Finally Spring

I am up on the Paper Issues' blog today sharing this layout I made using the April swag bag. There are lots of detail shots over there. I would love if you stopped to check it out. 

Snow Day - Paper Issues Sketch

There is a new sketch up on the paper issues blog and I just adored this one. I was stumped at first by the circle as I'm just not the best at using them.

I just couldn't get patterned paper to look right for the sketch. Then, once I decided to use a photo from our snow day in February, I knew this silver vellum from Crate Paper would be perfect. 

I didn't have any alphas that were big enough to fit the scale of the sketch. I decided to hand cut my title from an older Crate Paper Christmas line. 

I decided I wanted to keep my layout fairly simple and just tucked a tag and label behind my photo.

I then scattered some snowflakes, silver sequins and enamel dots around the page.

I really wanted the page to feel like snow, so I kept things white with some silver, and a bit of cool blue. I really love the feel of this page!

Head on over to the Paper Issues blog to link up your project for the chance to win a $10 gift card to the Paper Issues shop. There is a card sketch too!

coffee addict

I was very excited when Marcy Penner announced she was doing a class on grids through Studio Calico. I just adore her style and couldn't wait for the class to start. I also was really excited that another of my other favourite scrapbookers was contributing to the class. 

The first lesson was on basic grids and to keep it simple, I decided to make this layout while keeping in mind the colour scheme for Creative Jumpstart 9. I pulled a bunch of papers from my older Studio Calico kits, a shipping tag and a wood veneer square from Two Peas in a Bucket. 

I then added some wood veneer embellishments and an M and asterisks from the same pack of Thickers I used for the title.

Love this font of Thickers and since they're foam, they stick really well.

Tucked a shipping tag and a doily behind my photo, added a paper clip and some black ink splatter and called it done. 

I'm already really happy with this class and am looking forward to sitting down this week with the lesson 2 material. 

I'm also really happy I've had a chance to participate in the Creative Jumpstarts again. I missed a few, but things have calmed down a bit for me and I just love how much they push me creatively!

k&b

I was so, so excited when I saw the new weekend challenge on the Hip Kit Club Facebook page. My favourite colour combination is pink, mint, navy, and gold. I have been hoarding the navy and mint Dear Lizzy papers for a few years now and always turn to them when I make a layout in this colour scheme.

I also didn't have any pictures that I felt went with this challenge, but then I found this photo of our friends on the wedding day in October. I've actually almost gotten to the point where I'm running out of photos that I want to scrap. After making this layout, I decided that I would mail it to them. Then I thought, why don't I make layouts of all our friends with the wedding photos or baby photos? Maybe not all of them will care about getting a scrapbook layout in the mail, but I know this bride will, and I am very excited for her to open it.

 

I realized it is very hard to do a layout for someone else, as I can't exactly write journaling for them. I had these two stamps though that I thought expressed the perfect sentiments for the beginning of a marriage

Another component of the challenge was to use triangles and stitching. I went very literal with this aspect of the challenge as I just adore the way the garlands look in the inspiration photo. At first I was going to fill my background with rows of them, just like the photo, but in the end, I decided to just scatter a few across the page and stitch each individual triangle down. I then pulled the edges of each triangle up for some added dimension. I really love the white space on the page and am happy with how this one turned out.

the most wintery winter

I have a layout I made for Pinspire Me With Cozy Warmth at Paper Issues. I knew instantly I wanted to do a layout about the ridiculous winter we had last year. It was the coldest, snowiest winter I can remember. I decided to stick to grey, with just a hint of blue and red. And lots and lots of snowflakes. That sums of winter perfectly.

I used a photo I took of my parents' house last winter after a particularly bad snowstorm on a day when I worked and had a horrendous commute home. When I look at this photo I feel all the feelings of last winter.

I used some red chipboard thickers for part of my title, but since they're so big and didn't want my title taking up a ton of space, I hand wrote part of it too. I'm not a big fan of my handwriting, but I also think it's important to have it be part of my scrapbooks.

I used an assortment of wood veneer and silver glitter snowflakes I had in my stash as well as some silver sequins. I just randomly scattered them down the page and liked that it looks like they're snowing.

