Jot Magaine Issue 11: Favorite Photo

Jot Magazine issue 11 is currently available and full of inspiration from the Jot Girls, as well as reader's submissions. Today I'm sharing with you one of my layouts featured in the magazine, showcasing one of my favorite photos from the summer.

Supplies | Cardstock: Bazzill. Patterned papers: Doodlebug Designs (polka dot vellum), Studio Calico (background), Heidi Swapp (yellow/grey polka dots), Crate Paper (floral). Journaling tags: Elle’s Studio (‘summer moments’, pink tag, ‘today’ date). Embellishment: Crate Paper (chipboard butterfly, ‘2 tag’), Simple Stories (yellow butterfly sticker, ‘i am simply me’ tag, enamel dots), Heidi Swapp (flair), My Mind’s Eye (yellow brad), American Crafts (mini staples, letter stickers). Other: Stampin’ Up! (die/embossing folder), Basic Grey (digital die cut butterfly), baker’s twine.

This photo is so special to me because it embodies my daughter at this age- big smile, wild hair (always!) and her favorite butterfly t-shirt. It was taken on our trip back home to Kentucky to see my parents this summer. 

The layout itself came together quite easily. As soon as I saw the Studio Calico background paper in my stash, I knew it would be perfect, as I wanted to incorporate bright yellow and pink on my layout, and the mixed-media texture on the patterned paper was an added bonus. I didn't even have to get my workspace dirty! I kept the yellow manufacturer's strip on the right side and decided to butt my photo mat, which included vellum, three different patterned papers and an Elle's Studio journaling tag, up to it.

The first embellishment that I added came about merely because it was laying on my desk in front of me - the big, grey butterfly die-cut from Basic Grey. I layered it onto a Heidi Swapp circular journaling card and topped it with an "embosslit" (embossed and die-cut) butterfly from Stampin' Up, and a Heidi Swapp "bliss" flair badge.

I added my title in a natural space that was created in the gap between my polka-dot vellum and patterned paper with grey Thickers. Tip: You can see here that my "Y" is cut in half- that's because I didn't have a "Y" left on the sheet, so I used an "I" and a "W" to make a "Y" for my title. To the right of my title, I added my handwritten journaling, and above this space, I placed three different, layered butterflies, using vellum, paper, and printed chipboard.

My third embellishment cluster, placed at the bottom right of my photo, included the "I am simply me" tag from Simple Stories, backed with a pink Elle's Studio tag, and topped with another layered butterfly. To the right of that I added a "2" tag from Crate Paper (my daughter's age) and below, the "today" tag from Elle's Studio, stamped with the date. A splattering of enamel dots, always a must for me, finished off the page.

Thanks so much for stopping by and checking out my layout! Be sure to download the entire Jot Magazine issue 11 to view so many beautiful projects!

Scraptastic Club September Main Kit: Using the Stencil

Each Scraptastic Club main kit includes a stencil, and the pattern on the Skinny Love stencil this month is perfect for creating a background! I decided to use it in two different ways. First, on my layout, I repeated the pattern four different times to create a background for my photo mat, using a grey ink pad and a sponge dauber. 

After I sponged my background, I framed it with strips of patterned paper, also from the Skinny Love main kit, and added my photo mat on top.

To create my title, I cut the word "happy" from the Crate Paper Wonder "Bright Paper" pattern and added the "little you" banner on top of the Pinkfresh dip-dyed tag.

The exclusive, along with Crate Paper embellishments in the kit helped me to add the final perfect touches, along with a few drips of mist.

I had so much fun with the stencil, I decided to use it in a different way to create a card, outlining it with fine-tipped markers, and then coloring in some random bits with a blender pen.

There you have it! Two great ways to use an awesome stencil in a lovely kit! Thanks for stopping by. 

Elle's Studio September Exclusive Kit Reveal

Hello there! Wow, the 10th sure comes around quickly! Today is the September exclusive kit reveal at Elle's Studio and there is SO much to check out! 

