Island Life and a new Scrapbook Process Video

I absolutely love living on a tropical island.  I'm originally from the Philadelphia area and my husband is from the mountains in North Carolina.  He and i moved to the Florida Keys about 6 years ago and knew it was our forever home.  We are lucky enough to wake up every morning and see water surrounding our tiny island.  We truly appreciate our surroundings.  This got me thinking........what does Cole think?

He was born here and this is all he knows.  This is his normal everyday life.  I wonder if he will appreciate it when he's older.   

I made this page for my new Youtube Series: STUDIO CALICO DAY.  Every week I will use my current Studio Calico Kits and take inspiration from the Studio Calico Blog.

This week, I used a Sunday Sketch, a Weekly Challenge, and a Tutorial.

Here's the Sketch:

The Weekly Challenge was to use a bold, floating title.   I was very inspired by a Tutorial by Marcy Penner.  She made a Confetti pocket along the bottom of her scrapbook page.  She is awesome.  

I made a video that you can check out here:

Do you shop at thrift stores?  My mother loves them.  I remember as a child, hunting through shelves of nicknacks to find a beautiful treasure to call my own, well after a good cleaning.  Even as an adult, I love rummaging threw piles of books, racks of clothing, and bins of previously- loved goodies.  I'm not a huge shopper, but at second stores I can go a little crazy and not feel guilty of spending too much money.  

In my new THRIFT STORE JUNKIE Episode, I share my DIYScrapbook Embellishments.  I'm surprised at how well they turned out.

Stay tuned for my first scrapbook process video using my thrifty finds and DIY embellishments.

Have you ever used thrift store treasures on your pages? I would love to know.

Scrapbooking from the Thrift Store with VIDEO.

My name is Andrea,  and I'm a THRIFT STORE JUNKIE.  It's taken a long time to admit this out loud.  The truth is, the thrift store calls my name.  It says ( in a spooky voice) , "Andrea, come to me.  I have beautiful, unique treasures that you can hoard in your home.  Some are sparkly, and some are dingy, but you NEED them.  You NEEEEEEED THEM!"

Seriously......whats wrong with me?  Actually, do you know what?  I don't care whats wrong with me, thrift stores are AWESOME-SAUCE!

I rarely find scrapbooking items from my local thrift store. But when I do, I add it to my stash and forget that I bought it.  A fews days ago I hit the Jackpot.   I found like 100 sheets of 12x12 scrapbook paper.  I had to pinch myself.  I mean it wasn't designer paper or anything (Im also a designer paper junkie) but I liked most of the patterns, so I bought all of it for $1!   What?

On my drive home, when I do most of my important thinking, I was brainstorming how I could use my thrift store finds to create a Youtube series. It suddenly came to me.....

Introducing:
"THRIFT STORE JUNKIE"

In my new Youtube Series,  I make scrapbook layouts from my Thrift Store Kit.  My kit is limited to only items from the Thrift Store.  What I think is cool about this is that it will really push the limits of my creativity.  I'm kind of in a slump and I need to light my creative flame again.

Here's my THRIFT STORE KIT Share:

Next up on "THRIFT STORE JUNKIE"- My DIY THRIFT STORE EMBELLISHMENTS.

Do you use thrift store items in your crafting?

New Scrapbook Process Video: "Gettin' Sketchy Wit It" (new YouTube series)

I'm having some fun with my YouTube Channel.  Of course I'm completely obsessing about it too, wanting to do a new video every day of the week.  But it's so cool!  I have so much to learn and I'm challenged in the technical department, but so far its a fun ride.  

" Gettin' Sketchy Wit It" is a series with a new episode every Tuesday (hopefully).  Each week I will pick a different sketch to use as inspiration.  I'll share my creative thought process on creating a layout and manipulating the sketch without losing my personal scrappy style.  Or whatever that means.  

Here's the layout:

That's not a beer gut, I was pregnant.  But, honestly, I look thinner then than I do now.  However, I'm not at all willing to stop eating ice cream.  And I accept it.  Moving on.........

I joined in on Hip Kit Club's Facebook Forum Challenge that ended June 11.

Here's Episode 1 of "Gettin' Sketchy Wit It" (cue Will Smith):

If you have a sketch that you'd like me to feature on a future episode, let me know.  Leave a comment  on this YouTube Video or send me a message.  I'd love to hear from you.  Thanks for visiting today!  Subscribe to my YouTube Channel and never miss an episode!

New CSI Challenge & Sketch #166

I love being on the CSI Design Team.  Their challenges are so much fun and make me push my creativity.  Here's the newest Layout I made:

This is a photo of me when I was 2 years old, playing in my Grandmother's kitchen drawer.  I was even a weirdo at 2.

This is what CSI's Challenge #166 looks like:

Here's how I completed the challenge:

THE SCHEME:  Used all 5 colors.

EVIDENCE:  Used stripes, scallops, numbers, flowers, and paint.

TESTIMONY:  I journaled about a favorite childhood memory, I wrote my journaling on my background, and I used the Inspo word: play.

Have a fabulous day!

Lasting Memories Challenge #245 & Process Video Update.

Good Morning Beautiful People!  Well, it's the 1st day of summer break and my son is already bored. AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

I'll figure out something.

Lasting Memories has their Challenge #245 Posted:

Create a layout based on this quote/happiness.  

This quote is so true to me.  I feel, as a mom, wife, friend, sister, daughter, etc, that my happiness needs to come first.  Because if I'm unhappy I'm not useful to those around me.  But if I'm happy it makes me a better person, mom and wife.  So where do I find my happiness?  Doing things for others, spending time with family, and paper crafting.

Here's my layout based on the challenge:

My husband and I went on a little "Lovers Escape"  to a local Resort in Key West.  We only spent one night and it rekindled our romance.  It was awesome!

Process Video Update:

I made my very first scrapbook process video last week.  It was so much fun.  Check it out if you'd like:

I'm working on Video #2 right now and should be up in the next couple days.  Editing these videos is harder than I thought!

Have a Wonderful Day!

My First Scrapbook Process Video

I did it!  I finally went through with it.  I've been dreaming about this day for almost a year.  It went much differently than I imagined, but it's uploaded.  The depute of my first ever Scrapbook Process Video: "Faith".

Yes, I know.  It's pretty rough.  I'm challenged when it comes to computers and uploading and everything in between.  It can only get better from here, RIGHT?

I was inspired by Lasting Memories Challenge #244 and a Shimelle Sketch.