Christmas photo shoot...

Do they ever go smoothly? I can remember when the kids were infants taking them to get pictures at 3 months, and six months and a year and so on...that was always interesting. You had to time it perfectly with naps and feedings. You would think by now it would be less complicated right? A 6 year old should be able to sit still and smile for at least a few shots...right?? I should think SO! This is the adventures in Christmas card pictures...hang on, you're in for a ride!
They posed for a few without any shenanigans. Even the dog wandered over to be in the shot, which was unplanned.
I finally had a "mom moment." This was after 40 or so shots, and not a lot of cooperation!

We just could NOT seem to get it together! LOL!

And then...it happened...a Christmas miracle! ONE good shot!

Are you tired of seeing all these yet?

Wardrobe malfunctions are a requirement it seems for every photo shoot!

My dog is crazy...he gets jealous when we hug! :)

Chaos!

So thankful to Christie for taking the time to do this photo shoot! And she had the patience of a saint! I'll be back tomorrow to share the Christmas cards I designed for this year! They turned out super cute! Hope you're week is off to a great start!

Frosty...

It's a very frosty day here...the wind chill is in the single digits, the snow is blowing and the wind is howling, but the weather inside is just fine! Just made myself a cup of cocoa. I spent most of the day on a ladder with vacuum-in-hand getting all the cobwebs from the rafters. It's not my favorite job...but it sure felt good to cross it off the list finally! I'm looking forward to having a crafty day tomorrow since I got most of my "work" done today. Christmas card design is a big priority! I have already gotten quite a few cards and each one I open, I love! Especially the ones that have a picture! (Of course.)
I made myself workout tonight...I figured I drank a lot of hot chocolate today to compensate for the freezing temps outside, so I had better get to it! I also had to glue my button tree back together as it became a casualty of a light saber earlier today. Are you all finished with your Christmas shopping yet? I still have 2 or 3 things to get...and can't seem to find the time or the will power to shop. I am not a fan of buying just any old gift...I like to put thought into it. Wish me luck! And for some warmer weather...because shopping in the frosty air isn't likely to happen! LOL.

Newsletter! (in case you haven't signed up yet)

Happy December! I wanted to introduce you to our latest kit “Give.” It’s full of vintage goodness and character that is sure to make your pages stand out from the rest!

This kit comes complete with loads of patterned paper, fabric, ribbon, handmade PixiePetal crotched flowers, vintage book page, and a great color combination!

And of course I have to show off a little of our gallery this month! Don't you just want to run and grab your scissors and get busy? Grab a cup of cocoa, put on some Christmas music and get in the spirit! This first project is by Samantha Sibbet, and the following layout is by Jaime Warren. So cute!

Remember that if you are starting your Christmas shopping, a Freehand kit makes a wonderful gift…and we would be happy to ship the kit with a personalized card straight to the recipient, or to you. My aim is to please, and also to make this holiday season as stress free as possible!! All you have to do is email me with instructions of who you are sending the kit to, and where you would like the kit to go to, and I will take care of the rest! Easy…right?

I want to thank each and every one of you for your continued support of Freehand Scraps! Praying you have a beautiful holiday season… and that you have a great day! (HoPe you HaD a GrEaT WeEKenD toO!)

Gallery part deux...

I have a sweet project to share that our designer Lexi Bridges made using the December kit to share! Go check out her BLOG for more pictures and the details of how she made them...super cute! Quick and easy gift tags!!


And my gallery part deux...click to enlarge if you want to see details.
Here I added paint to the little flower to tint it with a little color...I added the JBS rub-on to a circle I punched from the border of my old vintage book page. I popped it up off the page using a pop dot.
This was a fall day we spent at the local apple orchard (it's one of our favorite IL. traditions!) It was WARM, like 85 degrees, and Chloe was convinced that she had to wear her cowgirl boots. I thought she would swelter in them, so I tried to talk her out of them, but in the end I let her. She wore them with pride, stomped and played all over the orchard and never complained once about being too hot or her feet hurting. Hence the close up shot of her boot...taken while she did a pony ride, which is her favorite thing to do every year! So she must be a real cowgirl! Right?
The little "Farm Fresh" phrase is from the strip you trim off the bottom of a sheet of patterned paper. I thought it coordinated well...and talk about stretching your supplies!!

I added a few pearls from my stash scattered around the background die-cut paper for fun! Voila! A layout that has nothing to do with Christmas, and yet looks perfect with the supplies in the kit! So very versatile! Hope you are having a great Saturday! Sending hugs your way!

We're stringing up the lights!

The tree is officially...well official. I just thought I would see if you could tell which picture doesn't belong...look closely.
My tree has a lot of birds on it.

And snowflakes...it's a very eclectic tree.

Wait a minute...how did HE get on there?

