Paw Patrol

Hello crafty friends! I have a super fun layout to share with you today. If you have a toddler, chances are you know all about Paw Patrol...well a few weeks back, we went to the state fair and had a chance to do a little meet and greet with some of the characters. To say we had one excited little boy would definitely be an understatement.

I knew that I wanted to do bright, bold primary colors on this one...because Paw Patrol is bright, and also because said excited little boy also very much loves the color red.

How fun is this layout..I mean seriously, it just makes you smile! :) For the photo "mat", I did a few paper layers, but I really had fun using stencils and stamps behind that. I love all the added interest and texture that it adds, all the while drawing your eye into the photo.

Then for the title, I knew I wanted to do it in a bright bold red, and when I saw this Tall Type font from The Cut Shoppe, I knew it was perfect. I cut this out on white cardstock, with the intention of using watercolors...but I just couldn't get them to be bold enough, so I actually ended up coloring over my watercolor with a red copic. LOVE how bold this turned out, perfect for the look I wanted.

Then to finish it off, I went looking through my stash for anything bright, and fun. I kept embellishing pretty light, but these little bits were the perfect touches!

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

Mischievous Little Leprechan

Hello friends! I have another fun layout to share with you today. Around St. Paddy's day, my mom found all these fun little green beards and mustaches for the kiddos. I managed to snap this cute little shot of the boy. I had a little trouble with this one...I really wanted to play off of the green/orange combo from the photo..but I didn't have much in my stash, so this made for a more simple layout, but I must say, I really love the way the photo pops against that white background!

I really wanted to do a fun layered title. Different fonts, colors, etc. I love the way the "little" fits in there so perfectly, and the pop of orange it gave. With the differing words though, I was left with some awkward spaces..I added in a little stamping, and a few more small paper layers to fill those spots, and bring more interest to my page.

I loved these strips going up the side, but hindsight, I wish I would have made the orange one a little smaller; to try and fill in some of that space, I layered in a few tags. I used two blank orange ones from Chic Tags, and some of my Simple Stories clear stickers to customize them for this layout...seriously, how perfect is that mustache!

I am still loving these challenges of using what I have...though, I am DYING to go shopping!! All of these sneak peeks aren't helping either! lol.

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

Puddle Jumpers

Hello friends!! Happy Saturday! Today I have a layout to share with you that was inspired by this layout by Jamie Waters, that I stumbled across while pursuing the Studio Calico gallery one day. I loved the squares and embellishment all lined up across the left side...I thought it was a fun layout, and it immediately made me think of this day that I had been dying to get in the scrapbook!

I found this raindrop paper in my stash, I have had it for quite awhile, I received it in a kit, as I would normally not buy that. The colors are gorgeous, but not something I would normally use...but I thought, how perfect that I had held on to it for this layout! Adding in just the squared helped me to go with the "theme" of the layout, but not get overwhelmed by that and the busier chevron pattern that I used!

Then for my title, I loved how these Crate Paper alphas went with the colors I was using, and they gave a fun translucent effect..kind of like a rain puddle! Then, I had these cute little raindrop puffy stickers...again, would never have used them, they were one of the few stickers left on that sheet from Pinkfresh..but perfect for this layout!!

I am linking this layout up to Paper Issue and their Chip off the Old Block issue!! Details here!!

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

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!

Be Inspired

Hello friends!! Hope you all had a great holiday weekend! Today, I have a layout to share with you, using up some more of my stash. I had an idea with this layout to do it all on the diagonal. I have seen a few layouts here and there lately using this style, and I thought it would be something fun and different to try out!

This is an older picture of our oldest daughter. We were all outside one day, just sitting and playing, enjoying the beautiful day...when she all of the sudden runs inside, and comes back out with her journal and some other scrappy supplies. She plops down beside me and gets busy..I ask her what she is doing, and she says, being outside gives her inspiration..so she wanted to scrapbook. Of course, I had to document this moment!

I wanted to use some fun and colorful pattern on this since her clothes were so colorful..they aren't exact matches, but I really thing that the tones work well together, and it makes the photo pop...I didn't want the patterns to overwhelm the page though, so I cut some triangles, and just went through and placed them in a way pleasing to my eye. Then I wanted some type of border, so I grabbed one of the papers I had used for the triangles, and fussy cut out the full strips to have my top and bottom border.

Then, I just began to fill in spots with embellishment. I tried to stick to the color scheme, and also added in some wooden elements to go with the outdoors type of photo, and meaning.

I layered embellishments across the triangle, to add some cohesion and to bring everything together. I hadn't' measured the spaces when placing my triangles, and with all the white space around them, they really needed something to ground them, and make everything flow together a little more. You can see this here, where I had elements going across and "uniting" several of the triangles.

Thanks for stopping in today, take time to enjoy and create something you love!

Givin' it a try

Hello friends!! We have been stuck in most of this week, so I have had a chance to get in a little crafty time! Yay!! :) Today I am going to share a layout that is a little out of the norm for me...I decided to give the mixed media craze a try! I was inspired by Ms. Ashley Horton and her fun new video series " Zoned Out" ( here is a link to her layout and video that inspired me!).
I didn't go too crazy with the techniques...I thought I'd gradually work my way up, but I did have a lot of fun with this, doing a few things I wouldn't normally do, and I really am happy with the finished layout.

