Papercraft Haven and More

     I don't consider myself a "lucky" person...I have had my fair share of things I have been through in life.  I lost an ex-husband to suicide and my father to Alzheimer's disease both on 8/5 - which was 3 days after my birthday - 5 years apart.  I was involved in a tornado 6 days after the ex died - in Salt Lake City, Utah - where tornado's don't hit. I was molested by 3 different people - I had an ex-wife from HELL get involved in my life and try to ruin and devastate not only me but my husband and my marriage.  However, I am one lucky woman when I met my husband Del, let me tell you!        Del came in my life when I needed someone the most - and I came in his about the same time!  We both had kids from previous relationships and marriages that we tried to blend (thus the ex-wife from hell comment) but he was something I just could not get enough of - especially how wonderful of a father he is!  He has a loving yet jackas...

     This week, we are going to focus on a technique, and then will show you different ways to do this "technique" this week.  Journaling on your layouts is one of the most important steps when you scrapbook - as it brings the photos to light.  It's more than just the who, what, where, when and why's of the photos but the art of bringing the story to place that truly is the key!        When you are first starting out - may I suggest getting either a notebook or lined paper to keep track of things.  On this paper, write out information - who was there, what did you do, where were you at, when did it happen and why did this take place.  Keep track of the little things people say and do, in order to keep track of those type of events too.  As you are scrapbooking, think of the generations that are yet to be - and what they can learn from your pages!        What do you need to "journal" correctly?  I ha...

     Every Monday, you will get a challenge to work on for the week - this weeks challenge is the above ad!!!  When you look at ads, don't just look at what they are selling, learn to look at the placement of the items  for help, especially when you are just starting out!  For me I love the white space to start with, making the light green pop against the background.  I also love the daisy's - but then I always like a good flower when I create!  I also love how they used the blue with the layout, but for me, I didn't want to use blue - instead using black for my journaling.        My take for the challenge is this layout, made with Serif Digital Scrapbook Artist 2 software, and Painted Backyard free kit.  I started with the all white background, and then added the green for the middle.  I then added the frame, picture - and then the hearts for the embellishments, finishing off with the journaling below the pictur...

**If you are here for the 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop - please see the next post - but make sure you check out this post too!!!** Welcome to the "Christmas" Blog Hop!! We're so happy you could join us for this super-fun hop showcasing cards, layouts and projects that feature everything wonderful about Christmas!!  You'll find an array of ideas throughout the hop -- From decorations to gift ideas and more, we hope you'll enjoy each and every project along the way!! This is a TWO-DAY hop, so be sure to catch both days for maximum ideas (you can find the entire line up for both days here -  We can guarantee LOTS of SPARKLE and SHINE for this Ho-ho-holiday event... So let's get hopping!!  You are at the beginning of the hop - so lets get started with today's hop!!!   For the hop today, I'm sharing part of my Christmas photos and how I do the entire Christmas photos I take.   For this first set of layouts - I do a pocket page to put...

Welcome to the Girlie-Girl Blog Hop, where all things girlie girl will be seen. Each person has their own interpretation of what girlie girl means so this hop should be fun. Lorby's World is our hostess for this hop so please begin the hop at her blog:  http://lorbysworld.blogspot.com/  and continue through from there. Lorby will be giving away a $10 gift card to winner's choice of Michael's or Joann's. Rules to be in the drawing: 1. Comment on all the blogs. (These ladies have put a lot of time and effort into their projects so show them the love.) 2. Become a follower on Lorby's World blog. Sweetness right side  Sweetness left side  This is Terra - my daughter who is almost 21!  The dress is something special my mom made for her - her "Christening Gown" you might say!  The layouts originally started with an Ad Challenge from an old scrapbooking web site I used to belong to!  I loved the challenges and message board aspect of th...

     Welcome to Ashley's Glamorous Side of Scrapping Anything BUT a Card Blogaversary Blog Hop - if you are here from Susan , then you are totally in the right place!  However, if you just happened upon my blog, then you have got to go back to the beginning which is Ashley , because the beginning is always the best!!!       Ashley will have a few sponsors for this fun hop, so make sure you start with her blog first and leave comments!!!   And last but certainly not least...Happy Blogaversary Ashley, I hope this is a great day for you, I know you have worked hard on your blog and it really shows girl!!!    Now, here is our line-up for the day, in case you get lost along the way!!!   Ashley -  http://theglamoroussideofscrapping.blogspot.com Ellen -  http://cardmonkey-business.blogspot.com Misty -  http://mbtreasurista.blogspot.com/ Liz -  http://decadeofscrap.blogspot.com/ Teresa - ...

