At Home: Hiatus was Needed

Sometimes we just need a hiatus.

A time to regroup and refuel.  Time to just enjoy family without other influences.

I have been on one a bit. 

I was enjoying my home and family.

Having a great Thanksgiving:

 

The first deep fried bird of the day.

Outdoor breakfast at 7:00 a.m.

Uncle Jimmy and Steve doing there thing...

Cousins enjoying family time.

My Thanksgiving table.  Candlesticks from Ikea.  It was so pretty this year.

 

Simple decorations...rectangular bowls from Ikea filled with dried split peas and white pumpkins.  Favorite dishes.

 

The view from my window.  It was a great way to kick off the day.  I am so thankful for friends and family.

Tuesday Trend: Be Uneven

There are times when uneven is bad...
think hair cuts

or art hanging on the walls.  An uneven hem line is never a good thing.  My husband had uneven length legs and that only caused hip problems.

but in scrapbooking, uneven seems to be the thing.  It seems to be about random, mismatched, free and funky.

Uneven is hard for me.  But, I am always open for change.  I decided to add some uneven to my latest layout.

 

Now, not everything is uneven.  I can't live without straight lines!  The triangles may be placed randomly, but those linear edges make it okay.  The uneven on this layout comes in the form of rip lines along the bottom of my photo.  The way my pictures tilt.  Even the way the elements stick out at uneven lengths alond the side of the photo.  I get that it adds movement and interest.

 

I used the Persnickety collection from Lily Bee for this layout.  Love this collection!  I admit that the layout looked almost too structured without this torn edge.  It filled in the space nicely and broke up the title.

I do like how the You sticker juts out a bit.  Uneven can work for me.  As long as it doesn't involve pant legs or curtains....

Small Moments

Every year I try to take out my camera and capture the small moments behind all the major events. Most of the time, I have difficulty deciding what to shoot and what to skip.  It hinders me and sometimes I just avoid my camera.

Other times, I get those moments.  I capture the smile that really counts or the look that means so much.  I don't think it is hard...it is just about having the camera and the motivation to use it.

I caught Ella last year...the moment she realized the fire truck Santa was coming.  I love the point and then the look.

I used the Royal Christmas collection by Webster's Pages to make this layout.

 

I struggled when making this....started over like five times.  The paper is great and the photos are cute.  I just couldn't make it all pop.  The secret was adding the soft patterned paper under the photos as well as the bold green.  I used hand cut artisan shapes to add texture, but not color.  The stars sorta look like a bottle of happiness fell over.  I didn't intend for that, but I will take it.

I am glad this came together.  The moment when a five year old spots Santa is magical.  I'm thrilled I caught it.

Where did the week go?

really...

it is all flying by...

crazy fast!

I have been fighting a cold so I went to bed early all last week...hence, few projects completed.

I do have a few things I haven't shared here so hopefully I will post more this week!

Here is a layout I made using the new Best Friends collection from Webster's Pages.  This one is special because it features some important people to me.  I am lucky to have made so many online friends.  It is possible to find "love" over the internet!  Melissa and Dora, these girls are fabulous!

 

I have a Webster's green obsession...love all the green backgrounds.  It just works with so many pictures and so many other colors.

 

Banner love paired with journaling!  I added the Friends transparency to give some bold pop and to fill that space.

 

I cut a Story Marker and used the main gems on the page.  Love how it frames the photo and look at the dimension.

Here is to hoping I can find some healthy vibes and get the scrappy mojo back!

Every Day

One thing keeps me going each day...those peeps around me who I love.  Be it friends, family, children, or husband.

When I feel stressed or overwhelmed, I try to go back to that place.  Where I remember what truly counts.

That, and new practice of sharing daily Dalai Lama messages really helps.

Hence, this layout...a reminder of what matters most.

 

I used the Now and Then collection by Teresa Collins...you must check this one out.  Look at the chipboard and the colors...the banners and the diecuts.

 

 

This page is simple, yet I hope it expresses how much I treasure my everyday.

 

 

Gearing Up

Gearing up for the holiday season...Thanksgiving is on the way.  I happen to adore this holiday!  When I close my eyes and think about it, I picture smiles, good food, family recipes that have been cooked a million times.  I smell deep fried turkeys and Grandma's stuffing.

It is a special time.  For so many years Steve and his friends have gathered in this backyard.  We took a temporary break from this Newington house and hosted over in Wethersfield for a couple of years.

But we are back now, right where we belong.  Seeped in tradition...this day represents so much.

 

I decided to scrap the instagram photos I took from last year.  These are symbolic of the day...Steven in the lead role, turkey in hand, a bird ready to come out and a group of good friends.  Doesn't get much simplier than that!

 

The story recorded. A big, long title...one of my favorite things on any page!

