The Final Pages of the Marine Corps Scrapbook

Well here they are, the final pages to my husband's marine corps scrapbook! I just want to say thank you to all of you who have been commenting and rooting me on as I go along. You definately helped me stay motivated to get it finished. I had a lot of fun doing these and coming up with new designs.

They even were mentioned in an article in Leatherneck Magazine!

This is his "shaved head" for the deployment, he's not normally bald. haha.

Reunited-- Marine Corps Scrapbook

Ok one more for today and then I'm takin a break. These are the photos from the day my husband returned home from the 6 month boat deployment. (Before we had our son).

I dug through the archives to find a sketch that would work for my LO and this one is from 52 Sketches, 52 Weeks.

Honey & Pilots -- Marine Corps Scrapbook

My husband's job in the marines was to load ordnance (aka. bombs) onto Harrier Jets. He loved his job and he really enjoyed getting to know the pilots. He took this photo of a couple of his pilot buddies getting ready to take off. I couldn't think of a theme for this page, so I thought it would be funny to put "Always tip your Pilot" on there. The torn notebook page at the bottom is an svg file, you can get it here.



This was the sketch this week at Color Me Daisy. I am also participating in Frosted Design's challenge this week which is paper tearing/distressing.



Now I know you're probably wondering what this page has to do with the Marines, right? Well, my hubby and I dated long before he joined, so shortly after bootcamp, while stationed at Pensacola Beach, FL. I went down to visit for Valentine's Day. Well, this photo was taken just after he'd proposed to me on the beach. It was the day after Valentine's Day and it was very COLD! But nonetheless, it was romantic!

This is the sketch for this week at 52 Sketches, 52 Weeks. Only 1 week left before they shut down. :(

Daddy Is Home & On the Boat -- Marine Corps Scrapbook

I got a couple more pages squeezed in yesterday. My husband was busy assembling some christmas toys, that way my son didn't have to wait for them to be put together after opening them. So while he was occupied, I was too!

This page was made using this week's sketch at Sketch Inspiration (a new site!). They are trying to reach 200 members by Christmas, so go join in the fun! The little newspaper article at the bottom was about a missle narrowly missing my husband's ship while at port in Jordan. It was pretty scary. One soldier was killed and it made CNN headline news back in June of 2005.

This one was made using last week's sketch from 52 Sketches, 52 Weeks. The font in the title is called "Captain Howdy" I love it! It cut really well at about 1" high.

The Tour -- Marine Corps Scrapbook

Here I am with yet another layout. I've discovered a few new (well, new to me) scrapbooking challenge blogs. I have been scrapping so much lately that I ran out of challenges and sketches. So I went hunting for fresh blood. haha. This sketch is from Magpie Club. It is designed by Julie Bonner (also designer and owner of 52 sketches). I just love her sketches. They are so easy to follow.

This page has several pictures of the tour that my hubby gave me and our family of his squadron. A couple of these pics are kinda comical to me, so I added speech bubbles to give suggestion to what we were thinking. hehe.

Well I'm almost finished with the album, only 13 LO's to go! This album is really big. I think it probably holds about 30-40 pages. And seeing as how I only started it about a month or so ago, I'm having to cram them all in quickly.

Initiation -- Marine Corps Scrapbook

Let me tell you, this was a fun layout to make!!! I made my own paint splatter paper! It was so easy too (but messy). First I put a little bit of black paint on a paper plate, added tiny bit of water to thin it out, then I got a paint brush and swirled it in the paint really well. Then I just shook it above the cardstock. If that didn't work well enough, I'd hold the paint brush in one hand and tap it with the other. It was a blast! I am definately going to be doing this again! It didn't take long for the paper to dry either since the paint was watered down, it soaked up quickly.

The skull die cut was one that I cut out a long time ago. I used to have it in my store for sale, but today I'm giving it away for free! You can download it here.
The font for the title is Jacob's handwriting (from Twilight). It is called Almagro.


I got the inspiration for the entire layout from the Sketchy Thursday's challenge this week.

