justem: scrapbookery

A Mother's Day Layout

Last Friday I had a Mother's Day themed layout up on the Pebbles blog. It's funny, rarely do I get an idea in my head and then follow it through almost exactly to the end...but that's what I did this time. I envisioned a quilt of photos with a giant heart on top.  While there were some minor changes (title changed, and I ended up creating a mat for the quilt to just add a little more color), it pretty much looks the way I thought it would!!  I must admit, it's one of my favorite layouts I've made in awhile!

To read more about the process of it all and a supply list, check out the Pebbles blog. :) Have a great Wednesday!

Ventage Tuesday: 5 I Googled...

Isn't it funny that I can write "googled" and like 95 percent of the population will know what I'm talking about?!  Anyway, this week's Ventage Tuesday is brought to you by Stephanie, who encouraged us to take a look back at our internet past to find out what in the world we have been searching for!  I found this to be a bit harder than I anticipated, mostly because I have this obnoxious internet obsession, and I visit WAY too many websites everyday...thus making it a rather drawn out process to look through my history! And...I've also realized...I'm pretty boring. There is nothing very surprising or astounding on this list, but I'm a team player, so I'll play along!!  So here you have it - 5 things I've googled in the last month:

1. NPR Articles.  I listen to NPR in the car, and I tend to only hear bits and pieces of what they talk about, thanks to my chatty little co-pilots.  So, I keep a mental list of all the articles I want to read and check them out later when I have a chance.  Here was a recent one: Young Girls May Get More Teaching Time from Parents than Boys Do. An interesting read...

2. Song Lyrics. I google song lyrics a LOT.  I mean, I am the girl that watched 27 Dresses and said, "wait a minute, you mean it really ISN'T electric boobs?!"  I tend to get song lyrics wrong all the time.  So, thanks to Google I don't sound like a total fool when I'm belting out songs while speeding down the highway with my windows open.

3. Michigan.  We spent Mother's Day in Michigan, and I think I googled about 30 different things: restaurants, times things opened, the weather, directions...you name it, I googled it!  Where would be without Google??  Lost and hungry on the side of the road, I'm sure!!

4. Hippie Mom Stuff: Ring Sling, Vinegar to Kill Weeds, Refill Swiffer Bottle, Vitamix vs. Ninja, Vinegar BumGenius, Upspring Baby (don't get me started on that one!), Pressure Points, Newborn HepB, Post Pregnancy Essential Oils.  You know...all that stuff to try and maintain my hippie mom status while I'm chugging down my Dr. Pepper. ;)

5. Internet Stalker. No, I didn't actually google the words "internet stalker." ;)  But, I kind of am one, ha!  I would say the vast majority of my google searches are looking for people or their blogs.  I won't say WHO I was looking for...but just know...it might have been YOU. ;)

If you'd like to peek into the mind of the Ventage girls, be sure to check out Angie, Barb, Stephanie, and Katrina to see what THEY have googled in the past month!! :)

Beach Babies

My "Pinspired with Gossamer Blue" post went up on the GB blog yesterday!  I admit...I got a little wild and crazy with this layout. It's a bit reminiscent of some of the layouts I used to make years ago! ;)  Here is my inspiration piece:

and here is my layout:

I used my Cameo to cut all the waves and just kind of haphazardly layered them. I used a pen to outline everything to just make them all a bit more distinct.  For more info on the challenge, the layout, and the chance to win a gift certificate to Gossamer Blue, check out the post!

So yeah...crazy, huh?! ;) But, it's fun, and I like it. Making this layout made me think a lot about "style" and the fact that I don't really know that I have one definitive style.  I think I have a couple different styles...my "crazy, bright" style like this layout (and some of my Pebbles layouts fit into this category!) and then there's my more "modern/artsy" style with layers and misting and all that jazz. And then there are just some that don't fit into any category.  At times I wish I had a really recognizable style like some scrappers do, but ultimately I like that I feel like I have the freedom to create whatever I want and not be boxed into a single idea or look.  What about you? Do you have a distinct style? Do you wish you did? I'd love to hear some thoughts! :)  Have a great weekend!

(ps: why does this show up as center aligned when i'm typing it, but not on the actual blog?! frustrating.)

Little Red Wagon

Good Morning!  It's almost Friday! ;)  Today I have another Gossamer Blue layout to share!  I must admit, when I began this layout (at the Chicagoland Scrappers meet-up!) I was not diggin' it.  It just wasn't falling together for me. I liked the colors and the way the woodgrain from the wagon was mimicked in the pattern paper...I just wasn't feeling the overall design. Well, after some minor adjustments, I'm pretty happy with the result.  It doesn't hurt that H looks totally adorable in the photos!

Have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!

Ventage Tuesday: 5 for summer...

