Graphic 45 Audition Slideshow - Done!

DOUBLE WHEW!!!  I just pushed "send" on my Graphic 45 Design Team audition.  It sure takes a ton of work to put together an audition piece... and it sure feels good when it is done and delieverd.  Now, to sit back and hope the phone rings! :-)

Here is a slide show of the pieces I sent in for the G45 audition.  Hope you like them!!!

Project 365 - Another CRAZY week...

OK... besides all the normal stuff going on this week, I scrapped like CRAZY for two special Design Team auditions, designed a new class and made it to bootcamp and spin... OH... and all of the things listed here for Project 365!

Monday was our monthly Athletic Booster meeting and planning meeting for the upcoming Dick Disney Auction (two of the committees I am on...)  We have the BEST group of volunteers at OGHS and I just had to take a quick pic of my friends!

We are getting ready for Jessica to move out to her OWN place... packing... organizing... planning... lots going on around here!  Her bags... and boxes... are packed and READY TO GO!

ANOTHER sports season has started for Chris... his FOURTH OF THE YEAR... SWIM!  This is Chris' third year on Varsity swim and he is looking forward to breaking a few more school records... both on his own and with his relay team!

This week was the Winter Fair... an opportunity for the teams/clubs on campus to sell yummy food/drinks during an extended lunch to raise money.  Since the new Mountain Bike Team just started last week, we have a TON of fundraising to do!  We sold hot dogs... Chris grilled... teammate Krista collected the tickets... Mindy, Coach Turek and I did everything else.  FUN!

It is (once again) raining here in San Diego... another day lost to work on the backyard renovation... looking forward to a nice day, a bike ride, and Jessica's big move tomorrow!  Have a GREAT day!

GCD Audition - DONE... and FAV GCD Line!

WHEW!  I just sent off my audition for the GCD Design Team!  The directions for the audition were to submit a SHORT paragraph... REALLY!?  I just looked back at my audition from last year and it was like 2 pages long... I think they wrote that direction just for me... ;-) 

I couldn't get ahold of any of the new GCD for my audition, so I thought I would share my favorite new GCD lines, here, on my blog.  My FAVORITE is "Ella Blue!"  The colors... the design... the vintage feel... oh, be still my heart!!!

Next is "Independence."  I love the mix of colors in this patriotic line!!!

And, a fun one... "Smoothie Shoppe."  Seriously... those yummy colors... bright... cheerful... BRING ON SUMMER!!!

It is raining all day here... time to cuddle in... do a bit of shopping... and catch up on my posts for Project 365!  Make it a GREAT day!

Graphic 45 - A "Boy" layout...

I have come to realize that I don't do "boy" layouts very often.  Sure, I do layouts with Chris and Jeff, but I don't very often create a layout for a "man."  I created this one with the new "A Proper Gentleman" line by Graphic 45.  The line is just sooooo cool, I had to "man" it up!

Now, to the layout... SERIOUSLY... You can dress them up like men... but they will STILL "Act Like Boys!" Jeff and one of his groomsmen (Dave) being goofy just before our wedding mass.

I used the cover and pages from a book printed in 1947 for this layout... I LOVED the depth and texture the old cover and cream pages (I printed the text on one of the pages) gives to this layout. Hope you like it!  Make it a GREAT day!

More Graphic 45!!!

Here are a few more of my Design Team audition pieces for Graphic 45!!!  "Life is... Everyday Moments"  and "You are the KEY to my history!"  Thanks for looking!!!

Project 365 - Presidents and NEW OGHS Mountain Bike TEAM!

Anna's Kindergarten class has been studying the Presidents and they made props to help them remember Presidents Washington and Lincoln.  Here she is "modeling" her props.

 It has been another rainy weekend (making it VERY difficult to get our backyard renovation done)... When I woke up early on Saturday morning, I looked out the window and saw the angry sky behind a bare tree and a lone bird resting in a hint of sun... shining on those few bare branches.  It was just BEAUTIFUL... God's work... STUNNING!

Today was the first fundraiser for the BRAND NEW OGHS Mountain Bike TEAM!  It was originally going to be a Club, but they are official now!  Their first competition is in a few short weeks.  Here is the first "team" photo... Coach Bill Turek... Assistant Jeff (my cute husband)... and the kids (including Chris and our friend Krista Seltmann.)  They are working on their first unforms as we speak!

Now, back to my scrap studio... lots of work to do!!!

