My Boy

credits: Welcome to Dream Land by Redju & Thaliris (Digital Crea - layout based on a page by the CT for this kit); editing done with PSE6

In all honesty, the simplicity of this page was based more on the fact that it was 1 AM than anything else! I was looking at some of the CT samples for this kit, saw this layout and thought hey, that will be quick and easy! And that it was, I'm still very happy with it even if it was more of a - I just want to be able to say I finished something tonight - things! I did a little editing to the photo itself as well. First, I added a white vignette by going to filter and then correct gamma distortion. Second, I duplicated the photo, made the top layer yellow and gave it 25% opacity which I thought helped it match the page's colors. I also thought doing both these things worked with the idea that a yellow lamp was shining down on the photo, I hope you agree! :)

Love You Forever

Credits: Little Treasure by Bisontine (Mar 09 edition of DAM); editing done with PSE6

I wanted to go back and scrap some older pics of Brad with the kids and this one of him and Isabella was taken on May 25, 2006. At the time, I had taken the picture to put on a mug for his first Father's Day gift! I'm very happy with this page... I love this kit so much, it is just too sweet!

To blend the photo in the bg I used the soft eraser tool to get rid of everything in the pic except what I wanted, their faces. I then used two layers of the photo, the top layer is the screen blending option set at 75% opacity and the bottom layer is soft light blending option also at 75% opacity.

My Little X-tra Cutie!

Credits: So Sweet and Precious by dydyge (Digital Crea); editing done with PSE6

I just saw the photo in text idea today while looking at the May edition of Digital Artist Magazine. Then I remembered the letter 'x' challenge currently going on at SBF and this was the result!

If you want to try to out, just place your photo on top of the text and then with the photo layer selected press CTRL+G or you can place your cursor between the two layers, press ALT and click. Whichever way you prefer, they both give you the same result... and you're done, unless you want to merge the layers and move them somewhere else. I also added paper to the letter the same way behind my photo then played around with blending. I ended up blended my photo twice, the uppermost layer is the screen blending option and the next layer down is the luminosity blending option. The luminosity option made the photo the color of the paper while the screen option lightened it. It always takes me a lot of experimentation until I find the right combination of blended layers to achieve a look I like. The same combination may not look the same with a different photo and/or different background. And that's all for now... I hope you learned something today! :)

Dreaming Together

credits: Sheeps and Dreams by Choubinette (Digital Crea); wordart by Galiscrap (Digital Crea); editing done with PSE6

Digital Crea Rocks!

By far, my favorite place to buy my scrapbooking kits is Digital Crea (http://digital-crea.fr/) and I just have to pass the word whenever I can!!! Every time I visit, there is always something new for free and not just anything, it's mostly awesome kits that are just as nice as the ones you pay for. It's fun logging on to see what I can pick up each day! At the moment (it won't last), you can download Princess Story... completely FREE! In addition, there's always a free collab kit (usually in 5 parts) that's going on. Once you have all the parts, you have one super amazing kit to work with and even if you miss a part you'll still have plenty! The current collab kit is called Cool Chick and you can download part 4 right now... click on the images below for links.

Plus, there's always something on sale. I just bought the 3 following beautiful kits for a total of $4.09! I just find it AMAZING at how much great work I can find here at such a great price. It makes me hate to go anywhere else! But you do have to be quick, sales and freebies don't stick around for long. For example, the sale right now is only good for one day, TODAY! Geeze, I sound like a commercial, they should hire me!!!

Sibling Love

credits: The Life in Pink by Mimilou (Digital Crea); "love" from Playing with Word Art vol 7 by Natali Designs (Scrapbook Graphics); editing done with PSE6

So, I had a little break from scrapping this weekend and let me tell you how hard it was to get back into it again today! I started about 4 or 5 different pages, with different kits, different pictures, before this one finally started coming together... it was SO frustrating! Needless to say, it felt wonderful when when I finally completed this page!

This picture was taken on Saturday (5/23) in the backyard at my father-in-law's house, the kids had a great time running around there. They thought they were hot stuff being able to open and close the sliding doors all by themselves and go in and out as they pleased! I have so many pics just like this one... as here, Isabella will ask me to take a picture, give her brother a great big hug, cheese for the camera and Gavin will well - look miserable! I've titled this page, Sibling Love. It may not look like love judging by his face but the fact that he tolerates this shows it defintely is... whether he likes it or not!!!

