Delightful You

Here's a layout I did of my darling daughter in her birthday dress and matching hat - she always has a smile on her little face. For added texture and dimension, I used a pizza box and tore it up, inked it and voila!

Close up of the butterflies I cut out from K&Co's Designer paper pad - awesome paper for little cut out embellies!

I cut strips into the background paper and curled up the paper with the edge of scissors.

This wooden tree was originally green but I inked it pink and added grungeboard for the trunk. Added a few flower buttons and another butterfly!

Materials Used:
Patterned Paper: Bohemia Collection, Blossom “Angel” (My Mind’s Eye)
Patterned Paper: Lemongrass Collection, Brown Sugar (Crate Paper)
Patterned Paper: Designer Paper Pad, Cut and Paste (K & Co)
Patterned Paper: Vintage Red Bookprint (Jenni Bowlin)
Patterned Paper: Penny Lane Collection, Ballet Dancing Circles (My Mind’s Eye)
Pearls: Unknown
Buttons: Unknown
Tree: Plaid
Grungeboard: Tim Holtz
Edge Distresser: Making Memories
Alphabet Stamp Set: Studio G
Pizza Box
Ink: Vintage Photo (Tim Holtz)

Perfect Pucker

Here is a layout I did for a neato website called Scrap the Girls. Layouts and challenges with photos of girls only! (They also have a sister site called Scrap the Boys - same idea, boys only!) Tres cool if you're looking for girly girl inspired layouts. The challenge this month was to do your layout according to their monthly sketch (found on their site) and your title had to include the word "Perfect".

This is my dd on her birthday. She has just turned 1 and her newest favourite things are Rice Krispies! When I poured a bunch on her highchair she responded with an excited "Oooo.. WooooooWooooooW!"

Here is a close up of the lacing and coloured eyelets.

Journaling strips attached with brads.

Materials Used:
Patterned Paper: sugared, pleasing (Basic Grey)
Patterned Paper: corecolour cardstock, chocolate box (Core'dinations)
Patterned Paper: 29th street market, peaceful dream (My Mind's Eye)
Patterned Paper: gretel, fairy tales (Cosmo Cricket)
Patterned Paper: 8x8 paper pad, honey pie (Cosmo Cricket)
Eyeletz: Provo Craft
Edge Distresser: Making Memories
Paper Trimmer: 12 inch portable trimmer (Fiskars)
Ink: Ranger, Vintage photo (Tim Holtz)
Journaling Pen: Jelly Roll, White (Sakura)
Glue Stick: Selectum
White School Glue: Selectum
Ribbon: Spool o' Ribbon (Berwick Offray)
Alphabet Stamp Set: Studio G

Happy Spring to ME!

Just received some wonderful news today! My layout "Love Those Cheeks" has won the Spring Layout Contest over at SCRAP THAT! In addition, I'm to be featured, along with my layout, in their upcoming May Scrap That! Scrap Chat newsletter. Wonderful news - thanks so much everyone!! Don't forget to check ou their forum for awesome contests and challenges to get your creative juices flowing!

Just in Time

I haven't had much time to scrap the past few days with my daughter's first birthday party this past weekend but I finally managed to complete this layout for Scrapping Out Loud's Challenge blog. This week's challenge was to scrap your crappy pics - this is too funny as probably 75% of the photos I take of the kids are crappy. Gotta love digital cameras where you can simply delete them all! I used the 3 photos in this layout featuring my kids giving me their "best cheese smile". I managed to use their sketch of the week and word of the week which was adjust. I'll update the materials list later tonight when I have more time. Thanks for peeking!

Some More Publishing for ME!

Just wanted to share the fabulous news that 4 of my layouts have been published in Scrapbook News & Review!! The actually wanted 7, but 3 were already being published by Scrapbooking.com Magazine and Canadian Scrapbooker so they had to settle for 4 - LOL! The entire last month has been unbelieveable for me and I am so fortunate to have the support and interest in my layouts that I am receiving - thank you everyone!

You must click on the Magazine Tab and then over to "In the Spotlight" tab, under "Style Spotlight" My layouts: How Time Flies, In Your Loving Arms, Now I Know and Hand in Hand are all under the 05/09 Style Spotlight gallery. Have a peek!

