Take My Picture

Clean lines are what make this layout appear so pleasant, in my opinion. I am not one of those trendy scrapbookers who is able to combine 37 different elements on one page surrounding just one photograph. I think in straight lines and tend to keep things simple. This is what works most often for me.


This layout, featuring Basic Grey's Green at Heart Collection is perfect for scrap-lifting! Anyone can copy this layout! The patterned paper is all from the collection pack, I used American Crafts textured cardstock for the title (cut with my Cricut) and journaling. To give the flower sticker a little bit of dimension, I cut the flower at the stem and attached it to the layout with a pop dot. A white gel pen and a ruler allowed me to add "stitches" around the orange block with ease.

Ouch!

First, let me apologize for this awful photograph. I cannot take a decent photo of a 2-page layout spread to save my life. Anyone have any suggestions? Do I have to buy a scanner if I want decent images of my layouts? Probably.


The other day I spent hours finishing all but one of my unfinished layouts. Yay, me! It felt great to have a stack of completed layouts when I was done. My husband just kept making fun of me because all of the photos were from 2007 and 2008. That's my style though: scrapbook whichever photo(s) appeal to me at that moment. There's no pressure to scrapbook in order and I KNOW that I will never scrapbook all of my photos.

All products used for this layout are from Scenic Route's Liberty Kit. Scenic Route's papers are double-sided and super thick. Love this manufacturer and am still bummed that they've closed their doors.

I have many more completed layouts to share soon and at least one or two more showing off my boys' in their battered state. Ultimately I am confident that we will fill at least one scrapbook, if not more, with layouts of them wounded. Boys will be boys.

15-Minute Layout

Maybe 30 minutes--15 minutes to choose the elements and prep the page and another 15 minutes re-arranging those darn paper strips so everything is even.


We have countless pictures of our son in his exersaucer laughing and smiling. Rather than scrapbook a bunch of almost identical pictures that don't really tell a story, I chose my favorite for this layout. Now I feel perfectly okay leaving the remaining photos in their plain $2 photo album.

This was a very simple layout. I trimmed 1/2" off two sides of the white textured cardstock and mounted it to the navy blue textured cardstock. The patterned strips of paper are from Scenic Route's North Shore line--Benson, Cross Step, Duck Dive and Sunset. The buttons are from my stash of random buttons and Cosmo Cricket's Joy Ride Button Pack.

I very rarely journal in my own handwriting, but Scenic Route's White Line Background Paper makes it so easy AND reminds me why I am so sad that this company has decided to close.

Baby Hugs

Look! Another scrapbook layout! I figured I should really start using all of my delightful scrapbooking products that I have on hand instead of saving them for some future layout.

I fell in love with Basic Grey's Lime Rickey as soon as it was released. I used 3 sheets of paper and one sticker element from the 12 X 12 Collection Pack, one sheet from the 6 X 6 Paper Pad as well as embellishments including the Glazed Brads and Chipboard. Purchasing the smaller paper pad was such a great idea, if I do say so myself. It allows me to use additional patterned papers on my layout without cutting in to one of the full 12 X 12 sheets. (This is much less expensive).



The title of this particular layouts says it all. I still need to look up the exact date that these pictures were taken and add that on the orange patterned paper block to complete this layout, but I think you get the idea.

Supplies Used: Patterned Paper (Basic Grey), Textured Cardstock (American Crafts), Chipboard (Basic Grey), Brads (Basic Grey).

This Boy...

I give up! I have really tried to avoid the trend of only scrapbooking one photo on a layout, but I can't do it any longer. I now understand why so many have been scrapbooking this way. You have total freedom to design and decorate your layout almost any way you'd like. Instead of balancing my photos, I strive to balance my fun patterned papers and embellishments in a way that the photo still remains the main focus of the layout. Too fun!


Speaking of patterned paper, the paper used here is from Scenice Route. I used paper from the Metropolis line: Johnson Street, Carter Drive and Main Street. I hand cut all of the little circle embellishments and adhered some with foam pop dots for dimension. Rub-ons provided a quick title and journaling solution. After adding all of these elements I still felt like something was missing. I grabbed my handy Black Precision Pen and drew some quick lines. Complete!

