Snow Fun

In Shimelle's Design Decisions class, challenges #4 and #5 were together.

Challenge #4 was to look through old layouts that I already had completed, and create my own sketch from it. Then decide on three decisions I liked about the original and would like to repeat. The last step was to put the original page away, wait a day or two, and create a layout using the sketch and 3 things.

So my original layout that I chose is here.

The three things I chose were the embellishment clusters, journaling on journaling cards, and border punches used.

For challenge #5, I found my photos and started the layout.

I used Winter Time collection from Echo Park. It has been in my stash a super long time and long overdue to be used on a layout. 

One of the things I changed up on this layout compared to the original, was the number of photos I have on the strip. I also varied the sizes and staggered them a bit. 

Where there had been leaves, I replaced with snowflakes, but made more of a triangle of them on the page. The snow flakes came from the sticker sheet with the collection pack.

I used an edge punch that was embossed snowflakes, a Martha Stewart one, I believe, that I used on this layout instead of the notebook edge. 

For the second page, I used one pattern paper for the bottom, as is, unlike the shape the original had. 

I used two journaling cards, like the original, but placed them in a different spots, so the snowman wouldn't be covered up.

Layered a 3x4 cut apart card from the collection to house my sticker title. 

Pulled out some square brads from my stash that matched the collection. Anytime I feel like using enamel dots, I go through my brad stash first, now. Less forgiving but same end result.

Had some mini colored paper clips that matched the brads and thought they worked perfectly to attach the little sticker tags from the sticker sheet.

Used the same snowflake border punch on this side of the layout as well. 

I matted the photos on this page to add a little contrast from the white background.

It was tough photographing this layout due to all of the white, so forgive my lack of stellar photos. 

Thanks for checking this layout out!

Party at my Crib

For challenge #3 in Shimelle's Design Decisions Class, it was another sketch.

I really liked the sketch for this one, with the grid embellishments to the right of the photo.

This is another stash buster layout. This uses an old collection from SEI. I used to subscribe to their monthly kits, and I could never use them all up before the next arrived. They even went to every other month, which I think they still do, but I still couldn't keep up, which led me to stop subscribing. 

I don't think I will allow myself another kit club until I either purge all of the old kits that I have or use them up. So here's to using some up!

I always have a ton to say on my layouts, for better or worse, but that makes it a challenge when following a sketch, where it is going to go. I opted to use two of the squares on the grid to house them and then set off to embellish the rest. 

I knew I had a cute stamp from Stampin' Up! that would go well with the photos, but I wasn't sure that the style would work, but I went with it anyway and tucked one by the title and the other on another at the top of the layout.

The circle alphabet stickers came with the collection of SEI papers, but the alpha tiles are from Simple Stories.

I inked the edges of all of my papers with black Distress Ink to provide some contrast, and because Shimelle does. :)

Thanks for checking out my layout!

Dancin' Shoes

After having so much success in creating layouts with Shimelle's The 20 Project class, when she came out with another shortly after, Design Decisions, I signed up.

Glad to be finally sharing some layouts in response to the challenges in this class! Here is a layout that I made in response to Challenge #2 in Shimelle's Design Decisions class. The challenge was to create a layout using a sketch. 

This page is for my wedding album. It has been quite neglected. Saw this photo already printed and thought it would be great to get this story told. 

One of the things I love about Shimelle's classes is that I feel happy to bash my stash for the challenges. 

The doilies were from my stash and I spray misted them to match the papers and to add some contrast from the background. .

Fussy cut some florals from a 6x6 paper pad from Fancy Pants, I believe.

Love the white foam Thickers for the title, and dug out some Stampin' Up! rub-ons for the triple lined circles and border. 

Used a border punch to create the grey edge on the opposite side.

Used an Ali Edwards stamp sentiment at the end of my journaling and called this one done!

Thanks for stopping by!

Kickin' It

I am so excited to share a layout with you today! The first since December Daily!

Now I have to admit, this layout was finished back in November, but wanted to post this with the other projects I completed for Shimelle's Design Decisions class I started taking then. I actually posted a photo on Instagram as part of my 30 Days of Thankful.

After taking Shimelle's The 20 Project, and having such success from creating regularly from its' challenges, I decided to sign up for her next one--Design Decisions.

Back to the layout....

So the first challenge Shimelle shared in this class was a sketch challenge. I stuck pretty true to the sketch that she shared. 

Now when I created this layout, I had unearthed more photos from an event that I had scrapbooked for the 20 Project Class, a washi tape challenge.  That page is linked here. I decided to go with products that coordinated with it to create this one.

What is odd, is there is another challenge in this class to create a page associated with another, but not make into a 2 page spread--Challenge #10. This challenge also has a color combination challenge with it, but creating kits based on color, really isn't my thing. I would much rather stick to collections that are color coordinated already.

