Idaho, December 2024

Today's scrapbook layout is from the December 2024 visit Trevor and I took to see our family in Idaho. We stayed for five nights and packed our time with family fun - lots of games, an early Christmas celebration, and a trip to Zoo Boise where we fed anteaters. (We did not feed them ants. We fed them yogurt. They love yogurt.) We had a great time. 

Idaho December 2024 (affiliate link)

I completed this page during the National Scrapbook Day event, but it was not inspired by a challenge. If I have any complaints about scrapbook crops, it's that most of the challenges are not compatible with getting lots of photos on a page. For example, one of the challenges from this year's event required participants to fill at least 1/3 of the page with stickers and tiny scraps before adding a photo and journaling. Another challenge requires you to follow a 2-photo sketch, use shades of green, add two patterned papers featuring hearts, AND put your journaling in word bubbles. That is an incredibly difficult challenge with just two photos and literally impossible with nine. 

Picnic Day 2025

I always have a great time at Picnic Day, the annual open house at UC Davis. This year was extra fun, as our Scout friends Logan, Avery, and Bobby joined us. They'd never been before, so we were able to introduce them to maggot art, popcorn shelling, and all of our other favorite Picnic Day traditions. And Trevor showed us something that even Steve and I hadn't seen before -  the third-floor greenhouse in the Sciences Laboratory Building where he'd had for BioSci classes. It was a great day. 

Picnic Day 2025 (affiliate link)

For this challenge, we had to use one of four sketches for our layout design. This is the one I chose: 

As you can see, I increased the size of the photo block in order to include five pictures. There isn't a spot for journaling on the sketch, so I swapped out the flowers for circles that could hold my journaling. 

This is a very rare layotu of mine that has absolutely no white. I almost always mat photos with white and I frequently use white to house my journaling. I like this color combination and I'm happy with the completed page. 

Cottontail Cottage

The Cottontail Cottage originally belonged to Trouble, who regularly played in it and occasionally used it as a comfy spot for a nap. We introduced it to Brayden after we'd had him for a few months. He didn't play with it as often as Trouble did, but he enjoyed climbing to the top and surveying his territory. About a month ago, I brought the Cottontail Cottage into Tulip and Brayden's shared territory. Brayden remembered it and went racing to the top while Tulip watched him carefully. She checked it out cautiously and soon was enjoying all the levels... as well as jumping in and out of the second story windows. It's adorable. 

Unfortunately, about a week after introducing the Cottontail Cottage, the buns had a fight. We think the Cottage might have played a role in that. Our best guess is that Brayden was relaxing on the second floor when Tulip jumped in through a window and startled him, leading to him snapping, and her reacting, and both of them trapped in a small place not knowing what was going on. 

Fortunately, the bunnies' bond was not broken and there have been no further problems. But now they only use the Cottage with close supervision. 

Cottontail Cottage (affiliate link)

The inspiration for this layout design is from a National Scrapbook Day challenge called 'Old Glory.' We had two choices: 1) Make a layout that is entirely red, white, and blue but does not have stars or stripes; or 2): Make a layout with stars and stripes, but do not use any red, white, or blue. Obviously, I chose the second option. It was a fun challenge and I really like how the page turned out. 

Thriving Pink

I haven't talked about my breast cancer journey on the blog in quite awhile. Radiation ended in August, which was a big milestone to celebrate, but I wasn't prepared emotionally for the struggles I would have in the following months. I was diagnosed with Frozen Shoulder Syndrome and lymphedema, both fairly common after breast surgery. I started on tamoxifen to block any hormone-positive cancer cells from accessing estrogen; that came with a litany of unpleasant side effects. My quality of life was significantly worse and I had a lot of anger. I struggled with depression for the first time in my life. Despite being surrounded by my wonderful friends and family, I felt profoundly lonely. 

My physical therapist (who treats both my shoulder and my lymphedema) recommended that I connect with an organization called Thriving Pink. It's a non-profit that supports women during and after breast cancer. I was desperate for anything that would help. I first attended one of their monthly walks in January and it was life-changing. I cannot express how much I needed to spend time with other women who knew exactly what I was going through, who knew the terminology without needing explanations, and who were able to support me in a way that only a fellow survivor can. 

I've attended all of the workshops and walks Thriving Pink has hosted since my first visit in January. It has helped enormously. I've made some wonderful friends and emotionally, I feel like myself again. I am so incredibly grateful for Thriving Pink. 

Thriving Pink (affiliate link)

I made this layout during a Fast Scrap challenge for National Scrapbook Day. We had two hours to use half a sheet of cardstock, half a sheet of patterned paper, and half of something else. I chose to do half a foot (6 inches) of handwritten journaling. 

Everything about this page makes me happy. I'm so glad to have it in the album. 

Best Friends Forever (Bonded Bunnies)

I am thrilled to have been able to make a page about our bonded bunnies. For a long time, we weren't sure if they would ever bond. Thank goodness that they are now best friends. 

Best Friends Forever (affiliate link)

This page was inspired by a National Scrapbook Day challenge called 'Put a Little Love in Your Art." We had to include at least five hearts on the page. But there was a catch. You couldn't use five heart stickers or five punched hearts. You had to have at least five different types of heart. I used die-cuts, stickers, a rub-on, washi tape, and enamel hearts to make my page. I love how it turned out.