Keeping Calm & Carrying On

Scrap Lifted: Bella Blvd Project Sheets

One thing that is wonderful and fabulous about owning Bella Blvd is that I can now have aDesign Team & Special Projects Coordinator. Her name is Laura Vegas. She's wonderful. Have you met her? If not, I highly recommend that you visit her blog--she's super talented has lots to share!

Back to the point: Laura Vegas has been with Bella Blvd almost one year already! It's amazing how quickly the time goes by when things are manage, organized & efficient. Anywho...one of Laura's assignments every month is to create a layout (around a challenge and product collection that I provide for her). The layout becomes a brand-new-never-featured-before marketing piece for both retailers and consumers known as our 

Monthly Project Sheet. 

The Monthly Project Sheets provide step-by-step directions and supply list alongside a large color photograph of the project for customers to duplicate, teach or do with as they please. Recently I was super inspired by the March Project Sheet that Laura created featuring the Sophisticates products, the new Crochet Flowers and Designer Tapes too:

To download the pdf of this specific project sheet click here.

You can see all the project sheets and download them by clicking here to scroll through.

Well, I loved the paper flowers inspired by the sticker flowers so much that I did a page myself! Because I'm on a Christmas kick you shouldn't be surprised...

I mixed and matching Christmas Wishes patterns with Winter Wonder and Sophisticates papers.

I must say I prefer how Laura's turned out better. I should have known that the "rule of odds" would prevail. I should have used 4 flowers instead of 5...but I got a little lazy and didn't want to cut out so many. None the less, another page is complete and I'm almost finished with 2010.

Have you heard of these Project Sheets? They're perfect if you like to scrap lift or need some inspiration to boost your creativity! Be sure to check them out!

Christmas Morning: An October Afternoon Layout

Ciao Bella! Happy Thursday! One of my crafty goals is to really finish up my 2010 layouts and albums. I have Christmas layouts to complete and a short trip to the Mall of America at the end of 2010 that needs to be scrapbooked and then I'll be headed into 2011. 

Today I have a 2-page layout, primarily using October Afternoon's holiday patterns, stickers and chipboard elements I recently completed.

 

I color-blocked this page because I wanted to use several patterned papers that I liked from the collection. I'm also very into using paper doilies so I cut them up and layering them in the background also.

Christmas traditions changed drastically in 2010 following my brother-in-laws death, and that's why it is so important to me to write it down, type it up and document it forever.

The coordinating page looks a little something like this:

(Ignore the wretched I-just-woke-up Christmas morning look on my face!)

Again, I kept with the doilies.

Here's a look at the two-page spread as it will go into my 2010 Album Vol. 4:

I think the crazy busy red pattern on the right-side is balanced with small blocks of patterns on the left-page. Don't you think?

Together: A Winter Wonder Layout

Bringing you one more Christmas Tree-cutting layout today. I recently shared a couple coordinating layouts from the same day in 2010. You can see those layouts by clicking here and also here.

The Miniatures stickers in the Bella collections make for fun little "tags" and embellishments.

More playing with Bella's new Designer Tapes. Have you bought yours yet? Now that the new products are hitting stores be sure to stock up! (I know 2Peas has them here).

I love the photographs on this one. Steven looks so "strong" carrying that big-ol' tree. And Carson took the other photo of Angela and I all by himself----with my Canon 50D. What a awesome shot for a then four-year-old, don't you think?

Products used are all Bella Blvd: Winter Wonder Collection, Designer Tapes, chipboard and Sophisticates. The blue twine, from The Twinery.

For more Winter Wonder scrapbooking ideas visit the Winter Wonder Collection Gallery here.

Ciao Ciao for now!

 

 

Christmas Layouts: Bella Blvd

Well, it's "Christmas In March" around here today as I continue plugging away at 2010-year end scrapbooking layouts. What do you do with your annual Christmas Card? What do you do with some of your favorite Christmas cards?

In 2010 I saved my sisters Christmas card and mine as well. They were both 5x7 photographs that I just love.  I didn't want to distract from the photos at all, do I kept my patterns and embellishments minimal. By using 1 and 2-color patterns the page stayed simple and not busy.

Of course I wanted to incorporate some Christmas colors so I added only two .75" strips and red bows. (tis the season). Here's how the layout turned out. Gosh that's nearly 2 years ago already. Time goes by so quickly!

The layout is a combination of all things Bella from the Winter Wonder, Christmas Wishes and Sophisticates product collections.

At the same crop, I completed this next page, documenting mine & Steven's St. Nick tradition.