The kit is a mix of lovely bold colors and neutrals with everyday sayings, as well as some fun cat and dog tags! 

The "For the Record" printables and digital cut files will stretch your kit even further! 

The coordinating stamp set and acrylic stars are sure to put the perfect finishing touch on your project! 

When you purchase your kit, be sure to check out this month's mini course to give you more ideas and inspiration on how to kill your kit and get your memories documented. At only $4.99 for 11 pages of inspiration, it's a bargain! The contributor's projects are amazing! 

Elle's new collections, Thankful and Joyful, are also in the shop today! Be sure to bundle them with the kit to save on shipping! 

This month, I paired the exclusive kit with the Thankful collection to create a page about my daughter's love for her surrogate grandmother- our close family friend, since both sets of grandparents live far away. 

Elle's Studio Supplies: September exclusive kit, Thankful (paper collection pack, cork pieces, bits & pieces, cutouts), Jordan solid alphabet stamp, September cut files, Adorbs stamp set. Other supplies: Crate Paper chipboard pennants and ampersand, Studio Calico enamel dots, Stampin' Up! ink.

I love that the Thankful collection can be both soft and feminine and boyish, as you will see in my next layout about our lovely Golden Retriever, Toby.

Elle's Studio Supplies: September exclusive kit, Thankful (paper collection pack, cork pieces, bits & pieces, word labels, grey letter and number stickers), Adorbs stamp set, acrylic stars. Other supplies: Studio Calico chipboard shapes & enamel dots.

Thanks for coming by to see what Elle's Studio is offering this month to help you document your stories! Be sure to follow Elle's Studio on Instagram to keep up with the latest news and exciting giveaways coming up! 

Jot Magazine September 2015 Mood Board Layout

Welcome back after a long, Labor Day weekend! I was busy in my studio, creating with the Jot Magazine September mood board.

It is so refreshing to see such a different color palette, with some amazing patterns! It only took me about 30 minutes to complete my layout, and I also have a process video to share with you!

I was so excited to be able to break into my new stash of the Elle's Studio Thankful collection to complete this page. The blue floral and blue ikat papers worked perfectly with the mood board!

Be sure to create your own project using the mood board as a jump-start, and upload to the mood board post before the end of the month for a chance to win a fantastic prize from Elle's Studio! 

July Project Life Spreads

Hello there! Today I’m sharing a TLN spread that I created with the Scraptastic Kit Club's August This Life Noted and Wednesday Night kits documenting the final days of our July. The green and turquoise cards and paper in the kits worked perfectly with the photos from our trip home to Kentucky. 

To bring attention to our trip to Kentucky, I created two customized cards in the center of my spread with my Silhouette Cameo and papers from the Wednesday Night kit & add-on. I topped the cards with a flair badge and "long way home” cutout from the TLN kit.

In between the left and right sides of my spread, I added a hand-sewn pocket, sized 3-1/4” x 8” to house a photo of my daughter and I from a day of hiking, as well as our hiking trail guide on the back.

The TLN stamp, which I stamped with Staz-On directly onto my photo worked perfectly with the “that was fun” cutout that I punched with a circle punch. To finish off my embellishment grouping, I added the “go somewhere new” banner and a wood veneer heart.

The right side of my spread included some tough days, which required hidden journaling, housed under the “refresh & renew” tag, which I attached with washi tape from my stash.

And that's a wrap with July in our Project Life album! Now, on to August. It feels great only being a month behind! 

Under the Sea Themed Birthday Party

Over the weekend, we celebrated my goddaughter's 7th and my husband's 37th birthday in a big way with an Under the Sea themed party. It took quite a bit of work to pull off, but we were so happy with how it turned out. Today I'd like to share some of the photos with you.

I sewed a 'sailcloth' curtain (just a piece of natural cotton) to create a backdrop for a fishing net (found at Michaels) and paper banners and shells (cut on my Silhouette Cameo). On the ends of the curtain I hung lengths of turquoise tulle.

Banana dolphins jumped out of the fruit salad.

