Day One Layouts

I didn't have a scrap space for several months, because I was in the process of the first of two moves for me this year.  Fortunately, in my current home, I also have two big IKEA desks that I have put together for my home office/craft space and they will follow me this fall when I move again.  Going on Vacation really got me excited about playing with supplies again (and I am also feeling certain that I will fall prey to the new planner trend fairly soon).  So, I present to you a couple of  layouts that I have completed about our first day on the road.

Calico County

This restaurant is something of a legend in my family.  When I was in high school, we lived in Farmington, New Mexico and all of our extended family was here "at home" in Fort Worth.  Countless times we drove through Amarillo to Fort Worth and many of those stops involved dinner or lunch at Calico County.  It had been a good 20-something years since our last visit.  It was a required stop on the trip.

Supplies:   Carta Bella

Stagecoach Driver

My niece, Ellie, is very fond of having her picture taken.  We saw this little stagecoach and team somewhere in New Mexico at a filling station!  We went in to buy snacks and Ellie required that either her mother or me go back to the car and get some sort of camera in order to take her picture with them. It was a REQUIREMENT!

Supplies:  patterned paper, border sticker, and tin pin - October Afternoon; ticket embellishment - Jenny Bowlin; letter stickers and horse chipboard sticker - American Crafts;  stickers - October Afternoon, Crate Paper

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!  I still hold out a smidge of hope that I may one day join your ranks!

In honor of Mother's Day, I bring you a recent layout featuring my own precious, sweet, wonderful, loving mom!

Mom

This was a very simple, color blocked layout that came together quickly.  I recently got in a big order of *ahem* much needed  scrapbooking supplies from A Cherry on Top and had so much fun playing with them last weekend.  The papers I chose come from Studio Calico's Wanderlust collection.

The story behind the photo:  Just a quick snapshot of my mom in front of one of the facades at Disney's Hollywood Studios at WDW - aren't you shocked this is another WDW layout?? - last June.

Supplies:  patterned paper - Studio Calico; chipboard elements - Crate Paper;  brad - October Afternoon; sequins - Lawn Fawn;  die cuts - Crate Paper, October Afternoon, Studio Calico; wood veneer - Studio Calico; letter stickers - Basic Grey

Happy NSD!

Hi all...It has been months since I've posted anything new.  Life has simply gotten in the way!  I've been scrapbooking quite a bit lately, but I've also started knitting again.  I'll be posting those projects too.  Right now I'm on a scarf knitting kick.  I really want to learn how to crochet, but beyond making my first chain, I can't get it figured out!  If you have any good crocheting links, please feel free to share!

Meanwhile, here's my first posted layout in some time!

Ka-Ching

I don't do many two pages layouts anymore and in fact, now find them very intimidating despite the fact that I used to be pretty much exclusively a two-page scrapbooker.

I loved these photos of my niece, The Musher, that I took of her playing with her Dora the Explorer cash register last spring.  (BTW, you'll be seeing that Minnie Mouse shirt in a lot of my layouts.  I bought it for her in Dublin in 2012 and she got quite a bit of mileage from it - including when we went to WDW last summer).

I'm super in love with American Crafts #Summer line and created this layout using mostly products from that line.  It's definitely in my top 5 favorite lines EVER!  

Supplies:  patterned paper - American Crafts; die cuts - American Crafts, Crate Paper, Elle's Studio, Studio Calico; chipboard heart - October Afternoon; letter stickers - American Crafts;  flair - American Crafts; button - Jillibean Soup; brad - Echo Park; stars - Studio Calico; flag - Basic Grey

Thanks for stopping by!

Daisy & Donald

We got to Disney's Hollywood Studios pretty early before opening this particular day.  We were waiting in line and many of the characters appeared to entertain the masses before the park opened.  Ellie didn't get her photo with Daisy and Donald, but I did get a picture of them signing autographs for a random collection of children!

Supplies:  patterned paper - Echo Park, My Mind's Eye, Pebbles;  chipboard - American Crafts, Pebbles; flower & bow - Crate Paper; brads - My Mind's Eye;  flair - A Flair For Badges; die cuts - Pink Paislee; enamel dots - My Mind's Eye;  letter stickers - American Crafts

New Sketches With Color Challenge

Hey everybody!  Now that I'm done with work for the summer, I can actually spend more time posting to the blog!  We just had our June 15 reveal at the Sketches With Color blog.  Another gorgeous color combination and beautiful sketch!

