Baby Josie Layout

Happy Friday!! It's been a long week! Today I'm sharing a page layout I made for a book that several people from a group I belong to are creating. One of the women in the group has a friend who's daughter was born in November weighing only 1.4 ounces and 11-1/4 -inches in length. 

This is such a fantastic idea to make a baby book for the family so that they can record their journey! Everyone who chose to participate created a page measuring 5-3/4 x 8-3/4 -inches. We are then mailing our page to another person in the group who will put the book together.

I used paper from the Little Darlings collection from Graphic 45. I've already made one book using this paper. I'm getting ready to start on another one.

I also added four photo mats inside the pocket for photos or journaling to be placed on the backside of each one. The pocket is also large enough to add more photos or memorabilia. 

I also want to apologize for not keeping up with my blog! I think I only blogged once in January! I've been busy working on books that I'm hoping to get posted in the next week. I've also been going through my craft room and weeding out supplies (and not just scrapbook stuff!) that I no longer use. I've been listing stuff on eBay and that is a full-time job. The people at the Post Office are getting to know me!

Thanks for stopping by!

Layout: Sunday Lunch

I didn't take many photos when I went to KY in May. I used my iPhone for all the ones I did take. Looking back I wish I would have used my camera and that I would have taken more.

My Aunt Wanda, daughter Hannah and I went to a Flea Market. After shopping we stopped at Cracker Barrel for lunch. I had Hannah take the photo of Wanda and me. A very nice woman and her husband came by and offered to take the one of all three of us. I was inspired to do a layout, in a style called shabby chic. Whenever something new looks old (shabby chic) I love it.

This layout is loosely based on the sketch below from Scrapbooks Etc. They have many more to choose from that you can see here.

I used the Mariposa stack from DCWV for the patterned paper and the Colorful Life stack for the lettering. I diecut the letters using Cat 'n Mouse from Sizzix.

I used up the scraps I had to make four flowers - two orangish-pink and two teal. I used Nestablilities scalloped circles and dictionary paper for the flowers. I had a package of pearlized white stamens in my stash so I added them to the centers. 

For the other flowers above I used the Art Flowers Vintage Collage from Hero Arts. The button in the center is from Favorite Findings. I had purchased the crotchet flowers from a shop in Etsy. The teal flowered center is a flower from Prima. I added a Vintage Black Pearl Trinket Pin from Maya Road. 

The green flower I picked up somewhere, but I'm not sure where or who the manufacturer is. The brad in the center of the Hero Arts flower is from Bazzill. You can also see a small portion of the faux pearls I used from Recollections.

Here's one of the teal flowers I made and a white one from Prima. Other products used on this layout include   a calendar card from Jenni Bowlin, Canvas Fringe from Canvas Corp, and a small rose from My Moments. I used Vintage Photo Distress Ink from Tim Holtz for all the inking on the edges of the flowers and patterned paper. Spellbinders Grand Nestabilities Labels Four and Grand Squares were used to diecut some of the patterned paper.

This post is linked to these parties: What I Whipped Up Wednesday, Inspiring Creativity, Delightfully Inspiring Thursday, 

Thanks for stopping by!

Snow Much Fun



I think this might be my favorite layout I've created lately. I'm really happy with the way it turned out! I did this page for display at The Baker's Wife, where you can find all the products listed below. These photos are the grandson of owner Phyllis Van Beynen. The way I've cropped the photo looks like there isn't any space on the right where the photo is or on the left where the snowflake is. Trust me there is!

Products used for this layout:

Nestabilities Standard Circles Small

TPC Studio Christmas Village Printed Brads and Holly Jolly Pearlized & Glittered Brads

Buttons

We R Memory Keepers Crimson Sewn Cardstock

Dreamstreet Papers Alphabet

Another fun Blog Candy contest is going on! You could win the stamp set below called Morphic Birds from Inkadinkado by clicking here. All you have to do is become a follower and leave a comment. If you're already a follower, just leave a comment stating what you will do with the set if you were to win. Good luck!

