justem: little bits of this and that

39* {Gossamer Blue Pinspired Layout}

 

Good morning!  Today my monthly "Pinspired with Gossamer Blue" challenge is up over on the GB blog!  This month I chose a great collage that I've loved for a long time as my inspiration!  Here is my layout, which includes one of my now favorite photos - taken when I was 39 weeks pregnant, just a day or two before Oliver's birth!  I love how my kids are just oblivious in the background! ;)

 

My creative process with all over the place with this layout. First I inked the random squares, then I outlined them, then I added this and that and this again.  It doesn't really look at all like what I had originally envisioned, but I'm happy with the final result!  I also used my super helpful Perfect Layers tool to mat my photo in black, which gives it a "double mat" look, since I had already used the boarder option on my printer to give the photo a whilte border. I love how easy it is to just create a perfect mat!!

If you'd like to play along over at Gossamer Blue, check out the original post where you can find all the information and my original inspiration! Have a great weekend!

Pinspired Challenge #2

Good morning!  Friday, my second "Pinspired with Gossamer Blue" challenge went up on the GB blog! This month, two of my layouts were inspired from Pinterest! My first layout is super simple and was inspired by a piece of word art on Pinterest!  

I think the sentiment matches the photos quite well! ;)  This was definitely a "quick and easy" layout.  I wanted the main focus to be the photos and the title...the rest is just a little background noise!

Be sure to check out the post on the GB blog for all the details and a chance to win a $10 gift card to the shop!  Hope you had a great weekend! :)

Sometimes.

Since tomorrow is the last day of November, I suppose I better share my final Gossamer Blue layout for this month.  If you know me, you know I'm very honest about my scrapping...the good and the bad. I've waited so long to share this layout, because I'm just not a huge fan of it.  Yes, yes, I know I made it and, I should *love* everything I make, but it just didn't come together the way I had envisioned it in my head.  I do love the story that I talk about in the layout, so of course now I just need to decide if I just keep it the way it is, change it until I like it better, or make another layout about the same subject, maybe with more journaling of the actual event.  Ah, the dilemas of the scrapbooker... ;)  Anyway, I truly loved the the November kit...and I *wish* I loved this layout more, but it is what it is.

LOVE these little wood veneer chevrons (or whatever they are called!) from Sodalicious!!

Be sure to stop by Gossamer Blue on Saturday when they reveal the December kit. It's awesome...I can honestly say I do love ALL the layouts I made for December! ;)  Have a great night...or day, as most of you will probably read this in the morning!!

33

I have another Gossamer Blue layout to share with you today!  I really love the different layers on this layout. I must admit, the colors look a little wonky in this photo. I think it's actually a lot prettier in real life.  Also, there are gold elements (the hearts) that just look black in this picture.  It's definitely better in person!!

So, there's a bit of a funny story to go along with this layout.  As you know, my Cameo is new, and I'm still learning how to use it. When I got the Lori Whitlock cut files that come with the main kit I wasn't exactly sure how to use them. I used the *png file and then used my trace function and cut.  Well, I don't think it worked exactly like it was supposed to.  Yeah...pretty sure the little chevrons are supposed to be cut out completely. But, I actually really like it this way...see, even mistakes can turn themselves into something good!  Although I probably need to figure out how to actually USE the files in the future!  Have a great Monday!

CHA favorites...a mega post! ;)

I spent all day yesterday at CHA ogling over the newest product! I took a bunch of photos to share of some of my favorites. I apologize in advance for the wonky color. Every single booth had it's own light set-up...and I was not about to set my white balance in every booth.  That would have taken up precious paper-gazing time!!  It's funny...even though I went to each booth at least twice, I am still seeing things I love on the web that I never even noticed yesterday!!  Be forewarned, I'm a paper lover. So the vast majority of photos I took were of just that!  ;)  For your viewing pleasure...in no particular order...my Summer 2012 CHA faves:

Simple Stories: Their new SN@P line is maybe my favorite thing from the entire show. It's perfect for Project Life, it's colorful, it's fun. I love everythign about it!!

Glitz: So, I'm an honest person...Glitz has never been my cup of tea. It was always very froofy, which is not a verb that is often used to describe me or my scrapping.  The new lines are still rather girly, but I'm loving like everything they came out with.  Maybe that means I am becoming a more froofy scrapper?  Who knows. In any case, their stuff is awesome.  The papers are fabulous...the washi...perfect. :)

love the top paper and the pink w/hearts...

great colors, fun patterns...

that bottom paper...very cool.

