Be Happy

Jen took this photo of me before (?) we went to the 50s diner in her car. It was kind of random, but I liked it, so thought I would do a quick one-pager. This took about 40 minutes from start to finish, inspiration from October 2010 Scrapbook Trends.

3 things I like:
1) Sassafras border stickers - They are so easy, go with nearly everything and add a perfect finish.
2) Felt - it softens everything
3) October Afternoon word stickers - I have 4 sheets of these. Also a very versatile product. The "My Bliss" and "photo taken by:" stickers are from these sheets.

Scraplift

Isn't it wonderful how much inspiration a single layout can provide? Take, for instance, this layout:

This layout really isn't my style. I rarely use a white background and even though it has a lot going on, it still seems kind of plain for me. But, I was attracted to the red hounds tooth pattern running vertically and thought I'd give it a go.....

The result was this layout, of Ryan's birthday cake! I used a mix of Sassafrass and Cosmo here, as well as some puffy stickers from Wal-mart.
3 things I like:
1) This layout was really fast to complete - thank you sketch!
2) The title - I feel fancy when I mix multiple letterings in one title.
3) I used a few supplies here I had been hoarding because I loved them so. Example: the music note paper :)

Then, I took a class of Crystal's at the scrapbook store. One of the layouts we made was this one here (click to see). The first half of the layout is based on the same sketch! All 3 look so different!

A couple baby book pages

I've been slacking on the blog posting lately. I have been scrapbooking, so really there is no excuse. Here's a couple more pages for my baby book.

I started this layout on Tuesday and finished it on Wednesday. I used a mix of supplies: some Studio Calico paper from their new line Documentary, Sassafras and old Cosmo (the green paper is from their Storybook line 4 years ago! Thanks June!) I love the mix of colours and patterns here and how my photos are arranged.

This one is actually a couple weeks old. It's funny because the only other page in my baby book with butterflies on it - I'm wearing the exact same dress. It's not really a butterfly dress, but then again, maybe it is.

Best CHA release

Have you seen this line? It's AMAZING! Sassafras has come out with a new line called Mix and Mend - a beautiful combination of blues, golds, and tans. I can't wait to see this stuff in person because it looks so layered and gorgeous. I can't wait until this is released!

No one more perfect

It's been a while since I've completed a one-pager. I like them so much because they are easy - especially when you use such a large photo! This was supposed to be a photo of Ryan and I (taken by me), but I have this tendency to forget the zoom is on when I take self portraits. As a result I got this photo of just Ryan. I really like it (as does he, which is unusual for him - he always says he looks dorky in pictures).

I started out with a Studio Calico kit I had partially used. I added some making memories scrap from another kit, some star ribbon from Crystal, and letters. It came together very quick and easy.

3 layouts

I printed some photos yesterday, so I was able to finally finish this first layout! I can't even remember when I started it..... 3 months? 4 months ago? It was missing the photo of the Christmas tree, I needed it in 5x7. It is now complete and safely in the album! Always a great accomplishment.

I had to go back 3 albums to find the place for this page - and it's only from last summer! Perhaps I scrap too much. Maybe my mom is right. Haha, not likely. I left these photos for a really long time because I was set on having a Jolees lawnmower or some sort of lawnmower embellishment. I finally gave up that dream, and created a lawnmower mask.... it's not as great as I'd like, but best I could do. Crystal donated the few stickers from a father's sticker sheet by Bella Blvd. It's a fairly flat layout, but that's okay once in a while.

Canada Day! I struggled a lot with this one during our Friday night scrap session. Crystal had to hold my hand and guide me through it. Adding the arrows (which are very old, and exciting to use up) helped to remove some of the Minnie Mouse feel and make it more Canadian. Ryan, who on Canada Day refused to wear a red shirt, said that we ruined the layout by not wearing red. Oh, well look who is right! Me again!

2 Water Dogs

This layout is a total mishmash of stuff. I pulled papers for this page based on colour. I was just looking for colours that went well with the photos. The sassafrass embellishments came last, because I was looking for some border strips. I think you can't use sass embellishments and papers all at once, it's just too much.

These are photos of the dogs swimming at Moberly Lake on May long. Steve LOVES to swim. He is really funny too, and makes this odd snorty, wheezing sound. He keeps the whole front end of his body out of the water, Adam calls him a motor boat.

