I Wish I Was That Creative

Super Secret Surprise Revealed!!!

2011-11-07T14:56:00.000-07:00

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!

Image is linked to the LYM shop

Kick It!

2011-11-07T14:36:00.000-07:00

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!

DSD Man Oh Man!

2011-11-03T16:25:00.001-06:00

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.

Boo!

2011-10-03T17:30:00.000-06:00

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

2011-10-03T13:49:00.000-06:00

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!

Glamour-Ween and Ookie Spookie!

2011-09-29T06:00:00.001-06:00

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...

Autumn Walk and Autumn Nights

2011-09-22T12:28:00.000-06:00

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!

Project August

2011-08-20T22:09:00.000-06:00

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!

Imaginary Adventure

2011-07-28T05:00:00.001-06:00

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!

Cleaning Day

2011-07-27T05:00:00.001-06:00

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!

Project July

2011-07-07T16:20:00.000-06:00

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.

Timeless and Camping Adventures

2011-06-30T23:31:00.000-06:00

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!

Play Ball - Make a Wish - and Power Scrapping

2011-06-15T07:45:00.005-06:00

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!

2011-06-14T21:13:00.000-06:00

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!

Blog hop at Foosa Moon Creations!

2011-06-05T22:01:00.000-06:00

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

2011-06-05T06:45:00.000-06:00

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

Project February Kit

Project February Bits & Pieces

Project February Cardstock

Project February Alphas

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

Project May Kit

Project May Alphas

Project May Shabby Papers

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!

Etc by Danyale

2011-06-04T12:49:00.000-06:00

So catching up on a month of layouts might take a while, but if I chunk it the task will happen much faster. After yesterday's smattering of favorite layouts, I thought I'd finish up a review of the month's pages by designer, since most of my pages are created for CT requirements (though I tweak my CT requirements to fit my personal scrapping needs!).

From Etc by Danyale products last month I also made these pages:

All Smiles
Almost Neutral Grab Bag

I made this page up with Danyale's neutral grab bag for iNSD. I wanted to use as much of the pack as I could, and thought the pops of orange in John's shirt was a perfect compliment for all the neutral papers and ellies. I had a lot of fun using the paper swirls, and made my own mask to mat the detail work.

Currently 16 Months
My Little Guy Kit
My Little Guy Word Art

This list of things John does right now was compiled spur of the moment. They are all things that were on my mind at the time I was putting the page together. He is growing so fast, I can't believe it!

Cap'n Moo
Sugar Sands Beach Kit
Sugar Sands Beach Word Art
Sugar Sands Beach Wood Paper

This picture of Maggie driving a 70' sailboat from a few years back is one of my favorites. She was so excited to get to drive the boat...and then when the captain stepped away from the wheel she was even more thrilled! I thought of this photo immediately when I saw those great sailboats, and then rest of the page fell into place from there.

The Story of a Bicycle
Sugar Sands Beach Kit

This was another page that came together when I saw a piece of the kit. The bicycle paper (which I blended with the sunburst paper) made me think of this photo I had taken of my mom's old bike, which now sits in her backyard. Keeping the embellishments simple keeps the focus on the bike and the story. I haven't shown this too her yet, and hope this doesn't spoil the surprise! I had intended to print and frame it for their anniversary...but I missed it.

Summer Fun
Summer Fun Quilted Paper Pack
Summer Fun Words Pack
Summer Fun Quilted Alpha Pack

This was just a fun page inspired by the colors in the paper pack. I used the quilted paper as if it was a quick page background and just added a few other pieces from the collection to finish off the page. A really quick example of what can be done when pieces come prepped like this.

Coming tomorrow, I'll catch up on my pages from products by Crisdam Designs, which should also catch me up on Log Your Memory Challenges too. Tomorrow night, I'll be participating in a blog hop with a kit from JessicaSprague. So lots to look forward to in the next couple days! Happy scrapping. :)

Back from the Dead, it seems

2011-06-03T09:27:00.000-06:00

That second half of April, and all of May, really tried to kill me. Finishing up the school year is always stressful, and this year I added getting sick to my list of things to do during the last month. As a result of the magical combination of stressors, my poor blog was completely neglected. I'm sorry, Blog. :(

But I was scrapping during my silence here, so I'll share a few of the pages I made and we can forget the giant black hole of posts that might have happened in May.

Follow Me

All supplies by Crisdam Designs

Project May Kit

Project May Alphas

Project May Bits & Pieces

I'm taking a class at Big Picture Classes right now called "Power Scrapping Digi-Style" taught by Katie Nelson, and Follow Me was inspired by the process Katie is teaching. I had already decided I wanted these photos on one page, and when I saw this template, the rest just fell into place. I love the Project May kit, and have another layout I'll post with it later, but when I used it on this page, I only used the green, yellow, and black pieces, to compliment the photo. What I left out are the gorgeous teal and purpley pieces that are actually my favorites. To me, this looks like a completely different kit without those pieces. But I love this page. We were on our way to the park, and it struck me how Maggie has adjusted to being a big sister. She is such a big help to me and her little brother absolutely adores her.

Grow
Old Garden by Etc by Danyale

I took this picture while practicing for Portraiture 101 at Jessicasprague.com (um, yeah, I like to take a lot of classes). I didn't quite get the lighting the way I was supposed to for the assignment, but I loved the moody look it gave to the photo. I don't get many pictures of Maggie with pleasant looks on her face, as we are entering the moody-preteen phase faster than I could have imagined, but I liked the softness here. She was actually pretty excited to get to model for me. I wanted the photo to have center stage on this page, so kept the embellishments pretty simple. This kit had the perfect colors for the photo, and I acutally blended a paper into my photo, erasing it from only her face (so she didn't look like her skin was peeling), which gave the wall behind her some great texture. I was super excited to open my email the day after I posted this page to find it had been chosen as layout of the day at Gotta Pixel. Yep...super excited.

So Fast
My Everday Kit by Mye de Leon

These are photos from that same shoot, and I actually put this page together before Grow. I used a template from Mye de Leon as part of Gotta Pixel's iNSD celebration that lasted through the month of May. The journaling refers to a similar topic as Grow, only it is more of me talking about how fast she is growing up. I don't know where the last 9 years have gone!

Sick Day

All supplies by Crisdam Designs

Sick Day Paper Pack

Sick Day Elements

Sick Day Bits & Pieces

I made this page shortly after having to take three days off of school due to a missing voice and yucky cough. It was perfect timing, since Isabel released this only days after that whole episode happened. I had to keep it photoless, because let's face it, there are few photos of me anyway...I'm not taking one when I feel like crud.

Now that everyone in the house is healthy, and school is out... Bring on the scrapping!

It's Spring Time!

2011-04-16T21:21:00.000-06:00

The weather is finally starting to feel like Spring here, which means I once again have to juggle being outside in the beautiful weather with my compulsion to sit on the couch with my computer. There's a balance somewhere in there, I'm sure.

But I have been scrapping even with the beautiful weather, and twice with my friends in real life, which makes any day great! I also pulled the photos off my two memory cards (one for each camera) and used photos from each upload in the pages I made this weekend. (Also a bonus that our trip to Best Buy today resulted in a new charger for my camera battery, which means new photos with the good camera again!)

It was Danyale's birthday earlier this month, and she celebrated by creating this great party themed kit full of color and texture.

On my point-and-shoot card, I found some photos of Maggie blowing her candles out at her last birthday that are perfect with the colors in this kit.

And the newest installment of Isabel's Project 2011 series was released today, Project April. I found some great pictures of Johnny enjoying a beautiful February day to use with this sweet kit (and yes, I realize the irony of using April's kit for February photos, but you gotta go with the inspiration!).

There are also matching Alpha and Bits & Pieces kits for Project April. Now I'm off to scrap a little longer tonight.

New Etc Shop Opening!

2011-03-31T08:15:00.004-06:00

I'm so excited to share that Etc by Danyale has opened up shop at The Digi Chick! As a member of her team, I've known this for a few weeks now, and have been waiting patiently, well sometimes not, to be able to show off her latest kit, which is only available at her TDC store.

I love the colors (they're some of my favorites right now in scrapping, home decor, and life in general!), so had a lot of fun playing with this kit.

I ended up getting a little deep with my journaling, since I was also making this page for the LYM Challenge titled "Soul Searching," so I apologize for the blurry text, but I loved the page too much to start all over or rewrite anything.

I had another shot of inspiration after a trip to Hobby Lobby this weekend with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law. I happened to pull out a poster and said how much I loved the image. It was a graphic text print, and my sister-in-law reminded me that I could make that! So I went home and whipped up a similar image, changing the word (the original said, "Imagine") and using some of my favorite fonts.

Now I just have to get it printed and hung up above the desk in my crafty room. :)

Thanks for stopping by today. I should have some more exciting news tomorrow (if I remember to come back and post)... I'm trying to make the most of my last week of Spring Break, but here I am with only 4 days left, and I still have a to do list a mile long! Off to see about crossing a few things off (like maybe, the taxes. They have to get done still!)

Looking Back and catching up

2011-03-23T12:21:00.000-06:00

Catching up on my blog reader this morning, I was reminded of some other layouts I haven't posted here yet.

I used photos of my great grandma that were scanned a few years back to include with my family history research. So far, these photos pretty much sit on my hard drive, moving from computer to computer over the years. Danyale's Looking Back kit inspired me to create with them though.

Created using Looking Back Kit, Looking Back Borders by Etc by Danyale

Created using Looking Back kit, Looking Back borders, and Looking Back Monograms & Decos by Etc by Danyale

Also, I have a freebie cluster available on Danyale's blog using her cute Egg Huntin kit. It's available here.

Again with the Challenges.

2011-03-22T18:07:00.001-06:00

So most of my scrapping this month has been based on completing the LYM challenges. It was a longer month than I had anticipated, and it feels great to finally be able to come up for air!

The Log Your Memory Forum and Gallery are closed at the moment, pending a server move, so I've linked these pages to other galleries where they are posted for credit purposes. All materials used are listed and linked in the galleries. (Read: I'm still recovering from the last three weeks, and an up and back drive to Cheyenne, and don't have the energy to post individual links to each product...sorry!)

Week 10

Image is linked to Gotta Pixel gallery for credits

Week 11

Image is linked to DST gallery for credits

Egg Huntin'

2011-03-22T08:21:00.000-06:00

The blog silence is broken! It's been a crazy few weeks here, so I haven't made it to the blog in a while. But I didn't give up scrapping during that time, so I will try to get a few things posted this week to make up for the silence. But first, a new release!

Image is linked to product in store.

Just in time for Easter, Danyale (Etc by Danyale) has released a great kit. Know what's even better? It's also been released just in time for Pixel Tuesday! There are matching alpha and word art sets too.

Here's my layout I made with the kit. I haven't added my journaling yet because sometimes my daughter likes to look at the pages, and I don't want her to read the journaling, as she still believes in all holiday things magical and mysterious, including the Easter Bunny. It will talk about how this playset was intended to be from the Easter Bunny, but she found it the day before Easter in it's hiding place. There was some frantic searching for a new present, but the Easter Bunny came through after all, and Maggie got two special treats near Easter that year! (Note to self...must figure out what year that was!)

I hope everyone enjoys their week! It's Spring Break here, so I will definitely be enjoying some much needed time off (and scrapping as much as I can!), though there are several projects on my to do list that look remarkably like chores. I guess there's no fun without a little work, right?

Challenge Love

2011-02-25T07:45:00.041-07:00

These are my most recent challenge layouts completed for the challenges at Log Your Memory.

Week 8:

Kit: Cold by Jen C Designs
Word Art (at the bottom) by Etc by Danyale
Fonts: Everyday Ghost, Freebooter Script and Pea C-Squared

Week 9 (which isn't until next week)...I'm ahead!:

Kit: Carefree by Crisdam Designs
Stitching by Crisdam Designs

The kit I used in the Week 9 layout is NEW today from Crisdam Designs. I love the teal and block combo with pops of orange. I'm hoping to use this kit again a couple times this week...but we'll see how much scrapping time I really get.

As part of the Challenge Team at LYM, I have to complete two challenges per month from the Memory Log Book. But in some aspects of my life, I am a bit of an overachiever. This is one of those aspects. I have been working hard to keep up with the challenges, completing all of them, in order. Somehow last week, I forgot. Completely. To complete the challenge. I'm still trying to figure out how, but I missed week 7. At some point I plan to make it up, but for now I am continuing to push forward and keep up. Missing one is not a big deal unless I make is so, right?

Also on the Big News front, I've had my first layouts published. As in, IN PRINT! Log Your Memory has just published their 2010 Real Life Scrapbooking Yearbook with inspiration for each day of the year gleaned from their gallery all last year. I am so excited, and I need to go order my copy so I can see them. My contributions are this layout and this one. The first layout is one that I lost in my computer crash, so sad because I love it so much! But now I can see it in print, even if I can't print it out myself. It's all good!

Again with the Catching-up!

2011-02-23T04:14:00.003-07:00

Day three and still going strong. Hurray for scheduled posts, right? Ok, so I did not really write this today...but if I posted all these posts and layouts on Monday it would be blog overload. A little at a time is much easier to digest. (If only I could remember the same about Girl Scout cookies!)

