Category Archives: Scrapbooking

i love a challenge

Posted on April 14, 2011 | 11 comments

There’s nothing quite like a good challenge to get me creating.

Did you know that Creating Keepsakes Club CK on-line community has a one hour challenge? I’m actually not sure how often they post it but I think it may be about once a week. I’ve seen it quite a few times and have always wanted to play along but never found the chance.

Today I was on Facebook and noticed that they had just posted another one hour challenge. Intrigued I stopped by to see what the challenge was. There were three fabulous projects from the latest Paper Crafts magazine special issue, 350 Cards & Gifts. That clinched it. I had to play along. The rest of the to do list…well, it can wait.

So. What could I create in an hour or less? I wasn’t sure but as the clock was ticking, my fingers were flying.

I finished my layout in 55 minutes including the time it too to edit and print out the photos. Yes. I was movin! 🙂 Fun, fun, fun!

Want to check out the original challenge? You can still play along.

The buttons and text on Jessica Witty’s wreath inspired the sewing theme, the text fabric background and the button embellishments. Layle Konkar’s printers tray inspired the banner accents and Ashley C. Newell’s canvas wall hanging inspired the canvas rolled flower and banner.

Oh yes, I really should tell you that this is my beautiful daughter making her very first quilt.

A few design notes:

  • tear edges of fabric for a textured look
  • the fabric was spritzed with Viva Pink Glimmer Mist for color and interest
  • photos can stick to the presser foot when stitching on them with a sewing machine. Carefully apply subtle pressure to keep the paper moving.

Thanks for joining me today!

11 Comments

Posted in Scrapbooking

Imagine the Possibilities…

Posted on April 8, 2011 | 4 comments

It’s layout day today.

I’ve pulled out some new goodies and given them a whirl. Gelatos, Kraft Resist paper, stamps and ink.

I know I’ve mentioned before about my daughter and her Organ Transplant Co-op last semester and I’ve finally gotten around to creating a page for her to remember it by. The photos are of her traveling by ambulance and private jet for an organ retrieval. What an amazing learning experience! (edited to add…just to clear things up, Heather did NOT have a transplant. She was able to spend a few months with the team learning, watching and attending rounds and surgeries. She will start working on her nursing degree this fall.)

Today I’m in the CLASSroom sharing this layout, closeups and how I created it. Want to join me?

I also just wanted to take the time to say thank you, thank you, thank you for all the wonderful birthday wishes and comments left here and on facebook. I had a lovely day and wonderful dinner made by my daughter and MIL. Manicotti and cheesecake…yummm! I’m spoiled!

Have a fabulous weekend!

4 Comments

Posted in Ellen Hutson LLC projects, Scrapbooking

i love spring

Posted on April 5, 2011 | 8 comments

I love spring. It’s my favourite season.

The grass, the rush of new growth, the warmth, the beauty, the new beginning. It all makes my heart sing.

Spring also brings a busier time of year. Getting outside and enjoying the air. Gardening. Fun times.

This year I’m determined not to put my scrapbooking on hold for fall but to keep enjoying it. It’s OK to be quick and simple. It’s OK to not be perfect.

Today I’m on the Lily Bee blog…reminding us to keep scrapping and to let go of perfect.

 

This project uses the new Happily Lost line by Lily Bee Design. The colours and prints “had me at hello”. 🙂 While they are perfect for spring and summer, this is a line I’ll be using all year long!

Supplies: Extra Large Heart Punch by Fiskars, Dymo Label Maker, Happily Lost line by Lily Bee Design, Hello Sunshin Chipboard Sticker by Lily Bee Design, sewing machine, twine, Heart Trinket Pin by Maya Road, Corrugated flower by Jillibean Soup, rhinetsones by MME, Thickers by American Crafts

Enjoy the fresh new day!

8 Comments

Posted in Lily Bee, Scrapbooking

so much more

Posted on March 29, 2011 | 8 comments

“so much more delightful than you know”

Don’t you just love that? That’s how I feel about my kids and so that journaling die cut was all I needed to inspire me to get creating.

This layout also comes as part of a challenge…

This project uses the latest Up the Street Scrapbooking kit and is also a challenge for you. If you’re like me you love die cut patterned paper but sometimes it is so pretty, it’s just hard to cut. I hope you’ll be inspired to try cutting into it and having some fun. Check out the challenge here.

So Delightful

We had such a great time on our family vacation in Florida. We loved every minute but the best thing was sharing the adventures and time with my children. I was so proud of how well they all got along and behaved throughout the trip. Yes the drive was long. Long, long, long! Over 21 hours to be exact and we drove straight through. We also had a wide variety of ages and personalities to work with. So while I could scrap fun moments and pictures of gators and palm trees, beaches and boats, this layout focuses on a sweet moment between siblings. Love you guys!

This little birdie just may be my new favorite die. Who would have thought I’d get so addicted to die cutting?!

Isn’t this a darling little button card by My Mind’s Eye. It’s part of the kit and while the buttons are gorgeous, I just couldn’t bear to take them off the original card. It’s sanded and tied with twine to make an instant embellishment.

And finally, the journaling. I wish I had bettering printing and handwriting! Oh well…it’s the thought that counts, right?

Enjoy your day!

