Playing With Paper!!

Another "commercial" for Paper Anthology.

I just love that store.  It is so wonderful to have such a great store so close to home.  If you happen to stop by the store, make sure you check out all the wonder little board books Elizabeth has place around the store - very inspiring.  I was in the store recently, came across several of her books and decided to create one myself.  I forgot how much fun a mini board book can be to create.  I decided to use my favorite patterned paper of all time - Hometown from October Afternoon - & put my favorite pictures in it.  This is the cover:

My kids wondered why I titled the book My Hearts then I explained it is My Loves - you could see the light bulb go off in their head-that made sense.  

Below are a few of the inside pages:

I added a few "filler" pages like the one below:

The litttle insert above is from a kit I bought years ago by Becky Higgins.  On the front it is embossed with the word open (hard to see in the picture).  Below is what it looks like open:

And then with the insert closed:

Here's another page:

The yellow page on the left is a piece of corrugated board from Zutter.  I found this package of corrugated board at Tuesday Morning a while back and new I'd find a use for it sometime.  Great way to add an extra page to my book.  Here's the next page:

And one last look:

I had so much fun creating this little book.  Sometimes I get so caught up with my regular scrapbooks that I forget all the fun ways to play with paper.  Now I am thinking I need to make books for my nephews...bummer-that means a trip to Paper Anthology (hee hee)!

I love October Afternoon...

I love how their colors always work together even if it's from a different set.  The photos below are of my kids working together - crazy idea I know.  My daughter Grace was having some difficulty with her homework and needed some sibling advise.  I was really proud to see them all working together.  Here is my layout:

I used washi tape as my ribbon on the layout and my tags.  Super simple layout but cute and fun!

Scrapping like crazy here!

I don't know why but I am on a roll this week.  I worked on a few more layouts yesterday.  I am trying to get the kids albums up-to-date.  The boys are current and now I am working on the girls.  I did this layout for Grace's book:

The patterned paper is by Crate Paper.  I love it!!  I love the colors on this layout - so bright and cheery - just like my Gracie!  Super, super simple layout.  I think it took about 20 minutes to put it together!

I also needed to created a title page for her album - this is what I came up with:

 Pretty much everything is from October Afternoon.  The quote is from DCWV.  Again, super simple to put together and perfect for a school album.  

I love being in a scrappy mood...hope to play a bit more today!!

Same paper - 2 different layouts.

Yesterday I had to take the day off from work because my new washing machine & dryer were being delivered.  So, I had the opportunity to sit in my office and scrap.  I got 4 pages done!!  For 2 of the layouts, I used the same paper but 2 different outcomes.  Let me show you:

The patterned paper and embellishments are from October Afternoon.  This is a layout for my youngest son - the pictures are of my 2 boys & their best friends who happen to be brothers as well. Having my sons best friends be brothers makes play-dates super easy!!

I love the patterned paper (just love the stripes)- I wasn't tired of it so I decided to use it on another layout.  This one is for my daughter's school book:

My page design for this layout was inspired by a layout in The Big Book of Scrapbooking Pages (page 11 "Box of Love").  I used a coordinating piece of flowery paper and some washi tape to divide the two, then added some flowers.  I love this layout!  I usually try to pack as many pictures as I can on a layout but I love the way this one turned out with only 2 pictures.  And I didn't even mat the photos - going crazy over here!!!

Unfortunately, my new washing machine is leaking so I need to call about getting it fixed.  Hmmm....maybe I'll have to take another day off?  Wouldn't that be a shame - hee hee hee.

Hello color!

The layout above is created from pictures of my son writing his Valentine's Day cards for his class.  He was so excited to pick out his Valentine's & give them to his classmates.  The patterned paper is by October Afternoon and I colored the chipboard flowers & hearts with Ditto Mist (found at Michaels).  I used my pennant punch from SU! and Thickers to create the title.  I love the brightness of this layout - it is so happy.  

Can it really be Monday already??

I hope you had a good weekend - I sure did.  The weather is beautiful here in NJ & is suppose to continue through the week!  I was in my office for several hours yesterday as my kids played in the yard.  My favorite way to spend a Sunday afternoon.  I have been working on several things at one time and yesterday I finished some of them.

