's that with me that if I plan on scrapbooking a lot, I do nothing! Well, not nothing, but I am being so distracted by other things. Like yesterday....I didn't plan on scrapbooking at all, but Eric did a little nap in the afternoon so I sat down and scrapped the "Thanks" layout I posted this morning. In a pretty short time. And today...when I have all the time in the world. But I spend more time checking communities, Facebook and such things than I scrapbook.

Life is bliss by Meghan Mullens
Template by Nettio Designs
Roundabout alpha by Fee Jardine
By the month by Fee Jardine
DJB Love me some Laura by Darcy Baldwin

But....I did do this March faves layout. I have to say I already placed the texts earlier, so I only had to scrapbook the page. I used this older kit by Meghan Mullens "Life is bliss". And I love this photo of me with my best friend Mariska. March was also the month Eric and I decided to get married (on a little dinnerparty at Mariska's house, LOL). And the month I found my wedding dress! Yes, it was an important month for us.

So...going further enjoying my Sunday....home alone....scrapping, enjoying time with the cats (although they are upstairs sleeping most of the time). Tomorrow is early enough for errands and housework.

But first....off to dye my hair...I am not really grey yet, but it's so necessary!

See you soon!

XOXO

Log Your Memory #47

2011-11-20T12:31:00.001+01:00

This Thursday is Thanksgiving....so you cannot be surprised to see that the challenge at LYM this week is about giving thanks. You had to literally show thanks.....I wanted to make a page with lots of photos at first, but that's just not me at all. So I decided to scrap only one photo instead. I really like this photo. It was taken on our wedding. Unfortunately, not all friends are on it, but this is my group of friends with whom I really like to hang out and do stuff. I don't see them much individually, but we try to do stuff regularly. Going to musicals, bowling, having dinner....Last night we went to go bowling with 12 of them. I really enjoyed myself big time!

12 months: November by Penny Springman
Template by Kay Miller
DJB Love me some Laura by Darcy Baldwin

I used Penny Springman's monthly kit. November. She gives out a themed kit every month. I so like them! And I used a template by Kay Miller. After Cindy Schneider, she's absolutely my favourite! And the font....well...you know that one by now.

Today, Eric has a shift again, so I am planning to scrap a lot....LOL! I want to make the March faves...because I still have a lot of months to do. Nettio Designs has given out templates untill August so far...so 6 more to go now before she releases another set!

See you soon!
XOXO

CT Layout "Spirit of the season"

2011-11-19T11:01:00.000+01:00

It's already November 19th. A few more weeks and 2011 is already gone! No wonder that you are starting to see Christmas kits all over the place. I am a huge Christmas fan, I like decorating the house and the Christmas tree, the long evenings, candles....you understand what I mean. Cosy in your own home. What I don't like is snow....so I hope this year is not as bad as last year. We are just not used to a lot of snow here.

Yari Mower re-released a kit she used to sell at Scrapmatters. But she recently moved to Scrap Orchard. I am not on the CT that long, so I made a new layout this week. I really like this kit....typical Christmas colours and really beautiful embellishments.

The layout is about decorating the Christmas tree. Every year I am wondering....what shall I do this year? You can't buy new decorations every year. Right? Well....Seeing the big pile of boxes on our attic says I can, LOL. I really love traditional silver trees.....but I few years back I bought some black and white things....really beautiful with silver.

Well, first things first.....first we will welcome Sinterklaas in our town today...

See you soon!
XOXO

Log Your Memory #46

2011-11-13T15:54:00.000+01:00

Can you remember I made this layout last week about our perfect Sunday? Well, today is definitely one of those days. We woke up and stayed in bed a little longer. Our cats came up to lie with us. I just lied and read a little, Eric tried to get a little more sleep.....great to wake up that way. After that we had breakfast. We spent the afternoon watching tv (Eric) and scrapping (me!). Totally awesome. On such day I do so much. If I know I have to do more stuff I can't really relax myself and scrap the whole afternoon. But everything is done...tomorrow is another day!

So, I had lots of time thinking about this weeks LYM challenge. I found this a difficult one. "You don't know how good you got it". That's a line everyone of us has heard that at least once in her life! And I have to say....when I was younger I didn't like hearing that at all. But it's so true! Especially now with the December holidays coming up, it's so clear that we don't realize enough how good we really got it. We spent hundreds of euros for presents and food! Kids don't even know where to play with first because they get so many gifts this month. I know, not every family is the same in that.....but what's wrong with only one or two presents they really really really want? Well, that's my opinion and I am planning to do that a lot differently as what I am seeing around me. Yes, I say that now....;-)

I wrote about how I see things and what I like most....and that's Christmas. For children Sinterklaas is a lot of fun. Those exciting faces when they are waiting for Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet. But for parents Sinterklaas is a lot less fun. At least for me....at Christmas everyone is equal....

I used a new kit by Libby Pritchett & Melissa Bennett "Deck the rooftop". And one of Cindy Schneider newest halfpacks with journaling templates! I love those! And ofcourse DJB Love me some Laura....do I need to say more?

Have a nice Sunday!
XOXO

February faves

2011-11-13T12:40:00.001+01:00

I like the templates Nettio Designs is selling. She really made some awesome layouts with those. And I think it's a great way to document the highlights of the year. During the year you see all kinds of projects for documenting your own favourite moments off the year: P365, P52, P12......al nice but I just can't make a picture every day to do these projects. It would be great for a few weeks but I would never finish such thing! So that's why I love Lynnette's ideas on doing it differently.

I already did January in this post already, now it was time for February. My birthday month, Valentine's Day, which I didn't even mention I realize now. We don't really celebrate Valentine's Day though....it's mostly commerce.

I used an older kit by Zoe Pearn: Happy go lucky. I love the colours and embellishments. Ofcourse the February faves template by Nettion Designs and my ultime favourite font: DJB Love me some Laura.

So, we have a great Sunday here....just relaxing. Scrapping something, watching tv, reading on my reader.....just nothing you HAVE to do. Yeah!

See you soon!

XOXO

We are live!

2011-11-09T18:23:00.000+01:00

Yes, the shop is open! Kristin Rutten, owner of Log Your Memory has worked hard for many months to come to this point. And every year is exciting and new! Me and the other girls are so excited to be part of a whole new year of challenges! This year we have two separate books. One memory book with day to day pages where you can jot down everything you don't want to forget. So that you can use it in your layouts. The other book is the challenge book in which you can find 52 challenges (one for each week) about your own life following time capsules. That's this year's red line.

You can buy a downloadable version or a printed version. So....head over to the shop, because it's just so much fun!

Just click on the banner to go to the shop!

See you soon!
XOXO

Log Your Memory #45

2011-11-07T20:10:00.000+01:00

After all the excitement today about the reveal of the 2012 LYM Designteam (see previous post) I just had to sit down and scrap a little. That's just pure relaxation and bringing me back to earth. I just feel so special when I see my name printed somewhere with a layout I made. It's definitely not something I take for granted. Being selected to creative teams mean a lot to me. Then I know my work is being appreciated. I am always disappointed if I am not selected.

Again I am in a stage of waiting to see if I am on a CT or not. I tried out for Cindy Schneider again. She is only looking for two people. And I know that many of my fellow scrappers would do anything to be in that team. Cindy has a hard time picking anyone for her team out of like 100 scrappers or more. So I shouldn't be disappointed if I am not the one. I know a rejection doesn't automatically means my layouts are rubbish. I am fighting that thought!

So...it's week 45 and time for Log Your Memory 2011. I almost forget I am playing this year too! This week is all about perfect days. Well, I feel mostly relaxed when I am home with Eric and our cats, just scrapping a little or watching a movie on tv. Nothing strange about that. I just like being at home so much!

See you soon!
XOXO

Woooooooottttt!

2011-11-07T17:01:00.002+01:00

Back in July there was a CT-call for the new 2012 Designteam for Log Your Memory. I've been having so much fun with the 2011 version, that I wanted to be a part of the team! And today, finally, we can announce it to the world: I am in it!!!! For the last 2,5 months we had to keep our mouth shut and work hard! No really....September was a busy month for us. We got four challenges to play with. One of them was picked for the book. And we also had to write a blogpost. So, lots of work....but so worth it.

This week Kristin Rutten of Log Your Memory revealed us the book! And it looks great! It's so strange to see yourself in printing. I am week #33 too. 2012 is all about time capsules. It's fun believe me. You can read all about the 2012 designteam on the Log Your Memory blog.

The new shop is open starting November 9th....with the new Memory Logbook and Challenge book (which are two different items this year!). For early bird we have a coupon for discount which ends November 14th. Just click on the picture to shop!

I will follow the new challenges again in 2012. I've had so much fun in 2011. Are you joining us?

See you soon!

XOXO

Create Memories

2011-11-06T15:28:00.000+01:00

So...yesterday was iDSD. International Digital Scrapbooking Day. I had planned a whole lot of scrapping and shopping yesterday. But in the end I did nothing. In the morning I shopped a little and then I had to run some errands. After Eric came home after sports he wanted to do something. So we went to a garden centre for a little shopping and we stopped by some friends who are leaving for vacation and wedding in South Africa pretty soon. You know: I love doing all of these things! But not on DSD! I missed out on so many fun games and stuff, also because we are in a different time zone. Fortunately, DSD is not a day anymore, no we are celebrating all weekend long!

So, today I am all alone. Eric has a 24-hrs shift at the firestation, so what I didn't do yesterday, I can do twice today! So far I did only one layout. But it had to be a perfect one though! One of the games at SSD was that Cindy Schneider wrote out a contest again! I would die to be in her designteam (although I can't enjoy then myself, LOL). No seriously.....hers and Kristin's would be my ultimate dream spot. I enjoy being on Yari's team so much. It really brings out the best scrapbooker in me. Kits which I wouldn't buy if seen in the shop because they are too themed are challenging me so much. And I have created something every week!

So I made this layout today for the contest. I wanted to show "me" but also my love for flowers and scrapbooking. Perfect kit for this! I used ofcourse a template from Cindy....and KCB's newest kit "Blank Canvas". Very different colours this time, but I love it. Themed, but also perfect for other photos. And still using DJB Love me some Laura as a font. I so love that font. I have used it on every single layout (ok, maybe I created once or twice) since it came out.

So, off again....maybe another layout is coming soon....
See you!
XOXO

CT layouts week 44

2011-11-04T19:08:00.000+01:00

Hello there! Prepare yourself for a boost of layouts! Time for some CT layouts! Yes, you read it right! I have more than one CT layout for you this week. This weekend (Saturday) is official Digital Scrapbooking Day! So....you can see the digital scrapbook world collapse with great new kits, challenges, freebies and such. It's no different for Jady Day Studio this week. Yari totally rocked it this week. She created not one, not two, not three but FOUR new kits this week. And they are all collabs with Melissa Bennett from the Sweet Shoppe Designs.

The kits are all a little religiously themed....BUT....as I am not religious at all, I tried to make something neutral out of them. And I well succeeded if I say so myself. I've done three layouts this week. Yes, we need to work too you know!

First up is RULDS2 - Baptism. A pink and blue kit that's also very well usefull for babyphotos. I took some old photos of my little niece Anouk. She almost turns 5 already, but I remember the moment she was born still so good.

Second up is RULDS2 - Missionary. Originally meant for husbands, brothers, sons or other loved ones who went abroad to fight for your country. Perfect primary colours in this one, so also perfect for little boys photos. I went for some older photos of my little nephew Luca. On these photos he's one year old. It was his birthday. In meantime we are 9 months further along and he's turning into a real little boy ;-)

Third up is RULDS2 - Temple marriage. My absolute favourite. I really love these colours and the flowers and embellishments. As I am now married for six weeks I am totally in love with everything "wedding" like!

I didn't make a layout with the fourth one....RULDS2 - Primary is also very cute for boys photos. You can buy these kits solo but also in a combo pack over at Scrap Orchard.

So, have fun on Digital Scrapbooking Day tomorrow!
See you soon!
XOXO

Log Your Memory #44

2011-10-31T21:50:00.000+01:00

Hi there. Another week at Log Your Memory. I can't believe we only have 8 more weeks to play this year! For week 44 the challenge is to repeat yourself. This is so divers....you can do anything with this. But I did struggle. Because I like my title in English and my journaling in Dutch. Sometimes that really doesn't match.

I like this group photo we took at our wedding. It was after we said yes. With everyone present. It was fun! For this challenge I summed up some repetitions about our wedding day. About how beautiful the weather was, about how we liked that everyone was there.....and so on.

I used Country Road by Kristin Cronin-Barrow. I really like the colours of this kit. Not so bright this time but so beautiful together. And I used one of Kay Miller's templates. I did change it a little bit to fit my journaling. Plus I made it a one photo template instead of a two photo one. And font is DJB Love me some Laura. I am in love with this font. Since it came out I used it on mostly every layout!

Ok, time for bed....big long day tomorrow at work.

See you soon!
XOXO

CT Layout "Autumn fun: Give Thanks".

2011-10-28T18:04:00.000+02:00

I love the idea of Thanksgiving. I have a feeling lots of us take lots for granted. I am such a person too from time to time. I think you need to be grateful for what you have every single day of the year, but ok...one special day is also good. We don't celebrate this in Holland, I wish we could.

Yari stepped over from Scrapmatters to Scrap Orchard this week and she came with a perfect kit this week. I love it. I know, I know....I say this every week. But she really keeps me excited every week. And this week, it has flowers! Lots of them! It sure was an easy kit to work with.

I also used one of Cindy's new templates. Set 106 already....and she keeps making gorgeous new ones. And I still love this font by Darcy Baldwin. It's called "Love me some Laura". I think because it looks like my own handwriting.

Tonight is the Voice of Holland time again....we love this show. It's pure relaxing on a Friday night!

