Scrapbook Challenge!!! Oct. 1-8!

I'm working on Anne's D2D book. (Diapers2Diploma) Oh my God, my baby's a senior!!! I just can't stand it. She's all ready to enlist on November 22nd. I'm going to be the fewest and proudest mother of a United States Marine. Wow! So, my game plan now is to get as many pages done every week so I'm not going crazy......well crazier than normal......next June.
The them for the challenge was brown, gold, chipboard, ribbon, yarn, etc..... Mine's not really brown or gold, but the ribbon is there. The year she was born, fall came really late and the colors were stunning. The background and bottom-right pic is our backyard. Actually, that's our house in back of the geese. Doesn't look like that anymore. Trees are ever so much bigger and they've built other homes across the pond now. I even tried my hand at photomasking some leaves. It never occurred to me that I could mask just about any shape so I'm having fun with that.
I'm doing the book in 11x8.5 so I can maybe have a small Shutterfly book made for her later. I like that size for sending with her 'cuz it's not the overwhelming size of a 12x12.
Anyway, hope you like it. I hope she'll like it.
Take care.
Love and Blessings.

Some New Pages

I made this one for our monthly digital challenge. It's simply to scrap your pet, so that was easy. I'm having a lot of fun with different fonts and mattes and ribbons right now.
This is the title page to Kolten's album. Lacy knew she was having a boy, so it was easy to put this together in advance. I'm done now with the shower, birth and homecoming pages. Some, I've already posted here, but I'm going to put them all up in the same post so "you" (really for me) can see the progression.....

First was Devin's shower for all of Lacy's college friends and our family. It was a lot of fun and a great success. We almost didn't have enough room to get all of her goodies home.

Then Chelsea gave Lacy a shower with all of her friends from the studio. Unfortunately, Holly wasn't able to make it. And it's a good thing Chelsea got it in when she did, 'cuz Kolten came along the very next weekend!!!

Okay, now we're back to the birth and thereafter.....this one's pretty obvious, but for those of you who know me, the bottom right pic is THE first pic that was sent out to EVERYONE!!! after Kolten was born. I took it with my cellphone! How cool is that?
Here's the new, complete family.....I made those photomasks!!!
I think that's where I'm gonna leave it for now. I've got lots more, so I'll be back now that Blogspot has the links to the pix working again.
Take care.
Love and Blessings.

Scrapbook Challenge! July 5-11!

Okay, here they are.......under the ever-faithful "scrap anything" category, two entries......

First.....the first page in my "Book Of Me". No one else is gonna do it, so I'm gonna do it. I've Googled numerous idea pages and I think I'm actually overwhelmed. I decided to simply start with ME. Obviously, I love to scrapbook, I love to cook as well. My specialties are appetizers and from-scratch pastas. I think most people find me amusing. I know my neighbors do as I'm the one who provides the puzzles, games and prizes for all of the kids at our gatherings. Real and Loving are just who I am. And I couldn't get by without including a pic of "Gramma's Boy". The admirable pic is one from school where I work with SPED kiddos.
The second "scrap anything" entry comes from "my boy". Given the abnormally warm spring we had, the lake was really warm on Memorial Day. Gramma decided that Kolten had to dip his toes into the lake for the first time. He did not appreciate the major significance of the event as you can see by his less than pleasant expression. He likes it much better just snuggling with Gramma or Mama or basically whomever will snuggle with him. Now that I've posted them, I realize that they're are actually 5 photos on each page, so I did more or less fill an actual category. Who'da thunk?!?!?!
Love and Blessings.

Scrapbook Challenge! May 23-30

I warned you.............and you didn't listen................here's more of my punkin............I just can't stop looking at him and taking pix of him...........the only thing I haven't gotten a great shot of yet are his feet........danged kiddo is really swiggly.......

The main reason I love this one (aside from the subject) is it's my first template. And, I feel just terrible because I have no idea where I got the template from so I can't even credit it! If it's "yours", please let me know and I'll edit this post. Anyway, I had no idea how much fun templates could be. It's so easy to find a layout that you like and just plug in your pix!!! That's what I used to love about idea books......

So, there's several shades of blue (and actually 10 pix.....I think I was trying another older challenge when I started this) and it's "something".

Take care.
Love and Blessings.

The Latest Kolten Pix

Just had to share 'cuz he's sooooooo darned cute.......

Scrapbook Challenge! May 5-9!

