My Project Life Basket: How I Organize My Weekly Scrapbooking Part 1

I figured out the cause of my lack of mojo. An unclean room (since tidied!) and the lingering thought that I haven't really started my summer of Project Life... I like the idea of capturing what goes on during the week, however during the school year it's just not feasible. Not because I cannot keep up, more because life is a lot more monotonous, scheduled, the same each week.

And since I have a studio to work in, I really cannot drag all of my stuff downstairs, or other places. So I created a PL basket. Just enough stuff to create at least a month's of pages without having to have anything additional. I also kind of enjoy not being attached to my Silhouette (blasphemy, I know!!) for everything. I could just go buy the kits, but that's no fun!! I have the page holders, but really just want to use my stash for the filler cards.

Here's my basket!! It seriously has everything I need! I already made a month's worth of pages. In 24 hours. Seriously! Even my cute Xyron 1½" Create-A-Sticker Machine!!

And the other side.

I have quite a few pre-cut 4x6 and 3x4 cards that I made a couple of Silhouette magazine holders for (4x6, 3x4). Include a 6x6 pad of cardstock, and at least one of patterned paper, or the leftovers of one of my Gossamer Blue kits... And the month is set.  

A handful of various letter sets, used up (almost) and brand new. All small and rather thin. This way, I can put them on pics, pages, etc.

Random assortment of enamel dots, flair, Elle's Studio pieces, etc. Anything small and fun.

A date stamp and some sequins. In those little bags that come with sweaters.

Scissors, a ruler, corner chomper, Signo pen, at least one color of journaling pen (but who's counting... I have six on the other side).

Small cutter and 8.5"x11" cutting board.

Mini stapler and a sketch pad.

And here's the beginning of my pages. I'll have to show more this week. I'm super excited to start getting somewhat caught up!!

Tomorrow, I am going to share my tricks for organizing my weeks and my photos. I have a few Apps that I LOVE that make this whole process SO much easier. Especially when I don't have a great photo printer in my house.

And just because... My newly organized buttons and brads! I took out all of the tiny ones... Love the color, NEVER used them.

Don't they look all pretty now?!?!?! Although, I realized I really need more yellow buttons. That one is looking a little lonely.

***Project Life is a system of memory keeping created by Becky Higgins.  You can learn more here***


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Three Summer Projects

I met one deadline, and missed two others. Such is the life of a parent. Even one off for the summer... I even found a funny layout I made just for kicks. It kind of got placed under quite a few things.

The first layout is my take on ScrapbookSteals' Aquamarine #1 and Scrapbook Circle's Challenge #56: "Just My Type". 

The Scrapbook Circle challenge was to include typewriters of some sort. I have loved Amy Tan's original set of papers since I first saw it. It just happens to be an SS purchase also! I loved this paper; all of the safety pins, hangers, planes, sewing machines. cameras and of course, typewriters were just too sweet. I also included a typewriter font that I used my Silhouette and sketch pens for. I love those things! I just found out how to actually use them, and am going to be using them a whole lot more now that I know what they are capable of! I simply placed the journaling in the middle of the cut shape, made the outside cut line "disappear" and then tossed the pen in instead of the blade. After that was done, replace the blade and cut out the shape. SUPER simple. (Seriously, I think the explanation took longer than the actual work!)

My second layout used a bunch of the Lilybee papers from June's Gossamer Blue box. The colors were not my normal go-to colors, so I went with it, and created something totally fun and silly with them using random pics of daily things. And fact: I hate housework. Except cleaning the stove. And mopping sometimes. It's weird. I'm okay with it.

For this layout, I'm late to a challenge once again. Oh well. I won a drawing from one of the fabulous Pretty Little Studio DT members, Heather (thanks Heather!!). I was super stoked to see the amazingness. I took a few pieces of the Saltwater line and pieced together this layout. I added a couple of enamel dots, and some Lilybee alphas. The circles and half circles are all from the wonderful 8x8 hexagon paper. I liked all of the mini patterns, and they were the perfect size size for my 1" punch.

Hope you enjoyed the update! Pin It

Just a Couple of Layouts :)

If you've been reading my blog, you know that I love making my own kits from my personal stash. I did again for the Counterfeit Kit Challenge. I took this kit and created this:

Here is the first layout I made from this kit. I just loved using my stash of Sassafras papers. I can't just let them sit where they cannot be seen anymore... Plus, I got to use some of my lovely HeyDay papers!! And a super cute Hipstamatic pic of my lovely Miss R. If you cannot tell... She doesn't sleep much.

 

And this lovely and bright layout with an older pic (one of my favorites!) of Miss I. This is just the most perfect visual for her personality. I loved all of the washi and layers.

 Thanks for looking! I will upload the last of my month of Gratitude. Pin It

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.

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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

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Counterfeit Kit Challenge: May Kit!! & Giveaway

As most of you already know, I love Counterfeit Kits. I have a pretty large stash, and don't really need to buy any more (even though I sometimes do...) Any time I can use up what I already own, and make it a fun challenge is even more fun! This month's kit is using Studio Calico's City of Lights kit. Which is pretty fun with it's pastels, greys, greens, blues, pinks and florals. Also, it has a grouping of fun lettering and BICYCLES! And I had the perfect stamp for this, my American Crafts Peachy Keen stamp set.

