Simple Stories Baby Mini Chipboard Album

This is a Chipboard Mini Baby Book that I made for a co-worker's new baby grand daughter.  I used Simple Stories Baby Steps Collection, along with coordinating Bazzill Cardstock.  The edges are inked with Ranger Distress Stains Victorian Velvet - I just LOVE using it to distress the edges of chipboard books!
All Products were purchased at Scrap-a-Doodle Doo!

I hope you enjoy looking and it inspires you to take time for you and just CREATE!!  It is such a WONDERFUL release and stress reliever!


I made lots of photo mats and used Helmar ZapDots to make some of the paper embellishments 3-D - and also to create pockets to hold tags.



Front Cover I really like how this book came out - even though it has been 17 years since I had a BABY!







I also added some pearl swirls on the letters to BLING them up a bit! 



On the left page - I used one of the clear elements in the collection to form a pocket with a tag to record the baby's birth weight, etc. This was raised by using Helmar's Clear Liquid ScrapDots
- LOVE THIS STUFF!

All of the papers in the collection, along with the sticker embellishments really go so well together!

On the left page, I used baby powder on the back of the sticker banner that hangs over the pink photo mat - leaving sticky on just the edges of the banner.



I LOVE these pages - there is even a quote from Winnie the Pooh! -
 "Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.”




Another pocket with 3 tags on the left and a cute Little Sprout on the right!

  

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Pockets on both pages - the  one on the right has months 7 - 12 each page with an eyelet and strung together - to record Baby's wt, length, etc , and any notes!

Lots more Pockets and Tags - I love the colors - don't you!!

The back page is just perfect - I love the swirls and the beautiful BABY font!

Well - thanks for looking!  I hope you enjoyed peeking as much as the new Grandma liked it!



A Pirate's Life for Me!!

Hello my Bloggy Buddies!


I was going through some of my albums last weekend, and came across these fun layouts from our 2007 Disney Cruise Line Mediterranean Cruise.

We are BIG DCL fans - and have cruised with them 3 times - all 3 times on the Disney Magic!


This trip was to celebrate our 25th Wedding Anniversary, and our son Nick's High School Graduation - it was an AMAZING 14 night Adventure in the Mediterranean - to say we had an AWESOME TIME - would be an understatement !!


Well - these photos and layouts brought a smile to my face - so I thought I'd share them with you - I hope they inspire you to CREATE SOMETHING THIS WEEKEND!  Go ahead - and take a little time FOR YOU!  YOU Deserve it!!


Thanks for looking - FEEL FREE TO COMMENT - just say HI or let me know what you like best about the layouts  ( besides the HOT Capt Jack Sparrow!! LOL!!)

Can you see the funny look Jack is giving me! LOL!!

They have Pirate Night on the ship - and I forced my family to "Dress UP" like Pirates! As you can see in this picture and those that follow - Jake - my youngest son on the far right - was NOT happy to say the least - look - his eye patch is flipped up too!  Oh - the Pirate Map is from the dinner menu, and so are the elements on the left - that I connected with black brads, kind of like  a map to find the treasure!



Here is a close up of the Pin in the upper right corner of the layout above. If you look closely - you can see I was wearing it on my dress that night.  Instead of letting it sit in a jewelry box - never to be seen again - I decided to snip off the back, and add it to this layout. LOVE IT!!



YES!!  - I WILL scrap just about anything - and THAT IS the Eye Patch and Beard that my son Nick wore in the photo - and stuck to the top of the page - along with another piece of the Dinner Menu!

Here is a Close up of the Eye Patch and Beard - seems like the 2 pirates on the left are having more fun than the 2 pirates on the right?? LOL!!

Oh LOOK!  More "HAPPY" Pirates in the top left photo!! ( That is why I stamped "SMILE" in the open circles!)  The Skull and Crossbones is a magnet that we had on our stateroom door, and the photo on the top Right is a picture of the GIANT "DUMBOTRON" screen that they have outside on the top/pool deck of the MAGIC!

