A Blissful Moment!

As my friend's wedding is rapidly approaching (one week to be exact), I have been shopping for dresses, shoes, making place cards, menus, etc. Karen is actually coming over tonight so we can complete our projects. I must say, it has been enjoyable helping her with her plans.

I managed to spend some time in my scrap room working on my own projects. I haven't scrapbooked in months and it was starting to get to me. I find myself getting frustrated with the small stuff. When I am in my room working on layouts, I am completely blissful. It really relaxes me and recharges my batteries. It is also nice to reminisce over older photos.

This layout is of my daughter's 7th birthday. It's funny, she hasn't really changed very much. Looking at her photos and her cute little face brings a smile to mine.

Stamps: None

Ink: None

Paper: Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo, Certainly Celery card stock, Sweet Pea DSP

Accessories: Blossom Petals Punch (this is a must have!), Designer Brights Buttons and miscellaneous jewels.

Be Blessed,

Shannon Willis

http://www.shannonscropstop.stampinup.net/

January 2011 Stamp Club

My peeps and I had a great time at our monthly Stamp Club. Our projects consisted of one card, an 8 x 8 scrapbook layout and a treat box, all geared toward Valentine's Day and using the Filled With Love Bundle that was a special a few weeks back. Although the group was small, we had a wonderful time. It was nice to finish our projects and then enjoy a cup of tea and visit with one another. That is one of many things I enjoy so much about being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator. I have met some truly wonderful people over the years and look forward to spending time with them.

Debi Kyle, Leticia Canet and I enjoying great conversation and tea.

The mess we made!

Completed projects.

This is Penny, our rescue dog. She loves it when I have my stamp club. I was working on some things in my scrap room and heard a funny noise coming from the kitchen. She made herself at home waiting patiently for the stampers to come. I think she missed Hope.

If you would like to make projects like these, you are welcome to join us if you live in our area or you can order the supplies online at my Stampin' Up! website. Customers that place online orders will receive the printed cutting guides in PDF format and a free gift from me!

Stamps: Filled With Love

Ink: Real Red

Paper: Pretty in Pink, Real Red, Whisper White, and DSP Pattern Love

Accessories: Lots of Love Letterpress, Box # 2, Heart punch, Threading Water punch, Old Olive ribbon, Pretty in Pink ribbon

Be Blessed Everyone!

Shannon Willis

www.shannonscropstop.stampinup.net

A promise is a promise

As reflected in yesterday's post, I have been working on some things lately. Christmas Cards to be exact.


I have been making my own Christmas cards since my son Kody was born. I remember my first homemade cards and getting that perfect picture of my precious little boy to send out to all my family and friends. That perfect picture turned out to be quite the ordeal. I came up with the idea of wrapping a paper box and putting Kody inside (I know, how original...). The box kept flipping over and he would cry so I tried changing his outfits several times. Remember how difficult it is to change your baby's outfit, much less try when he has been placed in a box and keeps dumping over!!!! Needless to say, after all these years, I still enjoy making my own cards and enclosing photos of my precious little ones (yes, I know, they are grown). If it makes you feel better, they still give me a hard time when it's "Christmas photo-op" time.

Here is this year's card and a blast from the past.

Horse Show Layout

This is the second layout I finished on Sunday. Sara's horse show season starts in November and I wanted to get her album up to date before the new season starts. I was able to use my Cricut Expression that goes untouched for several months. I had a little bit of a challenge getting everything I wanted on just two pages, then I remembered my friend Linda Higgins a/k/a "Queen of Cram" technique of hiding journaling or more photos under a tabbed photo. I think it turned out okay. What do you think?

Accessories: Cricut cartridge Plantin Schoolbook

Be Blessed,

Shannon Willis

www.shannonscropstop.stampinup.net

Why Do You Scrap?

It is so nice to have some time to myself and scrap. The other day I was talking to some of my friends and someone asked me why I liked to scrapbook so much. My other friends all said something like I don't have the time, not creative, etc. My response was "I'm addicted to it." Later that evening it came to me the reason I love scrapbooking so much. As most of you know, I have two teenage children. I started scrapbooking when they were toddlers. The reason I scrap is because ...

1. I want them to know I love them.

2. I want them to know I am so proud of their accomplishments and see them through my eyes.

3. I want them to know that with every milestone in their lives, I was there for them.

4. I want them to remember our loved ones as several of our beloved family members have made their journey to heaven. I want them to have fond memories of our family even though they may not have had time to create memories with family members themselves.