 

I used Lily Bee's Autumn Spice on this layout.  Love this collection for fall.

 

 

Monday Musings: Love Autumn

Autumn brings home to life...makes you want to cherish Sunday morning time in front of the fire place.  We all found ourselves there today.  As Nathan would say, our whole family is there because kitty and the dog were present too.  There we were, all cuddled up on two arm chairs.

There is nothing better.  That chill in the air, wanting to make soup, big sweaters.  Leaves, pumpkins.  Halloween, which oddly enough, I hated as a child.  I know love as a mom. 

Then there is Thanksgiving.  No better holiday in my opinion.  The best food, the best feeling.

I think Autumn is a time to hunker down.  Figure out what will be important during the winter months.  Find yourself and have quiet time.

It has moments like this too:

 

The pumpkin patch...full of my favorite things.  Full of my happy kids running up and down the row.  I love finding the just right ones.  Letting the kids pick whatever they want. 

I used Vintage Finds from Teresa Collins on this one.  I believe this layout was used in Archiver's to promote this line...cool beans.  I went with circles to go with the pumpkins.

 

A little burlap, one of my other fall favorites.

 

I have been thinking about all the devastation on the East Coast.  Those families who can't enjoy fall right now, those who don't have homes left.  It breaks my heart.  I wish there was more that could be done.

 

Makes me realize the true gift of those autumn Sunday mornings...

 

Behind the Page: One of those Photos

You know those photos....the one you didn't really expect.  You just happened to be snapping away wondering what you will capture.  Imagine using your phone to take such photos.

When you are processing, you realize you caught a moment.  Those are my favorite photos. 

 

This is a moment between father and daughter.  A look that conveys so much.   Her face is priceless.  That is her prince.  The man who all men need to measure up against.

 

 

I decided to help the photo pop by keeping the colors neutral, expect for these awesome hexagons.  This is the new Teresa Collins collection Now and Then...let me tell you...amazing!  It is my favorite collection to date.  You need to get  your hands on this one!  Notice the stitcers, the brads with tags, the chipboard.  I stamped the word Love on the tag.  It is all so pretty!

See that green...it is from a stamp that I adore!  Then I simply just framed my title with embellishments and journaling. I love to layer Teresa's elements.  One of my favorite new embellishments is those enamel dots!  See them right after the title!

Great photo, yummy goodies...a sweet combination!

Driving By: Halloween Fun

Driving by today...lots of fall fun!  Halloween looked like this today!

 

Fall soccer is almost over...which means I won't be so crazed!  Life is good though!  Especially when it is full of little treats with details and butterflies.

 

Used the Best Friends collection to create these!  I am scrapping, trying to catch up on sleep, happy that we dodged a bullet with the storm and praying for all who were effected.

 

 

Monday's Musings: By My Side

It is comforting to know that you have someone by your side...

walking through life with you.

Someone who won't leave, won't abandon, won't judge...

Someone who makes you feel braver, stronger than you might feel alone.

The comfort comes in the fact that no matter where you walk, who you encounter...that person will be right there...sometimes leading the way, sometimes glued to your side and sometimes stepping back so you can take the lead.

That person for me is Steve.

I made this layout about our journey to Savannah.  It was so much more than just a weekend getaway.  It was life changing for me.

 

 The story explains it...

It was truly noteworthy...

The comfort comes in the fact that no matter how things work out...good, bad or ugly, I will always be okay.  I will have him by my side.

Sunday At Home: Fun Before the Storm

Hurricane Sandy is on the way...I can't believe we are looking at losing power again...one year after we lost it for one week.  I am praying for all my family and friends.

I am inland so I am not sure how bad it will be....interestingly enough, I drove toward the storm today.  I went home to West Haven.  My high school besties and I decided to carve out girl time and get together.

It felt like the old days within minutes.  We all still look pretty good for being 29...

It started off like this:

 

It quickly turned into this...

 

 

I am so lucky to have great friends.  Can't wait until the reunion!

 

This is what Sunday at home should look like!

 

Thursday Trending: Around the Edges

Everyone knows how hot diecutting machines are...it is a major trend to cut words, overlays, borders and embellies.

I will admit it, I don't pull my machine out enough.  We have an office that is also my scrap room and I can't fit the equipment on the desk.

I still love the idea of a unique background that has curves or interest or jags or all of the above.  So I try to replicate the look by cutting around the edges of patterns.

See the layout below:

I cut around the pattern to create the background.  I put it on a neutral base and layered from there.  I like the curve it give and how the patterns, numbers or words inside the shapes really pop.

I created my title using mixed fonts...another trend I love!

I finished it off with a looped ribbon and some chipboard, all layered up!

 

I used the Vintage Finds collection by Teresa Collins to make this page!  So....do share!  What is trending in your world today?