Sketch/Template #18

Hello everyone! I’ve created a new sketch and free template to share with all of you today. This post also features my MMD Divas. They are my fantastic design team! I hope you enjoy all of the extra inspiration.

If you would like to save the sketch to your computer for later use, please feel free to right click on the image and then click “save as”. You can also pin it to Pinterest if you’d like to save it there.

The sketch was inspired by this page that I made with the Scraptastic Club Weathered Spring kit and add on. I actually dreamed about this page with the little thought bubbles connected by stitching. You know you're a hardcore scrapper when you dream pages. This page is a hybrid page because I did all of my journaling on the bubbles in Photoshop Elements. The edging of the circles was a brush from Splendid Fiins.

I sent the sketch and template to my MMD Divas and they definitely came through for me! Melissa Birlem created this super sweet digital layout about her dog. Her extractions are really neat, and I love the way she connected the hearts to the paw prints. How adorable!

I also love the happy feel of this Mother’s Day page by Alison! She used photos instead of journaling in the circular elements. I really like the embossed circle and the way she used lines of bling to connect the photos. (I wish I’d have thought of that because the stitching I did took forever! LOL)

April Walker created this sweet, feminine layout. I think the way she used the wooden butterflies as a creative border around the large circle is really neat. The misting looks super and so do the girls’ matching flip flops in the photo! They’re girls after my heart because I live in flip flops year round.

I am so impressed with the way Sharon used the sketch. The background paper is perfect for her page theme and the title work totally rocks! The dimensional clouds also add so much to this layout.

I think this canvas by Nancy is fantastic. I really admire how she thought outside of the box with the sketch. (Outside of the layout? Ha!) Check out the super gorgeous layers. I especially noticed the dimensional stenciling. Awesome!

What a vibrant, cheerful page by Lesley! She is the Cricut queen and I always enjoy the different ways she uses die cuts on her layouts. This page is no exception. The circular doily frames are so pretty and the doodles that she used to lead the eye through her photos are wonderful.

I made one more inspirational page since I only had one digital layout to share. It features a recent photo of the kids at the beach with my husband, Ronnie. I interviewed each kid by asking them what they like about their Dad and I used that as the journaling.

Supplies: Dani Mogstad’s Dapper Dan Paper Pack One, Two, and Element Pack.

Digital scrapping friends can download the free layered digital template that I made in Photoshop Elements HERE. Happy scrapping!

She’s Got Class

You wouldn’t turn down a free class from an amazingly creative scrapbooker… Would you? Me either! That’s why I’ve just finished signing up for Jessica Sprague’s upcoming class called Photoshop Top 5.

Here’s the description direct from her site:

“This FREE class runs from June 18-23! Register now!

Here are some quick details of the class:

• Course Type: Instructor-led
• Format: Online, video
• Length: One week
• Subject: Photoshop techniques
• Instructor: Jessica Sprague
• Works for: Photoshop Elements 6-10 or CS2-6.
• Mac and Windows? Both!
• Who's it for: EVERYONE!
• Class Size: Unlimited

It's time to take Photoshop out of the box! In this FREE class, Jessica will introduce you to five incredible, indispensable techniques EVERYONE should learn in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements. For five awesome days, we'll meet together to talk Photoshop/Photoshop Elements and everything YOU can learn how to do! Legendary teacher and creative genius Jessica Sprague will be your guide in five different projects that show dozens of techniques and tools - WHAT to do and WHEN to use them.”

What are you waiting for? Click HERE to sign up and I’ll see you in class.

P.S. Tomorrow is free template day here on my blog. Don’t forget to come back!

Unexpected Surprise

I'd like to wish you all a Happy Memorial Day tomorrow! While you're enjoying the extra day off, don't forget to thank a veteran or active serviceman/woman for their service to our country.

It’s time to share my latest Scraptastic Club layout and I'm going to mix things up today. I decided to use my Weathered Spring kit to scrap a snowy Winter photo. I wanted to inspire everyone to think outside of the box with their themed kits. Just because a kit includes Spring colors or embellishments, doesn't mean it won't work for something else.

