A little treat...

Every year, I love making little goodies like this:
You can pick these little cans up anywhere (I got mine at Archiver's) and fill it with goodness. I'm working on a bunch more to share with you (and for those of you who plan on attending the sweet treats class I'm going to hold in October, you'll get your own!). More on that later!

What about you? Do you have any cool Halloween ideas to share? Email me at Turay413@gmail.com with a jpeg of your idea, and I'll be happy to post it!

Enjoy your day!

The kit that never stops (you creating that is! :D)

So I did another layout with the awesome October kit! :D I have soooo much still that I want to do with it, too! Such an amazing kit! This is the latest layout I did using the kit. I added the cardstock, buttons and letters to it. Photo is of Alex, just love that little guy! :D

From my space to yours...

My scrap space is a MESS right now. I won't lie, it's downright awful. So, I decided to take matters into hand. First off, my chipboard letters needed a new "home". Before, they were swimming at the bottom of a basket, waiting to be found.

Now, they are looking pretty in the plastic bead container you see above. I even broke them up into alpha-order so that I could find what I needed quickly. It took me a bit of time, BUT saves me time when I'm scrapping now. (Yes, I do have a bit of a Heidi Swapp letter fetish, don't I?). I won't show you the ones that are still in the original packaging. :)

Any organizational tips that you'd like to share back? I would love to hear them. I still need LOTS of help in organizing my "mess". Now, back to my "project"!

The Halloween Kit & Class Update

Just finished using the special edition Halloween kit and making up the sample for the newsletter, and I have to say, I love how it turned out! It was simple and fun, and I can't wait to show it to you! And the best thing about it is that it has a special place on our coffee table and showcases the Halloween photos we've taken of our children in their costumes over the years. I love that.

For those of you who have signed up for this weekend's classes, I'm working my tail off to make the layouts really special. I'm so looking forward to seeing you guys!

And I'll post a date on the Sweet Treats class I'm going to hold coming soon at my house. It will be sometime in October and in time for Halloween. I always love these classes--because it involves food and fall--two of my favorite things!

I also spent a good portion of the day yesterday working on printing off the recipes for the special edition November kit. Wow--I can't wait to show you this one! I can't tell you how often I use my recipe book, and my hope is that you'll trust me when I say that you'll feel the same.

Enjoy your Tuesday!

*You At 6 Months* Layout using October Kit*

Here is another layout I was able to finish with the awesome October kit! :D Trish, you just know how to put an amazing kit together that is great for boys and girls! :D This is of my youngest, Caitlynn, and some of the things she has done at 6 months.

Scrappy goodness from Molly...

Wanted to post this lovely gem from Molly Peckham, one of our design team members. (She's knee deep in the process of moving, so send her a prayer and some luck!). This was created using the October WIP kit.

Enjoy the day!

Sketches

The first time I saw Becky Higgin's Sketches, I knew I was in love. I remember feeling like it was an epiphany for me--that finally, I had a resource that I could turn to and accomplish something when I was stuck. Today, I still feel the same way.

Here is a layout I made yesterday, using one of her famous sketches, and more leftovers from the October WIP kit:
The concept Becky uses of counting how many pictures one has to be used on the layout, and then turning to a section in a book that would give you ideas based on not just the amount of pictures on hand, but also the size and the orientation of photographs was (and still is) ingenious. Start with the photos. Go from there. Quick, easy and painless. Especially for people like me who need a jump start.

One of the things I love about Becky's style is that it is classic and timeless. Those are two elements I strive for on my own layouts. Just yesterday I looked back though several of my own books, and I'm still happy with many of the layouts I did 4-5 years ago. My style hasn't really changed--and I'm good with that. If I were to describe my own personal scrapbook style, I would have to say that the above layout pretty much is it. I prefer cardstock over patterned paper. I prefer multiple pictures that vary in size opposed to one photo. I generally go light on embellies. I love to mat photographs and I am all about sappy journaling.

There is something to be said for trends, no doubt. I am a paper junkie, and have a brad stash that could rival a local scrapbook store. That's just me--the way I create--what I prefer.

