Quinn's School Year

Quinn's school year came to a close a few weeks ago and he will soon be moving on to kindergarten which is hard to believe.  We have been enjoying our days together and it has made me even more grateful that he will be in half day kindergarten next year.  I treasure this one-on-one time with him so much.  The other day the two of us headed to the beach.  Let's just say that it isn't exactly hot right now in Minnesota so we were the only ones there but we played all afternoon in the sand.  It was awesome and another reminder of how precious this time is. 

I know that I have written about this before but I really love this project and wanted to show you Quinn's page for the school year.  Each year I take their school photo and interview them.  I also include random photos from the year as well as their signature.  This year his school photo was a little different.  They didn't have the traditional background (which I prefer) so the background is a little different from years past.  I don't really understand this because they shoot them on a green screen.  Of course I thought of extracting him and putting him against the traditional background from last year.  That still might happen.  At any rate, regardless of the background I loved his sweet smile here.  It is so him.

I use a template for the left side by Cathy Zielske and all of the other products are from Designer Digitals.  I created a template for the right side to match and I use it every year.  I love flipping through their books now and I know I am going to love it even more when they are graduating from high school.

Most of my projects are very simple.  Simple makes the pages and project come together so much easier.  I would encourage you to write down the highlights of your child's school year while the memories are still fresh.  I know you will be glad that you did.  Have a wonderful weekend!

CK Blog - Teacher Appreciation Gifts

Hello Friends,   I am over on the CK Blog today. I am sharing a teacher appreciation project and a free printable.  I created these candy toppers for my children to handout to their teachers.  A huge "THANK YOU" to Katie Pertiet at Designer Digitals for the use of the products.  I hope you enjoy them!

Product Credits: Katie Pertiet (Designer Digitals): School Mates Kit, Day Out Add On Pack, Day Out Kit, Lesson Book  Pattie Knox (Designer Digitals): Feltboard Friends School Box 

Thanks for stopping by! 

Special Weekend

We are really looking forward to this weekend.  We are headed to my aunt and uncle's farm which happens to be one of my most favorite places on earth.  It is so beautiful there and I just cherish our time with family.

This weekend is extra special because they are celebrating fifty years of marriage tomorrow.  What an amazing milestone!  I absolutely adore the two of them.  They have played such a big role in my life and I have learned so much about life just by watching how they live.  Faith, family, fun and hard work are at the root of everything that they do.  

They are having a big barn dance Saturday night.   The front of  the invitation can be found below.  We are all looking forward to celebrating their happily ever after with them. Congratulations Cheryl and Jerry!

All products are from Designer Digitals.

Changes

As the end of the school year approaches, I am reminded of how quickly time passes.  I think about what grade my children will be in next year and it doesn't seem possible.  As the school year wraps up, I like to think about what made this school year special.  It helps me summarize the year while the memories are still fresh. 

All products are from Designer Digitals.

I recently created this page for our oldest daughter.  It was so amazing to see her growth over the last six years all in one layout.  I also was able to include a short summary of each of her years.   When my younger daughter saw this page, she was quick to point out that she needed me to create one of her just like this.

As the school year comes to a close, think about what memories you want to preserve for your child.  What were the highlights of the year?  What did they enjoy learning about?  What struggles did they have?  Who did they enjoy hanging out with?  What activities did they participate in?  What field trips did they take?  What did they like about their teacher?

I encourage you to sit down with your child and write down this information before summer hits.  My kids love to be included in what I am creating.  It is not only a special time to work together.  It is also a way of showing them how important they are.

Creating Keepsakes Scrapbooking Boys and Men

Creating Keepsakes Special Issue Scrapbooking Boys and Men is now on sale.  I LOVE this issue.  It is loaded with fabulous and inspiring designs.  I have so many pages that I would love to lift.  There are also a fabulous array of ideas to scrapbook the men in your life.

Here is one of my pages from this issue.

Product Credits: Katie Pertiet, Lynn Grieveson, Ali Edwards, One Little Bird

I think you will love this issue.  I can't tell you how many times I have gone through it and each time that I do, I can't wait to start creating!

