Sophia layout

This layout uses the last of my papers from the retired paper pack "Sophia" from a few years ago. *Sniff!* I loved, loved, loved this paper pack! The colors were so bright, so girly and so vibrant! They worked with every picture I take of my rambunctious little girl!

I'm sad I used the last of it but I'm so glad I had some to use for these photos. My daughter got to meet her preschool teachers during the winter open house and she enjoyed playing with all the toys and puzzles in her classroom. Because the room doesn't have a window, they have it painted a very vibrant green and paired with her bright pink outfit (her choice by the way!) I knew these papers would have a punch! :)

CTMH Sophia scrapbooking layout by Stephanie Huber at LavendersageDesigns.blogspot.com

The right page is snapshots of the kiddos on my son's birthday. He's not much of a "make a fuss over me" kinda guy but he's learning to take photos like a champ (it's faster to cooperate, he says!). And of course, if mister has his photo taken, missy wants one too!

CMTH Charlotte layout

During my weekend crop a few weeks ago, I realized that a lot of my scrapbook pages tend to repeat. My albums are all done chronologically and (I feel) are the same from year to year. We're creatures of habit, we do the same things, at the same time, over and over again.

Which is great for teaching my kids traditions and habits but it makes a boring scrapbook. And who wants a boring scrapbook??

So I started to document my everyday life moments. I take pictures constantly - for Facebook & Instagram - my every day life is being recorded but (until now) I didn't  print those pictures.

This layout features a seemingly random assortment of photos but these are adorable, every day moments of the people that fill my days.

CTMH Charlotte scrapbook & Picture My Life layout by Stephanie Huber at LavendersageDesigns.blogspot.com

I used the new Charlotte papers to make these layouts super cute! The stickers and accessories that come with the Workshop Your Way (or can be purchased seperately) are adorable! The colors are a nice neutral with just a pop of color that seem to match all my photos.

See you next week with more photos of my scrapbook pages!

Bowling with Babycakes

February is a big holiday month for us. My neice has her birthday right after Valentine's Day! :)

This was a big year for her because she had her first "friends" party!  And since cousins are the bestest of friends, my littles were invited too. 

For this layout, I used Babycakes (retired) and Gray Wool (retired) cardstock as page bases. This was an easy layout with a B&T cut in half, two zip strips across the tops and 2 border Stickease across the bottom. The journal card was cut with Art Philosophy and inked in Desert Sand. 

CTMH Babycakes scrapbooking page by Stephanie Huber at LavendersageDesigns.blogpost.com

Actually, now that I'm typing this post up, I think I reworked this layout on my Team Crop this past weekend ... Hmm, I'll have to snap a photo of that one and post a before and after photo.

Did you ever rework a layout page after you finished with it? How did it turn out??

January Joyful Stars Blog Hop

Happy New Year!

Welcome to the January Edition of the Joyful Stars Blog Hop! If you've arrived from Lori's blog then you're on the right track. If you're starting here, follow the link at the bottom of the post to hop over to the next post. Keep going till you come back to where you started. If you get lost, see Joyce's blog for a complete list of participants.

For Christmas, I finally wore my husband down and bought myself a new Cricut Explore "from him". :) Since it's arrival in my house, my kids have been neglected, dinners have been "leftovers" and the laundry is stacked in various piles around the house (I've lost track of what's clean or dirty, but whatever!)

I have been crafting up a storm! The ease of cutting and searching my images to find *just the right thing* is just divine! Even though I've had an Expression for what seems like eons, the finesse of the Explore is the creme de la creme of home crafting!

I'm learning to use the software to plan out my scrapbook pages, letting the machine do it's thing and relax in front of the tv catching up on my favorite shows while I assemble my cuts - it's everything I've ever wanted!!!

Of course, as I went searching for something to share with you tonight, I couldn't find just the right piece - I wanted something out of the new Seasonal Expressions to share with you and it seems like the perfect time to share with you the Charlotte Workshop Your Way PML layouts.  Have you seen this new line of papercrafting!?!? It's awesome! This one kit includes instructions for 3 layouts, 6-9 cards (depending on the kit) and a PML layout!! It's the one perfect kit for every crafter! My sister consultants and I traveled to Philadelphia last month for some training from the Home Office on this new item and It. Was. Awesome!! I loved hearing first hand how the kit evolved from the WOTG and why they were adding this new line to better meet the needs of customers (and consultants too).