I LOVE this Layout - ( and NO - not just because it has the WONDERFUL Capt Jack on it!) Phil and the boys were sitting by one of the big circle windows on the ship, while on our way to dinner, the hallway was not wide enough for me to get a head on shot of both their "tops and bottoms" in one, so I took 2 pictures and scrapped them one on top of the other! All in All we really had a FUN PIRATE NIGHT on this WONDERFUL Vacation - I am SO HAPPY I have all the photos and memories to cherish forever!

Thanks for looking!  Let me know which layout is your favorite - I'd love to hear from you!

(( HUGS)) ~ Sherri

What the HECK is Shabby Chic???

Okay - Okay - I just can't wait any longer!!

I have to SHARE a REAL Sneak Peek of Scrap-a-Doodle Doo's MARCH MEGA KIT OF THE MONTH!!!!!  ( that I just finished designing!! What FUN!!)


I am SO LOVING the MISS CAROLINE Collection from My Mind's EYE!!!   It is just SOOO SHABBY CHIC!!  


What the Heck is "Shabby Chic" you might ask?   Well - my husband asked me that question too last night when I told him I was considering  a "Shabby Chic" look when we update our main bathroom!

He had NO CLUE what I was talking about - so I showed him the completed MARCH Kit Sample and he just said "Oh." - MEN!!! LOL!!


Anyway - I know when you see this SHABBY CHIC SNEAK PEEK - you all are going to say OOOOHHHHH!! ( just a little differently than my hubby did I am sure! LOL!!)


I have a feeling you are REALLY going to LOVE this month's kit!    We've switched it up a little from the "usual" kit -which has included (2) Two Page Layouts in the past.  This month you will be getting enough product and instructions to create 3 pages - 2 of which are "split" and FLIP OPEN - You see, the kit will include a 12 x 12  top load page protector that opens up like "French Doors"  -  that is how I like to describe them! ;o)

Shhhh.... I'll let you in on a little secret.....   --- Not only can you add photos on the front and back of the 2 flaps, as well as on front of the center full sheet (totaling 3 pages) - you will have enough paper left over to even add some photos and complete the BACK of the center page on your own too if you would like (making it a total of 4 pages!!  FUN!  FUN! FUN!!

ALL of THE DOO's Monthly kits come with FULL DIRECTIONS, and COLOR PHOTOS. 

So - here is the little Sneak like I promised -

This "Shabby Chic" collection will work great with any type of photos, and is one of the HOTTEST Lines and STYLES in the Industry - You won't want to miss it!

Your Kit of the Month will include:
My Mind's Eye "Miss Caroline" patterned papers, "Miss Caroline" coordinating embellishments, a paper doily ( these are showing up everywhere these days!) Bazzill Cardstock, Maya Road Organza Rose Ribbon, a strand of Pearls, Hemp twine,  along with 4 Tim Holtz "Alterations~ Hardware Findings"  chipboard embellishments, and a Ranger Pearl Paint Dauber too!! OH MY -what goodies we have picked out for you!!


Sample will be in the store the evening of March 16th - call 201 818 7060 ASAP if you want to reserve yours!

REMEMBER....
THE MONTHLY KITS ARE LIMITED - so if you want one - BE SURE to get on their Kit List - Just call THE DOO TEAM at the Store  201 818 7060 to find out all the info on how that works!
***THEY WILL SHIP KITS TOO!!***

SUGGESTED ADD ONS FOR THIS MONTH's KIT are RANGER DISTRESS STAIN in VICTORIAN VELVET, "NEW" RANGER BLACK SOOT DISTRESS MARKER, FOAM POP DOTS, ** You can order these from THE DOO TOO!  and 10 BLACK BRADS -  


Thanks for stopping by!

(( HUGS )) ~ Sherri

NEW Sneak Peek and a BLOG Award!!

Hi Everyone!  Happy Tuesday to you!

I wanted to share one more Sneak Peek of my upcoming class at Scrap-a-Doodle Doo, next Tuesday night March 13th at 6:30pm - There are a few seats left - I hope you can make it -please call the store at 201 818 7060 if you'd like to join me.  

