so there i was ...

Christmas in September from Jillibean Soup

In another 2 weeks Jillibean Soup Christmas Chestnut Soup will be shipping to stores ... yippie. This is one of my favorite holiday lines. This line is a a winter line and can be used for more than Christmas layouts. I love the kraft paper as a base especially for my snow photos which are primarily white. They really POP right off the page. Check out this layout I did recently ...

 
(Supplies Used: Cardstock Bazzill, Patterned Paper/Stickers/Journaling Diecut Sprouts/Alphas from Jillibean Soup, Ribbon May Arts, adhesive gemstones from Creative Charms, font Bohemian Typewriter downloaded from the Internet)

Thanks for stopping by have a great day :)

 

Monster-licious Cards

I just love the little monsters from Jillibean Soup's Monster Stew collection. I was making cards one evening and I just couldn't stop. I kept cutting out the cute critters and these are the cards I made. The card with the twine was the first one I made. If I were to do them again I would just make all the monster limbs from black cardstock I like the look better it fits my style more.

 
 
 

(Supplies Used on all cards: Cardstock Bazzill/Jillibean Soup, Patterned Paper from Jillibean Soup, Alphas from Jillibean Soup/Basic Grey, Twine Jillibean Soup, adhesive gemstones from Creative Charms)

I seriously had a blast making these cards. My favorite is the "Reach for the Stars" card it's my Toy Story reference for the day. I love that movie. After I made these cards it felt like I came out of my card making rut. I realized my better cards are simple ... DUH if I can't do fussy on a layout what made me think I could do fussy on a smaller canvas.

Happy Wednesday ... go make some cards :)

 

Giveaway Winner Annoucement

Yikes I can't believe I have let half the week get away from me before picking a winner of my giveaway. I am trying to find balance in my schedule. I bet it will take me 9 months to achieve said balance. In the mean time I have some stuff to give away ...

 
Congratulations Amy S. thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you will enjoy the magazine and my book. Cheers ...

 

Scrapbooking & Cards Today and a GIVEAWAY

Today the Fall issue of Scrapbooking & Cards Today goes live. I received my copy yesterday and it looks fabulous. I know I posted the cover earlier this month but I couldn't resist posting it one more time.

 

Also with the launch of the Fall issue we also have a brand new website. I had a chance earlier this week to poke around the new site it's just beautiful and it is really easy to navigate. Gotta love that. To celebrate I am giving away a copy of the fall issue of SCT and a copy of my book I co-authored with my friend Kimber McGray, Remember This. Leave  me a comment between now and Sunday evening and the lucky winner will receive both.

Thanks for stopping by have a happy Friday :)

Scrapbooking words to live by

• less is more
• give your self permission ... permission to scrap for yourself, permission to scrap 1 page layouts, permission to weed out photos, permission to not scrap in chronological order (you get where I am giong with this)
• there is no right or wrong way to scrap
• scrap 1 photo scrap 10 on a layout do what makes your heart happy (there is no right or wrong way to scrap did I mention this)
• as long as I LOVE it nothing else matters
• let's be honest scrapbooking is for me and no one else
• scrapbooking should be FUN enjoy the process

Apparently I needed to get that off my chest.  Come back by tomorrow for the release of the Fall issue of Scrapbooking Cards & Today, we have some great stuff on deck including a brand new website and a giveaway.

EEK ...

Well apparently I let the week escape me. Geez I wonder how that happened. Let's recap the last week. I headed out bright and early on Thursday morning to Scrapfest in Minneapolis. I have to say the trip was wonderful. I got to hang out with my good pal Kimber we shopped, signed books and had dinner with friends. When I got home I slept (for a very long time) I really won't tell you how long but I will say I had taken a little something for a wicked flight on a small plan from Seattle to Portland. Needless to say I felt dang good on Monday morning. So what have I been doing since then ... working on my guest spot for Coco Daisy.

