We R Memory Keepers-Guest Designer for Simply Spring!

I got the awesome opportunity to be a guest designer on We R Memory Keeper's Facebook page!  They sent me papers and embellishments from their  beautiful new 'Simply Spring' collection. I scrapped  some of the Easter pictures from last year using those papers.

I cut the title on my cameo, placed the green pattern paper title on the bottom and layered the stripe paper on top (just a little off) and sewed it down on the yellow background paper. Initially, I was going to journal directly on the Sweet Notes card but chose to instead print the journaling on a vellum sheet and just stapled it on the sweet notes journaling card. I like the softness and the dimension the vellum sheet adds.

After adding the banners, the circle spot, title and all the layers, I wanted to add something extra to it. So, made two polaroid frames on the cameo, smile and a heart and used the soft pink paper with the wire pattern. Sewing straight is so difficult!! I still don't know how to control speed properly. If I go to slow, my thread breaks or bundles up, If I go too fast ,it is not straight! Practice, Practice! 

Too finish the layout, I added some mist splatters! I am very happy with the way this turned out actually, considering I run away from pink:-) I guess you can use pink in moderation on a boy's layout as well! Just use it as an accent color! 

I hope to get some crafty time this weekend, although Sid is working on both Saturday and Sunday. Hoping to do something crafty with Anurag. :-) .

 Easter is almost approaching this year and I can't wait to go on an Egg Hunt with Anurag again! 

Thanks for visiting me today! Have a good weekend! 

Viji

Serenity

This is the first time I have used neutrals by themselves on a layout! I think I achieved the look that I wanted. I used Ali Edward's 'love this memory' stamp on the background paper and used a fiskars polka dot circle border stamp around it. Alternated between moss green, brown and light brown.

I added the shell and the heart stones I found at Cape Cod as accents on the layout. It is bulky but I really wanted to use them! It is a very simple layout. Just a few layers and some embellishments. I love Heidi Swapp's color magic alphas! I used memento ink on that and wiped it off with a tissue to reveal the white dots. Added a bit of journaling and an arrow stamp and a arrow from freckled fawn. 

Anurag's(my 3.5 yr old) school is reopening tomorrow after spring break. He has been so difficult the whole of last week and this week. We have started doing bite and spit at home now. He is revolting big time and his whole behavior is changing.  Just becoming very rebellious about small things. I feel bad for him. It is so tough for him. Anurag got a time-out today after months! But I had to give him a time-out so it doesn't become a pattern. He is never like this. He always listens. I hope I can do some positive reinforcement on the weekend. He prefers his individual feeding sessions more than the group feeding therapy session. The group sessions are very tough and a lot of pressure. It has been super stressful! I feel bad for him too. Our whole day off-late has been about food. Writing this here, is like a note to look back at when things are better to remember where we were. Every small positive change is a huge thing! It is:) He had his first cookie last week and that is a huge deal!! It took him a long time to eat one cookie but he ate it:) I am so proud of him for that! There are positives I need to focus on, especially on bad days!

Well, you all have a good day! I will be back tomorrow with something to show you hopefully! It is a hectic day for me! Thanks for visiting me!

Viji

I'll Never Let You Go!!

Anurag loves to hold onto our legs as we are walking and tell us ' I am never going to let you go'. I always tell him I hope you never will! I just love it when he says that. It is the cutest thing ever! I got some photos of him holding onto Sid and saying it. I had to scrap them!

I have gotten really comfortable with layering. I have been hoarding the golden dots vellum paper for so long! I think I have like 4 full sheets:) I love gold! My sewing machine was acting up big time when I was trying to stitch. The thread was breaking and making a big mess under the needle. I cleaned the machine a bit and changed the needle and then tried. It worked like a charm. It was kind of a pain because I was working on this layout in the last minute! I got some tips on how to fix the sewing issues from Lisa Wilkinson. She sews a lot on her layouts and was super sweet and gave me some great advice!

I used my cameo to do the title and layered a golden glitter paper under it. I hand cut some triangles and alternated the pattern paper and sewed it together to make a banner above it. I also added some ribbon and sewed it down. Sometimes, I really don't sew things directly down on the layout but just sew on top of the layer and just adhere it to the layout with glue. It is easier at times to do it this way. Saves me from sewing on multiple layers and getting it messed up!

  

I added some details to finish the layout. I think gold and kraft really brought together everything. It was fun to work with colors which are not my usual picks. I love being a part of Color Me Scrappy team for that reason. I get challenged to do layouts out of my comfort zone. 

Hope you are having a good week so far. I will be back tomorrow with another layout. Have a good day!

MY 2 BEST GUYS!

 I love sunshine! OK well, I guess on paper :-) and when the temperature's in the 70's and it is Sunny! I totally despise the summers in Houston! It gets crazy hot and stays that way for a good six months! Last year, for my birthday we went to Cape Cod! It was an awesome vacation, stayed at a beach cottage for a week and then to Rhode Island to spend time with family. It was stressful with Anurag's feeding issues but he had fun and that's what matters :-) We spent some quality time with each other and did fun stuff! I have been planning to do a vacation album for it ever since. It is on my to-do list! 

