Valentine's Advent

I have something fun and special to share today. It's a little different but also a twist on something traditional. For Valentine's Day this year, I decided to make my boyfriend a Valentine's Advent Calendar. 

You see, in each of these little envelopes I added a fun memory of either him or the two of us. My plan is for us to look at one of these every day and remember some really great times.

I used every single paper from (my favorite) January Scrapbook Circle kit. Getting the extra patterned paper was the best thing for my projects this month. I just loved them all so much! And of course, I loved them all together.

Each little envelope is decorated with odds and ends from the kits, lots of love and hearts going on here.

There's just something about tiny things that are so fun and awesome! The envelope is a wafer thin die that I bought from Studio Calico.

I can't wait for him to see it (and for me to see his subtle man appreciation) and get to reminisce about our fun trips and silly sayings. Come on February 1st!

cheers & besos,

Blue Valentines

As promised, here are those blue valentines, one each for my Papa, my Popo and Grandpa by the River.

If they look similar to the pink ones from yesterday, then they should. I used the same basic supplies, only added a bit more mist to the one with the big die cut heart. I also handily used the positive space from that one die cut to add the “you”.

I have to tell you, washi tape continues to be one of my most favorite supplies. Its just so versatile, and of course, PRETTY!

cheers & besos,

Pink Valentines

I made some very special people valentines last week. These were so sooo easy to make. Washi + Die cut + Mist splatters + Twine and that’s all she wrote.

I was just so inspired by these great cuts and digital brushes from Studio Calico. They made these a cinch to whip up.  

The three of them are for my Mama and two Grandmas, such lovely adorable ladies who deserve some happy mail.

I also made a few for their male counterparts. But I’ll be share those tomorrow.

cheers & besos,

VDay 2013

Hope you have a day filled with love...and candy!

Sweet Valentine

Sweet Valentine...dum dum dum...how you've always made me feel so good. So good! So good!!

Not so sure if that's exactly how the words to Sweet Caroline go, but it's something like that I'm sure.

Just wanted to share the card I made for my sweetheart. Lots of misting, inking, and heat embossing on this one. Oh, and I used my new border punch!

Happy Valentine's Day yall!!

xxbesos

Skype Valentine

Skype Valentine

So I've had this screenshot for a year, the idea for this layout for months, these photos printed out weeks ago, and just when I wanted to sit down and work on this a few days ago, I didn't have this paper that I'd somehow imagined I'd purchased! And I mean, c'mon this paper makes the page! If you know anything about Skype and its logos, this Sassafras Lass piece is the perfect match. Thus, a shopping I did go and returned triumphant with the absolutely most essential piece of paper in the history of my scrapbooking!

I know I talk (and scrap) a lot about Matt's and my relationship, all of the amazing places we've got to travel to together, the silly things we do, and a lot about the time we've spent apart. This one falls into the latter category. This screenshot is how we spent last Valentine's Day "together", chatting miles and countries apart via Skype. It isn't the easiest way of doing things, in fact I think I've seen my boyfriend's face more on my computer screen than in real life, but I'm happy to report Skype will not be essential much longer!

That's right fellow interwebbers, Matt's moving his Ohio bum down to Texas, to live it up in the Lone Star state! Next week, I'm flying to Ohio and we're road tripping our way back to Texas. 24 hours in the car. If we can survive a year+ of Skyping and then a 24 hour car ride, I'm pretty sure our relationship can handle anything.

I'm thinking it was probably a good thing I didn't have that piece of paper last week. Because there's no way I could have been as excited then, as I am now, about being this close to getting out of the long distance madness we found ourselves in! And since Valentine's Day is tomorrow, what better way to celebrate than to remember where we were then and to see how very far we've come in "just" a year!

About this page, yeah...that patterned paper really did most of the work. With a few snips of my scissors I had a boatload of color and an awesome border to add to this layout. I'd printed out the Skype logo as well, and it meshed perfectly with the mushrooms and snails. I also wanted to replicate the pattern found in the clouds, so I turned to my trusty Excel to create the grid background for the journaling block. Some letter stickers, my trusty thickers, and a few choice embellishments later, this layout was complete. Oh, and a note about the word "relationships": I hand wrote it several times with differing pen widths to achieve the ombre effect. Loving it!

Since this year, same as last, I'll be Skyping my boyfriend for the big day, I hope you'll all give your significant others a cuddle just for me. I may not get to tomorrow but there's always the promise of next year! Happy Valentine's Day!

xxbesos

j.leija

Croptastic

Puppy Love

2Ps hosted another fun scrappy event tonight, an online crop. Which might sound weird to some, but is actually pretty fun and at the least, entertaining. Every hour, the site sponsors a challenge which members can participate in for the chance to win a prize. Sadly, I didn't win anything this time around. I did, however, walk away with three completed layouts done in a 3 1/2 hour block! That time might be my personal best.

The 7pm challenge had to do with Love. Anything about Love actually. Who you love. What you love. Didn't matter. Since I've never done a page about Hazy and I made a point to take these photos last week, I really wanted to do a HP layout. She's a beaut, ain't she?! Love my pet monster!

Pudgy Arms

The 8pm challenge had an odd supply list: paint, cardboard, staples, something that shines or glitters, and multiple photos. Even though the products were a bit hodge podge, this layout came together in about 30 mins (now that time IS my personal best!). These are photos of Urijah, when I went to visit him after Christmas. He's growing up to be the cutest little boy. He crawled his way over to the window and stood up using the ledge all by himself.

I wanted to use some punches of colors and Cosmo Cricket's Jack's World patterned paper worked out beautifully. I love how the painted corrugated scallops came out. Want a tip on free corrugated cardboard? They're are punched out of a Starbucks cup holder.

How Do I Love Thee?

The 9pm challenge was a Valentine's challenge. The catch? You had to use 14 hearts on your layout. I hand cut these out of scrap paper and clustered them on the corner of the photo of me and Steve Zissou (what I call Matt when he's wearing that hat!). Since I've done so much journaling about how much I love him, I went for some physical characteristics this go around. So don't think of me as shallow! Oh, and I created the journaling block in Excel and added my list and some number stickers.

All in all, it was a pretty successful scrapping day. And since I'm unemployed, lets face it, an all around successful day!

xxbesos

j.leija

P.S. Congratulations Matt on taking the lead on Making Memories. I know how long you've been waiting for this day ;)

Haiti Relief

Heartbeat Valentine [$2]

After hearing about the disaster in Haiti, I've been anxious to help in any way that I could. This is my small effort toward fundraising for a wildly deserving cause. I put together some handmade Valentine cards that I'm offering for sale, all proceeds for which, will be donated to the Haiti relief efforts.

I made 3 copies of each. E-mail me at jamie.leija@gmail.com if you're interested in purchasing one or two!

You Picked Me [$2]

Owl You Need [$2.50]

Word Find Valentine [$2.50]

Be Mine [$1.50]

xxbesos

j.leija