Graphic 45 - New Class for Ever After and more!

I am working on my Design Team audition for Graphic 45 and have created a darling "Love Album" using 3.25" x 3.25" Kaiser wood pieces and the BEAUTIFUL "Le' Romantique" line by Graphic 45.  This is a "FLIP ALBUM!"  Every interior page either flips up or down, revealing photos of our wedding or spectacular vintage embellishments from Graphic 45.  I will be teaching this class at my LSS, Ever After, in Vista, CA... check back for details!

Here are a few more of my favorite Graphic 45 projects. 

The photos in this layout are of my Dad and his Mom... and my Dad and me... 52 years seperate these two photos, but he is still just as cute as EVER to me!!!

I'M LOVING this lamp shade I made with Graphic 45 and lots of fun trim!!!  So vintage... YUMMMM!!!

Project 365 - It's All About the Fashion...

Me:  "Go put your shoes and socks on for school, please."

Anna:  "What colors go with white, Mommy?"

Me:  "Everything goes with white."

I should have thought about that answer... a few minutes later, Anna came out in her red Christmas knee highs and her brown boots with this light, white sun dress... and a smile... BEAMING from ear to ear...

Anna:  "Mommy, you said, 'ANYTHING!'"

I LOVE you, my sweet Anna!!

Project 365 - Graphic 45!

Yes... I am sick again!  I didn't even make it to the gym today... so I decided to take a calming drive to my LSS (Ever After in Carlsbad, CA) to purchase the supplies for my Graphic 45 Design Team audition.  Today's photo is of the new Graphic 45 lines that Ever After carries... OHHHH... they are vintage and bright and creative and fashionable... I just LOVE them!

And, yes... I am working on changes to my blog.  I know it doesn't match at the moment, but I am playing with colors... I think I may go back to black... my photos and layouts just POP against black... I'll get it straight soon!  Make it a GREAT day!

Project 365 - Catching up for the week...

Another CRAZY week!  So, let's jump right in!

Wednesday was all about cleaning!  Cousin Kyle came down for a shopping/lunch day with me and Mom and Dad were on their way to stay for a week.  So I grabbed the cleaning supplies and went room by room... I LOVE the smell of a freshly cleaned house... SPARKLY!

Thursday, Anna tried out the new can cruncher that Daddy hung for her on the new fence.  Anna has learned about recycling at school, and decided that she wanted to save, crunch and recycle the cans we use here at the house... and Daddy decided that she could put the money from the cans in her piggy bank! 

Friday was Anna's Kindergarten Valentine's Exchange and party!  I LOVED exchanging Valentines when I was a school girl!  Making the little mailbox for my desk... giving out my cards and waiting to see if the boy I liked gave me one, too!  Ohhhhh, the memories!

Anna made a Valentine hat, necklace and heart mailbox and had to model them for me! :-)

Saturday morning was the start of Stage 4 of our backyard renovation.  Mom and Dad were here to help Jeff build the new raised wooden deck!  WOOO HOOOO!!!  I will share pictures of the whole project when it is completed tomorrow. 

In the meantime, here is a photo of Dad helping Jeff... aren't my boys cute!!? ;-)

Sunday - Happy Valentine's Day.  We really don't do very much for Valentine's Day... we exchange cards and give the kids a little something... but Jeff and I feel that it is better to celebrate our love throughout the WHOLE year... he randomly gives me flowers and I randomly hide love notes for him all year, so we don't need to spend 3 times more on flowers or whatever this weekend!  We had Mom and Dad and friends Mindy and Jeff Seltmann over for a yummy Beef Stroganoff dinner and a fun game of "Chicken Foot!"  (A GREAT Domino game)

Today's photo is up top... cute Abby is having a BLAST through all this construction!  She LOVES to stretch out on the cool (and dirty) mud... right next to Daddy... she runs and runs and runs around the backyard and barks at the shovel, rake and broom.  Here she is taking a rest and giving us a cute smile!

Thanks for checking in and I should have photos of the backyard shortly!!!  Oh, AND some yummy GCD layouts... GCD is having a Design Team call and I am going for it... it is a GREAT company with wonderful products that I would LOVE to work for!  If you are interested in auditioning for the team, there is a link to the right of my blog so you can check it out for yourself!!!

Project 365 - Ballet...

Today was Anna's second ballet class and the WHOLE family decided to get check it out!  Here are pictures of a few of the little dancers (Anna has the white shoes) and of Anna with her big brother, Chris. 