I've never used a banner on my page before. It's a pretty big trend lately, and I had to try it out. I think I like it :)

Some layouts finally

These are still layouts I completed at crop in September..... I do have a growing stack of layouts here that need to be scanned for me to share. I'm debating not scanning more of my baby book layouts until they are all done, so I get them all on the same disk. I have 12 pages otherwise, so it's not enough to fill a disk, but I may do it anyway.

This layout is of my first birthday party! I had so many photos to use and really wanted to use this crazy Sassafras paper. It turned out well, but looks much better in real life. You lose all the dimension in the scan.

I struggled so much with the placement on this one. I like it in the end. I'm happy I have so much of mom's handwriting in this book.

I'm not really sure how I feel about this one. I love the colours, I think it is just missing a little something... maybe a flourish in the bottom left. I don't know. Done is done.

2 Bandits

I'm sharing this layout on a fitting day. My puppy was a bandit today. I don't want to say anything more than that as it will make me very angry. He's lucky he is so cute.

Secret Scrapbook Society

Crystal, June and I really would like to start a monthly scrapbook night. Something similar to a book club where each member hosts a night at their home. The host would provide snacks, and a scrapbook challenge for the other members. We are hoping this club will take off, and be the first Friday of every month. Next month is my house - Friday October 2nd, 7 pm. We'll try to be a bit more organized for that go around.
Last night Crystal and I met together for our first evening. She challenged me to use felt on a layout. This is NOT something I am comfortable with. She even tried to get me to stitch a piece, but I think I had too big of dreams and it just didn't work out. The layout isn't finished yet, but here is a sneak peek, with my little felt hearts.

A layout of "uglies"

I've finally scanned some more layouts! It was hard selecting from so many which I'd like to post first. I chose to post this one as it was a surprise for me how much I like it. The individual pieces were things I'd never buy ordinarily. But sometimes that turns out to be a good thing.
I needed some Kayak embellishment, and really, there isn't much of that out there. The only thing I could find was the Stickoptimus stickers on this layout. Stickopotimus really makes some low end stickers, they are thin, and the images aren't the best. But they are cheap. So I picked up these stickers and was determined to make them work.
The background paper of this layout is Sassafras. I got it in my most recent Studio Calico kit. I was disappointed as this is a slightly older line and I really didn't like the boy and dalmatian that are on the paper. Coincidentally it matched the kayak stickers perfectly! So I designed a layout to cover up the boy and the dog and here it is. I LOVE THIS LAYOUT!

Two layouts!

Two more to share! This one was done last night. Crystal invited me over at 9 and I obliged. A random impulse scrap, I just threw some stuff together. But it worked. I used a sheet of Kraft paper here. I have so much of it from my Studio Calico kits, but it just doesn't seem to be my thing. I like how it softened this layout, I may start using more. Only one family page to go!

This is the layout that I showed the sneak of the other day. The photo has been printed. I LOVE this layout. Very retro. Super cool. Thanks Crystal (and Jane!) for the use of Jane's cricut cartridge to cut this flowers. They look just like the Sass flowers you can buy!

On a roll....

I was looking at my latest Studio Calico kit. It's been neatly kept safe in its little paper baggie. I have another on its way any day now so I figured I'd better create something with this one first! I'm not willing to show you the rest of the layout until I print the picture to the correct size and put it on. I think it will be a lot better when fully complete.

Sometimes it's good to be a hoarder

Yet another puppy layout. I got inspiration for this one from this layout at 2peas. I had originally seen it in Scrapbooks Etc. Very cute idea. The following is a list of reasons why I like this layout:

1) It has my beloved Mackie in it.
2) I used really old paper. I mean really old. The baby blue lined stuff is Sassafrass from like 4 years ago. I've thought about purging it a few times, but hung on.
3) I didn't use pop dots. (Did that just for you Crystal).
4) Another old product - the little doggie in the flowers. That's from BG's Mellow line. About 2 years old.
5) I used another transparency.
6) I used my Cricut.

Thanks for looking!

