Coming back

It's been awhile...a long while. Life as wonderful as it is, is also crazy, or maybe that's what makes it so wonderful? Anyhow, I got wrapped up in life and family, and took a little break from scrapbooking. I was still creating memories, and still capturing them through a picture, but I wasn't taking the time to document them, I wasn't worrying so much about getting that one perfect shot...and I loved it...but I also missed the creating, and the documenting the stories. So, I'm picking up the old tape runner, and getting back on the wagon...just going to take it a little easier this time, no design teams, no stress, just for the fun and the memories. :)

I recently joined Clique Kits..so far I am in love with these kits. Its a great way for me to slowly dip my feet back into the world of lovely and new products, especially since I have no idea what is out there anymore. They also have some fun challenges, which has been another perfect way for me to get back into the groove. I created this layout using the January kit, and the fun sketch that they recently posted on their blog.

I switched it up some, instead of a circle, I cut this adorable mosaic heart from one of the papers...I think it was Simple Stories. I kept it pretty simple, and pretty straight on with the sketch otherwise. Love the way it turned out...but even more, I love that I am getting back to documenting the wonderful life and memories with the ones I love. :)

If you're still here, thanks for sticking around. :) I am going to try and get back in the habit of posting at least once a week, but again, no stress this time around..what will be, will be! ;)

Enjoy your weekend, and take time to create something you love!

Today is good

Hello again! Now that the busyness of the holidays are over, I am hoping to be posting and creating more regularly again! It's amazing to me how just an hour up in my scrap room, can help to de-stress and relax! So, with that being said, I have another layout to share with you, still from the All of You kit from Scraptastic...I can't say enough how much I love this kit!

I pulled out an old photo that I have had sitting on my desk to scrap...one of my kiddos with 2 of their grandparents...I have found that I don't take near enough photos of my kids with people. I document most everything they do...but I need to work on documenting the people that are part of their lives also! Does anyone else struggle with this?

This background paper was another Scraptastic exclusive, and it was one of my favorites. I used it to guide my design. I just followed that path that the circle made, and kept everything very centered. I used the exclusive vellum circles to add a little more interest to a few of the printed ones.

I layered in a few of the printable labels, and the labels with sentiments, were off of the branding strip on one of the papers from Elle's Studio. I really love that most companies make their branding strips usable, especially love this fun way of putting several labels along there.

Then, instead of using alphas to make a large title, I layered together a few of the die cuts for a cute, custom title...I didn't have much journaling for this one, so I tried to use a title and sentiments that would help convey the meaning.

Off to get ready for our wild new years celebration...Alvin and the Chipmunks: Road Chip and pizza with the hubby and the kiddos! :) Hope you all have a happy and safe new year! Take time to create something you love! :)

Locks of Love

Hello friends! I have another layout to share with you using the "All of You" kit from Scraptastic. Again, this kit is just perfection! I absolutely love it, and the bright colors. I am also using a fun sketch that is up on the Scraptastic Blog...you can find it here! 

A few years ago, both of our daughters cut their hair to donate to locks of love ( though I now wish we would have donated somewhere else, after doing more research) but, they were so excited to do this special act of kindness for others...made this mama proud! :)

I loved this little light bulb embellishment from Fancy Pants...and I thought the sentiment rang so true for this layout.
I needed something to fill that little captured space there, so I used it to my advantage to add in a little more yellow, and the date!

I kept the embellishment on the top of the layout to a minimum. There is so much going on at the bottom, that I didn't want to overwhelm, and the photos get lost.

Here's a full shot of the layout...a new favorite for sure!

Thanks for hopping in today.,..have a good one, and take time to create something you love!

Be You

Hello friends! I have a layout to share with you today that I absolutely love! It's pretty simple compared to some of my other layouts, but the items in this kit were so perfect for this photo, that it didn't need a lot!

I used the "All of You" kit from Scraptastic...and I have to say, it about broke my heart to use that whole heart paper for the background...but nothing else seemed to fit like it did.

