Given the craziness of summer scheduling, I've got a challenge post up on the October Afternoon blog today with a couple of quick and easy cards:
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
A Typical Summer Day
Today is what I foresee a typical summer day being like for us during weeks I'm not attending a training and the kids aren't in camp. Seth will be at work all day, I'll carve out a couple of hours for work on my computer while the kids play and read, there will be a couple of errands run, and then there will be dinner on the grill and some family time. After the kids go to bed I'll tuck into the next round of scrapbooking deadlines. We'll mix up the schedule a bit across the summer with some bike rides, pool time, playdates, sleepovers, museum visits, library time, and maybe a couple of day trips here and there.
Given the craziness of summer scheduling, I've got a challenge post up on the October Afternoon blog today with a couple of quick and easy cards:
Given the craziness of summer scheduling, I've got a challenge post up on the October Afternoon blog today with a couple of quick and easy cards:
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Summer is Here!
Last day of school on Friday = summer is here!
This summer will be busy, busy, busy! We're looking at a mix of unscheduled weeks, camp weeks, and travel weeks, with some massive juggling going on so that Seth and I can keep up with work amidst the craziness. We're not even 48 hours into summer yet and we've already attended two parties (one potluck in a park, one rockin' birthday party) plus Eli's also gone to a sleepover party. Today is about laying low and running errands. I think we all need the recovery time!
To start summer off, I thought I'd share a very summer-y layout I did for yesterday's Saturday Sketches feature on the Bella Blvd blog, featuring the Sunshine & Happiness line:
I also wanted to share that I clicked over to PicMonkey this morning and discovered that their much-anticipated (at least by me!) collage feature is now active. I tested it out by creating two different versions of a four-photo collage, one of which will likely make its way onto a layout later today:
Weird. After posting these collages I realized that my kids are wearing the exact same colors that I used in the layout above. Hmmm....might have to use this paper line again! :)
This summer will be busy, busy, busy! We're looking at a mix of unscheduled weeks, camp weeks, and travel weeks, with some massive juggling going on so that Seth and I can keep up with work amidst the craziness. We're not even 48 hours into summer yet and we've already attended two parties (one potluck in a park, one rockin' birthday party) plus Eli's also gone to a sleepover party. Today is about laying low and running errands. I think we all need the recovery time!
To start summer off, I thought I'd share a very summer-y layout I did for yesterday's Saturday Sketches feature on the Bella Blvd blog, featuring the Sunshine & Happiness line:
I also wanted to share that I clicked over to PicMonkey this morning and discovered that their much-anticipated (at least by me!) collage feature is now active. I tested it out by creating two different versions of a four-photo collage, one of which will likely make its way onto a layout later today:
Weird. After posting these collages I realized that my kids are wearing the exact same colors that I used in the layout above. Hmmm....might have to use this paper line again! :)
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Coveting Mid-season Releases
I must admit that I love the recent uptick in the trend of scrapbook companies issuing mid-season releases. By the beginning of May, I'd bought everything from my Winter CHA wish list, and the Summer CHA products won't start showing up in stores until August, September, and beyond. Enter the mid-season release. I've been trying my best to keep up with what's out there, and have a couple (okay, a lot!) of favorites that are making it onto my next wish list.True confession: I've already ordered the bits and pieces of this that are already in stores.
1. Pebbles Inc.'s Sunnyside collection features beautiful bring colors, but what I'm really waiting for are the stamps and the mini-clothespins:
These will be perfect for cards! (Of course, what would be even more perfect would be those stamps, reproduced over and over in different colors on a 12" X 12" sticker sheet! A girl can dream, right?)
2. Studio Calico's Heyday collection features gorgeous pastels in a wide variety of patterns:
I love the addition of orange and brown in with the more traditional pink, blue, and yellow. What am I coveting most from this line? The die cuts, and the wood veneer typewriters. Yes, I said typewriters (the image from the Studio Calico blog shows just the outlines and not the actual wood veneer shapes, but I can imagine how cool these are given all their other wood veneer products).
3. Crate Paper's Little Bo Peep collection is a gorgeous vintage-look baby girl line:
This may just inspire me to go back and dig out some as-yet-unscrapped baby photos of Sadie! (Even though many of these patterns are not baby-themed and could be used for a variety of projects I do love the baby-themed patterns!) My favorites include the tags and the whitewashed wood veneer shapes:
4. To pair with Little Bo Peep, Crate Paper is also releasing Little Boy Blue:
Again, the tags and wood veneer are my favorites:
Two of the papers in this collection really caught my eye. The first, called "Delightful," captures so many current trends in one place: hexagons, the quilted look, woodgrain, and, if everything above is evidence, pastels are the newest new trend.
