the moments in between

workspace wednesday | on my desk

Every now and then, I break from my "one project at a time" mindset and go into "do all of the things" mode. Right now, I've got bits and pieces out for my Disney Handbook, 2 Sketchbook projects, a NSD project for Studio Calico and Project Life®. Eeps.

And yes, that means my desk looks as bad as you'd think it would, given that list. So let's focus on two of the projects that I'm working on instead - they're much prettier when you crop out the mess. 

I love working with sketches - having the design taken care of means I can focus on playing. This is a peek at my layout for Kelly Purkey's Sketchbook class - and I have to say I'm excited to have 72 more sketches to turn to once this class is done! Registration ends tonight, so if you haven't enrolled, you can do that here.

I've had this idea in my head for a while, and finally got to do it. I'm seriously happy with how the cover of my Disney Handbook turned out, and I'll be sharing a tutorial later this week. And yes - I stitched through a Handbook. I still can't believe it worked! 

I'm sure I'll find my desk again someday...  just as soon as these projects are finished. 

 

Welcome to Camelot

Ah, Camelot. The May Studio Calico kit brings you into a world of romance, brave knights, magicians and castles. The main kits are soft and dreamy, but the add-ons bring in a bit of contrast with bolder colors and patterns.

NOTE : If you are a SC subscriber, you can shop for add-ons now. (If you're not, that link will work after midnight EST) Remember, if you see "temporarily unavailable" under a kit, keep on watching. The SC shopping cart holds your items for 10 minutes as you shop, so many kits will become available as shoppers make their final decisions and check out.

My first page is all about layers. I started by making a background by swiping the ink dauber across my paper, then added vellum stars, then the tulle ribbon, then MORE vellum stars, then stars colored with a silver Neocolor, and then a lot of stitching, some rubons and some puffy dot stickers. Since all of the layers are thin, it creates an amazing amount of texture without a lot of bulk. I'll share more about how this layout came together soon.

Love - Camelot Scrapbook kit + Tiny Attacher +  Color Theory Clean Slate Ink + Printable labels + Grid paper + Vellum + star punches + Silver Neocolor

This photo is a new favorite - I love how happy all of my boys are. =) The soft colors of Camelot were perfect for recording our first spring evening spent outside. The title is handcut - I wanted something a little playful - I added foam adhesive behind the tops of the letters to give them some dimension.

Happy - Camelot Scrapbook kit +  Color Theory Clean Slate Ink + Grid paper + Printable Labels + Printables by In A Creative Bubble + Tiny Attacher 

The wood tape in Merlin? So. Very. Versatile. I stitched it, stamped it, tiny attached it and even ran it through the typewriter. I'd also love to mist it and ink it. And how amazing would it look with a stamped pattern on it? I'm glad the add-on comes with a full roll, because I will be using the heck out of it.

ANYWAY. =) I used it here to create a mat for my photo, title and journaling. I slipped the transparent letters just under each layer - and I'd recommend doing it before you remove the backing, because once this tape is stuck down it is NOT moving. I kept the rest of the page fairly simple & just added strips of text paper embellished with sequins, letter sticker and stamps.

Up High | Guinevere add-on + Merlin add-on + Excalibur add-on + Color Theory Yes Peas sequins +  Color Theory Clean Slate Ink + Tiny Attacher + Grid paper

The navy letters in Guinevere are a perfect font, and I'm a bit addicted to the color at the moment - when I saw the numbers, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with them. I've double checked the title on this one and am still paranoid that I got it wrong. ;)

For the rest of the page, I arranged some favorite scraps from my desk in a loose grid pattern, and then added embellishments. While I love playing with fun techniques and new designs, me and modified grids will always be BFFs.

3.141592653 - Camelot Scrapbook Kit + Guinevere add-on + Excalibur add-on  +  Color Theory Clean Slate Ink + Tiny Attacher + Grid paper + Vellum + Printable by In A Creative Bubble

If you have any questions about these projects, I'd be happy to answer them! Happy reveal day shopping!

