Nov 7, 2011

Super Secret Surprise Revealed!!!

Surprise! See over there --->

On the right where I list my creative teams?  There's a new blinkie there!  For the month of October, I was part of a super team of ladies working to create the sample layouts for the 2012 Log Your Memory Challenge book, and today we get to spill the beans on our involvement.

I have been a part of LYM for the past year, and discovered the Logbook, challenges, and sight in about July 2009.  I can't even remember how I found my way to the website, but I loved the idea of capturing real, everyday moments.  That's ultimately why I scrapbook...to remember the everyday!

I can't reveal the pages I made for the Logbook yet, but I do have a page I made for next week's challenge (Week 46).  I won't mention that I scrambled to put it together Saturday night, thinking I was late posting it as they are due on Thursdays, only to find that week 46 is NEXT week, not this week.  Not sure how I pulled that off, since the calendar I write all my scrap deadlines in was published by LYM and has the weeks number.  But in the end it worked out! I was ahead of schedule this week, and get to share a page with this fantastic announcement!
Kit: Snapshots by Karen Lewis
Stamped Alpha: Block Stamp Alpha by Geek Chic Scraps
Template: Just Journaling Vol 2 by Jen C Designs

If you have been thinking about joining in on the LYM challenges next year, or using a Logbook to record your everyday memories and activities, now is the perfect time to pick one up, with a special 15% off discount! This discount expires 11/14, so use the code while it's still good!

Purchase your 2012 Memory Logbook products NOW for the lowest prices of this holiday season!
Image is linked to the LYM shop

Kick It!

Ok, I've just earned a big ol' FAIL on my blog...I set this post up Thursday, and then forgot to post it! So here's a little bit about Isabel's release from last weekend...a few days later than intended!


Crisdam Designs has a new kit today called Kick It.  I used to play soccer as a kid and this kit brought me right back to those days. I decided to leave myself out of the picture (literally and figurativly) for this page and focus instead on my soccer playing dog.

She would rather chase the soccer ball than a tennis ball and has "loved" this one so long that it can't hold air anymore. But if she can find someone to kick the ball for her, she is in heaven. It's funny, I had never seen a dog do this until shortly before we picked Stella out. There was a dog who lived with Stella's mom that did the same thing...this dog would actually drop the ball repeatedly at your feet until you played with her.  Still makes me think of that dog whenever I watch our Stella nose the ball around by herself.

No more new releases for my designers this weekend, BUT I have some shopping to do! I have wish lists set up at all my favorite shops, but still have to whittle them down to a manageable amount (both $$-wise and time-wise) because time and money are valuable resources! Maybe I'll come back and show off my purchases later...whenever I'm able to make up my mind!

Nov 3, 2011

DSD Man Oh Man!

I love everything about DSD (Digi Scrapbooking Day)! From the games, to the sales, to the freebies and bloghops, there is so much going on this weekend!

Danyale's new goodies released today. She has 2 new items in her shop at TDC, a revamp of Imperfectly Neutral, and a gorgeous full kit, Hope Chest.
Hope Chest Kit

Here's a preview of Hope Chest, which I haven't had time to play with yet, but I am drooling over. I have some great ideas for this one if I can find the time!
ImPerfectly Neutral Grab Bag

This grab bag is a great addition to your scrap stash. I know there are times I look for a basic, neutral, go with anything alpha, and often find myself using these.  The addition of papers and paper flowers makes this a great go to pack.
I used only bits from Imperfectly Neutral to make this page because I wanted to show that using only neutrals on a page can really make the photos stand out. These are my little creatures and the neighbors just a few days ago on Halloween. It's almost like we coordinated to all wear red and black!

I'll be back tomorrow with the goodies that Isabel (Crisdam Designs) has coming out for this DSD weekend.  

Oct 3, 2011

Boo!

I said Halloween was in the air, didn't I?!

Crisdam Designs has started up the Flashback Tuesday specials again, which means each Tuesday, she'll have an oldie but goodie on sale.



