Guayascrap

Win a seat in Tiffany's new Text class!

2010-09-13T16:34:00.000-07:00

http://simplytiffany.squarespace.com/blog/2010/9/13/a-type-and-text-art-class-for-digi-scrapbooking-giveaway.html?lastPage=true#comment9747152

Go sign up to win a chance in Tiffany's new text fx class!
Take advantage of the early registration now and if you win, you'll get a full refund :D

First Day of K

2010-08-11T10:07:00.000-07:00

The new school year is just around the corner (literally days away from us!) and I was finally inspired to scrap a page recording Mapi's first day of school. I used bits from several kits, but was primarily inspired by the gigantic selection of school kits and bundles at Digital Designer Shop. Amazing variety of supplies for back to school (and other!) scrapping! I especially like the open books and office papers and school days twill ribbon and ... and ... and ....

Supplies used:
Cilenia Curtis, Digital Designer Shop:
"Inspired" canvas paper background;
"School Days Open Books and Stuffable Folder;"
"School Days Elements 1" frame, pen and twill ribbon;
"School Days Ledger Papers and Torn Strips" graph paper journaler;
"School Days Add-On Art Class" e2 painted date circle;
"School QTP T24" first day circle stamp;
"School Days Elements 2" bracket;
"Stamp Photo Masks 1;"
"Art Palette Artist Kit" brushes;
Britt-ish Designs, Scrap Matters "Stamp My ABCs;"
Three Paper Peonies "Summer Mini No. 2" flower sticker;
Beth Martinson "Round and Round" yellow circle;
Pattie Knox, Deigner Digitals "Epoxy Extravaganza: In the Woods" flair;
Miss Tiina Designs "Paint Brushed" brushes;
Font: Segoe Script; Century Schoolbook.

July 10-10-10 monthly recap

2010-08-04T13:16:00.000-07:00

And here is July's monthly recap layout. I have now made it my goal to actually set these half year's worth of pages up to send to the printer. So final. And so exciting to SEE and HOLD a half year's worth of memories in my grubby little paws! YAY!

Credits:

Cilenia Curtis, Digital Designer Shop "Sketchbook Layered Templates 01" right template;
Cilenia Curtis, DDS "Solid Cardstock Papers 04 Art Palette" red paper;
Cilenia Curtis, DDS "Studio C Color Play Cobalt" blue paper;
Cilenia Curtis, DDS "Patriotic Page Kit" star border;
Cilenia Curtis, DDS "Studio C Color Play Red" stapled tag;
K Pertiet, Designer Digitals "Template Inspiration 071110" left template;
Saxon Holt Designs, Scrapbook Elements "My Colors Rips" white tear;
Three Paper Peonies "Neutral Mini Kit" alphas;
Amanda Heimann, Scrap Orchard "Give It To Me Straight" red ribbon;
Shabby Miss Jenn (SMJ) Designs "Happy USA" striped ribbon;
Fonts: Segoe Script; Century Gothic.

June 10-10-10 monthly review pages

2010-08-04T11:41:00.001-07:00

It would appear I never posted my June 10-10-10 page here. Oh, the horror! Do not fear, I will share with you now. It was so much fun to make because I got to dig through my (too) many beach kit collection to do the pages. I really like making beach pages, in case your astute observation skills failed you the last few posts I've made *wink*

Here she is: JUNE 2010 monthly review (aka 10-10-10, which stands for 10 pictures on the 10th of the month, for all of 2010. Usually I do not do exactly 10 pics, and I don't always post right on the 10th, but 1 out of 3 ain't bad, right?)

Credits:
Cilenia Curtis, Digital Designer Shop:
"365 Starter Kit" paper 12 lt brown, photo masks 1-2;
"Stamp Photo Masks 01" mask 10;
"Vellum Pockets" no 6;
"Bulletin Board Kit" cardboard cutout numbers;
"Tiny Tags 1 - Basics" tag, string, arrow;
"Vintage Beach Elements" starfish and waves;
"Deep Blue Sea" blue paper, blue/green buttons;
Dakota Sunset Designs "Beach Bum Alphabet" alpha;
Danisalles Designs "Kids in Travel" starfish charm;
Honey Scraps, Digital Designer Shop:
"Fiery Papers" no 05 orange;
"Blueberry Lime" no. 05 dk blue paper;
"Arizona Sunset Grungy Cardstock" no 06 lt blue paper;
Image to Ink "Beach" paper (Texas) map 01;
Joyce Paul Designs "Color Pop" postage stamp frame;
Joyce Paul Designs "Colourful Journey kit" stitched blue tab;
Litabells Designs "Sea Glass" sand splatter;
Mary Ann Wise, DHD "Beach Glass Acrylic Words and Buttons" shell epoxies;
Pouyou Designs "Funkyscrap" tiny green bead;
SMJ Designs "Little Kahuna" sand paper;
Trixie Scraps "Oceanside Elements" fat sand dollar;
Sand dollar picture by Marcie Howe, extracted by me.
FONTS: Century Gothic; Veteran Typewriter; Pea Ele.

