Elle's Studio June 2016 Reveal

Elle's Studio [latest crop of goodness] is available now! The colors in this release you guys, oh so good! I'm loving the bright and cheerful projects that I made with it. I'll be sharing them here and on [Instagram] throughout the weekend.

First up is a page inspired by the [tiny acrylic popsicles]...that I didn't even use on this page in the end. But still, were so cute they prompted me to scrapbook this photo of me and a SpongeBob Squarepants ice cream.

Last summer, I spent a long weekend in NYC hanging out with one of my besties. It wasn't a touristy adventure. I went to hang out with her, slip into her life for a few days, eat, hangout. I was so bad about not being a tourist, these are really the only photos I took during the trip! We didn't even get one of the two of us together!! It's like I don't scrapbook?!  But at least I got these few. 

It was a bright and hot weekend so [this month's kit] was pretty perfect for scrapping it. I created my own background using the [Shine Bright stamp set], mist splatters and also a [highlighter]. Then I just layered up the [journaling tags] and added my title. It's a simple page but all the color makes it seem less so, I think!

Also available this month are acrylic stars in [summer colors] and [patriotic colors]; an acrylic [summer] plus the [printables] and [cut file]. And the new [Sunny Days] collection is out! I'll be using it at ton this summer, I'm sure.

cheers & besos,

Charleston Mini

MT and I visited Charleston last October for his birthday. We were only there for a few days but in that time we ate some good food, did a bit of sightseeing and then I got food poisoning and wanted to die. It was bad! Clearly I survived, but it definitely was a speed bump to what was shaping up to be a very nice trip!

I used the Elle's Studio [Travelogue] mid-release products for this micro-mini. There were a lot of photos so I ended up putting together a slide show for your viewing pleasure. To read more about it, head over to the [Elle's Studio blog]!

cheers & besos,

Coffee & Donuts

I'm so excited to share my first Elle's Studio projects. I loved playing with the January kit and the stamps and the cut files. I wanted to use so much of it that I stepped a bit out of my comfort zone and totally went for it with this pocket page paired with a 9x12 in layout.

The two pages together don't necessarily tell the same story. Really, the only thing they have in common is that the photos were taken on our trip to Portland. But I like them together for some reasons. And I totally think its ok if in my head these are a double page spread =)

The page is a little love note to my boyfriend. I want to make sure he knows that I adore him. I mixed patterned papers from the Thankful collection in with a few of the cards from the January kit. That gradient card was my favorite. I love the colors! It was the perfect little landing place for the  "Adore You" acrylic piece which I used as my title.

But my most favorite item of them all was the stamp set. And especially the stamp set paired with the most amazing ink pad I've ever used. Look at this photo: I stamped on it with white ink. WHITE INK! It's truly a unicorn, a white ink pad that actually works. 

To me, this stamped so clearly it almost looks like a digital brush. But nope, this was done by hand. To note: I left it to sit out for a good hour before sliding it into the pocket. I didn't want a smeary image because it does take a bit to dry.

I also loved those tiny donuts! I need to figure out more ways to incorporate them into my projects because I think they're just too cute. And really, they were the jumping off point for choosing these photos. Donuts = Voodoo Donuts = Portland = Our trip in 2014. I stamped these with two teal, purple and red ink and then heat embossed pink sprinkles on a few of 'em. They look scrumptious to me!

I adored this cut file which is of hearts. But, a few of the hearts are only half cut and you fold them over to see them whole. I love the texture and dimension it adds to this pocket! I used that file to make a few cards, which I will share later this week. It's turned out to be one of my favorite cut files I've ever used! And the "negative" hearts that came out of the pocket design, were added to the Adore You layout as a bit of tone on tone texture. Win win!

I had so much fun playing with these products. And as of this posting, they're available over in the Elle's Studio shop. The kit is normally available for $11.99, but until 2:00am CST, it's only $9.99. So if you're interested in nabbing it, I'd suggest doing it now. Because as always, the kit, the stamps, the extras are gone when they're gone. So get them while they're hot!

The rest of the design team are also sharing their projects today. You can see everything over in the Designer's gallery. I'm racing over there as soon as this posts to see what everyone has created!

cheers & besos,

Penguin

I had so much fun playing with the November Scrapbook Circle kit. It definitely has a Christmas vibe to it, but I made a few pages this month that didn't really have anything to do with Christmas. This page is all about the time I met a penguin. 

I really wasn't intending to scrap about this experience. But after seeing the great penguin die cut in the Pinkfresh Studio die cut pack, I thought this would be the perfect story to share this month!

For the page itself, I channeled my inner Jennifer Larson. Using an enlarged black and white photo with journaling strips on top is definitely something I've picked up from her.

I love that scrapbooking helps me remember these random but fun moments. I'd nearly forgotten I'd met this penguin until I saw that die cut. I love it when good products spark memories too!

cheers & besos,

Crazy Summer

Lazy hazy crazy days of summer is only about 2/3 right. Erhmahgawd you guys! I'm soooo tired! Can I tell you about my week? Or at least the last 10 days.

