Such a Dude

Boy layouts. Boy layouts are fun, but sometimes a bit challenging, as I love the flowers and pink and have lots of them in my stash.

That’s why, when an amazing boy line comes along, I purchase a TON of it and use it for years. Like this Crate Paper collection called Boys Rule. I bought All.The.Things and I still love it.

The frame around the photo was the starting point, believe it or not… it’s from Project Life and I recently purchased them. I am trying to use everything I buy at least once before I forget about it, so these were on my desk.

That photo didn’t hurt either… :D The chipboard is from Sassafras Lass, and there is a bit of mixed media and stamping too.

Thanks for taking a peek! If you’d like to see more, you can find me on YouTube here. See you around!

Two Awesome!

Cool Kid from Crate Paper is a classic, in my opinion! Just like every boy line CP puts out… and I think it’s about time for another, don’t you?? ;)

This layout uses a Jillibean Soup background paper, and the rest is straight up Cool Kid! Thanks for stopping by to take a peek. I hope you are inspired.

Silly Boy: Process Video

Oh, this boy. And a new camera.

And some lovely, lovely mixed media experimenting. That’s how this layout came about, and it was my first layout using my kit for July from How to Kill A Kit With Style! I shared my kit in fill HERE in this video, but in today’s video I’m showcasing the mixed media technique that I tried for the first time. And it turned out really well!

The stencils are from Ranger/Tim Holtz, the mists are from Studio Calico, Tattered Angels, and Heidi Swapp. And those super fun stickers are from BasicGrey (sigh, sob!).

The video is below, you you can go straight to my YouTube channel HERE. See you there!

New Friend: Using Older Supplies

Ya’ll. Dill Blossom from SEI. Remember that one?

It was practically a classic from the moment it was released, and yet, it never was mine until last year. Funny how that works! In my new Age Before Beauty series on YouTube, I pull out some of the oldest products in my stash and give them a fresh spin.

So, Dill Blossom it is. And an amazing retro cut file from Paige Evans (Silhouette design ID 294465). Somehow, we end up with a retro modern layout that I love. AND… it’s for the boys. :)
You can see the video HERE on my channel, or down below. If you enjoy it, I’d love a thumbs up or for you to subscribe. See you there!

Gerber Baby

When my 3rd baby was little, one of our favorite stores held a contest for a new model for their line of baby products. I ALMOST entered him. I wish I had, because you never know. This photo I took on the day I was discussing with my husband his chances of winning… hence the title. :)

This layout uses some really OLD Sassafras chipboard numbers, some Pink Paislee Wild Child, and a background paper from Webster’s Pages. I love a good page that mixes lines together! I also love me some fun color combos!

Hope you enjoy!

A Chilly Easter

It was a cold and snowy night…

Just kidding.  Ha. 

But it was Easter, and it was freezing.  Life winter coats and see-your-breath freezing.

So this presented me with a dilemma.  Bright red coat dominating Easter photos.  What’s a scrapper to do??

Create an Easter page with Christmas flowers, of course.

Since the photos were fighting back with any traditional Easter themed products, I dug deep in my stash and found some Christmas papers (The Paper Studio) that had colors that worked with my photos but weren’t too holiday looking.  Proving, of course, that there is an answer to every scrapbook challenge. 

I decided on the white background, then used gesso and a stripe stencil to add some texture and a graphic element to the page.

While the result isn’t overly Easter-y, it does work for the photos and I’m happy with the final result.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Bless This Mess (Cute)

Oh that face!  There;s something about that expression on his face that just has me…  all wrapped up.  I couldn’t NOT go girly with this page.  It just didn’t fit that sweet face to pair it with all rough and tumble papers.

So, Maggie Holmes for the win!  I did, however, keep to more masculine colors, and anchoring the page with that buffalo check really helps.

I derived partial inspiration from Shimelle’s Layer On Layer class.  There’s a video where she shows taking a sticker book and just layering things up, one on top of the other.  I did this with the Maggie Holmes sticker book- almost everything here that isn’t paper of enamel accents is from that book.

I actually started this layout with a full circle of enamel accent dots, and then most of them got covered up.  That’s just how it seems to go sometimes!  Because of that, though, I ended up adding a few more as embellishment at the end.

Thanks for taking a peek!

24 Yards

(This post may contain affiliate links.  I only link things I use, and the links cost you nothing extra.  I just get a small commission.  TIA!)

You know how sometimes you start something, convinced it’s a really good thing… then 3245 hours later, you’re wondering why on earth you ever decided to do that thing? 

Me either.  Ahem. 

