Friday Farewell: I will miss it

So the news hit a few weeks ago that My Scrapbook Nook was closing its doors.  This special place has been my home for the past four years.  I served 8 consecutive design team terms there.  That is after Leah gave this newbie a chance back in 2008.

I remember trying for so long to make a kit club team.  It was heartbreaking to get rejected over and over again.  I found the Nook and was so welcomed by everyone.  I decided to try again.  There was so much competition. 

I remember a funny story...I was on the boards reading about how emails for the short list were being sent.  I waited.  Checked.  Checked again.  I did not get one.  Totally bummed does not describe it.  But then...I saw my name on the short list up on the boards.  Oops...that was the first heart attack Leah gave me! 

The next one would involve a happy heart...an invitation to join the team.  She saw talent in me, embraced my work, encouraged me and spoke kind words.  She gave me a chance in an industry that seemed to have closed doors.  So many opportunities have come since and I owe much of my success to my time at the Nook.

The community has been amazing.  In an industry that can be full of drama, we took a different route.  We built each other up and supported each other.  It is like having your own cheerleading squad, rooting for you even when you don't believe in yourself.  I will miss the dear friends I have made.  I know we will stay in touch in other places...but it stills feel weird.  It is like moving to a new town. Some of my favorite moments involve welcoming the new girls on to the design team board...to be a part of that excitement and then to build relationships...great feeling. 

The Nook will be open until the end of September and Pam (who has been so generous and wonderful to work for) has a great kit planned.  I have designed with the beautiful August kit featuring Carta Bella...my last kit.  Here is my tribute to the Nook.

 

I view my time at the Nook a true blessing.  It was a place that helped me through rough times, celebrated each joy and pushed me to achieve my goals.  I will miss it more that words can say.

 

 

Behind the Project: Altered Tart Tin

So, I have a secret to tell.  When asked which assignments I would like to have for Webster's this month, I inadvertently chose an off the page tutorial.  I meant to pick a layout assignment.  It is what I am used to...what I trust.

But, I had to live up to my sign up erro and go for something off the page.  I quickly remembered these adorable tart tins I had been hoarding.  I meant to alter them at some point so why not now?

I decided to make a vintage ornament.  Something I could hang from Ella's mirror or the knobs of my jelly cabinet.  Something that would look vintage and pretty.

Using Webster's pages products makes home decor projects easy to make.  There are so many gorgeous options to include in any project.  This is it:

The tart tin is at the top of the ornament.  I kept it simple with a piece of trim and a Perfect Accent. 

I made the orb and strung the new gorgeous charms from Webster's.  It came together easily and is just what I wanted it to be. 

To learn how to make one of your own, head over to the Webster's blog for a step by step tutorial.

Monday's Musings: Happy Life

So happy right now...life is about big and small moments. 

Watching Nathan's eyes widen when he saw the Jefferson Memorial.  He read the walls and just took it all in.  I sat back and watched him as he absorbed it all.  He is a learner.  He is a dreamer.  He wants to be the President one day.  I love that he has big dreams, where ever they take him.

Watching my children play with their cousin, Riley, who they just met.  Riley runs around calling out Ella's name and it is the cutest thing. Ella is so helpful with Riley, which warms my heart.

Cooking dinner with my brother and hanging out in the kitchen with both of our families.  Because in his words, "that is what families do."  I am so lucky to have delved into this part of my life.  I really feel blessed and thank Sara for opening the doors.

Life is about talking and realizing how much you have in common.  Having people open their doors and hearts to us as we do the same. 

It makes me happy.

A recent card that fits the situation...

 It makes me realize how life really can change if you change in big and small ways.

Thursday Tip: Wrap it up

Wrap it up...the school year!

Wrap it up...all the mess that is in my closets and needs to go into organized bins.

Wrap it up...using twine.

I was asked to teach a technique class over at the Nook for the June kit.  It came with those cute corrugated cardboard shapes and baker's twine from Jillibean Soup.  I decided to use both of those things together...

It was easy to wrap the house with twine...I just started at the top. First add a thin line of glue along the cardboard. Start twisting and stringing the twine around the house, leaving the end in the back. Keep adding glue and stringing until the surface is covered. Every now and then I stopped to ensure it was all straight and even!

Here is how it looks on the layout!

And, of course, I wrapped up the layout with the story.  I love going to the Elephant Trunk...a cool flea market about an hour away from my house.

Its a wrap...let the summer begin!