I've used two of Connie Prince's new kits in the last little bit. My Favorite Things, which is her offering for Grab-A-Byte at scrapbookbytes.com (and was also used in the Puppy Love layout for one of my DIDer lessons), and Main Street Magic.

Kit and Template: My Favorite Things by Connie Prince

I don't usually use much purple in my pages, but love the way this looks with the green. And on the subject of my favorite things, I couldn't resist scrapping about my love of my kindle and all things book-ish again. My Kindle had an unfortunate run-in with my elbow last weekend, and is now in Kindle heaven. I am anxiously awaiting it's replacement in the form of a 3rd generation Kindle (with a new case, of course) which SHOULD arrive by Thursday if the tracking information is correct as of Monday afternoon. And yes, I think I have learned my lesson, and the Kindle will stay in it's case so I can't smash the screen. And it will stay on my nightstand, not underneath the comforter where it can't be seen. Yup, lessons learned. (I did mention in a previous post that I am a learner, right?)

Kit: Main Street Magic by Connie Prince
Template: For the Love of Layers Vol 9 by Connie Prince

Oh, I have scrapped Maggie recently, I wasn't thinking of this layout when I wrote the end of yesterday's post. While I don't have any Disney pictures, which is hinted at in the title of the kit, I loved the energy of the papers and colors, and thought they would be perfect for a birthday page. I was actually the "excited" tag that brought the birthday idea to my mind, and I meant to journal about how excited Maggie was to have a skating party, even though she was not a proficient skater before the party. By the end of the session though, she had figured it out and was skating very well. You can bet we'll be skating more often this year, especially now that she has her own skates (part of the party package).

I'll be back for one more post this week on Friday.

Continuing the Catch-Up

2011-02-22T06:08:00.000-07:00

Kit: Bride to Be by Crisdam Designs and Mye De Leon

Kit: Loveable by Crisdam Designs
Template: February Twisted Pixels by Crisdam Designs

I hope I haven't posted these layouts before. I'm pretty sure I haven't posted them before. I know at least one of them is new here. Guess I need to figure out a better recording system for my blog posts!

Isabel Mendez of Crisdam Designs has had a lot going on this month. She had a week in the spotlight at Gotta Pixel last week, and has a couple new kits out this month. Of these two pages, one is a new kit and one is an older kit, but they are both beautiful kits! Working with her new "Bride to Be" collaboration with Mye De Leon made me realize that I need to scan in some more pictures of my wedding though...I only have this one on my computer!

I'll be back again with more from Connie Prince and Log Your Memory. I'm slowly but surely catching-up!

Story of My Life

2011-02-21T16:02:00.000-07:00

I'm a little behind again. I feel like I say that a lot lately, but it is what it is, I guess. I'm going to spread the "catch-up" over the week, so I don't have a huge post all at once. (There's 9 layouts all together, if I'm counting right...I hope I'm counting right!)

I've been working hard to catch up on the lessons from Digi in Deeper at JessicaSprague.com. I am in love with all the new techniques I'm learning, though I am glad there are sketches to follow, as some of the styles we're using are way outside my normal style. It is fun to play though and see what goes in to making layouts with all these different styles. Week 1 was grunge, which included the birthday page I posted last week, and two other pages:

All supplies from DIDer class materials

Papers and Flower from "My Favorite Things" by Connie Prince
Brushes and sketch from DIDer course materials

Week two is Freestyle, though because Jessica was sick last week, we've only finished one of the freestyle pages (which was just fine with me, because as usual, I was behind and used the extra time to catch up).

Kit: Flea Market Finds by Etc by Danyale (her first kit!!!)
Blue paper, sketch, and fonts from DIDer course materials

I'll admit, adding grunge to my pages isn't so difficult, but the freestyle is more of a challenge. But it is a great challenge to mix things up a little bit, and there will be two more styles and 8 more pages before the class is over!

I also like to see my pages here on the blog because they make me notice patterns. I've been scrapping John a lot lately, but not so much of Maggie. I need to get the camera out and take more pictures of Maggie again, so I can make more with her in them. It's just hard, when her favorite activity is reading...I have lots of pics of her reading, but not much else! Hopefully if the weather holds, I can get some of her riding her bike or playing out side.

I'll be back tomorrow and throughout the week with news from Crisdam Designs, Connie Prince, and Log Your Memory. Lots going on!

Deeper and deeper

2011-02-12T22:33:00.000-07:00

Paper and feathers from class materials
Brushes: Destroyed Heraldry and Romantic Disasters from bittbox.com and a-a-m stains from diviantart.com

I am a learner. It's just part of who I am. There is a constant drive to learn more, whether it's about something I read, some part of my genealogy research, or how to use Photoshop more effectively (or creatively). Digi in Deeper started at JessicaSprague.com earlier this week. I was so busy with work and family that I didn't really start the class until earlier today while Johnny napped. All I can say is, I can't work fast enough. I am loving it! Working through Jessica's classes makes me fall in love all over again with aspects of Photoshop that I don't normally think of using. They also teach great skills to give layouts that extra pop.

In the layout above, I made the starburst paper that is blended into the background. I made that! I've always seen papers like that and wondered how in the heck designers did that. And now I know! It's just a great feeling (and isn't as hard as I would have guessed). I also think I'll be using these photos a few more times because I love 'em. Love 'em, love 'em, love 'em.

Now I'm off to get through another layout. This class is jam packed with goodness, and THREE lessons each week rather than the usual one. One down, three to go, just to catch up for this first week! It's a good thing all materials are available forever!

So much to say

2011-02-11T21:45:00.000-07:00

It's a busy weekend over at Gotta Pixel! Between Gotta Grab It new releases, and a super sale, it's crazy!

First off, GGI... All the designers use the same colors to create packs for $1 each...this month's colors are great spring colors, that REALLY make me wish for Spring! Since I work with three designers at Gotta Pixel, it's a VERY busy weekend.

Papers and elements by Crisdam Designs

Isabel has a paper pack, matching elements, and alphas in the mix this weekend. I made this page for the Week 6 challenge at Log Your Memory, about a special relationship.

Flea Market Word Art and Borders by Etc by Danyale

I suppose I could have also used this page for the same challenge. Using the packs by Etc by Danyale, this page went together super fast. I knew I wanted to make this page as soon as she started talking about what her general idea for the packs were, and I feel like this word art was made especially for me to use, because it fit my vision exactly!! A few of her borders, a quick piece of word art, and the page was finished! (And because I couldn't find paper like I was looking for at the time I was building this page, I made my own!)

Connie also has new packs in the store this weekend too, but I haven't had a chance to play with them yet.

And the sale!!

The designers are having a HUGE SALE. The GGI packs are not part of this, but it's a great chance to stock up.

I am hoping to get some good scrapping time in this weekend. Jessica Sprague's new Digi in Deeper class started this week, and so far I'm still on the first layout. I put my sketch together, but haven't had the time to sit down and actually work through the lesson. Suddenly I'm very behind!

A Tale of a Tuesday

2011-02-01T06:15:00.003-07:00

I've been dealing with a pain in my neck (literally) for the last few days, so will keep this post short, in the interest of my pain tolerance. Not much new scrapping this weekend, once my neck really started acting up, but luckily I have a few things I put together last week that I can share.

To start with, Isabel's stores are on sale for the entire month of February!

She has a new release today, Project February. Part of a yearlong project, these kits are perfect for P365/52 or everyday memory keeping. I made this month's desktop calendar with the February kit. (And only after saving it, realized it's the same picture I used for January. Guess I need to take more pictures with both kids!)

All supplies from the Project February line by Crisdam Designs (Isabel Mendez)

Kit: Always by Crisdam Designs (Isabel Mendez)
Flowers: Crocheted Flowers by Crisdam Designs (Isabel Mendez)

Part of the Dollar Pixel sale today at GottaPixel, Isabel's Always kit and Crocheted flowers were a perfect combo to put a page together with wedding pictures of my parents and grandparents.

Connie Prince also has a new release collaboration today: Pocket Finds with Victoria Feemster.

Kit: Pocket Finds Collab by Connie Prince and Victoria Feemster

These colors are my favorites, and I'm hoping to have time to play with this kit again later this week, I have a few more ideas swimming in my head.

I also put together two layouts for challenges at Log Your Memory.

Everything except red alpha by Crisdam Designs (Isabel Mendez) (pieces from Project 2011, and Project January)
Red Alpha by Etc by Danyale (Burning Love)

Week 4 had to do with a project, and while I have a lot of those laying around, I don't have many completed at this point. This idea popped in to my head, and I have used many of these excuses on many occasions, especially if there is no due date for a particular project. What can I say...I am a procrastinator at heart!

Papers by Orchard & Broome, and Queen of Quirk
Elements by Geek Chic, Latz Designs, Crisdam Designs (Isabel Mendez) and Kitschy Digitals
Alpha by Etc by Danyale
Template by Trixie Scraps Designs

Week 5's page was to tell a fairy tale. With my current struggle to prioritize, leave work at work, and leave a little time for play, I couldn't come up with a regular fairy tale, and just wasn't feeling a love story, so I turned my struggle into a fairy tale. I am hoping the end is happily ever after, but I know it takes work, and I know I am on my way in the right direction!

Sorry for no links in todays post, I'm trying to keep this as quick as I can while still giving credit where it's due! Now I'm off to rest my head and gear up for another day in the classroom!

Coming up for Air

2011-01-23T16:02:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy two weeks, but I think I am finally finding a rhythm of work and family and fun. At least, I hope I've found a rhythm! I have a calendar planned out with responsibilities and daily activities planned out, including time for scrapping and perusing the galleries and forums. Last night, my calendar included Craft Night at a friend's house. Always a fun time, I was able to get a lot of my upcoming scrapping assignments completed, including some that were a little more overdue that I would have liked! This morning, I was able to get up and post 4 new pages to my galleries. That's a lot of scrapping. (Not to mention the bits and pieces I've managed to get done over the last couple weeks.)

I have four pages that I made with goodies from My Life and Scrap, with a little bit of Danyale's gorgeous alphas thrown in too. :)

SAHM
Kit: A Day in My Life by Jen C Designs (at My Life and Scrap)

This page has a coordinating left hand page also, but I have to wait to post it in my galleries because it's out for publication! I'm very excited to see it "in print," even if I have to wait to post it around. I really loved this challenge at Log Your Memory (week 3) and love the pages that were inspired by it.

Kit: Cold by Jen C Designs

The blues in this kit just screamed skiing to me. It has been a few years since we've been out, but the memories are great and we're hoping to hit the slopes again sometime soon!

Happy Boy:
Kit: Denim by ScrapElf
Alpha: Backyard Life by Etc by Danyale

I love this photo. John was so thrilled to bounce on the pile of rolled up blankets in the store, I think it's the only way we survived the last 20 minutes or so of that last Christmas shopping trip! The picture isn't great, I only have my cell phone camera, and he wouldn't sit still long enough to get a crisp shot, but that's part of what makes it such an energetic photo, I think.

Kit: All I Want For Christmas by ScrapElf
Alpha: Backyard Life Alpha by Etc by Danyale

I haven't done much with my photos from this Christmas. In fact, I think they were only taken off my camera's memory card about a week ago. Long enough to decide that I needed at least ONE page this year, before next Christmas comes around!

And some older pages that have been sitting around here:

Kit: Chugging Along by Colie's Corner
Word Art: Chugging Along Word Art by Etc by Danyale and Colie's Corner

Danyale had a new word art set out that coordinates with a release by Colie's Corner. The train theme was perfect for using with this picture of John testing out his new ride-on train he got for Christmas.

And this is Danyale's newest solo release. Loving the quilted alpha still! This title is part of the word art set, and the hearts are all part of the alpha deco pack, but were so much fun to work with! Making this page even made me kind of like this picture (which I have always disliked, even though my favorite pint-sized photographer snapped it)...I'm not sure which part makes me like it more, the pretties that I decorated the page with, or the Photoshop work that took away all the acne that had been on my forehead. Turned it in to a half decent photo!

Kit, predecorated paper, and template: Sweetest Thing by Connie Prince

I put this page together on the night my baby turned 1. This is still my favorite infant photo of him, and one of the few I have of him actually sleeping those first few weeks. The best part of this layout, is that it went together so fast. The background is actually a pre-decorated page, and I piled a focal cluster from a template over the paper, clipped papers and elements into the template pieces and voila! Super easy, super fast, and super cute!

Kit: Make a Wish by Isabel Mendez
Alpha (number 7): Time 4 Presents by Etc by Danyale (recolored)

This is the page I put together late on the night of my last blog post, but never got back to post! It was another template page, so went together pretty quickly, all things considered. I did recolor the 7 (it was originally a very Christmas-y green, but wanted the outlined number, and love the final look!

Here's to another week beginning, and hopefully a slightly more organized calendar, and more timely blog posts!

Gotta-Grab-It Madness

2011-01-08T10:58:00.001-07:00

I love Gotta-Grab-It. However, my bank and Paypal accounts do not always agree with that statement, so it's a good thing I can get a few of the packs for free through my CT positions. :)

From Danyale at Etc by Danyale, there are four fabulous alpha/word art sets. I only played with one alpha, but I'm itching to get my hands on the second.