So, see you soon!
XOXO

Log Your Memory #43

2011-10-25T21:50:00.000+02:00

Another week has gone by so a new challenge of Log Your Memory. I thought this one was tough. Write about the ups and downs in your life. I wanted to keep it simple this time.

I wrote about how my glass in mostly half empty. But I also noticed that if you point out all the negative in your life you can't really enjoy the good things, which can be so small. The last couple of months I am learning to enjoy the simple things in life. Like seeing our three cats cuddle up with each other and just take a nap. I love it. And how about a hug from a special someone. I really enjoy spending time at home with Eric and the cats. We play a little with them. Yes, it's much nicer to enjoy this than to see negative in every single thing. So lately, my glass is half full!

I so love this kit. It's called "I believe". It's a kit by Meghan Mullens and Scrapkitchen designs. If you know these designers you can really see their touches. I see Meghan's colours and tags....and Scrapkitchen's flowers. A perfect match. Last Saturday, Cindy came out with a new complete set of four single photo templates. I love them! I mostly scrap with only one photo so I can't have enough of her single photo templates.

See you soon!
XOXO

Christmas cards

2011-10-24T16:05:00.000+02:00

One week left...and it's already November. And for me that means at least one thing: I really have to make some Christmas cards. Normally I start somewhere in September, doing a few of them each week so that I have like 50-60 cards ready in December. Last year I really dreaded this. So this year I decided to only make a few cards for the people who are closest to us and from who I know they really enjoy receiving handmade cards.

But for some reason I just didn't start yet. After our wedding weekend I stopped by at Paper and Pictures for some Christmas papers. As I don't really paperscrap anymore the paperlines I have are somewhat older. And I used every little strip of paper from last years Christmas lines. But I just bought a few papers, not much. I always over buy myself.

Today I started going through my old Cards Only magazines....and checked the Christmas issue for some inspiration. Well, I saw this card and although it turned out a little bit different I really like this result! This Christmas line is called 12 days of Christmas by My Mind's Eye.

I really like the shape of the card! And so easy to make....before I knew it I had eight cards ready! Yeah....about 12 to go and I am fnished.

See you soon!
XOXO

January faves

2011-10-23T17:20:00.003+02:00

Since I have been digiscrapping I've been a huge fan of Lynnette Panacho, also known as Nettio. You should really check out her gallery. It's fabulous. She is mostly famous because of her favourites layouts. She will do lists anytime. One per month....one for each birthday, whatever. Since a few months she creates templates to create the same kind of lists as she does.

Last week she blogged about he she does it. How she will remember her favourites. She admits she is not really organised and she just has a few tips for us. Just go through your photos. What did you do? But also: check your facebook, blog etc....you can get more information from that than you think you can. I didn't do layouts like this earlier because I just couldn't remember everything. But her tips really do work.

So voila! Here's my January layout.....I choose one of Kristin's newest kits to work with. Ok, it's not really January style, but that doesn't count! Ofcourse one of Lynnette's templates.

I think a few more will follow!

See you soon!
XOXO

CT Layout "Boy in blue jeans"

2011-10-22T13:47:00.000+02:00

New week with new releases at Scrapmatters.com. Yari has released such a cute new kit! A few weeks ago we had Girl in Blue Jeans. So it was only natural that she also made a boy version! And how....she really overdone herself again.

Back in August when my brother held a bbq for his birthday I made these photos of Luca, my nephew. He's such a boy! Dirt all over the place. Not playing nicely in the sandpit and baking pies....no, fill your bucket with sand and throw it all over yourself! And laughing afterwards, LOL. I think my SIL found sand even in his diaper! This kit really suits the photos. There are embellishments of dirt, little bugs, stars, even a few flowers. Yes, I like this kit again.

But....I seem to have a few problems with embellishments here. Since I've been on Yari's team she didn't really make a kit with lots of flowers. So I notice for myself that I have troubles clustering other embellishments. That doesn't mean I don't like the kits....no, I love them....and they make me think out of the box and comfort zone for myself. And I am succeeding in that I guess, given the remarks I get on my clustering. So, I am happy!

I have the afternoon free to myself...so I want to give the monthly favourites a try. I know it's already October, or even November for that matter, but with the tips Lynette gave us on her blog this past week I guess I could still give it a try.

See you soon!
XOXO

Log Your Memory #42

2011-10-17T08:58:00.000+02:00

Yesterday was a productive day! I was working on the layout for week 40 and I was really disappointed that the layout was done. It just felt good to scrapbook yesterday. Sometimes I have a hard time picking the correct template with the right photos and kits....but when I actually have picked out those things everything goes like it goes really. Since I've been digiscrapping I didn't have a lack of MOJO what so ever!

I've had a period where I scrapped mostly cards and no layouts at all.....and when I started digiscrapping I realised that I missed using photos and scrapping about my life. That's why Log Your Memory is so cool. They just make you think about your life and the roles you play in it. And that's exactly this week's challenge. Which roles do you play in your everyday life? I am a wife, a daughter, an employee, a friend...So I scrapped about that.

For this layout I used a newer kit by Kristin Cronin-Barrow "Choose happiness". What a colours! I have a soft spot for bright colours lately. I do like vintage stuff also, but it's not me in some way. I always end up with these kind of kits. The template is actually one of the photoless templates Cindy Schneider made a few weeks ago (halfpack 19). But this one was easy enough to change into a one photo template. Font is again DJB Love me some Laura by Darcy Baldwin. Every few weeks Darcy comes with a new font which I really really really like. And you see me using it all the time, LOL!

OK, off to the garden centre to make our garden really ready for winter but not boring.

See you soon!
XOXO

Log Your Memory #41

2011-10-16T16:54:00.000+02:00

The last couple of days we've had wonderful after summer weather. Our summer was not so great, but the second half of September and the last few days have been great. Today I spent a little time in our garden. Well, garden....on front of the house I have like one meter of stones and not flowers at all. But there were "flowers" in between the stones, LOL. So I removed that. Then time for making our back garden ready for winter. I don't have borders, just some wooden baskets with plants and flowers. I removed all the one year plants and cut the hedge. Eric was busy painting the new fence we placed two weeks ago. Nice day for that. In the sun it was even a little too warm for a sweater. It's really great to see how everything is tidy now!

But Sundays are for relaxing also! So I grabbed my Log Your Memory book and made the challenge for week 41. With my CT work I haven't really got time to make the layouts in time, that's not fun, but I only missed two weeks of the 41 we already did. So, at the end of the year I really got a nice scrapbook! This weeks layout was about our one little word. In week 2 I chose focus....and this week we had to chose a word out of a list. Focus was not part of it but I guess Hapiness is actually from the same category for me. I have to focus on hapiness. I think you can learn to be happy. If you constantly see your glass half empty (like me) try to see the positive sides of a situation and everything will be a lot nicer. I have to try and enjoy more of the little things in life. Like a summersun in October or sitting at home with Eric and our cats. Seeing them sleep or play around, really makes me smile. So that's hapiness!

For this layout I used Meghan Mullens last kit "Family rules". It has nice bright colours! Which match perfectly. And I used DJB Love me some Laura as font. This is really my favourite the last couple of weeks!

So, off to spend some time with Eric. He's finished painting the fence!

See you soon!
XOXO

CT Layout "At the pumpkin patch" (RAK for Jen again)

2011-10-15T12:01:00.000+02:00

Yari is featured at After 5 Designs for the whole month of October, so this week we had an early release again. In America October stands for Fall to start and the famous pumpkin patches. As I don't live in America, this kit is not really suitable for me. However, there are some amazing flowers (sunflowers, yeah!) in there and the papers are absolutely suitable for beautiful fall photos. But....I don't have any fall photos at this moment to scrap with so I asked my fellow CT-members if I could scrap a few photos of them.

As I mentioned in my last CT post, Jen is one of my favourite hybrid scrappers! She really makes awesome cards and other projects. If you don't know her, you have to check out her blog one day! Did you see the fabulous Halloween Countdown calender she made last week? Out of a baking tray which you can basically use over and over again. In the cups you can put toys or another present and she put a paper over it with the numbers of the days.....really great idea which is absolutely suitable for your Christmas countdown. For this CT layout I scrapped another layout for her. Her son Dean is really a cutie and those photos match the kit so perfectly! A little journaling on the side which Jen wrote herself and this layout is done! Do you see the great sunflowers?

And if we are writing now anyway....Yari is having a great retirement sale over at Scrapmatters. Everything in the clearance department is 50% off this whole week! I so love Jady Day Studio kits. Please grab them before the sale is over! Gone is gone!

See you soon!

XOXO

Log Your Memory #40

2011-10-08T12:46:00.000+02:00

This weeks challenge at Log Your Memory is to share an advice on how to manage the basics of life. My believe is to follow your heart. I know that sometimes you have to think with your head also, but a feeling says so much. A feeling can be good aswell as bad. In my life I have thought too much with my head. Stayed in friendships or relationships where I didn't feel good. If you experienced the bad, you definitely know the good when you see it. That's how I see my marriage with Eric....I know the feeling is right this time.

I've been married for more than two weeks already! LOL! On Thursday we received the photos from our photographer. I love the way how he spontaneously photographed the whole wedding. But I am a little disappointed too though. We held our photo moment in a beautiful park. The photos are absolutely beautiful.....but on all of them we are kissing or about to. We only have one or two photos which we can enlarge to hang on our parents walls. I hoped we had more of them. And there's my advice again....which I didn't follow this time. During the shoot I already had a feeling we were kissing all the time. But I didn't open my mouth so it's more or less my own fault. Fortunately we have a lot of nice photos from our wedding, because there were more people making photos. Actually we have about 1000 photos! Yeah!

This is my first layout with wedding photos. These are not made by our professional photographer though. I started the layout before I received the dvd. For this layout I used J'adore by Kristin Cronin-Barrow. I wanted to make an over the top red layout. With simple embellishments because the photos are really most important on wedding layouts.

See you soon!

XOXO

CT Layout "Ghoul night" (RAK for Jen)

2011-10-07T17:33:00.003+02:00

This week Jady Day Studio comes with a terrific Halloween kit. Yari is guest designer over at After Fives Designs. This kit is again so very colourful. And those embellishments are really great.

But....here in Holland we don't celebrate Halloween much. You see it here and there. We have kind of a similar day on November 11th, but the children don't put on scary suits or other cute outfits. We go with lights through the streets for candy. My days with my lamp are a long time gone and I don't have children of my own yet, so this week I made a RAK for someone else. Jen Tapler is someone I really think scraps great things. Mostly cards and hybrid stuff. I wish I could do that the way she does! But, as she says herself, she believes she isn't the best digiscrapper in the world so she loves it when others scrap her photos. No problem for me. Just send me some pics and some words to go along with them and I will scrap something. I enjoyed scrapping this layout. This kit is so fun to play with it.

See you soon!
XOXO

CT Layout "Girl in blue jeans".

2011-09-30T20:33:00.000+02:00

I am still a bit tired of all happenings of the last few weeks that even scrapbooking can't make me quite relaxed. But as I am part of a creative team you have to come up with something! Last night I had a dinner from work so I am a little late today.

After dinner I sat down, chose my photos with this really gorgeous girly kit, chose the template to use and then....all of a sudden....I was already ready. 45 minutes including chosing photos. For me that's an ultime record! And I am pleased with the result also.

The photos are from Mother's Day 2011. It was really nice weather and we held a bbq at my parents house. Ofcourse my brother and SIL were there also. I always love bbq's with the whole family. We have so much fun.

Well...off to see the Voice of Holland together with my new husband LOL!

See you soon!

XOXO

Log Your Memory #39

2011-09-28T21:47:00.000+02:00

In January I started this Log Your Memory challenge 2011 and I didn't miss one single week! But this month I missed two of them already. Ok, I have a good excuse. I need to scrap one layout a week for Jady Day Studio, I am working on a secret project, and oh yes, my wedding was also this month. And besides all that I almost forget I work 32 hours a week also. I still scrapped about 2-3 layouts a week in this period so I am not completely unsatisfied.

I didn't want to run too far behind, so I just start again where everyone is now...week 39. I will do the two weeks I missed later on. This week is all about what you wanted to be when you grow up. Careerwise, or otherwise....I choose to scrap about what I wanted to be as a little girl. I was really steady about that actually. When I was about 10 years old I wanted to be a translator in Russian. I have no idea why....but I kept saying that untill I was about 14 years old. Then I noticed that I did like languages....but I liked figures even more. So I moved to the math and economics side. I still like figures very much. And since two years I am really on the good job place on a Finance department. I get to work with figures every single day and I love it!

As I don't really have photos to match this subject I used one of Cindy Schneider's new photoless templates. I love to journal, so larges journal spaces are great! And I also love the colours in this kit by Kristin Cronin-Barrow (Country Road). It has a country theme, but if you don't use the wordstrips it's good to use for other things aswell! Those flowers and leaves are so beautiful again.

See you soon!
XOXO

CT Layout "Explore exhibits"

2011-09-26T22:18:00.000+02:00

After such a great weddingday I would almost forget I have certain responsibilities also. And although I could take a break for one week I didn't want to. So like everyone else I sat down to create a layout with this new kit by Jady Day Studio AND Meghan Mullens from Sweet Shoppe Designs. The colours are really great again.

I haven't been in museums in ages. And I don't really have photos of that. So I tried to make a "favourites" from this one. A little hard because the kit is designed for kids. I took the photos from the internet.

When I was 16 years old, I visited Paris with school. We visited Musée d'Orsay and the Louvre. The first one really impressed me. It's an old railway station turned into a museum. I am not sure what kind of museum it was anymore. Paintings, sculptures? But it impressed me.

So....this was it for this week. Back on Friday with a new layout and a new kit to show.

See you soon!
XOXO

The day after....