My take on the sketch is a little more streamlined, simply because I'm more a "graphic" scrapper.  The flourishes in the sketch are gorgeous, but I would never be able to make it look right!  LOL

Another London Eye Photo

When my ex and I went to London a couple of years ago, I went a bit snap happy with the camera (as did she) and took soooooo many pictures.  I then got prints of all of them.  I'm still working on bits and pieces of that trip...at least of the photos that don't make me too sad.  I've already done like 3 or 4 layouts of the London Eye, but found this lone straggler amongst my pictures and had to use it for yet another layout.  

This is a complete mish-mash of manufacturers and products, but I'm pretty happy with how it turned out!

Supplies:  patterned paper - American Crafts, Basic Grey, Lily Bee Design, Studio Calico; letter stickers - Crater Paper, Lily Bee Design; cork arrows - Studio Calico; stars - Basic Grey; brad - Cosmo Cricket; die cut & chipboard sticker - Crate Paper; tab & adventure stickers - Lily Bee Design; washi stickers - Basic Grey; spray ink - Mister Huey's (Studio Calico)

A couple of notes:  I think I might have mentioned this before - I got a Canon Rebel TS3 just before the holidays last year and while my actual photos look SO much better, I find I have a mush harder time photographing my layouts with it than with my old point and shoot.  Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

Also...this isn't so much a note, as it is a brag - we're leaving on Friday for a week at Walt Disney World, my very favorite place!  I'm going with my parents, my sister, and my almost 3 year old niece.  It will be her first trip, so we're all super excited to see the place through a child's eyes after numerous all-adults trips over the past few years!

What's your favorite travel destination?
-Deedee

A bunch of layers and a big ol' title

Hi scrappy friends! I've been a horrible blogger!  So I thought I'd throw one of my favorite recent layouts up here just so you would all know that I'm still in the land of the living.

 

Did You Put a Sticker On the Dog's Nose?

 

During my spring break, I took my little niece into the backyard to dye some Easter eggs.  My dog, Bailey, was hanging out doing doggy stuff back there and eating the hard boiled eggs we accidentally lost to a fall from the table.  As we were cleaning up, I happened to look down and saw the Bai had acquired a lovely Easter-type decoration upon her nose.  So, I asked Ellie, "did you put a sticker on the dog's nose?" - thus my title...  To which she replied "uh huh."

 

I added a bit of machine stitching to my layers which involved a medley of scrappy supplies.

Supplies:  patterned paper - American Crafts, Crate Paper, Echo Park, My Mind's Eye, Pebbles, Studio Calico; die cuts, flair badge  - American Crafts; journaling card, wood veneer, tab sticker, star stickers - Studio Calico; letter stickers - October Afternoon, Pebbles; washi tape stickers - Basic Grey

In other news, I'm anxiously awaiting October Afternoon's Travel Girl line to hit the stores.  October Afternoon is my very very fave manufacturer ever!  Who's your fave scrappy manufacturer?

 

Dear Lizzy

So last week I came to you with a layout featuring mostly Dear Lizzy's Lucky Charm line.  I seriously love this line.  I purchased most of it separately, but pieces of it keep popping up in various kits I've gotten. 

You Make My Heart Sing

 

I'm not a feather person.  I received a pack of the Bella Blvd feathers in this month's Scrapbook Circle kit and decided I needed to try to use it. So, I layered it in behind some of the paper layers.

I've been using my sewing machine a lot more frequently late, particularly over alphas and titles

 

I love anything paper-clippy added into my page.  I just got these yo-yo flower paper clips and have almost gone through the entire package already.

 

Supplies:  patterned paper - American Crafts (Dear Lizzy), Crate Paper, My Mind's Eye; paper clip and die cut card - American Crafts; feather - Bella Blvd; other - buttons, wood veneer frames, twine

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Fourteen Fourteen Fourteen!