1st Christmas Layout

My cousin's daughter so graciously let me use a photo of her family for this layout. Crystal and her husband, Brian, had triplets in July 2009. Technically, they are my first cousins, three times removed, and that information came from here. Crystal's mother Bonnie and I are first cousins because our mothers were sisters. The "cousin relationships" are so confusing to me, that I'm just going to call them my third cousins even if it isn't correct and leave it at that. The triplets, Gabriel, Lyla and Isabella are almost 15 months old and are just adorable! I'm hoping to do more projects with photos of them. I haven't actually met them yet, since we don't live near each other. Hopefully one day.....

I created this layout using one of the laser-cut paper doilies from BasicGrey. This one is the Jovial Doilies Poinsettia Bouquet. I think that it's just gorgeous!

I did add stickles to the doily

and also to the poinsettia and leaves.

This layout will be on display at The Baker's Wife on Friday.

Products used for this layout: Moxxie Joys of the Season Elements Cardstock Sticker, BasicGrey Laser-Cut Paper Doilies - Jovial Poinsettia Bouquet, Dreamstreet Papers Alphabet, Bazzill Paper Poinsettia and Holly Leaves, Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Vintage Photo, Stickles in Gold, Lime Green, Crystal, Xmas Red and Green, Amuse Creative Candy Black Twinkle Stickers, BasicGrey Painted Brads and May Arts Ribbon.

Thanks for stopping by!

Catching Up In Eau Claire

Another great sketch from Sketches! {by tamara}. This one is #101 from January 5, 2010. You really should hop over to her blog and check out her sketches if you need some inspiration for your layouts. There's such a nice selection to choose from.

My step-son Kyle's girlfriend, Cassie, was nice enough to take this shot of us after we had lunch. Thanks, Cassie!

Well, back to work. I'm in the middle of some projects that will be on display at The Baker's Wife, a local scrapbook store. I'll post some photo's when I'm finished.

Products used for this layout:
Bazzill Cardstock
Patterned Paper by Dream Street Papers-Nostalgic-Maudlin
Buttons
Alphabet by EK Success
Sketch from Sketches! {by tamara}

Laughter For Lunch

Here's another layout using a sketch from Sketches!{by tamara}. This one is #97 from May 25, 2009.

Earlier this month we met the kids in Eau Claire, WI for lunch. We hadn't seen the girls since July of '09. One lives in Minneapolis and the other in Connecticut. Even though it had been awhile since we'd seen each other, we all managed to have our own conversation going on at the same time. Nothing unusual for us!

Hopefully we won't have to wait 13 months to see each other next time!

Supplies used for this layout:
Bazzill Cardstock
Patterned Paper - not sure
Sizzix Dies - Funky Brush & Girls Are Weird Fonts
Nestabilities Ribbon Tags Trio
Sketch #97 from Sketches!{by tamara}
Ribbon

Just Chillin'

The other day my little guy was all sprawled out on the sofa. He looked so calm and just adorable (I'm a little biased, of course!) so I couldn't resist taking some pictures. It was a well deserved break for him after the few days he had just been through. We had some thunderstorms and he's developed a terrible anxiety over them. He's very careful to be on the alert now "just in case" he hears any noise that resembles thunder. He also knows that lightening is a bad thing too because then comes the thunder!

I love the sketches from Sketches!{by tamara} and chose to use sketch #118 from May 4, 2010. I'm also working on two other layouts and will post those soon.

Supplies used for this layout:
Bazzill Cardstock
Patterned Paper "Max & Whiskers" from BasicGrey
Cork Paper
Bone Cookie Cutter
Ting A Ling Twill Ribbon by AdornIt
Bone Paper Clip
Little Classic Mini's Alphabet Stamps "Dots" Font by Hampton Arts
Sizzix "Wet Paint & Classic" Fonts
Sketch #118 from Sketches {by tamara}

Sisters Layout

In between going through extra belongings in storage and donating three car loads this week, I was able to finish a layout. I've had an idea for this photo for quite awhile. Once I sat down to work on it, I actually changed almost everything that I originally planned to do.

