Stiching on layouts

I am feeling soooo much better with my scrapping now. I got another layout done. OK, it's only one, but I started this at the same crop as the "Love" layout and was NOT happy with it. Not only am I happy with it, finally, I also feel like I'm getting my mojo back.

This was a fun new technique. Have you ever stitched on your layouts? I did one a few months ago (at the bottom) and this one...but this isn't real stitching. I started with Chocolate Box Core-dinations cardstock (colored on the back and brown on the front) and then using the Bazzill In Stitchez system, I punched flourishes from the back (colored side). To get the pink to show thru, I sanded the raised edges (it's VERY subtle). I also sanded the edges of the cardstock to bring it all together. This is another layout using the AC Bailey February Kit of the Month. I just LOVE that Basic Grey!!! And there's a Stampin' Up! rubon, too.

This is the first layout I did with stitching...it was a challenge from the AC Bailey Consultant Design Team. The sketch with two big circles on a band a the bottom looked like "Mickey Ears" to me...so that's what I did! I free handed the holes and then bought the Bazzill In Stitchez system!!! The papers and embellishments are from Creative Imaginations.

Love is in the air...

YEAH!!! I finished a layout last night...yes, just one. I started it at a crop a few weeks ago and it just wasn't coming together. But then I found these GREAT digital valentine tickets from Nicole's blog who posts on the AC Bailey forum. Here's the direct link to the post with the tickets!!! If you are a digi scrapper, the download also has the digi files...I just printed the PDF file onto cardstock.

The tickets worked nicely with the AC Bailey February Kit of the Month. The papers are Basic Grey and the heart journaling block is from Making Memories. I also used the Xyron Personal Cutting System to cut out the "Love" title as well as the plastic heart...that's craft plastic and then I inked the edges with Bazzink. I've been itching to use that craft plastic and I LOVE how it turned out...I'll be using it again!!!

And can you believe this is ANOTHER layout that is NOT Erica??? These are pictures from when Jeff and I were married almost 11 years ago. Yes, it was a romantic wedding in Vegas (and I was a size 4...eons ago!!!). Seriously, though, it was so LOW STRESS and tastefully done. I'm glad we did it that way!

Still no mojo...but the ideas are coming

So still no mojo...Today is Friday and I'm off work (flex schedules are GREAT). I'm *supposed* to be cleaning today but am wishing I could scrap. I'm hoping to finish early so I can have some fun. I do have some friends coming over tonight, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that at some point today I'll find my lost mojo.

So what do I do in the mean time? I store up ideas...idea books, ideas for journaling, ideas for what ever I can think of. I would like to share a technique I use with you in the hope that it helps you with ideas from time to time.

I've talked about journaling before. Let's explore this a little more. I can't just pick up a pen and paper and start writing. BUT, my family does not live near me so I write them emails all the time about what's going on in my life (OK...mostly it's stuff about Erica). I'm pretty detailed in those emails. About a year ago I started saving those emails as documents on my computer. So now I have killed two bird with one stone: I keep my family updated on what's going on AND I have a ready made journaling story when I'm ready for it.

Give it a try...and let me know what YOU do in your journaling.

Where'd the Mojo Go????

Do you ever have those days or weeks where you've been sooooo creative that you can't pop out the projects fast enough? Take a look at my early January and that was one of my times. So what happened??? I have no clue where my mojo went...has anyone seen it anywhere??? If so, please send it home...I miss it!!!

So that I don't totally neglect the blog, let me ramble for a bit...about my daughter, of course (and this will become journaling for *something*). She's in Kindergarten and LOVING school (we're sooo proud). She's been learning to read and write and is doing a GREAT job. Last week in computer lab, she wrote a story all by herself. The teacher emailed me to say she doesn't usually print things from computer lab, but this was such a great piece of work that it HAD to come home. I've scanned the story and included it here. My favorite part is how she spelled "human"..."heoomen." Sound it out slowly, and it makes perfect sense to a kindergartner!!!
While watching yesterday's Super Bowl game, Erica felt bad for us (we both had an opportunity to win our respective pools after the second quarter...until the Cards couldn't tackle after an interception...ugh!!!). We were obviously upset, so she wrote Jeff a note on a sticky (which I'll try to scan, too):

"Der dad I hop that neks tim or tem dos bedr."

New Scrapping Products coming soon!!!

Every year vendors go to the Craft and Hobby Association to showcase their new products. I'm sooooooo excited to see what is coming out. Here are a few websites to check out what's coming:

This Message board has a list of vendors. You can check out the latest on what they will be showing at CHA

Here's a YouTube video that CRACKED ME UP. I can't wait to see what Xyron is going to have this summer!!!

Have fun checking out the new stuff...I sure did.

Who do you scrap???

I don't know about you, but I tend to scrap my daughter more than anything else...about 99% of the time. OK, maybe not THAT much, but it's close. Those two layouts from my New Year's productivity (Boomerang and Inventory), they were the first non-Erica layouts in MONTHS!!! I especially don't like to scrap ME (sad, I know). I've committed myself to doing an "Encyclopedia of Me" scrapbook along with some other AC Bailey consultants...more to come on that :)

I was on the AC Bailey Community Forum and they asked if we scrapped our husbands. UGH...no, very rarely. So I was inspired to do a layout of nothing but Jeff. I didn't journal very much. I think my next page will pour my heart out in hidden journaling. Here's the layout...By the way, this is the Jan calendar layout (this year's calendar layouts are only 1-pg layouts and are $5 each...if you complete all 12 you'll get a free 12x12 calendar to display them at the end of the year):

These are Dreamstreet Papers and Jeneva patterned paper, Bazzill cardstock, Jenny Bowlin mini bingo card, Doodlebug Flower, Stampin' Up! ribbon and magic mesh, Maya Rd charms, My Minds Eye buttons, and Making Memories journaling block. I messed up on the journaling (even after I wrote it out first)...but oh, well...

Altered Projects

Have you ever done one? I *finally* did my first altered project. I like the way it turned out, but I sure need more practice. This started out as a Creative Imaginations "CREATE" wood block. I rearranged the letters, cut off the top of the T to make an I and made "ERICA." I used mod podge to adhere the papers (probably should've done an extra coat...oh, well). The papers are My Minds Eye and there are too many left over accessories for me to figure out what they are (sorry). Thanks for looking.