A Sassafras day

I went to June's house this afternoon for a little catching up time and some scrapbooking. I've been so busy with school we haven't been able to see each other much and now that I've got a few weeks of freedom I'm taking advantage of my spare time. I guess I was in a Sassafras kind of mood while packing up (mind you, I've been using it a lot lately....) I really am quite pleased with the results.The colour of these photos sucks. I don't know what to do - no flash equals crappy colour. Flash equals shiny photo. This first layout is Sass's new line Jungle Bungle. It's a good example of me buying something because it's cute. I'm happy I have a puppy who I can treat as my child and use paper's like this on. Otherwise this would surely sit in my stash for years. June bought a Slice die cutting machine and it arrived the other day. I tested it out on my title letters, photo corner and orange piece behind the date. It's a fun machine; a little freaky when it's cutting though. It kind of pulls and you need to make sure you've got a good grip on it. It's got some potential though.This second layout was fun to do. The original sheet of paper I wanted to use is the one behind the photo of mom and I. It also had the deer, the butterfly and the clouds above. I wasn't sure how I was going to put things on top of it, so I just chopped it up. The piece I'm talking about and the pink flowers below are from the same line.... I don't think I'd normally pair them together, but I figured if they thought it went then so would I. It's busier than I'm used to, but I like it. I'd like to point out how much I'm loving the decorative edge strips they give you on the Sassafras paper. I'm often making my own, punching scalloped edges. These are nice because they are already made, different shapes, and a bit larger.

I'm nearly running out of photos on hand to scrapbook. I'm going to have to take a trip to Shopper's to get some more developed soon.
I sort of rearranged some more stuff in my scrap room tonight. I took all my Thickers off my clipitup and moved them into this metal bin I have. I think I'm going to like it. It'll be easy to flip through. They were seriously taking up nearly half the bottom of the clipitup. I may have a bit of an addiction....

You & Me

Another layout from the family photo shoot is done. I completed this one at Crystal's place today. Originally she told me I had to do a 2pager. (Crystal is anti one page layout.) I struggled and whined and complained until she was like "oh just do your one page thing". She suggested that I cut the one phone in half. The bottom two photos were one picture originally. That kind of freaked me out, but I thought it would be cool so I did it.

I totally LOVE this layout. Everything about it is perfect. The colours contrast really well. The photos pop. The best piece was taking advantage of Crystal's Cricut. I really think I may need to purchase one. I love what it can do and how easily it can do it. The large white scalloped piece (it's kind of hard to see) and the clouds are cut with the Cricut. I like that you can cut the same shape in several sizes and very quickly. Something to consider....

Work in progress.

I've been slowly working on a layout the last few days. I can't take credit for it. I'm totally lifting it from a layout I saw on 2peas. The lady who posted had used a Studio Calico kit that I had so I thought why not do the same? Mine has some definite differences but the basic concept is hers. When the layout is done I'll post a link to her page as well. It seems that blue, pink and green are working very well for these photos Jen took. I kind of like the idea that they will all look kind of similar. I think I may end up just doing an album full of these photos. There's just so many good ones!

Here's a few photos of my puppies. I love how Mack looks in the bottom one. It's totally him. And poor old grumpy Steve. Steve has really morphed into this grumpy dog at night time. It's like he's dealt with a puppy all day and he just can't take it any longer. Too funny.

Together

I started this layout the other day. I was inspired by Cosmo Cricket's blog (you can go there by clicking the cosmo logo on the right). Julie posted a challenge to create a page using all green Cosmo papers. My newest Cosmo hadn't arrived yet and I was looking at the stuff from my 2peas order. I realised how much teal I had. I thought I'd give teal a try. I wanted to make a 100% teal page at first, but it was too blah. I decided it was okay to add black and white to the mix because they aren't really colours, they're tones or whatever. That was my reasoning anyhow. I LOVE how this page turned out. It's so simple and eyecatching. I did two things on here I wouldn't normally do. The white patterend paper is cardstock - I stamped it to make my own pattern. I also doodled borders around most of the paper pieces. I had a really hard time trying to make things tie together and the doodled border really made it all cohesive. Again, the photo was taken by Jen Louie.

I've been busy lately getting the house ready for Christmas. I spent about an hour trying to take the perfect photo of my tree for you but I just can't get it. Stupid digital camera. It makes everything really yellowy or very dark and just the lights show. I don't know why my indoor shots are so yellowed and grainy but I HATE it. I'm extremely disappointed especially at this time of year when all the pictures I want to take are indoor. My next camera will have to be an Olympus again I suppose to make use of all my lenses, but I refuse to buy without spending some serious time reading up on it first. I think that's the mistake we made on this one, we just listened to whatever the guy had to say. I also want to make some time this year to take a camera course.

