These four I did last week:

When I jumped in on making “Freckle Face” with Eva at SSD, it was these little freckles on Owen’s nose I was thinking about, SO I have been dying to make this page since! See credits HERE.

This page makes me laugh! This is Reece last week, I made the page right after he got “dressed” in nothing but his snow boots and pullup and tromped right out the back door! Credits HERE.

This was also a page I did right after the moment I snapped the picture, Owen was all dressed up as a pirate, but was quite offended when I just called him “pirate”, because apparently he was a SPY pirate people! See Credits HERE.

“As you are getting older, your little personality is really starting to shine through… My favorite part, is seeing your little face light up when you see me!” Credits are HERE.

Also, here are a few more I just never posted here on the ol’ bloggy that I’ve done since I last shared:

Some pictures I snapped of Tennyson and I, I thought mine and Lauren’s You and Me Baby was the perfect kit for us! See Credits HERE.

“you saw me scrapping this page so i asked you what you wanted me to write on it. you said “i love you owen” so i did, and you know what owen… i do!” See Credits HERE.

You can probably guess that this page is about Owen’s trip to Disney with my parents! I just love this picture they got of him! See Credits HERE.

I adore this picture of Tennyson’s BIG eyes, I just think they are so striking! Credits for this page HERE.

YAY! I love seeing them all together like this, my pictures and my families memories all wrapped up like this This is exactly why I love scrapping so very much!

This week has been a busy one, so not a lot of time for page making, but I did finish a few new things for the Sweet Shoppe, I’ll have to share those soon!

Well for gareth’s last day of school I wanted to make some special card for a few of the members of the staff and his teacher, so I decided it was time to give hybrid a go – and I HAD SO MUCH FUN! I officially LOVE hybrid! I can guarantee you will be seeing more and more of this from me!

Here’s what I did (for credits, please click the images to see them in the gallery):

Aren’t they totally cute! and how fun is it to see tangible things made out of those digital kits??? Like a said, a new addiction! (as evidenced by the five new cards in one night!)

-also FYI I’ve been learning to use windows live writer for posting, and i’m LOVING it… but I’ve had a few snags in the Timestapms and posting things in advance… so there are several new posts that kind of all posted all clustered up yesterday and monday so scroll down to check them out-

The premise of the Sugar Free Challenge is to scrap those not so picture perfect things in our lives and to capture a piece of ourselves that we might normal keep hidden. Ever since I started scrapping I have loved making cathartic pages, there is something extra therapeutic about using my favorite art to work through struggles and emotions that are consuming me at any given time.

Anyways, so as time went on I got busier and we started sharing the challenge with all the staff members, so I haven’t hosted it in quite some time – but this week I finally signed up to host again. The timing ended up being perfect because my frustration with feeling like depression is always lurking just on the fringe of my sense of sanity was really on my mind these past few weeks. It was good for me to get it out there and to work through it.

Here’s my page:

All in all I think it really helped me to look at my struggle with depression, not as something that I have to completely beat and be all happy forever… but instead to realize that my victory is in the fact that I continue to fight, and that although it threatens me, it doesn’t have to consume me.

And you know if it does consume me… I know I can face that too.

I challenged everyone to “scrap their demons” because we all have things that we have to face regularly, battles that we fight again and again. And we all should give ourselves a bit of credit for fighting that fight, and making it through to an brand new day.

So far I haven’t had any takers brave enough to play along…. perhaps I’m the only scrapper masochistic enough to want to put these things out there for the world to see…. but I’m telling you I feel 100 times stronger after putting out there and scrapping it. So seriously if you are a scrapper, I challenge YOU to play along. You don’t really have to post it, or if you feel the need you can blur your journaling, but I’m telling you you will feel lighter when you are done!

If you do play, let me know, I’d LOVE to see your page!

I woke up to sweet presents that they boys had all picked out for me, including jewelry that each of them had picked out – I looooved seeint what they chose lol, in the world of little boys bigger IS better, and so ofcourse they went for the biggest pieces they could find! I can’t tell you how much I love it! Yesterday I wore the green one from gareth and the bracelets from owen, and today for our trip to starbucks I wore the blue one from reece -:) Nothing like an excuse to wear those big necklaces that have been secretly calling my name for so long! (the boys must have known!)

