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.  

Lasting Memories Challenge #242 - Scrap Theme

Hello to my beautiful scrap-happy friends.  This month's theme at Lasting Memories is "Life's Affirmations".  This week the challenge is to scrap anything about this month's theme.   This got me thinking about a time in my life when I was working on myself.  In 2006, I woke up one morning and disliked almost everything about myself.  I didn't like the person I had become and made a decision to go on an intense journey to change everything about my life.  I met the most amazing and inspirational people in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and they forever changed my life.  It has been a continuous journey to make the positive changes necessary to life a full and happy existence.  One of the most important lessons I've learned is to "Live in the Moment".  

You see, my brain is never naturally living in the moment.  I sometimes have to close my eyes and try to completely empty all thoughts.  When my brain is finally quiet, I listen to the noises that are going on around me, then the smells, then open my eyes and see..  I love this moment right now.

CSI Case #165

CSI has an awesome Case File filled with fun inspiration with a soft and beautiful color palette.   Here's how I cracked the case:

Here's the original Case File #165:

You can find more details at met CSI Photo Gallery.

Lasting Memories Challenge #242 "Strength"

Hello Sassy Sunday Scrappers!  I know...I know.  I've been a little absent from the Bloggers World.  No excuses, just pure old-fashioned laziness.  Awesome-sauce.

For the month of May, the theme over at Lasting Memories is "Life Affirmations".  This week, for the challenge,  we are focusing on "Strength".

I used MME's Now and Then "Izzy" Collection.  I really love these colors with photos of my son.  They really bring out his personality.

He has a very "strong" and unique little personality.  

He's always happy, affectionate and caring, and loves to explore new things.  He truly is the sunshine in my life.

Head on over to Lasting Memories and have fun with this challenge.  We would love to see your beautiful Creation.

New Design Team at CSI

 I'm proud to announce that I am on the Design Team over at CSI.  I highly recommend checking out this awesome challenge blog.  They have unique challenges every month to get your creative juices flowing. The gallery is filled with tons of inspiration from scrapers around the world.   To be continued.............

New Month New Theme at Lasting Memories

Hey y'all.  Sorry I've been a little slower with the ole blog this past week.  I recently took on a new and amazing job in my local town.  I can't wait to share it with you in a later post.

Lasting Memories has a yummy theme going on this month, "Food for Thought".  And ladies, I LOVE FOOD!  This week's challenge is #227 "Favorite Recipe or Food".  I knew exactly what I would scrap about:

CUPCAKES!

It took a few years to find the "perfect buttercream frosting" and the "amazing cupcake batter" recipes, and together they made  "The Perfectly Piped Cupcake" for any occasion.

The buttercream frosting is sweet and creamy and melts in your mouth with every bite.  The batter bakes to perfection and tastes like a soft sugar cookie.  It's an amazing experience.  

My son and I made this batch for his class Halloween party.  They were a hit!

What is your favorite recipe or food?  Share with us over at Lasting Memories and join in on this fun challenge.  

SBC Scrapbook Challenges Design Team = Awesome

Is it true?  Did Scrapbook Challenges (aka-SBC) really pick me to be on their Design Team?  Heck yes they did and I'm so excited to be a part of their awesomeness.  They have weekly challenges to inspire your creativity.  

This week's sketch is #424: 

Isn't that an awesome sketch?  Their is so much you can do with it. Here's what I did:

I altered the sketch quite a bit.  I kept the basic design of the sketch, but moved stuff around.  For instance:  I used one photo instead of two, tightened up the layers, moved the embellishment clusters, and made it my own. 

To me, a sketch is a basic idea for me to make my own.  Sometimes my creations look exactly like the sketch, and sometimes totally different, but I always get some sort of inspiration in the process.

Do you use sketches?  If so, does your finished project resemble the sketch?

A Very Layered Grid Design and a Life Lesson

Top of the morning to you!  This month's theme at Lasting Memories Blog is Life's Moments.  As a scrapper, I love filling my albums with my perfect little family doing perfect little things.  All of us with smiling faces and eyes full of love.  Well ladies and gentlemen, NOT TODAY!

This week's challenge is Life's Lessons.  I scrapped a photo of my son on a fishing trip.  He learned about the role of a "bait fish"(a fish used as bait to catch a larger fish).  He figured out, in his innocent little mind, that the bait fish would die.  It saddened his sweet little heart, and broke mine.  

I don't know why I don't do grid designs more often.  They are fun and easy.  I used to think they were boring and not my style because the elements were separated and uniform.  But I figured out how to make it more "me".  I layered the photo and the cards with copy paper.  Then stuck in little die cuts and other bits in-between the layers, added the mist and called it finished.

Do you only scrap happy moments?  Share your thoughts.

Big News and Lasting Memories Challenge #223

Hello.  My name is Andrea and I have absolutely no patience & I'm so excited I could just pee my pants.  I was chosen to be a Design Team Member for Lasting Memories.  Seriously?  Somebody pinch me.  Really?  Me?  Are they sure about this??

I am so honored to be a part of such an amazing challenge blog.  These ladies (and maybe some men) are the nicest group of scrappers I've ever met.  They welcomed me with open arms and I am eager to learn from them and share my work with all of you.  This will be my first Design Team position and I'm stoked!  Slightly nervous, but more like "first-date-butterflies" type of nervous.  It's awesome!

With all of my blabbering out of the way,  I'd like to welcome you to our very first challenge for 2015 at Lasting Memories! We're celebrating the new year and new Design Team with a blog hop. Super fun right?! If you're just starting the hop, be sure to start at Lasting Memories so you don't miss anyone - if you're last stop was Paula,  then you're on the right track!

Our challenge theme this entire month is "Life's Moments" and our first challenge is "Life's Simple Pleasures" .. we want to know what one of your simple pleasure's in life is. Chocolate? Coffee? Adorable children, pets or grandchildren?? SO many things to consider and we're excited to see what you create! What's my Simple Pleasures?  Coffee, my son, my husband, coffee, and chocolate.  Here's what I came up with for this awesome challenge:

When I was searching for a photo to use, I came across this perfect photo.  It totally fit this challenge and spoke to me.  This photo is my simple pleasure.  Everyday, when my husband comes home from work, my son, Cole runs to the door with joy in his heart and the biggest smile on his face.  He jumps up for a hug, and for the rest of the evening, they are inseparable.  They truly are best friends and miss each other when apart.  Every night when I see them, my heart smiles and I know how lucky I am to have these guys in my life.  Pure unconditional love.

Your next stop is Suzanne and when you're all done visiting the new Design Team, we really hope you'll have time to join the fun! All our challenges run for the entire month, so you have time to play! Thanks for stopping by today!

Line Up

Lasting Memories

Lori

Tina

                                    Paula<----(came from here)

                                       Andrea<----YOU ARE HERE

                          Suzanne<----(next stop)

Lyne

Bea

Claire (returning member)

Renee

Kimberly (returning member)

Michele

Karen

Lasting Memories (time to craft!)