This week, her Halloween kit "Boo!" is up.  I had to go back a couple years to find pics that would work (mostly because my picture stash is all over the place and I can't remember where I've saved the pics for the years in between 2006 and last year), but it was a great trip down memory lane for me!

More Glamour-Week and Ookie Spookie

I found some more scrap time this week and used it as a chance to continue to play with Danyale's releases from last week.  You can see the page I made last week, as well as the kit previews in my post from last Thursday. 

This is the idea I had for Ookie Spookie that I didn't have time to put together last week. I love how the green worked perfectly with John's costume, and that photo that didn't quite turn out blended well with the background and helped tie in the wordart.


The next page had me revisiting Glamour-Ween to put together a page of my neighbor's daughter and mom. I thought this was fun, since her mom lives out of state and isn't here very often.  She was here for this particular Halloween though (and happens to be on her way here right now)!

I'll be back later today with another page I made to show off one of Isabel's (Crisdam Designs) kits. Halloween is definitely in the air!

Sep 29, 2011

Glamour-Ween and Ookie Spookie!

Danyale has 2 - count 'em 2! -- new releases today. I have only had a chance to play with one, but it was so much fun and I can't wait to get my hands on the other.

The one I haven't played with is called Ookie Spookie and is full of fun Halloween elements:
Image is linked to the item in the store.
Isn't that so cute?  I have some cute pics of Maggie dressed for Halloween that I can see scrapping with this (if I get them scanned) and John's dino costume from last Halloween would look super cute with the green, black and kraft color scheme.  In fact, I may just put that on my to-do list for tomorrow, after all my work is finished!  There is also some super cute word art to match this kit.

The kit I did get to play with is called Glamour-ween.
Image is linked to the item in the store.

Danyale created this with a more grown-up, glam feel and it absolutely makes me want to dress up this year! In fact, that's what my page is about.  For the first time in a while, I feel like dressing up with my kids for Halloween.  Now, if only I could convince my husband to dress up too, we could do something cute and matching, like S'mores or the suits in a deck of cards.
Image is linked to gallery
We'll see if I can find scrapping time tomorrow to play with Ookie Spookie, as much as I want to.  I was derailed in my productivity today by some delicious brownies, and I may spend all day eating them...

Sep 22, 2011

Autumn Walk and Autumn Nights

I need to work on blogging more regularly! If I was thinking about it, I would pre-load a blog post when I go post my pages for my designers. But that would make a little too much sense, now wouldn't it!

Danyale (Etc by Danyale) has a new kit out today, and one that came out last week that I missed.  First, this week's kit, Autumn Walk.

I've been in a bit of a scrapping slump.  I don't know whether it was because I was focused on designing so much this summer, or the change to our school schedule, or whether it was something entirely unrelated, but I have had a hard time sitting down to scrap.  Then this kit came along.
Also uses Gimme Layers Lite Vol 7 by Cluster Queen Creations (template), and an action by Pioneer Woman on the photos...can't remember which one though.  Sorry!
I sat down and cranked out "Read to Me" pretty quickly, and knew I wanted to make Tree Hugger the same night, but couldn't stay up any longer to finish it. Tree Hugger was the first thing I did when I sat down at the computer the next day.

Last week's kit, Autumn Nights, also helped me get out of my slump.
I fell in love with this kit as soon as Danyale started posting her progress on it. But when it came out I was in the middle of my slump and just couldn't think of anything to make with anything!  I should have tried working with it then...I might have come out of my low point faster.  But when I finally did sit down to play with it, WOW!
It gave me the chance to play with this photo from a year ago.  One year ago, we were in the middle of our move from Wyoming to Colorado, and this photo is John playing in our empty house, waiting for the movers to bring all our furniture.  I used an action by Pioneer Woman on the photo (maybe Seventies?...I don't remember), and also used the word art that matches the kit. I hope to have a chance to play with this kit a little more, as there are some great papers in there that I didn't get to use (or use much of!).

Here's hoping I can get to blogging more often this Fall!

Aug 20, 2011

Project August

It's been some time since I've posted here.  I've been so busy pretending to be a designer, that I haven't taken a whole lot of scrapping time until the last few days.  I've been participating in some of the challenges at The DigiChick, and I may post up a couple of those projects when I finish them. I also have a couple hybrid projects I've been working on that I can't wait to finish and share!


