My New Double the Fun Sketch

I am hesitant to announce this, but I have a new Double the Fun layout sketch up on the Canadian Scrapbooker website….for SUMMER 2014! Ha ha.  That is how the magazine industry rolls.  Everything is planned waaaaay ahead.  While working on my Christmas cards and crafts, my creative mind is also thinking about Spring and Summer.  

Here is my new sample layout…

 After weeks of harassing my teenagers, I finally wrangled them together for our annual fall photo shoot.  Ok, so the picture snapping only lasted 4 minutes just before our Thanksgiving dinner last month, but this is better than nothing! 

Here is my new sketch, which I hope you'll try using for one of your layouts…

I used the gorgeous DCWV "Industrial Chic" Stack which is full of deep, rich patterns and colours, perfect for fall, vintage, masculine and so on.

Plus, the larger photo in the centre has a burlap mat, from the DCWV Burlap Stack.  I love the texture that it brings to the layout.

Some close-ups…

The small black type alphabet stickers are Glitz Design and the heart and 'ticket' and key are all cut from the patterned DCWV papers.  

The hearts are just cut freehand from that red paper, and I inked the edges with Clearsnap black chalk ink.

My journaling tag is cut from the DCWV paper as well.  Then I punched two holes at the top corners and wrapped my twine through.

The bottom border of the layout has a May Arts twill ribbon running across.  

I hope you enjoy this new sketch…and you have LOTS of time to submit your layout before the deadline: February 15, 2014!

New Double the Fun!

My new Double the Fun layout and sketch are up on the Canadian Scrapbooker website for your scrapbooking entertainment!  And yes....this is for the SPRING 2014 page call.  Yikes.

I took these pics of BabyOfTheFamily and her sweet friend "B" while they were making flower headbands for their friends, one weekend afternoon a couple of months ago.  These two girls together always have so much fun, and they are both really crafty, which makes me happy :)

The yellow background papers are DCWV, but everything else is from Webster's Pages (papers, stickers, twine, resin).

I just love the fresh patterns and colours of this Allison Kreft "Composition & Color" collection and already have plans for future layouts!

I hope you have a chance to design a double layout based on my sketch...and remember to submit it to Canadian Scrapbooker magazine!

Classes, Classes and More Classes!

With the end of August in sight, I will get back to writing more blog posts and bid a sad farewell to our lazy summer days.  But I am excited for September too because I have some wonderful classes coming up.

On September 10, I am teaching a "Summer Layout Workshop" at Treasured Memories...

If you would like to get those summer photos into albums, then join me and learn some fun stencil techniques as well!

Click HERE to register.

If you live in Alberta, you have probably heard of this fantastic event hosted by Canadian Scrapbooker magazine:  The Great Canadian Scrapbook Carnival...

I will be teaching a layout class in both Edmonton and Calgary called "Double the Fun"...

Using some fun new Fancy Pants Designs products, we will use one of my sketches and a few cool techniques to create 3 double or 6 single page layouts.  

Click HERE to learn more about the Carnival and register.  It's a really great time with lots of awesome classes!

In October, I will be teaching at ScrapFest in Oshawa. 

I'm SO excited to be invited to this event and cannot wait to meet up with all the Ontario scrappers there!

Along with "Double the Fun", I will have 2 other classes as well:

In my class "From  Simple To Sensational", we will create 2 double page layouts, learning how to embellish a basic design with lots of extra special elements.

The third class is a travel mini album, featuring the wonderful Simple Stories "Urban Traveler" collection:

Click HERE to register for my classes at ScrapFest.

Although September means an end to summer, I'm really looking forward to getting back into the classroom.  Hope to see you there!

Double the Fun with Kaisercraft

The Summer issue of Canadian Scrapbooker has hit the newsstands and the Fall call for submissions is over....which means that I have a new Double the Fun sketch and layout for Winter 2013! [I know, I know....the "W" word should not be uttered at this time of the year]

Here is my sample layout and sketch, which you will see on the Home Page of the Canadian Scrapbooker website:

I used the beautiful "Elegance" collection from Kaisercraft for these photos of DramaQueen and one of her best friends, Lauren.  They were all dressed up to go out for dinner together.  Ah...to be sixteen again!

This layered title is actually a combination of sticker elements from a few different Kaisercraft collections, along with the pretty leafy wood embellishment.

I added some Kaisercraft pearls to highlight the journaling stickers.  Don't you love these 'faux' Dymo label stickers from the Kaisercraft "Pickled Pear" collection?

The feathers are fussy cut from a piece of "Elegance" patterned paper called "Paper Pure."

The gold doilies are from The Dollar Store, and the border punch is EK Success/Martha Stewart.

You have lots of time to work on your double layout and submit it for publishing! Have fun :) 

Awesome Announcements!

I think everyone knows by now that I feel so lucky to be part of the team at Canadian Scrapbooker magazine.  Writing and designing for this wonderful publication is a dream come true!

