WOW! Am I In Love!

on sooo many levels!  In love with the In Love collection by Webster's Pages.  In love with the new movie that Brandin created to celebrate shipping week. 

And mostly in love with the idea that some lucky, lucky Webster's fan can win a $500.00 shopping spree!  That is not a typo...can  you imagine a spree that big!  It can buy you one of every single thing plus more!

To find out how to win...race to the Webster's blog...check out the movie and follow the directions!

To leave you with some motivation, here is a recent Webster's project!  I created a quote book about weddings and marriage!  I kept the design simple since this one is all about the words and the advice.  Plus, it allows for small photos to be placed inside at a later date!

I created the white flower using one of the gorgeous tulle trims from In Love!  I wanted to use lots of trim to give the book elegance and texture.

I used In Love papers and trim as well as Dazzle Me Gems!  I put in dots of Sparklers here and there!  Love this collection and I know you will too!

Thursday Trending: Light On Paper

Nope, not just being cheap.  Yep, I have plenty of 12 X 12 sheets of paper.  Nope, not too lazy to use my paper cutter.  Hmmm...maybe I am looking for quiet patterns.  I am not sure what it is...but I am craving minimal paper.  One background and then pops somewhere else.  Maybe along the side or the top.  My eye needs rest.  Maybe it's because the rest of the life is crazy!

Here is an example.  Note the calm background...there is tonal contrast.  Then,,,the pops.  Especially in the form of a grid.  Yep, I know it is not technically a grid, but that was the inspiration.

I wanted all the color and pattern to come from these cute chipboard pieces by Bella Blvd.  I adore chipboard...it is my favorite embellishment!   Most of this paper is from older collections, but Bella is timeless and it all goes well with each other!

I created that small ribbon-like award using a piece of chipboard and two sticker banners.

The little bits of pattern pop:  red hearts, stripes, yellow chevron. I went with an orange alphabet for this one!  It seemed a bit boring so I added the heart and button center.

Minimalist, maybe.  A phase, a trend in my scrappy world.  A new source of fun...and that is what this is all about!

Tuesday's Thoughts: Pajama Love

I wonder if there is anything wrong with living in pjs as often as possible.  Is it bad to put them on as soon as possible after a long work day?  Is it terrible to stay in them all day on a Sunday?

Is this habit less offensive if you shower first and then put pjs on?  or what about matching sets...you know, cute ones with little tees and pants, all with coordinating patterns. 

Should I be called a bad parent if I have passed said pajama love down to my children?  As in...Nathan wears his favorite Transformers pair even though they are 2 sizes too small.  He looks all tall and lanky.  Cracks me up.  Poor Ella gets all the hand me downs and mismatched ones.  She has to resort to t-shirts and whatever pants she can find.  She actually told my mom that I never buy her cute pairs.  She might be right.

I think pajamas represent comfort, home, a longing with quiet and reflection.  It means lazy cups of coffee and hanging out watching Saturday morning TV.

I might have an entire Pinterest board devoted to the latest and greatest fashion.  Cute, pulled- together outfits with matching necklaces and purses.  But at the end of the day....(and the beginning and middle), I just want pajamas. I am a fan...

See:

For more information on this layout, check out the Bella Blvd. blog!  I debuted today as an on-going guest designer!

Before I go and snuggle up in my flannels and fuzzy socks, I want to share two big announcements.  First, the Nook is running a Feb. special:

Since Feb. we have been running specials each month for new subs! HERE IS THE APRIL NEW SUB SPECIAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Join now and receive your April kit for free!!!!!!!PLUS A FREE GRAB BAG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! VALUED OVER $55.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AFTER 1 YEAR PAID YOU WILL RECEIVE ANOTHER KIT FOR FREE! WE ONLY HAVE 10 MARCH KITS LEFT SO HURRY-WE HAVE BEEN SELLING OUT EACH MONTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!  HERE IS THE LINK TO THE POT OF GOLD!!!!!!!!!!!

And, my other home away from home...Webster's Pages is having a shipping party all week!  That's right...the new collections are shipping.  Be sure to check out the blog for fun projects and giveaways!

Hope you find joy today!

At Home: Budget Decorating

Happy Sunday!  Today is the day I am taking down winter and dressing my house for spring.  I can't wait to freshen things up!  I don't know about you, but I am an impatient decorator.  I am bothered by unfinished spaces or gaps.  I also don't have a million dollars to spend so I need to think fast and think on the budget.

I sometimes call it Level 1 decorating...I plan to make a space look pretty even if I don't have everything I really want.  I did this with my living room last year.  It looked livable and pretty.  Then I moved to Level 2, which consisted of finding those special touches.  Books from my personal library were switched out with vintage ones.  Knick knacks were replaced by antique cameras.  I switched things out with items with more personality, depth and character.

