Gettin' By

Pink & Blue Means I Love You

When I first started scrapbooking (and we won't even mention the year, but's let's just say it doesn't start with a 2!) one of my biggest struggles was with holiday layouts. Sure, the first year of Christmas, Easter and  Halloween pages came together fairly easily, using typical color schemes and themed products, but when it came time to do these pages again the following year, I was less than enthused to try and recreate the same old page with a new set of photos. 

And since I tend to have a two-year-old's mentality when it comes to things I don't want to do ("You can't MAKE ME!") those pages were left largely undone.

That was until I finally realized that it's OK to create holiday pages in non-traditional colors. It seems simple enough, but letting go of the "rules" that holidays need to be represented with certain colors finally helped me to actually create layouts about these events (and enjoy it)! And let's be honest, I also enjoy breaking the rules. In general.

Since ever then, I've never really let the holiday dictate my product choice for a page.  Rather, I use my photos as a guide for the color and patterns to use. A good example of this is a recent page I did for Riely's Valentine Day party:

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The photos for this page featured mostly primary colors - Riely's red skirt and Valentine box, and the yellow, red and blue lollipops she made to hand out to classmates.  Trying to be true to the Valentine's theme, I first put the photos on a red background, but it was just too much red. The blue paper (which is actually from Elle's Studio Sycamore Lane, a fall-themed line!) did a better job of highlighting the photos without competing for attention.

While the blue pattern takes up most of my background, I chose a mostly white paper for the bottom third. This white grid pattern is from the Good Cheer Christmas line, but it works perfectly for featuring a large block of text. The red lines also tie back to the red in my photos, but in a more subtle way than a red patterned paper would have.

Since I didn't want the page to be completely devoid of Valentine's vibe, I incorporated hearts in the form of cut files...three white hearts in the upper left and a heart frame to matte one of the photos.  I also infused a little bit of pink with the file tab cut files. All of these elements work to convey the Valentine's theme, and more importantly, they work with my photos!

So there you have proof that papers intended for autumn and Christmas can also work for a Valentine's page. You just never know what can happen until you break the rules!

Wardrobe Wednesday | In Defense of Re-Runs

Last week when I picked out this outfit, I did so without my usual dose of caffeine. Why yes, I'm still blabbering about my huge Whole30 sacrifices. #enoughalready  In this bleary-eyed state, I knew it wasn't the time to be mixing up any crazy colors or patterns, so I stuck with my favorite trick of combining two patterns of the same color. 

I like to refer to this well-worn navy striped tee as my Seinfeld shirt -  because it's on repeat many, many times a week. But there's something about reruns - that predictable I-know-how-this-whole-thing-turns-out that can be good...both in life and on tv! And this sweater? It's my go-to layer in the past month, getting thrown on over everything from a denim shirt & leggings to a graphic tee and colored jeans. It's currently on clearance at Target (in a few other colors as well) if you happen to be looking for a good deal.

And speaking of deals, I spent most of last Sunday doing a Big Spring Clean of my closet and am left with lots of gently-used items that need to find new homes. So I've opened a new Instagram account, @shopwardrobewednesday to host an online sale of some of my favorite wardrobe finds. The proceeds will be donated to animal charities (Best Friends, A Place to Bark and the Denver Dumb Friends League) and I'll be adding in new items regularly. So check it out and tag your friends who might be interested in some fab finds supporting good causes!

I also just realized that the layout in yesterday's post had previously been posted back in October - doh! I can't even blame that on my lack of lattes, just my own somewhat disorganized office. And possibly the fact that I might have stayed up way too late Monday night watching Friends reruns. See how this came full circle??!

Happy Wednesday!

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Mossimo cardigan (on sale for $9.98!)
J Crew striped Artist's Tee (old) | similar
Joe's Jeans Mid Rise Skinny Ankle
Frye Campus Boots in Dark Brown
Bedstu Baja clutch (color sold out)
Anthropologie Avond necklace (sold out) | on ebay

Bundle Up

Hello from frozen Colorado where temps are hovering right above zero, I'm coming up with creative excuses to avoid leaving the house ("The garage door is frozen shut" and "I have a touch of ebola today" are my current faves) and the only way I can prevent my fingers from turning blue is to keep them wrapped around a hot mug of coffee.