It is the first in a series of Classes that "THE DOO" will be offering - called "How'd She DOO That?"

In this class, I will show you HOW TO - combine different patterned papers, from different manufacturers.

We will make a 1 page 12x12 Layout, using patterned paper from 7 Gypsies, Webster's Pages, Basic Grey, and Bazzill Cardstock.

The project will be multi-layered and incorporate the following techniques as well: fussy cutting; paper pleating; painting with Ranger's Distress Stains ( FUN!!) ; water distressing, ZVA "Bling" and Prima flowered ribbons. A sample is in the store now!
I hope you can join me - Class info can be found HERE

NEXT!!   SOME BLOGGY NEWS 
and BLOGGY LOVE!!

A very KIND and Talented BLOGGER that I meet in this CRAFTY On-line Bloggy World - by the name of KIM - AKA LAZY COWGIRL sent me a LIEBSTER BLOG & a Shout Out on her BLOG!  She also sent me this beautiful note:  


Kim has left a new comment on your post "Egg-citing News! I was selected by We R Memory Kee...":
"Well of course they asked you to be a Guest Designer. Your art is beautiful. I love that water distressing technique. I'll have to try it. I've mentioned you on my blog and given you the Liebster award for your blog. please visit me and grab your button. Love your stuff."  So very Sweet!  THANKS KIM!

So I wondered - what is the Liebster Award?  I did a little searching and is kind of like a RAK (random act of kindess) 

The purpose of this award is to spread the LOVE to Small Blogs ( under 200 followers.)  This helps to spread readership to us newbies, and helps to share the bloggy love. 

It’s time to for me to pay it forward and here are my 5 picks. Check out these talented bloggers. There are so many people (with lots of followers) that have been so generous by mentioning my blog, I’m happy to pass on the same kindness to others! Please visit them and show them some blogging love. 

PLEASE FOLLOW THEM  and Leave a Comment

- EVERYONE LOVES a little BLOGGY LOVE!

To start with  - over and above my "Fav 5" I have to recognize KIM - who nominated me - she has some beautiful work on her blog - CHECK her out here:   http://lazycowgirl.blogspot.com/


Family comes FIRST - so my First official SHOUT OUT goes to my BEAUTIFUL and Talented Cousin JENNIFER - She is new to the Bloggy World  - but has such a flair for decor and design - and I LOVE the name of her blog, as it is named after our wonderful Grandmother Grace !  Check it out - and please follow and say HI while you are there - tell them Sherri sent you!  http://gracefullydunn.blogspot.com/


Second -I have to send a SHOUT OUT to my favorite Local Scrapbook Store - SCRAP-A-DOODLE DOO - where I teach and am on their Design Team! You've GOTTA check out THE DOO!  ANYTHING you need scrap-related -they either have it - or you can get it - so please follow their BLOG - I post there regularly too!      http://scrap-a-doodle-doo.blogspot.com/  You can shop ON LINE 24/7 from anywhere!


Third - My Friend ADINA - She is a co-teacher and Design Team Member with me at THE DOO - she does some AMAZING work - PLEASE follow her too! HERE::   http://mommyisscrapping.blogspot.com/

Fourth is My Friend ANNA - She is also a co-teacher and Design Team Member with me at THE DOO - I LOVE her Beautiful creations - you should click here and follow her too!::  http://stampanna.typepad.com/


And Fifth -  is My Friend JEN from PA! Jen and I met in a hallway, at a Scrap-booking weekend event last year in Massachusetts, and instantly clicked - She owns a Scrapbook Store in PA and is AWESOME! Check her BLOG out and follow her HERE Please:  http://lifemeetsart.blogspot.com


Thanks for reading - and if you are NEW to my BLOG - WELCOME!  I'D  LOVE for you to be a FOLLOWER here too!


I hope I've given you some Scrappy Inspiration!

((HUGS)) ~ Sherri

Egg-citing News! I was selected by We R Memory Keepers....

To be a GUEST Designer on their Facebook PAGE!!  WOO HOO!


