Happy Halloween!

Hope everyone has a fun and SAFE Halloween.  Charlotte is dressing up as a monkey ballerina and Ben has a cute little pumpkin sleeper his big sister picked out.  Photos to come.

And just because what is a post without some sort of crafty project, here's a Halloween card made with some digital goodness from Designs by Dani.

Supplies:  Digital Elements from Design by Dani, DIY Foam Tape, Photoshop CS5.

As always, thanks for stopping by!

{More} Catching Up - Digital Projects for Jessica Spraue

I just wanted to share some layouts I recently made for JessicaSprague.com.  They highlight some fabulous digital products from Echo Park, Pink Paislee, Carina Gardner and Lori Whitlock.

1.  Paradise Cove at Disney California Adventure.  Before Justin left on deployment, we had a family weekend at Disneyland and it was AWESOME watching how excited Charlotte was.  Here is a layout I made from some photos at Paradise Cove.

Digital Supplies:  Echo Park (Everyday Eclectic); Spendid Fiins (@ the office supplies 1, Evidence-polaroid frames, lights, camera, action! -vintage set).  Sketch by Jennifer McDermott for Scrapbooksteals.com (Mid Week Mojo - Pearl 4).

2.  Flying like an Airplane.  Charlotte and I met up with some friends at the Speckles Park in Coronado a few weeks ago and I snapped these adorable photos of her on the swing "flying like an airplane."  

Digital Supplies:  Pink Paislee (Shabby Sugarland); Splendid Fiins (Lights Camera Action - Vintage Set, Wishy Washy - At the Office, Baker's Twine Photo Megapack, @ the Office - Supplies 1).

3.  Our Daughter.  This was a new type of page for me, attempting to extract a photo from it's background.   The background text says "A daughter is the happy memories of the past, the joyful moments of the present, and the hope and promise of the future."  

Digital Supplies:  Pink Paislee (Shabby Sugarland Collection).

4.  You Can Reach for the Stars.  I bought this t-shirt for Charlotte and she couldn't stop giggling every time I read what it said.  The journaling is just a short letter to Charlotte from me.

5.  Sweet Berry Farm.  This is a fall themed layout using products from Lori Whitlock.  I can't believe that it's already September and that fall is already here!  Pumpkins and falling leaves are definitely already on my mind!

Supplies:  Lori Whitlock (Autumn Afternoon, Patriotic Picnic Elements); Design by Dani (Boy Crazy Complete Kit); Sketch by Katrina Hunt for ScrapbookSteals.com.

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Catching Up - Some More Digital Scrapbook Layouts

Just wanted to post some digital scrapbook layouts I've done that somehow never made it to the blog for one reason or another.  So enjoy!

1.  Playing with Daddy {a digital scrapbook layout}.  This layout is based on this beautiful sketch by Erin Shultz (Mid Week Mojo - Pearl #1) for Scrapbook Steals.  It was also the perfect excuse to play with some new digital products from Jenni Bowlin Studios.

Supplies:  Jenni Bowlin Studios (Classic Border Shapes, Mercantile Mix Paper Collection 2, Mercantile Mix Paper Collection 4, Rhinestone Buttons & Bows); Splendid Fiins (@ the office supplies 1, Sew Crafty - messy stitches vol 1, Knock Out - "wood grain" mask); Pink Paislee (Kraft Capers Paper Pack); Photoshop CS5; Sketch (Erin Shultz for Scrapbook Steals).

2.  Nashville {a digital scrapbook layout}.  This layout is an attempt to scrapbook our cross country drive last September.  I'm still not quite sure how I'm going to document our amazing trip cross country but here is a first attempt using some new products from Splendid Fiins.

Supplies:  Splendid Fiins (Kinda Sketchy, wishy washi - skies ae grey set 1, Sew Crafty - messy stitches vol 1; Photoshop CS5).

3.  Horsing Around {a digital scrapbook layout}.  And finally, this is a layout I made awhile back inspired by this amazing sketch by Misty Buck for Scrapbook Steals.  

Supplies:  Jenni Bowlin Studios (Tangerine Dream Collection, Printed Tickets Stars & Stats, Classic Label Papers ); Kitschy Digitals (Clotheslines); Queen of Quirk (Country Mouse Accent Pack; Photoshop CS5; Sketch (Misty Buck for Scrapbook Steals).

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Take 12 Project - July 12

In an unusually odd way, I'm relieved that this July 12 was so ridiculously mundane and kind of boring.  July 12 was on a Thursday.  I crafted in the morning.  Charlotte went to school.  I went to work.  We can home and just played and did our "thing" until bedtime.  With so much change and adjustment (and even just the anticipation of such turmoil) these past few months, it was relieving to feel a normal for just a little bit.