Priority

This page is also for the Week 2 Challenge at Log Your Memory. It didn't take a whole lot of thought to come up with my word, because I am already having to do a whole lot of juggling to balance what I HAVE to do with what I WANT to do, and deciding what is really important. Remembering that it's all about my own priorities makes me feel less guilty about the things I have to give up.

And I can't remember if I mentioned here before that I won a three month guest spot with Connie Prince during a New Year's Eve chat, but I also got to play with her GGI contribution, Time to Play.

Playmates

Isabel Mendez (Crisdam Designs) also has a great offering for the GGI sale this weekend:

I'll be playing with this one later today! It's very fitting as today is John's first birthday. I'm off to play with it, and will be back later with a new layout. :)

Happy New Year!

2011-01-02T15:31:00.000-07:00

Happy New Year! We spent all day yesterday traveling home, so I am beat. But there are lots of changes and new adventures coming up in the next few weeks.

Look for changes to my blog coming in the next week or so. I am working through the Blog Design Basics class at JessicaSprague.com, and hope to have all the pieces in working order by the end of the week. Before I figure all that out though, I will be loading a new background and header up. I'm using a pre-made set that matches Connie Prince's kit "This One Life". These are available exclusively at Gotta Pixel through the end of this month.

Speaking of Connie Prince, I will be adding Connie's team to my list of CT's!! (At least for the next three months.) I won a guest spot on her CT at the GottaPixel chat on NYE night! I'm super excited to play with her designs.

It's 2011, and with that comes a whole new set of challenges at Log Your Memory. I have finished my first page (the Remember 2010 page I posted last time), and have one more ALMOST done...I just can't make the title look the way I want it to.

And one more finished page to wrap up today. This is what I made at Friday night's Speed Scrap, using Project 2011 Cardstock and Bits & Pieces from Isabel Mendez (Crisdam Designs). I am loving the flexibility of these basic pieces, and can't wait to add each monthly add-on kit throughout the year. (I've already used the January pieces to make my desktop background for the month.

Ok, that was two pages. I guess I need to work on my counting skills. While I do that, enjoy the new year and all the hope that newness brings.

Remembering 2010...

2010-12-28T00:34:00.000-07:00

Wordart: "Attic Treasures Wordart" by Etc by Danyale
Circle Frames for date: "Attic Treasures Alpha" by Etc by Danyale
Kit: Perseverance by Connie Prince
Fonts: Georgia and 1942 Report

Etc by Danyale has a new alpha out today, called Attic Treasures. I love the vintage feel of the frames, and the font she used for each charm piece. I really want to use the wordart on a heritage page, but also thought the remember charms would be perfect for a reflective page about the past year. We had a very busy year full of changes and challenges, but it was a year full of blessings as well.

This is also my page for the Week 1 Challenge at LYM, which included using a list in the journaling. I listed some of the highlights, but could have easily gone back through with my journal to document smaller details too. I really wanted this page to be about the whole family, so kept the elements simple, to allow the photos and words center stage.

Kit: Troublemaker by Crisdam Designs

I could have used so many pictures of John with this kit, as he has a smirk that screams "Troublemaker!" But I really like how the colors in these photos of both kids were reflected in the kit, and it was really fun to remember them playing with Maggie's zhu-zhus in the kitchen one morning in November. This was John's first time seeing the little hamster toys in action, and he was captivated! I think I'll have to add some journaling to my own version of this page, as it really is a great memory full of laughs and smiles.

Calendar Love

2010-12-26T12:18:00.000-07:00

This year I decided to make calendars for my mom and in-laws for Christmas this year. It took me the better part of a month (maybe more) to get all 13 pages made up, so I didn't have a whole lot of new layouts to post last month. But now I can show the top pages, since everyone has opened their presents!

Kit: Daily Download from GottaPixel
Page Border and Glitter by Lindsey Jane

Template by Connie Prince
Kit by Sweet Tomato Designs

Kit by Sweet Digi Scraps
Template by Graham Like the Cracker

Template by Connie Prince
Kit by Jaime Dell Scraps

Template by Graham Like the Cracker
Kit by Litabells Designs

Template by Connie Prince
Kit by Litabells Designs

Template by Connie Prince
Kit by Mye De Leon
Wordart by Etc by Danyale

Template by Connie Prince
Kit by Geek Chic
Month Tab by Etc by Danyale

Template by Connie Prince
Kit by Tempus Fugit
Wordart by Etc by Danyale

Template by Connie Prince
Kit by Ohana Designs
Tag by Litabells Designs

Template by Connie Prince
Kit by Lindsey Jane

Kits and Alpha by Crisdam Designs

Template by Connie Prince
Kit by Colie's Corner
Wordart and borders by Etc by Danyale

I decided not to link to each store because I had so many different kits and products used over the course of the calendar. Etc by Danyale, Crisdam Designs, Geek Chic, Connie Prince, Lindsey Jane Designs, Mye De Leon, and Colie's Corner are available at GottaPixel. Ohana Designs, Tempus Fugit, and Jaime Dell Scraps are available at My Life and Scrap. Sweet Tomato is at PolkaDotPlum. Litabells has retired, which makes me sad from a consumer standpoint. Graham Like the Cracker has left her store at GP, but I'm pretty sure she's still around digiland.

After I finished the work on the pages, I discovered my favorite printer, Persnickety Prints, also had a 12x12 calendar option. I'll have to remember that for next year, as I really prefer working on square pages, but I really enjoyed this project, and know it will be loved all year long.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

2010-12-19T16:04:00.000-07:00

I'm trying VERY hard to get into the Christmas spirit, and slowly but surely I think it's working. It also helps that I've been putting together some Christmas layouts, and some general layouts with both my kiddos.

Holly Jolly 2010
Kit: Holly Jolly by Crisdam Designs
Alpha: Holly Jolly Alphas by Crisdam Designs
Template by Mye deLeon

I have turned to this kit a couple times already for Christmas themed projects. I wanted some pics of my kids in front of the tree, and think I got a few good ones. (Now if I can just get them to the mall to see Santa!) I had hoped to have JJ in the Santa hat and Maggie with reindeer antlers, but she couldn't find the headband, so we improvised.

Siblings
Kit: Accentuate the Positive by Limequilla
Fonts: Love Ya Like a Sister and Arial

I am consciously taking more pictures of both kids together, because I have so few of them. I really only get a handful of good ones each time I pull the camera out (and take 35 pictures in a row), but that's all I need!

I also pulled out a few older photos for some pages.

First Grade Fashion
Kit: Accentuate the Positive by Limequilla

I took these photos two years ago, intending to make a page about all the new clothes Maggie had gotten, but somehow the page was never created. The colors in this kit made me think of fall, which got me thinking about school, so this page finally came in to being!

Snow Baby
Kit: Snow Angel by Ohana Designs
Alpha: Winter Dreams by Crisdam Designs

I loved the stitching in this kit, and loved that I was able to replicate the swirls in the edge of the paper too.

Part of the reason I have been delinquent in my posts lately is that a lot of the projects I've been working on were for Christmas...and I didn't want to spill the beans early. But I think I can share a few pieces that I've got without spoiling the surprise (or at least not the whole surprise).

Gift Can
Kit: Holly Jolly by Crisdam Designs

I love making these cans to house gift cards. While I love receiving gift cards, I don't like giving them if I can avoid it. I know, it's a bit of a double standard, but it's just the way I am. I like to pick out personal gifts, but when I can't come up with that perfect gift, I do turn to gift cards, but send them in these fun cans. They're super easy to make with a can opener that cuts from the side (instead of the top).

And here's a sneak peak at a couple of my favorite pieces of the super secret project:

I hope to post the rest of the project just after Christmas, because I'm really excited about it (these pages include designs by Colie's Corner, Crisdam Designs, and Etc by Danyale...I'll post complete credits after Christmas because right now I'm running late)! Until then, Merry Christmas to all.

Announcement!!!

2010-12-16T07:01:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to be able to share that I will be a part of the Challenge Team at Log Your Memory for the first half of this coming year! The log book is a fantastic tool for recording and tracking memories and ideas for scrapbooking, in addition to the weekly challenges that stretch my scrapping and record everyday memories in ways I wouldn't have thought of otherwise!

Read about the rest of the team here, and I'll be back to catch up on posting some of the pages I've been working on lately.

I'm still here...I think?

2010-12-02T22:25:00.000-07:00

Just remembered I haven't posted in some time! It's been crazy busy here, but I promise I'm still here. I've been working on a surprise that I can't post because it's a surprise. The Inspiration Everywhere class also started this week at Jessica Sprague, and I'm *trying* to keep up with that...unsuccessfully! (Work is really getting in the way of things I want to do. (: ) I don't have a whole lot of time, as I am between tasks right now, but I'll leave you with a few layouts I've created over the last couple weeks.

Grateful
Kit: Thankful-Lucky-Blessed by Limequilla (available at MLAS)

A Christmas Tradition
Kit: Joy by Crisdam Designs
Alpha: Winter Dream Metal Alpha
(both available at Gotta Pixel)

Also, it's Stocking Parade at My Life & Scrap. Each day, the MLAS blog has a new freebie or two created by the team there! There are some really great presents to grab! Alphas, tags, cards, quick pages, and LOTS more!

November Designers Part 1

2010-11-17T06:00:00.001-07:00

I've got THREE designers from MLAS to show off this month. Samceline, Scrappy Towne, and Limequilla.

I've worked with Samceline's goodies before, and loved them! This month, I played with Autumn Moments and I Love Remembering.

Kit: I Love Remembering by Samceline
Font: Freebooter Script

I'm not sure how I missed this kit when I was playing with Samceline's goodies a couple months ago, but fell in love with it when I saw it this time. I love the pink and green combo, and love the way it looks with this photo of my great grandma and her sister.

Papers: Autumn Moments by Samceline
Elements: Autumn Moments by Samceline
Template: November Template Challenge by Ohana Designs

I loved the contrast between the blues and the kraft and orange in this kit, and chose to play that up by tinting my photos to match. (One of the things I LOVE about digi---I can play with my photos if I realize they can be tweaked to look better with the products I'm using.) This is also a template available as part of a challenge this month at MLAS. The challenges have changed over there, and if you haven't checked it out yet, you should! Challenges start all throughout the month, and last until the end of the month.

Speaking of challenges, have you checked out my hybrid challenge yet? I made a couple different cards so that everyone can see just what's possible when creating cards with digital products. I know hybrid can be a scary word, whether you are a paper-only or digi-only scrapper...adding a little of the opposite can be a fun way to mix things up!

These cards were made with Autumn's Kiss by Scrappy Towne. I love that she used teal with the traditional autumn colors. (It's my favorite color!!) We haven't unpacked the printer yet, so I haven't printed these yet, but I can't wait! (Who'd have thought two weeks after the move I'd still be unpacking boxes?! I thought I set the challenge late enough that I'd have it done by now!)

I haven't played with anything from Limequilla yet, as she is still setting up her store...but I'll be back to show off her goodies when they're all ready. :)

Putting on my "Ad" hat

2010-11-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

It's Tuesday again (how'd that happen so fast!), which means it's $1 and $2 Pixel Day at Gotta Pixel. Lots of great stuff on sale for only a dollar or two! Here's a layout I made with the Crisdam Designs kit that's on sale for $2 today. It also includes a journaling box from the $1 category:

Kit: In the Hood by Crisdam Designs
Journaling block: Write it Down Templates by Crisdam Designs
Template: Scraplift with a Twist Template by Crisdam Designs

It's also the end of the Gotta Grab it event, which happened this weekend. Isabel put together a beautiful kit with the color palette used by all the designers at the site. I love GGI because I can pick up papers from one designer and match them with elements or an alpha from another designer. Oh, who am I kidding...I usually pick up each kit piece offered by several different designers (and spend more in this one weekend than I spend the rest of the month combined!).

Kit: Morning Pleasures Papers and Elements by Crisdam Designs
Photoshop Photo Actions: Pioneer Woman

I can see myself reaching for this kit again and again, as I sure do love my coffee in the morning!

New Store, new challenge.

2010-11-15T10:00:00.007-07:00

There's a "new"designer at Gotta Pixel. Well, "new" only in the fact that now she has her own store! Danyale, now of Etc by Danyale, has a brand new shop for her alphas, word art, and extra little page embellishments. I've used her word art sets on pages for other designers, but now she has her own creations coming out.

Word Art: Stuck in the 70's Word Art by Etc by Danyale
Alpha: Stuck in the 70's Alpha by Etc by Danyale
Kit: Glorious Mess by Z Pink Boudoir
Template from Songbird Avenue

This is a layout I did with her "Stuck in the 70's" Word Art and Alpha sets. I used a kit I already had in my stash, popped in some word art, and that page was finished! A Perfect title for the page, that I would have never come up with on my own. (I'd probably have had a generic Halloween type title...but I like this much better!)

Word Art: Family Branches Word Art by Etc by Danyale
Kit: Family Branches Collab by Creations by Rachael and Inspirations from Day

This page was created with Danyale's word art that coordinates with another designer's kit. The word art immediately made me think of our move back to "home" and I used the kit that matches.

