Favorite Layouts of 2012

So...I love this time of year when all my fellow scrappers are sharing their favorite layouts from the past 12 months.  So much fun to browse around and be inspired.

It has been a good scrappy year for me.  I have had many wonderful opportunities and have made really great friends in this industry.

This year brought bittersweet sadness as two of my long-time committments ended. Both The Nook and Scrapstreet.com closed their doors.  I admit that I really miss working with the kits...it motivated me to scrap creatively and expand depending on the product.  I also ended a year of being an ongoing guest designer for Bella Blvd, a team I hope to revisit again someday!

Along with good-byes, I got to say a fabulous hello, joining the Lily Bee team.  Sometimes a door is opened when you least expect it.  I will continue with Teresa Collins and Webster's Pages...they are my family.  I scrap joyfully for these companies and it is a gift to stand alongside many of my scrappy idols.

I do hope to scrap more frequently this upcoming year.  To not be frozen by so many photos and just go...

For now, here are my top layouts in no particular order.

I just love these photos as they capture my daughter's love of life...I also dig the white space and sunrays.

 

This one also shows really fun photos and I wanted the rest of the layout to match that feel.  It just fell into place.

This one just means so much...one of those mommy stories I have to tell.

I picked this one because it really expressed me at my most creative...that web was made from Lily Bee stamps.

Again, this one just sums up how blessed I feel.  It is about the subject as much as it is the design.

I love this page including the cluster of goodies.  This is one of my more reliable page formats.

Sweet photos, a winking Santa, that green background.  Love how this is structured with lots of movement still.

This speaks for itself.  I adore this guy.

Again, creativity that was initiated from an assignment.  I really dig all the bookplates.

Here is that familiar page format, but with the ovals...it feels fresh.

 

I like the big elements on this one and the horizontal feel.

 

I just shared this one, but I really like it.  Free, layered, white space...meaningful.

 

I feel lucky to have a hobby where I can express myself.  There were many pages I didn't really care for this year...but at the end of the day, they are all favorites.  Because they are the moments of my life.  Recorded, documented, cherished.

Happy New Year!

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.

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!

Monday's Musings: You Really Don't Know What You're Made Off

Sometimes, you just don't know what you are made of until a challenge presents itself.  I think it can be an unexpected change at work, a tragedy (unfortunately), a once in a lifetime opportunity you never expected.  Once the challenge is clear, you have to decide how to handle it.  Do you go into it screaming  and ripping your hair out or do you fight it? Do you go in with your guard up or you embrace and leap?

I am bringing this subject up because of the layout I am sharing.  I will show you three beautiful baby boys...triplets to be exact.  A miracle and gift some thought would never happen.  And, never in any thinking, was there a belief that the luck would be multiplied by three.

But sometimes, God knows and he grants. Things outside of the realm of possibility suddenly become our reality.  So, my long time best friend, the career woman...city-wise and spontaneous welcomed these three loves into her life just over a year ago.

She is forever changed because of it.  She thrives in motherhood.  I see her come alive when she talks about them.  Who knew that she would undergo such a completely radical change in lifestyle and blossom in a new way because of it? We have talked many times about how it is such a gift to have three little guys running around.  Three cowboys who will experience everything together.

I am facing one of these types of challenges.  A great opportunity to be part of a family in a new way and to heal so many wounds.  I am going to embrace it and leap! 

Because sometimes you don't know what you are made of until you let go and let God.

How-To: DIY Photo Holder

Every year around this time I start getting that feeling...I want to be warm, outdoors, redecorating.  I want to shake off the winter.  I know there are still many weeks ahead of us, but I just can't get rid of the feeling!

What to do?  How about some small changes like a new sign or pillow? (can you tell that I hit Jo'anns this week).  Speaking of Jo'anns...I bought some unfinished wooden spools there a few weeks agao.  I used it to make my own home decor item!

The one I just made would have to be put to use in my son's room.  I used the Feb. kit from My Scrapbook Nook to create it!  How about a covered wooden spool?  A little Mod Podge...

