Designer Contest - Logo for reCREATE

Ok all you creative types out there... I need a logo for reCREATE.

Here is what reCREATE is all about - we take unwanted stuff from local businesses and re-use it for creative and environmental learning purposes. For example - the local sign company or printer has over runs and excess from their production... we take it, and use it for an environmental lesson about re-use, with a fun art project. Examples of other groups doing this are here and here.

SO... here is the deal... this program will be run as a non-profit. So I don't have a marketing budget but I need a logo... but I'd like to have a contest to develop a logo for my cards, materials and header for my blog/website. If I pick yours - I get all ownership rights - with no-strings - you get a gift certificate for $50.00 to your favorite digi shoppe!! You choose!

What do you need to know? The Color Green needs to be part of the logo. The logo should be clean and easy to read - but somehow should reflect art and re-use. There is a re-use logo here ... but I'm not sure it has to be part of the logo design - I can integrate it elsewhere.

Contest Starts Now and Ends February 15th - midnight PST.
Decision will be made by February 20th,and posted here on the blog.
I will put details on where to send them once we get going.

If you have any other questions... post em here and I'll answer them! Thanks in advance for helping me with my vision to reduce waste in my community - and have fun while doing it!

Organized!

My friend Tezra motivated me to make a post about the new look for our bonus room. (She was giving me credit for having an organized scrap area)

Mark installed a wall unit across the back of our bonus room, and the kids each got their own adjustable desks. (Sela's with a pink chair, and Zach's with a tractor seat chair.)

Soooo happy! Sooo appreciative of my husband finding a way to make this room look good without spending a fortune. I'd tell you where we bought it... but I don't want my friend Susan to cringe - she *HATES* Ikea. ooops - sorry Susan!

Gotta love my parents for TOTALLY spoiling us for Christmas and footing much of the bill for this little project. I still need to move all my stuff into it's proper place... but I am so loving this that I had to share!

LO Credits: Papers - Ping Designs Laidback (LOVE this kit!!)
Template Lindsay Jane Designs (picture added at the bottom)
Fonts: Arial / CK invitation

Arrrr - Zach's Pirate Invitation

Finally I got to my blog to update it. It has been a little wild around here working on my grant proposal and keeping my family happy too.

Here is Zach's Pirate Invitation that follows the Save the Date I sent out. On the treasure map portion, I took a map of our nearby streets and superimposed them onto the map so that the X lands on our street. It was quite fund and I was happy with the results. I wanted to put them in a bottle with a bit of sand and pretend jewels... but I had to tell myself just get them out and spend the extra time on the party. Now I have to plan the treasure hunt, which should be fun.
So we stay green, we'll be making pirate telescopes out of old paper towel rolls as one of the party activities. The pirate chest will be an old box that we decorate, and I am going to stop by Whole Foods to buy the "earth friendly" paper plates. I read recently that there are 700,000 birthday parties every day in the US... imagine the amount of garbage that produces.... eww.
So... I'll try to do my small part.

Still putting together ideas for the pirate loot bags - if you have an idea leave me a comment!
Hope you all are having a fantastic week... and I promise to be here more with new posts soon!
Oh... and the credits for the invitation are:
khadfield pirate doodles
hroselli yohoyoho pirate kit (Sweet Shoppe Designs)
font: CK invitation

G is for Grumpy!

This picture just cracks me up - Sela rarely pouts for more than a second - but this time she was really mad that mean ol' Namie wouldn't let her near the hot stove to help make pancakes. She had a spatula and was READY! While she doesn't pull out the pout very often, she has mastered the stuck out bottom lip!

Credits:
Papers JSprague Festa
Jen Wilson reJenerate Quick page template
Arrow - Danielle Young Bungalow - recolored
Fonts: Century Gothic, CK Fraternity

"Doesn't she have two kids?"

You may or may not have noticed that I haven't been doing many layouts of my little girl recently. Every time I would try to journal about her, my eyes would literally well up with tears - because we're just having a "moment together" these days. I can't find the words to describe it - and I know I have gone through this with Zachie at times too... where my love feels so deep that I can't appropriately capture my feelings on paper.
My Sela girl will just make up a song and sing to herself and dance in the shopping cart to the background music at the grocery store... she is just too sweet for words at the moment - and my journaling doesn't do her justice... but she is too dang cute not to scrap!

Credits: Template - Jen Caputo
Papers - Jen Wilson Comfy Jammies
Fonts: Impact, Kayleigh and Century Gothic.

