On the Cool Side: Scrapbook Generations magazine

Have you seen the newest issue of Scrapbook Generations magazine?  It is a free, monthly digital magazine that focuses on sketches!  I am so honored to be joining the rest of the Teresa Collins design team as we played with two fantastic sketches!  I spent time going through the magazine and it is so well done.  I was seriously honored to be a part of the feature.

Here is a layout that I created based upon one of the sketches!  It was fun and easy to create!

Here is what this month's cover looks like!  To see the sketch and learn more about the page, you have to see the magazine.  I have a double page layout in the issue as well.

To view the magazine and drool over many amazing projects, go to Scrapbook Generations Magazine!  I am so lucky to be a part of the Teresa Collins team!

Monday's Musings: The Most Important Journey

I have taken important journeys in this life.  The most important one involves my best friend and husband, Steve.  He is the core of all things in my life.  We have built a family and home together.  It has been a great ride.

I wouldn't change any path we have taken, whether it has been smooth sailing or a rocky road.  It has and continues to change me.  I adore this person.

 

It has been the journey of my lifetime.  From our dog to our kids to our home to our pursuits and adventures, he is my love in every direction.  I can't imagine walking through life without him.  Our life is not perfect, but it is pretty great!

 

I used the Our Travels collection from Webster's Pages and Adrienne Looman to make this page.  I love how every element shares my feelings!

 

I can't wait to see what the rest of the adventure is like!

 

 

Playing with Shapes

Time for the weekend!  I am hoping to spend some quality time in my scrap room this weekend after hibernating for a week!  Today I have a layout to share, showcasing the March kit from Scrapbooking from the Inside Out!

 

I love the colors in this kit.  This happy blue cardstock put me in a celebratory mood!  I decided to play with shapes on this page, adding a unique background.

 

 

I went with total repetition of the rectangle.  The wood veneer with the heart is my favorite one!  This page is all about how I am a straight shooter.  And I am okay with that.

 

 

 

I added some texture to my page, using a similar hue for the alphabet.  I also added some color with the red polka dot and the gold banner.  Gold is hot this year and I can see why!

 

Such a fun page to make.  I am loving working with the monthly kits from SFTIO.  Be sure to check them out!

 

The SFTIO website is great.  Not only can you purchase the kit, but you can see example pages from the design team.  Each month Rachel provides a series of journaling prompts to help you be reflective and tell your story.  I find them to be awesome in helping me to create meaningful pages.  The website also provides links to the Pinterest board, which is full of inspiration.

 

Inside the Art: Friendship Matters

Friends mean the world.  When I stop and reflect on my friendships, I have some girls who have been in my life for over 30 years.  Yes, I am that old...

I have other friends where the bonds are strong, even if the time we spend has diminished.  And recently, a new group of friends has entered my life.  I spend each day, Monday through Friday, with this bunch.  They get me through the day and make me laugh consistently.

I sit alongside some great friends each day.  I am so lucky.  I have people who are a shoulder to lean on, people who are great listeners.  One friend in particular is honest and direct.  I appreciate the truths she has shared.  When it came time to scrap about honesty for the SFTIO monthly theme, my mind went to one such friend.

 

Diane is a great friend.  True Candor sums it up.  But the truth is always kind and nonjudgmental.  It is really refreshing.  She knows my secrets, has seen me at my best and my worst.  She sits alongside me and I know she is always there.

 

 

I am so grateful.  My friends have molded me, helped to shape my behavior.  Friendship is about love and trust and honesty.

 

 

I used the March Scrapbooking From the Inside Out kit to create this page.  There are so many cool elements that helped me to tell me story. 

 



Love This Kid

My guy....he makes my life bright.  He shares his thoughts and ideas and love freely.  Today he saw me working around the house, cleaning and getting dinner ready.  He volunteered to help.  It turned into an hour of vacuuming and him learning to do his own laundry.  He was happy to help.  He knew he had saved me an hour of work.  He is so kind.

I made Nathan the subject of a new layout, in order to celebrate the theme of honesty.  The March kit from Scrapbooking from the Inside Out is full of goodies geared toward helping you tell your stories about honesty.

 

I focused on the boyish papers in the kit...the orange, blues and reds.  I am so in love with the wood veneer shapes!  There is a bag of embellishments that really helps me be creative.  And I have this handsome kid to use as my subject!  I love this photo.  It really captures his quiet soul.  I kept the page simple, really focusing on pops of color.

