Valentine's Day Cards

I made the kids' Valentine's Day cards entirely out of my scrap stash. Gotta love that!!

I trimmed the scraps down to 3x4 and adhered these white hearts onto them (these hearts were left over from my wedding favors...yes, that was back in 2000, yes I am a pack rat, but look! - these DID find another purpose, so I'm glad I saved them, at least my pack rattedness is organized.)

First, I did Owen's class using the red & pink family of scraps (right column).

Then I did Liam's class using the blue & green family of scraps (middle column).

Then my 13 year old daughter, who won't even be having a Valentine's Day party at school, said "Ooohhh, those are so cute! I want some to give to my friends! Will you make me some?!?" So, I made her about a dozen of them in the purple/orange/pink/red family. Basically, all the left overs (left column).

This project was SO quick and easy, and budget friendly to boot!!

Challenge 3b - 3Siblings

Finished with Challenge 3b! YAY! At this rate, I'm going to have more than a hundred layouts done by the end of the year. WOW!

Again, I adjusted the 8.5x11 inspiration layout to a 12x12. Typically, unless I'm working on a specific project or album, I do all 12x12.

3Siblings:

Some observations about the process and the products used:

1. I scanned this photo and increased it to 8x10. I wish I would have made it a 5x7, because the layout ended up feeling a little bottom heavy to me, and I didn't have room to journal everything I wanted to.
2. To try and balance the apple bottom layout, I added riboon scraps to the top left of the photo.
3. Check out my yellow and brown striped pants in this photo. Hot.
4. The jacket my brother is wearing was one of my favorites as a kid. I'm not sure if we each had the same jacket or if I "borrowed" it from him. But I remember wearing this jacket a lot. I wish my mom would have saved that jacket.
5. Our ages in this photo - Shawn - 6, Jeremy - 4, Me - 3 1/2.

Ready for Challenge 4!! :)

Challenge 3a - 11

Done with ScRap SiStaZ Challenge 3a!!

In case I haven't mentioned it before, I'm so glad Tina started this group. It really keeps me motivated...AND Scrapping!

Another one of Jordyn's birthday layouts done. Yay! Three down, Ten to go!!

11 - Double:

11 - Left:

11 - Right:
Some observations about the process and the products used:

1. I used Picasa to create the photo collage on the right (including the text ON the photos). One of my favorite bloggers, Ashley Gailey, wrote a post about how easy it was to create photo collages using Picasa. For a frame of reference, she also knows how to use Photoshop, so if she can learn that, she can learn ANYTHING. That should have been my first clue that it wasn't as easy as a "click of a button". But, I did finally end up with my desired result (after much cursing) and I will probably use Picasa again. Besides, it's free.
2. The patterned papers are from Stampin Up! (plug! for Stacey) It's called Outlaw, which goes to show you that you can use "boy" paper for a girl's layout.
3. Plus, I girlied up the "boy" paper with Colorbok's self adhesive metal dots. Gotta have a bit of bling. I also put one on the tab on the right to bring the two pages together.
4. Clearly the inspiration layout is 8 1/2 x 11. However, I did 12x12 because that's the size of the kids' birthday books. The collage on my layout is 8 1/2 x 11, but it doesn't take up the entire right side of the layout like the inspiration. But I think I was able to make it work on the 12x12 by balancing it with a strip of cardstock (ripped to match the ripped cardstock on the left side).
5. Here is a perfect example of how I should have used the Cricut to create the title "11". But no, I was too lazy. So, I free hand cut the two ones from the SU! patterned paper.
6. It's amazing to me about how few details I can recall from an event that happend just two years ago. I am going to try and be a much more current scrapper going forward.

My Toothless Grin

These ScRaP SiStaZ challenges have me so motivated that all I want to do is scrap, scrap, scrap!! I put this layout together just for fun.



My Toothless Grin



Some observations about the process and the products used:

1. This page was made from a 2 page "kit" (My Boy by Rembrandt). I'm not sure where I got the kit, but it's been in my stash for a loooong time. I'm quite certain the "kit" was in some 90% off sale bin with an original price of a dollar.
2. None of the "brads" on this page are real....those were all part of the patterned paper made to LOOK like brads.
3. I converted the photo to black and white before printing it because I didn't realize Liam had such a dirty face when I took the picture (crusty boogers and all). The b&w is much more forgiving (although not entirely).
4. I kind of feel like I should add something more to this page, but I'm not sure what. And I captured the memory which is the important part.