Croissant crab sandwiches filled a platter.

Another crab hogged all of the hummus.

Sand dollar cookies sat in raw sugar sand.

And many chocolate shells were snatched up by little hands.

Tropical fish (cut with my Silhouette Cameo) swam in the blue waters over our breakfast bar.

A big, pink octopus hung out over the table.

Three beautiful, iridescent jellyfish floated around the table, too.

Each child had a chocolate cupcake with buttercream icing to take home.

And then there was the cake- a complete labor of love. Three layers of chocolate cake with a chocolate mousse layer in between, the covered with buttercream icing waves and surrounded by chocolate shells. It was so heavy, my kitchen scale wouldn't weigh it. 

It was the dolphin cake topper, sculpted by my husband from Wilton Shape-n-Amaze, that really stole the show.

The birthday girl, who was in the pool on the blow-up dolphin most of the time, absolutely loved her party.

This guy had a pretty good time, too. Although, I owe him a birthday do-over for all of the hard work he did helping me to prepare. 

How do you prepare for a themed party? How long does it take you to prepare? Thanks for stopping by! 

Scraptastic Club: August Sketch Layout

I am SUCH a huge fan of sketches. So often I feel like I have to come up with something original and out of the box for every layout I create, which can be exhausting! Sometimes, your brain just needs a break from coming up with something completely original. In addition to that, starting with a sketch saves me so much time! I can usually whip up a layout in 30 minutes or less. The sketch from Scraptastic Club this month is a great one to get your creative juices flowing.

My take on this sketch documented a recent photo of my dad and my daughter. I love the mix of yellow, pink and navy on this layout, created with the  Wednesday Night kit & add-on from August 2015.

To twist the sketch up a bit, I used two triangles cut from the Pink Paislee patterned paper, but placed them on the bottom and the right side of my 8-1/2" x 11" layout, grouping my title and all of my embellishment on the right side triangle. Around the edges of my triangles, I stamped phrases with the August 2015 Elastic Heart stamp set (sold out). 

I wanted to use two different fonts in my title, and to make the word 'his' quite masculine, I decided to hand cut my letters from the We R Memory Keepers fabric included in the kit. To ensure that all of my letters were the same size to start, I cut three equally sized rectangles out of the fabric, and then cut my letters from those pieces. To finish off the layout, I created a pocket for my hidden journaling tag under my photo. 

Thanks for stopping by today! How will you interpret this sketch? 

Scraptastic Club Layout: Capture Everyday Moments

Happy Monday! I created a quick, bright and sunny layout over the weekend using the Wednesday Night kit, add-on and stamp set from Scraptastic Club, and today I'm sharing the layout as well as a process video with you!

Thanks so much for watching & I'd love for you to leave a comment or feedback! If you'd like to check out any of my other tutorial or process videos, please click on my YouTube link at the top right of the page. 

Scraptastic Club Layout: Lovely & Mighty

I've been creating away this week with the Scraptastic Club's Wednesday Night kit & add-on, so I have a new 8-1/2" x 11" layout to share with you today.

I love the exclusive papers in this month's kit, and I loved how the shape of the dome on the paper echoed the shape of the playground in my photo. Subtle nuances like this can really bring your layout together into a cohesive, thoughtful design.

One thing I'm really loving about the 8-1/2" x  11" size layout is that I can easily type and print my journaling on the background paper. I created a nice column with journaling, my title and my photo, to stand up to the weight of my patterned paper column on the right. The "adventure" circle was added with the August 2015 This Life Noted stamp set, and I placed a chipboard heart from the Simple Stories So Fancy chipboard in the add-on kit.

I wanted a tall, strong sans-serif font for the word "mighty" in my title, so I cut the word, using Bebas Neue, on my Silhouette Cameo. Above that, I added the "love this girl" banner from the Wednesday Night digital files and the chipboard ampersand, again from the Simples Stories chipboard in the add-on. To finish off the page, I added a cardstock border at the top left corner, a metal brad and a few enamel dots.