I went digital again for this month's layout.  I think I've been doing that these past few months because it's just easier at times and there isn't a huge mess to clean up afterwards. That's the beauty of digital scrapbooking!

Supplies:  Splendid Fiins (Kinda Sketchy Template, @ the office supplies 1, Evidence-date stamps, Knock Out - "clouds" mask, Knock Out - "wood grain" mask, very krafty-the ledgers); Design by Dani (Boy Crazy Complete Kit)

Make sure to head over to the Ella Publishing blog to check out some more inspiring layouts by the Take 12 team!!

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Thirty-One. Bring it On.

Well, today marks my 31st birthday.  I didn't blog about turning 30 last year.  I was in denial for a few months about that one.  But for 31, I have decided to face it straight on.  

Looking back at this past year, so much of my life has literally turned upside down.  I left my big firm attorney job.  We moved out of our dream home.  I traded credit agreements and mortgages for dirty diapers and sensory boxes.  But, while Justin and I struggled through growing pains in the process, the transition was worth it.  And now, in retrospect, I can look back at 30 and easily name thirty things that I am so amazingly proud of - both big and small.  From celebrating our fifth wedding anniversary to learning how to break down a Maryland blue crab, there is so much that happened this past year that only motivates and inspires me to be positive and optimistic as I turn 31.  Here's hoping that by the end of next year, I can end my list of 31 things I did at 31 still saying that I have no regrets. 

30 at Thirty {a digital scrapbook layout}

Supplies:  Splendid Fiins (Wishy Washy - At the Office, Sew Crafty - messy stitches vol 1); Design by Dani (Boy Crazy Complete Kit); Photoshop CS5

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Some Projects using Samantha Walker Digital Products

Last month over at JessicaSprauge.com, I got to work with some of Samantha Walker's gorgeous new digital designs and cut files to create these two projects.


1.  Smith & Sperry {a digital scrapbook layout}.  I took this photo during our visit to Missouri for Justin's cousin's wedding.  It was right outside of an old, rural antique shop and all the Smith boys and Charlotte just happened to be wearing sperrys.  How adorable, right?

Digital Supplies (all available at JessicaSprague.com):  Samantha Walker (Blossom Paper Pack (pink and solids), Mega Masks Fancy Collection); Splendid Fiins (Sew Crafty - Messy Stitches Vol 1). 


2.  F is for Family {a mini album}.  Samantha Walker also makes these amazing cut files for your electronic die cutting machines.  I used her Varied Flap Wallet Book file to make this mini album for Charlotte.  To hold down the little flaps, I used some Xyron Magnetic Tape which is pretty thin and easy to tear.  So easy!

Supplies:  Digital Files (Samantha Walker, liv.EDesigns); Patterned Paper (My Mind's Eye); Letter Stickers (Making Memories, October Afternoon, Cosmo Cricket); Adhesives (Xyron Mega Runner; Xyron Magnetic Tape).  


As always, thanks for stopping by!

Birthday Celebration at JessicaSprague.com

I have been so honored to be part of the JessicaSprage.com Creative Team these past few months. Their products are just amazing featuring some of the top designers out there in the industry.  You can use their products to make digital layouts, awesome hybrid projects like cards, mini books, banners...the possibilities are seriously endless.

To help celebrate their FIFTH birthday, there are a couple of awesome events happening.

1.  Birthday Sale:  20% off of all classes currently open for registration, 20% off Project Life, 40% off of digi products. I am attaching a graphic that is specific to the sale.

2. Birthday Contest:  In honor of their 5th birthday, JessicaSprague.com wants to know what 5 things you love. Create a page that somehow incorporates the number 5 and upload it to the birthday contest gallery at JessicaSprague.com and be entered for one of their great prizes.

Grand Prize: One winner will receive a Lifetime Subscription to all of Jessica's Classes! That is right, you will get access to all of Jessica's classes... forever!  (OMG - this is probably the best prize EVER!!)

First Prize: 5 Winners Will Win the Becky Higgins Digital Project Life Kit of Their Choice and an $80 gift card to Scrapping Simply

Second Prize: One winner will receive a 12 x 12 Digital Book Printed by Scrapping Simply, and a Samantha Walker Spellbinders Die Set

Third Prize: One winner will receive a 500 MB External Hard Drive

3. Birthday Bloghop:  Starts today.  The first stop is at Jessica's blog.  It includes 9 stops.  Each stop has a FREE Beach Party mini-kit created by that designer.   All downloads will be available until Sunday June 24th at midnight Eastern.

