Life's Trivialities

Waiting / Cocoa Daisy Sketch Inspiration

Each month for the past year or so I have created sketches for Cocoa Daisy. It's something that I really enjoy doing as now that I've created a few, I have foundation pieces that make sketch creating so quick and simple. It's like building with Lego, once you have all the pieces, it's just a matter of putting it together. This month I "angled" things up a bit.

The sketch;

My layout based on the sketch;

I really wanted to use this picture of the kids waiting on Christmas morning to head downstairs and open their stockings and presents, their PJs worked so well with the plaid patterned paper. I had to shift the title a little bit to make the vertical picture work. I struggled with the border as the plaid is so busy it was tough to find something that didn't compete but rather, complimented, the pattern.

A subtle layer of color was called for behind the photo to compliment the layers. Packaging from the poinsettia package is the journaling spot, nestled in a glassine bag behind the photo. I amended the poinsettia removing the yellow center and putting red gems from the kit instead. The yellow was so vibrant and a bit of an eye sore on the page given the lack of vibrant color on the page. Looks much better with it's modifications.

The sketch does not call for the corner adornments however the vertical picture and the weight of the plaid needed off setting and that corner did the job! I love the greenery tucked in; cardstock and a Tim Holtz die put to good use.

There is, as always, a process video showing you how this layout came together. There were a lot of gals who played along with the sketch inspiration this month so be sure to check out the Cocoa Daisy blog to see what the others did.

 

Thanks for stopping in today! Have a wonderful day!

Epcot Pocket Page / Magical Memories

Today I have a Disney layout to share with you that is a part of a series that Christine is hosting over on YouTube called Magical Memories. Each day Christine and a couple of scrappy peeps are sharing their Disney paper projects and process videos. Today, I'm sharing my pocket page from a visit to Epcot and the zany characters we posed for photos with!

I used the Say Cheese II collection from Simple Stories and six black and white photos. I wanted to include a lot of photos and the best way to do that was to use the 4x3 pocket page from Echo Park. I began with the original color photos but it was just too busy, too much going on and nowhere for the eye to settle. The black and white pics are a definite game changer.

When creating pocket pages I like to put elements on the outside of the page protector as well as work within the pocket. If you know my style and preferences, you will know that I'm not a fan of the bulk on my pages as it warps the pages around it. One of the benefits of pocket pages for me is that not only can I use many more photos in an organized fashion (which suits my type A personality) but I can put the bulky things outside the pocket and thus not warp the page protector.

When you work with a themed collection, it's so easy to quickly whip out pages like this. It truly makes easy work of things as everything is already coordinated and you have a lot of product to choose from. I don't think it took me more than 20 minutes to put this together. It took more time to edit the photos and decide black and white was better than to construct the whole thing!

If you are a process video kinda person, here is my video and the complete process of how this page can together;

I would for you to join us over on YouTube and subscribe if you don't already. This is my first pocket page process video but I have a few more that I'm working on and would love to share with you if that's something you enjoy. If not, there are plenty of 12x12 and 8.5x11 size layouts as well! Christine has a give away that she's sponsoring this week as well so be sure to check out her channel and how you can enter to win! Thanks for stopping in today!

Sibs / Creative Scrappers sketch / Paper Issues

I'm dropping in today with a quick share of a layout I created using Kristine's latest sketch over at Creative Scrappers, sketch #298. I am a huge fan of her sketches, they always help me to creative some of my favorite layouts. This is no exception. Throw in a fun cut file from Paper Issues (you can download it for free HERE) and the newest Christmas collection from Elle's Studio (also from Paper Issues) and I'm really pleased with the results!

I used two squares instead of the three that the sketch called for. It was just too much on the page otherwise. That's the beauty of sketches, interpreting them as you see fit.

Stars as the clustered embellies could have worked on this layout but I really wanted the holly and mistletoe die cuts that better complimented the Christmas theme. I used cut files from Kerri Bradford for that as well as some of the circle elements from the Elle's Studio collection to create the two embellishment clusters,

I toyed with the idea of some mist splatters or embossing paste on the background for more texture but decided against it. Less is more with the business of the words in the cut file. Even the diagonal stripes add busy movement to the page that really didn't need competition.

Puffy stickers! I heart puffy stickers!! While houses with Christmas collections are nothing new, these houses are so cosy and welcoming! I could move right in.

Thanks for stopping in today!

Sketch Inspired / Cocoa Daisy

Hey there! Yup, it's summer and I'm stuck in the throes of summer league swimming AND long course season. All while working. All while the kids are home on summer break and I feel obligated to come home and spend time with them. So, not much blogging going on. There isn't much time for scrapping, let along blogging. But I have managed to get a weekend of fun stuff in - the calm before the storm.

