Life's Trivialities

Home Sweet Home - Summer / Elle's Studio

Back in the Spring, I used a Cocoa Daisy kit to create a layout using the front of our house. I mentioned during the video that I thought it would be a neat idea to try and do the same for each season. Today, I'm sharing the summer edition of that "series"! I had just received the Elle's Studio "Family Fun" collection that I had ordered and was thrilled to find that there was a "Home Sweet Home" die cut that allowed me to carry over that tradition. Now I need for a manufacturer to create a fall and winter collection with the same sentiment for the next two layouts! Think you can make that happen for me?

I tried to copy as many elements as from the Spring layout as I could without forcing things. I was really lucky to find the top tag and sentiment that worked in a similar manner. The header and footers were easy enough to reproduce in a similar fashion as the original. A house subbed for the planter and I was able to easy create a tag for the summer layout.

It's easier to see the similarities and differences with each layout side by side. The toughest part of this wasn't the layout construction but rather, the picture. Matching roof colors and keeping the white balance was a challenge, one or the other had to be altered. You get the idea, more or less. I was able to preserve the proportions of the picture. That branch that comes down in the spring picture has been trimmed from the tree.

I changed the color scheme up to better enhance the colors of summer and reflect the difference in the seasons. I started with the blues and grey then added in the green. I liked the way the green tied in the lush greens of the picture.

The blue banner behind the top tag really popped the blue "sweet" in the title. I had to add a second strip below the black phrase in order to give more weight to the header and have this huge floating element on the page.

A little bit of white cardstock behind the phrase puffy sticker allowed me to use it without it getting lost on the page as that crisp, white edge gave a little pop and delineated the edges.

 

I hope you enjoy the process video! At the end of this video, I link you to the Spring edition in case you missed out on that! Thanks for popping in today! Stay tuned for the fall and winter editions!

Plant Dreams / Cocoa Daisy

Sometimes using a quote or a saying is the best way to convey the emotion in a picture or journal. That's what I did with all the different alphas that accompanied this month's Cocoa Daisy kits on this particular layout.

Lots of different alphas and lots of fussy cutting and really, not much of anything else. I did journal but more about the what than anything else. Truly the saying that surrounds the photo is the sentiment of the page.

Not only did I use the 4 different alphas that came between the two Cocoa Daisy kits but I did use a die cut as an O as well as two words that I cut out using fancier script fonts from my Silhouette.

I love this photo of Mia rock hopping down by the river this summer. Nikolas was a bit of a ways off doing his thing, hanging out with Annabelle, while Mia and I tried to respectfully give them their space, doing our thing. It was a lovely afternoon.

 

Thanks for stopping in today!

 

Oh Buoy! / Cocoa Dasiy

It's that time of the month for the latest Cocoa Daisy challenge. You can read more about it HERE. The challenge is to go BIG, how you interpret that is up to you.

This is the layout that I created specifically for the challenge;

In order to create the layout, I used one of the subscriber exclusive digital cut files to create a template and apply colored embossing paste into the "openings" thus leaving the purple fish swimming around in the ocean. Unfortnately, I wasn't recording and don't have a process video of that that process. BUT I did create a companion page with the template and have a video to accompany that!

Can you see the connection? The white cardstock with the cut out fish and purple surrounding the fish, is what I used as my template. Put against another piece of cardstock, it makes a wonderful background for another layout, don't you think?! Waste not, want not! I was thrilled to be able to create another layout!

Here's how the above layout came together;

I have to tell you, I'm not sure how long the layout is going to look like this... My sewing machine really needs an overhaul. The back of the layout is a MESS!!! A horrid mess. While you can't tell from the front, I know. And it drives me absolutely bonkers... I don't think my Type A, highlighted, bolded and underlined personality can let it be. I might need to unpick all the stitching...

That vellum piece from Prettly Little Studios is AWESOME!! Just love it! The perfect compliment to this month's kits that isn't a part of the Pink Paislee collection. It's lovely when kit clubs add variety to collections, thus making them unique. Something I think Cocoa Daisy does an amazing job of. If you are looking for a kit club to subscribe to, you won't be disappointed with Cocoa Daisy!

Some Texturez paste from Shimmerz was the perfect way to complete the scene and add a tad more texture and color to the underwater scene I created for this summer swim layout. While we loath the heat and humidity, it does often make for a wonderful setting sun!

Thanks for stopping in today!

December Daily 2016 / Day 3

Welcome to day 3 of my 2016 December Daily! I almost have today finished too. It's been such fun to work on. The true test of my "sticking" ability will come during the week when I've working and shuttling kids around.

Day 3 is actually night 3. We went up to Doswell to see the Illuminate Light Show that is at Meadow Event Park. We have never been before so this was a lovely treat and a nice way to spend time together. It is definitely more impressive live and capturing the experience in a moving vehicle (no tripod and no stopping allowed) while driving down largely gravel road proved a challenge!

