Playing with paints

I really have missed playing and crafting lately.  I have been dabbling here and there with mixed media (live) not just digi and I have started a few projects - today I finished one.  Haha... that makes me chuckle and if you saw my pile o f projects you would know why....

Anyway this is for a canvas challenge over at http://creaboetiekcreations.blogspot.nl/.  You see lately I have been watching you tube mixed media videos and I just stumbeled across this earlier today while at the ER with hubby. Hubby is ok. (you tube recommended this for me, so I obliged.)

The challenge is anything "home" related.  Being we just returned from St Thomas, I am still in beach mode.  here is what I made.

The canvas is 5x7 and I first painted it with acrylic paints.
Next I added the bubbles with some modeling paste and then highlighted them with Tim Holtz' perfect pearls.
I cut the palm tree on my silhouette (2x) on some Tim Holtz paper that had script on it.  and then covered it with a scattered later of UTEE and sprayed the project with a good mist of golden yellow.
I dripped and spread multiple layers of Tim Holtz's Alcohol Ink on the palm tree cut out; added the bits and pieces of some sea shell sequins and a silver starfish.
Finished the project with text printed on tissue and applied with gel medium.

(It's not as grungy as I like, but I like it, and I am happy to get to play a bit today, Thanks family).

MOC Starts January 1st at The-Lilypad.com

It's almost January - I am super psyched to start back into the new year with a Month of Scrappy Challenges at The-Lilypad.com.  Come play along!

what's been happening...

I attended lain's Art Journal class - loved it - In fact I want to get startedon an AJ that incorporates so many of the bible quotes I have been collecting - I was super inspired and she really broke it down for newbies - I was impressed!

I also had my currently me LO featured on a Lilypad blog post (how cool is that?)

and tonight I had the chance to scrap a little and finish the fourth Mixed Media Monthly challenge - monochromatic.

I am gearing up for another busy busy weekend - but I will get to see the older two kids Saturday am - yay.

Mazel Tov card w/ Instructions

My daughter was invited to her first Bar Mitzvah.  It may actually be the only one she is invited to as we are not Jewish.  Remember she is twelve and was not as excited for the 2-hour ceremony as maybe I would be...

I was just as excited though to make this card! And those who have received cards from me in the past (weddings, birthdays, etc...) know that I love to incorporate the invitation somehow in the card that I make. They take time to choose that invitation, it is special to them, and I have received many compliments by doing this.  This time it was a no brainer, the mom  used this awesome shimmery paper with blues and cream stripes.  the one side was the message and this invite had a double side (how cool is that?) so I had 7x4 space of the best pattern paper cardstock.

First and foremost I am a fan of the 9x4 card & envelope I purchased from the Silhouette store created by Jamie Cripps.  Best $1.98 every spent.  I purchased the "You Did It" and used them for all my graduation cards (tip - cut them in their school colors!)  she has other ones for many different occasions.  I use the base elements and envelopes all the time!

(Link for the card)   (Link for the envelope)

In silhouette I grabbed the card's background piece and re-sized my letters to fit inside the background (1. using the text tool - spelled out Mazel Tov, 2. changed the font to Ahroni,3. un-grouped the letters, 4 then moved them sizing and spacing them on my card as I liked them).

Once complete I made a outline of the 4x7 invite that I was using the background paper and rearranged my letters (dont resize them!) one by one inside that square so I could get them all cut out of the invite.  

Maybe this screen shot will explain better...

For the Star of David I created it this way...1. create a square, 2. use knife tool to cut it in half on the diagonal, 3. resize one of the triangles to get even angles, and you can delete the other, 4. do an inside offset with the square vs rounded edges (I think I used a .2 size it was a bit thin, I would suggest going thicker), 5. group them and make a compound path, 6. duplicate that triangle, and flip the new one, 7. now center them and space them so the 6 points are equally spaced in the middle of the opposite's triangle long lines, 8. weld, 9. resize to fit the space in your card.  (I cut 4 pieces and glued them on top of each other to create more depth to the card and the star).

One thing I would change is how I glued the ribbon, I can see the glue. Definately use tape.  I know better and just pulled a rookie mistake.

Curious about Art Journaling

Lain Ehmann is hosting a webinar (FREE) called , "Art Journaling for the Unartistic,"

 If you've been drooling over the gorgeous images of art journals and mixed media projects you've seen all over the magazines and internet, but you're afraid you don't have an artistic bone in your body, I can help! In this interactive session, you'll learn:

 

* Easy ways to create art journal backgrounds with inexpensive supplies 

* How to incorporate ephemera and bits and bobs into your crafting 

* Creative ways to leave room for journaling 

* The best pens to use for your pages 

*...And more! 

 

As always, there will be time for your questions. 

