LOAD212 - Day 23 - Out West

The prompt for Lain Ehmann's Layout a Day challenge for Day 23 was - Road Trip






Journaling Reads:
In June of 1977, my parents loaded me (4 ½), my brother, Jeremy (almost 5), and my sister, Shawn (almost 7), along with my grandma Calloway (my dad’s mom) into a yellow, four door pick up truck (with a camper on the back and no air conditioning) to embark upon a month long marathon journey out west to visit relatives and see the sights of the western United States. We toured 14 states in less than 30 days! The camper had a bed that went over the cab of the truck and I distinctly remember sleeping there, hot as Hades, as we rolled along the highway. I asked my mom to help me tell the story of where we went, who we visited, and what we saw. This is her memory:

I had to get out the map of the US to answer the questions about the states we went through: We took I-94 west through Illinois into South Dakota, stopped at Mount Rushmore. Also saw the Badlands of South Dakota. We drove on into Wyoming to see Yellowstone National Park. Then on west to Idaho to visit Aunt Betty and Uncle Glenn. They had a big ranch with cattle and horses. Went to Bryce Canyon in Zion National Park before or after visiting Aunt Betty. Then went to Washington state to visit Uncle Fred and Aunt Mary. Went to Mount Rainier to climb up into the snow covered mountain. From there we drove back through Idaho into Utah then Arizona to see the Grand Canyon. We drove south from there to visit Uncle Elmer and his wife. The house was on an Indian Reservation and was super hot and dry. Drove through New Mexico to Carlsbad Caverns. (Not sure we stopped, but I thought we planned to do so.) Then went to Houston, Texas to visit Aunt Erma and Uncle Walt. From there we went north to Dallas to visit my brother Billy and his wife Ginger and family. Went east to Arkansas to visit Uncle Jimmie and Uncle LD and their families. Went to Tennessee to visit with Uncle Joe and Aunt Gail. From there we over to visit my Dad and Grandma Ruth and see the Smokies. We drove home through Kentucky and Ohio into Michigan where you all got out...and I think Shawn kissed the ground.

Shawn might have been the first to kiss the driveway when we returned home, but I recall my brother and I enthusiastically following suit. Not being drinkers, I honestly don’t know how my parents survived this trip without alcohol. The fact that we kids came back alive is proof positive that prayer works. I imagine my mom prayed for strength daily. I might not remember the specifics of this road trip, but I remember the feelings I had while on this trip and they are forever etched onto my heart. Journaling Feb 2012

Some observations about the process and the products used:

1. My husband just told me how ANNOYING it is that I'm ALWAYS on the computer


2. The yellow fabric sticker border down the left side of the page mimics mountains, but this was not planned.


3. I used Picasa to create the collage and add the text to each photo


4. I searched for HOURS for a photo that I KNOW exists of us with my grandma at Mt. Ranier, but couldn't find it.


5. This trip was the MOTHER of all vacations in my childhood memories.


6. I experimented with the ribbon treatment along the right hand side and I really like the result.

LOAD212 - Day 22 - Christmas Baby

The prompt for Lain Ehmann's Layout a Day challenge for Day 22 was - Holidays

And I'm back to following the prompt! Photos of me at less than two weeks old.

Journaling Reads:
I was born twelve days before Christmas. So, I know full well what it’s like to get birthday presents wrapped in Christmas wrapping paper, and I know what it’s like to get one birthday present for “both” my birthday and Christmas, and I know what it’s like to celebrate my birthday out with friends at our Christmas gathering. And I’m not complaining, because, at least I get presents, and at least I have friends who will raise a glass in my honor. But, when I had my daughter, Jordyn, five days before Christmas, I vowed not to clump her birthday together with Christmas. I vowed to keep her birthday separate from the holiday. I vowed to keep her birthday special. Even though she, too, is a Christmas Baby.

Some observations about the process and the products used:

1. Yeah, I think the only thing worse than scrapping with a hangover (Sunday) and scrapping while sick (Tuesday) is scrapping after a loooooooong day of PTO drama.


2. This is my very first Christmas. In a Santa hat, no less!!


3. Title and journaling printed on white cardstock.


4. Used a couple of Christmas stickers and sticker numbers.


5. Slapped on a ribbon down the side.


6. Easy Peasy

LOAD212 - Day 21 - Super Power

The prompt for Lain Ehmann's Layout a Day challenge for Day 21 was - My Hometown

Went off prompt again. I think I'm "over" (for the moment, anyway) scrapping about me. So, here's another one of my Owen.

