Emma's Paperie: XOXO card

Good morning, good morning! Today I have a sweet, little card to share with you that I created for Emma's Paperie along with a little sketch to go with it that is on the side bar on the Emma's blog. I used a lot more of the "Head Over Heels" collection by Lily Bee, a Studio Calico label and wood veneer banner piece, gorgeous trim by Webster's Pages and a couple stick pins by Maya Road. For a complete supply list, please visit the Emma's Paperie blog here.

That's all for today! :)

Emma's Paperie: Budding Photographer

I have another layout to share with you today that I made for Emma's Paperie using the "Head Over Heels" collection. We had a focus on stickers for the month of January so I had fun using banner stickers, label stickers and alphabet stickers to create this layout. The girls received a cute little Fisher Price digital camera for Christmas from their Aunt Jaime and Nora is just in LOVE with it. She's always taking pictures and has a great eye for photography already! For a complete supply list of this layout, please visit the Emma's Paperie blog here.

 To go along with the "photography" theme, I made my photos into faux Polaroids (something I've been doing a lot lately). I just like the look and gives me a space to tie twine, write some journaling, embellish or use a label sticker.

In the middle of my photos, I layered a doily I cut from patterned paper, Jenni Bowlin flower, My Mind's Eye brad and several Maya Road stick pins. 

I love the little "a dream come true" sticker and had to use it to highlight just how very special this gift was to Nora.

Thanks for looking today! More to come soon! :)

Emma's Paperie: January Color Challenge

Happy Friday, friends! I'm so glad it's the weekend. This has been quite a week. We have been adjusting back to our normal routine after our potty training marathon last weekend and I'm definitely having to make some changes regarding how I do things around the house. The saddest part of it all??? I think we have given up nap time. :( I'll get over it, I promise. :)

Today I want to share with you my layout for the January Color Challenge over at Emma's Paperie. I fell in love with the "Head Over Heels" collection by Lily Bee when it was released last CHA and used a lot of it for this layout. I have been wanting to do a layout of my sisters and me at all of our weddings since my last sister got married this summer and finally got around to it. The photos span 8 years. I just can't get over how much of a baby my youngest sister, Jaime is at my wedding. For a complete supply list, check out the Emma's Paperie blog.

I wanted there to be a lot of focus on the title so I changed up the "3's" that I used and kept the rest of the text the same with Amy Tangerine thickers by American Crafts. 

I also used the tiny alphabet and number stickers by Lily Bee to add the year to each photo and cut out doilies from patterned paper to draw more attention to them. 

Thanks for looking! I have plenty more to share with you next week! I'm going to be staying busy this weekend...I have a birthday on Sunday...yippee! :)

Have a fabulous weekend!

Pebbles: With Love Treat Bags

Hello and Happy Thursday! Today I have a trio of glassine treat bags I created for the Pebbles blog using the "With Love" collection. These sweet little bags could be used to hold treats to send to a loved one. I added plenty of texture by creating with doilies, kraft gift tags, masking tape stickers, ribbon, punched hearts and twine.

Pebbles supplies used:
With Love True Love Patterned Paper (751202)
With Love You & Me Patterned Paper (751212)
With Love Kiss Me Patterned Paper (751211)
With Love Masking Tape Stickers (732086)
With Love Gift Tags (747160)
With Love Ribbon (780014)
With Love Mini Clothespins (744280)

Other supplies used:
Punches (Fiskars, EK Success)
Transparencies (Maya Road)
Twine (Martha Stewart)
Glassine bags
Doily

Sweet and simple, right? :) I'll be back tomorrow with my layout for the January Color Challenge at Emma's Paperie.


We're off to the dentist this morning! Skippy! :)

Emma's Paperie: Hambly Studios & a Sketch

Good morning! I was so busy posting my December Memories album last month that I didn't get a chance to share a couple more projects for Emma's Paperie. All of the designers created a project using amazing transparencies and rub-ons by Hambly Studios. And this "Very Merry" layout is what I came up with for my project. I created the color scheme based on the colors in the girls' Christmas dresses. And I actually got a little technique happy and made "snow globes" with the transparencies. For a complete supply list, please visit the Emma's Paperie blog here.

