I Feel Pretty

I'm still on the Mother LOAD wagon.  ;)  One week in and I've made a layout every day.  Some more intricate than others but I'm ok with that!  And the layout I'm sharing today I actually made, from start to finish, in less than 30 min!  How awesome is that?!?!

In Basic Training (the first 9 weeks of the Mother LOAD class) Lain had us take a photo a week.  One week the challenge was to take a photo of ourselves.  For this layout we were challenged to scrap that photo.

Color Inspiration: I LOVE this paper but wasn't sure when I'd get the chance to use it.  A photo of me seemed like the perfect opportunity!

Design Inspiration: I wish I could show it to you!  The sketch came from a 15 min layout challenge over at ScrapHappy.  It's password protected so I can't show you, but you could join and get the inspiration for yourself all year long!

I've been trying to figure out what to do with these pins for a long time  I love them but didn't know how to use them.  Truth is...I still don't.  :)  But this was a start.  I used Glossy Accents to glue them down and hid the point of the pin behind the photo. I also added a little sparkle to the butterfly with some Diamond Stickles.  So pretty!

Sing it with me, "I feel pretty....oh so pretty..."  It doesn't happen all that often.  But this day I felt pretty AND managed to capture it with a camera. Doubly amazing!  ;)  So I just had to honor that with my title.

Check out my tips for taking a self portrait and snap a shot of yourself on a day you feel pretty.  It's worth it, I promise!

My husband is right.  How I feel about my looks does have an impact on how my day goes.  As a stay at home mom I am realizing more and more how important it is to still get up and do myself up for the day.  Even if...maybe especially if...I'm not going anywhere.









What is it that makes you feel pretty?  When was the last time you scrapped a picture of yourself?  Heck, when was the last time you TOOK a picture of yourself?  Leave me a comment, I'd love to hear all about it!

So Like Your Mother

"You are SOOOO like your Mother"  My husband says this to me often.  And I take that as a compliment.  And truth be told, that's how he means it too!  I felt like it was time to honor my awesome Mama with a layout!

When my Dad had his stroke back in December I decided I'm not taking no for an answer when it comes to snapping pics.  I refuse to let my wedding photos be the last ones I have of my parents.  So I've started snapping photos of everyone more often.  Recently I grabbed this one of the two of us together and knew I wanted to use it.

 

During preparation for Mother Load Lain challenged us to make 4 "snack packs."  We were to put together a handful of embellishments and journal block that we liked and that coordinated.  At the time I put the "snack packs" together I had no idea what I would use the for.

Color Inspiration: When I pulled out the first snack pack and saw the pink I knew it would probably be a layout about me.  The embellishments and journal spot inspired my color choices.

Layout Inspiration: My layout design was inspired by a sketch over at ScrapHappy.  But once I chose the paper, the pattern inspired the placement of my layout elements.

When I saw the colors of my embellishments I knew that this paper would be a perfect match.  I didn't want my photo to cover up this lovely little butterfly so I did some fussy cutting to allow the corner of the photo to tuck behind the butterfly.

I clustered my "snack pack" embellishments around the corner of the photo.  I love the depth they add to this lovely paper.

This little butterfly seemed to be screaming for some bling.  So I added Diamond Stickles to the body and the center of each little flower.  Then I stamped the word cherish to finish it off.

To bring the bling across the page I also added it to the bottom of the journaling block.

I screwed up the title.
:(  And I was so mad to have messed up on this pretty paper.


So I had to figure out what to do to fix it.  I loved the white letter stickers on the white background.  And I wanted the sub title to be small and delicate.  But the first time I tried I started WAY to far over and used black.  It looked awful!  So I cut a strip of white paper to cover it up.  But it just looked like I stuck white paper on to fix a problem.  :)  So I used a gray pen to write the sub title and put a strip of gems along the rest of it.   To make it look more purposeful I brought the edge of the journal block up to the edge of the paper strip.  Not perfect, but fixed...and I still like it!  :)

What can I say, I just love my Mama!




























Have you ever messed up a title?  What were your creative ways to fix it?  Which of your parents do you take after?  Leave me a comment!  I'd love to hear all about it!

Comfort Food

As I've worked on my All About Me album I started reflecting on what I wanted to say about my Grandmother.  I mentioned a bit about her here on my Educated Women page.  And I know I have more of her story to tell.  But it occurred to me that all of my favorite foods tie back to her.  So I decided to create a page honoring that connection.

I wanted the layout to exude comfort so I used warm colors.  Forgive the missing picture!  :)  I knew what I wanted to go there but hadn't taken the pic yet.  I have taken it now, but not printed it or added it to the page.  I'll show it to you later.