The second, called "Playful Polaroid," hits on the ever-growing Polaroid trend. I can already tell that I'm going to have to get three pieces of this paper, one to use as is, filling in every frame with photos, embellishments, journaling, etc; another to cut up so that I can use the little Polaroids on different projects, and a third so that I can play around with the polka dot B side!
6. Simple Stories' Summer Fresh line has, well, at least for me, a fun 70s vibe, combining denim and burlap with red, yellow, and green:
I love the florals in this line!
7. Ormolu's Bungalow collection sports a fun and colorful around-the-house/everyday life vibe:
My favorites from this line are the Snapshots and the Images Flair and Time: Analog Flair.
The Snapshots are fun polaroid frames with coordinating labels that make good use of the negative space where your photo goes. Best part? You can order them as either physical items or as Silhouette print and cut files. Can you guess which version I want? ;)
The Images Flair look pretty versatile to me. I could see using them on lots of different projects.
The Time: Analog Flair are way too cute and would be oh-so-perfect for a layout about a day in my life or about my daughter learning how to tell time. In fact, I might need more than one set of these. Hmmm...
8. Wait for it...Basic Grey's Clippings collection:
Yes, this is the first time in years that anything Basic Grey has released has caught my eye. It follows the "office eclectic" trend that was so prevalent at the Winter CHA show.
What do I want from this line? An awful lot. See below:
Herald patterned paper:
1. Pebbles Inc.'s Sunnyside collection features beautiful bring colors, but what I'm really waiting for are the stamps and the mini-clothespins:
These will be perfect for cards! (Of course, what would be even more perfect would be those stamps, reproduced over and over in different colors on a 12" X 12" sticker sheet! A girl can dream, right?)
2. Studio Calico's Heyday collection features gorgeous pastels in a wide variety of patterns:
I love the addition of orange and brown in with the more traditional pink, blue, and yellow. What am I coveting most from this line? The die cuts, and the wood veneer typewriters. Yes, I said typewriters (the image from the Studio Calico blog shows just the outlines and not the actual wood veneer shapes, but I can imagine how cool these are given all their other wood veneer products).
3. Crate Paper's Little Bo Peep collection is a gorgeous vintage-look baby girl line:
This may just inspire me to go back and dig out some as-yet-unscrapped baby photos of Sadie! (Even though many of these patterns are not baby-themed and could be used for a variety of projects I do love the baby-themed patterns!) My favorites include the tags and the whitewashed wood veneer shapes:
4. To pair with Little Bo Peep, Crate Paper is also releasing Little Boy Blue:
Again, the tags and wood veneer are my favorites:
5. Echo Park's Sweet Day Collection is another pastel stunner:
The second, called "Playful Polaroid," hits on the ever-growing Polaroid trend. I can already tell that I'm going to have to get three pieces of this paper, one to use as is, filling in every frame with photos, embellishments, journaling, etc; another to cut up so that I can use the little Polaroids on different projects, and a third so that I can play around with the polka dot B side!
6. Simple Stories' Summer Fresh line has, well, at least for me, a fun 70s vibe, combining denim and burlap with red, yellow, and green:
I love the florals in this line!
7. Ormolu's Bungalow collection sports a fun and colorful around-the-house/everyday life vibe:
My favorites from this line are the Snapshots and the Images Flair and Time: Analog Flair.
The Snapshots are fun polaroid frames with coordinating labels that make good use of the negative space where your photo goes. Best part? You can order them as either physical items or as Silhouette print and cut files. Can you guess which version I want? ;)
The Images Flair look pretty versatile to me. I could see using them on lots of different projects.
The Time: Analog Flair are way too cute and would be oh-so-perfect for a layout about a day in my life or about my daughter learning how to tell time. In fact, I might need more than one set of these. Hmmm...
8. Wait for it...Basic Grey's Clippings collection:
Yes, this is the first time in years that anything Basic Grey has released has caught my eye. It follows the "office eclectic" trend that was so prevalent at the Winter CHA show.
What do I want from this line? An awful lot. See below:
Herald patterned paper:
Headliner Patterned Paper:
Snippets:
Garland:
Stickers - Titles:
Stickers - Alphas:
Stickers - Elements:
Please tell me I haven't missed anything. Please. I am already going to have to do some prioritizing, as this list is WAY too long!