G got me some great things too – including lots of Bubble Bath and (I love my baths!) and some great coffee mugs and new dishtowels perfect “mom” presents. After presents we all went out to lunch together at applebees (where I knew I could find something with not too many weight watchers points). Then we went to play some miniature golf together – our first time as a family… and I have to confess it didn’t go ideally… LOL maybe in a few years! But still we were all there together and we made it through all 18 holes . After that the boys took me shoe shopping! YAY, I’ve been wanting some new shoes, and I love the ones they helped me pick! And last but not least we all went together to TCBY where we had some yummm frozen yogurt, and moms got theirs for free! When we got home we played some video games together as a family filling our day up with some together time!

I even got some scrapping time – perfect because I was dying to make a page with the pictures i got with the three older ones (tennyson was sleeping, no messing with the sleeping baby at the restaurant!)

Here’s my page:

It’s true, I’m pretty stinkin’ lucky! It really was a perfect day.

So – last weekend for National Scrapbook Day, I scraped quite a bit – we had a bunch of fun challenges at SSD, and a zillion great kits, it was impossible NOT to scrap I think!

Anyways, I’m just anxious to show them off!

This page I did for a challenge in the Forums for the NSD weekend celebration. The challenge was to scrap your dream date with a hottie… and all I could think of, was how I’ve been so craving some alone time with my hubby!!! I couldn’t help but scrap this page, with the two of us, and a zillion things between us keeping us from snuggling up See the credits HERE.

This was a “spin-a-lift” challenge, where we had to scraplift the page of the person who posted above us in the thread. I couldn’t believe how beautiful jaylensmom’s gallery was, and had soooo much fun picking a page of hers and spinning it around for this layout of gareth and tennyson. In the end, I loved her gallery/page so much that I asked her to join my creative team! For my page I used Jessica Bolton’s (my idol) kit. Here are the full credits.

This page I did for a NSD “Speed Scrap” chat I hosted late at night. Basically, I gave out templates an hour before chat started, and people had an hour to scrap, and then had to finish their layouts before the hour long chat ended. It was SO fun and I got a TON of people participating…. Although… I have to admit, since the chat, I’ve switched out the background paper on my page… I guess I was rushing it a bit too much! It was fun to just do a page though, get it done, and then not look back. HERE are those credits.
I did another one last weekend too, but I have a whole post I want to do with it so you have to be patient

And here is one last page I put together just yesterday, I was dying to scrap my pictures of my smiling baby, and I’ve been singing that Van Morrison song “I’m in heaven when you smile” to him, so this page just had to be made:

See the full credits HERE.

So that’s all I’ve got for now – but I’m lovin’ them! I have been having so much fun lately scrapping, and I have a few pages in my head i’m DYING to make with some of my new releases, and some of the other amazing stuff to hit the Sweet Shoppe recently!

Tomorrow is mothers day too, so I have a feeling if I so desire there is some good scrapping time in my near future   And just incase I get caught up in it – happy mothers day to all my fellow moms out there – we are great people I say!  Especially my own mom – happy Mothers Day to you, I love you.

Journaling: “Tennyson loves his sling and mommy does too! i love being able to hold my baby while i’m working or cleaning, and he loves being close to his mommy. it never fails, every time he’s in the sling, mommy will look down and see, he’s drifted right off to sleep.” See Credits HERE.

This is a lift of a SweetShopper named Sara8914 and I chose her page challed “Feeding Ducks” because I loved the page layout and I’m always looking for inspiration on how to mix it up a bit style wise in my pages.

