birthday girl

Let's count!  That is the challenge this week for the Chic Tags Sunday Challenge.  Use 1 of something, 2 of another supply, and so on.  Come on and join in and link up your layout here for a chance to win a prize.

Here is my list:

1 piece of card stock

2 photos 

3 patterned papers (I did use both sides of one of them)

4 pink stars

5 tags

In other news... the theme today on the Practical Scrappers blog is birthdays!  Check out this post for some more birthday layouts.

one last glance back...

It is almost back to school around here.  The kids have one day left and then they are right back at it!  In honor of back to school week I am posting a layout that I made for Chic Tags with the brand new Schoolhouse line that will be available in a couple of short weeks!  I am going back in time with this one.  This picture was from the first day of kindergarten.  It seems like yesterday... now he will start 4th grade!  Seriously, where has the time gone??

This ombre paper is my absolute favorite.  I used my silhouette to cut the circle pattern through it.

Thanks for coming by today.  For more back to school inspiration, check out the Practical Scrappers blog today.

hello canada's wonderland + bella blvd reveal #1

Hi there.  Today I have a layout that's a little different for me, I've used circular photos!  Still loving this Crate Paper line, the Pier!   I am so thrilled to get to work with it this month for the Scrapbooking Studio.

To tie in with my circular photos, I have also used circular embellishments.... the ferris wheel, the cotton candy die cut, a chipboard button and the sequins.

To see more layouts with circular photos, check out the Practical Scrappers site today!  

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In other news... Bella Blvd is sharing sneak peeks of their new releases.  Each day this week, they will reveal a new collection... that means 5 new collections!  WOW.  

Here is a little look of the first collection, Snapshots.

I will have to say, that I think I am most excited about this little package of goodies!

Stop by the Bella Blvd blog for a full reveal of the collection and a chance to win it before you can buy it!

project life blog hop with the practical scrappers and scraptown lady

Hello and welcome to the PRACTICAL SCRAPPERS and SCRAPTOWN LADY Blog Hop!  We thought it would be fun to combine forces and share projects with you that have our design teams’ takes on one of the hottest scrapbooking trends around:  Project Life.  

Whether you are a “Project Lifer,” are interested in Project Life, or just want to find out ways to use all those fantastic Project Life types of products and ideas on your own projects, we have a hop FULL of inspiration and creativity!  

We’ve got a fabulous prize, too - a $25 gift certificate to Scraptown Lady’s shop, which is stocked with awesome scrapbooking supplies!  What do you have to do to be entered in the drawing?  It’s easy!  

• Be a follower of Practical Scrappers; and
• Be a follower of Scraptown Lady; and
• Visit all the blogs, starting with Practical Scrappers and ending with Scraptown Lady, and leave a comment at each blog along the way.   

We will be hopping until Sunday, June 30^th, at 11:59 p.m. CST.  The grand prize winner will be announced on Tuesday, July 2^nd!  

If you get lost along the way, just check the complete list below to get you hopping in the right direction:

Practical Scrappers: http://www.practicalscrappers.com/

Christine Freet Meyer: http://scrappingwithchristine.blogspot.com/

Erin Morehouse-Kislingbury: http://girlpaperscissors.blogspot.com/

Charissa Miller:  http://www.akihasmommascraps.com/

Nicole Laha: http://www.shezigzags.blogspot.com/

Claude Campeau: http://www.imzadi481.blogspot.ca/

Lanette Erickson: http://stacksofscraps.blogspot.com/

Malika Kelly: http://www.malikakelly.blogspot.com/   *****YOU ARE HERE

Danielle de Konink: http://picsandcheesecake.blogspot.nl/

Lisa Peeples: http://www.snappinandscrappin.blogspot.com/

Mary Pat Siehl: http://siehledwithakiss.blogspot.com/

Wendi Robinson: http://scrappydayinparadise.blogspot.com/

Julie Comeau: http://lepetitmondedeglamotte.blogspot.ca/

Kim Ryden: http://www.rydenkim.blogspot.com/

Ruth Bonser: http://scrapmachine.com/

Krissy Clark McKee: http://krissyclarkmckee.blogspot.com/

Marcia Dehn-Nix: http://onescrapatatime-bymumsie.blogspot.com/

Cathy Harper: http://www.alteredplayground.blogspot.com

Rhonda Van Ginkel: http://snapwhiz.blogspot.com/

Scraptown Lady:  http://scrap-town-lady.blogspot.com/

If we have inspired you so much that you “need” to do a little shopping now, SCRAPTOWN LADY is offering 20% off all orders during the hop!  The sale runs from now ‘til midnight Monday.  Enter “code20” to receive your discount.