 

Can't attend live? No problemo, kemo sabe! A recording will be available for a limited time after the event - but you MUST pre-register. You can sign up to join us on 10/14 for "Art Journaling for the Unartistic" with me here: 

http://www.layoutaday.com/unart 

http://www.layoutaday.com/scrap2013/

Should be a good time.. I have already saved my spot.

scrapping this week

I am getting behind in my PL - I have been loving the mixed media scrappy style lately, so I have been playing.  I created the following 2 LO.  1st is all from the October Storyteller it from Just Jaimee and the new painty templates.

my second LO is using the Mixed Media Monthly Sept kit for the challenge.  Funny - remember "Lucky Star" - yep, madonna.  Well the challenge is to use the kit, at ;east one star and a phrase from the song.  I used the stars from the kit and clipped the tags, and papers to them.  I got the inspiration from Wilna Fursteberg and one of her class layouts.  The font is Lori Whitlock, Sunshine.

GSO! - i am blushing!

two weeks in a row I have gotten this super cool honor.  i am so thrilled and happy someone appreciates what I create!

Read what she has to say about my Currently Me layout from my last post...HERE

Catching up

I should be cleaning, doing laundry, cutting out vinyl, anything but scrapping all night.....

last 2 challenges (making up for lost time in August)... I will catch up with work, laundry & dishes tomorrow....

M3 challenge no 2 for September

Scraplift challenge at The-lilypad Mixed Media Monthly.
- I love to play along...
I think an AJ page should be realistic, lots of paint and doodles.

M3 Challenge and GSO standout

I took a little break from my PL to participate in the Mixed Media Monthly (M3) challenge at The-Lilypad on Friday.  I opened up the club kit this month (yes I am behind it came out a week or two ago... ugh!)  When I opened up the masks one in particular brought me back to creating artwork as a kid with crayons.... we would color a rainbow of colors on the paper - then cover it all up with black crayon.... then scratch off the black to see all the magical colorful goodness underneath... That's what I hoped to accomplish below - and I guess I did something right I received a GSO (Gallery Stand Out) for it.  So Thrilled!!!

There is some journaling hidden under the black and the colors below - just a note to my kids to shine on!  The wordart with the stitching is an M3 add on - from Little Butterfly Wings - super cute!  the rest is from the M3 September kit minus the staples - they are Just Jaimee October Storyteller kit.  I love these - used them 3x already!

Hybrid Home Decor!!

OMG! I am so excited Just Jaimee's October Storyteller kit was released today over at The-Lilypad.com.  This is her best kit ever! (but I say that every month).  i plan to use quite a few tings this month to share with you how versatil her kits are for all your scrappy needs.  Lets kick it off with a hybrid project - some home decor.  OK - easy peasy right?  and  yes it was.  But what I LOVED! is the way how vibrant the colors printed! - they look fabulous!!  Just a warning, this first project is a girl project, but it's not a "girly" kit.

I was so inspired by this cute journal card in this month’s kit, and with so many online services out there, it’s easier than ever to create your own home decor wall art canvases. I wanted to two 8x8 canvases to hang up in  my daughter’s room.

Depending on how messy you like to get you can do this in one of two ways... The first way (and by far the simplest: create your design and upload or take your file to a local printer and have them print & mount it for you.

Me personally, I like to take it a step farther and mount them myself. After the design is created in an 8x8 format, in the Image menu, I expanded my canvas to 10x10.  then I made my background paper larger to fit the 10x10 space; leaving my 8x8 design in tact. (yep, this gives me the pattern for the sides of my canvas). I sent my prints to Costco to print on an 11x14 lustre paper.  Then  picked up two 8x8 canvases and some elmer’s spray adhesive.

BUT....here is where things went bad.... Costco took it upon themselves to stretch my picture to fill the 11x14 page.  Exactly NOT what I wanted. But I can say I love the color popped! - so I made it work.  I cut some foam board 11x11, trimmed my photos to 11x11 and I am all done.  can I say how much I love these?

The quote is from Audrey Hepburn (I cut out the kissing part)... My background paper is an old Just Jaimee style applied to the white paper in the kit. And the font is called KG Somebody That I Used to Know - from fontshop.com

these will look great on Sammy's pink wall.

Kudos Crafty Steals.com!!

I am a sucker for a good daily deal.  I have a gmail account that gets populated every morning and I have fun seeing what is on special.  I think it is a great concept and I have purchased from many of them... with that said, there are some bad, some good, and there are some great ones!!!

I have been watching Crafty Steals.com.  I have never purchased from them b/c I was duped y a similar website a while back.   However, I am a crafter, so I lurk...(not to mention I have so many products, I really try to limit myself, not sure my husband would agree to that statement.).  This  Tuesday I received an email for these cutest Heidi Swapp stamps below (perfect for my project life).  I couldn't resist!

I was still leary so I just purchased as a guest, I still haven't created a login yet :(. 

By noon I had received an email that they processed my order.

Yesterday (Thursday) I came home to a package in my mail with my stamps.

They are cute and awesome - and I am psyched to start using them!!

bottom line....I will so shop with them again.