When we first moved in, I worked on Ella's room.  It is a much bigger space than her old room so I needed to go to Level 1.  I headed straight to Jo-ann's to do so.  The home section there is very small, but you can get some neat finds on the cheap.  I also knew that Ella's room had a garden fairy vibe so I hit the outdoor and spring section of Jo-ann's.  Outdoor garden items make for adorable decorations.  Here are some of the details:

Top of her armoire...I used many of the stuffed animals she has received over the years.  That basket used to hold diapers and creams where she was an infant...I am just using it in a different way.  Notice all the crowns!

I like to use sentimental objects when decorating.  This was her communion dress.  We went a bit untraditional when we chose it...I love this though.  Sweet and muted!  It hangs from her bookcase.

And her well-worn ballet slippers.  I couldn't throw these out so they make a cute addition to her displayed items.

This is her desk.  I picked it up at Marshall's.  She loves it!  I can't keep it clean, which makes me nuts.  But it is her room...

Her dresser.  I got this silver vase from Ikea.  I love having some touch of metal throughout the room.

Here is one of the main walls.  My mother in law found these Pottery Barn shelves at a tag sale.  They were silver so I just repainted.  I have a mix of vintage goodies and many items for the garden section at Jo-ann's.  The pig and birdhouses are antiques.  And, of course, I made some things.

The pig makes me smile...

Finally, to add some texture I reused these Oriental Trading pompoms.  They were orginally used for her birthday party.  They add whimsy!

I love the fact that I won't feel guilty about switching some of this stuff out when she gets a bit older.  That gives me time to look for Level 2 items at antique shops and tag sales.  Just think, I can think move all the garden items outside...

On Repeat

I walk up the stairs to deliver meals, I walk down the stairs to get more ice...times ten.  I exercise and then do it again for five more days.  I eat chocolate covered rice cakes as my snack each day.  The same routine is in place for getting ready in the morning, unpacking bags and bedtime.

I am on repeat.  More so than ever now.  My husband is recovering from surgery and is doing awesome.  He is ready to do the dishes again, but patience is the key.  So there is a lot to do.

I have sincerely repeated the words "thank you" over and over to all family and friends who have helped these past two weeks.

One great side effect that I can't get enough of is how my kids have stepped up.  They have been so helpful and cooperative.  There is a different energy in my house.  That can repeat itself all day long!

Here is Ella...on repeat...as she doesn't stop talking, doesn't stop dancing.  This day, she didn't stop jumping and running with the balloon.  I didn't mind because it meant my camera got a workout!

I created this page based upon the gorgeous work of my friend, Carol Monson.  We design together at the Nook and she is so inspiring!  She was invited to be the Webster's Pages Guest Designer this month we all got to lift her!!  The whole bottom cluster was inspired by her design!

I used the Sunday Picnic line by Webster's for this layout.  It is truly one of my favorite collections ever!

Off to bed now...hopefully the zzz will stay on repeat!

Technique Tuesday: Cut Away

What is your favorite scrappy tool?  Do you have to have a fancy cutting machine or do you love your binder?  My go-to tool is a pair of scissors.  Easy, old-fashioned...yet so impactful.  I love to hand cut many of the elements found on my pages.  My favorite scissors are the Tim Holtz Tonic ones...they are somewhat big, but so easy to manipulate and use.  I can't live without them.

Take this layout below.  I used Bella Blvd goodies to create this one.  Let me tell you that Bella scraps itself...there are so many elements like stickers, chipboard and journaling spots.  Just layer it all on the page and you are set.  Except I want something a bit special...that is where the scissors come into play.  Those large snowflakes were hand cut from a sheet of paper in the Winter Wonder collection.

I chose to cut them in different formations...some I stayed close to the lines.  For the large pink one, I wanted to make it a bit more rounded.  I made some stand out with different sized brads.

To add a bit of texture, I used some twine around the titleblock.  I wanted it to start the eye on that side of the layout.  Most elements from this page are from the Winter Wonder collection.  The alphabet is from the Sophisicates collection. 

If I got the what-would-you-bring-to-a-deserted-island question and there was going to be a crop there...I would have to have my scissors.  Hands down....best invention!

Check This Out: Beautiful Kit

Happy Monday everyone!  I can't wait to share this special post with you today to showcase this:

One of my online scrappy friends, Shanna Vineyard, has combined her love of hand-drawing and painting mixed with her fondness of bright, happy colors to bring us a kit that is different than anything you’ve ever seen! In celebration of her relocating back home to Arizona next week, she was inspired to create this kit, “Home Is Where the Heart Is” that includes over 50 different hand-drawn and painted images. They can be used in your digital projects or can be easily resized and printed to cut out and use with your traditional scrapbooking and card making creations. The possibilities are endless and you will have them to use over and over again as much as you like for as many projects as you wish!  I had a blast using this kit!

 Here’s what I made using her kit…..

I chose to create an 8.5 X 11 layout so that I could print directly on my background paper.  I used the circular words, sized in three different ways.  I inserted the blue heart in the middle of the biggest one!  Then I printed several of the bright images including the hearts, sun and clouds.  A little hand cutting and I had some cool embellishments.  The best part is that you can size your embellishments to fit your project. 