Supplies Used: Textured Cardstock (Bazzill Basics), Patterned Paper (Scenic Route), Rub-ons (Daisy D's), Black Pen (American Crafts).

Ouch

As the mother of two young boys, I recently figured out that I had better just begin albums devoted to their injuries. I don't know how many times the two boys have been playing happily together one minute and the next minute someone is screaming and bleeding. I'm shocked out how quickly (and how often) these random ouchies occur. Clearly I did not grow up with brothers in my family.


Once again, I used Cosmo Cricket paper on this layout. The Hello Sunshine kit is just so perfect! I used a ruler and my white Signo pen to make the faux stitching. I covered a chipboard piece from the Buck Naked chipboard shape pack from Cosmo Cricket, of course. I have 3 of these chipboard packs on hand in my stash and use these pieces all of the time.

Supplies used: Cosmo Cricket (patterned paper, chipboard), Bazzill Basics (textured cardstock), Making Memories (letter plates), Signo (white pen).

Circle Time

Recently it seems that every paper craft project I complete has circles--chipboard, patterned paper, brads, etc. I'm going to have to go scraplift someone else's layout in an attempt to break this new habit of mine!



This layout is no exception to the circle rule. Despite now owning TWO Cricut machines, I cut all my circles by hand and used found objects as my templates. This has more to do with the fact that I created these pages at my kitchen island (while my boys played in the next room) than anything else.

Supplies Used: Bazzill Basics (textured cardstock), DCWV (textured cardstock), Cosmo Cricket (patterned paper, sticker), Doodlebug Designs (chipboard letters), Offray (ribbon)

Scenic Route

My Scenic Route order arrived on Friday! Woo hoo!!! I am so happy to have my hands on that Metropolis line again. With two little boys and summer just around the corner, I cannot have enough lime green, blue and orange paper on hand.

I have not yet made any samples of my own (too many custom scrapbook orders to fulfill first) so I did the next best thing. I found samples made by others to share here! All images can be found on the Scenic Route layout ideas site.







My new online store is almost ready to launch as well. I've been uploading products like a mad woman in all of my "free" time. I'm still not 100% sure that I like this particular e-commerce host, but I'll go with it for now. The Scenic Route Metropolis kits will be available to order on my current site tomorrow.

Egg Hunt

Scrapbooking in order has never been a priority of mine, but I do find myself scrapbooking "in season" the majority of the time. With all of the cut spring paper and embellishments, I felt the need to scrapbook some spring photos...from 2007. I have enough photos leftover from this particular Easter to create at least 3 more 2-page layouts. Hopefully I will get to those this weekend!



Supplies used: Die Cuts With A View (patterned paper, textured cardstock), Bazzill Basics (cardstock die cut border), Doodlebug Designs (stickers), Cricut ( die cut letters)

100% Boy

I have not reached my goal of 31 layouts in 31 days. I gave it my best, but life just got in the way. I am pleased with the number of layouts that I've completed for myself. It seems like I spend so much time making class samples, items to sell and items ordered by others. This months was the exception! In total, I've only completed 5 class samples this month. Woo hoo! However, I only have one workshop on the calendar for February and that number is about to increase so it will be back to "work" for me very soon.

I love these pictures of my son. He is always doing silly things and it makes me happy to scrapbook these everyday photos. I have thousands of everyday photos still to scrapbook, but I don't let that take away the satisfaction I feel every single time I complete a layout for one of our family albums.


Supplies used: Bazzill Basics (textured cardstock), Colorbok (patterned paper), K & Co. (3-D stickers, rub-ons)

The Love of Starbucks

Yay, I scrapbooked today! These pictures are from 2006 and show my youngest cultivating his love of Starbucks at a very young age. I love him!

This was another simple layout...I am all about quick and easy these days. Prior to this layout, I can't even remember the last time that I used stickers for a layout title. Whatever works to get the job done!



Supplies used: We R Memory Keepers (patterned paper, stickers, rub-on), Bazzill Basics (cardstock)

Believe

I'm back to the Christmas 2006 album. I have so many pictures from this Christmas that I think I could do all 31 January layouts just for this album. I won't, however, because that would be too boring for you!


You may have noticed that I do not journal on these 6" X 12" layouts. When I make an entire album for one event using this size album I do full-page journaling instead. The first layout in the album will be "the story" for this particular Christmas album. So many of my pictures are essentially the same--the boys exploring and opening their gifts--so there is no need to repeat the journaling on each individual layout.