(BTW I am still waiting on a daily deal that I purchased the week before from Living Social Deals.com.  I have not received any shipping notices at this point (maybe I need to log in to see them, but I like even more that I didnt have to chase down my Crafty Steal deal shipping details).
Just a note, CraftySteals.com is  also a partner with a SimplySteals.com.  I have not tried them yet - but I have a feeling if something irrestible comes by - I will have my wallet ready :)

New Hybrid Tutorial Posted over at Just Jaimee's blog

Check out another tutorial for using your Silhouette - and if you don't have one - there are some tips for using the Heat Transfer Vinyl with your digital supplies too.

Fun Stuff!!

http://justjaimee.com/uncategorized/hybrid-tutorial-using-digi-supplies-and-heat-transfer-vinyl/

Mixed Media Monthly (M3) Challenge #2

HA! Deadlines are working - I finished this one ahead of schedule! and I like it!

This is for the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge at The-Lilypad.  follow this link for the M3 details then go and check them out in the forums.  The challenge:

 to think of something that may have appeared impossible for you to achieve at some point of your life but in the end you could do it. Use this quote as inspiration: 

“All things are possible if you believe.” Mark 9:23.

BYOC at The-Lilypad - finally back to scrapping!

Ever just not in the mood to scrap? Or just too overwhelmed that nothing you do looks right?  I am there, and feel your pain.  I have to come up with a craft idea, I am behind in PL, and I want to stay on top of the M3 challenges, but when I start to scrap...everything goes blank.  Nothing is inspiring to me.... So how do I get over this?

Dive right in I guess... luckily I have my notebooks that keep me current with PL - so I hope to post a few pages of my catch up (again) this Sunday.  M3 has another challenge - I am half way done with and I will get that posted by tomorrow.  I just need to make myself do it and creating deadlines are a huge help, self-induced or from somewhere else, deadlines will keep me honest.  I always was a better crammer in school, waiting to the last minute to study...bad habits are hard to break.

And The Lilypad has their BYOC sale this weekend -  where you can get amazing deals on all designers items of a specific color scheme - and you pick and choose what you like - knowing they will all match and look great together.  Here is what I created using Just Jaimee's Sugar Cookie kit (and the red ric rac and stitches are from Domesticated Life in Pockets Collab). I grabbed the design inspiration from Pagemaps September Template ideas.

Who doesn't like a scrapbook page about their favorite cookie?  Especially as I am still watching my carbs, and haven't had one of these cookies for almost a year...oh  sweeeet memories :)

Other things on my list of scrappy things to do is finish my St Thomas pages from April, (before we go again id Dec.).

What's on your scrappy list? and what keeps you motivated?

M3 CHALLENGE 1

M3 is the Mixed media Monthly group over at The-Lilypad.  This first week is a challenge using the words of the theme of this kit.  Embrace / Delightful / Possibilities 

I chose possibilities and my first thought was of my son who I just dropped off to college last week.  All products are from the M3 kits and the add-ons.  I blended 3 papers, I wanted to stick with the blue-sh tones to express my mood.  The photo is from the school clocktower building, and I used a photoshop technique to make it look drawn on the page (with the soft watercolor brush from Just jaimeeCU that is going away Aug 31st - this one here....  for $1.75 it's a great bargain on a great versatile set!).

When I think of mixed media pages in my journal, I doodle, draw, paint, glue, etc... and that is the feel I want from these challenges. i also hope to make them all 8.5x11 so I can print them on 6x8 matte paper, and keep them in my art journal.

Hybrid Help at Just Jaimee

I forgot too mention this last week - please check it out over at Just Jaimee's blog - yep, another hybrid tutorial by me :) I loved these tags, just in time for back-to-school and our trip to St Thomas!!

Check out this sale!!

I know I have been crazy busy and I say that every time I am away from the blog.. but I truly have been - daughter surgery, working ate every day, starting a small business, things are nuts!

But I totally enjoyed myself today catching up on some digi shopping (and scrapping).  First the shopping.  There are 2 great things going on right now that you do not want to pass up! 1. The M3 project at The-Lilypad.  I will share my first challenge layout tomorrow.  It's a great way to start to dabble or dive into mixed media (digi style).

Check that out here!


And 2. while you are at The-Lilypad, Just Jaimee is having a CU retiring sale - everything is 65% off - she has some great styles and brushes that you will not want to miss out on! After Aug 31st they will be gone!

http://the-lilypad.com/store/Just-Jaimee/

Happy Birthday Mom.

Can I say that I have the best mom - then again, who doesn't?  She has her ups and downs but she has put up with me for 29-years again and again, and I cant complain.  She is that kind of mom that goes above and beyond for Christmas, because that is what she loves to do.  One that is there to help ya in however she can... and also the mom who when you tell her you work until 530 and will be over afterwards... calls at 535 to see where you are... (ok she has a few little faults), but she is my mom and I love her dearly.

I quickly made up this card for her, although we are planning a better suprise that just this card and some flowers - it is her 70th after all!  that's a biggie.

