Happy Friday everyone!   I wanted to share with you a project I took to work on at the SISS retreat weekend.  It is a fun little 8 X 8 "brag" book that I am putting together of a 4th of July vacation trip we took to New Orleans last year.  This two page spread was done with a product line from Kiwi Lane that I rely on all the time when I am designing pages.

The Kiwi Lane layout templates help you visualize a page before you cut any very special paper and they help me so much with putting a page together.  I always of course start with the pictures because they "talk" to me and tell me what color scheme, etc they will go best with.

Then I get out the Kiwi Lane templates and start layering and laying out the design for the page.  Kiwi does carry their templates in different sizes but I have only invested in 12" since that is what I do most.  I think the 12" works just fine on an 8" page - you just have to adjust a little bit off the page.  I used a double set of borders and layered them.  Then on the left page a couple of tags and a "badge" form under the cathedral cut out.  On the right side there is a layered star and cute arrow.

When you get everything in place, it's just a matter of tracing out the shape on paper, cutting it out, and gluing it down.  Here are the basic pieces replaced with paper and the photos matted.

I also inked around the edges of all the pieces in a coordinating blue ink to make them pop.

Now it's time for the details.  Some pop dots to make a couple of the pieces really stand out, some Wink of Stella for bling, stickers, and naturally a title.

Kiwi lane templates can help you really put together a page fast!

I wanted to share with you some of the fabulous haul that I got last weekend at the Keller's creations SISS retreat in Grapevine and the Heirloom Pro show also in Grapevine.  I will share many of the new products and techniques with you soon.  Well ok as soon as I get all of this stuff unpacked and organized!  LOL  The picture above is some of my very favorite Keller's Creations products and some new ones I can't wait to try out.  Circles, Circles, Circles - the thing that attracted me to Keller's in the get go.  I bought lots of colors and prints to coordinate and can't wait to put them to work.  Got some great page kits and their new scrap it fast kits which are AMAZING! You will see them in action soon on one of those cute chipboard albums you see as well.

Keller's page kits and ring quotes.  See where some of those rings will be going soon????

The cutest line of Christmas paper and embellishments - I couldn't resist...

And I think that Kim designed this line just for me since my football playing son's school colors are red, black, and white - GO Panthers!

Fabulous quickly made card class from Catherine Smith with Close to my Heart.  Had great fun getting introduced to lots of their products over the weekend!

An awesome door prize from Carta Bella - a very favorite paper line of mine.

And last but certainly not least.  I discovered a scrapbook manufacturer that I have never seen before at the Heirloom show in a booth from Just Crop called Kaisercraft.  They are from Australia and their products are just yummy.  Can't wait to play with some of these Valentine stamps and papers.  So happy that they will be at the Plano Stamp Scrap Art Show this weekend.  I know, I know more shows?  When will I ever have time to crop?  Check them out at www.ssatshows.com . It just seems there is a whirlwind of shows here in the DFW Metroplex early in the year all getting their latest and greatest out there in the market for the new year.  Being the professional shopper I am - I am happy to go check it all out for you and report back here  :)   Happy Scrapping!

Such an exciting weekend on tap!   Two - count them TWO scrapbook events in the same weekend in the DFW Metroplex and I am going to attempt to make it to both of them.  

First up is the SISS (Scrap it Southern Style) Weekend Retreat in Grapevine.   This is the very first time they have come to the Dallas Area and I can't wait to get started this afternoon!  Check it out under the events tab at www.acidfree.com .   Keller's Creations has been a favorite of mine for years and I have taken several classes from Kim and of course bought lots of product and love how all of her things work together.  

Here is a layout I did with her beautiful circles:

I can't wait to take classes from her and the other vendors and teachers in for the retreat.  I am sure that I will have wonderful things to share with you that I learn from the weekend and taking 6 classes!

And next up is the Heirloom Stamp and Paper Arts Festival which comes to Grapevine twice a year.  Check them out at www.heirloompro.com . I have been attending this show for many years and can't wait to see what new products show up that I might just have to have  :)

I have all my tools packed, a scrap project packed and lots of caffeine at my disposal so let's do this crazy cropping double event weekend!

First post for 2016 - Must be a gift from Momma Love!

Happy New Year everyone and welcome to my very first blog post.  One of my New Year's Resolutions was to treat myself better in 2016 and along with that goal is to accomplish some things this year that I have been "kicking" around for sometime, like this blog.

I am very excited about the opportunity to share with you all of the wonderful things that I stumble upon during this completely blessed life.

For my very first post I wanted to share a gift idea with you for teachers.  This is a gift I know they will actually want and use at the end of the school year in prep for the summer.   I know, I know, it's a bit early but us hard working Moms have to plan ahead a bunch!

I put together a Beach getaway bag for all of my son's teachers.  Something they can just grab on their way out the door to the beach for the first summer swim that has everything they will need for a relaxing day in the sun.  I of course had to get my scrapbook supplies out to cutesy it up especially for them. 

I started with the gift tag. I used my large 3" circle punch and some yellow card stock to go along with my yellow and blue theme for the gift.  Sun and sky - get it? lol   I printed the saying on the 8 1/2" x 11" paper through my printer and punched them out.  I then of course had to add some bling.  As you get to know know me you will see that will always be the case.  Out came the Stella wink glitter marker in yellow.  These things are amazing!  For us gals that are always in need of instant gratification - glued on glitter that is dry immediately?  AMAZING!  If you haven't already - invest in some - you will not be dissappointed!

 

Doesn't it add just the right amount of sparkle?

Then I used my large 3 1/2" scalloped punch with a bit darker yellow card stock for the back.  Just punch a hole, add some ribbon and walla - cutesy tag!

To the bag I added a nice blue beach towel with a pretty yellow polka dot ribbon.

And who doesn't like a bit of candy for the perfect day?  Yellow and blue theme repeated in a box of Lemonheads with a Cute tag tied on with ribbon.

I printed the saying out again on yellow paper through my printer adding a rectangle border.  Then used my tag punch, a bit of Stella wink glitter pen and some Queen Co. bling.

Here is pic of the finished project.  cute beach bag stuffed with the beach towel, candy, flip flops, an insulated cup, puzzle book,  and sunscreen.  Your imagination is the only limit here.

I hope this project inspires you to create something that makes your kids teachers say, "Love That!"