Gettin' By

Giveaway | SCT 365 Online Layout Class

I'm thrilled to be involved with another year of SCT’s 365 Online Layout Class! SCT asked previous students what they would like to see in this year’s class and many of those suggestions were implemented in the 2019 class. Each month, you will be creating one double and one single page, both based on a PageMaps sketch. By popular demand, many of these pages will featuring lots of 4x6 photos, perfect for your lab prints. Here's a few sneaks of my projects, which will be part of the January class content!

 

Our talented group of teachers will bring you trend-setting techniques, tips, tricks, cutting files and so much more. This class is a great way to learn something new, fill up your scrapbook albums, and try new techniques, all at your pace. I'm excited to be included in this all-star cast of teachers that includes Meghann Andrew, Jana Eubank, Nicole Nowosad, Virginia Nebel, Sheri Reguly, Marcia Nix-Haus, Tya Smith, Lorilei Murphy, Jen Gallacher, Wendy Sue Anderson and Nathalie DeSousa.

If you'd like to join us for a full year of creative fun, you can register at the link above (class starts tomorrow, January 2!) And I'm giving a spot away to one lucky blog reader and their friend - all you have to do to enter is leave a comment below telling me one scrapbooking goal you have for the upcoming year! I'll announce the winners January 2 and post them below. 

Happy New Year, my friends!

 

 

 

 

Happy New Year | SCT 365

So who's prepared for it to be 2019?! While I'm definitely not quite ready to wrap up the end-of-year celebrations, I'm begrudgingly flipping the calendar to a new, fresh year that probably doesn't involve cocktails at any hour (because it's the holidays!), wearing flannel pjs 24 hours a day, watching countless reruns of Christmas Vacation and having cookies and egg nog for breakfast. Sigh.

I am, however, kicking off 2019 with a bit of scrapbooking as the January designer for the online class, SCT 365! This class features a new designer and fresh content every month, with double and single-page layouts based on PageMaps sketches. You'll have access to trend-setting techniques, tips, tricks, cutting files and much more. And it's only $28 for the entire year-long class, so don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to be creative in 2019.

Today I'm sharing a layout from last year's class that documents our NYE celebration and incorporates a fun technique - the embellished grid!

S U P P L I E S :

The center of my layout features all the major components - photos, journaling & title. With the space that was left in the surrounding margins, I decided to stitch a grid with black thread and top it with festive sequins, stars and dots that help reinforce the celebratory theme.

 

I don't usually use much gold on my pages, but I had fun incorporating accents into this design as it goes so well with the New Year's Eve theme. The title (which was included as a free cut file with the class!) is a bold number font with the script die-cut layered over the top.

 

The SCT 365 classroom will open on January 2 with an all-star cast of teachers, including Meghann Andrew, Jana Eubank, Nicole Nowosad, Virginia Nebel, Sheri Reguly, Marcia Nix-Haus, Tya Smith, Lorilei Murphy, Jen Gallacher, Wendy Sue Anderson and Nathalie DeSousa.  On the first of each month, new content is available in the online classroom on the SCT website. And because this is a self-paced class, that content will be available all year long.

Stop back by on January 1, when I'll be posting sneaks of my new class content, as well as a chance to win a spot in the classroom for you and a friend! See you in 2019!

Wardrobe Wednesday | All Hail The Egg Nog

Bishop Sleeve Cardigan + Umgee Tunic + Madewell Skinny Jeans + Matisse Booties (similar)

I'm not a frequent Starbucks customer, though I've been known to suck down a few Latte Brevés during times when I need and extra boost (or twelve) of caffeine. But when the calendar signals the arrival of the all-hallowed red cups, I find myself bee-lining for Starbucks on a very regular basis. Add to that the fact that our local dairy (which delivers our milk in glass bottles to a cute metal box on our porch) offers the most amazing egg nog in all the world during December, and you've got a perfect situation for adding on some holiday weight. And while I have no problem emulating the Jolly Old Elf during Christmastime, it does it make more challenging to get dressed!