8 Comments

Posted in Papercraft projects, Scrapbooking, Up the Street

my boy

Posted on March 24, 2011 | 7 comments

Taking photos, especially of kids, can be a bit of a hit and miss adventure. With the advent of digital photography, it makes it so much easier to take a good picture. You can keep shooting and shooting until you get a good shot. Yes, it’s still tricky at times but I love not wasting film.

Last week I was going through some photos I took last November and came across this one of child number four. Love it! I printed it out so that I’d scrap it next.

Lucky me…I picked up the latest Up the Street Scrapbooking kit on Tuesday and the colors worked perfectly. It’s a fairly simple design to keep the focus on the photo.

My Benjamin

Do you see the white mist?! It’s Mr. Huey’s Calico White Color Mist. I saw this on a blog (sorry can’t remember where) and just had to have it. Of course, everywhere I looked it was all sold out. I was so excited to see that Tara has it in stock at Up the Street. It’s beautiful and subtle and I think I have a new product crush. Stay tuned. 😉

How about this lace/rhinestone embellishment for stunning? It’s part of the kit and I’ve saved a piece for another project too. That’s on my to do list for today.

 

Finally…the banner and the journaling. I’ve gotten over my fear of handwriting on my page. I rarely do anything else now. To create the banner…I saved the one inch strip of kraft cardstock that I cut off before matting the kraft with the red cardstock. Waste not, want not and all that! To make it stand out, it’s stamped with the Happy stamp from the Dictionary stamp set by Hero Arts.

Enjoy the day!

7 Comments

Posted in Card Designs, Hero Arts, Scrapbooking, Up the Street

embracing the moment

Posted on March 15, 2011 | 14 comments

Feelings.

We all have them. They are pretty messy things and the funny thing about them is we can feel so many different ways all at one time.

I’m not always the best at expressing mine. I tend to hide them all away inside. Sometimes though, it’s really important to get them out. It’s cathartic. Some people journal and this layout is my attempt at that. You won’t find a photo. That’s not the point.

The point is to be real, express myself and record a little piece of my history.

I admit it. I decided to just a bit reckless and splurge on this layout. I’d been hoarding a lot of beautiful product for that perfect project. I usually have a reason for using it. Not just a page for me. But I’m glad I did. This is going to hang on a magnetic board in my craft room for a while. Some daily inspiration.

Some gorgeous Pink Paislee flowers.

What you can’t see with the lighting in the original photo is my favorite part of the design. The journaling is layered over a beautiful silver rub-on by Jenni Bowlin. I’ve framed it with lovely big pearl brackets by Zva. Some of the journaling is random thoughts, & some of it, things that mean a lot to me.
So I just wanted to challenge you…

…to be real

…to record the good & the bad

…to embrace the moments

…to search for what’s important.

{hugs}

14 Comments

Posted in Scrapbooking

dreamer

Posted on March 14, 2011 | 26 comments

I guess I’m a bit of a dreamer. I was always the girl with her head in the clouds and I guess in a lot of ways, I still am.

Dreams get us through every day life. They give us something to work towards. A goal. Some dreams come true and make us smile. Some dreams break our heart a little when they don’t. It all makes us stronger and makes us who we are.

The other day I was thinking of dreams and put this layout together.

First though…I have to tell you my saga. Friday was a crazy day. We woke up to no power. Spent the day huddled in the cold with no heat, no power and no water after a storm took it out. I didn’t go down to my craft room as the basement too dark to work in. One of my teenagers decided to have a nap. His room is in the basement and when he woke up, he came yelling up the stairs that the basement was flooded. My heart sank.

Because of all the rain the day before and no power going to the sump pump, my craft room flooded and then spilled into half the basement. It was a very long and distressing evening. I threw out a lot of stuff but I’m so thankful it wasn’t worse. It’s still drying out but it was so hard to see my own special place like that and my husbands hard work in  creating it  for me threatened. My craft room was one of my dreams come true. Maybe that sounds silly but it meant a lot to me.

Enter a Saturday Lily Bee deadline. The layout I had planned to create on Friday and couldn’t because of the dark had to wait until after a University tour with my daughter on Saturday. I believe in meeting my commitments. So I sat in my damp soggy craft room and managed to create this layout from my heart.

One of the things I realized this weekend is that I am living my dream.

Here.

Now.

I am blessed.

I still have a pocket full of dreams but the important ones, I cherish their fulfillment, each and every day. I love it when God gives me a little reality check. I just wish I didn’t have to learn the hard way.

So finally! Here’s my layout. It may be my favorite to date because of what it means to me. It’s also my first layout created with my new Picket Fence line for Lily Bee Design. Picket Fence is the Monday Focus on the Lily Bee blog. If you’re looking for more Picket Fence inspiration…check it out here.

I have good news! Picket Fence along with the other fabulous Lily Bee Design releases are now shipping to stores! Keep an eye out for them!

This flower is created with the Tattered Florals die and the Porch Swing and Fresh Air papers. I wanted a red brad center and didn’t have one. I found a neutral Zva brad in my stash and colored it red with a Copic Marker.

I encourage you to write down your dreams. Those that have come true and those you wish for. For the most part, I’m a pretty private person and the little pocket makes a perfect place to tuck those dreams inside.

Keep dreaming…

26 Comments

Posted in Inspirational, Lily Bee, Papercraft projects, Scrapbooking