Check It Out

Check out my last installation of my adding texture feature over at Ella...and then treat yourself to some scrappin time!! Love to ya'll! I will be there for Thanksgiving to illustrate our last swap. I will then be re-evaluating the swap group. Thanks so much for all your beautiful creations!

It's What I Do

My last 2 swap layouts...Family and Home

A birthday gift for the teacher I work under...full of yummy chocolates

A cooking themed wedding basket complete w/bathroom people card and matching aprons :0)

A Handmade firsts album for a friend-first time making my own flowers-so fun (thanks Kristen)

Creating...it's what I do. When I need to relieve stress, when I want to show someone they're important to me, on my me time, when I am feeling restless, when the ideas won't stop coming, when I am feeling blue-it's what I do. It's me to the very core. I love making things with my hands, and I am always wanting to learn new ways to create beautiful things. I love looking at other people's creations and learning from them. I love teaching other people to do what I do, and hopefully inspiring them to love creating right along with me. I like to create with others, and by myself. Mostly I just like doing it-sometimes to the point where I do it instead of things I should do-but alas, it keeps me happy and healthy. Some people don't understand why I do what I do-maybe to them it's wasting time-but that's okay, there's no explanation needed. Those that get me or do it understand, and I'm okay with that :0). Here are some of my recent projects (and swappers if you need a better photo of layouts here you go). Happy creating!!

Check me out...I'm Live!!

I went live today with my 3 week series at Ella. I had such a great time doing this page...please take time to be inspired and learn about texturing with paper-we have some amazing work with this post. Then join me for a challenge...you might just find a new way to spice up your pages!!

Check out this...

Creativity at it's best!!

Wow

Check out this amazing giveaway of Life.Camera.Action at Simple As That!

Ella Sneak

I am posting at Ella this week on Wednesday and Friday. Here's a little peak at my Friday post...I hope you'll join me for my challenge!

FYI

I will be at the scrap house-YAY!!!-so please have your swaps from this month and you extra kits done so we can swap then. We will only have 1 more after this one. I will be asking for feedback and input on how to further our swap at the house. Luv 2 u all, and I can't wait to get scrappy with you!!

My Fav's

I applied to a design team...and didn't make it. These photos are what I sent...some of my favorite work. Not making it was a pretty big bummer for me. It's a blow to think that you're work is not good enough. I used to live and breath this industry-knowing randomly which lines belong to which company. Since moving it has been a little harder, and with building our house I stopped scrapping for a long time. I am back in it now for new reasons and it has been so much more refreshing. I have been putting myself out there more, and trying to better my talents because I want to-instead of for a job. In doing so I have been really trying to push myself and I feel like I am trying new things and growing in this craft. However, not making the team was rough...and I was thinking today and realized that it doesn't matter. I craft for me-as a release and for fun, so why should I need validation that what I do is good enough for other people. This is my selfish hobby-something I do just for me, and other people's opinions isn't going to change that. Even if I am not their kind of good-I am my kind of good, and I think I prefer that. In posting this I hope that others will realize that it doesn't matter if you think you do or don't measure up-it's the creating that matters, and how that makes you feel. It's not the finish line that matters...it's the steps that it takes you to get there. So with that, know that both you and I are good enough and CRAFT ON!

It's Gonna Be An 'Ella'-of A Party

Ella is turning one! Join me and all the Ella friends for a birthday party for the whole month of September! Every Monday in September, they'll give away fun prizes that include:

~A "Birthday Party in a Box" (four different parties for four different winners!)

~A $25 gift certificate to Shutterfly.com (one each week)

~A $25 gift certificate to Scrapbook.com (one each week)

~FREE eBooks from ellapublishing.com

This is gonna be a good one...trust me, you won't want to miss it!

Ella

Check out my Ella post for the month...I actually scrapped for once! I was a super quick page, but it was a good start to get back in to the swing of things! Hope you all are having a great summer and are almost ready for our upcoming swap!! Don't forget that my mom is coming to see me so you will have to have them to her by the 2nd if you don't want to ship them. Thanks ladies!!