What a difference a day makes

Wow. I feel like my life is back on track so I got a layout done today. Had a great afternoon with my kids - we made cookies and dinner together, and just had fun.
This layout is about my little Zach and his love for morning time - early morning time. I don't share this love with him... and thankfully neither does my daughter. It isn't that I hate mornings... it is just that I think it should be a time for quiet reflection and planning for your day. My son wakes up and is ready to go fullspeed ahead.... much like my mom. My husband once took his clock and taped over everything but the hour portion, and told him he could only get out of bed when the number hit 7.... so he would call from his bed, "I think my clock is broken!!" I wish I could be like that in the morning.

I Un LOADed today

No Layout today. I just decided I can't juggle any more things, and the layout was the rational thing to drop. I am really getting serious about this reCREATE thing. I was talking to my husband about something the other day, and said, "My girls"... and he said which girls, and I said - you know my "digi peeps".... which is funny because I don't talk that way.... so he comes in today and says - "you ought to get your "digi peeps" involved in your reCREATE project... if they put their focus into your project, you could have it going be next week!"
So... should you have a spare moment in between layouts, and you'd like to say, Write a grant, build a budget or help me with my website - just say the word or peep!

Arrrr Mateys - Get Ready to Sail

I'm so thrilled with how this turned out... Zach just decided what kind of party he wants on Friday... and he likes "nice" pirates... it is less than easy to find cute pirate stuff... so I was so happy I found this clip art and was able to play with it. I extracted Zach's picture from some shots of them playing in the front yard.... and turned him into a pirate. (This is the save the date notification - and I will get the invitation done later this week.) And YAHOO - my LOAD layout for today is done because I will definitely include this with his birthday pages! Thanks for looking and thanks ladies for all the nice comments... I'm luvin' the luv!

Credits: Paper M Mareda Home(recolored), KHadfield Pirate doodles, paper tears - Jen Caputo, font: CK centurion

My mom is coming to watch the kids today so I can get my grant draft completed for my first grant submission for reCREATE... trying to pump myself up to get it done.

Snow cute

Ok... the truth is I should be putting my little boys invitations together for his birthday... but I'll do that as soon as I throw this together (I mean THROW together a layout). I promise to be better tomorrow and make a prettier one... the picture makes up for my lazines on this one! This was Zach't first trip to the snow and he was all smiles.

Credits: Lriordan blog white paper
font:2peas fixin to
Frame: K Pertiet Crystalized edgers

Pullin' out the Baby Pictures

I really might take a break from this challenge tomorrow - I must admit I hate to quit things - so even though I need to be focusing my time on other things I'm still pushing myself to get a page done every day..... anyone else doing the challenge feeling that way?!
This layout is of Zach at 8 month - these pictures reminded me of how much fun we had that month... I had just quit my job and Mark was gone, so it was just Zach and I - we napped and played and had such a nice time. I need to strive to be that mom that focuses so well on each moment with my kids, that I was then. Feeling like I have been too grumpy and distracted as of late. Will try and be better tomorrow!

Layout Credits:
EMerritt - Doodled Words in title
SP.com Festival Scallop Border
Frame - Tia Bennet New Growth Brushes
Font: CK Renaissance
Thanks for looking!

Magically Delicious!

Had to do a layout on Sela's current love of anything pink. She is about the most beautiful whirling dervish of energy. She is equal parts of sweetness and "rough and tough". I hope these two elements never disappear, because she is simply perfect! (even it she tires me out to the core each and every day!)

Layout Credits:
Template - Kissed Studio 009 Papers: Jessica Sprague Strawberry Lemonade Fonts: Fine Hand, Edwardian Script and century gothic. Photo altered with Photoblast Antique Action

While you were sleeping....

The story on this layout happened a few weeks ago for the first time. Then last week Zach did it again. I swear he melts my heart - and it takes a lot to melt my heart if I am woken up!

Why Won't These Lights Work?!

I didn't throw in the towel for the Load challenge - mostly because I got such great feedback on yesterdays layout!

Hope you all are having a great week!

Flying Around

Ok... I made it halfway through LOAD. I'm not sure I'm going to keep playing... I'm really proud of myself for getting this far - but I'm actually getting a bit tired of sitting at the computer.