 

I wrote about how honest he is.  He wears his heart on his sleeve. I am a lucky mom!

 

 

 

 

I Need a Vacation

Who needs an escape from crazy weather?  We are going stir crazy here as it is cold, cold, cold.  I need a vacation.  A change of pace, warmth, things to look at instead of dirty snow banks.  I just want some excitement.

A recent layout I made reminds me of how fun vacations are, especially when we are exploring with the kids. 

 

This photo is from our trip to Baltimore and Washington, DC.  I used the very lovely and addicting Our Travels by Adrienne Looman and Webster's Pages.  I.am.in.love.

 

If we are speaking of travels, this was a page that I created for Winter CHA 2014.  It was made for the trade show and the Webster's Pages booth.  I sent a box off, satisfied with a lot of work...five pages in total.  I was so inspired by the new product.

 

If we are speaking of cold and snow....my box was grounded due to a snow storm.  My pages never made it to the show.  I have had pages up in the WP booth for a long time now so it was a big disappointment.  Some things are out of our control.

 

 

I combined some collections to create this page, like the wood frames from Allison Kreft and WP.  I love the new straws and how they add dimension to a layout.

 

I can't wait to use this collection for future travel photos!  I hope it is sooner than later!

 

 

She Got a Fancy Haircut

My Ella has been in the "I am growing out my hair" phase for a while now.  She has grown out those little girl bangs and has focused on length.  The headband was a constant in her life for a while.  Lately, she just wants it down.

But it just hangs.  So today, while I was getting my hair done, I asked if her hair could be trimmed.  My amazing hairdresser, Archell, gave her a haircut.  Seven-going-on-eight-year-old style.  The bangs are shaped and she has layers.

I have glimpsed into the future.  Life is whizzing by and before I know it, we will be picking out prom dresses.  Can I hold onto seven forever?

 

I made this page a while ago...I love the pictures of her and her friends from her birthday party!  Talk about a glimpse in the future.

I still love banners....probably will from now until the time she goes to that prom and beyond.

 

Here is a photo of her!  Side swept bangs, layers and a great big smile.

 

 

Going Frilly

Every now and then I like to go frilly.  Whether it is clothes or a pillow in my house or a scrapbooking page, soft and feminine works.  I went with lots of pattern and soft colors to create this layout using Teresa Collins.  Her new collections are smashing! 

 

This is using the Save the Date collection.  The line was inspired by her daughter's recent wedding.  I can see where this would be great paper for wedding day photos.  It works for other themes too!  See the new wood veneer shapes, swoon!  The arrow and the heart.  There are so many good shapes!

 

I love the touches of gold in the collection, totally on trend and perfect for frilly pages!  Teresa and My Craft Channel are doing a massive giveaway, but it only lasts a few more hours.  Head here to enter NOW!

 

 

Happy Vacation!

We are currently getting a break from school with a February vacation that ended up being extended by one day.  Snow, snow, snow.  I am done with it.  Can snow make a person depressed?

 

I am blocking out the view from my window and going happy and bright.  Like a summer day!

 

 

 

I made this page using the February kit, Intention from Scrapbooking From the Inside Out!  Such a well-rounded kit, it is sure to inspire!

I love that little banner made from the Hazel and Ruby papers.  I love the pinks and yellows and blues.

Much better than all the white that is outside.  Can you say spring?  Please...

It's About the Love

This past week was about the taking a break.  I came off a week of being sick and just needed time to chill.  That meant lots of cuddle time and laying around in bed.  Ella and I watched a lot of Chopped.  We also had a lot of snow days recently so life has been about hunkering down.

I am sharing a new page that uses Sprinkled with Love by Allison Kreft for Webster's Pages.  I love this line and it is perfect for Valentine's Day.

 

Woodgrain, sequins, Love, chevron...yummy!  These are my two babies.  I love them so much even though they make me nuts.  Those smiles mean the world!

 

 

I wanted the Love words to stand out and bubble over with happiness.  I added some new sequins to give them sparkle.

 

I also cut a new straw and used it to divide my two photos.  It really adds this cool dimension.

 

Hope you have a great Valentine's Day!

