A Bit of a Shopping Spree

I'm supposed to be in Disney World.  RIGHT NOW.  We were supposed to leave last Friday, but the trip got cancelled on Tuesday.  I'm really disappointed, so to cheer myself up I did a little scrappy shopping.  And I should get my Stop and Scrap order very soon.  Now if only I used up stuff at the same rate I bought it!

I love labels from Elle's Studio.  The are so cute and affordable! And I even got a free journaling pen.

From Michaels:  Fun embellies and a Tim Holtz Distress pad in Pumice Stone.

I love the way these Authentique letters match this Sassafrass paper.  RIP Sassafrass.

My first foray into Smash products.  I thought these stickies and notecards would work really well in my travel albums.

More stamps!  Love these little My Minds Eye stamps from the Funday collection.

And for the really really excited new stuff.  My Minds Eye:

Don't forget to use the code FEATHERS to receive 12% off your purchase at Stop and Scrap.

A Layout About Beer

No scrapbook of a trip to Bavaria would be complete without some mention of beer, right?  I chose products from My Minds Eye for this one.  Perhaps they will be pleased their papers showcase German beer?  Maybe not.  But I did use a sketch from their blog for my inspiration.

Das Bier

Sketch

Patterned Paper: My Minds Eye Lost and Found Portobello Road "Boy" Dapper Dots, Tres Jolie Je T"aime Birthday Girl Floral/Light Rose Papier, Lost and Found Two 6x6 paper pad (Sunshine, Rosy), Lost and Found 6x6 paper pad (Portobello Road); The Spiders Web Diecut Border; So Sophie ticket diecut; Home Chipboard Journal Sticker; Stella and Rose Gerty Girly sticker tags; Lost and Found Market Street Lovely button; Kraft Funday Happy Days twine;  Lush Decorative Brads (Red); Stella and Rose Hattie "Happy" label stickers; Stella and Rose Gertie "Friends Forever" layered chipboard; MME Lost and Found Union Square "Perfect" stamp; Studio Calico Die Cut Stickers State Fair; Tim Holtz Distress Ink; Jenni Bowlin Ink; Martha Stewart Punch; Cosmo Cricket Tiny Type; Martha Stewart Home Office File Folder Labels; Tim Holtz Idea-ology mini paper clips

***For 12% off any purchase at Stop and Scrap, use the code FEATHERS***

Accountability Wednesday: Happy Spring!

Yesterday was the first day of spring, or so I am told, since its been over 80 degrees for the last week here in the deep South.  This week I may not have had appointments with Jillian Michaels as often as I would have liked, but Mark and I did something I've wanted to do for years: plant a vegetable garden!  The yard at the old house just needed to be bulldozed and started over, so there wasn't a sunny spot to plant a garden there, but our new yard is perfect for it.  We spent 9 straight hours last Saturday mowing and edging and sawing and digging, and in a few weeks we should have some bell peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, and lettuce, and some herbs too!  That doesn't explain why I gained another pound this week though :(

Weight: 141.2 (+1)
Exercise: 30 Day Shred x2 (40 minutes); Gardening (9 hours)

I Love a Good Challenge

Normally when I scrap a layout, I like to make my own kit of sorts, picking out products from different manufacturers that look good together.  But I also like a good challenge, and the folks over at the Lily Bee blog gave me a good one!  Using their sketch and products, here's what I came up with.  Even thought there are several collections on the layout, I love that they all coordinate seamlessly.

Municipal House

Patterned Paper: Lily Bee Memorandum (Payday, Grapefruit), Head Over Heels (Courting), This and That (Teacup), Catching Fall (Flannel Sheets), Happily Lost (Sun Soaked); MAMBI paper tape; Prima Flowers Iced Got Flowers?; Scenic Route black date label; Jenni Bowlin Chipboard Buttons; Tim Holtz Distrss Ink ; Stickles; Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist

Scrapbook Treasures from the Office Supply Store

With my scrapbooking style, I'm always on the lookout for great labels and cards for journaling, stamping, and layering.  I have a huge stack of October Afternoon and Scenic Route label stickers that I love to use.  But come on, we all know that there are never enough, right?

I was so thrilled to see the new Martha Stewart Home Office line at Staples.  In addition to great home organization supplies, there are lots of things in the line that can be used for scrapbooking, including really nice 3-ring binders and divided page protectors.  I focused on the labels and tags, and still had a really hard time narrowing down my purchase.  For under $5 for each package, you do get a lot of product.  The File Folder Labels ($2.99) include 120 in a pack!  I came home with:

Textured Red Labels (small)

Flourish Labels in Teal

File Labels in 2 color ways

Kraft Labels: Flourish

I've got my eye on

Metal Rim and Paper tags -- check out the baker's twine strings!

