Catching Happiness… one scrap at a time!

Well, today is call day for GCD Studios.  I can’t wait to see who will be on their team.   It’s so exciting!  Good luck to everyone who tossed their hat in the ring.

I have a heritage layout to share with you today.  I actually did this awhile ago but never got around to posting it.  I used tons of Prima stuff on here, lots of layers and chicken wire. 

Natural Beauty (my little sister Melissa)

Close up 1

Close up 2

Close up 3

That should do it.  Tons of layers and lots of painting, distressing and diamond glaze.  Have I ever told you how much I LOVE diamond glaze.  My favorite stuff to use. 

Have a wonderful day!  Thanks for popping by!  ~Amy Tara~

So Heidi posted a fun contest over on the GCD studios blog.  Check it out.  You can find the link on the side bar.

Cool, huh!?!  Have a great day!

I made three layouts and three altered items using a few of the papers I was able to find.  I loved working with these and just wish I was able to obtain more and some of their other items like their rubons, overlays and letters.   I’m also posting these in the CMK and 2PEAS galleries. 

Wedding Frame

Wedding frame flower cluster

Spring Wall Hanging

Spring Wall Hanging Bird

Sanctuary Tussy Mussy

Sanctuary Tussy Mussy Full Length

Blue-Eyed Beauty

All who wander are not lost

Frame close-up showing layers

Don't Go! heritage page

So there you have it.  All of my things I’ve worked on this week.  The last one is a cute little story about my childhood.  The journaling reads: 

I pleaded as I frantically blocked the front door of our house on Forest Avenue. They had recently brought my new baby sister home and I was so not about to let them out again for fear of what they might bring me next! I was absolutelydetermined NOT to let my mother out of my sight again. They stayed home!

Amy Tara – age 2-½

Summer 1964

Thanks for stopping by.   Smiles ~ Amy Tara

I’ve got lots of layouts to share.  A mixture of manufacturer’s products.   Note – for some reason my layouts seem to be getting cut off on the right side when I post them here on the blog.  Here goes:

The boys horsing around.

Grampy & the boys Thanksgiving 2008

Deena & Nathaniel

Logan - age 15

Poolside Dancers in Costa Maya 12/08

Okay, I think I’ll leave it at this and add more tomorrow.  I also have my GCD Studios projects to share tomorrow.  I need to take a pix of one more item then I’m ready to post.  I must admit, I am really loving the papers.  The feel of them is very important to me…  I definitely would recommend you try them.  They’re wonderful!

I hope your day is filled with love and kindess!  Smiles ~ Amy Tara

Not too much going on over here today.  I’ve been in a scrapping like crazy mode lately and have tons of layouts to get pics of.  It’s been sooo darn windy lately that I keep putting it off rather than trying to fight against it.

I found a bunch of old photos from my childhood.  I’ve been scanning them and doing a few layouts too.  I am just getting ready to finish one up … I’m using some gorgeous GCD Studios papers for it.  Truthfully, I had not even heard of this company until I was told about their DT call.  I decided to try the papers and see if I like them enough to consider trying out.  I can honestly say that I am very impressed with the ones I was able to get ahold of.  They are a nice CS weight with a slight linen texture and a bit of a sheen on some of them.  And the best part, they are double sided… gotta LOVE that!  The patterns are wonderful and I am really liking them alot!  The DT tryouts close this weekend so I have a few days yet to decide what to do… but I am leaning towards giving it a go.  When I get the layouts photographed I’ll post them and you can tell me what you think.  If you want to take a peek at their stuff, I’ve added a link to their blog under the LINKS category on the sidebar.  Check them out, you won’t be disappointed!  Until then, I’ll leave you with one of my oldies, but goodies… one of my favorites, in fact.  Probably a fave because I just love those two in the photo like crazy!

Jay & Logan - definitely a special bond!

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a marvelous day!

Sharing some photos of Phillip from birth to now… 

newborn - hospital photo

with big brother, Nathaniel

with little brother, Logan

the sweet middle!

at 16 years old

at 17 years old

Today, at 18!!!

Yes, that is Phillip today, at 18 years old.  Yes, he does have “colorful” hair… He is the spirit captain of the robotics team and they just got back yesterday from a major competition.  He dyed his hair red and blue (team colors) for the event.  Yes, he will keep it like this through the rest of robotics season.  Yes, I am okay with this… it’s only hair and Yes, he will cut it off before graduation ceremonies! Shows his true individuality…  something I love most about him!  IT’S ALL GOOD.

