Happy Halloween 2007!

Happy Halloween from the LaClair family!! Here are my yard Peanuts...I added the greeting sign this year after watching the program and realizing I didn't have one! Here are my trick or treats for tonight! I found a fry box template on line and spruced them up to look all Halloweenie!!
And, a little blast from the past, my brother and I on Halloween, 1978! He was in Indian, I was Uncle Sam...I was 3 and a half here!!

Have a great day, everyone! Keri

Buzz and Bloom Layouts...

Here is one of the recent layouts I did for Buzz and Bloom's Fall '07 new product line. The new chipboards and stamps are great!! (I know, I have said it a dozen times already!!) This is my son, and my little daycare buddy on the last day of school last summer. I tried and tried to get them to both look at the camera at the same time, but when I got this one of them looking at each other, I knew I had "the shot." I am finding myself more and more wanting to, and actually scrapbooking to showcase "the shot" so to speak. I would love to learn more about photography in the future. My camera has gotten some great pics these past three years, and I am viewing scrapbooking as not only a way to preserve memories, but also as a hobby within a hobby. Creating art to display my photographic art...Does that make sense??



This second layout is showcasing a photo that Cody took, of my "little" brother and me. I use the term loosely, or should perhaps use "younger" instead. He weighs less than me, and that is about it! He is a "strapping" young man as my Grandmother would have said! Since I am always behind the camera, it is weird to scrap a photo with me in it! This one is also one I just completed with new Buzz and Bloom products. I used my SU! Slit punch to create the scalloped border along the bottom. This paper is K&Co. from Michael's. It came in a 12x12 notepad form. My friend Laurie got it, and I fell in love with the colors and went and got one for myself! I also distressed with some ivory acrylic paint around the edges-as well as with distress ink, and an edge distressing tool.

Thanks for looking, and thanks for visiting my little corner of the world! **Keri** (very COLD!)

Some pages!!

I have a couple of pages to share with you today!! A lot of my pages are for Buzz and Bloom and have to go there first, but these were just ones I did "because".
This first one is typical of me with my bright colors..the brighter, the better! This is my niece, Miriam Grace. She is now 10 months old! This photo was taken back at Easter time. I tried to tweak the scan, cause she looks a little purple, but I couldn't get it any better...She looks regular on the actual page, I assure you! She goes by many names, depending on everyone's mood or preference. Her name is Miriam Grace, but she is Mimi, Miri Grace, and Meems. I call her Meems...that is MY original name for her! Isn't she beautiful? And, she is gonna be a big sister in just 3 short months!!


Here is what I used: Basic Grey, Oh Baby Girl PP. Doodlebug Bazzill Cardstock. The flower is from a package Lisa Renea sent me...Told you I was gonna use it, LR! The green Chipboard letters are from Walmart...I don't remember the brand. The large chipboard flourish is part of a 12x12 sheet-but again, don't remember the manufacturer. I painted the flourish with purple acrylic paint, then coated it with a layer of paint on glitter. I also put some of the glitter on the already green chipboard letters. The stamps are SU! Tall Tales Alphs, Autumn Leaves Alpha, and the arrow is from Buzz and Bloom. Tab is from the round tab punch (SU!) and the giggle word is also from SU! (Warm Words) Ink is SU! Ribbon is from Joann's.



This page I did as a gift for a friend of my Mom's. It is based on the song " I Want To Stroll Over Heaven" that is on the Alan Jackson "Precious Memories" CD. It has some great songs on it! Anyway, I had her son email me her wedding photo. It is fabulous! Her husband passed away suddenly a few years ago, and this song makes her think of him. She is a wonderful, giving, caring Christian woman, and I wanted to do something for her, since she always does so much for everyone else! For some reason, I can not figure out how to make my images "clickable" to open up larger in a new window, so you probably won't be able to read the journaling. It is the chorus of the song that the page is themed around. If anyone can tell me what I am doing wrong with the photos- PLEASE!! drop me a line!! I upload my photos to photobucket.com and post the photos onto my blog using the "direct link" link that they give me. Maybe I am using the wrong link?? IDK.

Supplies: Patterned Paper is K& Co., and Basic Grey. CS is Bazzill, and SU!. Stamps are from Purple Onion Designs, and Autumn Leaves. Making Memories Rub on, Ink is Colorbox White, Staz On Black, and Tim Holtz Antique Linen distress ink.

Congratulations, Winner!!

I just saw the announcement over at Buzz and Bloom! Congratulations, Andi! Don't forget to check out all the new products, everyone!! New Stamps, New Chipboard, and even a chance to apply for an '08 Design Team Position!!

BOO!

Here are a few Halloween cards I made up! Thanks to Lisa and Andi for the inspiration. I used a sketch off SCS to get me started, and borrowed some Halloween stamps from friends, to make them. I *love* how they turned out!

For the first card, I used the new SU! set Autumn Apparitions, from the Mini Catalog. The background paper is from an old DCWV Fall Stack. I used Black, White, Doodlebug Bazzill Orange, and SU! Summer Sun Cardstock. I also used the Word Window punch, and a Purple Onion Sentiment. I finished the card off with some fun fur I got on clearance at Walmart, and I used a Stardust pen to highlight the stamped images! I used Staz On Jet Black, and Tim Holtz Black Soot ink pads.

For the second card, I used basically the same supplies. The patterned paper is Doodlebug, the Stamp Set is SU! Carved and Candlelit, and the cardstock is black, white, Doodlebug Orange, and SU! Lovely Lilac. Same ink and tools. Highlighted, again with the Stardust Pen...(LOVE THAT PEN!!) Thanks for looking, and have a great day!