The left hand page of this spread is, you might recall, the back side of a chipboard tabbed divider. Ugh... The black of the photo really required me to push the picture to the edge and not trim it as I had on the front side. I also had to be mindful of bulky embellishments on the opposing page as there isn't a protective cover to the picture and I don't want the photo scrapped by anything. I toyed with typed journaling on the page but found it distracting and omitted it. This ends up being a very simple page leaving the emphasis on the picture.

The infamous square pockets a plenty that I both loathe and love! I love the idea of transparency and the peek into the day to come. Filling all those squares with purpose often proves challenging as you have to think of both sides. I think, having begun day 4, that I will end up filling one of those frames. Probably the red hounds tooth one. I don't have frames that I can back for the other side so the problem is really the backside. I quite like the striped pocket card you see from Day 4 through the gold frame, it adds to the color of day 3. The split in the day 4 divider behind the hounds tooth frame bothers me. I didn't realize how much until I took these pictures. I want something on the kraft tag in that center pocket, I just didn't have "the" thing and didn't want to spend a lot of time searching. So, it will stay as it is for now and perhaps once the month is complete I will go in and touch up.

If you haven't done this before or haven't succeeded it completing it, I cannot stress to you enough how much more manageable this project is with completed foundation pages. You don't HAVE to leave things where they are but the concept of a book makes this mammoth task so much more enjoyable and less complicated. Another thing I have found very useful in the working of my first few days is to have a basket/bucket/tub or some container of embellishments that compliment your color scheme and leave everything else be. If you contain yourself, you are less likely to get distracted by all the pretty things and focus on the task at hand.

Spectacular / CocoaDaisy

Yup... another hiatus from the blog. Unintentional. Again. The kids are back in school. The kids are back at the pool. There are random back to school things that need obtaining. There is a lost pair of glasses that needs replacing. This makes you think about the other child who doesn't have a current back up pair of glasses. Sneakers still need to purchased. Your weekend to work occurs. There just aren't enough hours in a day. Ages old gripe and complaint... I'll cease now!

This month's Cocoa Daisy Designers challenge is up on the blog, over HERE. Be sure to check out the challenge and what some of the other designers did. Play along! You don't have to use Cocoa Daisy kits, you just have to have your scrappy skills and create a CD account in the message board. Or link up to it on the blog. It's dead easy!

Many of you know from my Facebook or IG account that our big family vacation this year was 9 days out in Sequoia/Yosemite. It was absolutely, utterly outstanding. The views, vistas and experiences were stunning, breath taking, other wordly. We had a phenomenal time! This picture! And the thousands of other landscape pictures I took over a week are but a mere attempt at capturing the exquisiteness of the natural beauty and serenity. Sure, there were a million other people in the parks (we were there on the anniversary week of the 150th birthday of the National park System - we even sang happy birthday) but it wasn't heaving as one would think. And you certainly had enough space of your own to feel like you were many, many miles away from "others".

Fussy cutting and sewing! Two things one frequently finds on my layouts. I just love the sequins that came with the September kits from Cocoa Daisy!

A little cluster of goodies at the bottom of the page for some grounding. The "love this" is a Day in the Life 3x4 card that I cut up and made my own. I have abandoning the rest of the card but I know I'll find a use for it elsewhere. This Reset Girl collection from Simple Stories that is a good chunk of the September kit was perfectly suited to my August vacation. We reset in so many ways on this vacation!

Celebrate / Elle's Studio / Large Photo Layout

To my fellow American's and semi-American's (such as myself), Happy Independence Day! I have a layout to share with you today as we celebrate the festivities of the long weekend. I have already begun documenting this years fun and frolicks. I find the sooner that I get these things documented, the more authentic the journaling.

I absolutely LOVE large photo layouts. And these goodies from Elle's Studio are just perfect to showcase Independence Day fireworks in the traditional red, white and blue. The 4th of July printable from Elle's Studio are free! You can find them HERE. I used scraps of the cards along the edge as well as for the journaling. I also used the color appropriate patterned papers and embellishments from the Sunny Days collection.

Stamps used (as seen above) are also from Elle's Studio from various past collections that I have gathered over the years. I just love that long vertical strip of strips and bits and pieces. It anchors the photo and mimics the bursts of fireworks.

I struggled with the white border around the photograph. Originally, my plan had been to create an 8.5x11 layout with the photo as the background paper. I printed the white border intentionally knowing that the matte paper I use would likely warp at the edges and my crisp black edges would be tainted. As layout construction continued, it just felt too crowded so I transitioned everything to a 12x12 format. The white border pops the picture from the background that mimics the night sky.

I hope your Independence Day celebrations have been fun and festive! We are planning on going to yet more fireworks tonight however our weather isn't looking great with the threat of thunderstorms. The evening should be okay but there is a high probably of storms in the afternoon. Whatever your plans, stay safe!

