November Hip Kits - Layouts Completed

Ya'll - I have finally found my kit.  I took a hiatus for a bit from the kit club life since my last kit morphed into something that wasn't really me anymore (which is fine, but I needed to let go).  I waiting a long time and then I researched and looked at kits till I was cross eyed and I finally decided to give Hip Kits a go.  I am in love.

The November kit was pure magic and let me tell you, for me to say that takes a lot - I haven't scrapped a Christmas layout in like a decade - I don't know why or what has me so averse to the idea, but this kit was themed Christmas and I decided to accept the challenge and just do it.  I scrapped photos from this year, from the 70's, the 80's and the 90's.  I went nuts - in a good way.  I did add in a few things from my stash and also pulled in the leftovers from the October kit (especially the blue alphas you see a few pieces of paper) and that made me really happy to use it and make it work.

The result - 16 pages.  yes, 16.  And they are all journaled and dated.  I used some sketches and some ideas from the internet but most are completely my own.  Lots of double spreads which are my jam.

Here goes -

Ah, the 90's and big sweaters and leggings, oh wait that's back in style.  Hid the journaling in the photo holder.  And yes, I included both of the photos, cause, why not?  What else am I going to do with it?

Fast forward to the 2000's to me taking my own children to the mall.  This layout captures the stress and joy of being the mom in the Santa photo world.

This double captures just the highlights of a Christmas from little traditions to just the general things I saw that year that I wanted to remember.  Love that hot cocoa smile.

Back to 2009 and the perspective from Santa's camera.  And yes, I had them do separate photos of each kiddo as well as one of them together.  Cause I like to remember that they are siblings and also individuals - that's just me.  

 I have had these two photos sitting around for about 6 years and now they are on a page - yay!  My trouble - the blue of the school uniforms always makes them hard to scrap. These letters combined with the pink fresh studio paper was perfect.  The pink tree paper was a scrap from the thank you note layout.  Worked perfectly to frame these cute photos.

Here is that layout - I used a tree shape to mimic them sitting under the tree. And that snowman - perfect for this layout.  It is not a photo but actually an extra thank you card that I had made that year for the kids to write their thank you notes.  Every now and then, I get things done on time!  The snowflake mask has been in my stash for years - finally it has been used!  I also pulled all of the presents from the stickers and embellishments to add some impact to this page.  

Back to the 70's - and great old school Santa photos.  I just had to include the photo holder - it was just too fabulous not to keep.  1973-1976.  Lots of plaid, tears and hideous Santa chairs.

This was actually the first page I made with the November kit.  I used the sketch that is shown below the layout. This documents an actual snow that happened in Houston this year.  Goodness, we have had more than our fair share of crazy weather this year.  Between Harvey and then a snow storm and an ice storm I am done with weather.  I am ready for summer and sunshine.  

That little Christmas kitty stocking inspired this whole layout. Elsie is always taking or having me take photos of Wooley, he's a big part of our home life so I guess he deserves a page.  Glad I had a prompt to make that happen.  

This was a copy of a layout from Mercy Tiara - it was just too cute so I couldn't help myself. I added the snowflakes for a little more embellishment on the page.

 The last of my childhood Christmas photos are now scrapped.  As the layout indicates, these are the last two photos we have with Santa.  I fussy cut the ornament from the cover of the photo holder cause yet again, it was just too 80's fabulous not to include.

Here is a page about this year!  I used the sketch that was posted on the The Hip Kit blog.  Perfect for these instagram photos.  This page reminds me that I need to take more photos - just little everyday moment photos.  I enjoy these a lot.

Tip - I tape the sketch I use to the back of the layout to help me remember where I got the inspiration.  

Determined to use the supplies from the kit and not put them away until next year, I decided to make some cards with the left over embellishments and scraps of paper.  I had to pull some cardstock from my stash but it worked great.  I know I will be happy when Christmas rolls around next year and I have this little stash of cards.  Why don't I did this more often?  

 Here's my "kill a kit" photo.  This is what was left over when I finished.  Just a few letter stickers, NO chipboard or puffy stickers left, just a few enamel dots and a few small scraps of paper.  I am thrilled that I have basically nothing to add to my stash after this kit was killed.  The scraps are all going in the trash except the one piece of paper that is about 6 x 12.  I will keep the leftover letters just in case I can use them.

Layout Share

Here's what I have been working on recently. Since quitting my kit club, I'm just working on using my supplies and enjoying making pages. I have been watching a lot of videos and have even considered taking a class to push myself a little. But for now I am just gonna keep doing what I am doing. Scrapping.

Really wanted to make a page about each kid to capture them right now. Here's Elsie's. She beamed when she read it. Scrapbook page for the win.

This page came together quickly with two photos and the ephemera. Glad to have this one in the book. 

This is another page for the college album. Just two random photos of our suite gift exchange. 

Another college page. The gnomes seemed to work for Scott - he's from Montana. Why not?

