Mojo is Back!

After a long break from crafting and blogging, it's good to be back with some new layouts, cards and challenge posts!

These last few months have been busy with homeschool and homeschool co-op with my youngest, plus spending time with my oldest, taking him to his new job and teaching him to drive in the process.  I also signed up as a Stampin' Up consultant, which has been such a fun time! (more on this later)

We just took a ten day Spring Break, in which I took the opportunity to go through my scrap stash and purge many things that hadn't been used for eons, and probably wouldn't ever get used.  I grouped what I planned to keep by collection, so it would be easier to grab a sleeve of product and finish a layout when I only had a few minutes.  Needless to say since reorganizing, scrapping has been more fun, and over the Break, I finished MANY layouts, cards and pocket scrapbooking pages! (Videos coming soon to my YouTube channel!)

For this post, I wanted to share two layouts that I completed yesterday for the Make it Monday sketch challenges over at The Memory Nest blog.  (You can find the challenges on the right margin of Leslie's blog)

The first sketch is this one for Make it Monday # 35.

For this layout, I used the remainder of the 2010 Fancy Pants collection on hand called "My Family". The only additions were Basic Grey chipboard letters, along with a few gems.

The next sketch is for Make it Monday #36:

Again for this layout, I grabbed one of my sleeves with what I had left of the 2010 Little Yellow Bicycle's "Twig"collection.  Once I started to follow the design, I remembered this photo and the page took on a different twist.  The back layers are probably the only original item from the sketch, but I am happy with how this turned out.  

In addition to the collection paper and embellishment sheet, I added the chipboard title phrases from K & Company.

There is still time to take part of these challenges, where you could win a gift certificate from The Memory Nest store.  

I hope this post will inspire you to get out those old collections and use them up!

Scrapbooking Process: More Nautical Fun with "Down By the Shore!"

It has been so much fun using the new "Down by the Shore" collection by Fancy Pants that is available at The Memory Nest store!  This week I finished three more layouts, two of which I will share here.  I used the paper, stickers and punch-out diecut banners from the collection, and added other embellishments from my own stash.

  

This is definitely a summery layout -- with all that golden sun!  I used left over borders from the previous layouts to add a contrasting topper to the page, along with some other scrap strips to anchor my photos.  I added the sun paperclip, button, brad, washi and rhinestones from my stash to dress it up.  The Thickers in the bold, bright blue should express the fact that I was so glad to be back on my hometown beach!

For this layout, I used the rest of the banners from the diecut sheet, strips of paper unused from other layouts, adding my buttons and brads, natural color crochet twine and vellum quote. Under the quote is another small photo of the same location. The layout is 11-1/2" square, matted on white cardstock.  

Again, two completely different summer layouts; one collection!

Order the "Down By the Shore" collection now from The Memory Nest so you can scrap those wonderful summer photos! AND -- save 20% by using the special code SEPTNEW20 before the end of this month!  The Memory Nest is the best place to get your scrapbooking supplies.  Great customer service, fast shipping and excellent prices.

Find more inspiration on this collection and all the other new paper lines at The Memory Nest blog.  

Scrapbooking Process: Down by the Shore with Fancy Pants

Leslie at The Memory Nest is showing off all the new lines in her store, and I got to play with the new "Down by the Shore" collection by Fancy Pants!  This was the perfect paper to use for some of the many, many photos we took on our family summer vacation to my old hometown of St. Joseph, Michigan on the lake:

   

I really like how my groups of embellishments from my stash came together with the punch-outs and stickers from the collection!

  

For this page, I included an interactive element for some of my Instagram photos.  I made photo mats and added 3/4" on the top of the mat to fold and make a hinge.  From there, I lined up and adhered my hinged photo mats to create this cascade.  Journaling is hidden under the last photo.  

Two layouts, two completely different looks from the same collection!  How fun is that?!?!

Now it's your turn -- get those summer photos on layouts using the "Down by the Shore" collection!  The best part?  You can order it now from The Memory Nest store and get 20% off using the code SEPTNEW20, now until the end of the month!  What are you waiting for?  Get your scrap on!