Pictures!

My husband Brian & I spent the last week touring through Montana. Not only did we have a great vacation, but I am excited because I took nearly 250 very "scrapbookable" pictures. And my Best Friend (Jules!) is in town this weekend. So, I am pretty excited for my next trip to Shoppers Drug Mart. Because great pictures make scrapbooking even better (as if it could be...). If you flip through your last scrapbook you'll notice that most of your favourite pages also contain your favourite pictures... coincidence? We think not! So this summer, take great pictures, and make sure to sign up for our Basic Photography for Scrapbookers in the fall. Photography is a HUGE part of scrapbooking (isn't that why we all started?). Wouldn't it be great if you could LOVE LOVE LOVE every page?

I have to...

...mention this book one more time becuase I just love it. I love it. I. Love. It.

Layout 014

Fast & Fresh by Haley Ross

I just loved this picture I took of my cupcake sprinkles. The colors. The shapes and the potential for scrapbooking. It's simple becuase I wanted the picture to be the focus. I think I did well.

While most scrapbookers are taking a break from their scrapbooking and heading into their gardens, I am at my peak. When Spring turns to Summer, I start to feel so ALIVE that I just want to capture every moment. As a scrapbooker, I just love this Colorful time of year. Plus the natural lighting of sunny days is fabulous!

Materials: Cardstock: Bazzill Basics; Paper: Sandylion; Glitter Stickers & Glitter Chipboard: Making Memories; Font: Tahoma

If You Are Spring Cleaning....

.... You might want to pick up a copy of Organization Tips by Creating Keepsakes. Not only are some of the ideas smart, but totally cute as well (who would have thought of keeping your things in vintage measuring cups?). I'm headed to Montana in June and I thought I'd stop into a couple Antique Shops along the way to see what I can find.

If paper storage is your problem, check out the paper units (above) that we sell. They are custom made to suit your needs and are a really good price (especially when you compare then to the $75 cube system or wire racking).

Single Tower - $129

Single Tower w/Drawers - $149

Double Tower - $219

Double Tower w/Drawers - $249

Triple Tower - $269

Triple Tower w/Drawers - $289

(as seen above)

Each row has 10-12 paper shelves which allow you to see the paper you have. Tower price includes wheels so that you can roll it near your workspace and then back into the closet or along the wall.

Price does not include shipping if required.

Layout 013

Love 2 Read by Haley Ross

I have been scrapbooking myself alot lately. Not myself hiking, or in Disneyland. Just me. And all the random little facts about me. I've encouraged

other ladies to do the same (I know Arlee is just tickled with her pages about herself (and she has 5 kids so you ladies have no excuses!).

Starting in September I will be teaching a class each month that is a layout about yourself. (There will be homework so you will know ahead of time what to take pictures of). So many of us are forgetting to scrapbook the little things in our life, and I think it is those things that make our scrapbooking so unique. No one in the world will have the same list of "Good Reads" as me. So over the summer, pick up a 12x12 album that is just SO YOU & watch for the class so you can start to fill it up!

Materials: Paper: Fancy Pants; Lace Trim: Fancy Pants; Flowers: Making Memories, Prima & Other; Buttons: Autumn Leaves; Brads: Making Memories & Doodlebug; Cardstock: Bazzill Basics; Stamp & Alphabet Stickers: Heidi Swapp; Word Stickers Stickers & Staples: Making Memories; Alphabet Stamps: EK Sucsess; Ink: Ancient Page Raspberry; Font: Chatterbox

Finally....

The town of Okotoks has cleaned their streets. And just like that... it's scooter season! I am looking forward to it because A. I only spend about $4 a month on gas. B. It's much friendlier to our environment and C. It's totally cute. It was so beautiful out this morning that I was wishing the shoppe was further away. But I am happy to be here because I will be scrapbooking all day today (and all week if I get my way). If any wants to join me.... feel free.

Layout 12

Blessed By Haley Ross

My Basic Grey addiction continues. I really thought I was cured when I wasn't overtaken by their Christmas line. But this.... this is killing me. This line is Perhaps. And I love it. In fact, I love it so much, my pages are becoming more simple so that the paper can speak for itself. I haven't used vellum in ages (like, years..) and here it is. I love this "scraplifted" page.

Materials: Paper: Basic Grey; Cardstock & Vellum: Bazzill Basics; Staples: Making Memories; Number Sticker: Heidi Swapp; Flower, Blessed Stickers & Fetti Charm: Making Memories; Paint & Foam Stamps: Making Memories.

A funny story for Nena.

