A little sweetness

Hello friends! As you all know, I am on a kill my stash quest, so today, I have another layout to share with you, using up some of that loved but unused product.

This layout all started with this paper, "Yellow Umbrella" from the BasicGrey Soleil collection. I LOVED this paper when it first came out, so much that I bought several sheets, which is not common for me, especially with BasicGrey..I usually find their collections harder to work with, but I loved this, so bought several, and they all have sat there ever since. So, I finally decided to pull it out, and use it up!

Deciding to use it was the easy part...making it work, was the hard part! I love a patterned paper background, but usually go for a more soft, tone on tone look...but I just could not bring my self to cut this up, so I started working on my layers, and figuring out where I wanted everything to lay out, then I went in with a little white acrylic paint, to soften up around my photo and embellishment area.

From there, everything just kind of fell into place. I pulled out coordinating supplies..some old, some new, and just went for it.

I added in some black stamping and splatters, since there was the black border, and some darker colors in my photo. I thought this helped to tie everything in together..and I like how it popped against the more pastel colors of the layout.

I found this fun wooden tags at Target, and I loved how well this one fit in. It made a perfect spot for the vellum ampersand! I have tried using that on my past 4 layouts!! Glad I could finally make it work! lol.

I am loving these challenges I have been giving myself...stretching my creativity, and using up some of those harder products I have! This is probably one of my new favorites!

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

Whimsical Twist layouts

Hi everyone! Happy Hump day! :)I'm hopping on today to share a layout that I had go live on the Whimsical Twist blog over the last few days.

This one from our trip to the pumpkin patch last year. It's using the yummy persimmon collection from Basic Grey, and was an inspiration piece for the new texture challenge over at WT! Head over here to read a little about this layout, and to enter for your chance at a $15 gift certificate to the shop!

 Thanks for stopping by today! Have a great week, and take time to create something you love!

***Linking to Paper Issues***

Noel Mignon

Hi all!!! I just realized this didn't autopost on Saturday as it was supposed to, so I am going to share it today! I'll be posting my second layout as gd tomorrow! :)
I am so excited to share my first layout as guest designer at Noel Mignon!! I have had so much fun working with the Our Summer Kit!! The colors are patterns in this kit were so fun, and I have to say it was jam packed full of goodness!!

Here is my layout for the "Children's Book Week" that we had over this past week. I was inspired by this favorite read of my kiddos and myself.

Here is my layout inspired by this book:

Head over to the Noel Mignon blog to get more details about this layout, and to see some more fabulous inspiration from their design team!!

Have a great day, and take time to create something you love!



Home is Where You Are

Hi all!! Finally settling back down around here after a busy weekend, of cookouts and sleepovers. It flew by, but we all had a blast!

Today I have a project to share with you. I ordered this collage 12x12 photo from Persnickety Prints. Originally the plan was just to put it in the altered frame, but when it came, one of the photos in the collage was not blending well at all with the others. Most of these were Instagram photos, and I must have used a different filter on that one, cause it stuck out like an eye sore. So I decided to alter the print a little and see if I could make it work.

 

I layered up some different pattern papers from Glitz and Studio Calico, along with tags and washi. The "love lives here" die cut is from Studio Calico, I simply used my Cameo and die cut it from vellum and then layered it over some wood grain paper from Basic Grey. Adding in some other stickers, stick pins, veneer, and buttons and brads, I think finished it off nicely. The frame was a plain wood frame I picked up at my LSS. I simply cut this Amy Tangerine paper to fit the frame, adhered it, then used gesso over the top to give it a white washed look.

 

This will go great in my scrap room, which is finally coming together. My hubby built me an AMAZING desk this weekend! Will share pics soon! :)

 

Hope you all have a fabulous week, and take time to create something you love! :) 

Delightful

Hi all!! Happy 4th! Hope you all have a fabulous holiday! :)

Today I'm sharing a layout I made based off the current sketch at Studio Calico, which you can see here.

Funny thing about this layout. When I started it, it was going in a whole different direction, whole different color scheme, even a completely different photo. Once I kept building on it, something just wasn't right. So I changed the photo, originally it was to be a layout of baby boy ( hard to see now, huh) and it instantly made sense.

 

I had major ink splatter issues on here, but decided to embrace it and give something new a try. Love the softness it gives.

 

Used lots of pieces from the Gossamer Blue June kit....Crate Paper "The Pier", Lilybee, Basic Grey "Mint Julep", Studio Calico, and some American Crafts.

