July 2013 Studio Calico kit - Valley High

I'm a bit behind in my posting again - it is time to catch up!  My excuse is kind of funny.  I spilled wine on my computer a few weeks ago and now several keys on my computer don't work.  I took it in to get fixed, but the $800 estimate  was a bit to much for me to spend on a five year old computer.  So to type, I have to copy and paste the letters that don't work from other places and it is a major PITA!!!  So typing out a blog post is not as easy as it seems!

For today's post, I'm sharing the projects that I created with my July Studio  Calico kit, Valley High.  Most of the projects that I created this month have lots of other stuff thrown in from older kits or my stash.  I also just noticed that EVERY SINGLE layout has Crate frames from the Pier collection.  I love them!

Iconic

LHR

4th of July

Lots of Crate Paper from the Pier collection on this one.  

N.E. Aquarium

I  realized that I was kind of on a grid rut when I look at these layouts, but I love grids!  

Have a great week everyone! 

4th of July Projects

I thought I would sneak in these two projects before the month of July came to an end.  Craig's brother, nephew, and his nephew's friend came from France to spend three weeks in the USA during the month of July.  They arrived in Boston on the 3rd and spent the 4th of July holiday with us.  We took them to a Red Sox game, out for BBQ and to the Boston fireworks.  It was great but it was so extremely HOT! We snuck in to see a movie in between the dinner and fireworks just to cool off.

I started with the Crate Paper "The Pier" collection because I want to use as much of my supply up of that before the next collections come out.  I added a few items from July's Studio Calico kit and a few older kits as well.  One of my favorite items on the layout is the "4th of July" printable.  I had never printed or used one before and I may be hooked!  It added just the right touch to my page.  This one was a free one from the Two Peas digital store.

I made this card a while ago in an attempt to use up a huge roll of washi tape.  I put two strips of washi tape on the cardstock and then used my Silhouette Cameo to cut out the flag shape.  I backed the card with the red and blue patterned papers.  Unfortunately, I forgot to send the card out this year.  

Did you create any projects for the 4th of July holiday?

Have a great week everyone!

May 2013 Studio Calico kit - Planetarium

Well, I don't know where the month has gone, but it is way past time for another "what I did with the month's Studio Calico kit from the time the kit arrived until the next month's kit arrived."  So here it is!

This first one is my favorite of the month.  The photos are from a cruise that my hubby and I went on several years ago.  

The page just didn't seem complete until I added the hemp twine across the top.  I think it looks a bit like a fisherman's net - perfect for an ocean page!

This next page documents our New Year's Eve tradition.  We always make Cioppino (a seafood stew) for our dinner.  Sometimes it is the two of us and sometimes we have a party, but we always serve Cioppino!

This next page just documents a Saturday we spent together recently.  I told my hubby that we could do whatever he wanted to do for the whole day.  We ended up going to a concert, going out for lunch, and then going to a movie.  My hubby loves to be out and about!

My last page has a lot of gold, glitter, and sequins!  We went to see the musical "Rock of Ages" when we were in London last month.  Towards the end of the production, there was gold confetti being thrown into the audience.  Of course, I had to pick some up to save for a scrapbook page!  The next day, we went back to take a few pictures of the front of the theatre since we couldn't take any pictures the night before.

I decided to play up the gold and cut my title out of gold POW glitter paper, used the gold and craft paper from Studio Calico, gold sequins and I punched out some more confetti out of the POW glitter paper.  Not my "normal" style (which I'm not sure what that is), but I think it turned out fun!

How many projects were you able to make with Studio Calico's May kit?

Have a good week everyone!

Shine

I love Crate Paper products and buy most of their entire collections and use them a lot.  I had decided to pass on getting the Maggie Holmes collection that was released at CHA this January though.  Then I went to my LSS and saw it in person - LOVE!!!  The product that sold me was the stitched fabric frames.  So adorable.  Since I had to have those, I had to buy matching papers and some stickers.  After I got home, I decided I really needed duplicates of some of the papers and added them to my cart at Two Peas.  I have used bits of the collection on my last three layouts!

