Baby boy 4x4 album

For my new great nephew.

I love how it turned out.

Little man is supposed to be born on the 21st of FEB

I'm on the 18th and my dad (great grandfather)

on the 20th it'd be great to hit his.

Fingers crossed.

So I put the 21 in there just in case. 

Maybe I'll add 18 and a zero LOL.

Busted some stash - using really old 

Basic Grey.

I loved Basic Grey.

One is an Aurora 6x6 pad and the other

I don't recognize and lost the title page LOL.

Little bit of TH in there. I found a milk top from KY

which is where the little man will be born.

The baby stickers are from Paper Studio.

And bits and bobs from other miscellaneous stuff

and punches.

And a sticker book from Kaisercratft about dad.

Also whipped out the die cuts, fussy cut and drew my own stuff.

I alternated on the 2x2s with embellishments

and photos that can be used and all

can be rearranged.

Had fun with the moon die.

I also did repeat some of the stickers which

makes the album well an album

that flows.

The last of my 4x4 albums that at first I had a 

love hate relationship with because

of the 2x2 page protectors.

I don't know little man's name or initials which can be 

added at anytime.

There's also a baby blanket in the works and a run for baby stuffs.

Can one use too much stickles and nuvo dots

Yes

Maybe???

NOOOOOO!

It started out innocently enough but the above page

looked a bit too plain, and we can't have that so

- it needed that

something-something.

Well I have an assortment of stickles and nuvo dots.

And it just sort of happened and

quickly went out of control.

I would stop and look and then..........

it just needed more.

Therefore, if it needs more - do more.

LOL.

It was fun to do.

I do love the colors of the punched flowers and leaves

and I even handwhacked up the red and

yellow flowers (I know)!!!

I do love the layering its fun and love

the buttons. In hindsight,

looking at the colors I probably should've

re-thought that combo....nah!

I have a "regular" travelers notebook

that I'm using to do goofy,

different,

out of control pages 

because why not.

A place to explore different, anything goes even

if anything doesn't go.

This one pretty much doesn't go but I really like

it because it was fun to do.

Yes, I did use this photo before and it was perfect 

to use and play around on this page.

Remember NO RULES in scrapbooking.

If there are I believe I broke them all. 

LOL.

 

Watercolor album pages - scrapped!

Well I know you've seen these before.

Several times I'm sure.

However, they were so much fun I decided that

in some cases photos are now required to grace the pages.

Since I had an extra photo of our campsite and since  it

just fit perfectly on this page

that had already been stamped with a title

made it very easy to pull this page together.

 My psychedelic

winged granddaughter was perfect for

this wildly colored page.
Love the sentimentsand I handcut the title.

I KNOW.  

I've been totally watching way too

much of Lisa Fonseca on u-tube.

LOOK HER UP.

She hand-draws 

EVERYTHING.

and everything is stinkin'

ADORABLE.

But it works with the psychedelic vibe
 - LIKE totally.

I cannot express how hard it was for me to put that handmade title out there
because it's not "perfect."
(Like my pages are perfect LOL, but.....)

But I'm over that now and may do it more often.

 And the music man worked because it was already

titled "dream a little dream".

Owen could be a rockstar if

he keeps working at it  and practicing
one day he'll be a gifted musician.

Guitar, keyboard, sax (to name a few).

This book has been really fun.

From creating the watercolor pages to finding

the perfect photos to grace the pages

along with the perfect embellishments.

So stamps and diecuts and thickers and words and stickers.

Oh my........

Part 1: When your mom goes wild with stickers

Un-DU is your friend

Especially she plopped stickers on original photos with such 

wild, careless abandon that made her really happy 

 it was hard to be annoyed.

Mostly.

I have started the process of removing these stickers

and it was a bit time consuming

especially when one's bottle of Un-DU was

running dry and mom's stickers

were made of really stern stuff.

But alas, I persevered and it doesn't look too bad.

So how did she get an originaly photo when I

was and am the keeper of all things original in photo land?