Now on to the new challenge:

I'm hosting a hybrid challenge at MLAS for the rest of this month. It's a card challenge, starting out small. All you have to do is use something digital on a card front. It can be as simple as creating (or used a premade) word art that you print and add to a paper card front, or it can be created completely digitally. Come on over and check it out! (There's a participation prize just for playing.)

Speed Scraps

2010-11-13T19:00:00.000-07:00

Gotta love'em at Gotta Pixel! And why do I love the speed scraps at Gotta Pixel so much? Because they're not quite so speedy. Oh, I try to finish my layout in an hour, but it's not the same hour that I'm in the chat room! The other thing I love is that even if I miss the chat (like last night) I can still participate in the chat, as layouts are not due until noon Eastern, the next day! Best of both worlds!

Here are the layouts I created for the last two speed scraps at Gotta Pixel:

Kit: Sunset Blues by Litabells Designs

Kit: A Day in the Life by Connie Prince

Harvest Spice, Captured, and For the Love of...

2010-11-13T11:29:00.000-07:00

The move is finally over!!! (Well, close enough that I choose to ignore that there is still one more load of trash at the old house, and there is stuff EVERYWHERE in the new!) Here are some layouts I've done for Crisdam Designs over the last two weeks.

Kit: Harvest Spice by Crisdam Designs
Border: Doodle Do Page Borders by Crisdam Designs

This one uses a picture of my husband and his friends the night before most of them raced in a 24 hour mountain bike race. One of these days, I'll put a mini-album together with more of the pictures he took. There is another picture of them at a restaurant the evening after the race was over...a very different picture, indeed! The excitement on their faces here is replaced with pure exhaustion.

Kit: November Grab Bag (Captured) by Crisdam Designs

When I saw the doodled words in this grab bag, I immediately thought of these pictures I took of my son several months ago. He was just learning to push his chest off the ground, and I love the smiles I was able to capture. A perfect combo, for the kit and the words!

Kit: For the Love of by Crisdam Designs

My daughter LOVES riding her bike, but I remember very clearly the day my husband decided to teach her to ride without training wheels. Of course, I was there with my camera to catch the frustration and the success. This photo perfectly captured the feeling of moment. Maggie was frustrated and a little scared, but all it took was a little pep talk and encouragement from Daddy, and she got right back up on the bike. By the end of the afternoon she was riding without training wheels, albeit a little wobbly. I advertise to friends who have trouble teaching their little ones to ride that my husband has the perfect technique...a grassy hill and an afternoon was all it took to get our Nervous Nellie off her wheels!

Expect a flood of posts this week, as I catch up posting everything I've done since Halloween.

Free. WHAT?

2010-11-08T07:14:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since my last post, but then I warned that might happen. Between moving and life, I've been squeezing my creative time into the wee hours of the night. I did get to spend a little time playing games this weekend, as it was Digi-Scrapbooking Day on Saturday and both My Life and Scrap and Gotta Pixel had loads of games and events going on. I've done a little scrapping since my last post, but today I have a little something different.

Every six months or so, Jessica Sprague offers a new class. For free. That's right, free. I've already signed up, as I have for even available free class for the last two years. This is how I was introduced to digital scrapbooking, and also the site I took ALL my classes to learn Photoshop, photo editing, and a few other new things. (I am not paid in any form by Jessica...in fact, I regularly SPEND my money here.) I consider this website and community my homebase, even if I don't get to check in every day.

Click this image to be taken to JessicaSprague.com and more information about the course.

This class should be fantastic. 10 days of inspiration and projects. There is very little photoshop knowledge required (as in, if you don't have the program, you should still be ok. If you've never opened it, you'll also be fine). Here is the description from her website:

In our 10-day class together, we'll cover five different paths to inspiration:

Words
Music
Art
Tools
Play

For each of the themes we'll have a project to make, and different techniques to call your creative muse, no matter WHAT kind of art you make!

The other great thing about these classes is that even if life gets in the way and you can't finish (or start as the case may be) the class during the scheduled time, you still have access to all the materials FOREVER! Makes it easy to not stress about life. (Or easy to procrastinate, as I have a habit of doing.)

I'll be back later this week with the pages I've made for all my designers, but wanted to share this class as it should be fun!

Heartbreaker

2010-10-29T06:00:00.001-06:00

Oh. My. Yes, he is a heartbreaker. But more than a cutie pie, that's also the name of this great kit. It's releasing today at My Life and Scrap from Ohana Designs, and this page absolutly FLEW together. I love the colors (that teal-ly light blue is my favorite!) and I love all the sweet elements.

I am putting this post together before the kit is even in the store, so I can't link directly to it! But I love this kit, and love this boy. :)

Today begins our weekend of spotty internet (again) as we prepare to unload our household goods on Monday! I'm so excited to see the light at the end of this move! Until next week...

Space Monsters and Our Children

2010-10-27T11:28:00.001-06:00

Space Monsters Need Sleep Too
Kit: Space Monsters by Crisdam Designs
Text Paths 1 by Crisdam Designs (rounded rectangle and flower)
Font: Pea Bandit

I pulled an older photo to work with Space Monsters from Crisdam Designs. Going through my photos, this title popped into my head when I saw the photo, so knew this was the one. I used a black and white photo so as not to compete with the colors of the elements. I love all the star accents, and thought this little alien looked a little sleep deprived. :)

Also used in this layout are her Text Paths 1. I love being able to quickly add text in a shape other than a box and when I was using PSE6, that's just not an option...unless you have some ready made text paths! I even used one of her paths on the ring on the planet to curve my date. Now that I've upgraded to CS5, I can do that without a premade path, but it was so easy to just use a part of the flower to get a similar curve.

Our Children...
Kit: Family Tree by Sweet Digi Scraps
Word Art: Family Tree Word Art by Sweet Digi Scraps/Designs by Danyale

This week I also put together this layout of the same picture I used on Friday. I think this is my new favorite picture right now.

I'm all caught up on my CT requirements and am shifting gears (at least for the rest of this week) to Christmas thoughts, so probably won't be posting anything new later this week. Wouldn't want to spoil any gifts before the big day! But I will be sure to create a post to come out on Christmas or soon after with the goodies I'm creating this week. :)

Quadruple Layouts...wait, there are five.

2010-10-23T22:35:00.001-06:00

Moving has really gotten me behind schedule (and addled my brain, as evidenced by my counting skills in the title), both with household chores and CT requirements. I've been working to catch up this week so I can get everything finished before November rolls around and I start all over again. That being said, I had some fun working with kits from my October designers at MLAS -- Kate's Digital Designs and Miss Mis Designs.

All In A Days Work
Kit: The Do It All Mom by Miss Mis Designs
Alphas: The Do It All Mom Alpha 2 and The Do It All Mom Alpha 3 by Miss Mis Designs
Font: Pea C-Squared

I loved that the Do It All Mom kit from Miss Mis helped me put together a quick view of an average day around here. (We won't be seeing many of those in the next couple weeks...but a girl can dream, right?) I can also see myself using the bubbly alpha on a bath layout with some photos I have of John...now to find the time to pull them out!

Fall?
Kit: Autumn Air by Miss Mis Designs

And, since I feel like I've put together a lot of traditional fall layouts this year already, I decided to use a fall kit to put a spin on a fall layout. These pictures were taken when the calendar said it should have been fall. Someone should have told that to the weather!

Springtime Fun
Kit: That 70's Kit by Kate's Digital Designs
Font: Downcome

As much as I am loving the cooler weather, I am feeling a little nostalgic for the warm sunshine, and I found some old photos of Maggie playing in the sun (in front of our old/new house...we're moving back into a house we've already lived in, if I haven't mentioned that before).

The Numbers
Kit: The Blues by Kate's Digital Designs
Date Stamp: Date It by Kate's Digital Designs
Template: All Blocked Out Templates by Kate's Digital Designs
Fonts: Pea C-Squared and VT Portable Remington

I loved that Kate's templates and date stamps made putting together some quick layouts about our move easy (and quick).

Moving Day
Kit: The Blues by Kate's Digital Designs
Fonts: Lainie Day and Pea C-Squared

I also used the "Moving Day" layout in conjunction with the Mystery Lift challenge that I am hosting right now at MLAS. I really made it a challenge by using a photoless, journaling heavy layout as the inspiration. They are some of my favorite layouts right now. (Obviously, since three of these five layouts are "photoless" and have lots of journaling!)

Have a great week! I'll most likely be scrapping during nap times, since that is about the only form of entertainment I have left around here. Not a whole lot to distract me. At least until we finish this move!

Jumpstarting my creativity

2010-10-22T23:28:00.000-06:00

After almost a week of only being able to lurk on my favorite forums and galleries, I am finally back to where I can focus on creating. The movers have left, the house is empty, and I have lots of time on my hands. In the last two days, I have finished 4 full layouts and 2 board book pages. During the time the movers were here, it was too crazy during the day to even think about pulling the computer out and if I had, I would have been bound to the area it was placed. I wouldn't want someone to accidentally pack it if I walked away to take care of the baby. (This very thing happened to me with a text book the last time we moved...long story short, I had to order a second copy of a textbook with no value to me outside that one course.) And by the time they left in the evenings I was too exhausted to think straight, let alone play around in Photoshop. Tonight, I'm going to share two of the layouts I have made this week, one older and one new. Then I'll come back later this weekend and share the rest!

Kit: All About Me by Crisdam Designs
Template: Scraplift with a Twist Oct 2010 by Crisdam Designs
Fonts: VT Portable Remington and Pea C-Squared (two of my favorites/most used)

This first page is one I made much earlier in the week but forgot to post here due to all the activity going on in the house. This is my current favorite picture of me, snapped by Maggie while we were at CFD this summer. I'll have to teach her some composition pointers, as my head was slightly cut off, but it really only presented a problem when I wanted to feather the blending and NOT cut off my face.

Kit, Alpha, and Word Art: Sibling Love by Sweet Digi Scraps (each sold separately)
Inspired by the 10/22 Speed Scrap at Gotta Pixel

Each Friday night, there is a Speed Scrap hosted at Gotta Pixel. This is a fun SS because it doesn't have the pressure of a traditional speed scrap. We get so chatty in the chat room (go figure) that most people don't try to scrap during the hour that the chat happens. Instead, the host gives until noon (Eastern) on Saturday to finish and post layouts. The beauty of this is that I get an hour of uninterrupted computer/social time while the kids are still awake AND I get to scrapbook later in the evening! Best of both worlds! This is the layout I created with this week's instructions. Liz of Sweet Digi Scraps is also in the spotlight this week at Gotta Pixel, which means her whole store is 30% off...AND there are several RAK giveaways going on in the forum, and at DST and DSA...AND she has provided the daily download at GP this week. Seven days of downloads which result in a FREE mini-kit.

Ok, I guess I should quit stalling and get some rest. Fingers are crossed for good weather this weekend so I can take the kids to a pumpkin patch/corn maze and get some good Fall pictures!

Gearing up for Halloween

2010-10-17T11:59:00.001-06:00

The kids are getting excited for Halloween around here. Maggie and her friend have been discussing decorations at length. They decorate the neighbor's front lawn over the course of last weekend. Now Maggie is nagging me about decorating our own front lawn (and ignoring the fact that movers will be here this week to pack up everything we own). But one thing I will indulge her with, is a new Halloween candy bucket. I let her pick out the papers and embellishments that went into the design and then whipped up this little prop for her. I did have to weed out some extra embellishments she wanted (it would have looked like a product preview if I had let her have her way).

After printing (2 pages, as the bucket's circumference was larger than one page), I just trimmed the two pages up, glued them together, and popped them inside the bucket. I happened to have found a clear bucket at my local craft store, which means I can easily redesign this to house a Christmas gift in a few months, or to match Maggie's room and use for storage.

Kit: Spooktacular by Sweet Digi Scraps
Word Art: Spooky Word Art by Sweet Digi Scraps/Designs by Danyale
Journaling reads: Captain Maggie Sparrow plundered the neighborhood for candy on All Hallow's Eve 2006. Her legend will forever haunt the block. But don't worry about that hook she's brandishing here. It's the peg let you have to look out for.

While I was in a Halloween mood, I also put together this page, with a picture that was a few years old. I loved the word art, and thought I'd bring this memory out of hiding. I do still need to remember who put the whiskers on her face though...she was not wearing those when we left our house headed for the neighbor's house that served as a base for trick-or-treating.

On the moving front, we just received word that we can schedule our move in (back to a house we own, but were renting out) anytime after the 26th! So things are moving faster than we anticipated...but we are so looking forward to getting settled in. I may not be around much this week, between supervising the packing and chasing after the baby, it's going to be a full week! Thanks for stopping by!

I'm On a Hybrid Roll

2010-10-15T21:35:00.000-06:00

No, I did not get a new car. But I have been working with my digital supplies and my printer more in the last couple weeks than I have ever had the guts to do. I've made the couple of cards I've posted here, and in the last week I've finished two hybrid projects that involved more than just printing out a digital design. The first was made as a gift.

I saw Laurie at Jessica Sprague create these organizers for her son, and I had grand plans to make a set of my own for my son as well. Now that he is 9 months old, and most of the clothes we were gifted are outgrown, I have little need for a set of my own. Since I had the chipboard pieces, and some good friends with a new baby girl, I decided to rethink my "boy" theme and create some for a girl.

