Templates make life easier ...

Really they normally do. But bare with me while i share this story. I had the best intentions of scrapping my kids Christmas morning photos easily & quickly to just get them done ... this is what i ended up with.





I started with this template & added my photos for each kid into a separate page. I started scrapping Makennas page, I intended on dragging over all the elements & title. Then i started adding different stuff to Spencer's page. Then I couldn't make up my mind which direction I liked more. So I scrapped on and on ... ok for days really. So today i said today is the last day these pages are going to be open in Photoshop so i wrapped them up.



When i see each page side by side, i lean towards liking the look of Spencer's page more. I like the funky greens, the bright reds & the star brushwork that i just discovered tonight in my stash. On Makenna's page i like the texture of the background, the white brushwork & the metal star/bow cluster. I am so relieved that these photos are now scrapped, no one will care years from now that they both started with the same template.

But do you think anyone might notice that earlier that same year when we picked our Christmas Tree that page started with the same template?


If you would like to learn more about changing up templates, be sure to check out the self paced class at Big Picture that i have created called Template Manipulation. In this class you will get 3 free templates, a stitching sampler & even a special discount for Designer Digitals.

Happy Scrapping!
- kayleigh

After Coffee I Will...

Let's talk goals. I wanna totally support Steph's All About Me Challenge at Designer Digitals and provide some additonal inspiration around goals for this year. I have noticed lots of inspiring layouts and items for sale that focus on goals. I hope you are inspired to scrap your goals for this year after going through all the exciting inspiration on the web and this blog.


Mini Goals Chalkboard on etsy.com


Monthy Goal List on etsy.com


Layout by FlirtatiousBrat from Sweetshoppedesigns.com


Layout by EHStudios from MScraps.com


Layout by MarriedLadyTara from DesignerDigitals.com


Can't wait to see your pages!
~Melissa

A Photo A Day: 2011

Happy New Year! Hope everyone had a FABULOUS Holiday Season. We had a great time and we loved watching Addison open up all her presents. Now that the new year has begun, I've started up my Photo A Day. As I posted last year, I was really sad that I didn't keep up with this project. I finished 4 months and that was it. I'm hoping this time around to actually finish and complete the whole year. Anyone else taking on this challenge? If so do you have a plan of action? Here are some of this year's photos. Happy Snapping for all of you participating in this project :) - Tara

Our Year In Review

Happy New Year to each & everyone of you! Around our house it has been a crazy busy couple of weeks with lots happening. I am relived that we are done with holidays but am enjoying all the memories floating around in my head of the fun with family and friends and seeing the kids faces on Christmas morning.

So i was thinking to celebrate the new year we would celebrate some of our faves from twenty-ten.

Tara is up first ...

1. Your fave layout that you did this year.
I had a few pages that were my favorite, but when I had to narrow it down. It was this layout that win for my favorite layout of 2010. I love the colour combo, the use of brushes and of course the adorable photo of Addison. This layout is framed in Addison's room.


2. Your fave photo that you took.
This was hard. I have about 5 pictures that I found all equal to my favorite photo of 2010, but having to pick only one. I choose this one of Doug and Addison. All I can say is AWEEEEEEE!


3. Your fave product from DD.
Okay these questions get harder and harder as I move down the list. How can you just pick one. One thing I can say is I can't live with out brushes. With that being said. I love Katie's Stitching Holes, Watery Flakes, wings & blooms. Also looking back over my 2010 layouts I couldn't live without her screws in the hinge pack.

4. Your fave food from the year.
Nothing really pops into my head. Maybe that's because I've been pregnant for the most of the year and my taste buds have been a little off. I always LOVE Pizza :) or of course SUGAR LOL!

5. Do you have a scrapping goal for 2011?
My goals for 2011 is to try to find the time to scrap and balance my time between my toddler and my new baby to come. I would also like to finish Addison 1st year album. Fingers Crossed :)

6. Something that you are inspired by...
The number one thing that inspires me to scrap is seeing all the beautiful layouts in the galleries. I also get inspired by
my photos and all the gorgeous products that the designers make.

7. Your fave font from this year.
I love fonts and have a ton on my computer. The three fonts i would say I've used the most in 2010 would be Arial Black,
Travelling Typewriter, Pea Amy Rica Script and Stalker 2 okay okay that's four :)

And now it is my turn!
1. Your fave layout that you did this year.

i love that it is so fun & has some whimsical touches & a fun mix of papers too. The colour scheme was unusual for me & yet i ended up loving it!

2. Your fave photo that you took.
Makennas with her blue eyes.


3. Your fave product from DD.


I love the bows in this kit like no other bow i have ever seen! Those flowers are super fun as well, plus those fun whimsy elements are wonderful. I go to this element pack many times!

4. Your fave food from the year.
Coffee ... i know this is not a food. But after so many years (approx. 4) of being pregnant + nursing and now being able to enjoy as much coffee as i want in a day is heavenly.

5. Do you have a scrapping goal for 2011?
Print ... i have hundreds of pages to print & need to get these out into 'real life' for my family to enjoy. I created a fall book of our family and gave as gifts but have yet to print out our own copy.

6. Something that you are inspired by.
Love this quote & the boldness of the typography. Plus that clipboard is super cute. Maybe i might use this quote on a scrapbook page, use it as inspiration to create my own poster. Or just hit Add to Cart.

7. Your fave font from this year.
CK Becky

This would make a great 'All About You' page ... hope you are a little inspired to ask yourself these 7 little questions as well. Thank you for hanging out with us.