Studio Calico offers three types of monthly kits - Scrapbook, Card & Project Life® - as well as add-on kits and shop items to complement them. A new kit is revealed on the 27th of each month (at noon EST if you're a subscriber, at midnight EST if you aren't). For more information (or to start your own subscription!), click here. 

Magic | Captured - Title Page

Last month, I decided that the best way to deal with recording an 8 day & 2000+ photo vacation was to just start printing photos and start an album. I began by recording a moment near the end of our trip, and with that done, I opted to go back to the start of the journey.

I'm using a Studio Calico Handbook, and was thrilled to find that the WRMK 4x4in and 2x2in pocket pages fit in the rings. I love the look of a mixed up mini, and this is a great way to replicate that in a handbook. I started my album with a 2x2in pocket page, and filled it with some floating elements to start the book. You get a little peek of the opening layout, and it goes a great job of setting the tone of the rest of the album.

 

I am opening the book with a 6x8in layout featuring one of my favorite photos of the trip. There is nothing more thrilling than watching the sunrise from the airport and knowing a week of fun is ahead of you, and this photo captures that.

My basic plan for this album is to start each day of the trip with a 6x8in layout, and use pocket pages behind that. The Handbook format will let me work on this in bits and pieces, and I'm doing my best to really edit down my photos and memorabilia. My goal is to put together an overview of the trip, since I will be (and have been) recording my favorite moments on scrapbook layouts. 

I have to be honest, I was getting a little overwhelmed with trying to decide how to handle this album... and just starting in on it was the best answer. I can't wait to finish (and share!) more in the coming months.

Supplies : Studio Calico Grey Handbook, Color Theory Deja Blue & Clean Slate Ink, Color Theory Something Blue, Yes Peas and Mint Hint sequins, More Grid paper, Studio Calico Wanderlust Collection & date stamp, embellishments & stamps from Studio Calico kits, WRMK 4x4in & 2x2in pocket pages, Tiny Attacher

 

Studio Calico Camelot Sneaks

Tomorrow, tomorrow, reveal day is tomorrow! =) Camelot is filled with soft, springtime colors - corals and aquas and yellows. If you're a boy mama like me, I'd recommend grabbing the Guinevere add-on to add a bit of navy and red into the mix. 

Subscribers can start bundling their purchases at midnight EST tonight - this is a great time to stock up on your favorite shop items. Here are my extras this month - I kept it pretty simple.

Grid paper | More Vellum | Color Theory Clean Slate Ink | Tiny Attacher | Neocolor Silver

The Camelot Scrapbook kit comes with a new product - a Mr. Huey's ink dauber! I put it to work to make a background on this soft and dreamy page. I took photos of the steps of this one and I'll share them after the reveal.

 After dinner basketball = a sure sign of spring. I had to use the dauber again - this time for some polka dots.

This page is all about the wood tape in Merlin. I stitched, stamped and tiny attached it, and then decided to see if i could run it through the typewriter (I could). I really can't wait to experiment with this more, and love that I have a whole roll to play with!

I feel like the last layout I make every month is the "grab everything I love and arrange it in a messy grid" design. This is a great technique for kit leftovers, and these pages are usually my favorite.  I brought in some of the bolder colors from the add-ons on this one.

And a couple of PL peeks - this one is the Camelot Project Life® kit. I love PL in the spring when I have lots and lots of photos. =)

This one uses the Camelot PL kit and the Arthur add-on. I couldn't resist making a confetti pocket.

Happy Saturday to you all - I'll see you at reveal tomorrow!!

Project Life® 2014 - You Are

 

 

(Supplies : Studio Calico Bluegrass Farm Project Life kit + Tabasco Add-on, 4x3in grid cards, Color Theory Clean Slate & Deja Blue ink, Hero Arts Soft Pool Ink)

One of the things I'm loving about my random / monthly approach to Project Life® this year is that I can put a little more attention on favorite photos. This goofy little snapshot of Sam is so perfectly him that it warranted its own insert. I used the stamps from the Bluegrass Farm Project Life® kit to make a journal card - the shapes and words layer together in some really cool ways The script "you are" fits inside the large triangle perfectly and gave me a great jumping off point for my journaling.

