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5/31/13

studio calico: june's guest designer


i loved being a guest designer at studio calico this month.  i always love their kits and this month was definitely no exception!  i literally couldn't stop creating!  thankfully there was a deadline.  otherwise, i'm sure i would still be playing away.


since there are so many to peruse, i'll just add the pictures here.  if you'd like to know more about how i created a page or have any questions, please leave me a comment.  you can also check out my guest designer gallery at studio calico for more details about how and why i created each layout.












if you made it alllllllll the way to the bottom, i am giving you a great big "blog" hug!! xoxoxoxo
thanks for stopping by today!  and a super big thanks to studio calico for allowing me to be a guest designer this month!  such an honor!!!  

happy friday!
xoxo







5/30/13

glitz design: 8x8 and 6x6 paper pad BLOG HOP



happy happy thursday everyone!!  thank you so much for stopping by!!  you probably are stopping over from noel's blog, or from the glitz design blog! welcome!!

today is the monthly blog hop for glitz design!  it's all about those awesome 8x8 and 6x6 paper pads!  all of the design team have created amazing projects showcasing the paper pads so get ready to be inspired!!

i love the 6x6 and 8x8 paper pads from glitz design.  i use them all. the. time.  i love using them as layers on my traditional layouts and i especially love using them in my project life album.



for this blog hop, i wanted to use them in a new and creative way so i decided to make mini layouts for my project life album.  i took some super cute pictures of my daughter a few weeks ago and wanted to try to include them all together.  i basically used each 6x6 paper as it's own background and then built my layers from there!  i'm adding these into my project life album using becky higgins design d page protector!  the 6x6 papers fit perfectly into the slots!


here's a look at how they will be in my album.  


i love the way they are all so different, but coordinate so well!  (and i'm so obsessed with the grey/white strip paper from the sunshine in my soul collection!).  


and here's a closer peek at each one...

for this "mini" layout, i chose to use a 6x6 photo and the "you" peek-a-boo from the love you madly collection.  i stitched some of the love you madly paper garland down the right side of my page to balance out the words and photo.


isn't this paper fabulous??? i hated to cover it all up!!
for this little "mini", i painted the grey/white paper with some white paint to mute it slightly and then i stitched my typed journaling and photo on top.  i finished this little page with some loose thread, a die cut butterfly, paint splatters and a love you madly giant rhinestone!

i love how the greys from sunshine in my soul and the pinks from the love you madly collection go together!  so soft and lovely!


for this little layout, i used this 6x6 paper from the love you madly collection as my background.  i added two small photos on top of some cut out frames from a dear lizzy paper and layered those onto a piece of stitched tulle.  i decided to add the ribbon around the paper to soften the overall feel of the layout and to direct your eyes at the two cute photos!


and finally....my favorite!
for this "mini" page, i layered a heart cut file on a piece of ivory paper from the uncharted waters 6x6 paper pad.  i cut a few pieces of the love you madly paper layers and tucked them underneath my photo for a little texture.  i finished this page with the "hugs & kisses" stamp from the uncharted waters collection.

glitz design products used:
love you madly 6x6 paper pad
uncharted waters 6x6 paper pad
sunshine in my soul 6x6 paper pad
love you madly paper layers
love you madly giant rhinestones
love you madly paper garland
uncharted waters rubber stamp set


i hope i have inspired you to try to create "mini" layouts using the 6x6 or 8x8 paper pads!  it's really fun to mix things up a bit and work on a smaller scale sometimes!!

thanks so much for stopping by on the blog hop today!!  glitz design will be choosing one lucky commenter to send a glitz prize pack to so be sure to leave a comment!!  the winner is picked randomly from one of the blogs included on the blog hop so the more blogs you comment on, the more chances you have to win some goodies!!  please comment only once per blog!

official blog hop order:

