Today You - Using Story Stamps

So it has been a super long time since I have created a 12x12 layout!

I have been receiving Ali Edwards' Story Stamp subscription since it began and finally got around to using the stamps to create a layout.

I used a sketch I got from a Creative Live scrapbook course by Megan Hoeppener, where she created a layout using this first Story Stamp set, Prompts.

All of the papers are from Crate Paper/Maggie Holmes Flea Market collection. I guess I was in love with this collection because I found that I had some 12x12 papers, the 8.5x11 pad from Michaels, the 6x6 pad and the Project Life card kit from this line! It was time to use it up!

I had a lot to say, which is not uncommon for me and my pages. The stamps prompted me to write more than I normally would have just looking at the photos, though.

When I saw the patterned paper that was an ombre band of color (paint swatch?), I thought it would be perfect to break up the chunks of journaling, perfect for the sketch, and for the use of the stamps.

I used a sheet of the camera paper and fussy cut the cameras out and used them as an embellishment down the page. 

I created two other embellishment clusters. I used some decorative tape from Smash (came on a cute whale dispenser) that I found on clearance at Target. As well as a ticket I cut out of another patterned paper as well as a wood veneer heart from Studio Calico.

Did the same for this cluster: camera, wood veneer, and tape. 

Stamped the date using an Amy Tangerine date stamp and called it done.

Loved that I used up at least a tiny bit of what I have of this collection, that I got use of the first set of Story Stamps, and most of all that this story is written! 

Thanks for looking! Hoping to share more Story Stamp creations soon!

December Daily - Day #15

Here is my December Daily layout for Day 15.

For this day, my son finally got around to writing his letter to Santa. Used one of the journaling cards included in Ali Edwards' December Daily kit as well as the glitter star and wood veneer number. 

Kept it pretty simple and it is done!

More to share soon!

Project Life - March 16-22, 2015

Here is my Project Life layout for March 16-22, 2015.

This weeks layout uses Cherished by The Digital Press for the foundation of this layout.

Accidentally took the first photo of the trees when at the park. Thought it was kind of cool to add as a title card. 

I don't usually convert my photos to black and white, but the next photo, the colors were all off. It looks pretty decent once I turned it black and white so I went with it.

My mom paid for the last photo at the Science Center. We had it taken in front of a green screen. So fun!

St. Patty's Day wasn't a big deal in our house this year, but we did have some green cookies and cakes. Was surprised with it being spring break, that I didn't take more photos. Still did well capturing the week, so I am good with it. 

Made the "love you" and "today" banners by altering cards by erasing a pennant shape into the bottom. Added it with staples from my stash.

And there you have it. Another week in the books. Now to see if I can't catch up on some other pages!

December Daily - Day #13 and #14

Here is my December Daily page for Day 13.

Just Kitting had a crop where the Grinch visited. Managed to get a leftover Grinch sticker from one of the Just Kitting kits my sister had put together for her photo op pictures. Using a circle tag from Ali Edwards' December Daily kit, layered over some Kelly Purkey washi from Simon Says Stamp, I put the wood veneer number.

Here is day 13 in the album, next to the beginning of day 14.

Day 14 Maddie and I attended my niece's dance recital. The insert is the program from the show. Looking to purchase the Attach Me stickers from Basic Grey to add the insert, but having trouble finding them online to purchase. May get creative with some transparencies and make my own. 

For Day 14, I had already set aside the wood veneer number 14 for 2014 on my cover page. The large foiled numbers were out since I had already used the number 1. Instead I found the craft postage stamp stickers in the kit to create the day's number. Placed them over a bit of red glitter tape either from this years or last years DD kit. 

Used another craft stamp sticker on the upper photo and embellished with the puffy heart stickers. 

And there you have it. Day 13 and 14 completed!

Thanks for visiting!

December Daily - Day #12

I had been waiting for the photo to be shared with me to complete Day 12. I had started knowing that I was using this chipboard page included in Ali Edwards' December Daily kit for 2014. 

I first painted it with white acrylic paint and backed it with pink grid paper from the kit. I embellished all of the circular shapes with things mostly from the kit and edged it with a skinny gold striped washi from Ali's kit from 2013.

Once I had the photo, I completed the second page. Used cards from the kit, embellishing with a Technique Tuesday/Ali Edwards Christmas stamp, gold heat embossed. I added the acrylic word to the bottom of the chipboard page and called this one done.

I have shared half of my December Daily 2014 album and hope to share the rest very soon! Thanks for looking!

Project Life - March 9-15, 2015

It is spring break around here so I was grateful to have the time to finish up the layout for last week! Anytime I can finish the following weeks spread is a win in my book!

Here is my Project Life layout for March 9-15, 2015.

This week I used the kit, Big Adventure from Sweet Shoppe Designs for the base of my design. I had enough photos this week, but didn't feel like some of them were really good to warrant a 4x6 slot, but it is what I had and it tells this weeks stories.

Designed simple cards again this week for journaling. 

Realized that a handful of the photos were from around the house. Lots of changing around here getting ready for baby. 

As you can see, my craft space has officially been set up in my basement. I was surprised that I was able to find a space for everything that once took up a whole bedroom and closet. The only thing left in the bedroom are all of my albums. Still need to figure out how/where to store those. Basements aren't the best solution. Thinking maybe getting a nice, large shelving unit for the living room, but we shall see. 

