Paper Issues......Moms

I went looking for this layout and realized that I never shared it with you!  

How could that be......I love it!!!!  

It's from our last kit at My Scrapbook Nook last fall....Echo Park. 

It goes perfectly with the current issue happening over at Paper Issues ;) 

It's sponsored by Pink Paislee and they are offering up a collection to one lucky winner!!!  So hurry.....you've got through Saturday (aka...tomorrow) to link up.  

Anything using Pink Paislee or something about mom in honor of Mothers Day.

These pics are of a little photo shoot my mom and i had done last summer.  It cracks me up that we look so sweet in this pretty meadow.....it was our last spot and we'd been having major giggles and being crazy the whole time!  That's how we roll ;)

While you're at it check out the store.....it's been loaded with new stuff....these are some of my faves!!!

Use my code CAROL for 20% your entire order.....go, run!!!!!

September already??

Between end of the summer vacation and going back to school the last few weeks have felt like a blur!  But good thing I have lots of photo's to help me remember ;)   I finally loaded them up last night and was surprised at how many there were.  I've got a bit of work ahead of me and will share some stories when I get them done.

For now I've got our gorgeous September Nook kit.  It's our last one and it makes me sad.  I've been with the Nook for like 5 years now! Designing for 2.  I don't know what I'll do next month when we are all done.  But for now I'm totally loving this kit and whipped out 2 layouts pretty quick with it ;)

It's got the new Echo Park For the Record 2....loving all the pretty blues and yellows.  

Pretty much my favorite colors.

I was immediately drawn to the light blue paper in the collection and loved the way it looked with the brown newsprint.  I've had these amazing pictures of Nathan for some time now, obviously.  I'm not even sure how old he is here, I'll have to look it up, but I'm thinking no more than 10.  He's such a handsome boy ;)

This floral was also one of my faves.  Wanted to show it off well, so I used a large block for my background.  All the phrase stickers in the kit are pretty fun and I stacked them together to create a little description of my Samantha.

I love it when layouts come together so quickly and easily, especially when they

 make me totally happy as well. 

Trying some new things.....

To counteract my boring self these last few weeks, I decided to try some new to me techniques with my scrapping ;)  

I hosted a little class over at the Nook for this one......doing a pie chart for the first time and also, a look that I've looooooved but never tried, the paint spreading.    I'm so happy with how this one turned out, so soft and pretty.  Using the August kit at the NOok, Carta Bella Beautiful Moments.

 

I don't know about you girls, but when I have 2 photos that go together but are situated differently.  One horizontal, the other vertical.  It's SUCH  a challenge for me to scrap them!  Is it just me?????

But I've had these photos of Kristen like, forever and I really wanted to use them.  The only design I could come up with was to separate them completely.   I cut the dew drop petals out of one of the pattern papers and tried a scattered look.  It didn't quite come together the way it did in my mind ;)  But it's sweet.

Speaking of the Nook.....if you haven't heard the sad sad news yet......here it is.  My Scrapbook Nook is closing it's doors.  I've been designing for them for 2 years this Sept.  I'm so sad.  They have been an amazing kit club and a super fun place to work.  I've made so many friends and have learned so much as a scrapper through this community.  It's going to be weird not having this little home anymore.  I'll still be scrapping......for sure!!!! But it won't be for the Nook anymore.  September is our last kit ;(  Here's the official announcement if you'd like to read it.

August Kit at the Nook

We just got the latest kit from My Scrapbook Nook.  We are trying a brand new company called Carta Bella.  This is their Beautiful line.

It turned out to be perfect for all those fun pictures I took of the girls.  Lots of thick papers and really fun stickers and alphas.

Thanks for looking, I've got a few more layouts already in the works.  

This kit seems to scrapping itself ;)

I've been slowly digging through my July kit......it's hard to scrap in the summer when I've got kids all up in my space thinking they need to be entertained by me ;)  Sheesh...where do they get these ideas!!!

I dug through some old pictures and found some gems let me tell you!
These pictures of Kristen slay me!
She was such a crazy girl......totally sweet and shy but you know, she had her moments.
Like this one......quite the get up eh!
Oh and she's been famous pretty much from day one....for NOT letting me do anything to her hair.
I look back at all kinds of pictures and her hair is just hanging in her face, all crazy like.  Sadly, it looks like that a lot ;(
Here she is givin' it ALLLLLL she's got.....hahahaaaa!
Footy pj's, princess shoes over footies, a little skin and bright pink shades.
Rock it girl!!!

Then we have our little mama ;)
Samantha has always had a nurturing heart.
She was such a good helper when Jack was a baby, the ONLY kid in the family who has EVER changed a diaper.  And she is only 3 1/2 yrs. older than him.

Here she is feeding her baby cousin when she was almost 4.
It's such a sweet picture.

I've got a few more I'll share another time.
Hope you're having a great Monday!!!

Celebrate Summer

I've got a summer challenge over at the Nook today.......

I love taking pictures with sun flare and here in Vegas that's not hard to come by!

So it was an obvious choice to focus on a sun based challenge.

I created a new layout using October Afternoon 9 to 5 and a picture of Samantha from last winter playing in the leaves.