1. Last Friday I woke up, packed a bag, went to work and then got on a plane to London. 
2. Saturday I arrived in London. I tried to psych myself up to do something. But I just couldn't. Too jet lagged! So I bought some groceries and read my book.
3. Sunday was a day spent walking around my favorite city in the world. It was much needed.
4. Monday was the first of our training days. We were in presentations the entire day. It wasn't as bad as it sounded. But it was a lot for a Monday. Especially considering it was a Monday after a particularly exhausting weekend.
5. Tuesday was another half day of presentations. Then we packed up and headed to the airport for a flight to Aberdeen.
6. Wednesday was spent driving around Aberdeen, getting more info and training. Getting back on a bus to catch a flight to Newcastle. Once we got to Newcastle, it was straight into a client reception. Everyone was exhausted at this point. But our clients are lovely and always accommodating. They make it worth it.
7. Thursday was spent driving around Newcastle. More presentations and more meetings. Followed by a train to London.
8. Friday was my flight back to the US. The 10.5 hour flight wasn't as terrible as it sounds. But still exhausting!
9. Saturday morning, while still jet lagged, MT and I drove to San Antonio. I immediately got dressed and then headed to my cousin's wedding.
10. Sunday, as in today, we woke up and drove back to Houston. After a crazy hectic 10 days, I'm finally home!!! 

Taking all of the above into consideration and the fact that right before this I was away on a 7 day vacation in which we visited 3 different cities/2 countries. Yeah, I'm the kind of tired that I can feel deep down in my bones.

Please do not get me wrong, I'm soooooooo blessed to be able to do this. But I hope this explains why I've been neglecting this little old blog of mine.

But let me switch gears to tell you what I'm excited about.

• Simple Scrapper Summer Focus Retreat! I need to go print my workbook :) I think today is the last day to sign up so get on it if you haven't. It's gonna be fantastic!
• The progress I've made on my Pacific Northwest scrapbook pages
• A fully digital page I just made:

I used a Pinterest find as the basis for this page. I just absolutely loved the design! I'm excited I was able to use it. I'm STILL figuring out this whole digital thing. But it's getting easier.

...and I think I've just hit my wall. But I'm also now happy I can add blogged to that list. I'll check back with you all soon I promise. I just need a few dozen naps. 

cheers & besos,

The Bean

Hey there! How you going? It's been a lovely lazy stay at home and do nothing but scrap kind of day. Exactly what I needed after the birthday party that was thrown at my house yesterday. It was only immediate family but still, lots of ruckus in my tiny little apartment.

Today, I needed to do some quiet scrapping. Just me, my paper and my pictures. Here's one of the pages I made.

I used (of course) a Simple Scrappers sketch and a ton of fun embellishments. At first, I wasn't so excited to use this sketch in particular. For some reason it didn't feel me. So I put it aside for a few days and just now got back to it. I gave up on another idea that just wasn't going to work for these photos in this configuration and I'm so much happier for having let it go!

Since I'm taking the SC Stitched class, I thought I'd add some fun colorful stitching to the page. I hand drew a bean and cut it out of vellum before I stitched down the shape and spelled out the title.

Then it was just a matter of making a line of circular embellishments down the side of the photos. That's the part that made it me!

It was really fun to just go to my travel drawer--and yes, I have one of those--pull out a ton of embellishment packs and some ink and just go to town.

Balance is always the number one design element in these kinds of things. I think I made it work out.

With that I'll leave you to your Sunday evenings. I'm off to watch some Game of Thrones and Madmen!

cheers & besos,

Jubilee: Go See Do

Do you ever just completely lose your mojo? Just aren't feeling creative even one little iota? That happens to me sometimes. Its been happening to me the last few weeks!! (Which is not helpful as I'm putting together my Christmas cards...)

My head just wasn't in the game for some reason. I was watching crafty videos. Browsing galleries. Trolling Pinterest. But nothing!

Then I just made something. A layout...and a sacrificial one at that. It wasn't my finest piece of work but it also wasn't the worst. And with it out the of way, I was able to create this layout. 

Creativity is like a muscle, the more you use it the stronger it gets. 

Studio Calico's Jubilee kit came in the mail today (well yesterday, but I picked it up today). There's just something about receiving new goodies in the mail, and especially scrapbook goodies! I spread everything out to pour over it and then went to iPhoto to pull photos I thought would work. 

These snaps from my trip to Chicago this summer were the most inspiring to me. So I started there. I added a few of the brushes to the main one, along with text filling in some of the details.

I didn't know what I wanted to do with this page other than that I'd like to try out this design. Sam's (aka WaiSam) layout was what I had in mind. But I also had Jina Jean's layout pinned, which is where Sam's inspiration originally came from. All I went off of was separating my page into three bits, lining things up along the top and bottom edge and adding a simple title in the middle. 

I didn't look at either of their layouts until this page was finished. I didn't want to be very influenced. I just knew I wanted to try out this design!

This ended up being a no patterned paper layout, but I didn't mean for it to be! I even intended to use some of the Project Life cards. But once I started stamping and filing things in, I kind of ran out of room for any paper.