These 4 Things

Here is a layout I did of my beautiful son. He is such an amazing little boy - so smart, so caring, so wise beyond his years. Always a curious mind with such an imagination. I tried to incorporate 2 challenges with this layout. One was to use the colour grey. While I did use this colour, I think the layout ended up more orange than anything - oh well - grey is such a boring colour anyhow! The second challenge was from Scrapper's Block? and the challenge was to do a layout with a list.

I often find it difficult to include a title or journaling on my layouts as most of the space (even white space) seems taken up once I finish arranging the papers, photo(s) and embellies. I do want to include sentimental words if the layout calls for such and this is a layout that I did want to incorporate journaling so I simply hid it.

Here is the hidden journal tag with the pull tab closed: and opened: Journaling Reads: Things I Want You to Always Remember:
1. Your FAMILY is the most important thing in the world.
2. ENJOY life - each and every moment.
3. Never lose your sense of WONDER and imagination.
4. Eventhough you will GROW up to be 'big' one day, you will always be my little boy.

Close up of some cut out work and embellishments. I ended up hilighting key words from the journaling and incorporated into the layout: Wonder, Grow, Family, Enjoy.



Materials Used:
Cardstock: Basic cardstock, blond column (The Paper Company)
Patterned Paper: Ambrosia Collection, Winsome (Basic Grey)
Patterned Paper: Ambrosia Collection, grove (Basic Grey)
Patterned Paper: Ambrosia Collection, marmalade (Basic Grey)
Patterned Paper: Write Out collection, Explore - Discovery(We R Memory Keepers)
Adhesive Paper Ribbon: Que Sera Sera (K & Co)
Metal Words: Colorbok
Wood Stickers: Plaid
Ink: Jet Black (StazOn)
Paper Trimmer: 12 inch portable trimmer (Fiskars)

A New Design Team for ME!

Its with great pleasure that I announce a new Design Team that I am now working with - Butterfly Crafts! Its a fabulous challenge blog offering new challenges twice a month - the 1st and the 15th! If you're looking for some great inspiration - stop on by!

Something New

Stuck Between a Rock and Hard Place

For those of you who don't already know, my biggest inspirations when doing my layouts are my kids, great photos (of my kids) and amazing papers. I snapped this great photo of my son climbing on the rocks at the beach and when I went to scrap it, couldn't think of any other embellishment to use other than... rocks! I've never really seen another layout done using real rocks so I thought I'd give it a go.

Turned out pretty well - aside from the total weight of the layout (LOL)! I used some eyelets along the sides and strung some twine through to bring the piece together better. The beaver embellishment is actually cut from a clothing tag (Roots) and I thought it tied in well with the outdoorsy/rustic feel.



Materials Used:
Edge Distresser (Making Memories)
tiny alpha letters, blackwhite (Making Memories)
Eyelets (H.A. Kidd & Company)
Twine
Rocks
Acrylic Stamps
Distress Ink, Vintage Photo (Tim Holtz)
Patterned Paper: lemongrass collection, brown sugar (Crate Paper)
Patterned Paper: melody (Around the Block)
Patterned Paper: wassail collection, brandy butter (Basic Grey)
Rub-Ons: Cornucopia flourishes (Me & My Big Ideas)
Scotch Craft Stick (3M)

Devil with the Blue Jeans On

Here is a layout I did for a challenge over at Butterfly Crafts Challenge blog where you were to use your favourite colour (and no other colours aside from black and white) to compose your layout.

My daughter (you'd think it was my son by the way she's dressed and by the colour of this layout - sorry mom!) in our backyard the other day - seemingly so innocent and adorable eh? HA!

Materials Used:
Black cardstock
Pink Paislee chipboard stickers, fascinating
Making Memories tiny alpha letters, blackwhite
Jelly Roll journaling pen, Sakura
ColorBox Chalk, alabaster
Cut 'N' Paste Designer paper pad, K & Co.
StazOn Ink, Jet Black
Scotch Craft Stick, 3M
Making Memories Edge distresser

Happy Monday!

Is it even possible to have those 2 words in the same sentence? YES! (If its a long weekend and your husband has 2 of your 3 kids on a long bikeride and your baby is sleeping that is).


I finished this layout a few moments ago. I kept the embellishments to a minimum and did some cut-out work (my newest, favourite technique) at the bottom.