QP Challenge!

2010-07-18T21:40:00.000-07:00

Hello, there! What a busy summer! I have been scrapping, really I have! A few layouts I need to add to the blog, and one layout that I can't add yet because it's going to be published in an article highlighting work by Digital Design Shop's Cilenia Curtis and Honey Scraps "Art Palette" collection. It's a gorgeous kit and I will be sure to link back to the article once it is published.

In other news, I challenged a few friends today to scrap their stash, starting with a QUICK PAGE template! I think the idea of quick pages is great, and especially love layered quick pages, but I find I don't scrap them as much as I...merely collect them and hoard them in my stash.

But no longer. And the same should go for you! I want you to go scrap a page using a quick page layout you have from a blog train or freebie or even a purchased kit somewhere. NOW! Do it NOW! Or at least...do it this week if you can. Come back and post a link to the layout (if it is on your blog or another gallery...even better!) so we can admire your work. Well, admire what you did with someone else's work. it's all about making the layout work for you. So go create, then come back and report. Pronto. Please.

Here is my take on a fun and colorful QP I've admired for a while but never used:

I was amused (ok, slightly appalled. But then amused) that my friend Michelle chose the same template for the challenge that I did. And then she showed me hers before I was done with mine. Which kinda means she won, or that I'm a copycat, or something. Undaunted, I decided not to ditch my QP for another and instead rotated it and added some elements to suit my needs. Voila! A new look (well, sorta). Hopefully Michelle will be brave and post a link to her LO so we can admire her wonderful work (from a stash I am convinced we share).

Materials used for "Just Beachy" layout:
Deena Rutter, DHD "Martha QP;"
K Pertiet, DD "Beachy Words Stickers and Brushes;"
K Pertiet, DD "Date Tags No 3" staple;
Creativity by Crystal "Sweet Summertime Word Art 2" label;
Trixie Scraps "Oceanside Element Pack" button;
Litabells Designs "Sea Glass" sand splatter;
Font: Segoe Script; Century Gothic;
Photo of Mapi and Catherine, Rockport, Oct 2008, taken by TV on D40.

Beach Baby 1974

2010-06-24T19:55:00.000-07:00

Last night Mom gave me a small box of loose photos, including some from my early childhood. What treasures! I collected a handful here of a beach trip we took to Port Aransas in 1974.

Journaling:
Memories of the beach
Most of my early childhood
vacation memories are beach
trips to Port Aransas with my
family. I remember:
wearing flip flops (grass burrs);
feeding sea gulls from balcony;
crossing dunes on broken bridge;
hunting for sand dollars;
digging for coquinas for soup;
playing at beach; having fun.
Lots of fun.

Credits:
Cilenia Curtis: "Vintage Beach" papers and elements;
Cilenia Curtis: "Color Studio - Valencia 001" bracket;
Honey Scraps: "Grungy Edges 02;"
K Pertiet: "30 MM chat freebie 022010" frame cluster;
Font: Veteran Typewriter.
Photos: of me (age 2.5) taken by Pam and Skip V.

Quarterly Event (and sale!) at Digital Designer Shop

2010-06-24T10:03:00.000-07:00

It's time for a SALE!

The entire Digital Designer Shop store will be divided up and put on sale for 40% off this weekend (some items on sale Friday, some on Saturday, some on Sunday). There will also be activities and a challenge with freebies and good general fun in the forums so be sure to check there as well! Cilenia's cork board set that I used for a layout last week will be on sale, and she also has a new vintage beach kit that is beautiful (see for yourself, below!). Lots of new items. Here is a sample of what you can find on sale this weekend:

Enjoy!

May 10-10-10

2010-06-24T10:00:00.001-07:00

I finally finished my 10-10-10 May monthly review pages! Just in time for June to end *whew*

Here it is:

Journaling reads:

What a month! May this year was just BUSY! Luckily, we managed to keep up and have a lot of fun. Mapi finished her last full month of school and is ready to graduate Kinder in June. She also finished her music class and gave a recital for us with her classmates. We had family dinners at Abuela’s house, and on the 15th Aunt Julie married Dan in a beautiful ceremony. We had such fun celebrating with everyone! Towards the end of June Manuel, the girls and I went to Rockport for a relaxing few days (Mom and Dad went to Branson with friends). I took two Saturdays off to hang out with Sarah; we went to an Austin gardens tour and the Texas Arts and Crafts Fair. Manuel got Keens sandals! All month we played with friends, continued in Catherine’s homeschool co-op, and Manuel stayed busy with work (Pabst changes hands soon!).