First, I cut a few circles from transparencies and then placed them on kraft cardstock and cut around the circle with a scalloped scissors. Next, I machine stitched around the edge of the circle, leaving just a small space open so that I could slip either some chunky crystal glitter or fine silver glitter inside. I really like how these turned out.

The little pennant is a silver rub-on by Hambly. 

Here is a look at the silver woodgrain "snow globe" with ribbon by We R Memory Keepers tied around it in a bow.

I also have a card to share today that used the December sketch. Most of the products are by Basic Grey, Lily Bee Designs, Maya Road and Prima. For a full supply list, please visit the Emma's Paperie blog here. 

That's all for today! I'll be back again tomorrow with more! :)

Splish Splash with Palm Beach!

Thanks so much for your kind words about the Webster's Pages Clean & Simple Design team! I am really excited to share one of my first projects with you today using the brand new "Palm Beach" collection (consider this a sneak peak, if you will). You can also check out my introduction over at the Webster's Pages blog if you want.

I knew that I wanted to create with photos of all of us at the aquatic center last summer. I pulled out several bright, bold colors in the collection and then paired it with a neutral kraft cardstock sprayed with a little white and turquoise mist. This two-page layout actually started out as a one-page layout (the page on the left) but when I was almost finished with it, I was still staring at all of the photos that ended up on the right page and I knew it had to be a two-page layout. To keep the layout fluid, I simply joined the two pages with a small strip of turquoise patterned paper.

Here's a closer look at page 1...

and a closer look at page 2...

And a few close-ups...I am really excited about working with Webster's trims and cameos. Yum!

And check out that little resin bird and sparkler!

Thanks for checking out my first project for Webster's Pages. I'll be sharing more from the new collections next week.

If you are a regular blog reader, you might have noticed that I gave the blog a little make-over. What do you think? Are you having any trouble reading text or seeing photos? I was really tired of having teeny tiny photos on my blog, especially for all the two-page layouts I have been creating recently. I also really like the new blog header I found at Shabby Blogs.

I have been playing a little bit of catch up around the house today and will be for the next few days. We potty-trained the girls over the weekend using a 3-day method and it WORKED! We only had one minor accident yesterday and it was late in the day and we even were out of the house for a couple hours. I'm feeling really good about how well they did but I know we'll continue to have a few issues as we go about our normal routine. We tried using a public restroom yesterday and the girls were absolutely terrified and traumatized by the automatic flushing toilet. So, I'm sure public restrooms might be a little scary for a while now. :)

Anyway, enough of the potty talk...I'm sure you wanted to hear all about it. ;)

More tomorrow! :)

Webster's Pages Clean & Simple Design Team!

Wow! I have been holding onto some very exciting news for a little awhile and today is the day I finally get to share with you all! I am one of the newest members of the Webster's Pages Clean & Simple Design Team!!!!! I have already begun working with the new collections and I am in love with the new clean and simple papers!

You can check out the full announcement of the entire design team here! Thank you for letting me share my excitement! :)

Pebbles: Christmas is Love

It's been double page layout week on the Pebbles blog this week! I love creating double page layouts when I have a lot of photos to tell a particular story. Christmas is the perfect occasion to share a lot of photos, and I used the "Welcome Christmas" collection to showcase photos of one of our Christmas gatherings this year. I created a collage of wallet size photos (10 of them) and then chose one photo that I wanted to highlight and made that the focal point of the layout. (Click the photo to see larger.)

When I create two-page layouts, I enjoy creating a large design element that supports the focal point photo. Here I created a Christmas tree using punched circles from patterned paper and rhinestones. A portion of a border sticker anchors the tree. I also carried the title across the page with the use of a border sticker.