Friday, May 18, 2012
Feeling a Little Misty
Earlier this week I cut out a Father's Day greeting with my Silhouette and used it as a mask to create this card for Father's Day Week at Write.Click.Scrapbook.:
Where is the mask itself, you ask? Sadie immediately asked if she could have it and taped it to her dad's desk. :)
Stay tuned for tomorrow, and my lengthy mid-season release round-up/wish list post.
 |
| Cardstock: Bazzill Basics + Patterned Paper: Crate Paper + Washi Tape: Love My Tapes + Wood Veneer Embellishments: Studio Calico + Spray Ink (aka Mist): October Afternoon |
Where is the mask itself, you ask? Sadie immediately asked if she could have it and taped it to her dad's desk. :)
Stay tuned for tomorrow, and my lengthy mid-season release round-up/wish list post.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
An Unusual Layout
Today, this layout went up over on the Bella Blvd blog:
I realize it's a little unusual, but what's a girl to do when she's got multiple photos of her son wearing and holding various skeletons belonging to now-deceased (obviously!) sea creatures? I had no clue what to do with these photos until I saw the Cat Flags from Bella Blvd. I went looking for a similar fish skeleton shape in the Silhouette store, found one, and used both the positive and negative images on my layout.
Super easy, very unusual, and one weird set of photos glued down and documented.
I realize it's a little unusual, but what's a girl to do when she's got multiple photos of her son wearing and holding various skeletons belonging to now-deceased (obviously!) sea creatures? I had no clue what to do with these photos until I saw the Cat Flags from Bella Blvd. I went looking for a similar fish skeleton shape in the Silhouette store, found one, and used both the positive and negative images on my layout.
Super easy, very unusual, and one weird set of photos glued down and documented.
October Afternoon Cakewalk Blog Hop: We Have A Winner!
Remember the October Afternoon Cakewalk blog hop last week? The one where I was giving away a set of the new Cakewalk Tidbits?
I used a random integer generator and the lucky number was 61. That means that the 61st commenter has won! That would be you, Lauren:
Lauren, Crafts by: readysetLove said...
Please email your contact information to staff@octoberafternoon.com to claim your prize. If you played along at any or all of the other stops, be sure to check back everywhere you commented to see if you're a winner!
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Forced Inspiration
I was up to post today's challenge on the October Afternoon blog but as evening approached yesterday I had no good ideas. (Hey, it happens to the best of us, right? :)) As I was panicking (and sharing that panic over email with friends), I happened to walk by the pile of mail that had arrived yesterday. I plucked the Pottery Barn Teen catalog from the pile and said to myself, "Find something, anything in here that can be turned into an inspiration piece. Otherwise, you are doomed!"
Long story short, I did find inspiration, and used my inspiration piece to create this card:
To see the inspiration piece, and to read more about my card, please check out the October Afternoon blog.
Speaking of October Afternoon, remember that Cakewalk blog hop from last week? Well, winners are announced tomorrow, so if you haven't hopped, get hopping!
Long story short, I did find inspiration, and used my inspiration piece to create this card:
To see the inspiration piece, and to read more about my card, please check out the October Afternoon blog.
Speaking of October Afternoon, remember that Cakewalk blog hop from last week? Well, winners are announced tomorrow, so if you haven't hopped, get hopping!
Monday, May 7, 2012
The Details
I got slammed at the end of last week and last weekend - my parents came into town for the weekend on Thursday, the kids were off from school on Friday, Seth and I went on a date on Friday night, our school's major annual fundraising event was Saturday, and Eli had a couple of things going on on Sunday. Let's not forget that during all of this I had the usual stuff (work, scrap deadlines, laundry, dishes, grocery shopping, etc.) plus was entertaining my parents. Here's hoping for some down time this coming weekend!
I wanted to post here a layout I did for last Thursday's sketch over on the October Afternoon blog. I had a lot of fun creating this layout using Lexi's simple sketch and products from the Sasparilla line:
I also wanted to share a recent discovery: the online photo editing program PicMonkey. It's like the now-defunct Picnik, but much, much better. You should really check it out. It's got some awesome features, including the ability to edit photos to look older (Polaroids, daguerreotypes, etc.), the ability to add mustaches to photos, and the ability to add cool torn paper labels or clean graphic labels (in any color you can dream of!) to photos. That's just the tip of the iceberg. Check it out. Trust me.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Thank You, Teachers!
As many of you know, next week is Teacher Appreciation Week here in the United States. As a former teacher, current instructional coach, daughter and wife of professors, and parent of elementary-age kids, teachers are very important to me! I spent part of yesterday in a 6th grade social studies classroom and was considering, yet again, returning to the classroom as a teacher. There's just something magical about being with kids and watching the light bulb go off when they figure something out. Knowing how much work it takes to get to that point, I want to say thank you to all of the past, present, and future teachers out there for all of the hard work you do, often without thanks! A special thank you goes out to my kids' teachers and to all the teachers with whom I currently work!