Some of my favorites from this kit were the exclusives, and again how perfect they were for this photo. That flair badge...amazing for this! She definitely stands on her own! I broke out the silhouette and used the subscriber cut file...I kind of wish I would have used some white paint behind it to make it pop a little more...but I really like having that solid heart all around.

Nothing like good product to pull you out of a rut...excited to be feeling that scrappy "mojo" again!

Thanks for stopping by...have a good one, and take time to create something you love!

Bootiful

Hello friend! Over the weekend, I had a little time to break into my new Scraptastic Kit "This Is Halloween", and use a fun sketch from the Paper Issues facebook group. Both of these are WAY out of my comfort zone. I don't really normally buy themed items, but I have been wanting to sub to try out Scraptastic for awhile, and it just so happened, that the other kit was sold out before I got around to doing it...and as far as the sketch, not my normal style, at all, but I really loved  it, and just thought it would work perfect with this kit and photo.

First off, here is the sketch that I used:



I started out, by doing a little bit of mixed media on the background. I used a fun stencil from Echo Park, with some molding paste, and then misted over the top with black, and a few orange splatters.
I thought the bats were perfect for this photo. :)

It's very subtle, but I love the little extra bit it adds. I wanted to come in with some layers under my photo, but I didn't really want to use a lot of paper layers, so I layered bits and pieces from the emepherma from My Mind's Eye, and that cute exclusive flair badge.

The majority of this layout was kept simple, but I really liked how this design helped to draw everything right in to the photo. I did feel that I needed a little something down at the bottom...just a little too much white for me. So I added in a strip of that awesome plaid paper, and layered in a few embellishments.

I actually have ended up enjoying this kit a lot more than I thought I would. I am excited to break into it a little more and see what I can create!!

Never left fear and worry, rob you of the joy of creating! Always take time to create something you love!

Homegrown Goodness

There is nothing better than a fresh picked strawberry. Every year when our little patch ripens, we all get so excited to start picking and sampling to see how delicious they are this year...they don't usually last too long!

I wanted to go with some bright colors on this layout. I used some older Ell's Studio and Chic Tags products on here, and they worked perfectly with the story and photo. Lots of layers, to add interest and dimension.

Since I had kept the photo and all of the heavier layers centralized, I wanted to put small clusters in opposite corners. This way I could add in a little more embellishing, and my jouraling without overwhelming the center of the layout.

I loved how the brighter colors and patterns really popped off of this background paper. I also loved that how by placing my photo and layers in the center, this paper pointed into that from all angles, so that even with two opposing clusters, the focus still comes in to the photo.

Summer Battle Wounds

 I love scrapbooking happy memories and stories for my family, but I think that it is just as important to document those moments that are harder to process, and think about. This is one of those memories.
 A few summers ago, our oldest went to spend the night with a friend. Things were just going along, when the mom of this friend called me. I could hear in her voice how scared she was, she could barely even speak to tell me what had happened.
Our girl had had a pretty bad stumble while riding a bike...she ended up going over the handle bars, down there gravel hill. It was hard to tell at this point how bad it was...so we loaded her up and went to the emergency room. She ended up being extremely lucky...scrapes, bruises, and a chipped tooth..but thankfully nothing too serious. It's still hard to think about or look at these photos even now though.

The summer battle wounds title came from the clever mind of this little lady in the photo. I never would have thought of that one, but she came up with it, and I knew it was perfect. I tried to keep this one a pretty light layout, yes I wanted to get this documented, but I didn't want it to be heavy and dark where the main focus was on the wreck and the injuries...I more wanted the focus to be on how grateful we were that it hadn't turned out worse.

I used the Felicity Jane "Here's the Scoop" kit for this. My daughter loved the colors and patterns in this kit, so she helped me put this together. I think that is important also, especially on moments like this one, that were hard for her to process, to let the kids have a role in how there lives are documented and remembered.

I used some word stickers from the I am collection from simple stories...the colors were a little off, but the sentiments they had were perfect to describe her and this moment.
Don't be afraid to scrapbook those hard moments too. They help to shape our lives, and make us who we are. :)

Have a good one, and take time to create something you love.