School Days

This layout came together really quickly. I used My Little Shoebox papers on this. Everything was inked with Frayed Burlap (Ranger Distress Ink) -- love that color! I simply layered the papers, matted the pictures, and popped them up. The letter stickers are from S.E.I. I have to admit, I am proud of myself for getting this layout done. My daughter is actually still in this class, which means ... (wait for it) I AM ON TOP OF SOMETHING! It's a miracle I know.

Peaceful Sleeping

This is probably my favorite layout of from my scrapbook weekend adventure. It just came together so well. A couple of the papers are from SEI. I can't recall the bottom patterned paper. The stick pin and butterfly is Jenni Bowlin. The tag is SEI. The crystals are SVA and they were in a pain in my butt. It took me forever to get them right because they flopped all over the place and stuck together. GRRRR. The diecut shapes are AccuCut. I don't have an AccuCut machine but my local scrapbook store does. So I took some chipboard, cut out the shapes I liked most and now use them as my templates. It works great when you're away from the machine.

Simple Things

This layout uses all American Crafts paper. I love it. It's fairly simple. I used one of my favorite EK Success punches again. The letter stickers are from Scenic Route. The journal spot is from SEI. I can't recall where the tag is from. The popped up stickers are from K & Co. I made that turquoise flower out of white crepe paper. Then I Glimmer Misted it to give it color. There's a million tutorials out there for these so just Google "how to make crepe paper flowers" and I am sure you'll come up with something. They're super EASY!

Do I Detect A Pattern?

This layout just makes me laugh! Once again, I don't really know who makes all of the papers. I think the crossword is Sassafrass. It's killing me that I don't know who makes the green floral and the blue floral. Oh well. I'll do my best to next time take better notes about my paper usage. :)

You Got That?

There's some Cosmo Cricket Girlfriend paper on here. Is this owl paper Sassafrass? I think it is. Whatever! It's cute! The flower stickers are old and their from Me & My Big Idea.

So I have decided that this layout only makes sense to me. If you look at her expression and where her hand is pointing, it's like she's making sure I remember she's sweet. Hence the "You got that?" title. What's funny is that this was one of those random clicks of the camera. She wasn't really posing like this. I am sure she was in mid flight or something and this is what that exact moment caught. You know? Like when you're snapping pictures and one of them shows someone with the most awful expression on their face?

High Energy

Here's another layout done with an eclectic group of patterned papers. Some of it is Heidi Grace Designs. The rest? Who knows? I was very bad about cutting the bar codes strips off the papers I was using. I guess the women who design for magazines must be really good about documenting that part. Me --- terrible! Regardless, I had a lot of fun with this layout. These pictures have just been begging for a page to be done. My Hannah can't sit still And this series truly shows how difficult it is for me to get a good, happy shot of her. Sigh! I used my new favorite item on this layout. Jenni Bowlin's crystal stick pins (can't find a link because they're sold out at all the reputable places I shop at)! They are so pretty and add just the perfect touch.

SEI Love

I love love love this picture of my little girls. It was taken in December 2008 when I was trying to get a Christmas card photo. This was the winning shot. I used the lovely papers in the Jolie Chocolat line by SEI. I remember when this paper line came out. I drooled over it! I still have so much of it left and I know I will love whatever project I ever use it on. This layout is pretty simple. Some layered papers. A few die cuts popped up. Some glitter brads by Dress It Up.

Big Girl Bed

I wasn't sure how this layout would turn out. The colors in the pictures didn't match any of the papers I brought along with me so I had to wing it. I think it worked. There's a whole bunch of different papers on here. The decorative green paper is Basic Grey. The journal box, ruler paper, polka dot paper, and houndstooth paper is Teresa Collins. I have no idea who makes the flower die cut paper of the lined paper with the green chandelier on it. If you do, please let me know. :)

My Little Artist

I mixed Cosmo Cricket with Graphic 45 papers for this layout. Who would have thought that they'd work so well together?

I also used a EK Success punch to create the top and bottom borders. Then I popped them up with popdots. I love the look. You'll notice that I still need to add the date. That's the case for all of my layouts. One thing I would recommend is that you make sure you know the dates of your photos. I just grabbed a ton of printed pictures and now how to go back on my external drive (another recommendation) to figure out exactly when all of these scrapbooked pictures were taken.

More to share

This layout was a fun one! Boy do I love My Little Shoebox papers! Working with them makes pages come together so well. I took one of the papers and hand cut all those flowers along the bottom. It took a while, but I am so pleased with the result. I added a little Diamond Stickles to the flower centers. I made the title pennant on my own. Cut the triangles with the pink paper, matted them with the yellow paper, and then punched the letters with a circular Martha Stewart punch. Then I popped them up with popdots. I made that "grass" at the bottom by handcutting a strip of paper. Really easy to do and yet such a great result.

I'm back and have lots to share.

Hurray! I had such a great time at the Scrapbook Inn in Escondido, CA. And I got a lot done. I'll be sharing the layouts as I get them uploaded. Here's the first one I did. My oldest daughter went through a little phase where she introduced herself as Rachael Rae. This first time she did this was at this little children's museum in Chino. It made me laugh and I am so glad I got a picture.

I did something that really worked well for me this time. I went through all of my patterened paper (both old and new) and I grouped them into piles that seemed to coordinate with each other. Then I took those groups of paper and matched some cardstock with them. When I got to where I was going, all I had to do was pull out some pictures and then pick the packet of papers that best went with them. It really helped me to be productive. I am sure it won't work for everyone, but I think I am well on my way to finding a system for myself.

Really?!

Ugh! I can't stand it one more minute! Looking at my last entry about Valentine's Day stuff (from well over a month ago) each day I click on my blog to direct me to my favorite daily reads (posted on left side). I am so sick of looking at those heart felt wreaths and balls! So now is as good as time as any to just get something else up here. I am very excited that this weekend I will be going away to another scrapbook weekend. If you or your friends are in the SoCal area and are looking for a place to spend a weekend, I highly recommend Scrapbook Inn. We are going to be staying at their newly aquired 2nd location. Their original one is wonderful and this new place is supposedly even better. I can't wait. I am aiming to get lots of layouts done. It's going to be the weekend of my Hannah. In packing I came across a TON of Hannah photos from years past that obviously were supposed to be documented but never were. Shocker I know! So rather than print out new photos, I am just going to take this huge pile with me and hopefully get somewhat caught up. I just went to Scrappin In the Hills and purchased quite a collection of cardstock so I have no excuses for not getting pages done.

So in case you were wondering what all has been going on in the 1 month plus I have been absent:

Niece #2 was born. Welcome Payton!


I worked on my photography skills.


We went to Disneyland with Joel's parents.

Experienced the first loose tooth. Yes she's only 4!

Experienced the first LOST tooth! The Tooth Fairy brought 8 quarters and a special note.

Planted a garden. (Red bell, Green bell, strawberries, cherry tomatoes, Big Boy tomatoes?, and Green beans)

Decorated Easter eggs.





Helped the Easter Bunny make these baskets.


Enjoyed the girls having a blast on Easter.

I am currently trying to work on Makaela's Ariel/Under the Sea 2nd Birthday party. Sigh! If only there were enough time and energy to make all my ideas come true.

OK I am off to get some sleep so I can be well rested for my scrapbook weekend. I am beyond excited.

Have a great weekend ... if you haven't stopped following me due to lack of frequent posts. :)