Colour Inspiration from Apron Strings

** I wrote this post yesterday but Blogger was giving me issues so I had to finish it today.**

It was the last day of school today and after a short assembly we said goodbye to Marley's teacher. A sad goodbye. She was a wonderful teacher for Marley to have this year. Marley has blossomed under her tutelage! Her reading and writing have taken off! She's even started reading the Narnia series ... although she just gave me back The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe in favour of another Fairy Friends book. Oh well, it's a long summer so I'm sure it'll make its way back into her hands. Anyway, I'm digressing.

The reason I'm posting today is because in the heady excitement of the first day of summer holiday, all 3 girls played quite happily and quietly together. I got some business done - phone calls and emails for the preschool, made a lasagne and then still had time to crank out a layout for the latest Apron Strings challenge. I know, I know, this is an anomaly and will most likely not be repeated for the next 2 months! Which is why I took advantage of it!!

The challenge was a colour combo combo – here it is.

And here is my layout.

Part of my day (while the lasagne sauce was simmering) was spent printing off pictures so I can continue Paige’s Baby Album over the summer. When I saw the green grass and the blue eggs in these Easter pictures I knew I could use them for this colour challenge. I happened to have a piece of lime green cardstock sitting out beside my drafting table (doesn’t everyone?) so I went digging in my scrap drawer for some blues. Everything looked SO bright I started brainstorming ways to tone it down. I put some white paint on my cardstock base around the edges and then some splatters in the centre - which I realize now you can't really see. Oh well. Trust me when I say they look cool! Then I roughed up the edges of the blue strips to soften their look. And finally I got probably my most ingenious idea ever. I found a toilet paper roll, squished it a bit and then dabbed it in white ink to stamp some egg-like shapes all over. I know, I know, please hold the applause. LOL!

Oh yeah. I even remembered a title this time!! :)

I decided to put my journalling into one of the eggs. I felt anything else would have detracted from the design .

In this shot you can see some of my stamped "eggs" and even a couple paint splatters.

Supplies used: all cardstock is from my stash; patterned paper with the words is from TPC Studio I think (the scrap I used had its manufacturer info cut off it!); egg shapes were cut on my Cricut awhile back and dug out of my scrap drawer - the creamy ones are from Crate Paper - Katlin collection Daydream, and the green patterned paper is from a Spring Stack by DCWV; white paint is a guache byLukas from deSerres; white alphas (2006) are Basic Grey - Basics Micro Mono stickers; Easter stickers are from my stash too - by Recollections and the white ink is Frost White from Color Box.

Beach Day layout for Apron Strings

Quick post to get this in before the deadline.
I took full advantage of my day off to laze around in my pj's until noon, lounge around on the couch all afternoon and then zip this off before dinner.

This is for the following challenges over at Apron Strings: their 5 on Friday and Sketch on Wednesday challenges.

This is the sketch we were given (a Sketchy Thursday sketch from June 16th).

The 5 things we were to use were:

1 sheet of cardstock

1 sheet of patterned paper

1 journalling tag

1 set of buttons

something round 

In this close up you can see my buttons (Basic Grey) and one of my 'something round'.

As I was editing the pictures I noticed that I forgot a title. Doh! I will probably add it later. Not sure where though as I kind of like the layout as is. Oh, and I sprayed a little mist on my white cardstock (probably against the rules but the white looked too white!)

Supplies used: White cardstock from Michael's (12x12 Recollections Basics probably); grey and pink patterned paper is American Crafts I Do - Delphinium and Craft Fair - Rose McGrain; blue cardstock circle was from my stash; Basic Grey buttons; Jillibean Soup Journalling Sprouts - circle, brown; and the mist is Tsukineko Walnut Ink in Eucalyptus.

Well, my day off is pretty much over so I'd better post this then get a load of laundry into the dryer so my kids have clothes to wear tomorrow! See ya!

Sunday's 5 on Friday

Well, I'm recovering from the busy and emotional week that was. I think I may even have it in me to compose a blog post now!! LOL!
It's currently 9:00AM. Greg and Marley are cuddled up on the couch watching Canada vs Germany in the Women's FIFA World Cup of Soccer (while concurrently reading a newspaper and a book), Paige is upstairs in her usual TV watching position (on her back, arms behind her head, feet through the bottom of the TV stand - on top of the DVD player no less!) and LC has just woken up and is devouring her pancakes with strawberries. All is good.
Hmmm ... spoke too soon ... Germany just scored!

But I digress ... on to my week ...

1. Remember these?

The outfits, I mean, the girls should be familiar enough! I finally got my picture of all 3 of them wearing the San Francisco Chinatown outfits I got them. It only took Uncle Alasdair treating us to an ordered in Chinese dinner for them all to get dressed up!!

Thanks Uncle Alasdair!

2. Father's Day BBQ

We had about half of the Graham/Campbell side over for Father's Day this year. 9 kids and 9 adults. It's not often we have a one to one ratio of adults to kids!!!

Before the crowds arrived, Paige and LC had some quiet time with Uncle Alasdair.

Does this happen in your house? The men/boys were in the family room watching ...

... golf!

While the women/girls were in the living room ...

