Where the heck have I been??

Oh yeah... i've been creating:

I've been watching this cutie grow (and grow! he's getting so big, isn't he?? I can't believe he's already 4 1/2 months... sniff, sniff):




I've been watching these three get into some serious trouble together ;-) (I can't get over how old noah looks in this photo! and what a beefcake Lucas looks like lol):
I've been having fun with my fam (that's my parents and my bro):
And seeing lots and lots of my beautiful mama:
And, of course, I was ringing in a new year with these little ones:
It's been busy here, but life is good. Lucas came down sick for the first time a couple of days ago, but he seems to be on the mend, thankfully. I am gearing up to go back to work in a few weeks. Although I really enjoy my job, i'm definitely bumming about having to leave the little guy. I feel blessed to only work part-time, so I know i'll still get to spend a lot of time with him, but I know it will still be a transition period for all of us!

So, I have to share this story (and for those of you who are my Facebook friends, I apologize if you already read it!):

The kids and I were talking about Martin Luther King at dinner the other night. Chloe excitedly announced that she had a book about MLK and left to go get it. Knowing that she has typical 4 year old girly books, I had no clue what she was referring to. She returned a minute later and proudly held up a Cinderella book. Enter our dumbfounded faces lol. Seeing our confusion, she opened it to a particular page and said, "See?! It's Cinderella and the man you were talking about - the king!!"

Oh. My. Goodness. I just love the things that come out of children's mouths :-)

Well, my friends, off to go play with my gorgeous January AMM kit while the babe is sleeping (for now!). xoxo

Looking back...

In keeping with tradition from last year, I have put together a blog post of my top 10 favorite layouts of 2010. I love seeing these posts from my friends, and I had a lot of fun going back and figuring out my favorites. Unfortunately, I didn't scrap as much in 2010 as I would have liked since I spent many months of it pregnant and very sick, so narrowing down my list wasn't too terribly hard LOL!

This was one of the first layouts I did last year - it was completed for Fancy Pants for CHA Winter, and I got to hand deliver it and see it hanging at the show in person, which was fun. I think this is my favorite FP line ever, and I used it for a bunch of layouts!
This one was made using an AMM kit. This layout was a bit indulgent for me, lol, since I used a whole package of chipboard frames, but I had a lot of fun with it, and I loved the end result.

This was also an AMM layout. I just adore these photos of Chloe and me when she was a baby, and I love the sweet feel to this. I also like the homespun touch of the handstitching.

This was a Fancy Pants layout. I don't make "me" layouts all that often, and I really enjoyed this one. I had fun with layering on this one, too.

I really love everything about this one. This is one of my favorite photos of the two bigs ever, and I used some of my favorite techniques on here (misting, handcutting, layering).

Another Fancy Pants layout (with a lot of the Roadshow line again lol) - I adore these photos, and I love the soft colors and enjoyed adding little details.

My first layout of all my kiddos :-) I loved this Jenni Bowlin line (thanks, Doris!), and this one came together really easily for me.

One of my favorite Lucas photos :-) I used Teresa Collins baby boy line for this one - I had gotten these papers back at CHA Winter, and i'd been saving them in case I had a boy. Once Lucas was born, I couldn't wait to use them!

I just shared this one last week (done with last month's AMM kit), but oh how I love it! Love the gorgeous doilies in the papers, and I am really happy with how the family photo came out (even used it on our holiday cards).

This one is so new that I haven't even had a chance to share it yet :-) While at my LSS two weeks ago, I saw these new Webster's Pages lines, and I knew the one with the cupcakes would be perfect to scrap Chloe's birthday party pics. All these lines are gorgeous, and I had fun combining them and adding in details (fun fact - the pink glittery tulle on the outside edge was leftover from the tutu that I made for chloe that she is wearing in the pics).

So there you have it, my friends. Thanks for looking back with me!

We were away Thursday afternoon until today in the Pocono mountains (in PA) for New Years. It's a tradition that we started with a good friend of mine from college (and her hubby and kids) many years ago, when we were both first engaged to the guys. Our kids are very close in age, and they have a blast together, as do we adults. We don't get to go every year, but we were excited that we got to go two years in a row now. Anyway, it was a great way to ring in the new year, and I hope you all had a wonderful holiday, as well. I'm wishing you all a VERY happy and healthy 2011!!

Happy (almost) New Year!

Hey friends! I won't have a chance to get on here before New Years, so I just wanted to wish you all a happy and health 2011! It's been quite an exciting year for us in the Taylor household, and I hope 2011 is just as good to us as 2010 has been :-) I'm leaving you with a couple layouts, the first is my 4th layout with the gorgeous AMM Dec. kit:



I'll be back next year (tee hee) with a recap of my favorite layouts from this past year and, of course, some recent pics of the kiddos! :-) Happy New Year!!

busy busy busy busy busy busy

I'm busy because i've been scrapping....

I'm busy because a certain adorable little girl turned four on Saturday! We had a great day at Chuck E Cheese (I even braved the place by myself with the kids since Tony was working) and a great birthday party at Chloe's dance studio on Sunday. Can't believe she is four!!


I'm busy because of a certain little someone who turns four months old tomorrow. Wow! Time is flying!! He continues to be the sweetest baby ever, and I feel eternally grateful that he is in our lives.
I'm busy because of my big boy who constantly continues to amaze me with all that he is learning and doing at age 6.
Yesterday, he woke me up by telling me that he had made Tony and me a card. This is what it said:
Now if that isn't make-my-day material, I don't know what is!!

I know i'm not the only one who is busy busy busy busy busy busy, and I hope you all are finding some peace and relaxation during this crazy holiday season. If i'm not back on here before then, many happy wishes for a Merry Christmas for those of you who celebrate!