They were very simple to make, once I got the chipboard scanned and turned into a template. Laurie goes in to detail about how she did this, so I won't repeat, but it really was simple. Once the template was made, it was just a matter of popping papers and elements into the designs, printing, and cutting.

The hard part for me was finding a brown paint to go over the edges, since I didn't want the chipboard showing through (and since I can't cut a round line to save my life...I needed to hide some less than perfect paper edges).

Once they were finished, I had to make a cute bag to match...and pulled out my neglected stamps for the bag. Welcome to the world, Gracie! We can't wait to meet you. (Oh, and Gracie should have already received these, so it's safe to post about them.)

The kit for the closet organizer is "Spoonful" by Litabells Designs. Stamps on gift bag are from Stampin' Up.

My second project is ALMOST finished, but not quite. Check back later this weekend for a cute Halloween treat bucket!

In the Hood!!!

2010-10-11T07:00:00.001-06:00

The minute I saw this kit, I knew I wanted to work with it. :) I think I may have moving on the brain! I've redone my blog header and background (though there is still some tweaking to do there), made a layout, and a postcard. I really am going to send the postcard to family, since some of them didn't find out we moved LAST October until our baby was born in January. Ooops! (I reworked it after I printed this version to include our actual address, but didn't feel I needed to publish that on four different Internet galleries and here on my blog. Call me crazy. Or paranoid. Whatever. Anyway, without further ado, here's what I did with Crisdam Designs' "In the Hood":

I can't wait to send these cards out! The best part is, I only have to cut cardstock for the back (each 8.5x11 piece will make 4 cards), pop the printed card onto the stock, and put them in an envelope! If I wanted I could even probably turn them into a real card, using the printed portion as the inside, tape them closed and address the outside of the card. Come to think of it, that might even be easier than using an envelope!! Thanks for letting me brainstorm with you!

I'll be back later this week with more layouts, and I have another hybrid project I've been working on (and finally finished) and an announcement. The two are *kind of* related, but I didn't know it before I started the project. :) Hmmm...wonder what they are???

Logging 12-12-12

2010-10-10T10:00:00.001-06:00

I try to keep up on the challenges at Log Your Memory because they serve as great inspiration for layouts that I otherwise wouldn't think to create. For example, last week's challenge involved today's auspicious date (hence the post date and time of this entry). I took the 10-10-10 idea and projected a couple years out. On 12-12-12, my baby will be celebrating a birthday. I can't believe how quickly time is progressing, and thinking about her age two years from now is even scarier. I don't know where the time has gone, but know that the next two years will pass equally as fast.

Your Golden Day
Kit: Apple of My Eye by Mye De Leon
(I won this kit...thanks, Mye!!!)
Fonts: Love Ya Like a Sister and Georgia
Journaling reads: 12-12-12 will be a special day in our house. You informed me of this earlier this week. In 2012, you will turn 11. We are now approaching your ninth birthday. I can’t believe it has come this quickly. In my head, this should be your “golden” birthday, rather than the year your birth date and age match. Today, you are energetic, humorous, curious, imaginative, precocious. You are a voracious reader, a creative writer, and a fantastic big sister. I know you will continue to be all these things in the coming years. What I don’t know is what new characteristics you will exhibit. The new interests that will absorb your attention. The new friends that will find their way in to your life. On 12-12-12, I know you will find yourself surrounded by people who love you. I can only hope that as you approach your teenage years, that you find yourself with little adversity and like the person you find yourself becoming. I know I look forward to watching you find yourself, whoever you decide to be.

On another note, this may the be first time I have scrapped a memory BEFORE it has happened. :)

Autumn's Medley

2010-10-09T20:24:00.000-06:00

Somehow, I forgot to post about another fabulous kit I played with last week! The funny thing is, I had the post started, and just forgot to publish it. Distractible? Me? Never.

Anyway, Liz is in the spotlight this month at Gotta Pixel (which means everything in her store is 30% off!), and has a fabulous fall release with a very unique color palette. The muted tones, and lack of orange and yellow, gives this kit a wonderful, homey feel without having an overpowering fall feeling. And the little squirrel and wolf are extra cute...I had to use them! I had so much fun with this kit, that I couldn't help but make two layouts with it before the kit was even released.
Here's the kit preview:

And here are the layouts I created with it and the coordinating alphas:

I recently printed up all the layouts I've created since June (except the ones that are stuck on my dead computer from July and August), and LOVED the way these two came out. Seeing the way that photo in the first layout pops in print is a feeling I look forward to every time I have a page printed out. As much as I love seeing my pages on the computer, holding them in my hands FAR surpasses that in excitement, and it is definitely easier to read the journaling on paper than on the screen!

Whispering Autumn

2010-10-09T11:58:00.000-06:00

I am loving all the fall colors that abound right now. I am loving Isabel Mendez's designs. And I am definitely loving the combination of the two! It's Gotta Grab It weekend at Gotta Pixel, which means all the GGI packs are just $1 until Tuesday! (Clicking any of these images will bring you to Isabel's store.)

Here's a layout I made with Whispering Autumn. This kit is so versatile (as there are also blues and greens included), and has matching worn papers and alphas available too. (Remember each pack is only a dollar this weekend!)

I've also been playing with some of her other kits, and will have a blog post later in the week with an older release of Isabel's. I'm dreaming of Change of Address cards, and updating our "home" album, to give you a hint of the kit theme.

Also, look for more hybrid posts here, as I am trying my hand at more of this. Lot of "more to come" today, but I've got a lot on my to do list this week, including prepping our household goods for packing beginning in a little over a week! We'll see if it all gets done!

A Post to Catch-Up...

2010-10-03T11:04:00.001-06:00

It's been over a week since I last posted and in that time I've played catch-up with my CT responsibilities and my creativity. Both seem to be well in working order now. As this will be an image heavy post, I'll pretty much let the layouts speak for themselves.

From MLAS:

I Love You
Kit: Wishful Happiness by jusme digital
Fonts: karabinE. and Georgia
Journaling is about how quickly he has grown.

Fall Approaches
Papers, elements, and alpha: Indian Summer by Tempus Fugit
Torn Paper Pieces (masks) by Tempus Fugit

Believe in Yourself
Kit: Hope for Tomorrow by Jen C Designs (new at MLAS in October)

And my newest CT addition is Crisdam Designs (Isabel Mendez). I am very excited to start working with her designs, and this kit is no exception. I was so excited, in fact, that I threw a card together after I finished making this page (that word art was just BEGGING to be put on a card front:

What A Pear
Kit: What a Pear by Crisdam Designs
Template: Scraplift with a Twist September 2010 by Isabel Mendez (Crisdam Designs)

Card made with What a Pear by Crisdam Designs
Punch: Stampin' Up

One note on the subject of hybrid -- I am on a bit of a hybrid kick. Maybe it's because I put the printed nearby where I sit with the computer, or I'm just hitting some great hybrid inspiration (and happen to have the right supplies on hand, a HUGE key), but I have another project I've been working on just for fun. It should be finished up in a day or so, and I'll post up some pics (after I send it to the person it's intended for...wouldn't want them to see it here first!!)

And here's one last layout just for fun, that I put together a couple weeks ago and never posted. Here's a blast from the past picture of my siblings and I in our grandparent's backyard:

Halloween Memories
Layout inspired by 9/13 Speed Scrap at Gotta Pixel
Papers and Elements: Spooky Halloween by Lindsey Jane
Fonts: Downcome and VT Portable Remington

There will be lots of new stuff this month from Sweet Digi Scraps, as Liz is in the spotlight at GottaPixel for the month of October, AND I'm on her "Battle of the CT's" team, so will be participating in the challenges at digiscrapaddicts.com for that. A lot coming up in October, both in the scrapbooking world and at home, with our impending move... Looking forward to a busy, busy month!

A Day at the Museum

2010-09-25T15:14:00.000-06:00

Kit and Alpha: Daydreamer by Sweet Digi Scraps
RicRac, blue string, and green button: Wonder (retired) by Sweet Digi Scraps
Fonts: American Typewriter and Lainie Day

I took the kids to the museum last weekend. It was a fun day, and a good excuse to get out of the house (and play with my camera). Maggie had been talking about going to the museum in Denver for some time. She led the way through several exhibits, and John was wide eyed at all the new things to see. It was a tiring trip for me, but I'm glad we did it. And we'll have to go again, maybe next time Daddy will get to come too!

Missing Photoshop...Again.

2010-09-23T21:38:00.000-06:00

I don't have any new layouts to share today, I just realized it had been a while since I posted anything here. I have been struggling in the last week to find any shred of creativity. I would spend a half hour staring at a blank canvas in Photoshop, pull in a few papers and photos, and just feel nothing. So I took last weekend off, and took the kids to the museum in Denver. We had a blast (well, Maggie and I did. John's still just along for the ride on outings like that).

We got back in to the swing of the week and I was able to put some brag book pages that I volunteered for together before the deadline, and was feeling good. Finally! And then, I remembered that my 30 day trial of Photoshop CS5 was about to expire. I hadn't intended to go the full 30 days without actually buying it, because I knew I wanted to. So now I am without PS again while they verify that, yes, my 8 year old IS a student who qualifies me for the student discount pricing. Hopefully they'll finish that process up tomorrow so I don't lose the whole weekend.

In the meantime, I am working through an A to Z album all about me. It's through a class taught by Cathy Zielske, who is one of my favorite scrapbookers/bloggers/people I love on the internet but have never met. (I have made quite a few of the last category over the last year.) At least if I can't photoshop, I can work on the journaling for that album. I took the same class a year ago but never finished the project. I could even go into my craft room and pull out the patterned paper that I carefully cut and prepared, only to decide to do the project digitally (my first foray into digi), and then never finish it. This year, I am determined to finish. Even better, the class comes with templates sized to be able to create a photobook, which is even more fun to share than plain old layouts, IMHO, though maybe that's just because I don't make them very often. I'll post a few sample pages when I get those finished...I have a couple started, but with no PS, I can't convert them to jpegs to post here. Technology makes life easier right? That's what I thought.

Two Happy Layouts

2010-09-18T11:30:00.000-06:00

The blog train post is below this one. Scroll down one post to find the blog train and freebie bookmarks!

My Lil Sunshine
Kit: Little Miss Sunshine by Sweet Digi Scraps
Extras: Happy Sunshine Wordart Sticker Set by Sweet Digi Scraps (Designs by Danyale)

You Are My Sonshine
Kit: Mister Happy Go Lucky by Sweet Digi Scraps
Extras: Happy Sunshine Wordart Sticker Set by Sweet Digi Scraps (Designs by Danyale)

Sweet Digi Scraps by Liz has two new kits in the shop today. I had the chance to play with both this week, and love them! It was perfect that sunshine had a big part in both kits, since I always sing "You are my sunshine" to my kids. We "changed the spelling" of the title for John, so that Maggie didn't feel like he was taking her song. :) I think it works. (And I have a new favorite picture of John...if only I could get pics like this from Maggie too...)

SDS Blog Train!!!

2010-09-18T04:00:00.002-06:00

There are all kinds of fantastic goodies today from the Sweet Digi Scraps CT. We've put together a blog train of quickpages and printable treats from our favorite SDS kits. Here's the list of blogs to visit today:

Liz: www.sweetdigiscraps.blogspot.com
Team Blog: http://creativesweeties.blogspot.com
Danyale: http://bygonesscrapbooks.blogspot.com
Lei: http://leidee-q.blogspot.com
Kerry: www.kayjaysdays.blogspot.com
Jan: http://intensemagicscraps.blogspot.com
Sheila: www.scrappingmyjourney.blogspot.com
Colie: www.coliescorner.blogspot.com
Cynthia: http://thelatinmrspeel.blogspot.com
Mary: http://texaschicstyle.blogspot.com
Dana: http://www.scrappydoosordonts.blogspot.com
Trista: http://www.busybee-hive.blogspot.com
Simona: http://lightmistress.blogspot.com
LaShawn: http://the3cbears.blogspot.com
Carolyn: http://carolynscommotions.blogspot.com
Barb: http://digi-dallies.blogspot.com
Rachel: http://www.iwishiwasthatcreative.blogspot.com***You are here***

For my stop on this train full of goodies, I've created some corner bookmarks with two of my favorite kits. The first two were made with "As We Know It."

The colors were the first things that drew me to this kit. Then I saw the stitched frame, the arrows, and that cute little pearl bead. I think this is the first of Liz's kits that I ever bought. I made this layout of my daughter with it -- one of my favorite recent layouts with her as subject.

The second two are made with "Secret Crush." One of the newer kits by Liz. Again, I love the teal, this time combined with the pink and black to make a super sweet kit.

My favorite pieces of this one are the butterflies, the lace ribbon, and the leafy doodle. Cupid is pretty darn cute too. I made this layout of hubby and I with this kit. It was perfect for the Then and Now effect I was going for with the photos.

Without further ado, here are a couple pictures of the bookmarks all put together.

The bookmarks fold flat, and "hug" the corner of your pages.