Shipping Tags

Sticky Notes

Just a note:  Not all Staples stock the Martha Stewart line. I had to go to 2 Staples stores before I found the display.  My local store doesn't carry it, but the store in the nearby larger city does.  Before you go out of your way, call your local store or order online.

Accountability Wednesday

I may not have lost any weight this week, but I can claim one victory - I worked out last night!  Getting myself back on a workout schedule is my focus this week.

Weight: 140.2 (+0.6)
Exercise: 30 Day Shred

My New Toy

You might have noticed some much clearer close-ups of my layouts lately, like this:

and this

That's because I saved up my Amazon gift cards and finally bought a dedicated macro lens!

I'm a Pentax girl, so finding lenses is a little more challenging than for Nikon or Canon owners.  After much much angst I finally decided on the Sigma 50mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro Lens.  Outside of photographing scrapbook layouts, I haven't had much chance to play with it, but with spring springing away here in the Heart of Dixie, I'm looking forward to lots of great flower photos! 

Putting My Stamps to Use

I love stamps, and I'm trying to incorporate them into more layouts.  I have invested in several Ali Edwards for Technique Tuesday stamps, and I'm finding them to be great quality and very useful, especially for my travel pages.  I've used several sets on this layout.

Explore Budapest


















Sketch: Scrapbook Generation vol.??

Supplies: American Crafts Cardstock, Thickers (Dear Lizzy);  My Minds Eye patterned paper (Stella and Rose "Delightful" Blossom, Gertie "Friends Forever" Petals, Tapestry; Tres Jolie Je T'aime "Birthday Girl"); Hambly overlay Grandma's Wallpaper (gold); Crate Paper brads, sticker (Random); Cosmo Cricket stickers (Social Club), Ready-Set-Chip (Togetherness); K & Co brads (K-ology Hannah); Heidi Grace stickers (Wild Daisy Road); 7 gypsies 97% complete stickers (Travel Voyage); Martha Stewart punch, embossing powder; EK Success border punch; Jenni Bowlin ink (Stick Candy, Soap Powder); Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Vintage Photo); Colorbox Cat's Eye ink (Dark brown); Studio AE for Technique Tuesday stamps (Are We There Yet, The Observant Traveler, This One)

***For 12% off any purchase at Stop and Scrap, use the code FEATHERS***

Accountability Wednesday

When I opened the Target ad on Sunday, I groaned out loud to my husband.  Bikinis were staring me in the face.  I'm not ready for bathing suit season!  It can't be time already!!  But with spring right around the corner and the sinus icky stuff finally going away, its time to get my butt back in gear.

Weight: 139.6 (-.8 lb)
Exercise: None

Stretch Your Stash

I admit it.  I have a massive scrapbook stash.  Some (I'm looking at you, my darling husband) might say its too much stuff.  And I have way too much holiday themed stuff, especially Halloween and Christmas.  I cannot resist those super-cute holiday collections every year.  And because Ozzy the cat does not like to go trick-or-treating, I really don't get to use up those holiday items.

So I like to try to incorporate these items into non-holiday layouts.  It's a good way to use what you have on hand, and to make that stash stretch.  Did I mention I've given up scrapbook shopping for Lent?

On this layout, I had a red, black, and silver color scheme.  I thought I could work in paper flowers from Girls Paperie's Christmas collection without the layout turning Christmas-y.  I picked up some green with letter stickers and in other elements, and I think I pulled it off.  What do you think?






Of Course He Brought the Vulture

Sketch: Scrapbook Generations

Supplies: American Crafts Cardstock, Jenni Bowlin for Coredinations cardstock, October Afternoon 5 & Dime patterned paper; Hambly patterned paper; 7 gypsies 97% complete stickers; Jenni Bowlin apothocary stickers (in red); Cosmo Cricket tiny type, stickers; Lily Bee Design this and that and domestic bliss stickers; the Girls Paperie Tinsel and Twig flower market; Pink Paislee corrugated alphabet; Liquid Pearls; Bo Bunny brads

***For 12% off any purchase at Stop and Scrap, use the code FEATHERS.***

We interrupt your regularly scheduled vacation layouts...