Except, there was this once when I ordered 24 yards of amazing fabric to make drapes for 3 very large windows.  Thankfully, I finished them, and when we moved a year later, they worked in the new house too.

I scraplifted myself for this layout.  The original, From 4 to 5, is from all the way back to 2010, and featured Cosmo Cricket.  Sadly, Cosmo is no more, but the style of this layout is still perfect.

The new version tells the story of those 24 yards of fabric.  Ironically, I used supplies from BasicGrey, another company that is no more.  I mourn. 

The collection is called Clippings, and I used the chipboard, the 4x6 journaling stack, and the 12x12 sticker sheet to create this layout.  Oh, and that red polka dot?  Totally a My Mind’s Eye Christmas paper!  You never know what might come in handy!

Mist spatters are Heidi Swap Color Shine, the numbers are BasicGrey’s Milk & Honey Collection, and the Thickers are Rockabye Foam in blue (my fave font ever!).

Let’s Just Play All Day

So back in April 2016 (which just happens to be where I am currently scrapbooking. Ahem.), we were in the middle of a major home renovation.  There was dust, and dumpsters, and wallpaper to strip (it had GOLFERS on it!).  There was also shopping!

This layout uses mostly the 6x6 paper pad from Echo Park, called Happy Camper.  I passed over the line when it first came out, but when I found the 6x6 locally a few months later, I decided I NEEDED it.

And apparently I did, as I have used it a ton since then.

The photo is of my 3 checking out the tractors in Lowes, while we shopped for light fixtures.  They were bored, other than this 5 minute interlude.  Still need to write in my journaling though!

I mixed in some October Afternoon Farm Girl ephemera and some random bits I had out, as this layout was made while we were in temporary housing and I was limited to 2 Iris cases and a box.  It’s amazing what you can do with a little, right?

See ya soon!

Boys Will Climb

(This post may contain affiliate links.  I only link things I use, and the links cost you nothing extra.  I just get a small commission if you choose to purchase.  TIA!)

Hey!  Welcome back.  Thanks for stopping over to take a peek. 

I’m a mom of 4, 2 of them boys, and I can tell you for sure that my boys have been climbers.  Like, climb the library shelves to the ceiling climbers (true story).

So…

The fact that my boys love climbing walls should be no surprise.  Ha.  This layout is documenting my son’s recent climb.  Thankfully, this one involved a helmet..

I used a couple of practically ancient American Crafts papers for the background.  Then I made “bricks” with my distress oxides, a stencil, and some water.  I LOVE Oxides and all the fun affects you can create.  Next time I do this technique, I’ll whip up a quick tutorial for ya!

There’s another theme to this layout… ancient supplies.  There are some leaves from Prima Marketing, some clock rub-ons from Maya Road, and some stickers from 7gypsies (remember them?!).  I love using up old stuff to make room for the new!

Thanks for coming by!

DC Walking Tour

Last fall we mad a treck across the USA to attend a very special wedding.  While we were in Richmond, it seemed just too close to leave without going to visit Washington DC, since many of us had never been.  So we hopped on a train and off we went. 

We only had one afternoon, so we walked through as much as possible and caught the highlights- Washington monument, Lincoln Memorial, the White House.  The kids were old enough to appreciate the experience, I think (I hope), and it’s likely we won’t be back for quite a long time, so I took lots of photos.

I used a background paper from Basic Grey (Carte Postale) as well as a few BG embellishments.  I also used some giant chipboard letters from Seven Paper with my Distress Stains- a favorite technique of mine because it’s so very easy.  Some stamping, some tickets (Maya Road) and some thread add texture to the layers. 

Go have a crafty weekend. 

Can’t Stop the Laughter

Every now and then, there are magic moments where the camera catches just the right look.  The right expression, the right position, the things that make a photo really stand out.  These things are often elusive, but every now and then…  you get a photo like this. 

The entire family was in the car when this happened.  We were waiting in the parking lot for baseball practice to start, and the littlest one was sitting on dad’s lap checking out all things not-in-carseat.  I called his name and he gave me this look.

When we saw the photo later, we were all cracking up.  And indeed, this photo got lots of comments on Facebook as well.  It’s just one of those photos.

I was in a mixed-media mood when i did this layout, and so I only used a minimum of embellishments.  There are a few chipboard pieces and rub-ons from the Basic Grey Wander collection, and die cut title from Pretty Little Studio, and some assorted letter stickers.

Ok. no go scrapbook one of “those” photos! 