I have long been a fan of sketches. As long as I have been a fan, I have been a fan of Scrapbook Generation sketches. When Debbie and the ladies stopped creating the SG magazine, they continued the fun via their Scrapbook Generation Scrap Squad on FaceBook. It's a closed group but if you request an invite and are a sound person, I'm sure the ladies of SG will approve you. There are lots of fun crops, challenges and SKETCHES!

This month Debbie has a grid like, project life inspired layout sketch. I loved it so much, I made not one but TWO layouts. Both using Cocoa Daisy kits. The kits are so full of a mix of manufacturers and goodies that there is always plenty for a plethora of layouts.

My first sketch inspired layout I created using the March Cocoa Daisy kits and some pictures of Nikolas.

The week before states (Virginia Age Group Swimming Championships) and Nikolas develops a raging ear infection... Fortunately we caught it before the big weekend and aren't dealing with it in the throes of hotel stays out of town and away from our pediatrician.

The sketch calls for three pictures, which I didn't have of the event so I used the "Snippets of Life" block instead. Otherwise, I rather literally played by the lay of the land, I mean, sketch.

The second layout is based on the same sketch and the most recent (July) Cocoa Daisy kits with pictures of Mia.

I have hoarded the top center and bottom right Day In the Life cards from the minute that I opened the Cocoa Daisy kit. I have avid readers and just had to use the pocket scrapping cards on the right layout. This child and her books... There just aren't enough of them that are fit for her fresh, young mind. She asked me the other day if I had ever had a hangover and did it feel as bad as the author described it. My 10 year old!! Asking about a hangover! Her father may need to be a bit better about filtering and censoring books...

The bright colors of the Cocoa Daisy kit and the Day In the Life cards are just perfect for this sketch! Both layouts between the sketch and the kits came together in no time flat! Lots of options and lots of fun!! Thanks Cocoa Daisy and Scrapbook Generations for all the inspiration!

 

 

 

Sunshine / Just Nick

Nicole challenged us to use 4 of her Just Nick cut files on a layout of project - I'm sharing that layout over on the Just Nick blog and here on my own blog for your viewing pleasure!

I used the following 4 digital cut files from Just Nick;

• Script Font
• Radiate
• File Folders
• Let It Shine Background

This was a bit of a challenge for me as I like the elements on my layouts to have purpose or meaning. There needs to be some relevance to the story, not just elements thrown on there for the sake of having more. Each of the 4 (or more) cut files needed to be on the layout for a reason. The Let It Shine Background and the "innards" of Radiate combined to make the sun - easy, no problem there. The new font, Script Font, I used a sketch pen with then cut out the outline of the file with my Silhouette for the title. Then the "today" file folder from the File Folders collection served well as a tie in. As the file is cut from a multi colored patterned paper, it served well to tie the multiple elements and colors together.

I love how the title turned out using a sketch pen and then digitally cutting that file! It took a bit of manipulating to get the individual letters to meld but fortunately Nicole leaves lots of "extra" on the letters. This additional swoosh, allows you to either cut or overlap the swoosh of the letters to create a symmetrical word. I can't wait to do this again and use my watercolors or Gelatos within the pen outline!

Thanks for stopping in today!

 

Splash / Pebbles

Hey there! Just dropping in today to share a summer layout with you. I know the dog days of summer are behind us and Fall is upon us. I love Fall, it's my absolute, hands down, un-arguably my favorite season. But it has rained. And rained. And I feel like I need to build an Ark. So to lift my spirits, this fun summer layout was created!

This whole layout is based on the background sheet from Pebbles Inc "Fun in the Sun" collection. I fussy cut each and every wave and "ruffed" up the top edge. Each wave is glued to a coordinating aquamarine piece of cardstock underneath so as to "reconstruct" the patterned paper. I just love the dimension and movement that this fun technique gives to the page!

This upside down close up gives you a better sense of the ruffled edge and how the waves literally stick out/up from the page.

For a little pizzazz I added Distress Stickles to the die cut star fish shapes! Journaling was printed on vellum and adhered directly to the page. Some sequins make great water bubbles.

I just love the bright patterned papers from this collection as well! They made a fun celebratory banner across the top of the page to support the Back to School party theme. Another small touch are the eyes of the fishes; Hot rocks (gems) adhered with my Imaginisce iRock.

I just love the simplicity of the layout that makes you want to take another look at it and see how there really is more to it than first meets the eye! Have you done something like that lately? I'd love to see it!

Book Fiend / Bella Blvd

I know I won't be alone in this. I have seen many of you post pictures on FaceBook of your own children lost in a book. I have two book fiends. They are both incredibly voracious readers. We can't keep them stocked in books. Fortunately, both of mine are happy to read books more than once. They have to. There just enough books with suitable content for either one of them to have fresh material all the time!

