February 2011 Photo love Layout

As you know, I have decided to try and participate in the Two Peas Free Monthly Challenge called "Photo Love", with Shimelle Laine...so here is my 2 photo layout.

I have to say, that I really enjoy this challenge, simply because, other than the sketch, and the number of photos required for each month....one can use any papers and embellishments that one wants.

I love the new 7 gypsies "lille" collection, and with a sketch as a guideline, I found it much easier to use the papers. Looking at these papers, they are simply stunning....BUT, busy...oh so very BUSY. Busy enough, that they can be a little intimidating to use, that we may question...um...um...um....not so sure HOW to use them. Now, don't think that you can just buy one of each sheet! NO SIRREE!!! because you need the back and the front. As busy as one side may be, the other side is simply essential to have as well. So if perhaps, you are not quite sure how to use a "BUSY" paper, just start with a sketch. If you have not already looked at the "Photo Love" Challenge, I encourage you to do so....and I especially encourage you to participate.

Wishes to all for a week filled with sunshine and good things.

A two peas sketch challenge

Just wanted to share my one photo "sketch layout" challenge from Two Peas. Every month a challenge is posted, starting off using one photo for the first month, two for the second, three for the third....you get the picture....12 photos on the 12th month. I have actually never participated in any kind of challenge before, but because I really like "Shimelle".....a Garden Girl, I did want to participate in this challenge. I started off by just picking the photo that I wanted to use and going with it. Sometimes, it is quite overwhelming to decide on which papers and embellishments to use, so the simple thing is pull out everything from one manufacturer or paper line. That way, you are guaranteed that everything matches and co-ordinates.

For this layout, I pulled out my entire "Cosmo Cricket" stash, picked a colour scheme and enjoyed papers and goodies that I have not seen for a long time. You know, some of the older stuff.....(we all have some).

So here it is....

I hope to continue in this challenge each month. Having the sketch definitely takes the guesswork out of where to start.

Wishing you all a day, a week, a month of good things ahead!

Making Room for the New (stuff, that is!)

Well, I know that all the really nice new stuff from CHA will be coming along soon, and overwhelming me in every which way....SO....for the past few weeks all the layouts that I have done, have all been with stuff that I have. YEP, you heard right......NOTHING NEW!

Using all my stash, allows me to clear out, take inventory and make room for all the goodies that I know I will want.

This layout was inspired by a sketch, and I just knew that this Girls Paperie Paper was exactly what I wanted to use. It truly is amazing to see exactly what we have hidden in terms of paper and embellishments. I was just waiting for the right time and place to use this. In fact, this is the second layout I have done with my "Girls Paperie" stash. So, I hope that for everyone who reads this, that you pull out something old and make it something new.

INSPIRATION everywhere

THIS

IS WHAT INSPIRED

THIS

The above water bottle is what sits on my desk at work, right in front of me....every single day!

I look at it, I read the little sayings on it, I fill it twice a day, and I am very inspired by it.

Not only inspired from the "wellness" aspect, but based on the above layout, from a creative aspect as well. Like I have mentioned sometime before, I am not the biggest user of stamps on layouts, BUT I really loved the idea of trying to do a stamp collage looking attempt. I have to say, I quite like the end result.

Wishing everyone a week filled with sunshine and smiles.

Just a little plain and simple....with a polaroid stamp

K. let me first begin by saying this layout is totally done on white cardstock....really hard to tell by the below picture......BUT...............look closely...........really closely.............

DO YOU SEE THE STAMP?

Yep, my favorite, the "stamping bella" polaroid stamp. I mean c'mon, how can you NOT love it?

How can you NOT want to own it?

So simple, yet so stately (is that a word?) I just have to say....I LOVE THAT STAMP!!!!

There is so little on this layout, yet, in my mind....it says so much. I have to agree with the saying "less is more". Sometimes, we feel so obligated to fill our page with so much...simply because we have so much, or because there is so much empty space which to fill. However, with this layout, I was just so satisfied with the simplicity and cleanliness of it, that I just did NOT feel the need to clutter it up and layer it with embellishments (which I usually love to do.)

I encourage you to do a layout....using less, to create more!

Loving KI Memories Calender Die Cut Paper

Ok, so when I first saw these absolutely adorable die cut calender pages from KI Memories....I had this vision, that I would like to try and use one every single month for the next year. I mean, how cool could that be? Twelve sheets of paper, twelve different ways...not to mention twelve guaranteed layouts for a year. C'mon now, that could really be more than some of us actually do. So this is my "January" layout!

I have to say that I really do like this paper. When I first took it out on my desk, I kinda thought "MMM", but after looking at it, placing my picture where I did...I then looked at the empty little squares as a kind of grid, which made it easy for me to then move forward. I also pulled out some really old KI paper, that I always loved enough to never want to part with.

Wishing everyone a wonderful week ahead, filled with some tiny little time to create!

Using some Stamping Bella "Scrappy" stamps

Well I honestly have to admit that I am not such a stamper on layouts. I kind of forget that I do have some "scrapbooking" stamps, and I neglect to use them. I also have to say that I am not so confident when stamping directly onto the layout. I always have this fear, that the stamp just won't stamp quite right, and then that will be the end of what was, and the beginning of an internal rage (that I ruined the layout, forgetting its just paper.)

Now you see, Emily challenged me a little....asking me to use some "Stamping Bella" stamps on a few layouts, that she could take along to CHA with her. CAN YOU SAY PANIC!!!!!!!!

Well this layout was inspired by a teeny weeny little sketch that Emily drew out for me. With her idea to use the "Labels Collection 1". So here it is.......

AND

I LIKE IT

I actually stamped the labels on a second piece of paper first, cut them out, and pop dotted them on the layout....that way there allowed ZERO chance for anger to reign within.

I will be posting a few of the layouts that I did using "Stamping Bella" stamps over my next few blog entries. I encourage you to include some stamping on the next layout that you do!

Get stamping, get scrapping, get happy!