FREE Photoshop Class at Jessica Sprague!!!!

I wanted to share this awesome and FREE class with everyone, The Photoshop Top 5: Five Techniques Everyone Should Know.  JessicaSprague.com is offering this FREE instructor-led, week-long class from June 18-23.  

I have learned so much from the Photoshop and Digital Scrapbooking classes I've taken through JessicaSprague.com.  I can now take my photos from nice to wow.  And I can create complete and full scrapbook pages just like I would with paper and glue.  

If you've ever been interested in what her classes are like or have been on the fence about making the investment, I really suggest trying this free class to see if it's for you.  What is there to lose?!?!?!?

WIthout the Rain...

These past few years have felt like a honeymoon.  Justin has been home.  Since April 2009, the longest he was away from home was eight days for a sailing trip with his dad.  I've learned to depend on him for so very much.  He gives Charlotte a bath almost every night.  He takes out the trash.  He hangs up the pictures.  He hugs me just when I need to be held.  But now...now, he's gone...  

Justin and Charlotte going up and down the airport elevator before finally saying goodbye.

We go back to being long-distance.  For years, we were long-distance boyfriend/ girlfriend.  A week after we got married, we were long-distance husband/ wife.  But that was when it was just the two of us.  Now we have Charlotte.  So now...now, Justin will add long-distance daddy to his resume.  That is probably why it feels so hard.  We've never done this before.  New and uncharted territory.  But it is what it is.  As my sister always says, you lie in the bed you make.  And I think that we both just have to remember...

Justin, we miss you.

Take 12 Project - May 12

What a month May has been so far.  In the past two weeks, we had our house in Rhode Island packed out with some boxes sent to San Diego and other boxes ultimately destined for Hawaii.  We bought 20 (yes, TWENTY) pounds of lobster.  Justin graduated from Department Head School.  We celebrated Collen & Adrian's wedding in Missouri.  I had the most amazing ribs (like, best ribs I've had in my entire life) at Pappy's Smokehouse in St. Louis.  I puked on the airplane.  And now we are slowly getting settled back in San Diego before Justin leaves again.  I'm kindove exhausted but there really isn't much time to think about it all.

And amidst all of this craziness, it's time for another Take 12 layout with Ella Publishing!  Since my paper crafting tools and supplies are still waiting to get unpacked and organized, I went digital this month.  I used a cute and adorable template from Splendid Fiins (available through Jessica Sprague).

Supplies:  Splendid Fiins (Life in a Nutshell 12x12 Templates, delicious alphabets).

Thankfully, May 12 just happened to be the same day as Colleen's wedding.  What an amazing celebration!  It was set at Overlook Farms in Clarksville, Missouri.  There were lawns set up for horseshoes and washers.  Charlotte loved the easily accessible cupcakes.  And the dancing...oh my.  It did not take long before Charlotte ripped off her socks and shoes and literally danced the night away.  After the last song, she ran up to me and said, "more, please."  :)

If you're participating in the Take 12 Challenge this month, make sure to link up your layout to the Ella Publishing blog by midnight EST Friday, May 18.  You could win a brand-new print edition of Everyday Storyteller, a new book from Jennifer Wilson/Create More Media with a slate of amazing contributors.

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Words for Wednesday - Yoda Speaks

Favorite Photos of April 2012

I think I'm catching up with all these blog posts because my paper scrapbooking supplies are boxed up in a storage locker somewhere.  I can't imagine that I can keep this up for too long.  Enjoy it while you can.  :)

Here are my favorite photos from April 2012.  You can find my favorite photos from March, February and January 2012 by clicking on the hyperlinks.

Cuddling on the coach while Charlotte is dressed up in her princess outfit.

Charlotte sees eggs and she is on a mission!

Group photo with toddlers and babies.  Yeah, not so easy.  :)

On the carousel at Roger Williams Park in Providence, RI.

Sitting on the rocks in Roger Williams Park.

  

Feeding the aggressive goats at Simmons Farm in Middletown, RI.

Bath time Picasso.

Looking at the beach from Marconi Station in Cape Cod, MA.

Charlotte looks on as Justin tries to be silly at Doane Rock in Cape Cod, MA.

Sharing secrets in the New Bedford Whaling Museum.

Eating yummy Italian pastries in the North End, Boston, MA.

Monkey pants or monkey hat?

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Now We're Rockin' with Photoshop - Intermediate Digital Scrapbooking

I've been immersed in the self-paced intermediate digital scrapbooking class over at JessicaSprague.com, Now We're Rockin' with Photoshop.  