4. Speed Scraps:  5 speed scraps to celebrate the 5th birthday starts TODAY at 9am Eastern time. The speed scraps will be hosted at 9am/12pm/3pm/6pm/9pm Eastern. Each speed scrap will be hosted by a creative team member. Each participant will have 20 rewards points added to their account. If they participate in all 5, they will have 100 points by the end of the day which means they will be half way to a $10 gift certificate to the store. :)  

I hope that you can join in on the awesome celebration!!!

Congratulations, Graduate!

A few weeks ago, my nephew graduated from sixth grade.  How did he grow up so quickly?!?  I picked up some balloons on my way to the celebration and Charlotte refused to give them up to the graduate.  Here she is pulling them around the playround.

That weekend, we had a graduation celebration of epic proportions for my nephew.  The food was overflowing and the guests had a great time just running around the park and celebrating.  With some help from Charlotte and my nephews, I made 150 cupcakes!!  Two flavors to choose from.  First up, Chocolate Caramel Cupcakes with Vanilla Frosting.

Then some Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting.

After Charlotte's first birthday party, I learned that some things are better done semi-homemade.  Check out this short cut gourmet cupcake recipe I used from Heather Bailey.  Seriously love it.  And since I always make homemade frosting, I never feel guilty about using a box of cake mix.  :)

I designed the treat bag favor tags for the kids' goodie bags.  Super simple but cute with that graduation owl in the center.

Supplies:  Cardstock (Recollections); Digital Files (Lettering Delights); Photoshop CS5; Silhouette Cameo.

And finally, to go along with our gift for the graduate, here is the card I made.  This is called a "hybrid" project which means using digital scrapbooking supplies (like the ones you can purchase from JessicaSprague.com) and using them on physical cards or layouts.  It is a great way to make stuff if you don't have the perfect paper on hand!

Supplies:  Dani by Design (School Spirit Add a Grad); Silhouette Cameo; Cardstock (American Crafts); Xyron Mega Runner.

As always, thanks for stopping by!  And all those celebrating graduations this year, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

Take Twelve Project - June 12

I really love looking through all of my Take Twelve layouts to see how much our lives have changed over the past few months.  I know that once 2012 comes to an end, our family will truly cherish these memories.

This June 12 marks the our first month back in San Diego after a wonderful "sabbatical" in Newport, Rhode Island.  Although Justin is gone on training (and eventually deployment immediately afterwards), having family and familiar surroundings around us has made the transition as smooth as it could possibly be.  

This layout reflects the new daily routine with just me and Charlotte.  None of it is particularly exciting but I think it's important to document our everyday moments - making the lunches, eating breakfast, going to work, playing after school, and the bedtime routine.  While I know that my past few blog posts have been reflective and often sad in their tone, I wanted to focus on celebrating the new chapter in our life with bright and fun colors.  The digital papers from Echo Park Sweet Day were perfect for this!

Digital Supplies:  Echo Park (Sweet Day Digital Paper and Elements); Splendid Fiins (Office Supplies); Carina Gardner (Photo Masks); Creativity by Crystal (Funky Stitching and Scallop Borders).

If you're participating in the Take 12 Challenge this month, make sure to upload your layout to your blog or any photo-sharing service (including the 2012 Take Twelve Flickr group), then link it up to the Ella Publishing blog by midnight EST Monday, June 18.  You could win a spot in Nic Howard's new workshop, Dimensional Details: the Expanded Version from our friends at Big Picture Classes, valued at $79!! 

 As always, thanks for stopping by!

Getting By

It has been over two weeks since Justin has left.  My nephew graduated from middle school.  I baked 150 cupcakes for his party.

 

Last week I started a new job the same day Charlotte started a new school.  Unopened mail started to pile up on my desk.  I fall asleep in Charlotte's bed every night.  I wake up at random hours of the night to craft.  I'm tired.  But I'm busy.  And busy helps me to get through the day.

My friend, Laura, (who is an amazing military mom/ wife with a husband on deployment and pregnant with her third) sent me a link this amazing article the other day.  It's written by a military dad about the families and loved ones that are left behind during deployment.  It hits the nail on the head on so many things - the loneliness, the worry, the stress, the pressure...

I was sitting in Starbucks with Charlotte this weekend and started crying.  Charlotte and I were sharing a pretzel and she set a piece aside on her napkin.  "This is for Daddy," she declared.  Every time we sit down to eat, she always saves a piece of something for Daddy.

These past few weeks have been filled with lots of reflection - about our family, our future, our relationship.  None of it is necessarily bad or regretful.  I'm just slowly coming to terms with our reality of being a military family.  Justin has been in the military for years - 15 years now.  So that isn't anything new for us.  It's Charlotte that makes it so hard.  She's a strong little person though.  I could learn a lot from her.  And together, we'll get through this.