Alrighty then..........sorry, you're just gonna have to deal with me because my grandson is simply the most beautiful boy on the planet...........no, no, wait.............in the entire UNIVERSE! Really, no, seriously, I MEAN IT!!! I mean look at that smile; look at those eyes; look at that goofy grin......man, he already looks like he's up to no good, 'eh? His mommy's in for sommmmmmme trouble, I believe......

Now, as long as we're here anyway, here's my Challenge pages.......use 5 pix in honor of Cinco de Mayo.....it just happened that both of the following had 5 pix......enjoy the story. It will continue as the weeks go on........................duh................I just can't stop taking pictures of this little cutie-pie.

Hope y'all don't mind. I got this far last weekend and was just chomping-at-the-bit to find out what challenge Tracy was going to post. I'll be back next week with the continuing saga......

Love and Blessings.

Introducing Our Grandson Kolten Wyman Cooper

Born on Saturday April 17, 2010 at 10:52am. Kolten weighed 6 pounds, 4 ounces and measured 18 inches. He has beautiful, very alert blue eyes and light-colored peach-fuzz hair. His skin is smooth as silk and his feet are just amazing. Yeah, his feet. I just love looking at his feet and hands. He's just totally mesmerizing........ He even had a sleepover with Gramma last night and slept for 5 hours at one time! Granpa is totally enthralled. He's already talking about trains and racecar sets and drums and washing the car and all the cool boy-stuff that he's going to teach Kolten. Auntie Anne is fascinated. Though she's had to work a lot in the last few days, she makes special time for her and Kolten to "chat". She's planning on teaching him how to play ball, skateboard and ride a Haro. (I understand that's some sort of bike......trick bike)

Well, I really have to get back to my grandson...............I'm sure he needs me for something...... like cuddling.............can't get enough of Gramma's cuddles, ya know.

Love and Blessings.

Scrapbook Challenge! April 11-18!

Well, I wanted it to be perfect, but I had to face it and realize that nothing's perfect and DONE is better than perfect. I'm going to try and try again and again to add a couple of "things" like embellies or somethin', but two more title pages and as many pix pages have to be done by Saturday so I can print, trim and have them ready for the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Lakeville 10th Birthday Party Kickoff!!! Can I get a "WooHoo!!!"?!?!?!

The American Cancer Society's theme this year is "The Official Sponsor of Birthdays" and Lakeville is celebrating their 10th Relay. Anne and I have been there since Day One and we've got the t-shirts to prove it. So, simple title page, one extra layout for 2006 and we'll see how the rest of the week goes.

Love and Blessings.

Coop

Scrapbook Challenge! April 4-11!

Okay, bottom line, I cannot begin to tell you how much fun we had in "the South". So, I will not even attempt to explain the title of this page. Suffice to say that we screamed in, partied down, and got outta town without the authorities politely asking us to leave.
I can't exactly say that it's a quote, but it certainly means something to all of us and we will always remember. If you don't believe that, I'll use the "scrap anything" excuse and you'll be seeing lots more of these in the near future.
Love and Blessings.
Coop

Scrapbook Challenge! March 14-21!

Okay, very long story, very, very short. I'm a para-educator and I've worked with ASD students for 12 years. This is one of my original students from 12 years ago. I worked with Clay from the time he was in 8th grade until he graduated. About 3 years after graduation, I got an email from him at my school address over the summer. When I finally answered, he asked if he could take me out to dinner to thank me for helping him get through high school. Well, I was pleasantly stunned. We did go out, we began a wonderful, adult friendship and last year he told me that he and Amanda (who he'd introduced me to earlier) were getting married. After beginning to plan the wedding, he called and asked me if I thought that our daughter, Anne, whom they befriended as well, would like to be in the wedding. My answer was, "she'll probably jump on you and scream!". They took us out to dinner at Olive Garden, "our place", and guess what?!?!?! She jumped up and screamed, hugged them both and then started crying.
Last weekend, Saturday March 13, 2010, I don't know whom I was crying for more.....watching my former high-strung, anxious student, casually wander through the chaos of a wedding with a smile plastered across his face or my absolutely gorgeous daughter walking down the isle towards him with a look of adoration and pride that would rival that of a little sister marveling at her handsome, BIG brother......'kay, I'm tearing up here, so I'll sign off.
More pix and layouts to come.....
Love and Blessings.
Coop

Scrapbook Challenge! Feb. 28-March 7!