     I am so happy to introduce a new design team I am on, Simply52 Designers Blog, formerly known as Pencil Lines!   Sketches are wonderful to use - and this sketch is no different!!!  You also are given possible colors to use along with your creation, to make it easier to do your own thing!  As I type this, I see a fun card I can do just by using the right side of the sketch only!  Looks like I will need to play a little bit this weekend it looks like!        For the sketch - you will also find this at Simply52 Designers Blog...(link to follow)...  Sketch #1, Simply 52 Designers Blog, formerly known as Pencil Lines      My creation came together and was a lot of fun to do once I got it started!  It was one of those pictures that I have wanted to scrapbook, but no inspiration to finish actually do it!  Once I put together the background paper, the rest really came together in no time!  I...

Different        Alphabet templates can be used in a variety of different ways for your titles, I have shown you a few basic ways this week...today's is kicking it up a bit using brads or eyelets!  For me, I love purchasing 12 x 12 paper, even if I am doing 8.5 x 11 layouts because I can use the extra paper for embellishments or other aspects - "Different" is like that!         I used Chatterbox paper that has a pattern on one side, and the pink on the other side.  On the picture, I used the wavy and square frame from Sizzix and on the right side of the pink frame left it open so I could add tags to it with journaling about ways I am "different" as well as the definition of the word.  For the embellishment, I simply took flowers from the background paper and cut them out to make the little square.  Add your floss and ribbon to the tags, and the flower to the photo.  Now you are ready for the title.  After c...

     One thing I love to do is read... I do book reviews for Simply Stacie  - and have loved reading since I was just a little girl.  Being the youngest, I would sit and watch my mom and dad read book after book...seems the rest of us girls got that same gene!!!         For this layout, I used one of my favorite color schemes, blue, wheat and ivory...  I made the paper piecing of the books, out of scraps and a marker - various heart die cuts and punches (totally taken from My Creative Companion 2).....and then pictures of my books to complete the look.   Supply list:   2 sheets wheat cardstock  2 sheets blue cardstock 1 sheet Ivory cardstock Alphabet rub-on's  Larger alphabet item (chipboard or thick letter) for the "I" Various die cuts and punches Black marker Directions:   Step one:  Take the blue sheet of paper, trim 1" from the side and bottom of the paper.   Step two:  Trim t...

Different.....      For this challenge, I want you to find a photo...it doesn't matter if the photo is older, or current - find a photo!  Then find a word that describes you - I chose "different" because I am different than most people are....I feel different and I am different...        I started with the 1 word title first - I added the definition of "different" and tags with journaling coming out the side of the layout.   Supply list:   1 sheet background paper (I used 12 x 12 Chatterbox paper to be able to use the extra's) Coordinating paper Alphabet template Brads Sizzix frames & tags Floss & ribbon for the tags Button Marker to match Directions:   Step one:  Cut your background paper to 8.5 x 11 (unless you do 12 x 12 albums) putting the extra aside for use later on.   Step two:  From the coordinating paper, die cut the Sizzix frames in both the wave and the square background.  A...

Life, left side  The other day, I posted this post...  including a challenge for you to create a layout with a quote, poem or saying that you like...  From that challenge, this is the layout spread that I have finished up...    Quote by Jeff Taylor, digital layout spread made with Serif Digital Scrapbook Artist 2 software and page kits.   Life isn't about taking score...who did this, or who didn't do that...  It's not about he said this or she said that's...and it's really not about who was there and who wasn't...  It isn't about how rude you can be to another person, or who is "different" than you are...  A nd it certainly isn't about who can lie the best about things that shouldn't be lied about.     What life IS about... spending time with those you care about, being happy - even if things have went wrong in your life.   It's about standing up for something EVEN IF YOU ARE STANDING ALONE... It's about laughing ...

       Santa's Helpers - one of the funnest layouts I have done in a long, long time!  I hope you enjoy in recreating this fun layout!                                                      Supplies needed:   Cardstock - green                  white                   red Patterned paper - green                            red Gold paper Scraps of brown paper for sign Eyelets Punches - bow, circle, sun Elf (my own design, made from a paper doll that was   cut smaller) Pom pom's for the tips of the elf shoes Paper trimmer for the small things that need to be trimmed Left side of layout Alphabet stamps  Stamp pad in black Black embossing powde...

       When it comes to Christmas - do you painstakingly take time in each and every small detail, from the parties, to the gifts, to the cards you send out each year?  I know I don't...and each year, the gifts either aren't finished in time, or they don't get sent, or I just didn't get along with my family enough to be able to send them much of anything - you get what you give or so they say!  This year - I am spending time THIS MONTH in making some of the things I need for that fun event...and planning the cards I want to do, the mini album projects, and the gifts for people...all to make this years Christmas a funner one than last years was!   From a fun framed page that is customized for everyone, to the cards I send out... each item is being made with love, detail and attention!          In this layout, I used darker colors of red and green, with bits of gold for the accent color, and a bit of ivory to make it all pop....