Gothic Arch Challenge-Weeks 5-8...

Okay, so SOMEHOW weeks went by, and I got way behind on Nancy's Gothic Arch Challenge. I had done the Fall one way back when, but never got it posted, and then it was downhill from there! So here are my Gothic Arch Challenge Submissions for Weeks 5, 6, 7, and 8, if my calculations are correct!
Week 5-Sept. 23-Fall Challenge
Purple Onion Designs Stamps, and several scraps of Paper. Also used some tiny leaves from a pack I bought to put in my fall village- They were perfect!

Week 6- Sept. 30-Vacations and Places

This one started out to be hard, I did not know what to do, and as I was browsing, I remembered this photo a friend had taken of me about a mile north of our house. It is an unguarded portion of the US/Canadian Border, and there are monuments like this one every so often, up and down the line. Everyone has to get their picture taken "half and half" so to speak. Tacky, I know, but fun nonetheless!

Stamps are Buzz and Bloom, and paper scraps are Scenic Route.

Week 7-October 7-Flowers

This one was easy for me!! I have so much with flowers on it. I decided to use a photo I had just taken before the hard frost hit-these are the morning glories that grow every summer on the railing of my ramp in front of my house.

Scraps of cardstock, Stamps and Ink are from Stampin UP!

Week 8-October 14-Party!!

This one was fun. I found this cute retro photo online, and just dressed it up a bit. Love how excited the kids look, and they are so dressed up for the party!!

Scraps of paper are "I don't remember" and Stamps and Ink are SU!

For Nancy

Last, but certainly not least, is my Gothic Arch for Nancy and her son, Andrew. You can see more about this project here. It is a section from a vintage postcard that says "Greeting from a patriot" (covered up by my ribbon!!) Nancy, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at home, and Andrew abroad. I pray that the Lord watches over Andrew, keeps him safe, and gives him wisdom. I also pray that He gives you comfort and strength. If there is anything I can do, let me know. If he needs care packages, cards, toiletries, etc-don't hesitate. He is protecting me, and my family, and anything we can do we will. Keep your eyes open for this to arrive in your mailbox!! Love, Keri

Autumn Slideshow

Here is a little slideshow I put together of some of the best photographs I got when I took Cody to the cemetary on Sunday afternoon. One of these will probably be tucked in my Christmas cards this year, for everyone's fridge or frame! Let me know which one you like the best!! TGIF! Keri

My New Header...

Andi inspired me to tell you a bit about my new header for fall! I took this photo several years ago with a disposable panoramic camera, and wondered what I would ever do with it!! You were right, Andi- it is a cemetary. It is called Sheldon Hill Cemetary, and it is located right in our town. I am thoroughly convinced that there is not a place more gorgeous in fall than Sheldon Hill. The maples are hundreds of years old, and the blanket of leaves they make in the fall is wonderful! I actually just took Cody there on Sunday afternoon and took a few pictures of him and Brodie Blue. My grandparents are buried here, as are many other relatives, including my Great-Great Grandparents. There is even a hollow metal headstone that was used for transporting liquor during prohibition! Dates on headstones go back to the early 1800's-some are even unreadable at this point. I am going to do more research into this beautiful place to see what I can find out. The stonework in the front is stunning! Hope everyone likes it, and the little microscopic Cody on the front steps! Have a great Wednesday!
It was 26 degrees this morning!! Wahhh! --Keri

Remember me??

Hey, all!! I AM alive!! Figured I better stick my head in and say hey! Things have been crazy around here!! I have to take care of a bit of business:
First off, I apologize, I have not been by to visit anyone's blogs in at least 2 weeks. Please forgive me! I will catch up, I promise!!
Second, I heard that Tracy and LR have both nominated me for something-so I will take care of that, too!
Third, I am completely behind on my arch challenges!! I am so bummed. Living in Upstate NY means you have a lot of preparation for winter...we are right in the middle of the prep. It is already freezing, and I find myself wondering HOW I will get through another winter. It gets harder and harder every year. I also had a SU! Workshop here over the weekend, and that took up a lot of my time. It went well, though!
Cody will be 12 on the 28th, so birthday plans are in full swing, as are Halloween festivities!! It seems like I am at least 2 weeks behind on everything! UGH!!
I did also want to tell you the Paperific went well for Buzz and Bloom last weekend, and you can now check out their whole new line of products here!! Their new clear stamps are a dream to work with, they take ink SO WELL!! And their new chipboards leave me speechless.
You can also check out the online album of all of the Design Team's work (including some stunning layouts by yours truly) with these new products by going here.. I have been anxious to share them with you all! And check out Buzz and Bloom's new DT call here... Last but not least, if you like what you see, urge your LSS or LRSS to look into getting Buzz and Bloom products in their stores! You will not be sorry! Have a good one! --Keri

Competition at Buzz and Bloom!!

A new competition was just announced over at Buzz and Bloom, the scrapbook and rubber stamp company I design artwork for! ! Their new line is going to be revealed in just two short weeks, and trust me, you will be very pleased with the new products. It has been a real test to keep them to myself! The whole design team, along with Helene and Devorah, has been working tirelessly to make sure these are products that EVERYONE will go crazy for. Check out this link for a chance to win your own package of goodies. You will not be sorry when you see how great they are!! **And thanks again, to Helene and Div, for this fabulous and very enjoyable design team opportunity!!** Keri