When the Spring 2013 issue was released this past week, I was surprised and thrilled to see my little head on the cover, along with my name and article title "Time Travel."  wow.  This blew me away!

A big shout out to Christy Dean who took this head shot.  She is so talented!

I also have a second regular feature article called "Double the Fun."  

Here is my new  Double the Fun sketch for the Fall 2013 issue....

And my layout sample (you can see both on the Canadian Scrapbooker website Home page).

Featuring BabyOfTheFamily and Bo Bunny's new "Prairie Chic" collection.

I'd love for you to use my sketch and submit your layouts!  Click HERE to see the submissions page online at the magazine.

As well, today on the Canadian Scrapbooker blog, it's Tuesday with the Team, and my studio tour is posted there.  

If you'd like to take a look into my scrap space, click HERE to visit the CS blog.  I'm not super organized, but I love my studio :)

My final announcement is the WINNER of the Crop Circles blog hop......drum roll.......

it's NATASHA CONNOLLY!!!!!!!

Congratulations, Natasha! 

Whew...that is a lot of announcing...but I am not done.  Stay tuned for more news later this week :)

Sketch Inspiration

Summer is over and fall weather is here...which also means that Canadian Scrapbooker magazine is planning the Spring 2013 issue!  

I know, I know....it is soooo hard to type 2013.  But that's how the magazine industry rolls :)

This also means that my new sketch for the "Double the Fun" Spring issue is on the Canadian Scrapbooker website, along with my sample layout [which might look familiar]

Here is my sketch....

And here is my layout[which most of you have seen before]

Designed with the beautiful Graphic 45 Tropical Travelogue paper collection.

I would love it if you would give a 2-pager a whirl and design a layout based on my sketch.  There is still time to submit....the deadline is November 15, 2012.

Just click HERE and you will find out how to easily submit your pages online....and who knows....you could be published!

Some of my scrappy friends have already completed their Double the Fun layouts based on my sketch.

Michelle Marks used these wonderful photos of her nephews...

You can see this layout on Michelle's blog HERE

Another friend of mine, Paula, used the sketch to create a really cute layout of a day at the zoo...

To see more, please visit Paula's blog HERE

Lastly, my sweet friend Sandra designed this layout while we were at the Great Canadian Scrapbooker Carnival last month...

Sandra's family visited the amazing Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix, Arizona during a holiday there.

Two-page layouts are a fantastic way to scrapbook multi-photo events and activities. 

Canadian Scrapbooker magazine also has posted their October Sketchy Challenge online, and here is the single page sketch, designed by Sue Sykes...

If you link up your sketch layout on Sue's blog HERE, you can win a prize!

And here is my layout, designed with the wonderful Simple Stories "Harvest Lane" collection.The awesome cardstock stickers made this page come together really quickly...

BabyOfTheFamily is acting so grown up that I am feeling a little sad.  And I was really surprised on the first day of school when she got up at 6:30 am, dressed up in this cool outfit and straightened her hair with a flat iron. 

 This is a HUGE change from a few months ago when she struggled out of bed a half hour before school started, wore the same clothes 8 days in a row and argued with me about brushing her hair!

I think you'll notice a significant difference in BOF's appearance in the upcoming photos and layouts I post here.  sigh.  I know it is inevitable, but it's hard for me to watch my little bird perched on the edge of our nest, getting ready to fly away.

In the meantime, Mama Bird is going to keep scrapbooking the moments that matter and hold on tight to the fleeting existence of childhood.

DOUBLE the Fun!

I'm very excited to announce my upcoming first feature article in Canadian Scrapbooker magazine!

In the Winter 2012 issue [ yeah, I know .... I shouldn't say the "W" word at this time of year] I will write an article called "Double the Fun" that showcases a 2-page layout sketch I designed.


Here is the sketch....

And here is the sample layout I created for the Canadian Scrapbooker online Submissions web page...

All papers are Glitz Design "Pretty in Pink" collection. Die cuts were cut with my Cricut.

BabyOfTheFamily is a happy crafty girl and is taking a series of cake decorating classes at Michaels.  Yay for her....Boo for my expanding waistline!  {By the way, fondant isn't as yummy as it looks.  Sigh}


Some close ups....

Cricut cupcake, swirls and title.  Fiskars Scallop Border punch.  Sprinkles (aka sequins and beads) from the Dollar Store.

I just love the empowering quotes that are on these Glitz stickers!

One of my new favourite Spellbinders die:  Donna Salazar "Bitty Blossoms."

If you haven't submitted any of your scrapbook pages before, let me tell you, it's super simple and easy.  Just click HERE and you'll find the Call for Submissions, along with my sketch and this same sample layout.  Just take a photo of your layout and follow the upload prompts on the Submissions web page.


It's always fun to see your own layouts in print, so give it a try and submit your double page layouts!


My sweet scrappy friend Michelle (from Newfoundland) designed a wonderful layout using my sketch....click HERE to see it on her blog!  Beautiful work, as always, Michelle!


The deadline is July 15....and remember:  2-page layouts are not Double the Trouble....they are Double the FUN :)