Webster's Pages: Introducing "New Beginnings"~! & A Layout

Good morning everybody~! It is the very last day of 2012 here- I know some of my friends on the other side of the world have already celebrated the new year, but I'm here still sitting in the old one :)- but that's okay! Because guess what? Webster's Pages is ready to reveal to you their final collection for Winter CHA 2013, "New Beginnings"~!

"My Animal"

I chose to scrap an everyday photo of my little Gunner, who I've longed called "Animal"- and just thought this collection was perfect for this page! But as you will see, this range is suitable for scrapping not only everyday magic, but some special occasions too!

Here's a look at the papers available in this line:

As you can see, this collection speaks to so many different styles and occasions! You could scrap your Spring photos, Easter moments, celebrate the welcoming of a new baby, preserve the memories of your little children- SO many possibilities here! But one thing's for sure- in my part of the world where we're entering the darkest and coldest time of year- this pretty pastel collection is like a breath of fresh air~ and definitely makes me dream of Spring!!

Here's some closeups of my project, with just a hint of the embellishments that go along with this collection:

Here's a look at the entire "New Beginnings" collection (which you can WIN today- and I'll tell you how!)

If you love what you see, then head on over to the Webster's Pages blog HERE, for up to FOUR chances at winning this delightful collection~! What better way to ring in the new year?!

Have a fabulous day~!

My Top 12 of 2012~!

Good morning :)- I hope you have all had a great weekend; it's Sunday morning here and I'm finding myself in total disbelief that this year is coming to a close. I've had such a great year all-around, and my scrappy life has been filled with excitement, learning, surprises, and many many new friendships. I started the year with a list of things I wanted to accomplish scrappy-wise and so many of those things were checked off the list that it has motivated me to create a new list for the coming year! I've always been someone who needs to write things down...to have a list to keep myself in order. And doing this again will help keep me organized (which is a big goal on my personal list!)~

Today I'd like to share with you my Top 12 Layouts from 2012. I decided to do things a little different than some of you out there, and chose to pick a favorite from each month, as I wanted to display how my style has evolved and changed over the past year. So let's get started!

January- "Perfect"

Almost one year ago, I created this layout for the Prima Build A Page challenge. It was my first time entering...and it won! I was so excited...and I still totally adore this piece. I remember when I used to do the heavily layered, distressed edges. :)

February- "My Love Story"

Ahh...my incredibly handsome hubby :). This was for a OUAS challenge (and ended up with 2nd place), and I remember really enjoying putting this layout together because I think DH and I have quite the love story- and OUAS challenges were always good for getting me to journal about things that might otherwise get pushed aside. The papers here were from my very first C'est Magnifique kit, the month before I received a personal phone call from Leslie (the owner), asking me to join her team. I happily accepted and have been proudly designing for her ever since!

March "Fish Face"

I remember how excited I was about this Pink Paislee collection. I purchased it as soon as it was available and just loved the vibrant colors! I remember loving the addition of the little bundle of sticks- left on the porch for me by Gunner. It only seemed right that they make a home here :). I also loved the confetti.

April "Smile It's Your Day"

I created this in my second month designing for Scrap FX, just getting the hang of using lots of chipboard on my projects and finding new ways to use them. I love this picture of Wyatt and I was so proud that even amongst everything included in this layout, it is still the first thing you see when looking at it.

May "Happy Day"

This precious photo of Gunner on Mother's Day combined with the gorgeous "Everyday Poetry" collection from Webster's Pages got me the Banner of the Week at Webster's Pages :). That was very exciting for me!

June "Sweet Cakes"

Six months ago in June, I started this blog after sharing a blog with my sister Kelly for a year. It was very scary but exciting, and I've loved my new home every since! This layout was the very first layout displayed on my new blog, so it only seemed right to include it here.

July "My Guy"

More Webster's Pages! This photo of Gunner is one of my favorites and I put much love into putting this layout together. It won the "My Guy" challenge at Webster's Pages :)- and this was the month I received the invite to join the Webster's Pages team! Definitely the highlight of my entire year!

August "Nature"

I have this one on my wall. I just love the orange in there, the different color/sized photos, the design. And it emulates what we are about as a family- true outdoors people!

September "Your Story"

Another one of my favorite pages ever. It started out a total mistake- my photo was a mess! But I was able to turn it around into something I loved and I used it to tell my daughter the rough road I had to travel on the journey of bringing her into this life :)

October "Decorating the Tree"

I was just getting into the swing of doing holiday layouts at this point. Wyatt loves helping decorate the tree and although I'm a big perfectionist and have to help him along the way, I really enjoy watching him do it. The colors here just really came together and I loved the end result!