Stephanie Bryan - http://www.stephaniemakes.blogspot.com/  ***YOU ARE HERE***

Glitz Design Blog - http://glitzitnow.com/blog/








5/28/13

guest post at shimelle.com: confetti pocket tutorial



i'm sharing how to make a confetti pocket for a scrapbook layout on shimelle's blog today!  so honored and excited to be featured on her lovely lovely blog!  be sure to stop by if you get a chance and leave me some love!!  :)

xoxo


5/24/13

studio calico roundabout sneaks and more....

i am truly honored to be the guest designer at studio calico this month.  i've been subscribing to their kits since october 2010, but i pretty much just hoarded everything until january of this year when i made a vow that i would create 52 layouts in 2013.  i have no idea how many layouts i have created this year, but i know that i've been able to fill three 12x12 binders to the brim.  it's been awesome!  and i've had so many awesome opportunities just in the past six months.  i love this hobby.  i love creating. and i love having something that's "all mine".  sure, i do it to remember our memories, but it's my outlet, my place to get away, my place to be "just me".  and i needed that place.

the kits this month are amazing.  i was so fortunate to get my hands on the roundabout scrapbook kit, savannah shore scrapbook add-on, outer banks scrapbook add-on, roundabout project life kit, cumberland gap project life add-on and the project life 4x6 stamps.  

and boy did i use these kits!  i created 10 layouts and was able to complete two project life spreads.  and i could have kept going if there wasn't a deadline to meet!  seriously....everything is just that awesome.

so here are some of my "sneaks" for the june kits....

cannot wait for reveal!  hope to see you there!!






glitz design: sweet as candy


it's all about sequins this week at glitz design.  i'm up on the blog today sharing my sequin-inspired layout.  stop on over if you get a chance!


happy friday!!
xoxo




5/23/13

color combos galore: 244 and 245





 there are two new challenges up at color combos galore right now!!  the colors and inspiration boards are amazing, as always!  
my main inspiration for this photo was a "nautical" theme.  this is a picture of my daughter on a boat trip several years ago.  the sun was so bright and she insisted on putting on my glasses.  of course, i just had to capture this precious moment.  i layered my photo on top of some of the lovely papers from the studio calico atlantic collection to continue to "nautical" them.  the paper layers at the top of the page were inspired by the photos and colors in the inspiration board.





my focus for this challenge was journaling.  i initially thought about including my typed text on the diagonal, but then i saw my dear lizzy roller stamp sitting on my desk and i thought the sentiments would look awesome stamped along the the page.  i finished my page with the coordinating colors of the inspiration board as my paper layers.  that boy is such a cutie!!


be sure to stop by the color combos galore page for more awesome inspiration from the design team!  if you aren't already a member, email or message me your email address and i will send you out an invite!!

happy thursday!

xoxo



5/20/13

sunday challenge at chic tags....



the sunday challenge is up at chic tags!!

the challenge is to use gold on your project.  i love the pop of sparkle gold adds to a layout.  for my project, i knew i wanted to use a bunch of circle photos and the "everyday life" journaling icons from chic tags.  these are little snapshots of our "wonderful life".



i hope you will play along too!!  veronica is so generous and is giving away a $25 gift certificate to the chic tags store!!  you don't want to miss that!

and be sure to check out freebie fridays at chic tags.  albert (veronica's hubby) creates a new freebie file every friday! here's a peek of the 3x4 printable filler cards from this past friday.  they are perfect for project life!

hope your monday is awesome!  it's rainy here today, so we will likely have a quiet indoor day (well...as quiet as two kiddos can be)!! 

xoxo


5/17/13

sharing my story: kitscard





the sweet nuzhat from kitscard emailed me a few weeks ago and asked if i would interested in sharing my "story" on her blog.  of course, i said yes!  hop on over to her blog and learn a little more about me if you get a chance!

xoxoxo

color combos galore: springtime pleasures

happy friday!

there is a new challenge up at color combos galore today!  wonderful and fun spring colors!!  

here is a look at the inspiration board....



and here is my layout...


my main inspiration was "washi tape" so i decided to create a background of washi tape strips.  after i had laid the tape down, i thought the overall colors were a little too bright, so i lightly coated them with some gesso to give them a little more muted look.  i layered my photo onto several different layers of patterned paper and used pop dots to add a little dimension to my page.  then i embellished with some wood veneers, journaling strips and stamps.  

