Using My Minds Eye" Follow your Heart"

When I saw the papers for the My Minds Eye, "Follow your Heart", I absolutely fell in love with them. I had all sorts of ideas just how I wanted to cut up and use some of the papers, namely the hexagons. I mean c'mon, everywhere I look right now, I see some kind of a hexagon, and the possibilities are endless. Not only is the design of the papers outstanding, but also the colours. It is so nice to see fresh, bright colours as we come into Spring weather. It is just like a rebirth, where creativity starts to ebb again, after the whole winter/holiday theme of things.

It is sometimes a little difficult to control exactly HOW MUCH goes on the page. We land up buying papers and embellishments all in the same story, we look at it and we love it.....and then some of us, actually want to use it all. As I was sitting and doing this layout, which was also based on a sketch, I reminded myself that in the years to come, when either myself, my children or someone else may be looking at my scrapbooks.....they will be looking at the pictures to tell the story, and NOT the pretty things that the page has been decorated with.

So often I hear people say that they just "collect" there stuff.....don't be one of those people. Use your papers and embellishments, there will always be something new that comes along to replace what you thought was worth saving. What is really worth saving is the pages that you create with all your goodies.

Wishing you all a week in which you get to use something that you planned on saving.

"true love" with Simple Stories

There is no doubt about it that Simple Stories is definitely up there within my very favorite paper lines. Each paper collection comes with several sheets of "elements", that are so very versatile to cut up and use as embellishments or create layers with. It is also easy to take from several different lines and use them all together. I did this layout based on a sketch, and had so much fun doing it, pulling bits and pieces from different places to get it all together.

Also really excited with the three new Simple Stories collections, Awesome, Fabulous and Life Documented that are now in the store. You got to come by and see the paper in real life....it is beyond awesome and fabulous. I think my favorite line may just be Life Documented. Can't wait to just find some time and start playing.

What's your favorite line?

Simple Stories is Simply Outstanding

Firstly, thanks to dear Helen for making the most wonderful introduction between Simple Stories and myself. I had heard of it, I had seen it, I didn't display much interest in it.....and then, somewhere, somehow......I FELL IN LOVE! Everything about Simple Stories Collections are beyond fabulous. The papers are filled with so many different elements to cut up and enjoy.

The colours, the co-ordinations, EVERYTHING. Now I can honestly say, that I really do love every line, but my very favorite to date would have to be Year-o-graphy and Life Documented. There is just something about these two collections that stands out. I think probably because for me, they are directed at documenting and scrapbooking the everyday. I have also found that by cutting up the elements provides so much inspiration for what could be a scrapbook page.

I was able to use several different pieces of paper for the below layout, which I have to add was also based on a sketch (have I mentioned HOW much I LOVE sketches?)

The papers are fun, fresh and totally FABULOUS (hey, thats the name of one of the new releases). Can't wait to start playing with all the new Simple Stories Stuff.

Wishing you all longer days and early signs of Spring, as I can excitedly say that I am off for two weeks to the land down under.

Project Life.....Week Five

Well, here it is.....WEEK #5 of twenty 12!

And still loving everything about project life. I mean every single blog, that I happen to read, every where I seem to go scrapbook related online....it all seems Project Life related. Yep, it seems like the whole entire world is doing it. But, you what, it's a good thing. I say this because, just in case you are feeling uninspired or unsure of where to begin, there is just SO much inspiration on so many blogs to get you going. More often than not, I find myself looking at someone else's and walking away with a new idea, even if it is just the placement of a piece of paper, a tag, a stamp or a sticker. Project Life seems like this HUGE, global project that everyone is working on together and sharing. I love the enthusiasm and conversation that it has brought along with it, on a daily basis to the people that I may see or speak to.

Everyone has there own way and routine of tackling this weekly documentation. My system works well for me, and DOES NOT make me stressed. Basically, I try and start sometime on a Thursday evening, even if it is just to print out a few pictures. I find I am far more successful when I manage to fit in a little bit of time each day between Thursday and Sunday, rather than sitting and doing the WHOLE week at a time. But, whatever works.