Each year St. Nick comes on Steven's birthday (Dec. 5^th-Lucky him I know right?!) We each prepare stockings for each other and also little treats for Baby Mio and exchange that night. It's fun to see what he puts inside---some of my favorite things usually like Reese's peanut butter cups and "pink" things. So sweet.

Baby Mio is always very curious too---Christmas is 1 out of the 2 days of the year we dress up the little pups. In 2010 he had the cutest little Santa outfit ;) The entire layout features my Christmas Wishes collection for Bella Blvd.

Love layering those Cute Cuts elements, and playing with the miniature sized patterns on the Quadrants papers. Here's the final product:

For more Christmas Wishes layouts and ideas, visit the Christmas Wishes Collection idea Gallery over at the Bella Studio blog!

So, what are you scrappin' these days? I have a few more Christmas-themed layouts to do and then I'm onto 2011--woot woot! Slowly but surely I'm playin' catch-up!

A Sentimental Layout: Priceless Gift

Once in a while I still make two-page layouts that look great side-by-side! Gotta love that! As I continue to scrapbook Christmas 2010 (which seems like it takes forever because I take so many photos each year), I love playing with so many different Christmas colored & Christmas themed products. There is NEVER a shortage of it in the paper crafting world, that's for sure.

Last year I wrote about how sappy I was at Christmas time when my sister asked me & Steven help her and the kids decorate the tree. It was such a traditional thing that she didn't want to do alone after losing her husband. It was really emotionally exhausting....and I did not see that coming. "Why?", you might be asking. Well, let's take a closer look...

Because, little did I know how sentimental and timeless ornaments really are. I noticed my sister pausing and just losing herself in space as she grabbed this ornament and hug it near the top of the tree. Even though it had seen it's better days (notice, the little girl's leg is broken off), she reminded the kids that daddy had bought her the ornament when they were really young & dating in high school. I can only imagine the memories that flooded her heart & mind in that moment.

This is why last year I flooded friends & family with ornament gifts. I really wasn't trying to be morbid, but honestly, what a cool way to remember someone year after year as life changes and time heals. Ornaments are such great, inexpensive (for the most part) gifts to give to those you love that will stay around forever.

I wanted to document the story and my thoughts as I am sharing them here today onto a layout. 

Once again, I played with my new Designer Tapes (now available at stores)!

I used a ruler to create my journaling lines and then mixed and matched my handwriting with the sticker alphabets from the new High Fives^tm alpha sheets (Bella Blvd).

The coordinating page (right side) holds the rest of the photos I chose for the theme. It was hard to narrow them down because I snapped so many, but I thought these were the most important:

1) My neices having fun hanging their handmade ornaments from school

2) Angela rewarding Carson as the new "man of the house" the job each year of putting the star on top of the tree-just like Daddy used too

3) and all of us together (Stella & Mio pups too) when it was all finished.

I repeated the border strips of Designer Tapes and the paper tearing on this side as well, to help pull the two-page spread together.

After adding some flowers (Prima and Bazzill) and Twine, I called it a day. I'm really happy with how this one turned out and will definitely remember this moment for years to come, if not forever. If nothing else, it's a gentle reminder not to take advantage of the redunancy each year that can become of the holiday season.

Winter Wonder Layout: Family Tree

It's a new week! Are you feeling fresh and creative?!

Because it's still winter around here and snow is still falling on the ground, I thought how appropraite it would be to share with you another Christmas-Tree-Cutting layout today, featuring my Winter Wonder product collection.

I loved this picture of all of us at the Tree Farm so I used mpix.com and printed it at 12" wide. Journaling was important for this layout as it shares our family's experience as we coped together after the loss of my brother in law just before the holidays last year.

Instead of printing the journaling on my computer, I thought I'd give it more of a personal touch with my own handwriting. I added script to make the more important words jump off the journaling sticker element, and also incorporated a couple of Miniatures sticker elements too.

For more Winter Wonder Ideas, visit Bella's collection gallery by clicking here.

Let's have a great week!

Christmas in March

Thought I'd share some more creativity with you today! I'm scrappin' Christmas and playing with my Christmas Wishes products and new embellies!

I started with kraft cardstock as my base and framed it out with my new red polkdot Designer Tapes. I think I've mentioned before that I love these tapes. Having so much fun with them!

This layout is about "our first real tree" that we actually went and cut down at the Tree Farm last year. No, we're not married yet, but it was "our" frist official tree! I even bought a personalize ornamnet last year to remember it! ;) (I know, you're thinking I'm such a nerd!)

My handy dandy little heart punch made for a fun "flutter" effect streaming up the page. 

What are you doing today? Cropping???

Double Page Layout: What are You Thankful For?