A decorated top and a button in the center?  I used a rolled up piece of scrap paper inside of the hole on the bottom of the spool.  A pencil end help me to push it up snugly and created a stable place to put my flag and photo holder wire.  See the technique of placing the flag and wire ends into the button holes.

How about a simple decorative front?  Sometimes less is more!  The twine and texture...yum!

When you are done, you have this little cutey!  It certainly helped to fill my "I must redecorate right now" feeling!  I love how it looks clustered with other objects from my son's room!

For complete instructions how to make your own, visit my class over at the Nook!  It will also be up on the blog this weekend!  If you make one, be sure to share! 

Behind the Page: Fits the Theme

Knowing that I would be working with Sasparilla from October Afternoon, I caught these photos of my daughter this weekend.  I went with blues and denim, boots and some outdoor fun!  I didn't realize that she had on the strong purple...a color not in the collection.  What to do?  Bring some in...

I went with lots of blue accents on this page.  I wanted that color to be prominent.  I also wanted to pop the red in the right places, near the photo and toward the title.  But what to do about the purple?  How about a strip along the bottom...it connects her photo to the layout.

Since this layout is about her style, including her jean jacket...I had to use the denim paper along the top.  I love how these alphabet letters from OA look almost stamped on....I used the Feb. kit from My Scrapbook Nook to create this layout.

To add more details, I layered up the star here.  Aren't the flag super cute!

I love how the journaling card and button all go with the theme...

and how they go with the purple.  Original color scheme or not.

Laugh More

I am commonly in the stern mommy role.  I think it is a carry over from school.  Plus, my kids have a tendency to gang up on me and almost pretend I am not there.  Stern mommy does not like that.  Lately, I am trying to banish stern mommy a bit.  I am trying to laugh with them more frequently.

Like today, when they brought me my phone with the Toca Boca game...it is an app where you get to be the hairdresser to an avatar.  They let me know that they made me...and proceeded to show me a bald chick.  They roared like it was the funniest joke ever.  So, we laughed together.  I want to do that as much as possible.

Because my little babies are growing up fast.  Nathan actually cares about the Super Bowl this year.  And Ella understands things she shouldn't...dynamics, relationships, nuances.  I wonder how they will view me...what memories I am building for them. 

As they get older, they will go forward more frequently, break away, explore.  Ack...it makes me want to slow time down!

They will go on their own journeys...

 

My Ella is a free spirit, much more adventurous and outgoing than Nathan.  He has an amazing spirit...he just loves quiet, simple things...much like his father.

I caught these photos last weekend and they are perfect with the new Feb. kit from My Scrapbook Nook featuring October Afternoon!  Love the blues and earth tones in this collection.  The wooden buttons in the kit are fabulous!

My two babies...growing up. They are taking notice and I want to show them the best me.

Not always stern mommy.

Because I want them to always journey back to me.

They were lovely days...

Here I am...sitting at my computer in the comforts of my own home and I feel satisfied!  We just got back from a week at Disney.  A week full of amazing smiles, first experiences, dreams come true.  We had ten people in our party...we all got along great!  I couldn't imagine Nathan and Ella going to Disney without their cousin Christian.  I am so thankful to Nana and Grandpa for allowing us this experience, together as a family!

It was a blast, it was busy.  We went and went and went.  Days were outrageously hot...but we pushed through and did so much!  Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Epcot.  They loved Dumbo, the tea cups and the Character Spot at Magic Kingdom.  Star Tours and the Toy Story 3 rides were a hit at Hollywood Studios.  Soarin' at Epcot was the hugest hit of all.  Although I didn't enjoy it very much due to a crazy fear of heights.  The pool at our resort was amazing too. After watching Christian, Nathan decided to take off his life jacket and learn to swim underwater (supervised, of course).  He must have gone underwater 150 times.  The best quote of the week came from him.  Nathan:  "This is the best day of my life.  I learned how to swim and I did it at Disney."  Priceless.

Yesterday we were awake at 3:30 a.m. to get on the Magical Express to the airport.  Not so magical...We traveled for 12 hours to get home at 3:30 p.m.  Our kids were such troopers...It cost us $20.00 in coloring supplies from the airport. Well worth it.

