Sketch 230

sketches make me happy. Sketches with clean lines make me uber-happy! i flipped my lid when i saw this fab sketch over at Scrapbok Challenges. it is SO me. i double the love the 2 page LO version- i'm waiting on an order from Snapfish so i can put it together :)

here is my take on the basic sketch: thanks for looking :)
XOXO
Leigh

Published :)

hello all my beautiful friends & followers- Happy December! I absolutely LOVE the holiday season. The atmosphere everywhere you go, cooking & baking like a madwoman, the smells, the shopping, xmas music, family favorite xmas movies.. just every single detail. I'm a very holiday-themed, festive person. I decorate the house for EVERYTHING (New Years, Valentines, St. Paddy's, Easter, 4th of July, Summer, Halloween, Fall, and OF COURSE, Christmas) I like to give Thanksgiving its due, spending the entire month of Nov with fall baking, lots of leaves, pumpkins & scarecrows around.. I am NOT a person who jumps the Christmas gun. I don't do a lick of shopping or make a single Holiday card or layout (chief reason I also do not do traditional December Daily albums. more on that on the blog tomorrow!) until the clock strikes midnight on Black Friday. and then its ON. Instantly filled to the brim with Holiday spirit :)

This December 1st was an extra special kick-off of my Holiday month, because my first ever published article went live over at Scrapbooking.com Magazine! It was such a surprise and an honor to recieve the email from Jami- asking if she could publish my 'Holidays 2008' title page and OF COURSE I said YES!


so please be sure to go check it out, it has my mindset behind title pages on the whole and steps to scraplift it! You can also find it at the Scrapbooking.com Myspace and Facebook!

thanks everyone for being so amzing & supportive! I wish everyone a Happy Holiday Season!
XOXO
Leigh

Napa Valley Maniac!

hello loves! if you follow my Twitter feed then you know that I've been babbling like a crazy person over this months kit, Napa Valley. Believe the hype- it is AMAZING. I also purchased the Monterey add-on, which is chock full of even more of the gorgeous Crate Paper Restoration & the oh-so-amazing Walker Pharmacy stamp (LOVE!)
Since the lovelieness arrived about a week & a half ago, I have made SEVEN layouts & a card. and i am not done, not at all! Like the lovely Lisa Dickinson says "this kit was a workhorse!"

"...I'm Free"

i used both Napa Valley & Monterey here, I am IN LOVE with that exclusive SC paper. The colors of both kits really matched the photos so well, this is one of my current favorite pages. I used the Jett alpha set to stamp the "Amarillo" sub-title. (The actual title comes from "Amarillo By Morning" of corse, by George :) perfectly fitting!)

"Playboy Mansion" i used 99% Monterey here, everything excet the purple scallop border sticker is from the add-on kit. I know I'm a broken record with this, but i LOooOOoVVeee that "Restoration" line. It is so gorgeous!

"Romantic Lunch" yep. Napa + Monterey. More Crate "Restoration". love love love it! (FYI- J was STRESSED OUT bc he thought everyone would think that was HIS cosmo in the picture, hahahaha!)

"Balloon Glow" this was THE hardest page to photograph in the known universe. I snapped pictures for 20 mins and I'm still not thrilled with any of them. The photos are (obvs) mostly black since they are night shots of a field of illuminated hot air balloons. This was the first page i did from the kit, the second I saw the Mix & Mend & that graphic Marjolaine PP, i had "The Vision" for this page. This Napa + Monterey again and i used a Studio Calico hot air balloon rub-on right smack in the middle!

"Ashwood Suite"

oh man i love every bit of the Making Memories Paper Reverie collection. I used both sheets from the main kit here. The lovely red floral is the backside of the polka dot, so i cut the large circle out before adhering the other "layers" on top of it. (tricky!)

"My Beautiful BFF's" yep. Napa, Monterey, Happy Leigh :) can we talk about the Walker Pharmacy stamp? bc i FREAKIN LOVE IT. i'ts perfect and i'm going to use it so many times you guys will be begging me to give it a rest ;)

"Hey You" card

just a fun card for one of my besties, using the kits :) i actually just mailed it this am so i hope she doesnt see this before she gets it, haha!