You all however will just have to like viewing the card... sorry - no cake for you. :)

the "happy" cut file is from Just Jame storyteller July kit.  the hearts are also from June's kit, but I removed the box around them and created this rounded box.  The "birthday" was cut from bebas font on vinyl.  it is just easier to place one piece of vinyl, than all of those little individual letters...

I printed the rainbow paint from Just Jaime storyteller june collection onto vellum, and taped it on the inside of the cutout - to give a stained glass effect.

Tied it up with a ribbon and done.

(I shouldn't feel guilty because it really didn't take much effort to create... should I?)

HYBRID HELP OVER AT JUST JAIMEE!

Look!!!  I am jumping with joy! Check out this post over at Just Jaimee... note the author - yep! That's me!! I have been on cloud nine since I received the email that Jaimee accepted my application to write some posts and articles for her!  I love her digital supplies and SVG files!  Her storyteller collections are jam packed each month with so much awesome goodness.  Go check her out - click photo to link to her blog!

memory keeping for kids, and young adults.

Things have been crazy this summer, Sammy cheering, work, vacations, etc... It hasn't slowed down yet by no means... Just when I saw a light at the end of the tunnel, I was hit up with a trip to MI in August, possibly another to Indy early fall, and maybe a penguins Blue Jacket game in Columbus.  (You see our problem is that we don't think it's a big deal to just pick up and drive 4-6 hours to visit family...) so we go.  But I love it and so does my camera.

The travels don't just stop with me and the hubby, I think it all started with hockey and the traveling we did with Jason, so my kids are always off and running somewhere too - It's great - let them see this awesome world we live in!

My oldest, Ashley just came back from a vacation with her boyfriend's family from the beach. One of my struggles has always been to get them to start capturing their memories.
 How can I make it easy and fun?  Duh! Pocket pages!!

So I picked up a Snap! album binder (by Simple Stories) & a few variety packs of the pocket pages to go with it.  (it's small and not as intimidating as a 12x12, and oh so cute too...)

Ashley sent me a photo & texts every day, so I printed these photos and the messages (as screen shots). *dont forget to grab Tweets and Instagram messages as well. I added some digitally printed journal cards and some hand crafted journal cards to the mix, so she could easily document and add her photo's where she wanted them. I put everything into random pockets, and I  gave it to her when she stopped by on her way home.  It was that fast to create.

 I added a few of the divider pages, and maybe I will create some more journal cards for her stocking.

I dont have any photo's of the finished book, so bear with me... I was just more in a hurry to get it done, maybe I can get Ash to send some over and update this post later.

Jason commented I never made him a book for his hockey travels...hmmm (can you hear the gears churning?)... I have everything documented already in my PL - and they do  make these binders in black... anything is possible!!

Changing some things around...

Change can be good - when it's for the better...


1. I have re-arranged some things in my craft room.  I moved some items to be more accessible and viewable, I have found that I am actually using them more.  That makes me happy. - good change.

2. I also moved most of my little elements containers & stamping items off the shelves above me and into a pantry type shelf unit next to where I keep my Project Life set up.  I can now find and add more little bits and pieces to my journal & filler cards. - this makes me happy. - good change.

3. I love The Paperclipping Roundtable Podcast.  (I have mentioned that a few times).  One show regarding die-cutting I believe Anna Moses mentioned that she binge cuts.  I have tried it and love it!  When I get my monthly Just Jaimee Storyteller collection and/or purchase a group from Kerri Bradford.  I spend a day cutting my shapes (typically word art) - in black or white - throw them all on a page - resize to my journal cards, cut them up!.  I save them all in a pocket page so I can pull them out and easily view them to add to a filler card when I want to. - Big Change for me - and I love it!!

4. Monthly my daughter and I will go out to eat just her and I (usually Panera Bread). Usually  every 15th of the month.  This month we went out for Mexican (on the 16th), and this was a change I will not keep, at least not back to this restaurant, it was a little too much authentic for our taste-buds. - Ok, so you cant win them all....(but it gave me a use for the "yuck" sticker that if I hadn't made visible, I would have missed it.) 

Have you made any good changes lately?

last week Project Life

I have been crazy busy - sadly even too crazy for some photo's last week. (very sad).  But big exciting news and things to come... stay tuned.

Journal card  is from Just Jaimee's July Storyteller Kit.  The hello sunshine wood veneer is from the Freckeled fawn July kit, and the other filler is a July Storyteller journal card with some old K&Co. wood-style chipboard letters.

July 4th project life w/ new video tutorial!

I LOVED having an extra day to celebrate this weekend (Anytime we get a free 3-day weekend is AWESOME) - Thank you USA for this one!!  This weekend we hit 3 different bonfires... must be the theme of the holiday party season.

Few things on this page... the JULY 4th word art was a freebie from Traci Reed Designs - she can be found at the Sweet Shoppe and her blog is here....  The "love" wood veneer is part of the Freckled Fawn monthly kit. And the middle left is a screenshot of some of my daughter's tweets for the day.  I cant always be around my kids but I like to capture something from them each week.

