{Made it Monday} Annie Mini Book

Not long ago, we saw the play Annie.

Olivia had never even heard of Annie, but I knew she would enjoy the story line. Plus, her kindergarten teacher was in the cast, so we were naturally going to attend!

I only took my iPhone with me and I snapped a few pictures after the show, while Olivia posed with the cast. I'm not kidding when I say this is her favorite part of every show.

Once home, I printed a few pictures out on my printer and whipped up this little mini album to record our memories from the show. I was lucky enough to snag two programs so that I could leave one in tact (the one that the cast signed) and cut one up for the mini book.













So there! Another memory recorded!

Happy, Monday peeps!

{Made it Monday} Olivia's birthday album

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeey internets!

I'm so glad to be back in action!

My sweet lil' computer is back on track and we're ready to roll!

I finally got around to making Olivia's 6th birthday album right before my computer went away.

Let's keep it real here and understand that this is the *ONE and ONLY* birthday album I've ever made for her (or anyone else, for that matter). Don't get all judgemental on me and tell me about how you've never made even. one. album. for your child because up until now, I was in THE SAME BOAT, OKAY???

Anyhoo.

I like it. I think it turned out cute.

I used all the Instax pictures we took on the trip. The Instax camera was one of O's birthday gifts. She loves it. I love it even more. I love how cute and tiny the pictures are (the size of a credit card) and how you snap the picture and out it pops.

Instant gratification?!

I'm a fan.

So, here are a few pictures of the album. (Click each picture to make it larger.)




















While I was working on the album, Olivia glanced over at me at one point and asked, "Mommy, why are you spending time making a scrapbook for me? I know what my birthday was like."

I sat there for a few minutes wondering this myself. Why DO I spend tons of time putting together an album full of little memories of this, that and everything else during that one little trip??

Then it hit me. The answer.

It's because I have *NO* idea what I did for my 6th birthday. Or what I was like as a 6 year old girl or what toys I was "into." I remember my favorite friends (who are still some of my faves, by the way) and who my teacher was that year, but other than that, nothing. (Am I alone here? My memory is reeeeeeally bad.)

And, that's a little sad to me.

Am I okay despite the fact? Absolutely.

(Mom - stop tearing up. I'm okay. Really. Hey! By the way - do you remember what we did for my 6th birthday? Just wondering.)

So, that's why I do all this crazy scrapping for my kids (when I can). So they can remember. When they are older with families and children of their own, they can remember.

We can remember.

All the little details.

Not just pictures in a box, but the details of the good times. The details that are so quickly forgotten in every day life.

Will they still need therapy? I'm almost certain they will.

I'm okay with that.

What they won't need help with is remembering the details that are so often lost for me.

Hopefully, they won't need help with that.

{Made it Monday} Teeny tiny bags

Not long ago, I found these Valentine bags by Christine Middlecamp.



Oh dear! All that layered paper, collage-y goodness just made me smile! I knew I had to do something similar! So, when the ladies at The LilyPad started releasing their BYOC goodies for April, I whipped up a couple of bags of my own!

Here they are in all their glory! Nothing extraordinary, but frankly, I'm quite proud of them! They turned out just lovely and I can't wait to give them away!











You can click hereto view them in my gallery at The LilyPad and to see all the credits!

Happy Monday, peeps!

{Made it Monday} A Mishmash of Sorts

Well, hello there, Monday!

It seems you still like to sneak up on me EVERY. SINGLE. WEEK.

Why is that? I just don't like it.

We need to make peace and get past this tension between us. Deal? Deal.

So, today I'm just going to show off a few recent favorite "makes" of mine. {And, of course, by recent I mean within the last - ohhhhh - 3 months, mkay?)

First up: our family mini album. We had our pictures made back in October of last year and I did not do anything with them for a very long time. When I saw this kit by Valorie Wibbens, I knew I had to use our pics to make the mini album. For a credit list, please click here.


















Next up: a little meal planner and shopping list. When I saw Kate's newest kit, Chef's Kitchen, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I made a refrigerator meal planner and shopping list. I loooooove Kate's doodles! They are perfect for all my hybrid scrapping!











I also made these tags recently using some BYOC goodies from The LilyPad. You can click here for full credits and close up shots of each tag.


And, finally...a little travel sewing kit. Again, Kate's doodles had me at hello.






So, that's it for me on this fun Monday!

Have a great one, peeps!