Life's Trivialities

Chocolate Understands Me / The Project Bin

I cannot tell you how much you are missing out if you don't own any of The Project Bin stamps! This new stamp company has some of the greatest sayings ever found! I really struggled with card making in the past as stamps were so ho hum when it came to the sentiment expressed. These stamps from The Project Bin are truly unique in the messages that they impart! Denise has 4 new sets available for all your stamping and crafting enjoyment!

I paired a stamp a stamp from the "Fun is Good" stamp set with my January Cocoa Daisy kit that is loaded with My Mind's Eye "My Story" goodies. First I prepared by white cardstock with a little "smooshed" mist to create some color behind the stamped image. Then I used VersaMark Fine black ink to stamp the title of my layout. Having not fully let the background dry, there is a bit of smudging in me but I'm okay with that. Having constructed the whole layout, it wasn't bad enough that it required re-stamping.

 

It's very subtle the background behind the stamping but it adds another dimension of opaque color. This statement so suscintly tells the story of this picture. I am currently traveling a new path in life and making some lifestyle changes. I love my chocolate and having to give that up is just not high on priority list. With the changes I'm making, chocolate is an option! And for breakfast, none the less! Woot!

A little bit more of the mist "smoosh" is evident behind the journaling on this layout.

These stamps from The Project Bin are great for cards as I've shown you before but they make fantastic layout titles or subtitles as well! Today I have shared one of several layouts to come. Each layout uses one of Denise's fantastic sentiment stamps as the title. I can't wait to share the other layouts with you!

 

 

Light Seeker / Cocoa Daisy / Just Nick

Today's layout share is of our feline, Belle. AKA Belle Girl. She has a million and one other nicknames but her hashtag is #bellegirl. When I come home after work, she is there to greet me, my Belle Girl, and we talk about our mornings. She snuggles and walks around the house slung across my shoulder as we prepare lunch and put the shopping away. She talks back to me.

In the mornings, at the most inopportune moments, she wants to play with the laser pointer. And she asks every morning; pacing at the foot of the fridge/freezer doors, meowing and pleading for somebody to take a break from their harried morning frenzy and play with her. When that fails, as inevitably it does, she just plops down in front of the doors.

I used bits and pieces left over from my January Cocoa Daisy kit in addition to a Just Nick cut file for this layout. I remembered this old "hole pokey thingy" that I had that people used to transfer their sewing patterns to fabric with that I obsessed about using on this layout. It creates a fun, playful movement to the page, akin to the light that Belle loves to play with. And the fun floral stamps from Cocoa Daisy that I hand colored to blend them to the page a little bit more.

Before my Cocoa Daisy kit arrived with these My Minds Eye goodies I had added them to my stash. I was very fortunate to grow that collection when my January kit arrived. Bits and pieces made for the perfect embellies to this layout. Not much was necessary with the floral flourishes as the main "look see" up top.

The "happy" rub on from My Minds Eye was perfect floating in the breeze and floral flourishes. Not wanting it to look "bumpy" by rubbing directly on the layers, I opted to rub it onto vellum and then fussy cut. It looks perfect nestled upon the waves of the Just Nick digital cut file.

Do you have a light seeker too? This cat will play with and chase light all day given the opportunity. She's about 5 so hopefully that playfulness lasts as she ages.

 

Scrappin' Our Stash Blog Hop Feb 2016 / Doodlebug

Hello and welcome to yet another edition of the monthly "Scrappin' Our Stash" blog hop! You should have made you way here on the hop via Monica's blog. If you didn't be sure to start at Katrina's blog and work you way here. As usual, there are some incredible projects to see along the way. You don't need to have the latest and greatest and you might find some fresh inspiration and life in those older collections that have gathered in your stash, overshadowed by the new arrivals.

Today I am sharing with you a primarily Doodlebug layout. I love St Paddy's day and while the size of my St Paddy's collection will never near that of my Christmas stash, it's still rather sizable. I was thrilled to have an opportunity to use some of my goodies amassed last year, possibly even the year before. Honestly, I don't even remember when this rainbow colored goodness joined my stash.

