Even though life is moving full-tilt right know, there is one thing I can count on to remain simple and uncomplicated - my scrapping! This week I'm featuring a page from my Seeing Double video that went live yesterday at Two Peas:

S U P P L I E S :

It's a simple horizontal arrangement of 3x4 journaling cards, topped with my photos, lots of washi tape and embellishments. I love these Project Life-style cards even though I don't do Project Life, because they are easy to incorporate into grids and other linear designs. They make a perfect home for journaling, or a frame for photos, or a backdrop to other accents on your page.

I've added lots of chipboard accents to this page and covered them with washi tape to create colorful custom embellishments. It's a fast and easy way to make bare chipboard look fabulous.

Because my page includes a lot of bright colors, I opted to cut my title from vellum using the font Cookie. It's soft and subtle and doesn't compete with the rest of the page.

For more tips and tricks using journal cards and washi tape (and to see the accompanying card!) be sure to check out the video (and let me know what you think!)

And now I'm off to partake in some weekend revelry. And possibly do a little brainstorming for trips/outings/activities/sports/crafts to keep my kids entertained (and me sane) when they finish up school in a mere four days. And here's where you should feel free to console me that I am not the only bad mama with absolutely no summer agenda worked out yet...

I couldn't quite resist the lure of my blue sandals, however. And I did try to pay homage to the (hopefully long gone) chills of winter by pairing up cool tones of navy, aqua, and royal blue. Ah winter, we shall miss ye. Not. Of course, pops of white, yellow and even a little pink can only mean spring is here. Break out the sandals and let's paaaartay!

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Gap Jacket - similar
J. Crew tee - similar
Old Navy crop jeans
Lucky Penny sandals
DKNY clutch - similar
Burberry sunglasses
Forever 21 bangles
necklace - made by me

For this page, I've featured four photos from my childhood (and, er, please direct any comments about my hideous bowl haircut to my mother, who assures me this is was a stylish and trendy coif for the early 70s. I have yet to take solace in that, because the emotional scars from being mistaken for a boy for most of my youth just run too deep.  *sob* )

S U P P L I E S :

The photos were different orientations and sizes, so I knew each square of the grid wouldn't be identical.  By mixing in slightly various sizes of patterned paper squares, as well as a large flower and number for my title, the grid squares are asymetrical, but balanced.

I added embroidered stitching to divide my grid, and also around the outer edge of my die cut numbers. To see a detailed tutorial on this easy embroidery technique, hop over to the BasicGrey blog!

The Phone Photography Project is a month-long workshop where you'll learn to take better photos with the camera you always have with you. Document your summer adventures—with help from 32 incredible instructors who will be issuing daily smartphone photography challenges, as well as:

• dozens of tips and tricks from the pros for taking better photos with your mobile-phone camera
• a handbook of 60+ photography app reviews for iPhone and Android, so you know which are worth your time and money
• dozens of project ideas for getting photos off your device and into your world
• interaction with 32 experienced iPhoneographers and Androidographers, and hundreds of fellow students in a private classroom and on Instagram
• giveaways, contests, discounts, bonus downloads, and fun fun fun!

Here's a nifty video preview of some of the fun you'll find in this class:

Right now you can register for the introductory price of $39, but this price won't last long, so don't delay!  You can find out all the important details at Big Picture Classes. I hope you'll join us for this fabulous fun summer course!

And while we're on the topic of Big Picture classes, I have a spot to give away in the fabulous May Flaum's newest adventure, Camp Scrap:

Camp Scrap 2013 is the place to be this summer! Spend the entire month of June scrapbooking with May Flaum and hundreds of her closest friends in an online, choose-your-own-adventure paper crafting camp. You'll enjoy more than 40 new and exclusive projects from May, a dozen "mini class" videos with accompanying handouts, daily emails, a bustling student message board and gallery, and more!
 
This 4-week workshop includes all the fun, instruction, and inspiration you'd find at an in-person scrapbooking retreat. But you get to participate entirely from home in your shorts and flip-flops (or whatever counts as your comfort gear for summer).

If you'd like to be entered to win a spot at Camp Scrap, just leave me a comment today telling me what you're most looking forward to this summer! I'll randomly pick a winner from the comments on Monday, May 13. And let the countdown to summer begin!

UPDATED WITH WINNER:

So here's an ensemble I think they do work with: my white cropped jeans (also making their debut appearance for spring), a simple tee and my trusty jean jacket. It's just as comfy as pjs, and undoubtedly more publicly appropriate. I am wearing heels, after all!

I kinda adore this yellow paired with aqua, as evidenced by my goofy grin in several of these shots. Proof that the mood-boosting powers of good shoes (and electric yellow?) should not be underestimated.

Happy Wednesday, fashion friends!

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jean jacket & graphic tee - Old Navy
cropped jeans & skinny belt  - Target
canvas tote - Gap
Calvin Klein neon pumps - Zappos
watch - Fossil
similar earrings - Etsy

Today I wanted to share a few scrappy projects with you. Over the weekend, the new idea book Everyday Storyteller 2 debuted and it's now available for sale!