Enter the flowy tunic. I'm grabbing anything that drapes away from my body these days, and this tunic is one of my favorites. Layered under a cozy sweater, it's festive and comfy and most importantly - it's loose. And it's also equally wearable in warmer weather with cut-off denim and sandals, so it's truly a versatile piece. Not only does it help disguise the fact that I ate Christmas cookies for breakfast, it also assures there's plenty of room in my gut for an afternoon eggnog latte (or eight - who's counting?!)

Happy Holidays!

christmas fun | SCT Delivered winter kits

With a mere seven days to go until the big Christmas celebration, I'm (quite literally) wrapping up my holiday to-do list. I'm popping the Christmas cards in the mail today and then getting cozy for a marathon wrap session. Last December 26, I stocked up on paper from Hobby Lobby and I have to say it is such amazing quality compared to the Target rolls I've bought in years past (which is so thin it rips if you look at it sideways). There's nothing quite like a heavy, crisp paper to make package wrapping a joy. Am I right, or am I right, Martha Stewart?!?

The kids' last day of school is Thursday, at which point we have lots of festive things planned - a movie with cousins, cookie-baking, and checking out the local light displays. And maybe a few Silent Nights thrown in for good measure! I'm going to make it a point to take lots of photos (something I've been slacking on the past few years) because creating holiday layouts each year is one of my favorite things. Here's one I did of last year's Christmas - using the winter SCT Delivered kit, Winter Wonderland!

 

S U P P L I E S :

Two-pagers are ideal for holiday pages, and I love featuring lots of photos to set the scene. On this spread, I used two 4x6 photos and eight smaller square photos (2.75") that really capture the event. I spread them across the two pages, lining up the 4x6 photos first right along the center seam.

 

 

I adorned the upper left and lower right corners with snowflakes (both stamped and die-cut) and a variety of small, colorful accents that help lead the eye through the design. The title is a mix of stickers and the kit exclusive acrylic word, which I backed with light blue cardstock to help it pop a bit more.

 

 

To keep a clean, uncluttered look, I chose to put my journaling on the backside of a tag (printables included with the kits!) and tucked it behind the patterned paper strip. It can easily be pulled out for viewing, and keeps the design aesthetic simple.

 

 

I hope that your holiday preparations are going smoothly and you have a time to enjoy the simple things as Christmas grows near. Like a wrapped gift with perfectly matched seams and diagonal folds - it's a good thing.

Happy Holidays my friends!

ALL IS BRIGHT (CALM, NOTSOMUCH)

A little more than two weeks until Christmas - is anyone else in denial?? I have about ten million other things I should be doing to prepare, yet here I sit composing a blog post. Because what fun are the holidays if you aren't running around like a crazed lunatic the last few days? I hate to deny myself the pleasure of that insanity.

So instead of ordering Christmas cards, finishing the tree decorations or organizing teacher gifts, I'm posting this festive layout for y'all! It features one of my favorite shapes - the star - grouped together to make a dimensional wreath frame for my photos and journaling.

 

S U P P L I E S :

To start, I simply sketched a circle centered on the cardstock and then machine stitched several times around the circle with gray thread. It doesn't need to be perfect! (Coincidentally, this is also my mantra when it comes to Christmas decorations and holiday baking!)

 

 

Then I die-cut lots of stars (ranging from 1.5" to 3") from several papers. I used 17 stars total, but you can fit less or more, depending on the size of the circle and the size of the stars. Once the stars were cut, I scored each one from point to valley and gently folded along the score lines to make them three-dimensional.

 

Large glue dots (the 3D kind) are great for securing the stars to the page and also help keep the centers from getting smashed. I arranged mine around the stitched circle, filling in any gaps with small snowflake stickers and die cuts as well as sequins for a bit of sparkle.

 

In the center of wreath, I arranged my two photos, journaling and die-cut sentiment to serve as the layout title. (Full disclosure: I actually printed the journaling on the white cardstock after penciling in the circle and determining where my photos would go, prior to creating the star wreath. I use Adobe Illustrator to layout my elements and help me determine where to type journaling, but I believe you can do something similar in Word.)

