My Very First Project Life Page

I'm popping in today to share my very first Project Life page!

I started this to document our family vacation to Hawaii this summer. I really do love this "pocket page" type of scrapbooking. It takes me way too long to create a traditional layout. This concept is just my style. I'm also a big fan of embellishments, and I really love how you can easily add them to these types of pages.

I used the new Heidi Swapp's Project Life Foil Value kit to create this pocket page.

I photographed this one without the photo sleeves because I was getting a glare with the natural light. (Keep scrolling down to see this page in the photo pocket sleeve). I also provided some close-up shots.

Do you like the Project Life concept? I'd love to hear if you have any tips or tricks! 

And here is the finished project in the Project Life photo pocket sleeve!

I'll be sharing more pages real soon!

Papa - The Gentle Soul

Hello everyone! 

I am here to share a very special page with you from Scrapbooking From The Inside Out.

I'm also throwing in another tip to use as you create using January's emotion - "Empathy"!

What is empathy anyway?

It is defined as:
- The feeling that you understand and share another person's experiences and emotions.

There are so many people around us that have the keen ability to show empathy towards others. I am around people all the time. Sometimes you don't notice certain character traits right away. When I study and observe people that are close to me, I often see moments of caring shining through. These people are what I call "gentle souls".

This page is a prime example of this.

And here's a tip for you - Be mindful of choosing just the right photo for your page. The photo can help you express the emotions and feelings of your page.

For example, I purposely used a black and white photo. I believe that it helps express the softness of this gentle moment.

My cutie pie nephew is a miracle baby. My sister and her husband have been married for 15 years. They have gone through the terrible loss of three miscarriages.

What is really touching is how my dad has impacted my sister and brother-in-law with care and concern all through the pregnancy and beyond. He is a "Mr. Mom" with heart!

And don't forget about your journaling. Use embellishments around it to make it one of the focal points of your page.

I encourage you to make more layouts about people that have impacted your life in some way. The SFTIO kit has wonderful paper and embellishments that will make your page special for years to come.

Insightful Me!

I'm finally sharing my first layout for 2014! 

This time I used the fabulous kit from Scrapbooking From the Inside Out.

SFTIO is an inspirational source, kit club, and online community for scrappers. It's great to scrap about others, but sometimes we need to turn the focus on ourselves. These kits will help you on your journey as you create pages about your thoughts, hopes, and dreams.

Each SFTIO kit has an emotion behind it. January's emotion is - Empathy. 

I created four layouts this month based around this theme. I chose to show this one first to give you a grasp at how you can begin making pages that follow your journey through 2014.

I have one bit of advice if you are new to this type of scrapping - "Breathe and enjoy the journey!"

To make a page of your own is a sweet process. First, take a hold of the emotion "empathy" and let it sink in for a moment. After that, grab a thesaurus and look up the word.

I found several synonyms that really hit home for me:
- compassion
- insight
- comprehension
- rapport

One of these words really stood out for me. It was the word "insight". To really feel empathy for another person I need to gain insight into what they are really feeling.

Once you get your page together be sure to add a bit of journaling. Keep the emotion in mind as you write. And be sure to write from the heart.

Need more inspiration?

Be sure to check out the SFTIO blog!

Documenting this Sweet Face

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!

I'm popping in today with a new layout of my cutie pie nephew. My sister took this picture of him while he was enjoying yummy snack time. I love the expression on his face and had to document this fun moment.

I used the Creative Scrappers sketch for this one!

Did you notice the fun element that I added to the top of the photo? I used some paper confetti shreds. I think it adds an interesting touch to the page.

The paper, stickers, and embellishments are from the CTMH - Babycakes collection. The wooden "documented" piece is from The Paper Bakery.

The journaling is from a poem that I found online about little boys. I think it fits so well with the photo!

I hope you all enjoy your weekend! I'll be popping in with more new projects!!!

