From Our Home to Yours Layout

Happy Thursday, scrappers!

December has been busy for me. Between school work and running to the insanely packed mall, this month had just flown by! I did get to squeeze in some scrapping between the hustle and bustle. This month for The Memory Nest I was working with the Little Yellow Bicycle collection, Making Merry. To recap, earlier this month I made this layout:

I fell in love with this collection and how it worked with that picture so much, that I designed our Christmas card after it! When I found this template I knew that I had to use it because it would be perfect for my layout. Is that wrong?

I made that folded Christmas tree using half of a circle. There are lots of videos and tutorials out there on different ways to fold a tree. I don't know why scrapping our Christmas card had never occurred to me before! After I scrapped this photo thank you card a few months ago, it really hit me that I should scrap whatever is truly meaningful to me!

I hope you are having a wonderful holiday season. Make sure to stop by The Memory Nest for some awesome gifts for yourself! Or you can always very casually leave the screen up on your computer for Santa to take a peek...

XOXO,

Love and Holiday Joy Layout

Hello crafty friends!

Today I have a new layout up over at The Memory Nest. This month I was given the Fancy Pants Designs Making Merry Collection. This is a Christmas collection with traditional reds and greens but with some chalkboard elements thrown in, which makes for a beautiful set of papers!

There is a sale going on over at The Memory Nest and who doesn't love a sale???!! I'll be back later this month with a second project.

XOXO,

4 Legged Family

Happy Thanksgiving!

Before I am off to stuff myself with turkey and mashed potatoes, I have a layout I'd like to share that I created for my Design Team reveal over at The Memory Nest. I used the Happy Go Lucky collection by Fancy Pants Designs. It's on sale so grab a kit before they are gone!

I used the collection kit along with some wood veneers I had in my stash. I used an older sketch from Creative Scrappers to help me along.

I have so much to be thankful this year. My wonderful family and friends, my job, and this amazing hobby that lets me escape it all when I need to. A special thank you to Leslie and The Memory Nest DT for inspiring me!

XOXO,

The Original Selfie

Oxford Dictionaries recently announced that the word of the year for 2013 is the word selfie. At first, I was a little appalled. Until I realized that about 90% of my pictures are selfies! I was cleaning out a box a few weeks ago and came across this selfie, circa 1998. I received the beautiful Happy Go Lucky collection by Fancy Pants Designs from The Memory Nest to work with this month. I LOVE the patterns and colors. It is a fun collection! I added some wood veeners and bling that I had in my stash but everything else came from the kit. And there's still lots left!

This collection is on sale right now over at The Memory Nest! I'll be back with a second layout I made with this collection later this week!

XOXO,

Hello Friend!

Hello crafty world!

I feel like it's been awhile since I've done anything crafty. I have been consumed by my new job. I had parent conferences, a field trip, and report cards all in the last month! I'm exhausted! As tiring as it all is, I truly have a wonderful group of students this year and I enjoy every moment. I just wish I had more time to be crafty!

Well I did get to do some scrapbooking these last few days for a few Design Team reveals. This first is over at Use it Tuesday. This weeks challenge is "Anything Goes." Make any project that you wish, as long as you include hoarded items (the older, the better!). I made this card using what's left of my Pebbles collection. I'm amazed I have anything at all!

Aside from the paper and stickers, those stick pins have also been sitting in my jar for some time now. I'll be back with some more reveals later this week!

XOXO,

Fall in Love Layout

Good morning scrappers!

Today is my second reveal over at The Memory Nest. I had the Echo Park Recollections Fall collection to work with this month. I recently attended a friend's wedding and it was a perfect fall day!

The colors in this collection are stunning and perfectly matched my outdoor photos. I added some gold twine and, of course, some bling. At first, my title was going to only be Fall in Love. I decided to extend it with a sentiment sticker from the coordinating sticker set. I used this sketch from Life. Paper. Scrapbook.

Be sure to head over to The Memory Nest blog to see what the other designers have been busy creating. Also, check out The Memory Nest store to take advantage of current specials. Thanks for reading!

XOXO,

U R Fabulous using The Pier!

Welcome to my little blog!

It's Tuesday and that means it's time for another challenge at Use it Tuesday. This month the challenge was Odds, Ends, Scraps, and Pieces. We were asked to create a project using all of those little pieces that of course have to be saved! I had plenty to pick from for this challenge!

