Dropping By

This month the Inside Out Visual Journaling kit focuses on the concept of being authentic.  I love that word...truly!  It is just a pure concept and I wish we could all be our authentic selves each day.

When I think about my life and this concept, I think of Steve and the kids.  It took me finding my authentic self to meet Steve.  The time was truly right when it happened.  Then our kids came and they drive me to stay as authentic as I can.

It is hard to stay patient and calm.  To be centered in the midst of crazy.  I fail a lot, but I wake up each day trying to be better and move closer to my authentic self.

 

This kit has this cool heart stencil and I used it to create a custom sheet of patterned paper.

 

 

And the words, of course.  The story behind why I scrapped about these three when thinking about being authentic.

 

 

 

 

It Feels Like Winter

This polar vortex is for the birds.  I love fall and feel like I am missing out.  I spent most of the summer way too hot, but this cold come too quickly. 

One good side effect is that I felt like scrapping a winter based layout.  I used the new holiday collections from Webster's Pages to make this layout:

 

It is a bit of a different color scheme for winter, but I wanted to match my son's snowsuit.  I used the touch of black to coordinate with him.  These papers are from the All that Glitters and Gingerbread Village collections.  I used the typography that matched my theme.

I used the buttons to resemble snowballs.  I love the movement.

 

I also cut the Joy out from one of the papers.  Joy in this case means joy about the snow and winter.  Nathan adores being outside in the winter.  Leave me in the house with some coffee and slippers and I am good!

 

 

Since I missed Oct.

I might as well move right to Christmas?  No really, can you believe all the decorations that are out right now?  The fall is flying by and winter will be here soon.  I decided to roll with it and make a Christmas themed page using the new All that Glitters and GingerBread Village collections from Webster's Pages.

The collections are so pretty.  I love the vintage feel of All That Glitters and the more cutesy feel of GingerBread Village.

 

Look at those reindeer....they are so cute!  I layered touches of gold throughout this layout.  I used some older Webster's goodies like the ribbon and the star.  The embellishments never go out of style!

 

 

I used the beautiful metal frames, placing a sticker underneath.  I hand cut the 25 from one of the sheets of paper.

 

 

I decided to go with the idea of shining and use the rays.  They have those pretty stars on them.  The collections are just so pretty!

 

It may have just gotten me in the mood for Christmas!

 

Remember Those Best Days

I guess remembering the best days helps us get through the tough ones.  It helps us plow through the busy times.  I had a true best day ever during our trip to Sedona this past spring.  It was quite amazing.  I scrapped and, more importantly, journaled about how awesome it was using the October Inside Out kit.

 

I love the wood grain and how natural it feels.  It added a nice touch to my page. 

 

 

I made my own title by hand cutting the words from one of the papers.  I like to hand cut whenever I can so that my page seems more unique. 

 

We are in the midst of soccer season and it has been crazy.  I need to hold onto these best days as a source of reflection and relaxation.

 

 

Monday's Musings: He is my Home

Feeling so blessed.

I am a lucky girl with a great guy.  I so appreciate the relationship Steve and I have built.  He is my home.

I went away for college.  Not too far, but far enough.  I ended up getting a teaching job in a town near my college.  I never went back home.  A few years later, I met Steve right in the town where I teach. 

His home has become my home.  Truthfully, I would go anywhere with him.

 

I made this page using the very lovely Nest collection from Webster's Pages.  Seriously, Brandin just gets it.  She made a gorgeous collection!

 

I did lots of layering with stickers and with hand cut elements.  My number reason for loving Webster's.

 

I sit here today feeling so grateful to have met and married Steve.  So happy to be loving him every day!

 

 

 

In Need of Energy

Why have I been so absent?  These little critters.  They have friends and birthday parties and sports.  They have choir and religion and so many needs.  Honestly, I am loving being a soccer mom and witnessing all their fun.  We are in the sweet spot!

 

 

I made this for the SFTIO kit called Energy.  They both zap and build my energy.

 

I love all the lines on this paper and used it to scatter around my elements!  I am off now to make dinner for the fam.  Boring mom stuff that fills me up!

 

 

One Month Later

I am here posting.  Not that I am sure that anyone reads blogs anymore, but I still want to post my work and share stories!  Life is crazy busy as the kiddos are involved in sports.  I feel altogether happy and drained with a wonderful life.

I made this page using the Scrapbooking From the Inside Out kit, Energy.  What is that?  haha!

I truly believe in guardian angels....a spirit who helps to sustain us and protect!  I wrote about the concept on this page. 

 

I am celebrating my 44th birthday today and I have many reasons to be happy!  Great family and friends fill me up and make me so grateful!  I am blessed!

 

I will be sharing more about this page on Monday over on the SFTIO blog!  Bes sure to check it out!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Monday!

Happy Monday!  I am here today because my dear friend Aleksandra Gadji named my in a recent blog post.  Heather Leopard started a cool blog hop where you nominate your favorite scrappers and share some information about yourself.  Aleksandra mentioned me, which is quite the honor because her work rocks!

I am sharing a recent layout that I made using the September Scrapbooking From the Inside Out kit!  I had fun with these bright colors.

 

Look at these colors!  I love all the elements too!

 

So here is some information about me:

 

1. What am I working on right now?

Right now I am working on my calendar at home trying to figure out when I might have time to scrapbook!  LOL!

2. How long does it take me to create a project?

I like to scrap quicker since time is limited.  I can get most pages done in one hour!

3. How does my writing/creating process work?

I need an inspiration piece.  It can be a photo or an embellishment or even a sheet of paper.  I then use that as a muse.  It is easy to then find other elements, a title and the story once I have that inspiration.