 

Loving all of the cute greens. Which is fun, because I never really use a ton of green. Good thing I got some great MME, Sassafras Lass, AC Peachy Keen, Cosmo Cricket and other fun florals and plain papers. I just love those Sass and Crate Paper florals. 

  See the cute stamp!! Isn't it just perfect! Love the khaki and grey lettering.

 

And a fantastic little card kit. Now this card kit doesn't have any card bases because... I'M GIVING IT AWAY!! Yup, that's right. You can win this card kit! Comment on this post before Wednesday May 9, at 11:59 PM. It's super cute and all ready to make some cute Mother's Day/Wedding/Birthday/Spring loveliness. (PS. I love new followers!)

 

I even included a plastic fork with both three kinds of washi tape and two kinds of lovely twine. Yup, a plastic fork. It's actually the perfect way to take small amounts of washi and twine places!!

 Good luck!! Pin It

AUTHENTIQUE: Beautiful Girl

From the AUTHENTIQUE BLOG...

*****

Hello Authentique fans,  it's Heather again!

I have to start this post with a confession: I love my Hipstamatic photo app. When I printed this photograph, I knew that I wanted to use some of the pink colors from the Uncommon line that Authentique sent, to showcase my little munchkin off. 

I started by using the back of the Gifted paper from the Uncommon line. I really liked how the text, and simplicity allowed for more color in the embellishments. Rather than using a bold mist, or a liberal swipe of acrylic paint, I made a simple solution of white acrylic and water. Instead of spraying, I just splattered some on for interest.

 (Supplies Used: AUTHENTIQUE patterned papers, Uncommon Gifted (back), Uncommon Foundations (back); AUTHENTIQUE die cuts Uncommon Icons, Splendid Icons, Splendid Tabloids, Journey Classic Type)

(Other Supplies: Basic Grey buttons, Twinery twine-Lilac, American Crafts brads, Sassafras Lass Vintage Brooch, Glossy Accents, homemade white acrylic spray)

I really enjoyed how the Uncommon papers worked against the Journey stickers and Splendid die cuts. I used some of the buttons, brads, and a metal flower that I had in my stash.

I also stitched a contrasting color of twine on one of the die cuts. I haven't really quite decided if I really want to add any journaling onto the tabs. So far... I've decided against it.

On one of the die cuts, I used a little bit of Glossy Accents to make the sentiment stand out.

Rather than keep the title straight, I used a piece of circle paper to position the letters in the right spot. I also reflected the circle in the metal flower and the curves in the stitching.

*****

I also created a card with some of my scraps. This one is for a lovely scrappy friend who just had her fourth baby, a little girl!!

  (Supplies Used: AUTHENTIQUE patterned papers, Blissful 6x6; AUTHENTIQUE die cuts Blissful Icons and Excerpts)

(Other Supplies: American Craft buttons, Hero Arts stamp, Twinery twine)

I hope you enjoy! ~Heather

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Isla's First Slurpee: Topaz #7

When I saw the Topaz #7 from ScrapbookSteals.com's MWMs... I knew the photos I was going to use. Charissa did a great job with her Guest Designer sketch, and the whole thing just fell into place.

I decided to use a couple of Hipstamatic photos that I had printed using my great tutorial that I had created for ScrapbookSteals. I chose to use the bright colors that were located in the Slurpee cup (it was a sugar-free Slurpee!) to highlight the photos. I love bright colors, but even this layout was SUPER bright for me! I used a few papers from the Emma's Shoppe collection by Crate Paper, and a piece of red woodgrain paper from Basic Grey's Life of the Party.

The lettering was Cosmo Cricket's Tiny Type and Studio Calico's wood veneer, that I used a stamp pad to change the color. 

I added some Sassafras Lass In-a-Stitch-Blooms, an American Crafts tag, and a random supply of brads, buttons, and ring brads. 

I strung a piece of Twinery twine along the top. 

Just fun and bright!

This is a super bright and fun layout, but it was SUPER easy to make.

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My Mustache Man: Topaz #6

When I saw the lovely photos that Kristy over at ScrapbookSteals had taken of her adorable JM... I had to scrap them! I asked her, and she was lovely enough to oblige me!

Topaz 6 was a lovely layout, but didn't quite allow me to really put in all of the photos that I saw! I change a few things up, and ended up with...

This! I really liked how the fantastic American Crafts cardstock popped against the fun Sassafras Lass papers! I used quite a bit of Sassafras papers, and embellishments! I also used those fantastic yellow Thickers that my friend Karen over at PaperHeartCrafts snagged for me at Big Lots.

I loved using a ton of those fantastic elements that I got in this year's Sassafras $50 box.

The Entwined Blooms and Paper Whimsies are just too fun!

I'm not a huge fussy-cutter, but I really enjoyed how the "scalloped" circles looked after cutting them out. I also used a lot of various buttons and brads.

I also used a stamp on the back of the black paper, then cut it out for the mustache! I made sure that the little Sass creatures were showing off their mustache.

Kristy gave me some great journaling to write out for her. I broke out my Signo pen and got to work!

I also used the same stamp for my die cut to actually stamp the top of the journaling.

This layout was SOOO much fun to make! And I know that Kristy enjoyed it. Pin It