I got the idea for this picture frame from Jessica Lamb and a class she taught at the scrapbook weekend I recently attended.  Jessica did a frame with black & white patterned paper and it was beautiful.  I bought the frame at Michaels for less than $5.oo.  The patterned paper and embellishments are from October Afternoon.  This is one of my favorite pictures and now I have it in an adorable frame that matches my office!

This is another layout from my weekend 2 weeks ago.  I never finished it (it needed a title) - it has been sitting on my desk so I was determined to get it done:

 The photos are of my youngest son during one of our only snow days this winter.  None of his siblings would join him while he played in the snow but it didn't bother him one bit.  Patrick is as happy as can be and I really enjoyed watching him play in the snow.  He was having a blast all by himself.  The patterned paper is from Jillibean Soup (I think) and the card stock is from SU!.  I got the inspiration for this layout from www.sketchesbysuzy.com. 

Rain, rain go away...

It is a bit dreary around here-wet and cold.  I am thankful it is not snow but I would mind seeing a bit of the sun.  I have another area in my office I am trying to organize - my punches.  Yesterday I bought this towel rack thing that hangs over the back of the door but it won't work (doesn't hold the punches right).  So I am on the hunt for a new way to organize my punches - I have a lot of them.  I will let you know what I come up with - I think I may have found something that will work!

Would you like to see another layout from my weekend?

I know I found inspiration for this layout somewhere but I can't remember where - I pretty sure it was either from Page Maps or Sketches by Suzy.  The patterned paper is from October Afternoon and all the circles/flowers were created with punches.  I wanted some of the embellishments to "pop" off the page so I used foam adhesive dots:

I love adding dimension to my layouts - I think it just adds something.  What say you? 

The week that will never end!

This always happens to me - I had a wonderful, relaxing weekend and then it's back to reality!  This week is dragging - ugh.  I have been busy working on some reorganization projects in my scrap room.  The biggy is reorganizing my embellishments.  For the past several years, I have had all my embellishments organized with my Clip-It-Up.  I have love my Clip-It-Up but mine got broken a while back and I am ready for a change.  This is what my embellishments look like at the moment:

I know it looks like a mess but I am determinted to get it organized.  My first priority was to clean out all my old embellishments.  I gave my girls all the stuff I have had forever so they can use them in their Smash books.  I have also been searching the internet for the past few days looking for an easy way to get all this under control.   I'll let you know if I come up with anything good-keep your fingers crossed for me!!

Would you like to see another layout I created over the weekend?  Well, here you go:

These pictures are of my daughter and her baby cousin (she adores him & can't get enough time with him).  I used patterned paper from October Afternoon as well as embellishments from them as well.  I love the color combination - the yellow & grey - different from my normal color palette but I love it!  I was inspired by a layout I found in PageMaps 2 when I created this layout - I just can't remember the page number (sorry).  Don't you just love a good sketch book?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Birthday to me!

Yes, today is my 40th birthday.  I have never been one to worry about my age but this birthday hit me really hard.  I don't know why but thankfully I have a wonderful husband & children who made everything better.  I am so lucky.

I didn't ask for anything specific for my birthday-I don't think I really need anything but I got the best birthday present EVER!  My husband bought me a MacBook Pro-OMG-I think I have died and gone to heaven!!!  I am so excited.  It is really beautiful.

I also took the day off so I am sitting here in my office playing with my new computer and thinking about getting some scrapbooking done.  I do have a layout to share...wanna see?

 
I (once again) found inspiration for this layout design from www.sketchesbysuzy.com- sketch #82.  The patterned paper and title block are from October Afternoon.  And all the card stock is from SU!  This is such a happy layout - photos are from Thanksgiving when my nephews were visiting.  I love this paper and was so thrilled to use it!

Is it Friday yet?

Man, this week is dragging...I am so glad it is finally Wednesday!  Half-way to the weekend!!  We have been super busy around here but I have had the chance to do a little scrapping.

The pictures are from my sons birthday party and the wonderful Lego cake my friend Jamie made for the occasion.  I used a sketch by www.sketchesbysuzy.com as my starting point.  I love this sketch and look to it often for inspiration.  The patterned paper is from October Afternoon and card stock by Bazzill.  I painted the chipboard letters with regular paint and then used an eraser to create the dots. 

I am working on Project Life and may share a layout tomorrow...PL takes time and dedication.  I love it but it definitely takes patience.  I am trying to come up with the best way to organize everything-it is a work in progress.