Friends?

Our puppy is a social butterfly. This is a conundrum for me and for Matt because we aren't the most social people. She forces us into all kinds of random interactions. But I guess there's nothing wrong with that. Although the introvert in my screams "dangit puppy!" every time...

She loves people and she especially loves other dogs. She whines and cries if we don't let her play (read: jump) on other dogs we encounter on our walks. Cadie, my parents dog, doesn’t take too kindly to other dogs she can’t control. And Dixie is too young and naive to realize that Cadie doesn’t like her very much. Dixie’s pretty sure they’re best friends!

I knew I wanted to scrapbook this story and feature a lot of butterflies! I purchased this design from the Silhouette Online store and cut out three patterned paper butterflies. I liked the cut for its simple lines and the fact that the negatives would have been easy to back with different patterned papers. Although I didn’t go that route on this page.

Green was my challenge. I don’t scrapbook with green often enough! Don’t get me wrong, I like green. But given the option, it’s the easiest to drop from my repertoire. I chose a shade darker than my photos (with less yellow in it) to make these photos pop off of it. I also added a white cardstock mat to make sure the photos differentiated themselves. It helped balance Cadie’s white fur and is also why I decided to back the butterflies with white cardstock.

I love contrast. I try to use it as much as possible on every page. So the black thicker title, black label, black journaling, black heart stamping and black ink splatters helped add contrast to the white matted photos, Cadie’s white fur, the white backed butterflies, white threads and white outlined swirls.

The finishing touches were all about adding texture. I had some white thread cut offs in my sewing box that I added behind a few of the butterflies. I’ve seen this trend on a few other pages and think it’s such a simple way to add really great texture.

cheers & besos,

January Project Life

It's done! It's been done. I just ended up photographing the pages 3 different times because things kept going wrong! But it's done now and here for you to see =)

It's been two straight months and I'm still not sure how much I like this project. I mean I like it when it's done. But it takes sooo much time! And it means that I can't make layouts. Which is still my number one love.

Basically, I'm ambivalent. I'll keep with it for now. But I'm not sure I can make it through the full year. We shall see.

This first page was inspired by Elsie Larsen's title page. I loved the two photos plus the pretty cards. And I really really wanted to get some gold on here. The title and stars are on a transparency.

I used some of Shanna Noel's January BYOC cards from The Lily Pad and a freebie digital template from Jennifer Wilson at Simple Scrappers.

I went hunting for bits of purple and did some watercoloring on the grid side of a card.

My mama sent me the cutest card so I added some tabs directly to the little pocket and right in the middle of these two pages. I loved that it had the orchid purple flowers that tied in so well with those cards!

I was so confused about what to do with this page but I really love how the winner card came together. I also had a few more stories I wanted to tell but not enough photos or things to say so I cut down a 4 pocket page to two pockets.

I drew and then watercolored a card since I didn't have any photos of us having drinks. It might be my favorite card!

I made the top insert card by layering tape onto a white piece of cardstock.

And I got the idea for the AM/PM cards from Stephanie Baxter...I think.

I used some of my Paislee Press printables and more water colors for the Road Trip spread. 

I made the 4x6 insert card using these great Lindsay Letters stamps and some yellow and mint inks.

Writing around my feet was an idea I got from Molly Frances.

This spread is super busy to me. But I really like the date night one! I love these frame templates by Cathy Zielske. I have started to use them on a few projects, but I don't think any of them have actually ever been finished. I cut them up to next to nothing, but I got to use them!

And the final page is a full print of a photo of me and Mac. I overlaid one of the Sugar Rush png cut files. I played a bit with the opacity, and when it was printed I painted the "I heart U" with white paint.

Done until next month! I'll have to write a post about my process soon.

cheers & besos,

LBD: Urijah Pages

Morning yall! I'm soooo tired! I've been running on all cylinders for what seems like quite awhile now. Busiest time at work right now and I'm still studying for that huge exam. Needless to say, I'm beat. But this exam is nearly over so I'll have my weekends back after this one. Wah hoo!!