I know you are probably tired of seeing layouts of Prague and Budapest.  I've only got 1200 more photos to scrap from that vacation!  I do have a post planned on how I tackle such large projects, in case you've been interested.  But for now, I'm sharing a layout of my visit to Mt. St. Helen as part of a work conference I spoke at last year.  I've been fascinated with the volcano since I was a kid.  I can remember reading in a magazine about 5 years after the eruption about the plants that had started to come back.  I never in a million years thought I would have the chance to visit.  Two weeks after this visit, to the day, I was standing on top of a mountain in Munich.  That's a lot of elevation for this beach girl!

I learned two things about cutting with my Silhouette on this layout:

1.  It sure is cute, but cutting and adhering the outline on "Adventure" is a real pain in the butt!

2.  In order to cut through Authentique cardstock, you have to set your blade to a much higher number than the software suggests.

I used the negative space from some shapes as the main paper and embellishment for this layout.  I love my layers, but I'm really liking the clean feel of this layout.

Volcanic Adventure

Sketch: Silhouette Blog

Supplies: American Crafts Cardstock; Authentique patterned paper (Brilliance); Basic Grey 6x6 pad (Life of the Party); Making Memories metal tab; Staz On ink (Jet Black); Lily Bee rub on (Domestic Bliss); Scenic Route letter stickers; ki memories buttons; Pink Paislee metal badges (Old School), Baubles (Hometown Summer)

Silhouette Shapes: Journaling Shapes, Scalloped Grid; Adventure

***For 12% off any purchase at Stop and Scrap, use the code FEATHERS***

Getting Some Use Out of Those Stamps

You all know how much I like to use stamps on my layouts.  I'm always looking for new ways to use them in my scrapbooking, especially since I have umpteen dozen stamps that have never seen ink.  Our friends over at Ella Publishing have a new e-book out today to do just that.  Stamping Secrets: 7 sensational stamp sets used 21 ways features several of our favorite stamping scrappers, and for the first time, an Ella e-book has video!  Check it out:






Stamping Secrets: 7 sensational stamp sets used 21 ways By stamping experts Nichol Magouirk, Ashley Cannon Newell, Lea Lawson, Nancy Burke, Robyn Werlich, Shari Carroll, and Shemaine Smith

Ready to make the most of your favorite stamps, and learn new tips and tricks along the way?
In 28 packed pages, you'll enjoy 21 gorgeous projects, 35 expert stamping tips, 6 step-by-step written tutorials, and 20 minutes of exclusive video instruction—all for just $10.99.
We hand-picked seven sensational stampers and invited each of them to:

- choose a favorite stamp set from a favorite stamp company
- create three versatile projects using that set (scrapbook layouts, cards, and more)
- share their expert stamping tips, tricks, and tutorials with you!

With stamps from Stampin' Up!, Hero Arts, Technique Tuesday, PaperTrey Ink, Lawn Fawn, BasicGrey, and Unity, this eBook truly offers the best of the best. No matter your skill level, Stamping Secrets will put you on the path to stamping success!


Although the regular price is a bargain at $10.99, this title is 20% off until March 7.  But today (February 29) only, it is 29% off in honor of Leap Day!  That's just $7.80 for 28 pages and 20 minutes of video. Hurry over and get it before the day is over!

Accountability Wednesday: Leap Day Doesn't Count, Right?

Happy Leap Day, everybody.  I wish I could have leaped right passed today's weigh in.  Mardi Gras fun is still catching up with me, and I'm still not 100% over the sinus crud and the effects of the resulting antibiotics, so I haven't worked out in about 3 weeks.  I was hoping to start back this past Monday, but my body disagreed.  So the weigh in was not so great this morning.  I hope next week to get back to at least walking and riding the stationary bike, and that should help with things.

Weight: 140.4 (+0.8 lb)

A Lily Bee Layout

One of the steps I want to take in my development as a scrapbooker is to take part in more challenges, and perhaps work my way up to applying for a design team.  I put together this layout for a challenge for a challenge at the Lily Bee blog.

One Sweet Tour

Sketch: Lily Bee blog

Supplies: Lily Bee Memorandum (Cubicle, Grapefruit), Harvest Market (pumpkin seeds)  , Rub on (Domestic Bliss); Basic Grey Eerie; My Minds Eye Lost & Found Two 6x6 pad (Breeze, Sunshine), Diecut Rosy "Remember"; Tim Holtz Distress Crackle Paint (Tarnished Bronze), Ink (Vintage Photo), Distress Stickles (Antique Linen); Cosmo Cricket sticker (Social Club);MAMBI tape; Martha Stewart punch 

***For 12% off any purchase at Stop and Scrap, use the code FEATHERS***