Day 28 - the end

This is it.  This is the last layout for the LayOut A Day challenge I undertook for the month of February.  Can I just take a moment to let you know how much fun I had?  Well I had TONS!  This was an absolute blast.  My layouts are not works of art.  My layouts are not going to chosen to demonstrate good design principals.  My layouts are not going to win me any accolades or contests.  What my layouts are going to do is be passed on to future generations.  What I accomplished this month was a stack of 25 LO and each of them have purpose and tell a story that is relevant to us, to my family, my kids and husband.  That was worth the effort it took to make sure I got one done each day I was able.  I missed 3 days because we took a mini-break, but I don't care.  I still finished 25 LO.  That is freaking' awesome!!! I am kinda proud of me. 

This is the last layout.  Another photo collage.  This is at Wichita Mountains Wildlife Reserve.  The base card stock I inked with some frayed burlap from Tim Hotz.  The brown card stock is Cocoa from CTMH.  I cut it at 5 1/4" and ran it through my Big Kick using a tree bark embossing folder.  I then sanded the raised portions to add a little more personality.  The title block is a piece of scrap patterned paper that I used some Tim Holtz on the edge dies to cut the wonky scalloped boarder. The 'Totally' is the same scrap of patterned paper that I ran through my Cricut and cut the title letters.  The Wild is some chipboard letters and I put some rhinestones from KaiserCraft in the cut out holes. The Bity Brads on the title block are from CTMH.  The fabric circle is from Technique Tuesday I stamped it with Grey Wool ink from CTMH using a background stamp from Cornish Heritage Farms called Scratched Grid and then ran it through my printer for my journaling. The button came from my stash of stuff and I tied the bow using CTMH Hemp.  The metal hardware on the paper strip came from my stash of stuff.

That is it.  The end......

Well not really.  I hope to continue at a good pace now that I have found my scrapping groove.  Can I tell you again how much fun this was.  Oh, it was way, way fun!

Layout day 27

This is a fun one.  I love using photo collages.  I can get a bunch of pictures on a page and I only have to print one time.  By the way, I print my pictures myself.  I am a in the moment scrapper.  When I see something that triggers an emotion or a really cool memory that is what I scrap, and I want to scrap it right then.  So I have learned over the years that I am better off just printing what I want to scrap.  Trust me.....I have many times uploaded a ton of photos to print places only to in the interim of waiting for them to arrive  printed the same photo again. Or even better, I have printed a ton of photos only to have them sit in the the little orange cardboard sleeves cause I forgot why I thought they were scrap worthy or I have already scrapped them from a print I printed myself.  I know....bad habits.  But I am learned and now only print when I want to scrap. 

This one is from 2008 - the trip to OK.  After we went to the Witchita Mountains Wildlife Reserve we stopped by this crazy cool place called Meers.  I don't know how my Dad found it, all I know is it is worth the detour.  It is in the middle of no-where OK.  I am sure there is plenty around, I just don't know the area so to me, an outsider, it is the middle of nowhere. Anyway, the burgers at this joint are AWESOME!!!!  The are just simple, to the point burgers.  And according to the menu if you want mayo your a sissy.  We always enjoy going to eat with my dad aka Pop's.  Pop's always knows the best places and they are always filled to the brim with personality.  If you are out near the Witchita Mountain Wildlife Reserve be sure to look up Meers.  It's worth the effort. 

T. 

LOAD Day 26

LO for today.  I was a bit upset with my daughter because without asking me she replaced the screen saver on my phone.  (I didn't tell her at the time, though).  However, the two months since I have been bugged every time I go to answer my phone.  I loved that picture of my kiddos. 

This morning I woke up and went on a search of this picture.  And believe me it was a search.  I was almost in tears.  But the good news is that I found the picture.  I was so relieved.  When I was printing it out I knew that I had to tell this story.  So, here it is. 

Here is the LO.  This picture was taken back in 2008.  The Autumn after we moved back stateside from Australia.  We were homeschooling at the time so we could go on week long adventures like this one.  I took the kiddos and we drove out to OKC from VA.  This picture was taken on top of a mountain overlooking the Witchita Mountains Wildlife Reserve.  My dad and mom had taken us out there for the day to see the buffalo.  The kids were freezing, but they were also so happy to be with their grandparents and to see buffalo in the wild.  I don't know what it is about a picture that can just bring you back to that moment in time.  I can almost hear them giggling and screeching every time the wind would kick up.  I had taken a few photos with my Rebel and then on a whim pulled out my iPhone and snapped this picture.  The best of the bunch because it was more natural, less 'smile for the camera', than the other photos I had taken. 

The journaling is also a bit on the sappy side as I realized looking at this picture how much my kiddos have grown in the past 2 years.  I am guilty of always wanting to push the pause button on life.  I know that there isn't one, but I sure wish there was.  I think that is why I scrap, it is my little way of pausing the precious moments I share with my family and friends.    

I distressed some Tim Holtz grunge board die cuts.  Found these at Tuesday Mornings last year.  You got a pack of 94 shapes for $7.99.  I painted them with a base coat of Distress Crackle paint in tarnished bronze.  Then I put a coat of Frayed Burlap over the bronze to tone it down  a bit.  Sanded down some spots and then layered on a bit of the Vintage Photo ink. 

I also used a mask from Tim Holtz to add the clock to the brown card stock. 

The title is a rub on that I put right on the photo. 

