An Award, An Answer to a Question and Sweet Pea Scraps November Kit

Lynette is always leaving me such sweet, uplifting comments. And this time around passed this award onto me . . . Thanks for thinking of me, Lynette! ;)

The RULES for presenting this sought after Award are:

1. Pick 5 blogs that you consider deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also for contributing to the blogging community, no matter what language.

2. Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog.

3. Each award winner (upon acceptance) should show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award.

4. Link to the Arte y pico blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.

5. Show these rules.

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Honestly, I hate this part. I hate picking only 5 people to present an award to. I could pick hundreds! And maybe this is wussy of me, but I'll just have to direct you to all the amazing people and places in my left sidebar. These people are constantly inspiring me. I even added a few new favorites that I've been stalking. If you're ever in a web-surfing mood, you'll be glad you took the time to check them out. ;)

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Lauren asked me a question about what tools I use to handcut elements out of patterned paper (a technique I LOOOOVE!). I've had these trusty Fiskars Classic 5" Micro-Tip Scissors for about 5 years. LOVE 'EM!



They are one of those tools that I feel LOST without. Infact, when I can't find them on my desk (like when I've covered them up with a paper tornado) I get all panicky! I finally bought another set, so I could have 2 sets floating around my desk. LOL! They are just under $20, but soooooo worth it. The tip is very sharp and is perfect for getting in all the little nooks and crannies of things. And they are easy to turn corners with . . . that's a must in my book. AND they are great at trimming your daughter's bangs. ;) See? You NEED them! Or atleast something similar to them. What do you all like to use? I'm such a sucker for great tools and I would love to hear your favorites.

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Well, I'm a little sad. This is possibly my last Sweet Pea Scraps kit that I will design with as a Design Team member. I tried out for the team again, but heaven knows there are so many talented scrappers out there! Good luck to everyone who went for it. I can't wait to see who the new team is on the 5th.

I just want to take this opportunity to THANK Julie and Kristen from the bottom of my heart for letting me design with their fabulous kits. It was an honor being a Sweet Pea Girl. The new design team is in for a delightful treat. Serious! If you haven't tried them. YOU NEED TO! Do you hear me?! LOL! Let me tell you what I adore about Sweet Pea Scraps Kits.

You get a great mix of patterned paper (usually 12 sheets) and usually 10 sheets of cardstock, 2 sheets of each color. I LOVE the two sheets of cardstock! That means I can do a double-page spread if I want OR I just have a lot of cardstock to play with. I don't have to second-guess using that special shade of orange that came with my kit in case I want to use it on another page, because I have TWO! I really love that feeling. Very liberating! :D Not only is there A LOT of paper, but you get oodles of embellishments, too! AND an alpha! For our DT assignments we created 6 pages a month, and I'm telling ya, I NEVER got bored of a kit doing those six pages. There was always PLENTY to work with. I never felt like I had to scrimp or become ultra-weird-creative to make items stretch across those six pages. GREAT, GREAT, GREAT kit! Honestly, give them a try. Okay?! Okay. ;)

Alright, "soapbox" over. I just had to let all that scrappy-love-emotion off my chest one last time. Heehee!




Here are my six layouts using the Incredibly Gorgeous November Sweet Pea Scraps Kit.

Friendship

Homestead

Spunky

(used the November Gettin' Sketchy sketch for this one. YUM!!!)

Staying Cool

Sunday Afternoon

Witch

Happy Scrappin!
Jana

Sketch This #70 with Sweet Pea Scraps Kit

Here is a final layout from me using the October Sweet Pea Scraps kit and Sketch This #70.

Goodbye House

Brads & buttons are from my stash.

Thanks for coming by!
Jana

October Sweet Pea Scraps Kit

I know I said I'm crazy-busy with packing . . . well, I am. LOL! But I couldn't help but pop back in here to show you what an AMAZING, TOTALLY FUN kit Sweet Pea Scraps has for October. This kit is perfect for Fall pictures and those late Summer photos, . . . it's perfect for boys or girls, . . . it's perfect for both muted and bright layouts. It's just perfect! :D :D :D

Sweet Pea Scraps October Kit - $32 one time purchase

On top of that, this month there are two fabulous Guest Designers showcasing their talent along with the rest of the Sweet Pea Scraps team. Be sure to watch the Gallery for projects by Laura Vegas and Molly Peckham. You are sure to be inspired.

Here are the projects I have finished with this kit so far!

Lil' Artist

Birthday Trio

Fun Day

Swim Party

Weather Cupcakes



Enjoy your weekend!
Jana

Sweet Pea Scraps September Kit

I'm back with the rest of my projects for the September Sweet Pea Scraps kit . You are in luck! Usually these kits sell out in seconds, but this month they increased their kit #'s which means there are still some available. YAY! Go snatch ya one! ;) Don't you love the color combination in this kit? Red happens to be my favorite color and I love the way that it always adds POP to any layout.

Blog Reader

This layout is about my favorite blog reader . . . Camryn. :D She loves to look at all the photos identifying everyone she knows. It's so fun to watch her get so excited! Green thickers and buttons are from my stash.