... visiting and ...

... playing with dolls. Could we BE more stereotypical?

We were also celebrating Sophie's 5th birthday.

Ammee got her a cool looking magnetic calendar with tons of small pieces! Jo, we found the #3!!

Andrew decorated these cupcakes with some pretty psychadelic colours! He's so Martha Stewart!!

Here's the birthday girl enjoying her cupcake.

They were a big hit with everyone. LC used the purple icing as "makeup" before actually eating the cupcake.

Ammee and Andrew.

Caleb and Matthew decided it would be fun to eat theirs without using their hands. Ah, boys!

Greg went for cherry pie over cupcakes. His day, his perogative I guess!

It was a fun day for all. It's always nice to get the family together and reconnect.

3. Year End Field Trips

Part of what has made this past week so busy for me has been all the field trips.

On Monday we went to Centennial Beach with Paige's preschool. It was kind of cold but the kids went into the water anyway ... mostly fully dressed unfortunately!!

Tentative explorations.

Mud pies.

Careful wading.

Sand soup.

Sea shells.

I love how Paige's hair blends into the sky!

The campsite.

Wednesday was another field trip for Paige (mostly because the preschool was half empty in preparation of the big garage sale so there was nothing for the kids to play with.) This time we took them bowling. I tried to take pictures but they all pretty much sucked. Here are the least sucky ones.

Paige watching her balls' progress.

The crew!

It's blurry I know, but it's so cute! Paige was giving LC bowling tips!

LC is currently obsessed with pockets. This time she found her back pockets!

On Thursday it was Marley's turn for a field trip. Younger siblings were welcome so we all got to go along. They started at the library (with Marley's new found love of reading, I think we'll be spending a lot of time at the library this summer!) and then went over to the water park/playground at Memorial Park.

Kids seem to be immune to the cold. I would NOT have stripped down to my bathing suit as it was not the warmest day. In fact, it had rained earlier in the morning!

But ... Marley put on her suit and had fun playing with her classmates.

Paige and LC were not interested in getting wet AT ALL!! Instead, we went over to the playground.

Here's a funny statistic for you. When Marley was 2 we avoided this playground as it is raised to a height we felt was too dangerous for Marley. The odd time Greg would go up with her (up the stairs) but usually we stayed in the toddler play area. When Paige was 2 we played here more as Marley was old enough to climb up safely. Paige is naturally cautious so didn't set my heart racing too badly. 

Then we had LC ...

Here's evidence of what she is capable of at 2. 

Yup. All methods of climbing up to the platform are no problem for her.

Yikes!

After lunch the kids put on 3 little plays they'd been working on. Marley was very proud that she was the Narrator in hers!

4. Final Farewell to Li'l Rascals

Friday morning the kids were treated to the site of a giant bouncy castle in the back yard of the preschool. Once again, I'd woken early to the sound of rain but thankfully it stopped and held off. The sun even came out later when the kids were having their snack!

After watching the year end slide show that Teacher Kari had prepared (awesome job Kari!) and presenting a quilt to her featuring artwork from each child transferred onto fabric (really wish I'd taken a picture of it!), the kids RAN outside to bounce the day away.

LC was initially excited at the idea of the bouncy castle but once she realized she'd have to get in with all the other kids, she lost her passion. Instead she went back into the school to watch through the window!

And then got busy in the sandbox.

See. Sunshine! And yummy treats!

That night we held a Farewell BBQ at the preschool with some alumni in attendance. Our old teacher, Mary, came for a bit too. It was a lovely evening of reminiscing and renewing friendships.

The BBQ Ladies!

Paige and Avery enjoying some cheesies/chips.

The set up.

Random shots of the action.

Oh! Who's that? Me?! Say it ain't so!!

LOL!

Yesterday was the garage sale which went very well. There is a bit of final clean up/clear out to do at the preschool and then we hand over our keys. It's the end of an era. Truly! Li'l Rascals has been a preschool in Ladner since at least the 70's if not earlier. It was in it's current location for decades too. One of the parents at the BBQ found pictures of herself when SHE attended the preschool! Crazy, eh?

5. Grandpa's Birthday

Thanks for hanging in. I know this is a hugely long post! So much has happened this week!!

Yesterday, after the garage sale, we celebrated Grandpa Day's birthday. Even though the weather had been changable all day, he insisted on going to Centennial Beach to play with his grandkids.

Yep. It was a cold as it looks!

LC turned out to be the most resilient!

With the hair and the baseball cap, Marley looks like a trucker.

Pringle Duck Lips just make the look, don't they?!

The sun eventually stopped playing hide and seek behind the clouds and I emerged from my coccoon to take some pictures of a very wet LC romping in the water with Grandpa.

Grandpa was the star ...

... surrounded by his fans as he opened his cards and presents.

More birthday cupcakes.

Now, I know it's wrong to let your 2 year old drink beer  but ...

... when it results in faces like these ... 

... it seems okay somehow!

Okay, you made it! I am finally finished.

The game is long over (Canada lost 2-1), everyone is dressed but me and Greg's getting lunch ready. I suppose it's my turn to shower and get dressed.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday everyone.