- kayleigh

Gallery Inspiration-Daily December

Good Afternoon! Sorry I haven't posted in awhile. It's been busy at work and at home. I've been doing my Christmas Cards, Cleaning House, Decorating, Baking, Shopping, Wrapping and getting ready for baby number 2 :) There is never enough time in the day to get everything done. Todays Gallery Inspiration, I wanted to focus on Daily December Pages. For the last three years since I've seen Ali Edwards Daily December Books I've so wanted to do one, but so far have never gotten around to doing it :( I'm hoping to do one next year, it's on my list to do. Here are three Daily December Albums from three different people that caught my eye. There is a ton over at the Designer Digitals Gallery so go take a look. Hope everyone is having fun getting ready for the Holidays :) - Tara

Samples of LoriS Album







Samples of Christinas Album







Samples of Ipate Album








Click on Layouts for CREDITS

Creative Challenge #60

Things are busy these days as i am sure they are with you all as well. My husband is wrapping up his first semester at college next week, shopping is underway, our tree is up & decorated, cottage book that i was working on is ordered & on its way. Its amazing how much time it took me to complete this book (about 3 weeks or so). I love the way it turned out & can't wait for our family to see it. However my father in law (who is such a sneak!) took a peek at my gallery over at Designer Digitals to see the pages. Even though we made a deal that i would post some of the pages & they would not look. I told them that if i did a page non cottage related then i would send the link to them. Anyways it should be here next week & i will show them the whole book. Here is the book if you want to see it!



So today i bring you a challenge for you to try out. (Cant believe we are already at 60 challenges!)
THE CHALLENGE: * One word title
* Black & White photos
* Black Frame
* White stitching
* Solid colour background

Here is my page that i created based on this challenge:


Link us up to your page too!
- kayleigh

We have a WINNER!

Alright folks ... just wanted to announce that Jean is our lucky winner! She was chosen randomly by my husband when i asked him to pick a number between 1 & 10.

Jean said...
Wonderful giveaway! I could easily put together a book for either of my kits or for my father in law who visited this summer.

November 23, 2010 3:48 PM

Thanks for all who entered!
- kayleigh

Copy Cat Challenge #63

In a rut? Need some inspiration? I found such a great layout that I wanted to share for the copy cat challenge. The layout is by Ella at Memory Scraps. I just love the angled title and the rounded corners behind her sweet picture. I hope this page will give you some inspiration too! Can't wait to see your pages!
~Melissa

Shutterfly Giveaway!

Ahhhh nothing like the feeling of having a bright orange package arriving with a project that you have worked so hard at creating. Any day now i am expecting a 12x12 101 page book of pages of Spencer.

Here is my little man concentrating so hard, love how you can see his tongue poking into his cheek.


The crazy thing is that i still have 20+ layouts to print as well for Spencer. Plus ALLL of my All About Kayleigh book, my 365 book, i haven't printed anything yet for makenna (theres another 100+ layouts there) & my friend & family book ... then theres the cottage book i am currently working on. yes i scrap a lot & don't print a lot. YIKES!

Sooooooo anyone else have something they want to print?

I have a free 8x8 shutterfly book to giveaway to one lucky person! The book coupon code expires in early December so it won't last long.

You can enter to win here, by answering one or more of the following. Please leave a separate comment here for your chance to win:
1. Tell us if you have a project ready to print.
2. Tell us your favourite part of getting a shutterfly package in the mail.
3. Tweet about this giveaway.
4. Blog about this giveaway.
5. Facebook about this givaway.

A winner will be chosen randomly & you have until Wednesday November 24th 9pm Eastern to enter. Good luck!
- kayleigh

Creative Challenge #59

It's FRIDAY! YAY! Today I bring you a brand NEW Creative Challenge, It's been a while so I thought it was time we did one. This challenge I'm going to give you a list of things you need to incorporate into your layout. The fist thing on the list is that you have to use a black or white background. Now when creating your layout, if you start out with white background, try changing it to black and see which one you like better. As you see below I have created my page with both backgrounds, now I'm not sure which one I like better. What to do you think white or black? I hope you guys have fun with this one. Don't forget to link us up to your layout in the comments field. I will post everyone's pages next week. Have a FABULOUS Weekend and everyone who is celebrating Thanksgiving. HAPPY THANKSGIVING! - Tara

• Black or White Background
• Frames
• Ribbon or Something Tied
• Brushes
• Buttons or Screws






Background Paper-Michelle Martin-Just Ribbed No.2
Click on Layout for CREDITS

Gallery Inspiration

Good Morning Everyone! Today I thought I would share some of my favorites layouts that I've seen in the galleries in the last couple of weeks. I hope they spark your creativity and get you scrapping today. Check back in the next few days for a NEW Creative Challenge! - Tara

Layout By Mymalloryboys. Love the colours and the texture that this layout has. Her photo is PERFECT too!



Layout By Mungerre. Love the natural colours with the pop of colour from her pattern paper. Awesome Design!



Layout By Melissa Hill. Love the cute photo and all the elements she has chosen to make this just the perfect little layout!



Layout By MichelleL. Love Love Love the design and the way she used the word "go" as a graphic element.



Layout By Jana Morton. Can I just say COOL! Love the creativity in this layout.



Layout By HeatherPrins. Love the dark background paper with all the layers and the touch of green. Simply PERFECT!



Click on Layouts for CREDITS

Grab Some Inspiration Challenge: Magazines!

For this challenge I encourage you to grab a magazine and begin your search for articles. Find a title or a subtitle that speaks to you and design your page around that! For this layout I opened up an old Today’s Parent and found an article with a subtitle: parenting the youngest. I then began to journal about my parenting thoughts on speech with my youngest. Hope this idea inspires you to create your next page!







Can't wait to see your pages!
~Melissa