Good Bye Cuba

And this is the end of Cuba! I am so happy to be done this book! I know so many scrappers follow the philosophy of I scrap what I want not chronologically but I can't work that way. It's a personal preference. I find if I don't do it all at once, I won't come back to it. I know this because I tried it once. It's like my stash pile ... if I don't use it right away it will sit for a long time and I have to really challenge myself to use it. And so I stick with chronological scrapping. This nice part is I am usually no more than a year behind!

I have been on a use up old supplies kick lately and for this layout I was determined to use some old prima flowers I have had kicking around for quite sometime.  Even with this many flowers on this layout, I still have a full jar left!  I think I might have to do this more often if I want to make a dent in that stash!  Do you have any neat ideas for using flowers you would like to share?

Supplies: Patterned Paper: Fancy Pants - Road Show Collection; Embellishments: Flower, flowers and more flowers, Brads, Pearls, Beads, Ribbons, and Stickers; Inks: ;Glimmer Mist and Tim Holtz' Distress Ink; Tools: Cropodile, Creative Memories Corner Rounder, and EK Success Dotted Scallop Border Punch.

Cuba 2010

I have everyday albums that house my layouts about our day to day lives but our vacations get their own albums.  The reason for this is most people when they visit want to see you vacation photos and not necessarily the photos of my new shoes or my husbands current obsession.  Also, I usually go crazy with the amount of photos I take on vacation that the layout need their own album (or two or three)!  Because of this, each of the albums get their very own title page that basically say the location and the date and sometimes if I have some memorabilia (I don't in this case) from the trip that never made it onto a layout.

Supplies: Patterned Paper: Basic Grey - Urban Prarie Collection, Echo Park - Walk in the Park Collection ; Cardstock:Bazills ; Embellishments: Tattered Angels Bingo Card, My Mind's Eye Transparency Butterfly and Memories Ticket, Pearls; Inks: Tim Holtz - Distress Ink.

Jeep Expedition + 300th Post Giveaway

I love this layout!  It was so much fun to make!  I totally went for the theme with this one which worked out perfectly.  Last week, my order of Sketch Books from Scrapbook Generation came in and I was so super excited to start using them!  This layout was based of a two page sketch out of volume 1 where I just used the left page of the sketch. 

I wanted the layout to have that true off road feel so I went to a toy store and bought a little toy truck (this is when I wish I had kids that I could borrow the toys of) and then ran the tires through some brown paint and then across the bottom piece of patterned paper.  It was not as easy as it sounds though and it took many attempt to get it close to what I liked.  The paint would run off the tires before I got to the end so I would have to stop half way, reload, and continue on.  Good thing for the photo which covers up some of the blunders.  Next I took the same paint and put a couple of dabs of paint in a mini mister, filled it with water, shook it well, then misted the entire background paper.  I then stuck an old tooth brush in some watered down paint and then splattered it with my finger tip to get the bigger blobs.  Using what paint I had left on my tray, I painted the edges of all the patterned squares and photos to tie them into the theme.  I think it turned out awesome!

As I stated in the title, this is my 300th post!  Yippee!  I thought I would celebrate by having a giveaway of some very fun scrapbooking goodies!  That sounds like fun doesn't it!  To win, simply comment on my blog telling me if you theme scrapbook or not and if you do what's your favorite theme to do.  I will also be giving you a double entry if you are a follower, so if you aren't one be sure to become one!  I will pick a random winner on Monday morning.

Have a fantastic day!

Supplies: Patterned Paper:Bits and pieces from my scrap pile ; Cardstock:Bazzils ; Alphabet Stickers: American Crafts - Thickers; Embellishments: Tim Holtz's Grungeboard Shapes and Ideology Gears, Making Memories Brown Paint,  and a couple of embellishments from my stash,  ;Sketch: Sketches for Scrapbooking - Volume 1.

Sweet Ride

I struggled with this layout.  I started it about 4 weeks ago without any plan on what I wanted and then it sat on my desk waiting for me to finish it up since then.  I wasn't feeling inspired with it.  Don't get me wrong, I love these photos.  We had so much fun while they were being taken and I had so many to choose from.  I followed my own advice and picked my favorites but the problem I was having was the paper choice.  The background cardstock was originally a greeny-blue and I didn't like it.  So last week I decided to rip it apart and redo it with a blue background.  I was happier but still not satisfied.  I found the layout plain.  So I border punched the edges and then added the bling in each circle.  I liked it more but found the bling seemed random so then I went bling crazy on the title.  I think this helped to tie it all together.  Still not my best work but it's what happens when I don't start with a plan!

Supplies: Patterned Paper: Bella Blvd - Mr Boy Collection, Echo Park - Walk in the Park Collection, and Tinkering Ink - Beloved Collection; Cardstock: Bazzils; Alphabet Stickers: American Crafts - Thickers; Embellishments: Bling, Ribbon, and Buttons; Tools: EK Success Large Circle Border Punch .