But today, I have news of a new release. Crisdam Designs has released the next installment of her Project 2011 series: Project August. This turned out to be a perfect color scheme for Maggie's first day of school outfit choice, which I had previously been pulling my hair out trying to figure out how to match a school kit for. With Project August, problem solved!

Yep...I can't believe she's in 4th grade.  So strange to say that! But she's loving her teacher, and all the new things that come with being in 4th grade.  Except maybe the homework.  Jury is still out on that one!

Jul 28, 2011

Imaginary Adventure

My oh My!  Danyale has outdone herself again. She has a new release at The DigiChick today, and I am super excited about it.

Imaginary Adventure by Etc by Danyale

I have so many memories I could use this kit for, it's scary.  I know I am firmly grounded in reality, but I had a childhood spent up in the clouds.


For this page, I also used the Pop-Up Quickpages she put together.  So fast and easy to make a gorgeous page with these!

Imaginary Adventure Pop-Up Scenes

You can also buy the alpha by itself, but it is packaged together in the kit for an extra value. Let me tell you, this alpha is so fun to work with.

Imaginary Adventure Alpha

That's all the fun I can handle for now! Goodness that's a lot of imagination.  Happy scrapping!

Jul 27, 2011

Cleaning Day

No, that is not the name of the day in my house...in fact...it's the opposite! But it is the title of the new release by Crisdam Designs.

Cleaning Day Kit by Crisdam Designs

Since cleaning is not my favorite thing to do, I used the lack of cleaning as the subject for my page.

Now, since I don't do a whole lot of cleaning, I can also say that this kit would be great for general layouts too.  There are plenty of non-themed brads, ribbons, and flowers to keep me happy for everyday kinds of pages, and with the exception of the text paper I used in my layout, all the papers are great for general use too!  I'm all about getting the most from my kits. :)

Back tomorrow with a new release from Danyale!  It's a hoppin' week, and for a change, I am on top of everything!  By the way, have you checked out my design blog?  I've got lots of freebies from the Design Factor challenges posted over there, and will be participating in a blog hop tomorrow.

Happy scrapping!

Jul 7, 2011

Project July

I could kick myself. It's now a little after 4, and I am just now sitting down to write this blog post. Why am I kicking myself, you ask? My 18 month old takes 2-3 hour naps everyday. The perfect time to write blog posts, create a page, pick up the living room. Really, it's the perfect time to get anything done that requires little hands to be somewhere else.  And I wait until 20 minutes AFTER he wakes up to sit down to write.  So I am going to keep this short, because otherwise, it isn't going to get done!

Crisdam Designs has a new kit out today, Project July. I love looking forward to each new Project installment each month, and this is no exception.

Project July Kit
Project July Alphas
Project July Bits & Pieces
This kit is perfect for events and themes in July and all year. I used it for a non-July themed page, inspired by the Week 27 Challenge at Log Your Memory. It was a perfect fit for the photo, and the quote bubbles matched the theme to a T.

Jun 30, 2011

Timeless and Camping Adventures

My favorite designers each have new kits out this week. Danyale released "Timeless" on Thursday (which I guess I still technically today), and Isabel released "Camping Adventures" on Monday. I had a lot of fun playing with each, for completely different reasons!

First, with Isabel's fun camping kit:
Fam Camp and @ Night
created with Camping Adventures by Crisdam Designs

I had fun remembering this particular camping trip with our good friends.  We went a couple times together, once we even got to see the Thunderbirds practicing for graduation at the Academy!  On the trip these pictures were taken, we discovered that cheap Croc knock-offs were not good camping shoes.  While walking down to the stream near our campsite, Maggie managed to step on every cactus growing, and the spines went straight through the soles of those foam shoes.  :(

I also used one of Isabel's kits to make this page from our recent trip to Idaho.  We had so much fun visiting with old friends and spending time with family.  I actually rode a mountain bike. On a mountain. I may have to scrap that one in the future, because there is photographic evidence!  But in the meantime, I made this sweet page of my son and sister-in-law.

