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!

Show stopper...

I created this layout for my daughter.  The photos are from the Talent Show at her school.  She will be heading to Middle School next year so this is her last talent show.  She and her friends worked super hard on their routine & they did an amazing job.  The patterned paper is from Fancy Pants - so cute.  I used Glitter Mist to cover the chipboard flowers & hearts.  Little bit of a different kind of layout for me but I like it!!

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.

Very Presidential!

My youngest is in 2nd grade.  He is having an amazing year-he has a wonderful teacher, great friends and he's learning a lot too!!!  For Patrick, everyday is an adventure.  For President's Day, all 2nd graders were asked to choose a President & write a report on this person.  Then the students were asked to give a brief presentation on their President (and they were asked to dress as their President). My son chose Andrew Jackson.  He did an awesome job and he looked great too:

The patterned paper is from SU!.  I chose it because it kinda has an old-time feel.  I found the inspiration for this layout in an old Creating Keepsake magazine - Super-Fast Pages with 4x6 Photos (volume 2).  I wasn't surprised when I saw this layout and realized it was created by Allison Davis - I love her layouts!!  The chipboard letters are from Pink Paislee.  I bought them at Paper Anthology a while back and am so happy I finally found a layout for them.  I am very pleased with how this layout turned out...pretty cute!

Finally a layout!

I never thought it would happen but I finally got a layout done!  This one has been sitting on my desk since last week but I was having a difficult time putting it together.  I originally picked out totally different paper but when I was at Paper Anthology on Saturday I found paper I  felt was a better fit.  The patterned paper is from My Minds's Eye and card stock is from Bazzill.  The photos are from my daughter's Open Gym Night (a big tradition for those in the 5th grade at our elementary school):

Part of my issue with this layout was photo placement - I just wasn't feeling it at all!  I kept moving the pictures around & around.  I needed some inspiration desperately-I found it in PageMaps 2 by Becky Fleck.  I "borrowed" the idea for this layout on page 92 - it was exactly what I needed!  To create the little butterflies I used chipboard butterflies (can't remember who made them but I think I bought them at Paper Anthology a while back) & colored them with Stickles.  I actually painted the Stickles onto each butterfly and then add a little pearl to finish them off.

To adhere the little pearl I used my new (kinda old) favorite product:

So Glossy Accents has been around forever but I just discovered that it comes in a small bottle (Stickles size) and it is awesome!!!  I know I am sounding like a commercial for Paper Anthology today but I found this there (it's a great store -what can I say?).

Hope you get a chance to play today!!

Having his cake and eating it 2!

I created this layout of my nephew on his 3rd birthday.  He and his dad surprised us by coming for a visit on St. Patrick's Day & it was his birthday as well.

Sorry the picture isn't great.  The patterned paper and present stickers are from Martha Stewart.  I bought them at different times and didn't even know I had them & that they matched.  I was thrilled to discover them & couldn't wait to put them together on a layout.  Simple, sweet layout for one cute little boy!

What to do, what to do?

Do you ever start a layout with great ideas?  With the feeling that it is going to be awesome?  That's how the layout below began:

The photos are from my 40th surprise birthday party.  The patterned paper is from Authentique - it is so gorgeous.  I bought the paper a while ago at Paper Anthology and couldn't wait to use it.  I used a sketch from www.sketchesbysuzy.com.  Initially, I really liked the direction the layout was going but then after I created a few flower embellishments, I kinda stop liking it.   I am frustrated with this layout - I like the photos, love the paper and the sketch but something is off.  

Does that ever happen to you?  I think I am going to set the layout aside for now & revisit it later.  What do you do when you don't love a layout?

Yikes...what happened to the weekend?

This past weekend just flew by - I hate when that happens.  I was having a bit of a rough day yesterday so my husband suggested I lock myself away in my scrap room for a little piece & quiet - isn't he great.  So I worked on some cards and some layouts, wanna see?

The photos are from my birthday dinner at the Morris Tap & Grill (amazing restaurant in my town).  I was continuing to play with my new camera so some of the pictures are in black & white while others are in color.  I wasn't sure how this would look on the layout but it works great.  Almost everything is from SU! except for the buttons and little pearls in the center of each button.  I used my Sizzix to create the flowers:

I love to use buttons on layouts but I wanted a different look for these flowers.  So instead of leaving the button plan, I embellished it with the little pearl.  Now the button almost acts like a matting for the pearl.  I am really pleased with how this layout looks!