Especially one of favorite eldest son being absolutely

adorable with his 3 teeth smile that makes his eyes shine

and sitting in a tub grasping a wash clothe.

It appears she was sneakier than I thought.

And how did I forget this photo !

 I did find the photo in my digital files,

 but no scrapbook page exists 

unless it's in 

"that will never ever see the light of day, much

less human eyes ever gazing upon it" album/book,

especially when said book that has pages just likes the one's I'm

picking on mom about (although one of us grew out of it).

 LOL.

Sigh.

I did pull her page apart to salvage the photo (more

on that later) and didn't take a picture of it.

Sigh.

Stay tuned for part 2: When your mom goes wild with deckle scissors.

Oh yeah and it ain't pretty.

Sorry for being MIA for awhile but I really wanted, needed,

had to have a break.

And now its over. Until Christmas and

downsizing gets wild again.

It was one of those pages

That really didn't come together easy.

I couldn't make up my mind about anything.

Well except the base paper, and the star stamp

came in a really cool  stampin' up set with a girly skull and bones

and I really wanted that on the page too

but its HUGE, and didn't quite work out - so in

with the heart that wasn't quite so big.

Another 8x8 page - seems I'm rolling with

that size and decided to go crazy.

Love the owl and birdcage was a lot of fun.

A sort of title on the heart like a ransom note. 

It just seemed to work.

 Do you ever get stuck on a title for your blog

never mind one for your page.

I really wanted something fun with the witch hat and helmet

but alas none come to mind.

 And like who doesn't have an issue with stickers.

Like sticking your finger in when wet.

Or outlining a word and then sticking your finger in it.

However, it works, sortof.  Especially when its faraway. LOL.

It's a fun photo and I had fun making a quirky page.

I know she loves Frozen so there's a little 

character tucked in there and of course that owl.

The owl, leaves and cage remnants from my die cut box.

Amelia having fun dressing up as a witch to go bike riding -
Halloween in June. Why not.

Last Christmas paper standing

 I didn't get very much Christmas paper

in the Basic Grey warehouse haul (except in 6x6 pad) that

when I came across this photo and

couldn't believe it wasn't scrapped well.....

so I'm very glad I used the remaining paper up.

 And sticker sheets - galore, I have enough

for next year's stuff LOL which is cool - so that'll go
with the remaining 6x6 paper.
Love how a plan comes through.

Grabbing the stickers, I just started layering and actually
committing to sticking them down which

is very unusual for me.

I usually map everything out prior to making a commitment.

Of course, some came up, some were laid over

and some were moved.

It was fun.

 And I didn't get wiggy about not having the

same color alphas either.

I'm glad they were the same font though.

One can only break bad a bit at a time. LOL.

So I had this all ready to go and when I

looked at the photo I decided the page needed a border

therefore, I added a border with a very old brown micron pen

that had just enough ink in it to make the border, then 

tossed the pen and then rephotographed the page.

Looks way better outlined.

So everything is Basic Grey - including the alphas

and they are old. Really old.

Love that the colors match throughout their lines.

Using one manufacturer with a couple exceptions

A few years ago I was on an Authentique kick.

Actually it was the only new product at the remaining LSS.

And then I got over Authentique.

However, I have lots of papers and stickers that need to be used

or given away.

I decided to use them.

 I follow a couple of people on videos and one of the tricks

to add dimension and use stash is to back

papers - and I used that "trick" here.

And it did add a cool layer and it does add a pretty dimension.

I also cut out a piece from the backing to use on the front as a mat

which adds another layer and is kind of economical.

 I also broke out the sticker page and started layering them in.

This line is "renew" and its about growing plants, rainy weather and kidlets, leaning toward 

the girly side. So I tucked and whacked the pieces that

were girly, rainy and plants where they couldn't be seen but did add

color and dimension. 

 I felt it needed something - so I broke out the watercolors mostly

because I didn't have mists in the colors I needed.