"Guess How Much I Love You" Word Art

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credits: Danielle's Designs - quote from the story "Guess How Much I Love You" by Sam McBratney; JaneAusten font; created with PSE6

My Layout

credits: Over the Rainow by Elodie (Digital Crea); wordart by Danielle's Designs; editing done with PSE6

This is one of my favorite photos of myself and Isabella! It was taken on August 29, 2006.

Family Tree Word Art

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credits: Danielle's Designs - author of quote unknown; created with PSE5

My Layout

credits: Romantique by Cinnamon Designs (Dec 08 edition of DAM); wordart by Danielle's Designs; editing done with PSE5

These are my great grandparents (my mom's mom's parents). The smaller photo was taken on their wedding day - July 15, 1922. I'm so grateful to have that picture! The larger photo was taken for their 50th anniversary. Howard, my great grandfather, died the year before I born and Ella, my great grandmother, died when I was only two. Sadly, I do not have any memories of either of them, though I am lucky enough to have two different 4 generations photos with Ella, my grandmother, my mother and myself. I am very glad that my children have had the chance to know their great grandmother, my mom's mom, the daughter of these two. We go to visit her every week and I hope that they are able to have fond memories to look back on. I do have one 4 generations photo with my grandmother, my mother, myself and Isabella but she was only a few months old, I am very anxious to have a new one taken!

By Betty (Granny B)

credits: HP Nouveau Dossier; Antiquity Zalinka

Game Day Word Art

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credits: Danielle's Designs - Mom's Typewriter font; created with PSE5

My Layout credits: BG from The Colors of Life by Jaelop Designs (http://jaelop.blogspot.com/); wordart by Danielle's Designs; stars from Steeler logo found at http://www.framehuggers.com/steelerslogo.gif; strings from Holly Jolly Day by Gina Marie Huff; football from http://www.ci.yuma.az.us/Images/General/ss-7660366-football.jpg; pompoms from http://www.cheerleadingamerica.com/cheer/images/products/CPOM2.JPG; terrible towel from http://lh5.ggpht.com/_uqeqUsqKJkU/RMmcpzpEABI/AAAAAAAAAoM/fVo2xdrY7L4/IMG_1177.JPG; sparkles from Angel Breeze by Akiloune; edited with PSE5

The usual scene on football season Sundays (or Mondays, or Thursdays now too!)... I'm starting to think it's about time I get my own Steelers gear though... on game day, I'm the only one not in black and gold! As many of you may know, the Steelers did go on to win Superbowl XLIII... their second Superbowl win in Isabella's short 3 year life! She must have brought them some good luck! ;)

Pages for Daddy!

credits: I Want to be a Child by Kawouette (Digital Crea); wordart by Galiscrap (Digital Crea); edited with PSE6

Well, Father's Day may still be a month away but I've already made my first page for Brad. I thought it was cute that he actually requested that I take this photo of him and Gavin walking because there's one just like it of him and Isabella (page posted below). He even purposely wore the same clothes! He won't admit it but some where deep down, I think he really does appreciate this obsession!

credits: Un Monde Ailleurs by Moi (Digital Crea); rainbow from Kids Nature by Jaelop Designs (http://jaelop.blogspot.com/); Elegant Wordart by Bethany (http://elegantwordart2.blogspot.com/); editing done with PSE6

Mother/Father Word Art

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credits: Danielle's Designs - Jane Austin & Times New Roman fonts; created with PSE6

My Layoutcredits: Le petit prince a dit... by Elodie (Digital Crea); Fading Emotions by Taylormade (Oscraps); Word Art by Danielle's Designs; editing done with PSE6

This was made for my mother for Mother's Day, this is her and me at my birth! Definitely do love her very very much!!!

Little Hands & Little Feet Word Art

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credits: Danielle's Designs - author of quote unknown (to me at least!); Never Let Go font; created with PSE6

My Layoutcredits: Le petit prince a dit... by Elodie (Digital Crea); Word Art by Danielle's Designs; photos taken by Olan Mills on 7/2/07; editing done with PSE6

It's hard to believe Gavin was EVER "little"!!!