Mask Appeal Challenge

Happy Friday!  I am over on the Designer Digitals Blog today with the Mask Appeal Challenge.  I hope you head on over, read the details, grab the freebie pack and start creating.   This is the page that I created using the mask from the great freebie pack.

All products are from Designer Digitals.

Have a great weekend!

Spring

Spring has FINALLY arrived in Minnesota and we couldn't be more thrilled!  It has been a crazy busy couple of weeks and my blog has certainly taken a backseat.  Quinn and I were both sick with strept throat for a week and that really set me back.  Thankfully Jeff and the girls did not get it.  My new class started on Monday and we are off to a great start.  

I thought I would just share some photos from this spring...

Ellie and I spent an overnight with the girl scouts at a convention center.  My motto was "survival" headed into it and it actually turned out to be fun.

We are in the thick of spring sports...t-ball, softball, baseball and soccer.

The city is redoing all of the roads in our area and I'm pretty sure that Quinn is the only one in our city that is excited about this.  He sits in the middle of our now "dirt" cul de sac and races his remote control car for hours at a time.  I think when they eventually come to put tar down, he will be laying in the middle of the cul de sac in protest.

A new par 3 went in last summer near us and we got a family membership.  I'll just say that I'm loving the time on the course.

  Life is certainly moving full speed ahead and I'm trying to find balance.  I hope you are all doing well.

Creating Keepsakes November/December 2013 DIGITAL Scrapbooking Submission Call

See your work published in an upcoming issue.

The holidays will be here before you know it and we want to show digital scrapbookers the fun and flexibility that digital scrapbooking offers. So settle in with your cup of cocoa and jot down your creative ideas for this special submission call. Below is the information for themes and projects we're looking for in the Digital Scrapbooking bonus insert for the November/December 2013 issue of Creating Keepsakes. If you have any problems with the submission section of our web site, email Stacy Croninger at scroninger@creativecraftsgroup.com for troubleshooting.

Checking it Twice

Lists may help your world stay organized throughout the year, but come the holidays lists are actually fun! Think of it - the Thanksgiving Day menu, letters to Santa, the shopping list for family gifts, the list of lists goes on and on. And instead of checking it twice and tossing it, put your lists to good use this year by finding fun ways to incorporate them on your digital layouts! How do you add lists to your layouts - do you scan in handwritten notes from your kids, or do you re-create your own handwriting using various fonts? Does a photographed list make its way onto your page or do you find ways to work the lists into your journaling? Maybe you use a list as an actual pattern/background element on your page. Whatever method you use, we want to see the clever ways you use lists to create your digital holiday layouts. Priority will be given to never before seen, 2-page, multi-photo layouts. Submissions Due May 20, 2013, at midnight MDT. Submissions received after this time won't be considered. What to Provide Please provide a digital image of your layout. If you're submitting a two-page spread, please submit each page of the spread as a separate image. In addition to your image(s), please include a detailed supply list and any information on techniques or items to note about your layout. How to Submit Upload your projects by clicking "Reader Submissions" from the Magazines tab at www.creatingkeepsakes.com or click here for a direct link. If you have any problems with the submission section of our web site, email Stacy Croninger at scroninger@creativecraftsgroup.com for troubleshooting.

Digital Scrapbooking: Easier than Ever!