Using the course materials from the first two lessons, I was able to complete these layouts covering the rest of our Cape Cod trip this past April.  


I really enjoyed the use of the circle photo collage in this layout from Lesson Two.  In that lesson, Jessica also describes the use of the "screen" blending tool in photoshop and shares a new (to me at least) way of making digital stickers.

In the layout below, I highlighted the photos from Charlotte's first time mini golfing.  It reminded me of when all of my college girlfriends and I went mini golfing at a similar pirate themed course in Myrtle Beach.  Golfing with Charlotte was certainly a different experience but nonetheless memorable.  I loved how Jessica, in this lesson, taught us how to add specific highlights of color to  black & white and sepia colored photos.  I always wondered how to do that!

The other Cape Cod digital layouts I made using some awesome templates and digital papers from Queen of Quirk (sold through JessicaSprague.com) can be found at this blog post.  


As always, thanks for stopping by!  Happy National Scrapbooking Day!

Xyron Design Team Member for 2012

I feel so amazingly lucky.  I started scrapbooking less than two years ago as a way to chronicle my newborn baby's photos and stories.  It quickly morphed into a refuge from the emotional challenges of being a working mom.  And now, it is a passion and form of creative expression I love and embrace fully into my life.  I am a scrapbooker (and gosh darnit, I'm proud of it).  

A large part of scrapbooking is very personal.  I do it to chronicle my family's stories.  I do it to create memories to share with our future grandchildren.  I do it because I love to play with pretty paper.  But now, I feel so amazingly lucky because I have this new and unique opportunity to share my scrapbooking with so many others.

I am pleased and beyond excited to announce that I am one of the six newest members of the Xyron Design Team!  

Xyron is a developer and manufacturer of amazingly innovative adhesive products and tools that can apply edge to edge adhesive on a variety of materials making all of your crafting projects an ease.  (And oh my goodness, their tools do so much more!!!)

Personally, I always reach for my Xyron tools when adhering ribbon or intricate die cuts.  It is also my go to tool for any project that will be handled a lot - there is nothing worse than spending hours on a project just to have the little embellishments fall off over time because of poor adhesive.  Xyron creates products and tools that I love and would recommend to anyone.  This makes it especially exciting that I get to work with them to make projects to share with all of you.  

Please make sure to check out the Xyron Facebook Page!

I feel so blessed with this new opportunity.  So to Xyron, thank you for taking a chance on me.  And to all of you readers out there, I hope I make you all proud.  

Thank you for the support.  It truly does mean the world to me.

Stella & Dot Inspired Projects

Recently, a friend put in an order for some custom signs for her new Stella & Dot business.  I eagerly jumped on the opportunity since I absolutely LOVE Stella & Dot jewelry - the epitome of uber chic, modern young and affordable!  


1.  Stella & Dot Folded Sign.  I wanted this sign to mimic the beautiful Stella & Dot jewelry boxes down to even the grosgrain ribbon.

Supplies:  Cardstock (American Crafts); Digital Files (Silhouette Studio Store); Ribbon (Recollections - Michael's Store Brand); Other (Silhouette Cameo).


2.  Stella & Dot Stylist Signs.  I made two signs for two of my favorite S&D stylists.  They are perfect to use over and over when placed in these white frames.

Supplies:  Cardstock (American Crafts); Digital Files (Silhouette Studio Store); Other (Silhouette Cameo).


3.  Stellatini Card.  I designed this card on Photoshop and then just printed and mounted it on some textured cardstock.

Supplies:  Cardstock (American Crafts); Other (Photoshop CS5).


Now those who know me personally also know that I am not a huge jewelry person.  However, I absolutely the necklaces that I've gotten from Stella & Dot.  In case you're intersted, I have the Contessa Jade Necklace (ugh, gorgeous!)...

and a Gold Chain Necklace with a Birthstone, Initial and Signature Leaf Charm.  I wear this one almost everyday.  My Stella & Dot stylist calls this the "Mommy Necklace."

If you're interested in adding some Stella & Dot jewelry to your collection or would like to host your own party (in San Diego or Norfolk), please make sure to visit Laura and Maggie's Stella & Dot pages!  They are fabulous to work with and can help you with anything you need!

Laura Ferrari Stella & Dot Stylist (San Diego, California)

Maggie Eshenour Stella & Dot Stylist (Norfolk, Virginia)

As always, thanks for stopping by!