Layouts to Share

I've been scrapbooking like crazy in 2013. That creative urge comes and goes, and I've learned to take advantage of it when it's here and not stress about "falling behind" (which I don't believe in anyway) when the creative urge is gone.

First up, just a fun layout about my boys and their Uncle Ryan. Love these photos. The papers and embellishments are possibly from a kit but I can't find where I might have written that down. Any ideas? I also used my Kiwi Lane designer templates (of course).

Next, preschool graduation. Ugh. So long ago! I wish I could have one day back of this time. The papers and embellishments are from the Simple Stories line.

This next layout is from the Summer of '69 kit from Studio Calico. I also used my Kiwi Lane templates. I just love how they let me showcase all those paper layers so easily. I highly recommend them...

Another Studio Calico layout - this one is from the Roller Rink kit and more Kiwi Lane templates.

This next layout uses supplies from Crate Paper (I think) and Kiwi Lane templates.

And finally, this last layout is just a fun layout using supplies from my stash and (once again) those awesome Kiwi Lane templates.

And that's it for layouts for now. LOL. More to come soon...

Hope Chest Makeover

When I graduated from college, my parents gave me a beautiful hope chest. I loved it. It has been in our bedroom since then, for more than 15 years, and has worked wonderfully.

In our new house, however, hubby and I have decided to finally decorate our bedroom. With that, we want to get an actual headboard (we've never had one) and update everything to look like a cohesive space - something about being grown-ups now and we should maybe have a master bedroom that looks nice.

The first project - updating the hope chest.

This was a one-day project, very easy and quick. I used two coats of chalk paint (Paloma by Annie Sloan) to paint the chest - no sanding required. Love the color. After the paint dried, I waxed the entire thing with a finishing wax from Minwax. I spray-painted the hardware with oil-rubbed bronze (my favorite). And I stapled on the new fabric to the top with hubby's heavy-duty staple gun.

Such a beautiful transformation - it makes me happy every time I walk in my bedroom.

More projects to come...Sharing at The Power of Paint Party at Domestically Speaking. :)

Update: Project Life Layouts

So I've been doing Project Life again since last fall. I'm really enjoying it. So, today I have a few new Project Life layouts to share that I created in January to finish up 2012 and start out my 2013 album.

First up, this layout wraps up December 2012. I used the Block Party Project Life kit from Studio Calico. It was their first Project Life kit, and I loved creating with it. A fun, eclectic mix of colors and textures.

Next up, I created a closing page for my 2012 album. I used a mix of various Studio Calico printables and cut files. These Studio Calico kits have been pushing me to use stamps too...they have the best designs.

Finally, I created an opening page for my 2013 Project Life album. I used these free printables from Simple Stories plus a few Studio Calico cut files, printables, and other bright and fun elements from my stash.

More Project Life pages to come soon - what have you been working on? I'd love to see it!

School Album

Today, I wanted to share the boys' school albums. They're in 3rd grade this year, and I'm proud to say that last month, I was able to finish up their 2nd grade pages - bringing their school albums up-to-date.

I love these albums. Each boy has a set of Becky Higgin's school album kits. I bought these several years ago (2009?) and then set up all the albums from preschool through 12th grade. Each grade has a set of papers and elements plus an envelope page.

To get organized each year, I keep a file box with a folder for each boy where I drop school papers as they come home. I try to just keep the best stuff - because it does take a ton of time to purge and sort all those school papers at the end of the year if you keep everything.

Once the end of the school year is here, I just print my photos and then start on the pages. Each grade has the same format.

The 8x10 school photo opens each set of pages...

...with the class photo and "about me" pages in between...

...then a photo collage and the envelope page.


Each grade has a different color but the same set of unifying elements.

I so love these albums - seeing the boys change through each year of school is very special. I'm happy to be creating these now as they go through school. Once graduation rolls around, I'll have their albums all ready to go.

Silhouette Cameo Print and Cut

I have finally, FINALLY mastered the ability to create print and cut files with my Silhouette Cameo. This is something I've tried to do forever, and I just couldn't figure out how to get the Trace feature to work properly. Finally, after following this wonderful video from Julie Campbell, I got it to work.

It's like magic - start out with something like this, straight from the printer...

Send it through the Silhouette - pull up the outer sheet...

And end up with a pile of these...

So love these! Studio Calico has a ton of great printables each month that coordinate with each month's kits.

I've been creating print and cut files from my PNGs and PDFs like crazy. If you've had trouble getting this feature to work, you need to watch Julie's video. Thank you, Julie!