Smashbook: 2012 Thanks & Gratitudes

Happy Wednesday! Most of this year, Project Life has taken over much of my creative time. I haven't really had the chance to work in any of my other books. Since I didn't have a blog back in 2012, I decided to start sharing the layouts I created last year in my SMASH* book here on my blog.  And today, with Thanksgiving coming up, I'll be showing you my 2012 Thanks & Gratitude spread.

At this point, I had only been SMASH*ing for a few months. Although I was new to SMASH* books, this type of "documenting life" wasn't new to me. I've been creating pages like this since I was a teenager working in my altered composition books. I've always journaled and doodled, and have had a passion for penmanship since the beginning. And being able to incorporate all of those things [and other new techniques] into something like a SMASH* book as an adult, has allowed my style to grow and evolve.

My life is so different now compared to that rebellious teenage phase 16 years ago. And doing a spread like this really made me realize how much I've changed and how special and blessed my life is....

SMASH*: 2012 Thanks & Gratitudes

I thought long and hard about what's most important to me, and all of the lessons and life experiences I've learned from and lived through. I searched the internet for inspiration to figure out a creative way to put all of that down on paper, but stay true to myself and style. I feel that I really accomplished that with this spread. It's not your standard color scheme for Autumn, but it's very me!

Flipping through my pink book to find the perfect pages, led me to these pretty patterned papers. The colors and designs weren't too busy for the elements I wanted to use. My love for penmanship shows with the handwritten fonts and journaling. I even included doodles, photos, and a variety of embellishments from my stash of supplies. I went with lots of pink and glitter!

SMASH*: 2012 Gratitudes | Left Page

I started this page by writing everything in pencil first. It may take longer to do it this way, but for me, it's much better than ruining pages because I wrote something incorrectly or the placement is wrong. I then went over everything with a black zig pen or Sakura Gelly Roll metallic gel pen, and erased all of my pencil marks.

SMASH*: 2012 Gratitudes | Left Page - Close Up

SMASH*: 2012 Gratitudes | Left Page - Another Close Up

I used some pink glitter number stickers to mark the date and large alphas for the title. I printed out a couple of photos which I cut down to size, and added more pink in some fun stickers and rub-ons. I also used a variety of pens and markers, like metallic gel pens for journaling and doodles, my go-to black pen, and a silver paint marker for some extra glimmer.

SMASH*: 2012 Thankful For... | Right Page

Again, I used pencil first to get the placement right and so I could play around with different fonts. I kept this page pretty simple, but mixed up different elements and supplies. I had tons of fun digging through my stash to find things to use!

SMASH*: 2012 Thankful For... | Right Page - Close Up

SMASH*: 2012 Thankful For... | Right Page - Another Close Up

For the different fonts and title I used my handy black zig pen, another Sakura Gelly Roll metallic pen, and some fun K&Company alphabet stickers. To decorate this page I included lots of pretty embellishments that were gifted to me by my sweet friends. I finished the page with epoxy stickers, washi tape, label stickers, a handmade cutout, camera stamp, and colorful glitter alphabet stickers.

I really love how these pages came together, and I'm hoping to create a brand new spread for 2013's Gratitudes! We'll see how that goes...

I hope you enjoyed my post, and leave here feeling inspired to create something special and beautiful in your book. If you would like to see more pages from my pretty pink SMASH* book, you can find it here. Looking for more SMASH* inspiration? Feel free to browse my "SMASH* & PL" pinboard on Pinterest. Be sure to follow that board because I find new stuff daily!

You can stay updated on my recent posts, projects, and photos by following me on instagram, or by "liking" my fan page on Facebook. So why not head over there now and show some love...

Do you SMASH*? What inspires you? Have you done a "Gratitudes" spread yet? Any thoughts, questions, or comments about this post? I'd love to hear it! Your feedback is always welcome and much appreciated!

Mahalo for stopping by!

Smashbook: 13 Years of Love

Since my obsession with Project Life has taken up much of my time this year, I haven't really had the chance to work in any of my other books. A while back I decided to start sharing some old layouts that I created last year in my pretty pink SMASH* book here on my blog. Today's post is very close to my heart because tomorrow marks our 14 year anniversary. So I thought I would share the spread I created last year in honor of our special day...

