Monday 31 August 2015

Layout 9

Another layout from the Treasured Memories August kit that I made called Easy Livin'.

I thought these cute square chipboard pieces were cute, but automatically I saw them as diamonds dipped in gold. Not sure why, but squares seem boring, diamonds are so much better!

To get the gold-dipped look, I simply covered half of the 'diamond' with scrap paper and painted the rest with Inka Gold. 



I love the background paper. The green, ombre pattern is really great. I thought it repeated the diamond shape again, so I liked how they worked together.

I cut up a piece of white cardstock to mute the pattern a bit so the focus was on the picture and then splatter painted because it can't be completely white...

A few layers and a title, conveniently misspelled to save my e's (which I always seem to run out of), some machine stitching,  and it's done.

Almost there! The month is nearly up and I couldn't even share all of the layouts I made with this kit! 

Check out the full kit at Treasured Memories.

I made 11 layouts plus had lots of leftovers all with this $35 kit. They are so worth it! The September kit will be coming out on the first. Check into it!





Saturday 29 August 2015

Random Shots of the Girls

This has been the summer of sisters!


The girls have been so close all summer long. 


They're the perfect age to play together and they're such good buddies. 



Even though Emma sleeps late, Gracie still comes back to the table most mornings to colour or just visit while Em's eating. 



They're so close. 


I am already feeling sorry for Emma for when Gracie goes back to school. She's going to be so lonely!
We'll have to make sure she's busy doing fun things during the week, too and enjoy the evenings and weekends together.

Thursday 27 August 2015

Layout 8

A quick layout from the Treasured Memories August kit that I made called Easy Livin'.



A simple frame made by layering 3 different patterned papers, a 4x4 project life card and the beautiful chipboard die-cut. 

I like the big, black and white striped background paper and the wooden die-cuts with gold accents. 

I layered some of the small alphabets from the kit on the polka-dot heart. 



Check out the kit at Treasured Memories.

Tuesday 25 August 2015

Layout 7


Another layout from the Treasured Memories August kit that I made called Easy Livin'.



I used the stencil in the kit and some gesso to make the fun triangle pattern on the paper and added some watercolour splashes because I had watercolours on my table while making this kit and used them on a lot of the layouts. 

I used an assortment of the polaroid frames to frame the beautiful pictures of Emma swimming that my mom took (thanks mom!). I like the colourful frames on a kraft background. It makes them stand out without being too busy. 

Check out the kit at Treasured Memories. Each Monday, they showcase 3-4 of my layouts and you can see all 11 of them on display at the store. 

Sunday 23 August 2015

Legislative Grounds Updates

Sometimes I luck into a picture. 



I love this one. 
A simple picture captured with my phone of Gracie running through the fountains at the Legislative Grounds.  

I think it just looks like childhood to me. 

On a side note, you must go check this out. They've just built this area above the Legislative Grounds. The fountains aren't all completed. Apparently, they ran out of money, but it's very cool even unfinished. 

They also just opened a new information centre up here and it is quite possibly the best I've ever seen. I hope you can check it out. The displays are all hands on and are good for all ages. The video presentation is amazing! 
Go check this out!

Friday 21 August 2015

Layout 6

A quick layout from the Treasured Memories August kit that I made called Easy Livin'.


I love this oversize photo. It was a simple snapshot with my iphone blown up at Costco. A few strips of paper, two journaling cards, and two small titles. 


It's nice to change up your picture sizes. An eye-catching photo sometimes says more than a busy layout could and it's a nice change while flipping through your album.

Changing the picture to black and white helped with the noise a little and kept the focus on her smile, not all of the background colours. 

Check out the kit at Treasured Memories.

Wednesday 19 August 2015

Park Fun

Everyday we be Park'n. 


Haha. Okay. 

We go to the park a lot. 


Gracie's perfected the monkey bars. 


Emma wants to be a little Gracie.  "I can do that too!"



Every rock is meant to be climbed. 
These two mountain goats can get to the top of anything. 