I am now starting my full-on pajama weekend!

Before I do, I wanted to share a couple of recently made cards!

Speaking of lovely days, the Nook is having a weekend crop coming up soon!  We have the BEST crops ever and this one will rock too!

I will be back tomorrow to share some photos of our trip!

Have a lovely day!

Things Unnoticed

I have been validated.  I understand, yet again, why I take 150 pictures on any random Tuesday.  Why my camera is always attached to me.

I found a photo of Nathan and Cooper a few days ago.  Cooper is our beloved 10 1/2 year old Golden Retriever.  Our first baby, our best friend.  His is Steve's shadow.  He is what we call a Gentle Giant....100 pounds and a thick neck!  Yet so kind.  If you look at the photo, you notice Nathan.  But if you look closely, what do you see?

I see a smiling dog...something I didn't see until the other night.  And I smiled to myself, called Steve over to look.  That captures Cooper perfectly.  I will cherish this in several years as I look back. 

There are a million little details in the backgrounds of photos.  A million unnoticed things that can bring smiles.  If you take the time to look.

That photo became this layout.

Yep, still using the July kit from My Scrapbook Nook!  I can't help it!  They are having a design team call right now...come over, join in the fun and throw your hat into the ring!  And don't forget about signing up for Leah's journaling class...it will be inspiring!

Simple Pasttimes

What is your simple way to pass the time?  To enjoy yourself on a sunny or a rainy day!  I think you might know mine...LOL!  I also love to do puzzles of any kind.  I think this coming winter we need to have one up and running on our great room table.  Steve loves the crossword puzzles.  Give him a sharp pencil and his recliner and he is good to go.

I love to see the kids engaging in simple pasttimes.  We recently gave them some sidewalk paint to use and it happily occupied them for over an hour!  When we had our large college reunion here, I didn't overplan any kids activities.  Instead, they played in the yard with a baseball or bubbles.  There was a major chalk party in the driveway too!

I love all the kid's feet in this photo!  That is what summer should look like!  I used the July kit from My Scrapbook Nook for this layout!  I must say that it is one of my favorite kits ever!  5 and Dime just rocks! 

Do you think that Pinterest counts as a simple pleasure....hmmm?

CHA Summer 2011 Faves

What a fun time at the show last week!  It was small and quiet, but I don't mind it like that.  You really get the chance to talk to people!  I was initially not thrilled with many of the releases this year, but once I saw them in person, I changed my mind!

I have to say that I work for two great companies and two amazingly kind and involved women.  I had the chance to spend some time with Brandin from Webster's and it was a treat.  Meeting Teresa at the show was so much fun.  Knowing how warm and validating they are makes me want to work even harder to show off their great releases!

Some photos of Webster's!  I love the releases this time...so many awesome new embellies!

And Teresa Collins hit it out of the park too!  I love the new trims and bling...my fave line is the World Traveler:

My others faves at the show:

The Amy Tan line...so fun and the colors are great!  The embellies had me immediately.  There was so much buzz at the show about this line!

Crate Paper!  Everything really, but I was mostly drawn to the Random collection.  That dark blue is so unique!

Jillibean Soup blew me away too!  I adored their new chipboard alphabets and the Sweet and Sour Soup collection!  Look at these new embellies too!

Be still my heart, October Afternoon!  They released some awesome collections...so much that I can't pick a favorite!  I just need them all!  This sheet from their Farmhouse line stole my heart:

Loved Bella Blvd too...I always do!  Their booth is totally amazing!  I love her bold patterns!



Studio Calico Memoir...yummo!  Their designer's samples always draw you in!

And, I loved Lillybee.  The images online have not done the collections justice because they are stunning in real life!  If only I had a photo...LOL!

It was fab to meet many people for the first time and run into old friends (Hi Suz!).  We need to organize a lunch next time so everyone can hang out!

Before I leave, I wanted to share something special with you...a wonderful opportunity: 

Leah is a master at journaling...such a talented writer!  Be sure to check out this class!

So what were your favorite new releases this show?