I used a stamp set from Fresh Squeezed Stamps (Thanks, Michelle!) as well as any tiny pieces I could from The Pier collection. Break out your stash and join us at Use it Tuesday!

Thanks for reading!

XOXO,

Echo Park Fall Cards

Good morning!

As promised, I have my first project for The Memory Nest Design Team today using Echo Park's Reflections collection. The colors in this pack are so beautiful. Makes me want to run out and rake leaves (although it's still in the 90's here in L.A.)! I decided on a set of cards. Fall is my favorite season so I know I would love to receive a fall-themed card!

Here's another look at the collection...

And here is what I made!

Be sure to head over to The Memory Nest to pick up this paper and check out what the other designers have been up to this month!

Thanks for reading!

XOXO,

It's Time for Fall at The Memory Nest!

Happy fall, y'all!

Leslie over at The Memory Nest sent me the GORGEOUS new Reflections collection by Echo Park to work with this month. The colors are amazing!

I can smell the apple cider just looking at this paper!

Come back Thursday to see my first project using this yummy collection. If you are ready to start scrapping some of your favorite fall pictures, you can find this pack over at The Memory Nest store.

Thanks for reading!

XOXO,

My Mind's Eye Wedding Layout

Happy fall, scrappers!

Today is my second reveal of the month over at The Memory Nest. I had the My Mind's Eye Cut and Paste collection to work with this month. This collection was right up my alley. You can find it in the store here.

The picture featured on this layout is actually a thank you card from a very special wedding I attended earlier this year. I glued the arrow onto chipboard and attached it with a brad so that it would work as a closure. That way I can still see the inside of the card!

Be sure to stop by The Memory Nest blog to see what the other Design Team members have been busy creating. Thanks for reading!

XOXO,

All Grown Up Layout

Hello crafty friends!

Today is the unveiling of another challenge over at Use it Tuesday. The challenge this week is to create a project using two hoarded items. Unfortunately this was not hard for me to do since I have a whole bunch of hoarded items!

This was created with the beautiful The Pier collection by Studio Calico. I love the colors! My hoarded items are the gold baker's twine (which I still continue to buy even though I have plenty!) and the Special Event ticket (which I still have five more of!).

Check out this challenge over at the Use it Tuesday blog. Thanks for reading!

XOXO,

You're the Sweetest Doodlebug Card

Howdy!

Today is a new challenge over at Use it Tuesday! The first challenge of the month is Friendship. I decided to take out my Doodlebug Fruit Stand collection once more and see what I could come up with...

...and it was a friendly card! I love all of the fruit stickers and this pear paper but honestly could not figure out what to do with it. I kept digging through my stash and found this sentiment stamp in a set I bought last year. I had bought the set for one stamp (crazy, right?) and the rest of it had laid unused for months. I dug even further in my stash and found my PageMaps book I had sadly not opened in a year. So sad! I was excited when I first bought the book and for some reason just hadn't used it. I've now displayed it prominently on my desk so that it gets more use because there are tons of great sketches in it! I also found some American Crafts colored pencils I picked up at a discount store last year that hadn't even been sharpened yet. And that ribbon? Well, it came out of one of my eight (yes 8!) mason jars of ribbon I have on my desk. You could say I have a ribbon problem.

Be sure to head over to Use it Tuesday to use your stash! Thanks for reading!

XOXO,

Summer Reading Layout

Hello bloggers!

Today is a very exciting day for me. It's my first reveal as a part of The Memory Nest design team! For the last few month I have been on the summer design team for The Memory Nest and I was fortunate enough to be asked to stay on for the fall. I received a GORGEOUS package of goodies to use and I can't wait to use it all!

I mean, how awesome is this collection? Look at it!

Here is my first project using this paper:

I decided to do a layout about my summer reading this year. I read 10 books over summer and I enjoyed every second of it! I love reading and it was fun to do a layout dedicated to one of my favorite pastimes. Everything you see in this layout comes from the Cut & Paste collection by My Mind's Eye and is available at The Memory Nest.

Speaking of which, for the month of September you can use the following code and receive 20% off regular priced items! There's tons of new product in the store so shop 'til your drop...or until your fingers get tired of typing!

The Memory Nest Code: Becky20 

I'll be back again in a few weeks with a second reveal with this collection. Check out what the other lovely DT members have been up to at The Memory Nest blog.  

Thanks for reading!

Used this sketch from My Scraps & More Sketches:

XOXO,

The Bride and Groom Layout

Good morning scrappers!