November "So Beautiful"

My first time working on a non-12x12 format. This 8x10 canvas was such a joy to put together! It hangs on my daughter's wall and I still love to look at it :).

December "Remember the Time"

I'm a bit of a mixed media nut at this moment- and I love creating on canvas. So this project was a true joy to create and in the new year, I hope to expand my mixed media knowledge and continue to learn and grow as much as I can!

Thanks so much for having a look at my year with me, and for your love and support along the way. So many of you take the time out of your day to stop here and leave some words of encouragement which motivate me to the next project. I love what I do, but I know it wouldn't be nearly as enjoyable did I not have your friendship to brighten my day on a daily basis. Thanks so much for everything!

Scrap FX: A Layout, A Card, & A Good-Bye

Good morning all my awesome friends and followers...today is a bit of a bittersweet day as I will be sharing with you my final projects for Scrap FX. When this amazing company took me on 9 months ago, I cannot relay to you the excitement I felt! And it has been SUCH an honor to design with their amazing products all this time. Jill Wheeler (the owner) has been spectacular since day one and anyone who is lucky enough to design for her can expect to be treated with true professionalism. Michelle Logan, the design team coordinator, keeps the team and the blog running like clockwork. And my teammates have been one of the most laid-back, drama-free bunches I've ever had the privilege of working with. So making the decision to step down from my spot on this team was not an easy one to make. But as I've discovered in this industry, hard decisions are sometimes required of us, and an opportunity was offered to me by another company that I simply could not turn down.

So here we are :). I'm happy to report, however, that for you fellow Scrap FX fans out there that as we inch closer to March, you can expect a Scrap FX Design Team Call~! During my time with Scrap FX, I've received so many emails in regards to not only WHERE this amazing product can be found, but WHEN Scrap FX will be having a DT call so they too could play as I've been able! So keep an eye out- because it's coming :)!!

"The Best of Times"

Of COURSE we need a closer look, right?!  

You’ve got to love a great title!

Playing outside in the snow certainly is “The Best of Times“, just as this Scrap FX title says! Funny, when it’s summertime and hot and sunny out- I sometimes have to kick this little guy out there! But come wintertime- day or night, he loves to go. I suppose it’s because there aren’t any bugs in the winter, lol!

For my title, I first primed with gesso, then lightly dabbed with a dark blue ink, dabbed again with gesso, tapped the edges with the same blue ink for a little definition, and finally finished the piece off with some silver Stickles.

Another amazing flourish piece! The “Steampunk Flourish Border” is just awesome. I covered it first with gesso before dabbing randomly with some texture paste. While the texture paste was still wet, I added some silver broken glass glitter and some seed beads to give it a “frosty” feel.

I just cannot get enough of these “Cogs, micro” pieces! I’ve treated them in a similar fashion to the flourish, except I used only gesso and then some glossy accents to hold the beads in place. I’ve also dabbed randomly with some silver Stickles.

Scrap FX has yet again struck gold with their stencils! Here I’ve used the “Rose Stencil“, along with some modeling paste, embossing powder, and plenty of confetti goodies to create plenty of interest! What I love most about these stencils is how DURABLE they are! I tend to use my masks/stencils a lot and washing them can really cause some damage over time. But the Scrap FX stencils are of a thicker material and they really hold up! Love that!

Finally, I’ve included some hidden journaling on a tag from the “Flourish Tag Set, Kraft” pack.

Products Used:

The Best of Times

Flourish Tag Set, Kraft

Cogs, micro

Rose Stencil

Steampunk Flourish Border

Next up, a card!

"Love" Card

I stuck with the same “elegant grungy” look I was going for with my layout on my card . The “Steampunk Corner B- Clock Hands” piece was the perfect size for the cluster on my card. I randomly applied gesso before adding some seed beads (again, sticking with the same idea on my layout).

For my title, I layered the “Love” piece from the “Love- love/cherish/adore” pack over the “Steampunk Man” gear piece (man removed, lol). My title was primed with gesso and then stamped, while the gear piece was treated in the same fashion as the Steampunk Corner.

Steampunk Corner B- Clock Hands

Love- Love/Cherish/Adore

Steampunk Man

I just wanted to end my post by saying a big "THANKS!" to Scrap FX for EVERYTHING. For offering a quality product and for being a company I've always been proud to represent. It's truly been a pleasant experience and I know that they will continue to grow by leaps and bounds- and I'm honored to have been a member of their first-ever design team :). 

Take care :)~