"Hot to Trot" this page is a Studio Calico mashup. Background paper is from the Joyland kit, blue cardstock + rose baubles from Napa Valley, orange PP + green Thickers from Monterey, and a random bit of SC cuteness up top. love how it turned out!

and with that, WHEW thats all for now! :) i still have plenty of goodies leftover and a TON of ideas (and new Jenni Bowlin inks & paints to play with!) so expect a "Napa Valley Part 2" post soon!

thanks for looking & reading!
XOXO
Leigh

just a little piece of me

promises of what i seem to be
only watch the time go by
all of these things
you said to me....

[-LOVE-]
if you know me, you know this song has my heart and always will

xoxo
Leigh

WCMD - American Crafts

today is World Card Making Day. i hit my scrapbook room armed with a soy pumpkin spice frappucino this morning READY to make some cards. and i made 7. whoa.

my two favorites, HANDS DOWN, are these two- both are a mix of American Crafts Botanique and American Crafts Dear Lizzy Enchanted. Two of my FAVORITE collections they have EVER done- it was a blast to mix the two!

"The Early Bird.."

"Love from the Nest"


xoxo
Leigh

From the Heart

aaah. The Pink Ninjas challenges, how i love them so. when i saw the current prompt was "Playlist" i was STOKED bc as i have said many times before, song lyrics layouts are WHAT I DO.
i used my Studio Calico Sept add-on kit, "Open Pasture" which was completely perfect (multi-colored music note paper & all). i knew almost immediately i wanted to finally document THIS song, that really means alot to me, and document it in its entirety. and i love it.

thanks for looking!
xoxo
Leigh

Happy Apple Farm

last sunday, on a simply beautiful day, we took a trip to the cutest orchard in rural CO (just about an hour away) it was a perfect day- picking apples & berries in the warm sun- me snapping pictures like crazy ;)
i developed the photos immediately and spent this past week scrapping them *all*. 4 layouts for my/Js album, 4 for our sons album.

here are the ones of myself/J/the orchard itself





thanks for looking :)
XOXO
Leigh

Seasons of Change Blog Hop!

Pamela and the wonderful ladies over at my one my favorite scrapbook communites, Scrapbook Challenges, are hosting a fabulous Seasons of Change Blog Hop this labor day weekend. There are many talented ladies particpating in The Hop (including my good friends Jamie & Shannon) and MANY great prizes to be won so be sure to HOP ON IT!!

there is also a fab sketch just for the hop,


and here's my take on it:


i loved the clean lines of this sketch, & i really loved the "masculine" colors and products i pulled. it was a total blast to create :)
xoxo
Leigh

Homemade Lemonade

mmm! nothing says "Summer" around here like pitchers & pitchers of sweet homemade lemonade!
i did this layout for the current "House Week Challenge" at the American Crafts Studio Blog. The Dear Lizzy Springhouse chipboard lemon shapes were too perfect! and how about that glittery Dear Lizzy lemon perfectly matching those Thickers?! awesome! you all know how much I love matchy-matchy.

i used 100% American Crafts here:
- Spring Cardstock pack (yellows)
- Dear Lizzy "Friendly Fern" PP
- Backyard "Boing!" PP
- Dear Lizzy Springhouse chipboard shapes
- Dear Lizzy "Flutter" Remarks
- yellow glitter "Niki Riki" Thickers
- honey chipboard "Regards" Thickers

xoxo
Leigh

RAH! - The Pink Ninjas

yep. that is 9 year old me, in 4th grade cheerleading. i know- HAHAHAHA! thanks to the FAAAABULOUS Pink Ninjas and their "Play Ball!" prompt, i dug these classic photos out and got 'em scrapped. which is keeping with my new years resolution to scrap more of my childhood/school years as well. it was really fun to remember my favorite memories of the squad, and document it all :) its the best feeling in the world to capture moments like this :)
xoxo
Leigh