 

Thanks for stoppin by today, hope you have a good one, and take time to create something you love!

You = Awesome

Hi all!! Happy Wednesday! Are you all ready for the holiday weekend? I know we are around here! Lots of fun planned.

I went to a crop over the weekend, and managed to get quite a few projects done! I'm not really sure how, since we were having a place catching up. :)

Today I am going to share a layout that I did for the Cocoa Daisy sketch challenge on the PageMaps blogs, you can see the sketch and find out the info here. The minute I saw this sketch, I was inspired. Which is really surprising, I normally stay away from anything involving this many circles, not sure why, the just don't jive with me. lol. This sketch, however, did. I had a lot of fun with it. Finally got to use my new Elle's Studio "Cameron" collection. Love this, so fun for my little guy.

Here is my layout:

 

It's such a nasty day here, I am telling you this photo does not do this layout justice. I think this is my new favorite! So happy with how it turned out, pretty much exactly like I pictures....which doesn't often happen! ;)

 

I used mainly Elle's Studio on this layout. Along with some Studio Calico, cork and veneer, Freckled Fawn paper clips, and some enamel dots. Love it! :)

 

I will be back soon to share some more! Until then, have a great day, and take time to create something you love!

Underwater Beauty

Hi all!! Happy Wednesday! Hope summer is treating you well :) Ours has been pretty fabulous so far!

I have a layout to share with you today using the May Gossamer Blue kit. I really loved all the fun, bright colors in this kit. The only paper I wasn't too sure of was an anchor print by Fancy Pants. I'm just not sold on the anchor trend! I was, however, determined to use this paper! Going through photos, I found this old one of Miss K, the photo in itself is nothing special, but I clearly remember how excited she was this day, showing us all how she could " go under" all by herself. I thought it would be perfect for the paper!

Now, I really struggled with this layout....still not really in love with it. I'm not sure if it was that paper, using a 4x6 photo (which I NEVER do) or what, but it was a very slow process.

 

 

Still not sure, just feels like something is missing. I'm calling it down though....I'm determined to stop stressing so much about layouts being perfect, and just enjoy and have fun! That's what it's supposed to be, right? :)

 

Hope you all have a great day, and take time to create something you love! :)

Squeeze Hard

Hi all!! Back again, and with another layout! Can you believe it?? :)

I am totally in love with all of the fun, bright colors in this month's kit from Gossamer Blue. I used the current sketch challenge that is up on the blog...thought I'm not sure you can tell anymore! lol.  I was looking for pictures that would go along with those fun colors and I found this hilarious one of Katlyn.

 

LOL!! I love it!! Here is what the journaling says:

 

You loved going around from booth to booth at the state fair this year. Your favorite place was the booth where they had they "stress brains" You squeezed and squeezed with all your might, and you kept asking us where all the stress went!

 

 

Thought I would also share how I did the background on this page. The orange started out as one of the solid patterns that Echo Park always has with their collections. If you follow me at all, then you know I rarely, if ever use cardstock as a background. All the other patterns were too busy for a background, though, and I loved the orange with this photo. So I grabbed a mask and some Mister Huey's sherbet, and went to work. I just started in one corner with the mask, I over lapped the edges with some scraps, to make the transitions more seamless, and just sprayed. When that one was finished I layered the mask over the edge, covered the sides with scraps, and just kept going until the paper was covered. I LOVE the way it turned out!! I don't normally use masks to this scale, and I was worried I would ruin the paper, not like the outcome, but I am so glad I took the plunge!! Will definitely be trying this more!!

 

I am off now to and end of the year kindergarten party! Can't believe school is already over! Swear this year has flown!!

 

Hope you all have a great weekend, and take time to create something you love!!! :)

Time to Relax

Hi all!! Happy Wednesday!! Its been awhile since I've posted, have been caught up in all the end of year hustle. Thankfully tomorrow is the last day of school, so hopefully things will be SLOWING down around here, I am more than ready for a nice, calm, relaxing summer.

Speaking of relaxing, I have a layout to share with you today! I am taking the Pop off the Page 2 class at Studio Calico, and this is a layout I made for one of the challenges.

The challenge was to be inspired by a layout for our first pdf, I chose this fabulous layout by Marcy Penner. I love her style, but it is very different from mine, so I thought it would be fun to really try and step out of my comfort zone and tackle her prompts.

