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!

Scrappy Resolution 2013 - January

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.  I have been a subscriber for three full years now, so I have a lot of product to choose from!  

This month, I ended up using product from January 2010, 2011, and 2012 on my layout (yay!)  My inspiration came from the wood veneer letters in the 2012 kit.  I had used a lot of them and when I put them away, I had written down a few words that the remaining letters would spell.  The words "SUMMER" and "WI" were both still possible, so I thought I would use those in my title.

I had taken photos when we were in Wisconsin at my parent's cabin last summer of my family playing a game of "yard toss." Outdoor games involving bean-bags are very popular in Wisconsin for whatever reason!  I combined papers from the kits and cut and used a wood-grain paper for the background.

I cut out a sun for my title and hand-stitched a few sun rays.  It was a fun challenge and I'm happy with the results!

I also decided to see what I could do with a couple of remaining items from the 2010 kit.  The kit came with some little school themed cards.  I knew the two that I had left would never work on a layout for me, so I decided to make a card with one of them.  

I also used the last flower sticker from the set, some leftover black cardstock, and patterned paper from the 2012 kit.  The other stickers were from my stash.

How are you doing on your resolutions?  Would anyone like to join me in my resolution?  I'd love to hear about it if you do!

Have a great week everyone!

Finally Spring!

I love the sight of forsythia blooming in the early spring!  It not only means that spring is on its way, but to a tax accountant like me, it means that tax season is almost over!  I'm not sure which one I get more excited about.  

I took this photo on Easter Sunday and wanted to create a layout about my happiness that spring is here and tax season is finally done.  I also had taken a photo of some pretty pink tulips that I had planned on using the page, but I couldn't make it work.  That is how the pink/yellow color scheme originally came about though.  

I used the April 2012 Studio Calico kit, City of Lights, for my layout.  I loved the Pink Paislee mask that come with the kit and that was the starting point for my page.  I printed my journaling over the misting which I got a couple of comments about.  I actually have a photo printer which can print photos up to 12" X 17".  I use that for all of my journaling, so printing on a 12" X12" piece of cardstock is no problem.  The mist colors are piglet (LOVE!) and sunshine Mister Hueys.

Happy spring, happy end of tax season, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY WONDERFUL HUSBAND!

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!

Where did the summer go?

This past summer seemed to go by sooooo quickly!  At the beginning of the summer, I told my husband that I wanted the two of us to come up with a list of things that we wanted to do during summer.  Well, we never even got around to writing out the list and the summer passed by with most of the things that would have been on the list not getting done.  This layout is my list for next summer - no excuses this time!  

I used the Studio Calico October 2011 kit, Field Guild for this layout.  Field Guide is one of my favorite kits so far!  The kit included two rolls of washi tape and I used a bit of each on this layout.  I don't find washi tape really easy for me to use on layouts, but I really like the way it looks as part of the title under the word 'summer.'

I used some photos on the layout of previous summers that make me smile.  The two on the left are from a weekend that we spent in Vermont two summers ago.  One is a covered bridge and the other is a field of sunflowers.  The photo on the right is of my husband taking our niece out sailing for the first time  on Lake Michigan.  

I hope that we are able to accomplish more on our summer bucket list in 2012!

Have a great week everyone!

Potato Lake Theatre

We live half-way across the country from both my family and my husband's family.  We spend most of our vacation time for the year heading to Wisconsin to visit them, usually twice a year.  Another week of vacation time is usually spent in France, visiting my husband's brother's family - lucky us!  The two sides of our families live on opposite sides of the state, making our vacation time a bit tricky.  Once in a while, we are able to bring the two sides of our family together, which makes it a lot easier on us.

We were able to do this four years ago when my family, my husband's family - including his brother's family from France - spent a week together at Potato Lake.  My parents have a cabin on Potato Lake and then there are cabins at Rose's Bay Resort across the lake that we rent.  

We had a great time, especially my nieces and nephews who were meeting each other for just the second time.  The first time was at my wedding at Potato Lake four years earlier.  Kaylie, Olivia, Paul, and Elisabeth spent an afternoon creating a play and then they presented it to everyone after dinner that night.

I don't remember exactly what the play was about except that they were poking a little fun at my parents, Marvin and Jean, and that there was fishing involved (big surprise if you knew my dad!)

I used the July Studio Calico kit, Mid the Gap, for the page.   I also used my Silhouette Cameo that arrived in the mail last week!  I have to say, I am impressed with how easy it is to use and how great it works.  I'm hooked!

Have a great week everyone!

Your Smile Makes Me Happy!

I don't normally use a lot of Prima Marketing products in my layouts, but when I saw the beautiful trim in the layout below at my LSS, I had to have it!  I just had no idea what I was going to do with it.  I took it out the other day and noticed that the packaging that the trim came in was just as beautiful, and I decided to use it in my layout as well.  

I had a hard time trying to come up with a picture that would coordinate with the ribbon, but then I remembered a family photo shoot from a couple of years ago.  We hung a quilt of my mother's over a swing set and then took everyone's photo in front of it.  I love the way the photos turned out.  I made a mini album with all of the photos for my nephew who was going into the army.   I can't believe I never took photos of the finished album after all of the time I spent on it! Anyway, I thought that a photo from the photo shoot would go perfectly with the Prima trim.

The product packaging is the beautiful strip to the right of the trim.  I used Crate Paper patterned paper, rub-on, and sticker; Sassafrass and Studio Calico letter stickers; Making Memories Slice for the large butterfly; and my favorite Martha Stewart butterfly punches.

The photo is my niece Olivia (again! - can't help it, she is very photogenic!)  I just love her smile in this photo!

The rain has started pouring here in front of Hurricane Irene predicted for tomorrow.  We brought in all of our lawn furniture, bought bottled water, and have meals planned tomorrow that don't require electricity.  Hopefully it won't be too bad.

Stay safe, and have a great Saturday everyone!

Almost Twenty Years Later

Almost twenty years ago me and my now husband were in college and ended up at the same house party drinking.  That's all I'm going to share about that night....

I used the July Studio Calico kit on this and LOTS of butterflies and flowers.  I love the background paper from Sassafrass.  I hand cut the yellow flowers from a piece of American Crafts paper.  I love my new photo printer (well, not that new, but recently began using) as I can use it to print journaling on a 12"x12" page.  

Have a great weekend everyone!