The Charolotte WYW kit is so adorable! I'm not a girly-girl but I love the mix of neutrals with the pop of Sorbet ... I can easily mix photos of both of my kids on one layout with this paper pack and the doodles are so on trend my heart is fluttering! :)

Anyway, by now you're even wondering if I'm going to show you anything ...  your wait is over! ;)

A predesigned PML layout really too easy to brag about on a blog hop so I spiced it up with a few of my own "designed" PML cards. I used my new Explore (naturally) to easily cut a few images from the new Artistry cartridge and voila!

This part was fun - one of the selling points of our new house was the wild life! My hubby loved that he could hunt from his front porch (not that I let him, for the record, that's my spot!). 

This PML served as the title of the page: it doesn't matter where my family is as long as we're together, we're home. 

 Now you're off to Yvonne's blog to see what she's created to share with you. See you next month!

Zoe WOTG Layout

Last week I sat down to scrap for the first time in ages .... only to discover - - I had no photos to scrap!!! And here I thought I wasn't scrapbooking because I didn't have any time, silly me! ;)

So after getting prints from Snapfish, I was able to sit down today and scrap the photo I wanted to do last week.

CMTH Zoe WOTG Layout 1 by Stephanie Huber

I used the WOTG guide to create the whole layout but only put one photo on the left page and used the other photo box for journaling. Since I scrapbook chronologically and the next photos don't work well with the colors of Zoe, I will use another layout for those (hopefully, coming soon!). The title box/banner was supposed to span both pages but since they probably won't be next to each other in the album, I moved the whole thing to the right page. 

Here's a close up of the left page: 

CTMH Zoe WOTG Layout 1, page 1 by Stephanie Huber

I want to do a title on this page but I'm having trouble coming up with something. Any recommendations???

Here's a close up of the right page, for a future project:

CTMH Zoe WOTG Layout 1, page 2 by Stephanie Huber

I had a lot of fun using these pretty papers to get back into scrapping. I'm hoping to do some more now that I'm all set up with photos! :)

Leave me a comment with your title suggestions! See you soon!

What I'm working on this weekend

Since I was working over our anniversary a few weeks ago, my husband stole me away this weekend to this beach sans kids. Of course I brought some scrapbooking goodies along!

I brought the new Artfully Sent Cricut cartridge from CTMH so I'll have some fun projects to share with you next week!

Stay tuned!

CMTH Embossing Folders

I haven't been creating much lately because of the kids being home now - All. Day. Long. Summer has just begun and we're all a little buggy!

Little Man has been having a hard time transitioning from the constant busy-ness of school to the laid back approach to summer. I've been using naptimes to get a little bit of work done for my church's women's group summer event next weekend (which I'll show you soon!) but yesterday's UPS delivery is what got me all excited - I got my Big Shot!

A little back story - because, really, a Big Shot is nothing new. I haven't jumped on the embossing bandwagon because when I first started scrapbooking oh so many years ago, we had to use brass plates and a stylus to "draw" the embossed design into the paper . Since the process was time consuming and my sister talked me into dry embossing all her wedding invitations, response cards and seating cards I never wanted to see another stylus or brass plate ever again. About two years ago, I bought a cheapo embosser and two folders and never used them. Then CTMH came out with embossing folders and I bought one. And quickly saw that my cheapo embosser would not work (CTMH embossing folders are slightly bigger than others, for good reason which I'll get into on another post). After some online research and a luckily-timed Zulily sale, I bought myself a Big Shot.

Since this embosser has been in my house, I have finished my women's group party favors - and I impressed myself!

Take a look at the in-process photos.... I'll post final pictures after my event (I don't want to spoil the surprise for my gals!)

Sorry, I can't figure out why Blogger is turning this picture ... :(

I used my flash so you could see the quadrafoil pattern embossed in the cardstock.

Little Man was very excited that I "let" him help with this project, but I figure that an almost-first-grader is capable of some flower assembly.

This is the final flower - I used the CTMH Quadrafoil embossing folder for all the flowers and a generic folder for the leaf. All flowers were inked with Cranberry (CS colors - cranberry, hollyhock and White Daisy) and the Garden Green leaf was inked in Olive.