There is nothing like a solid, crisp black or white cardstock to make the colors of layouts pop. By using a digital cut file, you can spruce anything up and bring new life to it. This fantastic cut file is from Just Nick. The fun Pinwheel Background adds such movement to the page.

I didn't buy any embellishments, if there even were any, to go with this collection. Instead I was able to use basics from Doodlebug and cut apart bits of journal cards to create fun add ons.

That's it from me today. Do you have St Paddy's Day plans? Nothing big planned here. I miss being in Chicago for the parade and dying of the river green. I will never forget how yellow the stroller was from the dye flying up into the wind and dying us all a lovely electric yellow! 

From here you are heading on to the ever talented Christine's blog. I know she has some great inspiration for you! Thanks for stopping in, I hope you enjoyed your visit. 

 

CNY 2016 Layout

Do you have cultural traditions that you keep in your family? While the kids are only a quarter Chinese, we try and educate them about that bit of their culture and celebrate the Chinese holiday's that I grew up with. Today's layout is one I created of an annual tradition; the lion dance. Our options here in Richmond as somewhat limited given the lack of Chinatown. Every year, Chinese New Year, there is at least one lion dance and Chinese New Year celebration available to us.

The two "main" background patterned papers are left overs from my recent Clique Kits sponsorship of Just Nick. The flowers on the bottom are hand colored with Peerless watercolors and create the perfect Asian look, like Chinese calligraphy. The dots remind me of confetti of a celebration.

I bought these cut files from the Silhouette store some time ago with Chinese New Year in mind. They remind me of the lanterns that hang during many Chinese high days and holidays. I hung the lanterns with some Twinery twine. And those gold letters, from my Chic Tags stash, love 'em!

I have had that Chinese paper cut "double happiness" for some time. Periodically I use them on a layout. I thought the clear acetate from My Minds Eye with the doilies worked nicely as a subtle background behind the pictures of the lion dance.

Just a quick share today. Hope you enjoy it! Have a wonderful day!

 

Learning Curve / Bella Blvd

We all face them in life, some curves are longer than others and some just never end... Today's layout is about both my Learning Curve with Power School and Nikolas' Learning Curve with grades, studying and homework!

Our public school district has this lovely app called PowerSchool. It allows me, enables me, to keep track of my middle schooler's grades. The photo above is a screen shot of a partial day during the first quarter of 7th grade, earlier this school year. This is the first year that the mobile app has been available. Last year we had to log onto the site and log on every time we wanted to be informed of just how well (or not) one's child was doing.

This has been the bane of my existence. And his too, I imagine. Once upon a time, back in the dark ages, parents were aware of grades when report cards came home and generally were none the wiser. There is a part of me that wishes I was back in the dark. Because what these grades is doing to my blood pressure is unhealthy...

Interestingly, when Nikolas saw this layout sitting on my scrap desk as it was created, he asked me if I had to use that picture. When I inquired why, his response "because it has a C, that's really not great". I refrained from wrapping my hands around his throat and telling him that this is what I have been concerned about all along!... See, he really doesn't care. Or at least, showed no signs of caring prior to his knowledge of this becoming somewhat public knowledge. He was perfectly content with the TWO (not just the one you see here) C's and felt that his minimal effort and poor study habits are just fine. Those are his exact words; "it's just fine". It would be just fine if he were an average student, I could accept that. He's got so much more potential than that. And C's in high school level courses will not get him into the colleges he might think he wants to go to further on down the road.

Oh! The joys of parenting!

I pulled all the reds and blacks from the Star Student collection from Bella Blvd for this layout. Coincidently, they happen to be the colors of the middle school that Nikolas attends. While I love all the colors in the collection, I didn't want a vast color palate as the picture tended to get lost amongst that hive of activity that many colors brings.

It look me a while to stumble upon this title. I often will complete the layout with no title in mind but have a spot reserved for it. I even texted a scrappy buddy for help but her suggestions didn't really stand out either. They were good suggestions, just not "the" one. A few hours later while cooking dinner, the thought came to me. I'm glad I waited as this is really so fitting.

Layers, layers and more layers. That circle sticker has the most adorable owl underneath it. Unfortunately, all his multi colored goodness was too eye catching for my red and black layout. Really wanting sometime more to embellish the layout with, the scalloped edge was perfect, I just needed to further embellish so things would coordinate. I like the trio created by the small round picture of Nikolas, the scalloped circle and the apple poking out from the side of the star background paper.

