Tuesday, February 26, 2013

February Kit Pages

I really did have a blast using up all the awesome pieces in both the Gossamer Blue kit and the Studio Calico kit.  I ended up with 9 (NINE!!!) pages from them.  So excited to share them all.

We'll start with the Gossamer Blue kit.
1st page done.  I even used the tissue paper used to wrap up all the embellishments to make some ruffles.  :)

fun little page with pics I've had forever!

I rarely scrap pics of us together.  I cherish this pic and this page.

This was for the Crate Challenge.  I didn't win, but I did get a mention on the  Gossamer Blue blog :)

Now for the Studio Calico pages:

I wasn't sure how to use this envelope.  So I just journaled on it and then added some journaling inside, too.

The stamp that came with the kit also had me wracking my brain.  Finally remembered this trip to SF.  

This was the 1st page I did.  I was determined to use that green paper (that I didn't totally love ) and the washi tape.  Get the "hard" stuff out of the way.  I actually like how it turned out, though.  The green was a perfect match for the grass in the pic.

So, from now on, even though my phone camera is so much easier to use, I will be using my nikon to photograph my pages.  The quality is a little better.  Lots of little layers on this page :)

This was a combo of wanting to get at least one more page out of my kit and  a challenge posted to use quilting or paper piecing as an inspiration.  I'd seen some cool quilts on pinterest with triangles on them.  Saved by pinterest yet again.
I am going to go back and look one more time at my scraps and a few challenges that have come up on both blogs.  See if I can squeeze anymore out of these great kits.

Monday, February 18, 2013

Kit-tastic!!

It's sometimes a challenge convincing the hubs that the money I spend on scrapbooking isn't just disappearing.  Especially when said money sits on my desk while I stare at it and twiddle my thumbs.  But lately, I've been actually using my purchases.  Yay me!! 

For example, I recently won a $20 giftcard for Gossamer Blue, so I thought I'd purchase a kit and see how I liked it.  So AWESOME!!  I've made FOUR pages from just what was in the kit.  And I love them all. 

Then I decided that I needed to see if Studio Calico was really as awesome as it seemed to be, so I signed on for 6 months.  So far, so good.  Two pages in, again with only sent items, and I'm really pleased with it.  I've got plans, man...plans.

I really hope this is my new mode.  I love to do this, record my family's lives like this.  And as long as the kits keep being awesome, I think I'll keep at it.  :)

And because every post needs a pic, here's a sneak peek at a couple pages.

Studio Calico pages

Oh, one more thing...I'm still working on my blog.  Hopefully, I can make it super-fantastic-awesome.  Well, at least not sucky.

Friday, February 15, 2013

For all of my 2 followers 

Thursday, February 14, 2013

My blog is a sad, sad thing

I thought that since there are actually people looking at my blog now, I should update it to reflect me a little more.  Instead of having it as plain as possible, it should be something that I wouldn't be ashamed showing off.  So, please excuse me while I try to find just the right fit for me.  I found a website called ShabbyBlogs.com that I think is going to work phenomenally.  So excited!  Stay tuned for my jump into this century.  :)

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Stairs...innocent architecture or out to get you with every step?

I'm pretty sure my stairs have it in for me.  Not only have I tripped going up them too many times to count, I've sprained my ankle (twice) on the stairs, they let junk just gather all over themselves and then last night I fell down the last four.  I'm sure they are moving, because, really who is THAT clumsy. Also, I think sidewalks are gunning for me, too.

As the day has worn on, I have started moving slower and slower and my butt gets more and more sore.  I feel old.  Stupid stairs. 

Now, I will attempt to get some scrapbooking done.  We shall see.
look how scary they are!

Lotsa pages

Just wanted to post what I'm proud to say I recently created.  Sorry some are repeats from a previous post.