Here is Day 15


Credits are as follows:

Credits: Paper Amy Tanabe Navy Fall
Template Designer Digitals Ad Challenge Kelly Mize
Star: Jen Wilson Wooden Star - recolored
Font: CK Neat Print, CK Regal
Photo - Dusti Nakamura with Photoblast Midnight color action.


Thanks for looking!!

Load #14 - First Snow

Ahhh a trip to the snow... This picture is actually from last year -but we are planning a jaunt up to the snow later this month.



Credits:
Layout scraplifted from Severine
Ping Designs BLue font: 2peas gift, CK typeset Brush - MCO Snowflakes

A Typical Conversation and 7 Random Things

I am glad this little conversation finally made it onto a finished layout. What is most funny to me about it, is that we have had this conversation a few times - Zach always has a pet store (On Greenback Lane - because he likes the name of that road), and he always will be a volunteer fireman - but the other positions vary depending on what he is thinking about. This conversation was shortly after a trip to Maggie Moos for ice cream and after he got his remote controlled submarine toy. It is interesting though that all of his preschool teachers are convinced he will build something - or be an engineer, because he is always making pretend machines.

So... onto my 7 random things. I was tagged by my friend Tezra

The rules of the game:
• Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
• Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog, we all want to know them.
• Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
• Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

And so here are 7 random little known facts about me:

1. I scuba dive. Before kids - virtually every vacation got us to a place with warm water (I certified in Monterey - but don't like our cold water here). I have seen countless sharks, eels, manta rays and a few octupus (octupi? - not sure how to pluralize that one!) I am itching to get back in the water - it has been over a year.
2. I never thought I would get married - it wasn't in my life plan. my initial "path" was to run my own business and retire young - travel the world, yada yada. (Thus the name of my blog)
3. My husband and I met May 1 and were married December 27th... and no I wasn't pregnant! Not only did I get married (not in my plan). I quit my job to move to Germany with him (Also not in my plan!). It was an amazing year.
4. I have been through a major earthquake (7.0), a tsunami warning (false alarm), and a major tornado missed me by just a few miles. I'm staying out of hurricane country!
5. I want to write a book someday.
6. I'm one of those "green" types. I drive a hybrid, have changed all the bulbs out in the house to the efficient ones, we recycle, and we buy green energy for our house(you just pay a little extra to do this).
7. I am competitive about EVERYTHING. (so that fact that ALMOST everyone I know has already been tagged is REALLY bugging me!)
Ohhh.... and Dusti - Tag - you are it!

Strawberries and Creme

I'm getting tired of this dreary gray weather, so I was looking at my summer photos and wanted to share a very funny video of my daughter eating strawberries with whipped creme.... but I have tried 4 times now and can't get it to load on my page... so the best I can offer is this link tothe upload... if you know what I'm doing wrong - please let me know!

My LOAD layout is from pictures I extracted from this video. Here is my layout too.

Oh... and I've been tagged by my local digi scrapping friend Tezra - and promise to post 7 random things about me tomorrow...
ohhh the suspense of it all!

Zach in the Box

We put a new wall system up in our bonus room last weekend. The kids thought it was so much fun to sit in the shelves. They never even got out when my parents called - I thought they looked so cute I had to snap off a few shots!

Credits: MLima Paper sampler
Frames, K Pertiet Grungy filmstrip, J Sprague Grunge frame
Frame Arrow: Ping Designs masked with A Teets Whities Tighties paper
Fonts: Fontdinerdotcom, 2peas fleamarket.

Woo Hoo - Day 10!!

So lovin' this challenge. Glad it is keeping me scrappin - and my Work inProgress file is emptying out quickly. I started this layout forever ago (September) and just couldn't seem to finish it. Now I'm happy with the journaling and flowers - so I will move it to the completed layouts folder.
On another note - I went to a class on Grant Writing today.... it was excellent and I think I am ready to dive into the grant writing for reCREATE. I have run across many people recently who don't understand re-use vs re-cycle. Reuse takes something out of the waste stream - think unwanted items, and uses them to create something without completely transforming it into something different (ie. melting down a drink container to make something else). I saw an example of gorgeous re-use art here.
I need to find a web designer soon to get the web site up... but can't seem to juggle that one into the mix yet. Soon I hope!

Layouts 8 and 9

ok... I have a confession... I thought I would be tired of sitting in front of the computer every day by now with this layout a day (LOAD) challenge - when in fact - I'm more irritated that other things are getting in the way of my playing.
I must stick to my personal challenge of getting them done in a 1/2 hour - otherwise I'll never get anything done this month!

