Do What You Love.....

Hi!  Here with a quick share of a layout I did for a challenge over at the Scraptastic Kit Club Blog. 

The challenge was to use 6 patterned paper strips.  Super easy!  Using one of Scraptastic's January kits, I cut out 6 strips of varying widths and lengths and this is what I came up with:

 

I tried something super new for me this time and used a stencil to draw [enter deep intake of breath here] on my layout.  Super nerve racking!  However, despite my little flaws (even with a stencil I cannot draw a perfectly straight line), I liked it.  And on top of that, I scrapped a sports photo--something that I find very hard.  

Thanks for letting my share!

Michelle

Sketchabilities #84....

Wow.  It is sort of unbelievable that today is the 30th.  January just absolutely flew by!  Which is okay, because it means it is time for another release from Sketchabilities.  Here is my take on Sketch #84....

Yeah, more banners!  I NEVER want banners to go out of style--they are my absolute fave :-). 

I switched the sketch up from four to two photos.  I did not really have a set of four that worked, so I made the sketch work for me by using just two.

Here is a close up of the title work I did using up some Bella Blvd alphas that I have had for a year:

One of my goals this year is to really dig into what I have and USE it.  I know, such a bold concept!  LOL.  Last month I went through my stash and got rid of stuff I knew I was never going to use and took a good inventory of what I want to use.  This particular layout used up some pieces from an older Studio Calico kit as well as some alphas I had been hoarding for no particular reason!  So hopefully, this new scrappy attitude will really allow me to use up my supplies more efficiently and to keep me a little bit more mindful when making future purchases.  

Before I leave you, please check out what the rest of the design team did with Sketch #84 here.

Happy Scrapping!

Michelle

The Girl Who Chased the Moon....

Devoured this in 2 days.....

Love Sarah Addison Allen, so when I was browsing a Las Vegas Barnes & Nobles (by myself thanks to my mom for giving me this little treat) and saw this waving at me from the shelf, I instantly picked it up with the intent of reading it.  And I was not disappointed!

This is the 3rd book that I have read by Allen and like the previous two, The Girl Who Chased the Moon has a supernatural element.  Now I am not very sci-fi-ey, but give me a little bit of magic and I am in.  The book's main protaganist is Emily, a teenager who is thrown into the mystery surrounding her mother's past in a little town named Mullaby, North Carolina.  The town is full of quirky characters including Emily's grandfather, the town's "giant," whom she has come to live with .  With Emily's first foray into the little town, the little secret this town seems to be keeping is alluded to and I spent the whole novel in suspense, waiting for its reveal.  

So glad I picked this up!

Michelle

LOVE Always....

Lately, I have almost become a little bored with my scrapping style.  I have just felt like I need to do something different.  To combat this feeling I have started watching videos of other scrapbookers whose style is something that I like, but it is very different from my own.  For instance, I really liked this video from 2 Peas by Shannon Tidwell.  Her style is fun, eclectic, and she uses more product than I typically use on a page.  I have also been bookmarking sketches and layouts that really appeal to me, but are different from my particular style.

So with these thoughts in mind, I chose a sketch from Creative Scrappers and pulled out  January's awesome Citrus Twist Kit and came up with this......

The layering that I tend to do is still there, as well as my beloved banners, but this time I went way out my comfort zone with my color choices.  Lime green??  I also used more mist droplets than usual and used two different colors.  I know, not too much of a step outside my usual scrappy box, but I am getting there!  

Happy scrapping and thanks so much for listening to my ramblings!

Michelle

Falling Together....

Just finished Falling Together by Marisa de los Santos.....

This book was actually an impulse buy during one of my shopping forays in December.  I had read and loved two previous books from de los Santos--Love Walked In and Belong to Me--so this was a no brainer for me when I saw it waving to me from the shelf at Target.

Without giving away too many details, the book is about a trio of friends--Will, Pen, and Cate--whom, after mutually agreeing to go their own seperate ways, find their way back to each other.  De los Santos, true to her style, introduces vivid, characters that really bring the book alive.  Add in the exotic setting of the Philippines and you have the foundation for a a good read.  And my 9 month old daughter was obsessed with eating it, so if you go by taste, she sure liked this one!  LOL. 