I'm also excited about a second Pop Off the Page class being taught by Jen Jockish at Studio Calico.  I loved the first class and signed up for the second right away!  I created this layout in the spirit of that class.  

I started with a Maggie Holmes patterned patterned paper and stitched fabric frame.  The rub-ons and "E" are from the March Studio Calico kit.  Everything else was bits and pieces from a previous kit or from my stash.  I'm in love with gold POW glitter paper right now and used it for my title and some punched butterflies.

The photo is of my niece from France who I saw last month when I went to my husband's cousins wedding in Nice.  I love how happy and beautiful she looks in the photo and thought "Shine" was an appropriate title.

Have a great week everyone!

  

Lather, Rinse, Repeat

My sister and I were discussing project life one day - she does it, I do not - and it gave me an idea for a scrapbook layout.  I told her that I couldn't do project life because my weeks and days are basically the same for a good part of the year.  I'm a tax accountant, so I work long hours January through May.  (I specialize in non-profits, so my big deadline is May 15th - not April 15th.)  I wake up, commute to Boston, work 10, 11, or 12 hours, commute home, go to bed and do the same thing the next day.  At some point this year, I started waking up when the alarm rings at 5:20 and the thought "lather, rinse, repeat" went through my head.  Now it is my first thought every morning, so I thought it was a fitting title for this page.

I used the February Studio Calico kit, Front Row, with a few other items from my stash.  I thought the Days of the week washi tape from October Afternoon was very fitting.  The repeated the stamp from the kit across the bottom of the page represents Boston.

Have a great week, everyone!  Mine will be pretty much the same - lather, rinse, repeat!!

January 2013 Studio Calico kit - Block Party

I've enjoyed putting all of the layouts that I create from the current month's Studio Calico kit all in one post, so I'll continue this monthly feature in 2013.  I only post the layouts that I create from the time I get the kit until the next kit arrives at my door.  This challenges me to get as much done with the kit before I put it away.  I created four layouts and one card with the January kit.

This layout is probably my favorite of the month.  I love the photo of my kitty snoozing in the sun!

I did a lot of hand-stitching on this layout which was time consuming, but a lot of fun.

For this layout, I decided to try using circles.  I had cropped with Jennifer Larson in December and she said she loved using circles on her layout. I never really do, but was inspired to try.  I did some hand-stitching on this layout also.

This patterned paper was bright and fun - I thought it would be perfect for a birthday card.  I cut a circle out of the front of the card with my Silhouette.  The word "birthday" is layered over the empty space.  The word "happy" is actually on the inside of the card.

The last layout "Best Vacation Story Ever" was picked up by Scrapbook Trends to be published in the July 2013 issue, so I can't share it here yet!  

I was pretty pleased getting these five projects done with this kit.  It has been a few months since I got this much done.

How did you do with January's Studio Calico kit?

Have a great week everyone!

Scrappy Resolution 2013 - February

A couple of weeks ago, I posted here about my scrappy resolution for the year.  Every month, I'm going to create a layout or card (or both) using a previous Studio Calico kit from that month. 

This month, I created a layout using the Studio Calico Sunday sketch using products from the February 2010, 2011, and 2012 Studio Calico kits.  Here is the sketch:

My layout pretty much followed the sketch exactly - it made it really easy!

The colors of these BasicGrey and Crate papers made me think of this single photo I have from my first birthday.  I really tried to make the layout look fresh even though the products were older.  

I also made a few Valentine's cards with the kits.  I had remembered that Stephanie Howell had created some fun cards with the February 2010 kit, and lifted them.

I used my Silhouette for the border and they were super easy to put together.  They turned out so cute!  (Thanks Stephanie Howell!)

How about you?  Have you used any product from older kits lately?

Have a great week every one!

Cat Nap

Once in a while, a question will pop up on a scrapbooking message board asking if people create projects specifically to fit a particular call or if they just submit what they have already created.  It usually seems like it is looked upon negatively if you create pages specifically for calls - like somehow it is not as meaningful or something.