Thanks for stopping by & have a great weekend!

Pinhole Press Photo Books

One of the reasons why I scrapbook, not only to allow myself an avenue to express my creativity, is to get photos off of my computer and on paper, to look at, flip through and, most importantly, remember.

There's something really special about flipping through a photo album that cannot be recreated by scrolling through my Photos app.

When I come back from a trip, I'm usually overwhelmed by the amount of photos I have to document, and because on vacation, I'm usually carrying my DSLR camera, the amount of quality photos is huge. Instead of feeling the guilt of not being able to document every one of those memories, I started ordering photo books to document our summer family vacations printed from Pinhole Press, and until August 28th at midnight, you can use the code SMILE15 to receive 15% off your photo book purchase!

The reason why I chose Pinhole Press was because of the Layflat Panoramic Photo Book. I loved the clean, modern look, the fabric spine and the ability to fill the entire cover with an image. I looked around at other similar companies, but this style definitely appealed to me.

As promised, the book lays flat perfectly, just out of the box, allowing you to be able to see a full size image across two pages.

Within the layout editor for the book, there were a lot of different options for photo layouts. I wanted to keep the book clean, without any text, so I opted for the most simple layout styles featuring one, two or three photos.

I can't even tell you how much joy this book gives me!

On top of the beautiful layout, the pages are extremely thick and have a lovely, smooth texture.

Even the inside of the front and back covers can house a photo. I chose this funny one of my daughter as the final image in the book.

I highly recommend Pinhole Press for not only their product, but also their customer service, which I had to take advantage of when I had trouble uploading my photos. They were extremely helpful and helped me get the book completed quickly.

If you'd like to get your photos off your camera, smartphone or computer and into a beautiful keepsake book, check out Pinhole Press. Remember, until August 28th at midnight, you can use the code SMILE15 to receive 15% off your photo book purchase! They have a wide variety of photo book options and styles. I purchased my first book (with my own money, I was never given any product for free) as a gift for my parents, and then loved it so much that I purchased a second book for myself. I plan on doing this every year. 

By using the links provided throughout this post and the Pinhole Press button on the sidebar, you are supporting my blog. Thank you in advance!

Elle's Studio August Reveal & NEW Mini Courses!

Hi there! Today is the 10th, and it's a very exciting day for me, not only because it is reveal day for the August exclusive kit, but also because today is the day we are debuting the new Exclusive Kit Mini Course to coordinate with the kits, and as I am the new Classroom Coordinator for Elle's, it is a big day for me!

Each month, we will be asking three different contributors to give you extra inspiration using the kit on a scrapbook layout, cards and a double pocket page spread. Once purchased, for a bargain price of $4.99,  you will receive a link via email to download the course, allowing you to print or view on your tablet! The class will only be available until August 31, 2015, so be sure to purchase at the same time as your kit! This month's contributors are amazing, and I'm sure you will be inspired to put your kit to use once you have seen their projects! 

I'm extremely proud of our first month's course, and I can't wait to share the contributors we have coming up for the next few months! Now on to the kit…

A beautiful mix of bright, bold colors, mixed with white and neutral grey make up this month's kit, which I totally and completely am in love with! In addition to the kit, the "Oh, No!" stamp set and XO acrylics will be all you need to embellish your projects.

If you like adding printables and cut files to your projects, these coordinating digital files will be perfect for you! 

This month, I created two layouts to share with you today. I also have some cards on the way, which will be featured later in the month on the Elle's Studio blog.

My first layout, Enchanted Rock, features the softer side of the kit. Along with the kit, I used my favorite paper from the Sycamore Lane collection, along with the grey and white stripe from the Let's Eat collection paper pack. The "awesome" vellum piece from the kit was perfect for layering over the negative space in my photo, and I cut out the mountain range from a 3" x 4" card from the kit to layer on top of another tag and stitch to make it seem more like a custom embellishment than a tag.

I also loved adding little sayings and trees from the "Oh, No!" stamp set around my layout.    

