Project Life: Week 24

Aloha! How are you enjoying this gorgeous weather? I know it's been about a week since my last post. But when the warm summer weather hits The Pacific NW, our family is usually out and about enjoying life. For the last couple of weeks, my little "islander" family has been soaking up the sun, enjoyed a road trip to our hometown, as well as welcomed out-of-town family to our happy home. There's so much to love about summer <3

I'm sad to say that I've fallen behind in Project Life...again. But I'm okay with that, because playing catch up isn't so hard. As long as I continue to snap photos and keep track of everything we do in my PL notebook, I can easily refer to it when I'm ready to work in my album for that particular week. 

Which brings me to my most recent layout...

WEEK 24

Life Documented

June 9 - June 15

Week 24: Full Spread

This week was wonderful! From the fabulous happy mail I received to our 2nd family road trip of the year. It was full of such lovely memories. With summer being my most favorite season of the year, I really wanted to show the way it makes me feel. Which is why I choose such bright and cheery colors to document this week. It gave me a chance to mix it up a bit too. I played around with pretty papers, used some fun journal and filler cards, and I even got to try some new tricks!

Week 24: Left Page

The photo page I'm using here is the reverse side of a Becky Higgins Design A page from Week 23. Three of the four 6x4 cards are handmade. The title card is simply the back side of the double-sided handmade card from last week. I added a pretty tag and used some alphabet stickers to finish off that card. The pink 6x4 "notes" card is from Becky Higgins "Mayfield" mini kit.

For the row of 3x4 cards I used nothing but free printables. The instagram card, cut with my Silhouette Cameo, holds an instagram pic, of course. I chose a June card from one of my calendar card sets that matches the color theme I was going for this week. This particular one had a section to jot down a note or two at the bottom. The next card holds another instapic, and the last card is a fun filler card that I was excited to finally use.

Week 24: Close Up of my Amy Tangerine Card

This 6x4 card is one of my faves from this week. About 98% of the supplies used to make it are from Amy Tangerine's collections. I thought it was fitting since I'm showcasing a photo taken of some free goodies I got in the mail, which happen to be some of Amy's new tools. Love! I used a 6x6 sheet of pretty paper from my "Sketchbook" pad, and snipped 2" off the bottom. It created the perfect background where I added my photo and layered some leftover "Sketchbook" paper scraps. I used my new "Capture" embroidery kit to create the arrow, added one of Amy T's cute tags [stamped with her new rotary phrase stamp], and finished off the card with some pink twine and alphabet stickers. 

Week 24: A Road Trip Card

The last 6x4 card I'm showing you from this page is another one of my favorites. The many times we've made this drive to our hometown, I never actually knew the "technical" details of it. I thought it would be fun to document that. I went onto mapquest and typed in our starting point and final destination. I took a rectangular screenshot of the map, making sure to give myself enough room so I could add a tag and some alphabet stickers. Using the information provided by mapquest, I added the pertinent details directly to my tag.

Week 24: Right Page

Here I'm using a photo page from a generic set I picked up at Hobby Lobby. I love pairing this layout with Becky Higgins Design A, especially when I have lots of details to document. They work great and look great together. Three of the four 4x6 slots are filled again with handmade cards cut from 6x6 paper pads. I mixed up pretty patterns and colors from different collections. I filled them with various sized instagram pics and embellished them with cutout labels, a geotag, some dymo labels, and a collection of thickers and alphabet stickers.

The column of 4x3 slots holds more handmade cards with instagram pics and some alphabet stickers, an awesome free camera printable, and a cutout card of a map with a road trip sentiment from one of my 12x12 paper pad collections.

Week 24: A Fun Flip Card Using Washi Tape

I had some ephemera and extra pictures that I wanted to add to this layout, but I didn't have enough room. I didn't really have enough stuff for an add-on page either, so I decided to do a flip card. It was super simple to make, and the best solution to my problem! All I did was tape two cards together on one side using washi tape to create a hinge. One card is tucked into the slot, and the other is left out. For the outer card, I cut one of the 6x4 sections off an old school 6x12 insert from an old photo album, and used it to hold the cards from the other half of my new double-sided flip card. I added a tab [and a dymo label titled "Good Stuff"] to the outer card, so anyone browsing through my album knows that you can "flip" it. :)

Week 24: Journal Card with Colorful Stamped Detail

This last 4x6 card is a fun free printable and the perfect size to document our busy Saturday. It was originally meant to be used as a 6x4 card, but I flipped it and used it vertically instead. I left enough room on the bottom of the card for a fun stamp with complementing colors to the "Remember" sentiment, along with the date. It looks great, don't you think?

Well that's all I have for you today. I hope you enjoyed my Project Life post! Want to take a look at my 2013 PL Album? You can find it here. Did you like some of the free printables I used in this week's spread? You can find them on either my "Smash* and PL" or "Printables/Templates" boards on Pinterest. Check it out!

