Welcome Sophia Elizabeth!

Some dear friends of mine from church recently welcomed a new great-granddaughter, Sophia Elizabeth, born Feb. 14!  I was going off to Scrap and Spa, in Union Pier, Michigan, for my annual scrappy weekend and a mini album was the perfect project to take! 

I started with an 8x8 acrylic album I have had so long I don't remember the brand! I chose Crate Paper's Emma's Shoppe collection with lots of embellies from Flamingo Scraps and my stash.

I really love working with acrylics though it can be a challenge to work out both sides looking neat!!

This is my finished cover -- I fussy cut the princess, added Prima bling, buttons, and made a charm of their songbird tiles!

I just love the Studio Calico Wood Veneer Potty People on this page -- a Four Generation picture is so special!

I recently found an old manual typewriter at a thrift store -- $5 and a new ribbon and I was in business!
Here I made jewelry hang tags with time, weight, and length on them.
I made plenty of tags of all sizes to tuck behind photo mats and on pages!

The page on the left is Webster's Pages Sunday Picnic with Prima flowers and leaves.  It coordinated beautifully with Emma's Shoppe!

Prima Trinkets by Marion Smith, seambinding, garment pins, pearls, Maya Road Trinket Pins, Crate Paper Bingo Chips, and miscellaneous embellies and trims ornament these pages!

On the back cover, I used a Maya Road stamp.

One of my favorite things about making minis is lavishing ribbon and trims on the binding rings and tucking in charms!

My friends loved this little book and I had such fun making it!!  I got some other projects done while in Michigan -- can't wait to share them with you!  Thanks for Looking!

My Inner Daredevil!

This layout was done for a challenge over on one of our FAVE sites Sketchy Thursdays!  In addition to using the sketch, the project had to use red, orange, and/or yellow, have a summer subject, and have a journaling spot!

I chose one of my all time favorite collections, Cosmo Cricket's Circa 1934 (I have been hoarding these last few sheets!), for the colors and the journaling spot.  And for the summer theme, I used some pictures from last summer's family vacation to the North Carolina mountains!   The flowers were die cut with my sizzix and were stacked with pop tape for dimension.  The two smaller pictures are also pop taped for depth!

Supplies from Flamingo Scraps --  Cosmo Cricket Circa 1934 collection; Tim Holtz distress ink in Black Soot; Glitz orange bling;  Other Supplies -- black glitter alphabets; black cardstock; black paper tape; pop tape; Sizzix flower die.

As the journaling notes, I am a notorious chicken when it comes to thrill rides like rollercoasters and even ferriswheels!  But weeks before this trip, my middle brother (who, by the way, is a thrill chicken as well!) started baiting me about going down Sliding Rock!!  

When I actually saw Sliding Rock, I really think I was more afraid I was going to slip on the rocks and fall on my face (or other end!) before I got to the sliding part!  But just to show my brother, I went down nature's rollercoaster!

Am I glad I did it? -- YES!!!!  Would I do it again? -- probably!!!!  Will I do the next thing he dares me to do ....... thinking .... still thinking!

But I just may have found my inner Daredevil!!!!!

How about you -- are you a daredevil????

Croppin' in Florida

When I first saw Webster's Seaside Retreat collection, I knew I had to save some for a layout of our weekend crop in Florida this year! 

From Flamingo Scraps: Websters Seaside Retreat patterned papers, Websters alphabet stickers, Prima Teal fairytale roses, Prima Jude Love Letter Roses; Stardust Stickles
Other Supplies: Chatterbox Artsylicious flocked paper, cream cardstock, American Crafts pen 

And how fabulous are these flowers from Prima?!

The larger flower is a Prima Love Letter Rose in the color Jude and comes pre-made with sparkly bits of glitter shards!  I added some Stardust Stickles of the smaller Teal Prima Fairytale Rose to match. 

I'm so glad I saved some of this collection to scrap this photo.  I'm kinda sad that I only have a few scraps and two pieces from that collection left... good thing there is always lots of pretty new papers to replace them with!

Visiting the West Wing

Finally got back to my stash of Pink Paislee Starlight and my pictures from my trip to the east coast in May.  While I was in DC, I was so happy to be able to meet up with one of my favorite people from college -- my friend Natalie!!  I asked for a cup of coffee, maybe lunch or dinner when we went to DC and she said she could do one better than that... she was not joking!!