I must admit....I'm super excited to share this next double-page layout with you. It's from Thanksgiving 2010 when I created these business-card size die-cuts with each guests name. The dinner guests had to find their card and then complete the phrase, 

"I am thankful for..."

So I have been sitting on all these little cards wanted to make a layout and I've finally completed it! 2010 was the first year I hosted Thanksgiving all on my own and I wanted to start a tradition for the guests to participate in...and this was it!

2010's Thanksgiving was just days, literally, after my brother-in-law died in a car accident so I thought it would be beautiful for everyone to document what they were thankful for amidst a sad holiday. Not to my surprise at all almost everyone mentioned Chris or the important of family.

The layout came together quite quickly as I wanted to put the cards and everyone's handwriting on full display. I just added a bit of Bakers Twine and bows here and there to separate the cards a bit.

Because I ran out of room.....there were a lot of guests....I added mine and Steve's cards to the coordinating page:

I loved this picture of the kids helping me prepare the turkey on Thanksgiving morning. But I didn't realize Madelyn's eyes were closed until I had it enlarged and printed....oh well ;)

And here's the layout side-by-side as it will be put into my 2010 Album:

As plenty of you know I offered a new style of documenting Thanksgiving Gratitude by offering several free digital downloads for 2011's Thanksgiving. You can check them out here......I'm already brainstorming ideas for 2012!

Halloween Layout: 2010

Ciao Ciao! I thought I'd give you a break from Thanksgiving layout ideas and share this quick Halloween one with you today!

Check out Steven's sprayed-white hair as him and his friends dressed up at The A-Team for Halloween in 2010. They're missing the main link, Mr. T but he sure did complete the group!

To add a unique detail I strung some embroidery floss across the chipboard title, and created photo corners and accents with it also.

These Details by American Crafts made for the finishing touches. A pretty simple layout if you ask me ;)

Layouts from Thanksgiving 2010

I know it's a new year, but I still have some layouts from 2011 I have to share....I just finished scrapbooking Thanksgiving from 2010. Yes I know I'm a bit behind. The pictures might be a bit "old" but the products are not! 

For the past couple of years my 2 nieces and 1 nephew sleepover the night before we celebrate Thanksgiving in order to help "prepare" for the big day. They like to help me cook, clean, set the tables and everything else that goes into preparing the family Thanksgiving spread.

This layout is pretty simple. It incorporates mostly the "Cute Cuts" paper sheet from my One Fall Day collection. By cutting out the large elements I created a small scene around the photos.

I bought those really cute leaves a long time ago and was excited to use some embellishments from my existing "stash!"

Here's the coordinating page...again photo heavy....Here I've mixed together Finally Fall (2011's Fall Collection) with One Fall Day (2010's Fall Collection).

Add some texture to your layout by simply coordinating button colors on a polka dot print....

This was another die-cut in my existing "stash!" I just love when I use up product I have ;)

I must say I love what the photos document. In addition to the teamwork and excitement of preparing the turkey, my parents recently moved out of this house and it's been updated a ton. For example, that blue patterned wallpaper no longer exists. So I just love the small details that capture the element of time within this layout! 

I have plenty more Thanksgiving layouts to share in the next couple of days! Hope they'll inspire you, as I know we are all working on different holidays and themes all year long ;)

A Beautiful Holiday Centerpiece

First off, I take absolutely NO CREDIT for this beautiful handmade centerpiece idea today! Just for the record.

On my birthday my dear friend Allyson walked in to surprise me with these beautiful roses.....with a handmade touch! Look at what she glued around the entire vase?! Omg....in love....and they are pink! 

I'm totally using it this weekend as my Christmas Centerpiece! What a great gift!

Allyson said it was pretty easy (once she got all the pink candy canes!), she just hot glued on a low temperature setting one-by-one and tied with a ribbon wrap. You still have time to make yours!!!!! Are you ready for Christmas?

NEW! Bella Blvd Newsletter Dec. Edition

It's here! The last issue of 2011 is now available for download (see link at end of post)!

Here's a sneak peek!

The featured Bella of the Ball this Issue is Diane Payne.

I loved her fun facts and her layouts were so great! They're inspiring me to pull out some old-school photographs I have and use some of my modern colorful Bella products! 

 

In the "Challenge on the BLVD", Megan Klauer & Vivian Masket accepted this seasonal challenge:

Create a Christmas Layout, Combining Christmas Wishes & Winter Wonder Products

Are you as excited as I am? I this this is our best issue to date! The Bella Buzz has a total of 6 fabulous and juicy pages of content.

Begin Downloading the NEW Issue Now by Clicking Here

or

Visit Bella's Newsletter Page to see the newest issue and previous issues too!