Saying Goodbye -- Marine Corps Scrapbook

Horraaaay! This is my second page today! I used the sketch at Sketch Inspiration for this week. If you haven't checked this site out yet, you should! they are up to 100 members.

Anyways, this photo is the final one taken just before I had to kiss my hubby bye so he could leave for Iraq. My son was only 4 months old at the time. He's not very happy in this photo, although, who could blame him? I was putting on a brave face for the both of them. I can sigh with relief now though, as he's back home and out of the Corps. Even though he's joined the Guard. No deployments yet...keeping my fingers crossed.

Brothers -- Marine Corps Scrapbook

If you didn't know already, Twilight Tuesday is beginning a bi-weekly scrapbooking challenge that is inspired by different aspects of the books. This week's challenge was inspired by the "wolf pack" and the brotherhood that exsists between the boys. As you already know, I've been trying to complete my husband's Marine Corps scrapbook. I've had this photo sitting in my stash since I started and I have had a hard time deciding what to do with it, but when I saw this challenge, the inspiration hit. So I got started!



The cool sketch came from this week's challenge at Sketchy Thursdays.

Zig-Zaggin Across the Pond -- Marine Corps Scrapbook

Well my husband is out working in the yard, so I snuck in another opportunity to scrap! Here it is! I used another great sketch from Sketch Inspiration (the new site I was telling you about earlier). Right now, you can play along for fun, but in January they'll have prizes!

26th MEU -- Marine Corps Scrapbook

Well my husband dozed off early on the couch tonight, so I was able to squeeze another layout in. Since Christmas is fast approaching, I have to seize every moment I can to work on this.


thanks to another great sketch from Crafts by Rowena, this one was quick and simple. I did it in under 30 minutes flat! And I was stopping to watch SNL (Taylor Lautner was on!) in between. So I guess you could say I did this one between commercials. haha. I got the cool Bingo card from Lindsay. I just altered it in inkscape to make it say 26th MEU instead of bingo. the brackets I cut with my cricut. If you'd like the file, they are here.

The Desert -- Marine Corps Scrapbook

I snuck in my craft room to complete another layout today. My husband was at home but outside cleaning out the gutters, so I had to be sneaky to get this one done. It's pretty simple, but I love it anyways. These pictures were taken while my hubby was on the 26th MEU over in Saudi Arabia. He went on a desert safari while he was there.


Of course, the fabulous sketch came from Crafts by Rowena. I just loved the little journalling tear out. So I created one just like it to cut with my cricut. If you'd like the file, it's free. You can download it here. If you're wondering how I got the journalling printed directly on it, I printed it on white copy paper first, then I used double stick tape to line it up over the one printed on copy paper. I taped it down, and ran it though the printer again. The cute little ticket was a part of the kit that I won from 52 sketches.

Golfin' in Dubai --- Marine Corps Scrapbook

I'm back with another one. While my husband was on a boat deployment in the mediterranian, he was able to stop in Dubai, Saudi Arabia for a little R&R. So he decided to participate in a little golf tourney with some of his fellow Marines. He got to play at the world famous golf resort there. He was in heaven. Here is the group shot.

I created the title and golf balls using inkscape and cut them using SCAL on my cricut. I just found a picture of a golf ball that I liked on google, then I created one very similar to it. If you'd like the files, they're free. Golf Ball & Tee.



For this layout, I used the sketch from Sketch Inspiration. It is a new scrapbooking sketch site that is just getting started. This week is their first sketch. They are going to have prizes from sponsors starting in January, so go sign up! Everyone is so friendly and nice!

24 Hours on Duty - Marine Corps Scrapbook

Yet another page for my hubby's Marine Corps scrapbook. I took these pics of him one night when I went up to his squadron to visit. He was having to work a 24 hour duty shift. He was exhausted, so I went to keep him company for a while. He worked several of these, one a month I think, but this is the only time I every photographed him on duty. So this one page is a tribute to all of those times he had to stand post on his own.

Here is the sketch that I used from Crafts by Rowena.