Now my layout was being difficult (darn having dimension on the thing... it won't scan!) and I didn't get the best photos of it, but here it is anyway.... The left side first:

And here's the right side:

And a close-up of the new Prima craftables flowers and some older Prima e-line flowers I used all over the layout:

From Flamingo Scraps:  Pink Paislee Starlight Collectipon patterned paper, glitter stickers & alphabet stickers; Prima craftable flowers & e-line flowers; Prima e-line bling; 7 Gypsies date labels & blank labels; and navy scallop ric rac trim.
Other supplies: Fiskars threading water punch; and Spellbinders nestabilities scallop circle dies

Have you used the Starlight collection?  I'd love to see some pictures if you have!! Have a great weekend!!

Northern California Beaches

... are definitely not like Southern California beaches!!  The water is freezing... there are sharks (yikes!) and it is absolutely beautiful!! :)  In digging around the box of old photos I'm scanning for my family, I found this picture of the five us at Dillon's Beach in 1985.   In the middle of summer... and yes, we are wearing jackets.  It really can be that cold in the summer at a beach in Northern California... yet 50 miles inland it's over 100 degrees!! :)

From Flamingo Scraps:  Wesbter's Seaside Retreat patterned papers and alphabet stickers, Prima Say it in Pearls and Flowers in Brown
Other Supplies:  Martha Stewart doily edge punch, doodlebug mini simply sweet rubons (date)

Close-up shot of the Prima bling!!  The roses are all sparkly and glittery!! I'm totally in love with them!! :)

I love this patterned paper... I've definitely been hoarding it!!  The best part of the Webster's papers is how the intricate designs on one side of the patterned paper really make a simple layout seem full.  Jill was here yesterday sharing some tips on using Webster's fabulous patterned papers for her first post here on our blog... did you see it?!  I was totally inspired by her layout when I saw it -- the Martha Stewart doily punch was made for Webster's papers -- totally a perfect compliment!! :)

Scraptathlon Week # 10 - Winners Announced!

Susan and I have made it to the end of the ten weeks!!  Susan ended up having to take another bye this week so she could spend time pulling together orders for CHA and pack for a family vacation.  This week our challenge was inspired by the song Chocolate Cake by Crowded House.  Here was our challenge from Kia:

I've been saving this one up for awhile. Those who know me know that chocolate is ALL to me. I don't want to limit you to a LO about chocolate, though some of us could fill an album on the subject. So, for your grand finale, I require the following:
1. A 2 page layout
2. Featuring something SWEET
3. With predominantly CHOCOLATE (milk or dark up to you) colorways.
4. A non-digi product

So this gave me a perfect opportunity to finish up a layout that's been sitting on my desk for almost two years.... I was so stuck!

From Flamingo Scraps:  Prima flowers and e-line pearls & crystals, brown ruffle trim

Other supplies: Bazzill cardstock, Making Memories felt alpha stickers and a brown fine point sharpie pen

The only challenged I faced was reminding myself that I wanted it to blend in with my other album layouts for that trip - a monochromatic brown color scheme with very simple embellishments. Here are a couple of other pages from the album:

I think it will fit perfectly in my album and I'm excited to have another two layouts done!!  In a couple of weeks, Kia will be here for the month of August to challenge you each week.... there will be fabulous scrappy prizes!!  Keep an eye out for it and I hope you are enjoying your weekend!

Visiting Independence Hall

I have officially scrapped the first pictures of my trip to Pennsylvania - woo hoo!  My first day in Pennsylvania was full of sightseeing in Philadelphia which included Independence Hall.  Tiny tidbit you should know... I'm a total history buff.  I studied LOTS of it in college.  We watch the History Channel often (not quite as often as Law & Order, but often!).

Of course, I had to use the Pink Paislee Starlight collection -- it was a perfect match!  Great for patriotic 4th of July pictures!!

From Flamingo Scraps:  Pink Paislee Starlight collection patterned papers, diecuts & alpha stickers, Pink Paislee Bayberry Cottage Ribbon Pleats

Other supplies:  kraft cardstock, dark blue fine point sharpie, sewing machine+thread, date stamp + black Staz-On ink

Since I hold had one white ribbon pleat in the stash, I stitched two extra lines a quarter of an inch from either side of the existing stitching down the center.  Then I cut down the original stitching to separate the pleat into two that would stretch across my whole layout!  Super easy.  To make the title, I just arranged the alpha stickers on a piece of patterned paper and fussy cut them out.  Everything above the ribbon pleat is attached with foam pop dots.

And just cause it's hard to see everything, here's a close-up of the left side:

And of the right side:

I used a layout from CK's Super Fast Pages for 4x6 Photos (I love that magazine!). 

Happy 4th of July (a little early)!!  :)

Play -- Sketch Challenge with a Twist

Another layout for my cropulation album, but this time for a different challenge on scrapbook.com!  Use this sketch:

And the Twist -- summer fun!

My Layout -- Twisted and with the Twist!