The book is jam-packed with practical and innovative ideas from 33 fabulous scrappers.  I'm honored to have been included amongst them and and my contribution to the book includes an article on grid design with accompanying layouts. The eBook is available for $14.99, or you can bundle with the first book, Everyday Storyteller and get both books for $24.99. So check it out!

I also wanted to feature one of my recent Two Peas projects, a rare (for me) two-page layout using stencils and mists:

S U P P L I E S :

This was a really fun project to create and I loved working with the Prima camera stencils! I also created a card with them and you can see the whole process in this Seeing Double video.

Enjoy your Monday now!

Happy National Scrapbook Day, my friends! Hope you are getting a few moments today to celebrate with a little bit of scrapping. And since it is an official holiday and all, don't hestiate to add a little chocolate or champagne into the process - or even better, both!

So today, in amongst the celebratory toasts and treats, I'm sharing a recent layout I did for Lily Bee. I'm sure you'll be shocked (not) to see it uses a modified grid design of 2-inch squares - both paper and photos:

S U P P L I E S :

First I selected 12 pictures that gave a good overview of our vacation and mixed them in with patterned paper squares from Lily Bee's Pinwheel, Sweet Shoppe and Destination lines to complement the colors in my photos. I positioned each square slightly staggered from the one below and aligned the rows at a slight angle. I love the sense of energy and motion a little slant adds to the page.

Then I adorned the majority of my paper squares with small embellishments. I tried to stick with accents that matched the paper so the details would be subtle and not too busy.

My title was cut from deep teal cardstock using the font Shishoni Brush. It's a rough-edged type that has the feeling of hand-lettered calligraphy. Before I cut the title, I also drew in a few small circles to cut at the same time that adorn the corners of my layout.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your NSD, peeps!

1. Lily Bee Design Pinwheel collection ($20.50).  Maybe it's because I'm craving summer right now, but the colors and patterns in the Lily Bee Pinwheel line are making me happy! I love the whole line for it's bright hues and simple patterns, but the orange polka dot pattern on the Apricot Tree paper is my absolute fave!

2. Two Peas Digital Cut Files (free - $1.99).  Have you stopped by the totally new Two Peas Digital store? You should! There are fresh and funky die cut files, printables and more. I adore these Light Bulbs and the Photo Frames, but there's lots more fun image available (and some are even free - like that camera above) so check it out!

3. American Crafts vellum ($.99).  I was enamoured with vellum way back when I started scrapping in the late 90s, and it's still something I use on my pages. In fact, my most current three pages all feature vellum. Everyone needs a stash of this staple!

4. Midnight Letters Stamps by Mama Elephant ($14.99). I'm a sucker for any alphabet stamps because I know I will use them consistently for titles, journaling, labels and more. This set is the perfect size for smaller titles (and ideal for Project Life cards) and the outline + solid stamps is like getting two alphas for the price of one!

5.  Kate & Co Decorative Tape by My Mind's Eye ($9.99). My inner prep is ecstatic with this new line from MME. The mix of soft aquas and yellows with kelly green and navy have me thinking of boat shoes, argyle sweaters and Izods with popped colors (layered up, of course!) These tapes are one of my favorite items from the collection - and they'll be making a cameo appearance in my next Seeing Double video!

Happy Friday!

Right now (but only until May 12!) Basic Grey has special pricing on two album kits from their popular Knee Highs & Bow Ties line. For only $25, you'll get a 7x9 album with 5 tab pages, 5 designer insert pages and 6 page protectors, plus a 6x6 pad, element stickers, chipboard shapes, mini alphabet stickers and a book of snippets:

Today I'm giving away one of these album kits to a lucky reader! Just leave me a comment telling me your favorite Basic Grey product right now.** I'll pick a random winner from the eligible comments on Saturday, May 4.

Happy Thursday!

**Giveaway is open to all readers, both US and international. If you are not signed in to Typepad when commenting, please be sure to leave an email where you can be contacted. A winner will be randomly selected on May 4, 2013 and contacted via email. Prize will be shipped out the week of May 13.

UPDATED WITH WINNER:

Congrats to Sarah, winner of the album kit! Stop by next Thursday for another giveaway!

Granted, with the cool morning temps, I had to pair them with a chambray shirt and cardigan, a look that was totally inspired by this outfit in a recent Garnet Hill catalog:

I topped my trusty chambray with a favorite sweater that I got a few years back at Anthropologie since it has a similar embroidered pattern across the front.

And of course I had to add my obnoxiously yellow clutch because despite my deep, deep love for this color, there's only so many outfits it works with. Gotta go with the neon when you can!

And it will tide me over until my neon yellow pumps arrive...which should be just in time for the six inches of snow we're supposed to get today. Bah.

Rest assured that when spring does arrive, I'll be celebrating it by wearing copious amounts of neon. You have been warned.