 

And now I'm off to actually cross something off my holiday to-do list....does drinking eggnog and watching a Hallmark Christmas movie count??

Junior Year | Scrapbook & Cards Fall 2018

Hayden has officially sent off all his college applications so around here we're celebrating that milestone. And by "celebrating" I mean simultaneously high-fiving Mike that we managed to raise a pretty normal, well-adjusted kid that will undoubtedly do much more impressive things than his parents, freaking out that we have a few short months left with this amazing kiddo, and waiting with unspoken hope and anxiety that he actually gets accepted to his first-choice school (and possibly plotting devious revenge on certain admissions officers if he doesn't). Ah, the roller coaster that is parental emotions.

And seeing this layout that I created for the autumn issue of SCT is yet another ride on that roller coaster.  This was my boy one year ago, embarking on one of his toughest academic years, but with what still seemed like a lifetime to go until graduation. And yet here we are. So to keep me from crumbling into a ball of emotions, I'm gonna talk about the paper folding technique I used on this page, ok? (And then go cry into my coffee!)

 
S U P P L I E S :

I'm always a sucker for back-to-school paper collections, and this one (2 Cool For School from Jillibean) is no exception. Any line that has a good dose of navy blue gets my vote (do you hear me, paper companies??) To create a fun textural background, I used 2" punched circles with a 1.5" punched square of another paper layered in the center. Then I used a bone folder to fold the edges of the circle around the square and created these cute little windows:

 

In the center of some of the squares, I added epoxy stickers that coordinate with this collection. It kind of reminds me of an advent calendar with the little windows that open to reveal a treat inside!

 

The title is a mix of Jillibean die-cut letters (YEAR) and the font Pacific Again (junior) that I cut on my Cameo from green cardstock. It's slightly ironic that is the name of this font, since five of the eight schools Hayden has applied to are, in fact, very near the Pacific ocean. And I will likely be crying oceans of tears as I watch him head off into the big wide world this spring. Maybe I should have used a font named Call Your Mother instead?!?

Have a fabulous Friday!

 

Wardrobe Wednesday: Leopards & Cheetahs & Cougars, Oh My!

Crochet Bishop Sleeve Marled Cardigan + A New Day Leopard Print Top +
Madewell High-Rise Skinny Jeans + Rainey OTK Boots

I probably should learn to discern the difference between various animal prints - I tend to call them all leopard - so when my hubby scrutinizes my closet and asks why it's necessary to have five different leopard shirts, I can tell him that one is actually cheetah, one is ocelot, one is snow leopard...and so on., I love this particular one from Target because it's short-sleeved and a gauzy, lightweight fabric that makes it great for layering. It's also deep clearance ($6.98) but online sizes are limited, so you may have to check your store. And they call it leopard, but in my closet it's been christened as jaguar, which is a totally different than leopard. Yep.

Another recent favorite find is this cozy cardigan in the perfect shade of shell pink from Shein. My purchases here have been hit-or-miss, but this one is a definite winner. It's surprisingly nice quality for the price, very soft, and the color is versatile enough to wear through spring. Notice it pairs nicely with fall prints and patterns. Like jaguar.  (I'm wearing the medium and it's slightly oversized.)

Hope your Wednesday is wonderful - and I'm not lion! :)

Wardrobe Wednesday | Spotted in Leopard

Leopard Jersey Cardigan + Old Navy Flare Ankle Jeans + Old Navy Relaxed Classic Shirt
+ Fluevog Half Truths Crystal

 

Happy Halloween! Today I'm cleverly trying to disguise myself as a calm, collected girl who isn't running around like a lunatic trying to accomplish last minute tasks totally necessary for Halloween. Like making a cheese ball. And scouring beauty aisles in search of red false eyelashes. And burning the holy bejeezus out of my fingers with a glue gun. Because isn't that traditional way to celebrate All Hallow's Eve??

