Adventures in the Dark

So last night I got this brilliant idea. AFTER I put the kids to bed, I thought I could go out and work on staining the kid's swing set that we just put up. Just a side note...I probably should have stained the wood before putting the swing set together, oh well, but I thought I'd mention that in case you have a swing set in your future. Back to the story...to be honest, it was the most peace I experienced the whole day...the kids had the day off and man did they fight and misbehave all day...it was one of those long frustrating days when you sigh a big sigh of relief when the day is over. Anyways...so there I am, outside, at night and it keeps getting darker. I'm happily staining away thinking I should do this kind of stuff at night more often...I felt like I was getting it done and doing a really good job. :) Then it just gets too dark to keep going. So I go and get a light and bring it out. Wow...I wasn't doing as good a job as I thought I was. :) There were drips and missed spots. So I tried to fix what I could and then went in. That's where I discovered that I myself was covered in drips of stain as well. A normal person would have maybe freaked a little and cleaned it off right away. But I found it totally inspiring and decided to hit the scrapbook room (I DID shower first though). I am so weird. I thought I would get a bit artsy, but then I decided to make a layout. I pulled out some favorite papers that I have had for awhile and hadn't used. They were from My Mind's Eye. I remembered that MME had a sketch challenge up on their blog, so that's what I decided to do. For a brief moment my life seemed back to normal...me up late at night scrapping...I haven't done that in a while.

Here's my layout:

It is based off this MME sketch:

Most of what I used comes from the Lost and Found collection from MME.

There is so much texture on this layout...I love it. :)

Here are some close up's:

It's nice to be blogging and scrapping again. Most of what I have been posting is not new stuff...just stuff I hadn't posted yet, but this layout is totally new. Yeah! :)

Ok, well have a fantastic day!

Unity, I adore you! :)

Ok...so it's no secret that I ADORE Unity Stamp Company! They are by far my favorite stamp company out there. Their rubber, their quality and their designs are the BEST! So I was thrilled when ScrapStreet featured them in The Showroom last January. Here's one of the layouts I made for that article:

The stamps are of course from Unity. The papers and stickers are all from Webster's Pages (another favorite of mine!). To view the whole supply list, go here.

Here are some close up's for ya...

You can view the Unity showcase article here. If you haven't tried using stamps on your layouts I HIGHLY RECOMMEND trying it! I love stamping. :)

Hope you have a remarkable, fantastic Monday.

TaDa!

So I am still posting stuff that I missed posting on the blog. Back in February ScrapStreet featured TaDa Creative Studios in the Showroom. I was one of the lucky gals that got to play with their fun papers. I just loved their laser cut cardstock...they had shapes cut out of them! Here are two layouts that I made using their stuff:

And the close up's...

And then on this one, I really just layered some die cuts and my photos. That laser cut cardstock really is what makes this page. I did just adhere a piece of busy patterned paper behind it.

And the close up's...

To see full supply lists and design notes check out the TaDa Spotlight here.

Hope you have an amazing day! Make it count!

LOVE Canvas! :)

I love love love using canvas on my projects. Back in March I wrote an article about using canvas on your layouts and cards. I loved seeing how others used canvas too. Click here to view that article.

Here's the layout I made for that article:

I mainly used the canvas as an embellishment and it even is placed kinda in the background. I lightly spritzed it with ink and stamped on it. Then layered it with all the embellishments around the photos.

Here are some close up's:

I used the fabulous Bella Doilies stamp set from Unity Stamp Company. LOVE this set! The papers are from My Mind's Eye. You can find the complete supply list here.

Life seems to be getting back to normal around here. Last night I booked my flight and hotel for a vacation to Maine this summer! I am super excited about...I've never been there before. Anything I just HAVE to do while I'm there?

Well, as always...thanks for stopping by!

Have a wonderful day!

Change. And Happy NSD!

So if you have been involved with Scrapbook Challenges at all, then you know by now that I am handing it all over to Brynn. She will do a wonderful job with it...I am actually excited to see what she does. I couldn't put it all in more capable hands.

This weekend they are doing some fun and fabulous NSD challenges and games. But what has really touched my heart is that they are doing a "Thank You Pamela" blog hop! And I seriously feel humbled and loved. THANK YOU LADIES! Thank you Brynn and the fabulous design team! And thank you to everyone who has been a part of my Scrapbook Challenges dream over the past several years. You all have made my day. You can start the hop HERE. Please go leave them all some love!

And I do have a layout to share with you today. It is not new. I made it for the April article I wrote for ScrapStreet. The article was called "Something to Say" and is all about using word bubbles on your projects. I actually ended up cutting this specific layout to make room for more fabulous reader submissions. :) You can read the article here. And here is the layout:

It uses fun papers from Nikki Sivils Scrapbooker. Here are some close up's:

And if you haven't checked out the May issue of ScrapStreet, what are you waiting for?

Check it out here! My article on amazing trees can be found here. But I did have a lot of help with this particular article, so I don't feel like I can take credit for it. The editors basically took it over for me. But I was SO excited about all the AMAZING projects I was featuring in it, so I hope you go check it out!

ScrapStreet is going through their own change. But I don't think they have announced any of it yet..so stay tuned for that.

Ok....only one last thing to say...

And most people I know question my sanity when I say things like this....

but...

HAPPY NATIONAL SCRAPBOOKING DAY (weekend)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love this hobby! And I love that we have our own national holiday! :)

Take care!

Wow! What a week!

Everybody feel like they've been watching history in the making? First, we had the royal wedding! Then the news hit televisions world wide last night that Osama Bin Laden is dead! Wow...what a week. Kinda crazy, huh! I see a layout coming soon with that very title "What a week!" I took pictures of the television with the royal wedding on and then as you can see from above, I took pictures of the television with the news of Osama's death too. I see a layout with those pictures side by side. Maybe I'll even work on it today! I do feel inspired to do so.

Well. I'm just popping in to post a winner from the drawing last week. :) The lucky winner of the fabulous It's The Little Things collection from Fancy Pants is...

Congratulations Tiffany! Send me an email to pamelacy@msn.com with your address and I will get this mailed out to you. :)

Ok everyone, have a fantastic week!

Broken But Not Defeated

**In case you missed it, I have a giveaway in the post below this one.**

So I mentioned on facebook last week that I had made a new layout, here's the layout I was talking about...

And the close up's:

(LOVE those fabric leaves from Prima!)

Didn't feel like journaling much...just what I wanted to say.

That teal paint is from a large foam stamp. Sometimes I just want to risk getting a little messy. :)

And I have done this before, but I just love cutting flowers in half and using them on the sides. I think it's cool. :) You don't have to. ;)

All of the supplies come from Prima Marketing and were adhered using the fabulous 450 Quick Dry from Helmar.

I don't feel like there is too much to say...the layout says it all.

Have a great day!