Scrappy: My favorite ME layouts

I'm really in a self-scrapping mood and have notice that while I love scrapping about my family, friends, boyfriend, and pets- I'm most inspired when I scrap about myself. Here are a few of my favorite ME layouts...















What topic inspires you the most?

Scrappy: I feel pretty...

This layout was inspired by the current challenge at the All About Me Challenge Blog. The challenge is to design a page about the soundtrack of your life and I was very excited to play along. A few years ago I made a mixed CD of the soundtrack of my life and still listen to it! I was going to do a layout about that, but then when I was looking through my supplies I found an ormolu tag that sparked another idea.

The journaling is very personal about my constant struggle with self-esteem:
I've struggled with my body image and feeling pretty for a long time. As a dancer I was always striving for the perfect body. I took drastic measures to stay thin, abused my feet to get a better arch, and was constantly putting myself down. I'm trying to learn to love myself and my body- from my "too tiny' head to my arthritic toe. I'm working out regularly and trying to maintain a healthy diet without going overboard. I will try to tell myself everyday- "I feel pretty, oh so pretty!"






I really enjoy the therapeutic nature of scrapbooking and exploring all of my emotions- even the ugly ones.

Scrappy: Bloom

Don't get me wrong- I love winter, but today is a cold, rainy day and it makes me long for a warm sunny day

These pictures were taken last spring at the gardens at Duke Universary- it was a gorgeous day.





What season is your favorite?

Serious Blog Neglect

School has started back, work has picked up again, and I'm trying to workout EVERYDAY without excuses. I'm exhausted when I get home and have my nose crammed in a book during most of my free time. All of my classes are heavy on the reading this semester, most of which I'm enjoying, but some is so very dry (ie: Tests and Measurements).

I've done little by way of creating, and I tried yesterday, but my mojo needs a jumpstart. I worked on a Valentine's Day present and I'm happy with it so I think I just need to sit down with my scrap stuff more often.

Here is layout about my goal (not resolution) for 2010. I want to run a 5k (or two) this year and I'm not allowing myself to have any excuses.



I already have another post lined up and need to take some pictures of some other projects. I'm back in the blogging saddle!

Scrappy: Wedding Album

I have kind of fallen of the blogging wagon since school started back.

Just a quick update- I've moved to Boone to eliminate my commute to school, I've started classes, and there is a lot of snow on the ground.

Last week I was really busy working on a wedding album for a friend and here are a few pictures of the album:







I'm hoping to work on a couple of projects tomorrow and Friday before the massive amount of reading starts!

BLOG HOP!

The hop will begin Friday the 8th at 12 noon PST and run through next Friday the 15th. So, you have plenty of time to visit each design team member's blog, leave comments, tell your friends about the blog hop and the report back here that you've finished. At each design team member's blog a different kit will be given away- just follow along the hop and you'll find out how to win!

The blog hop starts at Leah's blog.

You can check out the forum for some other great deals such as $20.10 credit for joining the kit club and AWESOME discounts for members! I love my Scrapbook Nook kits and highly recommend them. The girls on the forum are so kind and welcoming so check that out too!

Alright- let's get to hoppin'!

Scrappy: Loving Myself

I received a gorgeous kit last week and after staring at for a couple of days I was ready to make the cut and create!


I used the envelope as hidden journaling with a journaling card on the back and a note to myself tucked inside.



School starts for me on Monday and I'm making a promise to myself to continue to create this semester.

Scrappy: Together

This has been a wonderful start to 2010. Relaxing and enjoying being together with Ryan. We went out for a walk/jog in 21 degree weather with a bit of snow falling. We made it a mile and decided that was enough. I'm determined to give up all the excuses that I'm so good at using and actually get back in shape.

I've been enjoying the down time to scrap and have created another page from a scraplift. I adore Nicole Martel's style and it was fun to emulate it in my own way!



I used the title to cover up most of the other football fans behind rather than cropping the picture- a great way to cover up things you don't want while still having the size of photo you want!

Scrappy: Soup

I hope you are all enjoying the beginning of what I feel will be a wonderful year!

I'm so happy that I decided to spend this weekend in TN with Ry- he's watching bowl games and I'm scrapping away!

I created this layout for a Jump Start Scraplift Challenge at Two Peas.


A page about how creamy tomato soup from Panera always reminds me of my first date with Ry. Sappy as it may be, it's true.


