Enoshima

Are you sick of Japan photos yet? I'm kind of getting there. But no! I must stay strong. I'm so close to being done! Bear with me if you please =)

So as not to get stale, I put the Summer of 69 kit away and just started to play. I found a few sheets of fun paper I hadn't yet bit into, this bamboo pattern from Amy Tangerine's first line and a strip of new Basic Grey. I decided to dress up the bamboo with random bits of tape to give that side of the layout some color.

It was definitely cloudy that day. We even got rained on! So I was happy to cut a bit out of the B side of the bamboo paper (then covered it up with my photos) and to bust out my ill used cloud punch.

"On a rainy day at Enoshima, Sarah, Andy and I did a bit of exploring. I tried some green tea & sweet potato ice cream and we walked up a ton of stairs to see the temple grounds. It was gloomy & we got rained on, but I'm happy I got to visit this quaint little sea side spot, only a few train stops from Zushi."

cheers & besos,

Neon Heart Cards

Do you neon? In case you hadn't noticed, neon is very in right now. From shoes, shirts to backpacks, neon is everywhere this year.

It's even made it's way into the scrapbooking world. I picked a few rolls of neon tape from Paper Source the other day. I also scooped up some of the new Hero Arts neon stamp pads. Both were incorporated into these cards.

I made this card (plus a few extras) for someone who needs to be reminded how fabulous she is! She's been going through some tough times recently. I hope my little card cheers her up :)

These are fairly small, 3x4 in and would probably make a good valentine come to think of it! I used 3 strips of tape, punched out a heart but only used the negative and layered a stamped sentiment over top. Viola!

I hope you're reminded today, of how fabulous you are! Happy Hump day everyone =)

cheers & besos,

Mini Pages

"Soo meaty..." is all I keep thinking whenever I look at this page! (The Soup on E! reference) But I digress....

I like to mix it up in my scrapbooks. I have pages of all shapes and sizes for the most part: 12x12, 8 1/2x11 and now 6x9! I bought an extra pack of 25 page protectors, last year when Studio Calico released their December Daily mini album. I have to say I love the size! 

I usually have to punch an extra hole in the page protector, since the rings don't match up, but other than that it's no trouble to include these mini beauts in my 12x12 albums.

Summer of 69 was the basis for these pages. Boy, was that orange dot paper really throwing me off! I couldn't figure out what to do with it! Even now, it's only just barely referenced in this page, but I'm so happy I figured out some way to use it!!

This gray patterned paper with white designs was just screaming to be colored in. I used Maya Mist to add the color. First I decided to paint the circles with a brush and just a drip of water. But they  didn't look right. So I sprayed a bit over top. I love that doing that gave me 2 different shades of yellow (my fave color btw).

I did use one none kit item on this page, that great Hello tape. But I had to use it on this page about my first day back with my old roomie. We hadn't seen each other in 3 1/2 years!!

This next page was about my navigating the Japanese metro by myself that first day. I had good directions and all. But after 18 hours of traveling, I really wasn't in the best frame of mind to deal with foreign languages. I still made it! And figured out that I didn't have to change trains after all. Chalking up another point for the wandering wonder =)

cheers & besos,

Zushi Beach

Japan, I have to say, is well on its way to being fully scrapped (no jinx!!). And that my friends, makes me very happy. It will undoubtedly be the first time that's ever happened.

I'm using every trick in the bag to keep up my momentum for this project and those photos. 

Like for this page, I used a sketch. This week's Studio Calico Sunday sketch to be exact.

My second day in Zushi, Sarah took me to the beach where she works. We hung out at Thomas' Bar, I got to meet some of her co-workers/friends, drink fun new drinks, eat crazy strawberry milk flavored slushy things and just relax! It was perfection.

If you can believe it, I used the Summer of 69 kit and stuck fairly close to just using it's contents. I always try my hardest to use the kit and only the kit. But, I figure mist, paint, stamp ink, sewing thread, etc. are all freebie items that can go with any kit. So that's how I managed to incorporate the purple these photos needed!

I sprayed some Purple Maya Mist (sadly Mister Huey doesn't come in any purple hues!) and hand stitched part of my title using embroidery floss. It seems I channeled 2 lovely scrapbookers in this page: Maggie Holmes who's layout is the basis of the sketch, and Amy Tangerine!

Are you ready for more Japan photos? I'm not quite done but definitely on my way there!

cheers & besos,

Buddha

We went to visit Kamakura's Big Buddha, us and a whole lot of school children. There's not much to say other than that he's there and he's big. You can walk into him but we opted to not spend the 30 cents to stand in a crowded dark room with the aforementioned children.