Here are my latest layouts.... if you are ever given the opportunity to observe a humpback whale - do it! They are amazing creatures. I have such a love for the ocean (could be my norwegian blood - although I prefer WARM water!). If you can't go visit the whales - you can always adopt one here.

My Husband - My Hero

 

The weather was so nasty on Friday. I seriously thought our house was going to blow away. Our house seems to be situated in a way that virtually all storms hit our bedroom window head on - so Thursday night I didn't get much sleep. On Friday, Mark worked from home... At one point he came out to get a cup of coffee and looked outside to see our grill - that is connected to a gas line dancing across the backyard. He put on his jacket and without a fuss went and dealt with it. I would have been swearing like a sailor if "I" had to be the one out there - it was AWFUL! A bit later when his fix wasn't holding he went out and took care of it again.
Thanks honey for not complaining even when you had the total right to!

Layout Credits:

Basic Page Layout loosley lifted from Cindee Bae - October/November Digital Scrapbooking Magazine
Paper: MMareda Home 3 - Little Dreamer Designs
Frame: Notebook Edges, Katie Pertiet

My Starbucks Tumbler

 

Cathy and Dusti (My super crafty friends from playgroup) gave me a starbucks mug for my Birthday. Here is my layout and completed mug.
i LOVE it... and I feel green for bringing my own mug to Starbucks.

I used the freebie kit from creating Keepsakes. Called Eternal Love.And started with a template from Pattie Knox

2 more for the weekend

Here are my weekend layouts...

What would I have done if it weren't for Liv? Her stuff is front and center in my work this weekend. First the awesome Shutter plopper that helped me out when my creativity blew out the window with the storm. If you don't already know - I'm fiercely competitive - so I WILL get a LO done each week if there is a possible prize involved.
The beautiful paper in the LO of Sela and her sweater also came from Liv. The other stuff (frame and ribbon) came from the 12 days of Whimsical Wonderland (Flergs and Franziska) . I also used an acid wash photo action on the picture. Still not in love with this LO... so it will sit in my Work in Progrss file until I love it.

Sela and the Water

In honor of all the crazy rain here -I thought I would pull a warm weather picture and lay it out. My daughter loves the water - if I had let her she probably would have been out in a raincoat today playing in the storm.
Last summer I heard countless times... "Mama we go to the water park? and "I wanna play in the pimmin(swimmin) pool!

I Think reCREATE will happen!!

I am so thrilled. I had a meeting with a local organization whose mission is to promote arts in our county. I have a plan to open a create reuse center in my town, kind of like this... here are the basics:

reCREATE will provide children (and adults) with an opportunity to learn and be creative through reuse of clean cast off items from the business community. We will divert reusable materials from landfills and use them for creative purposes.

Our mission is to promote creativity in an earth friendly and affordable manner, educate on environmental issues and increase material reuse.

I never have small plans - so I want the works... a gallery, a workshop area, a vehicle for picking up the cast off items... the list goes on an on...

My dilemma was this - in order to get started I need grants. In order to get grants I need to be a non-profit. In order to be a non-profit you need a board. In order to get the RIGHT people to want to sit on your board you need more than an idea... And round and round.

So today - in my meeting - this organization agreed to allow me to sit under their non-profit unbrella while I get going! That means I can apply for grants!!! I can't even stand it right now I am so excited!!! Did I mention my excitement??!

Day 3 - Catch Your Kiss!

WoooHooo! I am feeling creative.... it is about time... I haven't felt creative for weeks. I have a meeting tomorrow morning - so I finished this up tonight.

This layout started from a template, that I modified.
credits:
template: Meridith Teide: Moriginals.blogspots.com
paper: Emily Merritt grungy polkas blue and green from LDD
fonts: Century Gothic, and Runic MT Condensed
Kiss words: Katie Pertiet grungedup alphas, snapframe alphas
Jen Caputo - Text paths

Day 2 - Zach on His Bike

We got Zach a bike for Christmas. Here are pictures of his first adventures.

A Layout a Day Challenge

Started a new challenge over at BigPictureScrapbooking.com - a layout a day for the month of January. Feeling lazy today so I slapped together this quickpage.

We are adding some new cabinets to our bonus room to make it a true play room for the kids - I get some new space too for my craft stuff so I'm excited for them to get installed!


Layout Credits: QuickPage created using products from Blooming kit by [ksharonkdesigns].Swirly brush by Lori Giles.