Loni Leah

April Project Life + Giveaway!

ETA: Drawing is now closed. I will be drawing the winner at random and then sharing the name of the lucky winner Wednesday morning.

I have been conflicted.  Now I'm not... and it feels great.

So, as I just stated, I have been conflicted. I have always loved scrapbooking in the traditional sense of paper + embellishements + trimming + kitchen sink,  but honestly, I've got to keep it real right now... my life is busy! I really need everything to be right in front of me on my computer sometimes and mess free. I've been conflicted to embrace the digital route more completely because somewhere along the line I picked up this stupid notion that digital scrapbooking just wasn't as creative, didnt' look as good, or was a cop-out... but that is SO not true! I've always been on the hybrid side of scrapbooking, but I'm glad that in the last week I had an 'ah-ha!' moment that makes me feel liberated: DOES IT HONESTLY MATTER HOW I CREATE & DOCUMENT, AS LONG AS I DO?  Uh, no! If this works better for me right now, or here & there, or whenever, I am going to embrace it and not feel guilty about it. Am I saying that I am abandoing traditional all together? Nope. Especially when it comes to Project Life, but if digital makes life easier and the process quicker now and then, count me in! There's room for both.

So, with that out of the way, here is my first 100% digital Project Life layout:  

I will be sharing more of my Project Life pages this week, so check back! (Supply list at the bottom of this post.) You can purchase Becky Higgins digital kits HERE at JessicaSprague.com. 

NOW, A GIVEAWAY!!!

This is the perfect opportunity for you to get started on Project Life too! If you're not already, or want another kit for yourself or to give to a loved on, enter to win a free kit here!! You'll receive the Cobalt Binder, Cobalt Cardstock, and a Big Variety Pack of Photo Pocket Pages. WOO HOO!! 

The products are shipping right from Amazon, so you must be a U.S. resident. Tell your friends, and enter yourself, by leaving your name, email, city and state in the comments on this post.

There are lots of chances to win since there are so many girls on the creative team participating too! If you link back to Becky's blog she will have the links to each giveaway post. GOOD LUCK!

LAYOUT SUPPLIES:

Project Life Digital Supplies: 'Live out loud' postage circle (bh_clementineedition_stamp_1_red); Notebook paper (bh_turquoise_lastpage_2) Black ABC paper (Turqoise kit, I believe? ); Teal circle embellishment (bh_turquoiseedition_remember); 'Right Here' circle embellishment (bh_turquoiseedition_righthere) 'Enjoy' words (bh_turuoiseedition_enjoy) 

OTHER: Font 'Modern No. 20'; Camera, clip art; Date tab (my own design). Created in Adobe Illustrator CS5

Project Life

Why, hello there! It's been a little while.

So, as I have been working on documenting my life this year with Project Life, and am now part of Becky's 2012 Creative Team, you will start to see me post more of my pages here on a regular basis. If you have any questions (or just want to become the greatest of friends and say hello!), leave me a comment and I'll respond back to you. :)

To start my sharing, here are pages from the month of December... 

Cute little gift boxes

Okay, so I may not have a chance to take photos of my completed projects until sometime next week, but I'll share what I'm playing with! Some of my new 3-D gift boxes that have been, or will be shortly be, added to the Silhouette Store. (The titles are included in the top three.)  

Just add a transparency, or vellum, to cover the opening, embellish it a little and then fill it with treats or a gift and give it away. :)  

scalloped_lace_gift_box_C00140_19547
02/01/2010

loopy_lace_gift_box_C00151_19547
02/05/2010
 
horizontal_heart_gift_box_C00152_19547

02/05/2010

The holes at the top are to add ribbon or string through and present ornament-style, if you'd like. They can also be removed. The notches on the back are to secure a little note to the recipient. These aren't just for Valentine's either. They work for any occasion.
    

3-D Cards...

These should be available for purchase in Silhouette's online store today. 

HOW THEY WORK:

NOW, JUST DRESS IT UP A LITTLE AND GIVE IT TO YOUR SWEETHEART!

Ornament winner!

Thanks for all of your really sweet comments! They made me feel so nice and were so fun to read. 

After randomly drawing the winner from a bowl with everyone's names in it (very high tech), the winner of the ornament set it is...

Carrie Uhing "These are the MOST adorable little ornaments. I luv luv luv them. What a great idea. Thank you so much for sharing."

I just sent you an email Carrie!

Thanks again for entering everyone and leaving a comment. Now, it's time to create something new, huh?  