When I saw this color combo at Color Me Scrappy, I knew the photos I was going to use immediately. It had to be bright and fun! I used SC Sunburst mask to do the sunrays. I water-colored instead of misting to give it a washed look. Don't know if I succeeded! But I like it! Added some washi under the photos to pop them up a bit. 

I added a few bits from Amy Tan's Sketchbook collection. The 'Oh Happy Day' circle is from SC Bright Ideas class. I added a few clouds on the top of the page. I love Amy's Clouds!! They add whimsy.

I used a mix of thickers for the title. My favorites are the aqua chalkboard thicker and Heidi's Color Magic alphas. I love the las vegas look of Heidi's alphas! I had fun getting out my watercolors and using different thickers. 

I love bright colors especially Yellow and Orange!! What are your favorite go to color for layouts?

Something I have noticed about me, I like to buy stamps but hardly ever use them on layouts! I would love to see more ideas on how to incorporate stamps on layouts. Please link me up to your layouts where you have used them! I would love to get inspired!

Thanks for visiting me:-) 

Lots of Love! Keep Crafting!

Viji

You Love Puddle Jumping!

Anurag loves going out and jumping in the puddles in his galoshes every time it rains! We wait for the rain to stop and go hunting for puddles. :-) It has become one of our favorite activities! I got some awesome photos the last time we were out puddle hopping and have been meaning to scrap them ever since.

I love bright and happy colors and that's what I used for this layout. I did this for one of the challenges at Color Me Scrappy! I have been hoarding the camera paper from my SC kit for a long time. I am glad I found the perfect photos to go with it!I added some yellow taxi mist to the 'PLAY' wood veneer bubble.

 

I cut the background design on the Cameo. It was so intricate, I wasn't sure if it will cut without tearing. But, it cut fabulously! I used it as a base under the title. I used the blue shoreline glitter thickers for the word 'jumping'. . I put the washi down and repositioned it a couple of times until I got it right.   

I am so glad I got a picture of his feet in the air! Well, there is another picture under the jumping shot actually:-) I changed it up later. I added a couple of wood veneer stars, a flair and some random bits. 

I will be back tomorrow with a layout again:-) Thanks for visiting me! I hope you will leave a link to your blogs as well , so I can get inspired!! Have a good day!

Oh So Lovely! Color Me Scrappy #34

I can't believe it is March already! Time is flying by this year! We have pretty good weather right now! Not too hot, breezy most days. I am totally not looking forward for the summer to start. We are trying to be outdoors as much as possible. We went camping this weekend. Even though it was just for one night, it was great fun. Anurag loved every bit of it. We hiked a little. Anurag threw stones and sticks in the Brazos river. It was fun to sleep in the tent in our sleeping bags. He got a kick out of it! Now if only, we could get the fire to start! Well, we will be going back more prepared next time:-) We didn't have the starter fluid and it was super windy. Considering this was his first camping trip, it went pretty well. He refused to eat and drink which is a bummer because we can't go anywhere for more than 2 days in that case. Hopefully, the group feeding therapy will help. We do have a long way to go. One step at a time :-)

Meanwhile, I have been scrapping but just not blogging. Something which NEEDS to change!! I plan to blog everyday for the next couple of days and get all those layouts which I have been working on uploaded!

The color palette for challenge #34 at CMS is Pinks and Greens. I am not very comfortable with pink! My most favorite subject to scrap is my little boy! So, I tend to stay away from that color. It pushed me to scrap a picture of myself! 

Recently, I bought all of the Heidi Swapp Color Shine Mists from Michaels! I love all the colors!! They have a shine to them which I absolutely love. Somehow I never liked Tattered Angels mists but this shine, I am in love! I have had the gold for sometime now but I got the other 11 colors. I love the splatter look. I know a little late to the party, but hey I got there:-) 

I used the Amy Tan Yes Please Stitching template to handstitch the flower and the leaf. It was super easy to do. I love the template! Just make holes with the needle which comes with the template and place the piercing mat under the paper and make your design. Backstitch with the desired color of thread. I hope she comes out with more designs in the future. I didn't get the alphabet template. Might just get it. I added a few sequins to give the splatters a little pop. 

I used the transparent letter stickers again from Amy Tan's Yes Please collection. I love the Ombre stickers. They are really cool. I am still in love with gold and like to use it on my projects. I put together this layout in about an hour I think. I am getting faster :-) finally!!! I used to take hours before! 

This layout is based on the below color palette. The twist is you have to use tags and/or stitching on the layout. 

Hop on over to Color Me Scrappy to see what the other designers whipped up! I hope you will play along, the prize this month is an awesome mystery bag full of goodies!! Please leave a link to your blog, I would love to see your work! Thanks for visiting me!