Well, I have a blasted darn cold again.   I really can’t believe it!  It seems I pick up every little thing these kids come to school with.  My face feels like it’s going to explode… my sinuses are sooooo stuffed.

I have a few quick things to post.  Let me first apologize for the poor quality of the photos.  I’m trying to learn new things with my camera so I forced myself into manual… which is hit or miss at getting it “right” at this point.

This first layout is my challenge from Random Chaos (#50) this week.  The photos were taken at night with flash as we celebrated Deena’s birthday.  I really dislike indoor nighttime flash photography.  If you have any hints for better photos… I’d love to hear them!

Random Chaos #50

I used mostly Basic Grey Two Scoops products here.

I promised to share a few pix from when Nate was here last week.  Look at this hair he has… it’s soooo LONG!  He is such an earthy crunchy geek…

Nathaniel at 21

And I did get this photo of all three of them… I love how this turned out.  I even tried my hand at a little photoshop.  I’m s-l-o-w-l-y getting over my fear of it.

Nathaniel, Logan and Phillip

And just when you *think* you’ve got it… within seconds of snapping the last photo, this broke out–

Boys will be boys!

All I have to say about that is…. HARRUMPH!!!!!!!!!!  LOL!!!

Have a fantastic Thursday!  Thanks for stopping by!

I’m so excited!  Tomorrow I get to substitute at my favorite little school for my favorite little second grade class!  These kids are so adorable and so well behaved.  I always look forward to working with them!  I ran out to the store to buy some lollipops to give them at the end of the day… for doing a great job.  I always bring little treats with me but I try to get something a little extra special for this class.  Their favorite - charms blowpops… the ones with the gum inside.

Nothing to share on the creative side today.  Sorry.  Too windy to take pix today.  And yes, I actually did finish two layouts this weekend and one still on the work surface.  I got some cute pix with the boys while Nathaniel was home last week so that gave me a little incentive to actually do something!  LOL!  Hopefully I can get photos when I get home tomorrow.

Hope your Monday is as awesome as mine is sure to be!  Laters….

Nathaniel came home from college for spring break yesterday.  He brought his girlfriend, Deena, home with him.  We celebrated Deena’s 21st birthday last night with dinner, cake and gifts.  She’s a sweetie… we adore her.   Nathaniel still has his uber long hair and big bushy beard.  Mountain man like, I suppose.  I.will.not.say.anything.about.the.way.he.looks!  At least that’s what I keep telling myself.  We’re going to do a little photo shoot later on so I’ll have some pix to share tomorrow… then you’ll see what I mean.  My mouth is zipped.

I have a few random chaos layouts to catch up with.  I haven’t really been doing much creatively lately.  Haven’t felt in the mood.  I’m so nervous about this economy and haven’t been getting much substitute work lately.  It’s FCAT time of year and teachers don’t take days off unless they are almost dying, KWIM?  So I worry.  Jay is still not working full time.  He gets about 22-28 hours a week, depending on the jobs his boss lines up.  It’s money, but not enough.  I keep thinking something will give eventually… either I’ll {finally} get a full-time teaching gig or something… until then, I worry.

Random Chaos 48 – use orange, yellow and green.  This layout shows Logan at his birthday party last year, with his friends Carlos and Kelsey.  I used mostly some older Scenic Route product:

Random Chaos #48

And this is Random Chaos #49.  We had to use polka dots, a large journaling spot, and at least three photos.  This is my dad, me and Logan.  Product is mostly My Minds Eye.

Random Chaos #49

We just found out yesterday that Phillip’s best friend, Billy, is having brain surgery tomorrow.  Phillip and Billy were born on the same day (3/16/91).  They have been best friends for years and years.  Billy has a brain tumor.  Phillip is beside himself with worry over his friend… we all are.  If you’re a praying kind of person please say a prayer for Billy.  If not, please send positive energy and good healthy thoughts his way.  REminds us once again how precious and fragile life is.  One minute you’re happy go lucky, and the next- bam- zonked with something like this.  Kiss and hug your kids… and your significant other… like crazy today.  Life is fragile.