Make it a great (dry and warm) day!!!

... We Have a Winner!

Rusty Pickle fans are the best!  Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and love for Rusty Pickle with me!!  Now... let's just jump right into the winner... "Random.org" gave me #13... PAMS who said, "I am so sad that Rusty Pickle is closing it's door. I liked everything about their paper lines. I think I have used most of them in my scrapbooks. It would be too hard to say one was more of a favorite than another. I am now off to bookmark several of the dt's blogs so I don't lose the inspiration you all give us." 

Well put, Pam!  Email me at traceylocher@cox.net with your mailing address so I can get your Rusty Pickle package off to you!  I hope you all have a WONDERFUL day!!!

Project 365 - Lights Out, Anna the Scrapper, and Starry Night...

So, this past November, I cooked my lowfat "Chicken Picatta" for all of the Rusty Pickle Chefs at the annual retreat... and my good friend, Tricia, asked for the recipe.  I am an "add a touch of this and sprinkle of this" kinda cook, so I decided to make Chicken Picatta, write the recipe for Tricia and take a photo for my Project 365... in a weird twist of fate, just as I was about to plate up dinner, the lights went out.  We have lived here for almost 8 years and, although we have had several power outages, the lights have always come back on in a minute or two. 

THIS ONE, however, lasted almost 2 hours... no rain... no storm... just lights out... Needless to say... we ate dinner while it was hot and I don't have any pics.  Don't worry, Tricia... I'll post that very shortly... but for Saturday, I'm posting a photo of a few of the MANY candles we had lit... we had a WONDERFUL night... dinner by candlelight... family cuddling and talking around the fire... Anna wasn't scared at all... it was "an adventure!"  It was a GREAT night!

Last night, I was working on a layout for Creating Keepsakes Magazine, and Anna was scrapping next to me.  She has her own spot... own supplies... own chair... own cutting mat.  The project you see is the cover of a mini album she is making for her best friend, Catalina!  She is SO... DARN... CUTE!

Finally, for Jessica's 20th birthday, one of her longest and best friends, Miss Theresa Houston, did an original art piece of "Starry Night" by Van Gogh... one of Jessica's favorite paintings.  I know Theresa has talent... she is a great student, a wonderful singer and dancer, but I had NO IDEA that she could paint like this.  I am TOTALLY... BLOWN... AWAY!  I know that Jess will always treasure this... and Theresa, it was SO SPECIAL of you to take the time to do this for her!!!  The first photo is Theresa's piece... the second photo is of Van Gogh's original... WOW... WOW... WOW!!!

I still don't know how a "non-artist" did this painting... you TOTALLY ROCK, THERESA!!!

Project 365 - #034 - 036...

What a week... Dad retired... Rusty Pickle closed... and my first child turned 20... YEARS... OLD!!!  I don't know why... age doesn't bother me... getting older doesn't bother me... but having a 20 year old means that the feeling that I have in my head that I am still in my 20's has gone by the wayside... weird! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESSICA!!!  (I still can't believe it!) ;-)


I also can't believe how big Anna is getting... and how long her hair is getting!  She sure is good at posing for the camera! (only because I torture the poor thing with photos so often!)

Chris... another basketball game... our OGHS Patriots aren't doing very well this year... which is especially hard because they did SO WELL last year!  But... when you have 90% of the team graduate, you are bound to have a transition team the following year.

We are looking forward to another weekend of rain... projects around the house... and SUPERBOWL COMMERCIALS!  WOOO HOOO! 

Have a GREAT weekend, everyone!

Project 365 - Dad's Retirement... Ballet... and Papa LOCHER!

What a GREAT few days!!!  Today is a LIFELONG EVENT for my Dad.  Today was his last day of work!  He retired today after 43+ years with Unysis (formerly Burroughs).  I can't belive that my dad has retired, but today is the day he and Mom have worked for all their lives!  Tomorrow, Dad gets to sleep in and start the next part of his life.  I'll keep you posted... ;-)

Ohhhh... and look... it is Anna's FIRST DAY OF BALLET CLASS!  Her class was one of the cutest and most darling things I have EVER seen!  Better yet, Jeff's Dad, Papa Locher, came down and had a chance to join us in watching Anna's first ballet class.  Papa was a surprise for Anna, and when she saw that he was there, she turned about 10 shades of red... then did her best to make Papa proud of her!  What a GREAT day!