Scrapping in my new 6x8 album w/page protectors

I'm really excited to start this album. 

It works perfect in my space and gives me a break from

Travelers notebooks.

I love them - but I want something more to

protect my photos.

They have several different protectors

which is a challenge for me.

Sure, I could get just 6x8 but where's the fun in that.

So you may be aware of this first page as in the challenge

my friend Brooke and I were challenging

each other with sketches and embellishments.

We did four and are on the blog.

This is a 2 pager in which the 2nd page is behind

this one. 

Don't ask....

because they're glued together.

😐

 

 

So I love collecting ephemera and the National Parks

are quite generous with it.

If you're a senior- buy the National Park pass

we get into each and every one free.

Just sayin....

 

I also buy NP ephemera - they are totally getting with it

now and have a bunch of really cool stickers and patches and

they have a date stamp (for the passports). 

Love how it's turning out.

You can see the entire album cover here

You can see Brooke & I's challenges here, here, here & here

Streets of Tombstone

Amazing who you run into on the streets of Tombstone.

My cousins that I haven't seen in like 30 some

years. Way too long.

So it was soooo cool to meet up on the road.

Love meeting up with peeps!!

It's a fun, kitchy place and if you're in the area you should walk the streets of Tombstone.

 

TN - Celebrate Good Times

This was a fun page to make.

The paper bag that is hiding my tag was from

Chili's where they hide your utensils.

Perfect size.

I have another one I think.

 The Murphy Cousins got to meet up in

Naples where Carolyn lives, and Alan (NJ) was visiting.

Tom and his sister (originally from NJ) but now live

in FL (well except Tom) we live in the USA. 

We we able to see Carolyn's new digs - which are lovely

and so perfect for her.

 Because of the way I designed the page, I left

no room for journaling, AND I was

in the picture on another picture so

I wanted to include both.

Tags can be your friend.

We had a great time. Good food and

wonderful visit.

Fun Fussy Cut Critters

I had a really good time with the Echo Park Autumn line

for this photo. Actually all the pages I did with the line were fun.

So because the photo is adorable, more adorable

was required and this fun critters fit the bill.

 Not only adorable critters, but mushrooms and hearts.

The  annual cousin photo this year and oh my

they are growing so fast.

Love how it turned out.

Documenting a fun get together

Life takes funny turns especially as you

get on with the business of life.

The closeness you had with cousins, or others, in your youth

at times devolves due to marriage, moving or

busy-ness.

Well, it appears that the planets and stars aligned

and cousins from yesteryear landed in Florida.

And how was that known???

My DH created a closed facebook page for "The Murphy Clan"

where pictures, stories and updates can be posted

and man they poured in.

As cousins posted they were moving to Florida and/or traveling

to Florida - and after checking the posts that's when plans were made for a get together.

And it was so much of fun.

 Of course it had to be documented with an informal get together photo so peeps

 down the line can see while hopefully they're doing the same.

Also - once the cousins got together, stories flowed and

the heritage album I started from pictures sent from one of the cousins

was brought out - well I was stoked because that's

what its all about, and those stories I was hearing??? I made

said cousins write them directly on my page, sign their name and date it.

I'm hoping there's more stories and writing to come.

This is my page for our album to document the event and

now that more are moving closer, hopefully more get togethers are in the offing.

We enjoyed corned beef and cabbage as we're Murphy's, after all,

along with an insane assortment of delicious desserts as everyone caught up on life.

All of which I need to journal about on that blank white tag.

I did some really faint stamping in the background and tossed on

some Heidi Swapp mist and gold alphas-studio calico.

Basic Grey.

Documenting the little moments over and over

Below are pages that could be construed as "documenting" moments.

And I'm sure it was deliberate.

If you'll note its the same cast of characters, except older, on the same couch in what appears to be the same kidlet order. Maybe. It's okay if they're not exactly placed because the same players are involved.

Only they are almost five months apart.