Today is the last challenge of the summer over at The Memory Nest. I have really enjoyed being on the summer design team. I have met some lovely ladies and we've had some fun scrappy conversations. Here is my last layout as part of the summer design team.

And here is the challenge:

As you can see, I stayed pretty true to the sketch. This was a fun layout to create because I felt free to rummage through my stash and pick papers from whatever collection. I went through and dug out everything that was in the white/ivory family. I was a little nervous about doing a monochromatic layout but once I got started it came together.

Check out this challenge on The Memory Nest and don't forget to take advantage of the $5 summer shipping in the store. Thanks for reading!

XOXO,

The Beauty of Fall Layout

Good morning, scrappers!

There is a new challenge up today over at Use it Tuesday. This month the challenge is Trends. I have been seeing layout featuring triangles a lot lately so I decided to give it a try.

The hoarded items I used in this layout are the pretty brown Thickers I found at a discount store last year and also this paper collection by Authentique that I bought last fall. To create the triangles, I used my square punch to cut out a 1 3/4" square, cut it diagonally in half once, then cut each piece in half again.

Be sure to check out Use it Tuesday to participate in this challenge and use your stash!

Linking Up With:
Creative Scrappers - Sketch #713

XOXO,

Finger Lickin' Good BBQ Layout

Howdy scrappers!

Today is a new sketch and design team reveal at Sketches in Thyme. I created a 2 page layout with pictures from my trip to Texas earlier this year.

As you can see I stayed pretty close to the sketch. I am still in love with this Walnut Grove collection from Pebbles and it is just perfect for a trip to the country. This layout is all about going to my favorite Texas BBQ joint, Rudy's. Even thinking of it now makes my mouth water! The stickers for this collection had that adorable kraft butterfly so I made some more using a punch.

Join us for this last challenge of the month by going to the Sketches in Thyme blog! Thanks for reading!

XOXO,

A Family Moment Layout

Hello there!

I can't believe that summer is coming to an end for me. I go back to work next week. Although I am beyond thrilled about starting a new job, I'm going to miss these scraptastic summer days! I've been scrapping non-stop! Here is my latest layout for The Memory Nest.

This was the challenge:

This picture is from 1979. It is my mom and her sister sitting on her car during a trip to the mountains. We don't have too many family pictures like this so I wanted to do something special for it. I actually had my mom do the journaling for this layout and she told the story. It was also a great moment for the two of us to share and talk about the family.

I was so proud of myself when doing this layout because I actually mixed collections! That is definitely a weakness of mine. The background paper is actually from an Authentique Christmas collection. The wood buttons and some of the stickers are by My Mind's Eye and the rest is from the We R Antique Chic collection. And I am just loving those stitched Thickers lately!

Thanks for reading! Be sure to check out this summer challenge over at The Memory Nest. Leslie also has a new store up with great products and $5 shipping!

XOXO,

Hello Friend Cat Card

Hey crafters!

Today is Tuesday so there's a new challenge up at Use it Tuesday. This week the challenge is Uninked Stamps. This means any stamp that has never seen an ink pad, meaning it hasn't been used! And I know WE ALL (and yes, I mean you!) have at least one! I myself had plenty to choose from. I went with this kitty stamp from Fun Stamper's Journey and a pretty sentiment I had discovered last year (or perhaps the year before..?) in the dollar bin at Michael's.

I was inspired by this cute orange tabby...

My kitty Normandy

The paper collection is an oldie by Bo Bunny called Pet Shop. This is a collection I have seriously been hoarding for about four years. To this day I still love this collection more than any other I have since in the last few years. I will still buy it if I happen to find a stray sheet somewhere! I also used my  Spectrum markers that don't get out too often.

Head over to the Use it Tuesday to use your uninked stamps! I'm having a lot of fun on this Design Team. With every challenge I discover something fun from deep within my stash!

Thanks for reading!

XOXO,

Star Student Layout

Happy August busy bees!

Today we have a new reveal over at Sketches in Thyme. Going back to work has been on my mind a lot lately so I decided to scrap a picture from my classroom last year.

Here is our sketch:

I rotated the sketch so that I could fit my title. I used paper and stickers from the Doodlebug Take Note collection as well as some old scraps I had in my piles. The flowers in the picture were given to me by a student during teacher appreciation week. Being a part time teacher, I really wasn't expecting anything. Much to my surprise I was showered with gifts and these beautiful flowers. Being remembered by my students and knowing that I made an impact in their lives was one of the best moments of the school year.