I do both - if I happen to have a layout that I have already created that fits the call, I'll submit it.  But lots of times, I'll read the call and it will spark an idea and I'll create a page specifically for that call - and I'm not afraid to admit it!  Some of my most favorite layouts have been created specifically for calls!

The latest call for Scrapbook Trends totally inspired this page.  The call reads:  

Real Life: I Love My Pet - Our pets become members of the family so create a layout to detail your pet's place in your home. Does he/she have a special place to sleep or eat? Any funny quirks? Get them down on paper!

The call made me think of my silly cat Sumner and how he loves sleeping in a sunny spot on the chaise lounge in our dining room.  He will keep moving closer to the edge to follow the sun as it moves and more than once has fallen off of the edge!

I used mostly the January Studio Calico kit on this page, but just a couple of bits from older kits such as the wood veneer "S."  Studio Calico recently stopped giving store credits for getting published in Scrapbook Trends using their kits, and I'll admit that it is kind of freeing!  Even though my main purpose  for getting published was never the SC credit, it was nice.  But now that it isn't an option, I have been finding myself digging through other supplies for something to add a perfect touch.

I put the journaling on a hidden journaling card - I loved the little Pebbles envelope that was included in the kit! 

I love this page to bits even though I created it specially for a call! (Wish me luck!)  So what do you think - is there anything wrong with creating a layout specifically for a call?  What do you usually do?  I'd love to know!

Have a great week everyone!

Doors

I seem to take a lot of photos of my husband in front of cool looking doors when we are traveling.  I don't know  when I started, but when I look back through vacation photos, there are always photos of him in front of doors.

 Craig in front of an old barn door at his grandparent's farm when we were on vacation in Wisconsin.

Craig in front of a door in Florence, Italy.  He doesn't always cooperate when I'm taking photos.

In front of a door in Barcelona, Spain (yes, that's a cigar in his mouth - yuck!)

I decided to create a layout with this door vacation photo after looking through my November Studio Calico kit and seeing the woodgrain paper.  There were enough dark colors in the kit to make a masculine layout.  I added the sticker letters from a different kit because they were the perfect color.

The stars were cut out with my Silhouette Cameo with a design from the "Cut it Out" class from Studio Calico.  I used a few wood veneer stars now that I safely have a package on its way to me from Two Peas.  I didn't know how much I would love them!

Have a good week everyone!

July 2012 Studio Calico - Elmwood Park

Today I'm sharing all of the layouts that I created with the July 2012 Studio Calico kit, Elmwood Park, from the time the kit came until I received the August kit.  This post is a little late this month due to a vacation last week and really bad internet connection in the woods of Wisconsin!

I absolutely loved Elmwood Park and created seven layouts with it!  In addition to the main kit, I also got the add-on Monkey Bars.

My first layout, "I Took Shorthand," is the second in my random fact series.  The October Afternoon paper from the 9 to 5 collection couldn't have been more perfect for the layout, especially since I didn't really have a photo to go along with the topic.

I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut the circle/bubble cluster out on the layout "The Look of Terror."  It was time consuming to back it with different patterned papers, but I love the way it turned out.

"Laurie's Pond" has some fun misting and I used the Silhouette to cut out some cattails to embellish the page.  The photos are some really old ones of my parents.

I did some fun layering on my layout "Kitty Love."  I loved the Basicgrey paper with the big letters on it and cut them out for my title.

This next layout "The Ledvina Farm" is pretty much a scraplift of "Kitty Love."  I received the cow stamp from a RAK from a SC gal and put it to good use right away!

I used the stamp set in add-on #4 to create a word border on my layout "Topsfield Fair."

My last layout "Quebec City" was spotted by the team at Scrapbooking Mag and will be published in an upcoming issue of their new Ipad only magazine.

I've been on vacation since the 17th and haven't had a chance to do anything with the August kit!  I'm hoping to play with it tonight!

Have a great week everyone!

Kitty Love

I am having so much fun working with the July 2012 Studio Calico kit, Elmwood Park.  I finished my sixth layout with it last night and I have at least one more in the planning stages.  I have so much of the kit left - it looks like I haven't even started playing with it!  I bought one add-on this month - Monkey Bars and I bought more SC paper.