To create your own 'screw' brads simply draw a line down the middle of a regular brad with a journaling pen and voila!

Materials Used:
Adhesive: Scotch Craft Stick (3M)
Brads
Grungeboard: Tim Holtz
Ink: Jet Black (StazOn)
Paper Trimmer: 12 inch portable trimmer (Fiskars)
Patterned Paper: 29th Street Market Collection, Peaceful Dream (My Mind's Eye)
Patterned Paper: Grandma's Kitchen, Delectable Delights (We R Memory Keepers)
Patterned Paper: White Out, Explore - Discovery (We R Memory Keepers)
Patterned Paper: Cut 'n' Paste Designer Paper (K & Co.)

Sometimes I Forget...

Well, Spring has finally arrived and I wanted to capture some beautiful photos of the flowers around my home before they are gone for the season. This photo was of my son smelling our tulip (yes, that's tulip - not tulip(s) - we only have 1 as my husband dug the rest of the bulbs up thinking they were rocks - UGH). With 3 kids aged 4 and under, my life is at best - VERY chaotic! I'm rushing to get the kids dressed and out the door, I'm rushing to get them back home again, rushing to make lunches, rushing to eat my own so that it doesn't get cold (LOL), rushing to get them down for naps, etc. Quite exhausting. Ironically, its my kids, the ones I rush around for on a day to day basis, who have taught me to S L O W down and appreciate the little things. Even with daily reminders, I still forget sometimes - but thanks guys.



Materials Used:

Scrappin-Gear Repositionable Glue Tape Runner
Patterned Paper: Marah Johnson (Creative Imaginations)
Patterned Paper: Wassail collection, olive branch (Basic Grey)
Patterned Paper: Wassail collection, turtle doves (Basic Grey)
Patterned Paper: Scarket's Letter, repose (Basic Grey)
Patterned Paper: Cut & paste designer paper pad (K & Co)
Patterned Paper: Iron Orchid Designs, Angelique Collection, Angel Breath (Prima Marketing)
Ink: Jet Black (StazOn)
Alphabet Stickers: tiny alpha letters, whiteblack (Making Memories)
Edge distresser: Making Memories
Fiskars 12 inch portable trimmer
paper reflections stamping sampler (DMD Industries)

Double the Pleasure!

Exciting news today - times two!! Firstly I am excited to share that I am the featured artist over at Inspirational today! Secondly, Canadian Scrapbooker will be publishing my "The World of Imagination is Boundless" layout in their September issue. Yippie Skippie!!!

Ooohhhh... PRESENTS!!

It finally arrived! Last month... actually it was for the month of March... one of my layouts won second place for Scrap 'N' Win's monthly layout contest. After much anticipation (and not much patience on my part) my goodies finally arrived today! ooohh... they're soooo fabulous! Want some?? Check out their site and enter in your projects for a chance to win some awesome prezzies!!

Betty Crockers in the Making

Here is a layout I did for Scrapping out LOUD's weekly challenge. This week we were to incorporate a Chinese Proverb for inspiration: "Tell me and I'll forget, show me and I may remember, involve me and I'll understand". The photos were taken from my birthday last year. My boys - hubby included - thought it would be neat to make my cake - start to finish. SO adorable watching them pour in the cake mix, use the blender, lick the bowl and of course, devour the cake!! Its a birthday we will all remember most definately!

Materials Used:

Patterned paper: Back to Basics, Flirty Thrill (Bo Bunny)
Patterned paper: Bohemia Collection, Bliss Friends Brocade/Red (My Mind's Eye)
Patterned paper: 8 x 8 paper stack, Get Happy (Cosmo Cricket)
Que Sera Sera adhesive paper ribbon (K & Co.)
Edge Distresser (Making Memories)
ColorCore Cardstock: The Chocolate Box (Core'dinations)
Various clips (painted red and yellow)
Cardboard (painted blue)
Ink: Jet Black (StazOn)
Alphabet letter stamps: Studio G

Friends

Here's a layout of my wonderful mother and I while vacationing in Vegas a few years ago. I tried to incorporate two challenges into this layout (yes, trying to maximize my scrap time!)

