Showing posts with label scrapbook circle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label scrapbook circle. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Scrapbook Circle | June Sketch Challenge

I'm on a roll with another scrapbook layout for the June Scrapbook Circle Sketch Challenge.

For this challenge, I selected a photo of Noah and Brian playing in the ocean near Bodega Bay. (I'll be sharing a post with more pictures from our trip next week.)


I thought this layout was the perfect opportunity to talk about the popularity of Noah's name (hence the title: "hello, my name is Noah") as well as how my name and Brian's name were quite common the year we were born.

I wrote the journaling on a brown tag that slides right behind the photo.



Here's the short note I penned to Noah:

Dear Noah,
When we chose your name, your dad and I had no idea how popular it was! Just recently, I learned that in 2012, it was the fourth most popular boys name and in 2013, it was THE MOST popular boys name. So chances are, you'll have quite a few classmates/teammates/friends with the same name. Oh how your dad and I can relate! In 1978 (the year we were born), THE MOST popular girls name was Jennifer and Brian was the ninth most popular boys name. I think you'll find (as we did) that nicknames and the first letter of your last name will come handy.
Love,
Mom & Dad

Your turn: How popular was your name the year you were born? Click HERE to find out and then leave a comment below!




Wednesday, May 21, 2014

May Sketch Challenge



Brian and I just celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary, so when I was pondering what I wanted to scrapbook for Scrapbook Circle's May sketch challenge, I immediately thought of our weekend getaway in Graeagle.

Here are a few of my thoughts about our getaway, taken from a note I wrote on my iPhone, just after returning home.

It was a relaxing weekend where Brian and I read and talked and dined in several restaurants. Cuccia's, an Italian restaurant and wine bar in Graeagle was my favorite! In fact, I wanted to go back the second night we were there, but they were so busy, the earliest available reservation was at 7:30 pm. (It was 5:45 at the time and we were starving!)

When we ventured out of our hotel room--whether to go hiking or to dinner or to browse the shops--I was amazed at how quickly we were able to get ready. Fifteen minutes, tops!  (That NEVER happens when we're going somewhere with our 2-year-old son, Noah.)

Speaking of hiking, on one of our hikes we encountered large snow drifts, which took us by surprise! We were both wearing shorts and hiking shoes, but no snow boots.  Luckily, the snow had been walked over by previous hikers, leaving a trail of footprints to not only follow, but also help us make our way through the sometimes, deep snow.

The wind was fierce at times, blowing off my hat, bringing out goosebumps on my legs, and causing me to shove my hands deep into the pockets of my fleece jacket. But as we hiked farther and farther around the beautiful mountain lakes, the wind died down, the sun shone bright, and my body warmed up from hiking. 

My camera died toward the end of the hike, which made my heart sink. I was shooting with my Nikon D90, my backup camera, while my D700 was at Nikon being repaired. Turns out, it was just the battery. Phew! 


In addition to hiking, we explored the area by car (it was our first time there), driving through a few neighborhoods looking at vacation rentals. We got lost once--a total Apple Maps fail. We laughed, browsed a few shops in the quaint red buildings along main street in Graeagle, held hands, breathed in the refreshing mountain air, and devoured delicious ice cream (in cones) twice.

On one of the nights, we watched a really good movie called Philomena. Have you seen it yet? I definitely recommend it! I learned the hard way, though, that you probably don't want to watch it, if say, you're away from your child overnight for only the second time in two years (and missing him terribly) and you're an adoptive parent. Holy cow...the. tears. just. wouldn't. stop.


Now back to the scrapbook layout. All supplies are from Scrapbook Circle's May kit. Every month, I look forward to receiving that pizza box with all my goodies inside. The paper.  The stickers. The embellishments.  Even a few clear stamps. And it all coordinates! 

The photos on this layout were taken with my iPhone 5S and my Nikon D90. The image of Brian and me on the bottom left was taken with my phone; the other three with my big camera. I cropped all the photos to 2.5 x 2.5 in Photoshop and placed each one on a 4x6 canvas, so I could send them to be printed at Costco.

After cutting the photos out, I adhered them to white card stock to create the Polaroid look. Underneath the picture of Brian and me is a journaling tag, which easily slides out. On it, I wrote more details about our weekend together.  

Although Brian and I both missed Noah A TON (me more than him, I think, since he's used to being gone a lot), we agreed that it's important for "just us" to get away once in a while and spend some quality time together.






P.S. A big thanks to our parents for watching Noah and our house sitter, Ben, for taking care of the dogs, while we were away. 

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Peru | April Sketch Challenge

I just can't get enough of these sketch challenges!

Here's my Peru layout for Scrapbook Circle's April sketch challenge:

The sketch had two pictures in it, but I wanted to include more photos from our trip to Peru in 2007. I ordered six photos from Costco (I sized them to 2x 2 and placed them on 4x6 canvases in PS before ordering), but only incorporated four into the layout.  (Just for fun, the other two pics are on the back!)

Photos from top to bottom: View from the top of Amantani Island looking out at Lake Titicaca | Brian and me watching the sunset on Amantani Island |  Eating alpaca ravioli...yum | Eating soup


Although I used the sketch as a jumping off point, I didn't follow it closely like I usually do. And because I was in a rush to complete this layout by the deadline, for once I didn't overthink what papers to use and where to place everything. Grab, glue and go!   

Journaling:
Machu Picchu | Eating cuy (guinea pig) + alpaca | Homestay on Amantani Island | 5.9 earthquake in adobe house | Scrabble in espanol | Bus rides | Crazy taxi driver | 2 weeks | Magical

It's so much fun to scrap photos from a vacation so long ago because all of my memories come flooding back.  It's like traveling without leaving home, which satisfies my wanderlust appetite. Just perfect for this phase in my life when international travel is not in the cards.



Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Scrapbook Circle's February Sketch Challenge

I just LOVE participating in Scrapbook Circle's sketch challenges!

Here's my take on their February Sketch Challenge.



The journaling reads: At 2, you are counting from 1 to 10, singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, making "shakes" with daddy, watching your John Deere movie, coloring with crayons in the bath, drinking 2% milk, saying "love you," throwing rocks into the creek, calling yourself "Noey," asking for Aaron (your neighbor friend), and reading What Do People Do All Day?

The photo of Noah was taken by Mindy Newton of Mindy Newton Photography.  

Thanks for letting me share this layout with you.

Happy Tuesday!

Friday, August 16, 2013

Happy Layout



I just can't resist Scrapbook Circle's sketch challengesSmile.

For the August challenge, I decided to create a layout about me.

I adore this photo of Noah, Zoey (my niece) and me taken in late March, so I printed it in both color and black + white.


I wrote the journaling on this little tag, which easily slides behind the right photo.

It reads: HAPPY ... as a mama, aunt, wife, scrapbooker, writer, blogger, photographer, runner, reader, traveler, foodie, lifelong learner, hiker, Christian, documenter, thinker, introvert, country music lover, and tidy upper. 
 

Monday, August 5, 2013

July 2013 Layout



Inside Scrapbook Circle's July kit, I found this awesome 12x12 Jillibean Soup paper with die cut frames. 

It's just perfect for showcasing nine of my favorite iPhone photos from July.   


I love this shot of Noah grinning as he sits on my parents' ride-on lawn mower.  (Thanks, Dad, for snapping the picture!)


Monday, July 22, 2013

Right Now + A Layout



Good morning!

First up, I want to share my Tractor Love layout for Scrapbook Circle's July Sketch Challenge

If you didn't catch my blog post in May about these photos, you can read it here.

Now, here's what's happening right now.

I am...
    • Mailing off my Teddy Roosevelt article to Highlights.  Fingers crossed they accept it!   
    • Processing a slew of photos from June + July.  
    • Creating a second scrapbook layout using Scrapbook Circle kits. 
    • Polishing a children's article on geocaching.  
    • Driving to the Roseville Costco to pick up pictures.  Did you hear?  Costco is coming to Auburn in 2014--I am {SO}excited! 
    • Looking forward to taking 18-month photos of Noah in my new quasi studio downstairs.  For now, my set-up is pretty sparse--I'm using a backdrop stand and a roll of white seamless paper--but I hope to add some lights down the road.    
    And one more photo of my layout because, well, it just makes me smile.


    Wishing you a beautiful Monday!

    Tuesday, June 18, 2013

    Turning 11 Layout



    I'm on a scrapbooking kick lately...and loving it!

    I created this layout for Scrapbook Circle's June sketch challenge.

    All product, except for the staples and the brown pen, were from Scrapbook Circle kits. 



    The journaling reads: McKayla celebrated turning 11 with an Irish flag cake--a nod to her favorite band, One Direction.  After singing, she smashed her face in the cake.  Hahaha!  Silly, McKayla!  We feasted on cupcakes with yummy Cool Whip frosting.  Happy golden birthday to a great niece!

    Saturday, May 18, 2013

    13 Months Layout


    Last month, I purchased a monthly scrapbooking kit from Scrapbook Circle.

    A few years ago, I subscribed to Scrapbook Circle and while I loved their kits, I found that I just wasn't scrapbooking enough to justify paying for a kit each month.

    Now that I'm back to creating layouts on a regular basis, I'm excited to have a kit with new scrapbooking product delivered to my mailbox each month.

    When I received the May kit, I immediately started in on a layout with four pictures of Noah at 13 months.  Coincidentally, later that day, I learned that Scrapbook Circle was hosting a monthly sketch challenge.  So, I tweaked my layout to fit the sketch and I'm really happy with the way it turned out.

    SUPPLIES | Most of the supplies are from the Scrapbook Circle May kit.  A few of the stickers are from a past Scrapbook Circle kit.

    STAMPS | The two gray and brown stamped circles are from Ali Edwards' Technique Tuesday Family Circle stamp set (now retired).  The stamped sentiments, there is no doubt, and you are my greatest joy are from Ali Edwards' Technique Tuesday Loving Words stamp set. 

    PHOTOS | As for the photos, three of the four pictures are Instagram snaps.  The photo of Noah eating snow (top right) was taken with my Nikon D90. 

    And here's a closer look at the journaling:


    What have you created lately?  Please share. 



    Sunday, October 17, 2010

    Fun at the Fair Layout

    In August, Brian and I visited the Nevada County Fair. While ambling around the wooded grounds, I spotted a group of photo booths...and you know how much I {love} photo booths. After coaxing Brian into one, we posed for four snapshots. (Color photo booths were also available, but I opted for black and white pictures. Why? Well, it's cheaper and I just love their old-fashioned look.)

    Since then, I've been eager to create a home for this special strip of images.


    This layout features papers, stickers, and embellishments from the September Scrapbook Circle kit. The only thing I had to pull from my existing scrapbooking stash was a piece of 12 x 12 black card stock.


    Aren't these papers whimsical and fun?! I love their bright and cheerful colors and patterns. But using so many different patterned papers together made me nervous. I threw caution to the wind, however, and just went for it.


    I love the stark contrast between the colorful patterned papers and the black and white photographs. Hopefully, it aids in drawing your eye right to the strip of images.


    The scrapbook page above from Scrapbooks Etc. Page Planner magazine provided the framework for my layout. With it as my inspiration and the kit supplies at the ready, I quickly and easily created this "Fun at the Fair" scrapbook page.

    J
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