Oct 20, 2011

No Black and Orange

Sometimes using non traditional colors for a themed layout is lots of fun. This month my color inspiration was this gorgeous photo:
I guess I could have jumped ahead to Thanksgiving pictures (since the table setting definitely makes one think of a holiday meal), but since this was my October project I was leaning more towards a Halloween layout. So I decided to just go for it. There’s no black, orange or purple, but since my daughter’s costume is pink I figured those colors wouldn’t really work anyway. AND since the background of my pictures (our pool, and the cement wall) bring in blues and browns, this color combination is actually perfect.
 Obviously since I wasn’t using traditional Halloween colors, I also did not use a traditional Halloween collection or pattern. But, again, since my daughter’s costume is cutesy rather than scary, most traditional Halloween papers wouldn’t really work here. Instead I used an animal pattern from the Boys Animal Crackers collection (to go with the pony theme).
I used a pocket from the Funhouse Collection to tuck my journaling into and one of those fun Cabochons too.
I am sure I will be using more nontraditional colors for this year's Halloween pictures too!

Supplies Used: 
GCD Studios patterned paper from the Boys Animal Collection and The Great Outdoors, Cabachons from the Funhouse Collection, Popcorn Journal Tags from the Funhouse Collection and Metal Rimmed Glass Brads  and Die cut paper from the Boys Animal Crackers collection.



Oct 19, 2011

Another Round of Catching Up

Is it me or this year whizzing by? Little Miss is already done with one quarter of her year. The parent/teacher conference and report card are completed. Halloween is quickly approaching. We haven't even made it to the pumpkin patch yet. Mostly because it is still SO hot out that any pumpkins left out would probably be rotten in a day lol! This week we are back to our regular school, soccer and karate schedules. The thing about this time of year is how it is literally one thing after another--Halloween and then you turn around and it is Thanksgiving, blink again and it is Christmas, take a quick breath and it is a new year. Overwhelming to say the least. So let's just talk layouts instead :)

The Jillibean Soup layout I posted HERE was Soup Spotted today! It is up on the Jillibean Soup blog right now.

Last week, I had this layout on the Scrapbook Circle blog, to show off the many uses for the Studio Calico Scrap Pad included in October's Kit Fresh Picked.
and speaking of the Fresh Picked kit, I don't think I shared this one yet--an 8.5x11--I know, what??!!
That sweet little face is currently sporting a black eye. A friend at school was swinging a wooden block around and the corner hit Little Man between the outside corner of his eye and eyebrow. No stitches necessary, but I can't help thinking how lucky he got that it was a few centimeters over. And yes, I took pictures of his black eye. He says he looks like one of the pigs from Angry Birds after you hit them. Nice.
Have a great rest of the week.
♥Rebecca

Oct 12, 2011

Fall Break , But No Fall Weather

So we are officially on Fall break, but it doesn't feel like Fall--AT ALL. It got over 100 degrees yesterday and today I broke down and put the AC back on. A temperate home definitely means a less cranky family ;) The nicest part about this break is a break from soccer.



Don't get me wrong--I love that the kids love soccer and that we all go to practices and games together, but every night of the week someone has SOMETHING and it just gets exhausting. Of course Little Miss only actually has 2 days off from school and every day since last week has been 1/2 days which means tons of back and forth for me and not much time to create. But I did get to work on the Jillibean Soup sketch this month (created by Julie Bonner). Here is the sketch:
I stuck pretty close to the sketch, but turned the single photo into 3 small vertical photos (from Thanksgiving 2009). All the patterned papers, stickers, alphas etc are Jillibean Soup:
Lots of sewn edges and a stitched paper ruffle...
some inked edges...
and of course, typewritten journaling (I am definitely getting a bang for my buck with that thing)...
As with all my layouts lately, and from here on out, this entire project was adhered with Therm O Web adhesives. I use the Tape Runner XL for the main pieces, 3D Zots to pop things up like the Home Grown sticker and Small Zots to adhere the corrugated letters. 
  
