Christmas Mini Album

So i'm back in school, going through the paces. I'm pretty overwhelmed as I predicted I would be. This is nothing compared to a week ago though! I was registered in 3 4oo-level courses and, to be honest, I was drowning. So, change of plans. My fiance and I discussed it and we decided I should drop the one class that was killer and take it in the Fall. Chances are that he will get approved for his masters and the Military will allow us to stay here for another 2 years, so I might as well spread out the courses a bit and relieve some of the stress thats been wearing on me. And if the military posts him elsewhere right away and doesn't approve the masters degree, then I will stay behind for a semester. I really hope this isn't the case, but if it is, at least I will be able to work almost full time for that extra couple months. Since I already have the client base built up in Calgary, I will have much more business if I stay here than if I move to Edmonton and try to start fresh there.

Today was only the second day of scrap booking that I have had time or energy for since the beginning of the semester. I have joined an adult swimming class and i'm busy doing that on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Yes, its embarrasing, but I can hardly swim and I can definently not tread water, which I need to be able to do well if I would like to scuba diving on our honeymoon this time next year. Plus its a good way to get me active and help lose some of this holiday weight before the wedding!

Before Christmas I picked up a present shaped mini album from Little Yellow Bicycle. I also picked up a few of the coordinating papers and one sheet of cut outs. I also used My Mind's Eye Holiday Avenue - Sweet Dreams paper. This was my first crack at a mini album and I think it turned out alright! Obvious not as intricate as some of these i've seen on the internet made from paper bags and purses, but still! Here are some photos:

 The album cover. Fairly simple.

•  This is my future sister in love Elyssa and I skating on Christmas Eve.
• I love this naughty/nice embellishment. This pic is of Copper, my moms very cute, but very naughty puppy.

•  The Eadon's, my inlaws at our house on Christmas eve. We all sang Christmas carols and had a merry time!
• On the right I made a little pocket that says "Santa's Little Helpers" and the tags have pictures of Milo, my dog, and Bender and Theo my in-law's two dogs decorated with antlers.

•  Kye and his brothers skating
• Kye and his parents

•  I just had to use those pretty pins somehow. The Snowflakes are actually a ribbon I cute apart.
• Kye and his Dad on Christmas Morning.

•  The pocket on the left opens up, as you'll see below

•  These pictures are of Milo on Christmas morning, look very unhappy about the ribbon decorating him.

February Contest Kit

School is approaching so quickly! Yipe! First day of classes tomorrow!

I must admit I have taken full advantage of my holidays since Christmas. I have gotten a metric ton of scrapbooking done and have managed to read the first four books of the Harry Potter Series for the second time. Well, I'm 3/4 of the way through Goblet of Fire, but still, I have been MaxRelaxin' these last few weeks and loving it!

I have been working on this month's contest kit for two days now. I always squeeze some extra creative juices for these pages (that sounds disgusting actually). Here is a picture of the supplies we recieved:

I must say I was super excited with this whole color pallet. The limey green really takes me out of my comfort zone, which is why I love these kits. Plus I had asked for the new BasicGrey line Marjolaine (which I still can't pronouce, try as I might), and it has similar color schemes to the October Afternoon contest paper we were provided with. Turns out though, I didn't use anything from that line! I hardly added anything, really.

I used the green ribbon as petals on the flowers on the left. The other ribbon outlines my button heart. I used those super gaudy gems to frame the photo. I matted everything on a cute die cut from the So Sophie line by My Mind's eye.

Since I mentioned the new BasicGrey line before, i'll also post some pages I made from it here.

 I sure got busy using that stuff! I still have 3 other stacks/collection packs that I haven't delved into yet. I acquired them on my wonderful boxing-week shopping spree. I will update soon with pictures from those soon! Bye for now!

Harvest Memories

So I have been very good at finishing all of the projects I had envisioned for my Christmas Holidays. I wanted to finish my 2011 Calendar. Done. I set out to scrap all my Halloween pictures. Finished. And lastly I wanted to do my Thanksgiving pictures. Just finished! That one was easy because many of my photos from this Thanksgiving didn't turn out well so I only had 4 or 5 decent photos. I was very busy cooking and being a good host!
I had Scrapbookers Bliss specially order in the paper I used. They had a few loose sheets of BasicGrey's line Papyrus and I fell in love with it. They, ever so kindly offered to order the kit in for me. I'm so glad they did because it is PERFECT for Thanksgiving. Such beautiful fall colors and awesome patterns from 60's themed flowers to pears.
Here are a few of the layout I did:

SO cute, right?

Anyways, I was on Scrapbooker's Bliss' website earlier today and they recently posted pictures of the contest kits that we submitted 4 months ago or so. I was looking through them and couldn't help but notice how terrible my layout was compared to everyone elses. Now, I'm not fishing for compliments here or anything. It was horrible. However! I can, with confidence, say that I have much improved. I quite like the layouts I have been churning out the last few months.

Its so nice to be able to scrapbook at least twice a week. I know this won't last for long. The winter semester is fast approaching and I have such courses as Intermediate Qualitative Research Methods to look forward to. Heres the kicker. That one isn't a requirement for my degree. The first research methods class I took was. I am taking this one as an option! I needed a 400 level course because the other one I was registered in was cancelled due to low admission. I suspect that this semester will not be nearly as exciting as last. Last semester was hard, don't get me wrong. I did more work last semester than I ever have in my life. But the courses were fun! Sociology of Violence, Soci of Youth Crime, Criminal Justice System... these are my bag, baby. But this semester I have this to look forward to: Canadian Animation (don't ask me why), Soci of Ethnic Relations, Intermediate Qualitative Research Methods, Western Religions and a seminar in Sociology of Families. I have already taken courses on ethnic relations and on families. So nothing new there. Ah well. After this semester I will have 3 courses left and then I will have a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. Yay!

Well I am going to try and finish one more page before bed. Or maybe I will go have a bowl of maple walnut ice cream and read Harry Potter for a bit (my dad bought be the whole set for Christmas and I would like to finish them again before i'm back to school and too busy reading about Canadian Animation). Night!