I’m so happy with how it turned out, I have to admit, I’m using babyhood as an opportunity to use as many soft sweet elements and papers as I can because before I know it my pages will be dominated by definitively boyish grungy and messy themes, so I’m going to use this stage to let myself use all those pretty kits that appeal to me

It has been far far too long – but between morning sickies, and then bedrest, and a frustrating painful pregnancy, and then a teeny tiny baby an getting all adjusted to having a newborn, I just haven’t found a ton of time. Then a few weekends ago I decided I was going to scrap, and what do you know, my poor little lappy was so bogged down and really not a happy camper. I have known for a while that I was outgrowing it, and that weekend was just the final straw – plus g has wanted a laptop too for quite some time too so that he can work in other places than our bedroom. Anyways, we just decided to go for it that weekend and order me a new computer.

So this weekend I’m working on my new computer, and not just any computer but a PINK LAPTOP!!!

My pink laptop is not only cute, and wonderful – but I’m pretty sure it was sent to me preloaded with a ton of mojo! Because seriously when I sat down this weekend to start scrapping pages started coming to me again! So either it is a magical pink laptop here, or I’m FINALLY starting to feel like myself! Either way, I’m hoping that the designer mojo is on here too, because I’m really ready to start being productive again.

So, anyways, on to the pages! (As always, you can click on the page itself to see it closer up). I was able to finish SIX pages this weekend and I’m so proud! It feels good to be capturing our memories in scrap form again.

Journaling: my sweet baby boy i dreamed & dreamed of you. now that i have you in my arms all is right in the world, and as a mother i feel complete.

This page is a Lift of our SSD Treat of the Month Yvette Keohuloa. I lifted her page Kona Moon because I just loved all the swirls everywhere! You can see the credits for this page HERE.

Journaling: Honestly… I got this type of binky because I thought they were so darn cute, and once I saw it in your cute little mouth it certainly didn’t disappoint! you are beyond cute my little love!

See the credits for this page HERE.

Journaling: “the funniest thing has happened, i’ve been in the habit of calling reece “reecey” basically since he was a baby, and recently he has decided that is what everyone should call him. He even introduces himself to strangers as “reecey.” on this morning he decided we should take pictures of our selves together to pass the time while waiting at a restaurant. that’s my reecey -making sure every spare moment is filled with fun.”

You can see full credits HERE.

Journaling: In our playroom we have a box we call our adventure kit, it is where we put our dress up clothes, hats, play watches and cameras, compasses, and backpacks. Basically anything you might want to go on an imaginary adventure! Lately Owen and Reece have been playing with it in an original way. Daily they will both go in there and put on crazy combinations of the costumes we have, a lightsaber with a cowboy hat, or goggles with a knight’s armor – or maybe it is a darthvader mask with the spiderman glove, around here you never know what character is going to come around the corner! Sometimes you pretend you are a specific character “Mom, call me Cowboy Reece” and sometimes you have “battles” with light sabers, swords, or nerf guns, and sometimes you just hang out in your crazy get up! I love seeing you boys use your imaginations and one thing is for sure, around the Clingerman house things are always an adventure!

You can see credits HERE.

Journaling: On our walk home from getting haircuts you 3 decided to all grab hands and shout “we are 3 buddies!” You really are quite the pals, and there is nothing i love more than to see the three of you hand in hand.

See the full credits HERE.

Journaling: you mr. tennyson are already six weeks old. where has the time gone! in true big boy style, you are no longer content to lay still, and when we lay you on your belly you wiggle and kick and bat those little arms untill you roll your little self over to your back, where you are sure you belong!

This page is for another challenge at SSD, using a template based off of a page by Missy Strand. Full credits can be found HERE.

I’ve had so much fun! Too bad it is officially Monday now, and my weekend is over! Still I’m feeling hopeful that I’ll be able to scrap more now that I’ve found my groove again. Ok, it is late over here, and I need to get some sleep in before my next week begins. Hope everyone has a great Monday!

The good news is that I have not started dilating as of Friday, and they also did a test called the Fetal fibronectin Test, that basically assesses my risk of delivering in the next two weeks. The test came up negative which according to my ob gives me about a 95% chance of not going into labor in the next two weeks, but she stressed to me that it isn’t definitive and I still need to “take it easy”… meaning if I feel contractions coming on, that I need sit or lay down and try to limit my physical activity. Since Friday the contractions seem to be really setting in, and I know from my experience with my last pregnancy that this will probably be sticking with me for the next few months until I deliver.