So there you have it my friends, my creative process as well as a few of our learning curves! Just another facet of life and another beauty of scrapping; the way it might make a point that other conversations in life don't. I really didn't know he cared until he said something upon seeing this layout.

 

Love-ly Layouts / Just Nick and Craftwell

As we creep closer and closer to Valentine's day and all things Hallmark ( :) ) I have another series of love-ly layouts to share with you. Those of you who know me know that we don't really do Valentine's day from a love, romance perspective but rather, an inclusionary type thing. The kids will select, write out and exchange love letters and there may be a cupcake or heart shaped snack for them but beyond that, it's not a big deal.

This was up on the Just Nick blog recently. You can see the details of the cut files used HERE. Last year, as a 6th grader, Nikolas was in Cotillion and the closing dance for the season with the Cupid Ball. It was a lovely affair held right around Valentine's day. I love this collection from Crate Paper and the patterned heart files from Just Nick were perfect for this layout.

In order to make the title stand out from the layered hearts, I had to cut an under layer for the word "cupid" (another Just Nick cut file). While the hues of that light peachy pink are the same, the shadows cast from the tone on tone create the border that divides the two.

I did back one of the patterned hearts in order to make it stand out from the rest of the patterned papers. The floral background is a bit busy and this grounded the photo elements. Love those pictures. I just wish that the lighting at the Women's Club had been better for photography.

This companion layout is up on the Craftwell blog today. It is another picture from the Cupid Ball. This, of the four "lead" dancers for the ball. Incidently, the young gal that Nikolas initially escorted down the receiving line, the young lady on the left of the picture (or on his right arm), is somebody he spent many a year in religious education with, Elizabeth. He is a bit of a shy kid so while girls still have cooties, it was nice for him to have that comfort of a known face as he braved the head of the line.

 

That pink background piece is actually the remnant from the cut file on the first layout! It made the perfect frame to highlight the patterned paper underneath. The patterned papers are mounted on top of a full sheet of embossed cardstock. One of the beauties of the Cut'N Boss and the large embossing folders. It's really the whole reason I'm a fan of the Cut'N Boss. The ability to have larger pieces of embossed (or in this case debossed) papers is exciting to me!

The odd debossed heart here and there I painted with my Peerless watercolors. I wanted a little depth to the white space and the watercolor filled that need.

What would a Valentine's day layout be without a doily? LOL! Hearts - check! Doily - check! Pink - check! Gold - check! I think I filled all the love-ly requirements for Valentine's day papercrafting, don't you? I can't think of anything I missed.

Thanks for stopping in today!

Espressing Gratitude / Paper Issues & Just Nick

I know, I know, I know... My head is hanging in shame. I did promise to try and post more frequently and I let you down. Mea culpa. Honestly, I haven't scrapped much outside of design team assignments. BUT, I went to a weekend retreat and got some fun, for me layouts finished!

It's not often that I feel the NEED to have cut files outside of my subscription at the Silhouette store. I mean, 50-99 cents vs $2? Need I say more? Well, I found a few files that screamed NEED. You see them above; the font and the wreath. Aren't they awesome? Do you seen the NEED?

I didn't have my Silhouette with me at the crop so I had to pre-cut the files before heading out the door. Those of you who know me know I don't kit things up before I scrap. I fly by the seat of my pants. It gets a tad precious at times but, it always works out in the end! I had to fussy cut the "backings" of the letters but no worries, fussy cutting and I get along just fine!

I just LOVE those Stampednous blingy thingy's! They made the perfect berries, the perfect pop of red for contrast. My friend Kelly saved the day with the red American Crafts bow! Around the wreath, additional green tones of foliage are from various WPlus9 stamps - adding depth to the wreath.

Another HAD to have were some of Kerri Bradford's stamps. I repeated "joy peace love" along the edge of the patterned paper creating a border. And, of course, some Simple Stories! Can't not have a splash of that!

I played along with the linky party over at Paper Issues, Let Me Espresso My Gratitude. This layout is all about my gratitude to Panera for getting the need for holiday Espresso cups. I'm not one to chime in on these things but, yeah, I need some festivity. Glad I found it!

