Day in the Life MDS Share

As I mentioned in my post here, Stampin' Up! has once again very GENEROUSLY given all of their Facebook fans a free digital download kit called Day in the Life. Here's a look at the kit:

This kit, valued at $14.95, includes a 38-piece stamp brush set, 12 DSP patterns, 21 embellishments and a two page 8"x8" layout.  I just have to say that it is FABULOUS!  I haven't had much time to play around in My Digital Studio lately ... life has been crazy to say the least!  However, these templates make it so, so easy to put a page together.  I just picked out a few of my favorite pictures for the past year and did some minor journaling and voila! I have a very cute two-page spread.  It would be so easy to add to this template to create a complete scrapbook covering the entire year!  I may just have to do that! 

Supplies:

My Digital Studio (118108)

Day in the Life Digital Download (128876 - FREE until January 10, after that $14.95)

Late Share

I'm a little late in sharing, but as the saying goes ... better late than never!  My daughter is a Senior Girl Scout (9th and 10th grade girls) and last month was her month to lead the meeting, which included a craft.  Of course, she asked me to help with a project.  It had to be quick and easy as they were also doing their Secret Santa gift exchange and a White Elephant at their meeting.  I also didn't want to have to get into any stamping since we were on limited time.  We came up with this two-page 6x6 scrapbook spread for her and her troop sisters to do together at their meeting.  Even the girls who dislike paper crafts *GASP* liked this project.  Several of the girls kept telling their moms that they just HAD to have the Big Shot!  I couldn't agree more :)

Supplies:

Garden Green Card Stock (102584)

Real Red Card Stock (102482)

Whisper White Card Stock (100730)
Scallop Edge Border Punch (119882)
Stocking Builder Punch (Retired)
Stocking Accents Originals Die (124099)
Snow Burst Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (124096)

From Card to Scrapbook Page

I made this card here several years ago and have always loved it.  I decided to try and recreate it as a 12x12 scrapbook page using My Digital Studio.  It is definitely lacking in my opinion.  I know it needs more, but I just can't put my finger on it.  I'd love to know what you think!

Supplies:
My Digital Studio Software (118108)
Cast a Spell Designer Series Paper Download (118114)
Word Window Punch Download (122161)

Finished Mount Fuji Layout

Here is another page that I've added a page to for a double page layout.  You've seen Page 1 before, but here is the whole thing.  Remember, you only have a few more days left in May.  Don't forget to take advantage of Stampin' Up!'s National Scrapbook Promotion.  Also, don't forget about the drawing for a free copy of My Digital Studio software!  Details are at the top of my blog.

My Softball Superstar!

My daughter is NOT a team sports kind of girl.  She would much rather do something "individual", like rock wall climbing, zip lining, kayaking, etc.  However, two summers ago she decided to "try" softball.  Well, she LOVED it!  I cannot even begin to express how happy that made me as I was an All-Star softball player when I was her age and I continued to play ball up until I got married.  At that time I was on three teams (two co-ed and one all girls) and played five nights a week!  She's only played for two seasons, but already shows great potential.  I love that she loves my favorite sport!

Does this layout look familiar?  It should!  I used it for my son's soccer team here.

More MDS

I have been taking advantage of the icky weather and whipping up a few more double layouts before the end of the month so I can take advantage of the 30% off printing special this month.   I took my original single page layout (which I don't think I ever shared) and edited it to create a double page layout.  Overall I'm happy with the results.

My Sk8ter Boi

Do you like my title?  I have to admit that I do love Avril Lavigne, even though most of her generation probably think I'm ancient!  That being said, I thought I'd play off her song to title my blog post ;)

My 10-year-old son LOVES his skateboard.  He has actually saved his money several times to purchase new decks and he is quite proficient at taking his board apart and putting it back together.  We have a mini make-shift skate park behind our house where and and his friends get together almost on a daily basis (as long as it's not raining) and practice their "skills".  My hubby snuck out one day and took some shots of him without him knowing it -- aren't those always the best!! 