My design on this page was inspired by Vivian Masket's layout in the June 2012 issue of Scrapbooks Etc! magazine. Her layout was Spring themed and that was the direction I originally planned to go with my lift. That was until I found this photo and thought, "Hey... What if I make a Winter page with the Spring kit?" The only thing I added to the kit was a few rub on snowflakes. The snowflakes helped the Weathered Spring kit work perfectly for my snowy photo.

This is a closer look at the title work. The entire design on this page is clean and simple. I love the tiny little polka dot pattern on the letters. It adds and unexpected bit of interest to an otherwise simple design.

My favorite aspect of this page is the way I was able to lift the banner that Vivian used. The Lily Bee banner stickers worked really well to form this colorful, fun page element. To finish the layout, I made sure that I used yellow gems in the center of all of the snowflakes to unify them on my page.

We’ve been crazy busy this weekend. I’ve been working on MORE projects with the June Scraptastic Club kit. I am glad I get another day off with Ronnie tomorrow. We’re gearing up for Alexis to start Summer school in a few days. I’m going to have to drive her to and from school every single day for a month. There will be no sleeping in for us! All because she failed the 4th grade LEAP test by three measly points. She was so disappointed. I’m really hoping that the LEAP remediation and the IEP accommodations that were put in place help her pass. If not, she’ll have to repeat 4th grade. We’re all trying very hard not to freak out at that prospect.

Unclaimed

The Eclos beauty prize still hasn’t been claimed. I’m going to call a new winner and hope she claims it. I’m going to go with the second person on the list. Nicole Koch! Nicole, If you’re reading this please email your contact information to miraclesmommadesigns(at)hotmail(dot)com. If Nicole doesn’t claim it in 4-5 days, I’ll keep going down the list.

In other news, I have an update on my 32 in 32 project! I’ve accomplished THREE more things. Whoo hoo!

I did number 14 on the list. (Get your eyebrows waxed. Don’t cry!) I did it on May 18, 2012. It wasn’t as bad as I remember. If you really need a before photo, click here to see the Eclos post. Ugh! This photo was taken at the wedding reception last weekend. Jordan fell asleep on my lap. She couldn’t party as hard as we did.

I also completed #24. (Buy an outfit that features pink as a prominent color and WEAR it.) I bought a super cute maxi dress to wear to the beach as a swimsuit cover up. I wore it to the beach and the pool on May 19, 2012. You can see it in the photo below. Proof! I liked it so much that I’m wearing it again today. Maybe I’ll break out of my neutral rut?

I almost forgot about number 18! (Cook some couscous.) I had never tried couscous so I decided to add it to my list. It was surprisingly good. The different texture did take a bit of getting used to though. The kids and Ronnie  ate it and liked it just fine.  We ate it for dinner on 5-10-2012. I’ve also recently tried mango for the first time and I’ve fallen in love with it. It’s such a good idea to try new things.

I hope you all have a wonderful three day weekend. We’ve already been out and about getting into trouble. (More about that later!)

Make A Joyful Noise!

I’m finally done with Jessica Sprague’s Digital Art Journaling class. I started it months and months ago but I ended up procrastinating and nothing got finished. I got fed up with having a list of unfinished projects, so I’ve been working my way through a huge list and I’ve finally caught up with one item on the list. These are my last four art journal pages!

1. Make A Joyful Noise

The prompt for this page was music and I chose to copy Jessica's page pretty closely because I loved the symbolism and design. I did change the sentiment/journaling. She journaled about a hymn she loved and I decided to use a Bible verse. All of the supplies on this page came from the Art Journaling class.

2. Don’t Listen

The prompt for this page was "Listen". I went in the other direction and journaled about something I would rather NOT listen to.

Supplies: Nancie Rowe Janitz’s Journal Your Art Out 4 “Enchanted”

3. Going Home

I loved using the vintage photo action on this page. The prompt on this one was "Escape". When things get really rough around here I escape by going down the road to visit my grandparents.

Supplies:
Zoe Pearn's Lost & Taken Facebook Fan Exclusive Freebie
Jessica Sprague's Digital Art Journaling Class

4. Stronger

The prompt for this page was "stronger". I decided to use a phoenix image to mimic rising from the ashes of hardship. The little bit of journaling is from a Kelly Clarkson song that I absolutely love.