So that's it for now. I have a few more layouts ready to get started. Till next time. 

October Simple Scrapper Layouts

This is my last month as a guest designer on the Simple Scrapper team.  It has really been a fun adventure and I am still so honored to have been included.  Here is the last layout I created for the team. It was created by taking two sketches and placing them together to make a two page spread.  I loved being pushed to use a big photo and also to think about the story of the day as not just another back to school layout, but something deeper and more significant.  

Each month, Simple Scrapper posts prompts and sketches for its members.  If you need a jump start, swift kick in the scrappy pants or just continuing encouragement and ideas, then this membership is totally for you!  

A few random thoughts - the front door photo continues to be a must (first day and last day of school).  Snapped this quick photo of Elsie's classmates and moms walking in the rain - I wanted to remember it was raining when I did the journaling, but the photo ended up making it on the page.

I got some grief for pausing at the bottom of the stairs to take a photo as I was walking out from dropping Elsie off at her room, but it was totally worth it.  Love that it captured the essence of what this year means for her - its a huge step - she's growing up.

5am and fitting it in

Some days, you just have to set the alarm and get up early to get any quiet time at all.  Though 5am might not sound fun to you - I am finding this is my happy space.  Just imagine, no noise (well, the cat is kinda cranky some days), my favorite mug of coffee in hand, and my scrapbook room and me.  Here is what I have managed to pull off in two weeks before the traveling fun began.

Still working on the college years photos. Super happy to have these three photos thrown together for what feels like a comprehensive story. Note the power tool in my hand in the bottom right photo - hilarious!  This camping collection ended up being perfect to tell this story of living in the dorm that was farthest away from the rest of campus.

Two random photos came together to capture the constant studying.

The story of how Darla and I became roommates.  Miss her since she lives so far away.  

And on to a current photo!  Y'all - I used a stamp on this page!  Whooohooo.  I never use them. Gotta keep trying.  Also, am determined to use up every last bit of this Fancy Pants paper.  It's an all time fav of mine.

This represents a moment of tool happiness.  I got out that creative memories hexagon punch and this page came together so much better than I had first planned.  I am also really focusing on finding ways to use up the last pieces of embellishments that I have had laying around (puffy stickers, half green and woodgrain diecuts and the woodgrain geotags are the ones on this page - oh and that butterfly!)

Love the dialog that was created when I posted these photos.  I swear the whole crew has commented on it.  Love the community and fond memories that were written.  Reminds me of why I love photos.  

Then I grabbed a page protector and got these not awesome photos in the album.  High five is right!

And please pay no attention to the fox.  Supplies used - enough said.

Peace out, Girl Scout.   (my new fav goodbye line)

Creating Keepsakes Convention

We headed back to the annual CK Scrapbook Convention and as usual had a blast.  Angelia and I took two classes, played in the vendor area and had our usual champagne and lunch.

Cheers!

We even saw childhood friends!

And my starstruck moment - when Megan Hoeppner taught my last class of the day.  Oh my stars she's fabulous!

Then I planned a bunch of trips and such and took a break from my scrap desk.  Back at it now!

September Simple Scrapper Guest Designer Layouts

For the month of September, Jennifer Wilson of Simple Scrapper asked us to pick any previous Simple Scrapper sketch and then add a pocket page protector to create a double page spread.

The photos I picked were some silly dorm room photos and I had too many for one page protector so I created a full spread - which is technically four pages.

I found a sketch for the 12 x 12 layout and then flipped it for the other side of the page protector to bookend the page.

With my dorm room bedding as my inspiration, I chose the supplies for this page and then ended up making three more layouts from this "micro kit."

The end result is that I have scrapped these silly pictures that I didn't want to get rid of but also didn't want to make oodles of pages about.  13 photos - in the books!

If you aren't a member of a group - you might consider joining Simpler Scrapper.  It isn't a kit club, just a great community with monthly inspiration that makes it easy to get to making.  

In my spare time . . .

I am currently, planning a 50th birthday celebration (out of state with 10 attendees), working, getting everyone on track for the new school year which started last week, getting us all settled back a home after the unexpected renovations this summer, getting the Girl Scout troop up and running and trying to make some time for me!

I have been working on my Simple Scrapper October assignments but also got these layouts done.  

First up - three random photos from college - still using the scraps from a recent layout and loving the color combo.  It screams college to me as these were the colors of my comforter in the dorm.  Silly - but true!

I went to the closing of my elementary school (sniffle sniffle) and had pulled out some photos from that time to take with me - and of course they ended up on my table and there was an idea sparked by an assignment and then there was this!  Sixth grade international festival photos.  I used a page protector to add in the photos that I wanted to keep but didn't want to embellish.  All scrapped.  It's the little things in life that keep you happy! 

Left side:

Right side:

And with the pocket page in between:

P.S.  I am photographing my layouts just after work in my office cause the light is great, but please ignore the dirty glass spots that you can see on the navy layout.  I guess I will have to go outside and wash the windows!