Gettin' By

Simple Saturday

It's been a busy week, full of end-of-the-school year craziness (sock hops and field trips and speech contests and band concerts, oh my!) and I MIGHT be feeling just a little bit woozy waiting for my brain to catch up to all the places my body has been rushing to this week. And while our weekend is equally jam-packed with fun events, beer and bbq will be involved. 'Nuff said.

Even though life is moving full-tilt right know, there is one thing I can count on to remain simple and uncomplicated - my scrapping! This week I'm featuring a page from my Seeing Double video that went live yesterday at Two Peas:

S U P P L I E S :

It's a simple horizontal arrangement of 3x4 journaling cards, topped with my photos, lots of washi tape and embellishments. I love these Project Life-style cards even though I don't do Project Life, because they are easy to incorporate into grids and other linear designs. They make a perfect home for journaling, or a frame for photos, or a backdrop to other accents on your page.

I've added lots of chipboard accents to this page and covered them with washi tape to create colorful custom embellishments. It's a fast and easy way to make bare chipboard look fabulous.

Because my page includes a lot of bright colors, I opted to cut my title from vellum using the font Cookie. It's soft and subtle and doesn't compete with the rest of the page.

For more tips and tricks using journal cards and washi tape (and to see the accompanying card!) be sure to check out the video (and let me know what you think!)

And now I'm off to partake in some weekend revelry. And possibly do a little brainstorming for trips/outings/activities/sports/crafts to keep my kids entertained (and me sane) when they finish up school in a mere four days. And here's where you should feel free to console me that I am not the only bad mama with absolutely no summer agenda worked out yet...

Simple Saturday

If you've only got a few moments to sneak in some scrapping, here's a layout that you can complete in record time, and it's brought to you by my very favorite design framework - the undisputably easy 9-square grid! I've used this tic-tac-toe style foundation on countless pages but because the elements within the grid change with every layout, it still looks fresh.

For this page, I've featured four photos from my childhood (and, er, please direct any comments about my hideous bowl haircut to my mother, who assures me this is was a stylish and trendy coif for the early 70s. I have yet to take solace in that, because the emotional scars from being mistaken for a boy for most of my youth just run too deep.  *sob* )

S U P P L I E S :

 

The photos were different orientations and sizes, so I knew each square of the grid wouldn't be identical.  By mixing in slightly various sizes of patterned paper squares, as well as a large flower and number for my title, the grid squares are asymetrical, but balanced.

I added embroidered stitching to divide my grid, and also around the outer edge of my die cut numbers. To see a detailed tutorial on this easy embroidery technique, hop over to the BasicGrey blog!

Simple Saturday

Happy National Scrapbook Day, my friends! Hope you are getting a few moments today to celebrate with a little bit of scrapping. And since it is an official holiday and all, don't hestiate to add a little chocolate or champagne into the process - or even better, both!

So today, in amongst the celebratory toasts and treats, I'm sharing a recent layout I did for Lily Bee. I'm sure you'll be shocked (not) to see it uses a modified grid design of 2-inch squares - both paper and photos:

S U P P L I E S :

First I selected 12 pictures that gave a good overview of our vacation and mixed them in with patterned paper squares from Lily Bee's Pinwheel, Sweet Shoppe and Destination lines to complement the colors in my photos. I positioned each square slightly staggered from the one below and aligned the rows at a slight angle. I love the sense of energy and motion a little slant adds to the page.

Then I adorned the majority of my paper squares with small embellishments. I tried to stick with accents that matched the paper so the details would be subtle and not too busy.

My title was cut from deep teal cardstock using the font Shishoni Brush. It's a rough-edged type that has the feeling of hand-lettered calligraphy. Before I cut the title, I also drew in a few small circles to cut at the same time that adorn the corners of my layout.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your NSD, peeps!

Simple Saturday

This past CHA, Jenni Bowlin Studio debuted a new product that they'd previously never produced - paper tape! And in classic Jenni style, the patterns and colors were chic vintage that perfectly coordinated with all things JBS.

I created the layout below to showcase just a few of the cool things you can do with these tapes:

 

S U P P L I E S :

Beginning with two of the Heart Cards Kit Cuts (cut from white cardstock), I laid out a grid with my photo (printed 3x4) and journaling. The negative space in the die cuts was a perfect place to showcase the tapes. I layered them over the piece of cardstock that was cut from the center of the heart. Then I trimmed off the overhang and mounted it behind the die cut using foam squares.

I repeated the process for the Blessings card, adhering the tapes vertically this time.

To finish the page, I applied several strips of tape along the left-hand edge, adding in a small strip of white cardstock punched with a scallop border and some machine zig-zag stitching.

