Going for a bit of whimsey

My first idea was to make my own cutfile type "stencil"

for lack of a better word by using those spellbinder diecuts

gluing them together and then back them

using the Sassafrass Lass paper.

I wasn't crazy about the outcome when I backed a couple.

It just looked too heavy for the page.

However they are cute to use somewhere else.

However, I did like the bird and those wheel thingies or slices and hearts

so I began fussy cutting, punching, and tossing them about on the page

using the die cuts separately and not backed.

 There are clusters and then some tight clusters going on.

 Sadly that is the end of the Sassafrass Lass paper. I really love it-because its fun.

I'm not sure why I added pink and orange either except I liked it.

I think it plays off the whimsey I was going for

and then I tossed some Heidi shine and Mr Huey mists about.

And that is a sequence of photos of Amelia playing.

I didn't catch that at first when I first saw the photo....that I've had for awhile.

The rest is Studio Calico of course, and that adorable bow punch.

Bokeh scrapbook paper

Love the look of it.

Very celebratory and fun.

And it could be initimidating.

Therefore I figured I'd practice my layering.

Which in a way focuses your attention on the photo.

And I had some negative punched embellishments going on

and they too work perfectly on the page.

Sassafrass Lass alphas make it complete.

I did stamp around and tried layering them too.

Didn't do too bad using eggplant dew drops.

Those were totally dug out from long ago stash.

Yeah the title is well, not very creative, but my brain couldn't

do any better and I wanted to finish the page.

Sometimes you just have to go with it.

Splatters even work.

On the Move with primary colors

that are perfect for a boy or  girl. It doesn't matter that there are flowers on my boy's page, the blue numbers totally offset any girliness. When I began this page I honestly wasn't in the mood to scrap, well I was but I wasn't. For me, its hard to explain - I want to create and then I have no idea where to begin and what to do.

 I feel overwhelmed. 

Design a new page, cut up new papers and what if it doesn't work out. 

Its at times like these I go back to the basics. 

I try not to do anything too tricky, and I tend to go to my stash so I can just relax and create. 

If anything gets messed up - no harm - no foul.

These are original photos and adhered with repositional tape just in case. 

And now they are done. 

The rest of the page was done with permanent tape and I have UNdu my go to

in times of scrappy desperation. 

This is my favorite youngest son who was on the move since birth and hasn't stopped yet. 

He was generally happy. And smiled alot.

Therefore momma was happy and smiled alot. 

Sassafrass lass, Studio Calico, Recollections, WRM. 

Another fun girly page

And isn't fun just rocking the girly stuff.

And I'm plowing through my new Studio Calico kit.

wooo hooo!!!

Not quite as blingy but girly none-the-less.

And just how girly over the top when daddy is painting her nails.

And it looks like both have their jobs down.

She is being so careful with the other hand. So adorable.

This was another page I built without a photo 

in mind and I changed things up by making the mats

portrait and that made finding a photo

an adventure because everyone mostly shoots in landscape.

However, instagram to the rescue and 4x4 rocked it.

Studio Calico and leftovers from my "I don't know what to do with"

dodad basket. Love that. 

Some Sassfrass Lass alphas and

the confetti courtesy of Studio Calico as well

and adhered with some gesso.

Which is why there are some blobs.

I left them and decided not to stress about them.

They're supposed to be FUN.

Going girly

Finally, the great thing about having granddaughters 

is being able to go girly. 

Love the boys but there is something about pearls,

bows and flowers.

Although I must admit I love boys, I love girly too.

So here we have new Studio Calico paper, my go-to doily heart,

October Afternoon card, Paper Studio pearls, prima flowers

of which I have an entire super satchel full.

(I've been slowly working my way through and not purchasing

any more flowers). Yay!

And those adorable little bows with pearls I found in the

wedding aisle at Michael's.

I did mist with my new Heidi Swapp and Mr. Huey and

it appears I managed to cover some of it up.

Ms. Amelia is at the beach, but since the background is artfully

blurred out, I went with the paper since it works

with the artfully blurred background.