When my sister and I were little girls growing up in Jakarta, one of the only "junk" cereal mom could buy there was Frosted Flakes. I remember Kendra (my younger sister) came and sat down at the breakfast table one day (it must have been a weekend becuase that's the only time mom let us have sugary cereal) and said to me "Oh Haley, I am sooooo tired. I am so sleepy." And she faked a big yawn. Then said ( in her cute little 7 year old voice) " I bet if I had to run around this table I would be sooo slow beause I have NO energy." And she ran around the dinning room table slowly, all slumped over, making sure to yawn a couple times. Then she sat down across from me and she took two massive spoonfuls of cereal and shoved them into her mouth. Within seconds she said to me " Hey Haley, I bet I can run faster now. Wanna see?" And with that she took off running around the table, as fast as her legs would let her. " Wow. I have so much energy!" she said pretending to be out of breath. " This stuff really does bring out the tiger in you!"
I don't know why I remember this. But I just thought of it again today, and I think I am going to scrapbook it. Watch here for the layout. (This will be a challenge as I have no pictures of that day).

Layout 011

My Husband by Haley Ross

When Basic Grey came in, my biggest challenge was finguring out what I would use first. Being a girlie girl ( I love anything pink and frilly) I was taken in by the Perhaps papers (you have to see these, they are beautiful). But when I came across this picture of Brian that I had blown up, I immediately thought of the Scarlet Letter papers. I love this paper becuase it is feminine and masculine. It's so "collage-y" & matches with lots of stuff. Lots of scrapbookers think that you cannot use flowers on a boys/mens page. I disagree. There are two parts to every page. The subject (in this case, my Husband) and the scrapbooker (me!). So this page is as much about me (and how I see Brian) as it is about him. And I am a girl. A girlie girl. And so, this page with flowers and flourishes all around my man, is totally fine by me.
PS. Please don't mention the shrunken shirt to me, I am still in mourning.

Materials: Paper: Basic Grey; RubOns: Basic Grey; Cardstock: Bazzill Basics; Cricut Font: George (available in the workshop); Computer Font: Josso's by Chatterbox; Ribbon: May Arts; Die Cuts: Circles by Sizzix (available in the workshop)

Layout 010

I've realised that it's O.K. to make some of my layouts simple. I know I'll never be satisfied with only one patterned paper, but with a couple of papers, and a couple stamps, this layout is "simple". Lately, I've been so caught up in trying to create a masterpeice each time, that nothing ever gets done. But even worse, I stress out, and don't enjoy myself. I'm not putting pressure on myself to pump out a dozen layouts in one night, instead, I'll just enjoy the process and make at least one layout that I love.

I do love this layout (although it's flat....). I think I just like the pictures. And I never scrapbook my in-laws or Brian's family. So I feels good to have added a page with them into my book. Also, I am so nervous to scrapbook my weddding.... so all of these pictures leading up to our wedding might help to put me at ease when it comes to scrapbooking my pictures.

Materials: Paper: We R Memory Keepers & Making Memories; Paint & Foam Stamps: Making Memories; Cardstock: Bazzill Basics; Rubber Stamps: EK Sucess - Image Tree; Stickers: Marcella K; Inks: Close To My Heart; Die Cut Font: Base Camp by Cricut; Pen: Slick Writer by American Crafts

Layout 009

My first 12"x18" photo! And I like it. You have to have a good photo ( I think that this one is). I would say you need at least 8 megapixels to get your pictures this big and keep the quality. ( Deanna at Shoppers Drug Mart is the photo goddess and she'd be able to tell you for sure!). I scrapbooked the title (Lazy Boys) right onto the photo (yes, I was nervous at first).

All in all, I will do this again. . . The price is right (if you have a membership to our store the enlargement is only $2.02!) and it's a great way to fill 2 pages if you dont have a ton of photos or journaling. Plus some pictures are just so cute they deserve to be this big ( I am a little biased, but I do believe my cat is the coolest. Ever.)

Materials: Patterned Papers: My Minds Eye; Stickers: Making Memories; Metal Letters: Making Memories; Stamp: Autumn Leaves; Rub Ons: Basic Grey

Oops!

Would this be called "un"lucky bamboo?

Tragedy in my scrapbook room. . . . .

I cannot keep plants alive. And I worry that if it weren't for his constant meowing, my cat would have the same fate as this poor plant. My mom gave me this plant. And for the past two years, I have been able to nurse it back to health everytime I have almost killed it. Not this time.... As a result of direct sunlight, and good old neglect, it met it's maker.

I guess I am offically a "cactus kind of girl".