5. I want them to know how blessed and thankful I am that God trusted me as their mother to raise and nurture them as my very own.

I know there are several other reasons, but these 5 reasons really stuck with me that night. I know I don't always have time to scrapbook, but I really try hard to put aside just a few minutes here and there. I hope one day my kids will enjoy sharing my albums with their children.

I spent most of today in my scrapbook room. My husband Kevin and his brother played golf so I locked myself in my room and worked. I decided to scrap Sara's horse show photos from last season. I only had two shows to complete, but I felt like I was running out of time as the new show season starts in November. At least I can say I am caught up with her show album. Unfortunately I can't say that about their other albums :(

While I was looking through photos, I ran across this first day of school photo. I couldn't help to laugh at the pure JOY on their faces. This photo is next on my scrapping list. I hope you enjoy.

Accessories: Cricut Cartridges = Graphically Speaking and San Serif

Be Blessed,

Shannon Willis

www.shannonscropstop.stampinup.net

Christmas in September ??

During my glorious scrapbook weekend, I decided to scrap a Christmas layout. I was hoping it would get me in the holiday spirit since they are right around the corner. If it weren't for this heat, I would be there. In this layout, I used some of the new DSP from the Holiday Mini and the new jumbo wheel Jolly Jingles. The new Holiday Mini is packed full of wonderful project ideas and the new products are absolutely fabulous. I had to put myself on a holiday diet if you know what I mean. Call or email me to place your order.

Stamps: Jolly Jingle jumbo wheel, Delightful Decorations

Ink: Cherry Cobbler

Paper: Baja Breeze, Garden Green, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White and Candy Cane Christmas DSP (LOVE IT!!)

Accessories: Ornament Extra Large Punch, Ticket Corner, and wire

Be Blessed,

Shannon Willis

www.shannonscropstop.stampinup.net

A Little Scrappin' Time

Yesterday I had a moment to finish one of the layouts I started last weekend. It was a layout about my Kody's 10th birthday. I am pretty happy with the way it turned out. I always love it when I can use my Cricut. I had forgotten how versatile Graphically Speaking is. I used it to make the arrows and the jumbled word ten at the end.

Since I can't throw away any photos and I like to keep my layouts no more than 4 pages, I applied the "Queen of Cram" technique I learned from my good friend Linda Higgins. Like me, she likes to keep everything and put them in her scrap pages. To accomplish my goal of not throwing away any pictures and stay with a two page spread, I made this little mini book to hold the rest of the photos.

Stamps: None

Ink: None

Paper: Daffodil Delight, Real Red and Basic Black

Accessories: Eyelets, Real Red grosgrain ribbon, Round Tab Extra Large Punch, Spiral Border Punch, 1 3/8" Square Punch, Clips Assortment and Cricut Graphically Speaking cartridge

Be Blessed,

Shannon Willis

www.shannonscropstop.stampinup.net

Gift for Jeannie

Over the weekend I made this cute little brag/scrapbook for my friend and upline Jeannie Romanello who is soon to be a new grandma. She is supposed to be leaving sometime this week and I wanted to make sure she had it before she left for North Carolina. Hopefully while she is helping Melissa, she will take lots of photos to share when she returns home.

I was a little disappointed that I didn't use Stamp' Up! DSP because I was in a hurry and didn't plan properly, but I did use our Big Shot with the Scallop Envelope die and Stampin' Up! punches to accent it.

Congratulations Jeannie (a/k/a grandma)!!!

Be Blessed,

Shannon Willis

www.shannonscropstop.stampinup.net

Order Online 24.7

Christmas 1993 Part II

This is the second part of the four page Christmas layout I worked on over the weekend. I just realized that I am so close to having ALL of 1993 scrapped. Woo Hoo!!! I have been working on a pile of photos for months and it is almost complete. After I am done, I can put the photos in one of our new Linen or Designer Printed Albums shown here. If you are interested in any Stampin' Up! products, please feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I am here to help you with your paper crafting needs.

On a lighter note, my beautiful daughter Sara and adopted daughter Hayley spent the afternoon at the beach yesterday. I had to share some of the photos Sara took. I hope you like them.

