In order to not fall too behind on my PL, I decided to work backwards. The idea of starting where I left off was in no way motivating. So I started where I wanted which was June. I indulged in nothing but PL for a whole weekend. So nice. And now I'm starting in on July and will go back to April + May when I get around to it. Not going to sweat it.
xot
The LifeLovePaper shop is having a sale this weekend! Everything is marked down, including digital items. Trying to make room for new goods coming soon. I've also just added a new printable for the summer holiday. **sidenote** thanks to those who emailed me about my big fat typo. It's kind of like walking around with your fly open or having a crusty booger at the tip of your nose. I always appreciate the one person who quietly lets you know. So thanks.
Hope your fourth was a great one! xot
Just a reminder that the LifeLovePaper sales ends tonight! Take 10% off stamps....use code MAY2013. Also release the new states printables. CA, WA and OR are available now and there will be more to come soon.
Studio Calico reveal is today. Really enjoyed working with Roundabout....the colors, the stamps. Love it all. Here are some sneaks.
Happy Memorial Day everyone! xot
Paislee Press From Where I Stand. Such a cool kit. Perfectly suited for my series of "from where I stand" shots I took while I was in Portland. The one above is my favorite and was taken in a comic book shop. Lot's of cool local zines and inspiring art.
There are also journal cards that match the kit...FREE with the kit purchase until 5/19. I'm in the process of printing them now so I can work on my PL. I'm not caught up quite yet but there's no stress at all. It's been a fun process so far. And it may seem like this PL in which I speak of doesn't exists since I hardly show it but it does. That was another "thing" I wanted to shake off and that was the stress of having blog/gallery worthy pages. It helps move me along. That and the ease of using these digital kits.
Hope your weekends are full of good stuff. Happy Friday. xot
(1. Paislee Press lovelies 2. watching my guys rake the yard while enoying a read + a cup of Stumptown's coffee 3. Night owl scrapbooking)
Did you all enjoy your paper + memory filled weekends? I spent NSD setting up my new printer + finishing the month of March in my PL. I'm that behind.
But, it's coming along nicely thanks to a few things that have made my weekend + scrapbooking awesome.
I replaced my old Epson R340 with the http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=lifelovepaper-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B00AGV7TOS " target="_blank">Canon Pixma MG6320. I love it. So glad I finally made the purchase. I have to thank Liz for enabling. :)
Speaking of Liz, her recent Paislee Press releases You Are Loved + On My Desk have been a huge time saver and inspiring my work like crazy.
(sidenote) thanks for your comments + emails from my last post. never expected that kind of response. much appreciate aka thanks for pushing me.
xot
Hey guys! Long time, right? Well a lot has happened in the past 2 weeks but I won't go all promo crazy on you today. Instead, I'd like to gift a little Easter printable.
Enjoy! Tina
(Printables measure 3x4 and are in PDF format. These are for PERSONAL USE ONLY. Please don't steal my artwork. Credit to LifeLovePaper is always appreciated.)
Kind of feel like this Paislee Press digital kit was made especially for me. Love all the black + neutrals.
Because kit on sale now at the Lily Pad. 20% off through March 17th. XOT
I've been feeling sorry for myself these past few days. We've all gotten a nasty cold but for some reason, mine is clinging on longer which SUCKS. I will say that the only good thing about getting sick is the burst of energy you get afterwards. I'm still waiting for that to happen. My nose is so raw, it feels like it has it's own heartbeat.
This has put a big damper on my crafty doings + everyday life. My projects are starting to pile up + new shop items have been put on hold while I get other work done. Maybe my body is trying to tell me to slow down for a bit. I've been going a million miles an hour since the New Year which I don't see as a bad thing but I didn't factor taking better care of myself as a resolution. My diet is awful, it definitely lacks nutrients. Not that we're eating fast food but I think we could do with more veg.
Ok, this is totally random and too much boohooing. I'll share more interesting things with you.
I was kindly asked to create a few layouts for Elle's Studio. She's debuted her new line of supplies this past CHA which is awesome. I remember Elle's Studio when it was just starting out. I love seeing how successful her growing company has been.
My favorite from then collection are the Bits + Pieces and journalling cards. The fact that they're printed on smooth, writable card stock is a huge win. I like using my Micorn or AC felt pens and it drives me nuts when companies use slick paper on journaling spots. I'm so prone to accidents, I'm constantly smudging my writing.
Back to blowing my nose every other minute. Happy Monday! XOT
Loving the newest Paislee Press releases, especially the theme of the More + Less kit which is so perfect for where I'm at with life right now. I also used the Round About Now Vol 2 labels as an overlay on a photo I took on New Years. Perfect way to start the month.
Here's my take on working with the smaller Handbooks versus a 12x12 binder + some random thoughts on this project so far.
+The smaller size is portable. I can work with on the floor or on my desk or sometimes on the kitchen counter (the floor usually wins out) The only downfall is that it almost seems harder to pull weeks together. The compact size makes for a more compact way of documenting.
+Since pocket space is limited, I'm opting to not use too many filler cards...I want this to house the majority of my iPhone photos.