2011-09-23T12:05:00.000+02:00

We had the most beautiful wedding day we ever could imagine. As soon as I sat at the hairdresser the sun peeped through the clouds and stayed with us for the whole day. After hair and make-up our photographer came to the house and started to photograph all kind of things. And then it was time to put on my dress. I felt really wonderful. Our guests came to the house and when Eric came with this really great fire truck from 1956 everybody was cheering for him. And I could see all of that from the attic. A special moment was when Eric saw me for the first time in my wedding dress. He said: you are so beautiful. Perfect! Our trip to the city hall was great. We sat on the back of the fire truck. The ceremonie was really beautiful. Our niece Anouk gave us the rings and we both said yes!

After the ceremonie we came outside and Eric seemed a little disappointed...there were no firetrucks. And then two firemen came on a bike with a horn. "There's a big fire and we cannot pull this off alone" they said. And then from all sides fire trucks came with loud sirenes. It was so great. I will never forget the look on Eric's face. One of the trucks is a big ladder truck and we went up for 30 meters above the ground. I felt scared at first, but it was a wonderful experience.

After this great event we went to a small park nearby for our photoshoot. I felt really relaxed with the photographer and I believe the photos will be so great! It's so romantic making photos in a park. There was sun....trees....water.....little bridges. I know for sure that I will have a great photomemory from this day.

We held the reception in Aarlanderveen at Studio Oosterman. I have to say: they did a great job decorating the place together with our master of ceremony Arlette. She made sure everything went according to plan the whole day. And kept smiling at the same time. Thanks Arlette, for letting us enjoy our day the way we did. There were a lot of guests. Collegues, friends, family...everyone we wanted there. Diner was great too. As a started we had melon with ham (my favourite). Then you could choose between several sorts of meat and vegetables from sort of a cowboyhat. It was soooo good....and then desert! Wowie....I didn't take too much but everything was so delicious. Yes, a great way to end our day. After dinner everyone started to go home one by one. And also we went home.

At home we took a look at all our presents at the table.....wow! Great things. Although I hadn't slept a lot the night before it was late already when we hit our beds. Talking a little about our day. We both found it very special. And I don't think we could have had a better day. No rain! After a summer full of rain, we had the best last day of Summer ever!

So. we are off to enjoy a little honeymoon weekend!

See you soon!

XOXO

One more day....

2011-09-21T15:40:00.000+02:00

I can't believe our wedding is just one day away now! When we decided to get married back in March, September seemed really far away. We arranged our date at city hall, we arranged our reception location and our fotographer pretty early. I had my wedding dress somewhere in April....Eric got his suit in May and so bit by bit our wedding became a little picture in my head.

And then....all of a sudden....it's September. Weeks really flown by this year. The last couple of weeks I have been very nervous. Not about my feelings for Eric, they are sooooo clear. But just the minor things. I know I have to say: if it's not arranged by now, it's not important. But the being nervous make you clumsy. On Monday we had to tell the restaurant the final number of guests. So we counted. And called the restaurant. But I didn't have a good feeling about it. The number was weird! And then it hit me: we have to eat TOO you know! So we added two more LOL.

I am so excited for tomorrow. And Eric too although he doesn't show his nerves very much. From now on...I am letting things go. It doesn't matter if the windows are not completely clean or something. They come to see us...not our windows right? So...I am going to enjoy every bit of tomorrow. I hope our photos will show our hapiness and create a perfect story of our wedding day. Can't wait to get them scrapped! I have so many ideas for a minibook!

We are not going on a honeymoon of weeks....we just arranged a little hotel in the middle of the forest. The weather forecast for tomorrow is fine, just as for this weekend. I hope I can show you some photos on Friday already or after the weekend....

See you soon!
XOXO

Little photographer

2011-09-18T16:14:00.000+02:00

Don't you love lazy weekends? Well, we do! And we decided to take one this weekend. The last couple of weeks have been busy. At work because my collegue is still on maternity leave, but also at home because of our wedding. So we agreed on not planning anything this weekend and see how it goes. Well, we are lazy, LOL! Yesterday we had an Oldtimer day here in town so we took our bikes and gone there. Just seeing all those old cars and bikes! Just great. And we were lucky with the weather too because as soon as we got home the rain came down very quickly. Last night we saw a movie "Bridesmaids". It got 4 stars but I didn't think it was funny really....I really felt sorry for the maid of honor.

Today we woke up a little later than usual and had our breakfast. After I dyed my hair for the wedding and just did nothing. Actually, I am still in pyjamas! We sure love these kind of days, knowing that you don't have to do anything. I sat down and scrapped a layout. I really had fun doing this because this kit (Indian summer by Zoe Pearn) is so gorgeous! I love those colours....I really do. And it matches my camera perfectly. Last week Anouk stayed over for the first time. I had to make pictures of that and Anouk really had interest for the camera. However, she wanted to snap some shots herself. My Canon is a little too heavy for her, especially with my flasher on it too. So I gave her my Nikon instead. She made pictures of everything. About 100 of them within one hour! All blurry...but hey, she had a really good time!

Well, I am off for a little Garden of Time on Facebook and maybe I will do another layout this evening. There's nothing on television tonight except for Dirty Dancing.....it's my all time favourite movie. And very special too...

See you soon!
XOXO

Visiting Grandpa

2011-09-17T19:00:00.000+02:00

It looks like I am not creating that much layouts the last couple of weeks. Well....maybe not as many as usual, but half of them I cannot show you yet....I am working on a secret project! Which will be revealed somewhere in October/November. Besides that, I am so busy taking care of the last few things for our wedding. It's already this Thursday. I am really excited.

Last week we visited my grandpa for his 92nd birthday. He lives a 2 hrs drives from where we live so we don't see each other quite often. If I am honest I should visit him more. But once a year the whole family will visit him for his birthday. Those two hours are so great. You see him enjoy everything and everyone. Unfortunately, he will not remember the day after. Because a two hour trip and a whole day of festivities is too much for my grandpa, he will not come to my wedding. I am really sad about that because he is my only living grandparent and I would love to have him over. But he's just too old and fragile for it. I am really glad we could snap this photo during our visit. And once we are married and have all the photos we will go over with our laptop and just show him everything!

For this layout I used Family reunion by Jady Day Studio. This older kit will be featured on the blog in September. This week Yari took a break on designing so we had plenty of opportunity to create something with older kits. The template comes from halfpack 18 by Cindy Schneider. I wish she released one photo templates more often. They are my favourite by far!

So....we are having a great relaxing weekend here. My last weekend as an unmarried woman. I should be partying right about now LOL! Can't you tell I am excited? But also exhausted of all that thinking about stuff. Did I arrange that alright? Will everything be fine? Ofcourse everything will be fine. But that's just me, worrying about little things.....

See you soon!
XOXO

Love yourself

2011-09-12T18:40:00.000+02:00

I saw that I didn't share this layout with you yet! I made it somewhere last weekend. I was browsing through the Jady Day Studio shoppe to see what Yari had released before I discovered her shop. So I bought myself a few gorgeous kits, also this one. But she has so many beautiful kits with so many different subjects.

We had a beautiful Saturday that weekend and after a birthdayparty I asked Eric to shoot a couple of nice photos. I especially like this one. It's just me. I like it when my photo is taken....at least, when I know someone is taking my picture and I can give them my "pretty face". Otherwise I can look angry on photos where I don't tend to be angry, LOL. Wit Eric by my side I start learning to love myself, eventhough I am not always pleased with how I look. But then I see photos like this and I say: well, I am not looking all that bad!

So....that's it for today.....nothing to show you. I have been creating layouts, but I can't show you ladies nothing yet!

See you soon!
XOXO

CT Layout "School Memories 4 Little Kiddos"

2011-09-10T15:34:00.000+02:00

After this amazing kit Yari gave us last week in the Jady Day Studio Shoppe, she couldn't leave us with only a kit for Big Kiddos right? Well, she had the same feeling so this week we have a special kit for Little Kiddos! This kit is bright and full of fantastic elements for preschool photos.

As my niece Anouk is four years old now and going to Kindergarten, she is the perfect subject for my CT layout. I chose a picture of her taken at one of our bbq's held at my parents house. She really loves going to school. She has lots of friends there and enjoys crafting and learning and playing. She always was kind of a mother's girl, shy for other people, but that all changed since she goes to school. The summer vacation was way too long for her. Last week, she got to go again. She is a happy child.

So, go and check out the Shoppe for this amazing new kit by Jady Day Studio. And please check out the great layouts my fellow CT-members created in the gallery. For this layout I also used a template (set 15) by Cindy Schneider and the font is DJB Mrs. Webster by Darcy Baldwin.

See you soon!
XOXO

Log Your Memory #36

2011-09-04T14:26:00.000+02:00

New week for a new challenge at Log Your Memory. This week we had to write a letter. To someone who taught you something. Something little, something big...that doesn't matter. I decided to write a letter to myself. I have learned from myself also. By making mistakes first. So I wrote a letter to a younger me, telling her not to make the same mistakes I did. I told her to follow her heart no matter what. I can apply that on almost anything I guess: relationships, friendships, work. Don't stay in a relationship, stay at a certain job or keep friendships if you are not pleased with it yourself. For an example: I stayed in my previous job for nine years although I didn't feel good about it anymore after five years. I changed jobs finally and it was the best decision for me. I don't think it's a bad thing to make mistakes in life. It makes you a better person in the end. And without certain mistakes, I would never know what I know now. This sounds really dull but it's the truth.

So....I used a template by Captivated Visions which I totally changed. I think only the first 7 layers are the same as the original. For this letter I thought that Jady Day Studio's "Blessed to be your mother" was a great kit to use. I love those flowers! A font from Darcy Baldwin (I love DJB Fonts) makes the layout complete. I am really excited about this layout. Two photoless layouts in a row. Wow! I always found this really hard, but I love to make them now. But...time for one with photos! Who will know!

See you soon!
XOXO

CT layout "School Memories 4 Big Kiddos"

2011-09-02T20:14:00.000+02:00

Last week I heard that I was chosen as CT-member for Jady Day Studio. After hearing nothing for several days I sent Yari an email. For me it was the first time so I never knew there was a special forum and such. I first started reading what was expected from me each week. So it dazzled me a little. But now that we are a few days in the process I understand more what is expected. And it doesn't take a lot of your time. And I am having fun meeting the other Studio Babes. I even have company of one Dutch and one Belgium girl, so whenever I have questions I can ask them.

On Tuesday we received "our" kit to play with. It was a tough one! I don't have kids yet and when I was in highschool I wasn't that into photography yet, so I don't have many (you can better say none) from that period in my life. So I decided to do a photoless layout. I love photoless layouts but I never know how to start. Using Cindy Schneider's Listmaker templates was the easiest I can think of. I so love the outcome of this layout. I think Yari rocked with this kit. The colours are really fabulous! I love that colour blue combined with orange.

See you soon!

XOXO

Log Your Memory #35

2011-08-29T11:04:00.001+02:00

This week is already the final challenge for August...Only four more months to go in the Log Your Memory challenge...and frankly I can't wait to see the new book for 2012. I love creating following a challenge and seeing that book full of layouts growing bigger and bigger! This week you need to document your necessities or priorities. I chose for the last one.

The 5 biggest priorities in life. It's no surprise that Eric and our marriage is the biggest priority at this moment. With him I want to spend the rest of my life...no matter what! My 2nd priority is my job. Two years ago I changed my job and that was a really good decision. I love that it's a normal 8.00-17.00 job with routine in it. I don't need to have a job which is different each day. I like to know what I have to do ;-) And it challenges me enough that it's not boring! My 3rd priority. Besides that I love my job, it also provides me happiness. I am able to live my life the way I do, do fun stuff. Although I like spending money, it's important to me to be financially healthy. Family and friends are my 4th priority. Although I am a homey person, I like spending time with family and friends. And finally, I need relaxation. Without enough sleep I cannot be the person I want to be. Scrapbooking makes me relax and enjoy memories at the same time. What do you want more?

For this layout I used Zoe Pearn's new kit "The sweetest thing". And it's a Favourite template by Nettio Designs.

See you soon!
XOXO

Surprise!

2011-08-28T17:11:00.000+02:00

With only four weeks to our wedding.....you are at garde. Because everything can be a set up. But I never knew my father's birthday was one. We thought we'd go brunching at my parents for his birthday. But on our way over there I just had a feeling something was about to happen. I couldn't tell why....but women got instincts ;-) So when I saw our friends coming in the yard I was surprised afterall. It was time for my bachelorette party! Yeah! And also Eric got kidnapped by the boys. Most of our closest friends were there. Some weren't able to come....but we will see them at the wedding!

First, Eric got a t-shirt with our very first picture together with the line...."22 september is the day, you can call Leontine your wife". Super cute that first photo...we were not completely at ease at that time, LOL. After that, Eric went to Biddinghuizen for some shooting. The weather was really bad and if there was thunder it wasn't going to happen at all. But luckily, it stayed with rain. And Eric turned out to be a great shooter because he was the overall winner. They shot with three different riffles/guns....so he was very pleased with this surprise.

For me there was a change of outfit too. I got a white t-shirt with a pink scarf with "Bride to be" on it. And some gloves and a vale. It was clear that I was the one who got married, LOL. I was kidnapped for a small lunch at my friends house first. And after that we went to my hometown (thought it was already over, LOL) for a workshop of glass mosaïk. We got a mirror which we could decorate. We really had fun during the workshop. As it was close to the market I also got a task to arrange some free strawberries! Well, I had to kiss a strange guy on the cheek, but hey....I got my free strawberries! After the workshop which we had to finish at home, we went to a restaurant for a little snack and a drink. The boys had to drive back for an hour and they arranged to eat together. So we had to wait a little....but I didn't know! Diner was great. It was just so much fun to sit down all together, talk a little and laugh!