Stay tuned for my tutorial on using household goods in scrapbooking.
Coming March 19th at Off the Rails Scrapbooking!

Old Sassafrass Lass paper

I've been into using stash - not because it was stash, although it's always cool to whittle down the vast amount of papers and to not waste the tree that went into that stash, but because it actually

works for the photo and story. 

What you may not have been attracted to in the past actually rocks your little scrap world now. 

How cool is that.

I have subscribed to kits in the past and raise your hand if you DIDN'T love everything you received.

It really makes sense and I was okay with that because at times it made me spread my wings a bit.

Now the paper I used on this page isn't earth shattering out there and why I haven't used it prior to this I really can't say. I'm glad that as I was searching for something else this popped into my hands.

I love that I was able to use newer items like washi, wooden veneers, Simple Stories labels, mists, and twine and they all made the page. And maybe if I hadn't told you - you wouldn't remember how old this paper is. Or maybe you would. 

My philopsophy is 100 years from now no one is going to know I didn't use the latest and greatest on any given page.

However isn't great to USE NEW STUFF!

I love that stamp too, which is new from my Studio Calico kit. 

I just need to remember to keep an eye on my same brand of  inks when choosing inks and not just grab one. I wanted black and ended up with grey and didn't trust that I could line it up correctly.

ooooppps.....However, it really out well.

Capturing the ouchie moments

 Poor Q-man was a happy go-lucky kid standing on a wall and before you know it.

Face plant at the bottom of the wall.

So not funny and totally painful and would you look at that pretty puss.

However its too good to pass up for a picture moment. Stuff like this happens and fortunately he was not seriously hurt. Teeth are good - so his smile is still terrific and nose or face not broken.

Just a bit battered and bruised. Poor baby.

And he picked himself up and hopped right back up on that wall after some ice.

Ice heals everything.

You gotta admire his spunk.

Some basic grey old and new, sassafrass lass, Studio Calico stuff, quickutz die, washi tape, twine, thickers.

Not a lot of tricks going on the page - couldn't help the splat behind the camera though.

Make a birth announcement the star of your page

Of course it helps to have a talented photographer in the family

and a really seriously cute, adorable baby.

This page started with another photo in mind.

Which I can't find.
I know you're surprised.

It was a heritage photo I put somewhere safe.

My pal April says I need a crystal ball. LOL.

That's totally true.

I've been tearing through everywhere I can think 

several times. So its really really safe.

I do have electronic photos of them, thank God, but I wanted 

the original and I may have already done it and

not remember, however, I don't think so.
Well in flipping through the wayback box - WA-LA and
doesn't the perfect one just pop on out in my hand.
Gotta love it when a plan comes through.

Anyway, I started the Recollections paper off with Tim Holtz spider web stencil.

And the majority is now hidden behind all the laying.

Clever eh?

Tells you how well that worked out.

I did try covering it up with mist and assorted stuff and sundry.

Covering up the majority was the best solution.

There's also some BoBunny, Sassafrass lass, Basic Grey and Trinity.

A QK vine and flowers with punched hearts

and Bellisimo rubons.

DO you know that rubons stick really really well on your fingers?

Studio Calico butterflies and hello stamp.

I think I wasn't meant to find the photo I really wanted since this totally

works out perfectly. I added the lil B&W photo

because that is actually on the back of the card with a 

point to their website and well someone needed to say hello.

Who better than big brother.

Your challenge is to make a page using an announcement.

enjoy every minute

I love that stamp and have used it often.

Studio Calico of course.

When this photo came over the iphone I swooned.

Its just perfect.

I printed in 3x3 so it wouldn't be too pixilated

and than broke out the deckle scissors

because I remember (and still have some) old B&W

photos that have that kind of edging.

I think its cool and worked perfect in making this photo look dainty.

I tossed it on the background paper it looked perfect.

And it didn't need a lot to showcase it.

Found this big envelope that I had trouble using in the past

(thank goodness) and used it as a mat.

ooooooooo I KNOW.