I'm loving the new Crate Paper Fourteen line wayyyy more than I expected to.  I'm not one who feels they need a huge amount of Valentine's papers and embellies, but I really liked a lot of what I saw because it seemed rather versatile and like something I could use for less themey layouts.

I had this last photo of Lisa hanging about from a pile of photos taken at this same time in this same restaurant and really wasn't sure how to document it.  Then I realized she is looking at something other than the camera, seemingly unaware that I'm still shooting photo after photo of her and thought it would be a good photo for just a simple layout about how I feel, thus this one was born from the marriage of said photo and this amazing CP line:

I Just Love You

 

I'm not really a fan of the color green, but I think this shade is absolutely dreamy. 

 

I added a flair badge from Ormolu.

 

And one of the new Freckled Fawn wood veneers.  Wood veneers are one of my two favorite embellisments as of late.  The second are flair badges!

 

A stitched label and an "L" letter sticker from Basic Grey for Lisa's initial and done!

Supplies:  patterned paper, die cuts, stitched label, washi stickers - Crate Paper; wood veneer - Freckled Fawn; flair badge - Ormolu; letter stickers - Basic Grey, Jenni Bowlin, October Afternoon

Thanks so much for reading!  Have a great Thursday!

New Challenge at Sketches With Color

Hey all!  We have a new challenge up at the Sketches With Color blog.  This time in addition to the color combo and sketch, we're asking that you include a handmade banner on your layout.

The sketch & color combination:

Driving Tour

 

I really loved the muted tones of this color combination and how well they worked with this photo I took while we drove the Ring of Kerry in Summer 2011.

I had a ton of embellies that worked really well with the colors.

My approach to the banner was a little different.  I used strips of washi tape to create a very subtle banner behind my title.

 

 

Supplies:  patterned paper - Lily Bee Design, October Afternoon, Studio Calico; journaling spot, letter stickers - American Crafts; flair badge -  Evalicious;  die cut, wood veneer - Studio Calico; spray ink - October Afternoon;  washi tape - Bazzill (grid with flourishes), unknown (triangles, measuring tape); circle sticker - Crate Paper; Other - doily

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Christmas Time

A few weeks ago, my sister bought a little gingerbread house kit to complete with my niece.  I was onhand to help out (ie...take photos with my AWESOME new Canon Rebel T3).  It was really the first time either of us, let alone the Musher, had attempted a gingerbread anything, so it turned out pretty well considering that fact AND the fact that a good chunk of it was decorated by a 2 1/2 year old. 

Taking photos was also a fantastic excuse to use up some of the new Christmas paper I have accrued.  I'm drooling.  Seriously, drooling over three lines in particular this year:  Studio Calico's Wonderland, October Afternoon's Make It Merry and my favorite by far Crate Paper's Sleigh Ride.  I know many of you are probably shocked and appalled that my favorite was not by my beloved October Afternoon, but o...m...g....Sleigh Ride is to die for.  I have always loved Crate Paper, but this is my favorite line they have ever produced.  It's delectable.

Now that I've said that...I actually used a mix of Studio Calico, Crate Paper, Echo Park, and October Afternoon in this layout. 

Gingerbread House

 

I LOVE when I actually take the time to play around with stamps!

 

This cute little gingerbread guy totally wanted to be a part of this layout.   I know that I'm not the only one who hears their scrapbooking supplies talking to them....I mean, I'm not...right?

 

 

Supplies:  patterned paper - Crate Paper, Echo Park, October Afternoon, Studio Calico; cardstock - Bazzill; die cuts - October Afternoon, Studio Calico; brad, chipboard sticker - Echo Park; flair badge, stamps - Studio Calico; tapes - Cosmo Cricket, Studio Calico; letter stickers - American Crafts; stamp ink - Stampin' Up; other - tag, twine

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

Sketches With Color Challenge #4

Hi all!  I'm here today with the Sketches With Color mid-December challenge! 

Here is our color combo and sketch for Challenge #4:

And here's my take:

Taking a Break

These photos are from a 2010 fall trip that Lisa and I made to the Fort Worth Zoo, bringing along a then 4-month old, Ellie!  We had fun and I know E's favorite part of the trip was staring at the trees that passed above her as we strolled along and she reclined in her stroller!  I had some sweet vintage Cosmo Cricket (circa 2005) die cuts that fit in really nicely with this color scheme!

