All Star Layout

My son has played competitive hockey for 11 years. One of the highlights of his high school hockey was being selected to play on the all star team. Players were chosen from 7 high schools to represent the LSSAA all stars. He had many good friends from several high schools that he had met throughout the years play in this game which was also televised. Colton as goaltender played half the game, and his team won. It sounds cliched but every player there was already a winner so the win was just for fun . The spirit of sportsmanship was much more important to every young man who participated, as evidenced by the smiles and handshakes all around.

I used a wonderful print paper on the right hand side of the layout which I "matched" using CTMH dotted background paper, Lagoon and Moonstruck cardstock gave me some deep blue colour as well.

I incorporated 3 flip flaps into the layout, so I could add the article from Sarnia Sports about the game and the list of players, as well as a few extra photos. Handy... I didnt have to cram everything onto the base of the page and could showcase the photo of my son on the right hand side.

I am showing you 3 photos of page one, with flip flips closed and open on the vertical and horizontal photos.

The Many Faces of You

Just a quick page from the ongoing 9 year project called the hockey album, on my son Colton James, who is getting very close to 17 years of age.

Since I focus so much scrapbooking on his hockey in uniform, I wanted to include a picture of him in his dress shirt and tie (with lucky Thanksgiving tie clip that I got him for getting a win. I used to get him little presents like mini sticks or pucks or pins for shutouts... now the presents are for wins ! lol.)

At 16 he makes good decisions, works hard at school and sports, and has a bright future ahead of him. He has a great sense of humour and helps me a LOT at our home. He will be missed when he goes to university.

I used CTMH base pages in black and added some background paper and journalling, and a few stickers. Pretty simple.

our Happy Fam Damily

This is the left side of a layout I did using the cocoa die cuts border from CTMH. My dad likes to take his grandkids golfing as part of my brother's yearly summer visit from faraway Ottawa.

This year they went to "Crabbies" in the Grove.

As a side note, I finally figured out how Brights Grove got its name as I was driving down Waterworks near Old Lakeshore today. I saw dozens of rotten apples in the gutter, fallen over ripe from overhead apple tree branches on folks front lawns and thought, those trees must have been planted a long time ago and survived the suburbanisation of Brights Grove. It must have been an orchard grove belonging to the Bright Family at one time. I think I will google it and see if I can find out if my theory is correct.

Back to the layout... more Emporium, cut around the circles to create scallops, Floral Tapestry Stickease for the lettering, more of my library card journal spots from Lasting Impressions, and some cute little buttercup brads. Not your typical golf green colours are they. But it works.

Cross Country

Colton ran for St Christophers Cyclones Cross Country team this past fall and competed in both SWOSSA and WOSSA, as did his partner in net, Sean Parker. I was so proud of him for training and competing in all of his events. He tried so hard and showed so much dedication. Through X-country we also got to know his coach Mr. Reid (call me Billy) who ended up coaching the high school hockey team. On the day of the event, the team was excited and felt they had a good chance to place in the top 5 in Ontario. Unfortuneately , a team member fell down and lost consciousness during the race , which obviously affected the team's time. Colton went to the runner after the race had ended, with tears in his eyes, to hug and console him.

These are great pictures, from a great fall day. There were SO many runners from all over Ontario at Canatara Park. The picture we have of Colton finishing the race is from behind, since the first picture we took didnt turn out, in all the excitement of the big finish. I circled around him with mini brads to focus on him , since he is almost disappearing from sight.

The patterned paper and matching stickease letters are from Game On by Close to My Heart.

r u a Pool Shark?

another productive night in the studio!

Well

I gotta tell ya. this layout barely took me about 30 minutes and most of that time was in cropping the pictures! I knew what the title was going to be, so I placed it in the middle of the photos and voila!

instant success story.

The pattern paper is from Game On by Close to my Heart, which happens to also be my paper of choice for my son's hockey layouts . The clips are also CTMH.

and of course, the lettering has been in my stash for some time... do ya think it's time to use it??

I got the journalling "library card" from Lasting Memories last week. Wow. I actually bought and used something for scrapbooking right away! No more squirrelling away, I promise!

My dad had fun taking the teens and I over to the Retirement Rec Center for a few games at Christmas. Of course, I played terrible and sunk a total of about one ball. It was still fun.

TAKE ME out to the BALL GAME

We saw a ball game at Comerica Park in July. It was a first for Colton. The park was absolutely dazzling in its size and excitement. We ate a lot of ball park food , watched a great game, and stayed for fireworks afterward.