I wanted to keep things simple so I put a little matching

cluster in the corner and found some

Sassafrass lass that had the perfect colors for the tag

and I actually used up the last of the ribbon in my SC kit.

And then came the title.

Love it.

Remember

I love this stamp and I have used it quite a bit. It was the perfect choice for this heritage photo.

I have to admit - another page put together before having a photo for it.

Love that - like totally.

Actually I had this selection of papers/scraps picked at the same time I was picking out papers for Camera holder. I know you're totally aghast now.

Anyway, love how it turned out. I don't remember the "post card" mfg. but it totally works here. I also copied the back of the photo that has someone's writing on it. Could be my great grandmom's OR my Aunt Toot. (short oh's - not like beeping a horn-LOL).

The photo took me into a FB chat with my cousin who's the last man standing on the Schneider side. He was a font of info that led me back to Ancestry because I had a few things wrong.

I know you're surprised.

I fixed up my boo-boos and while I was chatting, being the magnficent multi-tasker that I am - I continued to work on the page. Which is why the butterfly is covering up some journing because my Cuz couldn't seem to make up his mind who the writing belonged to.

Which is all good.

And while the title bazzil looks pink - its matches the flower when its under the light at my desk. Just wanted to clear that up.

A mix of pattern paper is Daisy D's (base), Cosmo Cricket, Authentique, Sassafrass Lass, Josephine Kimberling is the flowers, Studio Calico ribbon - a change up over twine. Heidi Swapp stamp, prima and kaiser craft pearl.  ooo ooo and I got to use my notebook paper punch.

Even after having the paper picked, I have to determine the "design".  My process sometimes takes minutes, hours and sometimes days or weeks. Very hard to document. Most times, its ripped apart several times and then reinstated to the original design. Or papers change. Then a decision on a photo that can also change by the minute, hour, day.

All of which surprises you, I know.

Splashdown

It could be the capsule - remember the old days of astronauting??? I tried to tell my kidlets but alas they were born in the days of shuttles.

No splashdowns which I'm sure took all the fun out of re-entry - having to land and everything.

AND.........

No quarentine. This one had to be the big one - like you just got done spending a lot of time with the guys and there you were in quarentine with the same dudes.

Anyway, nothing better than a slide on hot day. And you get to do it over and over again until all the water has been splashed out of the pool. And then you add more. All without a quarentine. Life is good.

I messed around with this page. Splattering paint about - that ended up not being tooo splattered. I wanted it to run. It didn't run. I had to make it run which made it look like I made it run. Sigh. I also did some misting using an onion bag. I also used some Studio Calico stuff, Cosmo Cricket and Sassafrass Lass. OO OO and the title is from some really really old Basic Grey. Kinda like the capsule.

Water bender

So my pal April came up with the title.

Love it.

It does look like she's channeling the water. 

Looking swimmingly. 

She's a waterbaby. Like her dad. Another adreneline junkie.

GREEEAAATTT.... lol.

So this is the challenge at SNC for potpourrie. Use a banner without it being a banner. You know banners not dangling from twine. Very fun and I believe I actually used up all the Studio Calico transparency. More Studio Calico papers, My Mind's Eye, Cosmo Cricket, Authentique, Sassafrass Lass.

I love the papers. They are so much fun and I got to use stash.

Sandy toes....

This is an amazing photo technically. 

The colors are perfect and the composition is terrific.

 I want to take photos like that when I grow up.

And of course, those two kidlets are too cute for words.

 In fact Annie looks like a tiny animated doll with that sweet face and smile.

I like that Owen is messing with the sand and

both are enjoying the grit and cool of it on their feet.

I had some Authentique beachie papers left.

 (Shocking I know).

This page actually came together without a lot of castastrophe associated

with it - (another shock).

I also tilted the papers a bit behind the photo just because.

(will the shocks never end).

I broke out a swirly stamp from Technique Tuesday and used ranger -faded jeans ink.

Who knew beach papers could be so pretty and cool.

The only thing NOT Authentique is the title and the red

polka dotted paper.

Sassafrass Lass - the fit was perfect.

And the letters are kinda sparkly like sand. 

(8x8)