Life is Good

I have been thinking about it lately...life

It is good.  Steven and I have ideal hours.  We have a ton of family time together.  We have enough to live happy lives.  Our house is just the right size.  Our kids are healthy and happy.

We are surrounded by friends and family.  It is good.

I think my kids would say their life is good too.  Just look at Nathan in these pictures and it appears as though he agrees.

I used the June kit from the Nook to create this... the kit keeps going and going.  Really.  It is jammed pack and happy!  I wanted to have some fun on this layout so I created the twine sunrays.  Easy to do with some glue and some shaping.

Life is good.  In three days, it will get better.  Summer is just about here!

Wednesday What: Kraft

It has been a while since I touched my Kraft.  With all the solids and small patterns that companies are making, I haven't needed it much!  But sometimes it is called for...busy patterned paper needs something to stew on.  Something to simmer next to.

So, hello Kraft.  I have missed you.  I created the page below using the Nook June kit featuring Simple Stories.  This paper line is great!  I cut the chevron in a different way because I liked the shape of it!

This page came together quickly as I simply layered the journaling cards and put the chevron on top.  I added some simple simple pieces and I was done.

I think there is enough pattern in the stripes to give the layout the oomph.  I didn't want to compete with it.

I made this layout to record my son's teeth...big choppers he has.  We recently needed to have some teeth out and are looking toward braces.  It cracks me up when kid's teeth are too big for their faces.  This photo sure does exaggerate that.  His wife will laugh one day.  In a good way of course.

Isn't the kit fun?  Look at the alphabets and the colors...and there are so many elements I didn't use here!  Be sure to grab one!

I will grab my Kraft and go...

Thursday Trending: Just Keep Adding

Just keep adding, just keep adding...yes, I want you to repeat it in the same song-like pattern as Dorrie from Finding Nemo.  Sometimes it is hard to come up with titles for the blog posts...

Yet, just keep adding is my personal trend.  How to make a 12 X 12 look slightly different, slightly unique.  Because there are only so many ways to make a page.  So lately, it is still clean...but with extras.

Like the ric rac that I hung as garland.  The garland trick I have done before, but the material to create it is different, slightly unique.  I had the plan to use the garland to hang my title.  I love little alphabet letters, but don't like how ungrounded they can look.  So they must hang!  That was still not quite enough...so I had to hang more ric rac for interest.  Just keep adding.

When the basic design was done and I decided on the garland, I added the pinwheel sticker and the buttons.  All those layers seem to balance out the photos.

I used the June Grab Bag from My Scrapbook Nook featuring Simple Stories and Jillibean.  The Grab Bag is sold in addition to the coordinating kit...it is actually the size of a small kit!  I love both items!!!  Here is the kit!

Pam just keeps adding too...here is her monthly special!

We only have 5 grab bags left for May. So here it is-the next five people who join will receive the May kit and a free June kit! You will also receive a free grab bag for May and June!!!! After one year paid in the club you will receive another kit for free!!!! This deals gives you $110.00 plus dollars free. This is the first time we are running this special and only have 5 May grab bags left.

So what are you doing later to just keep adding or just to it fresh in general...do share!

 

Behind the Page: Simple Stories

Who knew Simple Stories could be soo fun to scrap with?  It is featured in the June My Scrapbook Nook kit along with Jillibean Soup and American Crafts.  I am so loving these papers!!

The motifs have a lot to do with summer, but can be used in a variety of ways.  My page was built upon the feel of the ribbon award that reads, "Best Memory."  I feel in love and immediately thought of the photos of my mom and dad with all the grandkids.  I adore that this fun moment was captured...it really show my mom's spirit with her grandkids.  She would do anything for them.

I simply started clustering from the ribbon.  It is big so it needed some balance...hence the large title and the cluster to the top left.  Big titles are making me happy these days!!

I used the green Jillibean card to the right of the layout to add that final touch of balance.  Plus, I think the brightness brings the eye to the photos more! 

The cluster is just built upon journaling bits and stickers from the collection.

It is a simple story to be told...and I tried to make the layout as fun as the photos.  It was easy with this awesome kit!!

Happy scrapping!

Monday's Musings: Committment

I made a life-changing decision about a year ago this month.  I was determined to get fit and healthy.  To stop feeling icky in my clothes.  To do something instead of talking about doing something.

Making a committment is hard.  It takes dedication, consistency, will-power and goal setting.  It was not always easy, but I did it anyway.  Who would have thought that a box of discs could make such a difference for me.