+I want to balance clean + simple with a few techniques.
+I'm really inspired by Pink Ronnie's Project Life.
+Helvetica + Trend are my go to fonts right now.
+This inspired me to start logging some of the weird, crazy things I say to my kid.
+In an effort to use more and hoard less, I'm choosing to use my most coveted papers like some letterpress cards I could never bring myself to use. Why not admire them in a book rather than keep them in a box? Seems so simple.
Happy Monday- XOT
Oofta, oofta, offta as my papa would say. I'm sure this may sound all scroogy like but I'm really glad the holidays have come to an end. I think the best gift was the nap I took on Christmas day in the late afternoon. The making and celebrating and shopping gets to be too much. Every year I say the same thing after it's all over....that I will get a head start next year. I hope I'm able to stick to that this time because it would help tremendously. Blah, I'm babbling here.....the point is I'm glad we're here now. A fresh new year full of possibilities and ambitious goals and change. Always change, right? I've got some big changes I need to make.....well, I should say I need to do some fine tuning of things. I'll talk more about that later this week. For now, I'd like to share a free cut design I created for my own 2013 scrapbook (Project Life). I'm not going to call it that though. No, I'm not trying to reinvent PL but I've got to make this my own if I plan on sticking it out for the year. I'm not going to worry about consecutive days/weeks. I'll do it when I'm inspired too. My theory is f I call it Project Life, I'll immediately feel that burden I felt last year. This should be a fun project, not a burden.
(transparency: LifeLovePaper, patterned paper: Crate Paper, binder + page protectors: Studio Calico, cut design: LifeLovePaper)
First thing, there had to be a photo of all of us. That just wasn't going to happen. I didn't want a crappy photo of dad trying to hold down a crazy two year old while the mom awkwardly holds the camera to snap a photo. btw, this book will contain mostly iPhone photos simply because it's easiest to capture everyday events and you can do some pretty awesome things with photo editing apps these days.
The solution was simple and brills I have to say. Who doesn't like a photo booth? The imperfect reactions and haziness...it's more than the photos. It symbolizes our little unit.
It's easy to do too. Find a plain wall, set your subject up and shoot straight on. Take several so you have options when narrowing down your choices. Don't forget to get some different expressions...makes if fun.
I edited these with the Afterglow app, sent them to my laptop, created a 3x4 blank file in Photoshop, resized the best 4 photos of each of us to fit in the 3x4 file and printed them on my Epson printer.
The cut design I created fits a 6x8 page as shown or a 3x4 pocket. You may want to use a new blade when cutting. It gets pretty detailed in some areas of the 3x4 file. Jennifer Kinkade mentions that calibrating her Silhouette helped her with cutting the intricate Ampersand from Studio Calico's Block Party digital stamp set.
Please feel free to use the cut design as you wish! But please give LifeLovePaper credit. I'd really appreciate it! And I would love to see what you end up doing with it. In fact, if you use any type of LifeLovePaper product, shoot me an email at lifelovepaper@gmail.com. I'd like to start featuring some of these here on my blog and pin them to my board on Pinterest.
The other pocket was kept simple and to the point. This is us. Our lucky year.
sidenote: I'm planning a clearance sale of all LifeLovePaper shop items. It'll be all items I have in stock...stamps will be limited. Stay tuned.
XOT
I'm alive and well! Just needed a some time away from the blog and Pinterest....well, I spent a little time on Pinterest but I needed to find some holiday recipes! It's of course busy around these parts but who isn't. And it's not just the holidays that make it busy. It puts our already busy lives into overdrive, no?
Instead of trying to remember what went on and what was made in the past weeks I was missing, I'll just dive in with my December Daily. I'm caught up through the 11th. Woohoo! Giving myself a big pat on the back.
Here's the cover. It's not really done though. I'm pretty sure the Hello paper will be replaced with a Polaroid I took yesterday. The acrylic cover is from Jamaica Makes. Love the green color and the size is perfect.
I'm missing day 1 since I can't seem to find the photo I took but here's the rest.....
Most of the journaling is done on the backside of the photographs which I printed on matte card stock.
I found a great system for keeping track of events and materials. I jotted everything down at night. That's usually when I write down my tasks or sketch designs. I knew I wouldn't be able to scrap until the weekend so if I didn't jot things down, they would be forgotten. I collected papers and elements in November and stashed them in heavy mesh bags I purchased in the office supply section at Target. I scrap 8.5 x 11 and smaller so this size works perfect for me. I ended up buying a few of these to keep future projects in. I've only been working from what's in this bag. I get distracted way too easily when there's too many choices.
There's still some smaller details I need to add like sewing and adding my Christmas list in the pocket. It makes me happy to see it sitting on my table. Even Ty flips through it. I love that.
Here's a list of my favorite things I've used so far in my DD:
The HELLO stamp from the Studio Calico Selections shop. I'm kind of obsessed with this stamp.
Letterpress + Screen Print exclusives from KP's kit.