Time to welcome SUMMER!!!

Credits:

The Daily Digi "TDF14_1 Missing Files" template;
Cilenia Curtis, DDS:
"Cardstock Basics 01" white papers;
"Potting Shed Page Kit" journal paper and tags;
"Potting Shed 2 Paper Kit" purple papers;
"Clear Butterflies & Trails;"
"From My Sketch Book Paper Notes 1" tab;
Sahlin Studios "Frosted Acrylic" alphas;
Font: Century Gothic, Segoe Script.

There are places I remember - HS reunion page

2010-06-19T10:07:00.000-07:00

HEEEEEY YOOOOOU GUUUUUUUYS!

TAKE NOTE!!!!!! One of my favorite kits ever is scheduled to be released next week in time for Digital Design Studio's quarterly sale (all weekend long - freebies and challenges and new releases, oh my!): Cilenia Curtis' Bulletin Board Kit, full of cork board papers, frames, journal papers, fasteners, and little extras aplenty. Cilenia gave her CTs a chance to play with the kit before its release, and I was able to scrap some photos from "then and now" to honor my school girlfriends two decades after our graduation. I worked with pictures that have faded over the years, scanning them here at home, so the picture quality...is what it is, but the overall effect is absolutely what I was shooting for. I can't wait to make some more cork-inspired pages! Check out the DDS CT gallery for more ideas!

Credits:

(browser trouble - will try to post here later. In the meantime, see all credits HERE)

EPCOT with cousins

2010-06-17T06:41:00.000-07:00

In 2008 we went to EPCOT with my family. The kids loved it! At the time I made a little photo book with pictures from our trip, but didn't do anything else with the photos. Last night I made an EPCOT page for a challenge at mousescrappers - Sahlin Studios contributed a cute freebie add-on kit for the challenge. I couldn't resist playing along! I just may scrap a few more Disney pictures this year yet!

Look at that - NO JOURNALING! Pretty amazing for me :D Also...check out the fun bright yellows I used from Cilenia Curtis. No muted colors today! Next Friday Cilenia will release some new kits that I am anxious to get my hands on, including a special request cork board kit. It will be released just in time for her next SALE (Friday 6/25- Sunday 6/27). Each day a different part of the shop will be on sale. Fun!

Credits:
Cilenia Curtis DDS "Studio C Color Play 3" paper and elements;
Cilenia Curtis DDS "Studio C Color Play - Yellow;"
Cilenia Curtis DDS "Spring Fling Lilac" black paper;
Cilenia Curtis DDS "Studio C Text Paths;"
Sahlin Studio "Magical Mixed Media Freebie;"
Sahlin Studio "Travel Mixed Media;"
Britt-ish Designs "Stamp My ABCs;"
K Dudley "Studio 365" arrowhead;
Fonts: Elephant, Pea Ele.

Tough Girl

2010-06-11T15:33:00.000-07:00

I was browsing through my digital stash and admiring the many many things I have that I have NOT used (I'd like to say "lately" but the truth is "ever") so I challenged myself to include as many as possibly (without making my eyes bleed) in one layout. I've been wanting to write about my younger daughter's insisting she is a BOY, so I included that in today's layout:

Journaling:

At Catherine’s last doctor’s visit I had to
fill out a form based on questions I asked Catherine. One of the questions was “are you a boy or a girl?” Catherine promptly responded “I’m a BOY!” and even now will not change her answer. She gets quite upset if you try to argue the point. Catherine is a very special little girl. Boy. Three year old kid. -June 2010

Credits:

Cilenia Curtis, DDS:
"Cardstock Basics 1" brown paper;
"Color Play 3" red paper and tag;
Sahlin Studio:
"Vintage Worn & Torn Papers" curled paper;
"Travel Mixed Media" journaler;
"Grunge Add-on;"
Irene Alexeeva for Scrap Orchard "Snips and Snails" kit;
K Pertiet "BugsnDirt" epoxies;
K Pertiet "Ad Inspiration Frame 4410;"
Font: Liorah BT; Century Gothic; Pea Brooke; Castellar.