Go to Sketches in Thyme to check out this sketch and join in on the fun! Thanks for reading!

XOXO,

A Fine Dining Experience

Greetings! Today I have a new layout up over at The Memory Nest. Just looking at it makes me hungry!

The challenge:

I used my new Dear Lizzy Lucky Charm collection that I ordered from The Memory Nest shop. Let me tell you, this collection is so lovely that I had a hard time cutting it up! I created my chevron using a large background stamp from Fun Stamper's Journey. Everything else came from the same paper collection. The pictures I used were from an amazing dinner I had with my husband last summer at the incredible Mastro's in Las Vegas. I typically am not a food picture kind of girl, but this experience was so wonderful that I wanted to remember the details.

Head over to The Memory Nest to see what the other Hummingbirds created for this challenge and join us! Thanks for reading!

Linking Up With:
Sketches With Color - July 1 Sketch

XOXO,

Like Mother, Like Daughter Doodlebug Layout

Hello scrappers! Today is Tuesday which means it's time for another Use it Tuesday challenge! This week the theme is "What Was I Thinking?" Here is my layout:

This layout has two different "What Was I Thinking" moments. The first are the silly face pictures (that I'm sure my mom is going to love!). My mom was helping me do my hair for my 30th birthday/90's themed party last year. I apparently was restless and started snapping away while she's trying to tell me to hold still. I swear I am not 30 years old, not a toddler.

The second "What Was I Thinking" is the paper collection I used. It is called Fruit Stand by Doodlebug. I saw this collection in my LSS and I had to have it. It's just so cute! But since I bought it earlier this year, it's just been sitting there, getting buried by my ever growing stash. I'm just not sure how to use pineapple paper? I finally decided that the fruit didn't have to match the pictures and just used it. Aside from the paper, I also used candy dots and sticker borders from a few years ago. This was a Doodlebug purge for me! The doily is also from a bridal shower I hosted earlier this year (yes I saved it!).

Thanks for reading and be sure to check out this Use it Tuesday challenge. You can win a spot as a guest designer just for using your stuff! Thanks for reading!

Linking Up With:
Sketch-N-Scrap #37

XOXO,

Paws in the Sand Dog Beach Layout

Hello scrappers!

Today is a bit of a sad day for me. It is my last reveal with Scrap it With a Song. This was my first challenge blog Design Team and it has been a blast of a year. I have met some wonderful Bloggy friends. I'll certainly be checking in for some inspiration from time to time!

This week's challenge song is Toes by the Zac Brown Band. I love this fun, summer jam and it was perfect for a recent trip I took.

And here is my layout!

About a 40 minute drive from where I live, there is a stretch for beach that is specifically for dogs! They run around, off-leash if you want, and can play in the water and sand. We decided to take Shady since he loves his baths and a good sunbathe. He was a little shy at first. But after a few walks up and down the shoreline, he was walking in the water and laying out in the sand. And it wasn't a bad day for the humans either! The weather was perfect.

I had ONE sheet of this Bo Bunny collection left. I used a strrip and was able to fussy-cut flowers from the piece that was left. I also used some cork pieces from Studio Calico and my fun new Cork Thickers.

I also used this great sketch from Life. Paper. Scrapbook.

Be sure to check out this challenge over at Scrap it With a Song. To quote my favorite radio DJ's sign-off, the great Mr. Seacrest, "Becky OUT!"

Linking Up With:
Life. Paper. Scrapbook. - Sketch Challenge #6
Red Carpet Studios - Flower Layout Challenge
Frosted Designs - The Great Outdoors

XOXO,

One (Not So) Angry Bird Halloween Layout

Howdy crafters!

Sketches in Thyme revealed their 2-page sketch for July today. If I'm being honest, I have a hard time with 2-pagers. But this month's sketch was easy to follow along!

It felt a little strange working on a Halloween layout while it's close to 100 degrees outside! I've had these pictures in my photo box since last year and was glad to finally use them. This paper collection is from We R Memory Keepers.

Thanks for reading! Check out Sketches in Thyme to see this sketch! You have until the end of the month to enter and play along.

Linking Up With:
Scraptastic Club - Use Journaling Strips

XOXO,

My First Car Layout

Hello scrappers!

Today is a very exciting day for me. It's my first reveal with The Memory Nest! My team, The Hummingbirds, was given a color palette and sketch to work with.

