The Graphics Fairy in Action

Last month, I blogged about my new best friend, The Graphics Fairy. In case you missed that post, you must go meet her!

I used two of her graphics on my layout "Our Song," which was created with the beautiful WIP February Project Kit. I added a few stickers, brads, pearls, and flowers from my stash, along with some images from the Graphics Fairy, and here's what I made. I journaled on the back of my page about how "Just the Two of Us" was our song back when we were dating and included the lyrics. This is a picture of my husband (then boyfriend) and me at my junior prom, way back in 1981. The picture was yellowed and faded. I scanned it and played around with a diffuse glow filter in Digital Image Pro to give the photo a dreamy quality.

Here are the two Graphics Fairy images I used (click them for full-sized images if you want to save them to your computer for later use):

What I most love about using these digital images for my scrapbook pages is that I can customize their size which is very important for me since I scrap 8 x 8, and I don't have a lot of space on my pages.

Here are some close-ups of my layout to see how I used these two fun images and the beautiful WIP kit products. I was originally planning to use this graphic to hold journaling but changed my mind and used it to house my title. By the way, this frame comes in three colors.

I loved those little red pebbles Trish included in the kit and sprinkled a couple over this "Bank of True Love" note. That bank note comes in three different colors, too.

How beautiful is that rose trim from the kit! Love how you can tuck little things behind it:

I just adore these darling little heart stick pins Trish packed in the kit!  So easy to add a sweet, special touch by just sticking them somewhere on your page. By the way, the leaves on my layout are just leaves I cut off of a silk plant I had.

And how about that lovely lace in the kit! So pretty. I used Terrifically Tacky Tape (by Provo Craft) to adhere it--it comes in a variety of widths (I used 1/8"), and it really sticks well! I used my favorite Martha Stewart punch (iron gate) to add interest to the top of my page:

Thank you for reading about my layout! I always enjoy seeing the details on others' pages because when I look at the "whole," I always miss some of the interesting little bits, so I hope I gave some insight into how I made my layout.

Bulletin Board Shares.

I enjoy helping out at our children's schools. One of my favorite things to do is bulletin boards. Makes me miss teaching, if I'm being honest. So today I thought I'd share bits of a collage I've created for my next creation. I picked up a few photo collage frames, and plan to print out these and integrate photos along with them for the coming months...

Feel free to right click on them and save to print out your own. They are formatted to work in a 4x6 opening. Special thanks to Becky Higgins who inspired me to do these (and my friend Jen who made me a beautiful frame using one! xo) Enjoy!

valentine this and that

Valentine heart barrettes. tutorial found here.

Love Lollies found here at Teri's Place.

She shows off some fab card ideas too!

this makes me wish we still had a Krispy Kreme around here. adorable!

Valentine Confetti Bliss. Yum!

Tattered and Inked has this printable available for free. Made me smile when I came upon it. My Dad would sing this to me when I was a little girl.

This I love! Burlap! It's burlap! And you can get more details here.

Thanks for letting me share a little love here with you today!

iPhone Love

(above photo taken using Hipstamatic for iPhone)

I became the proud owner of an iPhone 4 in early December. Since then, I've been playing around with many of the photo apps that are out there, and today I wanted to share a few of my favorites. In no order at all...here goes...

(above photo taken with CameraBag iPhone app, at a stop sign over my shoulder.)

Pano is awesome for panoramic photos. It isn't warranted for daily use, but it sure is cool to take a photo, line it up with the last one, and continue on. And on. And on. And if you really want to jump off a cliff, try 360 Pano!

Camera Bag is a really fun app to have, for sure. You can snap a picture, and then instantly edit it using one of several "actions" they have available. This is one of my favorites!

Hipstamatic is also a must-have for me. I love how fun the pics turn out. Makes me cooler than I really am.

Old Photo Pro is cool for taking a shot and making it look old. Great sepia effects if you like that sort of thing.

Shake It Photo is awesome if you were a child of the 70's like me. It turns your iPhone into an instant camera, and "processes" the photo quicker if you shake your camera. My kids love this one as much as I do...

And if you love photobooths, you will love Pocketbooth. I can't tell you how many times our kids have jumped at the chance to take a picture with this app (see above photo!). Try not to buy this one...I dare you...

100 Cameras is another must for me. You can snap a quick photo, and spend the next hour selecting the differnet editing options, with slider scales to boot! You won't be disappointed, I promise...

I have to admit, it is fun to not lug my DSLR around all the time--especially here in Ohio during the winter months. Knowing there are so many options at my fingertips--especially for photos used in my Project Life album--makes me one happy gal.

Feel free to share any of your favorite photo apps as well! I'd love to hear what you're up to!

Enjoy your Monday!

One little word

Are you following along?

There are so many opportunities to play with the One little word idea. The concept of coming up with a word to represent your year.

I've done it for a few years now and I enjoy how it makes you see and appreciate all the little things in everyday some that you sometimes unknowingly do. You can make it as detailed or as simple as you want it to be.

This year I am following along at Ali Edwards Big picture class

here are a couple of my projects from January almost completed, my word is challenge

Even if you just want to do something on your own there's Jill Conyers One little word captured, or the 52 week project .

So many fun ways to be creative!

CHA Winter 2011

I had the immense pleasure of attending CHA a few days ago. It was so lovely to get away from the cold in sunny Southern California.  I went running outside!!  What a privilege that was!

How about some pictures! :)

First up the show smashing hit favorite of most, Crate Paper.  Hint hint to Trish: "Everything please!" :) 

7Gypsies, my love, my endless love since 2002...

Collage Press Studio for Pink Paislee... gulp...

Hello Luscious Basic Grey, come to Mama!

Ah Lauderdale, that's where I want to be, thank you for taking me there Basic Grey!

How cute are these birdies from Fancy Pants?

If you love banners like I do, you will adore these from Fancy Pants!!

In the middle of January, I still dream of October rain... in the ... Afternoon. 

I am a Sassafras, Sassafras, sign me up!!!

Maya, take me on your Road!!!

Thickers... I don't want to be thicker in life, so let my alphas be!

Soup du Jour?  Why Jillibean of course!!

And lastly, who else in this Cosmo loves a Cricket more than me? 

I really enjoyed my CHA experience.  I hope that was not too many photos :)  I have more, more, more yet... but this post can't go on and on...  xoxo!

Valentine's Cards...Woodland Style

Valentine's day is fast approaching & it's time to get all those lovely handmade cards created for your love ones.

I'm all about making the most of my monthly kits & when there are a few items in it that I'm unsure of what to do with on a layout, I try to think outside the box, just a little. So, since I don't have pictures suited for the chipboard stickers by October Afternoon in January's main kit, I decided to make Valentine's cards with the CUTE little woodland animals. I LOVED the stickers so much that I knew I had to use them for something...hehehe.

I rarely make cards. But when I do, I prefer to keep them sweet & simple. These cards took me no time to make & I love how they turned out. My kiddo's would LOVE these. Think I will save two of them to place in their Valentine's basket ;)

Have a loving week (or month) ;D

Coming Soon...

We've had some blogger issues in the past 24 hours, but I promise, the gallery is coming! :)
Thanks to everyone for the awesome response to the clearance kits! We're down to TWO left! I'll be back soon...