Pebbles supplies used:
Welcome Christmas Merry Christmas (751175)
Welcome Christmas Christmas Gift (751173)
Welcome Christmas Santa's Workshop (751176)
Welcome Christmas Sleigh Ride (751178)
Welcome Christmas Gingerbread House (751180)
Welcome Christmas Candy Cane (751181)
Welcome Christmas Santa's List (751182)
Welcome Christmas Crimson ABC Stickers (732069)
Welcome Christmas 12" Border Stickers (732072)
Welcome Christmas Buttons (747147)
Welcome Christmas Fabric Brads (744267)
Welcome Christmas Ribbon (780012)
With Love Be Mine (751201)
With Love Sweetheart (751204)
With Love Kiss Me (751204)
With Love ABC 2 Stickers (732082)

Other supplies used:
Cardstock (American Crafts)
Stickers (The Girls' Paperie)
Spray Mist (Studio Calico)
Rhinestones (Melissa Frances)
Punches (Martha Stewart, Marvy Uchida)
Have a great weekend everyone! We're embarking on a 3-day potty training extravaganza at our house today. The girls are definitely ready so it will be quite an adventure, I'm sure!

More on Monday! :)

December Memories: Final Post!

I did it! I finished my December Memories album. Thirty-one fabulous memories from the month of December.

29) Christmas with Great-Grandma Theresa - Grandma and Great Aunt Linda came to my mom and dad's house for Christmas Day dinner. The girls were eager to share their new babies and doll stroller with them as well as enjoy a Cheeto picnic, courtesy of Grandma.

30) Favorite Christmas Movies & Songs - This was a fun year in that the girls were really able to get into movies and songs. I listed several of their favorites of each plus included an actual DVD into the album. Oh yes, they cracked The Berenstain Bears before they even watched it so we had to get a new copy. I was about to throw it away but then I decided to keep it for the album. And, we are STILL singing Frosty the Snowman around here. :)

31) Happy New Year! - We were supposed to have a party with all of their grandparents but Nora and I came down with a stomach bug so we canceled all the fun. But we were all feeling better on New Year's Day so I pulled out the hats that day instead! I also summarized the month on that final page as well.

Cover - I saved designing the cover until the very end...I just like creating better that way when it comes to mini albums. I spritzed the front of the cover with white Studio Calico mist, used a paper doily, an older Basic Grey transparency from a Noel Mignon kit, a Pretty Little Studio tag, Maya Road wooden snowflake, and a My Mind's Eye "Merry Christmas" banner and brad. I also tied off the top with green gingham ribbon and had to add a jingle bell.

The album is still pretty thick even after removing the pages I didn't use.

Cover page - I just had to start the album with our annual photo in the front of the tree. The girls crack me up with their cheesy grins. :) 

If you want to revisit the rest of my album, please check out the following posts:
December Memories: 1-4
December Memories: 5-8
December Memories: 9-12
December Memories: 13-16
December Memories: 17-20
December Memories: 21-24
December Memories: 25-28

And my thoughts on the process:

• I am so, so, so happy with the overall album. I loved using the Fancy Pants brag book. It feels more like a journal to me than anything. I was able to combine a lot of photos and journaling in the album.
• The month of December is just so unpredictable. I ended up sick for the last half of the month. Me being sick = nothing done on the album. And if my kiddos were sick, I also wouldn't have been able to do anything.
• The first half of the month, I did enjoy working on the pages at night. I felt that it worked better for me to do a couple pages at a time. I liked the structure I decided on: 31 memories, and not necessarily focused on the days.
• I felt like the project helped me take out my camera more and enjoy the month. It also inspired me scrapping several Christmas pages along the way.
• Because I didn't get anything done on the album the last half of December, I didn't work on it again until well after Christmas. I had to leave everything out all over my desk and that didn't bode well when I wanted and needed to work on other projects. I'm an all or nothing type of person and I needed to have this album finished before I could work on the next thing.
• I think what I might do next year is create a "highlights of Christmas album" after the fact. It ended up being a monster of a project that did stress me out which is not what I wanted to happen.
• That all being said, I am happy that I gave it a try this year. I know I will treasure this album forever!
  