This layout went through several revisions before I was finally satisfied.  The look on my son's face and his exclamation of "it's perfect" sealed the deal! 

Those Eyes

Last year I was goofing around with my camera. I kept trying to sneak pictures of my daughter and she would catch me! I love these shots that I got of her. I used the pre-made page that came with the Hip and Handsome Overlays digital download.

20 Pages in a Day

I am so excited to share with you the second project I designed for the current round of UStamp - Classes, Clubs and Camps.  It is 20 scrapbook pages in a day.  This is such a fun and easy scrapbook to put together and really doesn't take much time.

For full supply list and written tutorial, head on over to UStamp with Dawn and Friends (button is on my sidebar) and sign up today!

Rub-a-Dub-Dub

We have lived overseas for nearly six years and on the advice from others I left all my photos in storage.  Boy how I wish I hadn't done that!  So, imagine my surprise and joy when my honey found a disc full of pictures from when my kids were little.  Here is another layout I made with these photos. 

This is another layout that I took from one of the pre-made layouts that comes loaded on the My Digital Studio software.  I took two pages from the Hoppy Memories 12x12 album and changed out the Designer Series Papers and the Card Stock colors.  I used the Circle Circus stamp brush set to create the "bubble" accents on the pages.  A strategically placed label on the first page not only marks my date but covers up my daughter where she was proudly "exposing" herself LOL.  I think this 2-page layout took me a grand total of about 15 minutes to complete from start to finish.  I can't say enough about how wonderful My Digital Studio is!  I can't believe I had it for more than a year before I started really getting into it!  I you have your copy already and haven't opened it, then you really need to do so right away!  And if you don't yet own My Digital Studio, what are you waiting for???  I haven't even begun to tap into the potential of this amazing software and you've already seen what I've accomplished. 

Beautiful Baby Boy

My hubby came across a CD with some old digital photos on it the other night.  These were taken with our very first digital camera about 10-1/2 years ago.  Can I just say that digital photography has come A LONG WAY!!!  These are not the best pictures, but they are pictures nonetheless.  I think the page speak for themselves :)  I took two pages from the Rock-A-Bye Boy template that comes with the My Digital Studio software and added photos.  Nothing more.  Nothing less.  Well, maybe a few strategically placed coordinating embellishments over some not so flattering areas of the photos :)  Easy peasy!

I want to wish all of you moms out there a super fantastic and happy Mother's Day! 

Ghosts, Goblins and Ghouls

I have slowly been going through my pictures - in no particular order.  Here are a few from Halloween.  I took the two-page October layout from the "A Year in Review Photobook Template" and tweaked it for my Halloween page.  I'm pretty satisfied with the way it turned out.

I can't wait to see these in print!  I guess I have to wait until the end of the month when I order all my pages!

Forest Adventure Park Layout AND New Winner for Blog Candy

My neighbor's son wanted to celebrate his 11th birthday by going ziplining and we were fortunate enough to be invited to celebrate with him.  Yesterday I shared a page I did for a VC Rocks challenge.  I changed it up a bit and added a second page so that I can get it printed and put it in my scrapbook.  I'm really happy with how these pages turned out. 

Since I did not hear from "nana", I had to choose a new winner for my blog candy.  And the winner is ...

Kimberly S. said...

Glad to see you back! We missed you!! So glad your hubby is home safe and sound! That's ALWAYS good news!! And I would've put my blog off if I were you, too!! Family time is VERY important! Glad things are getting back to normal for you! I'm sure it's EXTREMELY difficult to be the wife of a military man! Congrats on holding it all together while he was gone!! :)
April 30, 2011 11:40 PM

Kimberly, I have sent you an email!!!  Congratulations.

VC Rocks Moderator Challenge Week May 1-7

If you haven't heard of VC Rocks, then you really need to head on over to their blog and check it out!!!  In a nutshell, VC Rocks is The Original Virtual Convention -- A Celebration of Everything Stampin' Up!  I couldn't be happier that I found it! 

