Sometimes It's Appreciating the Little Things That Makes the Big Things Seem So Much Bigger.

The other day I got some not so happy news. I'm not gonna lie, it got me down. But I just couldn't stay in that slump. So I painted my fingernails electric blue with glitter on top (hey, it's the little things). That made me smile which was a nice start. Then I did more little things as the day went on (you know, like putting my Coke Zero on crushed ice, etc.) in an effort to continue to lift my spirits. And little by little they lifted. What really put me over the edge was a little piece of mail... I wasn't expecting it so soon....=)

I guess I should fill you all in quickly. A little back story. A few months ago I received and email from Creating Keepsakes magazine. They were asking to use one of my layouts in their awesome, amazing, delightful magazine. (Insert jump for joy and popping champagne here.) I can't even begin to explain how that made me feel at this point in time. Suffice it to say that it was a dream come true. Later that same week I got another request. WOW. I was catapulted into the atmosphere and over the moon. I rubbed my eyes a few times and read and re-read those emails to be sure. Long story short, (don't worry I will fill you in on the process and everything entailed later) I sent in the two layouts.

Creating Keepsakes pays for projects featured in the magazine. The piece of mail that showed up was the check. From CK! It was that not so happy day that officially turned me into a paid (I like to say "pro" ha!) scrapbooker. Needless to say this little envelope made my day. BIG time.

I can't wait to show you the layouts CK chose. They will be in the October 2011 issue.

Still Smashing

Remember when I told you about how excited I was to get my hands on one of those new Smash Journals? And then I was all aflutter when I got one for my birthday...well, I kind of got one. It's "in the mail", so to speak. The company that makes them is having a really hard time keeping up with the demand. It seems I am not the only one who just HAD to have one.

So I decided to take matters into my own hands. I wanted a creative way to allow myself to smash my own summer memories into one fun and inspirational place. This is what I came up with...

 Front cover. It's a hard bound mini binder that I covered with patterned paper and various embellishments....

Back cover above, and here are some inside pages...

There are a lot of random pages and journal prompts inside. In addition the rings allow me to add more pages as needed. I have to say, even though I just threw it together I do like the result. It was a nice stash buster...and kind of nice to just do for myself because anything goes. This journal also allows me to use lot of my new washi tape. So maybe it IS a good thing that my real Smash Journal is "in the mail."

What's Not to Love

Today I am sharing a layout about my son, Nakiah. I am trying to get better at doing more layouts about the men in my life. It's proving to be quite a challenge. My stepson is a teenager so photos of him are few and far between. (At least since he recieved an Xbox for his birthday.) My husband works long hours. Most of the photos I do take of him are with a little barnacle known as Evareaux attached. Nakiah is seemingly always making crazy faces, or dirty, or shirtless or in any other number of not so scrap worthy situations. So I have to be better about forcing the photos opps of these boys some I think. Otherwise all of our books will be filled with page after page of our girl...

Here is a solution. One photo layouts are harder to get published (& I would really like to continue being published) but a lot of times I find a moment like this that just speaks to me. This single photo seemed to be the perfect fit for my concept. Here is "10 Things I Love About You..."

I recently purchased a paper collection from Crate Paper and was delighted to find this woodgrain patterned paper amongst it's contents. Why not put it to use immediately? I was equally excited to use the new everywhere scalloped circle punch by Fiskars. It was instrumental in pulling this all together. The scalloped peep holes this tool creates in a jiffy are simply darling and the perfect set up for journaling. Sewing on this layout was easy too.  I did a lot of back and forth stitching and just let it zoom, zoom, zoom.  It didn't really matter how straight or overlapped it got...aren't the results cool?

I think a top 10 layout is in order for each individual in our family. Guess I'll take this opportunity to use some more of that beautiful Crate Paper....what's not to love? =)

Club CK Gallery Highlight

I'm so excited to tell you my news this bright and sunny Monday. This morning I hopped on over to the Club CK website, as I often do. I checked out the gallery highlights....I'm scrolling, and scrolling, and scrolling. And there it is! My layout! I love it when that happens! This is my fourth time being highlighted and I have to say that each time is just as exciting as the last. I feel like I am on the right track with my goals whenever I see that. Such a cool feeling.

Even though I posted this layout on my blog before I figured I should show it to you once again. This is the one they chose...

Based on a Creative Scrappers Sketch
CK liked my use of tulle.