Such Nice Guys

Happy first day of Summer to all you in the northern hemisphere!  I am so looking forward to the long, warm summer days!  I am an odd duck and winter is normally my favorite time of year but this year I am so excited about summer being here.  I figure it's because this is the first year in many (since 2004) that I haven't had to do any landscaping!!!  I am so looking forward to kicking back in my backyard, enjoying a cool drink and admiring all our hardwork!

I absolutely love how this layout turned out!  I struggled a bit with my color choices by it quickly came together when I found several papers from an old Martha Stewart Scrap Pad I had laying around.  They work perfectly with the pictures don't they?!  The only thing I am regretting is the yellow flower brads.  After I had them in place I had a D'oh moment and thought I should of used rain drops instead!  Oh well!

I love this cute little umbrella that was a last minute add.  I cut out a circle in my patterned paper and them cut in in half.  Then using a border punch I punched along the flat side to give it the scalloped look.  I then added some stitching and a button to the top.  The handle was a pin that I threaded some beads on and then added underneath the umbrella top.  Turned out perfect if I do say so myself!

Supplies: Patterned Paper: Martha Stewart - Essentials Paper Pad ;  Alphabet Stickers: American Crafts Thickers; Embellishments: Brads, Pearls, Beads, Embroidery Floss, Ribbons, and Buttons; Tools: EK Success Scallop Border Punch.

Good Times

As a gift for being a Guest Designer for Sketch Support in the month of April, Allison sent me one of Sketch books.  I was so excited when it finally showed up.  There's actually a funny story there.  The book accidentally got sent to my neighbours address instead of mine.  I came home one day to it being on my doorstep with a note from my neighbour.  Apparently, she sent an email to Scrapbook Generation trying to figure out where the book was supposed to go and Stacey, Allison's sister, clarified things for her.  I had to giggle when I read her note.  We've been neighbours for 3 years and chatted numerous times but I guess she never knew my last name and when the package showed up she didn't put two and two together that the Jennifer on the package was the Jen (as most people know me) across the street.  Too funny!  So when I did finally get this sweet little book I immediately took to creating a layout from one of the sketches.  I actually liked the book so much that I ordered the rest of the volumes.  I sure hope they end up at the correct address this time but if they don't, at least my neighbour knows where to find me if they show up there!

Supplies: Patterned Paper: Fancy Pants - Road Show Collection; Cardstock: My Mind's Eye Kraft Paper; Alphabet Stickers: American Crafts Thickers; Embellishments: Ribbon and Brads; Sketch: Sketches for Scrapbooking Volume 7.

A Sister

Isn't it great when someone joins your family who you really connect with. That is the case with my sister-in-law. She's such a sweetheart and I thought this picture of the two of us on her wedding day was too perfect not to dedicate a layout to our new sisterhood!

This layout started out with the background paper which I was saving for this picture because the colors were perfect.  From there I just keep pulling things out of my stash to go with it.  I started out with the chipboard flower and it grew from there.  I love the resin flowers by Prima so that go added and then I had the cutest crocheted flower that needed to be included.  I also wanted to add the blue flower but need a center for it so I took a piece of ribbon and loosely tied it into a big knot and used that as the center.  I think they turned out awesome!

Supplies: Patterned Paper: Tinkering Ink - Beloved Collection; Embellishments: My Mind's Eye Sister Die Cute, Various Prima Flowers, Prima Resin Flower, Ribbon Glossy Accents, Beads, Pearls; Tools: CuttleBug, Nestabilities Oval Die .

A Beautiful Day for a Walk Down the Aisle

I guess I have been MIA lately. It seems as though time is flying by ... is it really June already!?! It happens around this time of year, I loose my scrapbooking mojo. I think it has to do with the fact that nice weather has finally shown up and I have been busy planting my garden, camping, having BBQs, and generally enjoying the great outdoors! You see, winter here is way too long and summer flies by so fast so I try to enjoy every minute of it! So please excuse me if my posting seems a little sporadic in the next little while but I just can't miss my 2-3 months of nice weather!

This is yet another layout about my brother's wedding. I know you must be getting tired of them, I know I am and can't wait to finish this album. It's not that I don't enjoy these pictures but I have some other photos I have promised myself I won't start until I finish this album. I am almost done, the end is within sight! I am finding the last couple of layouts hard to do though. It could be because I have used all my cool ideas already ... who knows. Do you find that when you are doing an album dedicated to a single event that is always hard to finish those last couple of layouts?

A while back I was big into those Bling It On Crystals by Basic Grey.  I think I have every color imaginable!  Lately they have fallen out of favor on my layouts but I decided to bring them back for this layout.  I used them up pretty up the flowers and to add some whimsy to the journalling spot.  I guess I can scratch another use an older item on my layouts off my list!