Secret Crush Bookmarks (there is a blank on the one on the left for you to add your name, or the name of someone special)

As We Know It Bookmarks

DOWNLOAD HERE

Instructions are included in the download. Each set of bookmarks is provided in jpeg format for easy printing at home on a standard 8.5x11 printer. Hope you enjoy them, leave a comment if you download, I'd love to hear feedback!

Thanks for stopping by, and please continue on the SDS Team Favorites Blog Train! There are lots of goodies out there.

Halfway through September?

2010-09-16T06:00:00.001-06:00

What? I turned around and it's already the middle of September. Didn't I just send Maggie to her first day of school? Wasn't this halfway point so far away? Well anyway, somewhere along the way, real life stepped up and made the days fly by. But it's time for another Mystery Lift Challenge at My Life and Scrap. I'm really excited about this set of instructions. I loved the inspiration layout as soon as I saw it, and can't wait to see what everyone comes up with.

Until then, I'm going to crawl back under the rock that I have apparently been living under to see how quickly the next half month can fly by. But maybe I'll get some things done while under that little rock. :) And I'll be back on Saturday with a freebie and a blog train from the Sweet Digi Scraps CT. It's going to be SWEET!!!!!

Secret Challenge

2010-09-15T22:09:00.000-06:00

This week's challenge at Log Your Memory is to scrap about a secret. It could have been anything -- whether I like secrets, am good at keeping them, secret regrets, secret habits...you get the picture. I decided to scrap this layout because it involves a secret, or the lack thereof, and I think it's a funny story. I'll let the layout speak for itself, which really means I'll post the journaling below. :)

Shhh...It's a Secret
Kit: Expecting by Isabel Mendez
Fonts: Pea C-Squared and Love Ya Like a Sister

Journaling reads:
We always talked about being a family of four. But seven years after the birth of our first child, we still hadn’t had any other children. We had talked about it, but it was never the right time. Finances weren’t good, or I just started a new job, or there was another move on the horizon. Finally I decided there was never going to be a perfect time, so it was time. We didn’t want added pressure, so didn’t tell anyone we were trying. Ok, fine, we told a couple friends.

After a year of not-not trying, in the Spring of 2008, I noticed I felt funny in the mornings, and sometimes after eating, and realized I may be pregnant. I bought a test, and took it one morning before work, without telling Scott what I was doing. Sure enough, long before the three minutes were up, the little stick said “+.” Just to be sure, I took a second test. Scott was ecstatic. He was so excited and wanted to call everyone up right away. Very few people knew we had been trying, so I convinced him to wait a little while to tell people. I also thought we’d call up our parents to let them be the first to know.

I should have known something was up right away when I got home from work. Scott was on the phone with the guys at the bike shop, which wasn’t unusual. When he got off the phone, he said, “The guys say congrats!”

According to him, he only told two people -- J.R. (a co-worker friend) and “The Shop” as if “The Shop” was a single entity. So much for that secret!!!

Everyday Counts

2010-09-14T21:20:00.000-06:00

Men @ Work
Kit: Everyday Counts by Sweet Digi Scraps

The new kit by Sweet Digi Scraps is quickly becoming a favorite. Not only does it contain my favorite colors, but I love that little birdy, and the papers are great. Add to it one of my favorite photos from my wedding preparations and you have an equation for a favorite layout!

Journaling reads:

The last thing anyone expected to have to do on the day before my wedding was yardwork. That had all been done days earlier in preparation. But Mother Nature had something else in mind when she sent the wind storm overnight that brought down a large limb from the tree in the middle of my future mother-in-law’s yard, the place we would be holding the reception the next day.

Before the rehearsal, Papa, Dad, Joe, and Danny spent most of the day chopping up the branches and picking up leaves so the reception could flow out into the yard if needed. Four generations of men in my family worked together to help get things ready to add another member to our tree.

I treasure this picture for many reasons. I love seeing the four of them working together. I don’t get to see my nephew often. And it was all done without complaint, without asking, because it was necessary. It also makes me chuckle that three out of the four men are named Joe, in some form or other, but that’s another story completely.

A Fast Weekend

2010-09-13T10:34:00.000-06:00

This weekend flew by faster than it should have! Between spending Saturday sick and spending Sunday catching up on things I missed Saturday, I feel like I missed the weekend! I did get a little bit of scrapping in before I got sick though. The layouts are so unrelated it feels like they need two posts, but I'm going to put them together because the kits I used were both by the same designer. I think that's enough of a connection, don't you?

Henry and Julia
Inspired by the 9/10 Speed Scrap at Gotta Pixel
Kit: Thrifty by Sweet Digi Scraps
Fonts: Lainie Day and Impact

The first one was for Friday night's Speed Scrap at Gotta Pixel. For some reason I struggled on this one. Getting the photos and papers into a cohesive block pattern was harder than I imagined, or maybe I was just over thinking it. Yeah, probably the second. Anyway, these are some pictures I have of my great grandparents. I love the serious expressions in the wedding photos (the two on the left), and my mom had a painting done with the picture of my great grandma as inspiration. I love the vintage feel of these papers, and they fit just as well in these photos taken in the 1910s and 20s as they do with the photo of my mom from 1975.

Pumpkin Patch
Photos: Jennifer Johnson
Kit: Falloween by Sweet Digi Scraps
Border: Falloween Borders by Sweet Digi Scraps (Designs by Danyale)
Fonts: Cooper Std, Pea C-Squared, American Typewriter

It's Gotta Grab It time at Gotta Pixel, which means the designers have all used the same color palette to create individual packs of papers and elements. These are all from Sweet Digi Scraps' "Falloween" part of the GGI, and the photos were taken by my friend, Jen, during a joint-family trip to a pumpkin patch a few years back (three to be exact). I can't believe how much our kids have grown in three short years!

This week will be filled with more scrapbooking, so I'll have more to share. The creative team for Sweet Digi Scraps is gearing up for a blog train full of freebies from our favorite SDS kits. The train is set for this coming Saturday, and I've got some great printable bookmarks coming, as well as links to all the other fabulous goodies!

Remember

2010-09-10T23:46:00.000-06:00

Template: Captivated Visions, All Stacked Up Template July 2010
Papers: Katie Pertiet, Color Challenge 3-28-2010 (Blue, Grey, Beige); Karen Funk, "All American Mini" (Red)
Paper Swirl: Karen Funk, "All American Mini"
Brushes: Anna Aspnes, Hupster Plume Korners N Edges No 2 and No 6
Flower, leaf, glitter swirl: Sweet Digi Scraps, Daydreamer
Pearl, white flower, button: Sweet Digi Scraps, "As We Know It"
Frame: LivE, Simply Framed
Fonts: American Typewriter, Cracked, and Pea C-squared
Photo: from http://athaia.com/world_trade.html

Journaling reads: Nine years later, I still cannot looks at the images without emotion. Without images, I can remember what I was doing, wearing, and feeling on the morning of September 11, 2001 shortly after turning on the TV. That is until I look at the images. When I look at the images, I am transported to that morning, and the day after. It is more than remembering, it is seeing. I was nowhere near New York on that morning. I only knew one or two people who were even anywhere near the city. But watching the images pouring over the news networks, I watched and mourned as if they were my closest friends. I had to turn the TV off, and avoid all news outlets for some time, so great was my reaction to the images.

When I reflect back on that morning, I remember watching the smoke and flames pour out of the first tower. I remember the horror growing as the second plane careened into the other tower. I felt the shock when the towers fell to the ground. It was unimaginable to me that a tragedy with that magnitude could be happening. I was pregnant with my first child. Things were supposed to be happy, and all I could do was cry. I tried to block it out. I didn’t want to think about it. But I had to. My husband came home from class early that day -- his ROTC commanders had ordered all cadets to change out of their uniforms for fear of other attacks. No one knew who was behind the attacks, or what other targets would be hit.

By the time the events of 9/11 were over, two planes had crashed into the Towers, both Towers had collapsed, a third plane had hit the Pentagon, and a fourth crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers fought back against the hijackers. A third building at the World Trade Center complex would also collapse later in the day due to damage sustained during the initial crashes and collapses of WTC 1 and 2. It took months to sift through the debris, and after the initial collapses, very few people were successfully rescued. The destruction was terrible.

In the years since, this country has seen a return to patriotism. If one can find good in the events of 9/11, I would say the events gave the nation a common interest. Suddenly, blood banks had volunteers lining up to give, everyone was a little more willing to help out their neighbors. But with the events also came a cloud of suspicion. Our airports have gotten pickier and pickier about what is or is not allowed. Unattended baggage is seen as a threat. Ideas that are different are seen as bad. September 11 changed my generation forever. We no longer feel detached from world events. Before 9/11 our greatest tragedies had been perpetrated by mechanical failures, nature, or our own countrymen. This was the first event in my lifetime, and since Pearl Harbor in 1945 that an attack of this magnitude had been carried out on our home soil.

As much as this country has changed in nine years, part of me wants to remember the way it was. I can remember that innocence is a characteristic to foster in children, for they will have to grow up far to soon. I can remember that my neighbors are there to help me when I need. I can remember that no matter what, family and friends are the most important thing in life. Some of these things I would have learned without 9/11, but without 9/11, the learning would not have had as much meaning.

First Day of School (Again) and new layouts

2010-09-09T20:24:00.000-06:00

1st/2nd Day
Kit: Cool School from the September Grab Bag by Tempus Fugit
Photo Mask: School Splatter Photo Masks by Tempus Fugit
Font: Pea C-squared

I made this layout for Maggie's first (and second) days of school. I forgot to take pictures in the morning when she looked all cute for the first day, so I took the photo on the right-hand page instead. The next morning, she dressed up again and we took "First Day" pictures. I REALLY like those pencils, and may have to find other reasons to use them.

I also made two more layouts this week. One (Little Mischief Maker) that was for a new release, and the other for the second of my September designers at My Life and Scrap.

Little Mischief Maker
Kit: Stomp Stomp Stomp by RebeccaB

All Grown Up
Kit: Nondistorted Impersonation by jusme digital
Font: Angelic War

Little (Frog) Prince

2010-09-07T13:50:00.000-06:00

I took these pictures of Johnny a few weeks ago, because I just thought the frog on his bum was so cute. (And so was the grin he kept flashing me over his shoulder.) Shortly after (or before, I can't remember) I saw this kit from Sweet Digi Scraps, and KNEW I wanted to use the kit with these pictures. Then, because it's my guest month at Sweet Digi Scraps, I got wind of the new word art and borders to match the kit. At that point, I had no reason to keep pushing back this layout. I love the fairy tale feel of the kit, which I also used on a layout of Maggie (blogged here). Such a great bunch of supplies!

Kit: Pass the Peas by Sweet Digi Scraps
Border: Princess and the Pea Borders by Sweet Digi Scraps
Word Art: Princess and the Pea Word Art by Sweet Digi Scraps
Cuteness: All Johnny :)

First Day of School: Remembered

2010-09-05T21:58:00.000-06:00

On the first day of school, we had a lot going on. Maggie started third grade, and as of 8:15 am we weren't sure where her classroom was since we missed the Open House earlier in the week. She knew she would be in the modular classrooms, but we wanted to make sure we were there early to find the exact classroom, since both third grade teachers are new this year, we couldn't use her knowledge of last year's class locations. On top of that chaos, it was also the first day, for me, that I was not going to work. This layout is really about my feelings about not going back to work for the first time in several years. It was also a great reason to use this kit from Sweet Digi Scraps called Three Rs. I love the colors and the colored pencil effect that several of the elements have. I also used the pre-made borders made to coordinate. Not having to layer and shadow that whole left border was SO handy!

Kit: Three Rs by Sweet Digi Scraps
Border: Three Rs Border by Sweet Digi Scraps (Designs by Danyale)
Fonts: American Typewriter & Chalkduster
Sorry, Mom...too much text to post the journaling here. I'll email the text to you if you want!) :)

I still have to make the pages with the pictures I took of Maggie on the first day. (Though those pictures were *really* taken the second day, since I forgot the camera on the first day!)

Penscrappers Competition

2010-09-04T22:06:00.000-06:00

Because there's always a new "toy" on my wish list, I started paying attention when people talk about websites that offer raffles and competitions for neat gadgets that would be useful for scrapping. The Penscrapper's website hosts a contest where contestants use part of a provided kit to create a layout. Then they collect votes, and the highest vote wins a new pen tablet. A pen tablet takes the place of a mouse and can do some pretty cool things when scrapping. The layout below is the one I made for the competition this month, and I'm hoping you'll click on this link and go vote for it (or click on the picture...it will take you there too)! This is the first time I've entered at this website, and once you are looking at my layout, all you have to do is click the "Vote" button.

Kit: Lucrecer Braxton's "Journal Your Life Authentically" kit for the September Penscrapper's Contest

Thanks for all your support!

Wrapping up August Mystery Lift

2010-09-01T09:14:00.000-06:00

August has come to a close, and so has my first challenge at MLAS. I used this layout to create the instructions for my first mystery lift. When I saw it, I knew right away that I wanted to lift it, with the same kit, just using different elements. I also knew I wanted to ask my brother and his fiance if I could borrow a picture from their trip to Maui (seeing as I have never been to Hawaii, and I have plenty of pages of my daughter swimming...). My soon-to-be-sister-in-law sent me a handful of pictures and I chose to use one for this layout, but think I'll make a second page to make it a two page spread with the other ones...they were all beautiful photos! (It helps that both subjects are both so photogenic!) Thanks for letting me us your pictures, Courtney!