But I got to see how verdant and lush is the foliage in Japan. It was lovely to just walk around outside, albeit hot and mega humid. It explains all of the green!!

This page, about our token visit to Buddha (peace signs thrown and all) was fairly simple to make. I used a Prima feltie as a mask and sprayed Dark Calico Mister Huey. Then it was just a matter of layering papers and stickers in a pleasing askance way.

I went. I saw. I recorded.

cheers & besos,

Prayers

This may likely be my most favorite page I've ever created. It's a might but a strong might. It's the colors!! And all of the fun embellishments!

Usually with photos like these, ones that have so many strong colors, I tend to tone down the embellishments so the photos stand out. But with these, I just went for it! If not now, when? Right?

I made a few tiny paper chains which were not as easy to make as I thought! I also made some rosettes and embellished with buttons, brads, and circle punched patterned paper. This is what made the Summer of 69 kit so rad. With all of these colors, I really got to play!

Journaling Reads:

The Japanese method of "prayer" was unique.
Step 1: Toss Coin Step 2: Clap Step 3: Bowed head

One of my favorite parts of culture crashing, is seeing local places of worship. These open temples in Japan, with their brightly colored paper chains and garland cranes was one of the most visually stunning "alters" I've ever seen.

cheers & besos,

You + Me

It's been awhile since I've blogged photos of me and MT. So I brought him out of retirement for this page. 

We were in Austin a few weekends back, for the Olympics Opening Ceremony viewing party the Consulate was throwing. It was fun to get dressed up. And even more fun to see the big guy in a suit! It's been awhile.

(Inspiration Source: Kinsey Wilson Layout & pumpkinandbutterfly etsy)

Used more Pinterest inspiration for this page, combing a layout design and a quote. I also almost exclusively used Studio Calico products for this page. My first time really digging into the pile of products from their Winter releases!

Ended up loving the color scheme. Neutrals: tan, gray, black and white with pops of red. Love!

Ombre Watercolor

Ombre is the design trend of the moment it seems. So naturally, I had to try my hand. I heat embossed a Tim Holtz stamp, using white embossing ink. Then used Mister Huey to watercolor on the tag. The blue turned out more green than I expected. I imagine because the original tag had a lot of yellow in it. But I like this new color none the less.

Never one to leave an inside neglected, I layered some tape and a punched butterfly to the inside and finished with a stamp. Que romantic!

cheers & besos,

Post Process

Do you have a process or a ritual once you finish a page? I do. It's a bit of housekeeping, but I thought something different to share with you today.

I love looking at my finished little masterpieces. They usually hang out "on display" on my desk for a bit once I'm done.

Then I photograph them in my kitchen, using my handy little light tent.

After that, I add them to their appropriate scrapbook. This is the best part. It's like checking off a to-do list item!

I love looking at them laid out together. And sometimes I'll flip back through the whole scrapbook, reminiscing on all of the adventures both travel and design.

Next, I upload the photos onto my computer. I use my point and shoot for taking these photos. The quality, I think, is very good.

Then finally, I blog them! Uploading all the photos first, then added in the words.

What about you? Do you have a process or a ritual once you finish a page?

cheers & besos,

Blessed

Another Summer of 69 layout. Another Pinterest inspiration project.

I like it and I don't like. For now, I'll live with it.

cheers & besos,

Summer of 69

My new Studio Calcio kit + add-on arrived this week! Just had to sit & snip with all of the lovely products. I was excited that it featured so much color.

Working my way through my Japan photos now, and I even managed a two pager!

Kamakura is a local tourist spot, only a few stops from Zushi where Sarah lives. It was the first place we visited and I took a lot of photos. I almost exclusively used my iPhone on this trip, instagramming every night once we got back home. Thanks to those of you who follow me there (jamieleija) and endured the heaps of photos I was throwing your way!

I took a lot of photos and saw a lot of things while visiting Japan, but hands down my favorite memory of the trip was Sarah. It was unbelievably awesome to spend time with my old roomie, face to face.

cheers & besos,

Pink & Blue

Anyone willing to contribute funds towards my purchasing this gorgeous set of earrings?! .....No takers? To bad ;)

(Pin)

So yes, love these earrings. And most especially love the quirky-esque color combo. The bright "true" blue and the soft blush pink. Swoon!

But back blogging today with a dual purpose, 1) to share my latest project made from Pinterest inspiration and 2) to wish a tiny lady the happiest of birthdays!

Happy Birthday Mama!

I sent her this birthday card.

