Planetarium! Studio Calico’s May Kit

It’s reveal time at Studio Calico!  Planetarium is up for sale for subscribers now and for non-subscribers at midnight tonight.  I worked with the main Scrapbook Kit, the main Project Life kit, and two add on kits – Big Dipper and Lyra.  I also used the printables and digital stamp brushes as well as my Cameo.

Beach Boys – The layout is my “main kit only” page (plus a printable and a digi stamp brush that I turned into a cut file).  I used the twine that came in the kit to fill in the negative of the rope design for some texture.  The “beach” part of the title is my own handwriting that I converted to a cut file.  You can watch my tutorial for that here.

 

Three Years – This page uses JUST the Lyra add on kit.  Photos of my son at the same beach three years in a row.  Fun to see how he’s grown!  The anchor is a digi stamp brush that I converted to a cut file.  ”Years” is my own handwriting.

 

Let’s Go – Lots of hexagons on this page about our geocaching adventure a few weeks ago.

 

Anna – Maria – This is my newest niece!  :) She’s very sweet and Cate loved holding her.  I love how the gold embellies and letters play off the pastels.  I used a PL card as part of my title.

 

M & A – I couldn’t resist another layout featuring Anna!  This time with her mama, my sister.  I used a PL card here as well.  The cut quote is from Piglet and Pooh and was spritzed with Dewey Mister Huey’s after being cut.

 

And with that… my Planetarium is all but used up!  Have a great day!

Studio Calico Spencer’s April Kit

This post to share my kit layouts using the April kit is WAY overdue.  But here they are nonetheless.  :) I used a lot of the digi options this month.  From the diamond template for the Longwood Gardens page to the Stamp Brushes made into cut files (You Float My Boat!)…there are so many options for using these digital elements and they are really a great value.  If you missed out on an add on and stamp you really wanted, give the digital stamp brush a try.  :)

Spencer’s Studio Calico April Kit Sneaks Peeks

Studio Calico’s April kit, called Spencer’s, goes live in just a few days.  There are some big changes this month as far as kit choices go…all three kits (scrapbook, card, and project life) have add ons!  I decided to get just one of the two scrapbook kit add ons (Front Porch Blend) and added the PL kit and the PL add on kit (Latte) to my order as well.  I worried that I would miss the extra kit of 12×12 papers (since I usually always get at least 2 add ons), but it worked out just fine.  I made 5 layouts, used up most of my 12×12 papers for a change, and got to play with the fun PL cards in the PL kit and Latte add-on.  It was fun to switch things up a bit!  I added in lots of items from the Digital Shop and of course used my Cameo.  Here’s a little peek into what I made this month:

 

January 2013 Monthly Project Life

I’m finally getting around to sharing my pages for the month of January.  I’ve been meaning to post but keep getting sidetracked.  :)  Can you relate at all?  (And by the way, speaking of sidetracked… if you are still hoping to play along with my challenge in the post below…I’m keeping it open a little longer, so there’s still time!)  I’ve talked before about how I decided to attack Project Life on a monthly basis rather than a weekly one.  It really works so much better for me and I still feel like I’m documenting little things, moments, and life that wouldn’t necessarily end up on a scrapbooking layout but on a smaller, less daunting scale.  Here’s what I did for January:

I like using the Design A page protectors as my base pages and then use other inserts that are smaller/shorter to add more space in between.  This month I chose to cut down a Design F (in half basically).  I love that I got more 3×4 spots to use this way!    Here’s the left side:

 

I cut “January” with my Silhouette (I think it’s the Contribute font).  The rest of the inserts are either from Geralyn’s In a Creative Bubble shop, the Studio Calico PL kits, Clementine kit from Becky Higgins or the free month printables from FindingNana (my January card printed small for some reason – I think I printed from “preview”  instead of Photoshop…that’s why it’s smaller than 3×4!) Here’s the right side with the insert over it.

And then the insert flipped over and you can see the back of it and the rest of the Design A beneath.