Some exciting AMM news!

So, it's that time again - AMM is having a design team call! Here is the info:

We are looking for new Design Team Members and will be accepting applications through JANUARY 15, 2011. The design team position is a commitment through June, 2011.

GENERAL INFORMATION: We are looking for friendly, talented, versatile and creative individuals who are team players. Strong photography, digital scrapbooking and class experience is a plus, but not required.

Interested applicants MUST REGISTER AND POST on the message boards at AMM during the DT call. We want to spend time getting to know you and we want you to get to know us. Your design team experience at AMM will require daily activity on our boards and posting praise in the gallery.

We keep our Design Team Members busy with all sorts of activities, i.e., monthly kits, manufacturer kits, 2-3 blog posts per month, message boards, chats, classes, etc., so when considering whether you would like to apply for the DT position, please think about the amount of time that will be required to fulfill the requirements.

FOR LAYOUT ARTISTS: Submit 2 NEW (not previously posted or published) original 12 x 12 layouts. A bonus to your submission can also be an altered project that you may have created in the past (or a new one). "Altered Project" in this respect can include a mini book (but not a card or a page).

FOR ALTERED ARTISTS: Submit 1 NEW (not previously posted or published) original project, with photos of previously created projects.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:A Million Memories Designers are exclusive to our team. Our designers cannot hold design team positions with any competing kit club or online scrapbooking retailers. Manufacturer design teams, blog challenge boards and teaching at your LSS are acceptable. Your main function as a Design Team Member for AMM is that you ARE A

MARKETING TOOL FOR OUR STORE AND KIT CLUB!!! Whether it be through your designs of the product that we provide for you, word of mouth, etc., We do not want our designers to advertise for competing online businesses.

As an AMM designer, you will promote AMM whenever possible. Example, if you have a blog, there should be a link to AMM with our blinkie. A picture of our latest monthly kit should be on your blog and on your Facebook page (if you have one). The latest happenings at AMM (such as contests), should all be posted on your blogs and on Facebook. We will in turn post your blog on our blog and promote you and your designs.

As previously indicated, CONSISTENT message board participation is required.

DT members are required to post at least 3-4 layouts per kit, the altered item included in the kit (if there is one) and a card (if possible – not required). All pieces of the kit should be utilized in order for kit members to be inspired by your work. We want our members to use your creativity to inspire their own twists on their own projects.

Complete manufacturer sponsorship projects. You will receive product for free and in return we will showcase your work directly to the manufacturer.

Actively participate in challenges, organizing contests and vendor advertising (where appropriate).

WHAT DO OUR DESIGNERS RECEIVE?

A free kit every other month containing the industry's latest and greatest products, plus extra supplemental products as compensation.

Special sponsored manufacturer's kits. These projects are completed and posted on our boards and then we send the projects directly to the manufacturers, who may in turn, use your projects on their site, catalogs, etc. This is direct access to having your work seen by manufacturers.

Product discounts (more detail will be provided to those who are selected for the team) and larger discounts with designer direct manufacturer orders.

Free product for special limited edition kits that you may (on occasion) design yourself from items in our store.

Free product for special class kits that you will design yourself.

Miscellaneous perks - free passes to CHA, opportunity to design with our kits, etc. The opportunity to teach in our store and earn a percentage of the class fees.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED PLEASE e-mail your projects with the following information to michelle@amillionmemories.com:

-Name
-mailing address
-phone number
-Links to other online galleries that show your work (as well as your screen name)
-Link to your blog, if you have one (there is going to be an AMM link on there, right?)
-Become an AMM fan on Facebook. Send us a friend request if you have an account so we can follow you.
-A bio of yourself

Include the answers to the following questions in your email:

1) Why are you interested in a DT position with AMM?
2) Site commitment and participation. How will you encourage people to become involved in the AMM community?
3) Have you ever designed for another website/company? If so, who?
4) Are you active on any message boards? Which ones? (please provide a few links to your posts and your user name)

**Note: The answers to the above questions will NOT effect your chances of being on the Design Team . . .we are just curious. ; ) If you have any comments or questions, please email us at michelle@amillionmemories.com

I would love to see some of my scrappy friends apply! :-) Speaking of AMM, here are a couple of projects i've completed so far with the gorgeous December kit... more to come soon!

And lastly, I couldn't sign off without sharing some recent pics ;-) I downloaded the hipstamatic app for my iphone a few weeks ago, and I am obsessed with that thing! Now I need to upgrade to the iphone 4 which has the better camera and a flash. Here are some of my favs:

We had our first snow last week and our second snow today - love that white stuff! Saturday is my little girl's fourth birthday - I can't believe it!! We are having her birthday party on Sunday at her dance studio - she can't wait! My little guy is growing so fast!! I love seeing how much they change when they're this little, but I hate how quickly it seems to be going :-( My biggest guy is still loving Kindergarten and is learning so much. It's so neat now that he is starting to read - i'm so proud of him! Anyway, hope you all are doing well - hope to catch up with you all soon!

Some Jillibean soup layouts...

A big huge thank you to Jillibean Soup for sponsoring the DT at AMM this month - I got to work with their awesome papers! This first layout was based off of an awesome sketch that Jennifer at AMM provided for our November DT challenge.




I had so much fun making the background for this layout with gesso, inks and stamps. You can read my tutorial here.

I had one more Jillibean Soup layout to show you of my little guy, but it just got picked up for publication by Scrapbook Trends (Lucas' first pubbed layout :-). I guess i'll show you next year! ;-)

Hope everyone is having a great week and staying warm - it's cooooooold this way!