Supplies: Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye - Quite Contrary Collection; Alphabet Stickers: American Crafts Thickers; Embellishments: Ribbon, Basic Grey Bling It On Crystals, and My Mind's Eye - Quite Contrary Accessory Sheet; Tools: Dymo Label Maker.

Fountain of Fun

First off sorry about the crummy pictures. We've been socked in by rain for the last week so trying to find good lighting in my house is imposible. 

I'll admit that I am not loving this layout right now.  This collection from Crate Paper is so pretty and the border strip paper was perfect.  I fussy cut a couple of the borders out and then layered them on left.  I pop dotted the top one for some demension.  I think the reason I don't like it, is it has to do with the title block ... to me it just looks out of place.  How would you change it?

Supplies: Patterned Paper: Crate Paper - Restoration Collection; Cardstock: Bazzils; Alphabet Stickers: American Crafts Thickers and Cosmo Cricket Tiny Type; Embellishments: Crate Paper - Restoration Border Strip paper, Chipboard Pieces from my Stash, and Flower Soft.

The Journey Awakens the Soul

You never know where you will find the neatest embellishments!  Before we left for Cuba, I bought my husband a new pair of swim trunks and they came with a brand tag made out of cork.  I thought it was so cool and measuring at just over three inches I was sure I could find a use for it.  And sure enough, I did on this layout!  I flipped the tag over so that the brand was on the back and then stamped one of  Tim Holtz's stamps on it.  Pretty cool eh?!

Supplies: Patterned Paper: Bo Bunny - Paradise Collection; Embellishments: Bo Bunny - Paradise Collection Chipboard, Brad, and Sticker Sets, Drywall Tape, Brads, Glossy Accents, Tim Hotlz - Soulful Collection, Tattered Angels - Beach Journalling Cards ; Inks: Archival Ink - Black, and Distress Ink - Scattered Straw and Barn Door .

Toast The Newlyweds

I love these photos! It shows what fun loving people my brother and his wife are. They are always up for a good time and are always willing to laugh ... even if it is at themselves!

This is another layout I created using items from my stash. If I keep this up I might have to replenish ... oh who am I kidding ... I could probably survive a year without shopping (except for adhesive) but why would I want to do that! It is nice though to use up some of this older stuff though. I ran into a small issue after I had the whole layout done and went to add the final piece, my journalling.  Because my background paper was so busy the letters I had originally chosen just got lost.  So I changed them to a larger size and dark color which helped out quite a bit.  But I still had a problem with the "The" as it was so small that it was lost.  I decided to place them on this chipboard journalling piece which helped to anchor them and stand out a lot better.  Phew ... another problem solved!

This layout was based on this sketch.

Supplies: Patterned Paper: Basic Grey - Sulty Collection; Alphabet Stickers: American Crafts Thickers and Making Memories Alphas; Embellishments: Basic Grey - Sultry Collection Chipboard Set and Glossy Accents; Sketch: Allison Davis - Sketches for Scrapbooking Volume 3; Tools: Creative Memories Corner Rounder.

La Musica

I really liked this chipboard journalling spot I got from a friend of mine and wanted to use it on this layout but I struggled with it.  I tried several different strategies with it but for some reason nothing worked.  I then decided to use it as the background for my title and went with the monochromatic look and it seemed to come together from there.  At the end of it all I really like how it turned out and I find it suits the layout quite well.  I'm so glad I decided to tough it out until I found something I liked!

Supplies: Patterned Paper: Martha Stewart Crafts - Essentials Paper Pad; Alphabet Stickers: American Crafts Thickers; Embellishments: Jillibean Bakers Twine and Brads; Tools: Typewriter.

Let's Get The Party Started

I love how this layout turned out! I was able to get a tonne of photos on it which meant I could show more of the party without the bulk of multiple pages dedicated to it!  With the exception of the two photos on the top left, which were printed in 4x6, everything else was a collage I made in photoshop.  It was really quite easy to do.  I opened up a new image in photoshop and then sized each photo I wanted to use into different sizes and like a puzzle, I put them on my new image.  I printed the collage in 8x10 size and had intended on just adhering that to the layout directly but I found the black background was just to dark so I decided to cut out each of the little photos on the collage.  I love how it turned out!

For the sake of clarity ... this is what my collage photo looked like before I cut it apart.