Stay tuned because I'll post final pictures of this project but also because I'll be at CTMH's convention next week and there will be so, So, SO much news to share! I'll post pictures and a daily recap on my blog and facebook page but you can also keep tabs on the Corporate Facebook page for updates as well.

See you soon!

Winter and Spring Studio J layouts

This will conclude my posts about Studio J - I hope you didn't mind all these layouts or the extra posts! This was a fun promotion to use (who doesn't like catching up on their scrapping in a few nights?!) and I got a lot of out of it. Here are the last layouts I made using Studio J.

Enjoy!

Snow Days layout using Studio J from LavenderSageDesigns.blogspot.com

Truckin' Buddies layout using Studio J from LavenderSageDesigns.blogspot.com

The Longest Winter layout using Studio J from LavenderSageDesigns.blogspot.com

Karate Master layout using Studio J from LavenderSageDesigns.blogspot.com

6 layout using Studio J from LavenderSageDesigns.blogspot.com

Christmas Studio J layouts

Here are some layouts I did last month when CTMH had it's super sale on Studio J layouts. In about 1/2 hour each, I was able to get caught up in my scrapping. Enjoy!

Advent layout using Studio J from LavenderSageDesigns.blogspot.com

Pickin' Trees layout using Studio J from LavenderSageDesigns.blogspot.com

Christmas Eve layout using Studio J from LavenderSageDesigns.blogspot.com

Christmas Morning layout using Studio J from LavenderSageDesigns.blogspot.com

Christmas Dinner layout using Studio J from LavenderSageDesigns.blogspot.com

Have you tried Studio J? If you haven't, you can play for free (no charge until you try to buy what you've designed). Check it out here - you'll need an email address to enter but that's it. Try it and see how easy it is. Not sure where to start? Check out this post on a few of the possibilities!

Studio J layouts from the Fall

Last month CTMH had a great deal on Studio J layouts. Even though it was a tough month for me on many levels, it was something I didn't want to miss. I worked for three or four nights, a few hours each time, and got 23 layouts done. {Check out this post for a few of the many ways to use Studio J for your scrappin' needs}

Here are the layouts I did (using retired paper packs) from my fall activities. Enjoy!

Studio J layout from LavenderSageDesigns.blogspot.com

Stuido J layout from LavenderSageDesigns.blogspot.com

Studio J layout from LavenderSageDesigns.blogspot.com

Studio J layout from LavendersageDesign.blogspot.com

Studio J layout from LavenderSageDesigns.blogspot.com

Studio J layout from LavendersageDesigns.blogspot.com

Studio J layout from LavenderSageDesigns.blogspot.com

I'll have another post from all of my Christmas layouts coming soon. If you're not already following, click the link in the right sidebar so you don't miss a post!

See you soon!

March Joyful Stars Blog Hop

Hey all! It's the March edition of the Joyful Stars Blog Hop. Grab some coffee and enjoy hopping through all the springtime ideas! If you're coming from Krista's blog, you're on the right track. If you get lost, you can check out the whole hop at Joyce's blog.

I chose this layout I made with the Artbooking Cricut cartridge because the photos scream "spring" to me (I'm still stuck indoors because of all the snow so photos of my son playing out in the driveway in shorts seems so far away!)

I made this with the Artbooking Cricut cartridge, on two different keys. I love how the keys each have a theme associated with it so it's easy to cut pieces for your layout. Everything is already sized appropriately, just dial in the size of your page (6", 8" or 11") and the design element you want and the pieces come out perfectly portioned for your page. Photo boxes are set up for 4" x 4" or 4" x 6" photos so there's no guess work (or wasted paper).

I cut a few of the same design elements out of different colored cardstock to interchange the pieces and mix it up through out the page.

I then took some of those extra pieces and embellished a Picture My Life layout with them from later on that summer...

Layering some of the stars and mixing the colors up in the design elements help to keep the eye moving over this photo-heavy layout.

Thanks for visiting! Please leave a comment letting me know what you love most about the Artbooking cartridge. Now you're off to Cindy's blog ... See you next month!

Fun with Lollydoodle!

I absolutely adore the Lollydoodle paper pack and have created a lot of fun artwork using it. My daughter will be two in a few (short) weeks and I have been using this paper pack as I finish up her First Year album to be able to share it with family at her birthday party.