So the next time I can't find the perfect piece of patterned paper for my design, I might just reach for my paper tapes instead! They are a quick and easy alternative to add color and pattern to a page.

 

It's that simple.

If you've been following me on Twitter or Instagram, you've probably noticed an increase in posts regarding fun-themed activities over the past few weeks. Because, c'mon! It's summer vacation people! And nevermind that my time in any type of educational institution officially ended decades ago. I'm a parent to school-age kiddos. And the biggest perk of that job? It automatically enrolls me in the Summer Vacation Club, too! 

Oh yeah. We've been living it up lately. Amusement parks, swimming pools, arts & crafts, picnics, scavenger hunts, and late afternoon sessions of Draw Something. Sidewalk chalk cityscapes, Play-Doh parties, lemonade squeezing and grill-menu planning...we've been doing it all! And, um, it is at all surprising that we're having a blast?! Well, only to this slightly workaholic-inclined mama who has since realized that the world does not come crashing to a halt if you take an afternoon off to ride roller coasters with your kids.  Who knew??

So inspired by this new summertime schedule, I created my latest scrapbook page:

S U P P L I E S :

It's quickly becoming our summertime mantra: Do More of What Makes You Happy. Yep, it's really that easy. The more happy things you do, the easier it is to forget what isn't (or at least lessen it's importance in your life!) So right now, it's all about packing every bit of happiness we can into our days of summer...are you in?!?

Whip-Up-A-Page Wednesday

Today I've got a page from the mid-month JBS Mercantile gallery for ya, featuring my sweet boy!

S U P P L I E S :

The base of this design was established by grouping together several of the journaling cards from the Echo Park "This & That" line. I stamped the silhouette on one and used two more as photo mattes. I also included a manila tag, stamped with a JBS exclusive chevron stamp (look for it on sale in July). Some of the This & That stickers, popped up on foam squares finish the look, along with a die-cut title. (I used a calligraphy brush in Illustrator to create it.)

Hope you have a AMAZING Wednesday!

Whip-Up-A-Page Wednesday

It's time for another installment of Whip-Up-A-Page! As I was looking through the humungous and dangerously tall pile of layouts on my desk trying to determine which one to feature today, I came to the realization that I SUCK AT PUTTING LAYOUTS INTO ALBUMS.  Rather, I let them collect on my desk until they resemble the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and then I transfer them to our dining room table, where they will remain until Thanksgiving, the one time of year we actually use that table for dining purposes.

But enough about my inadequate organizational skills. I don't think I've featured this page on the blog yet (and if I have, well tough cookies! I'm OLD and I don't remember!) and it's one of my favorite recent creations.  The color combo + large chevrons just make me happy:

S U P P L I E S :

I used papers from Lily Bee's new Buttercup line, with a dose of aqua and gray cardstock thrown in. That aqua color is one of my very favorites shades of Bazzill - Kachina. I buy it in bulk!

1.  Trim several strips of cardstock and patterned paper 1.5" wide. Arrange on background of page at an angle. Trim ends of each strip to line up (mine are cut at about a 120˚angle and I marked each strip with a pencil line before cutting).

2. Cut various circles sizes from patterned paper.  Layer with doilies, buttons, and stickers in the upper left side and lower right side of page.

3. Print three photos (mine are 3 x 3, 2.5 x 2.25 and 1.75 x 1.75) and adhere on top of circles.

4.  Add chipboard letters and journaling strips. Embellish buttons with twine.

And there you have it! Have fun and enjoy your Wednesday. (And keep your fingers crossed I'm not mortally injured by falling layout piles, ok?!)

Whip-Up-A-Page Wednesday

It's been quite awhile since I've hosted an installment of Whip-Up-A-Page and since today is Wednesday and I happen to have a page lying on my desk ready to share, it would seem that the stars are all perfectly aligned in the scrapbook universe.  So let's get to whippin' up that page, shall we?!

S U P P L I E S :

This is a simple page design that could fit a variety of themes: Valentine's Day... love...wedding...open heart surgery...OK, maybe I'm stretching it there. But grab some coordinating patterned paper and let's get creating!

1. Trim a piece of white cardstock to 12 x 3.5. Adhere across the bottom of the Dotted Swiss background.


2. Cut out a variety of hearts in different patterns and sizes. I used some chipboard shapes in my stash as templates for some, and free-handed others. You could also use punches, pre-made die cuts, or a die cut machine to cut your hearts.


3. Layer some of the hearts with accents - a scalloped edge of cardstock, stickers, or vellum (I stitched mine into place with my sewing machine.)


