Playing With Paper!!

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?

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? 

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.

Snow day share...

Winter has finally arrived-perfect way to spend a Saturday.  I am so happy that I had a chance to play in my office.  Wanna see what a did?

The patterned paper is from Me & My Big Ideas.  The pictures are from my sons birthday party-we went rock climbing-he had a blast!!  I got the idea for this layout from www.sketchesbysuzy.com.   My favorite thing about this layout is the color scheme-so bright and happy.

Visiting the Constitution!

One of the sites we had to see while we were in Boston was the USS Constitution.  My FIL builds model ships and he has been working on the Constitution for us for several years.  I am not big into ships but I must say, it was pretty neat.  Below is the layout I did using my photos:

The paper is all from SU! - so glad I had it leftover from Father's Day - works perfect.  I used a sketch from www.sketchesbysuzy.com as my inspiration.  It's sketch number 70 but I changed it up a bit for my layout

A layout to share...

Below is one of the layouts I worked on this weekend.  The pictures are from the 4th of July-a holiday that always stumps me.  I can never find any patterned paper I like so I must use embellishments to create my layouts.  This year I actually used X-mas paper (you'd never know), some glitter paper and embellishments from K & CO.

I found my inspiration for this layout on www.sketchesbysuzy.com.  It is a bit of a different look for me - went out of my box a bit - and I really like it.  What do you think?

I wish I could get time to slow down...

I haven't been the best blogger lately...I just can't find the time.  It is frustrating.  I like to keep a blog for several reasons and a big one is accountability...when I am blogging I know I am making time for myself to create.  No blogging...no creative time.  Last week flew by in a blur and this week looks like it may be much of the same.  Thankfully, yesterday I made some time for myself and I worked on some layouts.  Wanna see?

 
Love these pictures and love this layout.  I looked to www.sketchesbysuzy.com for my layout inspiration and I love how it turned out.  Now I know I am prejudice because he is my nephew but isn't this baby adorable?  This is Brian...never met a happier, sweeter baby.  I just can't get enough of him - neither can my daughter Grace.  They are best buds.

 

I used patterned paper from Echo Park and embellishments from Martha Stewart to create this layout.  Love the circles...circles just make me happy.  And this paper is too cute!  Sweet pictures...sweet layout - makes me happy!

Happy Monday!

The weekend just flew by...can't believe it is Monday already.  Didn't get much time in my office but I do have a layout to share:
 
I was inspired to create this layout by www.sketchesbysuzy.com.  She doesn't have a sketch like this on her blog-I came up with the sketch on my own but she did inspire me with her use of circles.  I LOVE to use circles on my layouts and so does Suzy.  The pictures are from my daughters 13th birthday (still can't believe she is 13).  The patterned paper is from SU! and I use my Cricut to cut out the title.  To create the pink swirl I sprayed the chipboard with Glittermist.  Fun layout don't you think?