Cornelia Designs

One of my favorite things about being a Digital Scrapbooking Creative Team member for Gingerscraps is that I get the opportunity to work with all different kinds of Designers.  This month, I was able to check out Cornelia Designs.  One of my favorite older kits of hers is her Book-A-Holic .

I should say - "Of Course"!  I have used it for quiet a few book related layouts, but I also like to use the basics and alphas out of it for lots of non-book layouts.
For this layout, I used her Stormy Blues template and her Ice Cream Kit, but used the solids from Book-A-Holic.  I love how cute this turned out with all the splatters and bright colors.

For this next one, I used the same template set, but went with her Christmas kit called Home for the Holidays.  The pinks and yellows are so different and really make it stand out.

For Banned Books Week this year, I did a page dedicated to To Kill A Mockingbird and used her Book-A-Holic Bundle,

Go check out her shop.  I am sure you will find something you like.
Meagan

Kellybell's End of Year Blog Train & New Wanna Trade kit

If you love Disney, then you probably are a collector of some kind of Disney memorabilia.  That might include trading pins, Vinylmations, mouse ears, t-shirts, ornaments, princess costumes or lots of other fun stuff to fill up your house!  Kelly's newest collection today is perfect for collectors.  It's a pocket collection filled with bright happy colors and lots of adorable trading tidbits.

These new releases can be found inside the  Kellybell Designs Store inside priced at 25% off this weekend only.  You can view all the CT layouts at  Kelly's Blog or Kelly's Facebook Page.
You can see mine here:

I am more a Pin Hoarder than a Pin Trader ;)  hehe

It's the end of the year and this is the final blog post for 2015 for Kellybell Designs.  I was excited to be asked to be part of the fun this year and create a freebie along with all of the other Kellybell Creative Team.   The theme is rope drop word art.  I know you're going to love it!
Here is your blog train path:

Kelly and Ana - http://kellybelldesigns.com/blog/

Linda and Lynnette - http://www.mjajdesigns.blogspot.com/

Lisa - http://lisacampbelldesigns.blogspot.com/

Charlene - http://www.thefreckledshamrock.blogspot.com/

Jenn - http://scrappingwithjenn.blogspot.com/

Julie - http://www.designsbyjul.blogspot.com/

JessicaK - http://www.13point1memories4jess.blogspot.com/

Jennifer - http://ibrakeforthemouse.blogspot.com/

Amy - http://scrappinmemories78.blogspot.com/

JulieP - http://theriverroadgirl.blogspot.com/
LindaP -  https://surrenderthesandwich.wordpress.com/
Meagan -  http://meaganshowto.blogspot.com/

Roxana - http://scrapscardsandmore.blogspot.com/

Warmest holiday wishes to your and your family!  See you next year!

I used Mousetastic, the alpha from Temple of Doom and Mouse Memories Extras to create a word art for those days when the parks are "Very Crowded"!!  I hope you like it.  Click on the image or here to grab it.

#31DaysofJoy

What is #31DaysofJoy, you ask?  Why should I want to join in?

Back in March of 2014, I stumbled upon a inspirational idea - The 100 Happy Days.  I had already been thinking about ways to concentrate on the good things in life, and so when I read about the idea to take a picture each day of something that makes you happy, I was quick to join in.  Even though I did not take a picture every single one of the 100 days, I still feel like it was a HUGE success.  I found myself looking forward to finding something Happy.  I found it everywhere!

With the approach of the Holidays, I have been thinking about what a positive influence it had been on my life and have considered what else I could do to focus on the important part of this month.  Worry less about all that other stuff that gets in the way of enjoying the Christmas holidays.  The hustle, lines, illness, trying to fit everything in.  It is easy to loose track of the joy of this month.   That was when I put the two together and thought how great it would be to celebrate December with a joyful photo EACH day!  The #31DaysofJoy was born.

Please join along and find something that brings you Joy each day this month.  Take a photo of it and use the hashtag #31DaysofJoy and share them to bring Joy to others, too!   The photos can be anything that brings you Joy.  Simple things like an ornament that reminds you of something Joyful, driving to see Christmas lights, a smile on your child's face, a holiday gathering with family & friends, getting cozy in your blankets - whatever is Joyful to you!!  The photo does not need to be some perfect Photographers one, just that it is of something Joyful.  Let's spread as much Joy as we can.  I will be sharing mine on my Intagram and Facebook and then I will update here as well.

Here is my first picture.  I love waking up to my beautiful Christmas tree each morning.  It always reminds me of years of Christmas traditions and happy holidays gathered around the tree.

What makes you Joyful??

Sailing Through September!

The time has flown so quickly.  The last time I posted was August 9th and here it is 9/23!  How does that happen?  I guess Life Happens!!
Since that time, my kids have all started back to school - and boy was that a huge deal.  All 4 kids in school for the first time in 16 years!  I have no little ones at home in the morning, but that time goes fast though.  It also means that I have 4 different school schedules to keep track of and I am the family taxi.
With all my kids so big, I love to scrapbook older photos and reminisce over those little faces.  This month, I spent more time on older photos than normal.  I have been scouring my older photos and trying to clean up my digital files.  That is a HUGE job in itself.  My old "vault" with pictures from 2000-2010 has 15,000 photos on it!