Eric and I both enjoyed the day totally! But we were also very tired from all the activities. Especially while we hadn't slept well the night before. You will always see that! We just want to say thanks to Arlette and Caroline for arranging this for us and also thanks to all of our friends who made this day a huge success! Thanks everyone!

See you soon!
XOXO

TOOOOOTTTTTT!!!!

2011-08-26T20:17:00.000+02:00

I really have some great news! Last week there was a CT-call at Jady Day Studio. I have discovered this website/blog a few months ago and since then I bought quite a lot of their kits. So I thought I'd give it a shot! I have been trying out for a few CT-calls and was so disappointed everytime I didn't make it. But today I received the email that I made it into the Creative Team. I am really excited! It's so cool to see my name between all other names!

See you soon!

XOXO

So Funny

2011-08-21T17:16:00.000+02:00

With a little over four weeks to our wedding, we really had to think about songs we wanted to play during the ceremonie. Arranging our wedding was an easy task, we agreed on everything so easily. It had to go wrong somewhere, LOL! We just couldn't agree on three songs. Yesterday we almost got into a fight because of it. So we laid it to rest and thought about it again today. And we finally agreed on three songs. Yeah!

So after that our easy relaxing Sunday could start. It was supposed to be a really sunny weekend here in Holland. Well, as I see on the internet....it was....but not here. It's not really cold, but there's wind and it's just not good enough to sit in the garden with a book or something. And I so wanted that. Because I can't really say our summer is good. So I jumped behind the computer for some scrapbooking. It's GGG-sale on Sweet Shoppe Designs. Going, Going....Gone! 800 items gone in two weeks. Now 50% discount. Although I am not somebody who will buy for the buying in general, I found a few kits of which I doubted or never saw before. I only spent around 30 dollars! Good for me, YEAH!

This kit is not one of them though. No, this is last week's new kit from Jady Day Studio. I had some photos of Anouk and Luca sticking their tongues out so it was really perfect. And I love the bold colours! I also used one of Cindy Schneiders new templates from set 102. The photos were taken at the yearly bbq my brother keeps for his birthday. If the sun is shinning I always hope for a few good photos of my niece and nephew. And blackmail is allowed then! So I tell them if they smile normal on the first few photos they can act silly later. That helps! And even those photos are often so much fun to scrapbook. Even Luca who is only 1,5 year old knows what sticking your tongue out is. Ok, only if mommy is behind the camera sticking her own tongue out LOL!

See you soon!
XOXO

Log Your Memory #34

2011-08-16T21:29:00.001+02:00

We moved within our home last Sunday. Our bedroom is now our computer room and visa versa. And we really love the outcome. Our bedroom is really quiet, nothing else in there except for the bed and our tv. That's it....there's just no room for something else. And our computer room seems a lot bigger as it was. It gives a spacy feeling. Yes, I am happy with it.

In the old situation I sat with my back to the window and now I can see everything outside. I so like it. The last couple of weeks I have been scrapping downstairs a lot on the laptop. That's fine but upstairs I have two big screens and that works a lot nicer than one 17 inch window. So I went upstairs to scrap tonight. I finished another Log Your Memory layout. For week 34 already. So I am one week ahead now. I just liked the prompt this week: Take time to stop and notice life's changes. I scrapped about the day my niece came in the world 4,5 years ago. My brother was so proud of his own flesh and blood. I thought I was ready for children a long time ago, but I think I have been really ready for the last year. But to have children you need to be with two (in an ideal world). And just recently we are both ready....so now just wait and see what the world brings for us.

I used a new template from set 101 from Cindy Schneider, together with an older kit from Kristin Cronin-Barrow. I just love the colours. She made a girls version aswell as a boys version. Super great!

See you soon!
XOXO

Log Your Memory #33

2011-08-13T23:23:00.001+02:00

Wauw people, my second post this evening. But I have been happy relaxing this evening. All alone, together with our three cats.....just doing nothing. My ideal evening. I just miss Eric in this picture, LOL!

I visit the blog of Sula Designs (Misty Hilltops) regularly. She is a German girl, living in Hong Kong. She makes the most beautiful layouts, hybrid cards, and other projects. She loves to tell us about her life. Almost every Friday she places a freebie template on her blog. But I never really have used one, uptill this evening, When I first saw her layout of this template I really loved the kit she used. The colours are so great! So I knew I wanted to scraplift this layout. Well, not completely, but I have used the kit. And I really like the outcome of my layout. The kit (by the way) is Life is...by Melissa Bennett.

So...now it's really time for bed, because tomorrow is a busy day!

See you soon!
XOXO

You two are sweet

2011-08-13T19:13:00.001+02:00

So last Sunday we had a bbq. Yeah, really. My brother always celebrates his birthday with a bbq, but this year we have such bad weather during summer that he just picked a date. Well, he was fortunate, because although it wasn't 25 degrees outside it was sunny and warm enough to sit outside without a sweater on or something. So we had a good time all together. My niece and nephew had a great time also. You could see it on their faces.

So I scrapped these photos. Today is Sweet Shoppe Day again and I am so broke now. I saw four great kits, new fantastic templates, and Alpha's to die for! No just kidding....but I spent a lot today. The kit I used is a new kit by Meghan Mullens. You are.... is so bright. Totally my colours. And the template I used is from Cidndy Schneider. She was on holiday for two weeks and I really missed the weekly new templates. She's is so creative!

All of last week was a busy week aswell. I was glad I had the day off on Tuesday, because it was more than two weeks since I have my me-day. That's how I call my day off. Ok, I do have to do some chores on that day, but the afternoon is for me. I can go shopping, scrapping, reading....or what ever I want. I love that day. I have that day since two years and I don't want to go back! I don't mind working a whole week if necessary (like with our yearly closure) but afterwards I am glad to have "my" day again.

This week was a strange week. Both Eric and I weren't feeling well. Not sick enough to stay home but not 100% ok either. So today I wanted to take it all easy. I started with a little exercise this morning and afterwards I prepared some things for our big move tomorrow. No, we are not moving again. It's an internal move. When we moved in this house a year ago we automatically took the biggest room in the house. We have a big bed, so perfect to have a big room. But for me my bedroom needs to have peace and quiet. And for that.....our bedroom is too big. We put in bookclosets, and my spinning bike is in there and Eric's rowing equipment. Not really the peace and quiet I wanted. So I asked Eric whether it was possible to swith our pc room with our bedroom. That room is in the attick and smaller and I hoped it was big enough to put in our bed, nightcabinets and our tv.....and nothing else. According to him it wouldn't be a problem. So tomorrow we will move....and I am excited....because not only will I get my peace and quiet, but also I can decorate my new scraproom too. In the old situation our desks were not against the wall and now we will. So I see myself printing photos to decorate the wall. And make it my new palace. OK, our new palace because I have to share but that's ok! So after that I wanted to scrapbook. I thought: today Eric has a 24-hrs shift, so I have the whole day to myself. Well....hihi....not completely. Eric called me if it was ok to practice at our house this afternoon. They wanted to see if it was possible to reach our attic with the ladder truck. So they came with two trucks and tried. We knew there wasn't anything wrong but the people in our street didn't. It was fun to see we people are so curious to see what's going on! I made some photos but I love this one I made of Eric....in his fireman's suit! The look on his face....I just see that he loves doing what he does. And he missed the 24-hrs shifts.

Well, time for some reading and watching tv. Tomorrow is a busy day and I am so excited.

See you soon!

XOXO

Log Your Memory #32

2011-08-06T18:01:00.001+02:00

Almost a whole week has flown by. And I am exhausted. I can tell you that. Since two years I have been working four days a week and when you work five days then you can really tell. My house is a mess! At work we had the busiest week of the year and it all started a week ago on Friday. I had to work a little longer to be totally ready for the waterfall of work during this last week. We are ending our financial year on August 1st! Who in the world has decided on that one! But ok, it's a fact. I can't do anything about it. But all went fine though. But I am glad this week is over.

So today I had a little time to make a new layout. Today is Sweet Shoppe Saturday and in the store I found this beautiful wedding kit. With my own wedding just around the corner I had to have it of course. The colours are really subtle. Whether you have colour photos with lots of green or black and white photos, this kit is absolutely beautiful. I will make a wedding mini book with this kit for sure!

So a new week is coming up. Week 32 already...time flies! As we are in August now we started with a new theme last week. For these challenges we have to think more about ourselves again. This week: this is what I know.....You can scrapbook about almost anything I guess. That's what I like about these challenges, they are so divers. This is my take. Journaling: Now that I look back on my life, I am happy with how I live it. Everything I learned made me who I am today. I think you have to make mistakes first before you know what is good for you. The older the wiser they often say. I think they are right. I would take different decisions in the same situations now then I did 10 years ago. Like now I know how a relationship should be like. Now that I am little more than a month away from the biggest decision in my life I know I am making the right choice. Eric makes me happy. We have fun, but also serious talks. I love him so much and on September 22nd I will stand next to him as proud as I can be!

Time for dinner here. Eric is baking beautiful fish again!

Jummy!

See you soon!

XOXO

Harry Potter - it all ends!

2011-07-31T15:53:00.001+02:00

I couldn't resist, I had to scrap some more today. ;-) It's such a Sunday where Eric and I go our separate ways in the house and feel fine about it! Eric is painting the house and I am scrapbooking. Thank God it's not the other way around!

I haven't been a huge fan from the start. But as soon as I read one book I wanted to read the rest and I couldn't wait untill new books were released. When the movies came out, I went to the movies or saw them at home. The last book is already 4 years ago and I feel a little bit sad that everything ended last night at the cinema for me. Now I know how it ends...and I have nothing more to look forward to. But seeing this movie in 3D made a huge difference. I heard a lot of things about 3D and those glasses. About headaches and stuff like that, but I thought it was great. I had to get used to the real depth on the screen and the subtitles which is really close....but I got used to that pretty soon. The special effects were brilliant in 3D. At some parts you felt like you were really in the middle of the movie. Super!

I had bought this kit a few weeks ago. I love the Harry Potter theme in it. I knew I would see the movie some time, so I bought it. And now I got to use it. It's called "A wizarding world" by Jayday Studio. On a template by Cindy Schneider though....

OK, will be off now....no more scrapbooking for me today!

See you soon!
XOXO

Log Your Memory #31

2011-07-31T12:40:00.001+02:00

This was such a difficult task for me. I find it very difficult to come up with characteristics about myself. But that was the deal with this weeks challenge at Log Your Memory. You could be a little more creative though and come up with the ABC of your favourite movies, cities, or what ever. But I wanted to keep it close to myself this year, so that I can see in about 5 years from now if I think differently about stuff.

So...I used the beautiful Enchanted kit from Kristin again....together with the listmakers templates by Cindy Schneider. When I first saw this template with 30 items I thought: ehm....how will I ever use it? But with an ABC of 26 letters (and I didn't use a Q, because we simply don't have words with a Q I can think of) the list is full pretty quickly! So perfect for this task. As it is about me I added a photo as it wasn't in the original template.

Furthermore I have a great weekend so far. After a pretty long working day on Friday (I have to work on Monday aswell) I went to the movies with my SIL yesterday and saw the final Harry Potter movie. In 3D! That was so great. I hadn't experienced that before, but those special effects are amazing in 3D. This evening we will go to my father in law because of his birthday, so that's the end of this weekend....I have a really busy week coming up, so relaxing is all I do today!

See you soon!

XOXO

Mixed fish

2011-07-27T22:28:00.000+02:00

Just been relaxing for the evening. On the couch with my laptop....Eric is watching Masterchef and Hells Kitchen.....wow...I just don't like Gordon Ramsay. But this season everybody is just stupid. Even I can cook a good steak. But enough for that.

We bought a spinning bike on Saturday. On working days I don't always have enough spirit to go to the gym, so I wanted a bike at home, just to have that extra possibility to work out. As a result I have been working out for the last five days in a row. Yeah!

It was time for a new Italy layout. We eat a lot at the camping restaurant. There was a lot on the menu what was really good. In Italy you need to enjoy the food. All the delicious pizzas and pasta, but also meat and fish are really good. One day we saw a mixed grill fish on the menu for two persons. We were curious so we ordered. And it looked good!!! We got salmon, white fish, shrimps, lobster, sea bass and small scallops. Really great. We really enjoyed it but never ate it again that vacation. Looking at the photos now I am sorry about that!

For this layout I used Cindy's templates set 100 and the kit is called "You are my sunshine". A kit by Meghan Mullens and Amanda Heimann.

OK, time for bed....working day again tomorrow.

See you soon!

XOXO

Fun together

2011-07-25T15:07:00.000+02:00

Every once in a while I am totally blown away by a digital kit. And 9 out of 10 times it's a kit by Kristin Cronin-Barrow. What she does with colours and flowers and other embellishments is just over the top gorgeous! This weekend we found this kit in the store...Enchanted. Full of fairytale dust and magic wands. But it's also perfect for use without a theme. I normally don't scrap really themed, so this is perfect for me! I am really in love with this kit....I think I will use this one more often, like I did with Sweet Escape. Totally different colours.

I so wanted to use this kit so I searched for photos which did well with the colours. Black/white will be beautiful aswell, but the pink is so in the picture that I wanted to use colour photos. I found these photos of Anouk and me. I scrapped the large photo before, but never told the story behind this shoot. We found it cool that I fill my cheeks with air so that they got bigger and Anouk clapped the air out. It was such a silly thing but we had so much fun doing it.....untill my cheeks were all red of clapping, LOL. The fact that you can see us having fun together is just great!

For this layout I also used a template from Kay Miller Designs. She makes terrific blocked templates. A little different from the templates Cindy Schneider makes. I love hers, but sometimes I just want something straight forward.