Supplies: Patterned Paper: SEI - On The Coast; Cardstock: Bazzils; Alphabet Stickers: Basic Grey, American Crafts Thickers; Embellishments: Basic Grey -  June Bug Chipboard Elements, Adhesive Pearls, Flower Soft, Stickles, and Brads; Tools:  EK Success Dotted Wave Border Punch and Photoshop

The Groom's Dudes

Have you ever used a Dymo Embossing Label Maker to do your journalling on your layouts?  If not, you have to try it!  I got mine at Michael's and I absolutely love it!  You can get the labels in several different colors and it makes journalling a snap.  I especially love it on guy layouts like this one.  Doesn't it give a more maculine look.  My pretty pinting sure doesn't!  Go ahead and give it a try ... I'm sure you will love it too!

Supplies: Patterned Paper: Crate Paper - Restoration ; Alphabet Stickers: American Crafts Thickers; Embellishments: K & Company Borders, Glossy Accents ;  Tools: Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher, Dymo Embossing Label Maker.

The Night Before

The moment I saw this line from Echo Park, I fell in love with it.  I loved it so much that for the last year it has sat in my too pretty to use pile.  But with my new resolution to use stuff instead of hoarding, I decided it was time for this paper to make its debut in my scrapbook albums.  The lucky photos were of the night before my brother and sister-in-law got married and this paper was perfect for them.  The birght and fun colors were a perfect match for the theme and helped to give this layout a fun party feel.

This layout was based on a sketch by Sketch Support that you can find here.

Supplies: Echo Park - Walk In The Park; Cardstock: Bazzils, Alphabet Stickers: American Crafts Thickers; Embellishments: Buttons and Embroidery Floss, Tools: Fiskars Extra Large and Large Circle Squeeze Punch, EK Success Large Cirlce Border Punch, and Dymo Embossing Label Maker; Sketch: Allison Davis - Sketch Week July

Parents of the Groom

This was a difficult layout for me as the colors in the photos were a little difficult to work with. I know, you don't have to match but I find the photos pop better if they do. Luckily, I had this line from Cosmo Cricket in my stash that worked great! Once I had that it came together quite easily! And yeah for me, another layout created from my stash!

Supplies: Cosmo Cricket - Earth Love; Cardstock: Bazzils, Alphabet Stickers: October Afternoon, American Crafts Thickers; Embellishments: Cosmo Cricket - Earth Love Elements Sheet, and Brads, Tools: Creative Memories Corner Rounder.

At the Salon

I love how this layout turned out!  I was planning on it being so fancy (with the swirls) but I found when I was done that the journaling block seemed like it was lonesome!  I think the chipboard swirls (thanks Kim ... they're from your stash I raided) tie it all together perfectly!  I love all the little phrases, which came from a sticker sheet from 7 Gypsies and the flower was just a paper flower I had in my stash that I pop dotted and then put the chipboard phrase in the center.  Once again I was able to do this entire layout from my stash ... yeah two layouts in row from the stash!  Does this mean I can go shopping now?!

Supplies: Basic Grey - Sultry, Dear Lizzy - Enchanted; Alphabet Stickers: American Crafts Thickers; Embellishments: American Crafts Thickers, My Mind's Eye Flower, Ribbon, and 7 Gypsies - 97% Complete Journal Stickers - Photography; Tools: EK Success Border Punch - Dotted Scallop.

Just Us Girls

I can proudly say that everything used on this layout was from my stash!  I am trying really hard to use up some up my stash I have been hoarding for years.  There's a lot ... honestly!  When I buy a new paper that I love I always keep it for the perfect project, but then that perfect project doesn't happen and my stash continues to grow.  Sure it's nice when you are working on a layout to have lots of choices but when it takes you more time to pick your supplies than it does to do the layout ... there is a problem!  So my mid New Years resolution is to try to use what I have.  We'll see how well I do!

Supplies: Basic Grey - Lemonade; Embellishments: Me & My Big Ideas - Just Us Girls Title, Ribbon, Embroidery Floss and Buttons.

The Best Thing in Life Is Love

This is another layout I did using a sketch from Page Maps.  I love how pretty this layout turned out!  The soft pinks and aquas worked perfectly with the photo.  And that rose ribbon is too cute for words!  I have used every inch of what I bought and this is the very last bit of it.  I might have to go and buy more!

Supplies: Basic Grey - Olivia, My Mind's Eye - Breaking Free; Embellishments: Dear Lizzy - Enchanted Exquisite Phrases Sticker Sheet, American Crafts Just Write, AmericanCrafts Rose Ribbon, Ribbon, Pebles and Button; Sketch: Page Maps.

Oh Brother

I love my brother! He has always been the jokester but come on it was such a nice moment to photograph and was a wet willy that appropriate?! I guess I can now say I have photographic proof that he always starts it ... not me!

So today is one of those where were you when moments. Prince Charles and Diana got married when I was too young to remember. I remember where I was the day when Princess Diana tragically died and today is the day the Prince William marries his long time love, Kate. I am not big into the hoopla, although I did get up early (4am to be exact) to watch it,  but I'm thinking I might try to download a photo of them and do a page about it. What about you?