I created this spread when I was fairly new to SMASH*ing, but I've been using this style of documenting life for as long as I can remember. I still have all of the altered composition books from my childhood filled with old photographs & photobooth pics, cutouts from magazines, doodles and drawings, journaling, and even little bits and pieces of ephemera that I didn't have the heart to throw away. I guess you can say that I'm a natural SMASH*er. Seeing how my style has evolved through this creative outlet many years later makes me incredibly happy.

Smashbook: 13 Years of Love | Full Spread

Our endless love and the memories we've shared over the last decade was the inspiration for this spread. I started out by flipping through my book to find the perfect set of pages. My love of the color pink also served as inspiration and when I came across these pretty pink patterned papers, I knew they were the ones. I took it a step further and used some love-themed stamps and colorful ink to create another layer for my background.

Smashbook: 13 Years of Love | Left Page

With some double-sided paper scraps and pink & white twine, I made a lovely pennant banner. Then I used a metallic silver paint pen and black zig marker to write the year. Next, I scoured my collection of magazine clippings and found a perfect "October" for this spread. The best part of creating these pages was digging through 10+ years of our "couple" pics, but choosing my favorites had to be the hardest.

For embellishments I used a Dear Lizzy chipboard Polaroid frame, to which I added the "heart and soul" rub-on, an Amy Tangerine cardstock camera, a LOVE element [gifted from a friend], pink argyle & love grid washi tape, a SMASH* roller date stamp, and a variety of tiny alphabet stickers.

Smashbook: 13 Years of Love | Right Page

Here I added more of our favorite "couple" pics. For embellishments I used another strip of pink argyle washi tape, some Basic Grey alphabet stickers, pink glitter cardstock letters by Colorbok, and a cardstock heart [gifted to me by a friend]. This spread wouldn't be complete without a pocket full of goodies...

Smashbook: A Pocket Full of Love

Handmade pockets are one of my favorite elements to add to my books. And my Smashbook is full of them! I love creating my own because it's such a simple way to add a personal touch to your pages. You can choose any paper you like depending on your mood or theme, and easily customize the size of the pocket. For this one, I used pretty pink paper from Amy Tangerine's Sketchbook line, and found a printable label from my stash that had the perfect sentiment. The funnest part about having a pocket is finding stuff to fill it with...

Smashbook: How I SMASH* with Journal Cards

I love using Project Life journal and filler cards in my SMASH* book. I print them a bit smaller than normal and stuff my handmade pockets with 'em! The ones I chose for this spread are love themed, of course. I used a journal card to document the day, a "This is Why I Love You" prompt card, a filler card which I added a small photobooth sticker of us, a lovely quote card, and a sweet card that holds an instagram photo of our daughter.

Our little one loves flipping through my SMASH* book and interacting with all of the different elements. So whenever I include a pocket, I always add washi tape tabs to the top of the journal cards. It makes it much easier for little hands to pull out the cards and deters the munchkin from tearing my pockets apart trying to get them out!

Well that's all I have for you today! I hope you enjoyed my post and leave here feeling inspired to create something beautiful in your book :) Want to take a peek at the pages in my pretty pink SMASH* book? You can find it here. Looking for the fun free printables I used in this spread? Feel free to browse my "SMASH* & PL" or "Printables/Templates" pinboards on Pinterest. You'll find links to hundreds of freebies, DIYs, How-To's, ideas, and inspiration for everything SMASH* and Project Life. Be sure to follow those boards because I find new stuff daily!

You can stay updated on my recent posts, projects, and photos by following me on instagram, or by "liking" my new fan page on Facebook. So why not head over there now and show some love...

Do you SMASH*? What inspires you? Any thoughts, questions, or comments about this post? Please let me know. Your feedback is always welcome and much appreciated!

Thanks for stopping by!

Smashbook: I Heart Washi

Hello! I hope you're having a great week :) Mine? It's been very productive! Helping my family recuperate from a cold bug this past week, has also given me lots of free time at home to work in my books. Yesterday I showed my up-to-date layouts in my Project Life album, and today I'm excited to share a new spread in my pretty pink SMASH* book!

I haven't been able to SMASH* much this year because of my obsession with Project Life and staying current in that album. Now that I'm all caught up, I was finally able to create a new spread in my book! It felt so good to SMASH* again. I didn't lose my mojo afterall! I just needed some extra me-time...