I did hit a bit of a snag while using my Slice machine to cut out the letters. I was getting pretty disgusted because it wasn't working like it should. After wasting tons of time and paper, I finally got them all cut. After going through that, I asked myself why I just didn't die cut the letters with my Sizzix. I would've had them done in probably half the time. I'm not sure how many of you have a Slice, but in hindsight I now wish I would have gone with a Cricut. My husband gave me the choice and I chose the Slice because of it portability. I just haven't decided if it was a good decision or not. If I have many more episodes like this, I think I'll know the answer! I'll get off my soapbox now.

I've wanted to make flowers like these, but hadn't taken the time to try them out. Finally I sat down and made a test one. I fell in love! I made the two for this layout and also have an extra one to use on a card in the future.

These are my two daughters. Hannah, the youngest, is on the left and Sarah, the oldest, is on the right.

Here's a closer view of the flowers and the stitching. I was just going to use black thread, but decided to go with three colors so that it would show up better on the black cardstock. I really like the In Stitch'z templates by Bazzill. I've had them for quite awhile and thought they'd work well for this layout.

A Walk Up The Strip

I actually had a sketch picked out for this layout before I had even chosen my photos. Once I had everything together, I just couldn't make it work though. I tried in vain to find another sketch that might work better, but I wasn't having any luck. So, I just flew by the seat of my pants and this is what I came up with!

It was a beautiful day when I took these pictures of my husband, stepson Kyle and his friend Josh as we walked up Las Vegas Blvd on our long trek to the Stratosphere Hotel & Casino. We made the trip thinking that the boys might want to ride the Big Shot. They chose not to. Hey, I don't blame them. You couldn't pay me to do it! But then I'm a chicken and don't go for that sort of thing. My idea of a ride is to take a train ride around an amusement park, so I stay as close to the ground as possible! I knew that the hubby wasn't going to do it again. We got married in Las Vegas and he rode it then with my brother and our maid of honor the day after our wedding. It's 110 stories to the observation deck, so I declined to even go up there this time. Steve did get some great pictures of the strip from the top for me to use in scrapbooking, so that's a plus.

Supplies used for this layout: Bazzill Cardstock, Crepe Streamer in Apple Red, Chipboard, Diecut Sticker by Reminisce, Bazzill Jewels, Creative Imaginations Foam Alphabet Stickers.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheers!

This blog post is for you, Tami! I saved this sketch from 52 Sketches...52 Weeks - a blog that no longer exits. Now you can find the sketches on Julie Bonner's blog Starting Now... Regardless, I like the sketches and have saved several of them. I'll apologize in advance because I'm not sure what date this sketch is from.

When I first saw it, I made a mental note because I knew it would be perfect with the right photo. I think the one I used worked beautifully!

After I completed this layout and looked back at the one I posted yesterday, I think I'm beginning to see a pattern - me in a picture with drink in hand! Just so you know, my life isn't unbearable. These are just good times and good memories, so "Cheers" to yours too!

Products used for this layout: Bazzill Cardstock & French Vanilla Paper Flowers, Making Memories Chipboard Jigsaw Shapes, Queen & Co Felt Fushion, Sizzix "Loopy" Die & "Girls Are Weird" Alphabet Dies, Shabby Green Door: Farmers' Market Twine in Cherry Twist, Button, Misc shape from cardstock.

Sketch Layout Challenge

I'm bound and determined to get some scrapbooking done. I've focused so much on cards in the past few years, that I finally feel my creative juices flowing and plan to do more scrapbook layouts. I won't ever stop making cards because I love to do them.

I'm disappointed that the photo doesn't do this layout justice. The background is actually yellow. I tried everything, including changing the settings on my camera, and it just wouldn't cooperate.