I had more trouble with this layout than I thought I would, its hard to sit down and try and scrap totally opposite from normal. I even sewed on this layout, one of the first ones I have done that on. I love how it turned out in some places, other spots was horrible and I had to cover it up! lol. Any tips of sewing on layouts?? Please share if so! :)

Anyways, lol, when the layout was finally finished, I loved it. I think I managed to balance the prompts/style of Marcy and finally figure out how to keep "me" in the style.

So, here is my layout, using the FABULOUS May kit from Gossamer Blue.

 

I did journal inside that pocket, just forgot to get a picture of it. Its just talking about how extremely busy the day at the hospital had been with visitors in and out. Finally, we were able to relax. Daddy and baby got some cuddle time, and Mommy got a much needed nap. :)

 

 

Hard to believe that little guy will be 7 months old of Friday! Seriously, where does the time go??

 

Hope you all enjoy this holiday weekend, and take time to create something you love! 

Gossamer Blue

So I told y'all, I recently joined the kit club Gossamer Blue, and so far I am beyond pleased with it. They give so much in the kit, I think its a lot of bang for your buck! The also offer a great incentive program...if you complete 4 layouts/month with the kit, then in that 6th month you receive a free album! Which I love because 1) I always forget to buy new albums, and 2) there is so much product that you can easily complete 4 layouts and still have leftover.

So, here is the first layout using the February kit. Love the colors in this months kit.

 

I am so beyond happy with how this turned out, especially since I struggled so much with it. I had certain elements I decided right off that I wanted to use, and I had a hard time making them work to the picture in my head! Everything on this page minus the flair bag, paper clip, and mist came straight from the kit. Lots of Crate Paper, My Mind's Eye, and Carta Bella used on here.

Also, this is the first "little guy" photo I have scrapped, finally getting a start on some of his pages!! :)

 

Thanks for stopping by today, and don't forget about my giveaway in this post, I am leaving it open through the weekend, so still plenty of time to enter....and I promise I'll get a photo of the goodies up soon!! :)

 

Have a great day and take time to create something you love!!

Lovely, Beautiful

Hi all!! :) Hope today is treating you well so far!! I wanted to hop on today and share a layout that went up on The Paper Bakery blog today! This layout was made using almost exclusively the August add on kit, "County Fair"!

We are in the midst of a remodel at my house, a very extensive remodel, so I have been unable to print off any new pictures, so while I was searching for some around here that I had yet to scrap, I came across my daughter’s preschool school picture from last fall. I usually have a very hard time scrapping school photos, but this time, the minute I saw it, my mind went to the “Lovely” sticker on the sticker sheet included in your add on kit for this month. I thought a lot of the colors and patterns in the papers lent themselves well to the fall theme they had for their photos. So surprisingly, for me, this layout came together very quickly, using almost exclusively items included in the kit.

I want to apologize for the not so great photo quality, these were taken with my iPhone, since another thing that I can’t find in the midst of this remodel is my camera battery charger.

 

 

Absolutely love the gorgeous colors and accents included in this kit!! I will have more projects to share soon!! :)

 

Hope you all have a blessed day, and take time to create something you love!

Imagination

My girls have the best imaginations, I don't remember playing and pretending and just enjoying life when I was younger as they do. I feel alot of this comes from their absolute love for books. These girls love reading and looking at pictures in any and every book they can find. AND I LOVE IT!!! :) I am so thankful that they have this desire to learn and grow and imagine. I hope they keep it forever! :)

When they posted the Guest Design Team challenge over at Sketchy Thursdays and I saw the sketch, and that the theme needed to have something to do with reading, I knew exactly what I wanted the layout to be about, our messy book shelves and random piles of books throughout the house. My mom would die if she saw my house sometimes, lol, but I don't care. I love walking down the hallway and seeing the girls laying there with a pile of books "reading" them to each other. Anyways, lol, I used those pics for my layout...the piles and the mess, and I put them together with some Cosmo Cricket and Basic Grey, and came up with this beauty, that I must say I am pretty proud of...it's really pretty simple, but the colors and patterns are so far out there for me that I feel like I accomplished something major. LOL!

I have some stamping, some embossing, some misting, die cutting, I went a little crazy on this one, but I love it! :)

You have til Saturday to enter the GDT challenge! Go check it out...also check out the design team call they are having...I'm seriously debating!! :)

Remember, blog hop this weekend!!! :)

Have a blessed day!!

~ Amanda