Anxiously awaiting Challenge 3! :)

Challenge 2b - Forty Fotos

This layout was a SNAP to do and super current (pictures taken yesterday!)

It's not exactly like the Challenge 2b layout, but I copied the general idea of having a row of photos on the top and a row of photos on the bottom with the journaling & the title in the middle.

Forty Fotos:

Some comments / observations about the process & products used in this layout...

1. Title and One of a Kind sticker are from Polar Bear Press Rustic Retreat stickers.
2. Patterned paper is from DCWV Old World Stack
3. Usually, before I print my photos for a layout, I edit them on the computer....cropping, auto brightness, etc. I DID NOT DO THAT on this layout. These are 4 year old Owen's pictures EXACTLY as he took them.
4. After completing this layout, Owen looked at it and said "But I took two pictures of myself (which he did). Where's the other one?" He's just too smart for me.
5. The glowing orb of a photo in the lower right corner of the layout is Owen's attempt to take a picture of his finger with the Spiderman band aid on it.

Challenge 1b - Dear Kev

OK, yes, I should be in bed right now. But, it's not as late as I stayed up last night AND tonight I actually started and finished my layout in the same evening (unlike last night). Unfortunately, I didn't start this layout until 10:20 pm, since I first had to finish the layout that I started LAST night. Mamma Mia!


I just really wanted to do the ScRaP SiStaZ Challenge 1b. So here it is...


Dear Kev - Single Layout

Some observations about the creative process and the products used:

1. This is the very first photo that I have ever scrapped of our wedding.
2. This layout came together really really quickly. The longest part was typing the journaling.
3. Cutting a scalloped border when you're stone cold sober is just as challenging, if not more so, as cutting a scalloped border when you're 3 sheets to the wind...or at least 3 glasses of wine to the wind. Might need to look into some scallop border punches.
4. Stampin' Up! (plug for Stacey) has the.best.rubons.ever. Ever. The florally scrolly stuff down the left side of the journaling block is a SU! rubon as is the You Make Me Happy in the lower right corner of the photo. They just rub on so easily. They're grrrrreat!
5. KEV is spelled using atd self adhesive acrylic alphas.
6. Patterned papers are from DCWV black & white stack.
7. When you go through your stash, you can find things that fit perfectly on your page (like those rubons). And when you find something that fits perfectly, it's almost like Christmas. Such a gift.
8. Kev really does make me happy.

Challenge 2a - Champions On Ice

This whole ScRaP SiStaZ thing has me so motivated to scrap! scrap! scrap! Granted, it's only week two, so the motivation may run out at some point. But for now, I am LOVING it!!



For Challenge 2a, I had wanted to scrapbook Liam's 5th birthday party at the Tigers game, but I could not find the photos due to my big jumble-y mess of a photo storage system pre-2006. So, I scrapped a more recent topic, instead. Kev, Jordyn, & Liam ice skating on our lake earlier this month. How CURRENT of me!!

I gave Liam two choices for the title:

• Hillarys on Ice
• Champions on Ice

He chose Champions.

Champions on Ice - Double Layout

Champions on Ice - Left side of layout

Champions on Ice - Ride side of layout

I liked scrapping this topic, because I was able to use the same colors as the inspiration layout, so it took the guesswork out for me. If you'll notice, I used the exact same CTMH (plug! for Kim) light blue snowflake patterned paper as the inspiration layout (didn't realize that until I had made my decision on what papers to use).

Other products I used:

• Snowflake brads (Recollection) bought at Michael's specifically for this project...go to Michael's to exchange a broken paper punch, come out $27 later. Oy!
• Vellum snowflake stickers adhered to the photos themselves (also bought specifically for this project)
• Marvy 2" square punch (exchanged the broken one at Michael's for one that works!)
• Amy's cast off dark blue snow flake patterned paper
• Ice Skates die cut / thingy's (Jolee's) - I already had these on hand, imagine that! Amazing what you can find in your stash if you just LOOK!

So excited to do Challenges 1b & 2b!!