The cute patterned paper needed a little glitter glue to make it just perfect! I love scrapbooking Christmas pictures.


Here's a close-up of the K & Co. die cut.


I love these little chipboard pieces. All I had to add was a little bit of Stickles glitter glue to make them sparkle.

Supplies used: Die Cuts With A View (textured cardstock), K & Co. (patterned paper, die cuts, chipboard), Ranger (glitter glue)

Curiosity

Oh, if you've ever met my oldest son, you know that he is crazy. He's fearless. My father-in-law once suggested we bring him to the doctor to have him tested to make sure that he can feel pain. He was less than 18-months-old when my FIL made that suggestion. This layout is a perfect example of the result of Ian's fearlessness.



Supplies used: Bazzill Basics (textured cardstock), Cosmo Cricket (patterned paper, die cut title, rub-on), Fancy Pants Designs (chipboard)

My Apologies

These last two pictures have most certainly not been the best. Sorry! Also, sorry I haven't been able to post once a day. I promise I will have a total of 31 new projects posted this month total.

This is another 2-page layout for my 6 X 12 Bazzill album. I love this size layout! I am working on my Christmas 2006 album right now so you will likely see lots of 6 X 12 layouts this month.



Supplies used: Die Cuts With A View (textured cardstock), K & Co. (patterned paper, die cuts), Heidi Grace (sticker), Ranger (glitter glue)

An Excuse to Use Glitter

As the mother of two boys, I don't get to use glitter nearly as often as I'd like on my scrapbook layouts. Since this is a Christmas layout I feel free to use glitter AND flowers. Woo hoo!!!



Supplies used: Die Cuts With A View (textured cardstock), K & Co. (patterned paper, die cuts), Heidi Grace (flower, brad, chipboard), Ranger (glitter glue)

Snuggle Time

2 for 2! Woo hoo! Tomorrow's layout is going to be a challenge since I can't get to my craft room (the hallway that leads to the craft room is being tiled tomorrow). Worst case, I promise to make up for it on Sunday with 2 layouts.

This layout is of my first sweet baby the day after my second sweet baby was born...in 2006! I do not believe in scrapbooking in order; instead I scrapbook whichever pictures grab my attention when I sit down to scrapbook. Usually, I grab one of my MANY photo albums and just flip through it until a group of photos interests me.



Supplies used: Bazzill Basics (textured cardstock), K & Co. (patterned paper, stickers, rub-ons), Doodlebug Designs (letter rub-ons)

First Layout of 2009

One down, 30 more to go...this month.



Hidden behind the picture is a little tag that has my journaling. There's not much to say and I prefer to hide my journaling most of the time.

Supplies used: Cosmo Cricket (patterned paper, die cut, border strip), Bazzill Basics (textured cardstock, flower), American Crafts (ribbon, brad), Scenic Route (button), Fancy Pants Designs (chipboard arrow)

What's this???

A scrapbook layout? Just when you thought I had completely forgotten my roots, I upload a true 12 X 12 layout. Nothing fancy, just some pictures with a couple of embellishments. How is it I was thinner when Nathan was just a few months old when compared to now? Something just aint right.

15-Minute Layout

Or maybe 20 minutes. It's hard to say since I had both of my boys sitting across the table from me playing with Play Doh while I completed this quick layout. Can you believe I scrapbooked with a solid white background? It surprised me! I even wrote the little details out by hand! I never visibly write on my layouts. I was very determined to complete this layout quickly that afternoon.

Supplies used: Bazzill (cardstock), Die Cuts With A View (patterned paper), Daisy D's (flowers), Scenic Route (chipboard), Provo Craft (die cut machine).

Handsome

Today I was able to scrapbook while the boys sat across the table (2 tables pushed together) and played with playdough! I created this layout and finished a second 2-page layout. That's incredible for me! I absolutely love this picture of the boys and decided to devote an entire layout to those adorable faces. I have at least 25 other cute pictures from this same afternoon that I'll scrapbook later. I used my Bazzill In Stich'z for the cute title and arrow, all Bazzill solid paper, Doodlebug rub-ons for the date and DCWV patterned paper.