A New Challenge Begins.

Lately, I've been having some fun (maybe too much fun) shopping for scrappy supplies, both online and in store. After making two daily deal site purchases on the same day, I decided that enough is enough. It's time to use up these supplies, both old and new before accumulating any more.
So now, I've taken on a personal challenge to freeze my scrappy spending and use up my stash. I haven't decided on a timeline yet, but I do have a few simple rules. I can still purchase adhesives and develop photos. All other supplies are off limits. Ok, that's really only one rule; but it's still simple. And simple is good!
So here is my first layout created since on this challenge. The picture is from December and is a favourite of mine that I've been wanting to scrap since I had it developed of Scott, Lilah and Kelsey snuggling together:
This layout uses paper from the Basic Grey Ambrosia kit I bought recently at a store yard sale. I believe the ribbon is also Basic Grey. They're scrap pieces. The rub-on title (that wouldn't rub on, so instead was glued on) is from an old Fancy Pants set.

The flowers were hand-cut, rolled up, glued, Glimmer Misted, squished and then attached with brads (also Basic Grey). The decorative border (Martha Stewart) was punched, and then I adhered the negative edge to the other side. The only paper wasted from this border was the tiny flower details.

The glued-on title that would not rub on.

Finished off with simple journaling.

What is great about this challenge, it's not just about saving money. It's about finding creative ways to make my supplies on-hand work for whatever project I'm doing. And to be perfectly honest, I've got plenty of stuff to keep me going for a looooong time.

Wish me luck!

MME, revisited.

Ok, so a few posts ago, I showed two different looks on two different layouts from one manufacturer, My Mind's Eye. Well, this time, I'm going to show you Be Loved and Meadowlark being used together on the same layout.

Our cat Spooky, like many cats loves to climb into boxes and bags. I snapped these pics of him getting caught in the handles of a cloth shopping bag and thought these two product lines worked well together for this subject. The patterned paper and the red border diecut are all from Be Loved. The polka dot rub-on border and two journaling/title tags are Meadowlark. The silliness is all Spooky!

Welcome, Spring!

This year I'm more excited for Spring than usual. It all started with a planter full of pretty purple and yellow pansies. Then, some Spring/Easter plant picks from the dollar store caught my eye. And then, there was the whimsical decorative birdcage at the thrift store. Put them all together and what do you get? A decorative front porch that makes me smile every time I leave or return home!

To top it off, Kelsey made up an Easter basket and strategically placed some pots and an old watering can. Oh and then there's the new cushions for our chairs.

Now, if only Mother Nature would cooperate with us a little!

Having Fun at my Misfortunes.

I had a lot of fun planning and making this layout about my favourite coffee shop's annual springtime promotion. The journaling explains it best:

Every spring, Tim Hortons has Roll Up The Rim To Win and year after year, I collect "Please Play Again" rims while Scott wins coffees, donuts and other goodies...galore! Of course, Scott takes great pleasure in teasing me everytime he gets a winner-and I take equal pleasure in telling him where to go. I wonder if he knows how lucky he is I love him? ;P

My family laughed at me for saving the losing rims. Now I think it makes sense to them.

Of special note: I used some of the Basic Grey Ambrosia paper kit I picked up at the Scrapping Turtle's yard sale, the circle and the masked swirl were cut from my new Cricut cart, Accent Essentials and the ribbon scrunching technique (I actually used two ribbons glued together) I've been just itching to try since I saw it on Two Scrapbook Friends' blog. Also, the Glimmer Mists were a new purchase. One of the daily deal sites had a 4 pack for $10 or so and I just couldn't resist!

I'm just a little excited about all my new loot, can you tell?

going swimmingly

It's taken me some time, but I've finally come up with a layout for the pictures I took of Cole during his last swimming class in March: I combined a fun mix of new papers and scraps, Thickers and cardstock letter stickers, borders, inking and ribbon.

The file folder below was from a punchie swap I did ages ago (so happy to still find uses for all that stuff!). In an effort to conserve paper, the Report Card was cut freehand with my new swivel finger knife from behind the photo on the same layout page. After so long without white cardstock, I can't seem to get enough of it and am now officially out of the good stuff again!

One Manufacturer, Two Different Looks.

I don't usually think too much about scrapbooking supply manufacturers. I like what I like and often take no notice of the label. But one name that often pops up in my supplies is My Mind's Eye. In fact, the last two paper packs I bought online happened to be MME, and arrived within days of each other.
The first layout shown was made with the Be Loved collection; a fun and colourful set perfect for Valentine's or any lovey-dovey layout. It seemed perfect for these pictures of the dogs jockeying for top spot on my lap. Some of the background flowers in the large stripe of patterned paper even look like paw prints!

And then, in a complete turnaround, is the classic black and white styling of the Meadowlark Dawn collection. I've also got the Dusk collection, but this was all made with Dawn (except for the purple circle tag, an oldie of unknown origins, and the cardstock). I like how the patterns worked with the background elements of my living room.

See that strip of black polka dots? That was the sample strip (showing the backside of the paper) from the bottom of the background paper. I've used those sample strips a lot, love the companies that put them on!

On a bit of a side note, I'd like to say that in real life, that bird eyeing me up would be doing so in anticipation of the perfect moment to peck my eyes out. Thank goodness paper birds are not so malicious!

So there it is, one paper manufacturer with two totally different looks, both that I love and I think are sooooo me.

My Studio, Now Improved With Purple-ish Carpet.

Thanks to my fabulous hubby, Scott, my studio is now sliver-free! I found this carpeting at a discount flooring store, marked down ridiculously low because it seems not everyone has an appreciation for purple-ish carpet. The salesman really liked my description of the colour, but that didn't get me any further discounts.


I should have gotten some shots while the studio was freshly put back together and tidy, instead of waiting until I was in the middle of a project....but such is life. This is how it looks most of the time, very lived in, just like the rest of my house!
And this time, I've included a shot of my stuffies, who watch me from the corner in their stuffie-bin. Hmmm.....I never really thought of them watching me.....creepy!