I cut a smaller word circle and placed it in the middle using a foam square.

Visit Shanna’s blog to purchase this kit and see LOTS of other awesome samples that were created specifically to share with you today! In celebration of this fun, new release she is also doing a huge giveaway valued at over $100.00 with lots of fabulous new scrappy goodies and several ways you can win! So head on over and check it out!

Happy Monday!

Behind the Page: Swinging Back and Forth

I made the shift again.  Swung away from it for a while, but lately...I seem to have gone back.  I have renewed my relationship with Kraft.  It is warm and cozy.  Something about it with primary colors.  I can't deny the appeal.

I also swung back to very minimal.  Just for this page...I tried to use a bold paper with these photos, but it was too much.  I twisted, turned, flipped and rotated, but the pattern clashed.  You have to know when to say goodbye.

The Kraft gives the sequence of pics a place to rest and allows for the other embellishments and choices to make a splash.  I tried to add interest in the details.  The wave of the baner, the pattern on the soccer ball, the unusual shapes of the flag.  The layout felt a bit plain so I added several circles  using my pen and whatever round-bottom objects that were within arm's reach.  Lazy scrapper, I am. 

Speaking of back and forth...that is what this layout is all about.  Look at Ella in these photos...actress!  She goes from face to face within seconds.  We have a constant volley. 

Even more back and forth...notice how much I hand cut for this layout.  Scissors are the best tool!  I handut the banner and all the different types of balls.  I love how each one has so much pattern and color on it.  Just a little works.

I used the Webster's Pages Game On for this layout! 

I am off...time to walk back and forth up the stairs playing nursemaid to my husband.  He is warm and cozy too so I guess I don't mind!

Thursday Trend: Finally Chevron

I bucked this one...decided I wouldn't use it a a technique or trend.  But I gave in!  It was so easy to create.  I simply used my square punch and then cut each square in half...base of triangle to base of triangle and you have your zig zag.  It was fun...

This week...not so fun.  Steve had his surgery and it has been a long and draining week.  But he is doing great, is home and is on his way to recovery.

I discovered something this week that isn't a trend...it is something that will never go out of style.  People are great...willing to help...caring and giving.  My mom and mother-in-law have been amazing.  I didn't have to worry about my kids at all the past few days.  Friends of ours chipped in to help us shovel and even our mechanic made a house call to fix my deflating tire.

People are good.  Friendship matters.

Nathan has the same amazing traits as Steven...he loves his friends. 

Here is my chevron.  Cute!

Trends are awesome.  Some will last longer than others. 

I am so happy to have discovered this one.

And even happier to have discovered that friendship is a classic...timeless and forever.

Monday's Musings: Can't Fight the Feeling

and I don't want to...

the feeling that my life is blessed.

I have a great family...

I really love my husband.  We have our share...but ultimately we are well-matched, we make a great team.  I had the opportunity to realize my devotion to him has never wavered.  I feel so strongly about us as a unit and my family as a whole.

That is where I am blessed.

And all my blessings have started in one place, with one great man...

Wild Ride

Life is one wild ride.  So much is going on right now.  It seems like every moment is full of multitasking and planning.  It makes me feel like a 2:00 nap everyday.  We are getting ready for a busy spring full of Ella's birthday, Easter, a wedding and a vacation.  Oh, and Steve is having hip surgery.  I am just finishing the second week of P90X2, phase two.  I am loving this edition...loads, loads, loads of core. 

All in all, crazy schedule and life...it is all good.  I count my blessings.

I have started pinning images for Ella's birthday.  I love planning fun home parties with a theme.  This layout shows a highlight of Nathan's last party...these cardboard cars.  His face kinda sums it up:

I love this comic book paper from October Afternoon!  I have to use a section of it...it fits perfectly here!  I created the flag banner myself.  And notice the lasso:

This kit from My Scrapbook Nook filled with Sasparilla was among my favorites!  Love this paper line and all the wooden and textured goodies!

Here is the March kit...yummy NEW My Mind's Eye:

Look at how pretty...just in time for spring!  The Nook is offering a fabulous grab bag each month full of goodies that match the kit...for a super low price!  Be sure to check it out!

Off to go manage some crazy...Happy Saturday!

Thursday Trend: Circles

Round, representing so much...you have come full circle, two are joined.  The circle is so full of movement.  It naturally leads the eye around a page.  I love the circle.  I tend not to use large circles because they don't feel right to me.  I adore when others use them, but it doesn't sit right when I am designing. 

I do love circles in small doses, tucked under a photo or placed in the corner.  Case in point:

This is the new Teresa Collins Fabrications!  It is so elegant and pretty!  It is no secret that one of my favorite elements from her collections are the die-cuts and chipboard.  They add so much to a layout, but don't take a lot of work.  I simply layered a bunch in a horizontal row.  But the layout needed more so I added some circles.  Little touches, but enough to make it interesting.

So, what trend is making your world go round these days?