Bubbles
created with Project April by Crisdam Designs
Kit, Alphas, and Bits & Pieces
Template by Mye de Leon
I'm pretty sure I could find a similar pic of my daughter and SIL if I looked through my collection.  She's such a great aunt.  The kids love to play with her.

I have been drooling over Danyale's new release from the moment she started posting previews in the team forum.  I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one!  The colors are absolutely gorgeous, and I love the large scale paisley patterns.
All Dolled Up
created with Timeless by Etc by Danyale
Kit, Frame Walls, Wedding Add-on
I love the candid photos I've seen online of weddings and events that include these frame walls that I had to mimic the looks with my page. Mmmm....and that chandelier, LOVE it!!

I also took some time to be hybrid with this kit.  Well, I guess I really didn't go fully hybrid (on this project anyway), but I printed out a card with some of the other pieces of the kit and add-on. I have a wedding coming up that I might just use this card for -- unless I hit another creative streak!
Congratulations Card
created with Timeless by Etc by Danyale
Kit, Wedding Add-on (see photo above for links)
In the next couple days I'll be back to show off the other hybrid creation I made. This one was as a gift for a friend who is moving away. It makes me sad that she is moving, but I'm excited she is able to move closer to family.

Until then, Happy Scrapping!

Jun 15, 2011

Play Ball - Make a Wish - and Power Scrapping

I just finished up another class (and signed up for a few more...but that's a whole other story) at Big Picture Classes called Power Scrapping - Digi-Style. Over the course of the 4 week class, Katie Nelson shared her techniques for "power scrapping," or batch scrapping. I can't say I will be using the whole work flow she taught, but I did pull a few things that I might implement in my scrap-flow. This is one of the pages I created as a result of the class. I love the look of joy on John's face in the lefthand picture, as he knows Stella is close on his heels.

Play Ball
All Supplies by Crisdam Designs
Make A Wish Kit
Project 2011 Alphas
Stitch It Up Vol 2

I have a few other pages from this class as well, and a few in progress that I haven't found the perfect touch for. (Yes, I know the ideas are supposed to make scrapping faster, but I think I've gotten so used to scrapping for CT requirements that I am actually faster if I start with the kit and find pictures to fit, rather than starting with the pictures and finding a kit to match.) Call me crazy. Go ahead. I do it all the time!

This one uses some of my favorite new pictures of John. I'm sure I'll make other pages with these pictures because I love them so much.  And I made it a two pager...I don't do those often, but these seemed to fit together well (and large!). 



I've already posted this page on the blog, but it was also inspired by the workflow from this class.
For credits, see original post here.


And this page is still a work in progress.  I am not sure I like the premade cluster, and may go back to make my own title cluster.
Remember This Moment
Everyday Life Collab Kit from The Daily Digi

And now, I have some new kits to play with and dream about! Can't wait to show off what's coming up from Etc by Danyale in the next couple weeks...there is some fabulous design work to show off!

Jun 14, 2011

Crazy things are wrapping up at Gotta Pixel.  It was Gotta Grab It weekend, which means the designers all used the same color palette to whip up some delicious coordinating paper and elements packs. Isabel and Danyale both came up with some gorgeousness to play with, and they are on sale for a few more hours only!

Here are some pages I made with these packs:

Sweet Dreams
All supplies by Etc by Danyale
Summer Sherbert Paper Pack
Summer Sherbert Gumball Alpha
 I kept this page simple because I loved this picture. She has just a touch of a smile, though I don't know what she is thinking of. I have a hard time getting pictures of her where she is looking happy, let alone showing a bit of a smile, so this is a nice one for me. I love the sweetness of the alpha, and that gumball machine was too cute not to use!

Easter Haul
All supplies by Crisdam Designs
Project June Paper Pack
Project June Element Pack
 I had been meaning to scrap with these pictures I took at Easter this year, and these colors were a perfect match for the candy-hued (and filled) baskets that arrived on Easter morning. Journaling reads: The Easter Bunny brought a whole lot of fun Spring toys this year. Maggie got a garden themed basket, with gardening tools and a strawberry plant, in addition to candy and an iTunes gift card. John got a car track, and a summer outfit. You two got quite a haul!