Hey Swappers

Hey ladies....i just wanted to check in with a couple updates:
First: join me for a challenge at Ella
Second: we're missing some layouts from last month so if you received any extra (please everyone look again) let me know so we can get them to their rightful home. Thanks!
Third: I will be seeing my mom over Labor Day weekend so if you don't want to pay for shipping get them to her by then. (that includes your extra kit if you signed up and have it ready)
Fourth: we had a couple mix ups this month so to be fair to everyone from now on you will only receive your kits once your kits have been received. Thanks for being understanding about this.
Fifth: please write on the kit who it is to and who it is from so we can avoid another mix-up.
Sixth: make sure you check what is up next and make sure you have signed up:
*****1) Back to School
*****2) Fall
*****3) Thanksgiving/Halloween
*****4) Family
***The same guidelines from all the past kits apply
Sixth: you all have been doing a great job so keep up the hard work!!

Jazzed Up

I bought this baby outfit on sale a while back and decided to jazz it up to give it to a friends who was expecting a baby girl. I took scrap fabric pieces and twisted them while rolling them into a wheel to make the roses. It was super easy and turned out super cute and original...and don't tell anyone-but it was cheap with a boutique look! I also made her a headband to match (thanks Amber for the suggestion).

Ella Love

Hey scrappin' ladies, check out my blog post over at Ella...jump on the love wagon and submit! You might just be my new love!

Extra Layout Swap

Okay ladies, the same rules apply but you can do any theme you want. We will have a total of 8 swappers so have fun with it...since you won't have to make as many. When they are all sent out we will have a private vote via e-mail to me on who's layout you found most inspiring and they will receive a prize from me (I am excluded in this). Thanks for taking the challenge ladies.
Extra Swap Participants:
Liz
Amber Hoskins
DeDe
Sheena
Aislinn
Kira
Jerrica
Stephanie
Happy Scrappin!

Swappers Update...

Okay girls....I cannot wait to see what you have done!! My mom is coming this way on June 12th so if you don't want to have to pay to send it-you can get it done a week early and send it with her.

Also, If you want to do the extra swap let me know, here are the details:
**It will be due in November, a month before our last page is due.
**You can turn it in before then, just not after.
**It can be any theme or layout of your choice-but it still has to have all the same things (ribbon, paper, embellishments, title, journaling, ect)
**I have to know if you want to do it by June 19th, everyone I have then that is signed up will be all we will take to do it and I will post then how many total.
**Like I said this is an extra layout-so there is no pressure to do it!! I will be doing a contest with it though if everyone is game (it makes it more fun, right?). Anyways, I will be giving a prize for the top choice layout. Everyone who participated will get a vote (e-mailed to me) that I will tally and see who got the most votes (no worries I will keep your voting to myself). The person with the most votes will get a prize package from me :0)

Okay...so let me know what you think: if you want to do it, and how you feel about doing a contest.
Happy scrappin!!

Finished Swap Page!!!

Sheena sent me one of her finished scrap book pages and I would have to agree with her....I too loved the way it turned out! Keep on sending in those finished pages-I love to see what you all have done with them and if you have put your own spin on it (I never was all that great at doing what others tell me to or following the rules-so I am giving you permission to change up the pages to fit your needs!!). Did any of you want to participate in another free for all swap-just one month (we can decide which one & any theme you want?)...let me know if you do? I also wanted to tell you all about my new guest blog post at Ella that I think you should check out....you might just be my new love ;0).

Swappers...

I just wanted to let you all know that I only have 6 people that have told me the theme they are doing...when you know either jot me an e-mail or post it on here.
June Swap: due June 19th and the options are Fathers Day/Summer/4th of July/Birthday
I don't have anyone signed up for birthday so please take the challenge...I wanna see a couple of each theme!!!
I also wanted to know if any of you would be interested in doing a bonus swap...theme of your choice (additional to the 4 swaps). Let me know!!
BTW...if you want to send any photos of your complete pages I will post them on here so people can see what you have done with them!! Hope you are all getting ready for the upcoming swap...I can't wait to see what you come up with!!