My inspiration came from Ann Costen over at Write.Click.Scrapbook.  I just love their monthly galleries! So much inspiration over there!!!

So I made myself a little sketch turning Ann's 12x12 page into two 8.5x11 pages.

I thought it would be fun to include some hearts in the photos of this food I love.  So in both the egg salad and the popcorn pics I created hearts.  I wanted to show the love for my grandma and the food that has a special place in my heart.

I just love the combo of popcorn and cheese.  Mmmmmm...

On the left page I used one of the photo blocks for the title.  And by using some lined paper I was able to create a space for my journaling.  I also got to use some floral papers on this page.  Love making pages about me so that I can use some girly products!  :)

I wanted the title to use two types of letter stickers...check.  And I wanted the word Comfort to stand out...check.  I also wanted the title to form a block and have the edges line up...che...oh well, you can't win them all.  :)

To continue with the warm feel I chose a red Sharpie for my journaling. More handwriting...what is my world coming too?

Have you ever made a page about some of your favorite foods?  Link us up so we can see!

Scrapbook Decor

Have you ever had a piece of patterned paper that you just love?  Or a blank wall that you didn't know what to do with?  Why not bring those two things together to create one fantabulous piece of art!?!

My son's nursery presented exactly that problem for me.  (Sorry for the strange neon glow to this photo!) I'm not one that goes for cutesy in a nursery.  I didn't want to decorate with animals, or clowns, or boats.  I wanted something colorful and graphic.  Since I couldn't find anything that suited me I decided to make my own.  I wentand purchased nine 12x12 frames.  I sorted through my stash and found nine sheets of pattern paper that matched the colors in the room.  Framed them and hung them in a grid.  And simple as that I was done!  And I loved how it turned out!

Granted that was 4 years ago in a different house than we live in today, but the idea is still a great one!

Here is the rest of the nursery just for fun.  You can see the frames hanging above the dresser/changing table.

I can't wait to find a spot in this house to try out a similar technique.  I'll let you know when I do!



Have you ever used scrappy supplies to create art to hang on your wall?  Link us up so we can see!

I Wanna Hold Your Hand

Does the title of this post make you wanna sing a little.  It does me!  For as long as my youngest has been able to talk he has said to me daily, "I wanna hold your hand."  And every time I start to sing...I wanna hold your ha-a-a-a-and, I wanna ho-old yo-our hand.  During LOAD this year I decided to create a layout all about it.

I saw this template by Crystal Wilkerson over at Write.Click.Scrapbook one day and knew I would need to use it!  Since the photos I wanted to use were from many different occasions I made them black and white.  Which made this layout a perfect fit for Crystal's template.  I love all the color!

When using the layered version of the template you can clip your own papers to the border.  I love how bright and cheery it looks!

I still used papers from Crystals Spring/Summer line but I had fun playing around with what went where.

I love the paper strips across the bottom.  I don't often make subtitles but this was the perfect place for one.  This is a staged picture but it is a perfect representation of how often my little guy reaches for my hand.  (cue the awwwws)

For the left page I used another of Crystal's templates.  I did add the stitching to make it match the right side.  For the pics I scrolled back through iPhoto and found several pics of my son and I holding hands.  Just more evidence of his obsession.  :)

I've been working lately on telling everyday stories.  This layout is definitely an example of that.  Which makes me love it even more!

Have you ever scrapped about a song that has a special meaning for someone in your family?  Link us up so we can see!

Graduation Cards

This week we celebrated 3 graduating seniors at our church.  About an hour before the party I realized I didn't have any cards!  Then I remembered this post over at Eighteen25 and knew I could throw together some adorable cards!

Cute right?!?  These papers are, of course, courtesy of Crystal.  Have I mentioned I love her stuff?  Oh, yeah...you probably knew that already.  :)

I'm thinking I did an awesome job with time to spare.  I was ready to print them out when...I discover I'm out of ink.  GRRRRRR!

So 10 minutes later I had these!  I grabbed some pattern paper scraps and cut them like a mad woman!

Wrapped them in some of this adorable twine from The Twinery! Love this stuff!

Cut some slits and add some cash!  And I had to handwrite the sentiment but at this point I was down to the wire.  Kids were already in the car and my husband was honking at me.  :)  But I left the house with 3 graduation cards!  (Thank goodness for the garage sale cash sitting in kitchen!!)

Have you had to throw together something crafty at the last minute?  Link us up and let us see!

Still Needs Snuggles

I've been struck lately by how big my oldest can seem sometimes.  And yet at other times he wants to snuggle like the little guy he is.  I knew I wanted to document that juxtaposition in a layout.

