Hello and Let me reaquaint myself over here!

Hello? Hello. Anyone out there.. This blog has been seriously neglected but so has been my scrapbooking. To get back into the swing of things, I will attempt to create one crafty thing a week and post it here on my blog.... Do you think I can do it? I think I can!
If you happen to be out there leave me a little message (a girl can use all the support she can receive!).
To get the ball rolling I have created two cards using the sketches from www.sketchnscrap.blogspot.com which has been posted at my Stampin' Up only blog and this layout:

You can check out the sketch here: 

http://sketchnscrap.blogspot.com/2013/07/sketch-n-scrap-37.html?m=1

Sketch-N-Scrap

I think I have mentioned this before but I LOVE sketches!  It really takes a load off when trying to decide a design for the photos on my desk.

Well how excited was I when I found out Lisa Hidy started a sketch site!  I know Lisa through PersonalScrapper and she really has helped me get some pages done through her monthly challenges there.....

Sketch-N-Scrap so hosting a guest designer spot this month!  All you have to do is head over to her blog:http://sketchnscrap.blogspot.com/
and link up your layout based on this sketch:

I did not vary the sketch too much on my layout and used this months Personal Scrapper kit:)

Weird Science

If you grew up in the 80's you know the movie and the song is playing in your head.... unfortunately every time I look at these layouts I can't help that it just pops right in again- Weird Science!

Today's Theme is:

 Science

It took me over a year to scrap these pictures.  It was an afternoon at the Hall of Science.  I took loads of pictures and printed more than I should have. 

These are the photos that have made it to the scrapbooks (there may be more in the future since I have plans for a few more):

All layouts were created with JilliBean Pattern Paper.

I just love the way this lil' Astronaut and Rocket Ship came out. 

They were created with the B is for Boys cricut cart. 

I am really proud that I am using it more often!

And yes there are still more layouts to be shown!!!

Year-o-logy

A few years ago (2008) I decided to keep a little pocket calendar in my bag and updated to include birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, events and under each date- there was a small amount of space to add notes and journaling.  After each month was complete, I would tear the calendar out and print out a few wallet size photos of some of the events on the calendar.  I would take these and my Personal Scrapper Kit of that month and create a monthly layout.  This is one of my favorite scrapbooks because it represented our Everyday life.  The happy & fun moments as well as the Dr. Visits, the meetings at work, dance classes and sports practices.

In March I received my kit from PersonalScrapper and it featured Simple Stories Year-o-logy line and I decided it has been a few years- I want to do it again.   This was also my effort into participating in a Project Life sort of album, a Take 12 project without the whole commitment.  It is sort of my hybrid of the two.

So what did I do?  My regular routine when downloading photos is to organize all photos by year and month.  So it was easy for me to open up Picasa (I have photoshop elements but find this way easier for me since I have not experimented with PSE enough)

I went through the Monthly folder and starred each photo I wanted to use. 

 Once I went through the month, I would go back to my starred photos and pick 12 photos. 

 I then created a collage with these twelve.

I used the text tool to type in the numbers on each photo and printed the collage out.  

Next I looked for Journaling cards and parts of the pattern paper that

represented each month

and create a layout.

Each layout has a Bingo month card and either journaling on the layout

or tucked behind the layout.

The journaling cards have a list with each number on the photo and

a caption.

I tried to mix special occasions, events with everyday life (like the strawberries growing in the garden in the above layout and the kids playing in the pool)

I have lots more layouts- come back soon for our next Theme: Science!

Best Wishes,

Lydia



The Girl Loves To Dance!

My blog has been neglected- AGAIN! 

I have been creating a lot more than usual but since I am on a computer everyday at work when I get home- I don't want to look at it!  So the layouts are piling up just begging to be posted.

I decided to break out my layouts into themes and will be post them regularly :)

Today's Theme is:

Dance

I {Heart} Dance

 I took this photo at my daughters dance school during open house (it is the one time of the year we are allowed to sit in the classes and take pictures, after viewing their silly antics because we were there-I can see why they limit it to once a year)

The pattern paper is from MOXXIE, I bought it at an all weekend crop I attended this month (I had a blast and will be talking more about it in the next post)

Bling is from Kaisercrafts

I stickled the heart

Frame was made with my new Fancy Frames Cricut Cart! 