Twelve Days of Christmas Crafts - Day 2

Welcome to the "12 Days of Holiday Inspiration Blog Event" brought to you by "The Inspiration Crew". This time we're doing a "12 day event" to provide you with tons of Christmas crafting fun. 

At the bottom of this post is a list of all the participating blogs. Be sure to check out each one for information on prizes that are being offered and when the winners will be announced. 

Let the Christmas fun begin!!!!

I have a fun Christmas layout today! This will be my cutie pie nephew's first Christmas. He is already trying to get all of the ornaments off of the tree. I can't wait to see his face when he opens his gifts on Christmas morning.

I've made a page using fun paper and embellies from Imaginisce. The colors really pop against the black corrugated background paper from Fancy Pants Designs

I'm linking this one up to the Paper Issues Christmas challenge!

Be sure to visit all of the blogs for loads of Christmas craft ideas!

Donna Bowman

Rachel Kleinman

Ceal Pritchett

Lalo Ik

Barb Murphy

Angi Barrs

Annette Allen

Ardyth Percy-Robb

Susie Craft Happy

Geri Greening

Jennifer Cuthbertson

Rachel Izakowicz

Products Used:

Paper: Imaginisce - Colors of Christmas, Childhood Memories,  and Endless Summer

Black corrugated paper: Fancy Pants Designs

Clothespin: American Crafts

Silver gems: Recollections

Wooden button: stash

A New Journey with Scrapbooking From the Inside Out

I'm venturing into something new.

This one will allow me to focus on me.

I'm not just a mom.

I'm not just a teacher.

I'm more than a daughter.

I do more than exist.

I have hopes and dreams too.

It's about time that I share "me" with the world.

I hope that you will join me on a new journey with Scrapbooking From the Inside Out. 

I am joining their awesome design team!

As scrappers we never turn the camera on ourselves, we never make layouts just for us, and our focus is always on others. Well it's about time that we throw in a couple of "me" pages into the family album. I know for a fact that my family would love it.

The art of self reflection and journaling is new for me, but I am excited to take my scrapbooking to a whole new level.

Once the new term starts I will start making layouts for my brand new "Me Album". My first page mostly features goodies from Pink Paislee's - Hey Kid collection.

I will also feature how-to's to get you started on making pages and and album of your own. Journaling tips, self reflection, and "me" focus pages will also be shared.

We will have so much fun taking this journey together. I can't wait to get started.

In the meantime, be sure to check out the SFTIO website and blog. It's a wonderful place for inspirational scrapping. They also have a blog, kit club, and online community as well.

The "Wisdom" kit is on sale right now. Here's a peek at all of the wonderful products that are included. Be sure to check out the photo slide show of the entire kit here!

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

Layout supplies:

Paper: Pink Paislee - Hey Kid

Chipboard: Recollections

Buttons: Close to My Heart

Heart Clip: Allison Kreft Designs

Stickers: Echo Park - Today's Story

Thickers: American Crafts

Having Fun with The Minions

Can you believe that I'm still working on my vacation album???

We took so many photos when we visited sunny California this past summer. I'm still not caught up. I'm making a couple of pages a week. I may have to resort to making Project Life pages for the rest of this album! (wink! wink!)

And check out the wording on my minion photo. I used the Rhonna Designs app on my phone. It printed out so well. I must do this more often!

Here are some close-up shots. I wanted to keep a fun and playful theme to the page. I used a lot of paper and goodies from Doodlebug Design. The other embellies are from American Crafts and Crate Paper's Maggie Holmes collection. 

I used the Inspired Blueprints sketch for this one.

{Love this fun sketch!}

Happy Monday!!!

Nana Wants a Scrapbook Too!

I know that I've already used this photo on another layout but...

I've been a busy scrapper these days. Not only am I making my sister a scrapbook, but now I'm making my mom one too!

And they both have to be done by Christmas! Pray for me! {LOL}

This time I've used this photo of my cutie pie nephew in a different way.