What about you?

When you look over your past work, does it stand the test of time?

What gets you inspired when you're stuck?

And what type of products do you consider your "signature?"

If you'd like to email me instead of openly sharing, feel free to drop me a line at Turay413@gmail.com. Or go ahead and share in the comment section below!

Have a great weekend!

More fun with the October WIP Kit...

Wanted to share these layouts I made with the October kit. I've been scrapping a ton lately, and it feels good. For those of you who purchased the kit and copy the layouts, these were made from my scraps--so you should be able to fit these in as well!

Also wanted to let you guys know that those fun pictures I posted a while ago at moo.com are not on special. Check them out here--and use the coupon promotional code "birthdaymoo" and you'll get 25% off mini cards. Try them out!

Have a great day!

Another layout from Nicole...

...using the October WIP kit. Thanks for sharing! Stay tuned...more are to come!

Update

Just wanted to say that the October main kit is officially sold out! If you put in a pre-order, they were all invoiced and you should have been notified via paypal. Thanks so much--I appreciate all the support!

And we'll be posting some more yummy goodness created with that lovely kit soon...

Have a great day!

And how cool is this?

Jamie posted this on her blog. Don't you just love her?

Thanks, Jamie!

Tina's Mini Book

Just wanted to share a mini book that Tina created with the September WIP kit. I tease her, but she really is great at the mini's! Enjoy!

A better look...

at my LOs for the October kit. I don't know why, but they are not looking too great on the WIP gallery.




I used Fontwerks' Fling alphabet for this page.




The black die cut letters in this page are QK's Studio alphabet.




How much fun were all all those cute die cuts in the kit?!?!



I turned my French fries container into a card/coupon good for a home made burger with fries and all!




What have you done with yours?? Please share!

Something fun to try...

Truth be told, I love to try new things. This month, I tried a new technique (OK, new to me!)
that I wanted to share with you. I used corrugated cardboard to create a simple, but great background for my layout. Piece of cake!!!

Here's what you do: Take a piece of corrugated cardboard (I used a 12x12 piece) and tear off the top coat of cardboard on one side to expose the texture. Use paint (we all know how much I love paint after my last post, right?) and brush along the exposed texture. I painted "sections" of my cardboard so that the effect would be subtle and not too solid. "Stamp" your cardstock with your painted cardboard and voila!!!

Here's my finished layout using the yummy October kit. What do you think?

I hope you'll give it a try...it really was super-easy and fun to do!!!

Inspiration & Recipes

I bought this entire bouquet off of my favorite roadside stand yesterday for a buck. Yep--that's right. A dollar. And they've made me smile all day long. I'm inspired to scrap tonight. What does it for you?


I've been working on a special project I have lined up for November. It is another special edition kit we'll be doing, based on this. Now I have to tell you, I've taught this class at an lss and at our community center (a total of 4 times) and I can't tell you how excited I am about sharing it all with you. It is the coolest book ever, and I use mine all the time! Yes, it's a recipe book--only my tried and true favorites--and it is a treasure. Why all the pictures? Because I just ordered them in bulk, and they will be INCLUDED in the kit--along with the corresponding recipes. Perfect for fall--which is when I tend to start cooking and baking more--and just in time for the holidays.
Stay tuned!

Submitting your work

I saw this over at SIS, and wanted to share. Great common sense stuff for those of you interested in that kind of thing. I know how many of you are out there and want to know more info, and I found this really informative--especially on the heals of the DT call here at WIP. Check it out!

For Kyra...

In last month's email newsletter, I issued a challenge to blog your age...and so I promised Kyra that I'd post this just for her!

And thanks to Nicole's paint tips, I added some to make the title pop...

These papers are not from a kit--just something I did on my own. :)

Yes, there are 39 photos taken in my 39th year.

The title stems from my dad...whenever anyone would ask his age when we were growing up, that was his response...