In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, Write.Click.Scrapbook. is featuring teacher appreciation projects all week this week (as in check back daily and be sure to go back and read Monday's and Tuesday's posts as well!). As I was busy with the October Afternoon Cakewalk Blog Hop yesterday, I wanted to be sure to link you today to yesterday's blog post at Write.Click.Scrapbook., which includes projects from the lovely and talented Paula Gilarde, as well as this card from yours truly:
For me, there were two teachers that stood out. Mrs. McKenzie was my 5th grade teacher. She really understood that the way to get kids to excel was to allow them choice and creativity in pursuing their learning. I remember creating countless book projects, each developed on my own. I never knew whether I was reading the books to read the books or so that I could exercise my creative muscles through a project completed at the end of each book and presented to the class! Ms. Culbert was one of my high school history teachers. As an incredibly shy high school student, I appreciated that Ms. Culbert truly valued all voices in the classroom and found ways to get all voices heard, not just the loudest ones.
I'd love to hear from my readers about a teacher who has made an impact in your life or in your child's life. Better yet, go and email or call that teacher and let him or her know how much their teaching meant/means to you!
In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, Write.Click.Scrapbook. is featuring teacher appreciation projects all week this week (as in check back daily and be sure to go back and read Monday's and Tuesday's posts as well!). As I was busy with the October Afternoon Cakewalk Blog Hop yesterday, I wanted to be sure to link you today to yesterday's blog post at Write.Click.Scrapbook., which includes projects from the lovely and talented Paula Gilarde, as well as this card from yours truly:
 |
| Patterned Paper: Bella Blvd + Chipboard: Bella Blvd + Stickers: Bella Blvd + Twine: May Arts |
For me, there were two teachers that stood out. Mrs. McKenzie was my 5th grade teacher. She really understood that the way to get kids to excel was to allow them choice and creativity in pursuing their learning. I remember creating countless book projects, each developed on my own. I never knew whether I was reading the books to read the books or so that I could exercise my creative muscles through a project completed at the end of each book and presented to the class! Ms. Culbert was one of my high school history teachers. As an incredibly shy high school student, I appreciated that Ms. Culbert truly valued all voices in the classroom and found ways to get all voices heard, not just the loudest ones.
I'd love to hear from my readers about a teacher who has made an impact in your life or in your child's life. Better yet, go and email or call that teacher and let him or her know how much their teaching meant/means to you!
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
October Afternoon Cakewalk Blog Hop
Welcome to today's October Afternoon Cakewalk Blog Hop! Cakewalk is a fun and colorful line perfect for lots of occasions, including summertime, everyday projects, or, of course, birthdays:
I used the following Cakewalk products on my "He Gave Her" layout:
- Patterned Paper: Confetti, Streamers, Party Hat
- Tin Pins
- Flower Sack
- Washi Tape: Celebrate, Numbers
- Label Stickers
My five favorite Cakewalk products, in no particular order, are:
1. The A side of Streamers - all of the colors and patterns make me happy:
2. The B side of Confetti - the color is gorgeous and it's a great basic pattern:
3. Miscellany - something for everyone in here:
4. Flower Sack - lots of fun bits, perfect for any project, but especially cards:
5. See my giveaway item below! ;)
As part of today's blog hop, I am giving away one set of Cakewalk Tidbits:
These fun die-cuts are so versatile - they would be fun to use on layouts, cards, or mini-albums. Please leave a comment below to be entered to win a set of Cakewalk Tidbits! The winner will be announced on Wednesday, May 9th.
The next stop on the blog hop is Danni Reid's blog. In case you get lost, here are all of the stops:
October
Afternoon at October Afternoon
Lexi Bridges at Night Owl
Vivian Masket at Right Side Up (you are here)
Danni Reid at Danni Reid.
Stacey Kingman at Still The Same Girl and Yet…
Marcy Penner at Hello Forever
Wilna Furstenberg at he{art}
Becky Novacek at Becky Novacek Photography Blog
Vivian Masket at Right Side Up (you are here)
Danni Reid at Danni Reid.
Stacey Kingman at Still The Same Girl and Yet…
Marcy Penner at Hello Forever
Wilna Furstenberg at he{art}
Becky Novacek at Becky Novacek Photography Blog
Jill Sprott at Use Your Words
Trust me, you'll want to check them all out, as there's inspiration at every stop and
a giveaway at each stop! October Afternoon is giving away a Cakewalk Collection Kit on the company blog and all of the design team members
are giving away individual products. So...what are you waiting for? Hop
away! :)
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Lauren