Here are a few other layouts I've made in the past that fit my theme: 

Be sure to check out the full challenge over at the NOok and find out how to win a RAK from me at the end of the summer ;)

July Kit at the Nook

The July kit at My Scrapbook Nook is out ;)

It's a fun combination of colors and style......My Minds Eye Indie Chic Ginger

I've done a little class on this layout over at the message board and blog.

Happy July everyone!!!

Summer Scrapping at the Nook

The party starts tomorrow!!!

Lots of inspiration all summer long with amazing DT samples and ideas.

Check the message board for all the details ;)

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I finally found some groove and kicked out a few more designs for the June kit......I've loved this one, it's sooooo fun.

This one uses mostly the June grab bag that goes with the main kit.....lots of fun sayings ;)

I loved these old pictures of my boys.......so glad to finally scrap them.

love how perfect it all was for these dance pictures of Samantha from a few years back.

she made the perfect little cowgirl ;)

Thanks for looking ;)

have a lovely day!!!

Nook June Kit

I am loooooving the June kit!

Perfect for all those fun summertime pictures.

Lots of color and cool patterns.

Yesiree......

It's filled with Simple Stories Summer Fresh and lots of Jillibean Soup embellishments.

I've got one layout to share thus far.....Kristen surprised me a few years back taking to our friends baby chickens.  Who knew!  Would never have guessed her to cozy up to them so much.  Though she has always been an animal lover, I just never knew how serious she was about it!!!!  

She didnotgetitfromme ;)

....and this is what she said when she saw them!

Don't forget to get yours, along with the amazing grab bag up for grabs this month!!!
hahaha.

A few layouts

i haven't been scrapping as much lately and i miss it.
but life has been crazy and i've been pretty mojoless ;(

but i do have a few Nook layouts that I haven't shared yet here on my blog.
Both these layouts use our May kit, Echo Park This and That.

I have all these random pictures stacked on my desk that get pulled out with others and than left behind never to be put away again ;)   They are cute pics, just never made it to a layout.  So I went through some of those and used them this month.

This here is Samantha, sleeping on the floor.  Her little lips pursed in slumber.  I love it.  I loved the little hanging bird cage and really wanted to use it, so I came up with this design having everything clustered at the top.

This is one of those pictures I don't know why I never scrapped!  My two cute girls at Easter one year.  2006 actually.  I forced my family into a little photo shoot that day, even had to drag Doug in to assist me.  But it was well worth it.

As much I try not to do just one photo layouts,  i seem to be doing them more and more lately.  I think scrapping is becoming more a creative outlet and less a need to scrap all the details and stories.  Though I do still want to accomplish that. 

Thanks for stopping by and looking ;)

Nook Weekend Crop!

We are starting this party early over at the Nook. 

We couldn't wait till Saturday so we've posted a few challenges to get you all excited ;)

Hop on over and play along won't you ;)

I'll be posting my challenge Saturday evening but we'll start them early Saturday morning and run them straight till Sunday morning.

Oh, and you know there are gonna be prizes ;)

.....and because a post is funner with some scrap pages here's a look at my Project Life.

Yes.

I'm still plugging away ;)

I used our April kit at the Nook for this week.

I worked pretty hard to get caught up last month and then in the blink of an eye another month had past.  But I'll keep going, I really love what 's finished ;)

May Kit, Special.....and a new team!

We have been pretty busy at the Nook!

Having a little design team call and such.

So excited to be remaining on the team and welcoming in a few new girls ;)

Erika Gasser
Aleksandra Gadji
Patricia Roebuck
Bente Fagerberger

Returning Designers

 Leah Killian
Stacey Michaud
Carol Monson
Danni Reid
Jessy Christopher
Katarina Damm-Blomberg
Hilde Aaslund
Anna Sigga
Marinette Lefevre
Lilith Eckles
Shellye McDaniel
Pamella Brown
Gina Rodgers
Deanna Misner
Nicole Nowosad

The May kit has also been shipped.  It's beautiful and fun and lovely and I couldn't wait to jump in ;)

 

We've also got another amazing special to offer new subscribers

Join in May and receive June for FREE along w/a free June Grab Bag. You only pay the shipping for your free kit and grab bag!!!! You will also receive another free kit after 12 paid months!!! Two FREE kits and a grab bag when you sign up for 12 months!!!!!

Head on over to see the grab bag ;) 

Here's my first layout using Echo Parks This and That Graceful

My sweet little Samantha just days old.

A Title Class

I taught a class last week over at the Nook using our April kit, Crate Storyteller.

It's all about titles.....and finding inspiration and making them a fun part of your layout.

Here are the layouts I made for the challenge.....hop on over to the NOok and check it out.....there IS a little prize involved ;)

 "I flew across the ocean to see what i could see"

another Hawaii layout ;)

 "You were born an original"

I've been hoarding these pics of Jack for a while now,  I love them so.  

And don't be surprised if I use them again sometime ;)

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On another note, I haven't scrapped in about 2 weeks.

Life has sucked it right out of me....but I am desperately ready to find it again.

Being creative is so relaxing and rejuvenating for me.

I think that's one of the reasons I "make" or  "find" the time to do it.

It's just important.

Some people may take naps, or go shopping, or heaven forbid, clean to find their happy place.

For me, it's sitting at my desk.

I need to go find my happy place today ;)

Wish me luck!

Happy Tuesday!!