I raided my paper stash for this one.  The colors are based off a Making Memories paper, but then I pulled in some My Mind's Eye from several different lines.  And of course, my trusty butterfly punches.  Love them!!  Ooh, and vellum.  I haven't used vellum on a page in ages.
Again with using really old papers.  The base paper was from a huge pack that I've had for  YEARS.  I'm not even sure whose it is, but then I layered on some Echo Park from a couple years ago and some sparkly Amy Tangerine Thickers.
Used Basic Grey Konichiwa (sp?)  Started playing with spray inks and the cute Dear Lizzy stamp set from  Neapolitan .
Used some Doodlebug papers, but inked the crap out of them to match me.  Again with the sprays :).
I've had these pictures sitting in my photo box just waiting to be scrapped.  Finally I decided that I would just grab a bunch of papers and go to town.  Some Authentique, Amy Tangerine, October Afternoon, and little tiny pieces of a Basic Grey paper that looks like washi tape.  Also, didn't have quite the right yellow letters, so I colored them with a marker.  Since they were foam, it turned out pretty good.  
My friend Amy had cut out some clouds for me to use for bday decorations, and we were left with  a stencil of sorts.  She challenged me to use it on a page and I finally did.  Probably should have protected the sides when I sprayed the white, but I'm happy with it overall.  LOVE this Echo Park Line. Really want to use it on something else.
I was so afraid to use this paper, just in case I needed it for something, somewhere.  Then I  realized that  it's okay to use it.  That's what it's there for.  To use.  One thing I've gotten over just recently, trying to hold onto paper for the "perfect" match.  Just do it.
My handsome boy.  I knew when I bought these Jillibean papers they'd be perfect on a boy layout.  Also, used some Pinterest inspiration on this one.
This is a couple different Echo Park lines.  Love how they coordinated so well with each other.   These pictures always make me smile, too.
Dear Lizzy Neapolitan.  I love anything she does.  The woman can do no wrong.  I liked playing with the crepe paper  on this one.  
Pretty calm, but I really wanted the pictures to shine.  My grandma passed away when I was three and I only have a few pictures of me with her.  These melt my heart.  Used some October Afternoon,  and an Ali Edwards baby themed Technique Tuesday stamp.
Simple Stories.  Oh how I love you.  All the fun little pieces to cut apart and play with make me happy.

It's been a productive couple of months.  Here's hoping I can keep it up!

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

January Project 12

I had a few minutes while Becca is sleeping, so I finished my layout.  Really just needed to add my journaling. 
Again, I really love this format.  I know I'll love to look back at these pages over and over. 


page 1

page 2
Thanks for looking!! :)

Pinterest inspired with Gossamer Blue

I try to check the Gossamer Blue site daily.  Their blog is always full of wonderfulness.  When I did so yesterday, there was a challenge to use pinterest to inspire you to create a layout.  So much fun!  I was instantly on board.  My only problem was trying to decide which of the gazillions of pins would be my muse.
I didn't actually settle on just one pin.  I couldn't.  So I put together a board for my new page.

My picture ha been sitting in a box waiting to be put on a page.  I would pull it out, look at it, try a couple papers, then put it all back.  Nothing ever felt right. 

Along comes the Ready, Set, Go collection from Amy Tan and it just worked for me.  The colors aren't a match, which isn't always a "have-to" for me, but the graphic patterns looked right with the pic.  So I knew I wanted to use some of those papers, but was still stuck. 

So, thanks to Gossamer Blue, I started looking at my pins, and found the inspiration I needed to finally give this picture a home.


So, here are the pins I used as a starting board:
     

 And here is my page :)
I knew I wanted to use some stars on the page, more masculine than a bunch of hearts or butterflies.  So I looked for a quote with the word star in it.  This fit great with the journaling, which is hidden behind the photo, about how his happiness just shines from within.  And the rest just flowed.

I did have a small problem with the title.  Of course, I didn't have any e's in these thickers that matched my page perfectly, so I used the three.  I know it looks exactly like what it is, a backwards 3, and it would probably drive some people crazy, but it's just fine with me.  

Had fun with this challenge!!  And I loved looking at other peoples posts to see how and from what people draw their inspiration.

Next post should be about my Project 12 January page.  It's almost done.  And I am planning on entering the Crate/Gossamer Blue challenge, too.  

Friday, February 1, 2013

Some New stuff

Just wanting to put up some of my new pages.  I feel like I am redefining my style, yet again.  But I think that's a good thing.  As you change you grow, and vice versa. 

These pages are made using several different lines.  A couple American Crafts, a My Minds Eye, October Afternoon, and even a Doodlebug (which I hardly use).  I am pretty happy with my results.