Creating a "Washi Tape" spread in my pretty pink book has been on my to-do list for over a year. I really can't believe I waited this long to do it. It was super simple to make... but has a huge impact! And it only required TWO supplies! You can play around with different tapes in your collection, and have some fun with cool thickers. Even the way you layout your pages has endless possiblities...

SMASH* Book: I Heart Washi

I started out by choosing pages in my book that had a simple and basic design and pattern. You don't want anything too detailed or with too much color. Paper washi tape is semi-transparent, so you don't want to detract from the designs on your tape. The pages I used have a simple and small pink and white design, hardly noticeable through the tape.

I guess it's kind of a good thing that I waited a while to start this project. Over the last year I was able build a wonderful collection of washi, paper, and deco tape. I loved digging through my storage bin for some new designs, my favorite rolls, and even samples gifted to me. There were so many rolls to choose from that I didn't have enough room to use all of them! No problem for me, I wouldn't mind doing another spread like this in my next book :)

When it came to using the different tapes to lay out the design, I just played around with it. The best thing about washi tape is that it isn't permanent! If you don't like the placement of a particular tape, just take it off and move it wherever. Mix up different colors, patterns, and widths of your tape! I also varied the length of my tape strips, and didn't use a scissors because I like the look of torn tape. You can even see that some of the tapes overlap. It very much reminds me of a quilt.

SMASH* Book: I Heart Washi & Thickers

I couldn't leave this spread as just tape. It needed a title. So I rummaged through my stash of Thickers and found one of my favorites. "Umbrella." I used these puffy stickers to spell "washi." I purchased them over a year ago at Big Lots, and have only used it once before now. The font is the largest of all my thickers [it's HUGE!], so it isn't desirable on my Project Life cards. But they are great for my double-page SMASH* Book spreads. And they're the perfect alphabet stickers for this layout! I also used another one of my larger alphas for the "I."  The black heart is a cutout.

A majority of these tapes came from two of my favorite online shops: Paper Addict and The Beary Scrap. The owners Cathy and Kimm are amazing! I've known both for over a year, and have been a loyal customer since Day 1. Check them out!

I've also snagged some fabulous designs online from Downtown Tape. Walmart has great tape for $.97/roll, visit Michael's for their Recollections brand [lots of variety], JoAnne's carries cute little Studio G packages for $.99, Target stocks Scotch and SMASH*, and even Big Lots and Tuesday Morning have sets of designer tapes. I was lucky enough to pick up a Cosmo Cricket "Hello" set from T.M. and a set of Elmer's designer tape at B.L., for only $3- each.

SMASH* Book: I Heart Washi | Close Up

I really love the way this spread came together... It looks fabulous! I'm so happy to be SMASHing again :) I hope you enjoyed today's post and leave here feeling inspired to create something beautiful in your book! If you would like to take a peek at my pretty pink SMASH* Book, you can find it here. If you're looking for more SMASH* inspiration, check out my "SMASH* & PL" pinboard on Pinterest. You'll find links to hundreds of DIYs, free printables, How-To's, ideas, tips, and inspiration for everything SMASH*. Be sure to follow that board because I find new stuff daily!

You also can stay updated on my recent posts, projects, and photos by following me on instagram, and by "liking" my new fan page on Facebook. So why not head over there now and show some love...

Do you SMASH*? Have you made a spread like this yet? I'd love to see it! Any thoughts, questions, or comments about this post? Please let me know. Your feedback is always welcome and much appreciated!

Thanks for stopping by!

Smashbook: My Name Is...

Happy Wednesday :) I hope you're enjoying your week! I've been so busy with so many other projects, that it feels like forever since the last time I shared a spread from my pretty pink SMASH book. I know with this crazy year and my current obsession with Project Life and Filofax, I've been neglecting my SMASH books for quite some time. I figured since I haven't had the chance to work in them lately, I would share some old spreads I created last year.

Around this time last year I was fairly new to SMASH books. But I have been documenting memories this way since I was a child. I still have my old altered composition books from 20 years ago filled with doodles and journaling, photobooth pictures, clippings from magazines, ticket stubs, fun tags from my favorite products. I guess that you can say I'm a natural SMASHer that was SMASHing before there was even a name for it! Not much has changed now that I'm in 30's, except that my style has grown and evolved.

Today I'm sharing a spread that I created around the end of Summer in 2012. It was one of my very first layouts, and I was slowly starting to develop my own style. Many of the techniques I used in this spread, I continue to use today. It has a little bit of everything, and is filled with many of my favorite elements.