But I didn't realize that our eclectic tree needed a stuffed pink flamingo? I'm trying to be cool about it...but I drew the line at having the dog toys added to the branches. One of my good friends reminded me to enjoy that silly pink flamingo...because one day I would miss this. And you know what? She is 100% right! I will miss stepping over toys on the way up the stairs at night, and finding lizards poked in my shoes in the morning. I will miss the smell of baby shampoo and their footed jammies in winter. This time goes so quickly. I want to enjoy it while I can! So take some time today to cherish the little things that make this Christmas like no other. Have a great weekend! I will be back to share more gallery layouts and also a newsletter for tomorrow!

I will prevail...

This morning I woke up with 3,000 thoughts running through my head. The to-do list, the kids activities...is Tanner the snack person or Chloe? How am I going to get Chloe's antibiotics down her throat that she hates so much? (Strep throat and an ear infection...ugh!) The enormous amount of Christmas boxes that are calling my name. The blogging, the emails, the shipping. You get the idea. And then the thought occurred to me...I will have the same amount of time today as I do everyday...so I better make it count! So instead of actually fixing my hair...it's up in a bun. Instead of wasting time this morning I got straight to the business of getting all the shipping done (at least for today.) I will conquer the to-do's and the demands, and the emails, and the holidays. I am bound and determined. I will prevail...(okay this is really just me reassuring myself that I can handle it all, and maybe to have a good excuse for my lack of make-up and for my hair being up in a bun.) So without further ado...here are a few projects from my gallery this month. The first is one of mine (and the kids) favorites. I used the Jenni Bowlin bingo card to make a little hanging with our "verse of the month" on it. This was the verse I taught the kids in November. We practice it a few times and then they recite it when we pray before we eat. Three times a day is GOOD reinforcement. They usually have it down by day #2. I love it that faith and wisdom are being firmly planted in their hearts. These words of wisdom will only help them as they face this big world in the future! It didn't hurt that it was all about giving...and the card said "give." LOL.
I used the threading waters border punch for the bottom and then layered a few other patterned papers to add some color and interest. I used my vintage typewriter for the journaling and the edge of the book page to type on, which matched the Bingo card perfectly! Does it bother anyone else when your neutrals don't match? It really bugs me...but I'm weird like that.
For the little wreath in the center I took a strip of the green cardstock and folded it back and forth and in a circle shape. I attached that with my sewing machine. Then I cut a few leaf shapes to add to it and give it more texture...I would have sewed those on, but my sewing machine revolted and is still not operational. (Mom...a little help please?) I added the Jenni Bowlin pearl center to make it look like a little cluster of berries. Super easy and quick.

Everything in this kit seems to just seamlessly "work" together. Everything came together easily and I didn't have to think about it too much. Like this card that took me all of 10 minutes. I just love that little Santa tag (just stapled him on.) And the alphabet this month is one of my favorite things in the kit too! So cute! Oh and the red "days" sticker letters are from our September kit.

This picture of the layout isn't the best. It's rare when I have a picture of all 3 of us to scrapbook. I freehand wrote the title directly on the Memo note, and used one of the Sassafras stickers (which I cut the center out of so my title would show through) to frame it and make it stand out.

Another of the JBS tags...and it's true: I do have everything I want. I could live the rest of my life and never get another Christmas present and I would still be the most blessed person (in my mind) on the planet.

I cut those darling animals out of the Prima specialty stitched paper to add them here. Love!

So now I have a funny video to share...as my dog has a pile of at least 5 toys sitting next to my office chair. Hint, hint. He can be so demanding! Enjoy...

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Have a great Wednesday!

"Give"

It's here! "Give" has arrived! Finally time to share all the goodness with you all!
Here's a shot of the papers (minus the cardstock) and the alphabet as well as the Sassafras Lass journaling spots. Pretty.
It includes so many vintage embellishments! The large Bingo card was a favorite of mine...as were the small hand-crocheted flowers! Super cute.

I only had time to make 4 projects, but I have another one that I am making with the kit of the kids at Halloween last year dressed up in their artist costumes. Those tiny frames are the perfect thing for that page!! And you don't need to stop and leave them plain white. Our design member Lexi painted hers for a cute variation!

I already shared my cute paper flowers I made using the old book page that comes with the kit. Check out the gallery for more ideas...I think every single designer used theirs!

I'll be back tomorrow with gallery layouts to share! I am just now getting all the boxes out to set up the tree...oy vey. The Christmas tree box was too heavy for me to drag up from the basement so I had to take trips of armfuls of branches. It made me rethink my 9 ft. high Christmas tree decision. Someone remind me next year (when all the decorations are 75% off) that I don't need another Christmas decoration!!! Or snowman for that matter! Let the season begin!