Teresa Collins: This normally fits into the same category as Glitz. However, I LOVE this first piece of paper and a lot of the elements of her "Tell Your Story" line.  It's very cute...without being cutesy!

KI Memories: They're back!  I kind of want to do a happy dance. Waaaay back when I started scrapping, KI was like MY paper. I think I owned every single sheet of their paper and nearly every embellishment they had. I may or may not still be hording some KI... ;)  They have one new line they released, and I really love it! It's fun and cute...and there is cloud washi!!

My Mind's Eye: I'm totally in love with their new "The Sweetest Thing" line in Tangerine! I would buy every single piece if I could!

Bella Blvd: They had some totally cute projects in their booth. I especially love their embellishments and chipboard alphabets!

Lily Bee: They had some of my favorite layouts of the whole show in their booth!!  I especially liked their Persnickety line...that yellow paper is my favorite!

Jillibean Soup: They had a  ton of people in their booth...making it hard to get any product pictures, but they, too had some fabulous projects I managed to snap!

how crazy cool is this wreath?! (says the girl that never makes anything buy layouts w/her scrapbook supplies)

October Afternoon: I will be honest, I really only "loved" one of their lines: Midway.  It includes one of my favorite papers of the entire show!  The other three lines were just okay for me.  

this is the paper i love.  the circles, not the slightly spooky faces...

Pink Paislee: This is another brand that is always really hit or miss with me. I remember when they first began, I was in love with everything. But lately, they have moved over to with the froofs...but I did really like a couple of things in their booth!

Echo Park: I loved their first "For the Record", so I knew these next ones would also be a hit in my book. Theirs was another very busy booth, so I didn't get photos of everything I wanted, like the new Everyday Eclectic line.

Queen and Co.: Um, washi, washi, washi...!

i'll take one of each, please!

Lawn Fawn: I'm not a stamper, but I am loving their Dewey Decimal paper release. It's so cute and fun with great colors!

how cute is this apple paper!

speaking of cute, who are those cute girls?!

Elle's Studio: It was so awesome to see Elle and her products at CHA.  I love her tags...these were fabulous!

Basic Grey: I love, love, love their Soleil line. It's funny...I probably would never use half these papers because I wouldn't know how to use them, but they sure are gorgeous!

some fab artwork at the bg booth, i think...it's all beginning to blur together in my mind!!

Studio Calico: Yearbook...I knew it would be a favorite based on the sneaks.  It didn't disappoint. This is probably my favorite SC wholesale line of all time! I want to buy it all up this instant!!

American Crafts: LOVE the new Amy Tangerine line. It's perfect, in oh-so-many ways!!!

those hearts??  must have them! and the orange and green thickers?? must. have.

I also really like the new Soho Garden line. I wasn't too sure when they revealed it on the blog, but the papers are SO pretty in person!

Crate Paper: Another (probably too) honest remark...when I first saw the three new lines on their blog I was so disappointed.  I just didn't like them at all...they seemed just a little too crazy and colorful...and I'm like crazy and colorful's #1 fan.  But in person...man, my mind has been changed.  My favorite is Acorn Avenue, followed closely by, gasp, their holiday line. As a rule I don't do holiday papers...but it's so versatile and fun!!

paper lust...

Pebbles: Okay, so I know I'm supposed to openly declare my love for Pebbles now that I'm on their design team, but honestly, even if I wasn't...I would still rave about their new lines.  It was awesome to see them in person. I keep pinching myself...I can't believe I am going to get to work with such amazing product!!

clearly this was meant for me, right? ;)

Jenni Bowlin: Usually Jenni Bowlin papers are a little too vintage for my taste, but boy does she make some awesome embellishments!  These were some of my favorites...

feathers...very popular. i like these, though i have no idea what i'd do with them!

a pinwheel punch? genius!

And finally, a fun little photo of my partner in CHA crime, Valerie O'Neill, who is a fellow w.c.s'er.  We met for the first time yesterday and had a blast walking around together! :)  Here she is next to the Craft Wars house.  If you watch Craft Wars you know what I'm talking about. If you are like me and you don't have cable or crafting shows just aren't your thing...well...it's just a cute picture. ;)

It was a super fun and full day...I was happy, but exhausted!!  What are your favorites from this summer's CHA?  Did I miss something you love?