I have nearly failed at blogging

and I have DEFINITELY failed at digital design! After a brief flurry of creation, I have been so busy the last couple months that I have barely had time to catch up with my own layouts (including finishing out the first year in Alexa's dance and school days albums). Between Alexa's birthday (three parties), dance rehearsal and recital, Mother's Day, getting ready to sell our house, and just general craziness, things have been, well, crazy! I have managed to get a few layouts done and below are a few of my favorites. I really do plan to get back to design and offering freebies, but no promises as to when. We're hoping to take a trip to Russia in early June :).

Here are a couple paper layouts I did for my Book of Me (the first uses stock photography):

and here's another paper (based on a Becky Fleck pagemap):

And finally, some digital. The first two are based on sketches by my friend Amy, who is battling cancer. You can visit her sketch blog HERE.

Credits to the following:

Background striped paper by Amy Teets (O Springy kit, some recoloring done)

Flower templates, ribbon template, folded flower action, messy ribbon action and ribbon knotting action by Christine Smith

Brads and staples from Atomic Cupcake's silver necessities kit

Staples embedded into the page using the embed layer style from Scrap Girls, also used Scrap Girls paper textures

Credits to:

Paper and elements from the Mommy Dearest Kit at Booland Designs
BVA Grungelle Brush Set and TCS Beautiful Distress Brush Set at ScrapGirls

Atomic Cupcake distressed edge, ink and rub on actions

I did this digital layout for May's Anything Goes challenge at Feeling Scrappy, and it is based on a layout by Rachel from the message boards. Credits:

Chipboard and rub on actions by Atomic Cupcake

Water drop layer style by Christine Smith

Paper textures by ScrapGirls

Background paper is TCS_ArtJournal_12x12_Checkerboard_ SPECIAL, a newsletter freebie from ScrapGirls

My All Time Favorite Books

Well, you know I have to sprinkle in the occasional non-scrapbooking post. A poster on Scrapshare asked about all time favorite books - so here is my list, off the top of my head, in no particular order. I'm sure I've missed some.

Divisadero by Michael Ondaatje
The Shipping News by Annie Proulx
A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
White Noise by Don Delillo
Amsterdam by Ian McEwan
On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan
A Prayer for Owen Meaney by John Irving
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
Everyman by Philip Roth
The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
The Stand by Stephen King
Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Wicked by Gregory Maguire (I read it way before the theater production! )
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Stones from the River by Ursula Hegi
Ahab's Wife by Sena Jeter Naslund
White Oleander by Janet Fitch
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
My Antonia by Willa Cather

Final Sketchapalooza Layouts, and More Freebies Coming Soon!!

The Sketchapalooza class at Feeling Scrappy wrapped up last week, so I plan to get to work on some digital freebies for you this week! Below are some of my final layouts from the class.

This first layout is based on a prompt from Scrapbook Play:

These next few layouts are digital:

Easter Eggs uses ScrapGirls paper textures and paper tearing actions, and papers and elements from a digital Easter freebie by Melany Violette

Thumb + Bunny = zzzzz

Credits: Background base paper and scalloped circle by JenLin Designs

Scrap Girls paper textures and paper templates

Atomic cupcake chipboard action

Mesh (metallicized and grunged up by me) by Snowraven

Cristine Smith color your own flowers

Stamp uses ScrapGirls paper textures and paper tearing actions, and "Refresh" kit by multiple designers (also from ScrapGirls)

More layouts!

I can't believe it's been over a week since I posted - but I have been busy scrapping! Here are some recent layouts:

Cupcakes {yum} based on a sketch by Becky Fleck for the Sketchapalooza class at Feeling Scrappy. I rarely use whole kits (I usually mix and match elements) but all the papers and elements are from Michelle Coleman's Wild Sorbet kit. I totally love it! Other credits:ScrapGirls paper tearing action and paper textures and Atomic Cupcake chipboard action

Little Girls: This digital layout was created using all ScrapGirls supplies (papers, textures, stitched frame, actions). Quote author unknown but I scraplifted it from Rachel at Feeling Scrappy.

This digital layout is based on a sketch from Sketchapalooza at Feeling Scrappy.

Credits:Atomic Cupcake paw brad and light crumple & burnished silver actions

Scrap Girls paper templates and textures

Background paper by by Clara Wallace of www.matterofscrap.com (grunged up and recolored)


Finally, a paper layout! Based on a Sketchapalooza sketch - CTMH stamps, paint and paper; Heidi Swapp ghost butterflies.

Disney Layouts and Sketchapalooza!

I am having a great time in the Sketchapalooza class at Feeling Scrappy. I am scrapping the majority of our Disney photos using sketches from the class....here are some layouts I did this week:

Affection Section - digital layout - uses ScrapGirls paper templates and textures and Atomic Cupcake actions and brass essentials. Sketch from Sketchapalooza.

Epcot - digital layout - uses ScrapGirls paper templates and textures and Atomic Cupcake actions and felt flowers. Based on a March 2008 Becky Fleck Pagemap.

My Favorite is Tigger - digital layout - uses ScrapGirls paper templates and textures and Atomic Cupcake actions. Sketch from Sketchapalooza.

People are FRIENDS - NOT FOOD - digital layout - uses ScrapGirls paper textures and Atomic Cupcake Actions. Little fishies by zazou. Sketch from Sketchapalooza.

Visiting China - paper layout - uses mostly Basic Grey Infuse. Sketch from March 2008 Becky Fleck Pagemaps. Based on a challenge at Feeling Scrappy.

Mickey & Friends - paper layout - sketch from Sketchapalooza.

What a Character - paper layout - sketch from Sketchapalooza

Fairy Tale Princess freebie - Part 3

Here is the first set of elements for the Fairy Tale Princess kit. I intend to do one more that will include some buttons, lacey elements and a glass slipper! ** It just struck me as I was looking at the preview that the frame is not meant to be turned horizontal - it's not symmetrical. ACK! At least it will work vertically!

Get the kit here: ELMENT CLICKY

A few layouts from our Disney trip

Sorry I haven't posted the princess elements yet - I actually scrapbooked some photos this weekend! Here are a few of the layouts I did:

Dinoland USA (digital) - credits to ScrapGirls for paper templates; based on a Becky Higgins sketch

Star Struck (digital) - credits to ScrapGirls for paper templates and Atomic Cupcake for flowers and actions

Once Upon a Time (paper) - based on a sketch at the Little Book of Sketches

Watch Me Roar (paper) - based on a sketch by Stacey Lokovic at Feeling Scrappy