This city girl is excited about Studio Calico's new South of Market collection - while the cows aren't really my thing, I love the fresh colors and the more graphic b-sides. Also? Enamel dots, transparent diecut stars, and star sequins. HAPPY. South of Market is available as a bundle while supplies last - if you're a "gotta have it all" crafter, this is a great way to grab the line with one click. Rewards members will even get a free stamp set when they preorder! If you'd like to pick up just bits and pieces of this line, it will be in stock sometime in May.

It's a rainy day and my desk is clean (I may have accomplished this by dumping everything on it into a box, but I'll take what I can get) - time to get to work with the Studio Calico Camelot kits! Happy Wednesday! 

five on friday

1) I'm obsessed with the fact that the 4in and 2x2in pocket WRMK page protectors match up with the rings of a Studio Calico Handbook. I had them out of the box and was busy filling the pockets as soon as the UPS man left.

2) A good reminder not to take modern conveniences for granted - two women in their 70s fly for the first time. 

3) "We are cups, constantly and quietly being filled. The trick is knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out." - Ray Bradbury

4) This pesto pasta is my current go to fast dinner.

5) I'm in for National Scrapbook Day at Studio Calico - are you? (PS : there's a chance to win a stamp set involved!) 

what i see | the sight of stars

"For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream." - Vincent Van Gogh

I see a boy who has been bringing home stacks of astronomy books from the library.

I see a teacher who is adding fire to that passion by lending him a telecope.

I see the moon, bigger and brighter and closer than i can ever remember seeing it.

I see the book he's been poring over brought to life through the lens of that telescope.

I see star charts printed out and evening plans to escape the lights of the city.

I see us awake at 2am for a lunar eclipse.

I see a boy with a dream, and I wonder where it will take him. 

(The photos of the moon in this post were shot w/ my iPhone 5s through the eyepiece of the telescope.)

mixing and matching

It's been a very long & cold winter, so I've found myself really enjoying getting outside again. And the boys? Let's just say they've needed it. We've always given the boys some playground time after school when the weather is tolerable - it gives them some space to run off the crazies from being good all day. ;) Alex and Ben have mostly outgrown it at this point, but Sam is a much happier kid if he gets some running in after a long day! I recently snapped this instagram of him and a few friends playing a very complicated game and wanted to get it onto a layout. 

I mixed two Studio Calico kits for this page - the Office Hours and Bluegrass Farm Scrapbook kits. I love the convenience of working with kits - but after making a few projects, my craft ADD self is usually craving a bit of variety. I've found that mixing and matching kit leftovers is a great way to rekindle the paper + glue love. 

 

Here's a look at how this page came together. And since more time at the playground = less time at home, I've also included a tip to help speed up your process. Why not lift one of your past projects? As I was clearing off my desk to get to work, I set this page to the side - and then realized the design would be the perfect starting point for my page!

Are you a mix and match crafter? I love that it forces me to look at what I have in a new way - and that it makes me way more likely to use up those older kits. 

Studio Calico offers three types of monthly kits - Scrapbook, Card & Project Life® - as well as add-on kits and shop items to complement them. A new kit is revealed on the 27th of each month (at noon EST if you're a subscriber, at midnight EST if you aren't). For more information (or to start your own subscription!), click here. 

five on friday

1) BUNNY EARS STAMP. I am totally giggling over this. I want to put bunny ears on everything now. If you have a similar compulsion, you can pick up the stamp + a set of journal cards with free shipping. Details below.

2) My "desk" (aka 2 kitchen islands) have a white base and a light wood top. After seeing this lovely little space, I'd really like to stain them dark. 

3) Intrigued by the concept of a week in scraps. Mine would probaly consist of a lot of Sonic straw wrappers.

4)  I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, 'If this isn't nice, I don't know what is.' -Kurt Vonnegut (Spring evenings playing basketball? Definitely nice.)

5) Top ten best frozen drinks at Disney World. Some are kid friendly, some are not. 

let's talk about color

I'll be chatting about color with my Color Studio students today at 11am EST and 10pm EST.If you're already enrolled, you can access the class chatroom HERE. If you're not a student, you can still jump in and access the class as a self paced workshop (and jump in on today's chats!) by registering here. Hope to see you there!