But despite my odd assortment of activities today, at least I can look put together (and bonus points - be COMFY!) in my cozy leopard sweater and jeans. This chenille cardi is so stinking soft it's almost making me forget about my scorched fingertips. And I can't leave my out my nod to the holiday with my witchy and wonderful Fluevog shoes. If you have never checked out John Fluevog's fantastic creations, there's no better time than Halloween. They are wonderfully whimsical and undeniably unique. And most of them pair perfectly with leopard!

With that, I'm off to hunt down orange light bulbs, a teal pumpkin, and a big ol' box of rose wine. Happy haunting, my friends!

Beyond The Capsule | What I Learned From My Capsule Wardrobe

Old Navy Square-Neck Jumpsuit + Old Navy Denim Jacket + Sloan Rancher Hat
+ Freebird Santo Boots (similar)

I've unofficially wrapped up my capsule wardrobe experiment, and while I fell short of my goal of sharing 20 outfits (chalk that up to beginner's optimism/delusion) I did learn a lot in the process that I think will be valuable in my future fashion adventures. Here's a quick recap of what I found to be the good, the bad, and the ugly of my capsule experience!

THE GOOD

1// Getting Dressed With Lightning Speed. Having a capsule shortened my daily dressing time substantially, as the limited pieces kept me focused. There was none of my usual waffling about which patterned shirt would pair best with my jeans, because there was only one patterned shirt. Most days, life is hectic enough and I appreciated that my closet wasn't adding any additional stress or wasted time. While limited options might not seem like it would be liberating, it definitely gave me a sense of calm when I entered my closet everyday because I wasn't overwhelmed with choices, and I was in and out in a matter of minutes. And while I may not have used the extra time wisely (Instagram scrolling, anyone??) I still appreciated having it.

2// A Closet Worthy of a Photo Shoot. My capsule consisted of 17 items which took up a shockingly mere eight inches of my closet space. Not to mention that they looked impossibly chic and coordinated when arranged together, which my OCD self smugly reveled in. And if it weren't for the rest of the closet square footage (which still housed my sizable non-capsule clothing collection) I totally would have called California Closets to market my space for their next catalog.

3// Pinpointing Your Personal Style.  With only a few items to work with, I learned quickly the pieces that best fit my style. The ones that were comfortable, functional, and made me feel definitively like ME. Of all my capsule outfits, I loved the overalls and jeans ensemble best, because they best fit my lifestyle in form and function. I also love the outfits when I got to mix patterns - stripes & plaids are my jam - and having mix-worthy pieces like these will always make me happy. On the other hand, I realized some pieces just aren't as functional, like the green jumpsuit. I adored it initially, but realized quickly that it wrinkles easily and requires ironing after washing, so I wasn't as apt to grab it to wear on a regular basis (though I love it with my jean jacket above!) Experiences like these help me define my style, and ultimately, shop smarter to find things that fit into that style.

 

THE BAD

1// The FOMO Was Real. And by FOMO, I mean Fear Of Missing Outfits. While I wanted to stay strict to my capsule selection, I still found myself thinking there might have been better options beyond those 17 pieces. I struggled most with shoe selections, as I only had four pairs in my capsule. As an admitted shoe-aholic, it was hard to put on the mustard mules knowing I had more appropriate suede saddle booties (or tweed desert boot, or aubergine mary janes, or autumn floral peep toes or even the vintage riding boot...are you seeing my dilemma??) Perhaps for me, and any other shoe crazed girls out there, excluding footwear from your capsule is the way to go. Otherwise you'll be caught constantly looking over your shoulder longingly at what might have been the perfect pair.

2// The Weather Doesn't Care About Your Capsule. I should have known that creating a capsule for October in Colorado would be challenging. It can be 90˚and sweltering one day with snowstorms and school closures the next. But I was lulled by the temperate fall days and didn't give rain, snow or sub zero temps much thought when selecting my pieces. Because it's fall for gosh sakes and a chunky knit sweater and cozy plaid scarf (with the requisite pumpkin spice latte) are all a girl could ever need! Well Mother Nature set me straight by serving up a crazy snow storm, leaving me and my plaid scarf wishing for a puffer jacket and Sorels. Lesson learned.