But this morning I wanted to share a few more Little Black Dress kit pages. 

Sound good? 

Ok!

I managed some Christmas layouts with the "Don't Worry Be Happy" kit! Well they're Christmas layouts of sorts. Christmas adjacent if you will. The photos were taken during Christmas but you can't actually see the Christmas tree right next to the chair. So instead of focusing on the fact that these are holiday photos, I decided to  de-Christmas-fy them and just use my pretty kit :)

These pages are 8 1/2 x 11 (obvs) because Urijah's 2-3 year scrapbook is that size. I wanted a challenge! And it has been interesting working everything to this size. But for his 4-5 year scrapbook, I think I'll go back to good old 12x12. 

Anyway, on to the pages...

This was my take on the black cardstock challenge. I wanted just the slightest black edge to help define this page. And then I had fun playing around with a primary color scheme, especially since the photos are fairly neutral in color.

I used my Silhouette (this month's LBD) to cut the title (Fonts: Deftone Stylus & Arial Black) and after that just added some flags and my journaling. This came together so quickly and I love that I got to share this story.

This page is the last kit layout I put together. It came together so unexpectedly well too! I knew I wanted to have the photos tilt across the page like that. I knew I wanted there to be strips of patterned paper above and below. But the checker board came to me on the day and I think it makes the whole page!

I also want to point out the title! I die cut it out of black cardstock (Font: Bebas Neue) and then painted an ombre effect on it. I just free handed it with gray and the white paint. It added the perfect touch to distinguish the letters from the background.

Oh and the background is the B side to the My Mind’s Eye Lost & Found 3 “Ruby” Red Floral Paper. It's cream with a red design and then I smothered it in red mist. You can subtly see the design in real life but not so much in this photo.

And the pictures! I nearly forgot to mention them. I'm getting better at this whole Photoshop Elements thing guys! Well really, I'm getting better at goggling for and watching videos about how to do cool new things. I had fun converting these photos to black and white and then bringing Urijah and his bike back in color. The backgrounds were just too distracting and I'm happy to have de-emphasized them.

Ok, that's enough writing for 6am. Time to start my work day. Catch yall later!

cheers & besos,

Safety First/First Mutt

Are you April Fools-ing today? I do NOT take part in this "holiday". I was the victim of a very terrible April Fools joke when I was younger and am still scared! (Got a tearful/hysterical call at 9pm at night saying someone was in the hospital. They weren't. It was a not at all pleasant experience.)

But cest le vie. I want to show you something cute instead. I've finished up my LBD assignment for the month, so now I'm just playing with paper and photos. 

I ordered some of the new(ish) Glitz Design Unchartered Waters line so I could scrapbook these photos of silly Cadie. I'm loving the nautical theme. I'm always on the hunt for it with all of the beach going my parents (and sometimes I) get to do. And of course I used nothing with the color blue...or green for that matter! 

I used a Shimelle.com sketch as the basis for this page. I'm determined to use them all this year! I'm 5/10 so halfway there =)

Instead of one photo, I pulled three and backed each of them with a journaling card. They made for the perfect border for this tinier photo size!

I also had fun creating custom die cuts with the help of my Silhouette. I used a few Studio Calico digital brushes and cut them out of Papertrey Ink cardstock (it's a heavy weight cardstock).

Then I colored each of them differently. The gold one is spray misted. The black is painted with chalkboard ink. And the pink I inked with chalk ink.

I also mixed up the title with glitter Thickers, letter stickers and circle stickers. I couldn't decide between First Mutt & Safety First so I ended up using them both!

cheers & besos,

Cadie Love

Ok so maybe it was more than a day, but today I'm sharing a page using the original sheet of Glitz Design patterned paper, that inspired my earlier Urijah layout.

It's a puppy page! 

This is Cadie, she's Urijah's dog but she lives at Gma and Gpa's house. And let me tell you, they ADORE their little girl!

