Stampin It Up

Yeah...bad title...LOL!  Because I won't be talking about that company, but will be sharing some projects that incorporate stamping!  I am not a natural stamper.  I don't automatically reach for them, but when I am pushed a bit in that direction...I find that I do enjoy it!  Stamps can fill in that empty space on a layout or add a more transparent effect!

I used Unity Stamps as a part of an assignment for Scrapstreet!  Here is what I came up with!

A layout using Cosmo Cricket!

A card using Pink Paislee!  I flocked the stamped sentiment to make it fuzzy!

I created the title card with a stamp and the border along the top!

Can't wait to get my hands on the new Teresa Collins and Webster's Pages stamps...I have a feeling my usage rate will increase dramatically!

ScrapStreet Shares

Wanted to remind everyone about how fabulous the latest issue of Scrapstreet.com Magazine is!  We are a widely viewed ezine with amazing writers and designers.  Each issue has so much to offer and will surely inspire you!  I continue to write my monthly article on enhancing and improving your journaling, and I still love it.  Even after all this time!

I am looking for those who are interested in being guest designers as well as for you to follow the typical submission process!  Current calls can be found here!  I am currently looking for pages that incorporate idioms or beloved family sayings into the journaling!  The deadline expires on January 30th so you still have time to submit.  If you are interested in being a guest designer, please email me at stacey@scrapstreet.com with a link to your gallery/blog!  Once it is your turn, I will send you an assignment and you create! I would love to see your work!

Here is a page I created for my latest article about using your unique voice when writing.  That voice can change depending on the topic...I chose to use my gnarly, Valley girl voice from the late 80s and early 90s.  Remember that...there was even a TV show about the craze.  I suppose Jersey Shore is the modern day version.

Don't laugh at me, but that was my college hair!  HUGE!  Double spiral, piggy-back perm.  It was a whole heck of a lot of hair!  Oh, and my waist was sooo small there.  Sigh...darn aging process!

Be sure to check out the January issue and get ready for the February one!  You will not be disappointed!

Top Ten of 2010

What a year!  We started with packing and primping to leave our old house and moved to living with the in-laws.  A renovation followed and we are finally starting to feel settled.  It was a year full of so much transition.  I am looking forward to quieter times.

This year has brought more of a balance in to my life in terms of scrapbooking.  I have tried to think carefully about my need to be on the computer constantly.  Finding more balance, I have focused more on living life and enjoying my family.  I had a rough patch early this year where my mojo and creative energy felt zapped.  But I feel a bit reborn with creativity...

As I look forward to next year, here is a look back at my top ten layouts of the year!  Well, actually...make it 11.  I realize most of my favorites involve Nathan and I needed to represent Ella too...LOL!  Do all scrappy moms feel like this!!

Funny how my tops show my favorite companies too! LOL!  When I look at these, the reason they stand out to me has little to do with design.  It has everything to do with the stories that I have to tell!

Good-bye 2010 and welcome 2011...I can't wait to see what you have in store!!!

Happy New Year!

Never Too Old...

Never too old to play Chutes and Ladders.

Never to old for great animated kids movies.

Never too old for Lucky Charms cereal.

Never too old to dance.

Hopefully never too old for skinny jeans as I just bought some yesterday.

And never too old to play dress up! I went away with some girlfriends this past September and we had a day of shopping.  Every shop we went into, we tried on funky, dorky and sexy hats!  Lunch at the pub and a wonderful grown up dinner...it was great!  And I have the photos to prove it!

I used the November kit from My Scrapbook Nook to make this layout.   It features the amazing Circa 1934 line!

Never too old to use paper and glue, right??

What is your Starting Point?

I often wonder how people go about the scrapbooking process.  I know many begin with sketches, but that really has never worked for me.  If you don't use a sketch to help you plan, then what is your first step?

The past few months, I have found myself starting with the photo cluster.  I build it first, adding small details before I move to the rest of the layout.  This is a shift in thinking from me...moving small to big was not my usual approach.  I think it is helping me be more creative and free when I am making a page.

Here is an example of what goes on in my head...

For this layout, I started with one small picture.  I was afraid it wouldn't be able to stand alone, but the bold red in the background helps with that.  I figured out this cluster first and it was feeling right!  (Yeah, don't look at my mess either.  I am like a tornado when I am making stuff!)