And speaking of coffee, I have officially caved on the Whole30 no-lattes rule. Because if I'm gonna suffer through sub-zero temps without wine, bread, or chocolate AND be expected not to stick a fork in someone's eye by the end of the day, then I need to be decently caffeinated. So in true vigilante style, I'm adding 1% MILK (gasp!) to my damn espresso. If those Whole30 people want to come arrest me, I'll be here waiting. With my fork.

In the meantime, I thought I'd use the time to share a new layout with you. While going through my rather large "to-post" stack, I saw this one entitled Bundle Up and thought it was appropriate given the weather of late. It's a cheerful mix of colorful squares with a big, bold title. Coincidentally arranged on a (milky) white background:

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This design is an awesome way to use up small paper scraps that are inevitably floating around your scrap space.  Just punch out various-sized squares and stitch 'em down to create a photo matte. I selected the orange and navy since they matched colors in my photos, and filled in with other scraps of yellow and aqua.

The title is a mix of a die-cut and oversized letter stickers from MAMBI. They are perfect for short titles and monograms and the sketched/hand-drawn look is casual and fun. I tucked my typed journaling into the space to the left of the title using the antique typewriter font, Type-Ra.

And with that, I'll wrap up this post and turn my attention to my newest project: an advertising proposal to the Got Milk? campaign based on the beverage's ability to reduce utensil-related attacks. (Er, just as soon as I make another latte.)

Happy Tuesday!

Simple Saturday | Love

I bet you have some photos on your camera from Valentine's Day, huh? If not from this year, then shots from years past? Well I have a simple design that's perfect for getting them scrapped today!

S U P P L I E S :

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While this page contains lots of color and pattern from the new BasicGrey J'Adore collection, I've stuck with two shapes: hearts and circles. Most of the hearts are die-cuts from my Cameo, but you could easily hand-cut these as well. The circles are stickers, flair, and brads in addition to some stitched circles created with embroidery thread. I used these stitched circles to group together some of the elements, which helps organize the design, and also to create a visual triangle around my photos and title.

 

 

I tried to cluster the largest hearts behind my photos & title to "ground" them and make them the focal point. The other shapes are smaller and scattered around the center. I positioned the design to be primarily on the left side of the page, leaving the right open and uncluttered - a nice chunk of white space for the eye to rest.

 

 

You can download a free instruction sheet and the cutting files for this page over at the BasicGrey blog. It's a flexible design that could work on many page themes - just swap the hearts for stars, circles, or hexagons for fun variations!

 

Wishing you all a fabulous weekend! Oh, and for all you movie lovers, I'll be doing some undoubtedly snarky and sarcastic tweeting on the Oscars coverage, so grab a cocktail and join me on the red carpet Sunday afternoon!

 

Five on Friday | Get In My Mouth

It's no secret to most of you that I am a big fan of food. I've been know to suffer through a 10-mile run, motivated solely by the fact that when I'm done, I can scarf down a cheeseburger guilt-free. In fact, I'll do just about any exercise with the proverbial " food carrot" dangling in front of me. Though it's never an actual carrot...more like carrot cake. With lots of cream cheese frosting, duh.

So when Mike and I started the Whole30 diet plan last week in an effort to get ourselves "spring break ready," I was suddenly faced with a menu devoid of many of my favorite food groups. (Psst...these crazy health people actually think candy corn is not a vegetable! Wha?!) I'm truly trying to stay true to the plan, really I am. It's only 30 days - thirty long, sad, sugar-free days - but here are the five things my taste buds are seriously missing.

 

1//  La Tortilla Factory Green Chile Corn Tortillas.  There's not really any Mexican food that makes the cut on this meal plan, but these delicious soft tortillas are definitely not allowed. Something about corn and flour being elements of unadulterated evil (these Whole30 people are not a lot of fun) but I'm not quite buying it. Wrap these around some good ol' refried beans and cheese and you're as close to heaven as it gets, baby.

2//  Cupcake Sauvignon Blanc. It's not just my favorite wine that's disallowed, it's all alcohol in general. Which means instead of having a glass of wine or a local microbrew before bed, I just go straight to bed and cry into my pillow. This getting healthy thing is so much fun!

3//  OZO Espresso Isabelle Lattes. Giving up alcohol is one thing, but giving up my morning latte? Hold me. You actually can have black coffee on the plan but the steamed 2% milk I normally add is a no go. Whole30 suggests using coconut milk instead of cow's milk, which sounds good in theory, unless you actually have taste buds. I tried it and hereby proclaim to be nasty. There is a reason coconuts don't have udders, i'mjustsaying.

