Project Life 2016 | Sept 19 - Oct 2

Hi scrappy peeps! Today I'm sharing a layout from late September into early October. In an effort to catch up, I combined two weeks into a single spread. I'm going with the flow here, and making my own rules!

For this layout I used the December "Kinsley" Pocket Life kit from Citrus Twist Kits. The kit included a set of exclusives papers and cards, some of which had a paint splatter effect, which was PERFECT to document a layout that included photos from a Color Me Rad race! For those that don't know, it's a 5K race where you start wearing white clothes and end up being COVERED in color by the time you cross the finish line. This was the 3rd time I've run this race- it's so fun!!!

Here's the overall layout...

And the full left side...

For the title card, I really wanted to highlight that exclusive ink splatter card. I used the vellum "LIFE" letters included in the kit for part of my title, and handstitched the "RAD" part. I looked up a definition of rad in the Urban Dictionary and printed that to add to the title card as well. It was cute and seemed fitting. It's subtle, but I also added some stitching to the top edge of the definition strip.

I love to combine a 3x4 photo with a 3x4 journal or filler card for a 4x6 pocket. Its a break from the repetition. Below, I've combined a beautiful pic of my daughter and her friend (oh, how they love those Snapchat filters), with a filler card from the kit. Down the seam between the 2 pieces, I added a narrow strip of pink & gold washi, layered with a die cut that I stitched in place, and just a bit of ink splatter. I think this is my favorite card of the week...

This week also included the day I turned 40 (eek!). That journal card that reads "Big Event (Life Altering)" was included in the kit and couldn't have been more perfect!

Many of the pockets on this left side document a weekend trip I made with my girlfriends to CKC (Creating Keepsakes Events). We normally attend the Manchester, NH location but due to a few conflicts, we attended the Hartford, CT this year instead. We all found it to be pretty quiet with far less vendors and classes, but we still enjoyed ourselves. The girls surprised me with a yummy cake for my birthday. The card below shows how excited I was to have chocolate cake with my evening cocktail! ;)

I used several of the Project Life brand die cuts throughout the layout, including the flowers and "Friday" tag on the card above. I stitched all the die cuts in place using a bright lemony yellow thread. It's hard to see in the photos, but it was fun to use a thred color other than white! I've also added a few of the exclusive blue word stickers here and there. The sayings on these were great this week!

I just had to document the Presidential debates of 2016. What a train wreck that was!!!

Here's the full right side. Most of the right side documents the Color Me Rad race.

I added some Sn@p alpha stickers from my stash, to add more of the limey-yellow accent color.

I love this "Details" 4x6 card from the kit. Perfect for a collection of smaller photos I wanted to include. Again, more stitched die-cut flowers, to balance the left side, and another great word sticker.

One last thing before I wrap up this layout. I included our race bibs from the race. They don't absorb the same as clothing, but it's fun to see the color remnants on them. I love to include memorabilia like this in my album! I just tucked them in a smaller 6x8 page protector. That I trimmed down just a bit. Here's how they look in the album...

And that's it. Thanks for stopping by!

Project Life 2016 | September 5-11

Hi folks! I'm back today with another layout from my productive weekend of catch-up scrapping. Today's layout is from early September of last year. I hate falling this far behind, but on the plus side... I have a plethora of kits and products to choose from so that has been fun to go "shopping" in my own backlog of kits!!! :)

For this layout, I chose to use the November "Emerson" pocket life kit from Citrus Twist Kits. The colors worked well with my photos for the week... lots of bright orange and blue. The exclusive papers in this kit were so fun!

This week's layout also included a 6x12 layout insert. I just LOVE 6x12 layouts... so let's just start with that, shall we?

Here is how the layout looks in the album...

And the 6x12 layout itself...

I started the layout with a piece of 6x12 white textured cardstock. Using a recycled plastic technique, I added some ink to the background, layered with some additional ink splatter and droplets.

Next I added a few strips of paper down the left side, and stitched them in place...