4. Adhere your assortment of hearts across the seam between the white and tan cardstock. Use foam squares to add dimension to some of the hearts.


5. Print photos (mine are approx. 4 x 2.75") and adhere them on the upper left side of layout. Print journaling on white cardstock; cut in to strips and place to the right of photos.


6. Die-cut the title from red cardstock. I used my Silhouette to cut out the font Dancing Script, but you could also use stamps with red ink or red alpha stickers for the same effect. Then add your subtitle in small stamps with black ink.

Easy, right? And in no time at all you've got a lovely page straight from the heart. Full of love. And ready for Uncle Earnest's triple bypass photos. Or, uh, whatever other topic your little heart feels like scrapping.

Enjoy your Wednesday, my dearies!

Lift This {Two} Pager!

I don't make two-page layouts as often as I should (I think I find it difficult to design in a rectangular space) but every now and then, I need a lot of photos to tell my story and the extra space is nice. I did this simple spread with the August Jenni Bowlin Mercantile kit and it's an easy design to lift:

Feed the Birds | supplies:  Bazzill cardstock (Cream Puff, Green Tea, White OP) + Basic Grey patterned paper + Bazzill Flocked Vellum + Fancy Pants flocked transparency + JBS medallion stamp + Studio Calico wooden alpha + Prima pearls & jewels + JBS inks (Fountain Pen, Chili Powder, Stick Candy) + Creative Memories circle cutter + Typenoksidi font

1. Matte photos on light green cardstock block. I used 3 - 4x6 photos and 5 smaller photos, all sized to a height of 2 inches.


2. Cut approximately 13 circles in various sizes from patterned paper, vellum, transparency, or stamped cardstock. (I used the medallion stamp from the kit for several of the circles). Arrange circles across the two page spread.


3. Dab wooden letters with black ink and let dry. Adhere to lower left side of spread.


4. Print journaling on white cardstock. Cut into strips and adhere around title lettering.


5. Adhere block of matted photos to layout using foam squares.  I aligned my block so the first 4x6 photo is on the left side of the center line and the rest are on the right.


6. Embellish some of the circles with pearls and rhinestones:

This layout is also featured in the debut issue of the JBS Mercantile Gazette, a newsletter available now on the Jenni Bowlin blog.  Go download the pdf file and print it for future inspiration! It's packed full of layout ideas, tips and tricks from the Jenni Bowlin design team.  After this month, the Gazette will be available for anyone who purchases the monthly kit or who has a kit subscription (so go reserve your membership now - kits have been selling out quickly!)

And enjoy your Wednesday, my friends!

Lift This Page!

We are officially entering our last week of summer vacation...and so begins the frantic cramming of all those last-minute summer activities into our schedule.  I always have mixed emotions about August...I love the idea that school supply shopping and crisp fall days are just around the corner, but part of me mourns the passing of yet another fleetingly fast summer. {s i g h }

So, yep, the next seven days will be packed. Hayden is off with Grandpa for a fishing/golfing adventure; Riely has a sleepover and a VBS camp, and I am getting myself organized (and excited!) for two different scrapbook teaching events this fall....details to come! It's a crazy time, but the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel is the sanity and structure that a regular school/work routine will soon provide.

And now, onto today's layout! It's based on a simple "divide & conquer" method I like to use when approaching a page.  I've created four main quadrants with patterned paper and filled each with photos, journaling, a title and embellishments:

Easy | supplies:  Bazzill cardstock (Date Swirl, White OP) + Lily Bee patterned paper (Porch Swing, Milk Bottle, Cottage Garden, Pearls & Heels, Cider ) + Lily Bee stickers (Picket Fence Cardstock, Picket Fence Alpha) + Lily Bee Chipboard accents + Basic Grey chipboard letters + Creative Memories circle punch + Martha Stewart butterfly punch + Bazzill twine + Courier font + machine stitching

1. Cut four pieces of patterned paper to approx. 3.75" x 5.25". Adhere to center of cardstock.


2. Print two photos (3" x 4.25") and use foam adheisve squares to adhere to two of the quadrants.


3. Use existing chipboard or die-cut flower shapes (I used these from Sassafras) to trace flowers onto Lily Bee patterned papers.  Trim out and embellish the centers with circle punches or buttons.


4. Print journaling on white cardstock. Trim into strips and adhere to lower right quadrant.


5. Use small letter stickers + chipboard letters to create title.


6. Embellish as desired using stickers, punches, chipboard, twine, buttons and machine stitching.

Be sure to stop back on Thursday, as I've got a great giveaway you won't want to miss!  Enjoy your Tuesday!