My second layout is my first 8-1/2" x 11" layout in years, and I couldn't love it more! The photos that I took from a recent trip to Tom + Chee, a Cincinnati-based tomato soup and grilled cheese shop, coordinated perfectly with this kit. To the kit, I added papers from the Let's Eat collection pack. The striped triangle pieces in the corners came from the "Here We Go" printables.

I had to use the adorable wood veneers from the Let's Eat collection in between my photos. 

That's it from me this week! In addition to the new exclusive kit and new course, there is also a huge sale going on in the shop! 

June Pocket Page Spreads

Hi there and happy FRIDAY! Today on the Scraptastic Club blog, I shared the second half of my June pocket page spreads, using the This Life Noted kits, and I wanted to share my entire month of June here with you, too! 

The first half of my month started with our trip to Savannah, so I used a bit more color than I normally would on a spread. I used the June 2015 This Life Noted kit to complete the spread. 

My favorite card for the spread - possibly in the entire album so far - is this custom 4" x 6" card. To create it, I just cut large letters out with my Silhouette Cameo, twice, in color and in grey to create a shadow. After adhering them to the card, I cut it in half so that it fit in two 3" x 4" sleeves and then journaled at the bottom, finishing off with a stamped car from the June 2015 Can't Go Home stamp set (sold out.)

My second spread, created with the July 2015 This Life Noted kit, shows the second half of my month. In this spread, I included a few cards printed with typed journaling to give more information about the stories shown. I love the yellow, grey and tomato red color scheme on this spread.  

My favorite card on this spread was, once again, a 4" x 6" card, placed at the top of my spread. To create it, I added "June," stamped with the awesome July 2015 Sentiments Series v.10 alphabet stamp. To this, I added a tag with the "#summer" sticker, along with the yellow sunburst and cork quote embellishment.

I also loved the stamp set included in the July 2015 TLN kit. The "game changer" bubble couldn't have been more perfect for this card about new spin bikes at the gym. 

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look at my album. Be sure to check out the TLN kits if you're in the market for a pocket page kit subscription. They make documenting our everyday so much easier! 

Tutorial: Print and cut journaling inside a circle

I recently shared a layout, "The Twos" that included a circular cut file in the background. To keep my design clean and consistent, I decided to include my journaling on the largest die-cut circle. My writing, however hard I try, is not very small, so to get all of my words down in the 2" circle, I was going to have to type it on my computer and print it out, and I figured that the quickest way to cut it would be with my Silhouette Cameo. Today I'd like to share this process with you using Photoshop Elements and Silhouette Studio software, so that you can try it on your next layout! 

1. In Photoshop or Photoshop Elements using the ellipse tool, draw a circle just smaller than the diameter of the circle that you will be adding to your layout. In my case, my largest die-cut background circle was just over 2" in diameter, so I sized my circle at 2", using the ellipse option menu at the upper left side of the toolbar.

2. Choose your horizontal text tool. Although the screen shot doesn't show it, when you hover your cursor over the edge of your circle after choosing this tool, a small circle appears behind your cursor. When you see that, click and the boundaries of your text box will be placed inside that circle.

3. Type your journaling so that it fits inside the circle. You can adjust the font and size to make it fill up the entire circle shape. Once your journaling is complete, save the file as a PNG. 

4. Open Silhouette Studio software and in the Design Page Settings menu, make your sheet 8-1/2" x 11", and turn on the print and cut border. Locate your PNG file and drag and drop it into this new document, being sure not to adjust the size. Your text should be well inside the print border lines.

5. Using the ellipse shape tool on the toolbar, draw a circle. In the Scale menu, adjust your circle size to fit your die-cut size, which is slightly larger than your journaling circle, in my case 2.2" in diameter. Turn on your registration marks in the Registration Marks menu and be sure that everything fits inside the guides. 

6. Print your journaling from the Silhouette Studio software. This will also print the registration marks, which are the key to being sure that your circle will cut in the correct place.