I really like these Pinspire Me posts as it is so fun to see everyone's take on the mood board. There is a thread on the Paper Issues Friends and Fans Facebook page that everyone posts their projects too and they're all so beautiful and unique.

splash

I just love the sketches at Paper Issues. I've participated in every Sketchy Saturday so far and my most favourite layout I have ever made was actually based on the first Sketch. But I'll be honest, I really struggled with this sketch. It sounds weird, but I don't like circles. I have a hard time using them and they're just my least favourite shape to use in scrapbooking. 

But then Cassie Box posted this layout and it just blew my mind! Of course I didn't have to stick with circles, I could make the sketch my own. After thinking a bit and then deciding on using photos of Andy jumping in puddles, I knew my shape would be clouds.

I've had this old wood veneer frame from Crate Paper for ages and finally found the perfect project for it. It's not exactly cloud shaped, but it has the same characteristics.

I cut two more photos into cloud shapes and I won't even tell you how long it took me to make a cloud pattern... it's embarrassing how long and in the end, I still had to trace something. I am so not artistic like that!

I also used some wood veneer clouds that came in an older Studio Calico kit.

I lightly misted some Studio Calico clouds and rain drops and randomly placed them around the page. I also punched some clouds out of vellum and placed them behind some of the clouds and one of the pictures for some added dimension.

The background paper is Studio Calico too. This was definitely way, way out of  my comfort zone using such a big pattern as my background paper, but I really love it. 

Another Sketchy Saturday is in the books. I definitely get a little too excited for a new sketch to come out and I think it's safe to say now that two of my most favourite layouts ever are based on Paper Issues sketches. Thank you Paper Issues and Cassie for the inspiration this month!

favourite andy

Every Friday, Kim, the owner of Hip Kit Club, posts a weekend challenge to the Hip Kit Facebook forum. I always have great intentions of participating, however as we are sorely lacking in daylight these days and I work Monday to Friday, I am never able to get a layout finished and photographed in time.... until now that is. 

This weekend's challenge was to use a grid to document some highlights from 2014. Derek and I have talked a few times that I should do a layout using all the photos I take of Andy sleeping. I frequently sneak into his room at night and take photos of him. Especially if Derek is working a late shift, I always go in, take a picture and text it to him. This challenge was the perfect way to document my favourite photos I have taken this year. 

I have wanted those wonky wood veneer stars since they came out and I was never able to find them. I was over the moon when I was able to purchase two packs recently from a woman online at a very reasonable price. I'm pretty sure you're going to be seeing them on basically every project from here on out.

Derek and I like to joke and say that sleeping Andy is our favourite Andy. He is just so sweet, adorable and peaceful when he's sleeping. I can't get enough of it.

This quote is on one of the journalling cards from Crate Paper's Notes & Things line. The card is pink though and just didn't work with this colour scheme. I typed the same sentiment onto a grey shipping tag that I cut to the size I required and then adhered a wood veneer cloud.

My motto usually is "if you don't know what to do, stick a doily on it".

Or stick a gold chipboard camera on it. 

This was such a fun challenge and I was so happy I was finally able to participate. Looking forward to the next one.

the tilt and all is calm all is bright

Today it is old photos, old product, but new layouts. I was in a scrapping frenzy in November and really wanted to use up some older kits I had. The kits and photos are from 2012.

When I was pregnant, Derek and I bought Andy this 'ugly Christmas' shirt on clearance at Target. By the time Christmas came, Andy was almost too chubby to fit into it. The day we decorated the house, we put him in this outfit and set him in the chair for some photos. He tilted his head to the side and this will forever be one of my favourite photos of Andy.

I layered some stickers alone the side of the photo and a shipping and tag and label beneath for some added dimension.

Wood grain Thickers are my favourite. I have many packages in many fonts. They are such a great neutral for a title on any layout. I love that silver doily at the top. It was perfect for a Christmas themed layout.

I made this 8 1/2 x 11 layout about some of my favourite ornaments. A little stitching between the rows is definitely needed!

I backed two of the sqaures with gold POW paper. I just love that stuff. It is the prettiest gold colour.

Thanks for looking and I hope to post the first part of our December album in a few days. I really need to get going on that before I get burned out on Christmas.