On this friday I have an ultrasound to measure the thickness of my cervix, and I’m really hoping that by keeping things low key that I’ll be able to hold of getting put on full bedrest, because obviously with the three monkeys that would prove to be a bit complicated. But regardless It pretty much feels like I’m useless, a sink full of dishes or a load of laundry, not to mention packing a lunch or chasing down an extra naughty three year old sets off contractions. Plus, I think I’m finding a correlation to stress, which is pretty much impossible to avoid as I’m feeling so ill at ease about all of this, and so frustrated by the prospect of ending up on the couch for the next 3 months (or more!) … not to mention, that it is scary – this little man needs to stay put and it is SO early to be worrying about labor…. deep breath…. sorry, my little bit of venting as I stress over this in the middle of the night.
So that is pretty much what Is new with me, lots of sitting, lots of aching, and more than my fair share of stressing…

I did a page about it all because it was my week to host the Sugar Free Challenge over at Sweet Shoppe Designs:

Click on the image to see the journaling up close, Credits: Credits: BG is from Jessica Bolton, Swirls are from Lauren Grier, Alpha is my Stitched Alpha: Newspaper, Arrows are my Graffiti Grunge Arrows, Frame is from Robin Carlton, and Photo Masks are from Penny Springman, Flowers are from Dani Mogstad and Little Tag is from me.

In the end, I know that this will be a short time in my life, and that I need to just make peace with the fact that it is “take it easy” time now. Deep breath because this will pass – and I am so lucky to have a hubby that comes home every day from work and takes over with the kids so I can rest, and three boys that (for the most part) are super good to me, well behaved little boys.

So anyways, on Monday I did a few pregnancy photos to try to lift my spirits a bit, I thought I’d share a few:

Here is a few I got with Owen:

And one with Gareth (Reece was napping so we missed him this time around):

And here is one Owen insisted we take:

Sigh … see – it is worth it when I get another sweet one of these guys in the end.

Keep us in your prayers that the contracting slows down for my sake, and mostly that little man stays put right where he belongs, and that in the meantime I don’t go completely crazy!
Have a good Wednesday everyone – I’ll be back later this week with a few more pages to share, and I’ll keep you updated on any progress with me and the little one.

I, Shawna Clingerman, actually finished a whole kit all by my self!!!! This is may seem like small potatoes, but let me tell you this was no easy feat! Especially between fighting off the head cold from hell, keeping an eye on three little super-guys (ofcourse this includes breaking up super-fights and the making of many super-peanutbutter and jelly sandwiches), and several loads of laundry (I don’t use several too losely – I litterally mean, like 3 or 4, but still!). Also take into account that I am still puking…. the finishing of a kit is really quite the ordeal for me!

So, on to the kit – this kit “Ka-blamo” was actually inspired by a little onesie we bought for the littlest Mr. Clingerman on the day we found out he was a boy – G found this in target and we both thought it was so funny! Plus, it has that “comic book cool” thing going on, that g loves. After we brought it home, I was just thinking about how fun a little comic-booky kit would be fun.

Well I started on the scheme/patterns that day, and I really was just so excited about it. It wasn’t until halloween night when I was uploading pictures from trick or treating that it dawned on me that this kit is the perfect match for my little superhero’s in their costumes!

When it is all said and done, I’m so proud of this kit! It is GREAT for boys, and filled up with really fun elements!

It is up TODAY at Sweet Shoppe Designs and 20% off today only! Check it out HERE!

I love love love when I make a kit that I can scrap with, for me that is what brings it all full circle as a designer, I create because I love to scrap, so when I can scrap with my kits it just reminds me why I push myself through a whole kit – and it really makes it all worth while!

This page practically made itself, the kit was just too perfect for my pictures of Super-Reece:

Credits: This is my newest kit “Ka-Blamo“! Alpha is “Pile of Scribbles” also from me, and frame is “Artistry – Frames” from Fee Jardine. All are available at SSD!