3// Online Oogling is Off Limits. I follow a huge number of fashion bloggers and influencers on social media, and I truly enjoy seeing their styling, input and advice for all things apparel related. But when you're working within the constrains of a capsule, the last thing you want to see is all the latest and greatest retail fashions. That are likely not included in your capsule. (sad face) 

 

THE UGLY

1// No One Mentions The Laundry Dilemma. The basis of a capsule wardrobe is to have versatile pieces of clothing that can be worn many ways. And while in theory, that sounds practical, in reality, it means you might be running a late night emergency laundry load that consists of one white tee shirt that you happened to spill pico de gallo on at dinner. (And by YOU, I mean all clumsy, Mexican-food loving girls who might overload their chips with too much salsa and then fail at the attempt to shove all of said chip into her mouth. You know who you are, right?)  But even when I wasn't spilling on myself, I did find that I was visiting my washing machine much more than usual. Because even if people are impressed that you can style a shirt eight different ways, they may not be so impressed with the stink it tends to gather after those eight wearings. 

2//Neutral Isn't For Everyone. In researching capsule wardrobes, one common thread I noticed was the selection of generally neutral pieces (ivory, gray, tan, camel, black) and while that totally makes sense for mixing and matching purposes, it's kind of like eating oatmeal for breakfast every morning. Nothing wrong with it, but sometimes a girl just wants Lucky Charms. Or Pop Tarts. Or even the occasional huevos rancheros, ya feeling me? And since I consider it my personal fashion mission to pair the un-pairable patterns  (think you can't mix camo & stripes? Or houndstooth & floral? Let me prove it!) neutral pieces often leave me, well...bored. Are they easy and dependable? Of course. But then again, so is oatmeal. 

 

So there you have it! And all sarcasm aside, I did enjoy my capsule experiment. It's been eye-opening to see what type of items I love wearing and that work for my lifestyle, and challenging to try to incorporate my love of all things patterned. What's resulted is a greater appreciation for pieces that can do double (or triple!) duty in my wardrobe and are good enough quality to hold up to all those wearings. (Madewell Overalls, I'm talking to you!) It will most definitely change the way the way I shop going forward, which by my count will start in approximately three days. So long, No Shop October! I'm coming for you November...

HELLO FALL | SCT Delivered Fall 2018

Even with a crazy snowstorm last week, we're still hanging onto fall, much like the leaves are still (barely) hanging onto the trees. And I'm all for a few more weeks of this delicious season before winter comes roaring in. There's just something about this time of year  - the weather, the football games, the crisp air, the deep saturated hues of the landscape, and oh yeah - EATING CANDY CORN WITH EVERY MEAL - that just makes it my favorite.  

In celebration of all things autumn, I'm sharing a fall layout today. It was one of my projects using the SCT Delivered Kit, Autumn Splendor which manages to capture all the colors and textures of the season as well. (You should go grab one!)

S U P P L I E S :

 

I wanted to keep this page girly, so the pink patterned paper (which I machine stitched with a diagonal grid) was perfect for the bottom half. On top, I used the exclusive kit cut files of leaf outlines to add a touch of autumn. (You can also use the negative portion of these cuts to fill the leaves in!)

 

 

 

To connect the top half and bottom half of the page, I used a visual triangle of grey circles, topped with butterfly punches (remember these??) and small jewels. The triangle helps lead the eye through the design and also highlight the photo of my cute girly.

 

 

Today we're finalizing Riely's Halloween costume (she's going as a deviled egg which is ingeniously cute) but it's going to require some serious layering as the weatherman is predicting 30º temps and possibly snow for the holiday. I'm hoping to avoid chaperone duties that night and stay safely inside with my wine. And candy corn, of course.