Coming up for Air

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!

Calendar Love

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.

I'm still here...I think?

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

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. :)

New Store, new challenge.

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.)

Heartbreaker

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...

Quadruple Layouts...wait, there are five.

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!

A Post to Catch-Up...

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!

Two MLAS layouts

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!

Blog train with TWO KITS!!!

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

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

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!)