Attack of the 10-Minute Layout

Yes. Seriously. This layout was designed in 10 minutes. I was bound and determined to actually get all of the Scrapbooksteals.com MWM's done on time. And this one had escaped all that I was working on this week (cards, stuff for the kids, preparing for the start of the school year, etc.) When 10:48 rolled around, I panicked. Kind of.

In reality, I just grabbed my SC Summer of '69 Counterfeit Kit that I made earlier in the month and pulled this baby together. The Sassafras Paper provided a fantastic background that didn't need a ton of embellishments to make it pop. Plus, it played off of the sunny picture that Miss I's school had left for me.

I added the chevron paper strip to ground the photo and embellishments, and it plays off of the chevron banner. Then I added the doilies, the Sass August detail and the chevron bitty bag (it holds the journaling!) There's also a cute banner made from wood!

The title is not as straight as I usually make it, which adds to the charm of this layout. I did sew the button onto the paper, and added a few Sass button flowers.

The best part of this layout is that I couldn't second guess myself. I sprayed a doily, realized I hated it, so just used the other plain one that I had. And because I used my kit, everything went together! I just love when that happens!

AUTHENTIQUE: Introducing Peaceful

I love new paper! Especially when I know that I can match with other things that I love. Authentique's new Peaceful line does just that. It is it's own Winter White line, but also can mix with this year's Festive line and last year's Wonder line all too well!

I even played just a little bit with Peaceful, I just loved popping that green out just a little bit more.

As you can see, I've not yet added my journaling on the "tree that wouldn't die". Although, you can see the branch that doesn't light up at all. Nope, not just tricky photo software! While I know that snow layouts may not be in the cards for this Northwest gal, I do know that the soft neutrals are going to be well used this winter season. 

Make sure that you visit the Authentique blog today for your chance to win the Peaceful Collection.

Pearl 6: Life is Pretty Amazing

I have to say that with two little girls, there is no end to the amount of the color pink, flowers, or butterflies. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

This picture was taken just a few days after Miss R was born. Miss I was so excited when we let her "hold" the baby. Of course she was propped up with pillows, but it didn't matter one bit.

I used mainly Echo Park's This and That, with just a sprinkling of Basic Grey's Life of the Party leftover pieces. They matched so nicely, I just had to use them. Also, I used Kristy Lee's fantastic MWM sketch for Pearl 6.

Sketchy Fun with Basic Grey

I decided to try my hand at this week's BG sketch. Here goes :)

I just love BG's Life of the Party. I think it's actually one of my favorite lines that they made. It's super bright, super fun, and just makes for the loveliest birthday layouts and cards.

This year Miss I turned three. And boy did she let everyone know. We were constantly invited, then uninvited, then re-invited to her birthday party. Apparently she didn't know that without Mommy, there wouldn't be a birthday party. At least not in the normal capacity.

I just love her enthusiasm!

*EDIT*
Last night photo was interesting... Even with just an iPhone shot, this one should be nicer.

AUTHENTIQUE COLOR CHALLENGE: September

I love the new Curiosity line. It's bright, fun, and doesn't always have to be used for school-related items! Loving this picture of my little girl who turned three over summer. <3 br="br">

Authentique Patterned Papers in Studious, Academic and Interested,  Details Stickers

AC Kraft, ribbon and Thickers, Pebbles sticker, OctoberAfternoon Mists, Chalk Ink

 

ABOUT THE COLOR CHALLENGE:

We have two challenges per month:
• Inspiration Color Challenge - The Inspiration Color Challenge will be posted on the third Saturday of each month. There will be a color storyboard posted for you to use as inspiration.

I would love for you to play along!

A few details:

Just use the challenge inspiration to create as many projects as you'd like.
A winner will be randomly selected from all the qualified entries to receive an Authentique Paper prize pack!
{The more projects you create, the better your chances are of winning!}

Head to the Authentique Blog for all of the rules and details, as well as amazing inspiration from all of the design team members.

AUTHENTIQUE PAPER: Basically Bare Hop

 As a teacher I know all too well how short summer is. I also know how exciting this time of year is. I love the smell of school supplies, a clean and shiny classroom, and planning for the start of another amazing year. For those very reasons, I love working with Curiosity. 

For my first project, I created a little Congrats card for a lovely co-worker who received a teaching accolade. I really wanted to showcase the fantastic Basically Bare flower against all of the wonderful patterns of the Authentique Paper. I left the leaves plain, stamped the larger petal with yellow chalk ink, and lightly misted the smaller with some grey mist.