Also, speaking of the Sweet Shoppe, you don’t want to miss our HUGE weekend there! We added SIX amazing new designers, and we just released a HUGE assortment with mini kits from each of us (22 kits in all!!!) and for only 3.99!!! Plus our Halloween Treat Bucket is still up (ONLY ONE DAY LEFT) and it is HUGE, something in there from ALL of us! As if all that isn’t enough, there is a 20% storewide sale and a TON of amazing new product, including of course, Ka-blamo! AND to boot we have a BEAUTIFUL NEW LOOK – you have got to check it out!

So, happy National Scrapbooking Day to all of you! Squeeze in some scrapping and if Ka-blamo fits for the little comic book heros in your life then I’d LOVE to see what you do with it!

Okay, now off to bed for this tired momma!

Luckily it seems like week 17 was FINALLY the magic number – and I’m making up for some lost time now eating my heart out!

I feel like there are so many things I want to share, life has been filled with inspiration, even sitting sick on the couch my life has been rich and full of love and life, the little men marching around the house (making a ruckus, but reminding me too how full my heart is) and the little one growing in my tummy getting bigger, moving more and more and making itself known and making mommy smile.
I just am beyond behind with blogging – but the basics are, I’m feeling well (FINALLY!) and the kids are doing great, gareth is still loving second grade. We are all enjoying the season change… less miserable heat, more pretty pretty rain… Okay maybe not ALL of us are loving it, poor Reece broke down in tears today when it started raining again because he wanted to play outside. But I have to admit, I’m loving it and welcoming a bit of cool fresh weather after what seemed like a miserable long summer.

So, all I have for you really are a few pages I’ve done over the past well month or so, but I thought I’d get them added on here so that my bloggy is all up to date.

The most recent page I did, I was dying to scrap a page about Gareth starting second grade so I opened up all my pictures of him all proud in his back pack, and getting on the bus and then this little series g took of him and I waiting for the bus were the ones I just had to scrap…. I have issues with scrapping “events” so this was my way around it for the time being:

This is a page I did in AUGUST (okay maybe these are more than a month old!) For a Sweet Shoppe Sugar Free Challenge I hosted. My theme was “Real Life is….” and this is where I went with it:

This GORGEOUS back ground is from Lauren Grier. Black Paper and Cardboard Doodle is from Robin Carlton’s Space Invaders. Alpha is my Graffiti Grunge Alpha. All from SSD. Fonts: Windsong and Problem Secretary

This, also from August was a scraplift of our Treat of the Month. I just had to lift the amazing Amy Pearson! I chose her page “Crazy Photographer” and I love what it inspired me to create!!

This is Dani Mogstad’s incredible kit “Saturday Market” at SSD and DesignByDani. Aged Frame by Jessica Bolton. Fonts: rusted plastic, centaur, scriptina, prestige elite std, LainieDay.

Finally, here is a page I promised to show you a long time ago, but I just keep sitting on it because I think I’m going to do something more to make it not so terribly simple…. but you know… I can’t seem to do it, so here you have it just as it is:

This is a kit of Shabby Princesses that I got quite some time ago, specifically FOR birthday pictures And that is my grunge frame. The number 3 is from Manda Bean’s “Algae Eater” at SSD.

So there you have it… pretty measly little selection there considering I have MONTHS with out showing pages off…. I really am feeling the urge to get better about this, my little guys are just growing up right under my nose and I want to capture it before it is gone… but you know how life is, keeping me hopping… Life is a marathon it seems and sometimes inspiration is just really hard to find when you are so tired you can’t see straight! But you know… tomorrow is a new day, and I’m confident that I’ll find a way to fit in everything that really matters when it is all said and done.

And with that – I should get my pregnant little self to bed. I should be back soon with more to share, but if not, you can expect to hear from me on OCTOBER 19th at the very latest – because that is the big day when we get to find out if this little monkey is our even boy number four, or our life changing little baby princess…. Wish me luck with the waiting until then! AHHHHH!