Project Life 2013 - Week 21

I finished this layout about a week ago and it was the first time I got my hands on some Me And My Big Ideas Pocket Pages card packs. Well, Oh My MAMBI!!!! I honestly can't stop using them... I have completed three layouts in the matter of two nights and that's with my over-embellishing habit.

They pretty much team with anything as the colours are quite varied in each pack. If you are anything like me as a Project Lifer, you don't like to limit yourself in the colour department or when it comes to embellishing. These cards make it really simple to do both.

I was even able to mix and match the assorted packs with my Becky Higgins kits which was pleasing. It frustrates me to no end when my kits don't mesh well; I like to get value for money so using what is already in my stash along with new products gets me excited. That and the fact that it encourages to use my creativity to see what I can incorporate with what.

It even matched wonderfully with my own cute speech bubble embellies that you can find in my store here... Now THAT'S sure to make a girl happy!!!

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My New Mini Kit

With the success of my last mini kit, I am thrilled to be making another one.  I can't thank you all enough for the support and inspiration you all offer on my Facebook page, Instagram and by following my blog.  You make the long sleepless nights of sticking, cutting and sewing so very worth it.  Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

Here is a little sneak peak for the newest kit that I've just released...  I am using the gorgeous Sweet Pea range by Kaisercraft.  The colours are so pretty and I can't wait to use this kit on a layout for my own Project Life.  I don't usually use the 'girly' papers with my two boys but I have just the photos to match.

Hope you like it :)

Project Life 2013 - Week 20

I'm really excited to share this week's layout as I made it from a mini kit I put together from my store.  I haven't had my sewing machine out in quite some time but figured that my obsession with sewing onto journaling cards needed to be tended to.  I have done it many times in the past, sewing onto mini albums, tags and my scrapbook layouts; it's amazing what a little thread on a card can do to a page.  Funnily enough, even though I always loved the effect, I rarely do it these days...  Possibly because my sewing machine has been packed away in our garage packed.  But with all this hand stitching back in trend, I got the urge again...  So, out she came, onto the billiard table and the pedal under my foot.  Whoo hoo!!! Loved every minute of it and once I started I couldn't stop. 

I will however, make one thing quite clear...  I am not a sewer by any means.  I can thread a machine, I can follow basic patterns, but I would definitely NOT call myself a skilled sewer.  So this kind of creating, just sewing onto inserts, is perfect for someone like me.  I can add a special little something to my pages but not be concerned that I've sewn a garment that could quite potentially fall apart LOL ;)

This was also a fun week of playing with the A Beautiful Mess app for my iPhone.  The photos from a lovely Sunday walk turned out great, just by playing with a few filters and adding some quotes.  My new Instax camera got a work out too, geez I love that little white camera.

So, if you like the look of these papers and tags you can find them all in my 'Woodlands' mini kit in my store HERE. There's a total of 14 stitched journaling cards, 10 assorted 4x6 papers, the cute gold 3x4 shaker pocket, a few die cuts and some tags.

Project Life 2013 - Week 19

This week I was so excited to use my Studio Calico Valley High Project Life kit and I even got my order from Scrapbooking From Scratch of Pocket Pages cards by Me & My Big Ideas...  Here's a video showing some of the range, so cool!

Flairs are quickly becoming a favourite of mine to use so I think I may have to start collecting me a little stash.  I am also absolutely loving making my own little shaker pockets.  They are great to use when you need that extra little bit of 'spesh' to jazz up a page.  The one in this layout is part of one of my handmade mini kits that you can find in my store here.

I added a little Amy Tangerine 'love' with stickers and embellies and in no time this page came together.  Some weeks I am finding it much simpler to do a 'Week In Review' insert than try and fit my journaling throughout the layout.

Here's a close up of my little shaker pockets.  I can't wait to make more for my store, my head is flooded with cute ideas.  I've been playing around with all sorts of 'sprinkles' and fun stuff for kits (thank goodness the billiard table hardly ever gets used as it is currently spread with sewing, sprinkles die cuts) lol.

Time for me to get back to that billiard table and get creating.  Hope you are all happy scrappers today and enjoying whatever projects you are working on....  Would love to hear about them! :)

Happy days,
Kye
xo

Project Life 2013 - Week 18

As promised, another Project Life week post.  This week I played with some digital text and fonts.  I always love how simple yet effective it looks.  It's also great for when you have loads of journaling that you need to add to the layout and like me, run out of room.

When I'm taking my photos, I now try to make sure that I leave white (or negative) space.  This is helpful for those times when I want to add digital journaling, embellishments or even just to add effect and draw attention to the subject in the picture.  If you're unsure as to what 'white space' is, you can read more about it HERE.

Now, you might have guessed that this was the week that I had the pleasure of meeting the lovely Amy Tan.  You can read more about that HERE in a previous post.  So it obviously wasn't a hard decision to make when selecting what papers I would use...  Amy Tangerine of course!!!  I mixed up the Yes Please range with again that pile of loveliness that was depleting (it was getting used and in a scrapper's mind that is the main thing LOL).