Smashbook: My Name Is | Full Spread

This spread originally started out as a test page for some new ink and stamps I purchased, and some homemade glimmer mists I was trying out. [You can find my Glimmer Mist DIY here.] I really loved the way it looked when I was done, and thought it would be the perfect background for a whole new layout. 

Smashbook: My Name Is | Left Page

The images from my stamps, and the colors from the new ink and spray mists were totally me. So I decided to do a sort of "About Me" using acronyms from my name. I chose upper case alphabet stickers to get me started, and used my love of handwriting and penmanship to spell out specific traits for each letter of my name.

Smashbook: My Name Is | Confetti Envelope That Holds a Selfie

I also thought it would be fun to add a photograph of myself taken during that specific time in my life. I've used confetti pages many times in my handmade Daybooks, and thought of a way to apply this techique in my Smashbook for this spread. Combining the cellophane packaging from a sheet of stickers and some fun washi tape, I was able to create a see-through envelope which I attached to the page with a washi-tape hinge. I added some confetti (the negatives from my different paper punches) and an instagram selfie. Being a "green mama," I love that I was able to repurpose things that would normally be thrown away.

Smashbook: Right Page

Magazine clippings are one of my favorite SMASH* supplies (going back to my childhood), and being able to use this potty girl image from my stash made it a perfect addition to this spread. A clear crown sticker is the finishing touch. I also love pockets. You can find all different kinds in the pages of my books. I thought it would be fun to add one to this spread too. This particular pocket was handmade using pretty patterned paper, and embellished with washi tape, a cardstock tag, and pink glitter alphabet stickers.

Smashbook: My Name Is | A Handmade Pocket Holds Journal Cards

Inside the pocket holds some small Project Life journal cards that are perfect for SMASHing. These are all free printables that I used to document specific things I wanted to remember at that time. I have a favorite quote, 5 Things That I Love, and Facts about Me.

For an added touch I used more washi tape to create little tabs on each card. The main reason I do this because my daughter loves flipping through my SMASH books and interacting with the different elements. The washi tabs makes it easier for her to pull the cards in and out of the pocket without tearing it apart. It's fun for her and makes me worry less about my book in the hands of a 4-year-old.

I really hope you liked my SMASH* post and leave here feeling inspired to create something beautiful in your book! Want to take a peek at my pretty pink book? You can find it here. Looking for more SMASH* inspiration and the printables I used in this spread? Browse through my "SMASH* & PL" or "Printables/Templates" pinboards on Pinterest. You'll find hundreds of links to DIY's, How-To's, ideas, tips, and free printables for everything SMASH* and Project Life. Don't forget to follow those boards because I find new stuff daily!

You can stay updated on my recent posts, projects, and photos by following me on instagram, or by "liking" my new fan page on Facebook. So why not head over there now and show some love...

Do you SMASH*? Have you done a spread like this yet? Have any favorite elements or supplies? I'd love to hear them! Any comments, thoughts or questions about this post? Please let me know. Your feedback is always welcome and much appreciated.

Thank you for stopping by!

Smashbook: Ohana Love

Happy Wednesday! It's time for another post about an old spread in my pretty pink Smashbook. I've decided to share some of my old creations since I haven't had much time to SMASH* this year, due to Project Life. 

When it comes to our family, there is nothing more important than ohana. And this Summer, we've done a lot of traveling back and forth to visit our loved ones down in Portland. I thought I would share an old spread about a visit from our family last summer. This will give me a chance to document all the new trips our family takes this season. I already have some ideas. So when I'm all caught up with PL, have extra time to myself, and get my SMASH* mojo back, I can finally do another spread!

"Ohana Love" - Left Side

These pages were inspired by my family, of course. And I knew I wanted to keep it pretty simple. So I flipped through my book for pages that weren't too busy because I wanted to add rub-ons and do some stamping. The color and design of this set of pages worked with the color scheme of my elements, as well as the photos.

For the left page, I started by picking out some instagram photos from our weekend. I had a few of them I wanted to include, so it made sense to print them smaller [wallet-size]. I arranged them on my page and added a printable journal spot, which I used as a frame for one of the photos. For journaling, I wrote directly on the page and I also used scraps of Hawaiian themed scrapbook paper as journal tags.