Be Blessed,

Shannon Willis
www.shannonscropstop.stampinup.net

Christmas in July

I know, funny title huh? I am actually starting to thinking about Christmas and the shopping I must do. This year should be pretty easy as I already have some things planned out.

As I stated in my earlier post, I was able to scrap this weekend. I have been modifying my schedule to allow time for my hobbies. Scrapbooking is really therapy to me. So the more time I spend, the happier I am. What's that saying "... if momma ain't happy then nobody's happy." I think my family has FINALLY realized that and they leave me alone when I am in my room.

Here is a layout from Christmas 1993. I know, I know, I'm a little behind.

I will share more tomorrow.

Be Blessed,

Shannon

http://www.shannonscropstop.stampinup.net

Snaggle Tooth

This is another layout I finished up over the 4th of July weekend. It is a layout of my daughter Sara when she lost a tooth. Since it was SUCH a big deal in our house (she always had to have her dad pull them out) I kept it very simple as I used one of our Sweet Treat cups and wanted to keep the focus on her teeny little tooth.




Stamps: None
Ink: None
Paper: Pixie Pink, So Saffron, Orchid Opulence and Patterns Pack II DSP
Accessories: Sweet Treat Cup, Threading Water Punch and Big Circle Die

Blessings,

Shannon Willis
www.shannonscropstop.stampinup.net
www.shannonscropstop.blogspot.com

Back to Our Regularly Scheduled Program

Well, just as I expected, the camera problem was an operator error. I think I am getting the hang of it. Sad to say, it is an older camera that I never took the time to learn and lately my daughter has been talking about upgrading to a better (more expensive) camera. Figures!! ;-)

As I stated in an earlier post, I was able to spend some much needed time in my scraproom and work on some unfinished projects. My cyber blog friend Okie just mentioned something about that today. I am pretty happy with my progress, but there is so much more I need to do. For the moment, I am going to bask in the satisfaction of enjoying a finished project. I hope you enjoy them!

Stamps: None

Ink: None

Paper: Ballet Blue, Green Galore and Sumer Sun card stock

Accessories: Miscellaneous flowers and brad

Blessings,

Shannon Willis
www.shannonscropstop.stampinup.net
www.shannonscropstop.blogspot.com

So Far So Good

On Monday I completed another layout. I am trying to keep the pact I made to myself about trying to scrap something everyday. So far so good.

On July 1st, Stampin' Up! is coming out with their new catalog and I am trying to make room for the new card stock and designer paper. I placed my preview order last week and am anxiously awaiting its arrival. I am trying to clean up my craft room and use up some older supplies. At least I am feeling frugal and had an opportunity to use my Cricut. Now on to the next project.

Another Finished Layout!!

I am so excited I finished another layout! Actually I completed a total of three on Friday, which is quite a big deal for me. Most of the time at our crop nights, I spend more time looking at everyone else's projects. This time, I made a pact with myself to get the job done, and I did! I have so many pictures I want to scrap and it's time for me to take the plunge and try to squeeze in as much time during the week as I can. My goal is to spend at least one hour each evening to get some pages done. We will see how that works out.

Another thing I am trying to work on is my photography. I admire the photos my blogging friends take of their completed work. Most of the time my photos have shadows or reflections that really take away from the photo. Shoot, it takes me so long to finish anything that I at least want to show it off properly.

I Think I've Got My Groove On

Yesterday I was a little worried I had fallen into a slump. Do any of you feel that way? Sometimes it takes me forever to finish a project and when I am done, I am disappointed with it. Since tonight is our monthly crop, after getting my house picked up and the snacks prepared, while waiting for my guests I used my time and completed this layout. I am actually pretty happy with it. Once I finished it I realized that I had three photos in the wrong layout. I quickly pulled them off and used my Cricut to make the basket embellishment. After my quick fix, I actually like it more than my first attempt.

I am however unhappy with my photography. Does anyone know how I can get better lighting or something to make the photo larger and not so washed out?? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Stamps: None
Ink: None
Paper: Barely Banana, Chocolate Chip, Sweet Pea DSP,
Accessories: Always Apricot Ribbon, Cricut Doodlecharms, Fresh Favorites Buttons, Threading Water Punch

Blessings,

Shannon

Day of Scrappin'

Licensed to Drive

On February 27, 2009, my son Kody finally got his driver's license. It took him until he was almost 18 before he was ready to get it.