And when toddlers are involved that's alot of growing and changing. I love photos and pages like this. I even try to put them on the same page. However, I didn't remember I had this until I was trying to come up with a "schtick" for this post. As a matter of fact, I came up with the title "couch cousins" after I had posted the Christmas one that says "that magic moment." And it is magic because photographing kidlets is like herding cats.  I'm glad I got to use the second title. I'm sure I could've worked in somewhere. 

Studio Calico rocks again in patterned papers, alphas, tags, and puffy stars, with some Recollections Washi and Simple Stories and October afternoon journaling cards.

Hmmm...so your challenge can be a comparison page, i.e.:

 documenting growth, 

comparing your children and grandchildren's 

looks at about the same age

 comparison pictures of you and your grandkids about the same age

comparison pix of you and your hubby as young'uns

etc. 

Series of photos that tell a story

Cousins are a different lot. 

They're friends, they're related, they fight and then friends again
 and they get to go back to their separate corners

at the end of the day.

Thanksgiving 2013 was different.

 Missing the family matriarch - the family is shrinking.

So I decided to get a photo of the young cousins that were there.

The next next generation.

It was like herding cats in getting them all situated.

I figured the stairs was a good start - it kept them contained

for the most part which was key.

Then is was keeping their focus maintained.

Snort. as if.

So, once I had their attention, which took awhile,

  I said let's get ONE good one and then......

you can be goofy.

I love the series - they focused, they goofed, and they high-fived.

Totally made me laugh.

So there's some Authentique going on, with a bit of Mr. Huey and Heidi Swapp misting, as well as some stamping from Deadbeat designs. Basic Grey,  and Studio Calico of course.

On a side note - this made me feel really dumb.
It's life altering according to my pal Jill.
I just wanted to hear him say get Moose and Squirrel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGiPh_UPzEw&feature=youtu.be

I'm having a gold rush totally unintentionally

At the same time I'm having a transparency gala as well.

This is page 1.

Not only that I have some Wilna action going on behind the golden doily.

Gelatoes. She added them to some tissue type paper, matched them to her mists and then toned them down with water.

I didn't do most of that.

The white cardstock has some embossed bumps on it and I spread the gelatoes on and then found some mists that sort of matched. And then I was stumped because it looked odd - to me.  The white c/s is 7.5x7.5 and is backed with some baby paper that I've had forever. It doesn't look like baby paper there.

I found the Hambly transparency while I was looking for something else, and it worked on half of the page, introducing the gold.

WELL...

The gold doily from the Studio Calico kit became a great mat and hid most of the gelatoes. And that's ok. AND then I found I had only ONE golden butterfly. Before I got to the golden doily, having the transparency on there without covering up edge made me crazy so I whipped out some of rick rack from Creative Cafe.  (I'm really using some stash up here-go me).  I'm glad now that I used white because it sort of fades into the background now. The sticko's alphas were perfect. I have never used them before and I like them better than thickers because they don't fly off and stick everywhere but your page). These babies are polite they want until you take them off the backing - oooohh & aaahhh. However since I have A LOT of thickers to use up I won't be going crazy on the stickos.

I found some more golden Hambly paper and made a little tag for writing down the names of all the cousins on the couch. OOOOO that would've been a great title too. I'll have to remember that.

Cousins of all ages

Stick together as you can see and give their Aunt Lynn a fit. However, I'm all good because they will be immortalized. ON the internet, in my scrapbook and whatever else I can think of. :)

Is this not cool?? The internet is a wonderful thing and you can find all kinds of stuff. Photos side-by-side. Who knew??? In case you care - go here and you too can figure it out. Not hard just scary messing with HTML. I didn't change the size already there because A. I'm not good at math and B. I didn't want to screw anything up. But you can make them bigger. OR you can click on them and change them on the small, medium, large and extra large menu OR not. It appears medium is way too big. But you could plan it that way.

:)

As soon as I conquer this stupid sinus thing which makes me sleepy and lazy (and I'm totally blaming that), the mojo thingy will hopefully return. Sadly, I was busy visiting so these are the only photos of Thanksgiving 2014 I took-well except for outside ones. I know. I'm going to have to turn in my badge.