 

 

 

Blog Hopping: SFTIO

 

Happy blog hopping!  The DT members at Scrapbooking From the Inside Out wanted to share layout using the new kit, Intention.  Not only will you get to see some inspiring pages, but there is a prize involved!  You should have come here from Jen's blog.  If you didn't, start with Melissa above to visit each blog on the list!

 

Today I am sharing my page about my One Little Word for the year.  I posted a while back that I have chosen the word whisper. 

 

I will talk about my process and the symbolism of this page on one of my upcoming Behind the Art posts over at SFTIO blog. 

 

I love the concept of whisper.  My husband has caught on to the word I am focusing on and has strategically brought it up several times since the new year.  Like when I am yelling at my kids to brush their teeth or when I get annoyed about a miscommunication.  I should clarify that I will whisper more, but I am feisty so yelling will probably still occur. 

 

 

I have talked quieter though.  I have slowed down with my kids and tried to talk more than direct.  I think it is making a difference.  We can problem solve much more effectively if we are calm and collected. 

 

What is your word of the year!?  I love hearing about it.  I really believe in the concept of a word and how it can take on so much power!

 

To be eligible for the prize, leave a comment.  Be sure to visit all the blogs and leave comments by 9:00 p.m. Pacific Time on the 9th.  The more blogs you comment on, the greater chance you have of winning a prize! 

 

Happy hopping!  You are visiting the talented Heather's blog next!

 

 

Inside the Art: Live with Intention

Happy Wednesday!  The February kit, Intention, is now available over at Scrapbooking From the Inside Out.  I quickly made four layouts upon receiving my kit.  I am truly loving the process of scrapping about an emotion while using some really good products.  This kit features Glitz, My Mind's Eye and Hazel & Ruby. 

I used a familiar page design on this one, but varied it up with some unique detailing.

 

Look at the cool, ombre colors on this paper!  Using it as a base is really easy!  I love this picture of my  kids from the first day of school, backpacks on and looking forward.  They are ready to walk away from me.  I know this will only continue over the years. 

 

I wanted to communicate to them that they should live with intention.  I liked the simple design, but it needed something more.  I used the cool stencils in the kit to draw the "bricks" along the top.

 

 

Sometimes it just feels good to not be so linear.  I also handcut my title from my own handwriting.  It is an easy way to add some cool size and shape to a page.

 

To see more about my process and the symbolism I use while scrapping, be sure to head over to the SFTIO blog.  I will be posting every Monday this month.  Check out the insights from all of our talented DT members!

 

 



An Old Photo in a New Way

Sometimes I get into these funks where I simply don't take photos.  How many pictures of my kids smiling do I need?  Just kidding.  It is more the lack of time and energy.  While my photos are always new, I might get some new products and be inspired to tell a story.  I will pull out an old photo and use it in a new way.

This is a perfect example.  I love this photo of my son and nephew.  The bond they share is great and you can see it in this picture.  So, I wanted to scrap it and talk about how close they are.

I love this new collection from Teresa Collins!  It is called, Hello My Name Is.  The kraft and red are a great combination.  It is a fun line full of really cool embellishments. 

 

I love the new tags that come with the collections. Words and images can really set the
tone. That is totally Teresa's strength and she helps me tell my story!

 

I adore this photo, old or new.  So why not use it? 

 

 

 

Monday's Musings: She Had a Bad Day

Don't we all?  My daughter has talked to me today several times about how today was just plain hard.  Things didn't go well for her, according to her.  She gave me a list of things that weren't in her favor.  Getting snapped at by a cranky mom probably didn't help.

I went upstairs to tuck her in and found her crying in her bed.  My heart broke.  I asked her why and she said again how bad her day was.  I told her a little secret.  Everyone has a bad day.  The good thing is that the day comes to an end.  You can wake up to a brand new one.

I also told her that she could always call me when she was having a bad day.  Even if she is 28 and living in Utah.  She asked if we could face time.  I confirmed that as acceptable.  She then informed me that she would probably never live in Utah since she never even heard of it.

Those small moments in life are so important.

I hope to be there for her.  Even when I am cranky.  I hope she knows that we all have bad days.  It is what you do the next day that matters the most.

 

I used Webster's Pages from my stash.  I love the soft elements on this page.  These photos capture Ella at her most vulnerable.

 

The small moment we had tonight will help us both identify who we are and what we know to be important. 

 

So maybe it wasn't such a bad day after all.