Gifting Scrapbook Pages

As you know, I love to scrapbook.  With each page I make, it's another memory for our family's album.  It's an intensely personal and intimate exercise to choose the title, journal the memories, and select the perfect photos. So when I decided to make a framed scrapbook page for a friend, it definitely felt outside of my comfort zone. However, with some of Scrapbook Steals fantastic Mid Week Mojo sketches as my guide, I was able to put something together that I'm really proud of.  

1.  Lilly Reese {a scrapbook layout}.

The starting point for this layout was a Mid Week Mojo (Amethyst 5) by Kristy Lee.  

And here are some closeups of the little details.  I personally love the look of some twine wrapped around the photo mat.

I made these 3D flower embellishments using my Silhouette Cameo, some American Crafts brads and Stickles by Ranger.

To finish off the page, I stamped some little hearts along the side and covered them in Stickles.  Lilly is definitely a girl that appreciates some bling.  :)

Supplies:  Echo Park (Patterned Paper, Stickers); American Crafts (Letter Stickers, Brads); Twine by Twinery; Stamps by Paper Smooches; Stickles by Ranger; Silhouette Cameo.

2.  John Joseph {a scrapbook layout}.

For this layout, I started with a Mid Week Mojo Sketch (Amethyst 7) by the talented Kyla Norris.

I placed some train stickers on dimensional stickers along the bottom with stars coming out like steam.  

To incorporate some more fun colors and patterns, I incorporated some paper banner strips behind the title block.  

Supplies:  Echo Park (Patterned Paper, Stickers, Letter Stickers).

And here are both layouts all warm and cozy in their shadow box frames ready to wrap and gift.

As always, thanks so much for stopping by!

Crafting with my November Counterfeit Kit

Can I just tell you how much I'm loving my November Counterfeit Kit.  Before, when I would start a scrapbook page, I would spend a long time (sometimes hours) just thinking about what papers worked together, playing with color combinations, and rummaging through my boxes for the perfect embellishments.  (Yes, sadly, I have THAT much stuff.)  But now, with the Counterfeit Kit, I already have papers and embellishments preselected from my stash and can get scrapping almost immediately.  Just yesterday, I *nearly* finished an entire layout during Charlotte's nap time (which, for me, is unheard of).  So, with that, I wanted to share with you some layouts and a card I made with my counterfeit kit.

1.  January 2011 {a scrapbook layout}.  

I used this fantastic sketch  by Kristy Lee over at Scrapbook Steals (Opal #2) as my starting point.

Inspired by the shape and movement of the photo placement, I fussy cut some Studio Calico paper to create a frame around some photos.  

I then made my journaling spot by cutting out a circle, stamping it with a Hero Arts ledger stamp and stitching around it with some embroidery floss. 

2.  February 2011 {a scrapbook layout}.

 

This was another layout using a Kristy Lee sketch from Scrapbook Steals (Opal #3).

I'm in love with the Sassafras various blooms and in stitch blossoms.  They are super cute and make embellishing so quick and easy! 

To frame my photo collage, I cute apart a die cut sheet from Studio Calico.  I also cut out some banner pieces from Studio Calico Fabrips to embellish the top corner of my photo collage.

3.  March 2011 {a scrapbook layout}.   

If you haven't noticed, I'm trying to get caught up on our 2011 family album and these month pages with the photo collages make it a lot easier.  :)  I'm also trying to catch up with all the Opal sketch challenges at Scrapbook Steals.  So, as expected, my starting point was another Kristy Lee sketch (Opal #6).

My newest obsession has been these candy dots by Pebbles (which are just adhesive little button dots).  So cute!  I'm also trying to incorporate more washi tape into my layouts.

In trying to add some pops of color to the layout, I did some random blue stitching around the flower cutout.

And I am kindove in love with these Jenni Bowlin Studio stick pins (which are just decorated needles/ pushpins).  Sadly, I just don't know how to use them.  So I just stuck it with the flowers here.

4.  Wedding Wishes {a card}.

For my final November Counterfeit Kit creation (well, for purposes of this post at least...), here is a wedding card I made.  