Courtney & Joe
(Picture courtesy Courtney)
Kit: Hawaiian Honu by Dream Big Designs

The More Things Change...

2010-08-31T13:14:00.000-06:00

I've been working hard on John's first year album...trying to get "caught up" before he's so old I don't remember the stories that went with the photos. I decided I was going to make collage pages to act as separators throughout the book, so am really catching up on those, since its just a matter of opening a template, popping in a few photos from any given month, adding a few papers and maybe an embellishment or two and it's done. But in between those pages, I stopped to work on a page that *might* someday go in the album that I have been talking about making for a while.

Kit: Secret Crush by Sweet Digi Scraps
Fonts: Pea C-squared and American Typewriter

Working on this layout made me realize how few recent pictures I have of Scott and me. I think this one is three or four years old! I had to do a little work on the older photo, as the original is very dark, but I like the effect I got when I turned it sepia. I really liked this kit too -- the pink, green, and black was fun to mix together, and I can see using this with some pictures of Maggie too!

New computer, new layouts. That's the way that works.

2010-08-28T18:21:00.000-06:00

The computer came in last weekend in just enough time to download Photoshop before heading to a friend's house for a day of scrapbooking. I love, love, love it, and am wondering why I haven't switched to a Mac long ago. I still lament the loss of my layouts that weren't printed and some photos, but I'm handling it pretty well, if I do say so myself.

Back to the scrapping -- Running herd on the baby curtailed the quantity of layouts that *might* have been produced, but I still got one and a half pages finished, both inspired by the same lyrics. Since I have two kiddos, I couldn't make an inspirational page for one and not the other. :)

Rise Up Singing
Kit: JayBird Street by Dream Big Designs
Journaling reads: My sunshine, I can’t believe you are growing up so fast. In just three short days you will start third grade. You are reaching an age where my ideas and opinions are no longer the most important in your life. That realization fills me with both awe and fear. Awe because you are becoming an independent girl with her own path in front of her. Fear because I have stood in your shoes, and know the challenges that you may face as you walk your path. I can only encourage you, offer you my experiences, and hope and pray that your path may offer you good friendships, great learning, and a positive sense of self. Sometimes I wonder if I have given you the tools you need to grow into a happy, healthy teenager, but that it something I can not know until we reach the end of your teenage years. For there is no manual that explains how to raise a girl. No manual offering rules and guidelines for carrying the strong bond between a daughter and her mother from the early years of childhood into the turbulent teenage years. I know that you will wake up one day and feel the sunshine on your face. You will become a strong, beautiful young woman. Until that day, I am content to keep you as my little girl. My sweet sunshine. (That's for you, Mom) :)

Rise Up Singing 2
Kit: First Dip of Summer by Samceline
Sorry, Johnny...I didn't journal on yours. :)

This week I've been playing with my supplies from GottaPixel designers in preparation for my guest month as a Creative Sweetie for Sweet Digi Scraps, in addition to participating in their regular Friday night speed scrap. It's a great SS because the element of speed is only in your head. The chat goes so fast, I don't know of anyone who actually scraps DURING the chat. Most wait til the chat is over, or even the next morning, though the second doesn't ever work very well for me.

Mom & Me
Photos from Maggie's first day of school
Kit: Spoonful of Sugar by Litabells Designs

Princess
Kit: Pass the Peas by Sweet Digi Scraps

I just noticed as I was posting these images up, that I only journaled on one out of the four...guess that means I'll be journaling on most of my layouts this week. I already have the journaling written for one, just haven't been able to figure out how to build the layout around the text.

So more to come this week as the first week of September begins. New designers to work with at MLAS, and my guest month at SDS...can't wait!!!

Itching to Scrap and Template Albums

2010-08-19T10:54:00.000-06:00

I think this is the longest I have gone without creating anything new in a very long time. Not having a computer that functions at 100% is something I don't hope to do very often. I even bring my laptop on vacations with me because I can't stand to not have access. I'm turning to my journal in the meantime, so hopefully I'll have a good stash of ideas and material when I am up and running again (which will hopefully be sometime tomorrow).

In my hiatus, I am mulling over projects that have been started an not completed, started and lost in the crash, or not started at all. I have two albums that are acting like elephants in the room, and I have been avoiding them at all costs. First is John's 1st Year album. Although he is not finished with his first year, I wanted to stay close to current. I'm almost afraid to look at which layouts are safely on my EHD and which are potentially lost. So I'm also thinking I am starting from scratch. Ugh!

The second elephant project is the album about Scott and I that I started traditionally and got about 6 pages in before I was overwhelmed by the scope of the project. Part of my problem with this one is I keep changing my mind about how I want it to flow.

To solve both problems with one stone, I am thinking of picking up a template pack and working from that. At least that way I am not reinventing the wheel for each page. I'm thinking of this one from Biograffiti at oScraps.com:

I also like this one from ScrapElf at mylifeandscrap.com:

There is a third I liked, but it was bookmarked on the dead computer, and I don't remember which site it was from. Yet another pitfall found from losing a computer!

I like the journaling space in both, the clean lines and ability to have some photo heavy pages in the Biograffiti pack, and the helpful element placement suggestions in the ScrapElf set. Maybe I'll have to use both, I just don't know. I've never completed a whole album from templates, so that makes me a little nervous too. Maybe I'll wait until after September, when my second attempt at Me: The Abridged Version is over. This time I am determined to FINISH the album, which should be easier since this time I am more digi savvy and can reuse some of the posts I created for the last version, which was never finished.

Anyone have any thoughts on albums created with templates? I'd love the hear about other's experiences or see examples!

My First Challenge at MLAS

2010-08-18T12:01:00.000-06:00

I am hosting my first challenge at My Life and Scrap during the last half of August. I had an ad almost finished before my computer crashed, but didn't finish it first, so I don't have an image to post for now. Hopefully at the end of this week, I'll be able to whip another one up. It's a Mystery Lift Challenge -- a cross between a scraplift and a speed scrap. Full instructions can be found here. I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!

Good News, Bad News, Good News

2010-08-17T22:36:00.000-06:00

Good News:
I can knock yet another item off my goals for 2010, or 2009, or whenever I first started setting goals related to scrapbooking. I received notice about a week ago that one of my layouts had been selected to be included in the Log Your Memory 2010 Yearbook. This book will contain a layout for each day of 2010, and will be published in January of 2011. If that wasn't excitement enough, there is a chance it could lead to the layout being featured for the month of July. Voting for the featured layout continues until the 20th here.

Bad News:
My computer crashed this weekend. As I was working, it got continually slower, so I finally decided to restart. It shut down fine, but on the restart I was greeted with a beautiful blue screen...of death. Well, maybe not entirely "of death" but I haven't been able to find a solution to the problem, after hours of searching on Microsoft's "Solutions" forums.

Good News:
Because I have already had to reinstall Windows once (and this would make twice) since the beginning of summer, we decided it was time for me to upgrade. So I am now a Mac. Well, I will be a Mac as soon as it arrives. Hoping to get shipping confirmation tomorrow, and by the end of the week I will be up and running again. In the mean time, I am going crazy with nothing to scrap!

HUGE Sale!

2010-08-14T08:00:00.001-06:00

There's a huge sale going on at GP this weekend, in celebration of the start of school! (I still have to wait until the 25th for school to ACTUALLY start, but a girl can dream.)

Included are so many great kits, including Thrify, the kit I blogged about yesterday! You just have to go check it out! :)

A page for my mom and a new kit!

2010-08-13T12:45:00.000-06:00

I created this layout for my mom. I love this photo of her, but can't remember where we found it. There is a note on the back that just says, "Debbie at Mom & Dad's 25th." My favorite part of this is that when she saw the photo she knew exactly whose house she was in, and could describe other parts of the house as well. This photo was taken less than two months after she herself had been married, and is one of the very few photos of her before children that I have in my possession. When I saw the new kit from Sweet Digi Scraps, my first thought was of this photo. The kit has a great vintage feel with some of my favorite colors included.

Thrifty is new today!

If you buy both the kit and the alpha together, there is a *FREE* gift! Here's a preview of the gift with purchase:

Happy Weekend Shopping!

More from my August MLAS designers

2010-08-12T21:31:00.000-06:00

I have two more layouts from my August MLAS designers: Samceline and Dream Big Designs.

Sleep My Little Baby uses "Good Night" by Samceline. Font is Pea Catherine Anne.

My Guitar Hero uses "Defiant" by Dream Big Designs. Title fonts are Satisfaction and Downcome. Journaling font is Pea Catherine Anne

I absolutely love "Good Night" for sleeping pictures of Johnny! I also used it on another layout last week, Crabbing, but it looks like a completely different kit with the different elements. I love kits like that. It makes them so much more versatile, especially having a boy and a girl, it is nice to be able to use the same kits with both kids. Another kit that would work equally well for a boy or girl is "Defiant". I had already made a page about Maggie's Christmas obsession with Guitar Hero, but at the time I didn't have elements as perfect for the layout as this kit is, so I just HAD to redo it. :)

Lots of news coming out this weekend at GottaPixel...I already have posts lined up for tomorrow and Saturday, so come back to see what's going on! (Just in case you didn't know...I will be a guest CT member for Sweet Digi Scraps at GP in September. Even though I'm unofficial until September, there is so much going on that they let all the guests play with tomorrow's new release. I am so excited about it! But more on that tomorrow!)

Where's the Story: My Manifesto (sort of)

2010-08-08T19:59:00.001-06:00

Yesterday I said I had one more layout to share. I felt like this layout was too important to lump in with all the others I had created over the course of the week. Not because of who is in the photos, or which designers I used, but because of the purpose for sharing the layout. The purpose for even creating the thing (a purpose that goes deeper than "because I was at a speed scrap").

Where's the Story? using "Watch Me Shine" by Litabells Designs:

I've noticed over the last few months that the number of layouts I've created with only photos, or very little journaling has increased, while the numbers of layouts that tell a story have decreased. Friday night, while searching for photos to use in a speed scrap, I decided it was time to tackle a subject I'd been mulling around for a while. So rather than choosing three photos, as the instructions stated, I chose three layouts. Two very recent ones (that I love) and one older one (that I also love). The difference in the older vs. newer is that the newer only contained photos and word art. And maybe a date/location tag. But no meaningful story. No why these photos are important. No method to my madness. So with this layout, I vowed to tell the story more often. Beginning with this layout, I will tell the story more often. Because that is why I scrap.

How quickly I fall behind...

2010-08-08T00:16:00.000-06:00

It doesn't take long and I am behind in posting. In the week since I posted last, I have 8 new layouts to share. That's a layout a day. Wow...that number actually got me thinking last night and the layout I created last night really expresses my thoughts about that number and the layouts I've been creating lately. I'm going to save that one for its own post in a day or so. For now, here are seven layouts from the past week. 5 are from My Life & Scrap, and 2 are from Gotta Pixel.

The first two layouts are both with designs by jusme digital, who was one of my July designers at MLAS.
Animal Adventurer with "Funky Girl" by jusme digital

Best Friends with "What the Scrap August 1-15 mini" by jusme digital

The other three MLAS layouts use kits from my August designers, Samceline and Dream Big Designs.
Meeting Grandpa Mike with "JayBird Street" by Dream Big Designs

Moments in the Grass, also with JayBird Street

Crabbing for the first time with Good Night by Samceline

The two using GP products were both for challenges at their site.
Caught (My Little Bookworm) using "Page Turner" by Captivated Visions. Template by Captivated Visions.

Hello using "All Star" by Litabells Designs. Template by Litabells Designs.

I'll be back later this weekend with my final layout from last week. It's a doozy, so it needs it own post!

My husband

2010-08-01T22:57:00.001-06:00

(All papers and elements: Funky Fresh by Z Pink Boudoir; Fonts: Cry Kitty and Century)

I got some really good pictures of my husband while we were on vacation in July, which led to these two layouts. The layout above is fun because it shows how some things never change. In the 13 or so years I have known Scott and his sister, they have always teased each other good naturedly (and sometimes not so good naturedly). But as they've matured, that part of their sibling relationship hasn't changed. When I suggested I take a picture of them while they were sharing the couch, both readily agreed, and sometime between the first and second frame, the bunny ears appeared.

The layout below is one that caused a furrowed brow on the part of Scott. I didn't complain though, I wasn't trying to take a picture. The journaling reads, "It’s not often that you will smile in a photo for me. Usually you plaster a scowl on your face as soon as I turn the camera on. But here, in your dad’s house, you gave me a smile long enough to snap one picture, followed by scowls in the next four. However, I’ve known you long enough to watch for trouble..." It fit with the title I had in my head, to match the emerald green color (which is part of the monthly color challenge HERE), but it's also very true.

(All papers and elements: Adequately Emerald by jusme digital; Fonts: Papyrus and Century)

Also, did you notice the new blog background and header? They are part of a freebie template pack by Samceline. The background came as it, and the header is just my own text with one of the free clusters on it. I thought it was so cute that after I had tested it for Kirsten to make sure it fit properly, I decided to leave it up. Thanks for the freebie, Kirsten!