Another Rockport Layout and two pager

2010-05-28T10:13:00.000-07:00

I like to scrap two pages at a time. It avoids the confusion and heartache later on down the road when I have to decide what printed page goes where. I've already made those arrangements (slight tangent - Tiffany Tillman has a great article on her blog that I should link you to but haven't energy right now...that discusses using a FULL PAGE PICTURE opposite your mismatched LOs when creating a book. Simple idea, brilliant, beautiful. Do it!).

I had a few memories from our recent weekend trip to the coast that I wanted to capture in addition to the boat image I posted earlier this week. Here they are, using elements from Cilenia's fun Sketchbook Templates rearranged into my own page design. It's iDebbie's BIRTHDAY so I am also posting the final two-page presentation for these layouts, since THAT is how iDebbie likes to see it :D HAPPY BIRTHDAY, my friend! :D

Credits:
Rockport beach (left):
Cilenia Curtis DDS:
"Sketchbook Layered Templates 01" elements;
"Dream Big 2" green paper;
"Life Documented Alpha Dark;"
K Pertiet "All You Need Overlays No3;"
Leora Sanford "Spring Break '08" sand;
Font: Century Gothic.

Uncharted (right):
Cilenia Curtis DDS:
"Sketchbook Layered Templates 01;"
"Dream Big 2" paper;
"Fancy Little Basics" brad and staple;
"Wood Screw;"
"Herbal Color Play Elements" bracket;
"Renew" string fastener;
"Vintage Grunge Edges 01;"
K Pertiet "Going Away" compass and map;
K Pertiet "Lil Bit Tags Winter Park" tag and stitch;
K Pertiet "Date Tags No3;"
Sahlin Studio "Travel Mixed Media" tip card;
Font: Century Gothic, Segoe Print.

THANKS for looking! Have a great holiday weekend!!! If you are looking for something fun and creative to do the second half of this year, go CHECK OUT the CT (Creative Team) CALL at DIGITAL DESIGNER SHOP!!! Cilenia is looking for scrappers to join her team and create using products from her store. You get to work with a fun group of people, have access to store items (including classes), and share your creativity with others! GO DO IT!!!! Apply. You heard it here :D

Uncharted

2010-05-26T21:27:00.001-07:00

We went to the coast this past weekend. I love being near the water. This time we had no set agenda and just let the day lead us where it would.

Journaling:
May 2010
We love taking the “back way” along the coast when going from the condo into town. This weekend we had no set plans and stopped often to investigate things that caught our eye. I saw chairs I’d like for our patio, pirate flags at several locations, and my favorite - birds dining at a shrimp boat as it was cleaned...clearly not their first time eating there!
Rockport, TX.

I got to use some of the travel goodies I've been collecting the past couple of months, and built the bulk of this LO using items from Digital Design Shop. Cilenia has a LOT of new items there - I was surprised to see quite a few new goodies there. New items are on sale the first Friday and Saturday they are posted, but watch out for a quarterly sale coming up in a bit, where all items will be discounted (oh, how I love sales!).

LO Credits:
Cilenia Curtis DDS:
"Sketchbook Layered Templates 01;"
"Dream Big 2" paper;
"Fancy Little Basics" brad and staple;
"Wood Screw;"
"Herbal Color Play Elements" bracket;
"Renew" string fastener;
"Vintage Grunge Edges 01;"
K Pertiet:
"Going Away" compass and map;
"Lil Bit Tags Winter Park" tag and stitch;
"Date Tags No3;"
Sahlin Studio "Travel Mixed Media" tip card;
Font: Century Gothic, Segoe Print.

Manly men

2010-05-21T12:06:00.000-07:00

Just for fun:
another layout with the Suzy Q Scraps "Heart to heart" freebie kit. This one will face the other I made once I print the pages. Taken from the same day as the facing page.

Journaling reads:
Brothers in law: can’t live with ‘em, can’t give them “wet willies” or pinch their nipples...can you?

Here, Trey and Manuel defy cultural norms as they sit next to one another, man to man, without a tv remote between them to diffuse the masculine tension. A terrific display of strenght and prowess ensues. Who was victorious? Hard to say. Neither used pictures from this wrestling match as their new Facebook profile picture. Perhaps that means...it’s a draw.

I’m so lucky the men in my life play well together!

Credits:
Template: K Pertiet "Template Challenge 41110;"
Suzie Q Scraps "Heart to heart" kit;
Font: Century Gothic

Sale and freebie from DDS (copied from DDS site)

2010-05-21T07:49:00.000-07:00

Have you seen all the New Products added this week?!?
Little sample here:
A Hint of Shabby Papers

Life Documented Kit Bundle

And our Freebie? A little grunge, a little nostalgia, and a lot of artistic passion was put into this kit.
The freebie this week is the Life documented Tags. These items are pre-made for you for you to sample as an add-on to the Life Documented kit!