I decided to do an insert and rather than go into all the details of the day, I used a QR code that links to the blog post I had written about the adventure.  I found this easier than telling the story again and I didn't need to take up room on the insert with a whole written saga, just use the photos I had chosen and pop in the little code.  I think I will have to do a post on my QR coding process as it really is simple and I'm sure most of you would be interested in using this simple way of adding videos to your Project Life pages.  If you aren't aware of how to do it, please leave me a comment below and I'll get to work on an instructional post. :)

Here is the back of the insert and you can see a photo of Amy signing my goodies that I purchased.  She was very generous to sign some papers and also a daybook I had bought.  I am still yet to use the day book as I just haven't really had anything that special to put into it.  I'm sure with the warmer weather on it's way soon, I will have plenty of fun filled times to add to it's bright and cheery pages. 

Now last but not least for this layout, I added a photo of my new love... Cork!  I have sheets of it that I have been cutting up (unfortunately it doesn't run through my Cameo) but I have been having so much fun snipping, stamping and just ultimately playing around with this new 'trend' of embellishing.  For some reason every time I use it, it reminds me of an old friend's cork floor being ruined by high heels and I giggle...  Another story, another day (not scrapping related what-so-ever) but still funny all the same.

Okay guys, off to do today's Yoga Challenge (again not scrapping related LOL) but if you're into Yoga or even just want to do some breathing and stretching, check out this online 30 Day Challenge that I'm doing HERE.  Just quietly, it's been a LONG time since I've stretched like this and as much as it's a little painful, so to speak, it's making me feel AMAZING!!!!

Namaste peeps,

Kye

xo

Project Life 2013 - Week 17

Firstly, my apologies for being a little 'absent' on here lately.  I've been busily creating store items and having a BLAST doing it!  I've got so many cute little things in progress that it's been a little difficult to keep up to date with my blogging...  So don't mind me if I bombard you with a few weeks in a row.  Things are looking like settling down again so my Project Life posts should be more regular now... Phew, so glad to be back LOL! :)

For this layout I used the June kit from Polka Dot Creative which you can find HERE.  It teamed quite nicely with a few bits and bobs that I still had lying on my desk from my last few layouts.  Nothing beats using what you've already got spread from here to high heaven hahahaha!

I've found that I've been sticking my flairs (or buttons as some prefer to call them) to the outside of my plastic pockets so that I don't get that bumpy lumpy look that irks me into tomorrow.  It gives a much flatter look but still having the dimension I love.

I also had some journaling that I prefer kept for just our eyes in this week's layout.   This was tackled by folding printed cardstock and printing on the back (it was one-sided) and inserting it into a 3x4 pocket.  I know that it is there and I can read back on it if I choose to.  It's not something I want just anyone reading but I still wanted it documented as it's all part of our 'story'.  I see no sense in doing this whole Project Life thing if I don't document the good, the bad and the ugly.  I want my boys to understand that it's all these experiences that make us who we are.  I want our journey to be documented realistically, in hopes that these albums have lessons in their pages that one day they will understand and learn from.

Now time to edit some more photos for my next post...Oh and get these boys bathed and settled so that we can watch the very first episode of Big Brother 2013!!!  Call me a reality tv junkie and I'll own it, I can't help it and I will never deny it.  Soooooooooo excited!!!!! LOL ;)

Bye for now,

Kye

xo

Project Life 2013 - Week 16

Oh. My. Gee did this week do my head in!!!  LOL  I can honestly tell you that I have never spent so much time on fiddling, shuffling, repositioning and to be quite frank, just fluffing (for want of a better word) around with papers, lettering, photos....  You name it, it was shuffled!  It honestly, no word of a lie, has taken me days to get this spread finished.  BUT, in saying that...  I would have to say that this layout is now probably my favourite one that I have done so far.

I have never really been a green kinda girl but these gorgeous papers from Authentique really caught my eye when I was looking through my stash and deciding what to use.  I knew that I wanted to utilise more of my Studio Calico Project Life kit so these papers just jumped out and said "Hel-lo" when I was matching and colour co-ordinating.

I think the reason that I fiddled so much was because of the mood I was in.  I have been a little overwhelmed with life in general lately and have a had a lot on my plate, so to really focus on the subject at hand (my layout) seemed like another chore.  Project Life has never been like that for me and I never want it to get that way.  It's my escape, my chillax time, me time, my leave-me-alone-I'm-in-my-happy-place time.  So to see it as something that was overwhelming me too, was a little disappointing.

I jumped off that train quick smart!  I took all my goodies and tools into the living room, away from my 'work space'.  I made a yummy platter of cheese, dips, olives, etc and put on one of my favourite shows (Wentworth for those wondering) and then viola!!!  I got my mojo back and things just flowed. 