Since his face is so happy on the photo, I used brightly colored Imaginisce goodies for this one. Their Childhood Memories and Endless Summer collection are my faves.

My question for you......

Do you ever use the same photo on several layouts????

My Hair is Blowing in the Wind!

It's not my favorite photo, but there is something about it that is real and natural for my "me" scrapbook.

It was a windy day! We were out at the lake so that I could get some photos of Rachel. After a while, she turned the camera on me and took some shots. I've been holding onto this photo for months until I found the perfect paper to use.

Here's how I put this page together...

I used loads of different products. I really love the background paper and banner. They are from the Glitz Design - Cashmere Dame collection. I also used some goodies from Allison Kreft's - Recorded collection. The butterfly was made with a Stampin' Up butterfly punch.

I'm a sketch kinda girl, so I used a fun one from Creative Scrappers.

They even had a great idea on their blog. Why not flip the sketch? That's what I ended up doing for this page. 

Do you ever flip your sketches?

Tristan Takes a Ride

My cutie pie nephew loves to take a ride in the car. His little face looks so serious as he takes in all of the sights and sounds all around him. 

My sister sent me this photo the other day and I just had to make a new page for his scrapbook.

I used some fun chipboard from Carta Bella's Rough and Tumble collection. I even wrapped some twine around the chipboard and used it on a chippie button.

The bright yellow paper is from Allison Kreft's - Recorded collection. The thickers and the other paper are from American Crafts' Polka Dot Party. I also used various dies from Lifestyle Crafts.

I found a great sketch for this page. 

It's from the Purple Pumpkin: October Sketch Challenge.

I'm also playing in the Whimsical Twist Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge!
{I used twine, chipboard, and thickers}

The Dress, The Shoes, The Mum & A Winner

Friday brought back fun memories for me. I was helping Rachel get ready for Homecoming. I started to think about the time when I found the perfect dress. And let's not forget about the homecoming mum. We all wore them to school on game day. Fun times for sure!!!

I took Rachel down to the lake for a homecoming photo shoot. She started to get so tired of me taking shots of her. (LOL) She should be used to it by now. After all, her mother is a scrapper right? 

I did get some great pictures and wanted to use one on a page. Then came the task of looking for a sketch to use. I love to use sketches when I design a layout. 

I found a fun one from Creative Scrappers!

And I have a new FAVE paper line. Have you seen Allison Kreft's - Recorded collection? The colors and the embellies are fabulous. I will be using this one a lot.

Here are some close-up shots of my page!

I did add a few pieces from My Mind's Eye too. The stitched banner (above) and stitched element (below) are from MME's Cut & Paste collection. They are made of felt too. It adds a bit of fun texture to the page. 

And now for the Two Peas giveaway winner. Thank you to everyone that entered. Rachel picked the winner from a bowl this time around. She did have her eyes closed. (No peeking!!!!)

Congrats go to... 

Woo Hoo Kim Heggins! 

Please send me an email so that I can get your gift certificate info to you.

This is My Mini Me!

It happens while we are shopping at Target!

 

It happens when we are getting goodies from Starbucks!

 

It happens just about everywhere!

 

People literally stop and say that Rachel is my "Mini-Me".

 

I just had to make a page about this because it happens so often. Our baby pictures even look almost identical. I guess everyone has a twin somewhere out in the world....right?

 

This fun page was created with mostly My Mind's Eye papers and Echo Park chipboard.

 

See the fun feathers? They are from American Crafts. The feather in the middle was created with WPlus 9's fanciful feather die. I got to use it last weekend at Vera's house.

 

See the round pink button? I made that one using the Epiphany Crafts round 25 tool.

 

 

I threw on "splashes" of sequins and used Simple Stories stickers for the title.

I'm playing along in the 1-2-3 Get Scrappy Challenge. I used three in elements from the middle row (circles, rhinestones, and a die cut).

I hope you enjoyed my fun page today!