LOVE LOVE LOVE it all.
Alright, gotta get everyone into bath and bed. Have a great night!
♥ Rebecca

Oct 6, 2011

Halloween "Treat" Bag

The kids get SO much candy on Halloween, don't they?  In general we are not a big candy family (we go in more for ice cream and baked goods lol), but that only makes the kids more excited about the mountains of candy they amass on Halloween. For me, though, I like to give them a little gift bag with some fun Halloween items like a coloring book and crayons or bubbles. And to make it even more special, I try and dress up the gift bag and usually put their names on them too. Once again I looked to Pinterest for ideas on making a fun gift bag. I found these:
I just love the ruffled crepe paper! Did you know you can get two rolls of crepe paper (one orange and one black for $1 at The Dollar Tree? Armed with my crepe paper, I pulled out some fun GCD Studios products and went to work. Here is what I came up with:
I made the big crepe paper bow by rolling it in larger and larger loops and then stapling the middle. I added a loop of tickets from the Funhouse Collection in the center as well as Chipboard Wheel and Mini Flag. 

The strips of patterned paper are also From Funhouse. I mounted everything on a piece of black cardstock. The best part, though, is the mustache on a stick that I thought my kids would totally get a kick out of taking pictures with! Even little (non candy lol) gifts are more fun if you dress up the gift bag!

Supplies Used:
GCD Studios Funhouse Collection patterned paper, Mini Flag, Chipboard Wheel and ticket trim from Ribbon Spool.

Oct 5, 2011

Scrapbook Circle News

Yaaaaaaay! I couldn't be more excited to announce that I will be staying on for another term of the Scrapbook Circle design team. The announcement was made HERE. Check out this fantastic team...

Congratulations to the new design team!
 I am absolutely honored to be included in this amazing list of talented people! But before we get ahead of ourselves, I still have layouts to share from the September kit, Fresh Picked. This one is one of my favorites and the explanation is up on the Scrapbook Circle blog today.
The story behind this? The Little Guy was supposed to bring in a family picture to school, to hang on the Family Tree. I immediately panicked. I can count on one hand the number of pictures we have of all 4 of us together. And then I thought about it. I have 1) a digital camera, 2) a tripod, 3) a self timer on said camera or even a remote shutter release, 4) NO EXCUSE. So one day just as it was about to rain (so it wasn't 1,000 degrees outside) I dragged everyone out and set up the tripod. The kids were, hmmmm, how shall we say, less than cooperative?? And the pictures? Well, these were the BEST of the bunch lol.  But practice makes perfect and I am committed to getting pictures of us together.
Lots of stitching, a mix of alphas and those fun Elle's Studio pennants:




Have a great day!
♥ Rebecca

Oct 3, 2011

Scrapbook Circle's October Kit--Fresh Picked

I know we are three days into October already! Yikes, this part of the year really does start to fly by. Between school, homework, studying, karate, soccer practices, soccer games and work I feel like we are all running on a treadmill every day. Our October/Fall break is only a couple of days so I am really looking forward to Thanksgiving for a much needed break (and visit from Nona!). But getting into October means a new Scrapbook Circle kit is live!

It is called Fresh Picked and it is absolutely FABULOUS. An amazing combination of Lily Bee, Crate Paper, Pink Paislee and Jillibean Soup. Add in a Studio Calico Scrap Pad, some Elle's Studio goodies, Pebbles stickers and Divine Twine and it can not be beat! Today on the Scrapbook Circle blog, I have a layout that is a lift of Scrapbook Circle subscriber, Andrea's layout. You can see Andrea's layout, my lift and fellow DT member Diana's lift HERE. Here is my layout:
I used three 3x11" strips of different patterned paper and stitched around each one to create my background.
The "FUN" sticker is from Pebbles, but the Enjoy Today is from the October Scrapbook Circle Printable that comes with the kit. This month I printed mine onto off white cardstock and love the slightly vintage look it gives.
One of my favorite parts of this kit are the Pink Paislee alphas. I had been wanting to use them since I saw them released at CHA and this was my first chance. They are fabulous. The font is SO fun and the size is perfect--slightly larger than a typical alphas but not too large. The little bow on the "y" matches my daughter's hair band (which by the way is one I made for her!). The journaling is on a piece of the Scrap Pad and layered on stitched cardstock.
If you haven't seen everything included I hope you will go check out Fresh Picked. It does have some beautiful Fall colors, but is a super versatile kit!
Well, I am off to run around for the rest of my Monday. Have a great week!
♥Rebecca