4//  Veritable Chaumes Brie. I love just about any kind of cheese (ok, maybe not the really stinky ones) and can, in fact, make a meal out of cheese and wine alone. Add some crusty bread and I'll don a beret and my best French accent and put on an authentic Moulin Rouge show. But sadly, the three main components of this festive cabaret are expressly forbidden on Whole30. Which really should piss France off.

5// Cadbury Creme Eggs.  I probably should have given a bit more thought to the timing of this whole diet. It happens to fall over the months when my FAVORITE CANDY IN THE WHOLE ENTIRE WORLD is in peak season. My solution is merely to stockpile them in my freezer until the end of March and then embark on an incredible, edible egg adventure. SUCK ON THAT, WHOLE30.

 

I'm not sure if this post has been therapeutic or tortuous for me today. But at any rate, feel free to imbibe in any of the above in my honor. I'll just be enjoying my delicious kale and beets as I stare longingly (and try to refrain from licking) my computer screen. Is it March yet?!?

 

Beachy Dreams

After a very relaxing three-day weekend, I'm finding it hard to get back into the swing of things this week. Tuesday felt like Monday, and I've been running a day behind ever since. Add to that a nice dumping of snow, chilly temps and icy roads, and a you've got the perfect recipe for Pull Up Those Covers And Stay in Bed All Day. And my Monday looked a lot like that.

But real life came calling on Tuesday and I obliged by (1) getting dressed, (2) consuming large amounts of coffee, and (3) generally playing the part of responsible working adult. Go me! That's not to say I wasn't dreaming about naps, tropical islands and warm sea breezes, which makes a nice segue into the layout I'm sharing today!

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We're headed to Mexico for spring break again this year. I'm not counting the days or anything (44) but seeing this layout sure makes me ready to hit the beach. I used photos from our last trip to document each of our favorite aspects of the vacation, mounting each photo on a wood veneer frame and stacking them in a vertical column. I layered a few squares of patterned paper beneath them (both these papers were exclusives in an old JBS kit, but I've linked similar patterns above) but the truly "beachy" aspect of this page is the watercolor treatment I did in the background.

 

I started by dipping a brush into aqua spray mist and then dipping it into a small bowl of water, removing most of the color. Then I swiped a light coat of the watered-down color onto dotted swiss cardstock. Not only does this cardstock hold up pretty well to watercolors without warping, the tiny dots pick up the color nicely. While still wet, I used a stencil with an acrylic paint dabber to make darker crosshatch areas in a few places. The paint bleeds a bit on the wet surface, creating a watery look.

Once the paint layers were dry, I used the same crosshatch stencil once again (cleaned of paint!) with an aqua fine tip pen and I added a few more "x"s to the mix. These were more defined and crisp than the paint, but add definition to the artsy background, as well as another layer of color and detail.

I used a speech bubble stencil to trace those shapes onto white cardstock and then trimmed them out. I typed my journaling strips and added a bit of ink wash to them before adhering to the center of the speech bubbles. The embellishments are a mix of sequins and wood veneer that help reinforce the natural water + sand theme.

And that, my friends, is the best way to recreate the beach without actually being there. Sure, it's not quite as good, but at least you won't get sunburned doing it. Happy Thursday!

Make It Monday | DIY Eye Makeup Remover

Happy Presidents' Day to all my U.S. readers (and a Happy Monday to those who aren't!) We are all still in pjs, enjoying a lazy snowy day in Colorado. And in an effort to kick-off a more semi-regular appearance of my Make-It-Monday series, I thought I'd share an easy one today!

Since I'm a die-hard waterproof mascara fan, I go through a lot of eye makeup remover...and it's not cheap! I'd much rather spend my money on the actual mascara than the stuff to take it off, so I experimented with a few recipes until I found one that works (and it's really inexpensive to make!) Another bonus? It's not filled with all the unpronounceable chemicals and crap that the drugstore remover has.  Here's all you need:

Witch Hazel astringent
Satsuma Beautifying Oil (I love the Brazil Nut variety too!)
plastic bottle

Then just mix equal parts of witch hazel and oil. For an even more economical version, you can use olive oil or coconut oil in place of the Body Shop oil. Shake before using, as the oil will separate a bit when it sits. I apply with cotton pads and it works wonderfully without drying out your eye area.