Field Day / Cocoa Daisy

I just love large 12 inch wide pictures on layouts. I have this obsession with large photo layouts. I think it has something to do with the emotion conveyed in a large photo. Just like in a black and white photo. Or maybe it's picture quality - you have to have a good picture to be able to blow it up that big. I don't know what it it but I love layouts with large photos. And today I'm sharing another large photo layout created using a Just Nick digital cut file and my Cocoa Daisy April kit.

While my child is the least visible of those celebrating the rain, I still love the joy that you see in the picture, that emotion conveyed. The brights primary colors in the picture are so perfectly off set by the pastels of the exclusive patterned paper from my April Cocoa Daisy kit. Even the softer hue of the umbrella from the print and cut Cocoa Daisy file is a perfect embellishment for this layout!

I little peek into my work in progress. I decided after the fact to water color the word "rainbows". It was really difficult to read the who cut file so the watercolor was a necessary "pick me up" and the black dots on "no rain no" really helped to make that element a tad more visible.

I have a thing with modeling paste... It's my new go to element on my pages. The rain mask from Prima was just perfect to convey the rain that is a bit more difficult to see in the photograph. The odd larger fussy cut rain drop here and there adding to that effect.

Thanks for stopping in today! I hope you are enjoying the lack of rain!! It's been so wet here in Virginia that the two days of sunshine have been perfect! Just perfect!

Me & The Gang / Just Nick and Fancy Pants

How was your weekend? I hope you had a good one! I had a creative one working with the June Cocoa Daisy kits. I can't wait to share these layouts with you! So until I can, I have a Just Nick and Fancy Pants layout to share with you instead! You find this up on the Just Nick blog today too!

This whole week a few of the other designers from Just Nick and I are sharing with you projects that we created using creative cut files from the Just Nick store and this collection from Fancy Pants, Attwell. It is such a fun, bright collection that is right up my alley with primary colors.

By now you know how I choose the colors in my layouts; they compliment the colors found within the photo with, typically, a bright pop of contrast color for a lift. That's just what I did here. While the collection has a lot more color to it, I stuck with the blues and blacks found in the swim suits these 13-14 year olds are wearing and then went with the pops of yellow for the contrast. Sure is some bright contrast, don't you think?

I love this background file from Just Nick called, Fancy Filigree. I love how backgrounds can enable to you to create your own personal touch. Like here where I cut a few of the "O"s in the background from the yellow patterned paper and rotated it then layered the white "X" from the background lace on top. Creates a kind of a flower or fancier filigree. There are a few of these scattered through out the layout creating a bit of movement that your eye follows.

Thanks for stopping in today. Be sure to check out the Just Nick blog all of this week for some more Fancy Pants inspiration using digital cut files!

 

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!!

Lucky / Craftwell and Xyron

Today I have another large photo layout to share with you. I love the busy background with all the fun sayings but it leaves little room, between the picture size and the activity for journaling. So, I created a pocket for the Project Life card that I used to tuck behind the picture for journaling.

 

 

One of the things you will notice about my layouts is that I often hide my journaling. Not because I don't want you read what I have to say but merely because, even on a 12x12 page, there just isn't room for all of what I want to say. I want the pictures to be the primary focus and the story to accompany them but not be distracting. In order to accomplish that on this layout, with such a large picture, I used some Xyron 1/2 inch double-sided tape to create a pocket for the Project Life card I used for journaling.

 

 

I laid the Project Life card on the background patterned paper and put three stripes of tape for the side edges and bottom of the pocket. Peel off the top backing paper and then stick your picture on top! Viola! A journaling card pocket. Some washi folded over the card edge creates a visual pull tab.

 

 

You will see that this particular card is empty, void of journaling... It WILL be filled shortly. I have been working on my son (the boy with glasses) to begin telling his own story. He is old enough (12 years old) that he can identify his feelings and speak from the heart. He is far less intimidated by that proposition knowing that the words he shares are behind the picture and not visible to the world.

 

 

Additional Xyron products I used on this page include the 3 inch Sticker Maker and the Tape Runner. The 3 inch sticker maker is perfect for running mutliple embellishments through at once and save the waste of the pre and post "roll" tape. In this picture you will see the tag and stars that I cut using my Craftwell Cut'N Boss and Craftwell/Teresa Collins dies. One pass through the 3 inch Sticker Maker and I'm done!

 

I don't often use this combination of colors for a boy page but the setting, Sweet Frog, was full of brighter, more feminine colors and it worked perfectly together.

 

These kids are kids that Nikolas swims with and with whom he went to Eastern Zones a few weeks ago. They understand one another, these kids. They are all in the same boat; navigating the tween world, in the pool 5 times a week with many a weekend consumed as well, balancing swimming, social life and school. It's reassuring as a parent to see friendships come out of all that time spent together!