I found this sketch on one of my favorite blogs I visit regularly, Sketches! {by tamara}.

Products used for this layout: Bazzill Cardstock, Patterned Paper "The Casino" by Reminisce, Thickers "Sprinkles", Sizzix Card Symbols Die, Sketch #122 from Sketches! by tamara. I don't have the manufacturer of the cards. I picked these up on vacation and just love them!

Thanks for looking!

Grandmother Layout

I finished a layout tonight that I plan to enter into a monthly challenge for Graphic 45. It was a pretty easy one for August as the only requirement is that you have stitching on it. I'm happy how the page turned out. The black flower is actually an iron-on applique! I just happened to be in the thread aisle of my local department store and it jumped out at me. Black is one of my favorite colors and when I saw it I just knew that I would be able to use it in one of my projects.

A woman from Madison, WI came into Paper Studio today and loved all the cards I have displayed around the store. She thought that our styles are similar and asked if I would be interested in doing a card exchange with her. I'm pretty excited since I've never participated in one before and she seemed surprised by that. I will display her cards on my blog. Marilyn, get ready to receive my cards!

Products used for this layout: Bazzill cardstock, iron-on applique, Sizzix 'You're My Cupcake' letter dies, Creative Imaginations felt floral brad, Graphic 45 "Buttons A La Mode and Tre Chic" paper from the Fashionista Collection, Making Memories Vintage Hip Trims, machine sewing.

New Layout and A Trip To Boulder Junction

Yay! Another layout finished. I started this late Friday afternoon and finished it this morning. I'm a pretty slow scrapper so I was pretty pleased with myself that I was able to finish this one quickly.

We took these photos at Bond Falls in the UP in July 2008. Steve, his sister Judy and I drove there from Rhinelander on one of the weekends that I was visiting from Minnesota. It sure is a beautiful area.

For this layout I used Bazzill cardstock, Cloud 9 Design Simple Stripes in Cinnamon Stick cardstock, Sizzix Sizzlets Strips Die & Letters, Hero Arts Flowers Vintage Collection and Meadow and Gemstones in citron, orange and smooth clear and miscellaneous buttons.

We drove to Boulder Junction today. This was my first trip there and it's a cute little town. We checked out the area and stopped in a few of the shops. I loved the Cranberry Gift Shop and will probably go back there. They had some fantastic cookbooks and a few of them I've had my eye on ever since I've been in the Northwoods. Today was the day that I picked one up. I can't wait to page through it and read some more of the recipes! The Orange Cranberry Muffins sound especially delicious.

While in Boulder Junction we took a path

that runs through the woods and parallels the highway. Toby sure was having a good time!

Steve and Toby posed for a picture.

It was a beautiful trail and I wish we had our bikes here so we could ride through the woods. Even though it's gorgeous in the forest, occasionally I really miss my big city concrete!

Family Time

Yesterday morning out of the blue I had an idea for the scrapbook page below. I didn't have time to work on it until this evening and it's nothing fancy at all. Just a nice simple page. I had another title in mind, but with the help of Steve another one was chosen. The title was cut out of chipboard and then I cut the brown cardstock for just some of the letters. Originally all the letters were going to be brown, but I liked the look of the plain white.

Products used for this layout: Ice Cream Cone/Board Shorts and Summer Log/Meadow from the August Collection from Marks Paper Company, Bitter Chocolate and White Bazzill cardstock, Hero Art's Vintage Collection Flowers, Creative Imaginations Brown Plush Brads, Sizzix Lollipop alphabet letter dies and Abstract extended strip die, chipboard and buttons.