I share with you a photo of my sugar cookie recipe I made. Very yummy. They are frozen in the freezer downstairs awaiting Mom and Dad's arrival so that they can be eaten. They are very tempting though. So far I have been good and only eaten 2. We'll save the rest for the boys. (Okay, maybe I'll eat one more.)

Dad asked me last night if we can rent a hot tub for the yard when they are up. So today I need to see if that is possible. They have those propane fired ones I just don't know if it will be able to get in the yard. The tub would have to be turned to fit through the gate... Does anyone in town even rent hot tubs? I'll have to find this out today. Dad thinks it will be cool to be in a hot tub when it's nearly -40 outside. I think he's ridiculous and he's going to have to wear a toque while in there, but whatever.

Last night I did some scrapbooking and finished off several pages. I had four layouts nearly complete. I'd work on them at June's, get tired and come home. They were all sitting in individual ziploc bags. I'm quite proud I completed them. One of them was my Canada Day layout for goodness sake! About time I finished that. (Speaking of which, Crystal I am short one photo and wondering if you can print me a vertical 4x6 of that group shot you have). The other layout I didn't post here is my last Christmas page from last year. I figure you need to finish a holiday before the next year's rolls around. So I'm all ready to go now.

This is my layout for this years Thanksgiving. The majority of the layout is made with a Studio Calico kit. I'm been receiving their kits for about 5 months now. I LOVE THEM! A box of scrapbooking supplies arrives on my doorstep once a month. It's all really neat stuff that I either wouldn't buy on my own or wouldn't be able to get unless I ordered online. Very fun stuff. They don't often give you too many embellishments though which is okay because I get to work in the stuff I already have.This layout is from forever ago. Ryan's birthday was in September and I made him a soccer cake. The night I started this page I was struggling and I think I started by scraplifting (just had to pause and wonder why blogger did not recognize scraplifting as a word. oh dear) from one of June's Close To My Heart books. I just couldn't finish it. I think it had been incomplete for nearly 2 months. Its now done. It's simple but I quite like it. My favorite part is the "Soccer Field this way" embellishment I had. Perfect fit

I don't work until 12 today and I'm debating between going and taking the recycling, going to the dump, washing the floors etc and scrapbooking. This is a really hard toss up people. I don't know what to do.

Layouts, layouts, layouts!

I've been trying to post for like 3 days now. Something, anything. Blogger refused to let me. So I'm hoping this will go through successfully in the end here. Over the weekend June and I scrapbooked together. All weekend. It was great. I got a lot of stuff done, new and old, and really impressed with pretty much all of it. Sorry for the bad photos, but check out the layouts I finished!Ryan was so proud of this shot he took with his legs and the cabin in the back there. So I hope he likes what I did on the page. This one was actually one of the hardest to do. I had trouble putting stuff in the waves that didn't belong there. I don't know why I needed to be so realistic, and really, flowers and flourishes don't exactly exist in waves either, but oh well.

This one was made with my Studio Calico kit as well. There's a bunch of extras mixed in too. The paper was all from the kit, except the brown sheet. The bright yellow Thickers came from the kit too. I thought they were pretty outrageous, and something I'd never have purchased on my own, but they look great here. I'm still really happy with this kit club thing.

This is th eonly layout I don't really like. I think it's because of how bright it is and that's just not my style. I did use up some super old paper (2005! yay!) so it was a success that way.

Hehe Jenny. I LOVE the big photo on this page. I took it just fooling around, but think it's so neat. I'm not normally so good at blurring out backgrounds. I love the paper line I used here too. Mr. Campy. How wonderful.

I seemed to do a ton of one-pagers this weekend. They are actually my favorite pages too. I don't know if Crystal even knew that Ryan took this photo of me and Hailey. I think it's very cute. I am pretty sure I was grabbing her and telling her if she didn't pay attention and listen to me she was going to fall over the slope and land in the water below. She thought that was funny for some reason. Thanks Jane for the Sass paper, I finally used it!

Crystal took these photos for Ryan and me. I turned them Sepia for no apparent reason, but I like how it turned out. Very soft.

Wow, look at me! So little. What's funnier, is look at my cousins. Styles have changed, that's for sure. Jen gave me the Prima flourish felt piece, and I challenged myself to use it on my very first page of the weekend. I think it fit pretty nicely.

This page is kind of dark, but it was challenging to do with the dark, aging photo. This is one of my last pages to finish for Adam's baby book I started a year ago.

This is a favorite page as well. Basic Grey is so amazing. Thanks June for the chipboard pieces.