relationships ...

I have noticed a theme lately in my story telling...
it has been about interpersonal relationships.
Whether it's been my relationship with the subject of the page...
or the relationship being share on the page...

And maybe this is obvious...maybe this is what everyone does when they create layouts of those they love...

Lately for me it has been an intense exercise in relational focus. And when I say intense, I mean bordering on obsessive.

This thing called scrapbooking allows me to really pause. To take a photo and not just scan through it on my phone, or sock it away on my hard drive. But to print it out and actually spend time with the photo, therefore spend time with that subject, speaking into their life and telling them on another dimension how much I love them or how blessed I am that those pictured are sharing a meaningful moment. I mean, what a beautiful way to talk to your kids! Via photo, pretty stuff, and your own personal words. Now, let's be honest, those teenagers may not actually read your words right now...but someday they will. To me that is so impactful. It's a beautiful gift we have. (and hey, grandparents...this is for you too...sharing with your grandchildren in this format? talk about a legacy!!!)

This page shared here today is actually a continued theme in my second daughter's album. She had been gone a few days. The first time for her. It had an impact on me while she was away. It had an impact on all of us.

The layout celebrates our coming together again. And even in that it celebrates her and this different side of her after she was away from her family and focusing on spiritual matters and other relationships.

And creatively speaking it was an exercise in staying very thematic with monotone hues. Favorite  Things from Heidi Swapp stars here and I kept with the black and white and grey hues while creating with a lot of words and sentiments about us, about her. (oh...and p.s...Fav Things is on sale at scrapbook.com today...oh yeah!)

I hope to explore this idea a bit more. I hope to inspire you as well. So many of you I know focus more on relationships by way of creative habit than you do, say, an event. And I love to see those pages. But the theme just really struck me of late, where I am right now in my life as mom, and wife and friend. And I hope you will join me as I throw this thought around even more in the near future on this blog.

Now go...create....and enjoy the journey.

heidi swapp favorite things ~ #camp

favorite things is like one of those collections that is all things happy. you can’t help but want to document a happy fun moment in time with these colors and words and puffy embelliies. (although i do have a personal challenge to use this kit in a much more neutral way…stay tune for that.)

that said...i grabbed up this yummy assortment of color and hue and created this layout for my daughter and her first official camp weekend.

my go to colors are not usually bright and whimsical like what favorite things shows off. but i have really enjoyed the many projects that have been created with this line. let me show you what i am lovin' on this project right now.

 i have always adored words. if you have been around for awhile, you remember those word stickers that Making Memories had out. I LOVED THOSE!!! and these Jumble Word Stickers are the perfect way to add plenty of sentiment and tell a story like this camp weekend story. i like to sand their edges cause i like that distressed look. works perfect with the whole feel of this page happening here.

another part that i enjoyed putting together was using the Glitter Frame as a pocket for some journaling. foam dots were placed on the back allowing room for the tag to move in and out. a few Enamel Stickers and Puffy Stickers peek through a bit and add to the fun.

this project is an exercise in telling a very fun story and a meaningful moment in my daughters life. it is a bit of a creative stretch for me as i like to play it safe with softer tones, but played it up with all the color available here. and it give me an opportunity to share my words with this girl and try to slow the blur of her life a bit by sharing my love by way of creativity and words.

hoping you found inspiration today.

supplies: Favorite Things: 12x12 Paper Pad, Puffy Alpha Stickers, Glitter Frames,Ephemera,Word Jumble Stickers, Epoxy Stickers, Puffy Stickers. Stamp.

heidi swapp favorite things ~ cards

Hello friends...
had the need for some upbeat and Favorite Things kind of cards...

There is something about working with just a few items and creating up a couple of different variations.

it all sort of started with this one...
i took that bold geometric pattern...
and wrapped the pink with blue asterisks around the back, so it was still exposed on the front...
then simply layered Ephemera with notched pattern paper and some Puffy Stickers and Jumble Words...
quick fast in a hurry is what i call that.

this one came next...
a birthday card for my daughter...
the whole vibrant thing going on just fits her...
the background piece was rounded off on the edges and sanded for some distressment.
a notched piece of pattern paper was layered over that and clipped in place with seam binding dyed with Peach Color Shine along with some Ephemera pieces and more pattern paper.
then Puffy Alphas and more words plus those funky, funky flower pieces...

that one orange flower piece holds the top tag in place and embellishes the hand written sentiment underneath.
i like it!

and this one here...can we say super-duper easy?
it's pattern paper...boom!
a notched little piece folded around and stapled...boom!
round smile and fun stuff ephemera attached in place...boom!
call. it. done.
this would be a great gift tag or even a little o' embellie on a layout.
just sayin'.

just a little bonus in case you need to keep things really really doable.

hope you feelin' a bit inspired...

till next time.

the fabulous right now...

The Heidi Swapp Media Team is celebrating National Scrapbook Day all week over at heidiswapp.com .

Here is some candy for you...

But the rest of the story can be found over there...

so I hope you will give a little visit.

happy days

Ali Edwards recently posted an article on Tackling Those Unfinished Projects. I loved reading about her process and her intentions. It hit me though...I am never going to be caught up. I will always have a story to tell. It might be current and still sitting in my camera...or the photos can be organized on my hard drive just waiting. This mini album is just that...a story that has been waiting for me to tell for many months.

Now was the time to take many photos from our weekend away to Disneyland with our youngest daughter and make the album to hold many of them. And a new collection by Heidi Swapp called Favorite Things was just the colors and hues and patterns to make this book just what it needed to be...colorful, vibrant, and full of energy. Cause that is just what that special weekend away with this daughter was.

So I invite you over to heidiswapp.com today to see how it all came together. In the meantime...a little eye candy to enjoy...