The 4x6 filler card "USA love" is a product of Just Jaimee Storyteller May and July kits.. I created a video below that shows how I designed this in Silhouette studio.

Summer time

I have some free time today before the picnic world tour! Before I forget - happy Fourth of July! yay USA! I thought I would finish a few crafts, mosey around the house, check my emails, and what!?! - a new kit from Just Jaimee?!?  I can certainly play with this one before I do anything else.... and in less than an hour here are the results... I LOVE these colors - and (it's on sale at The-Lilypad).

PL last week

So I didn't feel like I was very busy last week, but when I looked through my photos, and was trying to decide what to use for my 1 page PL spread, I actually had to narrow it down to just the bigger stories.  This was my fault - I feel like 2 pages are too much and 1 page sometimes just  isn't quite enough.. I have some 6x12 pages in my cart at Amazon, I think this could be my solution... time will tell.

This week I played with my Freckled fawn kit of the month.  I love the letters, and I learned that by using velum tape - there is no glue spot. (yay).  The journal card is from June Just Jaimee's Storyteller kit. I have already started a doozie of a project with her July Storyteller kit - it is pretty cool - perfect for summer scrapping!

It was my birthday, and I found an old photo of my with my grandfather when I was probly only 1.  He passed away a few years ago, and this brought back so many fond memories.  I scanned a bunch of photo's Friday night (exciting huh?).  A box from my dad of photo's from his childhood and ours.  I learned so much about my grandparents that I never knew.  And my dad too - who knew he played football?  and the uniforms back in the 50's (well, lets just say that technology has certainly improved the safety in children's competitive sports).

MY POCKET PAGE PROCESS

I HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTING PROJECT LIFE FOR A FEW YEARS NOW - I GET A FEW PAGES DONE, BUT THEN LOOSE THE MOMENTUM - ALL EXCEPT FOR THIS YEAR, I AM STILL GOING STRONG AND I AM IN JUNE!!  WHAT CHANGED?  WHAT WORKS?

HERE IS MY PROCESS.... AND THIS IS STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS, SOME HAVE EVEN MORPHED FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, THIS IS WHAT IS WORKING NOW (FOR ME)....

THINGS TO NOTE:

• I USE BORDERS ALMOST ALWAYS
• I USE PHOTO TEMPLATES I HAVE CREATED (I HAVE SHARED THEM BELOW)
• I USE 1 DIGITAL KIT PRIMARILY EACH MONTH

I KEEP A NOTEBOOK BY MY BED.  I JOT DOWN DAILY SOMETHING I WANT TO REMEMBER ABOUT MY DAY.  IT COULD BE A NOTE ABOUT A PHOTO THAT I TOOK, OR WHAT THE KIDS WERE DOING, OR SOMETHING SPECIAL.  ANYTHING THAT WILL HELP ME REMEMBER IN A NUTSHELL WHAT WE DID THAT WEEK. THEN SUNDAY WHEN I SIT DOWN TO DO MY WEEK, (OR MORE IMPT, IF I GET BEHIND),  I PULL OUT THE NOTEBOOK, REVIEW MY WEEK, AND START MY JOURNAL CARD FOR THE WEEK. I CHOOSE ONE FROM THIS MONTH'S STORYTELLER KIT, I PULL IT INTO PS, ADD A LAYER FOR MY JOURNALING, AND THEN I PRINT THAT OUT ON MY CANNON MATTE PHOTO 4X6 PAPER.

NEXT I GRAB MY PHOTOS. (I HAVE 2 KINDS)

• PHONE PHOTOS:  I HAVE EVERYTHING UPLOAD TO DROPBOX, AND THEN I SEARCH MY CAMERA UPLOADS BY DATE..IE. "2014-06" JUST GIVES ME ALL MY JUNE PICS. 
• SPECIAL LAYOUTS USING MY BIG CAMERA

WITH PS OPEN, I SEARCH DROPBOX FOR MY CAMERA SHOTS.  (NOTE THROUGH-OUT THE WEEK, IF MY CHILD POSTS SOMETHING I LIKE ON INSTAGRAM, OR A TEXT CONVERSATION, I SCREENSHOT - THESE ALL GET AUTOMATICALLY UPLOADED TO DROP BOX).  IF WE DID SOMETHING SPECIAL - OR I AM ACTUALLY WORKING ON MY CY365 THAT WEEK, I WILL ALSO OPEN THE FOLDER FOR MY RECENT CAMERA SHOTS AND HAVE ALL PHOTOS IN FRONT OF ME.

TYPICALLY I DO A WEEK PER PAGE - NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH A WEEK PER 2-PAGE SPREAD. IT WILL ALL DEPEND ON THE PHOTOS I HAVE.

I USE WHITE BORDERS FOR EVERYTHING, (TO ME IT KEEP THINGS CLEAN AND ORGANIZED) SO I HAVE THESE TEMPLATES I CREATED IN PS.  I CLIP MY PHOTOS TO THE SQUARES.

