Playing With Paper!!

Still addicted to sketches

I don't know what it is but I can never get enough sketches.  I found a new sketch book on Pinterest and couldn't wait to buy it.  It's called Easy Scrapbook Sketches for 4x6 photos by Dawn Hall.  It includes 60 sketches with detailed measurements.   I used the sketch on page 46 call On a Roll for my ispiration:

The patterned paper is from SU!; the ribbon paper is from K & Co; I used Thickers for the title.  I always love a simple sketch - especially when the layout turns out so cute.

And you enjoy sketches - check out  www.EasyScrapbookSketches.com.   

More craft room decorations...

This is a sign I made for the door to my office.  I had bought the wooden board with clips at Michaels a long time ago.  I had originally decorated the sign before with the old colors from my office.  I couldn't wait to re-do the sign to match my new office.  I used washi tape, flowers (from Prima), pearls (Queen & Co.) , patterned paper by Bazzill and letter stickers from Thickers.  The Thickers say "Get Crafty" -  looks really cute.

This little sign was originally yellow.  I painted it black and used Thickers for my wording.  I made the flower from felt.  My craft room really is my happy place and I love this sign - works perfect in my room!!

Back to reality...

So, I had a great weekend!!  I had so much fun!!  The crop was awesome!  The only problem was that the weekend went too fast.  I didn't get a ton of layouts done but I sure had fun.  I'm so grateful that I got away last weekend because I don't think we are going many places this weekend with more snow on the way...

This is one of my favorite layouts from the weekend:

The pictures are from my son's 5th grade moving up ceremony last spring.  I  just bought the patterned paper from My Mind's Eye (and the matching washi tape) & was thrilled to play with it.  I used a sketch from Pagemaps November 2013.  I love this layout - the combination of blue & green works perfect with the pictures.

So excited!!

I am so done with this winter!  We have had so much snow & cold weather - I feel like we have been stuck in the house for days.  I need a change and this weekend I'm getting one!  My sister and I are attending a weekend crop!!  I am packed & set to go first thing tomorrow morning.  We will be attending NJ Crop Weekend in Basking Ridge.  It's been almost 2 years since we've gone away for a scrapbooking weekend so my sister & I are totally ready.

Since I have packed all my scrapbooking supplies away, I thought I'd post a layout I created recently.  I used paper & embellishments from a  kit I bought from Fancy Pants.  The pictures are from out last trip to Florida to visit my brother-in-law and his family.

I love this layout because I was able to get 11 pictures on it!!!  And the pictures are pretty cute too (in my opinion).   The 2 little shovels and pails are from Jollee.

I hope you have a great weekend - I can't wait for mine to begin!!!

Dreaming of warm, sunny weather...

I don't know about you but I am so tired of the cold.  Here in New Jersey we have had some much snow and cold - I'm just done!!  My kids & I keep talking about sunny days on the beach and afternoons sitting around the pool.  So I thought I'd post a layout reminiscent of sunny days...

Last Spring my husband & I went to Boca Raton Florida for a long weekend with his job.  We stayed at the Boca Raton Resort & Club - it was lovely.  The photos on the layout were taken from out room.   I used patterned paper from Authentique-it's so easy to create a great layout when the paper company does all the work for you!!  The title is made with chipboard painted with acrylic paint & little pearls for bling.  

Well, here's to sunny days ahead!

On a roll! 2 days in a row!

Redecorating my craft room has been a blast.  I am currently working on adding the my personal touch to the decor.  Many months ago I bought a photo stand scrapbook from Michaels and I finally decided to create something with it.  Wanna see?

This is what the front of the album looks like.  It sits on top of a pie safe I use for stamp storage so it is easy to see & very accessible.  The photo is our family Christmas card from a few years back.  I chose red, black and white as my color theme for the album to match my room.  

Here's another layout:

I was thrilled to find the red/white hounds tooth paper in my stash because I am using black/white hound stooth throughout my room.  Unfortunately, I can't remember who made the paper - thanks anyway.  The flowers are by Prima.  I love the photos!!  They are from Easter 9 years ago - the kids all looked adorable.

Can you stand another layout?  

For this layout I used plain white and red glitter cardstock.  Super simple but really cute. 

If I have a photo I really love, I always print an extra copy.  I have a basket in my craft room where I keep all my favorite photos.  When I am looking to hang pictures on the wall-that's my go to place.  To create this album, I hit my basket.  I loved making this album because I love all the photos in it.  And I am so happy to have all these photos displayed in my room.  My craft room is definitely my happy place!!!

Oh my poor, sad, neglected blog...

I've worked on lots of layouts and cards to post here.  I've even taken pictures and downloaded them ready to post.  But no post since October!!!  I don't know where the time has gone but here it is January and I my blog.  So I am determined to get back in to blogging!

First an update on my office - I am almost done (pictures to follow).  I love the way it's all coming together.  It's like a whole new space!  The painting is done and I got some new furniture but I'm still working on the walls.  I love the decorating part - it's the best.

Below is one of my favorite new layouts:

 

I took the photos last spring while we were on the Cape opening my in-laws summer home.  Sunsets on the Cape are always a great photo opportunity!  The patterned paper is by Graphic 45 - love their paper lines!!  My favorite embellishment is the key.  I bought it at Michaels a while ago for less the $1.00.  I love how the flowers, doily and the key all work together to create a beautiful embellishment.  I never get tired of flowers on my layouts and adding a doily just makes them pop!!!

In a funk...

I have been paper crafting for about 12 years.  Scrapbooking and card-making have been a huge part of my life (sometimes almost an obsession!).  I have my own dedicated crafting room, tons of supplies and endless photos to be placed on layouts. I never thought I'd get tired of scrapping but lately I just haven't been excited to create.  Have you ever felt this way?  I miss my creative time and am trying to get back in the swing of it.  In an attempt to find my mojo, I think I'm going to clean my craft room and re-discover my own stash!!  

As I was looking through photos this morning, I came across this layout I completed a while back.  I love this paper - it's by Simple Stories.  The photo's are from my dads birthday this past March.  I was inspire by a layout from PageMaps.  

Well, wish me luck as I clean out my office.  Maybe if I find some forgotten supplies I will find my lost enthusiasm too!!!

Graphic 45 love...

Paper Anthology has a great selection of Graphic 45 paper - and I am addicted.  I bought this patterned paper a while ago and was just waiting for the perfect pictures to use with it.  And the season finale of Downton Abbey last spring provide a great photo opportunity.  

This is a picture I took right before the final moments of the show - it was a pretty dramatic ending and I was glad I got a picture.  This is the layout I created:

I am really pleased with this layout.  The paper is so elegant & I love the simplicity of the whole layout. So very Downton to me!!

Well, I was happily surprised!

In the next town over from mine, they just built an new Joann's.  There was a Joann's before but it was tiny and difficult to find things.  But the new store is amazing!  I prefer to shop in my small, local scrapbooking stores but sometimes it's nice to have a bigger store.  So, I was in Joann's not to long ago and came across some patterned paper that caught my eye.  The designer is Heidi Grace - do you remember her.  I bought paper from her many years ago and never actually used it.  But this paper was really pretty and this is what I used it on:

 I used a sketch from Pagemaps (June 2012).  Everything is from Heidi Grace except for the heart doily and the cardstock from Bazzill.  I love this layout!!  I love the colors and the patterned paper - it all works so well with my photos!

Have a great day!!