If you look closely you will see that after I finished the LO and snapped a photo of it I realized it need one more thing.  So just above the hinge on the right I added a Tim Holtz charm that says Thoughts. 

LOAD Day 25

I love pictures of my kiddos. 

I love looking at them. 

I love remembering whatever details of that moment that I can still remember, which as I get older, are not as clear as they used to be.  I love being a mom.  I love being a wife.  I love that I can share my love with my family with my hobby of scrapbooking.  

Just thought you should know that about me. 

Okay, on to today's post. 

I am still sticking to my 'dig through the stash mentality'.  So, this morning when I decided that I would scrap one of my favorite photos of my son, Shane, I immediately pulled out my paper file and dug through until I found the first thing that spoke to me.  

And I made this.  3 pieces of card stock and one piece of patterned paper.  I distressed the edges just to give it a more time worn appearance.  

The little tags that I made using a border sticker that I folded and tucked behind the picture.  

The S is a chipboard letter that I distressed with some sand paper and then adhered to a Tim Holtz acrylic piece.  I attached the acrylic embellishment to the layout using some embroidery floss.  

I also stitched the all the layers to the background paper.  This was super easy and really fast. 

This is how I made that happen.  I bought this plastic mesh at the craft store over in the needle craft section.  It is used for cross stitching. You can buy a 8x11sheet for like $.50.  I cut mine up into little square pieces that I use as a paper piercing guides.  I also used my paper piercer to make the holes.  And if you are like me I worn out my foam mat that came with my paper piercer.  So, again I went to the craft store and bought some craft foam for $.99 and cut that into smaller squares that I use to back my paper when I paper pierce. 

After I pierced my holes I just ran some embroidery floss through the holes.  

While I scrap I like to listen to podcasts.  My favorite scrapping companions are on The Paperclipping Roundtable.  I find that as I scrap they (the hosts and guest hosts) keep me company.  If you haven't listened to The Paperclipping Roundtable you should go check it out.  I love their meandering conversation on all things scrappy.  Every week there is a topic of discussion.  Much like you would chat with a girlfriend over a cup of coffee the conversation stays on topic, but has an organic flow as their thought process wrangle with the topic at hand. 

Okay, you've heard enough from me.  

Go, get scrappy!

Have a good one, 

T. 

LOAD Day24

This LO captured a conversation that my daughter and I had in the car on Saturday.  I am often amazed at how my kiddo's minds work,  their sense of self, their sense of the world and just the inner workings of their minds.  They are always thinking and processing information, constant mental motion.  Some of our the best little chats we have are the ones that just evolve from one subject to another all willy nilly.  I think that is awesome. 

So on this day we walked in the door and I immediately went to my computer and jotted down the last bit of our chat.  I am so happy that I can capture that moment for me to reflect on days and years from now.  That is why I scrap.  

The LO is super simple.  The title letters are from CTMH - DE Simple Alphabets (Z1048).  They are white chip board that I stamped with Versamark and clear embossed then inked.  I love how cute they turned out. 

The flowers are just die cut using my Cricut, as is the butterfly. 

Everything else is just stuff I pulled from my stash of paper.  The patterned paper is from October Afternoon from an 8x8 stack, no cutting, just laid it down. 

The boarder on the journaling strip is punched using a Martha Stewart punch.  It punches the scallops and the holes and embosses the flowers at the same time.  

Now, go scrap!

T. 

LOAD Day 23

LOAD Day 23, originally uploaded by Tambur.

The question is where do you get your inspiration from.

Often when it comes to design you can go right to the experts - ad men.

Yup, those guys get paid the big bucks to convey a message and sell a product through visual ad campaigns. Just flip through a magazine, or check out the billboards as your driving and see what sparks your creative juices.

I was flipping through a Southern Living magazine saw and that ad that inspired me to make this LO.

The Ad reads:  Around here, it's hard to say which is of greater value - 100 miles of beautiful uncrowded beach or the chance to affordably share the experience with loved ones and close friends.  It's different out here.

My journaling plays off of that and reads:  Around here, it's hard to say which is of greater value - sitting in an ancient Roman Coliseum in Cyprus or the chance to share that experience with loved ones.  It's different out here.

Super quick, super easy and so much fun.

Go find some inspiration in your magazines.

Have a good one,

T.

LOAD Day 22

I missed a few days of the LOAD challenge. But, I had a really good reason.  My hubby took us away this weekend.  We went to Paphos for the weekend.  Paphos is located at the south end of the island about a 2 hour drive. We booked a hotel for 2 nights and had ourselves a mini-break. Just because I missed a few days does not mean that I am out.  I decided to just pick up with today's challenge and go from there.  If I have time I will make up my missed days.  If I don't make up the missed days, I'm okay

with that.  No worries. 

Here is my LO for day 22.  

There is a back story here.  We were driving along the coast on our way to Paphos and decided to stop at Aphrodite's Rock, you know the Goddess of love.  My hubby spontaneously jumped up on a rock to strike a pose, like the Greek God's so often do and he was slammed by a rogue wave.  I love this man! 

Anyway, after we had a good laugh we were walking along and I turned around because my hubby had paused a moment and he had found a heart shape rock and placed it over his heart.  Man, I melted. 

This is the tag I made that holds the journaling that I hid behind the photo collage. 

A few embellishments that I grouped together at the bottom of the page. 

The key was actually at my hubby's place setting for Valentines day with a heart attached.  Just thought I would reuse some of my handy work.  Since he does have the key to my heart - I know, cheesy, but true. 

Have a good one. 

T.