My First Freebie: Shoot for the Moon Word Art

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credits: Danielle's Designs - quote by Les Brown; Nueva Std & BlackJack fonts; created with PSE6

My Layout

credits: Fly My Baby to the Moon by Coralie (Digital Crea); Word Art by Danielle's Designs; editing done with PSE6

This photo was taken of Isabella on 9/4/06. The extraction was a little difficult because in the original photo (posted below) she was sitting in grass, reaching out for a leaf. I used a combination of the clone stamp tool and the spot healing brush tool in PSE6 to remove the grass and leaf. I used the clouds as well to help cover up the grass in some places. As you can see the top of her head also had to be completed and I used the same two tools for that.

Clean and Simple Challenge

credits: I Love Spring by Seni (Digital Crea); Cool Chick a Digital Crea collab kit; Worn Page Edges by Lynn Grieveson (Designer Digitals); editing done with PSE6

Well, I just made that post about how hard it is for me to keep things 'simple' and this felt like it was next to impossible! I made this for a challenge at SBF (Scrapbook Flair) and the challenge owner's requirements were that you could not use more than 3 papers, 2 different embellishments and no more than 2 words. I figured this would be an easy task and wouldn't take me long at all... WRONG! I sat here for a long time trying decide the best way to go about this. I would choose a kit to use and start but then would want to keep adding more, so I'd get frustrated and start over again! Finally, I tried this kit and here is the result. Though normally I would love to add a lot more, I'm happy with it. I think that adorable little smile says a lot by itself. I'm glad I entered this challenge because it really was a challenge for me!!!

Delight Every Moment

Credits: Outdoor Activity by WaterLO Project (http://waterloproject.blogspot.com/); Playing with Word Art vol3 by Natali Designs (Scrapbook Graphics); editing done with PSE6.

I took the photo of Isabella on her new bike last Wednesday (5/13) and definitely had to scrap it! She loves that thing, even though she won't use the pedals as you can see! After adding the swing set and the slide, I got the idea to use others pictures of Isabella from the park. The picture on the slide is from last year and the one on the swing is from 2 years ago. So in addition to creating this memory about Isabella's joy for her new bike, I have also created a unique progression of her past 3 years... wow, I can't even believe it's been that long! I wasn't crazy about making the photos b&w at first but it felt necessary as the three original photos had very different lighting. After attempting to adjust the hues, saturation, brightness and contrast for quite awhile, I decided it would be better to just do it this way! Looking at it now, I rather like it... I think it helps her stand out from the scene around her.

Getting Published!

I was super psyched the first time I found out that pages of mine were going to be published in the Scrapbooking Ezine, Scrap N' Art. The first thing people asked me was, what do you get for that? Well, the answer is nothing but pride and that's just fine with me! I was proud that someone thought my work was good enough to be showcased in this wonderful place. And so far, every time I've submitted pages for consideration, some have been chosen! The funny thing to me though is that these first two pages, seen in the January/February 09 edition, are older pages of mine and aren't exactly what I would think of as my 'best' work... oh well, who am I to decide I guess! The first page was chosen for a section dedicated to journaling and the second one was chosen for 'green' pages.

credits: Elle by PascaleA; edited with Paint.NET

credits: Spontaneous Delight by Carrie Stephens; edited with Paint.NET

Keeping it Simple

credits: Baby's Dream by Mlle Heloise (Digital Crea); Playing with Word Art vol1 by Natali Designs (Scrapbook Graphics); edited with PSE6

My latest page, created just this afternoon! This is a photo of Gavin taken in February of 2008. I've always admired those who can keep it simple and not go embellishment crazy as I sometimes feel I do. There was a time where I couldn't stand leaving an inch of a page blank! While I've done well getting over this, I still tend to keep things at a larger size when making my pages. When making this however, I told myself I was not going to enlarge that photo no matter what and I'm glad I didn't because really like the result! Hope you do too! :)

The Beginning

credits: Scrapbook Flair Software

This is my very first attempt at digital scrapbooking, made on April 9, 2008. I had always had an interest in traditional scrapbooking but it was becoming increasingly difficult with these two little rugrats running around. After checking out my sister-in-law's pages on Scrapbook Flair, I decided to give the digital way a try. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing and looking back at this page now makes me giggle a little bit. I've defintely learned a lot in over a year and my style has changed several times as well in this short amount of time. While I think I've finally found what works best for me now, I'm always up for trying something new and that's what I love most about this hobby/obesssion - there's always something new to learn and I know I still have a long way to go! Thanks to those of you who take an interest in my work, this is what motivates me to keep cranking them out like I do! Plus, I have the two cutest little subjects in the world, that helps too! :)