Another Layout Share

Today I wanted to share a layout I made the other night while Skyping with my good friend Erin from Sweet & Simple. Every once in a while we get the urge & free time to Skype with each other. Since she lives all the way in TX, this is the only way we can see each other, for now. 

I had a TON of Elle's Studio tags that I wanted to use & a layout idea that would work together perfectly. I made a kind of puzzle with the tags on the right side of the page & a large photo collage. So I put them together with the highlights from my year as 24. 

It took a while to figure out the exact placement of the tags, but I love the way it turned out.

To make my thickers glittery I put a layer of mod podge on top, then sprinkled on the glitter and let them dry. It's a great way to alter the thickers. Since they are more pricey than your average letter stickers, being able to change them to fit into any project really makes them worth the price!

I made my photo collage in Picasa, a free photo editing program from Google. I created a custom size, then printed it. I love making collages for layouts and Project Life. 

Layout Share

Okay, so like I promised, I'm here with a layout to share.

I've had a photo of my dad holding me on the day I was born for a long as I can remember. I've been wanting to get it scrapbooked, but I did't know how I wanted the story of it to go, especially since I only know stories of that day, & I don't actually remember it. Well, I finally figured out I would just let it live in perspective of today. So a few weeks ago, I turned 25. That's a big deal, a quarter of a century! So I got my dad to take another photo with me, & I made a page with the 2 photos together. I have to say, honestly this is my favorite page I have made to date. I didn't do any journaling or anything, I let the title tell the story. I'm a serious Dad's girl, so this page really means something to me.

I was getting kind of nervous about the page as I was starting. I didn't want to mess it up, so to speak. Then the 2 photo sizes and finishes kinda freaked me out. But my friend Erin set me straight. She was over at my house for a crop and she challenged me to use the photos as is. No editing. & I'm so glad she did. It gives me the perspective of not only the change in my dad and I but also in the era of photography. Polaroid vs. DSLR. I'm really glad I have these photos and memories to cherish. I know some aren't that fortunate. I love my Pop, with all of my heart & I can't wait to spend 25 more years with him!

It's that time. FINALLY.

This past week, (yesterday to be exact!) I turned in my final research paper. I have read 1000s of pages in both English & French, written 100s of notes, & 20 pages into a paper... I'm exhausted. I'm ready to take a break from school. I have literally 1 week & 9.5 hours before I will be graduating from university. It's been a long time coming. I've learned so much, not just about history, math, French, literature, but about myself, what I love, how I want to live my life, & where I want to be. I'm ready for next Saturday to come & pass. I'm sure it will be a whirlwind of an experience, but I want to absorb every moment.

I'll leave you with a photo of my giant stack of books that I literally turned back into the library yesterday evening, just before I turned in my final draft, after having them for a few months!

I will be back tomorrow with a new layout to share with you. 

MIA

I've been totally MIA from here for over a month! geez. I'm counting down the days until graduation... but more importantly I'm counting down the days until my HUGE research paper is due. I have just over a month to finish it. & that may sound like a lot but that means I need to be writing at least 1 page per day & editing it at the same time. I'm in a slight freak out mode.

Lately the only scrapping I've been doing is when I'm cropping with friends. So I haven't been making videos, sorry. I switched our guest room & my scrapbook room around, so my video set up is gone, I need to figure out a new way of doing it now. I may force myself to take photos of my scrapbook room & organization, it's nothing special though.

I do have a few layouts to share today. I went on a weekend cabin retreat with some of my friends and the weekend was memorable to say the least. I did get 2 layouts & a mini album finished... which was awesome for me. (I hardly accomplish anything around others haha, what can I say? I'm a talker)

Okay so here's the first layout:

I think this is my favorite photo of myself to date. It makes me want a haircut though. lol.

& the second layout:

 

I love this photo of Ryan. The title says it all. 

I don't have photos of the mini album to share yet, I'm working on figuring out the binding... it is TINY, so I have to find a way to bind it without ruining it, or the photos inside. 

Tomorrow, I'm going book hunting with my dad. We're trying to track down a book that is sure to help us in our genealogy quest. & Friday we're hoping to get over to the Archives in Atlanta before they close it... is the state still planning to do that? I hope not. But just in case, we're going there to copy anything that we can. Gotta get some advice from my genealogy pro friend... best to go in knowledgeable than to look like a schmuck. :) Saturday I'm having friends over, we're going to crop until the late hours of the night. I've still got to find out what foods to prepare... yikes. Better get on that!