My embellishments for the page include a pretty cardstock flower [by K&Company from a set that I received in a happy mail package from a friend], a handmade instagram camera [created by my girl Cathy V.], and some fun alphabet stickers [by K&Company called "Animal Tales"] for the title. Super sweet and simple, and doesn't take away from the story of my photos.

"Ohana Love" - Right Page

I had lots of fun with the right side and incorporated a few different elements. Again, I laid everything out first to make sure it all fit and that everything was easily visible once put together. I was really excited to finally use an "Ohana" quote tag that I received from a friend in a happy mail package. [She knew how much I love Lilo & Stitch, and my family ;)] It's the perfect addition to these pages! I also added an old family photo right next to the tag.

"Ohana Love" - A Repurposed Window Envelope Turned Pocket

I really wanted to include an idea inspired by Pinterest to this page. I'm all for re-purposing and recycling, so when I came across a pin about reusing an old window envelope as a pocket, I had to give it a try! It's the perfect little pocket to hold some old family photos, a "guest check" (used as a journal card) talking about our family lunch together at a local restaurant, and the drink tickets from lunch. I put everything inside the pocket first and made sure that the placement was correct before I adhered it to the page. I didn't want any of the ephemera to block the photo at the top.

"Ohana Love" - A Journal Card with Washi Tape Used as a Photo Log

Sometimes I forget the details of specific photos, and I don't like writing on the back of them. Since these pictures are so old, I thought I would create a "photo log" to stick in the pocket to help me remember. I added washi tabs directly to each photo, using a different design for each one. The tabs serve two purposes. First off, it makes it much easier to pull the photos out of the pocket. This way, my 4-year-old (who loves flipping through my book and interacting with the different elements) doesn't tear the pocket apart trying to dig things out. Secondly, the different designs of washi on each tab is used to mark specifics of each photo on my "photo log." I just tore off a tiny strip of each design, added it to a small journal card, and wrote down the details.

"Ohana Love" - Full Spread

To finish off this spread I used some 'memories' and 'travel' themed rub-on's, as well as a pretty flower to fill an empty space. But this spread wouldn't be complete without an "aloha" sentiment from a favorite rubber stamp. I really love the way these pages turned out! It represents my culture and everything important to me. It's full of memories, both old and new. It's my way of SMASH*ing....

I really hope you enjoyed today's post and leave here feeling inspired to create something beautiful in your book. Would you like to take a peek into my pretty pink Smashbook? You can find it here. Looking for more SMASH*ing inspiration? Check out my "Smash* & PL" pinboard on Pinterest. Along with inspiration, you'll find hundreds of links to free printables, DIY's, How-To's, tips, and ideas for everything SMASH*. Be sure to follow that board because I find new stuff daily!

You can also stay updated on my recent posts and projects via instagram, as well as with a "like" on my new fan page on Facebook. So why not head over there now and show some love...

Are you a SMASH*er? What is your favorite subject to document? Any thoughts, questions, or comments about this post? Feel free to drop me a line. Your feedback is always welcome and much appreciated.

Mahalo for stopping by!

Smashbook: Hauls and Happy Mail

Happy Wednesday everyone! I hope you're having a wonderful week so far. It's been a long time since I've had the chance to work in my Smashbook since my new obsession with Project Life has taken over. So as a fairly new blogger (about 5 months) I figured I would go ahead and share my creations from last year here with you.

Today I have a spread that I created last summer when I was new to Smashing. I was slowly starting to develop my own style, and applied many elements and techniques I used when I was a kid working in my old school Smashbooks [altered comp books]. Those 20 year old journals are chock full of magazine clippings, doodling, cutouts, ephemera, stickers, photobooth pics, notes from friends, and lots of journaling. I had no idea back then that the cool way I was documenting my life would turn into today's trend! I definitely knew that I wanted to carry on these things into my Smashbooks. 

I also wanted to do something new and fun with it, so I included lots of interactive elements. Flaps that flip open to reveal hidden journaling and ephemera, a handmade envelope (using a page from a magazine, just like when I was a kid!), and a pocket full of lovely goodies.

Hauls & Happy Mail -- Full Spread

I thought it would be great to record my new adventure with Smashing by showcasing a couple of my favorite things... Hauls & Happy Mail. On this journey, I discovered new supplies and websites to enable my addiction to Smashing... Washi Tape and Scrappy Online Shops. It was my very first time ever shopping at some of these places, so I decided to document my experience. 