See you soon!
XOXO

Bruce

2011-07-24T17:24:00.000+02:00

Nothing much to mention....it's still raining here! But I scrapped two layouts today, so I am happy. Last week was a busy week again and I didn't have much time to scrapbook during the evenings. Just because I felt to tired. I tried some reading, but 2 or 3 pages and I fall asleep. Eventhough the book I am reading is super dooper brilliant again. I am reading "Fallen" by Karin Slaughter. She is by far my ultime favourite tension writer!

I did a layout about Bruce for a change. It's so easy to photograph the little ones now. But I don't forget him though. He's so adorable. He's not a lapcat and he will never be one....but I can pick him up and cuttle with him whenever I want to. He always want to say goodmorning although it's not exactly our time to get up. I just love him dearly!

For this layout I used Misty Cato's kit "Quiet reflection". This kit really brings you peace and quiet. I am not a real fan of yellow, but combined with blue and grey like here I do like it. When I was younger I even had a grey and yellow room! And Cindy Schneider released her 100th template set this weekend....full of new templates. Not four, as usual, but nine templates!! And after 100 template sets she still makes new ones...unbelievable.

See you soon!
XOXO

Plans for 2012

2011-07-24T14:38:00.000+02:00

I have a totally relaxed day today. Eric has a 24 hour shift today and will not be at home then. So I have got time to do what I like most....sleeping....No just kidding! Well, I did sleep in today! 11.00 hrs is not a time I normally get out of bed! But it's raining AGAIN here, so what else do you need to do? After waking up I put on my sweatpants and a sweater (yes, it's that cold here) and started scrapping at the dinnertable, my cats playing around under the table. Perfect Sunday if I say so myself although I like having Eric home on these kind of days.

I scrapped a layout for the 30th challenge of Log Your Memory. Although many of you still enjoying their vacation, mine was already 2 months ago. Eric and I are already dreaming of our next vacation. We are not going on honeymoon after our wedding (only two night is a hotel which is also great!). The challenge is about planning an escape. This could be anything ofcourse. Eric and I would love to go to America. I like to see New York and San Francisco. So the perfect tour is to start in New York and going to the West Coast after a few days to see Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon. Unfortunately, we only have 2-3 weeks. By far not enough to see everything we would like to see. But beginning of 2012 could be last possibility for us to go that far.....;-)

I used Traci Reed's new kit 10080 Minutes and a template by Cindy Schneider. This 10080 Minutes kit is so great. It has all you need, perfect colours, frames, dates, everything!

See you soon!
XOXO

Explosion box

2011-07-22T20:17:00.002+02:00

This week I have been working on an explosion box. I loved the idea of a small minibook in digital and hybrid and it was one of the challenges on the SSD Portfolio July. Heather Roselli has a mix of explosion boxes in her store. Square, rectangle, pyramid....what you want. I guess there are 5 or 6 different ones. For my explosion box I named 12 songs which I really love to hear on the radio. Some are new, some are much older. I used Zoe Pearn's new kit "Those who want to sing". I really love the colours of the papers and the embellishments are really pretty. Pretty nice to earn 20% of all kits in the store after one night of work.

OK, I am off for some more scrapbooking....time to relax....it's weekend and tomorrow is Sweet Shoppe Saturday! I can't wait. I've seen so many lovely layouts with the new kits already!

See you soon!
XOXO

Painted toenails

2011-07-19T20:57:00.000+02:00

It's been a long week....It's not usual for me to not write on my blog for a whole week. But I just didn't find time to scrapbook anything! All of last week was pretty busy at work as my boss in on vacation at the moment. And at the same time I have to show around a new collegue because the other one is on maternity leave. My weekend was busy too but I had planned to scrap part of the Sunday afternoon....well, that didn't work too. We went to Ikea for a new dresser and we came back with all kinds of stuff. Fortunately, also the dresser ;-) But that also meant we built it up for the rest of the afternoon.

Yesterday I finally had some time to spend on this weeks Log Your Memory challenge. But I sat behind the laptop all evening....but did absolutely nothing. I chose a template, chose a kit...placed some papers. And deleted it all again. This went like this for 2-3 hours and then I decided to stop. Tonight I did another attempt and I scrapped this layout in 2 hours....complete and done. Yeah!

This year I see a whole lot of new beautiful summer kits in the Shoppe. It reminds me of summers and vacations we already have. Because at this moment, summer seems very far away here. It's 17 degrees outside where it should be around 24 degrees. Or higher! I have to work anyway, but I feel for all the families who are on campings around Western Europe....it's not great this year. We had our summer in April/May I guess.

This kit I used is called Under the Boardwalk by Heather Roselli. I just love the orange/blue/green/yellow colours in this kit. I adapted a template from Cindy Schneider a little by adding some paper layers.

Hope to scrap a little more this week....

See you soon.

XOXO

Peschiera del Garda

2011-07-12T20:19:00.000+02:00

I've been working a little on my Italy 2011 album. And having fun. Seeing those bright coloured photos bring a smile on my face, especially because it's really pouring rain here. It's only 16-17 degrees here in Holland the coming days! Does that feel as summer to you? Well, not to me. I am not a 30+ degrees kinda girl, but I do like a bit of sunshine and warm enough temperatures to wear skirts and shorts and tops. To sit outside in the garden with a book or just walk around. I feel people are much happier looking than with rain pouring from the sky. Ok, my plants and flowers don't mind, but the rest of us?

I am so sad for all those people who are on vacation in our own country at the moment. And it's like this for the second or third year in a row. April and May are fanatastic, often 25 degrees or more and lots of sunshine. But in those months everyone has to work still and can't enjoy it completely. And then summer starts...schools are out (well, not all schools yet) and then it starts raining. Welcome in Holland. No wonder people go abroad for vacation. France, Spain, Italy, Greece and Turkey are most favourite here. We spent two weeks in Italy and I still get a smile on my face thinking about the weather and all we've seen there.

Well, I am off now. My friend Cindy is coming over to pick out my wedding bouquet! I am so excited. I want to give her a free go, but with a colour combo. I know she will make a gorgeous bouquet for us!

See you soon!

XOXO

Road trip

2011-07-10T17:11:00.000+02:00

I told you it was a nice Sunday, this is already my second layout today! And I have so many more ideas and photos to scrap. I am not a chronological scrapper, I just scrap a photo when I want to. Like after 2 layouts of vacation photos I just want something different. I can scrap yesterday's photo now and then go back like 5 years ago and scrap another one. You just never know what's coming ;-)

Next week is already week 28 of our Log Your Memory challenge. This week is: don't forget the scene in the back seat. Well, I don't have kids and we didn't photograph the stuff we put on the backseat during our vacation so I decided to do something different. This is my version. We sit in the car a lot and we see things which we take for granted often....but during our road trip to Italy (actually, these photos were taken on the trip back home because I accidently deleted the ones from the first day!!!). The mountains are so big and great to see. Some actually had snow on top! You see it while you're in the car, but Eric told me: why don't you take pictures? Well, the quality of photos through glass are not brilliant, but perfect for this challenge.

I used a super 7 template by Cindy Schneider which are perfect for this kind of layouts. The layout is much straighter than if I would use more flowers and swirls and stuff. Kit is from JayDay Studio "On travel"....I love these colours!

Well, the sun came here finally, so I am going to make dinner and sit in the garden with a book or something.

See you soon ;-)

XOXO

My love for reading

2011-07-10T14:37:00.000+02:00

This is a great Sunday.....this morning Eric went to work for a 24 hrs shift and I slept in after I let the cats in the bedroom. Around 9.30 hrs I ate some breakfast. I baked me a few buns with yummie roast beef on it. I sat down on the couch with my laptop and played a little with Facebook. I enjoy that more and more. After a telephone call with my mom I scrapped a layout. I hoped the sun would shine a little more today for some reading in the garden, but I guess I will be reading on the couch instead ;-) Now it's 14.30 hrs and I have a really great Sunday....we don't have to do anything. The cats are rather quiet and sleepy....Perfect.

Last Saturday I bought a lot of new kits. I had a few weeks where I didn't like many of the new kits, but yesterday I bought four of them...and a few templates. I am filled with ideas. I still have to do next weeks LYM layout, but I am a little lost there....Now I have to be creative for a solution on that one. But this layout is finished....I love to read. I already read when I was little. I was a member of the library at a young age. But on highschool where you HAD to read I read less and less. I didn't like the idea that I couldn't read just any book. But since I have my e-reader I read a lot. And I still have like 3000 books to go!

OK, time for a little healthy fruit snack....

See you later.

XOXO

Luca

2011-07-08T22:20:00.000+02:00

Pffff, this week is over! This was a busy week with also some fun things in it. But in the end: I am glad it's weekend again. Last weekend I got a text that our wedding cards would be delivered on Monday at our guests. Exciting! I wrote them two weeks ago but I had to give them to our masters of ceremonie because they wanted to add something to it. On Monday I got a few texts and calls from our guests about how they loved the card! Yeah! Then on Tuesday I had a new co-worker who I should show around and how things are done, so that was an exhausting day too because you don't do much. Wednesday was the last day of work for my friend and collegue Caroline. Her maternity leave started! And today was the last day of work for my boss before his vacation, so things had to be finished.

So you can imagine I needed a hot shower and some relaxation tonight. So I showered, LOL, and sat down behind the computer and scrapped this page. I need to get used to boy kits. What if I have a boy in the future. I can't place only flowers on those layouts! But I really have difficulties with that. I really like this layout in the end. OK, the clustering can be better, but it's a fun and busy layout! I took this photo a few weeks ago when my nephew vistited our house. He's such a charmer!

Ok, Eric is calling about drinks...I almost forgot about that!

See you soon!

XOXO

Cotton Candy

2011-07-03T15:00:00.000+02:00

A few weeks ago I went to the carnival together with my SIL Annemarie and my niece Anouk. Just the three of us girls. We went in several rides and had a good time. Anouk isn't afraid of anything, she went in the big rollercoaster with mom. Leontine chickened out. Yes, I am not a big fan of roller coasters and that is mild speaking. The trampoline was also a good choice. But she was a little bit tiny for the buckle. Not a problem, she loved it. And the guy there even let her jump a little longer! So he could smoke a sigarette! And as a final treat we went to eat cotton candy. It's so sticky and pink! But so nice! And Anouk loved it too. You can see the smile on her face eating it.

These photos were lying here for more than a month but I just didn't have a matching kit. But this weekend Kristin Cronin-Barrow and Traci Reed came with a fabulous collab kit. The colours are really bold and normally that is not really my thing. But this kit matched my photos so great. I had a fun time making this layout. It reminds me at the time I was little myself. We had a candystore in our town. We would get a guilder each Friday to buy some candy. Yes, we had guilders back then. LOL. We could buy 20 candy's for that if we were smart. But I loved the pink lollipops with the gum inside. Even now, when I am 33, and see those lollipops somewhere I would like to have some. But I just know it will be too sweet for me now!

Well, that's it for today. I think....Going downstairs to watch some tv with Eric.

See you soon!
XOXO

Vacation talk

2011-07-02T21:47:00.000+02:00

Today I went to Paper & Pictures in Doorn together with my mom and friend Caroline. Because I do only digital layouts lately I felt a little lost in the store. A strange thing because it's really my favourite scrapstore in Holland. And I've spent real money there....but not today. I only spent 10 euro! I didn't want to buy papers because the only paper scrapping I do is hybrid cards. And I still have a tower full of paper which I hardly use anymore. But I didn't get any stamps also....I just felt really lost. Because I didn't want to buy nothing I bought a magazine....hahaha.

No, digital scrapbooking is what I really love now. I feels so comfortable to scrap with the tv on. On our new lappie on the couch. It's a little harder without a mouse and the screen is sometimes a little too little for me (I have a 24 inch upstairs). But I don't like sitting upstairs when Eric is at home in the evening. But when he watches something I really don't want to see, this is a good thing to do!

Monday starts week 27....that means we are halfway through the year on our Log Your Memory journey. And I still love it so much. It is so much fun to think about all those prompts. Week 27 is the first in July and it's all about vacation. This is a talk we had about every year before our vacation. Where do we go? And like every woman I want to chose something together, but Eric is easy on that. He likes everything I chose. But that irritates me sometimes....so we have the same talk every year. For this layout I used On Travel by Jayday Studio. And a template freebie by Cindy Schneider.

Have a nice weekend everyone!

XOXO

Gingerscrap Magazine

2011-07-01T19:01:00.000+02:00

For those who like to see my layout in the Gingerscrap Magazine, please click here.
I am on page 4! I am really excited, my first publication in a magazine, although it's not physically.

See you soon!
XOXO

Fur babies

2011-06-30T21:45:00.000+02:00

It's one of those weeks which go by in a heartbeat. Not that I complaint because one more working day and it's weekend! And tomorrow start the sneak peeks for Saturday. I can tell you those are the most fun days of the week if you are a digital scrapbooker. On Friday I sneak to internet every once in a while to take a look at the new kits. And on Saturday....no matter what....first thing is checking the new kits in the store.

Tonight we are so relaxed here. Eric is watching a movie on television and I am right beside him scrapbooking on the couch on our new laptop. What a difference that is! Our old laptop almost died....it was soooooo slooooooowwwwww. And the outside literally cracked bit by bit....so when the gas company was extra nice for us (or we just paid way too much for the last year) we went to buy a new one. I had to adjust to Windows 7 for a moment, but it works so great. And now I also have PSE9 which is even better than PSE8. To make a long story short....I love being downstairs once in a while. When I am alone at home I still prefer my desktop as I have a larger screen there. But I just don't like being upstairs for most of the evening while Eric is downstairs. So this is absolutely the most perfect solution.