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I am guessing if you have been hopping along, you have come from Lanette's blog, if not, be sure to make your way back to the start of our hop.  

From time to time I have been sharing my Project Life pages here as well as the Chic Tags blog.  Here is a look at my Project Life spread from week 17.

Week 17 - left side:

Week 17- right side:

And here are a couple of close up shots...

I love, love working on this project.  Yes, it can get frustrating when you are running short on time and I have learned that there will be some weeks that are very detailed and some that are plain and simple.  Both me and my kids have enjoyed looking back at our life from even a couple of weeks ago and I can only imagine how we will feel looking back as time goes on.  It is SO WORTH IT! 

There is so much out there geared towards making this a doable endeavor!  I hope you are enjoying our little project life blog hop and you are feeling inspired.  

One last thing...I have a little giveaway for one lucky commenter on my blog.  It is a  mini project life kit with some journaling cards, tags and some of my favorite little embellishments that I love to include on my weekly spreads.  I also have a small Studio Calico Project Life stamp set that I will pop in there.  Comments will close Sunday at midnight central time.  I will post the winner early next week, so be sure to check back.

Next up in our hop is Danielle's blog.  I absolutely adore her work, be sure to pay her a visit!

Thank you so much for stopping by!

1st grade friends

Good Monday morning, to you all!  Today I have this layout up on the Practical Scrappers blog.  The topic on the blog today is enamel dots.  I didn't have to search too hard for a layout where I have used enamel dots, they seem to be in my regular rotation these days.  They are theme-free and so easy to use!  They add a little dimension and interest to any layout.  

This layout is about my middle child and a dear friend of mine's daughter.  They were in a preschool gymnastics class together and then ended up in the same first grade class.  Because they knew each other previously, they have a special little bond thing going on in class!  So sweet. 

Here are a few close ups of my layering.

I've tucked a little note that I wanted to save in this envelope.  It is the perfect way to keep track of it without showing it on the layout.  One day it will be fun to look back and read it.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

wood veneers

Hello Monday.  Please be kind and let me get a few things checked off my to do list!

Today on the Practical Scrappers blog we are showing you some ideas on what to do with those trendy little wood veneer pieces that I love so much.  I find myself reaching for these little goodies to finish off any layout... tiny little stars, a bird or a feather, even just a small arrow, these wood veneers are perfect finishing touches for every project.

Though it is not a great picture, I really wanted to scrap this one.  It was the only one we got with all of the cousins wrapped in their angry bird blankets together.  They were having such a good time in these blankets, I wanted to document it.

I made a baker's twine wire and stuck some little wood veneer birds on it.  One for each of the cousins in the picture.

 I used some wood veneer feathers to float down from the birds.

And I added a couple of subtle rub on birds in the background.

Stop on over to the Practical Scrappers blog today to see more fabulous ideas of what to do with wood veneers.

today & everyday layout

Good morning!  Today's layout uses Bella Blvd's awesome new collection of Sophisticates.  This line is one of my favorites because it can be used for anything.  Not themed at all, Sophisticates is just a bunch of fabulous colors that coordinate with any of the other Bella papers.

I used a bunch of cuts on my Cameo for this layout, the chevrons the arrow, a number 3, the day tabs.

If you cut the Freestyle paper really thin, it looks like a piece of patterned tape.

arrows

Today's topic over on the Practical Scrappers blog is arrows. They come in all shapes, colors and sizes and there is just so much you can do with them!   In this layout, I have used a couple different die cut arrows, wood veneer arrows and even arrows on washi tape.

I love grouping a bunch of similar icons together.  The white arrows are very subtle, but the red really stands out.

I encourage you to try a layout with arrows!  Link it up in my comments if you do!  And don't forget to see what the other Practical Scrappers did with arrows on the Practical Scrappers blog.

some negative space and a bella blvd surprise

Negative space is the topic today on the Practical Scrappers Blog.  I used my Cameo to cut out my long title.  Instead of using the actual cut out letters, I used the negative piece.  I love this trendy look and it takes a lot less time than adhering each individual letter.  

Stop by the Practical Scrappers blog for more ideas using negative space.

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In other news.... Bella Blvd is announcing something very fun and new... I have a feeling these embellishments are going to be hot, hot, hot!  Here is a little sneak of a pink and grey one in use....

Drop by the Bella Blvd blog today to see the full reveal of these awesome feathers!