BIG EXCITING STUFF......ELLES STUDIO IS IN THE STORE!

and this stuff kicks as..k no questions, tell no lies! (get it)

It is the most outstanding stuff to include on your pages....if you doing PL, you GOT TO HAVE IT!

DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD

LEFT SIDE

RIGHT SIDE

Wishing you all a wonderful week of documenting something from your life!

Scrap a part of your routine

I have to confess that I am a total Starbucks junkie, I love everything about them. Don't ask why, I just do. For many years, I collected there signature "Starbucks Bearistas", until I ran out of room to store those little bears. I have also collected and kind of still do, all Starbucks gift cards, especially when traveling to other countries or cities. I have bought Starbucks coffee for home, and alas, it is just NOT the same. It is something about the whole going into the store to get a coffee......and this my friends, is my daily routine. Every morning, the same faces, the same Starbucks location, the same drink. There is definitely something really nice about walking into the same place every day, where you are greeted by name, and your order is ready.

I felt I owed my love of starbucks a layout!

I encourage you to scrap a part of your daily routine.....even if it is one that you don't love. It is still a part of your everyday, and one day, someone will be happy to know that part of you.

The Holiday Season is over....but not for October Afternoon Holiday Style

Well Christmas and New Years may be over, but now is the time to sit and scrap all those holiday photos, whatever it is that you may celebrate. We all get so caught up in the season, we all take so many pictures with the intention of getting them scrapped.....AND then, suddenly and quickly the season is over, and the excitement and enthusiasm has died down. Well, don't let it! Even if it is just a couple of pictures on one layout, get it done. Break the rule of "ALL OR NOTHING".....just do a little something.

When I saw the October Afternoon "Holiday Style" paper, I just knew that I had to have it. I am the most devout fan of OA in general, and LOVE everything. Even if I don't love it all on first sight, I usually land up buying each and every sheet of the paper in the collection....and, slowly, ever so slowly fall in love with each and every sheet.

Both of these layouts were inspired by various sketches. I tend to use the sketch as a kind of map to get started, so that I am NOT looking at blank page longingly and not knowing quite where to start. It is amazing how much a sketch helps to just get going. I also LOVED using all the little goodies to layer and embellish. Some people are always wanting to hold onto that one little piece, but remember, that there will always be another one little piece that you will love just as much. Use your stash, enjoy using it.

Last Week of Project Life 2011

Well, here it is.....my last week of Project Life 2011.

I can't account for all 52 weeks, only because I started this around Easter, which brought me to completing 36 weeks by the end of the year. I can't begin to tell you how very self accomplished I feel, when I sit down and flip through these pages. I also did NOT allow myself to fall behind with this project, and for the weeks that I really didn't feel like embellishing too much, and just wanting to get it down, I am grateful that I did. Yep, some weeks look far more decorated, embellished and colorful than others, but at the end of the day, what really matters, is the story this book tells, rather than the "prettiness" that surrounds it.

So, here we are....the first week of the New Year just over, and I am glad to say, that as I write this post, I have also just completed week one of Project Life 2012!

If you are thinking about embarking on this outstanding adventure in scrapbooking, I encourage you to stop thinking about it, and just start it. The whole idea can seem a little bit intimidating, but I assure you, that once you start, you will ask yourself why you didn't start it all earlier. There are also so many wonderful bloggers out there who post there weekly project life layouts, that provide so much inspiration. If at any point, I sit down to do my weekly layout, without feeling inspired, I simply look at any one of these blogs, which sometimes give me the "where" and "how" to get started.

I use tons of bits and pieces of whatever I have. It truly is a great way of getting rid of stuff, alot of old stuff, that may never have gotten used up. I have also since learnt how to purchase, download and use stuff digitally, which is something that I never thought for one second that I would ever be able to do. Project Life has opened new doors, where I have learnt new things.

I have also discovered these outstanding little journaling cards and tags, which I have fallen in love with from Elle's Studio....I can not begin to tell you how much I love them. But I am even more excited to to tell you that in the next week or so, they will be available for sale at Stamping Bella. Just looking at them all will be enough to get you, to want to start your Project Life.

Don't wait, don't hesitate...each day, each moment is precious!

Document it!