Want to see the entire kit? Life Documented Entire Kit Bundle with 50% savings over purchasing individually!

This Elements kit would also coordinate beautifully with Honey Scrap's Vintage Grunge papers! Watch this week for more items to coordinate with her beautiful papers!

Cilenia

Loves to get hands dirty in paint

Store Designer

Posts: 337

Capturing May 19th

2010-05-20T08:13:00.000-07:00

Journaling:
05-19-10
Wednesday. We woke up late but managed to get Mapi to school on time - 10 days until summer break! She is so cute in her cargo shorts and Keens sandals with freshly cut bangs. I sent Catherine to Mother’s Day Out with a bit of excitement - today she decided to try her first trip out in the world without a diaper. By 10 a.m. I was looking forward to having them back home with me, playing with our neighbors.

-----
I really enjoy digital scrapbooking. It is fun to find new digi goodies, learn new techniques, think of new ways to tell a story. But i think that sometimes I spend more time on that and less time on capturing memories that are important to me (and, I hope, my family). This week I am focusing more on getting stories down, even if it means using less than ideal pictures or even *gasp* a quick page, where the page design is completely in someone else's hands.

Here is a quick page I discovered in my stash and committed myself to using yesterday to tell our story of the day. I added a journaling paper from another template, then plugged in pictures of my own and jotted down some journaling. Voila! I was actually finished with the journaling and all before I even took the pictures lol.

Layout Credits:
A Edwards "Shutterfly QP" Capturing Today;
K Pertiet "Filed Layered Template no1" notecard;
Font: Segoe Print.

Say Cheese!♦

2010-05-17T07:53:00.000-07:00

We went to a wedding this weekend and afterwards took advantage of the clean dress, sunlight and present third party to get a couples picture. I made this layout with one of the shots my brother took of DH and me.

The FUN part of this layout, though, is that I made it for a challenge from Persnickety Prints and Suzy Q Scraps. SQS offered a freebie kit and the challenge is to make a LO using only the kit (you can use a template from elsewhere). You should enter, too! The prizes are a GC to SQS and to Persnickety Prints. Each posted (and linked) LO counts as an entry.

Journaling:
I know, it’s hard. You have your wife standing next to you, expectations high for a great “couples” shot, your brother in law in front of you, holding your wife’s camera to take said perfect shot, and the pressure is just too much to bear. So you crack. You pull a face. It’s unavoidable. Written in the stars. She loves you anyway.

Credits:
StarXLR8Designs "Annika" template;
SuzyQScraps "Heart to Heart" kit;
Font: "Pea Ele."

Fiesta Food and Fun

2010-05-13T14:53:00.000-07:00

We've made a tradition out of going downtown for the Battle of Flowers Parade each year, starting around mid-day (before the parade) at the Cathedral with some tried and true festival food. This year we went with our neighbors, and had a blast! Even though the day fell at the end of my "Week in the Life" project, I decided to mark our trip with its own layout. This is one side...I still plan to make a facing page with pics from the Riverwalk and bus ride.

I'm so excited because I was looking for bright papers to use on this page, and just when I had pictures and concept ready, Digital Designer Shop announced the upcoming addition of a NEW designer to the store!!! Who is it? Well, the BIG REVEAL will be tomorrow (Friday), so I can't say yet, but in the meantime I used some fabulous bright papers from her collection and thought I'd share my layout with you now.

Thanks for looking!

Credits:

Listgirl "Template 23 borderific;"
Honey Scraps, DDS "Raspberry Fire Papers;"
Honey Scraps, DDS "Raspberry Fire Grungy Solids;"
Cilenia Curtis DDS "Fancy Little Basics" staple;
A Aspnes "Stitched by Anna White, No. 1-2;"
Fonts: Showcard Gothic; Century Gothic.

April 10-10-10 Month in Review

2010-05-12T07:39:00.001-07:00

Oh, it has been too long! April was a whirlwind month on the heels of a crazy-dazy March, and frankly...I chose not to keep up here. I started a lot of scrapping projects but didn't finish any that I can remember. But there is a lot in the pipeline over here in my full full head, don't worry!

Something that took a lot of time and energy (the week before, during AND after!) was the Week in the Life project I participated in this year. The week I documented included two weekends (I'm funny like that), and in that time we: did normal stuff family stuff, including work/school/play, celebrated DH and my wedding anniversary, celebrated a city-wide festival ("Fiesta"), went to a parade, sent DH away on a business trip, co-hosted a baby shower, worked in the yard, and went through a crazy shift in weather that is typical for this time of year here.