Supplies:
Nancie Rowe Janitz's Retro Spring Kit
Jessica Sprague's Digital Art Journaling Class
Splendid Fiins Knockout Starburst

Destin Travelogue Album

I decided that I would scrap my Destin photos quickly so I could share the album with all of you instead of individual pictures. I had a LOT to say and I knew that we were going on this trip in advance, so I went ahead and took Jessica Sprague’s Travelogue class. I plugged the papers and embellishments in as I went and when I got home it was as simple as clipping the photos in and adding journaling. It came together in about 3 days and I just love how the entire album turned out. I hope you do too!

If you would like more details about the pages, you can click on the bold link above each image. I’m not going to bore you with individual descriptions since each page is pretty self explanatory.

1. Travelogue Cover

2: Destination: Destin Title Page

4: The Journey (Pg: 1-2)

5: Sights & Sounds (Pg: 3-4)

6: Remember This (Pg: 5-6)

7: You Are Here (Pg: 7-8)

8: Faces & Places (Pg: 9-10)

9: A Perfect Day (Pg: 11-12)

10: Beautiful Detours (Pg: 13-14)

11: Smile (Pg: 15-16)

12. Favorite Moments (Pg: 17-18)

13. Goodbyes (Pg: 19-20)

I’ll be back later this week with some digital art journaling pages! See you then.

Winner, Winner!

I’ve pulled the winner for my Eclos beauty giveaway! Thank you to everyone who entered. The winner was Chicken. Congratulations! Please email your address to me and I’ll get your prize right in the mail. My email is miraclesmommadesigns(at)hotmail(dot)com.

I’m still working on editing the millions of photos I took on our mini vacation, so I don’t have any of those to share yet. I can share my latest scrapbook projects though! I’m still working on the digital art journaling class that Jessica Sprague gave a while back. I figure I’ll catch up eventually!

1: Strong Enough

This song by Matthew West has been really speaking to my heart lately. My family has been going through a lot, and the first time I heard this on the radio I cried. I wanted to add it to my art journal just because it means a lot to me.

Supplies:
Painted Moments Paper Pack
BIRDHOUSE - Buttons
Painted Alpha

2: She Found

This is my page for the prompt "She Found". I sometimes have problems remembering to take care of myself when I get busy with family concerns. This page is to remind me that it’s important to make myself a priority as well.

Supplies:
Painted Moments Paper Pack
Reindeer Games Accent Pack
Digital Art Journaling Class By Jessica Sprague

3. Teacher Cards Part One

The kids get out of school tomorrow so I had to hurry up and finish the thank you cards I intended to give their teachers. (Holy Hannah where did this year go?!) I'm still working on using the rest of my Cosmo Cricket Snorkel collection. I love using older supplies out of my stash.

The card on the left is my own design. The card on the right was inspired by Sheri Reguly's card in the February 2012 issue of Scrapbooks Etc. magazine.

4. Teacher Cards Part Two

I was unable to fit all three cards in one photo. This is the third card that I completed. This card was inspired by Amy Tsuruta's "Hi" card on page 23 of the July 2010 issue of Paper Crafts Magazine.

That’s all for now, I’d better get back to editing photos and washing the mound of laundry for our trip. I’ll be back soon with photos and stories from our vacation.

Eat What You Grow

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Whitney Farms for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I've been reading a lot about going organic lately. We've been trying new things at our house to lower our exposure to pesticides and chemicals. One of the huge issues I came across was the use of plant food in our garden. We're growing our own vegetables and fruit at home this year to decrease our carbon footprint. When I read up on the tomatoes I wanted to grow, I was bummed to see that they recommended a fertilizer that I was trying to avoid. 

I wanted big red tomatoes, but I didn't want chemicals. What's a girl to do? I discovered Whitney Farms®! They have a line of 100% natural organic plant food and organic soil. Their plant foods contain NO additives. Only good, healthy ingredients from the Earth. Perfect! 

They even have a line that's specifically made for tomatoes and other vegetables. I couldn't have asked for anything better. Now I won't have to worry about my kiddos getting chemicals with their vegetables. Let's face it, it's hard enough to get them to eat vegetables without having to worry about anything else.

Whitney Farms® has over 25 years of gardening experience and their products are really easy to apply. They don't have a manure odor, and they contain beneficial microbes as well. If you visit their site, you can find a $3.00 coupon. Please come back and let me know what you thought if you try their products. I'll return your comment as soon as I get out of my garden!