life. photos. scrapbooking.

Shore Health Commercial.

Where's Waldo?
 

 

password is :: wmdt

 

 

Tee hee hee!

Happy Tuesday!

Combine Ride

Back in October, Macho got an opportunity to ride along inside a huge combine while a friend of mine's husband harvested soybeans. It was absolutely rad.

Driving closer and closer to the big machine - it's really overwhelming how HUGE they are. You get used to seeing them as you pass from your car along the highway.

Seriously - they are amazing machines.

And poor Macho - was a little overwhelmed at the size at first. Then Clark just scooped him up and said - let's go! Two minutes later they were cruising down the field watching bunnies run for cover on ahead of the combine.

All that excitement proved to be too much for Macho... 45 minutes later - they came to a stop and Clark surfaced from the cab with Macho crashed out on his shoulder.

From the scrapbooking standpoint - I'm a lot happier with this layout than the last one I posted on Friday... Sometimes going with a two page spread helps things "breathe" a bit easier. And - the repetitive 4x6 blocks here and common margins along the outside of the photo grid stay true to the principles of good design. And... minimalist embellishments this time...

I'm giving myself a gold star for improvement today.

_{LAYOUT SUPPLIES :: Cardstock : Bazzill Basics, Patterned Paper : Creative Imaginations, Chipboard "C" : ?? old old old, Date Label : 7 Gypsies, Rub on Alpha : Doodlebug Designs, Fabric Tape : Paper Source, Ticket : Jenni Bowlin Studio}

Happy Monday!

The Candyman

This page - in creation and in end result - was a little all over the place... Looking at it now - I have to say - I'm NOT all about it.

There's just too much. Stuff.

I think I need to put my scrapbooking training wheels back on - at least when it comes to traditional paper scrapbooking. I think I'm so excited to be back at it again - that I'm going nuts with the products. The K.I.S.S. method has escaped me apparantly.

The designer in me needs to remember to use a careful - editing eye in my approach.

Either that - or go back and start "scraplifting" from Cathy Zielske's books again until I can find my groove.

In any case - felt like sharing anyway.

The good, the bad, and the ahem... not so pretty.

Plus - since the little bug was hogging all the action lately - I felt like Macho needed a layout... and the photo of him scarfing down some taffy at the festival we go to at Mimi's house just happened to be on the top of the stack. I went for spontaneous scrapbooking... and I ended up with an overly embellished mess.

At least there's a story this time!

_{LAYOUT SUPPLIES :: Cardstock : Die Cuts With A View, Large Chip Alpha : KI Memories, Patterned Paper : Bella Blvd., Paper Source Catalog Cover, Ribbon - The Ribbon Factory, Calendar Card : Paper Source, Felt Buttons : Joann Fabrics, Metal Letter A : Making Memories, Staples.}

I'll get myself back in the saddle here sooner or later.

Hope you guys have a great weekend!!

Anyone done with their Christmas shopping?
I'm sooo behind.

9 Month Layout - A lesson.

Today I'd like to tell a short story in which I hope to convey the lesson of WRITING IT DOWN.

I give you example A...

Yes... yes... it seems like a nice enough layout.

But look at that journaling spot...

Here - I'll zoom in.

Blah. Blah. Blah. The items on this list are a best guess. In actuality - they could potentially appear on a about 3 or 4 different monthlies... for they are all very generic statements that apply to the little miss.

For me - scrapbooking can be boiled down to two things - photos and stories. I'm trying with this hobby to embrace my role as family historian and taking the photos is only half the battle in my book.

Having a layout that doesn't communicate something specific about the subject - well - it irks me.

I'm irked.

I'm not even sure I know the proper definition of the work "irk" - but regardless, I'm feeling like it fits how I feel.

Irk.

Ugh.

I usually have a heap of pieces of small notebook paper that I consistenly tear out and file in a folder for times like these - when - after the fact I'm ready to "get it scrapped" - I have the story saved and just need to search for a coordinating photo from that time frame... but in this case - I came up short.

I went back to my blog archives for info... nothing... I even went to her monthly doctor checkups to see if there were any tidbits of info there. Again - I came up empty.

So - the moral of the story here is - WRITE IT DOWN PEOPLE!!

You WON'T remember. I WON'T remember. WE WON'T REMEMBER!!!