You can check it out HERE  <----go ahead and click! (but please come back here to see the details, tips, and my 2nd layout too!)


I am so exited to be able to share this Good News - and the 2 layouts that I created using the BRAND NEW ( and ADORABLE!) We R Memory Keepers COTTON TAIL Collection!

Just a little background about me for a minute if you don't mine....

As some of you may (or may not) know - I am a "late in life" scrapper - I didn't start scrapbooking until my children were @ 10 and 15 - and some of you also may know that I am NOT a fast scrapper.

I realized LONG AGO - that I will NEVER be "caught up" or even "up to date" in my scrapping - so I've let all of that "angst" go - and I now I just scrap to CREATE and work on what makes me Happy and feel GOOD at the time!  Whatever moves me - or mood I am to do.  To me - it is all about taking the time to honor and cherish special memories, and enjoy the creative process while doing so.  ( Okay - Okay - I do secretly envy those of you that are up to date, and have all those beautiful photos of your kids scrapped since birth - but ( deep breath inserted here) I realize that will never be me - and will move on and along with my "scrap what you feel method," and enjoy every minute of it! LOL!!)

OK - if you are still here - and reading this (THANK YOU) you are probably asking yourself "Why does she think I need to know all that - and what does it have to do with Guest Designing for We R Memory Keepers??" 

Well, you see, when Jenny from WRMK emailed me with the GOOD NEWS that I was selected to be a GUEST DESIGNER! on their Facebook page, and that she would be sending me some goodies from their new Cotton Tail Collection - I took a peek at the line and then said to myself -SOO CUTE - BUT - "YIKES !!- Easter Bunny Stuff !!" 

You see, my "Boys" are now 23 and 17 -  and I was not the most "diligent" photographer back when they were little guys and when Easter took on a bigger celebration. While I thought the Collection was beyond adorable - I wondered  "What the heck am I going to do with these papers?"

Ahhh... I guess it is a good thing that I am not an up to date scrapper - RIGHT??!!  LOL!

So, off I went to the dresser in the basement where I store my un-scrapped photos from years gone by ( I know, I know - not the best way/place to keep them -sorry! Hope I didn't make you cringe!)  and I spent a good 1-2 hrs going through them - looking for just the right photos for these BEAUTIFUL Papers!    I must say - I had the most enjoyable time doing so - and could have spent another 2 hrs down there reminiscing!   

Well, I had to go "way back in time!" to 1995 and 1996. I sincerely want to THANK We R Memory Keepers for giving me the opportunity to scrap these very special and precious photos ( and save them from their banishment in the basement LOL!!)

Here is the cool Cotton Tail Scrappy Stuff that came in the box from Jenny at We R Memory Keepers:

Isn't this collection ADORABLE!

Below is my first completed Layout that is FEATURED on their Facebook Page. I used the following papers / elements:
WRMK "Cotton Tail" ENGLISH GARDEN (diecut) on top of a page of THICKET. * I cut the center of THICKET out -and used it to STAMP the flower shapes from the acrylic stamps that were included. I cut those out and inked the edges of them.  I broke out my stash of buttons and added some of those along with some felt embellishments from Close to My Heart. (yes, I sewed the buttons on to the page - I just can't do buttons without thread)  I inked the edges of the papers with Ranger Distress Stain in Dusty Concord too. The yellow letters are foam and are from Thickers. ( The purple and white pearls on the trees are from my friend Marianne!)



 My oldest son Nick ( top left) was 7 at the time - snazzy tie and purple socks huh?!  My youngest son Jake (top right photos) was 1 1/2  that Easter -and as you can see, he was always in perpetual motion! LOL!  The bottom photo includes my Dad, and my 2 nephews too. Zachary on the far left - (the one with the big pout on his face - not sure what was the problem there!) - and the little guy is his brother Harrison.



Here you can see where I stamped different colors on the patterned paper - I love how these turned out - Since this is a "BOY" layout - I think cutting them in circles make them more "candy" like -and add a sweet touch to the layout.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Besides not having many Easter photos - another "Challenge" I had with the items sent was this adorable EGG shaped Tag.  I really wanted to use it - BUT - I didn't find any "EGG HUNT" photos - and I wanted to use the gorgeous STRIPE on the page of EASTER BASKET too, so I had an idea!