Watercolors are a good value that way and provide basically

the same artsy feel as mists.

Because I smoshed them around with the brush and also splattered

the colors about the same manner you would use mists.

 And wa-la, lots of layers and clusters going on.

The other non Authentique elements are - you guessed it.

Homemade enamel dots, washi and twine.

Love how it turned out with me and my boy.

That was sooooo long ago - 

it goes by so fast.

He's 23 now.

Almost used up the Echo Park

I keep saying that and one day it'll be true.

I find more. 

And that would be awful but I really love the line.

Capture Life.

 Did a bit of clustering and laying with stickers and cutouts.

 I'm getting over my phobia of covering things up.

Sort of.

And then there's the adorableness.

That just rocks the page.

Sam is getting so big.

I don't remember what the black dictionary paper is.

My bad.

Carried away with stickers

Bella Blvd. stickers do rock.

And I used them all.

 Well most of them anyway..

 As  you may or may not know from a previous post I

was whining about my lack of mojo

in addition to my thoughts and fears on hosting

the Murphy Traditional Thanksgiving.

So I borrowed one of Shimelle's favorite designs and went from there.

In addition, I didn't lay anything out - I just went for it.

I love how it turned out - simple and sweet.

It was alot of fun cooking and planning and it had a bit of stress going on.

okay alot of stress going on.

But it was fun to do - 20 people showed up

and out of them 6 kidlets who

ended up at their own table that worked out perfectly.

Since I was running about like a maniac all day - this is the only photo I got.

And it has to do. 

Imperfect photo - scrap that baby anyway and tell your story.

My man carving up that 25lb turkey.

And of course we dined on all the prerequisite sides and desserts.

The weather was lovely and all 20 were seated on the lanai family style.

(outside people - and yes I'm bragging about it)

And that is what the Murphy Tradition is about.

You have to come to Thanksgiving dinner - no excuses ever

and if you have friends or acquaintances that

have nowhere to go - you bring them.

Or else.

It's how they rolled for generations.

And this year me and Tom (not the turkey) were extremely

pleased to open our home.

Stickers on a page

Stickers have come a long way baby and I have always

shied away from the obvious.

However, I wanted some shamrocks for

a St. Patrick's day page because well...I'm Irish so.....

I waited until well after St. Patty's day

to look for anything Irish. 

So there were no stamps, no punches nothing but stickers.

I bought 3 packs just in case.

Shamrocks and words and shamrocks oh my.

So I did lift a concept of Ashli's over at Purplemailbox. 

I love her butterfly page, the layering, the paints.

ooooooo well I sort of did that here - only somewhat backwards.

LOL.

I know you're surprised.

I layered on the stickers and I wasn't shy about it. 

They were transparent so using any dimension on them wasn't 

going to work unless there was a backing applied.

Which looked stupid.

And that is why there is that huge patch of washi there

covering up what didn't work out.

Gotta love washi.

So I used some gesso and watercolor paint. 

Studio Calico came through with the paper, alphas and

the Paper Studio stickers.

But not necessarily in that order.

I like it.

Celebrating the 4th

I found these two photos and printed them out at the same time.

One for me and one for them.

Both pages use a mix of Authentique and My Minds' Eye. The pinwheels were handcut from the papers on MME and glued on toothpicks.

Nothing tricky on either except I used all the BG stars from my Studio Calico Kit.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the photos. The first one -- 2 siblings and they are just showing the love and telling a secret.
So not posed or cheesy.

Secrets between the two of them. Would've loved to be a fly on the grass just to know what's going on in their little minds.  Or not.

The second one is mine all mine and are the 3 together 2 siblings and a cousing. I did a Shimelle as I was running out of paper and I happened to also like the B side. So I used the polka dot as the base and cut the ledger paper up and reversed to the B side for the middle. ooooooooo I did mix up white and beige but I really like the stickers. Couldn't help but throw on some twine and the rest of the stars. I wish I had more to journal on the page but alas I'm scrappin' from afar which is better than never scrapping at all.