Cheyenne Frontier Days

2010-07-31T13:47:00.000-06:00

(Kit: As We Know It by Sweet Digi Scraps; fonts: Bleeding Cowboys and Century)

It's that time of year, when thousands of people descend on Cheyenne from around the country to participate in the Frontier festivities. This is our third summer living here, and so far we had managed to be out of town for all but a few days, and as such have avoided the crowds, the food, and the fuss. Since we will be moving before next year's CFD, I decided to take Maggie (and John, though he won't remember) down to see what it was all about. She has asked to go every year, and every year we've found some way to convince her to wait until next year. This year, I relented, and we headed to Frontier Park yesterday. We spent most of the afternoon walking from the Indian Village, to Wild Horse Gulch (where there are a lot of vendors), and back to the Indian Village. We didn't actually go in to the park, but don't tell Maggie that means we didn't see everything there was to see! Not knowing how long John was going to last in the heat and the stroller, I didn't feel like paying to get into the park only to turn around and leave. But we did see several neat performances at the Indian Village -- traditional dancers, storytellers, song-makers, drummers, and a flute maker. It was a fun, exhausting day. And I was the only one who ended up sunburned. Guess I need to practice applying the sunscreen more thoroughly to myself!

Is summer over yet?

2010-07-29T16:08:00.000-06:00

No, I don't really wish for summer to be over. I am enjoying the time with both my kiddos home and the freedom to do as much or as little as I want on any given day. I ask if summer is over yet because for a change, the weather outside is comfortable -- which means I can stand to have the laptop burning into my legs, rather than it being too hot without adding the extra heat. I have a few layouts from our recent trip. Three are from our stop in Washington, and one is from the stop in Idaho.

First up, this layout from the beach. I used to play at this beach when I was my daughter's age, so it was fun to see her playing at the same place. Only the kids are brave enough to actually swim in the water though...it is the Puget Sound, so it's always colder than it looks! (Kit: Lazy Summer Days by Tempus fugit)

Next is one about my grandparent's 60th Wedding Anniversary. I will have more layouts from this party later...this was just a quick overview page. (And if any of my family is reading this, check my math on the number of family members...I always get lost when I'm counting. :) (Kit: Polar Opposites blog train by the designers at My Life and Scrap)

This quick layout uses pictures my mom took on the morning after the 4th of July. She and Maggie had spent the night on the boat, and this was during their morning puttering, before my dad, John and I got there later in the morning. (Kit: Moment in the Sun by Connie Prince, Word art by Jennifer at World Art World)

Finally, from our Idaho trip, a layout about Johnny falling asleep so quickly we weren't prepared for it. (Kit: Blue Night by Z Pink Boudoir, template by Kate's Digital Designs)

Hopefully soon, I will get to more of the Idaho layouts, but most of those pictures are still on my camera. I also have some pictures of the Thunderbirds, the Air Force's trick planes, flying over our neighborhood that I hope to scrap soon.

After working on that last layout, I realized it had been a while since I had told a story completely on a layout. In August, I am challenging myself to remember to focus on the story as much as I can, even if it means I don't use all the pictures I've taken. It has been fun using so many different pictures, but the story behind those pictures are what will matter later. Part of this was inspired by a new site I found this week (well, it's new to me anyway) called Log Your Memory. The focus at LYM is to focus on the stories about real life. I have great celebration pages with stories, but sometimes forget to scrap the everyday moments. So in to August we go -- Maggie goes back to school, we'll begin to prep the house for our move, and I will focus on the stories.

More summer layouts

2010-07-25T10:50:00.000-06:00

I have three more layouts that I've put together in the last few days. I've noticed I have a lot of layouts lately with Johnny, and not so many with Maggie, and the same goes for the photos I've taken. It's a lot easier to make Johnny sit for pictures than Maggie, and she's often out playing at friends' houses so I can't say, "Hey, let me take your picture!" I'll have to try to catch her when I can. :)

Perfect Summer Day (Kit: Nonaddictive Opposite by jusmedigital)

U and Me (Kit: Glorious Mess by Z Pink Boudoir, blue flower and button (recolored) from Funky Fresh by Z Pink Boudoir)

Manzanita Beach (Kit: Lazy Summer Days by Tempus fugit)

Catch-up Day

2010-07-23T11:50:00.000-06:00

Part of me loves vacation -- the chance to ignore reality for a few days (or weeks) and just play, visit, and play some more. The other part of me isn't as fond of vacations -- the piles of laundry, empty fridge, and task of getting everyone back on schedule that faces me at the end of a vacation is enough to make me wish to never leave Real Life again. But, despite the few days of increased workload on the return, we had a great time visiting family and friends over the last two weeks. We packed the last 19 days with as much play as we could, and saw as many people as we could. We ran out of time in a few instances, which just means we have to go back again soon! I brought my laptop and EHD with me so I could continue to scrap, even if I didn't get a chance to upload those layout. The best part of having everything with me is that I could scrap pictures of our trip as they happened if I wanted! The layout above is a perfect example of that. I snapped a few shots of Maggie playing in the pool and a few days later had a completed layout, without ever returning home.
(Summer Fun supplies: Polar Opposites Blog Train Summer kit by Z Pink Boudoir)

Here a a few other layout I created while I was away:

Splish Splash (Kit: Mizzen Mixture by jusme digital)

Grandma & Me (Kit: Sunshiney Day by jusme digital)

Happy Girl (Kit: Sunshiney Day by jusme digital)

Grand Ol' Fourth

2010-07-12T10:34:00.000-06:00

Looking at my 4th of July photos this year, I wanted papers and elements that were full of stars, but didn't really want to go buy another kit (which always turns in to buying multiple kits), since I had just paid the bills the previous night and was feeling the pressure! Since I wanted to use a lot of stars, and I knew Photoshop had some star shapes and brushes loaded as standard shapes, I decided to see what I could create. I ended up with 5 papers and several elements that I was very happy with, and then used those items to create this layout. It took me a couple hours to put it all together, and some things still need a little tweaking to get the way I envision, but it was fun. Fun in a "I'll do it once" kind of way. I'm not sure its something I want to do often, but every so often, when a color scheme hits me, or other such inspiration hits, it was kind of fun. (It might also make it easier to justify a full version of Photoshop, since there were a few things I wanted to create but couldn't do in Elements.) So for change, there are no credits on this layout, all elements were created by ME!

Two MLAS layouts

2010-07-12T10:29:00.000-06:00

Kit: Birthday Poem by Z Pink Boudoir Designs

Kit: Panda Parade by Jaime Dell Scraps

These are a few of my latest layouts. I haven't been creating as much this week, since I am on vacation, but have gotten a little bit of work done! I have another layout I'll post shortly using papers and elements I created myself, and another couple layouts by my designers of the month at My Life & Scrap. Enjoy your day!

A week worth of layouts

2010-07-04T21:29:00.000-06:00

I started my vacation this week, but haven't stopped scrapping! The computer and EHD were some of the first items added to the list of things to pack. I had the opportunity to work with a couple kits before they were released at MLAS last week: Panda Parade by Jaime Dell Scraps and Roses are Red by @Jacquies.

I have also started working with the kits from my July designers, Z Pink Boudoir Designs and Karen Wallace Designs. This is the layout I created with Funky Fresh by Z Pink Boudoir Designs. I love the bright colors and the contrasting orange and blue. It worked very well with the photos of Johnny "eating" oatmeal. :)

The last layout I have today is one I created after I found my son flipped around in his bed one night. I had to stifle a laugh when I walked back in his room and found him turned opposite of how I put him in his crib. (Template by Litabell Designs. Kit: Why Don't We by Sweet Digi Scraps and ribbon from As We Know It by Sweet Digi Scraps, Word Art by Jennifer at Word Art World)

Blog train with TWO KITS!!!

2010-06-29T21:23:00.000-06:00

There is a blog train starting June 30th and going until July 4th. The designers at My Life & Scrap put together TWO great kits for this little party! Follow the links below to find the kits and enjoy! Also, MLAS is having a storewide sale from July 1-7, stop in and stock up!

@Jacquies - http://wa-jacquie.blogspot.com/

Samceline Design- http://www.samceline.de/
Rebecca B - http://rebeccabdigiscrapper.blogspot.com/
Kate's Digital Designs - http://katesdigitaldesigns.blogspot.com/
Z Pink Boudoir - http://zpinkboudoir.info/
JK Creations - http://jollykidscreations.com/
ScrapElf - http://scrapelf.com/blog
Crafty Bits 'n Battleships - http://craftybitsandbattleships.blogspot.com/
Jamie Dell - http://jamiedellscraps.blogspot.com/
Miss Mis Designs - http://missmisdesigns.blogspot.com/
Rucola Designs - http://rucoladesigns.blogspot.com/
Karen Wallace Designs - http://karen9417.blogspot.com/
Karen Wallace Designs - http://confessionsofadigiholic.blogspot.com/
Designs by Amanda - http://amandahlavacek.blogspot.com/
Tempus Fugit - http://tempusfug.blogspot.com/
Jusme Digital - http://mylifeandscrap.com/blog

Explorer, Sweet Baby, and All Played Out

2010-06-27T15:25:00.001-06:00

I've been busy scrapping this week, participating in two speed scraps and a challenge. The first was at GottaPixel on Friday night. The second was at My Life & Scrap on Saturday night. I stayed up until midnight finishing the layout for the MLAS scrap, but it was a lot of fun. The challenge was to use a given mix of supplies, the mix was determined by my age and birthday I like speed scraps and challenges a lot because they force me out of my comfort zone and I usually end up creating pages I love, and sometimes pages that I wouldn't have put together on my own.

Explorer: Papers, string, button, and alpha: Just Imagine by Connie Prince. Paper star and star brad: Weekender Series: Rolling Above by Laura Burger. Bead Scatter by Ella Bella Scraps

Sweet Boy: Papers, ribbon, rickrack, and button from Turtletastic by Jaime Dell Scraps. Star and string from Dream On by Sweet Tomato Designs. Stitched border from All Star by Litabells Designs. Word Art from Word Art World.

All Played Out: Template: Katie Pertiet. Wide stripe paper and doodled journal block by Jaime Dell Scraps (Turtletastic). Narrow green stripe by Crystal Wilkerson (Sweet Summertime add-on). Flower doodles by Lorie M Designs. Word Art by Jennifer (Word Art World).

Boogie Beach Bash! and John's Baby Album

2010-06-24T13:42:00.001-06:00

Ok, no we have not spent time at the beach recently. But I have been playing with this great beach themed kit and some photos of Maggie. I'm pretty happy with both layouts. I love, love, love the sand elements, and had to use both of them! The colors are so bold and bright that I can see using this kit on lots of summer pages this year!
Kit: Boogie Beach Bash by Jaime Dell Scraps

I also made this layout for John's baby album, using some of my favorite photos of him and Scott from the early days. I won this template yesterday from Design House Digitals by leaving a comment on their blog last week! How easy was that! And I love the template...there is a lot of versatility, with using both pages, only one side, or cropping it down the center. Should get lots of use out of this one!
Template: Tiffany Tillman "Lefty Righty No. 5"
Kits: Sweet Tomato Designs "Prince" and "Dream On"

Also on today's scrapping "chore" list was to fix some layouts for John's baby album. I had created a few pages (that are all posted in older posts here) that I also wanted to use in his baby book...BUT...I want the pages in his book to all match in color schemes, so the ones with red backgrounds and such have to be altered to fit into his book. Since I've had 2.5 hours now that he's been napping, I finally found the time, and have whittled my list of layouts to change down to two! Yea for feeling caught up. I'm not going to post those layouts here, but may do some kind of post when I finish the whole album (though that will be at least 6 months from now...as long as I stay caught up! (HA! Not likely!)

Turtletastic Layouts

2010-06-23T08:44:00.000-06:00

Because I started on the MLAS Spirit Squad in the middle of the month, I only have one designer this month. My designer is Jaime Dell Scraps. I am absolutely loving her kit Turtletastic. The first layout I made didn't use the turtles, because they just didn't fit with the overall feel of the layout...but they are so stinking cute, I just HAD to fit them into the second layout. The first layout did double duty for me, fitting the criteria for the third birthday challenge at jessicasprague.com, and the font challenge at My Life & Scrap. I love when my layouts work harder than I do! I have wanted to scrap the photos in the second layout for a while, but haven't figured out what to do with them. The frame in the kit was just perfect, and I loved making those little turtles walk all over them. :)

Now since I've made two layouts for Johnny, I had better make a couple for Maggie. Those should be up in a few days, also with a kit from Jaime Dell Scraps!

Kit for both layouts: Turtletastic by Jaime Dell Scraps

Happy Father's Day

2010-06-20T09:24:00.000-06:00

To all the Dad's out there (who probably don't read this blog) a big Happy Father's Day to you all! My husband is out of town today, so I whipped up this layout using the template from day 2 of the birthday challenges at JessicaSprague.com and posted it on his facebook page so he'll see it when he checks in later today.

Template: LivE
Kit: Connie Prince "Just Imagine" (papers, flowers, washer and alpha)
Fonts: Century Gothic and Pea Hunny