I did manage to get a fair number of challenges in with some other design team bits and pieces to share! Be sure to check back in later this week! I even have Simple Stories planner pages to share with you!

Love This / Pink Paislee

Fall! It really is feeling more like fall with that particular crispness in the air. The smell that accompanies it. A clean yet earthy smell. So unique yet so tough to describe.

This girl and her horses! (Disclaimer: we DO NOT own horses!) She is smitten! Absolutely loves riding. But we hit a bit of a rough patch. I think it is the horse, not the riding. She loves the horse, Lucky is whom we speak of, but she doesn't really love being the boss of him... Her instructor knows that and keeps putting Mia on Lucky so that she learns to BE the boss. This child who can boss anybody around just won't show that same assertiveness with this animal. It's funny.

I love this Cedar Lane collection from Pink Paislee!! As does the rest of the scrappy world based on how difficult it is to get it! LOL! I still need the ephemera pack... But it works just find without! Create your own ephemera fussy cutting and die cutting!

Another of my large photo layouts! I just love printing these larger pictures on my Red River Polar Matte paper. If you are in search for a good paper for home printing, look no further! Red River Paper has some fantastic choices!!

Fish & Chips / Pebbles

Yes, shame on me. Yes, I've been incredibly neglectful of this lovely little space here. No, I can't promise I'll be better about posting. But I will do my best. Summer vacations closed out our summer and some personal/family stuff happened. We are trying to find our "back to school" and "back to swimming" groove and with no carpool for Nikolas who goes 5-6 times a week to the pool, that's a lot of groove to find!

Anyway, a layout! On to scrappy goodness!

I had to have this collection from Pebbles! It's not often that I scrap food outside of Halloween and Thanksgiving but this was a momentous occasion that required a layout. Michael and I have had a deep fryer FOR.EVER. We don't use it much. Evidenced by the 6 inch layer of dust we had to clean off before being able to use it! We finally pulled the fryer out and made real, proper, honest to goodness, homemade Engligh fish and chips. All prompted by the cod I bought at CostCo!

It was a joint effort this meal. I did all the shopping and prep work but Michael took over the deep frying. It just kind of happened that way. It was really nice to work together in the kitchen again. Once upon a time we cooked together a lot. Back when we didn't have kids and we had time to spare. Back when it was fun to try new recipes and food was about experimenting rather than fortifying hungry little people.

These cork letters from AC were just the perfect accompaniment to the colors of the kitchen themed papers from this collection. And, of course, my Simple Stories. Coordinates so well together!

LOVE this stamp from Chic Tags. I have never used it before but THIS was the layout that I was waiting for!

Thanks for stopping in today! I hope it was worth your effort. I have a bazillion layouts that I've finished and would love to share with you. It's the photo editing and blogging that I really just don't have time for... I will make the time, bit by bit. So please, stop back in again!

 

Shaving Time / American Crafts

I have a recent event share today. I have been making a conscious effort to document the bigger of the daily events in our lives so that when it comes time to journaling, I have the fresh memories to write about rather than recall.

Shaving Time! A bit of a play on words. Not only was it his first time shaving but it was an act done in anticipation of shaving time off of his personal bests. A week ago, Nikolas and I sat in the jacuzzi tub in our master bathroom and underwent a swimmers' rite of passage together. First the clippers - easy, not a problem. Then, the razor. Michael had bought him shaving cream and a razor but the razor wasn't quite what I was used to. We switched to a woman's razor which is really much better designed for leg hair removal. No knicks or chunks of skin removed along the way - I'd call that a success! Mind you, my back was pretty sore after the fact...

I love this American Crafts collection from Shimelle! The bright colors, as you know, are right up my alley. And they are a perfect compliment to the bright shirt that Nikolas is wearing. My laying the vellum over the right hand side of the page, I was able to mute them somewhat and let the bright light in the pictures shine.

I even convinced Nikolas to write on the page for me! It might just be two words and a lot of exclamation points but that's a start! All the exclamation points are there "because I had to fill the space, right Mum?" Silly boy!

Thanks for stopping in today! I hope you have had success in shaving time lately!