Noami and Ailli

 It is so much fun to use a variety of crafts and techniques on a project. Pleat, stitch, splatter paint, sprinkle a bit of veneer shapes and foil something. This is the joy of scrapbooking!!

I admit this is not the best photography, but with the light and shadows you can see the subtle detail of paint, the sheerness of crepe paper, the dimension of thread, fabric, and wood.

What artistic detail do you like to incorporate into your paper projects?

I would love to know.

Girls Night Out

Saturday evening of General Conference is considered 'Girls Night' for many Latter-Day Saint women. As the men head out for Priesthood session women have many options for shopping and girl only activities. Amanda and I had decided to go to SLC to spend time with Andi. We considered getting a perm for Andi so that when she had her baby in a couple of weeks she would have an easy to care for hair style. We had also considered pampering her with a pedicure. Amanda and I hadn't been at Andi's home long when Andi's water broke. From that moment Andi was all giggles and excitement. Derek was nervous and wasn't sure he was ready for this change to his plans. Amanda and I were happy that we just happened to be there at the right time. Our plans were changing quickly and we were loving it!

It didn't take long for little baby girl to arrive. She was born at 11:27 pm on Saturday April 6th. She was a tiny 5 pounds 10 ounces and 19 inches long. And she has lots of soft dark hair. What a fun surprise!

Once Derek held his little girl his nervousness was replaced with immense love and devotion for his little Sophia. There is a special bond reserved especially for daughters and fathers.

Andi had asked me earlier in the week to make some pages for her baby girl's baby album. Luckily I had purchased the paper and supplies on Friday. As I listened to Sunday conference I designed the pages and added photos taken the night before. I was pleased to be able to present the finished pages to Andi when we visited the new Crockett family Sunday afternoon.

I left empty spaces on the pages for journaling and messages from visitors. The pages match the baby journal Andrea already has for Sophia. The paper line I used is called 'Bundle of Joy' designed by Echo Park. I purchased it from allscrapbooksteals.com. 



The pages are ready for Andi and Derek
to write about the arrival of their little girl.



I have always known that Andrea would be an amazing mother.
This evening was proof to that.



Baby Sophia



We had to keep baby vertical so her food would stay in her stomach.
Her blood sugar levels needed to improve.



First time as a Grandma for Sharon Crockett



Plenty of room for well wishes from visitors.
A title and embellishments will be added to this page
at another time.

 

So fun to decorate with the adorable Echo Park stickers
from the Bundle of Joy collection.



Happy Mom's Day 2 Me!

Last year Andi made an adorable card on Shutterfly and gave it to me on Mother's day. Some people have a talent for writing sweet and cherished words and sentiments in cards . . . Andi is one of those people. I have since memorialized the beautiful card onto a 12 x 12 scrapbook page.

The card is sewn onto the page so that I will forever remember the sweet words of the note. The purple stitching adds to the fun spring colors of the Little Yellow Bicycle paper used.

Hexagons And Painting Walls

The way my mind works I can be intensely into one project while the inspiration and details for a completely new one forms in my mind. For example it was while I was deciding on paint colors and glaze techniques for my bedroom walls that this double page layout drew itself in my mind. I knew the colors, photo placement and the details of the layout. I knew the photos to take. You could say that the combination of paint chips in a variety of shades and hues along with the pleasing shape of the hexagon was the inspiration for me to visualize a finished scrapbook page. It was weeks after the bedroom walls were painted that the opportunity arose to create the scrapbook pages in real life.

It would be marvelous to have the freedom to finish more of the ideas which come to my mind. Some people get paid to play. Maybe that will be me someday. :)

How do you make more time for the things you really love to do? Is what you do for a living following a dream? I believe that dreams should be big and that at least some of your favorite dreams should come true.

Forever Sisters

Just a quick share of a fun scrapbooking page using a little bit of stamping, inking, cutting, ribbon, and such. I do love to play with paper!

Be Creative everyday! Karen

More Random Pages



I have some of the strangest people in my family. Could the strangeness be genetic?
I appreciated how the rub-ons I used actually fit the personality and theme of my pictures.
Chad is definitely an 'unforgettable' guy. Love him!



Sam is a mischievous little guy whom I am privileged to be his Grandma.
I smiled the whole time I was creating this page.  The varied patterns and colors
in this paper collection inspired the use of several extra details. I love using
multiple embellishments and techniques on one page. Here I was able to add die cutting,
flocking, epiphany bubble caps, rosettes, fibers, banners, metal, fussy cutting
and fan folding all on one cheerful lay out. On the back of the paper
I have noted the things Sam likes to do at this age.  



Jon is my oldest grandson. He has many awesome qualities
which I have documented on the reverse side of this fun layout.
 The bright designs and patterns match his bright personality.



This page was so much fun for me to do. It was one of those projects
 I had out for several days as the inspiration came and I played with the paper
 and tools on hand.  I love creating with paper and art mediums.  Here I used inks,
paint, glaze, mist, floss, brads, lace, die cuts and little pointy scissors. The creativity
and process makes me very happy. I absolutely LOVE playing with paper! 


What products inspire creativity in you? What tools and mediums make you happiest?
Share your link, I would love to see the masterpieces you are making!

Love Karen

(Paddle) Boating With The Hunny

This page uses several of my favorite simple techniques. I usually pen the journaling freehand and I don't feel comfortable with paper crafting unless the edges are inked. Inking the edges of paper is like adding mascara and eyeliner to a face . . . the makeup isn't complete without it. I like bits of blurb on a page- it just helps tell the story and creates a more personal touch by evoking sentiment. I am happy with the little subtle elements I was able to add such as cut out and inked clouds on top of the background paper which already had clouds. A bit of scalloped velvet ribbon on top of paper the same color. Yellow gems attached to yellow paper, wavy journaling following the curves of ric-rac. A string of banners the same color as the sky they flutter against. The photo itself was taken by moi with my trusty Sony Cyber-shot. I have told myself that I don't deserve to upgrade my camera until I have learned to utilize the features my current camera offers. Maybe by the year 2015 I will have earned that upgrade.   

Pages Past

1984

 What I used to create this page: An old Polaroid photograph of my three oldest boys. Adorable red, white, and blue papers, Epiphany banner punch, embroidery floss for the stitching and banner, my favorite Sizzix rosette die, Epiphany circle punch, white gel pen, and gems for some added sparkle.

I Treasure You

 Ingredients for this lay out: A 5x7 photo of one blessed mom sandwiched by two adorable girls, gorgeous papers, a beautiful chip board bird on a branch, some stitching, sheer ribbons pleated by staples, vintage looking papers edges cut from more gorgeous papers and edged with ink.


Chip

 I love this page because it focuses on Amanda's award winning oil painting. An orange pen was chosen for the hand journaling to compliment the beautiful elements of the orange glass and it's reflection in the other glass pieces. The black and white patterned papers add to the simplicity while still imposing some artsy style to the page.


Derek & Andi Wedding

 Such a simple, yet elegant page using a bit of grosgrain ribbon, some tulle, a doily, a button, a pink pearl, a gold staple, a rub-on element and a few scattered gems. Hand journaling, a smidgen of doodling and fussy cutting add to the charm of this romantic memory.


I Love You, Bruce

 I love when I finish a page and the message is exactly what I meant to say from the beginning.


Real Life Happiness

 This is truly a 'hand made' page. Chalking, inking, hand journaling and doodles, rub-ons, hand cut paper and photo. The important elements are from the heart.

What memories of the past do you have which always brings a smile to your face?

It's a good day to scrap!
Love Karen