7. Once your journaling is printed, load the paper in your Silhouette Cameo and cut according to the paper type settings for your chosen paper. The Silhouette should cut it exactly as it is shown on your screen and you can then adhere to your layout! 

I hope you find this useful on your next project! Thanks for stopping by!

The Twos

Since I became pregnant, I've heard that the "terrible twos" are a definite force to be reckoned with, however, I was a bit spoiled for the first six months of Lizzy's second year of life, and I figured that they just weren't going to be an issue for us.

Until now.

In the past two weeks, the terrible twos have hit us hard. Screaming, kicking, and just general grumpy moods have now become a new thing to deal with here in the Andrew household. The phrase that echoes around the house now is, "I NO LIKE [insert object/person]," whether it is aimed at a toy she is tired of playing with, or myself or Simon. It has definitely been a game-changer for us in terms of planning activities and in how we approach her. 

In my life of documenting, I try to get both the good and the bad down on paper, so you can probably expect to see quite a few photos of a moody toddler in the future. On a recent trip to Lexington, Kentucky, my alma-mater town, I wanted to snap a few photos of her in front of the fountain at Triangle Park, but, surprisingly, she didn't have the same plans.

Instead of filing this photo away in the "uncooperative toddler" file, I decided to scrapbook it with the True Colors kit and add-on from Scraptastic Club. The beautiful Dear Lizzy wide washi tape included in the add-on matched Lizzy's outfit perfectly from that day, so that was the starting point for my layout.

To create my fun, artsy background, I cut the True Colors digital cut file from the same white cardstock that I used for my background. I also punched circles, corresponding to the size of the circles in the cut file, from watercolor paper. Using the pie shapes in the cut file as a guide, I used my Stampin' Up ink pads and a water brush to watercolor the colors from the washi tape in the circles.

Since I already had a lot going on in my background, I kept my embellishment simple with pieces from both the kit and add-on, as well as the True Colors printables.

To make my journaling fit into the design of the layout, I decided to put it inside the largest circle on my background. Typing it up in Photoshop Elements and cutting it out with the Silhouette Cameo was quite easy. Look for the tutorial on how you can do this too on Monday! 

Have a great weekend! 

Scraptastic Layout: Sunny, Happy Summer

Over at Scraptastic Club this month, I worked with the bright and bold True Colors kit and add-on. With the pink, orange, yellow, white and black color scheme, it was the perfect kit to use with a sunny, summer photo of Elizabeth in the pool, however, I wanted to add a few more colors to highlight the colors in my photo.

In addition to the kits, I added the wonky border from the July 2015 Summertime Rolls stamp set to add additional colors into my layout.

To make my colorful borders, I stamped the border onto my background (using the patterned paper I had already adhered as a guide to keep it nice and straight) with Versamark. I added American Crafts Zing white embossing powder, to keep the background clean, then heat set. Once it was cool, I added little bits of watercolor in the spaces randomly. To add a bit of shine, I also colored in a few squares with a PenTouch gold metallic pen.

I love using an embossing technique when coloring in stamped images! The raised surface is perfect for helping me to color in the lines.

I kept most of my embellishment around my photo, using a sleeve for my journaling tag, In addition to the beautiful bright yellow doily, I also added the star circle, attached with a mini clip, and 'more of this' from the True Colors digital files. 

I knew I had to use the beautiful stamp set again to create my title, and I opted to leave the word "sandy" out, since we weren't at the beach, and replace it with the Bella Boulevard alpha stickers spelling, "summer." To make the words really stand out against the colorful paper, I again heat embossed "sunny" and "happy" with white embossing powder. 

I love how versatile and useful stamps can be on my layouts. Thanks for stopping by & have a great week! 

Around the web...

Summer is busy around here. We have been enjoying time spent with family, going on adventures and taking it easy at the same time. I have been living in the moment, which means that I haven't shared everything that I've been doing around the scrapbooking web-o-sphere lately. So today, I'd just like to give you a head's up on a few places I've been featured.