A happy, healthy new year to you and yours!

Scrappy: Top Ten of 2009

As I look back on the past year I think about how far I have come as a scrapper. I started when I was young, keeping birthday cards and documenting every little thing that happened through middle and high school. Then I went to college and scrapped very little. I rediscovered the passion in late 2007, but then found even more- the online world of blogs, forums, challenges, and kit clubs! WOW!

It's all started with this card- a response to a card sketch, using scraps and creating something I was really happy with...

This layout is in my top 10 because of the journaling, it tells where I was at in life last year, which has changed and I want to do a comparison in February. Also- I thought about taking a better picture of it, but left it as is because learning to use natural lighting and stage my layouts was a huge step in my journey.

What a difference lighting makes...


LilyBee Mini Love the Three Little Birds line from Lily Bee and this album created for their mini album competition!


Using less, in order to make my monthly kit last longer...


I had a blast creating for the Scrap-Off at the Nook...can we do it again in 2010?


Loved scrapping pictures from my childhood!


Showing school spirit...Go Apps!


Still keeping it simple...


I think the Advent Calendar that I painted, assembled, and decorated is my over all favorite due to the amount of time I spent on it and the usefulness of it in the future!



I wish you all a fabulous New Year and I'll see you in 2010 with some updates and a bit of a facelift!

Scrappy: 2 Sketches 4 You

It's been a while since I've made a card so I decided to get a jump start by using this week's sketch from 2 Sketches 4 You. I used some leftover October Afternoon Very Merry, an ormolu tag, and some ribbons, flowers and pin from my stash:



Wishing you good luck in 2010!

Scrappy: 24 Years of Tradition

I have had this idea in my head for a week or so now, and I decided that this Becky Fleck sketch was the perfect format for a layout about my favorite Christmas tradition- getting a new ornament each year! I used the December Kit from My Scrapbook Nook with a few things from my stash- cardboard, Prima packaging, and Prima embellishments.





I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

I won!

I can't believe this! I actually won! Over on the Lily Bee blog they are giving away their collections for the 12 days of Christmas!
I won the Audrey line which was featured in the November kit from The Nook! I loved those papers and I'm so glad that I will have some more because they are so stinkin' gorgeous!

What a lovely Christmas surprise!

Scrappy: Silent Night, Holy Night

One of my favorite traditions is the midnight service on Christmas Eve. At the very end of the service, the lights are dimmed and candles are lit while we all sing Silent Night. It is the most perfect way to ring in Christmas morning.
Here is a layout about that tradition using the December Kit from The Nook.





It's snowing...a lot. Prepare for more blogging as I'm snowed in!

Advent Calendar-Part Two

It's complete and I'm beyond thrilled with the result.

The materials are Kaiser Craft Advent Calendar, Acrylic Paint, December kit (and add ons!) from My Scrapbook Nook, and some stash finds! The calendar was an add on for December and I knew that I just had to have it, especially seeing what Lynn from the Nook DT came up with! I lifted her title and found all sorts of inspiration from her calendar.








So there ya go- now that it is complete I can catch up on my December daily and start some layouts and last minute Christmas cards with the rest of my December kit!

It's beginning to look...

...a lot like Christmas around my parent's house!

I've been decorating since Friday and things are really coming together.

Here is our "fancy tree" or White, Silver, and Gold tree- we started decorating two trees last year because my mother was afraid that when my brother and I took our ornaments to our own homes someday that she wouldn't have any Christmas ornaments.



One of my favorite things about decorating for Christmas is reliving memories through ornaments. Some of my ornaments have wonderful stories attached to them and I still make my mother retell the stories from my younger years every time I hang the ornaments on the tree. I think it is a wonderful way to stay connected to my past and spend some one on one time with my mother during the holidays.

Between now and Christmas I'd like to share some of my favorite ornaments with you all.


I don't know why she's my favorite of my dancer ornaments, but I think she is beautiful! When I began dancing, I also began collecting ballerina ornaments (thanks Mom!). Each year my brother and I get a new ornament and I plan on passing that tradition on to my children someday. I'm still easy to shop for- I teach ballet and LOVE to dance. My brother on the other hand has given up traditional sports in recent years for hard to find sports such as bouldering and rugby.

Here is what is now dubbed the "Family Tree" with a whole lot of history on the branches!