North Port Poinsettia Parade

Employing the same tactics that worked for the boat parade, my

awesome hubby went out and set up our chairs

ensuring our spot on Nort Port Blvd.

And then loading the RV with spirits and munchies

we set up to enjoy the parade.

A few highlights for your total enjoyment.

(or actually photos that I didn't screw up too badly)

And we had an amazing interactive time.

We all shouted Merry Christmas, caught candy thrown our way

and agreed that we had the best set up ever.

It was longer and more impressive that we first thought.

It was friendly and fun.

We came home to homemade chicken soup.

It doesn't get better than that.

Using one manufacturer with a couple exceptions

A few years ago I was on an Authentique kick.

Actually it was the only new product at the remaining LSS.

And then I got over Authentique.

However, I have lots of papers and stickers that need to be used

or given away.

I decided to use them.

 I follow a couple of people on videos and one of the tricks

to add dimension and use stash is to back

papers - and I used that "trick" here.

And it did add a cool layer and it does add a pretty dimension.

I also cut out a piece from the backing to use on the front as a mat

which adds another layer and is kind of economical.

 I also broke out the sticker page and started layering them in.

This line is "renew" and its about growing plants, rainy weather and kidlets, leaning toward 

the girly side. So I tucked and whacked the pieces that

were girly, rainy and plants where they couldn't be seen but did add

color and dimension. 

 I felt it needed something - so I broke out the watercolors mostly

because I didn't have mists in the colors I needed.

Watercolors are a good value that way and provide basically

the same artsy feel as mists.

Because I smoshed them around with the brush and also splattered

the colors about the same manner you would use mists.

 And wa-la, lots of layers and clusters going on.

The other non Authentique elements are - you guessed it.

Homemade enamel dots, washi and twine.

Love how it turned out with me and my boy.

That was sooooo long ago - 

it goes by so fast.

He's 23 now.

Sometimes simple helps with the mojo

Love the banner and glasses which I made

into sunglasses by using

watercolors - sort of like a "mirrored" sunglass color.

I thought black would be too harsh.

Check out that homemade enamel dot too.

 Love the pinwheel and replaced the pearl with *anyone*???

A homemade enamel dot LOL.

 Premade titles say it all and say it all 

really well.

 I layered in some triangles with my rolling stamp.

Then added papers I thought might work.

and wa-la.

Great photo (as always) of my favorite eldest son.

Who needs front teeth.

At the beach.

Smiling.

Crate paper, Studio Calico stuff, Lawn Fawn, American Crafts and Paper Issues Swag Bag.

Really nontraditional Christmas colors

Not sure why it went in this direction 

but I love it.

Actually it started with the Paper Issues Swag bag.

Picked out a couple of things and it took off from there.

 Got a few fun clusters going on with a Basic Grey

transparency from the new Studio Calico kit.

 And that Creative Cafe tag that has been around for years.

And thought a border punch added another layered dimension.

The roller heart stamp added another layer as well and mussed up the

background a bit more.

And some mists - can't ever go wrong with that.

 Love the shiney letters - worked perfect in the title.

And swinging stars. (a facsimile thereof LOL)

And my homemade enamel dots.

Remembered the snowflakes. 

Woohoo - more stash being used. 

Love that.

Awesome shot as always and a delight to scrap.

Yea its a lot of pink going on - but those boys are manly enough

to tough it out. Hard to explain but it worked.

Mostly all Studio Calico, Paper Issues Swag Bag, and pre-cut

die cuts that I did a couple months ago.

I really enjoy having die cuts at the ready and for the most

part even using random papers and colors has worked quite nicely.

Getting into the Christmas Spirit

with family and the Venice Boat Parade.

Getting there really early - we staked out our spot with

all the comforts of home.

With lots of food and drink.......

and the most important part - a bathroom.

Tom made cowboy coffee and declicious ahi tuna.

And Kate's veggie pizza and Amy's pizza dip- swoon worthy.

Its December people and see how we're dressed.

Sorry but you can keep your winter wonderland.

This is the life.

 Lots of action in the intercoastal.

 Making friends with the wildlife.

 As they boldly checked us out.

 Getting up close and personal by swooping into our camp.

 Minions opened the parade.

I love minions.

 This train was absolutely adorable.

 Pretty....

 And some Florida fun.

 There was lots of music, clapping and hoopla.

We were in sort of a grotto and the boats were close in the channel.

And it was so much fun because it was quite interactive dancing

and singing the boat peeps.

Trying to catch a moonrise with a channel marker.

I had a learning curve going on here and 

it was tough in the dark - and I

didn't want to shine lights to make adjustments and

ruin all the awesome boat floats.

This is a spot were we will return to again - just to camp and

stick our feet in the water and hang out.

The water is shallow so if any kidlets that tag along want

to play they'll be close to shore

and they can ride the wakes as the boats pass by.

I just love this paper

That being said, this was a drive by page.

 Meaning it laid on my desk as I moved, added and changed things up.

Alot.

And I rolled without a photo.

I really like doing that.

 This time I left enough room for a photo.

The title is chipboard that I painted pink around the edges

for another page it didn't make it on.

So I blobbed white enamel paint all over it.

Shabby Chic'd it up. 

 And those bows.

Don't they make you swoon.

Its a die cut - assembly required.

And layers...........

The informal picture works well which is why

I finally used that chipboard title.

I did scrap this photo before in my kidlets book

years ago, and in hunting down a pic

I found the original

and now I have one for my album.

Are you curious to see the first page??

Me too.

good grief.

A page with my homemade enamel dots.

I did a tutorial over at Off the Rails on homemade enamel dots.

Mostly its a here's what I did and what 

could possibly go wrong.

So after slaving over a hot stove - I think these dots came out pretty good.

 So here's one of my pages using the dots.

 In several places.

 I love the assortment of colors I now have.

And there are about 1,000 now give or take.

 If you look back over the last few blog posts - you'll find more.

There's a bit of everything going on here.

Some Shimelle, Studio Calico, Lawn Fawn, Simple Stories.