Moving my stuff actually depressed me. I haven't been in the mood to scrap lately. Moving to the basement only adds to that. In part because it is cold down there all year round. The other part that bothered me is that I have so. much. stuff. 

Because of that, when deciding on what to sacrifice for lent, I chose not to purchase any scrapbook supplies! So far, it has been nice to just trash emails from all of the stores and not even think about it for a while. 

Hoping to get some of my stuff into use soon or otherwise, I need to heavily purge my stuff to fit the space. That includes at least 3 small boxes of memorabilia. 

Need to find my scrappy mojo, but at least I am still on top of my PL layouts!

Thanks for visiting my blog and checking out my pages!

Project Life - March 2-8, 2015

Here is my Project Life layout for March 2-8, 2015.

Unlike most other weeks lately, I had a ton of photos to include in this layout. Most were vertical photos, so I opted in using the Design F pockets for the first page and Design A for the second.

This week I used a kit called Only You by Sweet Shoppe Designs mixed with a bit of another kit with the same name also at the same website.

Used quite a few of Ali Edwards' Edge Sentiments on this page. Pretty simple otherwise.

More photos and words. Used a map print in my stash for the crop photos and a scallop edge recolored from my stash as well.

And there you have it. Another week recorded!

Thanks for looking!

Project Life - December 8-14, 2014

Finally got a photo I was needing for a Project Life layout so I can finally share this week with you.

Here is my Project Life layout for December 8-24, 2014.

For this layout I used the paper from Katie Wish Winter Freebie. Used Ali Edwards' Edge Sentiments as well as a circular digi stamp from Studio Calico.

Used some frames for the smaller photos this week. Scanned in the petition to add into this week. It was nice to include and then recycle, not having to keep the paper original.

Used some more free digi stamps, this time from Ali's blog.

So happy to have December done for last year's Project Life album. It leaves 9 layouts remaining until I can print! Only 4 of which, I am technically playing catch up on!

Thanks for looking. Hoping to share more soon!

Project Life - February 23- March 1, 2015

Here is my Project Life layout for Feb 23-March 1, 2015.

This weeks layout uses the kit, True Story from SweetShoppeDesigns.com as well as Ali's Messy Monthly lines and Edge Sentiments. 

(face blocked for privacy).

Kept it pretty simple. Photos and words. My typical

I was short on 4x6 photos this week, so I opted to do a "watching" on TV, card. Some of them we already finished the season, but I thought it was cool to add what it is that we have been watching this year. Always love to look back and see what is no longer on that we used to love watching.

Created the watching word art from the brushes from Ali's 31 Things, fusing watch and the "ing" from "evening".

So there you have it. Another Project Life week done!
Thanks for looking!

December Daily - Day #11

Here is my December Daily layout for Day 11.

I included another chipboard page for this layout. It will be seen in more detail on Day 12.

For this page I used paper from Ali's December Daily kit for the top pockets. I used a card and embellished with the wood veneer number and stamped sentiment. 

For the striped paper, I journaled and added stamping on the lines I didn't use with a stamp from the kit.

Here is what I attached to the "back" of the chipboard page for Day 12. It was a letter from Santa that Aaron had made at school. Not really sure which day he created this page but it fit in the album here and was a great way to include it. Initially it was a 8.5x 11 sheet, but his journaling didn't span the whole page so I was able to creatively cut the lower half off and attach the candy cane to the bottom to make it less obvious I did so.

Love that I was able to find it a home in this album. It was too cool to throw away!

Well, that's it for now! Hope to show more December Daily pages soon!

December Daily - Day #10

Here is my December Daily layout for Day 10.

This day was focused on my daughter writing her letter to Santa. I used a 3x4 card from the kit, stamped it with an Ali Edwards/ Technique Tuesday stamp set. Used red Stickles on the wood veneer number and attached it to a gold rimmed tag I had in my stash.

Now if you remember from Day 9, I had a 4x6 chipboard page dividing day 9 and 10. 

This is how I used the back of that page.

Using a 4x6 card in the DD kit, I found a "stamp" from last years December Daily kit and embellished it with a CTMH postage cancellation and the circle from this years DD kit to look like a sent post card. Added my journaling, in a letter to Santa and called this day done.

Thanks for looking!

December Daily - Day #9

This is my December Daily layout for Day 9.

I had a 4x6 card I wanted to use for Day 9, but when I printed my photos, I realized they were not going to work or fit onto a 6x8 page. To improvise, I created a 4x6 chipboard page to still use the journaling card and not create an entire two page spread. Ended up working well with the next day as well.

Used a piece of 6x8 paper in Ali Edwards' December Daily kit. Liked how it had that touch of black to match the journaling card.  Used an acrylic word "twinkle" as well as glitter stars to embellish from the kit as well. Using stamps from the kit, I stamped sentiments using the same color as the word.

For the journaling card, I cut up one of the chipboard pages, I wasn't inclined to use from the kit, and attached the card with strong adhesive. I used a Teresa Collins label sticker for my computer journaling, and alpha stickers from the kit for the title. Using a stamp from the kit, I gold-heat embossed the star circle, emphasizing that it was day 9.

Thanks for looking! More to share soon!