The title was the very last thing I added to this page. I made sure to cut out some of the fabulous designs that came with the kit & the class. I cut them all out of white cardstock with the intention that I would mist or paint or ink them. But of course I never do! There's just something about a crisp white.

Also, I only adhered the top loop of the "g" down so the rest would be floating. I like the dimension it adds.

Stamps, gelatos, sequins, printables, wood veneer, cork stars, mist splatters, hand stitching. I threw it all at this page. Circles are the primary design element since there's some great polka dots painted on these guys. [Link to article on the exhibition]

And, I didn't want to box out the page too much. Plus, I like circles! And there are some great circle stamps in the kit.

And so I think I'll call an end to my lack of mojo. Thank goodness!! I'm loving this page. I'm loving my new kit. And I'm loving that I'll have some down time this week to make some pages =)

In case I don't update before then, have a Happy Thanksgiving to all of my fellow USA-ians.

cheers & besos,

NYC in November

I scrapped! I scrapped! I spent my entire Saturday holed up in my room, gloriously cutting paper and pasting photos. This was the first chance I've had to just play. Not make a present or card. Just having fun working on my own stuff. 

I'm watching the Golden Globes so this is gonna be brief but I wanted to share a few pages of my November in NYC. Well really it was a weekend ;) but a long one! 

I also made a play at some of the 2Ps CHA challenges. This was for the 5 photo challenge and I was directly inspired by Glitter Girl's post this week. I used my Studio Calico Block Party kit, my last kit for the year (which I purchased in 2012 mind you!). 

This page also works for a few of the Studio Calico Challenges, like Use Multiples of the Same Embellishment, More than 3 Patterned Papers, and create a 2 Page Layout. 

This next page is for 2Peas Challenge No. 6. I used 6 wood veneer banner pieces to finish off the page. It's also good for the Use Multiples of the Same Embellishment, More than 3 Patterned Papers, and Dress Up your Veneer Studio Calico challenges.

It's been awhile since I've made a page totally from my stash. I went to my paper bin, picked what I thought worked best, grabbed a set of Thickers and some embellishments and just played! Look for more pages like this, I'm scrapping my stash!

And that's all folks. Thanks for dropping by. I'll update later this week with more CHA challenge projects.

Back to Golden Globes watching I go.  Yay Lena!! Amy & Tina F, my girl crushes on you have just got bigger.

cheers & besos,

Enlarged Prints

Every once in awhile I place a Persnickety Prints order. Mainly, I have them print odd and enlarged sizes because most everything else can be done here at home with my handy little PictureMate.

This month, I printed an instagram shot at 8x8 and a few of my Italy shots at 5x10. And I just wanted to quickly share two pages I made using these lovely enlarged prints.

For Memorial Day this year, me and a group of friends headed down to the beach house for a weekend of relaxation and togetherness. I made sure to get a group shot of all their lovely faces (and of course Joey being silly) and was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the instagram shot. Good to know that these can be blown up!!

I used the So Cal kit + Newport & Venice Beach add-ons and die cut some of my patterned paper scraps into those cute little tags (Papertrey Ink die cut).

Then, I added tape around the edges and letter stickers for the title & subtitle.

And finished it off with those awesome speech bubble stamps from the Venice Beach add on. Love that I got to highlight the majority of them. Having all these people in the photo helped with that!

Here's another layout I did with one of the 5x10 prints. It's a scraplift of this fabulous layout by naomiatkins, that I unearthed from the Studio Calico gallery.

Like Naomi, I played with sunbursts and doilies. But I also added some buttons & butterflies and that cute little pennant flag.

There was a bright patch of blue sky in the upper left hand corner that I covered up with a die cut tag and some letter stickers. The brilliant blue was clashing with the soft colors of the layout!

I even scraplifted Naomi's lovely title. So simple and sweet.

It's always fun working with enlarged prints. But the photo has to be really special for me to want to focus an entire page on just the one. Both of these qualify, the first because it showcases everyone who came out on Memorial Day. The second, because it's a great proof of visit shot with lost of context. Plus I look kind of cute :)

Do you scraplift enlarged photos? Would love to have you share in the comments, a favorite page if you do!

cheers & besos,

Sketchpad Goodness

I signed up for Sketchbook 4, so I figured I needed to finish up with Sketchpad before April 1. Now, I've used all but 2 of the sketches!

Here's my take on Sketch No. 1, a fun page of some friends & I at the Kemah Boardwalk.

I ended up tilting the design of the sketch & rounded some corners. I also got to use some of the goodies I got on the cheap at Marshalls of all places. They just felt like great boardwalk/carnival pieces.

Oh, and about the largest photo. I took it on manual, not realizing my camera was set to manual, so it came out super wicked over exposed! But I was able to "save" it by playing with my histogram & sliders in iPhoto. I looks like it was put through some fun filter when really I just messed up!

This next layout was based off of Sketch No. 10. It was really about clustering & layering pieces, playing with paint and ink splatters.

I went for the red/black/white color combo & warmed it up with some gray & cream. I also dug into my London scrap stash & used the telephone booth stamp with white embossing powder.

I've been on a roll lately, just churning out layouts these last few weekends. I hope I can keep it up! I love being so productive!

cheers & besos,