Do I recomend this one?  Yes.  Falling Together is not my favorite, but the story moves you along, making you want to finish it.  

Michelle

CHA Challenges....

The lead up to CHA is always so exciting with sneaks and previews being given out for all the new yummy collections.  Thankfully for those of us who are not able to attend the actual show there are lots of fun challenges and events going on online.

I knew ahead of time that I would be hitting up two of my favorite communities for lots of inspiration and give aways--2peas and Studio Calico, so I ordered up prints and set aside some time this past week to scrap.

I was able to complete 4 layouts--all eligible for 6 seperate challenges. 

First up is My Very Own Superhero......

This layout was completed with loads of American Crafts' line XOXO for the "Make a title with 4 words" challenge at 2 Peas.  This is Maleia flying on a shopping cart in her fantastic little red cape and sparkling tutu :-).

Next, Hello Christmas....

I had to play with 3 trends here.  I chose metallics, speech bubbles, and layering.  Yes, if my Christmas could have spoken, he would have said "wow."

Here is I Just Love This, created for the "use 8 produicts" challenge at 2peas.......

Seriously love this one!  I had printed out this pic in black and white to free up my color choices in products and am in love with the results.   This is one of those layouts that actually came out looking like the idea I had in my head!  LOL. 

And finally, Made Just for You, created for 3 challenges.  Again, the 4 word title challenge at 2peas, and the "use at least 3 patterned papers" and  "use a pocket" challenge at Studio Calico.

This is Hayden and his birthday breakfast--Smores Pancakes!

Thanks for letting me share.

Michelle

Sketchabilities #83.....

Good morning!  Here with the reveal of Sketchabilities Sketch #83.....

It was such a gorgeous sketch to work with and allowed me to use multiple pics--something I am trying to do more of.  All the papers and coordinating bits and pieces are from Crate's On Trend.....

Just had to include a close up of the butterflies, something I have been in the mood for lately.......

Please stop by Sketchabilities to see what the rest of the team came up with as well as to take a look at the featured designers from Sketch #82!

Michelle

Hello Instagram

On Monday I got back from a five day mini-vacation at my parents in Las Vegas and waiting for me was a  wonderful box full of goodies from Gossamer Blue.  I wasted no time digging in!

I  based this off of a layout by Lilith Eeckels that you can see here.  I was in a hurry to play with January's kit, so I chose a layout that I had pinned, grabbed a pic from my lovely pile of instagrams, and went from there.  Here is the result:

First--it is NOT crooked in real life--I promise it is straight :-).  Loved the colors in this kit.  The papers are from MME and Teresa Collins--papers I normally would not pick out for myself, which is one of the reasons I like kits--they get me out of my comfort zone.

Had to include a close-up of my favorite Color Shine from Heidi Swapp--Gold Lame. And these enamel dots (also Teresa Collins) are awesome.  So great to have so many options when it comes to adding bits of details. 

Happy Scrapping!

Michelle

Happy 2013........Sugar & Spice

Wanted to pop in and wish everyone a fantastic New Year!  I had some fabulous plans to scrap away the evening last night, but who was I kidding, I passed out on the couch at ten, baby in arms :-).   Maybe next year!

Meanwhile, here is my first layout posted for 2013--Sugar & Spice featuring my littlest....

I have been a little obsessed with the November Kit from Gossamer Blue lately--it seems everytime I scrap I am drawn to it.  I am so in love with the floral patterned paper from Glitz.  It is seriously the most gorgeous piece of patterned paper I have ever owned.

I also want to share a little scrappy goal since it is the new year......I have been having some very serious talks with myself regarding my scrapping stash--I have too much that just does not get used.  And the product that does not get used is mostly the stuff I pick out myself--I LOVE scrapping with kits and that is what I always turn to.  So sorry 2peas, I am going to step back this year and scrap my year away with the kits that I adore.  Now, I am going to allow myself to purchase basic products that I use all the time--cardstock, adhesive, ect.--as well as tools and ink.  So that being said, my husband should be a happy guy!

Michelle