Labels were created with EK Success Labeler from the Smashbook line.  (I bought it for less than 10 bucks at Michael's with a coupon!)

Open House

This layout is on open house for Ballet.  I used Echo Parks Le Ballet Mini Line for the PP, stickers journaling card and borders. The brads are from basic grey & ric-rac trim from Maya Road. 

Lil Orphan Annie

This layout was also created with Echo Park's Le Ballet Mini-Line.  The Journaling/title block is from My Minds Eye.  This years theme for the Spring Recital was Broadway Blitz.

For my daughters Jazz class- they dance to a mixed medley of Annie songs.  It was a great show.  The girls hated the costume but I thought they looked so cute in them.

Happy Feet

This 2-pager was also put together using Echo Park's Le Ballet Mini-Line.  I cannot remember the manufacturer for the the little tap shoes and dancer dimensional stickers. The song they performed to was Dancin' Dan (Me & my shadow) 

Fancy Footwork

This layout was a page kit layout that I picked up last year at the Scrapbooking Expo in Somerset NJ.  The page kit came from Apron Strings.  I never buy pre-made/ design layouts.  I usually don't have any use for them- I really enjoy the design process of scrapbooking. 

I had it in my stash for over a year and decided to bring it with me on my weekend crop (Just in case I needed down time- I can just whip this together)  It didn't actually work out like that.  Although the design is premade, the papers are pre-cut, I can't tell you how many hours I spent putting this together.  It really looks awesome in person.  The crazy part  was I decided since I spent all that time putting it together- I am going to use it for my daughters ballet recital pictures.  It was scary how the colors on the paper dancer matched so well and the costumes looked so similar!

The moral to this story- don't underestimate a page layout kit!

Come back soon for more layout ideas.

Have a Great Week!

Lydia







Congratulations on 100 Kits PersonalScrapper!!

Guess what!  PersonalScrapper issued their 100th kit this month!!!!  This was no easy feat- they are the only kit club to reach 100 kits!!!
I joined the kit club Nov. 2006 in hopes to find something that will keep me motivated and up to date with my scrapbooking! Many kits later and I can honsetly say, I have NEVER recieved a kit I did not like or use. 
Thank you Erica and Team for creating kits for us every month!
To celebrate the 100th kit- we were treated to a jam packed kit filled with goodies!!
The message board is hopping with inspiration!  Each day a new challenge is listed and Erica has been posting on her personalscrapper.blogspot.com blog.  It is very interesting to read about the start-up and all the work behind the scenes.
If you have never received a kit or visited the forums- this is a great month to check it out:
www.personalscrapper.com

Erica (the owner) created this layout highlighting a few moments (she also used this months kit- Echo Park's Paradise Beach):

June 2nd's challenge was to create a layout with 4 photos.  I used the May 2010 kit Featuring My Mind's Eye.  Since I was down to scraps I added the Basic Grey letter stickers for the title, the jewelry tag is a Stampin Up punch and the ribbon is from Stampin Up.

June 3rd's challenge was to create a layout with Journaling.  I decided to use the May 2012 kit since it had this cool newpaper background and the pattern paper with lots of circles which played with the ball theme.

Well I am off to create a few layouts with this months kits.  Go visit the PersonalScrapper site and let me know what you think!

Lydia





Creative Crops Layouts

Hi All,
If you joined the Big Picture Classes Online Creative Crop then you don't need me to tell you how awesome it was.  I was able to do 6 layouts.  The other 6 challenges are sitting on my scrappy desk and I will attempt to tackle them during the month of May.  So don't be surprise if you see several post on these!
Use Kraft in two different ways: I have been alternating on using my new stash and old.  This is one of older pieces of pattern paper.  The Toad was cut from the cricut.

Create a layouts using the sketch:
This pattern paper is Echo Park's Mini line Woof!

Create a fanciful frame: used bling to frame the dog.  



Create a layout with handmade flags on it. 

Use cast-off products: I created this layout with the cover page of Echo Parks Le Ballet Mini line (used as background)  The flower has punched circles from dictionary pages)

And I used this layout for the Analogous Colors layout. (Blue, green and yellow)

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Thanks for looking!!

Have a crafty day,

Lydia