Kiss My Eyes..- N*V*S

oh man, this months challenge colage at Nerdy*Victorious*Scrapbookers is SO GORGEOUS and SO "ME" i was stunned when i saw it. pink + teal= happy Leigh.

see the *hello kitty* necklace on the left side? that is by Tarina Tarantino- my FAVORITE jewelry designer EVER EVER EVER. i am obsessed & have spent a small fortune on endless *hello kitty*, Barbie, Alice & rhinestone goodies over the years.. which prompted me to use this pic of me wearing one of my *pink & teal* Tarina Barbie bows!
here's my layout:

i love pink. i love Tarrina. i love bows. i love cupcakes. i love this collage!
xoxo
Leigh

Sketch #20- Sketchabilities!

i LOVE Sketchabilities! this was my first time to participate in one of their bi-weekly challenges, and i LOVED doing this sketch (#20). the bingo card & shaped elements drew me in.

i knew i wanted to scrap these pictures from Valentines 2009 (me & J and fuzzy Brian Regan) as soon as i saw the sketch, i loved using that great bingo card!

i used:
- both dotted PPs are older Sassafras Lass
- pink paper is American Crafts Letterbox
- purple CS is cricut/provocraft
- grey CS is American Crafts Winter CS
- bingo card is Making Memories Vintage Findings
- chipboard is heart is Heidi Swapp, candy heart is Jolee's
- bling is K & Co Handmade
- Fiskard apron lace punch
xoxo
Leigh

Page Swap- Pink Ninajs!

i love doing page swaps and i adore my fellow young scrapper, Pea & fashionista- Miss Jamie Leija. so when i saw the current prompt at the fab Pink Ninjas blog was to swap photos with a friend, i asked Jamie immediately! This is the 2nd page swap we've done, you can see our first go round HERE.

Jamie and i swapped one picture of ourselves with our men and set an 8x8 page size. i kept in mind the current bi-weekly "Basic Grey Addicts" challenge at 2peas was to cut designs out of Basic Grey PP and use dimensional adhesives to make it pop and i created this page-


i used ALOT of Basic Grey here: June Bug, Indian Summer, Lime Rickey, Origins..
and keeping with the Basic Grey challenge, i set the large handcut flower on some pop-up adhesive dots- for a "titch" of dimension-

this was way fun and to seee Jamie's *amazing* page of J & i, visit her blog: paper heART project

xoxo
Leigh

Best. Prize. Ever.

a few weeks ago, one of my recent layouts "Pool Side" won the weekly American crafts challenge. i was thrilled just to be chosen, then shocked when i saw my prize was ALL SIX seasonal cardstock packs.
then yesterday a huge, 20 lb (!) box arrived on my doorstep

and they were here. holy cow! 360 gorgeous sheets..


and just in time for the kick-off of what i've dubbed "No Buy July"

(fab banner made by the lovely Shannon)

thanks so much American Crafts!!
xoxo
Leigh

Candy Shoppe Designs- Bday Drinks

as soon as i saw this weeks Candy Shoppe Designs challenge theme was "birthdays" i knew i wanted to use this pic of me with one of my fabulous bright pink birthday drinks. this page came together quickly and it makes me very happy, its so utterly and completely "ME" :)

this months Candy Shoppe Designs sponser is the fab site Color Me Miki, be sure to check them out!

i used:
- Cosmo Cricket DeLovely "DeLectable"
- yellow PP is American Crafts Backyard "Sizzle"
- pink PP is American Crafts Teen "Drill Team"
- blue sticker is Basic Grey Lime Rickey
- glitter Thickers are teal "Niki Riki"
- tiny embossed letters are K & Co Handmade
- cocktail embellies are K & Co Citronella die cutes and gran adhesions
xoxo
Leigh

Stamp-Tastic!