The design for this layout came from one of the challenges at the Creative Crop over at BPC on National Scrapbook Day.  I wish I could link you up to the inspiration page but since it was a class I can't.  I will tell you that the page was made by Suzy Plantamura.

The idea for this page had been percolating for awhile but I had no pics to go with it.  Then when I saw my boy swinging outside I grabbed the camera and snagged a few pics.

To give the page a more masculine feel I cut up a Starbucks cup holder.  I am totally in love with how it turned out!

I love the look of these 12 in bracket squares.  My cricut can't cut anything that large.  But recently I bought just one.  I haven't used it yet, but I did trace it on cardboard and make myself a template.  Now I can have a bracket square anytime I want!  Yay!

There are always a few papers in a pack that do not interest me.  This plaid was definitely one of them.  But somehow it jumped out at me when assembling this page.  And I LOVE how it looks.  Weird how that happens sometime.  Something you don't like can turn into something perfect.

More letter stickers.  I'm sensing a theme here!  :)

Recently I became a member over at Paperclipping.  Noell Hyman makes scrapbooking video tutorials.  Lately I've been noticing how she clusters embellishments and I wanted to give it a try.  I am so happy with how it turned out!  But it let me know that I need more little embellies in fun colors.

And once again I chose to handwrite my journaling.  What is happening to me?  :)

Who snuggles with you?  Have you made a page to document that love?  Link us up so we can see!

I Hope You Dance

Do you ever start to feel like you just need to create something but you aren't sure what? That has been me all week.  Not interested in house work (but when am I ever?), feeling kinda tired and lazy, and having a hard time getting motivated to start something.  Then the other night I was sitting on the couch and thought, "maybe I could start a digi layout...then I won't have to move out of this spot!"  And that is exactly what I did.  :)  I pulled up my scrapbook to do list and chose an idea for my All About Me album.  I spent most of my life as a dancer and I decided that I was ready to tell that story.

I always start a layout by looking for design inspiration and I typically scraplift...must be why I named my blog what I did!  ;)  But starting a digi layout is so much more difficult for me.  With paper I start playing around with things and moving them around on my table.  With digi I have to search through my files to find something I want and I can't lay them next to each other to see if they will work.  I'm much more likely to make a carbon copy scraplift when I'm going digital.

So I was pretty lucky that Ella had just posted the second sketch for their Stretch Your Sketches challenge!

This sketch and page are both 12x12 and I was doing an 8.5x11 two page spread.  Donna Jannuzzi did make an 8.5x11 sketch as well but I liked this one better.  My photos ended up being 4x3 instead of 4x4 so that they would fit.

 For this layout I chose pictures of myself throughout my childhood.  I studied dance from the age of 3 to 16 and yet I could not find a single dance picture above about age 10.  Not sure if we didn't take any or if they just got lost somewhere along the way.  So I just used two pics of me at a much younger age.  They are pretty cute (if I do say so myself) so I didn't mind that much.

For the title I used a popular song title.  I clipped some distressed yellow paper to a favorite font and placed it right on the pic.  I started with the title "So You Think You Can Dance" and while I liked it, it gave the layout a more playful feel.  This title gives the layout the more emotional feel I was going for.  It shows the love I have for dance.

To divide the pictures from the main section of patterned paper I added a strip of orange paper.  I felt that it needed a bit more decoration so I used two rows of stitching.  I think it makes the strip of paper look more like a ribbon.

On this layout I did something else I rarely do, all the products were from the same kit.  All papers, tape, and stitching came from Crystal Wilkerson.  I got the products here and here.  I'm so excited because everything Crystal creates during the spring and summer will be from the same color palette (which I LOVE by the way) so it will all coordinate!  Yay!  And there are so many more papers I want!  But I must pace myself.  :)

I love the look of these tape strips!  Not only do they bring some of the color to the top of the page, they also help the layout have a more cohesive feel.  Since the pics are from many different time periods and have lots of different colors the tape seems to help tie them together.

Even though I am a total introvert I have always been a performer.  Through dance, music, and theater I have always felt the call of the stage.  Even to this day, after years away, I miss dancing and theater (I still sing here and there).  I'm not convinced that this is all I have to say about the effect dance had on my life.  If I decide I need more I'll either go in and extend the tape strips to allow for more journaling or I'll add some hidden journaling behind the layout.  We'll see.  But since it's digital, and I haven't printed it yet, I can make that decision later.

Do you have an activity you participated in all through childhood?  Have you created a layout about it?  Leave us a link in the comments so we can all see!