A Perfect Day

Happy Wednesday! The middle of the week already, how great is that?

I am very happy to show you another layout today.

This is a very simple layout with minimal embellishments, but I love it. I especially love the photographs which were taken at a local garden (I wrote about our visit to the garden here).

While I was creating, I second guessed the simplicity of this page, worried that perhaps it was missing something, but anything extra that I tried to add just looked off, so I stuck with simple....

I put this layout together at the same time as I was completing this one. Using the same papers and embellishments (Summer Bliss by Echo Park) I had both pages laid out on my table and just moved between them, adding tidbits to each page as I was inspired, until they were both done.

I love this cluster of patterned paper and descriptive words in the corner.

Did you notice that there is no title on this page? This is something that I have noticed in scrapbooking lately...many layouts out and around do not have a dominating title, in fact they don't even have a title at all. I love this as an option when creating a layout. Add a title or not, it is really okay either way. Kind of a reminder that there is no strict recipe for a scrapbook layout....just do what you love.

As always, thanks for stopping by and happy crafting.

Discover Spring

I am back again today with another sketch challenge from The Memory Nest.

Here is the sketch:

And here is my layout:

Notice how my picture is straight, rather than at an angle like the sketch? Well, I tried to follow the sketch and keep my picture angled, but the perfectionist in me just could not let that happen. I tried, I really did, but I just couldn't...what can I say, straight is how I roll (to the point that I remeasure everything on a layout several times to make sure that it is absolutely straight, call me crazy).

I love all the layers behind the picture - such a great place to use many patterned papers and embellishments.

All supplies for this page were from the Summer Bliss line by Echo Park.

Great letter stickers for the title. I love how they pop against the Kraft background.

So there you have it, a spring layout in the fall....or I guess you could say almost winter since we got a light dusting of snow here this weekend.

Of course if you are inspired by this sketch, get scrapping and then head over to The Memory Nest and link up your creation.

Have a happy Monday and happy scrapping!

Up High

I'm back today with another scrapbook layout.

These pictures were taken at the top of the CN Tower - way up high. Deciding that we needed to show the girls some of the world famous sites in our own backyard, we visited here back in May.

The pictures themselves are not the greatest - but the memories sure are.

All the colors and patterns in our clothes made choosing paper a little difficult. In the end I decided on the Perfect Vacation line by American Crafts. I layered my papers and kept the overall design simple.

I am very happy with this layout and think the papers coordinate quite well despite all the competing colors and patterns in the pictures. While working on this layout, I remembered a tip I once read in a travel scrapbooking magazine - pack all coordinating outfits for your family so that selecting paper for your layouts is simpler; at the time that seemed a little insane to me, but maybe there is something to it since it took me ages to find the right paper for these mishmash photos.

I hope you are getting some scrapping done. The weather here is getting cooler and more conducive to getting onto my pajamas early in the evening and crafting....a wonderful side effect of autumn and the coming winter.

Open for Business

I recently bought a photo light box and I do have to say that it is perfect for taking pictures of my cards. No more running around outside trying to catch the natural light in order to take a card picture for this blog...I now have a better, more reliable tool for the job.

With the new photo box, I have also been learning a little more about photography and digital manipulation - information that is interesting and valuable to know, albeit the fiddling around can be somewhat frustrating at times.  

But let's talk about cards for a moment. I love making cards. I have seen how touched people are when they receive a handmade greeting card - how loved and truly special they feel - and I make my cards as a means to pass that feeling around.

I have many cards that I have made sitting idle in a shoe box on the shelf....which is truly a shame.

And after a bit of a hiatus from card making, which I spoke about here, I am getting back into it and really enjoying working with this smaller canvas again.

All this to say that I am restocking my Etsy shop.

My photos are better and I am very excited by how professional they look.

And my cards are available, waiting to make someone feel special and put a smile on their face.

I am open for business. Please stop by and have a look around. I have lots of cards to photograph and upload, so check back often to see what is new. Thank you so much.

Stitching on a Scrapbook Layout

Good Morning!

It's Monday and time for another sketch challenge over at The Memory Nest. 

This week's challenge was not only a sketch challenge, but a sketch challenge with a twist: to use stitching. 

Stitching on a scrapbook layout is a technique that I had not used in a while, so I was excited to try it again.

Here is the sketch:

And here is my layout: 

A close up of the stitching detail that I added:

And my journalling:

I love the pretty detail that the stitching adds to this page...simple and beautiful. I may need to add a little stitching to some of my future layouts. 

I used paper and embellishments from the Hey Mom line by Simple Stories for this layout. 

Work from the other design team members can be found here.

A Proud Mommy Moment

A card made by Bridget, age 7.

Someone has obviously been watching while I am making cards.

I am a very proud Mommy.

Autumn Birthday Card

Good Morning! I hope everyone had a great weekend.

Today I have another card to show you - an autumn birthday card inspired by the season and the latest sketch challenge at The Memory Nest. 

Here is the sketch that I was working with. 

And here is my card.

I used paper and embellishments from the Happy Harvest line by Doodlebug Designs. I have a lot of this paper - I just love the bright, bold colors - and made a few cards with it last fall as well. 

Head on over to The Memory Nest to see what the other Design Team ladies came up with for this challenge - their work is always so inspirational - and link up your own creation if you'd like.

Happy Scrapping!