For this first layout, I used the layout from the Lollydoodle WOTG - I love how the colors really make you smile! My son is a budding photographer and he took the picture of his sister playing with the tulle of her skirt.

Buttons, stickers and bling

This second layout was a quick use of some of the scraps I had after I made so many layouts but I wanted to keep going! I used my 2" scallop punch and a "fit to page" saying from Artbooking to make this easy layout. 

This third layout is from the Make it From your Heart vol 2 (I forget which one, though). Used the new scallop border punch to make the fun border along the bottom of the pages and embellished with stickease, bling and the Lollydoodle Assortment.

Thanks for stopping by! Please leave a comment and tell me your favorite layout. See you next time!

February Joyful Stars Blog Hop : Ivy Lane

Hi there!

It's time for February's Blog Hop with the Joyful Stars! If you've come from Krista's blog you're on the right track. If you're just starting here, at the bottom of the post you'll find a link for the next blog or you can check out the whole list at Joyce's blog.

Since the Spring/Summer 2014 Idea Book debuted on Feb. 1st, I chose the Ivy Lane paper pack. I was lucky enough to go to two crops in the last two weeks (thank you honey!) so I was able to make lots of layouts to share with you over the next few weeks (I'll be  posting a little more frequently because of that so if you don't already follow me, now's a good time so you don't miss anything!)

Ivy Lane is a fun, girly paper pack and it matched perfectly with the photos from my daughter's first birthday party last year (I can't believe I'm starting to plan her second birthday party in a few short weeks!)

I used Artbooking to cut out the words (from two different keys) in Hollyhock and inked all the edges in Smokey Plum. I chose not to used any other embellishments, because I think she's just sweet enough!

CTMH Ivy Lane from LavendersageDesigns.blogspot.com

This layout is just some fun shots of the family. My son is a budding photographer (taking after mommy, I suppose) and took the shot of my husband and I on the far right. It's my photography that needs work because I didn't have enough light as I was taking my pictures for this post.

CTMH Ivy Lane from LavendersageDesigns.blogspot.com

 I really like all the coordinating embellishments that CTMH gives for each paper pack because it makes designing and making layouts really easy and fun. These are from the Ivy Lane Assortment and make a fun grouping with the matching sticky Complements.

CTMH Ivy Lane from LavendersageDesigns.blogspot.com

This is the third layout using Ivy Lane and just a few of the randomness associated with a first birthday party with family.

CTMH Ivy Lane from LavendersageDesigns.blogspot.com

CTMH Ivy Lane from LavendersageDesigns.blogspot.com

Thanks for stopping by, now you're off to Helen's blog. If you get lost, you can find your way again by visiting Joyce's blog. Don't forget to leave a comment as you hop, we love hearing from you!!!

Spring/Summer 2014 Idea Book: New Goodies!!!

This post is for the Spring/Summer 2014 Idea Book Blog Hop.

I have been anxiously waiting to share this Idea Book with you for a few weeks now because this one is my favorite, by far!!!

There are just so many goodies inside this Idea Book that it was hard to pick just one to show you but I went the non-traditional route to show you some wearable art you can make with Close to My Heart.

Close to My Heart has expanded their Base and Bling collection to include Pendants!!! 

I don't wear a lot of jewelry for two reasons (I'm allergic to anything less than 18K gold and my little girl will grab it and rip it off of me - ouch!!) but I just had to try this new trend.

I used a 1" circle punch to punch a scrap B&T from Stella papers (retired) and Slate ink to stamp "J" and "S" from "A Typeface" stamp set. I used black marker for the "+" and a flower from the Frosted assortment. I used Liquid Glass to enamel everything together and let it dry overnight. The flower soaked up a lot of the Liquid Glass which was good to help stiffen the felt. I added three of the gems to the strand for our birthstones. I tried using the alcohol markers to color them but it didn't work out too well. 

This is a fun statement piece but it's so special to me because it is something I created. With a little help from CTMH, of course!!

And a close up ...

 Here is a second piece I did since I had so much to play with. On this necklace I used a glass bead to cover it and Liquid Glass to adhere the bead down. I'm not sure if I didn't let the ink dry before using the Liquid Glass but the next morning I noticed the ink spread through the adhesive. Not too noticeable except to me.

I hope you enjoyed my project! Have you tried the new Base & Bling yet? What do you think? Leave me a comment and tell me what you think!

Until next time!