So do you have any home recipes for beauty products? I'd love to hear them!

Five on Friday | Valentine Loves

Here's a few quick picks for any of you that might be doing a little last-minute shopping for those Valentine gifts. And yep, that includes me. So grab a little chocolate for energy and let's go!

 

 

1//  Love to Lounge Top ($34.99). I'm such a fan of the baseball tee for topping off everything from boyfriend jeans to pencil skirts to flannel pj pants. This version is especially versatile with its basic charcoal-and-white motif and would be a welcome piece for any fashionista's wardrobe!

2//  Home Heart Doormat ($9.74 on sale!) Our front door is painted bright red so finding the perfect welcome mat to coordinate is always a challenge. I love this all-weather version from Target for the sweet sentiment and simple graphics. Whether your door is red or not, it would make a cute addition to any entry way!

3//  Creative Co-Op Light Up Marquee Heart ($44.00) Vintage signage and letters make me swoon, and this replica is no exception. I can see it mixed into a family photo gallery or brightening up a kitchen backsplash. Plus, it's battery-operated so no electrical outlet necessary!

4// Kate Aspen "Key To My Heart" Bottle Opener ($29.99/set of 12) A household can never have too many bottle openers, and this antique-inspired design is as beautiful as it is functional. The price includes a set of 12 - ideal for keeping on hand as last-minute hostess or housewarming gifts.

5//  Dream & Sugar Plates ($49.99)  For the perfect ending to your Valentine's Day, serve up a sweet treat on these colorful ceramic plates. The set of six features gorgeous colors rimmed in gold that are equally elegant and whimsical. Chocolate torte, anyone??

 

Wishing you all a love-filled, heart-warming Valentine's Day!

Wardrobe Wednesday | Crazy Pants

Usually when I refer to myself with the adjective crazy, it means I stayed up past 9 o'clock or went more than six months in between dental cleanings. Because I'm livin' on the edge, people. But today I'm using it to describe a little trend I've noticed in my wardrobe: an affinity for bright and patterned pants. There are these floral beauties...and these sunshine yellow jeans...and of course, my holiday fancy pants.

The latest addition to my addiction are these plaid pantaloons. Not only is the lightweight fabric ideal for these warmer days we've been having, but they pair up perfectly with my go-to white tee and jean jacket. And hello?!  They're plaid. So even though my lifestyle doesn't allow for much raucous rampaging, my legs have a little party every time I wear them. At least until that 8:30 bedtime.

But just to prove that I can get a little unruly every now then: I got my first speeding ticket in 26 years yesterday. Yep, breaking' the law going six miles over the limit. Next thing you know, I'll be jaywalking in the school pick-up lane. I'm just gonna blame the pants.

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Cartonnier Tartan Crops
Old Navy Slub-Knit Tee
Old Navy Jean Jacket
J. Crew Factory Chain Link Necklace
Merona Boyfriend Watch
Anne Klein heels (old) | similar, similar
Moschino satchel (thrifted) | similar, similar
Ray Ban sunnies

Elle's Studio | February 2015 Kits

It's February 10th and that means the new kits are live at Elle's Studio! This month is a fun collection of love-themed tags, stamps and veneers perfect for documenting the upcoming holiday. But even if Valentine's isn't high on your to-scrap list, the kit works wonderfully for other celebrations and everyday events too. Case in point? This month, both my layouts use photos taken over the Christmas holiday!

 

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You may recognize this as our Christmas card photo, I just converted it to black and white so it would better coordinate with the lovely colors of the kit. I used one 3x4 tag for my journaling and another for my title, layered a heart-shaped tag and veneer over the top. I tied it all together with stamped wood veneer pieces and twine.

 

 

 

I always love the simple graphics that Elle includes on her tags, but I can't always incorporate lots of tags into one design. So for my second page, I cut out several of my favorite art from the tags and hung them below the doodle cut file. Along with my photos and other tags, they make a cute & colorful clothesline!

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The yellow ampersand and several sentiments were trimmed from larger tags, but make great accents on my page. I love layering up different shapes and colors for a fun mix!

The Elle's Studio kits are on sale now and be sure to check out the Design Team Gallery. for more inspiration on how to use them. Plus, starting today, there is a special sale on stamps (and some other items, too!) so stop by and get yourself an early Valentine's gift. Because aren't scrapbook supplies really better than chocolate or roses??

Have a wonderful Tuesday, my friends!