Alrightly then, this is my latest foray into GIMP. I have learned a LOT. It is just too much fun. The background stars and strips are from a freebie kit from http://efies.blogspot.com/ She has some really cute stuff, go check her out. I made the wavy-cut-mask all by my lil'ole self! I've now figured out how to use the ribbons and ric-rac and whatnot to do the same thing, MUCH easier and faster. The best thing I learned while making this layout was text paths. That's why this post is tonight and not last night.............'cuz I just had way too much fun playing with text paths. Lord, help my family and my house, 'cuz I'm a GIMP addict!

The pix aren't terrific, way out of focus, but I remember it like it was yesterday. And that's the point, right.

Take care. Stay safe.

Love and Blessings.

Coop

Scrapbook Challenge- Feb. 21-28!

Well, this was fun! Not only was I able to join the challenge by using flowers, I scrapped my 50th birthday celebration. And it was a celebration! And it's still going on. Tonight we're going out with my mom and family for a special dinner at the Lake Elmo Inn.

I thought it was absolutely hilarious how much like the 60s/70s I still looked like with my flower lei and beads and whatnot!

Another thing that makes this layout special is that it's my first attempt at an actual GIMP layout. Wow! I had no idea how much fun that would be. Yeah, my family's in trouble now.....they may never see the whites of these old-lady eyes ever again!

From Coop's Creative Concepts

Well, off to party.

Love and Blessings.

Carla aka miniCOOP

Scrapbook Challenge!! Feb. 14-21!!!

How's this for FUN! More MULTI-COLOR than pink or red and it's a card, not a page, but it's birthday card for my hubby......shhhhhh, don't tell 'im. He just loves anything that flies and I was playing with GIMP................again!!! So, I cut out all these adorable hot air balloons and I especially like the one in the middle with "its" tongue out. The inside's gonna say something like "you're not getting older, you're getting.......................well, not younger..........hmmmmm" I'm sucha smarta$$, ain't I?!?!?! Well, that's it. I know I'll probably get something else done this week, but just in case time flies away from me.
Love and Blessings.
Coop

Scrapbook Challenge- Feb. 7-14!

This would be under the "MAKES ME HAPPY" category! This makes me very, very happy. Our JAZZ girls went to MN State Competition yesterday. They were AMAZING! Truly, truly amazing. (And looky-there, I actually used seven pix on this one!!)

These pix are from Sections finals a week ago. Us boosters were asked to make up some quick posters to decorate the bus for their ride downtown. Well, you know me.....digi-novice, but eager to try. I THREW together some very fast, less-than-perfect, but really fun and full-of-love-and-encouragement mini scrap pages. These are only two, but the girls seemed genuinely, pleasantly surprised.

Unfortunately, there were other teams who the judges felt were more amazing than our Lake-Liners, (how silly of them!) But the girls had a blast and we have great pix and now I'm gonna go back and play with them and make some more silhouettes and wordart and OMG! Ladies, I told you I found GIMP. I may never be the same......hehehe.......

Love and Blessings.

Carla aka: minicoop

Scrapbook Challenge! Jan. 24-31

Are you ready for this?!?!? Not only did I get another weekly scrap challenge done, but I killed two "blogs" with one layout! This was soooo much fun today. I'd set up a SparkRally for my MplsStPaul team out at Lake Phalen to walk, watch the kites and ice-boat races and just have fun. It turned out to be a GORGEOUS day. Bright sunshine, blue sky, crisp air, and temps in the teens!!! YES, we get excited in MN in January when the temps go UP into the teens. That's why they call the St Paul Winter Carnival "The Coolest Celebration On Earth"........
So, this is the hardy group of us that showed up AND were able to find each other..... I mean it, Jackie, I'm gonna make a FLAG.

That's it for this week....two in a row. Watch out, I'm getting good at this.
Love and Blessings.
Coop

Scrapbook Challenge! Jan. 17-24!

Okay ladies and gentlemen, here it is. I haven't had the time I'd like to get scrappin' done of any kind, digi or paper, but I got this done last weekend. That one page per week thing has kinda gone down the drain......oh well, this is more than I had done last year in January. hehehe......

This is my nephew's hockey team. Anne and I absolutely LOVE going to watch Alex play hockey. Sometimes he plays down in our part of town and sometimes we have to "travel" to watch him play. Ah, the joys of hockey. In case any of you are interested, Coach Curtis is "dad" my brother and the other "Lacy" is just a little peanut who happens to have one of the other greatest names in the world and it's spelled the correct way and she was just too cute for words and she liked me.......go figure!