4. What is my signature style?

I think my style is definitely theme-based!  Every element on my page is symbolic and connected to the theme or idea of the page.  I love to use an element in a new or unique way.  I hand cut all of the time.  Handwritten journaling happens on every page!
Tag the blogs of three of your favorite scrapbookers, who will, in turn, continue the “tour” the following Monday.

I love so many bloggers and scrappers, many of whom have participated in this blog hop already!

Melissa Elsner is a good friend and I love to get to know her better through her pages.
Sherri Funk has a fun, layered style and she scraps from her heart!
Becky Williams knows how to showcase elements on a page and I love her style!

This industry is full of talented scrappers who have great blogs!  I am honored to have been nominated!

Vacation Photos

Whenever I feel stressed or worried in life, I stop and think about my recent adventure to Sedona.  It was a special time where all seemed right in the world.  I was clear and calm and centered.  Imagining it brings me back to that place.  I believe that deserves a page.

 

I scrapped this for the SFTIO August kit, Liberation.  I journaled about how Steve and I took that quality time for ourselves and it was wonderful.

 

 

I love the color schemes from this kit, blues and oranges with gold.  I kept my design simple with some scattered elements around the page.

 

 

I love the orange hexagons and was so reminded of the red rocks in Sedona!  I like to use vacation photos to capture feelings and moments.  I am glad I recorded these feelings.

 

 



Repeating the Elements

I love to create pages with repeated elements, especially when I can play with scale.  It is like home decorating when you group objects.  Repeating elements allows a page to move because the eye travels to the like.  I made this page about my handsome son.  Who know stands as tall as my chest level.  I am not sure where time is going. 

 

 

 

I used the Something Wonderful collection by Teresa Collins to create this page.  Yummy goodies for sure.  I cut the & signs from the papers and journaling cards.  I don't use a cutting machine very often so handcutting is my way of making things unique.

 

I love these little stars!  Nathan is a star in my eyes and I love to have him around.  Truly blessed, I am.

 

 

 

100 Years Later...

I make another blog post.  I have been lost in real life, managing the summer and enjoying life.  I click on the blog and am at a loss for words.  I might just need to post more and talk less.

I have been working on pages for Scrapbooking from the Inside Out.  I am truly enjoying working with the kits.

 

I made this page with the August kit called Liberation.  What a cool theme with an upbeat tempo!

 

I scrapped about my friendships and how that part of my life makes me feel free and young.  I am so grateful for laughter and teasing and dancing and bonding.  Those strong relationship add another dynamic to life.

 

I did lots of layering and fun colors on this page.  The kit is full of Glitz and Basic Grey!  Fun stuff!

 

I am off to enjoy the final days of summer.

 

 

Celebrating her 5 Years

Ella was able to reach a dance milestone this year, the five year mark.  That meant she could receive a trophy at her dance recital and she was very excited!  I love recital time and all the fun costumes.  I have to say that this year's costume was my favorite!  So classic and charming...

 

I had to make a page that showed off the cuteness by using paper and elements that were just as cute!  I went with the Something Wonderful collection by Teresa Collins.  I love how there are reds, whites and blacks just like her outfit. 

 

I created a banner all along the top portion, starting with the yellow paper strip.  Then I put the Love circle, scalloped border and created a banner.  I still love banners!

 

I built my title using the chipboard numeral 5 and the tiny alphabets.  I love how Teresa's collections have such great embellishments.

 

It was a special day so a colorful, fun layout was in order!

 

 

Playing with Straws

I love party straws!  I like to put them in mason jars during all sorts of events.  They are festive and pretty.  Unfortunately, when you use them, the straws tend to get soggy.  Doesn't stop me from trying!

I used straws in a different way on a recent page.  I used Webster's Pages to create a fun and funky layout!

 

I went with this silly photo of my kids, nieces and nephews.  I decided to add seven pieces of straws for each person.  I used different patterns and colors to represent the differences between each of them. 

 

 

It gives the page some cool dimension and uniqueness!

 

 

Love Nathan and Ella in this shot!  Sums them up perfectly!  I sued Allison Kreft goodies on this page!

 

 

 

Inside the Art: Living With Grace

The first few days of summer, I read the book One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp.  It is about celebrating life, feeling gratitude at all times, even in the face of challenges.  It is beautifully written in a way to move you closer to God and how so many of the scriptures apply to life and your actions.  It was well timed for me to read it. 

 

Since I have been trying to practice living in the moment, I have started a gratitude journal again after a 12 year break.  It is grounding me again.

 

Enter in the July kit from Scrapbooking From the Inside Out.  The theme is Perspective.  Ah, how perfect!  Feeling grateful and being fully in the present requires the right perspective.  I was very excited.  My first layout celebrates how blessed I am. 

 

 

I used these lovely papers to create this page, building lots of words along the side of the page.  These two creatures and Steve mean the world to me.  I need to live fully in the moment so I can be the best mommy I can. 

 

A little note to myself about keeping this as my frame of reference.  It is a reminder to be grateful during good times and when there is adversity. 

 

 

Just Share It

How do you get back to blogging when you have taken so many breaks?  I log into my computer every day and this is my home page.  Yet, I click to the next spot instead of stopping and posting.  But I have many stories to share and pages to show.  So, I guess you just share it.

Here are a couple of pages I made for the Scrapbooking From the Inside Out kit.  A new kit debuts in just a couple of days.  I love this first page because it features my feelings for Steve.  Love this guy...

 

I used the vehicles to symbolize how I would travel by any means to be by his side. I love our adventure together!

 

This next page is about my passion, home decorating.  I love to fix up my house and shop.  I love patterns and colors and paint.  It really makes me happy.

 

Photos are from Target, of course.  My favorite place ever!

 

Off to enjoy this beautiful summer day!  Hope you are too!