valentines day: card ideas

already february--what?! somehow valentine's day always sneaks up on me, so this year, i'm collecting my valentines day ideas early!! i'll be posting a few v-day related posts (sorry if your anti-valentines, but i can't help it, it does have my all time favorite candy- *cough* sweethearts *cough*)
anyhow, our first post...valentine card ideas! plus one really pretty book idea.

first, shimelle with these really pretty envelopes. i never really thought about adding embellishments to the envelopes...good idea.

then, the creative cards of kristina werner. i recently discovered her blog, and i was instantly hooked. she makes some of the most gorgeous cards! i especially love her beautiful handwriting...so jealous!

and now, for that someone special who needs more than just a card...heidi swapp made this beautiful valentines book in a box. genius, and super pretty!! i have that stencil she used on the cover, but haven't used it yet, and this makes me want to create with it now!

 

i hope you found these projects inspiring to start your own valentines.
xoxo,
megan

January goals completed

for only being a month into the new year, i feel very accomplished. out of the nine goals i actually wrote done, i have completed three of them :) i'm pretty happy, and quite frankly impressed by myself.

goals completed...
-i have signed up for a gym membership and am actually going at least three times a week.
-i got a new job!! (i didn't mention that in my goal blog post, but i was really looking for a new job and i got it!) it's really a perfect job for me :)
-and i finally organized my scrapbook albums into themes. quite a task!

i'm happy and also very excited to get working on the rest :)
how are you doing on your goals?
xoxo,
megan

new gadget love - polaroid printer

i have been looking for a way to print my phone photos fast for scrapbooking and art journaling. i settled with sending them to walgreens, but i wasn't completely satisfied. then i found the polaroid pogo instant mobile printer on amazon.com. i was so excited!! after reading reviews and making sure it was actually a good printer, i ordered it :) i did the bundle pack on amazon, buying the printer and a pack of 50 photo prints (and of course i got the paper first- buzz kill). but the printer finally came...

...and i love it!! although there was a bit of a hitch, and after searching the internet, i found the answers. so for those of you who are interested, i made a pro/con list for you.


pros...
-the prints are super cute and tiny (only 2"x 3")- perfect for pages and journals!
-and bonus, the prints are on sticky back paper!
-small and portable, easy to take along
-fairly inexpensive; the paper is not ridiculously priced either, like other instant cameras
-the prints take less than a minute to come through

cons...
-is not compatible with the iphone!! see below
-the quality of print is a little lacking, but i think the outcome is unique and a bit vintage looking.

when searching and reading reviews, i did not see anything about not being able to connect with the iphone. i was mega bummed. but i learned that it is not polaroids fault, but apple's weird bluetooth restrictions. luckily, someone has already figured a way around it. it is not ideal, but i works. you can find the step by step instructions here.


after working through that problem, it worked great! needless to say, i'm pretty happy with my purchase!

xoxo,

megan

new pages :)

last weekend, i was super inspired by reading old scrapbooking magazines and the new pretty paper i purchased before. here is what i created...

"lady killer"
paper-my minds eye lime twist, basic grey; thickers-american crafts; rhinstones-michaels; brads-tpc studio

 
"kissy face"
paper-dcwv; letters-making memories fa la la collection; twine-my minds eye lime twist; embellishments-american crafts flair, making memories, michaels

xoxo,
megan

scraplifted project

most of the time i find my inspiration from online sources, but for this scraplifted project i found my inspirtation from creating keepsakes magazine. i've been browsing through old issues, since i haven't taken the time to renew my subscription this year :) i have always found it interesting to go back and look through my old issues and see what the latest trends were then, and how i can switch up once more.
anyhow...
here is a photo of the original layout...


(the layout is by Amy Tan, in case you can't read the description.)

and my finished layout...

xoxo,
megan

artist love: amy tan

amy tan is a recently love of mine. i discovered her blog and website soon after buying my first amy tangerine products. amy has such a unique style of scrapbooking and i love the fact that she started as a t-shirt designer!! i would say she has had some pretty awesome jobs :)

it doesn't take me long to spot an amy tan layout in a magazine or one of her pretty products on a page; her style is just so inspiring to me! i think my favorite part of her collections are the colors and fun elements. i can't not wait for her new collection coming oh so soon! i must have it all, especially this camera album!!

i hope you find some sort of inspiration from amy like i do.
xoxo,
megan

*all photos from amytangerine.blogspot.com*

scrapbook starting points with shimelle

shimelle from shimelle.com is starting her feature again called scrapbook starting points. she basically gives you a simple layout of papers before she puts on embellishments and photos. She lets you take the starting point and make it yours! sometimes the blank sheet is intimidating and i like having a starting point.
this is this last weeks starting point...

and my finished project...

you can post a link on her blog showcasing how you finished the starting point. shimelle gives a week (new starting points are posted on mondays) to join in on the fun! i love seeing how everyone makes it their own :)
xoxo,
megan

pencil vs. pen

 

lately i've been having a writing tool battle...pencil vs pen. in high school, i prefered a regular pencil, but when i went to college where they don't care if its pencil or pen, i prefered to write in pen. mostly pretty colored pens :) but recently i decided to give pencil a try and now i don't know which one i like better. i know, a weird topic, but its been bothering me.
pencils make that funny sound on paper, but are easy to change and sketch with. but pens come in pretty colors and write really smooth, but you have to scratch out mistakes messing up the page (unless you use white out but i hate white out- that's a whole other issue). i know...i'm odd.
do you have a favorite or must have writing tool?
xoxo,
megan

scrapbooking classes i want to join

it seems as though everyday i discover a new and exciting class i want to take....i wish i could take them all!!

art journaling at red velvet

one little word at big picture classes

digital art journaling from jessica sprague

stretch your sketch from Amy Tan and Studio Calico
xoxo,
megan

new product love

i am officially in love with amy tangerine's daybooks. after i saw my first peek at them on two peas warehouse walkthrough video, i knew i needed them. then when i went to spend one of my christmas gifts cards from scrapbooks etc. i got them--two books, die cuts, and embellishment stickers!! i am in love. did i mention that already?

 

they are just so fun and playful, and that sewing machine sticker is just the cutest!! that's going on a special project for sure!
xoxo,
megan

last first day

today marks the last first day of school. i feel bittersweet about it actually. of course i'm excited to be so close to finishing, but i also am scared for what will come after i graduate. i have no plans as to what to do...it's just wide open. that's part of the fun of being young though, right?!
xoxo,
megan

Inspirations-videos

lately i have been gathering inspiration from scrapbooking videos. i've been watching them constantly; i love them! my favorites are start to finish layouts and interesting projects with new techniques. here are my latest favorites...

heidi swapp

the adventures of glitter girl from two peas in a bucket

start to finish at two peas in a bucket
xoxo,
megan

studio organization

since i have spent my crafty gift cards from christmas, i had a bunch of new supplies that needed a home. however, my drawers were becoming stuffed. so i did a little studio clean up and re-organizing. i love re-organizing. it lets me see exactly what i have in the way of papers and embellishments, and makes the room feel pretty and ready to go!

i can't wait to start a new project now!!
xoxo,
megan

scrapbook trends: grids

I know grids have been around for ages and are a key component to design, but lately I have been seeing them a lot in layout designs. And I am loving it!!
i applied the grid design in two of my recent projects:
first, in a digital layout featuring scans of old photos of my grandpa...

then, in a 12"x12" layout using iphone photos...

 

i'm pretty happy with how they turned out :)
xoxo,
megan