Having fun playing with the October kit--and more than half of them are spoken for on the pre-orders and autoship program. Can't wait to email the newsletter out on the 15th. And the DT is cooking up some sweet goods to share as well...stay tuned!

More Sharing...

These lovely layouts are from the talented Janelle Richmond. Aren't they adorable? And I'm loving the 6x12 format. I need to revisit that myself...

Thanks for sharing, girlie!

Sharing

Just a few of my finished layouts from the September WIP kit. I love these papers, and hope to make even more! Wanna share your creations? I'd love to see them! Email the jpegs to Turay413@gmail.com and I'll post them here!

Supply Focus:Paint!!!!

I thought it would be fun to focus on a scrap supply every month and tell you my favorite things to do with that supply. In return, please share your favorite ideas with us!!! Sound like a plan?

This month, I'd like to focus one of my favorite supplies right now...PAINT! I love paint. There is something therapeutic about painting on my layouts for me. Maybe it's childhood memories...who knows!!! I just adore to get them out and play.

So, here are my favorite things to do with paint and some examples to go along:

1. Paint the borders of my layout for added interest

2. Paint the borders of my photos to help them pop! (see "Perfect 10" above)

3. Use a dry-brush to add paint touches into the background of my layout...for depth (see "You & Me" above)

4. Paint a journaling block (this works especially great on patterned paper!)

5. Create unique backgrounds for your titles (see "I'm Gonna Soak Up The Sun" above)

I hope this inspires you to pull out your paints and play!!! Oh, and don't forget to share your favorite paint tip with us!

An FYI...

The amazingly talented Janelle Richmond is looking for a few more artists here. Check it out and see if you're up for the challenge. I LOVE her site--and of course her sketches.

The Halloween Kit & Update

Here is a peek at the Halloween kit that is currently available on pre-order at Turay413@gmail.com. This kit is due to ship out next week, so let me know if you are interested in getting one--I only did a limited number of them, so they will most likely go before the main October kit. The kit is priced at $32 and the contents include:

A Black Linen 8x8 We R Memory Keepers Album (retails at $24)
One 7Gypsies 97% Complete Boo Sticker
One Scenic Route Halloween Rub On
10 sheets of Kraft Cardstock 8 1/2 x 11
10 half sheets of patterned paper (6x12)
Various Making Memories Halloween Embellishments
One Making Memories Pumpkin Chipboard piece
Various die cuts & Buttons& do-dads

I've decided to do the newsletter for the October kit "The Way We Were," on September 15th. It will be sent out in an email format to people who have purchased the kits then. The Halloween newsletter will be more detailed since it is a complete 8x8 album--and that newsletter will mail out on October 1st.

I've had a GREAT response to the autoship option that was mentioned in the newsletter. There have also been a lot of pre-orders for the October kit as well. For those of you who are on either option, please look for your paypal invoice within the next day or two. They will be available to ship by the end of this week!

Betcha Didn't Know...

September is...

Apple Month
Baby Safety Month
Fall Hat Month
Sewing Month
Tiger Month
Chicken Month
Be kind to Editors & Writers Month
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
Good Manners Month
Cholesterol Awareness Month
Classical music Month
Ethnic Foods Month
Eye Health & Safety Month
Mushroom Month
Coupon Month

The Flower for September is the Aster, and them gem is Sapphire.

Any of this inspire you?

September is finally here...

And I hope you're all enjoying the holiday weekend! Just wanted to take a minute to show a better pic of two of the layouts from the September newsletter. I plan on doing even more layouts and posting them here, so stay tuned! If you'd like to share any of your creations, please send them to me and I'll put them here!
And the wonderful Michelle McCorkell is the winner!! She linked me here and revealed the person I scraplifted. Thanks Michelle! Doesn't Vicki do amazing work? I just love her stuff...

Have a super day!

It's here...

Can you believe September's already here?!?!? Take a peek at Jamie's work with the Sep kit...

I know you want to see more, so come on over to WIP.


For those of you that, like me, need to know what's coming, here's one of October's kits!


You can preorder this beauty at WIP.


Enjoy the long weekend!!!