I used the color combo that I liked so much for the earrings, made a grid with some tape, and included all kinds of odds and ends to fill in the squares.

On the inside, I included a picture of us. (That's me when I was tiny!) And stamped a sentiment.

I hope she does celebrate today! She so totally deserves it.

cheers & besos,

She

Hello, hello! Back again with another post featuring Pinterest inspiration. I loved this print by Jenn Ski. Most especially because it is yellow, but also because I loved all of the fun organic shapes.

(Source: Jenn Ski)

Here's my take on this gorgeous print.

I went to town on some white cardstock, just cutting out vaguely the same shapes as the inspiration piece and then punched circles in yellow, orange and brown, with a few light blue accents. I used buttons and wood veneer, a badge and some mistable thickers to give it some dimension.

I took this picture in an elevator with a mirrored ceiling. It inspired the idea of climbing for me and that's where my journaling came from.

This tattoo, another Pinterest piece, was the basis for my "quote". But I altered it to fit me.

Journaling Reads:

She climbed as high as she could, so she would get the chance to see the world.

All of my decisions have been made with one goal: travel and see the world.

cheers & besos,

Bookmarked

I've been getting inspired lately! And most of my inspiration has been coming from my Craft Inspiration pinterest board. I collect all kinds of things here: good design, quotes, color combos. 

This week, I decided to share some projects inspired by my Pins.

For my first project, I picked this pin for inspiration. I love the design, the colors, the quote of this print (at least I think it's a print). And for my scrapbook page, I used the design and the colors as jumping off points. The quote I'll keep tucked away for another page.

(Pin)

This is the resulting page. And btw, I love it!!

My circle punch attacked some patterned paper scraps and with some adhesive and ruler-ing (yup, made it up) I had my own custom background.

I used the reading stamp set from an old Studio Calico release, one that I bought because I liked it but then had no idea when/what I would actually use it for. I've been pleasantly surprised by the number of times these stamps have made their way onto my pages.

I also used an Oromulu badge and some thickers for the title.

And then tucked in a bit of ribbon to replicate the bookmark. To finish, I layered an inked wood veneer heart over a stamp to give it more dimension.

Oh, and in case you're wondering where the journaling is, I hid it behind the photo. Usually, I have the photo flip up to reveal the journaling, this time I had it open like a book.

Journaling Reads:

I love to read, & so does my mother. When I was little, we’d just lay in bed reading our books together. It was one of my favorite ways to spend time with her.

We don't necessarily like to read the same books. Only sometimes do our tastes overlap, & I’ll suggest a book she should read – like The Grapes of Wrath but only every other chapter. Or she’ll send me something I might enjoy, like Honolulu

by Alan Brennert.

The other day I was sitting on the bus on my way to work, reading that book she had sent, when I flipped the page & found her bookmark. It was a photo I had e-mailed her, two baby elephants with their trunks wrapped around each other. I sent it & told her it was us.

I love that photo. And it warms my heart to picture her printing it out & using it as her bookmark. But the magical thing about it was that the photo of “us” made it’s way back to me. Finding it in that book made me feel so connected to my Mama.

Our love for books still brings us together, even though we live far apart.

cheers & besos,

Birth Day

She's almost here! Lauren is going to be born today. Her Mama is scheduled to be induced, so we'll get to meet the newest member of our group this afternoon.

I didn't want to show up to the hospital empty handed, so I made a birth day card and some onesies.

Dear Lizzy's lines make making gifts for little girls so easy. I used several of her papers for this card (which is a semi-lift of a Danielle Flanders card) and thought the "celebrate sunshine" sentiment was perfect for the birth of a little girl, especially one born in the summer.

And I've not been neglecting the insides of my cards. I decorated this one with some mist, tape and a variety of lovely date stamps.

And onto the onesies...

I accidently bought muscle tees!!! For a baby! And of course I didn't realize this until I ripped open the package. But I had to make the most of it. I hope they don't mind too much.

Remember Laverne's (of Laverne & Shirley) famous signature "L" sweaters and shirts? That's the inspiration for this onesie.

I did something a bit different with the next one. It's one part reverse applique and one part straight stitching (my first attempt!) I liked the variety of the cursive and the block letters. Plus, it's yellow!

And finally, the signature design I created for little Ms. LC. I had to include the heart in the "C".

Oh, and I have to talk about this tutu. I've had it stowed away in my gift box since January, when I picked it up from Target at a steal. It's soooo tiny and perfect and cute! I'm happy to pass it along to an actual little being who will wear it and if possible, enhance its cuteness!

Can't wait to meet this little girl!

cheers & besos,