Are you documenting 2013 with Project Life? Discovered any new techniques? I'd love to hear it! 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!

Thrifty Finds: Apothecary Jars

Hello everyone! I hope you're enjoying your week. It's been a while since I've done a post about "organization," so today I thought I'd share one of my favorite storage solutions to grace my crafty space. And I have to say, not only are they functional, but they're also very pretty to look at.

I'm always searching for new and fun ways to organize my life. Any chance I get to make that choice a "frugal" one, I jump on it. For me, getting organized doesn't have to be expensive. I'm all for repurposing something that was destined for the recycle bin. But when I came across these jars while shopping one day, I had to have them!

I've always been a bargain shopper... and not just for "new" things. I frequent our local thrift stores, and you'd be amazed at the wonderful things I find. I especially love scouring the shelves for books, household goods, home decor, craft & office supplies, woodwork, and dishes/glassware. That last section happens to be the aisle where I found these lovely, lidded vessels. It's always the first area of the store I hit!

These little gems have become quite popular and are pretty hard to come by. So if you spot one (or two), don't pass them up! Because I guarantee you, they won't be there if you decide come back for 'em later. Lucky for me, over the last year I've collected more than a half dozen of these glass storage jars for less than a dollar a piece. Definitely worth every penny!

My collection of apothecary jars consists of various styles. From a classic bell shape to a fun mushroom design. I love mixing them up and placing them out in groups of three around our home.  My favorite stuff to fill them with are little bits from my crafty, scrappy stash. Instead of having those tiny items tucked away in a box somewhere, I can display them in these clear glass jars. This way, I know exactly what I have. And I love looking at all of the pretty goodies!

Apothecary Jars to Hold Tiny Bits & Pieces from Your Scrappy Stash

Here I'm using them to store bits and pieces in my creative space. One jar holds felt flowers and embellishments, another has decorative paper clips, tiny clothespins, and cute little erasers. My most favorite  jar holds all of my flair! Half the fun of having these types of jars is finding stuff to fill them with. 

They are incredibly spacious and can be used for just about anything. That's why you won't only find them in my craft room. They hold yummy candies and new tea light candles in our kitchen, and Q-tips, cotton balls, and bath salts in our bathroom. With your imagination, the possibilities are endless!

You have to admit they look perfect in my craft room, don't they? Especially next to my Crafty Storage Containers! I wasn't kidding when I told you I was all for repurposing items meant for the trash bins. Those pretty, paper-covered, storage containers hold more of my crafty, scrappy supplies. It's another fun and "frugal" solution that satisfies my storage needs. Be sure to click on the link for my DIY!

Wanna stay updated on my recent posts and projects? Be sure to "like" my new fan page on Facebook! Looking for more storage solutions? Check out my "Organize It" pinboard on Pinterest. You'll find links to inexpensive DIYs, clever ideas, and tons of inspiration to get your life in order. Feeling crafty too? Take a peek at my "Crafty Mama" pinboard or my other crafty boards on Pinterest. Feel free to browse my blog as well :) I have lots of great DIYs!

I hope you enjoyed today's post! Are you a thrifty shopper? Find anything fabulous? 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!

Project Life: Weeks 22 - 23

Happy Summer!

I hope you're all having a wonderful weekend and enjoying this gorgeous weather! As for me, I'm spending this lovely weekend catching up with Project Life. I fell behind by a couple of weeks when when we were vacationing in our hometown of Portland, OR. Unfortunately, I didn't have much time for scrapbooking. But it wasn't hard for me to get back on track. And I'm happy to finally share my most recent layout in my 2013 Project Life album....

Weeks 22 & 23: Double Week Spread

Having very little to document for Week 22 and being behind in Project Life, actually worked to my advantage. I was able to easily knock out 2 weeks by doing a single page layout for both Weeks 22 & 23! It worked out great. I used a fun mix of colorful cards and embellishments for this spread, and had tons of fun putting it all together. From the Cameo cuts with hand-drawn frames on the title cards, to the eclectic variety of captured moments. These pages puts a smile on my face every time I look at them.

WEEK 22

Life Documented

May 26 - June 1

Week 22: Left Page

This page is the reverse side of the We R Memory Keepers photo page from Week 21. It has a large 12x6 slot that I divided into separate sections to hold two 6x6 WRMK journal cards. I cut a fancy tag on my Cameo and used it as a mat for the title card. That tag looked very blah... so I doodled a frame around the edge. I added some cute cutouts, journaling, another Cameo cut with more hand-drawn detail, and some thickers & stickers to finish off the 6x6 cards.

Week 22: Left Page - Close Up

For the remaining vertical 4x6 cards, I decided to mix it up. The center card is a WRMK journal card. Two of the cards I handmade using Amy Tangerine's 6x6 "Sketchbook" paper pad. A simple cut along one edge provided the perfect backdrop for my photos and snippets.  More alphabet stickers, journaling, a Dymo label, tag, and sticker complete this page.