Keep pretty packaging and add them directly to your book!

Going back as far as I can remember, in regards to paper and packaging, I never threw anything pretty away. And the same thing applied to the recent orders I received. I kept the pretty paper bag (filled with packaging slips) that my washi from Downtown Tape came in. I tore off a strip from each new roll and taped them to the bag. They serve double-duty by keeping the bag closed and they also give me a visual note of the designs from my purchase.

Under that paper bag I have the handmade envelope created from magazine paper. It holds receipts from my in-store shopping hauls for the month. I used a tiny binder clip at the top of the page to hold everything together.

Interactive Flaps Created with Washi Tape

I also ordered more washi as well as some fabulous handmade goodies, created by my girl and fellow Smash*aholic sister Cathy, from her shop Paper Addict. [You should also check out her blog, she's been such a huge inspiration to me for the last year. I love her work!] There was no way I could throw away any of the cute packaging and paper tidbits that came with my order. (Ok... I threw out the actual mailer that everything came in, but I did cut out the cute sentiment that was stamped on the envelope!). I also used the new washi I purchased from her to create the flaps. I really consider Cathy's packages more like Happy Mail rather than an order, because she puts so much thought into everything she sends. They always make me smile! 

I've also been involved in monthly swaps for the last year with 3 lovely ladies. I look forward to it each and every month. Love it! Best part, we've become such great friends. I decided to add a photo snippet from one of the packages I received, as well as a snapshot of some of the recent postcards that came in. Simple but sweet memories worth documenting.

A Pocket Full of Goodies with Washi Tabs for Easy Access

The last of my interactive elements is a handmade pocket. My book is full of them! This particular one, with notes from my monthly Happy Mail buddies, is a free printable that I found a year ago. I've also made my own custom pockets using scrapbook paper. So easy! I fill them with photos, notes, cards, ephemera, and other special things. Since my 4 year old daughter loves flipping through the pages of my book and interacting with everything, I had to childproof it! She especially loves pulling the goodies out of my pockets, so I added washi tabs to all of the little bits and pieces. This way she doesn't have to dig into them and end up ripping one apart. To the pocket, I added a couple of other free printables like the mustache and label. The "smile" sentiment is a rub-on from my stash.

For the rest of this spread I used alphabet stickers and cutouts from my magazine collection, some new stamps from a shopping haul, more rub-ons, as well as the SMASH* roller date stamp. It came together beautifully (apart from my backwards ampersand... ignore it ;), and was super simple to make. I'm really looking forward to creating and sharing my next Haul & H.M. spread in a brand new book!

I hope you enjoyed today's post and leave here feeling inspired to create something beautiful in your book. Wanna take a peek at my pretty pink Smashbook? You can find it here. Looking for some inspiration and the free printables I used? You can find them on my "Smash & PL" and "Printables/Templates" pinboards on Pinterest. You'll find links to hundreds of free printables, DIY's, How-To's, ideas, tips, and inspiration for everything SMASH* and Project Life.

Also, if you would like to stay updated on my recent posts and projects be sure to follow me here and "like" my new fan page on Facebook. So why not head over there now and show some love ♥ 

Do you SMASH*? Have you tried a spread like this yet? Any thoughts, questions, or comments about this post? Please drop me a line! Your feedback is always welcome and much appreciated.

Mahalo for stopping by!

Smashbook: Hello Kiani

Happy 4th of July!

Today is doubly special for our family... it's also the day I gave birth to our baby girl. And this year she turned 4 years old! Ever since the day my daughter was born, she's always been such an inspiration to me. As the subject of many photographs, Project Life layouts, and Smash* book spreads... I never tire of the creativity she gives me.

With today being her birthday, I thought it would be nice to share a spread with you from my Pretty Pink book, that I created last summer in honor of her. Whenever I look at this, it puts a smile on my face. Seeing how innocent, and fun, and angelic she is makes me realize how blessed we are. Watching her grow up through the pages of my book is simply amazing....

First, I started out by thumbing through my book to find the best pages that represent my daughter. She's a girly girl, and like me, she has a love for the color pink. When I saw these pretty pink grid pages with butterflies and dictionary snippets of the words "Delight, Cheer, and Joy," I knew this spread was perfect.