 My second project uses Basically Bare's mini album. I loved using all of the different textures and materials. I covered the kraft of the owl with Academic, misted the wings and eyes, then used grommets to attach the wings to the body. For the eyes, I drew the pupils and highlights.

 

Since I don't have a school-ager yet, I just found some fun photos from the past few months before our newest was born. I wanted to make a mini that my little girl could have. I loved adding the Details throughout the album.

I even broke out my stapler with this project. It was fun using school supplies on my crafty endeavors.

*****

Make sure that you head to the Authentique Blog for Day Two of fun and prizes with all the members of the Authentique Design Team and Basically Bare!

Authentique Products Used: Curiosity Collection, Details stickers; Basically Bare Products: Mini Book, flowers, owl
Other Products: Silhouette, Memento Ink-Gray Flannel, Colorbox Chalk Ink-yellow, Twinery twine, , 3L adhesive, Signo white pen, Glue Dots, ribbon

Just a Few Cards...

I had some happy/congratulatory/consolatory mail to send out. Here are a few of the lovely cards. I used my Peachy Keen kit from American Crafts.

 

Somehow there were twelve cards, but I only took ten photos... Oh well. 

100 Count Challenge: 17/100

And Then There Was a Challenge: Counterfeit Kit

Remember that "counterfeit" kit that I created using this month's Studio Calico Summer of '69 kit as inspiration? Well, my lovely friend Brenda decided to follow suit, then challenged me (LOVE IT!) to find a layout that I wanted to scraplift from the SC. I used this opportunity to find a layout that I loved, but it wasn't my normal style.

I simply loved Geralyn Sy's layout Tokyo:

I just loved how super fun and graphic it was. I really wanted to use those huge letters in a title, include washi tape and journaling, and use ORANGE. A color that I like, but never really include in well, anything. Scrapping or otherwise (I could have purchased orange flats, but totally chickened out today!)

Here is my inspired layout:

The orange is really not my go-to color, but I really enjoy how fun this layout is. I played off of the orange with the aqua woodgrain. I just love this washi tape (Amy Tangerine), and was so happy to use it. I realize how bowed the paper looks in this photo, as the washi is actually a straight line. Oh well, I guess I need to improve my photo setup!

All in all, pretty successful by my account. :)  Now, check out Brenda's layout and see how she did!
100 Count Challenge: 5/100

I was a MoxieFabber!!

This past week, I was featured on one of my favorite blogs of all time: MoxieFabWorld! Cath, who is also an editor for Paper Crafts saw the cute washi tape binoculars I made for Miss I and blogged about it. WOOT! Check out all of the other fantastic projects that she also blogged about. They are pretty amazing!

And, while you are at it, add your blog to the MoxieFabWorld Blog Roll! You never know when you too may get a mention!

Using Washi Tape Just for Fun!

Today I was featured on ScrapbookSteals.com for my fun use of washi tape. Miss I brought home a pair of "binoculars" that were made for someone else at school, but wanted her own set when I told her we needed to return them. This in fact is set #2. The first set got squished at some point.

You can tell they were "loved". The poor button fell of the little butterfly.

 She loves them!

MWM's Pearl #2, #3 and #4

Here are my MWM's for the past three weeks. Finally getting back into the swing of things. Pearl #2 was fun, as I got to use my prize from way back: Peachy Keen by American Crafts. I love all of the peaches, yellows and blues.

Pearl #2

Pearl #3 was a wonderful layout dedicated to my little Monkey's 3rd birthday. We went to one of our favorite restaurants for her birthday. She told us she wanted to go to "Mexico" for her birthday. This is about as close as we got. Loved using another ScrapbookSteal on this in the form of Basic Grey's "Life of the Party".

Pearl #3

Pearl #3 was a lot of fun, as my lovely friend Jen McDermott created this wonderful sketch as a Guest Sketcher for ScrapbookSteals. Isn't this such a fun layout!! I even broke out some old Echo Park that I had never used. The purples in this just screamed out for this picture of our new addition!

Pearl #3 "B"

100 Count Challenge: 4/100

AUTHENTIQUE: August Sketch Challenge

Good Morning! Just wanted to share with you my fun card from August's Authentique Sketch Challenge. This is a special one, as it already has a recipient. I kept her in mind when creating this, and altered the sketch to fit my needs.

I really hope that you play along this month. There are always fun prizes to be had, and you can enter as many times as you would like! Here are the card, and layout sketches respectively.

AUTHENTIQUE PAPER: Earth Friendly Friday Sneak!

Just a little sneak for you to go to the Authentique Paper Blog to see today's Earth Friendly Friday. Of course yours truly designed it!! I just love this little project.

Loving that little pumpkin! Swoon... Inked edges and pop-dotted adhesives...