WEEK 23

Life Documented

June 2 - June 8

Week 23: Right Page

Here I'm using a Becky Higgins Design A photo page. I chose this one because I had a lot more to document compared to Week 22. I decided to mix up the cards on this side too. The 6x4 cards on top are both handmade. On the left, is a 2x4 WRMK journal card paired with a 4x4 photo. For the title card I used a 6x6 sheet from Pebbles "Hip Hip Hooray" collection cut to size. Just like the previous week, I used a tag cut with my Cameo as a mat. And again I doodled a frame around it for that extra little detail. I also got to use a 6x4 card from Becky Higgins "Mayfield" edition, as well as a 6x4 journal card by WRMK, which holds two instagram pics perfectly.

Week 23: Right Page - Close Up

The row of 3x4 cards are all free printables. I chose two watercolor cards to hold my smaller photos, and a cute filler and calendar card for the remaining slots. Some journaling, alphabet stickers and thickers, Dymo labels, cutouts, and a variety of stamps finish off this spread.

I absolutely love how these pages turned out! Best part, I got caught up real quick by doing only single page layouts for each week. I'm definitely going to keep this in mind when I fall behind again and have little to document.

Want to take a peek at my 2013 Project Life album? You can find it here. Like the free printables I used? You can find them on my "Smash* & PL" or "Printables/Templates" pinboards on Pinterest. Not only are there printables, but you'll find hundreds of links to DIY's, How-To's, tips, ideas, and inspiration for everything SMASH* and Project Life. Check it out!

Are you a documenting 2013 with Project Life? What do you like about it? Any thoughts, questions, or comments about this post? Please drop me line. Your feedback is always welcome and much appreciated!

Thank you for stopping by!

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!

Printables: June

Happy Monday Everyone! I hope you had a wonderful weekend. Today, I'm happy to finally share my recent batch of free printables for the month. If you missed last month's post, you can find it here. Are you new to at-home printing? Be sure to check out this post full of helpful hints and tips, as well other ideas and information, to help you get started with printing your own cards for SMASH* and Project Life.

I like to print a big batch of cutouts and cards to add to my stash on a monthly basis. I do it this way to save money and make it easier on myself. You wouldn't believe how expensive at-home printing can be if you don't set limits. It can also get pretty tedious and exhausting to print and cut each and every day you find something new online. Doing them once a month works for me and my budget. I need those ink cartridges to go the extra mile... not just for my own printables, but also printables for swapping, everyday Project Life and instagram photos, and regular household printing each month. I'm proud to say with this process, I can make an ink cartridge and white cardstock last for months!

Every month I look for specific types of cards to add to my collection. This month, I kept an eye out for fun and colorful journal and filler cards that represent everything I love about summer. There were so many to choose from! Here in this post I'll be sharing a few of my favorite finds....

SUMMER FUN

On the Left ----> "National Scrapbooking Day Cards" by Simple Stories

On the Right ----> "June Cards" by Kimberly Kalil

I love the set from Simple Stories! They include both 6x4 and 3x4 journal cards with cute and colorful designs that totally work for documenting the summer season. And the adorable set by Kimberly Kalil couldn't be more perfect either. They have summer written all over them! She releases a set of new cards every month, and I'm so in love with this one. I can't wait for the rest of her cards coming this season!

OH SO GIRLY

Top Left ----> "Soft Triangles" by Crashnotes

Top Right ----> "Besties" by DDE

Bottom Left ----> "Free Spirit" by Laurie Ann [on Facebook]

Bottom Right ----> "Shopaholic" by Sugary Fancy [on Facebook]

I'm not really a girly girl, but my 4 year-old definitely is. What I do love most about this group of cards are the beautiful colors and designs. The pretty pastels and other gorgeous shades work great for summer as well. I chose to print the first set of cards [Soft Triangles] on both white and Kraft cardstock for two totally different looks. The "Besties" set is so stinkin' cute! I can't wait to use them this summer to document the fun times my daughter has with her friends. I'm in love with the stunning colors and sweet designs on the "Free Spirit" cards. But I have to say, my favorite from this group are the "Shopaholic" cards. I'll be using those for sure!

That's all I have for you this month :) I really hope you enjoyed my post today and found a few new printables along the way! If you see some cards that you like but I didn't feature it in today's post, don't worry. You can find all of these cards and hundreds more on my "Smash* & PL" or "Printables/Templates" pinboards on Pinterest. Be sure to follow those boards because I find new stuff daily! Also make sure you are a follower of my blog to stay updated on my printables adventures. You can also stay updated on my recent posts and projects with a "like" on my new fan page on Facebook!

Are you a printable lover that prints at home too? Any thoughts, questions, or comments about this post? Please let me know. Your feedback is always welcome and much appreciated!

Mahalo for stopping by!