I like to have more photos than fillers, journaling or text on the photos, and then simple embellishments.  I’m still sort of finding my groove with it, but I love the first month!  Only 11 more to go!  :)

 

How About A Challenge?

I’m headed to the Creating Keepsakes Convention in Hampton this weekend to meet up with one of my closest friends I’ve met through scrapbooking.  Nicole Harper  lives in another state and we only have met in person a handful of times…but for 5+ years now we’ve emailed, texted, IM’ed, and I always smile when I see her name pop up on my screen!  So to say I’m excited to hang out with for the weekend is an understatement!  I cannot wait!

So, maybe it’s nostalgia for friends met through this “hobby” or this page that I created recently for Bright Ideas…but I’ve been recently thinking about and remembering my scrapbooking story.  Here’s a peek at my page. (I can’t share the whole thing since it was for a class, but this will give you the gist of it!)

I’ve shared my “bio” on design team pages and that sort of thing.  But I realized that I’ve never actually documented my scrapbooking story in my own scrapbook!  How I got started… when…the online aspect of it…the teams I’ve been on… conventions I’ve gone to…friends I’ve made through it… how I fit it into my life…etc, etc etc.  It’s a big part of my life and I’m glad that I finally created a layout to document that!

So, here’s my challenge to you:  create a layout that documents your scrapbooking in some way.  You might tell your “journey” in scrapbooking – how you got started, what you love about it, your accomplishments.  You might include the opinions of others on your project… ever ask your kids what they think of your scrapbooks?!  (I think mine would have some pretty funny responses!)  You could document any goals you have for yourself in this hobby…would you like to be on a design team one day?  Open a store?  Teach classes?  Attend CHA?  You could share how it fits into your daily life, how it’s changed your view on everyday perhaps.  Whatever you decide to focus on, just do it!  Tell your story.  :)

I would love to hear if you take on this challenge!  Link your page up here on this post by next Friday, March 8th.  I’ll pick a winner to receive some vintage Studio Calico stamps as a little treat.  I’d also love to share a couple of your pages here if you wouldn’t mind!  What do you think?  Are you game?

Neverland! Studio Calico March Scrapbook Kit

This kit is just so beautiful!  And I love that a couple of the add ons are more boy-friendly.  :)  I got the main kit, Neverland, and the Tink and Hook add ons.    I also used my Silhouette quite a bit, the Neverland Printables, Cut Files, and Digital Brushes, Mister Huey’s Opaque White, Taxi, Gold, and More Vellum.

This first one is using the main kit only…

 

I cut out some of the triangles for a fun design on this layout.

I really liked the circle cut files and decided to make a grid with them for a quick layout design.

 

Just a reminder that subscribers can shop for these kits NOW at presale.  But if you’re not a subscriber, they won’t be available for sale until midnight tonight.  :)  Happy shopping!

Last Chance to Sign Up! Studio Calico Class – Bright Ideas

Tomorrow night at midnight (the 31st!), registration closes for my class at Studio Calico.  I can’t believe on Friday Bright Ideas begins!  I’m so excited!!  So be sure to sign up NOW if you want to participate.  Want to see a little peek at what’s in store?  Here’s a screen shot from one of the PDF’s:

 

The crazy thing?  You get 19 more like it!  Each contains a challenge to get you thinking outside the box, a sample layout from either myself or  one of the awesome class contributors, step by step details on how it was created, more bright ideas to get creativity rolling, AND a sketch.  That’s a TON of info.  One will be posted each weekday in February.  In addition, each Wednesday in February I’ll post a video sharing more of my favorite tips and bright ideas for scrapbooking as well as the stand outs that week from the class gallery!  I’ll be sharing bright ideas for title work, page design, embellishments, and even ways to stretch your stash and your cash.  And finally, the class freebies – amazing printables and cut files that you will use again and again.  I’m so thrilled with how they turned out!

So, I hope you’ll be joining me in the Bright Ideas classroom.  The class message board and gallery (full of even MORE inspiration!) will open Friday morning!  See you there!