Under the photo I added my title, compromised of puffy alpha from the kit and an acrylic piece from Color Cast Designs. Below that, a cluster of wood veneer, paper and vellum hearts that are stitched in place. These heart clusters became a repetitive design element you'll see used in the overall layout as well.

Here is the overall 2-page spread...

And just the left page...

The kit included a pack of die-cut from Jillibean Soup. I used quite a few throughout the layout, including a cluster of hearts on the title page...

I added a few handcut vellum hearts layered on the die cuts and stitched them in place.

I had a few extra photos that I didn't want to eliminate from the layout so I added a flip-up pocket in the upper right...

The kit included a good variety of pieces to embellish my layout. I love the various textures between die-cuts, wood veneer and puffy alpha.

Here is the full right side...

To balance the title card on the left side, I added another card of layered and stitched hearts here...

I loved the "Tell Your Story" card included in the kit and wanted to keep that simple. I just added a few mini puffy hearts and some ink splatter...

And that's about it for today. Thanks for stopping by!

Project Life 2016 | September 18 NYC

I've never been a big fan of winter, but I have to say, I'm thankful for the gloomy northeast weather this weekend as it has allowed my first stay-home weekend in FOREVER! And I've spent it scrapping!!!

The layout I'm sharing today dates back to mid-September last year, when my family and I spent a day in New York City to celebrate my 40th birthday. Some of the products I used date back just as long... ok, not really. But I did go scavenging in my stash and pulled out some products that go back a couple years! Many of the products came from an old Citrus Twist Kits I horded and apparently buried in my stash. Yay for discovered treasures!!!!

Ok, enough rambling. Let's get to the layout already!

Here is the full left side, which documents our arrival in the city, the 9/11 memorial pools and the One World Trade tower...

A close-up of the title card...

Many of the papers you will see throughout the layout are from the old Crate Paper "Journey" collection (which was provided in the Citrus Twist kit), as well as some of the old Amy Tangerine "Stitched" collection. I did sprinkle in a few new products though... on the title card you'll see a layered tag and some lovely gold-dipped Thickers from the We R Memory Keepers "Urban Chic" collection.

More close-ups...

This day was a jam-packed tour of so many New York City landmarks that I needed a few inserts to summarize each stop.

First... here is how the inserts look stacked in the album. As you'll see in a moment, the top insert has some large letters floating in pockets so you see the NYC skyline behind them.

Here is the front of that first insert, which documents our walk through Battery Park, a water taxi ride and lunch...

Those big white cardstock alpha letters are from the Target dollar bins!

As silly as it sounds, our stop at Shake Shack was a highlight for me. Sooo good... hubby and I agree, the best burger we've ever had!

Here's the back side of that first insert, which documents our walk on the Brooklyn Bridge...

Here's the front of the second insert, documenting another water taxi ride to see the south-east skyline and the Statue of Liberty...

To create the skyline photos in multiple pockets, I edited my photo in Photoshop. I cropped my original image to 4"h x 9"w and then cropped that into 2 separate images that I could print- a 4"x6" (which I sliced in half) and the remaining 3"x4" for the 3rd slot...

Back to the layout...

In the photo above, you can see the little tabs I've added to each insert. I just punched these from some gold-foiled vellum, for a bit of interest.

Here is the back side of this insert, documenting our visit to Central Park, and in particular, my favorite landmark, Bow Bridge ...

Here is the final insert, a salvaged paper bag that I'm using to hold various memorabilia from the day. The mint green tabs are from Basic Grey. I really wish I had these in more colors, they come in handy!

And finally, the full right page of the layout, which documents our visit to Top of the Rock (the top of Rockefeller Center), the Rockefeller Center plaza area and Times Square.

That thin wood veneer with the city skyline is from a very old Studio Calico kit... probably one of the very first PL kits. I added the stamped sentiments using some Citris Twist stamps.

And that's it folks. I dug deep and used some old things from my stash. Kinda feels good!
And what do ya know, I think made room for some new shopping purchases!