I proved something to myself.  I made myself proud.  It became so much more than just fitness.

This past month, I was moving on to part two of what I started.  P90X2 was released and I decided to try it.  I felt awesome, strong, capable.

Maybe too much so because with only 9 workouts left after 12 grueling weeks, I overdid it.  I was hurt.  There was no choice but to rest and be patient.

Life changes in ways we don't always want it to.  It has been hard waiting, going slow.  But I think it is symbolic of life...what we want isn't always what we end up with.  There are bumps in the road and how you choose to go over them is what matters.

You can turn and decide to go in another direction or you can climb that bump, slow and steady. 

I decided it was high time to scrap this topic.  To put on paper what my kids have seen me conquer for a year.  I hope they learn about committment and effort and what effect it can have.

I used the April My Scrapbook Nook kit to create this!  It features Crate Paper Storyteller!

It was time to recognize this...and make myself realize that this is a way of life...

fast and furious or slow and steady...

Gotta Love Good News

I have some fun things to share!  First, a new design team was named over at My Scrapbook Nook!  Four new and amazingly talented girls were added:

Erika Gasser--France
Aleksandra Gadji--Sweden
Patricia Roebuck--US
Bente Fagerberger--Sweden

And returning members are:

Leah Killian--US
Stacey Michaud--US:  tha's me, hi!
Carol Monson--US
Danni Reid--US
Jessy Christopher--Malaysia
Katarina Damm-Blomberg--Finland
Hilde Aaslund--Norway
Anna Sigga--Iceland
Marinette Lefevre--France
Lilith Eckles--Belgium
Shellye McDaniel--US
Pamella Brown--US
Gina Rodgers--Australia
Deanna Misner--US
Nicole Nowosad--Canada

I love it there...can't really say much else...great kits, great community, great leader, great team, great gig!!

In OTHER news, the May kit from My Scrapbook Nook is here!  This month's kit features Echo Park's This and That "Graceful" collection with additional ruffled trim, Maya Road canvas butterflies, button straight pins, bling/jewels from Petaloo, and some gorgeous coordinating chipboard!

Awesome...

and this month's grab bag:

The last few month's grab bags have all sold out, so you need to get this one while you can! This month's Grab Bag features paper from Echo Park's This and That "Charming". And remember, if you join the club in May you receive the June kit for FREE along w/a free June Grab Bag. You will also receive another free kit after 12 paid months! Two FREE kits and a grab bag when you sign up for 12 months!
Good news indeed!

Behind the Page: String it up

Or should I say, yarn?  I am bringing you a page today using the Storyteller line from Crate Paper...it is featured in the April My Scrapbook Nook kit.  There are so many cool things in this kit!  I have loved every second of it.

I had this picture of Steve and his friends for a long time.  Once I saw the map paper in the Storyteller collection, I knew I had to use it.  It was busy so I decided to simply cut a few of the images out and place them on the clean, woodgrain paper.  I created the cluster of tags along the bottom.  It was cute, but way too plain. 

So the title came...from all corners.  To me, that black brad represented the center point...our backyard this past summer.  I decided to run some thread from the corners to the brad.  Twine didn't hold enough weight so I found some yarn.

Do you know how hard it is to get the ends of yarn through a small hole.  The hole became a big hole...hence the brads.  This was the end result.

I didn't actually have the red tag or the green one in my original design.  However, after I placed the yarn, the bottom needed more weight.  So I chopped and cut and glued. 

Sometimes, a layout evolves...comes about because one decision triggers another.  I love the process!

Getting Party Ready

Seems to be the theme right now...getting ready for Easter Brunch on Sunday, getting ready to go to Georgia for my sister's wedding, getting ready for Ella's sixth birthday party.

How can she almost be six?  It floors me.  We do backyard parties, small with a limited number of guests.  I like to plan the dessert table and events.  Of course, I don't love choosing a theme with Ella because she changed her mind 753 times. 

We decided to combine a fairy tea party.  Garden motifs, butterflies, wings.  It should be fun.  I just need to nail the details down.

I was so excited when I received a grab bag from My Scrapbook Nook.  Pam has set up a monthly deal where kit subscribers can get it for a great price.  I was sent the April one, which looks like a mini kit full of Pretty Party by Crate Paper.  How fitting.

This paper is all about the party list so I put it to use right away.  I love to document the daily stories.  I hope Ella knows how much work goes into planning her parties...she will know how much I love her!

