justem: little bits of this and that

Dirty little secret...

I completed two layouts for National Scrapbook Day yesterday.  The first one uses the new Amy Tangerine line by American Crafts.  I love all the bright colors on the b-sides of the papers.  They were just begging to make a rainbow!!

**PUBLISHED - Scrapbook Trends, Create: Sketches**

Originally I had simply made the rainbow with the papers, but I have really been trying to add little extras here and there to my layouts lately.  I added some messy punched hearts and also coordinating baker's twine.  Here is a close up of the detail...

So what is the dirty little secret that I refer to in my title?  Well, both of the layouts I made for National Scrapbook Day are scraplifts of my own older layouts.  I've been doing that a lot more lately. It's a totally quick and guilt-free way to be inspired!! ;) Here is the original inspiration for this layout...it's from January of 2009:

The next layout was for two different challenges - one was a color scheme challenge and one was a confetti challenge.  I've never used confetti, and I was a bit apprehensive...but I really like how this turned out!  Granted, I didn't use confetti like I'm probably "supposed" to...instead I used double stick tape to adhere it to my elements. I am so not patient enough to stick down every single little dot!! This layout uses the Studio Calico County Fair kit, which I hadn't touched until yesterday!! 

And the original?  This layout from January of 2010:

It's so fun going back through my old layouts and seeing how my style has evolved (and for the most part improved!!) over the years!  Hope you all had a great NSD! :)

May PageMaps guest...

About a month ago, the write.click.scrapbook team was asked to contribute layouts for Becky Fleck's May PageMaps.  I shyly raised my had to volunteer. You see, sketches kind of terrify me.  My style is pretty set in stone, and I can never figure out how to make sketches "my own." Out of the hundreds of layouts I've made, I can truly only remember making three layouts using a sketch...EVER.  Oh...and did I mention that the sketch she gave me was a 12x12 sketch...even scarier!!!  I don't know that my final layout looks all that much like original, but I'm happy with it! I was very much out of my comfort zone, and it is a very different style of layout than I usually create, but it works! :)

Be sure to check out the fabulous work of my w.c.s. teammates, as well!  Have a great day!

Everydaily...

It's May 1st!  This means a brand new gallery at write.click.scrapbook! This month's theme was "Everydaily." I decided to create a layout about Mirielle's morning routine, which is NOT a pleasant experience for anyone involved. I love how the bright colors in the layout make it seem much more cheerful than it really is. Ha! ;)  This layout uses an older Studio Calico kit, Brooklyn Flea. I've really been trying to use them lately! I have a bunch that are still untouched (embarrassing, I know!) in my scrap room!! Hope you all have a great Tuesday! :)

No Strings Attached...

Yesterday I ditched the kids, Justin, and his parents (who were visiting for the day), loaded up on snacks, made a little nest of awesomeness at Archivers, and got my scrappy on for about eight hours.  It was very nice...I needed it!!  I honestly think the last actual layout I made was at the beginning of March (Project Life not included).  No...maybe even FEBRUARY.  That's insane.  I got six projects made.  Five good ones. One embarrassingly bad one.  Four I can't share. Two I can. And the two I can...can you believe the are layouts I made just for me???  I haven't made a layout that's not for a team in...well, I can't even remember.  I used some of my ever growing stash of Studio Calico kits and they both make me quite happy. :) So here they are...my two "no strings attached" layouts!

The first one is a layout that talks about how emotional Miri's second birthday was. It uses the SC Daydream Believer kit.  I love this combination of colors and the little sequins!

*published: Scrapbook Trends, October 2012*


The second one uses the current SC kit, City of Lights, and features the only technique I think I've ever used. I don't know who did it first (KP maybe? April?) but it's one of my favorites.  (Note the cover of my "published" album over to the right!!) I had almost forgotten about it, but Ginny (LOVE her work - and I just realized we have the same chevron banner on our blogs, too!  Thanks Pinterest!!) used it in a totally cute layout last week, and I was inspired to whip out my circle punch and some pop dots! This layout turned out perfectly. I love everything about...especially that cute little baby. How is it possible that this was a year ago?!