So - just write it down and save it somewhere for later. A word document on your computer... A little notebook you keep in your purse. Whatev,

Write. Write. Write.

You won't regret it.

 

And incidentally - it feels really really good to get my hands on actual paper and adhesive and embellishments again. Digital is quick and mess free - but man alive - there's just something about paper that gets me happy!

:)

_{LAYOUT SUPPLIES : Background Cardstock : Little Yellow Bicycle, Cardstock: Bazzil Basics, Ribbon : Paper Source, Chipboard # : Sassafrass, Scallop Punch : EK Success, Alpha Stickers : Basic Grey & MLS, Ink : Rubber Stampede}

 

 

Jenna & Bradley Get Engaged!

Ok - so after their "fake wedding" proposal photos... seen HERE.

Here's a peek at the "real" engagement shoot we did a few weeks ago...

Middle of November and all... It was a bit blustery... but they had no problem bringing the "heat." :0)

All of the photos were taken at a good friend's farm - a portion of which - is situated on the water.  These totally amazing trees are growing right out of the sand and have huge overhanging limbs... which - come summertime - are the perfect branches for hanging swings and hammocks.

And for smooching.

Love how this next one turned out... they look like they're all alone out there... just jutting out into the open river there... Like no one in the world exists except them.

Another spectacular shoreline tree... perfect for a little snuggling.

We borrowed her daddy's old beat up truck "Tulla Belle" - and let them go....

Bradley was admiring his good work on ring choice.... Yes sir-ree..

Because she totally deserves it. And he knows it.

Now come on over here.... and she giggles.

Her mamma made this sweet pillow for them... "Future Mr. & Mrs."

One of my absolute favorites... Shows off "Tulla Belles" assets nicely.

With one look - she can summon her man.

Come here boo...

All that flirting and making out can really bring on a thirst.... Lucky for us - we toted some red solo cups full of some.... um... adult beverages. (Yes, even I had one!)

A-course, that didn't stop Bradley from continuing to snuggle.

About 20 minutes later as we were getting ready to leave the property - the sky was simply spectacular - and precisely right for a silhouetted shot.

I'll be photographing their wedding on May 19, 2011...

Can't wait you guys!

 

xoxo
katie

 

8 Month Layout!

I'm on a roll people!!!

_{Digital Layout Supplies :: Adobe Photoshop CS5, Template: Cathy Zielske No. 65, Patterned Papers and Embellishments: Paislee Press Hello Love Kit, Solid Paper: Michelle Martin's Just Linens No. 1, Fonts: Courier New, Engravers}

 

Love the addition of the balloon stickers to this layout. Her arm was perfectly placed! Woot!

12 Month Layout... working backwards.

As many of you know - I hardly ever scrapbook chronologically. It just puts too much pressure on a hobby that should be fun and rewarding.

Nevertheless - I do it OCCASIONALLY... when dealing with a series. In this case - the little monster's monthly layouts for the first year of her life. I did this for Macho's first year without fail. But, as so many of you know - the second time around - it just gets so much harder to carve out the time to make it happen amid all the chaos.

Well - now that I'm officially on "work holiday" - I've been striving to catchup on a lot of things that have been lingering in my creative kingdom.

For example - last night I completed the big girl's one year letter...

See this post here and here for details... Small victory numero uno.

 

And - I finalized her 12 month layout - digital style - which I plan to have printed at Scrapbookpictures.com

along with a multitude of other digital layouts that I have been stockpiling in my account with them waiting for print (eek! dating back to her 4 month layout) It definitely saves on shipping to combine them into one order!

This time I did a two page spread 12x12...

_{Digital Layout Supplies :: Adobe Photoshop CS5, Patterned Paper: Lily by Michelle Martin, Scallop edge: Cathy Zielske Layered Template No.65, Embellishments: Pinned Tabs No. 2 by Katie Pertiet, Fonts:: Fortuna Dot, Avenir}

Once I have these side by side in an album they'll look unified because of the scalloped edge strip of paper that runs along the bottom of both layouts.

Small victory numero dos.

So!

Now I'm going to be working backwards a bit... up next 11, 10, 9 and 8 month layouts.

Thank heaven for the blog - I'll be referencing my posts at those increments for the "story" portion.

Here's to working backwards....

Get ready party people... I'm about to turn into a scrappin fool once again.

(((Happy Dance!))))