Another project I am piecing together is an album about our house, including the work we have done on it since buying and moving in about 8 years ago. But more on that later *wink*

I'm excited about this month's "review" layout. For me it represents a return to scrapping, something that brings me peace and makes me happy. I got to use elements from Cilenia Curtis' beautiful new kits (inspired by her own peaceful vacation!), as well as some favorite pieces from K Pertiet and J Sprague. Look in my other layouts and you will see these favorites used more than once, for sure!

Credits for this month's 10-10-10 layout:
Cilenia Curtis, Digital Designer Shop:
"Renew" kit;
"Details" Templates 22-23;
"Imagine" kit elements;
"Vellum pockets;"
"Creative Tags" staples;
"Fancy Little Basics" eyelet;
J Sprague "Up and Running - Alpha;"
K Pertiet:
"Stuffed Edge Documents no1;"
"Worn Torn Journalers;"
"Stuffed Edged Journalers No2;"

"Cover Inspiration 31420" butterfly;
Font: Veteran Typewriter; Segoe Script.

Have a fantastic May!

March 10-10-10: month in review

2010-04-06T08:02:00.000-07:00

Journaling:

We spent a lot of time together as a family this month - a perfect balance of relaxation and chores! Things we did: * birthday cupcakes at school and Abuela's house for Mapi (6) * dinner at the coast for Tamara (38) *Spring Break in Rockport * Catherine learns to watercolor * Mapi reads more * girls play with friends and family * Mapi learns checkers * Manuel and Tamara pull weeds * beautiful bluebonnets * oak pollen overload * new patio chairs * girls’ mystery fever * backyard ladybug release * outdoor family dining * yardwork, yardwork, yardwork * sunshine at last!

Project 10-10-10
This year I committed to making one layout per month that acts as a "month in review," summarizing highlights of the previous month. I call mine a "10-10-10" project since it is a LO with ten photos finished by the tenth of the (following) month and takes place in 2010. This wasn't my brilliant idea, but I am trying to follow it none-the-less. Only I do things like upload the LO before the 10th, and oftentimes have more than 10 pictures in the layout. I do not follow directions without adding my own touch, what can I say?

It is only March and already I am so thankful for the pages I have made for this project. It is fun to go back and see what "little things" were important to me at the time I made the layout. I look forward to having a completed project at the end of the year. I haven't decided yet if this will be its own album or if I will add in pages that represent things we did this year as well, all set in chronological order (imagine! how novel!). With the exception of January (and I can always add to that later!) I decided to make each month with a two-page spread.

I've been posting my 10-10-10 pages in the Digital Designer Shop Gallery, where you can see other scrapper's variations on a theme. There is a specific gallery for posting 10-10-10 projects or Project 52 (a layout a week for a year) or Project 365 (layouts showing a picture for each day) or daily/weekly gratitude pages...you get the idea. it's not as much about how often you do it, as long as you DO scrap and get down to the business of capturing memories as they take place. The here and now. An added bonus? If you post your LO to the DDS Challenge Gallery you are eligible to win a gift card from the DDS store. Fun!

Credits for this month's 10-10-10:

Cilenia Curtis DDS "T04 Journey" template (modified);
Cilenia Curtis DDS "Vellum pockets;"
Cilenia DDS "Stamped Photo masks 001;"
Designs by Dar "Warm Earth" paper;
Three Paper Peonies "Noticed" paper;
Shabby Princess "Moody Blues" alpha;
Fonts: Liorah BT; Copperplate Gothic Light, Century Gothic.

We have Bluebonnets! BLOOM!

2010-03-31T07:43:00.000-07:00

Journaling:
My dearest Mapi, this afternoon when I suggested we take pictures in the bluebonnets out front you were such a willing subject, posing behind the flowers in spite of the sun in your eyes and rough grass under your arms. Thank you for playing with your mama today!

Any proper Texan will tell you that bluebonnets are not just the state flower, they are a photographic rite of passage for darn near any child (comma pet comma adult) nowadays. We endure our mild winters and sometimes remember to appreciate what rain we get because within a few months' time we will be blessed with fields (or patches) of our beloved bluebonnets.