So that this layout coordinated with the other, I decided to make sure the washi tape carried over from the original. In the sketch, this block was patterned paper, but I essentially made my own. 

The papers and embellishments are from an old collection from Bella Blvd. I also used puffy sticker dots, the same as the previous page.

I hand wrote part of the title, pairing it with the alpha stickers that came with the collection.

Love using up the rest of this collection sitting in my stash, as well as the sketch, making it all pull together.

So there you have it. Challenge #1 and #10 completed for Shimelle's Design Decision Class. Will b sharing more from this class soon! 

Thanks for visiting!

Fun in the Sun

I have still been trying to work through a pile of layouts that have been in progress.

Here is a layout that I found in that pile that was in pieces and needed journaling. 

Now this layout comes from a kit my mom created at Just Kitting. This layout design is retired now, but if you like paper piecing or looking for a specific character, she is your woman!

When I saw this kit of hers with the matching Elmo to my photos from Sea World San Diego, I snatched it up. 

I like to pull out my stamps for these kits to add a bit more. This time I used a set from Ali Edwards/Technique Tuesday with geo tags.  Also used some number stamps from my stash to create the date.

I will have to admit, I sometimes struggle with where to put the journaling on her page kits. Usually she will have a journaling spot, but with all of my photos and the character pieces, journaling ends up being the last priority. 

This time, I opted to print my journaling on one of the layers (fit nicely in my printer) and using an Ali Edwards stamp as a subtitle right above it. Love how this turned out!

Another layout out of the in-progress pile into another pile.... to put in an album pile.....

Can you relate? :)

Thanks for visiting!

December Daily 2016- Title page and finishing up

Here is my title page for my 2016 December Daily album.

I usually wait until the end of the of the project to finish this one, since I like to use a favorite family photo from the season. 

The paper is my favorite from the SEI Alpine Frost collection. I layered a branding strip with the numbers 1- 25, a subtle but awesome addition, with some solid papers from SEI and Simple Stories.

I had a few brads left over from the Simple Stories DIY Christmas that I used here as well as a few sequins found throughout my album for 2016.

I included little strips that state the ages of my kids, a nice quick reference when looking back.

For the embellishment cluster at the top of the page, I used some Tim Holtz metal numbers to put that it was  '16, but I had used the 1 last year on that December Daily album cover. I had the 1/2 and broke it apart to use just the one. 

I used some more of the Simple Stories brads and sequins as well.

I layered a scalloped circle that I punched with a circle I punched and stamped with an Ali Edwards stamp. Tucked another stamped circle behind it. 

Thoughts on this years album:

1. I loved doing all 6x8 layouts this year! I figured that if this is my one big project a year that I complete, I should enjoy the process and take my time. The divided pages just weren't going to work with the products I had to work with this year, so I didn't want to stress about it and force it like I had in previous years.

2. I haven't purchased an album to put these pages in yet. There weren't any 6x8 albums that I were going to have what I needed, but lo and behold, Ali Edwards came out with a black Storybook album that should work. Simple Stories albums just don't hold enough pages. Not sure if I am going that route or wait to purchase a December Daily album from her later this year.

3. I loved bashing my stash. It felt great to use up product I have had in my stash for a long time. It also felt good not to spend a lot of money on new stuff that I wasn't that excited about using.

4. I find it humorous that I chose a lot of snowflake themed products this year, and that was the year that we really didn't get any snow....

5. Loved using the snowflake sequins this year. They were the perfect embellishment to sprinkle throughout the album to tie the pages together. Tim Holtz's metal number tags were another great purchase.

6. Still love using Ali Edwards' stamps. I got lots of use out of them this year, especially the new ones I bought this year. Definitely worth the money to me.

Thanks again for checking out my album!

Can't wait to share some of the layouts that I have recently completed! I have a whole list of projects in the que.

December Daily 2017- Day 26

Here is the last day I have to share with you from my 2016 December Daily album.

With so much family to see during the holidays, it is almost impossible to have Christmas with everyone before the 25. I like to include these Christmas celebrations in my December Daily album, even though they happen after the 25. 

I was extremely happy with how this layout turned out! Usually by the end of this project, I get into a "get her done" mode and things end up simple and a bit disappointing. I also was getting to the end of my kit stash of papers and things which makes it challenging as well to make a great page. 

The background paper is from an old collection from Stampin' Up! Matted my collage photo (done in PSE) with paper from SEI Alpine Frost.

At the top of the page, I layered what few tags and die cuts that would work for this page and strung them together with some black and white twine that I used throughout the album. Got a bit creative with it and love it. Sprinkle the sequins and a stamped sentiment from Ali Edwards to finish this cluster off.

At the bottom, I did a similar thing. This time I also used the Tim Holtz metal number tag in the mix. Tucked my journaling in there in strips and the page was done!

Thanks for checking out my December Daily project. I have one more post to share from this project. The title page completed and my thoughts on what worked and didn't work this year. Hope you stop by again!