Isn't that color palette awesome?! I had these papers and embellishments from the We R Memory Keepers Happy Campers collection that worked perfectly. I recently bought my first car and I was pleasantly surprised that the paper worked for this.

Please head over to The Memory Nest to see what the rest of The Hummingbirds created for this challenge and join us!

Thanks for reading!

XOXO,

Mustache Bash Layout

Hello scrappers!

Today is my first reveal with the Use it Tuesday design team! The first challenge for July is Birthdays. You can create anything that inspires you about birthdays. The only rule is you must USE YOUR STASH!

I created this layout featuring picture's from my good friend's birthday dinner earlier this year. The patterned paper is by Bo Bunny and the collection is called Peacock Lane. I've had it since it first came out - in Spring of last year! I originally bought it because of the fun colors and honestly don't know why I hadn't used it sooner.

Head on over to Use it Tuesday to play along and use your stuff!

Thanks for reading!

XOXO,

Use it Tuesday Design Team!

Happy Monday!

I am happy to announce that I have been invited to join the Use it Tuesday Design Team! I am very excited about this new opportunity. Not only is it a great group of ladies to work with, hopefully I can make a dent in my ever growing stash! If you are ready to "use it" (and yes, you have to FINALLY take it out of the package!), then check out the blog every Tuesday for a new challenge.

Thanks for reading!

XOXO,

Don't Stop the Party Layout

Happy Saturday, crafters!

There's a new sketch challenge up at Sketches in Thyme this week. I created a layout about a concert my BFF and I attended at the Hollywood Bowl last week. The Bowl is an incredible venue to watch a show. The concert we attended was Pitbull featuring Ke$ha. Ke$ha definately was, um, interesting? But Pitbull was a blast! You include special appearances by Chris Brown, Enrique Iglesias, Mark Anthony, and JLo (I literally teared up when she came out. I'm a HUGE fan of hers.) and it was certainly a night to remember.

And here is the sketch:

I used some scraps I had leftover from the Simple Stories Vintage Bliss collection. And this party layout was perfect for using those fun, sparkly, disco-ball grey Thickers! I don't have much experience with resizing photos so to get the smaller pictures I created a 5x7 collage print on Walgreens.com.

Go to the Sketches in Thyme blog to see this sketch challenge. Thanks for reading! Have a happy weekend!

Linking Up With:
Sassy Scrappers - July Mood Board (It's a beautiful board! Check it out! I was inspired by the colors.)
Sweet Stamp Shop - Use What You Have #8 (I used scraps, disco ball Thickers I bought last year, and an uninked date stamp I've had since it first came out!)

XOXO,

Playing With Fire Layout

Happy 5th of July! Hope everyone had a safe and fun day yesterday. I spent most of the day eating with family and watching fireworks. It was a lovely day!

Speaking of fireworks, the first challenge of the month for Scrap it With a Song is "Fireworks" by Katy Perry. Very appropriate!

I used the word fire as inspiration for my layout this week. While I was in Vegas last month, my friends and I went to the Gordon Ramsay BURGR restaurant. It was amazing and I highly recommend it! The decor of the restaurant was fire, with a wall of fire near the entrance. It's a play on Ramsay's popular show, Hell's Kitchen.

I used this sketch from My Scraps and More Sketches:

Check out this challenge on the Scrap it With a Song blog. Thanks for reading!

Linking Up To:
Paper Issues - Hey Good Lookin', What's Cookin'? (Gordon Ramsay burgers, that's what! YUM!)

XOXO,

Thanks For Being My Friend Card

A few weeks ago, I went on a girl's trip to Las Vegas with my best girlfriends. When I returned, I had a package on my desk waiting for me. I wondered if I was going crazy and had ordered some type of scrappy goodness that I didn't remember. I quickly tore open the envelope and found this:

This is the latest kit from Paper Made Bakery called This and That. It includes paper from Studio Calico and adorable stamps from Lawn Fawn. You can see more about the content on the PMB website. My awesome friend Michelle from A Page Out of My Book had this kit sent to me since the stamp set features a dachshund like my little guy Shady. I was so touched by her kindness! I am so blessed to have a wonderful friend like her.

I wanted to do something special to thank her so I tore open this beautiful kit and got to work! She knows my insecurities about coloring so I knew she would appreciate my attempt.

I used this fun sketch from Pamela's World of Scrap:

I also made this layout that I shared last week. And I still have lots of fun stuff left in my kit for more projects!

Thanks again, Michelle!

XOXO,