Last summer was BRUTAL. Months of 100+ temps, continued drought, then what can only be described as a (Texas-class) Narnia winter the likes of which I hope to never see again here in my hometown (keep cold and wet for yourselves, northerners!). The down side is our grass looks horrid. What's left of it, I mean. There are awful thistles and other tall, mean, fast-growing weeds all over the neighborhood. Our yard is no exception. the UP side, however, is we are having a glorious crop of wildflowers this year. We were delighted to find some in our own front yard - who knew? Some former owner or overflying bird (or was it me, years ago?) sprinkled bluebonnet seeds all over the yard. What a treat! WE LOVE BLUEBONNETS and to have them in your own yard - just ask my daughter- is something quite special indeed *wink*

I made this page to face the "Lucky Ladybug" layout I made this past week. The picture itself could have been lit better, especially in my daughter's face, but the memory of it all is so precious I couldn't resist scrapping it. NOT EVERY PICTURE (OR PAGE) HAS TO BE PERFECT TO BE RIGHT! <- Something I must remind myself each time I scrap.

I was so excited to use more of Cilenia's little vellum pockets, as well as my new favorite journaling note (tucked away in this beautiful kit). This was the first time I used her stacked photo frames, and I was so excited to see they were fully stacked when I opened them - these pretties are so flexible! I am definitely adding them to my "staple pantry" of digi supply goodies.

Layout Credits:
Cilenia Curtis DDS:
"Potting Shed 2" paper;
"Heritage 2" ribbon;
"Herbal Color Play" stacked photo frames and clock;
"365 Starter Kit" tag;
"Potting Shed" note;
"Vellum Pockets;"
"Fancy Little Basics" pin and staples;
Other:
Mona Lisa Smiles & Three Paper Peonies "Noticed" alphas;
Anna Aspnes "Stitched by Anna no1 White" border;
MScraps "New Beginnings Collab" flower and vine frame;
Font: Veteran Typewriter.

Lucky Lady bugs

2010-03-29T05:54:00.000-07:00

We have the best neighbors evah. Elaine took good care of us last Friday after a hard week of back-to-back illnesses between the girls, and all-around grumpiness amongst our family members. She called us over to play with her kids, and brought out a big bag of LADYBUGS to release in the garden and yards!

Journaling reads:
It's Friday afternoon, the girls have been sick all week, and Elaine invites us over to play in the garden. She has a surprise for the kids - LADYBUGS! We put a few in her bug habitat for observation, and the rest are scattered throughout our yards. Mapi thinks the ladybugs tickle and enjoys holding them before they fly away. Catherine wants to watch but not touch them. Gabriel, Daniel and Annabel all join in the ladybug fun and the kids help one another find bugs on the ground, plants and on each other, too!

About the layout:
The itch to make this layout began before the Friday ladybug release. I didn't know the exact photos or subject at the time, but knew I wanted to make my next layout to incorporate a little "flair" after playing (probably a little too much...is that possible?) with an "epoxy flair" tip card from Digital Design Studios. This was such a fun, easy project that I *needed* to make a LO incorporating it, if only to justify making MORE flair!

In the end, I only used one of my own bug flairs since I already had some K Pertiet bug bits in my stash. But the little beetle in the top left corner with a metal rim around it? Is mine. Mine, mine, mine, mine, mine. I made it using paper from the same kit as the ready-made bug flair.

So go check out the Tip Card at DDS and then be fantastic and pass hours of your OWN time making "more fun than you could ever imagine" flair of your very own! I'm serious. Do it :) Then come thank me for pointing you directly into the direction of fun and fabulosity.

Giving credit where it is due:
This page includes the following items

Cilenia Curtis DDS "Potting Shed 2" paper;
Cilenia Curtis DDS "365 Starter Kit Photo Mask 3;"
Cilenia Curtis DDS "Potting Shed" note, tag;
Cilenia Curtis DDS "Herbal Color Play" brackets;
Cilenia Curtis DDS "Vellum pockets;"
Cilenia Curtis DDS "Fancy Little Basics" string and label;
Cilenia Curtis DDS "Creative Tags" staple;
K Pertiet "Bugs n Dirt" pack;
K Pertiet "Grunge Overlays no2;"
K Pertiet "Template Challenge 122709" tag;
A Aspnes "Stitched by Anna no1 White;"
Scrappin Cop "Glass Beads no42;"
Font: Veteran Typewriter, Old Rubber Stamp.

The Great Two Page Debate

2010-03-24T07:18:00.000-07:00

Publish Post

All right, maybe not "great" debate, but "frivolous two page debate" does not have the same ring to it, you see :)

The two pages I made this week, together. I'm not sure exactly which page will go where, but I'm leaning towards this option. Some who care have already made their preferences known and this presentation seems to be the winner. I DID NOT make this as a two-page LO and the styles are a little different in template, but I did try to unify them some with similar embellishments and paper. Voila:

Sunrise, Sunset

2010-03-23T15:20:00.001-07:00

I made a facing page after all for the LO I posted earlier this week! I'm taking the Type+Writer class at JessicaSprague.com and this is my take on today's assignment. I tried to use elements from the previous LO on this one, too, to help visually connect the two pages.