I was relaxed enough to then let it all just come together again.  Now THAT is how I Project Life!  Without really thinking, without a concept or theme in mind.  It's just where the photos and my creative juices take me for that particular layout.  Ahhhhhhh *sigh* I will now never let something that I love overwhelm me again....

Now this brings me to my point, my epiphany...  I really love my life, so why am I letting THAT overwhelm me?  My new approach...  Relax, change it up a bit and then just got with the flow!!!!!!

Isn't it amazing how Project Life can give you clarity and help you along life's journey...  It's a clever little cookie our friend, isn't it!  LOL ;)

Going with the flow,

Kye

xo

Project Life 2013 - Week 15

Week 15 was next on my 'to tackle list' and I had finally received my first Studio Calico Project Life kit so I couldn't WAIT to get started. I was unsure of what to expect with the kit but was pleasantly surprised by it's cuteness and quality. I'm really chuffed with how this layout turned out and the colours I got to work with were amazeballs! All my favourite tones of pinks, salmons, teals and oranges. Oh Em Gee, was my heart happy seeing all these yummies laid out in front of me.

It was also the first time that I had played with the colours and tones of my digital kits so that was really fun to muck around with and the results were much better than I expected. I thought it would dull the text or make things a little difficult to see if I changed the tints. But in all honesty, this will be something I will be doing a lot more of and getting so much more versatility out of my digi kits. YAY for getting value for the dollar!!! :)

 

So definitely a happy Studio Calico customer here and now I'm excitedly awaiting the next release. Ooooh I can't wait to play with the next one!!!!

Peace out peeps,
Kye
xo

 

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Project Life 2013 - Week 14

Now for week 14... It's colourful and bright again (I just can't seem to stay away from the cheery Honey kit). I've just jazzed it up with lots of cute digital embellishments that I print and cut with my Silhouette Cameo.

I also had a fair bit of journalling to include this week. I was actually quite excited about it, knowing I could go back to my habit of typing rather than use my handwriting LOL (see my last post on handwriting). It always seems to make it easier to fill the inserts when there is plenty of text to include. I find I have to be quite inventive with ways of including it and this always give me a thrill. I love playing around with my digitals to see what I can fit and where.

I've realised lately that I'm not much of a 'technique' kind of scrapper. I much prefer to just stick things down to make it look all pretty. I love layering, if that's what you'd call it, with little embellies and washi, staples and lettering, all those easy-to-grab kind of elements. I might have to try and go out of my comfort zone soon and start playing with different medias. But for now, while I'm catching up, I'll stick to what I find easy.

So another week posted! :)

Hooroo peeps,

Kye

xo

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Project Life 2013 - Week 13

Here it is...  The first of my 'catch up' posts that I have been working on.  Week 12 is where I left you and I apologise for my lack of posts but I plan to make up for it, believe me...  I've got a lot in store!

Speaking of 'stores', I'm excited to announce that my online store will be reopening VERY soon with lots of cute handmade embellishments, some mini kits and even some fun die cuts specifically designed for your Project Life pages.

As I post my 'catch up' layouts over the next week or so, you will get a sneak peek of some of the designs that will be available.  But for now, here is my week 13 of Project Life...

Just before starting this layout, I had read a wonderful and highly inspiring blog post by Polka Dot Creative that relates to 'being brave and being you'.  I am normally one to use pretty fonts on my Project Life rather than use my own handwriting.  I guess it's because I find it much simpler to quickly type away than grab a pen (it has to be just the right nib) and then ponder on what kind of handwriting I should use (I have many styles).  I was always the girl in high school that had the neat handwriting in her books, all done in those lovely ten colour pens, remember those?  I would even tear a page out if my handwriting looked messy (probably only to me) and then I would proceed to start all over again.  Yep, I was THAT girl!  Crazy, I know, but I just couldn't help it...

So, after reading this I decided to be brave and be me...  I was going to do something that was a little challenging and try to be 'okay' with using my own handwriting.  Now, don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't like my own penmanship.  It's just that I get anxious if it's not perfectly aligned or there's a spelling error that will make it look untidy.  So this, for me, was going to be a struggle to just relax, write and fight the urge to re-write and re-write.

But, thanks to the encouraging words and cute little pictures that were included in PDC's post, I did it!!!!!  I just wrote and then found I kept writing on another card and then another.  I was letting myself not be so uptight on how it would turn out and just went for it.  And boy was I happy with how it turned out!  The whole spread came together, my own handwriting and all, just wonderfully.

Now, I'm not saying that I would do it again LOL and I'll tell you why...  I honestly, still find it much easier to type and then print my journalling.  But by geez did it feel good to finally get over the fear of journaling with a pen.  I have made a pact with myself to do it more often on some inserts but as for a whole layout... Nope, probably won't happen anytime soon LOL.  Maybe only if I run out of ink and want a page finished hahahahaha ;)  But now I know I that can and it looks absolutely fine! :)

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