The first was to "use your scraps" from last month's scrap session, which I did by arranging leftover strips of patterned paper from Stampin' Up! to form a circle. I then used a circular punch and cut out circles for a border around the main circle.

The second challenge was over at Scrapbook Star using Grommets. I had actually never even heard of these things until a few weeks ago and then by luck, while browsing around my favourite dollar store (LOL), stumbled upon a few packages! They are basically like large eyelets and you can use them as hooks, mini photo frames, attach ribbon through them, etc.


Materials Used:

Adhesive: white school glue (Selectum)
Adhesive: Scotch Craft Stick (3M)
Cardstock: White Corduray (The Paper Company)
Circle Punch: Marvy Uchida
Clear Acrylic Stamps - Unknown
Distress Ink: Vintage Photo (Tim Holtz)
Edge Distresser: Making memories
Eyelets: H.A. Kidd and Company
Flowers: Prima
Grommets: H.A. Kidd and Company
Lace: personal stash
Metal word: unknown
Patterned Paper: Stampin' Up!
Patterned Paper: Sugared Collection, Pleasing (Basic Grey)
Ribbon: Stampin' Up!

More Great News!

Just heard today from Scrapbooking.com Magazine that they want to publish 3 more of my layouts (Love You and All Your Moods, Right Where I Belong and So Happy Together) in their July issue! Whoo Hoo! Have one last peek at them while you can - I'll be removing them (temporarily) until their magazine publishes in July!

Defining Moment

You know when you do a layout and it just seems to take FOREVER to compose and nothing seems to fit properly? The paper doesn't match, the embellishments don't fit, the journalling isn't describing the underlying meaning, etc. Then there are days when you find the best photo. You HAVE to scrap it. You go through your stash and find the PERFECT paper. Your embellies jump out at you and the page just puts itself together??

I have tried many different techniques and styles - clean cut, playful, feminine, whimsical, etc. but I always find myself falling back into a destinctive comfort zone - my style - "rustic grunge". I completed this layout last night (would have uploaded sooner, but didn't have my computer all day!) for a Challenge over at Scrapper's Block? where you were to incorporate 'metal' into your layout. It was just one of those nights where the placement of every piece of paper and embellishment was so obvious.

It was a good night...

Here is a close up of the metal buttons I used.
Metal safety pin.
Metal hooks and music note.

Metal bus charm.

Final version. A photo I took last weekend while at the park with my family. My husband and I were watching the 3 kids playing together and he just sat there with this inward grin and said "this is what its all about". Life with 3 kids can most definately be hectic. But at the end of the day when they're all asleep, the house is quiet and I'm left with my thoughts. I'm smiling too...

Materials Used:
Fiskars 12 inch portable trimmer
cosmo cricket paper pad in get happy
making memories edge distresser
paper reflections stamping sampler by DMD Industries
K&Co. Que Sera Sera adhesive paper ribbon
making memories tiny alphas in whiteblack
white school glue by Selectum
Scotch craft stick by 3M
Karen Foster design mini charms
paper by creative imaginations, marah johnson
Bo Bunny back to basics, X-Treme texting
Black Cardstock
K&Co. cut & paste designer paper pad
random metal buttons and pins

I'm Honoured!

Just got some more fantastic news! My blog is to be featured as Blog of the Week in next Monday's Scrapbooking.com Weekly Newsletter.

CLICK HERE if you haven't already signed up to receive this FREE Newsletter which features Exciting new layouts, Newsletter exclusive articles, Scrapbooking Tips & Techniques, New Product Announcements and of course - Contests!

Third Place From Scrap'N'Win!

Happy Tuesday to me! My Hand in Hand layout has been named the THIRD place winner in the Traditional Layout Category for April 2009 from http://www.scrapnwin.com/! Oh Happy Day!

Introducing The Newest Design Team Member for Scrapbook Star!

Yes that's right! I am very excited to announce that I have been chosen as Scrapbook Star's newest Design Team Member. I am completely honoured to be working with such an amazing Canadian Company and such a talented group of ladies! They have a fantastic selection of products in-store and online as well as daily inspirations to get your creative juices flowing, contest announcements, workshops and more! YEEEE-HAAAAWWWW!!

What a WEEKEND!!

