This Is Why...

I haven't been blogging much lately. Because whenever I have a spare moment (after the boys are in bed), I scrapbook instead. It's my therapy. My outlet. I love taking a blank canvas and turning it into something creative and beautiful. I love knowing that my boys will have their most special memories and moments (okay, I know it's more like EVERY moment that I document, but it's in those everyday moments that life is at it's best) captured for a lifetime.

And, no. I haven't forgotten that I promised some of you a few PSE/digital scrapbooking tutorials. I've just been lazy. I haven't felt like sitting down with PSE and doing all of those screenshots and then typing it out step by step here on the blog. But I promise...it's coming...eventually. Until then, I hope you enjoy a few of my latest creations.

As always, images are linked for credits.


Pure Beauty
Fall Majesty

Shhh

Believe In You

Space Cadet

An Update and A Few Pages

The house is moving along! It's bricked and lots of progress has been made on the inside as well. The stucco guy is coming tomorrow to begin, so where you see the Stine plastic...that will be stucco. Obviously, the boards will down too...they were needed to keep the rain out.
And here's a view of the back. I LOOOOVE, LOVE, LOVE the huge windows!! I want (translate neeeed) lots and lots of natural light, so I'm head over heels for these windows! The small posts on the patio will also be replaced with 10x10 cypress posts. I have so many ideas swimming in my head with how we will landscape the back yard. :) And now, on to a few scrapbook pages I've done this past week.

Ordinary Moments:
Journaling reads: It's in the ordinary moments that life becomes extraordinary.


Remember This Moment:
Journaling reads: Flowers. From my little boy. We had just arrived at Point du Hoc. I had to stay in the car to feed Noah. Brady and Daddy got out and started looking around because B was in the middle of a tantrum. About 15 minutes later they showed back up at the car. I could tell that B had a handful of something. Rocks, I assumed. Instead I was sweetly surprised. For in his little outstretched hand were a bunch of the prettiest little yellow and white flowers. I'm a sucker for these offerings. These tiny little treasures made me pause in my frustration. They made me realize that though our parent/toddler relationship isn't perfect, I'm doing okay by my boy. After all, he still wants to give me flowers.
Very Sweet:
Journaling Reads: Life Is Very Sweet Being Your Mom

Window: (This LO is for a "Life Lessons" book I'm putting together for the boys.)

Journaling Reads: Life Lesson 102: If one door opens to another door closed, keep on walking til' you find a window.

Free Bird:

Journaling Reads: Oh, B! This is what you most loved about Paris. Chasing the pigeons at the Louvre. I think it may have been my favorite part too! :)

That's it...have a great week, y'all!

Images are linked for credits.

Check This Out!

Here's two more recent LO's I've completed. One for each of my precious boys! The kit is Into The Night by Stolen Moments and it's on SALE right now for 30% off! This is absolutely one of my favorite kits!! It's gorgeous!! Perfect for girl pages, boy pages, wedding pages or LO you want to add an easy elegant touch to!

Hello, Perfection:

I Love You:

Images are linked for full credits.

I've Been A Scrapin'

I've been churnin' and burnin', turnin' out some scrapbook pages (Excuse the corny line. I'm in one of those moods. :))


I just thought that I'd start posting more of my scrapbook pages here on the blog. I know some of you scrapbook too and some of you are interested in PSE and all of the wonderful, amazing things you can do with the program, so I figure you'd be interested. And, if you're not, maybe I can inspire you to start preserving your memories too!


I scrap our lives...our everyday memories, to preserve them for the boys. So that one day they can look back at these albums and remember all of the wonderful (and even the not so wonderful) times. These pages are part of the legacy I want to leave for them.


I'll post the journaling under each LO so you'll know what each one is about. And then, I'll link each image to my gallery with credits in case you'd like to pick up any of the wonderful goodies you see.


And, if you'd be interested in a few simple tutorials, leave a comment letting me know, and I'll see what I can come up with. I'm certainly no pro, but I have enough of a basic foundation, that I could help get you get started and guide you through a few key techniques.


Here are my 3 most recent layouts. For the first two, I tried to embrace my inner minimalist...a challenge for me. I love the clean look of this type of LO, but struggle to get a post worthy page together. I think these two came out really nice. The third LO is more of the style I tend to gravitate towards.


Anyway, enjoy and let me know if you have any questions. :)



Breathtaking:
Journaling Reads: Growing up a young girl in small town Louisiana , I dreamed of seeing the Eiffel Tower...of sitting at a sidewalk cafe, eating croissant, drinking a cafe au lait, as I watched the Parisians walk by. It was a dream I never thought I'd have the opportunity to realize. Living in Germany has provided me with an opportunity to see some of the world's most amazing cities. I will never forget the sights, the smells, the sounds, the beauty of Paris. It took my breath away. I will forever be grateful that I have these precious memories.

A Perfect Day In Rome:

Journaling Reads: The Eternal City. Historic, timeless, rustic, perfection. Rome has always been at the top of my list of places to see, but I wondered if I ever would. It did not disappoint. The food, incredible. The people, warm, friendly, kind. They have a way of making you feel at home. Every day spent there was a perfect day. Around every corner another piece of history was awaiting me. Given the chance I'd go back this second. I could spend ages there, just strolling along the tiny cobblestone streets, taking in the sights and smells of what is one of the world's greatest cities. I traced the footsteps of emperors, stood where Caesar's throne sat, walked the hallowed halls of the Vatican, entered the arena where gladiators fought and marveled at the ingenuity of the Romans. It was truly amazing. I walked a city that has stood for nearly 3,000 years. How do I even begin to describe that?

