Awesome Awesome Awesome

I really like the pocket page thing, I love it as a compliment to my "regular" layouts no matter what size they happen to be. I do find using those 4x6 and 3x4 cards a bit awkward to use in the mix if I want to showcase the whole pretty card, so in this awesome summer album I'm working on thanks to the class at Clique Kits, I'm learning to step out of my comfortzone with those kinds of card. This page is REALLY SIMPLE, not much to it, but it also uses a single diecut sheet of paper which is also a bit of a challenge for me ;). (Yeah, really stepping outside my box here)

Let me know what you think.

The back of this page is a page that goes with some others, so I'll leave that until Tuesday. Have you worked with one of these Snap Albums or an album of similar size? Do you use pocket pages mixed in with your regular size pages? When is the last time you challenged yourself? 

Wow, I'm full of questions right now. Thanks for looking.

Birthday Summer Snap Pocket Pages

With Pocket Pages, I don't tend to give them a title like I do most layouts. These are the pages that sit to the right of the VA Ren Faire page in my little SNAP mini for the summer. I'm not entirely sure I'm finished embellishing... but I like these for now. That clear card I really like mostly clear, but if I find something I think it needs, I can add it later.

I LOVE the washi that came in my kit, and I LOVE the bits of Washi holding some of the envelopes closed, I am even using those bits along in my book. I used the Elle's Studio Fun in the Sun Stamp set that I picked up in the Clique Kits' store (did you know you can use the code SUMMERFLASH to save 35% on all store items right now. I selectively inked up the scallcop on the "everthing about this is AWESOME stamp for the little scallopped border. The pic of the Happy Bday sign is one that the kennel staff made for me at work this year... love those guys! That straw is from 7-11 and cracks me up!!

I worked yesterday on printing out some different sized photos, I didn't really pre plan where they were going in this album, I just wanted a pile of pics ready to go. I have several more pages ready to photograph barring me deciding to embellish any further. I am LOVING this little album and so very happy I decided to take this class AND buy the suggested album. They have this album in black chevron stripe in the store also and I'm so tempted.... I wasn't sure how I'd feel about this size, but it's fantastic! Ok, I'm rambling... any suggestions on how to get better pics of my pocket pages... I know they'd be better taken in the daytime. 

Welcome to the June Pep Rally!!! Time for SHOW and TELL!!!

If you've come to this post via Scrappin Madge, you have made it to the next stop on your bloghop, if not... why don't you mosey on over to Clique Kits and stroll through, there will be a giveaway!

I've almost used up this amazing June kit this month. I had one full sheet of paper and some scraps left along with some of the embellies that came with the kit and some die cut images that I had cut out right away. The theme of this month's blog share is Show and Tell/My favorite things. I decided to challenge myself and just make a layout about stuff I'm into right now. There is a list of my current favorite foods at the top right, the middle holds my favorite things to do for fun right now and my favorite scrappy trends. I used that last full sheet of paper in it's awesomeness and layered my scraps underneath. I scattered around some printables and a cut file or two, did some watercoloring and painting, took out some wood veneer hearts by Pinkfresh Studio from a previous kit and WHA-LA! 

Please to enjoy (I also added a tidbit from the June store offerings, it's from Ellie's Studio and super cute!)

I think it's a great idea to challenge yourself or step out of your own comfort zone every now and again. I've had a summer cold for the last several days and it's been a challenge to sit at the table to do anything! I'm now feeling better and up to scrapping! I'm so excited about today because I'm off work, I have some old photos of my father from when he was in Vietnam and I've talked to him on the phone and I have stories to log about these photos so tomorrow I'll be challenging myself to write about photos that don't have my own memories, but instead I'll be preserving the memories that he shared with me about those photos! It's all very exciting and I hope you have fun getting inspired by everyone! Have fun hopping along!

Here is the blogroll:

Clique Kits

Gia

Jody

Erica

Lacey

Stephanie

Madge

Charity******you are here ;)

Rosann

Shayne

Alisha

Danielle

Tyra

Tess

Cassandra

Mariah

Place Holder...

There is some kind of summer cold going about work and I'm having my turn with it. I did do a bit of scrapping today, but I'm getting ready for Wednesday's Pep Rally with Clique Kits and I'll show you what I worked on this evening.

Don't forget, I'll have a beautiful (hopefully) layout for you to see tomorrow as you hop along with Clique Kits! Hugs everyone!

Every Summer Has a Story

Happy Summer Everyone! Today is the actual first day of summer, but traditionally I have considered Memorial Day Weekend as the start to my summer, when I was in school it was always out by then and warm, AND I have a birthday around that time so it just all seems to fit nicely. So as I have gotten started on my Clique into Summer class with Clique Kits, it seemed only right to start there. Here is my coverpage for the album:

and here is the layout that I made on the back of this page:

This little album has a ton of pocket pages and I've already got more photos printed and more in a folder ready to resize and print to make more pages... it's a work Saturday for me and I have different off days this week so I am hoping to get some scrapping done around that... can't wait to show you what else I've been doing this summer! 

Clique Into Summer

I know I've been talking about Clique Kits quite a bit, and on that note did you see I had another Substitute Teacher post up there yesterday??? Ok, now that you are back, it's time to be disappointed that I don't have a fantastic layout for you to see today.
A few AMAZING life events other than being the guest blogger happened to me yesterday.

 1. At work I intubated my first cat yesterday. (I work as a veterinary technician) I have been doing this to dogs for several months now and finally had the opportunity and manpower available for me to attempt it on a cat... they are a little more tricky.

2. I found out the tomatoes that I have growing on my balcony have been fruitful, along with some tiny blossoms, there is on teensy little tomato growing.

3. I talked to my Daddy and he gave me some background information on some old photos I have of him from the 50's and 60's. This is AWESOME!!!

4. I started working on my super awesome Summer School kit featuring Simple Stories Good Day Sunshine collection which is all rainbows and clouds and wonderfulness... Sigh...

Stream of Consciousness Journalling

A closeup of one of the insta cards from Simple Stories included in the kit... and those awesome flagged paperclips that were handmade to be included in this month's Clique Kit. 

I use my scrapping as my therapy. I have seen a therapist and she agreed that this seems to do wonders for me. Some people keep a private journal, I just put it on a page with embellishments. When there might be things I don't want just out there then I find some way to make them less prominent or even to hide them on the page. This weekend I was just having a lot of ... feelings and I wanted to get rid of them. I find that if I write it down it serves as a release for me... and seems to immediately make me feel better. I did some stream of consciousness journalling on different blocks. Then I picked one that wasn't too personal... um that might not make people uncomfortable and stuck it on top and shoved the others behind it. If I feel the need to re read it sometime, then it's there for me.

Here is the whole layout... LOVE the Heidi Swapp Favorite Things collection with the DIY Boutique from Simple Stories... THANKS to Clique Kits for combining these wtwo along with their own exclusive printables and cut files... I LOVED working with these!

Here are a couple more closeups of this layout.