CK Inspiration

So lately, I've been exploring the galleries at 2Peas and CK. It feels like it's time to bust out of the DST bubble. DSTers - you know what I'm talking about here! Anyway, after posting a few pieces over at CK, I was thrilled to included in their Weekly Inspiration.

Here's the layout they mentioned, which made me feel completely homesick all over again.

iNSD blog hop!

I hope you are having a wonderful start to iNSD weekend. Personally, I am so excited for all of the shopping, scrapping and, of course, the freebies!

Here's my own little freebie from me to you, made with the fabulous May BYOC goodies at The Lilypad.
Download the quickpage version here.



Your next hop on the blog train is over to Katrina's place. Have a great weekend! :) If Katrina isn't available yet, go onto Kate's fabulous blog!

Yeah, so...

I really stink at blogging. But, something great is coming tomorrow... :)

Tooty Toot!

One of my favorite sites for scrapping inspiration is gallerystandouts.com. I love the variety of styles in the layouts they feature and always manage to add a few pages to my favorites from their selections.

I've had a couple of pages featured there recently. I have to say it's such a good feeling to see my work among their selections. Since things are pretty quiet on the homefront today, I thought I would share the layouts here as well.


Est. Date,Everyday, Worn Scuffed Chipboard alpha, all by Sahlin Studio at ScrapMatters
Font is DJB Liz by Darcy Baldwin at Sweet Shoppe Designs
Polaroid by Andrea Burns (retired)

Everything from Love and War by Holliewood Studios at Oscraps; Photo by Stephanie Saujon Baltz at LaPhotographieNashville.com


Paper, flowers, ribbon, frame, glitter splat from Innovation by Sahlin Studio at Scrap Matters
this perfect day from Scratched Notes by Sahlin Studio at Scrap Matters
Stamped frame from Antique Journalers by Sahlin Studio at Scrap Matters
Border from Outer Limits by Karah Fredricks at TLP
Journaling reads:
Julia was 1 week old. It was Elizabeth’s first day of Third Grade. It was my first day out of bed. It was when it finally sunk in that Elizabeth was no longer an only child. At long last, I was the mother of two.


I will say that I got quite a bit of mail/PMs/messages about the miscarriage layout. Yes, that's really what happened. Yes, it was horrible and heart-breaking. Yes, I am OK. As you can see by my other layouts, the much-prayed-for-baby did eventually happen. She's beautiful, healthy and she blesses me every single day. The layout was very therapeutic for me, but I also hope it encourages others to scrap beyond just the happy, easy times. Of course those times are important and scrap-worthy, but we are shaped by difficult events in our lives too. Don't be afraid to scrap them.

I Digi Dare Ya!

Late last year, I was invited to join the uber-creative girls at The Digi Dares. If you are looking for fun challenges or to get out of a scrapping rut, this is the place! I've always enjoyed the Dares and I'm thrilled to be helping scrappers to get out of their boxes at bit!

In Dare 167, we are asking to scrap about your feelings:

Totally Emotional

It’s the week of Valentine’s Day, a day about love, romance, and emotion. But as we all know, it’s not always rainbows and butterflies, is it? So to spare us the normal “what does love mean to you” challenge… let’s focus on emotion in and of itself. The word emotion is defined as: a mental state that arises spontaneously rather than through conscious effort and is often accompanied by physiological changes.

So give me a list of at least 5 emotions you’ve recently experienced or seen someone you love recently experience. 5 emotions you or someone you know has felt today, this week… this year? Reiterate those emotions with journaling if you like, but it’s not required, as long as the feelings are shown on your layout.

Dare Flairs:
- Your layout must contain at least 5 “emotion” words. (may include word art).
- Photos are not required, but if you choose to use them, personal and/or stock photos are allowed.
- Make the color RED stand out on your layout in some way. Whether it is the main color, or a pop of red on an otherwise monochromatic layout.
- Use at least one symbol of Valentine’s Day on your layout somewhere. (a heart, an arrow, a valentine card, love birds, angel/cupid wings, etc.)

Here's my take on the challenge:


Credits:
Fire heart paper from Love and War by Holliewood Studios at Oscraps
Red background paper from by Summer Sun by BZB Designs at FPD
Paper curl from Breakthroughs by Helena Jole at NDISB
Staples from Fix It by Bohemian Arts at SA
Metal alpha from 6k74 by Flergs at SBG
Blackmail Stamped alpha by Blythe Evans at Scrappity Do Dah

Come and post your own layout over at the Dares for a chance to win!

The Lilypad Blog Hop

Here it is, the last stop! By now you've collected some amazing quickpages, but here's one more by another Polly, Carolee

Download it here!

If you haven't shopped the new BYOC yet, it's super yummy this month. It's also on sale this weekend at 20% off. The rest of the store is 30% off, so don't miss it.

Here's my layout with the BYOC:


Credits:
From the fab Jan BYOC at The Lilypad!
White paper from Feelin' Friendly papers by Karah Fredricks
White labels, stitches, checked stamp from Feelin' Friendly by Karah Fredricks
Pretty patterned paper by Jenna Desai
Fun Striped alphas by Designs by Lili
Green Jelly alpha by Kaye Winiecki
Swirls from Doodle Art by Jenna Desai
Frames from Frame Me! by Valorie Wibbens
Ribbons from Froggy Remnants by Gina Miller
Paper flowers from Gleeful Garden by Amy Wolff
Paper Sprinkles by Amy Sumrall
Also:
Stapled Silly hearts by Kaye Winiecki
Pony bead alpha by Kalo designs
Fonts are DJB It's Meeeegan by Darcy Baldwin, Wish I Were Taller and Century Gothic

The Lilypad is 3!!!

Hop on over and check out the great sales and the new BYOC