This is HER book love layout. The most recent one any way. There are plenty of them already. With plenty more to come, I'm sure. Her latest love is her Kindle. And given the hot pink Otterbox that protects it, this collection from Bella Blvd provided just the complimentary colors and the matching hot pink! I love the Snapshots collection!

I love white backgrounds, they really let the color of patterned papers stand out and shine. I used the same font to cut out book over and over again and backed each "opening" with a different patterned paper from the collection. You can see on the left hand side of the page that I also used a few tone on tone flowers for some subtle visual interest to the page.

I love this layout but the above embellishment cluster is really my favorite part of it. Title work aside. Using the patterned papers from Bella Blvd for die cutting is easy with the tone on tone patterns. They are so diverse, the look great in large sheets where the pattern really stands but they are also perfect in little cut up bits where the pattern almost becomes texture to the smaller bits. Love the versatility!

Fussy cutting! I always find myself fussy cutting something from Bella Blvd collections. Though there are always so many wonderful complimentary embellishments, die cuts and stickers, I like the unique touch that fussy cutting affords me. Like that flower.

Be sure to come back tomorrow for HIS latest reading layout. Also created using Bella Blvd with the exception of one piece of patterned paper! Thanks for stopping in today!

Sprinkles of Fun / Lawn Fawn

One of our all time favorite activities during the Christmas season is to decorate sugar cookies. The making of them isn't Mum's favorite... Somebody has to make them to decorate them so, roll out dough I do. All in the name of my children's Christmas joy!

Fussy cut heart with wrapped scarf pop dot on a label sticker! Love the depth it gives. And what other twine would one use than Twinery?!

The tone on tone of vellum snowflakes on the white background, is subtle. Very subtle, you almost miss it in fact. But I love that you have to look closely for the detail. And of course, the mutli fonts for the title.

Freckled Fawn with Lawn Fawn! I used one of those green sequins bows last year on a Christmas layout with Nikolas in it and here it is again. Don't worry, I think I'm out of them now!

Cookie decorating in this picture actually happened quite a few years ago. This year just Mia and decorated. In fact, Michael and Mia made the sugar cookies. I'll get to scrapping that in the next few years no doubt!

I hope your days have been sprinkled with fun!

 

 

Big Winner / Imaginisce

Have you seen the new collection, Family Fun, from Imaginisce?! It is bright and fun and makes us all winners! There are so many great embellishments that come with this collection too! New for Imaginisce and a great treat. Imaginisce just keeps changing!

The kids each invited a friend to go to Dave and Buster's with them where we had lunch and then spent some time (and a small fortune) at the arcade. What a great way to kick off the summer! The stamped tokens were so easy; just stamp on the "B" side and use your circle cutter to pop them out. Layer to appeal and sprinkle with various die cuts and stickers for added interest! Voila! Dead easy yet such fun on the layout!

Some of the patterned papers can be incredibly busy but if you use them in strips or smaller doses, they really set the scene for your layout as I did with the "topper" for the arcade theme. The layered stickers, once known as Sticker Stackers, make great title elements for your pages too!

There are many great themes to this collection! Not all might appeal to you but there is sure to be something that works for each and every individual! Be sure to check out the Imaginisce blog for other fun inspiration!

Lucky Layout / Teresa Collins

Do you ever use a picture not for the occasion but to tell a story about "right now"? Not that single moment in time but the general feel of life at that age, or particular phase? That's what this layout is. It's not about the Fall Fest that we were at, it's not about the conversation between father and son (I still have yet to convince Michael that he needs to write on my pages, today while the memories are fresh, not procrastinate until the courage is built and it's too late...), it is about Nikolas and his place in the world over the past week. Just a few days prior I found him in bed with the iPad he snuck out of our room, two hours past bed time. He's testing his new boundaries...

I love that file folder from Teresa Collins' Hello My Name Is collection! It enables me to include A LOT of journaling in there. I created a little tab from washi that is an indicator to open the file folder. The picture as I printed it would have over lapped that cut little banner that I layered elements upon so I fussy cut the bottom segment enabling me to side the picture underneath. Creating a photo corner of sorts.

The colors from this collection as basic but they are right up my alley. Red is and always has been one of my favorite colors and it is just sublime with the red in Michael's shirt. The colors of the layout really make the picture pop.

There is SO much to this collection! I love that you can find TC at JoAnn's now! With all of our local scrapbook stores gone and more and more closing across the country, it's nice to be able to find full collections of the designers you love. Thank you Teresa Collins for making your great goodies more readily available!

Oh! And did you notice, not a lick of cardstock?! All patterned paper! Pretty amazing coming from this hardcore Core gal, eh?! ;)

Thanks for stopping in today!