1.  Our Hero {a digital scrapbook layout}.  I borrowed the journaling for this layout from a recent post about my military child.  I used some new patriotic inspired papers and bingo cards from Jenni Bowlin Studio available over at JessicaSprague.com.

Digital Supplies:  Jenni Bowlin Studios (Trendy Collection, Patriotic Bingo Cards); Design by Dani (Boy Crazy).

2.  Where is my Daddy {a lift-the-flap book/ card}.  Since Justin left, Charlotte insists that we read Daddy and Me by Karen Katz every night.  It's a lift-the-flap book about a father and daughter building a doghouse together.  "Charlotte's screwdriver," she states while pointing to the pink screwdriver.  "Daddy and Charlotte make it," she declares while pointing to the little doghouse. Inspired by this sweet book, I decided to make a little life the flap book/ card for Justin's father's day card.

I didn't include photos of each page, but it reads something like this...

Where is daddy's car?  In the garage.

Where are daddy's tools?

 

In the toolbox.

Where is Daddy?  Daddy, where are you? 

Daddy is on the ship to keep Charlotte and Mommy safe.

But remember, even when Daddy is gone for a long time, where is Daddy always?

 

 

In Charlotte's BIG pink heart!

 

Supplies:  Echo Park Digital Products (Family Man); Xyron 1.5" Sticker Maker, Xyron Mega Runner; Xyron 2.5" Sticker Maker; Kraft Cardstock (Recollections).  

If you want more Father's Day craft ideas, make sure to check out the Xyron Design Team Facebook Album.  And for those who have been following me and the Ella Publishing Team on our Take 12 Challenge, I hope that you have your cameras ready.  It's June 12th!!!!

As always, thanks so much for stopping by (and listening...)

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?!?!?!?

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!

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!

Marconi Beach and Hiking in the Great Outdoors {digital scrapbook layouts}

Since all of my crafting supplies are packed up, I have been relaying on digital products from JessicaSprague.com to satiate my scrapbooking appetite.  Since I am so new to purely digital scrapbooking, I recently completed this AWESOME class by Jessica Sprague: "Up and Running with Photoshop: Beginning Digital Scrapbooking."

The class is the perfect beginner's primer on how to use Photoshop to create amazing scrapbook pages (just like the real paper ones I love so much without the mess to clean up afterwards).  The class is self-paced so you can take it when your schedules allows for it.  It also comes with some great free digital kits and templates to use over and over again.  If anything, it provides you with a toolbox of skills to fully master and manipulate Photoshop to retell the stories and memories you want to cherish for years to come.


Using the tricks and skills I learned from this class along with some amazing templates and digital products from the Queen of Quirk, here are two of my first digital layouts highlighting a recent trip we took to Cape Cod.  


1.  Marconi Beach {a digital scrapbook layout}.  We took a brief stop by Marconi Beach for Charlotte to build some sand castles.  I swear, that girl could sit on the beach for HOURS just playing in the sand.

Digital Supplies by Queen of Quirk:   (a) Scrap Canvas - Ducks in a Row; (b) Right Round Accent Pack; (c) Right Round Paper Pack; (d) Bare Branches Accent Pack


Digital Supplies by Splendid Fiins:  Sew Crafty - messy stitches vol 1

2.  Hiking in the Great Outdoors {a digital scrapbooking layout}.  I love being outdoors and walking in the woods.  Watching Justin point out the different animals and plants especially warms my heart.  She is 100% a daddy's girl.

Digital Supplies by Queen of Quirk:   (a) Scrap Canvas- Stacked; (b) Country Mouse / City Mouse Collection; (c) Father Time Paper Pack

Digital Supplies by Splendid Fiins:  @ the office supplies 1

Digital Supplies by Echo Park:  Note To Self Element Pack #2

I'm so excited to see how much I can grow as a digital and hybrid scrapper during my term as a JessicaSprague.com Creative Team member!  As always, thanks so much for stopping by!

Jessica Sprague Creative Team for 2012

I've got some exciting news!!  I was just selected as the newest member of the JessicaSprague.com Creative Team for 2012! 

JessicaSprague.com has THE BEST online digital crafting classes and products out there featuring designers like Echo Park, Cosmo Cricket and Splendid Fiins. 

I am a student of their AMAZING Photoshop class, Photo Editing 1: Good to Great Workflow, which seriously changed my photo editing skills.  SO WORTH THE INVESTMENT.  Their digital products are my go to for any digital or hybrid crafty project.  And I can't wait to learn, create and grow during my term on their Creative Team.

You can check out their official blog announcement here. 

So.  Ridicuously.  Excited!!!!!