I just noticed how horribly uneven that mat is around my layout! Oh well, lol..its close enough! For the background on this, I used the spray mist on the plastic technique, and then just dabbed it around on the layout. It was fun, and a different way to use the mists, I think I will go back to this again! Then I went in with some navy color shine, and did some sprinkles. After assembling the layout, I felt like it needed a little something else..so taking some navy ink and some fun geometric shapes, I did some uneven stamping. I really love the way that turned out!

This was a fun way to stretch out my creativity, and use some supplies in a different way! Its fun to try something new every once in awhile, and I just want to give another shout out and thanks to Ashley for the push in a new direction! Can't wait to see what she has in store for the next video in her series!!

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

Lost it all...again

Hello crafty friends!! It's been awhile, but we are now officially on our summer break, so I am hoping to get back on the blogging train and share some of the things I have been working on....First off, I want to apologize for again losing all of my images. Not sure exactly what is going on there, somehow I synced everything to my phone, and when I delete an image off of my photo gallery, it deletes it from here also! I have been trying to get it unsynced, but so far I am not having any luck.

I do have a new layout to share today though, and I promise this one will stick around! :)

This one I wanted to keep simple, I love this photo of our oldest daughter, and when I saw this "wild & free" card from the Gossamer Blue life pages kit, I knew it was perfect. With the photo being black and white, I wanted to keep everything soft on this page, I loved this color scheme that came together.

I have to say, this is probably one of my new favorites...so excited to be getting back into the groove!

Take time to create something you love!

Best Summer Ever

Hello friends! I have another Gossamer Blue layout to share with you today! For this layout, I wanted to focus on the more fun and bright colors and embellishments in the kit. The Pinkfresh Up in the Clouds items were perfect for this summer layout.

This photo holds a special place for me. This fall, I went back to work...first time I had been back full time since having our first daughter 8 years ago. I was feeling all kinds of emotions...I was excited, terrified, guilty, nervous...you name it, I was feeling it. So, the kiddos and I spent that last week spending as much time as we could together...and this day at the lake was one of my favorites from that week.

I snapped this photo as they were walking down to the water, and it just hit me how much was about to change for us...and how hard, but hopefully good it was going to be.

Now, the school year is almost over, and I am so looking forward to having the summer to spend everyday with these three sweeties, and have another summer just as good ( if not better) than the last one was! :)

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

Simple Joys

Hello friends! We are on Spring Break here this week, so I have been enjoying the nice weather and time home with my kiddos...and I have snuck in a little crafty time when I can! :) Still putting the finishing touches on most of those.

So today I have a layout to share with you from a few weeks back, this one is using the Gossamer Blue March kit. I loved the pink, mint, black, and gold color scheme of this kit...with a few fun and bright embellishments and papers thrown in using the Pinkfresh Studio Up in the Clouds collection!

For this layout, I focused on the first color scheme...bringing lots of elements from the Life Pages kit along with the Main Scrapbook kit.

I loved the acrylic "2" gether embellishment from the February kit, and had been bummed that it had never made its way onto a layout. so I was beyond excited that it fit in so well on this one.

The rose pattern paper are all little out of the norm for me, but I thought they went so well with this photo, that I embraced them, and tried to find the right way to make them work for my style. I was pleasantly surprised with the finished product! :)

I will be sharing a few more layouts this week...and be on the lookout for a fun review coming soon!! :)

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

Gossamer Blue

Hello friends! I recently joined Gossamer Blue kit club, and I have to say I am so glad I rejoined! Loving the February kit so far, and I have my first layout to share with you today.

My middle daughter recently lost her first tooth, and it would be an understatement to say that she was excited! I thought the fun colors and embellishments in this kit would be perfect to document this moment!

I loved the custom wood veneer titles, and thought this one went great to cluster in with my title.

I also had so much fun using the office themed embellishments on this layout! The ended up working perfectly, and I am so in love with the finished layout!

Stay tuned for some more layouts using the Gossamer Blue February kit...my hopes are to kill this one just in time for the March kits to get here. Loving the sneaks so far!!

I'm linking this layout up to the current issue at Paper Issues " Hip to be Square". Nothing beats a grid layout, and this challenge helped to inspire that.

Have a good one, 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!

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! :)

Home at Last

Hi all!! Happy Tuesday!!! I have another Gossamer Blue layout to share today! I have to tell you, I absolutely love all the fun bright colors in this kit!! So fun!!

Every month, there is a fun member scraplift challenge on the GB blog. I decided to play along this month! I chose this fun layout by Valerie. I loved all the banners layered under the photo.

Here is my take:

 

Had some fun with the splatters on this one. The large buttons were actually cover ups, looking at it now I'm not loving them, but its done and I never go back and change layouts. I used to and it drove me crazy, lol, so no more!