The DO NOT Take My Picture Look

I used a Lomo Affect Action on this picture of Camryn giving me a crusty, Preteen look for taking her picture. LOL! I've written of her disgust of having me take her picture several times on my blog, and thought it was about time I made a layout about it. :D
Scrapworks letter stickers, embroidery floss, masking tape (Hmmmm. Which it showed up better in these pictures.), MM flower brads and Anna Griffin journal block are from my stash.

Such a Joy

For this layout of my niece, I used Sketch This #65 by Janelle Richmond. The clear buttons and embroidery floss are from my stash.

Maryn

I've been dying to use these journal stamps from my stash by Collage Press and finally took the plunge on this layout. LOVE Collage Press! I can't wait to get my hands on all their new goodies.

I'm off to get kids in the bath and make sure homework was finished.

Have a great night!

Jana

2 Down -- 2 to go!

Two parties down! Two to go! LOL! I know it's bad to look at it that way, but that's usually how I have to motivate myself to get through "party-week" every year!

Owen's birthday party and the family party turned out to be so much fun! I love when all the planning pays off and the event just flows, allowing us all to just enjoy the day. It makes all the preparation worth it!

I took a bunch of pictures, but sadly I didn't realize that I hadn't replaced the memory card into my camera (probably during one of my "panic cleans" for a realtor last week), so all I have are a few from this morning after Owen had opened his presents and I realized my ditzy mistake. :(

Happy 7th Birthday, Owen!

My dad always takes a ton of pictures, so I have those from the family party last night. But the ones I am especially heartsick about are all the ones I took of Owen and his friends that he won't see again because we are moving. :( I just feel awful about it. I know I'll get over it, but those are pictures I really wanted for him.





Alright! No more moping! I have some layouts to post! :D :D :D

The first couple of layouts are created using the upcoming September Sweet Pea Scraps kit. LOVE this kit! Probably because these colors are among my favorites to scrap with! Red, blue and green can scrap ANYTHING, I tell ya! Seriously! And just check out the yummy embellishments! The postage stamps and flowers, the brads, the chipboard, the metal!!!! LOVE it ALL! :D

I loved these pictures of my kids and their cousins from a 4th of July parade this year. When Allison sent me her fabulous sketch, I knew immediately that I would use these photos! Here is a link to the So Sketchy! blog featuring this layout. Be sure to browse around at everything else that was posted this week! Tons of inspiration over there! Most definitely a place you'll want to stop at again and again!

Supply List:

(September Sweet Pea Scraps Kit) Papers: 7 Gypsies Family Dates, 7 Gypsies Kensington, 7 Gypsies Provence Making Memories Varnished Postmark; Scenic Route Chipboard Circles Save the Date; Prima Paper Flowers, Making Memories Passport Canvas brads, American Crafts Glitter Chipboard Thickers LAX in Powder, USPS cancelled stamps (from kit), thread

This layout is using the same September Sweet Pea Scraps kit, but this time I used Sketch #63 from Sketch This. Okay, seriously? Have you stopped over there?! I'm in constant awe at the creative minds over there. Check them out!

These last few layouts were created using gorgeous kits by Noel Mignon. The first one is made using the Memory Lane kit. (I added some Jenni Bowlin Red Tab stickers and Kindergarten RubOn Letters .) If you would like to read a tutorial on how to create the dimensional flower accents, head on over to the Tips & Techniques blog.



Check it out! Grab some Scenic Route Chipboard Stars , a few scraps of blue paper, and some white buttons, . . . now add them to the Passionate Kit and you are ready to scrap your patriotic photos! Gotta love a kit that does double-duty like that!





Tomorrow is the first day of school for my kidlets. I'm so nervous for them!!! (completely new school, new friends, new teacher, new EVERYTHING!) But I know deep down inside they are going to do great! Keep your fingers crossed that their mom doesn't lose it. *blush, blush* I'll be back soon to let you know how it went!

August Sweet Pea Scraps = YUMMMMM!!!

Whew! The Realtor's Tour Open House is DONE! Here's hoping it gives us some leads and we can get this baby sold! :D

We decided to take the kids to a local hotel so we wouldn't have to wake them up ultra-early/try to keep the house pristine/vacuum last minute/etc. The kids had a blast swimming and running in between our two connected rooms, but I don't think we'll be doing that again. Camryn wouldn't sleep, . . . it was all too fascinating! LOL! BUT, she did sleep more than I did. Four hours. That's alright. I do it in the name of scrapbooking all the time. Hehehe!

Tomorrow is July 24th which is Utah's Statehood celebration. Our town has a big parade/fireworks/carnival tonight, and then in the morning we watch the Days of '47 parade in Salt Lake on TV and then head off to the carnival again. Should be fun! I just hope I get a second wind and can make it through it all! LOL!

On the scrappy-front, I have some new layouts to post. These are my projects for the August Sweet Pea Scraps kit. Normally I would post these at the end of the month, but you are in luck! I am focused on trying to get all my projects done as soon as I get the kits so I am ahead of the game . . . you know, since I'll be packing boxes soon! ;)

The August kit features papers by Sassafras Lass and October Afternoon . . . OKAY! Like two of my FAVORITES!!! I had a blast working this kit down to the bones! So many fun doodads to play with, too!

















I'll be back with more tomorrow!
See you then!
Jana