Here is what I ended up with:

I love the whole 1/3 vs. 2/3 ratio when making a background mat on my layouts.  I usually have the small (1/3) portion along the top but for this layout, I flip flopped.  I love how the black and very bold pattern offsets my red photo. 

I added details and some journaling...done!  And done quickly, I might add.  All because I got off to a good start!

So...give the details.  What is your starting point?

The Banner...turned about

Without doubt the biggest trend for me this year has been the use of banners.  I.love.them.  Need a corner filled up...put a banner.  Want a place for your title...how about a banner?

It is a bit ridiculous how much I use them.  So there I was a few days ago, sitting and staring at the awesome Cosmo Cricket Circa 1934 chipboard and there were the perfect pieces to make a banner.  I built the layout and then put my foot down.  No arching or draping banner on this project.  I might have even said it out loud.  Thank goodness I scrap at night where no one but the cats can hear me.

So I used those perfect banner pieces, but I laid them out vertically.  In a straight line.  And here is what I came up with.

The theme of this layout celebrates how alike Ella and Auntie Sara are.  I am so lucky to have such an amazing family.  My immediate family and my in laws.  We had a family party this weekend and Aunt Bippy noticed Steve and I with our arms around each other.  She talked about how we are on a journey together.  Some will be good, some will be bad.  But we are in it.  It really touched me.  Because I see it like that and I know that those family members are there to support and guide.  The best part is that my kids get to grow up with in that environment.

And that certainly deserves a banner!



White Space

No, I am not talking about the space that is currently occupying my tired brain!  LOL!

The white space I am thinking of relates to scrapbooking.  I have found myself loving it more and more.  The design theory behind it is that it allows the eye to rest and take in the other aspects of a graphic design or scrapbook page. 

I used lots of it on this page.  And it is truly white (well, cream to be exact).  I am typically a kraft lover, but the Cosmo Cricket Circa 1934 has a gorgeous cream undertone that I wanted to pull out.  I started laying this page out by using the chipboard and the Jenni Bowlin calendar card.  The Family and TLC pieces were added next and before I knew it, I had a layout.  It is as if I get possessed when I use Cosmo...it just falls into place and feels right!

Of course, throw a little Pink Paislee in the mix and you have some of my favorite companies!  I love the new Artisan Elements...they are super detailed and intricate!  I simply rubbed some Straw Distress Ink over the top and added touches of Olive Green!  It is that easy!  These little circular details were placed down in an effort to create more movement on the page.

All supplies are from the Novemeber kit at My Scrapbook Nook, which is sold out!

I adore these photos of Steve and Ella.  I captured the moment at the apple orchard.  She tripped and was dramatic (surprised?) so a hug from Daddy was warranted.  No need for white space there.

Happy Friday all!

Thanks for Listening

Just wanted to say how much I appreciate all the kind and very supportive comments that were made on my blog post yesterday.  So many of us feel the same way and knowing that we are all in it together makes a difference.

I spent last night scrapping a layout because I felt inspired to be creative.  Not for publication or for a team tryout!  But because I love this hobby.  And having an amazing kit delivered to my door helped too.  Designing for the Nook never feels like work and that is a good thing!

Here is the amazing November kit featuring the brand new Cosmo Cricket (oh, how I still love thee), Maya Road, and JBS goodies!

Gosh, it is pretty!  I dove in and have two layouts made.  Here is one for now!  I created the flowers using rub-ons from JBS and mixing paper, chipboard and My Mind's Eye brads!  I have a class on how to make them here at the Nook.

I have to share with you that the Leah is having a promotion and is giving away two kits.  Go over to her blog to check out the latest deal on the Nook subscription too!  (This was edited due to some misunderstanding on behalf of the Nook girls...sorry if you read the orginal and are confused!)
Thanks again, my friends!

The Windy City

Ah, Chicago.  CHA.  Friends.  The Disney World of Scrapbooking!  I am still talking about it.  Scrapping about it to be exact!  This was the first year where we actually made some time to go into the amazing city of Chicago.

I am not a city girl by any means.  It is all overwhelming to me.  But with the comfort of my friends, I had a blast exploring.  The city is quite clean and has so many beautiful sites!  We spent a part of our day at Navy Pier.  It must have been something to watch all of us with our cameras...snapping away. 