I love Club CK. It's so easy to upload your layouts and share them with the rest of the members. Once they are in the gallery peeps are able to comment. (I have only encountered positive and encouraging comments here, no negative nellies.) It's nice that you can look around at other scrappers work as well as post your own. You can download the projects that inspire and motivate you. It also automatically organizes your own gallery. You can view it based on Most Recent, Most Popular, Most Commented, or by Name in alphabetical order. It's super easy to set up your own account and profile. I seriously recommend trying it out...oh, and did I mention it's FREE? What a great price tag. I have received a lot of great feedback from this club, and there is always a ton to participate in. Yeah, yeah, you get the point. I love it.

Here are the other layouts of mine that made it into the weekly gallery highlights...

(Some of these were taken before I was being really careful about how I photograph my layouts so bare with me please... I have been working on that and am getting much better.)

CK liked the way I broke up my title.

This one is a scrap lift from one of my favorites Suzy Plantamura.
It was in an issue of Creating Keepsakes.
CK liked my take on her layout.

CK liked the creative use for buttons as balloons and use of several photos on one layout.

There they are. Hopefully I will continue to rack up more and more! And hopefully I will see some of you on there as well. =) It really is a cool feeling to earn some recognition by a company that I hold so near and dear.

City Slickers in Saddles

We went on an adventure this Wednesday to Irvine Park. The highlight for me was getting the kids on a trot horse and pony. It was fun to see them experience these animals for the first time.

Here is Nakiah riding Bob...

Not quite sure why he was holding back a smile. Maybe he was nervous about riding for the first time. Put your foot in the stirrup kid!

Oh, there it is, a SMILE! This is just before the horse started to trot. Boy, I tell you what, it sure was a good thing that he was strapped to the saddle because he was bouncing around like crazy. There I was on the sideline giggling and snapping photos. Let's just say he is not a natural. With a long line of cowboys and girls in the family it was nice for this California kid to get a taste of his roots.

I guess he liked Bob the horse but not necessarily riding him. We heard him say, "man my butt hurts," several times throughout the day. 

And then it was Evareaux's turn...

She rode a pony named Cinderella and was lead carefully by Daddy.  I have to admit I was a bit nervous about this. When I was little I was put on a pony that went rogue, bit all of the horses around it, and ran away with me. I was glad to see that it was a very structured and safe environment for my baby. (Although the directors do make sure to tell you to stay at least 10 feet from other ponies...I think maybe they are just biters by nature.)

Do you think she liked it? She was relaxed and smiling so big. I think she would have rode all day if we let her.

Hopefully she won't ask for a pony for Christmas, because I don't think we could fit one on our patio. :)

More Studio Calico

The Paper Moon kit was so inspiring I had to make the time to utilize more of it's contents.  I felt that the colors were just perfect for a couple of "boy" themed layouts I had been wanting to create.

The first one is '"rrrrRROAR,"means I love you in dinosaur." I found this quote on Pinterest awhile back and knew instantly that it had to be paired with these photos somehow. (Prepare yourself, because my nephew is a total cutie!)....

I wanted to give the "ROAR" a life of it's own on the page. I think the sewing and paper strips along with stickers helped accomplish that. The chipboard thickers on this layout were so fun to work with. They proved to be very versatile. I doodled with a pencil on these ones. In the future I could see misting or painting them, or even decorating with leftover rub-ons. There are so many possibilities, really.

Here is a closer look...

I really like how sewing on the photo turned out with the grey thread. It was my first time sewing right on a photo like this & it won't be the last!

Up next is a layout about my "Silly Boy..."

I'm pleased with the layered photo look.  I liked both of the snapshots where he was covering his face, because they help tell the story. But I didn't want them to take over the layout. This was a nice solution. The photo mat was easy to create with the awesome Crate Paper patterned paper and stitching.  Also a nice find in this kit is the candy dot buttons by Pebbles.  They are nice and thick with adhesive backing. I have big plans for them on more projects.

One more layout with this kit and then I will be ready for my next one to arrive.  Right on time...along with about 10 other projects I am working on.

Fun Times

Here is our fourth in photos...
Starting off the day at the annual neighborhood baseball game. Ev wanted to play in the outfield. (Notice Star Spangled Mickey Mouse in her glove.)

Prize winning from the water balloon toss.  GO Nakiah! The hat worked it's magic...

Bounce house all to herself with Daddy...

Just after dinner the sky was soooo beautiful. But, my favorite part of this photo may be the bounce castle and volleyball net strung across the street.

Our old hood sure does know how to throw a party. It was jam-packed with games, water sports, cotton candy, sno cones, watermelon and good friends. Even though Evareaux didn't quite make it to the fireworks it was still a great fourth.  One to remember.