 First - I outlined the ridge on the embossed tag, along the inner egg shape with a pencil - applying it heavy enough to transfer.

Then, I put the tag, face down, on the BACK of the EASTER BASKET paper - on top of a foam mat, and ran my embossing stylus along that indent on the back of the tag.

See how the pencil transferred perfectly to the paper, in the correct size / shape!! - Now I just had to erase the pencil from the tag, and cut out the new egg shape.

I think it was the PERFECT way to add the year to the Layout - and I "filled" the hole in the top of the tag with a stamped flower and a button!  I just LOVE how it came out!

Here is another close up of the bottom right corner, showing the stamped flowers - you can see the Distress Stain edging, and how I used HELMAR ZAPDOTS to raise up some of the elements too.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Here is the 2nd Layout that I made with some of the Cotton Tail GOODIES!  These are photos of my youngest son Jake's 1st Easter. ( After looking at these photos, I want to know who the heck picked out that blue flowered furniture???   What was I thinking?? LOL!!)





I used BUNNY TAIL to make a frame, and put the lovely stripped EASTER BASKET paper behind it. The strip on the top is from EASTER TITLES, as are the 2 small strips with the eggs and  chicks that I cut out - along with the word EASTER from the TITLES page. I also used my We R Memory Keepers SEW EASY Tool with the ZIG ZAG attachment on this layout - it makes sewing on your layouts really "SEW EASY!" I love the look it added to this page.

Here is how I made the frame -

I took the piece of BUNNY TAIL - and ran a Q-Tip dipped in water along the inside of the design -over and over -until the paper started to wear away and the paper was easy to tear.

I then wet the paper again with the Q-Tip- (no rubbing this time) about1/4 - 1/2 inch in and along the edge - to make it workable and easy o fold back -pressing and creasing with my finger as I went along.  I hit it with my heat gun to speed up the drying process - then inked the edges with Ranger Distress Stain in Broken China ( I just lifted the fold up a little when applying, so I didn't get any on the page itself.)

I just love this framed look - the layers and textures make me very HAPPY!

Here is a close up on one of the other tag that was included. It had a place for journaling - but I had this one little and ADORABLE photo of my little cutie - so I modified the tag by using an exacto knife to cute around all but the bottom of the little bunny and glazing him with Royal Coat Dimensional Magic I also added a strip of the pink eggs and chick from the EASTER TITLES along the top too! OMG - my Jake is just so cute in this pic - he was such a HAPPY Baby!

Here is a close up of the inked edges, and you can see how I glazed these bunnies with Royal Coat Dimensional Magic too - they are just so sweet.  The shiny look around the letters and highlighting the flower and the swirls was made with a SAKURA Clear Star Gelly Roll Pen -I even made some of the eggs on the little pink strips sparkly too!

Now it is time to share an example of my favorite quote in action:
"THERE ARE NO MISTAKES IN SCRAPBOOKING - 
THEY ARE ONLY OPPORTUNITIES!"

Here is a photo of the original journaling in the top left corner.  Well, when I showed my finished layout to my son Jake, he said "Mom - those pictures are from 1995."  UT-OH - he was right! - Jake was born in September of 1994 - so his 1st Easter would have been 1995!!!  NOW WHAT?!  I wrote that with a Sharpie!!!

WHAT AM I GOING TO DO NOW? - I thought!!!!!  UGHH!!

So - I started looking through my scraps and elements that I had left and found this cute little piece from that great TITLE page - I cut it to size - add the the CORRECT year - and VOILA! a few pop dots and problem solved!

Well - if you have made it this far - and stuck with me to the end of this post - I truly THANK YOU - for your time and attention!  I hope some of my techniques - even my mistakes - have inspired you!


Have a wonderful weekend!  I hope it is a CRAFTY one!


((HUGS)) ~ Sherri