Em also climbed to the top of the merry-go-round. I couldn't take pictures, because I was running like a circus performer trying to stay in position to catch my two year old if she fell....


Where did she learn it? 
Of course, her sister.

Monday 17 August 2015

Layout 5

This one may be my favourite. Made with the Treasured Memories August kit of the month, Easy Livin.'


I love the navajo prints, the feather and the touch of gold. These are a few of my favourite things.
I scraplifted this layout from the fabulous Ashley Horton's design for Simple Stories. She used some lovely triangles on her page here and I loved it!



Again, the feather is painted with Inka Gold, which I also used to make the splatters. I cut all of the triangles out with my Cricut, to make sure they were all the exact same size, then layed them out to make the background. 


This is the date, July, 2015. I never use the numbers on alpha sets, so I've been trying to use them more on layouts. Adding the date, highlighting the kid's ages or in titles adds to the layout and might capture a detail that I would forget (how many times have I thought, 'when was this photo taken?'). 

Check out the whole kit in store or online at TM.

Saturday 15 August 2015

Layout 4

Summer Fun, from the Treasured Memories August kit of the month, Easy Livin.'


Love the die-cut, the chipboard, and the way the blues bring out Emma's big beautiful blue eyes!

Check it out in store or online at TM.

Thursday 13 August 2015

Date Nights!!

What??! Plural?? Yes, we had three date nights in three days!


My parents took the kids for a few days so Brad and I took the chance to eat out, go to a movie, have treats, run errands like mad, go to strollersize without a stroller, go shopping, and build Em a big girl bed!


Life is good. This was a sampling of the fare at 'Meat.' Yep, meat. 


Hence the caveman turkey leg Brad is chewing on. 


Treats from the Duchess with my best scrappin' buddy after a morning of visiting and leisurely shopping. Sigh. 


Enjoying a quiet little sit down.


And a Michelada at our next destination, El Cortez. Oh dear... that place has the best food ever. We both thought this was the best restaurant ever and the home of every future date night. Taco Tuesday, we will be back!



Seriously? So good. 


Death by taco?

That's all I have pictures of, but it was really nice to spend some time being childless in the city and being so productive! I logged over 22,000 steps one day and got so many things done that have been on my list forever. 

The best part? The kids had so much fun with Grams and Papa and I'm pretty sure Grams and Papa enjoyed their time, too. 


Tuesday 11 August 2015

Layout Three

Here's another layout from Easy Livin', the August Kit of the Month at Treasured Memories. 



Beautiful bokah on this paper from Simple Stories.  

Check it out in store or online at TM.


Sunday 9 August 2015

Layout Two


Here's another layout from the Easy Livin' kit of the month from Treasured Memories. 



Woodgrain and mint? Yes please.

Check it out in store or online at TM.

The alphas were a little too green for the layout, so I covered them and the lasercut chipboard in Inka Gold. This stuff covers everything.

Friday 7 August 2015

Camping Trip

We snuck in a little getaway to Prairie Oasis to camp with some friends a few weeks ago. 

It was so great. Got to do lots of visiting, enjoy some sunshine, play on the beach, swim in the lake, play at the park, make smores and spend some time together. 


Emma is a camping pro! Both girls did great, but Em's come a long way since we first camped with her at six months old, and Brad and I slept in twenty minute intervals. Ugh. It was hard, but this trip was fun.


Everyone loved the park.


 Who doesn't enjoy a good push on the swing?


 Apparently nobody!


The beach was clean and pretty quiet. 


The kids had fun swimming and splashing and building sandcastles. 


 What's not to love about camping?


Can't wait to go back. 

Wednesday 5 August 2015

Layout One

Here's one of the layouts from Easy Livin', the August Kit of the Month at Treasured Memories. 


Love these colours. 

Check it out in store or online at TM.

Monday 3 August 2015

Backyard bubbles

Chasing bubbles never gets old.




The girls were so focused on the bubbles, I tried some close-ups. 


That bubble got in my way...



So serious...



Beautiful, smart and funny. These girls are a triple threat.