Never thought I'd say this - I'm all scrapped out!! Fabulous challenges over at Scrapbook Star. I completed as many as I could - including 2 cards, which I normally don't do. Here is a sample of some of my stuff... enjoy. Hope you all had a wonderful National Scrapbook Day!

Love Those Cheeks! A layout of my daughter in all her cheekyness. Materials Used: Marvy Uchida circle punch, All Night Media Pigment Ink in Butter Pecan, Glitter Rub-on flowerss by Plaid Enterprises, Die Cuts with a View Fall paper Stack, Red cardstock, purple cardstock.

A Mother's day card I created during the online crop. Inside reads: I'll always be your little girl, you'll always be my best friend. Materials Used: Making Memories Edge Distresser, Making Memories 12x12 Love Notes Sampler, Making Memories tiny alpha letters, sabrina, Basic Grey Bittersweet collection, hand-dipped, ribbon.

Here is a totally different layout - a non-traditional size of 12 x 6! Very unique and challenging idea indeed. My sister and I at her wedding. Journalling reads: Kiki, my little sister. What a beautiful bride you were. I am so happy to have been your maid of Honour. Forever my little sister, forever my friend. Materials Used: Iron Orchid Designs, Rue 88 Collection, Cafe Diamant by Prima, Office Lingo Collection, Outside the box by Pink Paislee, Die-cut bird by Prima, Big Beauty Butterflys Glitter Rub-Ons by Mary Jo Recker, Die Cut Scallop paper, delaney by Making Memories.


Go Tigers! A layout of my son's first soccer game - so adorable at age 4! Here they are doing a celebratory cheer! Materials Used: Forever in Time 3D Fuzzy Fonts, Making Memories Alpha stickers in Red Wagon, Making Memories Edge Distresser, Staz-On ink in jet black, Cosmo Cricket Paper pad in Get Happy, Crush, Recess Collection, Home Room by Basic Grey, Spring Fling Collection, Umbrella Scallop by Pink Paislee.

Another card I created using the leftover scraps from my Go Tigers layout! Great idea for left over paper and scraps indeed!

In Your Loving Arms. My favourite layout of the day - just came together. What wonderful paper and beautiful candid photos can do for inspiration eh? I must say that I've been totally loving Basic Grey lately! A layout of my boys doing their favourite thing in the world - wrestling with dad! Materials Used: Basic Grey Wassail Collection, spruce, Basic Grey Wassail Collection, Olive Branch, Basic Grey Granola Collection, Brown Sugar, Crate Paper Prudence Collection, Hope, K&Co 12x12 Classic K Margo Dots and Florets, Jenni Bowlin patterned paper, Brown Jumbo Flower (I cut out the branches from this paper) Prima flowers in their nursury tales collection, Prima die-cut bird, assorted buttons and tiny pearls from my stash, Making Memories edge distresser, Tim Holtz distress ink in Vintage Photo.

Some Great News!

The "Tree Hugger" layout I completed last month in honour of Earth Day, is the April Blog Challenge Winner for Keely Yowler Creative Design! Unfortunately (or fortunately for me), the layout cannot be displayed online until June, 2009 as it is being published in Scrapbooking.com Magazine!

Happy National Scrapbook Day!!

WOW - What a day!! My husband was such a sweetie and took all 3 kids for 2 whole hours - IN A ROW!! AND... they all had a nap at the same time (rare) so another 1.5 hrs to scrap! A record day for me! Over at Scrapbook Star I have been participating in their online crop - it goes all weekend. I have finished 5 of the challenges so far and am thrilled with my designs. No rush, rush jobs here - these are great pieces. Will upload them all tomorrow for you to take a peek. Until then, I must use the rest of this night WISELY! Sleep little baby sleep! Happy Scrapping!

Sketch Friday Challenge

Here's a Challenge Sketch I completed for Scrapbook Star, an amazing Canadian store, with awesome service and friendly staff. Check out their Message Board for daily inspirations, announcements, awesome contests and more. Have a browse through their gallery to get your creative juices flowing! They have hundreds of fabulous products in store and online so don't forget to take a peek! Materials Used: Basic Grey Porcelain collection, silver birch, Making Memories Love Notes Collection, 12x12 Sampler, Making Memories Love Notes Collection, Artisan Die Cut, Cherries Ribbon, Sandylion Sticker Designs, stonewashed plaid.