This is one of my favorites that I have created so far.  I cut out the letters for the title from the BasicGrey paper.  The 'o' didn't match the other letters at all, so I cut out a heart from another paper.  

I love the exclusive denim thickers that came with this kit.  I honestly wouldn't have thought I'd like them much, but I have used them on three layouts so far.

The Studio Calico wood veneer birds that came with the kit are so adorable!  I couldn't resist putting a few of them on a cat page.

The August kit arrives at my door on Tuesday, so my next post will be my monthly installment of "what I got done with my SC kit before the next month's kit arrived at my door."  It's going to be a big one this month!

Have a great week everyone!

Random Fact Series #2 - I took shorthand in high school

I had the idea to start a "random fact series" of scrapbook layouts about myself quite a while ago.  I finally got a start on the project with Random Fact #1 - I don't ski.  You can see it here.  Actually, you can't see it because it is out for publication (woot!), but you can read about it.  

An topic for Random Fact #2 has been floating around in my head for a bit, but I hadn't come up with any ideas for a page.  Then my July 2012 Studio Calico kit came with this fun paper by October Afternoon.

How perfect!  

I don't actually have any photos of me that would have anything to do with me taking shorthand, so I used one of the few photos that I have of me in a classroom.  I was caught sleeping!  Judging by my hair in the photo, I was probably a junior or senior.  And just to date me - that is a GUESS watch on my wrist!

There were a lot of fun items in the kit to pull from the colors in the October Afternoon paper - it was really fun to create!

Have a great week everyone!

Florida Trip

I have these great photos of my Great-Grandma, Leah Gerber.  In the photo on the left, she is standing outside one of her daughters' houses, with her packed suitcase, saying good-bye before traveling to Florida on a bus to see relatives.  

The photo on the right has her handwriting on the back of it and it says "that is a banana tree I standing under."  She is holding a little boy in the photo and we haven't been able to figure out who it would be.  I asked my mother and my cousin Sharon to help with anything they knew about the photos or her travels to Florida, and that is all they came up with.  We're not even sure who she would have been visiting.

I used one of my all time favorite Studio Calico kits, Glee Club, for the layout.  I added lots of other embellishments from my stash including my new favorite - mini-clothespins - and a vintage flower from my mom's stash.  I wanted to create a little more layering and texture than I normally do, so I had this idea to take vellum, wrinkle it, and use it as a matting behind a photo.  I took out the vellum, crinkled it, and it basically just broke and teared.  Silly idea.  But then I tried wetting the paper first, crinkling it, and then letting it dry.  It worked exactly like I hoped.  It is under the photo on the right.  I used foam dots to give a little dimension.

I also created a hidden journaling card, which I have been loving lately.  The Slice has a perfect little tab design and I cut that out of the Studio Calico advertising cards that come in kits.  I used more of the advertising card on the bottom.

Have a great week everyone!

Happy Valentine's Day!

For Valentine's Day, I thought I'd share a layout that I created over the weekend with the February 2012 Studio Calico kit, Daydream Believer.  Such a great kit!  The layout is a really old photo of my grandparents, Art and Ruth.  I'll have to ask my mom about when she thinks the photo was taken - I'm not sure, but it could maybe be around 1920? 

My mother gave me my grandma Ruth's wedding ring and wedding band several years ago and I have been wearing them ever since.  I could tell that the band was inscribed, but I couldn't make out what it said.  When I was at my parent's house over Christmas, I asked my dad for a magnifying glass (because dads have those kinds of things!) so that I could try to read the inscription.  We were in the living room and as I could make out each letter, I read them aloud:  A L - R G Apr 19.  Those were my grandparent's initials and their wedding date.

My mother instantly teared up.  I'm not sure what she was thinking about or remembering, but seeing the inscription made me think about my grandparents long before they were grandparents.  It made me think about them being young and in love and excited about getting married and spending the rest of their lives together.  I don't think we really think about our grandparents that way too often. 

Here is a close up of the journaling card that I created:

I hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day!