She's a real cutie, I'll give her that. She's very silly and a little crazy but oh so loveable =)

I really wanted the paper to be the main focal point, so I just added a few black and white photo strips to the top and bottom of it, punched some hearts and added my journaling. Viola!

cheers & besos,

Boys Best Friend

Only my Mama would want to give a three year old a puppy! But that's what Urijah got this year. Don't worry, she didn't send the puppy home with him. Cadie lives at Gma & Gpa's.

They were so cute running around the house together. She's the perfect size for him at this age. Both of them are tiny. And full of energy! He runs around. She runs after him. He doesn't know what to think of her. But he's gotten use to her now. 

Whenever he comes to visit, Mama makes sure to tell her "Your little boy is coming". 

Cadie is so good with him. She licks his face and he giggles hysterically. I'm hoping one of these days they get this on tape!

For this page about my nephew and his puppy present, I printed two instagram shots. So happy they turned out! It's not easy to capture an energetic 3 year old and a hyper puppy! And lucky me Urijah was running around with that pretty yellow balloon. 

I used my Sock Hop kit and pulled all of the blue, green, yellow and gray from it that I could. Originally, I excluded the green but added it in breathed some life into the page. It's one of those balancing colors that made the whole layout sing!

Oh, and the puppy stamp isn't from the Sock Hop kit. It's from an old Paper Moon add-on. I couldn't not use it for this page about my nephew and his puppy.

Also, cheers to you all who have stuck around! I know I've been horribly negligent. Between NYC and Thanksgiving last week, helping throw a weekend away Bachelorette Party this upcoming and moving the following weekend, I'm going nuts! But bear with me. I'll be back and blogging soon enough.

Now off to my most dreaded task...packing up the scrapbook supplies (seriously my lip is quivering). The few hours I spent today playing with paper was the most relaxing thing I've done in weeks! Here's hoping I survive.

cheers & besos,

Sketchbook 4| No. 09

Have I told you what Urijah got for his 3rd birthday? A puppy. Grandma and Grandpa just had to give their favorite little boy a puppy with a bow delivered in a box.

Meet Cadie (kinda like Katie). She's the cutest little thing! 100% puppy from what I'm hearing from my parents. She just loves to play!

Naturally, being an energetic little puppy she was attracted to the ball of motion that is Urijah. But what did Urijah think of his birthday present?

Meh, not so much....

He couldn't figure out why the thing kept following him! Or why it wouldn't leave him alone?! Truth be told he was more interested in Cadie's newly made big sister Hazel, whom he's never cared for a day in his life. But eventually, I think he'll come around.

The page came together quickly with the help of Sketchbook 4 Sketch No. 09, 2Peas Color Combo Challenge and the Studio Calico Paper Moon kit. The kit even came with that cute lil puppy dog stamp. Too perfect!

We're happy to welcome Ms. Cadie to the family. She's got some big puppy shoes to fill. No one will ever come close to our beloved Maddie.

cheers & besos,

NSD: 3!

I dug in my heels and scrapbook yesterday. Even though the mojo was just not flowing. I still managed to create a page that I love :)

This is for the SC 5 Photo Challenge, SC Confetti Challenge & 2Peas Confetti Challenge.

I tried my best to get some good photos of this munchkin, but he just moves to fast!! I had my camera set to the sports mode so I could get blur free shots, but the light suffered that's for sure.

I like the images none the less for it! I managed to get some great shots of Urijah with his Papa. They look a lot alike.

I used Clay Mister Huey with a Crafter's Workshop numbers mask to get into the birthday theme. I also used some curling ribbon to drape across the page. There were so many balloons (although I forgot to take a picture!) that we were swimming in a sea of balloon tails. I wanted the page to be a little like that too.

I recently discovered Wendy's A Life Handmade shop and purchased a few goodies, like this monogram confetti pouch and the yellow chevron bag. Love them! They helped add a festive vibe to the page :)

This was fun to make & I love that it summarizes Urijah's 3rd birthday party in one single page. Even if I don't make another page of this day, I'll at least have this one.

cheers & besos,