When You Were 1
Layout inspired by Week 24 Challenge at Log Your Memory
Kit: You Make Me Happy by Nikki Epperson
Alpha: Time 4 Presents (recolored) by Etc by Danyale
This challenge was to compare the people in my life. It is super easy to compare these two sweeties, as there are so many things that are opposites! I listed some of the things I remember Maggie doing when she was one, and compared (or contrasted) the same things with John. These are two of my favorite pictures of each of them at about a year old. I can't believe how fast time flies!  Just this week, John has had his first visit to a swimming pool, and Maggie has shown her grandma how to use an iPad. A lot has changed in such a short time!

Jun 5, 2011

Blog hop at Foosa Moon Creations!

As part of the Art of Digital Designs class at jessicasprague.com, the students put together a collaboration to raise money for earthquake relief in Japan. This kit is being celebrated by a blog hop, and my portion is over at my new blog: http://www.foosamoon.blogspot.com




All the details are there...check it out!

Crisdam Designs

Yes, it may have been a quite six weeks on the ol' blog, but it was a busy time at home and in Photoshop. I was inspired by Crisdam Designs' kits to make these pages:

Books: An Interview with Myself
 This one came together pretty quickly, and was inspired by a challenge from the logbook from Log Your Memory. It was also noticed by the ladies at the Gallery Standouts blog, which blew me away. I don't know. I expect to see my pages on the designer's blogs, but when they are noticed elsewhere it gives me warm fuzzies.

Not A Puppy
Fluffy Kit
 I'll be honest. I have been waiting for this kit to be featured on Pixel Tuesdays pretty much since I started on Isabel's team. I have several other sets of pictures with John inside Stella's crate, and was just waiting for the chance to use this kit to show some of them off. I could easily make a righthand page to coordinate with all the photos I have!

Mama
Mom's Kitchen Kit
 This page was also inspired by a Log Your Memory challenge, to describe myself with one word. I took Isabel's retro kitchen kit, Mom's Kitchen, and made a very non-kitchen page with it. I think it is an important story to tell, and was reminded once again why I love this hobby so much, because these are the things I want to remember to share with my kids. Without my scrapbooks and the chance to record the memories as they come to me, I wouldn't remember the details (or the story at all, 'cuz let's face it, my memory is faulty!).

Waiting for Spring
 I love the look on John's face in this photo and the title says it all. Well, actually, if we could see through the window, he's watching Maggie and the dog play in the backyard...but he couldn't play because it was too cold.  So sure, he's waiting for Spring. Making the photo B&W against all that bright color really reinforced the longing to me. (And the color of his shirt just wasn't working.) These are my favorite colors, and I think the Project May kit is my favorite so far of the Project 2011 series.

Spring Ride
Spring Dream Kit
Spring Dream Alphas
Yes, the date on the photos is February, but it felt like a Spring Day. The weather has been so strange here this year that I could have a page called Winter Delight and the photos could be from May. But I had to take the chance to photograph Maggie doing what she loves, riding her bike, especially after a long winter without riding.

I *think* that catches me up on pages. I'm sure I'll find something missing in the coming days, but you get the idea of what went on creatively over the last 6 weeks.

I'll have a new post up later today directing you to my new side-blog-project-adventure-whoknowswhat. I took Jessica Sprague's Art of Digital Design class this Spring (also part of why I neglected my blog so badly), and some of my classmates put together a collab kit to raise money for the earthquake relief in Japan. Since we are all new designers, it took a little time to get the ball rolling and get pieces made (as evidenced by the fact that I didn't even have time to put anything together for it!), but it is now available in the store at jessicapsrague.com. There will be a blog hop starting tonight, and while I didn't contribute to the kit, I did get to make a quickpage from the pieces that were submitted. I will be hosting my portion of the hop at my new blog: www.foosamoon.blogspot.com. There is already some teaser information over there if you want to check it out.

As always, happy scrapping!