THIS STARTED MOSTLY TO SAVE MONEY IN PRINTING, BECAUSE I WILL CLIP 2 PHOTOS OR A JOURNAL CARD & PHOTO TO THE 6X4 2_BOXES_1 TEMPLATE.  CUT THEM INTO 2 3X4 SIZES AND PUT INTO THE 2 POCKETS. 

YOU CAN GRAB ALL OF THESE TEMPLATES HERE.  HOPE THEY HELP YA OUT.

I PRINT AS I GO, AND STICK IN POCKETS AS I GO.  IF I HAVE EMPTY SPACES IF THE WEEK IS COMPLETE I WILL PULL OUT SOME OF MY FILLER CARDS, CREATE FILLER CARDS, OR JUST PLAY WITH MY SUPPLIES TO ADD SOMETHING.  EVERY WEEK IS DIFFERENT, THAT'S WHAT I LOVE.  AND IF I HAVE 3 PHOTOS FOR ONE DAY - THAT IS FINE, AND SOME DAYS HAVE NONE.  NO WORRIES.

BELOW IS ANOTHER WEEK IN OUR LIFE.  I STARTED WITH MY JC. - USED MY MIDDLE ROW ALL FOR MY DAUGHTER'S 6TH GRADE GRADUATION  <TIP> SCAN THE BIG THINGS THAT DONT FIT, OR THAT YOU WILL WANT TO USE LATER IN A FULL LAYOUT.  THE ACTUAL DOCUMENT WILL GO IN SAMMY'S ALBUM.   (THE TEMPLATES WERE A HUGE HELP IN ALLOWING ME TO ADD EXTRA PHOTOS OF HER FRIENDS.  <TIP> I HAVE HEARD OF THE POCKET PAGE FLIPS THAT ALSO ALLOW EXTRA PHOTOS TO BE ADDED  I DO NOT HAVE THEM YET - BUT BE SURE YOU WILL BE SEEING SOME SOON.

I HAVE A PHOTO AND A LITTLE NOTE TO MY HUBBY FOR FATHERS DAY... I DONT CARE THAT I JOURNALED OVER ME - IT IS ALL ABOUT HIM...AND THE LAST ROW IS JUST ABOUT SUNDAY AND THE MISHAPS OF THE DAY.  (NO WHITE BORDERS ON THE FIRST PIC, I PRINTED THAT RIGHT FROM MY IPHONE).  EASY PEASY WEEK, ANYTHING ELSE I WANTED TO SAY I CAPTURED IN THE JOURNAL CARD.

(AND NO WORRIES, MY STEP SON WAS FINE - JUST PRECAUTIONARY AFTER HE HIT A TREE WHILE RIDING HIS DIRT BIKE)

PL CATCH UP ONE MORE DAY...

SO RATHER THAN BOMBARD YOU WITH ALL OF MY CATCHING UP IN ONE DAY - I THOUGHT I WOULD STRETCH IT OUT AND GIVE YOU A WEEK OF HOW I MANAGE MY PROJECT LIFE - OR POCKET PAGES....

TODAY IS ANOTHER PAGE EXAMPLE...

THIS ONE I AM STILL USING JUST JAIMEE JUNE STORYTELLER ELEMENTS, BUT I LIKE TO JOURNAL...EVERYWHERE.  ON A PHOTO, ON A FULL 6X4 CARD AND ON A 3X4 CARD - WHEREVER IT MAKES SENSE TO CATCH A GLIMPSE OF OUR EVERYDAY.

<TIP> ONE THING I AM LOVING ADDING MONTHLY ARE THE LISTS CARDS.  THE ONE IN LOWER RIGHT ALLOWS ME TO CAPTURE A GLIMPSE OF WHAT IS IMPT RIGHT NOW. (WE ALL KNOW HOW THESE THINGS CHANGE).  I CROSSED OFF THE MY AND PUT "MOM'S" - BECAUSE EACH MONTH I CAPTURE SOMETHING FROM ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER.

MORE PROJECT LIFE....

CONTINUING WITH MY CAUGHT UP PAGES....(IN NO EXACT ORDER)

THIS WEEK I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I INCLUDE WHAT I AM READING AND DOING.  STILL USING JUST JAIMEE KITS (AND SNEAKING IN SOME ONE LITTLE BIRD ITEMS HERE AND THERE.

I CREATED THE RUBIES CARD WITH MY SILHOUETTE.  (SAMMY JUST MADE HER NEW CHEER TEAM)

<TIP> I LOVE ADDING INSTAGRAM ITEMS, AND THE ROAD TRIP, I ACTUALLY GOOGLED OUR ROUTE FROM HOME TO INDY, COLORED WITH A MARKER THE RED LINES OF OUR PATH WE TRAVELED, AND HAVE A CUSTOM MAP FROM OUR JOURNEY.

LIFE IS CRAZY...