Pitter Patter Goes My Heart:

Journaling Reads: 20 little things I love about you...you love me, you're an awesome daddy, you're a man of God and the spiritual leader of our home, you work hard to provide for us, you help me out around the house with anything from cleaning to handy work...you're very handy, you know?, you always tell me i'm a great cook...even when i'm not, you have the patience of Job with me and the boys, you let me pick out your clothes, you always come home smiling...even when i know you've had a bad day, you give great back rubs, you think i'm funny, you're proud of me, you still enjoy taking me on dates...7 years later, you're my best friend, you have the most genuine smile and laugh, you can still melt my heart with those baby blues, you think you're the lucky one...even though i know i am, you let me think i'm right...even when i'm not, you tell me everyday that i'm beautiful, you gave me the two most amazingly beautiful little boys in the whole world

A Hobby With Rewards!

So. By now you know that I do a lot of digital scrapbooking. Over the last few weeks, I began uploading my LO's (layouts) to a digital scrap gallery. Much to my surprise, one night, I had a message from one of the designers asking me to apply for her CT (creative team). ***On a side note, I'm learning that digital scrapbooking has as many acronyms as the Army!*** I did, and two days later I was on her team!

I'm thrilled about this new venture! Not only is it nice to be recognized for doing something you REALLY enjoy, but it's even awesomer (I know that's not really a word. I'm just in a quirky mood. :)) when you get to do it with and for some FANTASTIC other women!

I'm designing for Stolen Moments Designs. When you digi-scrappers get a chance head over to her store at Scrap Matters. You'll find lots of amazing goodies!

Here's one of my favorite LO's that I've done, titled "I Love You". It was created using SMD's (Stolen Moments Designs) Into The Night Kit. And, just so you don't think I'm being biased in my choice, I created this one before I became part of the team!

Scrapin' Slave

Lately, in what little spare time I have (naptime and after the boys go to bed), I've been a slave to my computer. I was determined to at least get caught up on the boys scrapbooks, and I have! They now each have a "How You Grow" album for each year. I've also started, and nearly caught up, on our "Who We Are" family album, "People We Love" album to remember those special times with family and friends, and our "The Places We Go Album" to show case our travels.

I know that my boys probably won't care too much about these, but one day, their wives and children will appreciate seeing them. So, to my future daughter-in-laws, these are as much for you as they are for me!

Here are a few of my favorites...

Journal for Miss Isabella

I've been wanting to make one of these journals ever since I saw the ones Mrs. Skinner was making over at The Polkadot Giraffe.

I had this pretty pink and green scrapbook paper to use and I thought of little Bella, who has a pretty pink and green nursery.

The problem was finding ribbon. You can't find any here. So, I ordered some online, along with enough to make journals for my boys.

I plan on using theirs (which I've yet to make) to record all of the cute, funny things they say and do to melt my heart. I hope Bella's mommy can find a use for hers.

A Little More Photoshop Fun

Sorry to bore you with more photoshopped pictures of Brady, but I'm just obsessed with it! I can't stop! I start vibrating just thinking about having another pretty little face to play with in a few weeks!


Every time I have insomnia, I grab my computer and start editing my favorite old pics. I've been up on more than one night until 4 a.m. It's a bit of a sickness...I know!


Anyway...If you have a version of Photoshop and you have any idea how to use it (I had mine for about 6 months before I did anything other than open the program, scratch my head, and close it) I got these actions from Coffeshop (she has awesome FREE stuff and LOTS of it!) and the textures from Florabella.

Wild Haired Child

This morning B woke up with some seriously WILD hair! It was sticking up everywhere and I thought it was too adorable not to capture it. So I grabbed my camera and started taking a few pictures.

The originals didn't really 'wow' me. In fact I was a little disappointed. But, I thought a few had potential.

The first had some decent natural lighting, thanks to the 3 huge windows in our living room. The second was taken in our bedroom with the blinds down, so it was pretty dark and not so great looking.

After playing around with them in Photoshop for a while I think they're frame worthy! They captured the moment just as I saw it...

PSE: Just Too Cool

I'm in love with my PSE! Photo editing is my new obsession!

It's just amazing what you can do! Until now, I've only used it for scrapbooking.

Yesterday, I decided to start teaching myself a bit about it's photo editing capabilities and I'm just blown away!

Two of these I applied actions to and then tweaked a little myself. The other I just applied layer masks to. Anyway, I thought they looked way cooler than the originals.

And only one of these was taken with my Nikon. The other two are from my old point and shoot. Now, I can't wait for a little better weather to get B outside and take some great pictures!

Thought I'd share a few before and afters...

BEFORE:
AFTER:

BEFORE:

AFTER:

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Let me know if you know of any cool sites to download actions or textures...or if you have any good tricks up your sleeve!

These actions came from Coffee Shop and Flora Bella.

Gift Enclosure Cards

I don't know about you, but it seems with every party, shower, or other gift getting occasion, I have trouble remembering who gave what gift! I try to write it down or have someone write it down for me, but one or two gifts are always over looked.

I remember when I was a young girl, I had some little pink & green (my favorite colors at the time) gift enclosure cards. When I went to a birthday party, my mom would wrap one of the little cards up in the gift I gave. The recipient knew who it came from, and they were helpful in making the thank-you card process a breeze!

My sister asked me to design some gift enclosure cards for my ADORABLE nephew, Gaines the other day, and I decided to make some for my boys as well. I don't know about you, but I think they came out pretty darn cute!

I love things that add a touch of personalization and are both functional and fun, and these little cards fit the bill!