i'm the type of person who LOVES an insane schedule (the busier the better!) and i always plan loads of fun summer long activities/projects/plans and map out a Summer Reading List (i loved the library reading challenges as a kid) which i plan to post about seperately- soon. i decided i wanted this summer to be a Stamp-a-Palooza for me. i'm not the type who hoards acrylic stamps. someone who buys endless $1 bin sets and doesn't know what to do with them, i'm quite level headed when it comes to them. i just want to use them MORE. i have *5* Sassafras Lass acrylic sets on the way, as well as gorgeous sets from Love Elsie, Dear Lizzy, Studio Calico, Anna Griffin, etc i want to play around with. i'm really looking forward to getting my mitts on some of the fun, wild & bright American Crafts INK and ZING! and just playing all summer long! :)
xoxo
Leigh

Rival Teams

this was my take on the AMAZING May collage at Nerdy*Victorious*Scrappers. i didnt get it submitted in time for voting on their site, but i still had a BLAST making it and wanted to share :) i love, love, love the color combination!

- stripped PP is Cosmo Cricket DeLovely "Deluxe"

- Thickers are "Egg Nog" (yellow) and "Letterman" (black)

- buttons are Cosmo Cricket "Garden Variety", Basic Grey "Indian Summer" and Dear Lizzy "Spring"

xoxo

Leigh

Candy Shoppe Designs- Cotton Candy

i ADORE Candy Shoppe Designs. they have the cutest blog layout/graphics i've ever seen, the design team all have rad "treat" inspired nicknames and i love the pallatte color/inspirational challenges. this months sponser is Magpie Club who are offering the chance to win a yummy scrap goody pkg (full of teapots and nook & pantry- "alice", oh my!)

the current challenge is Cotton Candy:

and i made this:

Love, Elsie Roxie was perfect for the job :)

- pink/red and square PPs are Love, Elsie Roxie
- checked PP is American Crafts Teen "Chess Club"
- black sticker letters are Making Memories
- white Thickers are puffy "Chit Chat"

xoxo
Leigh

Blue Moon Scrapbooking giveway!

sweet cracker sandwich, look at that prize pack! this bad boy is being hosted by Lynette and BlueMoonScrapbooking. the contest runs from May 8th until May 29th and all the rules for entering can be found at Lynette's blog.

i have been itching to get my hands on some of the gorgeous American Crafts Botanique line and BAM! there it all is one sweet giveaway!

go check it out!

xoxo
Leigh

OH MY EFFING GOD

I. NEED. THESE. IN. MY. LIFE.

you guys can all talk amongest yourselves and decide who is buying what pair for my Mothers Day gifts. you guys are THE BEST. wink ;)
xoxo
Leigh

Just 11 Days- The Pink Ninjas

that is baby me :) One of my 2010 Scrapbook Goals was to begin working on the mountain of photos from my own childhood. When i saw that prompt #36 at The Pink Ninjas was "dream a little" i knew i wanted to use this picture of little me. this challenge, like all the others, was super fun: pronpt- dream, technique- no PP, pink twist buttons.
i tell you what, the "no PP" part turned out to be more of a challenge than i thought, i kept trying to pair all the great pastels with beautiful soft, baby girl PP and then i would remember ;)

- yellow CS is Bazzill Swiss Dot

- green & pink CS is Bazzill Basics

- purple CS is Cricut/provocraft

- pink letters are "Cupid" Thickers

- green letters are October Afternoon Very Merry Mini Market

- kraft is Scenic Route

- glitter buttons are Dear Lizzy

xoxo

Leigh

Mad Tea Party

As everyone knows, i love "Alice" -all things Alice. So i was THRILLED when i saw the April collage at Nerdy*Victorious*Scrapbookers* - ALL ALICE! Pretty collages are such a novel concept for an inspiration jump-off point, i love them. Big props to NVS and their fab sponser this month, SNOBBY WALRUS!

Above is my Mad Tea Party layout i made for my just-for-fun "Alice" book. It consists of pages i make with memorabilia, or of imagery & quotes, etc. For this Tea Party inspired page i used some amazing "playing cards" i have, with the original artwork on them. so cute :)

Here is the amazing collage that inspired me:

thanks for looking :)
xoxo
Leigh