IT WAS SO NICE TO BE SCRAPPING AGAIN TODAY.  WORK HAS HAD ME SO BUSY - MY NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS HAVE BEEN SPENT DOING WORK.  THIS WEEKEND I AM BREAKING THAT MOLD! i AM CAUGHT UP ON MY PL.  YEP! CAUGHT UP!!

IT HELPS THAT I TRY TO STICK WITH CERTAIN THINGS EACH MONTH.  I AM STILL USING PRIMARILY JUST JAIMEE KITS.  YOU CAN CHECK OUT HER STORE HERE - I LOVE THE COLORS FOR JUNE! AND EACH KIT HAS SVG, BRUSHES, SO MANY PAPERS, JOURNAL CARDS, ETC....

I WON'T BORE YOU WITH EVERYTHING IN 1 BIG POST - SO HERE IS THIS WEEK...
TYPICALLY I STICK TO THE STYLE a PAGE DESIGN, BUT I HAVE CREATED TEMPLATES IN ps TO ALLOW FOR 2 OR MORE PHOTOS ON A 4X6. I HAVE BEEN LOVING PEA MISSY WITH A MARKER FONT, AND THIS WEEK I ADDED A QR CODE TO THE BIG BANG THEORY EPISODE WITH AMY FERRAH FOWLER AND HER TIARA. (HILARIOUS, ALTHOUGH NOT EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY AGREES).

I ALSO COULDN'T WAIT TO GET BACK TO THE SCRAPBOOKGRAPHICS THE PAINTED NEST ART JOURNAL CHALLENGES....

PROJECT LIFE & A FREEBIE

I am pretty proud of the project life/pocket pages i have been doing this year.  I am using an old PL binder and my pages that I have from Becky Higgens when I planned o doing this years ago.  I have added a few we r memory keepers pages too, (just to keep it mixed up).  Mostly I use PL style A - but I got crazy last week - and this week is the flip side...

Anyway - in an attempt to keep my pages somewhat organized through the randomness of the week, I have a few things I like to do weekly:

1. I add borders to all photos.
2. I like to keep at least 1 element/photo per side or per week in black and white (i feel like it ground your busy eyes)
3. I want something physical in each week.  (a note, a receipt, I used a tea bag one week -this week I used a silhouette cut).
4. I try to include something relevent from the news.
5. I do a lot digital, and I use Just Jaimee kits monthly.  If you are a subscriber to her newsletter you can get a full kit for 6.99 or less and it is PACKED with stuff I use for PL and regular 12x12 pages.  Check April kit out here

The Home Run card was to celebrate the walk-off opening Day Homer that Neil Walker hit at PNC park.  Feel free to grab the silhouette file here. (If you use it on a page - please link up - I would love to see that it was useful to someone)
here is a close up... The file includes the Home run and the batter - the ball is just an old sticker I had.

Silhouette Upgrade! did you get this email?

Silhouette Studio® Version 3: More Powerful Than Ever  One of the most popular features of the Silhouette cutting system is the versatile Silhouette Studio® software. Silhouette Studio® gives you all the tools you need to create designs and to use all the fonts you already have on your computer. Today, we are pleased to announce the release of our most capable software to date—Silhouette Studio® Version 3. Version 3 takes all the functionality of Version 2 and adds many powerful new features. Aside from its sleek, new design interface, the free Basic version of Silhouette Studio® boasts the following upgrades: • Cut by Line Color allows you to break up your cut or sketch job into different stages simply by applying a different line color to your cut lines. It's great for layered projects or for sketch designs that contain multiple colors. (more info) • Additional Drawing Tools (polygon, arc, freehand) to make designing even easier (more info) • New Memory Management to allow larger image import and document creation • Auto-Save Feature to more easily backup projects being worked on (more info) • Select Objects by Color (by line or fill type) (more info) • Direct Scanner Access (TWAIN support) (more info) • Spell Checking (more info). • Line Segment Overcut Feature (Tangential cutting mode) to provide cleaner cut for thicker materials and smaller scale images (more info). • Library Backup Feature • Proxy Settings for proxy connection support (more info). • Advanced Cut Settings (Auto weld overlapping images, Convert strokes to outlines, Cut line sorting to adjust order of images being cut, Layer sorting, and Additional material advancement after cut job completion) (more info) The Designer Edition of the software also includes the following improvements: • Layers Support including ability to cut by layer (more info) • PDF Import (more info) • Improved SVG File Support (more info) • Nesting Feature to rearrange images onto page for optimal cutting space efficiency (more info) • Shadow Tool for creating drop-shadow effect on filled images for print & cut jobs (more info) To obtain your free update to Silhouette Studio® version 3, got to silhouetteamerica.com/software/silhouette-studio and follow the instructions.