I used my homemade pink glimmer mist to spritz a few sections of the pages. [Click for my Glimmer Mist DIY.] It adds a subtle touch of color to the otherwise white background. Next came the fun part of digging through my stack of instagram photos. I chose ones with pops of color as well as images that captured her youthfulness.

Another fun part was scouring through my stash for cute printables. I found lots of great pink stuff! A Hello tag, a potty girl and smile ticket, a sweet card, a lined tag with a heart, and even some scrabble letter tiles. All of the ones I just mentioned were found on the internet and downloaded for free. The adorable instagram camera was given to me by a friend, and the Hello Kitty was cut out from the packaging of my daughter's scrapbook kit.

I also made a bunting banner using complementing scraps of pretty paper with pink and white twine. It was super simple and made good use of my scraps. I found even more embellishments like a hot pink floral diecut, and some fun flair buttons that were the perfect addition to these pages.

I finished off this spread with a pink angel wings tag (which I wrote her birth date on), and another printable tag that I added some special sentiments to and tied off with more pink and white twine. These pages wouldn't be complete without some thickers and tiny alphabet stickers... in pink, of course!

I absolutely love how these pages came together. It's definitely one of my favorite spreads in my Pretty Pink Smash* book. My daughter loves looking at it too! I can't wait to make more pages about her this summer, and seeing how much she has changed since last year. Being able to document her growth and interests over the coming years, to be later looked back on in the future, is such a wonderful experience for us all.

Life is Good! 

I hope you enjoyed today's post! It was pretty special and I was so happy to share it with you. Want to take a peek into my Pretty Pink book? You can find it here. Wanna stay updated on my recent posts and projects? Be sure to "like" my new fan page on Facebook! Interested in the free printables I used for this spread? You can find them on my "Smash* & PL" or "Printables/Templates" pinboards on Pinterest. Along with printables, you'll find links to hundreds of other DIYs, How-To's, tips, ideas, and inspiration for everything Smash* and Project Life! Check it out...

Are you a Smash*er? How much do you love smash*ing about your little ones? Any thoughts, questions, or comments about this post? Feel free to drop me a line. Your feedback is always welcome and much appreciated!

Mahalo for stopping!

Smashbook: "Rainbows"

Aloha! I hope you are having a wonderful week. As for me, I feel like I've been neglecting my SMASH* books a lot this year. I guess it's for good reason, since I'm slightly obsessed with Project Life at the moment. But it's okay... although I haven't been working in my SMASH* books for 2013, I'm happy to share some of my old creations from last year here on my blog.

What I love most about SMASHing is that I can do whatever I want in my books. They are a huge reflection of myself, filled with a mix of different spreads representing what I was feeling at that particular moment in time. Some of the pages hold photos and memories documenting everyday life or special adventures, but other pages have no photographs at all. Being able to step outside the box of typical "scrapbooking" to find new and different ways to spread my creativity is truly invigorating. 

I love flipping through my book and seeing all of the different spreads. And I have to say the ones that don't hold a single photo are some of my favorites. From "100 Things" and "Words of Wisdom" to "Zentangles & Prompts" and "Our Love Song." Believe me, running out of photos or tangible things to SMASH* can be a very good thing... there are so many other ways to create something beautiful in your book.

Today I'm sharing my first mixed media art spread that I created last summer in my pretty pink book. In every SMASH* book, there is a single white page. I thought that it would be the best place to do an art layout. The one in my pink book is followed by an image of birds and clouds. It was the perfect inspiration for a spread about "Rainbows" using one of my favorite quotes!

I started out by drawing a sun, and used a Dear Lizzy chipboard cloud as a template for the cloud shapes, then I outlined them with my black Zig marker. I filled each cloud with different doodles and designs and added the chipboard cloud as another layer. Then I used a mix of Prismacolor Scholar and Zig markers to create the rainbow and add color to the clouds and sun. For the remaining white areas of the page I chose a grayish-blue shade of Pearlescent Watercolor Paint by Yasutomo.

The quote I chose for this spread couldn't have been more perfect. Since handwriting and penmanship is a passion of mine, I decided to write the quote by hand instead of using alphabet stickers. As another element, I used standard school glue with a bottle of Doodlebug Sugar Coating loose glitter to create some raindrops. I also added a few rain themed stickers.

I love using magazine clippings in my SMASH* books. As a matter of fact, I actually have an accordion file full of different images and words. When I came across these cute "Mommy and Daughter" rain boots, I had no idea what I would use them for. I'm so glad I snipped them, because they work great for these pages! I think they're the perfect finishing touch to my "Rainbows" spread.