Enjoy!

New Feature!

Introducing another new feature I'd like to bring you regularly around here ;) Sometimes little projects.... & other times *larger than life* projects; I often am inspired to create something handmade. I hope this feature will inspire you to be creative, handy and thrify too ;)

When I saw these on Pinterest a while back I knew it would make a *great* project to do with my nieces and nephew! I was waiting for the right time!

I always think the "perfect Thanksgiving decor" is really hard to find. There's plenty of pumpkins and pilgrims, but nothing really "beautiful" that I'm proud to put around the house...at least that I've found so far.

Each year at Thanksgiving....the kids really enjoy helping prep the food, set the tables and be my little helpers, so we plan a sleepover the night before our big feast so we can get evetything ready, and wake up early to stuff the bird and get 'em in the oven! One of the challenges during the holidays is only having ONE oven. So, while things were baking we needed something to do! What a perfect time to create some Thanksgiving decor!

First, stop at your local craft supply store and pick up these brown paper mache letters, spelling out a holiday word, your family's last name, etc. (We bought ours at JoAnns Superstore). Then choose an array of yarn colors that coordinate with the holiday color scheme you are planning. I also purchased some stick pins to start and end the yarn with.

It's a fool-proof DIY project actually. I mean, there's NO WRONG way to wrap yarn around paper mache letters! It's a great idea for all ages!

Begin wrapping!

Keep in mind Carson is only FIVE years old.....he loved this because he could do everything that the big girls were doing too!

The corners are a bit tricky...need to be a bit more patient on those!

But some letters (like the "T" above) are super quick and easy.

Layer, Layer and layer. Keep wrapping, every which way!

I love the texture of the finished letter.We used stick pins to complete the strand of yarn. (You can see one in the photo above on the pink letter "A" near the bottom.) From far away you can't even notice them!

The letters made for great Thanksgiving Day decor on the mantle! Now I'm thinking about Christmas..........what word to use.....

wish

merry

ho ho ho

Any suggestions?

*FREE* Mini Album Printables

Are you strapped for time & want to create something fun this Thanksgiving w/your family? 

Then I've got some great news for you! Today over at the Bella Blvd Studio Blog I'm sharing a Thanksgiving Day Digital Mini Album

  I've designed, along with a step-by-step tutorial!

Each page has the same identical mini questionarre for each person in your family to complete/fill-in. Give this year's Thanksgiving a personal touch with this FREE download, creating handwritten keepsakes for years to come!

 

 

Here's a sneak at the finished 5x7" mini...

It can be as many pages as you want to be. Whether you have a large family gathering of 20 (like me), or small immediate family dinner of only 5 people, create this darling mini album this weekend so you are ready to go next week!

The free printables come in high resolution pdfs ready for you to printout onto photo paper or cardstock. 

What do you say? Will you join the pre-Thanksgiving weekend Mini Album Challenge?

VISIT THE BELLA BLVD STUDIO BLOG FOR THE FULL TUTORIAL AND 

FREE DIGITAL PRINTABLES FOR THE ENTIRE MINI ALBUM!

Update: November Daily (1st-7th)

As previously mentioned I'm working on a November Daily (see this post) album designed by Bella Design Teamer, Katherine McElvain. I've got about one week under my belt!

Here's the front cover, "November Daily Thanks 2011"

(I've taken the rings out of the binding in order to scan each page for you.) The mini album flips up and over. I've put together images up against each other as accurately as possible---just as if you were  paging through in real life.

NOVEMBER 1^st:

NOVEMBER 2^ND & 3^RD : 

NOVEMBER 4^TH : 

(this page is actually smaller than the others, because it's a kraft card. "Historian" is on the face of the card and then this next image is when you open the card from the bottom and lift up:

NOVEMBER 5^TH :

November 5^th continues as you flip closed the card. I scanned the paper map given to us in our welcome bags at the 5k over the weekend, shrunk it down and printed it on cardstock.

Because I had a couple more photos that I wanted to include I simply adhered these 2 (above and below) back-to-back to create an additional page insert.

NOVEMBER 5^{TH (continued)} & 6^TH :

NOVEMBER 7^TH :

I hope I can continue to plug away at this November Daily and stay pretty close to date. I've been carrying my very heavy Canon around in my purse to remind me to snap a photo. And so far, on the days that don't seem very eventful the quality of the iPhone photos has improved so much! And with Instagram I can edit it beautifully, email it to myself and rock and roll!

Happy Tuesday peeps! My next November Daily update will come along with a Finally Fall product collection giveaway----in case you are preparing for thanksgiving----!!!