Easter Thoughts

With Easter fast approaching this year, and the older two away from home, I have been spending more time looking to holidays past, and watching them grow up.  We have a few traditions at our house. 1. The scavenger hunt (this started when Ashley and Jason were babies).  They get an egg, and that leads to another egg, and another, until they find their basket.  We have modified this over the years.  As they stayred with simple photo's like a "chair" or a "couch" to get their next clue.  We now have scrambled blank spaces with 1 letter or a hint to find the location and color of their egg).  It takes a little time to prep in the am, but all is fun, and they actually were angry the one year I overslept. Another tradition is heading to my mom's for her egg hunt.  They fill hundreds of eggs with change, bills, and gift's.  The kids head out youngest first to the yard to gather them until they are all picked up. They have fun (but way too competitive).

The kit is from Suzy Q Scraps - Taste of Easter - with the Journal card from taste of Spring.  You can grab the bundle here 3 kits included for all of your Springy layouts!   

The Painted Nest Challenge for March

Suprise! i completed another Painted Nest Challenge over at Scrapbook Graphics.  The Art Journal/Mixed Media format allows me to scrap freely, no templates, no rules, no kit restraints - anything goes (minus the few items you need for the challenge, color scheme, and 3 freebies you need to include).  It is so inspiring at the end of the month to browse thru the gallery and see everyones interpretation of the elements.  This month the butterfly (just one  hee hee), the heart (which looks like the paint splat on my layout) and the blue ticket I have tucked in the layers are the key elements.
 I was super inspired by the saying from Elinor Roosevelt, that I may have to use that one again somewhere soon!
(PS I got a GSO on this layout, and anytime I get a comment from Rachel at Captivated Visions (love her kits) it is always a humble but pleasant suprise!).

anywho - here is the LO. (and a quick tip  when you have multiple items like the butterfly spray - mix up those shadows.  don't make them all the same - or all going the same direction... )

Sieze the day

Suzy has the cute little mini kit hitting the stores this weekend - Live for Today.  How can you resist this?  Awesome colors!  Great journal cards! I just makes me so happy to just look at.   The page is from a pic I caught of Sam when we started her orthopedic journey - she started this with such a positive attitude!

catch the complete kit here....

Can you see the Lightbulb?

true story: I have been listening to The DigiShow (The Daily Digi podcasts) for years, since they were part of the Paperclipping Roundtable, yeah... way back then! I was listening when Steph announced that her lightbulb went off and she switched to manual (after a class in Vegas with katrina Kennedy).  I believe Katie had the same experience after taking Katrina's Capture Your Life Through The Lens class.  (Sorry Peppermint, I cant recall when you switched to manual :().

I have the camera I bought 3 years ago to make me a better photographer. I would have a few good shots, but I wasn't satisfied yet. Maybe I need a cannon or Nikon vs. my Sony?  What is wrong?  Then Katrina announced she was retiring the Capture Your Life Through The Lens class  NOOOOOO!  I need that class! What is she thinking??

I think enough of the public griped (so I am not alone - whew!)  The class has started and yes I a enrolled and learning a lot, but it was actually Kelly Buss' hour of the Capture Your 365 Birthday party (yesterday) that did it.  Somewhere in the 7pm EST hour (8 hours into the 12 hour class/educational/fun/learning marathon) I got it!  I switched to manual, played with the buttons - and I GOT IT!!  It's a great feeling of confidence to learn something new. (I hope my kids can forgive me for missing their cheer competition and my son's hockey game so that I could stay home and learn).

Just FYI - Katrina's class Capture Your Life Through The Lens has just started we are only in the 2nd week and I think people are still enrolling - If you have ever guessed or wondered what you need to know to flip that dial to M - come check out the class - Hurry - I think there is a webinar coming up in the next week - you will not want to miss your lightbulb moment! (tell her dawn sent ya)

#38 (Suzy Q Scraps new Simple Story templates #13)

I love Suzy's templates.  In fact I plan on using all of them for my next vacation book.  There are so many options and I love the clean grid design.  But you dont need to always stay in the lines.

I combined the watercolor effect I learned from The Lily-pad's MOC, into Suzy's newest template to create a great (simple story) page about my son.

(I used Suzy's kit Make lemonade for the elements and stitching.)

2 more things to share...

1. I was so bombarded in jan I missed that I made the gallery Standouts for my Suzy Q Scraps page "Emotions".  the link to the GSO is here.  i am so excited!

2. New page for The Painted Nest challenge over at Scrapbook Graphics.  Feb Challenge #23 - if you want to play - hurry up!

Bloom - a kit from the past by Meghan Mullens & The Traci Reed

Loved this kit - great word art for my girls.... when this photo and text came over this week from my little girl away at college, I added this kit and a little scrap therapy to get over watching my little girl grow up... Traci's houses her designs over at Sweet Shoppe Designs, she rocks!

Make lemonade - SQS

I cant believe it has been almost a month since I have posted anything.  Crazy!  I have been scrapping still (although not as much as January).  And Suzy Q Scraps has put out this awesome kit that can be for so many great fun pages - just look at these awesome colors!  Get it in the store here!

I have been watching what I eat and have been working out.  I am on a mission to lose 20 more pounds for our vacation come May.  I have good days and bad ones.... good weekends and bad ones... but I cant give up now.