Swap Update

Most of the kits have made it to me, early-I love it!! I am just waiting on one more. You all did a fabulous job!! You should all have your kits soon!! I would love to see what you do with them and I am sure everyone else would also so send me an e-mail (luvinlife2@juno.com) of your page and I will post it on here!!

For our next swap we will have the following swappers (We will most likely end up with 16 including yourself):

Amber
Aislinn
Nicholya
Hetty
Stephanie
Amber Hooten
Jerrica
Kira
DeDe
LesLee
Liz
Tracy
Sheena
Tonia (sp?)
Jamie
Brandi (sp/is she doing it?)

***June 19th:
Choices for page themes are:
1) Summer
2) Father
3) 4th of July
4) Birthday

The page kits need to be in a container of some sort (ziploc, page protector, kit bag, ect.) and need to include (please follow this so that everyone receives back what they put into it and the swap remains fair):
-2 pieces of good quality cardstock/very thick patterned paper (ie: Cosmo Cricket, American Crafts, ect) for background
-Patterned paper/cardstock accent (if cardstock is used for background accent will be patterned)-nothing less than a 6 x 12 inch total combined
-1 large embellishment & several smaller ones (ie. a large flower and a few buttons, ect)
-Title (ie. can be cut out with cricut/silhouette, or stamped, ect)
-Journaling spot/card
-Ribbon 12 inch minimum
-Photo showing kit layout
-Photo-mats (these are easiest to show photo placement, however they can be swapped out for an additional embellishment-but you must provide a photo showing the finished layout with photo placement and a list of photo sizes)
*** see photo above for an example

Please post on here what you will be doing each time so that we know that we will have an assortment, and not all of one theme.
You don't need to assemble the page...just put in all the items they need to complete the page along with a photo and the swapper receiving it will put it together.

Stay tuned in for some photos...page inspirations...and a prize!! Thanks for being such great swappers!!

Liz

New Swap

Okay ladies...we will be starting a new swap. There will be 4 page kits due this year. I need them to be turned in on time-every time, please. They are due to me by the third Saturday of every month. I will divvy them out the following week. I ahve tried to make all of the themes available so that if you know you will have a conflict your pages can be completed early. However, if you are no longer able to participate (I know emergencies happen) I will need an advanced notice of two months in courtesy of all other participants-so we can try to find a replacement. We have the following swappers-14 total including yourself:

Amber
Aislinn
Nicholya
Hetty
Stephanie
Amber Hooten
Jerrica
Kira
DeDe
LesLee
Liz
Kristina
Tracy
Sheena

***April 17th:
Choices for page themes are: 1) Love
2) Spring
3) Mother
4) Easter/Lucky (St. Patricks)

***June 19th:
Choices for page themes are: 1) Summer
2) Father
3) 4th of July
4) Birthday

***September 18th:
Choices for page themes are: 1) Back to school
2) Fall
3) Thanksgiving/Halloween
4) Family

***December 18th:
Choices for page themes are: 1) Winter
2) Christmas
3) New Years/Year in Review/Resolutions
4) Baby/Little Boy or Girl

The page kits need to be in a container of some sort (ziploc, page protector, kit bag, ect.) and need to include (please follow this so that everyone receives back what they put into it and the swap remains fair):
-2 pieces of good quality cardstock/very thick patterned paper (ie: Cosmo Cricket, American Crafts, ect) for background
-Patterned paper/cardstock accent (if cardstock is used for background accent will be patterned)-nothing less than a 6 x 12 inch total combined
-1 large embellishment & several smaller ones (ie. a large flower and a few buttons, ect)
-Title (ie. can be cut out with cricut/silhouette, or stamped, ect)
-Journaling spot/card
-Ribbon 12 inch minimum
-Photo showing kit layout
-Photo-mats (these are easiest to show photo placement, however they can be swapped out for an additional embellishment-but you must provide a photo showing the finished layout with photo placement and a list of photo sizes)
*** see photo above for an example

Please post on here what you will be doing each time so that we know that we will have an assortment, and not all of one theme.
You don't need to assemble the page...just put in all the items they need to complete the page along with a photo and the swapper receiving it will put it together.