I cut out the circle card and scallop shape using my Cricut and Sure Cuts A Lot software.  The sentiment and banner stamps are from Lawn Fawn.  And aside from that, I used American Craft Thickers to spell out the names and added faux stitching with a black Sharpie around the circle.

Whew, that was a lot!  :)  

As always, thanks for stopping by!!!

The Golden Ticket

LABELS.  We use labels to describe ourselves.  We use them to describe others.  What labels are attached to me?  Who am I?  Mother, wife, sister, friend.  All pretty positive.  Attorney, blogger, photographer, baker.  Okay, for the most part, those are fine as well.  Scrapper.  Hmm...most of my friends chuckle when I use that label.  At first, I was a bit embarrassed.  Okay, I was really embarrassed.  But as I became more passionate about this hobby, I also become more proud of that label.  SCRAPPER.  Why should I be ashamed to be a scrapbooker?  Why?  Because I'm creating something beautiful and unique for my family?  Because I'm writing messages and letter for my daughter...which she hopefully will one day share with her children.  There is nothing to be ashamed of there.

A huge influence in my *growth* as a scrapbooker has been the daily sketches created by Kristy Lee at scrapbooksteals.com.  With each sketch, I embrace the challenge to make it my own and to create yet another page for Charlotte's first year scrapbook.  Below are my interpretations of sketches 41-50 (which officially makes me a member of the "Gold Club").  I am clearly hooked.

Sketch MWM #41 - Keeping Great Gran Busy.

Patterned Paper:  Echo Park (Country Drive);  Embellishments:  Martha Stewart Crafts (lady bug dimensional stickers), American Crafts (thickers, brads), Tattered Angels (glimmer mist).

Sketch MWM #42 - First Easter

Patterned Paper:  We Are Memory Keepers (Hippity Hop);  Embellishments:  We Are Memory Keepers (embroidery floss), American Crafts (thickers, brads), Prima (flowers), Martha Stewart Crafts (border punch, buttery punch), Making Memories (flower brad).

Sketch MWM #43 - ...after

Patterned Paper:  We Are Memory Keepers (Out and About);  Embellishments:  We Are Memory Keepers (brads, chipboard stickers), American Crafts (thickers), Studio Calico (wood heart), Lawn Fawn (stamps), Technique Tuesday (stamps).


Sketch MWM #44 - Hawaiian Adventure

Patterned Paper:  Me and My Big Ideas, Echo Park (Candy Shoppe);  Embellishments:  Me and My Big Ideas (chipboard stickers), Echo Park (label sticker), American Crafts (thickers).
 
Sketch MWM #45 - Three Months

Patterned Paper:  Echo Park (little girl)t;  Embellishments: Echo Park (stickers), My Minds Eye (journaling die cut), Marta Stewart Crafts (border punches), Unity Stamps (banner stamp)

Sketch MWM #46 - Go Navy, Beat Army

Patterned Paper:  My Minds Eye (Lil' Robots), We Are Memory Keepers (Out and About);  Embellishments:  My Minds Eye (border strips, letter stickers), American Crafts (thickers), Unity Stamps (date and military stamps), Oriental Trading Company (brads), Fiskars (border punch), EK Success (border punch).

Sketch MWM #47 - Born in Flagstaff

Patterned Paper:  My Minds Eye (Penny Lane);  Embellishments:  Sassafras (flower sticker), American Crafts (thickers, brads), Echo Park (letter stickers), My Minds Eye (stickers and die cuts).

Sketch MWM #48 - First Birthday

Patterned Paper:  My Minds Eye (Hip Hip Hooray);  Embellishments:  Prima (flowers), American Crafts (thickers, brads), My Minds Eye (stickers), Oriental Trading Company (buttons, brads), Hampton Arts (owl stamp), Lawn Fawn (banner stamp), Unity Stamps (date stamp).

Sketch MWM #49 - Charlotte's Princess Party

Patterned Paper:  Imaginese (Enchanted);  Embellishments:  Imaginese (stickers, ribbon, die cuts), American Crafts (thickers), Oriental Trading Company (flowers, buttons), My Minds Eye (journaling die cut), Lawn Fawn (stamps).

Sketch MWM #50 - We Are Family

Patterned Paper:  My Minds Eye (So Sophie);  Embellishments:  American Crafts (thickers), Making Memories (ribbon).