What's Cookin' - January 2008

Haylee got a little baking set for Christmas and wanted to try it out, so just a couple of weeks later, here we were, featuring Chef Haylee in the kitchen!

I used the Journey theme from the December 2009 Storytellers Club Ultimate kit for this layout.

Live, Laugh, Love - December 2007

These photos were taken right after Holden's birth. I made sure to let the birthweight show on the scales! Almost exactly 7 lbs.!

I based the layout on a sketch in the Pages by Design idea book, and I used the PBD templates. The patterned papers and die cuts are from the Colorbok Earthy Retro Scrap Pack, and the dimensional sticker accents are from Sandylion Essentials.

My Son - January 2008

This photo was taken when Holden was only a couple of weeks old. I remember taking it because I somehow lost the birth photo package we bought from the hospital, and I needed a photo to put on the birth announcements I made! I remember cropping Holden from the photo to use on the announcements, but I think I ended up using a different photo anyway! LOL. Anyway, I thought it was a sweet photo of father and son. Doesn't Steve looked oh-so-tired?!?

I used the Backyard Fun theme from the September 2009 Storytellers Club Ultimate kit and based the layout on a PageMaps sketch by Becky Higgins. I trimmed down one of the die cut border strips to reveal the ric rac edge as one of the paper strips used to accent the photo. I added only some pieces of Felt Fusion I cut from a package of felt border. I entered this in the May Guest Designer contest at ST. Wish me luck!

Winter Wonderland - November 2007

These photos were taken at Hunt Club Farm where I took the kids on the Winter Wonderland field trip on 11-30-07. This was less than a month before Holden was born. Haylee actually touched a turkey! That was a big deal, which is why I took a photo of it! LOL.

I used the Christmas theme from the December 2009 Storytellers Club ultimate kit. I cut the title letters from the included Bazzill cardstock with my Craft Robo and adhered them with the Xyron 150 sticker maker. Everything else was included in the kit.

Easter - March 2008

These photos were taken during our Easter egg hunt in the front yard. We did it the day before Easter Sunday just so the kids would have more time to do in the morning instead of waiting until after church. Holden's not in the photos 'cause he wasn't even 3 months old yet.

I used the Easter theme from the April 2009 Storytellers Club Ultimate Kit. I added only the circle of purple rhinestones around the picture of Haylee and the Prima layered flowers with the flower brad center.

Celebrate Life, Celebrate Love - December 2007

These photos were taken in the first 30 minutes after Holden's birth while we were still in the delivery room. The kids got to know their new baby brother and expressed their joyful approval!


I used patterned papers from my all-time favorite My Mind's Eye Wild Asparagus paper pad. I layered flowers from Prima and added rhinestones. I used rubons from Imaginesce and K&Company Rubons to Go. I also used Pebbles Candy Dots. I based the design on sketches from the Pages by Design idea book and used the PBD template system for cutting the shaped paper pieces.

Making Contact - December 2007

These photos were taken of my first moments with Holden all bundled up in the delivery room. His eyes were open, and we made eye contact for the first time. That's such a special moment!


I used patterned paper and die cuts from the Colorbok All Occasion Embellishment Punch-Out Pack. I added Shaped Ribbon from Lil' Davis Designs and based the layout on a sketch from the Pages by Design idea book.

Into the World, A Child Is Born - December 2007

These are photos of Holden's birth. Steve snapped just after Holden emerged into the world! I'm so glad he did. I don't have any photos like this of the other kids. These are literally his first moments of life, and my first time seeing and touching him. Seeing the emotion on my face reminds me of the overwhelming joy of the moment.

I used the Storytellers Club March 2009 Ultimate Kit "Life Is Good" theme for this layout. I followed a Becky Higgins Page Maps February 2010 sketch for a contest at ST. I added chipboard accents from Pebbles Chips, and Felt Fusion pieces cut from a border by Queen & Co. I stitched the patterned paper on the cardstock with my sewing machine. I cut the title letters from the PP with my Craft Robo.

Bliss - December 2007

We were just about to leave the hospital and decided to snap a few more photos before going out into the cold rain to head home. I was so happy to finally be able to take my sweet baby home with me so I could snuggle him forever!

I used a mix of patterned papers from the Essential Pink Paper Pack from Marcella by Kay for this layout. I inked the edges of the yellow title blocks for emphasis and cut the title letters with my Craft Robo. I stapled the title blocks on with golden yellow decorative staples and my Making Memories stapler. I printed my journaling with the computer on vellum and backed it on a tag with the patterned paper. The teddy bear dimensional sticker is from Sandylion Essentials, and the fabric stork is from Jolee's By You. I based this layout on a sketch in my Pages By Design Idea Book and used the templates in the PBD system for the shapes.

Brotherly Love - December 2007

These photos were taken at home on the day we got home from the hospital. I just love seeing my boys together! Hayden couldn't wait to hold Holden every chance he got.

I used the Sew Crafty theme from the January 2010 Storyteller's Club Ultimate Kit. I cut the title letters from the Bazzill textured cardstock that came in the kit using my Craft Robo.

Big Sis - December 2007

Steve took these pictures of Haylee after she got all ready to go to the hospital to pick us up when Holden and I were being discharged. She was so happy to finally be a big sis!

I used the Celebrate theme from the Storyteller's Club January 2008 kit. I won this set as a prize for a layout contest. I used a solid sheet of paper I had and just used the die cuts from the kit, plus a cut piece of the patterned paper as a backing for my vellum journaling that I printed from the computer. I used alpha stickers from Making Memories for the title.

Family Is Everything - December 2007

These photos were taken in the hospital room on the day we were discharged to go home. I think Steve's smile says it all...he's full of pride, like he's saying "Look, world, at what I've got!"

I used the "Family" theme from the June 2008 Storyteller's Club kit for this layout. The conversation dots, chipboard flowers and brackets, die cuts, ribbon, and patterned papers were all included in the kit. I used precision scissors to handcut the flowers from one of the patterned papers, curled the petals and leaves, and raised them up with pop dots.