  Thanks for sticking with me through this project! If you have any questions about anything, please let me know! More to come soon! :)

December Memories: 25-28

Good morning! I'm back with more of my December Memories album - just one more post to go after this one!

25) Christmas with Grandpa & Grandma - We enjoyed Christmas with Glen's parents on Christmas Eve morning. We all had breakfast together and then opened gifts. The girls love their new princess sleeping bags and backpacks.

26) Christmas with Great-Grandpa Gene - We always spend Christmas Eve at Grandpa Gene's house. It was such a fun year with the girls and cousin Tatum. Lots of hugs, great food and even a streaker (potty training is starting soon!) :)

27) Family photos - We always take lots of photos at Grandpa's house - the grandkids and great-grandkids, my sisters, my sisters and our kids and my sisters and our husbands. Love taking these each year!

28) Nissen Christmas - We spent Christmas Day at my mom and dad's house. The girls got more use out of their Christmas dresses. They love their new Cabbage Patch dolls and doll strollers, tea set and Fisher Price camera.

I'll wrap up my December Memories album tomorrow with the last three pages, title page and cover as well as my thoughts about creating this album.

See you then! :)

December Memories: 21-24

I'm usually not one to blog so late in the day but I wanted to share more pages of my December Memories album. I'll be sharing the rest of my album over the next three days because I FINALLY FINISHED IT LAST NIGHT! Whoohoo! As I said, I'll be sharing my thoughts on the process when I post the final pages.

21) The Nativity - We bought a Little People Nativity Set this year. I wanted one so much last year but I couldn't find one anywhere so I was just thrilled when I found one right after Thanksgiving. The girls loved playing with it and understanding more about the birth of Baby Jesus. We tried to keep it separate from the rest of the toys so they could understand that it was a special treat to play with it.

22) Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus! - I couldn't tell you how many times we sang "Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus" at our house during the month of December. Towards Christmas, I made the girls special cupcakes so we could light a candle and sing. They loved it, of course. We also talked about how the candle symbolized that Jesus is the light of the world.

23) Waiting for Santa - We made reindeer food (oatmeal and glitter to help the reindeer fly) and left milk and cookies for Santa.

24) Christmas Morning - Our Christmas "morning" celebration occurred on Christmas Eve morning. The girls came down the stairs to see their gift from Santa - a kitchen set. They loved playing with it and wouldn't stop. They also opened their stockings.

More to come tomorrow...

December Memories: 17-20

Happy Friday! I'm working some more on my December Memories album and I've been reflecting a lot on the process which I will share more about when I share the final pages. I am taking this album through the whole month of December so I will have 31 spreads when completed. Today I have numbers 17-20 to share with you.

17) Visit with Santa - The girls were so excited to see Santa but when the time came, they were scared. Poor babies kept saying "Afraid" and were clinging like monkeys to us so Santa went behind the chair for our photo. Classic!

18) Letter to Santa - Merle Hay Mall has a very nice area set up where kiddos could write a letter to Santa so the girls did some scribbling and came up with their own letter. Pretty cute! :)

19) Christmas Dresses - I love, love, love having the girls all dressed up! One of my favorite traditions is choosing a pretty Christmas dress for them. And they love it too...Nora danced in circles singing "Cinderella, Cinderella, Cinderella" every single time she put the dress on. LOVE.

20) Read Christmas Books - I wrapped up all of our Christmas books plus a few library ones and we opened one a night to read together as a family. This was a new tradition for us this year but it quickly became one of my favorite parts of the day. It was a perfect day to wind down before the girls went to bed and the girls loved looking through their books during the day as well.

Here is the tag part of this spread. I shared what some of their favorite books were on the "celebrate" tag which will be fun to look back on someday.

So there you have it! I'll have more to share of the album soon! I'm hoping to get a lot more done this weekend.

Have a good one! :)