Elle's Studio September Update

Just wanted to do a quick update to first say "Hi! I'm still here!" and second to share some of my layouts for Elle's Studio. 

Their new collections Penelope, Noel and 2014 are now available in the shop. Really loving the versatility of these collections, for specific theme pages or for everyday photos.

Here's a look at some of my layouts using the new collections.

For my monthly intro page for September in Project Life, I used a little of all three new collections, along with a paper from the Midnight Edition of Project Life, a month in review card I made + Elise Blaha Cripe quote card and Paislee Press calendar card (small one). The This Month card is from the 2014 collection, as well as the good times captured and the Love this Life card. the It's a Wonderful Life tab is from Noel and the yellow polka dot paper is from Penelope.

Click here for more info about these pages.

Here is another pocket page layout I made for my daughter's Project Life. I also used pieces of the September kit for this layout. For more info see my gallery here. That awesome red paper is from Noel.

I'll have more layouts and projects soon for the October reveal. Love these new lines and am excited to find time to get to play with them more. One of the things on my list is to try to finish my December projects from last year before this December! We'll see, but Noel is the perfect inspiration to get moving on those!

Here are a few more projects I've done and have been on the Elle's Studio blog. Be sure to sign up to follow them to stay updated on the latest projects! They have a lot going on!! Also check out the new Project Kits! All you need to create a layout based on one from the gallery. 

This was a layout based on a sketch from Janna Warner. You can see more about it here. You can get that awesome striped paper from the You and Me collection here. Gotta say I'm loving how easy the sketches are to use. Waleska does a great job making the sketches out of those beautiful layouts.

And here's another from a sketch from Suz Mannecke. You can find more about it here. I used a tab and paper strips from the new Penelope line.

Other than that have been busy finishing up Project Life Lessons at Big Picture Classes. Really loved the class and was very grateful for that opportunity. Loved teaching there and I met some amazing women. Hope to keep up with them and their Project Life journeys.

Thanks for sticking around! It's been a busy September and it looks like October is shaping up to be the same!

Summer Happiness MiniBook | Part 1

I know this post is a little late. I keep thinking, "maybe I should just wait and post the whole thing together...I'm only doing it one more month, right?" Sound familiar? Truth is, life and work have been busy and I need to let go of some of my perfectionism and just post it. Right?

So here we go.

My third project for Elle's Studio in July was a "Summer Happiness" minibook inspired by that cute Summer Happiness stamp and Gretchen Ruben's Happiness Project just to simply document what is making me happy this summer. To see more about the project you can check out the Elle's Studio site: click here.

I love the idea of a Happiness Project and was so inspired by Gretchen's post about "How will you make your own summer?" I'm currently doing a Summer Manifesto inspired by Ali Edwards, so initially I questioned whether I should even do this little mini book. As I've been working on it, I realized it's based more on observations than intentions. Sort of like a gratitude journal versus a goal setting album. Both can be excellent projects and worthwhile (at least for me.)

Okay, so for my mini album: the cover is a piece of thin birch plywood from a local hobby shop. I left mine raw and I love the color and feel of it. I've had this for over a year and am happy to finally put it to use. I had been saving it for a beach mini album, which didn't happen last year.

The idea for the wood came from Nicole Reaves and her beautiful December Daily. Also check out this beautiful seashore minibook from Martha Stewart. I simply cut the plywood down to 4x6 and then embossed the summer and 2013 from Elle's stamps with white Zing. I added that cute glitter star from Studio Calico on the front too and just love how it turned out.

By the way, I absolutely love the summer stamp set from the Saltwater collection. So useful even when it's not summer. This stamp below was my inspiration for the book. I initially thought of going neon, but the lighter pink felt more like I wanted it to. Am also currently slightly obsessed with the chipboard stars from Pink Paislee. Here I stitched a plain transparency and the light polka dot vellum paper together to create the pocket with the stars, a few sequins and a bit of small gold confetti. I embossed the summer happiness stamp using Zing embossing powder on the transparency.

Here I used a glassine envelope and a tag with Summer 2013--card from the Elle's Studio June kit-- to create an intro page. The chevron transparency is from Alison Kreft.

I stitched the glassine envelope on and then glued the small polka dot bag onto the back with another one of the Elle's Studio cards--this one is from Saltwater. Here I used it explain what the book is about and the inspiration from Gretchen Rubin. 

Then I just started adding my items. What I did was create a two page spread (meaning a left side and a right side) with a vellum or transparency or something else in between for the number. Think December Daily meets 30 Lists meets Summer mini book.

Number 1: the beach (these aren't in any particular order, just whatever I decided to use for each one.)

I used a ticket from our trip to Stewart beach. Love including some ephemera like that.

 Number 2: my awesome niece Mckayla

Number 3: my daughter

Number 4: Taking time to enjoy the sweet things in life

Number 5: Road Trips

I stamped right on a transparency using the summer stamp to create this divider.

a closer look at the journaling above and the stamping on the transparency below.

Thanks for looking! For more info, check out my gallery at Elle's Studio!

How will you create or observe your own happiness this summer? Would love to hear!

Also wanted to note: Polaroid photos are from Persnickety Prints. I had them printed on linen paper and I adore the feel of these. Perfect for the look I was going for. The texture makes it tricky to stamp on though. They have lots of paper options and I might try the fine art paper next time. 

For more information about "The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin click here. 

Will be back after the August reveal to finish up! Enjoy the rest of your summer!