 

I am soooo into mixed font titles right...

I had finished this layout without this yellow strip and button.  I thought it looked good, but when I looked the next day...it had no pop.  So I addedthe strip and button.

Speaking of partying, we are celebrating the release of a new product at Webster's Pages....Blueprints journals.  The concept is awesome...

Webster's Pages {blueprints*}daily "A Mother's Love" Journal from Webster's Pages on Vimeo.

Everything is coming up party!!

Monday's Musings: When It Counts

Yes, they bicker like crazy in our home.  They are loud.  They fart and then laugh about it.  They slam doors and say they don't want to be near each other.

But...then they leave.  They worry about each other.  They calm each other.  They are polite and caring.

I love it...

When it counts, they are there for each other.  Even when we are not looking.

As a mom, that is the most satisfying and proud feeling.  It does my heart good.

I went with a feeling on this layout.  I saw that tag about little moments and I matched this picture in my mind.  Then, I let my thoughts go.  And I told the story with a loong title.

I am very into triangles right now...which you will see over the next few weeks.

I added all those touches that go with love and everyday, small moments.

I used the April kit from My Scrapbook Nook to make this layout!  There is a DT call right now and I can't encourage you enough to apply!  It is a fabulous community and I couldn't love it there any more than I do!

Speaking of things I love, Teresa Collins released a new collection today called Sweet Afternoon...it is soft and lovely!  You need to go check it out here!

Happy Monday...make it count!

Monday's Musings: What You Love

Before I get to musing, I wanted to remind  you to leave a comment here to be eligible for a prize in the Nook Spring Bloghop!  Now onto today...

What topics do you scrap about?  Do you include enough All About Me layouts in that mix?  I found myself doing just that this weekend.

Maybe because I feel busy right now...like time is not mine and free time is limited.  Maybe scrapping about what I love brings me some "me" time. 

The other thought that pops into my mind is that I want to mix up the scrappy process as much as possible.  Push myself and the creativity.  I decided to simply walk around my house with my phone and snap away.  What struck me as important?  What do I reach for each day and don't even think about doing it?  What defines me?  I snapped and sent my photos to be printed.

And now, I feel refreshed.  Maybe it is taking time to record a story specific to me.  I think that mostly it is the change in topic, the use of photos I don't always scrap.  It felt good to make this.

Simple, not even that important in the grand scheme...but one day when I am gone and my kids read this, they will have a piece of me. 

I used the ruffle trim in the April My Scrapbook Nook kit on this tag.  The trim is bulky and full...I wanted the texture of it without having all that material.  So I cut off the extra tulle so it was mostly the thread...I like how it looks.

Of course, the story.  That is what this hobby is to me!

I used this gorgeous kit to make this layout!

Full of Crate Paper Storyteller...I am inspired!  You can be too:  New members who sign up will receive the May kit for FREE and A beautiful October Afternoon Grab Bag Kit. After a year paid subscription your 13th kit will be for FREE! 90.00 Value for free!

whatcha waiting for?

Spring Hopping

Welcome to the My Scrapbook Nook Spring Blog Hop! Thanks for stopping by! Hiding among the blogs from the list below are 5 prizes and one HUGE Grand Prize! We're giving away FIVE $10 prize packs and ONE prize pack valued at $150! So be sure to leave a comment on EACH blog's post, because you never know which blogs have these prizes hidden. To qualify for a prize, comments are due by Midnight PST on Wednesday, March 28th, and all winners will be announced on the My Scrapbook Nook blog on Friday, March 30th.

Here are the blogs from start to finish!
Katarina
Carol
Pam
Lilith
Shellye
Nicole
Hilde 
Marinette
Deanna
Gina
Danni
Jessy
LG
Anna
Stacey: You are here!
Leah

Here is a layout I did a couple of weeks ago using the Feb. kit~I just received my April kit full of Crate Paper's Storyteller and can't wait to use it!  Look at how awesome it is!

In the meantime, here is why I love the Nook kits:

Here are a couple of reminders you don't want to miss:

Don't forget that the Nook April special is that new 12-month subscribers get the April kit for FREE and then after their subscription is over they receive ANOTHER kit for FREE!
This month's April Grab Bag is valued at over $55, but only $10 for kit subscribers.

Guess what ELSE is happening at the Nook right now? We're having a DT CALL!!! Be sure to check out our message board to find out more info!

Thanks for hopping with us!