Brother-In-Training

Surprise!  After 7 years, we found out we were expecting a new little one in 2014.  This was unplanned and unexpected, but quickly became an exciting event we all looked forward to.  Perhaps no one was more excited then my 7 year old, who was happy to be the youngest no longer.

As the youngest, he had very little previous experience with babies, and so one day it came up in conversation that a baby’s head must be supported at all times.  We practiced with a baby doll, and so this photo came about. 

I used some ancient Webster’s pages paper on this layout.  I think I was saving those gorgeous flowers for a special layout.  Some subtle misting in the background,lots of layering, a few Thickers, and three black journaling spots fussy cut from some Echo Park Paper complete the page.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Mommy and Me

I don’t take enough photos of myself.  What mom does, right?  I’m usually the one behind the camera, and let’s face it- the kids are cuter then I am!  When I do remember to take the shot though, I always try to get it in their albums.  Because making and preserving memories is what we scrapbookers do!

This layout was taken at a church event, but it’s not really about that.  To me, this photo shows me, as a baby-wearing mama who was hanging with her baby because that’s what I do.  It’s kind of my favorite.

One the topic of favorites, this layout uses a collection from Kaisercraft that I adore.  I did a little misting on the background, but the focus of the page is on those fussy-cut filmstrips, directing the eye to the photo.  I added some flowers and embellishment, but kept it simple.  After all, it’s all about that photo.

Can’t beat that fantastic color palette.  I think it does a good job not making the page overly feminine, even with flowers.  Someday, this baby that is my son will appreciate that. 

Go, take a photo of yourself today!

Read!

I am fairly sure, after talking to many other moms, that I am not the only one who has kids that struggle to enjoy reading.  My second child picked up reading skills fairly easily, but the love of reading has been elusive.  So, when he picked up a Lego book voluntarily to “read” with his little brother (then just 8 months old) I was all for it.  It was so cute, watching the older school the younger in every Lego figurine in the Ninjago series.  I was amazed how long the little guy sat with his big brother for the narration.

Even though this isn’t the greatest photo, I absolutely had to scrapbook it because of the story behind it.  I was also motivated to pull out a line I have been saving for a special photo- in this case, October Afternoon’s Public Library.  It was perfect!  Not too feminine, and book-related accents.

A little white paint on the background is my favorite way to tone down a bold background to make sure that perfect photo stays the focus.  After I added in some fun circles and a reading cat (who doesn’t love a cat that reads?), I added some orange Thickers.  These Thickers were faded by the sun, because I left them on my desk way too long… however, it just added to the feel of this layout!  Sometimes serendipity happens.

Thanks for coming by and taking a peek!  Have you used a favorite line or product recently?  Link me up in the comments!

Lego Festival

There are a few things in life that are very easy choices.  Having coffee every morning, for example.  Also, when the local mall puts on a free Lego Festival, you go!  Especially if you have Lego lovers in your home.  And I do!  As a mom of 4, I’ve been a member of the Lego injury-in-the-dark club for at least 8 years.  Ha!

Seriously, though, this festival was pretty cool.  Amazing life-sized Lego creations that took thousands of legos to build (and must have weighed a ton)!  We took a couple of trips there during the month-long event, and I use a few of my favorite photos on this layout.

I started with the idea of bold colors to accommodate the colors of my photos, and chose the background paper from Echo Park and the flowers from some ancient Jenni Bowlin that has been in my scrap drawer forever.  Some leftover arrows from a recent Silhouette cut brought everything together.  I like that it’s an unexpected combo.

I used some white acrylic paint on the background to highlight and soften, and a few droplets of mist just for fun. 

Thanks for taking a peek!

Dream Big!

Hi All!  It's been too long!  Today I have a dreamy layout to share.  I made it with a random assortment of products I unpacked from storage (finding things you forgot about- yay!).  First though, I layered up the foundation with some Crafter's Workshop stencils.

This leaf stencil has to be my favorite stencil to date.  So versatile!  And the arrows?  Well, it was a way to make a fairly feminine layout a little more masculine without detracting from the feel.  

I just adore this photo of my 3 from the days right after the Chicken Pox Haze of spring 2015.  Finally, all 3 feeling well enough for a pic!  You can still see some battle scars though.  :)

Thanks for having a look!

First Smile

Hi there!  I’m just popping in for a sec to share a layout that I created a few months ago.  This one shows my baby’s first smile.  :)  It was inspired by the talented Christine Middlecamp. 

I promise to be around more soon!  We’re finally feeling settled in the new house, and I have a desk/workspace (finally!) as of 3 days ago.  So, bring on the creating.  :)

 

~Alyssa~