it's such a fun page, to me!  i love the colors...and they definitely scream spring!

hope spring has come your way by now!  

xoxoxo



5/15/13

baby love.....chic tags






i am over on the chic tags blog today sharing one of the sweetest little layouts of my baby girl.  the chic tags collection are perfect for documenting all those "everyday moments". 

happy wednesday!
xoxo

5/13/13

it's all about woodgrain at glitz design...


it's all about woodgrain this week at glitz design!  

here's a little sneak peek of what's up on the glitz blog today!  lots of butterflies (which i'm still obsessed with, btw!).  be sure to stop by today and all week for more inspiration using the glitz woodgrain products!  



happy monday!  hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and a lovely mother's day!
xoxo


5/9/13

celebrating my mother...


i'm sharing another layout on the glitz design blog today dedicated all to my mother.

i lost my mom about 16 years ago to a battle with cancer.  not a single day goes by that i don't think about her or long to talk to her.

and she's one of the main reasons i began the whole "scrapbooking" process through project life initially, and now with traditional layouts.  

there are so many things i wish i knew about her, or i wish i would have thought to ask her....  i cherish every.single.photo i find of her.  and it is true.....i don't care what she looks like, what she wore, how her hair was that day, or even if it's an awful picture.  all i know is that those are memories captured, and you really can't beat that!  




happy thursday everyone!

xoxo

5/8/13

project life: week 18


our week 18 is in the books.  and it was quite an interesting and busy week.  it started off with princess day at preschool and ended up with a trip to the ER for a dislocated elbow.  i thought i would have lots of words this week, but i think the busy-ness of the week just wore on me and i kinda just winged it here.  i might regret just flying through to have it finished one day, but right now, i'm just glad that it's done and i can turn the page.  

this week was completely captured with my iphone.  and it was a pretty basic capture.  i didn't do my typical "interesting angle" shots like where i get down on the floor and people think i'm crazy.  so maybe that's why i wasn't "feeling it" this week.  something to remember from now on.  but...being busy is just that....busy.  i'm glad i captured the memories i did.  and i think the overall look of the week tells "our story".

my goal is to be a little more "aware" this week.  i kinda like where i think about the week and plan in my head prior to just sitting down to put the week together.

ok...enough rambling from me!!  

here is a look at the whole spread...


and here is a closer look at each side and some detail shots.  definitely nothing fancy this week!!





yep...that's it!  hope i didn't disappoint anyone!  :)
have a great wednesday! hopefully i will find my "mojo" and be more inspiring next week!

xoxo

5/7/13

little black dress kit club: miss maggie kit

it's reveal day at little black dress kit club!

the kit this month is so appropriately named "miss maggie".  and it's beyond amazing!  i'm still in my "love everything pink" phase, so the beautiful papers, rhinestone pins, fabric frames, clothespins, etc... were perfect for me.  but don't get me wrong...it's not all girlie!  there is some lovely glitz design and american crafts goodies too!  you seriously don't want to miss this wonderful kit!!

here's a peek at what's included in the may kit...


and here are a few of the layouts i made using this awesome kit...




you can tell that i went totally "girlie" on this layouts and used lots of the pinks, as well as some feminine cut files i cut with my silhouette.  

i'll be sharing more of what i created using this kit later in the week!!  be sure to stop by the little black dress kit club blog for more inspiration, videos and to pick up your own "miss maggie" kit!

happy tuesday everyone!
xoxo




5/6/13

celebrating women at glitz design..


this week glitz design is celebrating all the amazing women in our lives.  for me, celebrating women is all about celebrating mothers and being a mother.  i used this chance to write little love notes to my kiddos.  stop by the glitz design blog today for more of my layout and the other amazing layouts from the design team.  and be sure to check in all week for more inspiration and ideas!!


i hope this will inspire you to celebrate and document the amazing women in your life!

happy monday, everyone!

xoxo