I hope you enjoyed my post today and leave here feeling inspired to create something beautiful in your books. Remember, photos and journaling don't have to be the only things that fill them. Have some fun and mix it up a bit! I'm sure you'll enjoy the variety when you are flipping through them years down the road...

Want to take a peek into my pretty pink book? You can find it here. Looking for more SMASH*ing inspiration? Be sure to check out my "Smash* & PL" pinboard on Pinterest. It has hundreds of links to  DIY's, How-To's, free printables, tips, ideas, and inspiration for everything SMASH* and Project Life.

Wanna stay updated on my recent posts and projects? Be sure to "like" my new fan page on Facebook!

Are you a SMASH*er? Have you done a mixed-media spread yet? What elements did you use? Any thoughts, questions, or comments about this post? Feel free to drop my a line. Your feedback is always welcome and much appreciated!

Mahalo for stopping by!

Smashbook: Words of Wisdom

Happy Aloha Friday Everyone! I hope you had a great week. I've been smashing for almost a year now, and a "Quotes" spread has been on my To-Make list since the beginning. I've been obsessed with quotes since childhood, and I have notebooks and journals full of them. Any great ones I came across, I jotted them down, referring to them throughout my life when I needed words of wisdom to help me through obstacles. Life hasn't always been easy, and seeing all these quotes talking about love or adversity, made me realize that I wasn't alone. I thought I would take this knowledge, and find a way to apply it to my beloved Smashbook. Today I'm sharing my most recent creation here with you...

Over the last year, I found some really beautiful quotes, and I chose my most favorite ones for this spread. I have to admit, that was the hardest part of this whole process. They were all special to me and I could easily relate to or understand the message behind all of them. But these particular ones spoke to me during this specific time in my life. I knew they were the ones I wanted to add to my book to later reflect on if I needed something to uplift my spirit, or give me clarity about life and its challenges. 

Like many of the pages in my pretty pink Smashbook, I chose to hand write everything. Writing and penmanship is another passion of mine since childhood. And it's a detail that I love adding to my books. If I know I'll be doing any type of writing, I make sure to choose pages designed with lines, or in this case, a grid. It's the perfectionist trait in me.... This way, I know my writing will always be neat and straight. The spread I chose here with the grid lines was perfect for this project, because I could also write vertically, mixing up the arrangement of the different quotes.

The white grid paper pages were way too plain for me though. So I decided to add some color by spritzing them with my homemade glimmer mist and alcohol ink sprays in shades of pink and purple. It provides the perfect backdrop for my handwritten quotes.

[Here is my Glimmer Mist DIY and Alcohol Ink DIY.]

Before doing any writing in my book, I always start out in pencil. It may seem tedious at first, but it makes all the difference if it saves you from ruining your pages because of a misspelled word. It also lets you play around with the placement of things if it doesn't look right the first time. After I have everything where I want them, I go over the writing with my black zig pen and erase all of the pencil marks. I usually make another pass with the black pen to finish it all off.

As far as embellishments go for these pages, I kept it to a minimum. I let the quotes do all the talking. All I added were some glitter chipboard alphabet stickers and tiny pieces of bling. I don't think it needs any more than that.

This spread was so simple to make and required only a few supplies. But it's definitely one of the more special pages to fill my book. I love everything about it and what it represents. Most of all, I love having a new and creative place to hold all of those precious words of wisdom I come across in my life. This definitely won't be the only "Quotes" spread in my books....

Want to take a peek into my pretty pink smashbook? You can find it here, as well as in my archives, and also under the topic titled "Smashbook." Looking for more Smash*ing inspiration? Be sure to check out my "Smash* & PL" pinboard on Pinterest. It's full of hundreds of links to free printables, ideas, inspiration, and DIYs for everything Smash and Project Life related. While you're there, be sure to browse my "Wisdom" board for more inspirational quotes.

I hope you enjoyed my post and leave here feeling inspired to create something beautiful. Are you a Smash*er? Have you made your "Quotes" page yet? I'd love to hear about it. Any thoughts, questions, or comments about this post? Please let me know. Your feedback is always welcome and much appreciated.

Thank you for stopping by!

"Your Mission: Be so busy loving your life, that you have no time for hate, regret, or fear."