Wood Veneer Trees + Snowflakes
Studio Calico Roller Stamp
Various tags from the Selections Shop
Papers from December's SC kit
JB perforated tabs paper (I use this on almost everything)
Hope everyone's December is treating them well! XOT
It's funny when you're the crafty one in the family, you get the task of doing the creative projects for events such as birthday parties. Not a complaint, in fact I'm flattered. Now I get to use my tools and pretty papers for something other than the norm.
My nephew's 4th birthday party is going to be a plane theme. His mom showed me a photo of a cute airplane garland that decorated the table. Easy to me, a little more intricate to her. It's funny to interact with those who are not so inclined creatively. In my minds eye, I'm already planning on how to create the garland as soon as I see the photo. She's just wanting to buy it already made. I take joy in watching my Silhouette cut paper airplanes in no time, where as she would just see it as a chore maybe. I can appreciate this about her though and other friends who don't make things. Not because they can't but they simply don't want to. I just wish I heard this more rather than "I just don't have time".
This project is even more special since it's for this little dude's big birthday bash. I watched him come into this world 4 years ago. I just can't believe that much time has passed already.
Happy weekend, xot
Happy Friday everyone! I just completed a small shop update this afternoon. My new MAKE stamp is now available. You'll receive a free screen printed MAKE tag (shown in the photo below) with the purchase of a MAKE stamp through the end of July. I've also put up some pretty sweet sample bags too.
More items will be added next week. Have a great weekend. xot
Some layouts I created for the Studio Calico CHA booth. I had the pleasure of work with the new Classic Calico and Wonderland collection. I mentioned this before but Classic Calico is always my favorite line to work with. I usually start out with a neutral piece of paper and go from there. The neutrals and patterns in this collection call to me. Wonderland is fun too. It was a bit strange trying to scrap last years Christmas photos but I think I managed ok.
And a couple of layouts for Paislee Press, Up & Away (loooove this digital kit) and Weekender (Liz's cameras are so fun to work with).
Who says boy layouts can't include doily's? Not me. :)
xot
I tested this recipe tonight with good results. It is indeed "cheap" like the title suggests using ground beef instead of the ribs or steak I would normally use in this type of recipe. I love that it calls for ingredients I always have on hand and I'm always on the lookout for a tasty ground beef recipe which personally are very few as I'm not a huge fan of ground beef.It came together quickly and guys devoured it. I served it with some stir-fried carrots and zucinni and added some toasted sesame seeds and of course, sriracha sauce. I held back the red pepper flakes the original recipe called for. I don't think Tyler's quite ready for that kind of spice.
Definitly going in the Aszmus recipe book.
xot
I've been buried under deadlines and projects this week but was able to kick it in high gear and get sh*t done. Feels good. I managed 4 layouts in 48 hours and felt pretty good about them. 3 of which will be in the Studio Calico booth next week. I'll post those soon. Loving the new lines...have you seen the preview? I'm pretty excited to see some of my photography featured in the new Handbook inserts.
Also had the pleasure of doing some custom packaging for Kelly Purkey's new shop launch. I love the geotag stamp she's created. Doing a repeating pattern of geotags and her familiar signature was my inspiration for the screen printed kraft bags and tags. Please contact me at lifelovepaper@gmail.com if you are interested in some custom work for yourself or your shop. I love collaborating!
Getting the ol' blog updated is still on my to do list. Now that I've got some of the deadlines tackled, I should be able to get this mess under control.
Happy Friday! xot
just doing some blog updating. don't mind the mess. xot
Fourth of July, 2012
9:15 pm//home
.............................
I spent an entire day with my husband and son and it was awesome. It was the kind of day where being alive and with the ones you love most are the only things that matter in life. We didn't leave the confines of our neighborhood. No shopping or errand running. No driving...well no...we did go out for a couple of lattes and a hot chocolate for the boy *. It was so relaxing. So good.
The house smells of freshly laundered sheets and lavender. The apple crisp still lingering in the air. I could bottle this and sell it, it's heavenly. I love these easy, simple summer holidays. I'm actually glad it was a little gray out. Sorry but I'm that girl. I can't stand the heat, the cool air feels so much better. I also love the sound of the fireworks and laughter in the distance although our dog is a nervous wreck.
This day was fully appreciated and needed. I hope you all had your own fully appreciated day! Happy 4th!
xot
*sidenote-Tyler experienced his first hot chocolate last week. I decided it was time for a step up in the treat department. Seeing his baby hands holding a mini to go coffee cup filled with lukewarm cocoa was the highlight of my week. #parenthood #proudtoddlermommy #mymomisadork
*photo- UGMONK. I've fallen in love with a few screen print artists, Ugmonk being one of them. Combine that some pretty rad photos and you've had me at hello. I absolutely love this photograph. It's beautiful and appropriate for my today.
The Last Call section is full of good things today! Kind of sad to see Take Note and Abroad go. Now's your chance to stock up!
To say farewell, the dt is giving away some select items. I will be giving away the wood veneer frames (used in the layout above) and the wood veneer state frames. I will choose 1 winner for both items Sunday night and will post here on Monday. Leave me a quick comment on this post. I want to know your favorite summer time tradition!
Good Luck!
