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:

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.  

What would you call your Scrap Style?

Lately,  I've been applying for a few different design teams.  And usually, on of the questions in the application is, "what is your style?".  At first I struggled with this question because I've only been scrapbooking for a few years. I learned from youtube process video, particularly Shimelle Laine.  From there I started scrap lifting layout I found online so I could practice different styles and techniques.  About a year ago, I developed my own style.  

One word that comes to mind when describing my style: Layered.

I do love tons of white space on my layouts.  To me, it draws more attention to the photo.

I created this layout for the CSI Case File #153:

What would you call your scrappy style?

A Scrapbook Page Inspired by a Song

Good morning fabulous people! (sung in my best opera voice)

Is your morning as beautiful as mine?  

I found this awesome challenge blog and just had to tell y'all about it.  It's called Scrap it with a Song and it blows my mind.  Every month they post a challenge involving a Pop Song and a Rock song.  The idea is to create a paper project using inspiration from one of the songs.  Inspiration can come from the lyrics, the title, the theme, or  whatever inspiration strikes while listening to the song.  I think this whole concept is genius.  I mean, music can alter my mood on any given day, so why not look to it for creative inspiration?

This month's Pop Challenge Song is Katy Perry's ROAR.

Here is my creation:

I was inspired by the title of the song. "roar".  Sometimes when my son, Cole, is not getting his own way, he lets out this ridiculous roar.  He is a total actor and does anything in public to get what he wants.  He's so cute though.  

 I also usedStudio Calico's Sunday Sketch for inspiration.  Here's a peek at their layout sketch:

Thanks for reading.  Do you get creative inspiration from music?  

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.

My idea of mixed media layout

mixed media

pl.n. (used with a sing. verb)

1. A technique involving the use of two or more artistic media, such as ink andpastel or painting and collage, that are combined in a single composition. Found: HERE

I absolutely love mixed media scrapbook pages.  LOVE THEM!  I have so much fun playing with paints, stamps, and texture paste.  It's a whole new world to me.

I have a problem though.  Every time I use my artsy-fartsy supplies on a layout, I never like it.  Before I even start, I click through the CSI Gallery and get tons of inspiration.  For some reason, when I do it, I feel like it looks too messy.  Maybe I'm not a mixed media scrapper.  I want to be.  But maybe I'm not.  I enjoy getting in touch with my inner artist and making a mess, but I hate the outcome.  I'll keep trying.

Here is a "mixed media" layout I created for CSI Case File #CC-4:

I sorta like how this came out.  I used a stencil with texture paste that I tinted with a light blue ink pad, a stamp with black ink, and splotched of silver mist spray.  

Here is Case File CC-4:

I love everything about this layout besides the texture paste.  I think I just love a white crisp background.  I'm gonna keep trying to get this mixed media style to my taste. 

Wish me Luck.  Do you have a hard time with mixed media?  If not, any advice for me?

Happy Slappy Tap Dancer and a Layout.

Yes, I will proudly admit that I loved Tap Dancing.  I did it for 9 years as a child.  I loved it.  I still play with the idea of joining the adult class at the local dance academy. 

I made a layout highlighting a very awkward stage in my childhood:

Check out my bangs and my awesome shoulder poof things.  

Needless to say, I was the most popular girl in middle school.  NOT!

When I pulled out this photo to scrap, I was blinded by my costume and my creativity came to a sudden halt.  I need inspiration, PRONTO!

Scrap Our Stash is having a Stash Challenge.

The word is T-W-I-N-E.  The rules are to include an item from your stash for each letter in the word.  Here's what I did:

T-Tag

              W-Wood Veneer

             I-Ink Splatters

                  N-Notebook Paper

             E-Enamel Dots

I also used a sketch from Sketch-N-Scrap.

I used their Twistback Thursday Sketch #1:

Along with my old items:
The photo, some old cpu paper, mist, and and white card stock

and new items:
Everything else on my layout is new from my January Hip Kit & Add-on.

What embarrassing photos have you scrapped lately?

Exciting News and a Scrapbook Page

This morning I wanted to share a cute little page that I made for the January 1st Sketch at Stuck?!.

Here's the sketch:

I've always loved the sketches that Stuck?! provides each month.  They are always well thought out and full of layers.  

Here's the Big and Exciting News:

Stuck?! sketches asked me to be a Guest Designer for the month of February.  Isn't that awesome??  I'm so excited to work with them and their amazing team of designers.  Find out more about it HERE!

Boy Layout with Pink Flowers

If you've been following my blog for a bit, you probably know I have one child, a handsome 4 yr. old named Cole.  He is as tough and rugged as a boy comes.  However, I don't let that stop me from using the beautiful and delicate embellishments that call my name:

I used Maggie Holmes chipboard pieces from her open book collection.  

 How do I justify using pink flowers on my son's page you ask?  It's my hobby and I get enjoyment out of all different types of embellishments, including flowers.  Also, my son likes the color pink and also picks flowers for me when he sees them, so flowers belong on his page, right?

Well maybe I was stretching it on that last one, but you get the idea.  

I used a sketch from Scrap Africa.  I really like their sketches and find it easy to make it my own.  

Do you stick to a masculine theme on your boy pages?

My Story

No, no, no....don't worry.  This is not a blog post about my life story.  I'll save that for a rainy day.  "My Story" is actually the title to today's scrapbook page:

Maybe I will indulge you in a little chapter of my Life Story.  Did I ever mention that I was in the United States Air Force?  Did I mention that I was a firefighter?  Yup. Yup.  I can't lie, I am a little proud to say that.  I joined the military in 2007 because I always sorta felt compelled to do it.  My recruiter gave me a booklet of jobs to bring home and carefully choose a career that I think would suit me.  All the jobs sounded kind of boring to me, until I saw FIREFIGHTER.  So I checked the box.  Simple as that.  No tear jerking, inspirational reasoning behind my decision.  I was warned over and over that the training was brutal.  I was told several times that females rarely make it through the Physical Training, because women's bodies usually can't lift a human being off the ground, throw them over their shoulders, and carry them out of a burning building if necessary.  But hey, I like a challenge.  Long story short, I did very well in Fire Training and even did better than half my class which was all men.  Maybe I'm just built more like a man than a woman.  I don't know.  But it was the 4th greatest accomplishments of my life.  

The photo was actually taken in Disney World.  I was acting like a complete doofus and pretending to open to the hydrant.  

I followed along with My Creative Sketches' December Sketch:

Check out the challenge, you still have until Jan. 14th to enter.

Check out Paper Issue's Link Party

What is your 4th greatest accomplishment?  I'd love to know.