We even had a photo shoot where we took headshots.  My non-scrappy friends make fun of me for taking self-portraits, but it is a necessary thing in the scrappy world?  right? (please don't tell me it is just me!).  The layout with those shots are making their way to a layout near you!

Here is the layout I created to help me remember our city adventure!

I used Cosmo Cricket here!  I really adore their chipboard elements...totally inspires layout after layout!

I have only been back to work for 3 weeks and I am already craving a vacation.  I adore what I do and love the kids.  It is just so difficult balancing family, home and work.  Stretches me thin.

But oh well.  Such is life, right.
At least I will always have Chicago...

The Best Intentions

Do you ever have the best intentions and yet feel like they just aren't enough?  A friend of mine and I had a conversation about adult friendships and the constraints they face.  You want to talk to your friends every day like you used to when you were in high school, but can't seem to pull it together.  The demands of work, family, home responsibilities and, in many cases, children just pile up and make social time difficult.  Those of us who are honest will own up to the fact that most of time, you just don't want to talk to anyone after 8:30 at night. 

I live life feeling as though I don't have enough to give and some things have to fall by the side...for me that has been that daily friend.  Don't get me wrong, I am blessed with many friends.  People I work with that I adore, who get me through the day, and know more about me than most.  I have a core group of girls who I see once a month.  We have dinner, laugh, cry, share our lives and it has been amazing to watch us all ebb and flow.  Some of them have been with me through all the major milestones, tragedies and joys of my adulthood! I have some long time friends where the connection is just there and it is as though time stands still in between the phases where we talk and don't talk. 

And then there are online friendships.  The ones that seem the easiest to foster because you do it on your terms, when you can fit in that quick second.  You share your stories and look for support.  Those relationships are real and are solid.  I can just think about my CHA girls...there is a bond that is very strong.  Three years ago, I started traveling to see my Scrapstreet girls.  People who know me find it odd that I would fly out to spend a week with people I hardly know.  But I do know them.  And here is the thing, when you see people in short bursts like that, you are just happy to see them.  No judgements, only exceptance...you can be happy, annoying, grumpy or hyper...they are just happy to see you.  Having that clean slate is very liberating...it allow you to be the best you and if you are not, it's okay.

My time with these girls since CHA isn't what I want it to be, but that is okay, because it is unconditional.  At this point in life, unconditional is the only way to go!  So here's to my friends:

To them and all of my other girls, thanks for having me in your lives.  Daily or not, I couldn't live without you.

Material Girl

Well, not really!  I do like to keep a nice house and look fashionable, but most of my clothes come from Target. LOL!  I am a material girl right now as I am at CHA taking in all the goodies.  I have scheduled this post in advance.  Hopefully, I am walking the floor and seeing all the beauties.  Pictures soon to follow.  Let me know what you want to see and I will try to get pictures!

While I am not really a material girl, my daughter...well...she loves all things clothes, jewels, and shoes.  It is one of the first things she notices about people.  She is just a girlie, girl (yet can run, jump and play in the dirt with the rest of them).

She loves her Auntie Sara because Sara is also a material girl.  Not is a bad way, but she loves her jewels, shoes, and dresses.  Ella loves when she visits and loves even more when Sara takes her to the mall!  Hence this layout!

I used Cosmo Cricket's Material Girl here!  The alphabets are American Crafts!  I just love CC's chipboard!

Can't wait to see the new collections in person including Pink Paislee, Webster's, Crate and Sass!  What are you anticipating the most?

I know, its hard to pick just one...LOL!

Stuff

Life is full of stuff right now.

Stuff at work. Stuff at home.

Most stuff is great so it is all good.

I had "fake" smores today with my kiddos at school in celebration of our camping thems. Graham crackers stuffed with melted chocolate chips and marshmallow fluff. Sweet stuff.

I have some stuff to share!

My kitchen renovation planning is going well and I am so pumped to get it done! Really! It has been an education and a blast finding out about sinks, cabinets and ranges. I haven't scrapped much because my creative energy has gone there.

A renovated kitchen means a new office space...soon.

I will be making a trip to Ikea to get some shelves and really organize my stuff!

Speaking of stuff, here are some projects recently featured in Scrapstreet.com! Our assignment involved using the new Asian bundle embossing folders using our Bugs! It was fun to rely on cardstock to complete these:





I used lots of Cosmo Cricket as well!

Fun stuff! Hope your stuff is going well!