Supplies:  patterned paper - Echo Park, Heidi Swapp, Lily Bee Designs, October Afternoon, Simple Stories, Studio Calico; letter stickers - American Crafts; flair badge - A Flair for Buttons; die cuts - Cosmo Cricket, Crate Paper, October Afternoon, Studio Calico; wood veneer - Studio Calico; punch - American Crafts Knock-Outs

Thanks so much for reading!

December Daily 2012: The First Three Days

Hey all!  I finally have my first 3 days completed and ready to share.  I have to admit, it's taken me awhile to get into much of a Christmasy spirit this year.  Last year, my family had a lot more Christmas-related activities planned, so it seemed like I was documenting something very specific each day for at least the first couple of weeks.  This year, it's just been regular everyday life.   Everyday life that is decorated for Christmas, anyway.

But with a class field trip to the Nutcracker on Friday and taking Ellie to see Santa on Saturday, things have definitely gotten more Christmas-like!

Supplies:  album, page protectors, chipboard inserts - Studio Calico; patterned paper, stickers - Basic Grey, Crate Paper, Echo Park, October Afternoon, Studio Calico; letter stickers - American Crafts, Basic Grey, October Afternoon; vellum accents - Crate Paper; pockets & envelopes - Basic Grey; other - coaster, ribbon, twine, brads

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Sketches With Color Challenge

Sketches With Color has a new challenge up on the blog!  This is my favorite color combo so far!

Here's my take on the challenge!

Waiting

 

Supplies:  patterned paper - Lily Bee, My Mind's Eye, Jillibean Soup; diecuts - Jillibean Soup, October Afternoon, Sassafrass Lass, Studio Calico; flowers - American Crafts, Basic Grey, stickers - Crate Paper, Echo Park;  vintage bottle cap - Jenni Bowlin;  brad, button - October Afternoon; washi tape - Freckled Fawn; other - rhinestones, twine, mist

Please drop by the blog when you can!  We'd love for you to join us!

This Christmas...

As I prepared to write this blog post, I had that Stevie Wonder song "This Christmas" going through my head.  I'm not a huge fan of the song, as I prefer my Christmas music to be of the 1940s Bing Crosby/Frank Sinatra variety (nothing against you, Stevie, you're wonderful!), but it made me realize that this Christmas will be very different from last Christmas.

Last year, Lisa was here celebrating with us from Ireland.  This year we'll be apart again.  Last year was very hectic and full.  This year should be somewhat quieter and calmer.  Last year I spent wayyyyy too much money on gifts.  This year I've pledged to be much more conservative.   Last year, I dropped my point and shoot camera and it's never been the same.  This year I am awaiting the new Canon Rebel EOS T3 DSLR that I just ordered which should be here on Friday (whoop!).  And last year, I stressed entirely too much over this little project called "December Daily" which I was doing for the first time.  This year, I have a year of experience under my belt and a much better plan of attack.

I am happy to report that my base pages are all made, my cover is decorated and my title page is complete.  I will be using no more than one 4x6 photo per day.  On some occassions, that 4x6 might be two 2x3 photos.  I want to be more reflective in my journaling, while not putting tons of pressure on myself to be perfect.  So...without further ado, I give you the base pages of my 2012 December Daily!

December Daily 2012

Cover

 

Title Page

Day One Base Pages

 

Remaining Base Pages

 

 

 

 

 

 I used a bunch of different paper and embellishment lines to complete these base pages.  The majority are from the Studio Calico kit, Studio Calico's Wonderland line, and Crate Paper's Sleigh Ride line.  You will also find some vintage KI Memories, Daisy D's and a couple of lines from last year:  October Afternoon's Holiday Style for example.  I have tons of pages premade in two sizes.  4x6 to fit the page protectors of my album and I don't have the exact measurement, but a larger size to fit over the chipboard inserts that came with the album.  I'm so excited and looking forward to December 1st!

 

Thanks again SO much for taking the time to stop by my little blog!  Have a great Saturday!