This week, a challenge was issued!  I love challenges and have promised myself that I would participate in more of them. The challenge is as follows:

Challenge #1 – Card Challenge
Your project must have
* At least 2 CIRCLES (stamped, punched, buttons, etc. whatever size you choose and however you want to make 2 circles)
* Loni’s favorite color Real Red or the color of her bike – Cherry Cobbler
* Congratulations theme

Challenge #2 – Scrapbooking Challenge
* Scrapbook page, any size
* Must have at least At least 2 CIRCLES (stamped, punched, buttons, etc. whatever size you choose and however you want to make 2 circles)
* Must have Loni’s favorite color Real Red or the color of her bike – Cherry Cobbler.
* Any theme
* Must have at least 1 picture
* Must have a title
* Must have journaling.

I chose to participate in Challenge #2 to begin.  I used MDS to create my 12 x 12 scrapbook page.  I THINK I've met all the requirements.  What do you think? 

Now I know I promised you double-page layouts and I will deliver!  I have changed this up just a bit and added a second page and will share that tomorrow!

Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

One of the amazing sites here in Okinawa is the Churaumi Aquarium.  It is the second largest aquarium in the world.  We've been fortunate to go several times and each time is a treat!  I am so grateful for the opportunities living abroad has given to my children.  This is another page that started out as a single-page layout that I have bumped up to a double-page layout.  You have seen the first page before, although it's been awhile!  Here is the finished layout.

It's National Scrapbooking Month!!!

Did you know that May is National Scrapbooking Month?  Well, it is :) 

In honor of National Scrapbooking Month, I will be doing my very best to post a double-page layout each day this month.  The reason for double-page layouts is that I am just that kind of gal!  I've seen some beautiful scrapbooks with single page layouts in them, but I just prefer the look of a double-page layout in my scrapbook.  It just looks more finished to me.

You may have already seen some of the pages I'm sharing as single-page layouts.  I am taking the time this month to finish them up as double-page layouts so that I can take advantage of the Stampin' Up! National Scrapbooking promotion to get 30% off my printed pages!!!  I'm really excited to finally put some books together. 

I've never been much of a scrapbooker, but with My Digital Studio, I'm finding it so easy to do!  This is the finished double-page layout for my son's Soccer team last season.  I am really pleased with the final results.

Also, don't forget to leave a comment on my previous post to be eligible for my blog candy!!!

Flight of the Butterfly 6x6 Scrapbook Page

I love butterflies.  My very first Stampin' Up stamp was a butterfly stamp set.  I can't for the life of me remember the name of it!  It was a 2-step stamp.  When Flight of the Butterfly came out I knew I just had to have it.  THEN Stampin' Up outdid themselves and gave us the butterfly punch!  A match made in heaven!  This page was quick to put together.  My daughter has a darling dress that inspired the colors -- unfortunately I haven't been able to get a picture of her in it.  I think tomorrow when she wears it I will make her let me take her picture :)

Supplies:
Lap of Luxury Designer Series Paper (120436)
Whisper White Card Stock (100730)
Basic Gray Card Stock (121044)
Concord Crush Card Stock (119792)
Pink Pirouette Card Stock (100459)
Pink Pirouette Classic Ink (111838)
Pretty in Pink Classic Ink (101301)
Flight of the Butterfly Stamp (Wood Mount Only 111564)
Butterfly Extra-Large Punch (119848)
1-3/4" Scallop Circle Extra-Large Punch (119854)
1-3/8" Circle Large Punch (119860)
Whisper White 5/8" Organza Ribbon (114319)

Baby Boy Album

Here is another baby boy album I did for a friend's baby shower.  It's very similar to the last one, however, I chose to do some of the embellishing on this one myself rather than leave it up to the recipient.  I like how it turned out.  Using Stampin' Up!'s Simply Scrappin' Kits (Pages 178-179 of the Idea Book and Catalog) makes it so easy to do!  You can get two 6x6 albums out of one kit.  The kit I used for this book is retired, but there are still so many options available to you!