Parris Island - Marine Corps Scrapbook

I finished another page today! I'm on a roll! I'm trying to hurry up at get this album finished so I can get a start on the other two or three that I have setting around for family members. This one is a surprise Christmas gift for my hubby. It is long overdue!


This was made using another fabulous sketch from Crafts by Rowena. I didn't follow it as closely as I do some sketches, and this frustrates me, but sometimes you just have to make due. The chicken wire is a free svg file that I got from somewhere, but I'm sorry I don't remember where. If you recognize it let me know so I can give them credit! It cut beautifully!

Boot Camp - Marine Corps Scrapbook

Finished another page today! I'm just squeezing them in right and left lately. This one is just pictures of my hubby on his graduation day packing up his stuff.



I used today's sketch from Crafts by Rowena.
I also thought I'd share with you the most cheesy card I've ever made (on purpose that is). This is the card that I gave my hubby for our 5 year anniversary. I didn't feel like doing anything "mushy" this year, so I remembered this free svg that I got from Mamaw's Legacy. I thought it was hilarious and I've just been waiting for the right moment to make it. I did do one thing differently though, I gave them cutesy eyes. That was not included in the svg from Mamaw.

Here is the little poem that I made up on the fly to go inside. Whatdya think? Haha I know what you're thinking, I should keep my day job. haha but I'm a SAHM. hehe.

Boot Camp Graduation -- Marine Corps Scrapbook

Wow it's been a while since I worked on my husband's scrapbook. I've been so busy with my craft booth that I've put scrapping aside, but I'm finally back in the swing of things. Here is the latest page!



I used yet another fabulous sketch from Crafts by Rowena. She is the one that gave me the idea to put the stars where the flowers are. When I first looked at this sketch I was thinking what am I going to do with this? Then I read her tips below the sketch and inspiration took over! Thanks Rowena!

The Guys -- Marine Corps Scrapbook

It's 11:30pm my time and I've finally completed my last layout of the day. I am so tired my eyes are filling with sand as I type. Anyways, yet another fabulous sketch from Crafts by Rowena. Not much to say about this one. I love the paper. It was from a paper pack that someone gave me for christmas last year and I love every piece!

Devil Dogs -- Marine Corps Scrapbook

I'm on a roll! I am totally in the mood to scrap! These pictures are some of my favorite pics! I love the pic of Michael and Joe sitting together. They were barracks roommates and this was the first time I met Joe. They participated in a wheelbarrow race together. It was pretty comical! Once again I used a sketch from Crafts by Rowena.

Packing Up --- Marine Corps Scrapbook

Well I'm slowly but surely making progress on my husband's scrapbook. I am loving doing these "manly" pages. I usually don't get to do things that are rustic and earth tone like this. I had this barbed wire svg from a long time ago. I can't remember where I got it from, I apologize. If anyone knows where, please leave me a comment. I forgot all about it and I was looking for a border and then boom there it was! It was perfect for this page! The font in the title is called Bosshole (weird name..haha). The little marine man in the corner is a sticker. I've been compiling military stickers and scrapbook supplies for quite a while now in anticipation of doing this scrapbook. I'm so glad I did, b/c I would hate to have gotten started on all of this and find out I'm unprepared because all I have to work with are flowers...hahaha.


Once again I used a sketch from Crafts by Rowena. This is an old one from a few months back. I just altered the photo arrangement a bit.

The Crew --- Marine Corps Scrapbook

Here is another page for my husband's Marine Corps scrapbook. I've been trying to sneak around and do it when he's busy doing something else or not here. It's hard to be a sneaky scrapbooker. I'm used to leaving everything on the table and coming back to it whenever I want to finish it, but I can't do that now! Argh!


This page was done with sketch #43 from 52 sketches, 52 weeks. I usually participate every week with them, but I'm a little behind. I haven't done it in a few weeks. The letters that I used for the title were using a font called: "Too Much Paper". I love that font. I make faux chipboard letters by printing the letters out 4 times each (would've done 5 usually, but ran out of that color cardstock). Then I glued them one on top of another. I distressed them with Tim Holtz "brushed corduroy" inks.