Credits:
Template J Sprague "T+W1 The Final Tally;"

Cilenia Curtis Digital Designer Shop "Old Film Template" film borders;
Designs by Dar "Warm Earth" paper;
A Aspnes "Beach Bum" brushes;
K Pertiet "Stuffed Edge Journalers 2;"
bySine "SO Pinned;"
K Pertiet "Ad Challenge No2 TagsA;"
Font: Liorah BT, Veteran Typewriter, Constantia, Pea Ele.

Moments to Remember - Beach "film strip" Layout

2010-03-22T09:35:00.000-07:00

Michelle at Digital Designer Shop hosted a photography challenge this week to find visual triangles in our images. While at the beach on Spring Break with my family I took pictures with this challenge in mind. When I got home I selected a handful of my favorite "triangle" shots and realized that they, with a few "non-triangle" shots thrown in for good measure, were perfect for telling the story of our days spent at the beach.

As I was getting ready to make the layout, Cilenia posted this adorable new filmstrip template. I was hooked! I modified Cilenia's template some (hid bottom row of film strip, and erased the bottom row of film border), since I knew I wanted to add journaling to the page.

To keep with the "vintage" feel of the aged film on the LO I made my photos B&W before importing them into the LO. The cool grey tones made me think "winter," and while the week at the beach was cooler than usual (crazy weather this year, eh?), there were more Spring-like warm days, so I pulled in a little of that warmth with some warm sand colored paper from Darlene, who made this paper pack after taking the DDS color swatch class.

The journaling area is a combination of fun (and free at the time!) K Pertiet journalers from Designer Digital, and a super-flexible journaling tag set from Digital Designer Shop. That's the one that has the date and subject information on it - you choose which label you want, add a paper to it, choose a stamp for border, choose what you want the stamp to actually say, layer all this goodness one on top of the other (lots of possibilities!), and fill it in with your own information. Super cool idea! The only other things I used was "relax" in my own hand (scanned) and a cute sandal brush from A Aspnes (also at DD).

Here is the finished product:

(full credits are here)

Our trip was SO relaxing and good for us to reconnect as a family. I'm excited to already have a LO to remind me of these days we spent together. What's next? Maybe a facing page for this one, reflecting more on our family beach trips (or maybe not! Hahahah. As much as I like them, I don't always follow through with making matchy matchy facing pages for my LOs).

Inspiration: I am not lying...

2010-03-12T12:05:00.000-08:00

The Back Story:

Currently I am taking the Design Your Life class taught by Cathy Z at Big Picture Scrapbooking. I am also taking a class by Cilenia at Digital Designer Shop called Creating Color Themes. I enjoy taking classes to learn more about photography and digital scrapbooking, and these two have been great additions to my understanding of how to better scrap. In addition to these classes, I participate in online challenges for photos and layouts. Michelle hosts weekly photo challenges at Digital Designer Shop, and the week I made this layout her challenge was for us to get in FRONT of the camera.

The Perfect (Brain) Storm:

The other day I wrote to some online friends that before having kids I used to think and act so differently. It occurred to me that I should save my post and turn it into a layout. So I did.

I used a template from the DYL class, pictures I'd taken that week (including one of me in front of the camera, pleased to have finally taught myself how to use that nifty Nikon remote control), paper I made myself in the Color Themes class (from my t-shirt I scanned the night before)...and a quote from a post to an online message board.

The Result:

The text reads:

I am not lying when I say

I used to be brilliant. Impressive. Mighty.

I spoke coherently.

Did more than one thing at a time.

It was beautiful to watch.

I am those things still, though some more

than others. Lack of sleep has affected me.

And caring for two hearts outside my own.

My girls, you are beautiful to watch.

Brilliant. Impressive. Mighty.

I now know where it all went.

I see it in you.

Overly sentimental? Sure. But I like it and am so pleased to have pulled together so many things I was working on and thinking about at the same time to make one layout that really shows what I was doing RIGHT THEN. I was tempted to go back and tweak the date, then decided that would go against the *right then* aspect of it all.

Layout credits:
Template Cathy Z DYL_RWC_Wk3;
Papers: Guayamama "Grapevine;"
Cilenia DDS "365 Kit" year;
Fonts: Century Gothic; Liorah

Getting started

2010-03-12T12:00:00.000-08:00

All right, I am going to begin YET another blog. Let's see how long she lasts *smile.* I am notoriously negligent of any and all blogs I touch (honestly, I am not even that good about *reading* them these days), but hopeful this time will be different. This blog is dedicated to my journey as a scrapping and photographing mama of two in Texas.