The letters on this layout were stamped with second generation outdoor denim ink to allow the plaid background paper to show through using Rustic Acrylics from CTMH. By comparison, the ME was stamped first generation and is much deeper. I cut them out and thought they needed more oomph so I mounted them on white cardstock and cut them out again. Just the journalling remains to finish!

NOT par golf

... but still FUN!

(click on photo to enlarge)

this layout was created with Citrus Leaf and Topiary Cardstock along with Game On patterned paper from Close to my Heart. I created the layout design as I went along, based on placing the two five inch strips of black star pattern paper vertically and horizontally, and by balancing the photos in wherever they fit .

Four of us went on an "all you can golf " holiday in Michigan for 3 days and 2 nights. I came up with the title because I struggled with my golf game almost the whole time I was there. There was only one relatively "easy" course that we played out of the whole of four courses. I am proud to say that on Day two we golfed 36 holes ... in 10 hours. Never done that before!!

Bantam hockey layouts for 2008

picture for Bantam AAA Jr Sting 2008 ... click on any picture to enlarge!!

Tyler Annett and Colton James

Colton in the news... Golden Glove

Silverstick Port Huron

Winners of the AAA Bantam Consolation Final

I enjoyed putting these 5 pages together last week with Jen Ryan my scrappin' buddy from the Grove... you rock , Girl.

Simple sunflower yellow mats , stick on letters, and black backgrounds unify the pages. I am journalling with a white pen and using black base pages from Close to My Heart. The Golden Blade and Silver Stick tournaments are featured along with our Consolation Championship.

I try to write about one friend on the team each year. This year I chose Tyler. Tyler Annett is an amazing athlete. He was voted the grade nine student "most likely to be in the Olympics" in the 2008 Northern yearbook . He broke 15 year old track records in grade 8 because he runs like a greyhound and has been to the provincials in soccer many times. He played football with Colton this year. His parents are competitive body builders.

I will have to write about Curtis Crombeen next year when the OHL draft is on.

As an aside, Colton was also featured in the yearbook, as the "biggest flirt". Nice work, son.

My daughter Chloe made the fashion and style page. No surprise.

Determination HOCKEY layout...

More stuff for those of you who have guys in your life.

My son Colton has played goalie since age 7 and has played for the Jr Sting AAA since age 8.

He has made so many friendships through travel hockey and it has enriched our lives.

The first pic is of when he was learning to skate at Hockey Basics at age six, falling down like a frog and pushing down in front of himself to get back up again.

Determination. You either have it, or you don't . It can't be taught. He showed it at an early age.

This is the title page to his album , which covers so far 7 years of team sports.

Just black base pages with a few simple embellishments. I dont do fancy in my guy's book.

hockey hall of fame layout

Rick, Colton and I had some time to kill in Toronto during the Marlies AAA hockey tournament Dec.28-30 . Neither Colton or myself had visited the Hockey Hall of Fame on Front and Yonge St. Rick didnt mind giving it a third (fourth?) visit and posing in front of Raymond Bourque's and Bobby Orr's showcases for some photos. I was surprised that the Stanley Cup didnt have glass around it. People were lining up for photos with the cup, and posing while kissing the cup. The mall entrance to the Hall of Fame had amazing indoor architecture with lighted flooring tiles, 3 story arches, and sparkly ceiling lights.

Cathy at Lasting Impressions had created a boys layout for her customers using concentric circles and patterned papers with stars. I immediately saw how easily I could use our new Good Times Kit with sweet leaf, twilight, buttercup, and chocolate, and stars along with my Star Struck acrylix. This has to be one of my most versatile stamp sets. I use the arrows as journalling spots, and I love the circles and stars. The numbers in the Good Times Kit worked well with the theme of Sports . (Number four - Bobby Orr)
Right now my favorite CTMH cs colours are cranberry, twilight, new england ivy, garden green, chocolate, sweet leaf, petal, buttercup, vineyard berry, bamboo, olive and garnet. So I am definately a fall/winter palette person. Birthday October 16 might be an influence. If I had to choose a favorite pink it would be hollyhock. I also like Vanilla Cream and Colonial White and am considering buying the timeless basic combo in 8 1/2 by 11 for cards. the next paper kits I purchase will be Silhouette, Caprice, and Simple Pleasures. Lots of warm tones, blues and browns for my March trip to MEXICO. I think the Goldrush from my Free Spirit Kit will work in well with all of this.
My 2008 album will feature all of the above colours and kits. It will have a non gender feel to it. I want to incorporate more Chipboard into my titles. I also think the foundry frame plates will adhere to my album covers. I will try it out and post a pic if it works. Stazon ink is recommended on the metal surface.
Off to get Superbowl goodies... more later today!!