I have tons of new product to play with ... Cosmo Cricket, Crate Paper, Echo Park and Pink Paislee. I also have tons of Bo Bunny trims that I want to make hair bows out of. I foresee lots of crafting in my future.

I found this layout from my 2009 Masters entry. I was kind of bummed this was never published I guess that is why I never posted it on-line anywhere. Guess what I'm over it ....

(Supplies Used: Cardstock Bazzill, Patterned Paper October Afternoon, Tiny Alphas Making Memories, Chipboard Alphas Heidi Swapp, Paint Making Memories, Crackle Glaze Tim Holtz, Scallop Trim Doodlebug, Brads Basic Grey, Metal Accent Making Memories, Font Traveling Typewriter downloaded from the internet)

Two years later and I still really like this layout. There is something about the placement of everything I really dig. I think I am going to have to scraplift myself.

Happy Wednesday :)

 

Vintage Halloween goodies from Creative Charms

I know you are thinking Halloween ... really? Well if Target can put out Halloween costumes and candy then I can post a Halloween project. This layout features some brand new vintage goodies from Creative Charms.

(Supplies Used: Cardstock Bazzill, Patterned Paper Pink Paislee, Sticker Alphas from Basic Grey, Corrugated Alphas from Jillibean Soup, punches from EK Success, Buttons from Fancy Pants, Felt trim Martha Stewart, rhinestones/crochet flowers/vintage Halloween elements from Creative Charms, DMC Embroidery Floss, font Arial Narrow downloaded from the internet)

I created the larger scalloped edges by folding punched circles in half then sewing them down. I am in a rut with my scallops I really am addicted to them. I thought to vary them up by making them larger and hanging them off the page. I really love the look so I suspect you will be seeing a lot on my work in the near future. 

So tomorrow morning I am heading off to Scrapfest in Minnesota. I am meeting up with Kimber for a book signing for Remember This which came out in June 2010. Kimber will also be doing signings for her other 2 books: Scrapbook Secrets and 175 Fresh Card Ideas.

Have a happy day and I'll see you when I get back from Minnesota :)

Wine country photos

Last Sunday we drove out to the wine country with some friends for the afternoon. Some days I just come home thinking why didn't I take more photos. This was one of those days **sigh ** I wish I had taken more photos I guess I was too busy "tasting" .

We'll have to go for another Sunday drive for more photos (and more wine).

Happy Tuesday :)

 

Back to School Wrap Up

We are finally all back to school **phew** I wasn't sure we were going to make it. My major hurtle this week is all practices and activities are in full swing and I am leaving Thursday morning for Scrapfest. I almost feel like it won't be until next week that I really get a feel for our schedule.

Here's my 8th grader on his first day. He is sporting a mouth full of braces and isn't afraid to show it, I kind of like that.  

 

Here's yet again another school layout. Didn't I mention I have done quite a few. Funny thing is I still have a more projects that have yet to be posted. This layout features Alphabet Soup from Jillibean.

(Supplies Used: Bazzill/Jillibean Soup Cardstock, Patterned Paper/Stamp/Ribbon/Twine/Journaling Sprouts, Stampin Up Punches, misc eyelets, misc adhesive rhinestones, Ink VersaFine, and Technique Tuesday Chipboard Circles)

For a couple years in a row I took the same photo of my kids with the school crossing sign in the background. It's one of my favorite shots. I turned it black and white to tune out all the distracting colors from all the cars. This is a great way to equalize photos that would have looked otherwise out of place on your layout.

Happy Monday now go get scrapping those back to school photos :)

Scrapbooking & Cards Today Fall Sneak Peek

Hi everyone ... I know I owe you another back to school post and more fun projects but my week totally escaped me. I wanted to do a quick Sunday post and share the totally adorable Fall cover of Scrapbooking & Cards Today with you. If the inside is anything like the cover then this issue is going to be fabulous.

Enjoy ...

Happy Sunday and make sure to stop by next week for my back to school re-cap. :)