Basic Grey June Guest Designer

I was so excited to be asked as the Basic Grey guest designer for the month of June! I created four different layouts using the Tea Garden collection, which at first I was afraid would be a bit busy for me. However, the beautiful colors drew me in and I created four projects that I absolutely love, not to mention am so proud of. Check out the original guest designer post on the Basic Grey blog to see my other projects. 

Pocket Talk Podcast

Layout featured in Jot Magazine, Issue 10.

Earlier this month, I sat down to have a chat with the lovely Jess Forster on her podcast, Pocket Talk. I have been a listener since episode one, and when she asked me to chat with her, I was so excited. In my episode, episode 12, we chat about my pocket page documentation failures and successes, as well as how I photograph and edit my pocket page photos for design team work. 

Traveler's Notebook for Scraptastic Club

Yesterday, I was featured on the Scraptastic Club blog using the packed, beautiful "Can't Go Home" kit and add-on to make a traveler's notebook insert that I plan to use on an upcoming trip to Boston. The process was so easy and I can't wait to use it to document my trip! 

If you want to be sure to catch everything I'm up to in my personal, as well as scrapbooking life, I update my Instagram account regularly, so be sure to follow me there! 

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you're having a wonderful summer! 

Elle's Studio July Exclusive Kit Reveal

Hello there and happy Friday! The new Elle's Studio exclusive kit is live and beautiful, and along with the main kit, the coordinating add-ons will help you create beautiful layouts, pocket pages and cards!

In addition to the kit, the Weekend printables and July cut files will help to add that extra touch to your projects.

In addition to the awesome Weekend stamp this month, new acrylic stars coordinate with the colors in the kit.

This month, I created a layout and a card with the kit and add-ons. I loved the celebratory 'American' feel of the kit this month, and a recent photo taken at a baseball game seemed perfect to document with these goodies. 

ES Supplies used: July exclusive kit, 'Weekend' stamp, acrylic stars, 'Weekend' printable, July cut file, 'Let's Eat' paper collection ('Meal Planner' paper), letter & number stickers-teal. Other supplies: Studio Calico (glitter stars, 'Hooray' banner), Gossamer Blue ('We are here' arrow), Evalicious (gold puffy camera), American Crafts (red chipboard alpha), enamel dots. 

I also created a colorful, celebration card with the kit. I loved joining the kit tag with the tag from the Weekend printable! 

ES supplies used: July exclusive kit, 'Weekend' stamp, acrylic stars, 'Weekend' printable, 'Let's Eat' paper collection ('This + That' paper). Other supplies: Ribbon (American Crafts- teal, Stamping' Up!- yellow & pom pom), enamel dots.

Remember, the kit will be $9.99 for TODAY ONLY. Also, the first 150 orders placed will receive a free lovely acrylic embellishment! 

Jot Magazine July Mood Board

The July mood board at Jot Magazine is live, and the beautiful board, created by Beshka Kueser, has the most beautiful color palette. 

I was so inspired by the color scheme- one that I had never created with before, that I created this layout.

Supplies | Patterned paper: American Crafts (teal dot, green ledger, '2' tag), Crate Paper (green tags), Studio Calico (floral), Doodlebug (pink dot vellum). Embellishments: Pebbles (gold alpha), Simple Stories (flower, heart & 'loving life' chipboard), Bella Boulevard (felt bow), American Crafts (heart puffy sticker, 'fabulous' die cut), Basic Grey (pennant chipboard), My Mind's Eye (twine). Other (enamel dots).

The photo of my daughter against an orange wall in Savannah was perfect for the color scheme, and I paired it with a wide range of teal, yellow and green product, with a tiny bit of pink thrown in for good measure.

As soon as I saw the photo, I knew I wanted to journal about how active and difficult that Lizzy is at the age of two. When I was taking her photo, I couldn't get her to sit still or look at the camera at all. This momma business is such a wild, beautiful ride. 

Be sure to link up your creation to the Jot Magazine blog using this beautiful inspiration board by the end of the month! 