Here is the oldest one - My Grandpa and his friend Oakie in about 1949 using Gingerscraps Buffet pieces from
Dagi's Temp-taions - Autumn Glory Templates 
Little Rad Trio - Fishing Fun 
Pixelily Outdoor Explore Artsy Papers 

 
When my youngest started school, I did a little looking back to when my now 10th grader started Kindergarten from 10 years ago.

Dear Friends Designs - Through the Years - Kindergarten

Clever Monkey Graphics - School Rules

I did this double page spread from 4 years ago and my son's friend's 1st birthday party in the park.
Also with Buffet items, it includes
Dear Friends Designs - Celebrate 
Aprilisa Designs - Picnic in the Park 
B2N2 Scraps - The Great Outdoors Patterned Papers 
Pixelily Designs - Outdoor Explore 
Connie Prince - Nature Walk Kit 
Boomers Girls Designs - Beach Boys Extra Alphas 

I just love looking at these pics of my little man as a baby!  I had snapped these pictures of him at the library and used a dinosaur kit that matches his outfit that I loved and a play on words.
Magical Scraps Galore - Prehistoric World 
Dear Friends Designs - Shape Me Template 

Then, I re-scrapped a page that I did awhile ago that I just never loved.  Do you ever have that, where you just don't love how a page turns out.  LJS came out with a kit for empty-nesters - meaning parents whose kids have left the nest, but I couldn't help but re-do this page of an actual nest with it's baby birds.
JB Studio - Incredible Life Vol 4 Temp 3 
LJS Designs - Empty Nest 

Boys are so much fun.  You have to let them play in the mud and dirt and worms - it is just a boy thing!!
Leaving A Legacy Designs - Mud Pies and Gray Skies 
Little Rad Trio - Think About It template 

Here is another old one.  I just love fall!  All the apples, pumpkins, cool weather.  So, I just love all the kits that come out this time of the year.
House Party Template by Little Rad Trio 
Apple-icious by LJS Designs 

And here are a few more Fall Ones
LJS Designs - Fall Frolics 
Dear Friends Designs - Grab Bag #1 (Random Memories) 

And for Gingerscraps 7th birthday, there were a bunch of $5 grab bags with tons of goodies

Clever Monkey Graphics Grab Bag for $5 during GS birthday - Happy Fall Y'All (recolored teal flowers, leaves, purple big flower and orange alpha to periwinkle)

Dear Friends Designs - Grab Bag #1 Assemble

LJS Designs On the Boardwalk (Ice Cream Cone)

Look for another post from me soon with some more scrapping goodies!
Until then, Happy Fall to you

Still Surviving on Survivor

I love a challenge!

No, really, I simply love a good challenge, like it is a secret to unlock and something new to learn. It is one of the reasons that I have fallen in love with Digital Scrapbooking.  This month, Gingerscraps has been hosting it's Survivor Challenge.
The competition started July 19th and runs every week until September 1.  Just like the TV show, we have alliances (I started a Disney lovers one of course), we have immunity challenges, weekly challenges and tribal council to vote some off the island.
This year's Survivor theme is Lost At Sea.  It is all themed around having our scrapping ship taken over by pirates.
Week 1's challenge was for us to disguise ourselves as pirates to blend in with the mauraders
Here is how mine turned out.

I actually took my kids to the park with a box of pirate gear and dressed up to take photos.  Many of the contestants used app or photo shop to change themselves into Pirates

Week 2's challenge was send a "message in a bottle" to someone to ask for help.

I sent my plea to the only Pirate that I can think - Captain Jack Sparrow.

Now, this week's challenge was to show off what you treasured.  This was a little harder

I went with a quote from Walt and my love of learning and books.

Go check out all the other Survivor Layouts and be amazed!
Survivor Gallery

Going back in time

Have you ever had a memory that you needed time before you could "handle" it?

While I scrapbook all the time, I just recently realized that I had skipped certain memories because I just need time.  My step-father, John, passed away 5 years ago in January 2010.  2010 became the year that I didn't scrap (which included the pictures of my newborn son, who arrived in April).  I had also skipped the last trip to Disneyland that my father took with us - 2008. I had scrapper 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, etc, but not 2008.
Finally, I am scrapping these memories and it feels so great to relive the fun memories, scrap the sorrow, remember them all!