Ok, to my new layout now. I didn't scrap anything about our new kittens yet, so I thought I did tonight. I like this new "Brotherly love" kit by Julie Billingsley. Perfect for little boys layouts. So why not for little boy cats? I used a template by Nettio Designs, because I searched for something straight this time. No big elements on the side, just a few.

Good night everyone.

See you soon.

XOXO

Hybrid card: Opkikkertje

2011-06-29T19:44:00.000+02:00

A collegue of mine can use a little "opkikkertje" because they had some really bad news about his wife. I don't want to give any details about that, but it's serious. And I thought they might need a little sheer up. Not that this will make everything better, but I just want to let them know we think of them.

I found some inspiration for this card on the Sweetest Thing blog from Karen Giron. I think she makes great cards. They are often not that difficult but they look awesome. They have a sketch every week and I do like scrapping with my hands once in a while, so I might participate a little more. I used Kristin Cronin-Barrows Raindrops are falling for this card. I thought the little froggie was so cute! And perfect for the theme.

Well, of for the finale of the Dutch Bachelor.

See you soon!

XOXO

Just laugh out loud

2011-06-27T15:34:00.000+02:00

Guys it's hot here. The weather changed on Sunday from 17 degrees to 25 degrees and today it's 32 degrees. But the sun is so hot that I am inside doing some scrapping on the couch. I have done a few chores this morning after spinning class, but I can tell you: I felt like showering AGAIN. And tomorrow it will be even warmer. Our atmosfeer can't handle this so heavy showers and thunder is coming our way. And then on Wednesday the temperature drops like 13 degrees! What's wrong with just 23-25 degrees with a little wind now and then? I really hate this weather. I love sunshine and reading in our backyard but not if it is that warm.

We had a nice weekend, but a little busy. On Friday our friends organised a Midsummer Christmas Party. It was so cool. Nice music, nice drinks, nice friends. Just having fun. On Saturday my parents, my brother and SIL came over. They stayed for dinner to. Nothing fancy, but we had a nice chat all together. And on Sunday we held a high tea at my friends house. We all made something and we had some tea and chatted. It was really nice. We really should do that more often.

This weekend my brother and SIL came home after three weeks of holiday on the same camping in Italy we've been to. Anouk was very pleased to see me again. I don't know what has changed in her head the last months but she is totally into me. When she was little she didn't want anything to do with me actually. No, this sounds more harsh than it was, but we didn't really have fun together. She was more like a mommy's girl. The last few months that changed, a lot. And I love it. I know she is only 4 years old, but I can't wait for her to come over for a sleepover or something, doing girly things and just have fun. Last year I couldn't even dream of a photo like this! i really love this photo. It really matches our feelings at this point.

I used an older kit by Kristin Cronin-Barrow "The way you are". I liked the flowers and colours. And it matched the pink sweater Anouk wore. And one of Cindy Schneider's new halfpack 16 templates. I like scrapping with more than one photo but my heart is lying with one photo layouts. That photo is the most important item on the layout.

OK, off to do some laundry. Sigh.

See you soon!

XOXO

Snapshots by Eric

2011-06-22T20:21:00.000+02:00

I can't believe we are almost halfway through the year. That also means that we are halfway through the Log Your Memory challenges. I never thought I would keep up this long, but I just like it. It makes you think about things rather than just scrap about every day stuff...which I also want to do as much as possible. Challenge 26 (yes, this is next weeks task) was all about giving away your camera. I have no problem doing that but in this case I gave Eric kind of a free hand. I told him he had to take pictures of me and our normal way of living in the evenings as we don't see each other during the day. Well, you can see the result below. It's a good thing I have a VETO towards such photos. He even snapped me when I was on the toilet in the bathroom! No seriously, I have no problem showing myself but some things.....you just don't want to see, LOL! But one thing is true: Eric and I had a lot of fun making these photos.

What other kit to use than OH Snap! by Kristin Cronin-Barrow. I used a template by Kay Miller designs. Yes, that's right. No Cindy today. I saw these templates last weekend and I thought they were cute. For lists and stuff like this. And I like to have more journal space. Because I do like to write down everything. If you read it back in about 10 years you probably laugh out loud....very loud!

And I got a lot of questions about our new cats...well, Eddie and Bailey are doing fine! They feel at home by now and they have a good time together. For Bruce we are glad we also took Bailey because he's getting enough rest and he plays with them whenever he feels like it. Although we do miss Zoë very much we also like the company of our new kittens. Two young kittens, it's never quiet around here! Like that!

Well, I have to....going to see the Dutch version of the Bachelor. I have to say I like the American version much and much better, but I do am curious who he will choose. I have a good idea about that but I am more often wrong than right about these kind of things.

See you soon!

XOXO

A double pager about Italy

2011-06-20T15:24:00.000+02:00

I think my last double pager was made in ehm....2005? When I first started paper scrapping I made double pages. But I quickly started making only singles because I just liked it more. Well, my opinion about that didn't change since then. I've had lots of fun making this one, but wow, I really spent 4 hours making it! It was fun for one time, but I don't think I will be doing this lots of times though.

I used a template by Cindy Schneider for this one. What I regret about this template is that it has not enough landscape photos in it. But I managed, LOL! I used an older kit by Kristin Cronin-Barrow. "Tropical Hideaway" is just my favourite vacation kit. I have a hard time finding a nice summer kit. It's either to childish or just too bright for my photos. But everything goes with this one.

I have a nice Monday....did some chorus in the morning....went spinning and did some reading and scrapping. Perfect day off I would say! And it's just 15.30 hrs....

See you soon!
XOXO

Happy Father's Day

2011-06-19T19:23:00.001+02:00

The last few years my relationship with my parents changed a lot. Especially since I moved back into my parents home back in 2007. I've scrapped a lot about my relationship with my mom, but my dad is also very important to me. Of course I would say! Since I can remember I am what you call a "daddy girl". I don't know why exactly, but that grew that way. I know my father is really proud of me. We don't say "I love you" that often, but I just know he does. I can see it in his eyes when he looks at me. The last two years I have been really happy with my life and with Eric. And I see that my father (and my mom too) are more relaxed about me. They don't have to worry anymore. My wedding in September is the crown on that hapiness. And both my parents play an important role during my wedding. My mom as my witness and my dad? Well, how it supposed to be: right by my side when I walk down the aisle.

It's almost Monday so we were ready for a new challenge over at Log Your Memory. This week is all about relatives. Perfect time to celebrate Father's Day. I didn't see my dad today....he's on vacation and unfortunately the weather is not good enough to visit them today. But here's my layout dedicated to my dad. And although we don't say it much: I love you!

I used Family Man by Penny Springmann & Shawna Clingermann. I used that same kit for the card I made for my father in law. It's a nice kit to play with.....but I seem to have problems with flowerless kits! The template is from Cindy Schneider. Are you surprised?

Well, I am working on a 2-pager but I seem to have a lot of trouble with that....it's much more work than a single page!

See you soon!

XOXO

Hybrid Father's Day card

2011-06-18T16:36:00.000+02:00

It's been a while I've scrapped a card. I think I might have did only this one in 2011 but I am not sure. After all Christmas cards last year I was really sick and tired of cardmaking. And since then I really love the digital way of scrapbooking. You always have paper available and the kit you want to use. Perfect for me.

I've been a fan of Jen Tapler's hybrid cards since I discovered her blog and her gallery on SSD. She really makes beautiful cards. So I wanted to try also. Only...my colours are not so bright and shiny as I like them to be. I've had some good advice on the SSD forum and Wolf sent me a few sheets of brochure paper just to try! I've bought some thicker paper at our bookstore the other day and I've been trying to make a Father's Day card for my father in law. I hope he likes it. And I had fun making it so I will probably be doing this more often again.

Lately, I have been thinking a lot of selling or giving away my paper scrapping supplies...but I still doubt. So untill I know for sure it all stays. I know I don't want to sell my Bigshot and dies, because I can use them for hybrid too. And my stamps and ink stay too....it's just the paperlines I still have and my paper cabinet. I haven't bought anything new this year. I like the idea of hybrid only. Print what you need. Nothing more, nothing less. Never screw up a card because you miscalculate on your paper. You can just print stuff again!

See you soon!
XOXO

Me and You

2011-06-13T14:51:00.000+02:00

A lot has happened in the last few days. We have a long weekend here and we are so relaxed in it. A bit of shopping, a bit of reading, scrapping, photography....Perfect weekend if you asked me.

Today I have been working on a new layout for Log Your Memory. The challenge of week 24 is about the contrast between the persons in your life. I chose to scrapbook about the differences between Eric and me. Although we think the same about lots of things, our characters are different. He is very quiet and relaxed and I am going through the house (and my life) as a tornado sometimes. I can't relax very easily. Even when I am scrapbooking I am thinking about groceries and stuff like that. Very exhausting sometimes. Eric makes me go and relax now and then. I need that. So we are perfect for each other!

I used a kit from Kristin Cronin-Barrow which is a little older but never seen by me before...those colours are so great! It's Oh Snap! And I used one of Cindy Schneider's single pages.

On Sunday I went to the Zegerplas here to photograph birds and bees on flowers. I don't want to photograph in the auto mode but I really have to practice with it. If I know I want good pictures from an event or something I put it back in auto. I need to quit and practise but I just don't always take the time to do that. So yesterday I thought: GO! I went for like an hour. It was nice weather, but for this kind of photography it was a little too windy I think. But I have a few photos which I like....like these two on the side. I am definitely not a professional....but for me I am proud of such photos.

And then....Eric kept asking me last week if I wanted a third cat in the house. I said no...But I have to admit it's very good to have cats. It makes me very happy. It's not quiet in the house. The nest where we found Eddie (yes, it's Eddie, not Noa) had three more. Eric fell in love with a black kitten with white feet and a white moustache. So cute....I took a few days to think about it but this morning we brought him home. I don't have a name yet and I didn't make any photos yet....With Bruce everything went well, but I guess Eddie didn't want the new cat....at first....now they are playing, although a little rough sometimes. It will get better, I just know it.

Well, going downstairs to our new family.....

See you soon!

XOXO

Pleasant surprise

2011-06-10T18:47:00.001+02:00

Check THIS out! I still find it very special to see my layouts and name on other peoples websites. Especially when it's featured on the blog of my favourite kit-designer!

Well, we have a long weekend coming up....no special things we need to do...and no really warm weather. Perfect for spending a little time behind the computer for some digital scrapping!

See you soon!
XOXO

Bye sweetie

2011-06-08T16:05:00.000+02:00

This week went by so fast. Today it's already a week ago since we had to say goodbye to our sweetie. And I have to say, I still miss her so much. As I am writing about it now, my tears are so close. I just don't understand....she was only 9 months. But I know we did the right thing. That's what I have to keep in mind when I am feeling sad. And looking at Bruce I know we did the right thing bringing Eddie or Noa in also. They play together, the little one follows Bruce wherever he goes. And sometimes when he has enough he shows it and it's OK for the both of them. It goes well.

I tried to make this layout earlier, but I just couldn't. And also today it took me longer than usual to finish this layout. I copied in the photo last minute because I knew the tears would come if I didn't. I know that's not a bad thing, but I just wanted to scrap about her. And I love the outcome. The colours and flowers are just wonderful. This is the best photo I have from Zoë and I will cherish it always.

I used a mix of two kits by Kristin Cronin-Barrow: Boho Chic and In bloom. And also a template (halfpack 14) by Cindy Schneider which I adapted a little to fit my photo and my text.

Well, one was enough for today I guess...

See you soon!
XOXO

Special people

2011-06-05T16:48:00.001+02:00

I am making some progress today. Scrapping all afternoon....checking up on the cats every now and then....life's good today. It doesn't bother me that the weather isn't that great at the moment. But hey, who needs sunshine when you're scrapping!

After finishing week 22 I thought it might be a good idea to finish week 23 also. It's all about the special people in your life. Who are the persons who you deal with every day or who is important. A lot of people are important to be, all in a different way. But I can't scrap them all. So I divided into three: my parents, my (best) friends and Eric. They are most important to me because I know they will always love me no matter what! Ok, friends come and go....and I have more than one friend....but there are only a few who stay with me for quite some time. And then Eric. Do I really have to explain why he's important? I am getting married to him. That's enough for me....I won't marry just anyone!

I used Kristin Cronin-Barrow's new kit "A bushel and a peck". I guess this is a sentence which is often used in America but I have no idea how to translate it to Dutch. It doesn't matter because this kit is so versatile. You can use it for everything. Also a template by Cindy again.

Maybe just maybe I will do another one today....there's still time! Oh and I see I will be hitting the 50.000 visitors pretty soon! Wow, 50.000 visitors....that's a lot.

See you soon!

XOXO

10 Faves by Eric

2011-06-05T12:25:00.000+02:00

I haven't scrapped much last week due to all the commotions here. Frankly, I didn't feel like scrapping either. But today my MOJO is back. I really wanted to do something. Eric is at the Fire Department for 24 hours so nobody is home! I can scrap all day long. Every now and then I check up on the cats, but they are doing fine! Little kitten is sleeping in the tent....Bruce is sleeping on the couch. Outside it rains. Perfect Sunday to scrap.

And I really had to because I was behind on my Log Your Memory. I hadn't done week 22 yet. Tomorrow starts week 23, so I am still keeping up. I didn't think I would follow that long, but I like it so much. It really lets you think about all sorts of things, things you wouldn't scrap otherwise.

Week 22 was all about interviewing someone special in your life. It's no surprise I took Eric for that. I asked him his favourite things. And believe me or not, lots of answers made me frown! I didn't know that. I used a kit which was made especially for these kind of layouts: What I like about...by Julie Billingsley. And I used a favourites template by Nettio Designs. But for some reason this one didn't work that well for me. Some elements I struggled with a lot. But it's done!