Busy Few Days

I haven't updated for almost a week, but I've been busy! First off, my two daughter's came to Minocqua for a visit over the weekend. I hadn't seen them since October 2008 when I moved here. We had fun time checking out the stores in the downtown area and went to lunch. I had gone into some of the stores last summer when I was here for a weekend, but haven't ventured out to any of them since I've been here. I do have to say that most of the area stores only cater to the tourists and not the locals. I did have a business owner comment to me while we were going through her store that the locals don't support the downtown businesses. Well, I can see why! The prices for the most part are outrageous. Because of the pay scale in the area I would imagine that most locals can't afford to shop these businesses.

I did find something that I just had to have while in the Antique Store in Gaslight Square. I love buttons and this jar (shown below) is perfect for my cards and page layouts. This is one store that I will go back to when I have more time to just wander around aimlessly.

I'm pretty pleased with myself that I am finally getting some scrapbooking done. I just finished this layout (shown above) of my mother and her siblings. It's going to take awhile, but someday I will get all my pictures scrapbooked.

The products used for this layout are: Graphic 45 papers Botanical News from the Botanicabella Collection, Vintage Cherries from the Fashionista Collection, Child's Play from the Playtimes Past Collection, Bazzill French Vanilla 3" Paper Flower and Pomegranate brad, Sizzix Flourish Die, Flowers from Irene's Garden, paper lace, Creative Imaginations brad, Creating Keepsakes Postcard Font, assorted buttons.

Marlene Allen, a very nice customer of Paper Studio came in last week and brought some of the items (shown above) that her husband Don creates. These were all made using pinecones and clothespins. These are very cool and I was so happy that she came in and shared these with us at the store. She also brought in a layout that she had done in which she had created a medic kit. It was amazing! If you click on the above link to Paper Studio you can view the page there.

On a final note, above is a card I made last week using some of my Graphic 45 paper scraps. The paper is Dollie's Teaparty from the Playtimes Past Collection and Sizzix Flowers and Vines Die. The stamp used is from Hero Arts. Now I need to finish a couple of other projects I am currently working on.....

18th Century Moments

Whew! I have known for a week that I wanted to submit a layout to Hero Arts for their weekly contest. They asked you to make a "vacation" project of some sort and use their stamps. I'm not sure if I got my entry in on time. If it's Central Time I'm fine, if not I'm out of luck! Regardless, I've just realized that I'm a slow scrapbooker! I had an idea about what I wanted to do for several days, gathered my materials, but still didn't really sit down until today to work on my layout. In between doing other things and working on my page it literally took me all day! One thing's for sure, I need to enter more of these contests because it'll help me to stop procrastinating and I'll finally get all my scrapbooking finished!

Supplies used for this layout: Hero Arts Getaway Travel Clear Stamps (thanks Jen for letting me borrow them!), Sizzix Wingo Zingo & Nouveau letters and red, green & beige cardstock. The background paper I bought while in Virginia and it is called "Colorful Wood", however I don't know who the manufacturer is.

My Mom

I think I am back into scrapbook mode... finally! Cardmaking seems to be the only thing I have been doing lately. Hopefully now that I have finished a page I will be inspired to start working on the large amount of pictures I have just begging me to scrapbook them. It's not that I haven't wanted to do any scrapbooking, it's just that sometimes it's so much easier to make a card and see the finished product right away.

The picture I used below on my scrapbook page is a photo of my Mother at around the age of 6. The year was around 1942 and the picture was taken in Ironton, Ohio. People would travel door to door to see if children would like to have their picture taken on a pony. Of course there was a cost, but I'm not sure what the price was.

Products used for this layout:

• Black and Green Bazzill Cardstock
• Graphic 45 Papers: Lollapalooza from the Times Nouvaeu Collection, En Vogue from the Fashionista Collection & Botanical News from the Botanicabella Collection
• Creative Imaginations Black Velvet Floral Brad
• Creative Imaginations Cream Paper Lace Ribbon
• Deja Views Filigree Jewel Flowers
• Heidigrace Common Flowers in Black and White
• Hero Arts Vintage Collection Art Flowers
• Sizzix Sizzlets Architectural Accent Die
• Making Memories Edger
• Buttons