LJS Designs - On the Boardwalk 
also uses Dear Friends Designs - Double Trouble V4 (from Buffet) 

Monthly Mix - Family Ties

Magical Scraps Galore's #selfie template from the site MEGA collab http://store.gingerscraps.net/GingerBread-Ladies-MEGA-Collab-selfie.html

Boomers Girl Designs - Nighty Night http://store.gingerscraps.net/Nighty-Night-by-BoomersGirl-Designs.html
Dandelion Dust Designs - Out of This World http://store.gingerscraps.net/Out-Of-This-World-By-Dandelion-Dust-Designs.html
Dagi's Temp-tations - Oh Boy Templates http://store.gingerscraps.net/A-Boy-Thing.htm

Dear Friends Designs - Never Too Many Template http://store.gingerscraps.net/Dear-Friends-Designs-Never-Too-Many.html
Connie Prince - Adventure Time http://store.gingerscraps.net/Adventure-Time-Kit.html
Just Because Studio - Leap of Faith Grungy Papers http://store.gingerscraps.net/Leap-of-Faith-Grungy-by-JB-Studio.html
Just Because Studio - Leap of Faith Solids & Ombre Papers http://store.gingerscraps.net/Leap-of-Faith-Solids-and-Ombre-by-JB-Studio.html
Just Because Studio - Leap of Faith Splatters http://store.gingerscraps.net/Leap-of-Faith-Splatters-by-JB-Studio.html

Just Because Studio - Incredible Life 3 templates 
LJS Designs - Sweet Child of Mine 

Blue Heart Scraps Good Life Papers & Smatters Little Rad Trio's Missing You Bundle Dear Friends Designs Framed Templates

Clever Monkey Graphics & Joyful Heart Designs Easter! Bundle

Simply Tiffany Windows Template

and the one that started this journey . . .

Little Rad Trio's Swing Batter Kit

and also uses Little Rad Trio February Template Challenge, which is now recycled in Play It Again V1

I encourage you to look and see if there is anything in your past that you may have not scrapped - even if you have no photos and create a page to remember them by!

May & June Busy-ness

Somehow May got away from me!  It is like I blink and months go by.  Does that happen to you?  While I am still super busy, I am happy that the kids are out of school now.  For us the month of May includes so very many end of school activities, that my head is spinning.  We had multiple field trips, award ceremonies, graduations, field days, creating end of year teacher presents and more! Finally May ended and we took a family trip to Disneyland.  Yay!

With all of that, you would think that I had no time to scrapbook - but no way, of course I fit in time for that!

To start, I had to highlight what has become my favorite treat - caramel apples.  I used this kit from LJS Designs called Silly Willy Nilly and a template from Dear Friends Designs called Pile It On

Since it almost State Fair time again, Next, here is a double page of previous Fair trip using Ponytails County Fair Carnival  and her template Double Double

Because I have been working to recover some old photos, I have running across these old pictures from when my little guy was born and just can't resist creating some loveliness with them using LJS Sweet Child of Mine and JB Studio's Incredible Life template

One of our favorite trips every year, is to visit Yosemite.  We love to raft down the Merced River, hike, visit the Indian Village and just hang out.  Dagi's Temp-tations comes out with these wonderful Day by Day templates that make getting a ton of photos onto a page.  I used Nature Boy by North Meets South Designs which was a free daily download from Gingerscraps!  You can buy it now, but every month you can download a new kit if you check the blog every day!

Next, one of my favorite animals at the zoo - the Red Panda!!  I just love this.  I had to do a double page using Magical Scraps Galore's Panda-monium and Dear Friends Chock Full (psst, Chock Full is on sale for $1 until June 30th)

Another fun event each month at Gingerscraps, is the Buffet.  They one color palette and the designers all create pieces that coordinate together.  It is a great way to get multiple kits that can work  together.  It is amazing to see.  Here I used Connie Prince's Adventuretime, Leap of Faith papers and splatters and Dear Friends Never Too Many .  This page is when I first took my son to Yosemite at 2 weeks old.

This month, LJS came out with a fun Around the fire kit, which of course means another Yosemite layout ;)  I am so ready to go again!! For the template, I used this free template from Dear Friends.  It is part of the Template Challenge at Gingerscraps.  There are 2 free templates every month that you can download and create with!  Check it out. http://forums.gingerscraps.net/showthread.php?29630-June-2015-Template-Challenge-1

For April and May, I was the Guest Creative Team Member for Hat of Bunny over at Scrap Orchard.  Her kits are so bright and fun.  For many of them, I "see" my Riley.  She is so full of life that it is hard not to think of her.

Hat of Bunny is the featured designer for June and all of these pieces are free at different events.  It is called Stranger Than Fiction

This is part of her Life's Little Moments June series.  It is so full of fun items.  I just love how this bright page turned out!

For the beginning of May, Scrap Orchard hosted it's Farmer's Market when hundreds of items (new and old) are only $1.  Of course, now, this fun Pajama Party kit is more, but still tons of fun.

Life's Little Moments - May is perfect for End of School Year fun

Life's Little Moments March is practically Riley's theme kit!

So, you see - I have been busy!  The best part is that I feel like my scrapbook style is improving and really coming together.  I have learned so much this year.  I am loving my pages and am proud to show them all off!  I hope you are all staying busy and having a great summer.  I hope to be back soon with more fun.