See you soon!
XOXO

Let's meet Noa...or is it Eddie?

2011-06-05T10:31:00.005+02:00

Some say it is too fast, some say you can't do this fast enough. But we trusted our feelings and our feelings said that Bruce missed a playmate. After Bruce saw that Zoë was not alive anymore he didn't search for her anymore. But he laid around pretty alone. When we went to the vet to thank her for taking care of Zoë on Friday we asked what was the best thing to do. She said that Bruce also had feelings and that we had to decide on that. But in general, because Bruce is so young, putting a new kitten besides him soon was a good way. And for ourselves too, so we can give away the love we had for Zoë.

So let's meet Noa then....or is it Eddie? We picked her up on Fridayafternoon. Everything went well in the car. At home we placed her locked up in the living room and let Bruce get to meet her first. Pretty soon Bruce wanted the door open, so we did. No bad vibes there. Soon Noa came out of her transporter box and explored the room. She was a little frightened. We could touch her, but not pick her up or anything. This changed quickly. By Saturdayafternoon she was sitting in our laps on the couch. I made a few photos of all that happened. But then on the couch she laid on her back and I thoughth: is she really a girl? So we searched for some pictures on the internet and both thought she might be a boy instead. On Tuesday we will go to the vet for her vaccinations. The vet has to let us know if we are handling a Noa or an Eddie!

We are so glad that with Bruce everything goes OK. We try to give him as much attention as he needs. He isn't a cat who sits on a lap. So we snuggle him a lot and always give him attention first over Noa/Eddie. We are glad there isn't a fight in our house now. In fact, Bruce is really sweet for our new kitty cat. And kitty cat is copying everything Bruce does. He was afraid for the stairs, but that's over now after Bruce raced up and down a few times. And we see that Bruce wants to play. I am a little bit scared for that as Bruce is so much bigger than our kitten. But in the end I know we did the right thing. It's strange that Zoë isn't around anymore but a new kitten is also very much fun.

Well, this photo below says everything, right!

See you soon!

XOXO

Goodbye sweet little Zoe

2011-06-02T09:47:00.000+02:00

Life can be hard sometimes. We learned that the last four days. After our vacation we were so excited to go back to our sweet little kittens Bruce and Zoë. We missed them during those two weeks but we knew they were in good hands. But then everything changed. Sunday evening we felt that Zoë was breathing heavily. We thought she might had the hickups or something. But we were worried. As it was Sunday we decided to wait untill Monday to make an appointment at the vet for Mondayevening. During lunch Eric decided to go home and check up on her. He didn't trust the situation and took her to the vet. Her condition was serious so she was placed in an oxygen tank. That made her breathe more easily. Later that afternoon the vet made some x-rays and saw that there was fluid behind her lungs. They tried to take the fluid away in a punction, but the fluid was too thick for the needle. We had a few options for the night. Leave her in the tank at the vet, but without supervision. Take her home and bring her back Tuesdaymorning and going to a specialist in Utrecht. Although the last option costs a lot of money we decided to take no risks and take her to Utrecht. During the car ride Zoë really had a hard time breathing. By then we knew it was really serious. In Utrecht she was taken to the IC and placed again in an oxygen tank. That's how we left her there.

The next day we had to wait...the specialist had told us that she would examin her in the morning and if we didn't hear anything by 14.00 hrs we had to call ourselves as Zoë was not the only critical patient at the time. When we called the specialist, she didn't have good news. She was diagnosed with cancer. Eric and I had to make new decisions. Chemotherapy was an option but then we had to take her to Utrecht 12 times in the coming 7 months. Very stressful for the cat and it was not sure whether she would survive the first year. Besides that I could only think of: do we do that for her or for ourselves to keep her? Ofcourse we would like to take her home healthy but we had to be realistic her. She had a bad case of cancer which was spreading inside her very fast. Was she really getting better? Before we picked her up Eric and I decided that it was the best thing for her if we would let her go. With that thought we went to Utrecht to pick her up.

But when we came there we found a really different cat than the one we left behind. She was not in the oxygen room anymore and when she heard us she mewed for us. We couldn't let her go at that time. She was to good in health for that. But chemo was no option for us. So she got a shot with prednison to be calmer in the car. We took her home. Bruce was glad to see her but I think he knew she was sick. He licked her the whole night. Zoë slept very well and was not really breathing heavily by that time. We took lots of photos to keep her memory. I went to work and Eric stayed at home. He updated me every three hours. Although she looks fine we saw that she didn't felt like living anymore. One minute she was alert and chasing shadows and the next she was sitting somewhere and didn't move at all. She had such a sad face. When Eric told me that I said I would come home and he would call the vet for an appointment to let her go.

At the vet everything took a little longer than expected. Zoë didn't go without a struggle. She even got the medicine twice because her heart just didn't stop. I cried my eyes out but we knew it was the best thing for her. Although this was all happening within 72 hours we are so glad we had her home for about 24 hours to say goodbye and take lots of photos. Now we have few really good photos of her. Today we will give her a special place in our garden, close to our home. She was only 9 months. A cat should be at least 15 years before dying....life can be hard sometimes.

Eric and I miss her a lot. Eventhough she was a quiet cat, we will miss her being there. Sleeping on Eric's lap while we watch tv. Playing with her brother Bruce. As we took Zoë home we could show Bruce that his sister was really gone. He sniffed at her a few times and then it was OK for him. The last few days he was really searching for her. But cats know what's happening because Tuesdayevening he sniffed at her and licked her clean. On Wednesday he left her alone, checking up on her every now and then. I am certain that he knows that she was sick.

For now we have to close a special chapter in our lives. Zoë will be missed. Not only by us, but also by other people, like our neighbours who took really good care during our vacation.

By sweet little Zoë, you will be in our hearts forever!

Camping Bella Italia

2011-05-29T19:22:00.000+02:00

Since I was a little girl my parents took us camping. We would go to a camping in France for like 3-4 weeks and we always had the time of our lives. As long as there was a pool, we made friends and had fun. Most of the time we spent one day on the camping and one day elsewhere. We liked little villages en wine tasting castle, castle, etc. So it isn't strange that I still like camping. A tent is fine by me, but a little more luxurious like a mobil home is even more perfect. Everything you need in 25m2. And being outside for most of the day is so good for your health. Eric didn't go camping when he was little, he mostly stayed in appartments in Spain or Portugal. So when I told him I would like to go camping he frowned and said: really? But he was willing to give it a try.

We stayed on camping Bella Italia in Peschiera del Garda. It's a really beautiful camping with lots of flowers everywhere. But it's also a very big camping with mostly mobil homes on it. If you have children they can really enjoy themselves without problems. They have children's entertainment in the morning and afternoon and evenings, 5 swimming pools and playgardens too. But....we don't have children so this was a little bit overwhelming for us. On the camping you find everything you need: restaurants, bars, supermarket, little shops, internet, rental bikes, everything.

I don't think you will be seeing us back on this camping, but the surroundings of Peschiera are beautiful. Eric said he liked being outside a lot, but two weeks in such a small house was a little too much for him. He feels he works hard the whole year to pay for the size of house we live in and then for fun we go in a caravan where you can barely walk around your bed! Yes, we do! I think we will be flying somewhere again next year.....It all sounds like we didn't have a good vacation, but that's not true. You have to try before you say no to certain things. Well, we say yes to Italy but no to camping (at least Eric does).

OK, I am off downstairs for our last evening of vacation....tomorrowmorning my alarmclock will be yelling at me again....and it's normally my day off. But with a vacation behind me and a monthly closure on Wednesday I think it will be a good idea if I show my (tanned) face at the office!

See you soon!
XOXO

Venice kissing

2011-05-28T17:25:00.000+02:00

I always want to make photos of us together when we are on vacation. Because those photos mostly turn out beautiful. Blue skies, sunshine, tanned skin....you know the drill. But for some strange reason we always follow the same process somehow! We started posing (Eric has longer arms so he holds the camera) and when he feels he had enough he wants to kiss, so we do (LOL!)....and then he makes stranges noices, or he tickles me or something like that and I start laughing. Those pictures are normally not scrapped by me. And why? I don't know because they are so great!

For week 21 of Log Your Memory you needed to scrap some kind of process of your job or and activity through a series of photos. Well, these photos were perfect for that! I am so glad I did a little extra work before we went on vacation so I could stay in the same week as the challenge. I just know that when I am behind on something it is just very difficult to change again.

For this layout I used a new vacation kit by Julie Billingsley. The kit is called "Kona Coast". Very pretty colours, maybe a little bit more suitable for beach and island photos but I just like the kit, so I used it on jmy layout. I also used the new Build me an alpha pebbles by Misty Cato. Very fun to use. And ofcourse a template (set 80) by Cindy Schneider. I just don't know what I would do without templates. It just helps me start.

OK, Saturday evening, time for some relaxation on the couch. With a little glass of Aperol Spritz...my new favourite drink from Italy. Unfortunately, I only have three drinks left.

See you soon!
XOXO

Lago di Garda

2011-05-27T21:56:00.001+02:00

I scroll through the SSD Gallery quite a lot. It gives me so much inspiration. When I saw THIS layout by Sula I was shocked. So much beauty and the ambiance of the photos. Really gorgeous. You want to pack your bags and go there. As we obviously just got back from our trip to Lago di Garda I thought this kind of layout would be perfect for it. So I scraplifted. I didn't have all the elements though, so I had to improvise a little bit here and there, but I think the result is good! By the way, Sula has a really great website/blog which you really need to visit one time. You can find it here.

On this perticular day we went up the Rocco di Garda. It's a 295m high mountain which is kind of flat at the top. That's why they call it a tablemountain. The road towards the top was heavy. At least for me. Especially the beginning was very steep and my enkle started to hurt. But at the end I was really glad I went through. What a view! You could see a really tiny car on the parking lot, LOL! You could see the little village of Garda ofcourse, but also Sirmione was visible and the whole coastroad to Peschiera del Garda where we were staying. And that lake is incredible! I didn't know I could see so many colours of blue on one day!

For this layout I used Misty Cato's kit Rocky shores, really perfect for photos like these. As I scraplifted the layout I didn't really use a template. Well, I started with one, but didn't use a lot of it....only the base. I am not so good in starting from scratch. And scraplifting takes me ages.....so for the next couple of layouts I will have to trust my own inspiration, LOL. I have plenty of beautiful and fun photos to go!

See you soon!
XOXO

We're back!

2011-05-25T10:17:00.002+02:00

Do you know the feeling that you are thrilled to go on holiday? But at the end you are dying to get home? I have that every time I am on holiday. Not that I am really homesick or something but after almost two weeks being somewhere else I am just glad to go back to my own bed, my own house, my own eating habits.....you know what I mean, right?

That will not say we didn't have a good time though! We were in Italy at gorgeous Lake Garda. I didn't know a lake could have that many colours! On a beautiful day it was deep blue and after rain it turned gray and dark....and we saw everything in between. We had the most perfect weather we can think of. Two weeks of 25-30 degrees and only half a day (and whole night) of rain. We were on camping Bella Italia in Peschiera del Garda. My brother comes there for several years and he told me it was perfect for us there. So we gave it a try. We rented a mobil home. Eric hasn't camped a lot in his life and he didn't see himself in a tent. I camped most of my younger life with my parents and I love it! The last two holidays we were flying somewhere and now we got in the car. That was our first experience because it's about 1250km to Lake Garda from our place. We have seen beautiful little villages around Lake Garda and went to Venice. I wanted that for a few years, but in the end it disappointed me a little bit. I can't really tell you why but I guess it's because in movies and on tv things are a little bit more romantic than in real life. Although.....Eric proposed to me in Venice! And on several other occassions. He felt like he had to make up with me or something because we decided to get married, not because he proposed. No, we had a really good time. And we are relaxed back home.

We have a few more days off work. So we keep on relaxing a little bit....and do some scrapbooking. I have so many photos with gorgeous blue skies and waters. I am dying to scrap them. I didn't do nothing on our holiday. We took our laptop with us so I scrapped two pages on the day we had a little bit of rain. But that laptop is so lazy that I am glad I am back home scrapping the rest. First layout is from our visit in Sirmione, a beautiful little village at the end of a landtongue. I used an older kit from Kristin Cronin-Barrow "Au naturel". I think the colours are beautiful for these kinds of photos. The template is by Cindy Schneider. I love her templates with multiple photos. Perfect for holiday pictures, right?

The second layout is about the many species of birds we saw at Lake Garda. There were lots of ducks with little duckies in all sizes. So many we kept calling them small, medium and large, LOL! But also swans and little birds around the caravan. We have been giving them small pieces of bread when we were eating and somehow they knew it so they kept coming back to us. Mommy birds with little ones that still needed to be fed. So cute! But those are so movable and impossible to photograph! The photo on the layout was made in the early evening on one of a our first walks alongside the lake. Eveningsun with this cute picture of the little duckies made this perfect. And what kit could I use better for this layout than Sweet Escape by Kristin Cronin-Barrow? Template again by Cindy Schneider.

OK, I am off....As you can imagine I now have tons of laundry to be put back into our closets! That's the worst part of being on holiday. The mess you have afterwards. But hey....I have a few more days to relax right!

See you soon!

XOXO

Vacation faves

2011-05-09T16:50:00.001+02:00

When a new vacation is close by I always tend to look at photos from previous vacations. I like that. I like vacations in general. You don't have to do anything, just sit around and read some books, do a little sightseeing and enjoy each other! I am like a different person on vacation. I CAN sit down a relax during those two weeks. At home I am always busy.

I bought a kit outside SSD! I know...I haven't done that ever. But I saw this kit and so loved the flowers that I made an exception. My heart is absolutely with SSD. I think they have the best designers ever. If I see other shops, kits are mostly not complete. You have to but the alpha or papers separately from the elements. I don't like that. I just want to buy a complete kit. This is a kit by Jay Day Studios, Blessed by my mother. The template is by Cindy Schneider (set 94).