 

Today's Ventage Tuesday is brought to you by Barb, who requested a fashion themed post in honor of the warmer temperatures we are finally seeing!  This summer my wardrobe is going to have one goal - be comfortable! I'll be pretty pregnant at the beginning of summer...and uber pregnant by the end of it!  I had to buy a bunch of new maternity clothes since I have never been pregnant during the summertime before!  I've got a lot of t-shirts, a couple skirts, and a pair of capri pants that I'm already regretting because they have that stupid little half-band of elastic that is already falling down below my belly! So yes, my top 5 summer fashion finds are not very exciting...but they are practical! ;)

1. The maternity top.  I tend to go with the ones that have ruching on the sides. I think they are a little more flattering to my already curvy figure!! I actually have the exact top in the picture, which I got from Target.

2. The maxi skirt. I have a maternity maxi skirt from Old Navy, and I'm already contemplating buying every other one they sell. It is the most comfortable thing EVER...and it hides my white pasty legs quite well! ;)

3. The flip-flops. I got a pedicure last week, and I've decided that I shall never wear regular shoes again! Okay, not really...I did pull out the Converse a couple times ,and I had to wear some Keen mary janes for a "dress-up" event (that is the extent to which I wear dress-up shoes, ha!), but I will wear flip-flops every chance I have this summer. What can I say? My toes like to be free!

4. The sunglasses. I really think I need a sunglasses stylist.  I always buy the cheapest ones possible because inevitably they will get lost or broken. But...they never look that cool. I need a cute, fun pair to get me through all of our outside events this summer!

5. The necklace. Yeah...clearly I was running short on items! ;)  I slowly have been buying cute necklaces to add to my jewelry collection. I don't have a ton, but I love wearing fun jewelry...maybe I'll come across some this summer!

So there you have it. Totally boring. Totally comfortable. Totally me. :) What is on your Summer fashion list this year?  I'd love to live vicariously through all of you who won't be waddling around all summer! ;) For more fashion finds, be sure to visit my other Ventage girls: Angie, Barb, Katrina, and Stephanie!

Stillwater Date

Happy Monday!  This morning I have another Gossamer Blue May layout to share.  This was a layout that I threw together very quickly...and then added something...then added something else...then added something else! ;)  I hardly every scrapbook about things other than my kids anymore, so this was really fun for me, and I admittedly love the way it turned out!  It is definitely my favorite  of the layouts I created this month!  The title was cut on my Cameo using the font "Always in my Heart," and all of the goodies come from both the main kit and the various add-ons.

Hope everyone had a great weekend and a fun National Scrapbooking Day! :)

 

Chicagoland Scrappers Meet-up!

Last weekend a bunch of girls in the Chicagoland Scrappers Facebook group got together at a local Archivers!  It all started when my friend Latrice and I made plans to scrap together and she invited some other locals scrappers. And...my pregnancy brain must have been in full force, because I totally double-booked myself for the weekend, as my friend Barb from WI was also in town that night. Luckily it worked out, and I was able to convince my other two local friends Josie and Kelly to come along, too!  Here are a few really awful iPhone photos of us all, gotta love the A's lighting! ;)  It was a really nice time, though  I felt rather anti-social, as I actually had some assigments due the next day and wasn't able to be very chatty!!

My side of the table, Josie and me!  

Across from us: Kelly and Barb

The other table: Melissa (who I met for the first time, but who I had "talked with" on FB before!), Latrice, Kelly Jean (also new to me and super sweet), and Nubia (who I had met in person one other time before, but we have been longtime FB and Instagram friends, so it feels like we already know each other so well!).

Me and Latrices - she is too cute for her own good! 

The whole group!  

We are hopefully getting together again soon! Are you a Chicagoland Scrapper? Let me know and I will add you to the FB group!  By they way, Happy National Scrapbook Day. I don't think I'll be doing any scrapbooking today...how about you, any big plans??  :)

Crazy cool. :)

A couple of months ago, I received an email from the fabulous Paige at Scrapbook Trends. I'm very lucky to regularly receive emails from her, but this one was special. She informed me that my layout had been chosen for the June cover!  Insanity! My first cover!! The only downfall?  They were going to switch out my photo and use a stock photo instead. I was  still about 95 percent excited and 5 percent sad, mostly because the photo itself told such an important story! In fact, the journaling even talked about how the photo was not technically the best, but meant so much.  I have been checking the Northridge Publishing site daily for the past week to see if the June issue was up yet, and finally yesterday it was unveiled. AND...they kept my photo!! They converted it to black and white, but it's still my sweet kids!  

Super excited. Super happy. :)

Happpy May Day!

It's May 1st, and spring is in the air! The May Gossamer Blue kit is officially live, and it's a great one this month!  This is my Main Kit only layout...there is so much goodness packed into that Main Kit!!! When I saw the anchors, I knew exactly what photos to use! I've been saving these for almost two years...just waiting for the perfect opportunity to scrap them!

Hope you are having a great Wednesday! :)

Hello, FOUR!

Happy Monday!  Finally, I'm back with a new layout to share!  This one is up on the Pebbles Blog for Mix and Match Monday! :)  I am a sucker for monochromatic paper...and polka dots - both of which are featured on this layout!  The new "Rainbow" line from Amy Locurto is super cute and worked perfectly to draw together all my random colors. The yellow bag in the back is also from that same Amy Locurto line, the fun little scalloped border was cut with my Cameo, and I added a little twine and some gems from my stash!  Thanks for stopping by! Have a great Monday!