PS.I'm listening to my 11 year old nephew play and sing 'Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer' on the guitar as I type. Totally makes me happy. He is such a little rock-star.

HoHoHo! Merry Christmas!

Ready to see what I've been creating this week? Cute little Christmas ornaments made of wood, as well as paper... fun, huh?

I designed the words and an ornament template for the Silhouette craft cutting machine, which can be purchased online through their store. The words are great on a scrapbook pages or other holiday projects too. This is just the beginning of designs to come from me for Silhouette. 

Do you want to win a set of ornaments I've made? I'm feeling quite jolly this morning, so I am going to do a drawing to win a set of 5 of these handmade ornaments I've created (I'll personalize one of those ornaments with your last name too). and 5 paper gift boxes. Just leave a comment under this post with your name & email for your chance to win and I'll randomly draw a winner on Monday. I'll close comments around 3pm and draw a winner sometime that evening. US residents only, for shipping reasons. Sorry.

Wood Designs:

     

 

Paper Gift Boxes:  It's all about presentation, right? This is a fun gift idea for teachers, neighbors, friends, etc. Fill them with a treat that can be opened after displaying the ornament on their tree through December. 

 

 

Here are instructions if you'd like to create your own:

Wood instructions:

Ornament gift box: The template can be purchased through Silhouette's online store, under my stuff. 

Most of the ribbon used on my ornaments are by American Crafts. If you are in Utah, they are having a warehouse sale til' December 24th. A great time to buy! I bought my ribbon at their last warehouse sale for a killer price! I think I need to go back and get some more. 

 

'Love You Always' layout

Another layout of mine posted today on the QuicKutz blog. 

The colors are not showing up very pretty on my screen. Oy.

Hero Arts Product: 'Raindrop Background' (polka dots embossed on '16') and the vine heart (which I embossed) from the 'Hugs N Heart' clear acrylic set.

QuicKutz Product: Bookends_1345, swirl_1429, heart_1439

QuicKutz & Hero Arts

I password protected my blog over the weekend while I was messing around. Back up again.

Hey! If you're a scrapbooker or stamper, check out the QuicKutz & Hero Arts blog! They've been doing some fun product giveaways on them both this week. I was asked to do a couple layouts using my Silhouette (a digital craft cutter) and Hero Art stamps. Those layouts are featured there this week. I am a huge fan of both companies so it was fun to play. I don't do it enough these days.

In honor of Mother's Day

Sharing a page I did of my parents a while ago. I sat down with both of them and asked them questions one night and then typed their answers out to print and tuck away in the pocket on this layout - I really love this method of journaling (Q&A's). I learned al lot about their courtship and early years of marriage that I wouldn't have known unless I had taken the time to ask. I also enjoyed hearing their answers. Sometimes your parents share a little too much information when they think you're old enough to hear it though.

I was thinking in honor of Mother's day I would interview my mom over the weekend about motherhood and do a layout sometime next week with the answers. I've included some of the questions I'll be asking...

Q&A

1. How did you feel when you found out you were going to be a mother for the first time?
2. How many children have you had? What are their names, birthdays, birthplaces?
3. Were there any unique circumstances surrounding their births?
4. Why did you give them the names you did?
5. What are some of the funniest moments (things said or did) you can remember about your children?
6. Do you remember anything your children did when they were small that surprised or amazed you?
7. What are some of the blessings you have received from raising your children?
8. What did you find most rewarding about raising a family?
9. What was the most difficult thing about raising a family?
10. What advice would you give to your children about being a parent?
11. If you had it to do all over again, how would you change the way you raised your family?

Have a great Mother's Day weekend!

Family of 5

Sharing another layout I did from 2007. Photos are from a shoot I did with my older brother & his family that same November.

 

Gonna stick with tradition and watch some American Idol tonight and cheer on some of my favorites... which does not include this guy. Sorry. Just not my cup of tea I guess... although I can appreciate the week he sang in his metallic silver dress suit with the Elvis hair! Last week... oy. Not so much.

Are you watching? Rooting for anyone in particular?

April already?

Wow. That really blows my mind. *sigh* 

It's been a while, hasn't it? Thought maybe I'd check in and say "hi" and share a layout I did a couple years ago. A layout I did about my older sister.

 

• I painted the flower pattern down the side with spraypraint and a Heidi Swapp mask.
• The dotted border at the center is American Crafts that I covered with vellum.
• Painted the chipboard ribbon charm a blueish color and used buttons at the center as flowers.
• I cut a slit to the side of the photo to create a pocket to tuck the journaling tag in and out.