So, I am off....closing the computer!

See you soon!
XOXO

Anouk

2011-05-09T11:10:00.000+02:00

Yesterday was Mother's Day. We celebrated that with a bbq with my parents and my SIL and brother. All of us together, that's so great because it doesn't happen that often anymore. Ever since I moved out of our hometown we don't stop by as often as we did before. But when we do, it's fun! My niece Anouk is now 4,5 years old and is becoming a fine young lady. When she was little she was quiet and shy, never wanted to be picked up by someone else than mommy or daddy. And never smiling towards the camera. Yesterday she was totally different, smiling all the time, wanted to be around me all the time! So I shot a few nice pictures.

For this layout I used a new kit by my favourite designer: Zoe Pearn. I am glad she back at SSD. She lost her home in the Australia floods back in January and she had a really hard time. Living with family with you newborn baby girl isn't the easiest thing to do. But sometimes you have no choice at all. But as I said, she is back!

Today I counted my layouts to see if I am on schedule. I started doing digitals more often last December. In 2010 I only made 33 layouts. So I wanted a goal for myself: 100 layouts in 2011. The first four months are over and I am already on 53 layouts! If I keep on this page I might actually turn out to have about 150 layouts at the end of this year! Wow! And I love making layouts again. I stopped making paper layouts about 3 years ago....then did a lot of card and now back in layouts, only digital. I love it again. Making photos more often and just make a keepsake of memories! That's why we scrapbook in the first place right!

Ok, I am off doing some errands today. I hope I can make another layout later today!

See you soon!
XOXO

Who am I? I am ME....

2011-05-06T22:17:00.001+02:00

Who am I? And decribe yourself in just one word. Well, that's hard. Because I am not just one word. I am many words. But most of all, I am me. Whether you like it or not! That last sentence is difficult for me. I know I have to feel that way. I should not give a * about what others say or think about me. But I can't. I want to be known as nice, as sweet. I can't say no. I need to sometimes, otherwise me is getting lost in the crowd somewhere. That's why I am upstairs behind the computer at the moment. Just a little time for me.

You can imagine this layout was difficult for me. But it's a good start to think about yourself some more. Would it hurt if someone doesn't like me? Probably not. Would it be a bad thing if I said no once in a while? I guess not. And will people dislike me if I said no once in a while....not by any chance. Why am I making it so hard on me then? I HAVE NO CLUE! Eric sometimes laughs about me, says I need to break a little. Think about me a little more. Well, I am going to....

Tomorrow is (inter)National Scrapbooking Day (iNSD). I can't wait! I've seen so many beautiful sneaks already on the Sweet Shoppe Messageboard. Wow....! And Zoe Pearn is back and we have great scoops. Too bad I have a birthday of somebody special tomorrow, so I can't scrapbook all day long! But in the morning I will.....For this layout I used another template by Cindy Schneider and the Baby Girl kit by Kristin-Cronin Barrow. I saw on the sneakpage that she has new kits tomorrow....yummy! About e-readers and stuff! I was a little hasty with my layout a few weeks back! But the coming weeks I will be on more photographs with my reader in hand! So I can make more layouts about that!

By the way....I am reading My name is Sarah.....I am normally not into books which play in worldwar 2 or wars in general, but this book is so beautiful. I am halfway through and now I don't want to put it down anymore. There are two lignes in the book....one around 1942 and one about now. Very easy to read, but it makes you think also. On May 4th we have a memorial day for all soldiers who died in wars and on May 5th we celebrate freedom. Perfect time to read this book....

OK, I have to sleep good before iNSD tomorrow.....ok, and Eric's birthday ;-)

See you soon!
XOXO

Disappointed and happy at the same time.

2011-05-04T16:10:00.001+02:00

This afternoon Cindy Schneider announced her new team....and I wasn't part of it. I know she had to chose from lots of great layouts.....but I can't lie: I am so disappointed. I wanted this spot so badly. On the other hand...I will keep on buying her templates so I don't need to miss anything really. I still love the templates, that certainly won't change.

On the other hand.....I am layout of the week #17 at Log Your Memory. So strange.....you all know the feeling that you aren't quite happy with the results of a layout. I had that with my Lucky layout I made earlier. And now it has been chosen to publish in an online magazine AND as layout of the week Crazy world!

See you soon!
XOXO

Koninginnedag 2011

2011-05-02T20:06:00.000+02:00

It looks like I am like a layout factory....4 layouts in 4 days! Wow.....but it's just fun to do and it relaxes me. Today I had to work...normally this is my day off, but as this is the first working day of the month we have our financial closure. And it seemed everything what could go wrong, went wrong. It was a 10 hour working day for me without a proper lunchbreak. At 14.30 hrs I have eaten my sandwiches while still continuing work. This is not how it normally goes, but I booked Friday's invoices in the wrong period and I had to turn everything back. I don't think my collegue liked my sense of helping this morning, LOL.

So now I am relaxing by scrapbooking. Perfect right? Our national colour is orange. And our flag is red/white/blue. But there's no kit with these colours, so I had to combine some kits and elements for a good layout. Normally I really stick to one kit, because it all matches great. So I took some orange papers from Monsters Mash by Zoe Pearn and some reds, whites and blues from Jeanie Bloom by Fee Jardine. And some orange flowers from Baby girl by Kristin Cronin-Barrow. And a base template by Cindy Schneider. I think the result is fun! A little comic like even because of the alpha (which is Paperclip alpha by Libby Pritchett). I love it! You can really see we had a blast (and some difficulties holding the camera straight!!)

See you soon!

XOXO

I love digiscrap

2011-05-01T19:38:00.000+02:00

It will not be a surprise to you that I am totally in my element doing digiscrapping. I've been scrapping cards for about 2 years in a row with a few layouts in between. With a few, I really mean a few. But since last December I've been making lots of layouts and I love it. This is what scrapbooking is all about! Making photos and capture your memories in layouts. And I am so relaxed when I sit down and make them. Only I do it digitally this time

Right now I am really doubting what I should do with all my stuff for paper scrapping. My patterned paper is almost old! My Bigshot and my nesties....do I sell them or keep them? At this point I say: keep them.....you never know in what phase I end up again. Papers I can (re)buy if necessary, but the rest? However, it aches my heart also that it's all lying there without being used for several months now. I think I made one card in almost 5 months!

OK, back to the layout. This is a layout for Log Your Memory week 19. Yes, I know I am a week ahead of time. But my vacation is coming up and I don't want to be really behind when I come back (with lots of photo I hope). I know myself for more than 33 years and I know that when I am behind I don't have the motivation to keep up again. And this year full challenge is something I really love. At the end of 2011 I want to have 52 great layouts, no less than that!

For this layout I used the Springtime and Sunshine kit, a collab between Meghan Mullens and Cindy Schneider. And the template is her too ofcourse. The challenge was about tools, toys or gadgets which help you have fun. I recently scrapped my new e-reader which brings me lots of relaxation from time to time. But what really makes me happy is scrapbooking. When I first started scrapbooking in 2004 I didn't think this was going to be something I would still love so many years later. But I do! And how? I spent time behind my computer as much I can without putting Eric on second base, hahaha. But he won't mind.....most of the time it's me who feels a little guilty when I go to the attic again!

See you soon!
XOXO

Just 2 cute

2011-04-30T19:23:00.002+02:00

If only dreams could come true everytime you dreamt beautiful ones! A few nights ago I had a dream about the templates by Cindy Schneider. It's no secret I really really love them. I would do almost anything to be a part of her creative team. How cool is it to play with her templates every week! And MUST play with them! For me it would really be a dream come true. This morning the new Sweet Shoppe Newsletter was in my mailbox as the new releases are always there on Saturday. I almost never read the whole newsletter but for some reason I did this morning. And there I saw it: there's a CT-call for Cindy Schneider! And I almost missed it! So I went upstairs and created this layout below using one of her templates ofcourse AND my alltime favourite kit Sweet Escape by Kristin Cronin-Barrow.

This was the most exciting news this morning. I almost forgot it's our National holiday today: Koninginnedag. The whole country dresses in orange, selling sold stuff on fleemarkets and just has a really good time. The weather is absolutely fabulous. Eric and I spent the morning at the Burgemeester Visserpark with lots of children selling their toys. Later we went to the carnaval in our city center and had a really good time. And the afternoon....? Well, relaxing in the garden with a good book.

This building on the left is the place where we will get married in September. I hope we have the same beautiful weather because then (without all the people) it would be a picture perfect!

For me it was a few years back since I had that much fun on a carnival ride. We went twice! First round my stomach had to get used to it but the second round was great. We tried to get pictures but I can tell you, that's not quite easy on this ride.

Well....time to go downstairs again. Watching some tv tonight and doing nothing at all! This was a great Queen's Day for us.

Oh and fingers crossed for the CT-call. On may 3rd we will find out if I am part of it!

See you soon!

XOXO

Our love story

2011-04-29T19:54:00.000+02:00

Are you tired of layouts of Eric and me together yet? I've got a new one! For challenge 18 of Log Your Memory we needed to tell a story through a timeline of events. Well, what's more perfect for that then a love story. OK, it's not as important as William and Kate's love story, but hey, for me it is special! You see the first photo taken of us together and the last one (up till now ofcourse!). In between we went on holiday's, bought our house and are looking forward to our own wedding. A little less than 5 months to go!

Has anyone seen this royal wedding today? I must admit I've been sneaking and peeking on live stream during work. So I saw the kiss and the ceremonie (partly). And that dress, wow.....simple, sophisticated and totally sexy at the same time. I wish I had the figure and the money for such dress. Not that my dress is not pretty! I still smile from ear to ear when I check the photos or the actual dress! But I have to wait.....

For this layout I used one of my favourite kits from Libby Pritchett: And your bird can sing. And I used a template from Nettio Designs again. I like the simpleness of them. And no, I won't turn my back at Cindy's templates....I still love those!

So, I am going downstairs for an evening of quiet reading on the couch I guess. I am tired of this weeks work. Tomorrow is Queen's Day, our national holiday. The whole country will turn orange again!

See you soon!

XOXO

Toot!!!

2011-04-28T19:42:00.000+02:00

I never thought in my life that I would be saying this to you: I will be published! In a magazine! In America! I am really excited. I will be in the July magazine of GingerScrap Magazine, an online magazine. Wow....I can't wait. Untill then I can't show you the layout anymore. It cannot be on any gallery or blog untill August 1st, so you will be seeing another picture instead. The fun thing is....the layout is Lucky, the one I made with my thoughts about the shooting in Alphen aan den Rijn. I didn't like how it became though, but for some reason, they did!

Sunny Easter

2011-04-24T17:03:00.000+02:00

It's Easter Sunday and it's hot! It's over 25 degrees here in Holland. In our backyard even warmer. Perfect for a free Easter weekend. But after reading a book in the sun for most of the day I wanted to do something different instead. Scrapping is a good alternative, but can anyone tell me why we placed our computerroom in the attic? It's so hot upstairs that I am all sweaty now. I just heard on the radio that it never was this warm with Easter in Holland. And we are the warmest place in Europe, hahaha....who could have figured that!

For this layout I used Hippity Hop, a kit by Kristin Cronin-Barrow. When it came out I didn't buy it, because I don't really like themed kits. But in this case I thought this kit was OK for this layout, so I bought it anyway. I really like the result. You can use the papers for any other spring layout. Just leave out the eastereggs. The template is a Facebook freebie by Cindy Schneider which I adapted a little bit.

Well, I am off downstairs. I will just read a little more before I start dinner. Nothing fancy. It's too hot to stay in the kitchen for a long time, hahaha.

See you soon! And enjoy Easter a little more.
XOXO

Lucky

2011-04-23T09:04:00.001+02:00

It's already two weeks ago since the shooting was in our mall. I've been thinking a lot about it the last weeks. Also because it was all over the news. Even the BBC, CNN and even in Australia it was on the news. You always think this only happens elsewhere. Your hometown is always the safest place. Well, I now realize that's not always true. I wasn't anywhere near the shooting, neither were our family and friends. But it makes you think about what's really important in life. I am a pessimist, I complaint a lot. But now I really thought a few times: why do you complaint now? You have a great life, a great man, great friends, a nice job, no financial issues....almost the perfect life to live. Why do you complaint?

Since I make the weekly challenges at Log Your Memory I really have to think more about myself and my surroundings. And I love it. It documents how I think and that I experience in life. This is something I want to read again after 10 years and see how my life changed in those 10 years

Challenge #17 was spot on for me. I used a template by Nettio Designs. The big part of journaling on this template is great. Because I wanted to tell my story about the shooting. It made me realize that I do have to count my everyday blessings. Happiness is in the most little things. I can really enjoy an evening on the couch with Eric and the cats. Watching a movie or just reading a book. We have to enjoy such things because it can be over in a minute.

The kit I used is "Learn 2 love myself" by Melissa Bennett. The font is Ashley Q by Darcy Baldwin, all available in the Sweet Shoppe.

See you soon!

XOXO

A scraptacular workshop

2011-04-23T08:50:00.000+02:00

Some of you might know that a few years ago when I was still a paper scrapper I was part of the designteam of Scraptacular. I had the time of my life there and learned lots of new stuff. After about 1,5 years I quite the designteam but I kept coming to the shop. Unfortunately the shop closed in May 2009. But the owner Anne-Marie kept scrapping ofcourse. Last week I received an email from Anne-Marie and Melanie. They are going to give a great workshop on May 28th in Leimuiden. Unfortunately, I am not able to go but check out their BLOG for the workshop and the things you need for it. There is enough space for 25 persons!

I'll be back in a minute with a new layout.