 

This is my 3rd layout with the May kit and I still have so much left!! Hoping I get the chance to knock a few more out with it soon, that way I am ready for the June kit....which looks AMAZING from the sneaks! Very excited to see the full reveal from the special team up with Lily Bee, sure to be fab!!

 

Off now to take advantage of a sleeping baby and do some laundry! Fun, fun, right! lol.

 

Hope you all have a fabulous 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! 

Elle's Studio Thursday Sketch

This week I had time to play along with the sketch challenge over at Elle's Studio. The sketch was based off of a fabulous layout by Ashley Horton, and extremely talented scrapper, and a sweetie! :) So I knew I had to try and find time to play along...it took me 3 days to finish this layout, lol, but I love the finished product!


Here the sketch

 

Super cute, right? I changed it up a bit, but I think you can still see where I was inspired.

 

I found this saying on Pinterest, and thought it was perfect for this photo. It's a lot easier to read in person, it says....Live Simply. Dream Big. Be Grateful. Give Love. Laugh Lots.

 

I used the Gossamer Blue April kit on this layout, along with some other bits and pieces from my stash. Lots of Dear Lizzy and Amy Tan. Loving those new lines!

 

 

Its so nice to be getting back into the creative mode, even if it takes me way longer than ever before to finish anything. lol. Hoping to have another project to share soon!

 

Thanks for popping in today, and I hope you have a great weekend, and make sure you take time to create something you love!

 

 



Beautiful Gifts

Hi all!! I'm back to share another layout today. I am really loving the Gossamer Blue April kit, there were so many fabulous items, most which had been on my wish list, and I am knocking out the layouts with it!

Every month, on the GB blog, they host a Pinspired challenge, and as a Pinterest addict, I love this challenge. The challenge for this month was to use gold. So I got to work on a layout...I used some of Elizabeth Kartchner's recent twopeas layouts as inspiration...mainly this layout and this layout. I just put my own spin on the style...loved the elements all going up the side, and I am a sucker for the die cut titles! :)

Here is my layout:

 

I'm excited too that it isn't even May yet, and I already have 3 layouts done with the GB April kit! One more and I'll be half way to a free album...they have an awesome incentive program, which you can read about here. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for a kit club!! AND if you subscribe in April you receive a free goodie bag, valued at $25!  If you let them know I sent you, then I get one too! :) Definitely check them out!

 

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

Project 12: March edition

Hi all!! Happy Wednesday! Its the third Wednesday of the month, which means tonight I get to get out for a little me time, not only me time, but me CRAFTY time!! On the third Wednesday of the month, there is a "Bug Club" meeting in at my LSS, where we all get together, bring in anything we've been working on to share, get an awesome kit, and just hang out for a couple of hours! This is only my second week back since having the little guy, but I am so looking forward to it!

Today, I am going to share my Project 12 spreads for March. I had a little bit of trouble this month, getting everything to come together the way that I wanted. I am pretty happy with the end result, and still really loving this method of scrapping!

 

I used the March kit from Gossamer Blue on this, which I loved! Lots of Dear Lizzy Lucky Charm, and the new Amy Tan line. The colors are so bright and fun!!

 

My adorable title card is from Megan Klauer...I love it, and it went perfect with not only this month, but with the colors of the kit!

 

Lots of fun projects in my mind, now lets just see if I can get the kiddos to cooperate so I can get them down on paper! lol. How do you all manage kiddos and you time? I am totally open to hints, tips, suggestions! lol.

 

Linking this up to Paper Issues InstaLove challenge...love me some instagram! lol

 

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

Today the Adventure Begins

Might seem like an odd title, for a picture of the first lost tooth, but I think it fits perfect. When I look at this photo, I see a little lady growing up. Long gone are her "baby" days. This was right before she started kindergarten, when she was just starting to really become her own person. She is amazing, and when I look at this picture, to me it symbolizes the beginning, of HER grand adventure...her growing up, and learning even more who she is, the person she wants to be.

 

Since this picture, she has changed so much, both in her looks, number of teeth (lol), and how grown up she is. She is truly an amazing person, and I am so beyond honored and blessed that I get to live her adventure with her. I cannot wait to see the woman that this beautiful girl becomes. :)

 

Thanks for stopping in today, hope you all are inspired to take time to create something you love!

 

****Linking this up to Paper Issues, they have a super fun Instagram Issue going on right now. Link your up here.

**** All supplies are from the Gossamer Blue April kit.

A Favorite Photo

Hi all!! I have another layout to share today using the March kits from Gossamer Blue! I am still loving this kit and all of the Glitz included...love the bright, fun colors in the Color Me Happy collection!!

I love, love, love this photo of my three kiddos...it will be scrapped multiple times, already decided! lol. I thought it went perfect with this chalkboard paper from Glitz, and I loved adding in all the color around it.

 

Not sure I love how the journaling looks, but I almost always feel that way! lol. I need to be more thoughtful of my journaling during the design process, I believe! Do you all design with journaling in mind? Tips always welcome! :)

 

I decided to take a leap and enter this into the Gossamer Blue/Glitz guest designer contest...we shall see how that goes! lol.

 

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