Journaling Reads: Owen, your brain never ceases to amaze me. At dinner the other night, I asked you, "If you could have one super power, what would it be?" With out hesitation, your response was, "To be able to think of a super power and just have it." Dad and I just looked at each other and agreed that was the best answer ever! Age 7, February 2012


Some observations about the process and the products used:

1. Given my sickness today, I'm shocked, SHOCKED, I tell you, that I got this done today.



2. I'm not sure which is more difficult, scrapping whilst hungover (Sunday) or scrapping whilst super sick (Today). Neither is easy.



3. Whenever I just want to "gitterdone" I hand journal and bust out an 8.5x11



4. EIGHT more days, and eight more layouts, until I've accomplished my goal of creating a layout a day. I didn't think I'd last this long, to be honest.
   

LOAD212 - Day 20 - fluorescent

The prompt for Lain Ehmann's Layout a Day challenge for Day 20 was - Fashion Plate

Journaling Reads - December 1984 I'm not sure if it was influenced by Cyndi Lauper or Boy George but I went through a fluorescent phase in the mid 80's. So glad it was a short phase.

Some observations about the process and the products used:

1. Another Becky Higgins journaling card (this makes scrapping life SO easy)


2. Who wears a white shirt, white pants, and white SHOES in December? ...in MICHIGAN?


3. I know the socks and belt don't LOOK fluorescent in the photo, but, Trust Me, they totally were.


4. The artwork hanging on the wall behind me is a painting of a conquistador which currently hangs in my basement. This painting can be seen (even if just a tiny corner) in every other photo from my childhood!

LOAD212 - Day 19 - Past Perfect

The prompt for Lain Ehmann's Layout a Day challenge for Day 19 was - Friends, old and new. I totally went off prompt today. I needed to make a quick page, so I used this photo from yesterday's T-shirt wearing and scrap session that I had altered with text. All I had to do was print and assemble the page.

Journaling Reads - Participating in the February Lay Out A Day challenge has reinvigorated my passion for scrapbooking and intruced me to a great group of online ladies who share this hobby, and who also wore this same t-shirt today.

Some observations about the process and the products used:

1. I think this is my third layout during this February LOAD using these papers from a Stampin' Up kit.


2. Journaling card from Becky Higgins Clementine Project Like core kit. LOVE!


3. Scrapping while incredibly hung over and utterly exhausted is not easy.
   

LOAD212 - Day 18 - CAKE

The prompt for Lain Ehmann's Layout a Day challenge for Day 18 was - You say it's your birthday!

These pics are all of me with my birthday cake at ages 1 through 5.


Journaling Reads -
Mom and Dad always made our favorite cake on our birthday. My fave was cherry chip!


Some observations about the process and the products used:

1. I used a kit from Close To My Heart for all the papers and embellies. LOVE how easy CTMH makes scrap booking!!



2. LOVE it that my mom took all these pics. So happy to have them collected on the same page.



3. Edited the photos in Picnik by way of Picasa3 to make them look like Polaroids.



4. The title sticker letters were part of the CTMH kit, but the C and the K were the same pattern/design, so I traced the K onto a different paper and cut it out. Like a manual Cricut!!



5. We had the option of buying this LOAD t-shirt for $2 at VistaPrint, and everyone that bought them planned to wear them on 2/18 - Lain's birthday! This is me in action, wearing the T, creating today's page. So fun knowing there are ladies all over the globe wearing this shirt today. :)

LOAD212 - Day 17 - Grow Up

The prompt for Lain Ehmann's Layout a Day challenge for Day 17 was - What did you want to be when you grew up?

I asked my 7 year old this question today. And after thinking about it for an hour, this is what he came up with:

1. Golf player
2. Train conductor
3. Lego maker
4. Own a candy store
5. Make TV shows

Some observations about the process and the products used:

1. Why, yes, you can use pink paper on a "boy" page!



2. I used Becky Higgins Project Life Clementine Core Kit specifically because I wanted the box of journaling cards. Paired it with the Clementine patterned paper that I trimmed down to 8 1/2 x 11.



3. I asked Owen what his favorite thing about this page was, and he pointed to the white Heidi Swapp silhouette sticker I applied to the photo. Who knew?



4. He also liked the "spikes" I created and adhered above and below his photo.