The patterned papers are from Webster's Pages Life's Portrait collection and the journaling spot from Webster's Pages Seaside Retreat collection.   White E-line flowers were layered and centered with tiny seashells from my stash!  The photos are from 2009 and 2010 Cropulations -- we shot the same photos on the beach in California and on the beach in Florida!!!!

Check out all of the Webster's Pages collections at Flamingo Scraps -- you are sure to find one to suit your next layout and don't forget the Primas!

Scrappy Pennsylvania?!

I've slowly been recovering from my long vacation and cleaning off the scrappy desk.... in the meanwhile trying to process what I want to do creatively with over 1,200+ photos!!  eek!!  While the bulk of my travel talk will be on my own blog (the crafty aftermath will be here!)... I did want to share some scrappy surprises I found in Pennsylvania! :)

Up first, the second day my brother, sister-in-law and I were in Hershey and taking a class at the Hershey Story:

At the Hershey Story Museum.

Where the instructor noticed me taking photos of every little detail like this:

And she interrupted the presentation to ask me if I scrapbooked!  HA!!  :)  But of course I do!! And she promptly gave me instructions on how to find my way to the nearby scrappy store!!  What a nice store and if you ever find yourself in the area, stop in for a great selection of local items like this:

Fast forward to my last day in Pennsylvania, when we went to some antique stores and look what I discovered:

How cool are these?!  Vintage scrappy books!!  And of course, I had to open them up and see what they had inside:

The first book had lots of comics and articles clipped from the newspaper.

This one had mostly cards with handwritten notes who they were from, little pictures cut from packaging and postcards.

And check out this altered item:

It's a card, that they cropped down and attached to a pillow to make a door hanger!!

Love it!! 

And last, but certainly not least, what scrappy journey would be complete without finding an amazing vintage camera?!

A Polaroid Automatic 100 Land Camera, produced from 1963-1966. 

Clearly, I screwed up by not grabbing that one up for $12 working or not -- would make for a great decor item on the scrappy bookshelf.  Maybe I can talk my brother into going back for it.... :)

So that's the scrappy lovin' that Pennsylvania gave me while I visited.  Definitely some fun and unexpected surprises.  Hope you enjoyed the little virtual scrappy tour of Pennsylvania!!

Old Page Maps Challenge!

First of all, from us at Flamingo Scraps, Happy Memorial Day!!

I love the Old Page Maps challenge at Scrapbook.com!  The hostess posts four older Page Maps by Becky Fleck and the players do a layout with each one during a four week period.  I really like using Becky's fabulous Page Maps for inspiration and this challenge always inspires me and MAKES me make time to scrap!!

This is the page map for week #3. 

I turned it on its side to fit my group photo from our recent scrapbook retreat and used Kaiser Craft Pina Colada papers and embellishments (can you guess why I love this pattern so much?!):

(HINT:  It's the flamingos!!)

From Flamingo Scraps:  Kaisercraft Pina Colada collection papers and embellishments

The embroidered patches, punchouts, and brads that go with the Pina Colada papers are just too cute!  In addition, the collection has coordinating alpha stickers and color rubons.  I used Maya Road inks in orange and deep rose, and Spellbinders Nestabilities to cut the scalloped circles.  The swirlies are bits and pieces of old laser cuts from my stash.

We had such fun on our ride around Old Town St. Augustine in the Surrey With the Fringe on Top!  For more of our adventures, stayed tuned for my next Old Pagemaps blog!  Thanks for looking!

Travel Journal

I'm headed to Pennsylvania today!!  Why Pennsylvania you might ask?  To visit my brother and sister-in-law -- the Californians living in Amish Country!  For the past year they have lived in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and in a few weeks they are moving 45 minutes away to Hershey for the next three years while she completes her residency in Pediatrics.

I'm a total tourist, history buff and foodie, so let me know if you have any suggestions for me!  Given how easy it is for me to forget things over a short weekend trip, I thought it would be great to take along a journal to capture everything at the end of the day.  Hopefully, this will give me something to look back at for my scrapbook pages later!

I took a simple, cheap old composition book that I had laying in the stash:

And covered it with this paper:

From Flamingo Scraps: pink paislee bayberry cottage die cut patterned paper

Added some Webster's alphabet stickers:

And this Chrysanthemum flower I made from the same piece of paper:

From Flamingo Scraps: Prima e-line pearl, websters alphabet stickers and pink paislee patterned paper.

Quick cover for the back using a scrap piece of patterned paper also from the bayberry cottage line:

Some simple changes to the inside cover and nothing but blank paper to scribble upon!

As for those chrysanthemum flowers..... they are super simple.... check back tomorrow and I'll show you how I made them for that fabulous die-cut patterned paper in the store!