Remembering

Remembering lives lost
Remembering sacrifices made
Remembering a country united
Remembering the tears
Remembering fear
Remembering uncertainty
Remembering this day
Remembering forever

This day will always be imprinted on my mind. I never want to forget how fortune I am to live in a country so wonderful, that can recover from tragedy and unite. It's been 11 years, & every year it feels like it happened just last year, but also so long ago. I won't ever forget it.

Remembering 11 September 2001

My Life, Right Now!

I'm in full on research mode. I never imagined how much research it takes to keep a 20 page paper interesting.

Everyday I right a new question to bring up to my professor.
Everyday I read a portion of a book, either in English or French.
Everyday I search for new articles.
Everyday I write down ideas.
Everyday I alter my topic just slightly, narrowing it to precision.
Everyday I take notes.
Everyday I reread those notes.
Everyday I think.
Everyday I post-it something new.
Everyday I bookmark another site.
Everyday I print another piece of paper.
Everyday I write a few sentences.
Everyday I talk out my topic to myself and to Ryan.
Everyday I ask an opinion.
Everyday I translate.
Everyday I stress.
Everyday I think about what I will present about.
Everyday I change my idea of which primary source is the most important.

Whew. I'm tired just thinking about it and everything left to do. I'm ready for December to be here. I'm ready to get my presentations over and my paper printed. I'm seriously ready. You know what's really crazy, though? I already have another research topic in mind for my six or so months off between undergrad and graduate programs. I hope it works out.

Okay I'm off, I really need to get back to reading and writing.

September My Creative Scrapbook Guest Designer!!

Hi everyone!! I'm dropping in from the uncomfortable seats of my school, to share some EXCITING NEWS!! I was asked by Pam & Delaina from My Creative Scrapbook Kit Club to work with the fun Creative Kit for September. Of course, I jumped at the chance... Literally, when I got my box I opened it, stressed a bit, since I've never worked with a "kit" before, then embraced the challenge, & got to work... by the next afternoon I had finished 3 layouts and 2 cards!!! I was on a serious roll. I loved working with the group. They are all so sweet & they treated me like I had always been meant to be there! So anyway, I'm here to show you my projects... drum roll please!

Seriously. Love how this card turned out. I've only made 1 other card that I absolutely loved. ONE! but this one changed that. I did stuff I'm not used to doing, like creating a background scene with the strips of paper as buildings and the clouds. & That yellow flag piece, was a happy coincidence... it was the leftover piece from my layout below [Let's Go Explore]... I had cut it to make a shorter banner for the layout & the curve of the leftover piece just looked like one of those flags that fly behind special planes with messages or advertisements!

I was on a mission to use every one of the small diecut papers. So when I only had the circle one left, I knew I had to turn it into a card. There I am again, creating a background. Stepping out of my comfort zone into something that I love! I would've never known that without this kit!

I tell ya. After walking up 425 steps to see the waterfall at Amicalola Falls more closely, it deserved to be scrapbooked. I mean, what an accomplishment. It doesn't sound like a ton of steps, but try doing it in October, while it's still steamy hot here in GA, with 2 kids that have just eaten lunch, & are probably ready for a nap in the car on the drive home. I didn't think we would ever make it. But we did. & It sure was beautiful.

Ryan and I are always on the lookout for some cool places to walk & explore. I love just walking next to him all by our lonesome, & just talk. We talk about the mundane, the future, where we are together as a couple, what we want to be doing next, where we will be this time next year... & so much more.  It's these kind of adventures that really make me appreciate what we have together. It's not very often people get to marry their best friend. 

This was my very first page I created with the kit!! I LOVE the color combo on this. I used an EK Success & Crafter's Workshop Mask to trace all of the stars. I love stars and I love how if you think outside of the product box, you can find so many uses for the tools you already own!

Everyone should go check out the My Creative Scrapbook blog today... they are having an awesome blog hop with their Design Team!

Lastly I'd like to say thanks again to Pam & Delaina for including me! I had a great time with the kit!

Now I'm off to take a look at everyone else's AMAZING projects!