Are you ready to show the world how fun (and approachable) digital scrapbooking is? We want to see your approach to making digital scrapbooking easy using tips and tricks that you've discovered through your own digital scrapbooking. Whether that means using certain brushes to achieve a special subway art effect, a shortcut to creating gifts made from digital designs, an organization trick that you use to keep all your digital elements in order, simple ways to add realistic drop shadows, fun ways to use digital stamping, or adding curves to premade shapes. Showcase these and other fabulous techniques as focal points on your layout and provide steps to achieving the look (feel free to provide screenshots to help show your process). Send us your layouts and projects and make sure to include your tips and teaching points in the instructions. Priority will be given to never before seen, 2-page, multi-photo layouts. Submissions Due May 20, 2013, at midnight MDT. Submissions received after this time won't be considered. What to Provide Please provide a digital image of your layout. If you're submitting a two-page spread, please submit each page of the spread as a separate image. In addition to your image(s), please include a detailed supply list and any information on techniques or items to note about your layout. How to Submit Upload your projects by clicking "Reader Submissions" from the Magazines tab at www.creatingkeepsakes.com or click here for a direct link. If you have any problems with the submission section of our web site, email Stacy Croninger at scroninger@creativecraftsgroup.com for troubleshooting. Getting Started: Tantalizing Titles A layout's title is an eye-catching focal point that helps tell your story, and with all the digital capabilities, titles have never been more fun. We're looking for your creative take on digital titles, including layering, stacking fonts, clipping photos inside letters, creating words from digital embellishments, using different brushes, manipulating your title's color, and more. We want to know all the tricks and techniques that went into creating your layout title, so please provide steps (and even screenshots) to help showcase your amazing title. Since it's a holiday issue, we'd love to see titles that tell the story of the season, whether it's related to snow, Christmas, Hanukkah, or winter family traditions. Priority will be given to never before seen, 2-page, multi-photo layouts. Submissions Due May 20, 2013, at midnight MDT. Submissions received after this time won't be considered. What to Provide Please provide a digital image of your layout. If you're submitting a two-page spread, please submit each page of the spread as a separate image. In addition to your image(s), please include a detailed supply list and any information on techniques or items to note about your layout. How to Submit Upload your projects by clicking "Reader Submissions" from the Magazines tab at www.creatingkeepsakes.com or click here for a direct link. If you have any problems with the submission section of our web site, email Stacy Croninger at scroninger@creativecraftsgroup.com for troubleshooting. Important Information on Submitting As a friendly reminder, please keep the following in mind when submitting your work: Please only submit one layout/project per submission form. You may submit multiple images; however, none of your images can exceed 500px/300KB or they will not upload. The submission tool closes at midnight MDT on May 20. Submissions sent after that time will not go through. We'll notify you no later than May 24 if your submission has been accepted. Projects that have been previously published in print, either in a magazine or a catalog, will not be considered. If you have any problems with the submission section of our web site, email Stacy Croninger at scroninger@creativecraftsgroup.com for troubleshooting. Submissions due Midnight (MDT) on May 20, 2013 ***Please direct any questions you have about this issue to Natalie McConnell at NMcConnell@creatingkeepsakes.com.

Creating Keepsakes Blog - Free Giveaway

Hi Friends, I am over on the CK Blog today.  I lifted a fabulous page by Jen Jockish and here is the page that I created. I invite you to jump on over to the CK Blog  to check it out.  You will also have a chance to win a spot in my new class Designing Doubles which starts on May 13th.

All products are from Designer Digitals.

Designing Doubles

I am so excited to announce my newest class, Designing Doubles that is now on sale at Creative Passion.  This class has been swirling around in my head for a long time and it feels great to finally see it come together.

I started scrapbooking over twenty years ago (yes, it is scary to actually put that in writing) as a way of showcasing my photos and telling my story.  Although my scrapbooking world has evolved into so much more, the main reason that I scrapbook has not changed at all.  I want to share the little stories of our lives in a way that will help these stories to live on in my heart and the hearts of my loved ones. Our story is important and I really want to tell our story in a meaningful and visually appealing way.  Over the years as both a paper and digital scrapbooker, I have developed strategies that help me design pages.  One of my favorite things in life is to look at a blank canvas and think about the endless possibilities for that design.  My mind just wants to race off in all different directions but over the years, I have developed strategies that help guide my page designs. 

In this class, I will share these strategies along with design techniques that I use to create traditional page designs.  Students will be able to look over my shoulder as I demonstrate my design strategies and deconstruct pages.  My goal for the class is simple.   I hope my students walk away from each lesson feeling inspired with a new perspective on page design.

The class is four weeks long and begins on May 13th.  It consists of 1 introductory recording and four recorded lessons.    Each lesson will also come with a written pdf.  There will also be four midweek challenges aimed at jump starting your creativity.   Students will have access to a private forum and gallery.

A huge "thank you" to Katie Pertiet at Designer Digitals for a wonderful digital sampler pack that is also included with the class.

This is a design class and is applicable to digital, traditional and hybrid scrapbookers.

I hope you are interested in joining me for this journey.  If you would like more information or to register, you can head on over to Creative Passion. There is also an 10% early bird discount if you enter the following code: 10offDBL.  I hope to see you there!