*published: Scrapbook Trends, January 2013*

I feel like those eight hours really got me back in the groove. I'm hoping this means many more productive nights in the scraproom and more layouts to share!  Hope you had a great weekend!

2011 in review: Favorite layouts!

This year, I made a lot of layouts...and a lot of them I actually liked. ;)  I sometimes think I have a bit of a love-hate relationship withs scrapbooking.  Because of my limited time, most of my creations are for design teams I am on.  So, I'm not just doing it because it's fun...I'm doing it because I have to.  And when you have to do something, it's actually sometimes becomes NOT fun!!  But luckily the teams I am on consistently provide me with awesome product, and I have created somethings this year that have made me very happy!  So, no particular order...here are my top layouts of 2011! :)

"Paper"mint Mocha layouts...and a coupon!

The December Midnight Rooster kit is now available! Is that not the cutest title ever??  I made three layouts this month, all of which I love love love!!  I don't even know which one to share first because I love them all!!

This yellow striped piece of paper from Pink Paislee was my favorite piece of paper at CHA summer this year. It's so simple, yet so perfect!! ;)  I was super excited to use it on this layout along with the little pops of blue and red!

This layout is so "pretty" that I can't believe I made it! ;)  The photo is one of Mirielle...wasn't she such a beautiful baby?! I also used a large EK Success butterfly punch I picked up with a coupon at Archivers awhile back.

This layout is so simple, yet I love it!!  The colors are so fun and unique! And of course there are those two handsome guys in the photo... ;)

AND...some big news! This is taken straight out  of the December newsletter:

Have you been thinking of becoming a subscriber to Midnight Rooster but haven't?  This month you can make a "trial" purchase for 35% off the regular price!  And the best part?  There is NO commitment to become a subscriber...unless of course you want to!  This way you can try our kit out, see what you think...and hopefully fall in love!  To take advantage of the wonderful opportunity just visit our etsy shop and enter coupon code HOLIDAY2011 when you check out.  This coupon is good for KITS only.

In honor of December first...

here's a snowy little layout for you!

made with the midnight rooster november kit.
featuring my new favorite tool, this totally cool martha stewart punch!
i say...
bring on the snow!!
happy dec. 1!

scrappy sunday!

I have one layout to share today.  I often think to myself, "I should make layouts that use my blog posts as journaling"...but I never do. ;)  Probably because I'm so freaking long-winded. And I have terrible grammar and punctuation...this sentence is my case in point!  But I *knew* that I wanted to make a layout using the photo and what I wrote on this day.  I had to pare it down a little bit...all those darn ellipses made it extra long! ;)  But, ultimately I'm very happy with how the layout as a whole turned out! Maybe I'll use my blog posts on more layouts!

My Scrappy Surprise!

I am so excited to share with you all that I am the featured guest designer of the week for American Crafts this week!  Everyone in the scrapbooking world knows what a huge honor this is! American Crafts is probably the largest and most well-known scrapbooking company of all time. They have amazing products, and it would be my dream to be on their regular design team!  I jumped up and down (well, as best a giant pregnant lady can) when I got the email from Paige asking me! 

This week the American Crafts Blog is focusing on ribbon, so all my layouts needed to include ribbon. Now, I'll be honest...I was a bit terrified when I heard this, as I'm not exactly the biggest ribbon user!!  And due to some shipping issues I only had about a week to finish my projects. I was just hoping that my mojo didn't fly out the window and that I'd screw up this totally amazing opportunity.  BUT...I spent all last week creating, and I am so pleased with the work I made!! I will share the photos of my work here, and if you are interested in the stories behind each, you can find them on this post at the AC blog. :) 

Next up are some cards. You all know how I feel about cards!  I don't know why it's so hard for me to make cards...it's really just like a little layout with no photos. But for some reason they just never turn out the way I want!!!  The first card I actually made twice...I'm happier with the second version!

And finally, for my altered project, I created a set of color cards for Mirielle!  I made one for each color (not all are shown here).  I had planned on sewing them down with my sewing machine...but after three bent needles, I decided to just keep them the way they are and hope she doesn't destroy them!!

I'd like to thank American Crafts for giving me this wonderful opportunity! :)