{ i eds...do you?

I love the eds {everyday stories} albums by Xyron! They are super fun & quick!

Here are some recent 8x12 pages I created for Xyron of ella's first photo shoot...

I also used one of my favorite new tools... the Xyron Creatopia to created the embossed borders. {Which by the way work fantastic with coordinations cardstock!}

Here are a few close-ups of that...

{fish eye lens...

A friend of mine & I were talking the other day about a fish eye lens and how I'd love to have one but didn't know if I wanted to spend the $$.

So I did a quick search & come to find out... you can do the same effect with photoshop! Fun!

So, here's a few quick samples...

Go check out the instructions & try it for yourself! It's so simple!

{mic...

Come join us for another challenge over at The Story Matters! This week is hosted by the fabulous Michelle St Clair and it's all about mixing black & white photos with color ones.
Here's my take...



...using the June {a bend in the road} kit.

Disclaimer: Okay, so after making this layout I realized my niece is actually 14, not 13. Hmmm....guess I lost track of time with having 12 nieces & nephews. :0)

{ 1 & only...

I pulled out some old pics of the {skinny} me to use with some pieces of the new Beach Days line from creative imaginations ...





{available at scrapaganza}

{in all things of nature...

Got my hands on some of the great letter art in the eskay art etsy shop.
I love to work with different fonts & titles are usually my favorite part of a layout, so I was so excited to get to play with these. They're so beautiful and unique. Go check them out!





Once you've made your letter art purchase from eskay art, post a link here in the comments & share your artwork!
They'll be a drawing for a prize from my very full paper stash!
{deadline: July 10st}

{misting clouds...

A quick & easy way to create a fun background is through misting. It is so much fun to work with and so very addicting! To create my "summer" clouds. I simply handcut some fluffy clouds out of scrap pieces of thin chipboard...







Placed them randomly on the cardstock...





{I use a cardboard box to contain the mist from going everywhere!}



And mist away...





Next, the grass... I used a trim from the Artsy Urban - Felt Die Cut Borders...




I cut the piece of trim in half and layered them to even it out a bit...





I fluffed it up and tore it a bit to make it look a bit more "real"...





add embellishments...





do some inking on the clouds to make them "pop"...





and your layouts complete!





Happy Father's Day to all the dads!

{little boo...

Another layout using the very awesome thegirlspaperie {on holiday} line sold at Scrapaganza...

{grandchild no.13...

There's a new challenge going on over at The Story Matters and it's a great sketch by the very talented Amy Coose!
Go check it out and be sure to upload your layout to our gallery!



{Using a few bits left of my June kit + some sassafras & a great tag by shabbychiccrafts}

{you know I love me some etsy...

Check out this fun new option for scrapbook letters by my friend ginger! She does a beautiful job with her letter art & just added these to her etsy shop...

Don't forget to check out the rest of her shop while you're there! She does custom orders!

{july TSM sneaks...

...another fun kit from The Story Matters! Go check out all the great sneaks on the BLOG by the very talented design team!

{i wonder...

I was so lucky to have a chance to play with this new beautiful line from thegirlspaperie....love!


{available @ scrapaganza}

{dew worm hunting...yes, I said worm hunting...

...it really is so much fun! I can remember going dew worm hunting with my dad when I was little before he'd go on his annual fishing trip. Tonight was a perfect evening for it...nice & warm and the ground was soggy from the afternoon rain we had gotten. My niece was spending the night, so we thought we'd show her how it was done. She wasn't too sure about it at first, but once she caught a few she was giggling and having a ball right along side the boys.






{this one is totally blurry, but I love how it shows how fast they have to move to try to catch those slimy creatures!}

And the best part of all...

...convincing my niece we were going to take them in & fry them up for an evening snack. Hee! Hee! City girl! :0)

{the best part of my work day...

There's a new challenge goin on over at The Story Matters blog - it's all about a day in your life!

Here' my take...




{The other day, I let the boys each pick out a new punch from Scrapaganza. Coe picked out this heart punch...cool huh? And Chase picked out a skull...hmmm..still thinkin about how to use that one.}

...I'm lucky enough to get to take my kids to work with me when they are little. I took both of the boys and am so grateful that I got to spend all those special "firsts" with them.
{And just for fun...HERE'S a layout I did last year of when Chase used to come with me.... Oh, how time flies!}

Now head on over to The Story Matters & take the challenge with me!
{most of this layout was created using the very awesome June kit}

{The Story Matters news...

Congratulations to ANGIE BALK
She won the We R Memory Keepers "Show & Tell" line.

-PLUS-

All current subscribers, refer a friend, and you both get $5 off your next months kit!
Put code TSMLove in the notes at checkout!

...and there's another fun challenge goin on...

Scrap "A Day in your Life

{homework...

{all supplies available at scrapaganza}

{today...

...i escaped from my 2 do lists and spent the day with these boys doin some fishin...






{aaron, tryin to make his monster of a fish look bigger}


...and i did a little photo session of my little sweet pea...


{more HERE}

{Blog hop here!!!

Happy Reveal day and welcome to our {Saturday} blog hop!

You're gonna love this months kit. June's kit is called {a bend in the road} and has lots of great papers and colors!





Here's what I created this month...

And now for the blog hop...here's how it works...
Check out everyone's blogs in this order:

Shelley
Tania
Penny
Andrea
Bree
Megan
Michelle
Amy
Kim
Candi
Lain

and collect each word from the TSM typewriter.


Once you have the phrase complete from all 11 blogs, send it to us at info@thestorymatters.com for your chance at this great prize!

Goodies from the new We Are Memory Keepers {Show & Tell} line!
Happy Hopping! Up next is the very awesome Michelle!