Scraptastic Club June Projects

June was definitely a great month at Scraptastic. I worked with the Can't Go Home kit and add-on this month, as I was drawn to the travel theme and the bright, bold colors. 

My first project this month was a 'main kit only' project and documented my daughter's first flight- a pretty momentous occasion.

My favorite part about the kit was the Can't Go Home stamp set, which I used to stamp the top of my journaling.

My second layout used both the main kit and the add-on to document my daughter's start to walking while we were in Paris. 

I loved the mix of the Shimelle True Stories collection with the Pink Paislee Atlas collection in these kits. I also used a label from the June Can't Go Home digital files on this one.

My third layout, again documenting a part of our Parisian trip, records an amazing boat tour down the Seine.

I also used the June 2015 This Life Noted kit to record the start of my June. 

My favorite part of the spread was this bold, colorful title to highlight the start of our vacation to Savannah, which I created by die-cutting letters (with Bebas Neue font) from my Silhouette Cameo and adhered to a 4"x6" TLN card.

I followed the same color scheme on the right side and used a lot of this month's stamps on my title card.

With a mix of the Can't Go Home and Thinking Out Loud stamp sets, using stamp pad colors to match the rest of the spread, I created a perfect accent card for my layout. 

Be sure to check out the beautiful June kits, which are still available in the Scraptastic store! 

Jot Magazine Issue 10: Story Telling

Today I'd like to share a layout with you that was featured in Jot Magazine's Issue 10, which released on June 1st. This celebratory 2nd birthday issue is jam packed with inspiration from my fellow design team members as well as readers. My layout, "Leg!" was featured in the "Story Telling" gallery and our assignment this month was to document funny sayings from our loved ones. Months ago, I snapped this photo of Lizzy and I playing ball by setting my DSLR camera on the floor and using the timer. As soon as I read the assignment, I knew this photo would be perfect to document an everyday activity here at our home.

Supplies | Cardstock: Bazzill. Patterned papers: Shimelle for American Crafts (ledger & pink dots), Studio Calico (letters), We R Memory Keepers (stars), Crate Paper (vellum); Embellishments: Heidi Swapp (letters & metal clip), Studio Calico (heart), Gossamer Blue (‘happy memories’ banner, ‘together’ chipboard), Crate Paper (tag, tab sticker), American Crafts (house puffy sticker, wooden flair, small stars & heart stickers), Simple Stories (chipboard frame); Stamp: Scraptastic Club; Other: Stampin’ Up! (ink & twine)

The story: One of Lizzy's favorite activities is playing ball, but she is very particular on how it will be played. She shouts, "leg!" whenever she wants to play, which means that you have to sit down on the floor wherever you are standing, and spread your legs so that she can pass the ball to you. She's a bit demanding, but still quite cute. 

How I created this layout: 

1. I printed a 4"x6" photo and matted with a 4-1/2" x 6-1/2" piece of white cardstock. 
2. Next I layered three different patterned papers at the upper half of a 12"x12" sheet of ledger patterned paper and adhered the photo to the top of the layers with dimensional adhesive.
3. At the upper right-hand corner of the photo, I tucked a tab label behind the photo & add a 'love' sticker. To the right of the label, I added a metal clip and slid the 'happy memories' die-out label under it.
4. At the bottom left-hand corner of the photo, I added a grouping of embellishment. I framed a piece of vellum in a chipboard frame, and added a tag on top, on which I stapled a transparent heart. On top of that, I added another chipboard element, the 'together' circle. On the left side of the frame I added a puffy sticker house and a wooden enamel button. The frame served as the base for all of the embellishment in this grouping.
5. At the right bottom corner of the embellishment grouping, I added a 'today documented' stamp.
6. At the bottom right-hand corner of the patterned paper grouping, I added a large title in transparent letters. Beneath it, I handwrote my journaling.
7. To finish off my layout, I added three different groupings of small heart and star stickers.

Thanks for stopping by! Over the next couple of weeks, I will be sharing my Jot Issue 10 layouts here on my blog, but in the meantime, check out the full, FREE issue of Jot today!