Looking forward to spring!

Here is a design that I did for my local scrapbook store. Graphic 45 is a neat paper crafting company that always creates unique, vintage inspired paper lines. Although I might not initially think of this line for pages with young children, I was challenged to come up with a layout that used this 1920's/30's paper in a current way. Graphic 45's papers are different and very colorful. Sometimes the backs of the papers are more fun than the fronts -- bright, patterned solids that coordinate together, and with other paper lines beautifully. Tip: When you are shopping for unigue paper, turn the patterns over to check out the other side before you decide that a particular line will or won't work for you.


Once Upon A Springtime reminds me of Easter, spring, flowers and little girls. This layout is a recent favorite of mine.

Mini Book with Twig

These are pictures of a little mini book using the new Twig collection by Little Yellow Bicycle. Such a cute paper line and so many adorable embellishments, chipboard, stickers, and tags -- I just had to use all of it. The album is also a LYB chipboard/acrylic album. When you fall in love with a paper line that has so many wonderful pieces -- create a project that uses it all! This was SO much fun to create.

New use for calendar-inspired paper

Here is another idea for using that cute calendar paper that you find when you are not working on a calendar page. KI Memories Sew Cute Calendar Collection is adorable so I wanted to make a page with it, but did not want to do a calendar. Instead, I used the blocks as a grid for tons of little 1.25" pictures. This is perfect when you have a bunch of photos of family and friends left over from other layouts, but you can't bare to throw the extra pictures away. Cut them up and create a fun page full of little faces you love!


You will notice that all of the little faces on my layout are blurry. I did this for the purpose of this post because this layout was created for my local scrapbook store and used photos from store customers who may not want their photo posted on a blog. The pocket and embellishments on this layout are also part of the KI Memories Sew Cute Calendar line.

Using winter paper without winter

So you find this beautiful winter themed paper in your local scrapbook store...fabulous snow, frost, themed paper...but you don't live up north and your snowy days are limited to one or two per year. What's a girl to do? Find another use...


I fell in love with this Bo Bunny line called Midnight Frost but I did not have snow pictures. I covered up the "snowflake" portion of the paper and the blue and burgundy colors in this line were perfect for a boy-themed page about my son.

Tim Holtz Configurations Box

Another challenge for me from my LSS -- (I love how I am asked to create things that I would normally not think about--because when I finish the project, I have learned so much!)  I am a mini album/layout kind of girl...but I was asked to make a sample for our store using one of the Tim Holtz Configurations Boxes.  Yikes!!!!...BUT SO GLAD I DID.   It was SO much fun!  I used a paper I liked for a Valentines theme and the Tim Holtz gaffer tape for the box.  Then, I had a blast picking out embellishments, trinkets, stickers...all kinds of fun things (even a mini album by Maya Road) to put inside.  This is my handsome son and his sweet girlfriend -- perfect for a Valentine's Day project!!

Just for a day...

Sometimes when I am scrapbooking older photos of the boys, I wish they could be that little again just for a day. I have so many wonderful memories of their sweet hugs, adorable smiles, chubby little feet... then I remember how many great memories we have had together during all the years they were growing up and I smile again.

Scrapbooking is such a fantastic hobby for me. I get to relive all the fun over and over...like this afternoon with the sprinkler in our Collierville, TN backyard. They lived under that sprinkler with those very cool sunglasses for most of the summer.


And then there is the day we got professional photos taken. Rian's mischievous grin reminds me what a ham for the camera he used to be...and Jordy was just smiling so he could get out of there faster. Funny personalities remembered in pictures...little snippets of time captured on film...so thankful for my pictures.

New projects to share!

Here are some new things I have been working on. I have so many crazy ideas that I hope to be posting a lot over the next few days and weeks so check back often. You can also subscribe to my blog and automatically get notified via email when I post a new layout or project -- just scroll down to where it says "Subscribe via email" and enter your email address.

This is a special journal project I have been working on. I just LOVE '7 Gypsies' paper.



Here is a fun layout I did about my hubby's Warrior Dash (a very crazy, muddy race in North GA). I love Little Yellow Bicycle's 'Generation X' line -- it fit perfectly with the manly theme and came with tons of great embellishments! Anyone who knows me knows I am all about the coordinating embellishments. I used the stickers, the transparent borders and frames, and rub-ons to make this layout extra cool.





Finally, here is a layout that I did with some paper that I could not pass up at Scrapbook Expo this year. I just loved the colors. It is Pink Paislee's '365 Degrees' line. I knew I wanted to use Kristin's name for the title but when I cut it out of the blue paper (using my Silhouette) it was a little light. So, I used my Versamark Pen to go around the edges of the letters, sprinkled on clear embossing powder, and used my heat gun to melt -- voila -- instant darker edge. Fun!

Roxanne's Photo Tray

Wow, did y'all think I disappeared? Basically I did...into the migraine world temporarily and it was not fun. But the migraines are gone and I am back to creating again! I met with one of my good friends, Roxanne, yesterday to scrap and she got a lot more done than me so I decided to post her creation instead of mine (which still is not done). Not to mention that her creation is super fabulous and so worthy of posting!! Check it out...



Rox completed this 7 Gypsies photo tray with awesome family pictures and the Bo Bunny Mamarazzi line. I just LOVE it -- of course she has one of those beautiful families that photographs great too -- look at those pictures! You did a great job on this Rox...you have inspired me to make a photo tray and go get some professional family pictures taken. You always cost me money.

Too cute for teenagers!

I had to buy it...look at those cute little sea creatures! However, I knew I was going to have to dig up some very old beach pictures because this paper is way too "cute" for pictures of my teenage boys on the beach. They would kill me! So, I looked back through old beach pictures and came up with Hilton Head 1998. This paper is Imaginese and oh so very adorable. I combined it with a piece of Bo Bunny aquamarine double dot cardstock and found a great way to put seven, count them 7, pictures on a single page layout. Very happy with the result, but the best part? Jordy saw the layout and did not fuss at me for using this cute paper.

 

A layout, a cute picture, and tacos

I got home from school orientation and decided I wanted to scrapbook for a little while before dinner. It was probably about 4:30. My oldest son decided he was already hungry but once he saw me entering my scrapbook room he realized my dinner schedule and his were not in sync. Being the sweet kid he is, and the hungry guy he stays, he proposed a solution. He suggested that if I give him money, he would go to the store, buy stuff to make tacos, AND come home and make them. SCORE! I could not say yes fast enough! He gets to eat sooner and I get to scrap longer! Win-win! So, as a result of this happy arrangement, I created this layout of my sweet niece, Taylor. Although she was 5 years old in this picture (adorable!), she is 15 now. Taylor is still beautiful and I love her dearly. I have three nieces and they are always my excuse for buying really cute, pink, girly scrapbook paper.