A Good Bye and a Thank You

 Hey there!  Happy weekend!  This is a mighty hard post for me to write.  After MUCH thought I have made the tough decision of stepping down from the Noel Mignon Design Team.  It really is for no other reason than me wanting to stretch my wings in other areas of scrapbooking.  I truly owe Noel a grand THANK YOU for having faith in my abilities as a scrapbooker.  I truly have found my style in using Noel's Kits.  They have allowed me to try so many different styles and also helped me settle into the one I am now comfortable in.  She packs her kits to the brim and I tell you, there is nothing that goes unused.  And although I will not be a part of the Design Team anymore - I will still be hanging around the boards.  I get so much inspiration from all of you and the chatter there is truly a c"comfy" fit for me.

  Before I go, I want to share with you some of my favorite Noel Mignon layouts.

  I wont bore you with anymore - because I have lots of favorites. :)  Again, I just want to thank you Noel for such a wonderful ride and I have enjoyed every moment.  To my fellow DT  members - muuwahhh Love you all!  

Have a wonderful weekend!

Michelle

Happy Thursday!!

 

So hello there!  This day has flown by already (hence the late post) but I wanted to share a layout I did with the latest Noel Mignon kit (Office Party Kit) - get yours Here.

Ok - this seems to be the way I do things now.  I LOVE die-cut papers and this one is no exception.  My problem is that I don't always love the pattern inside.  This wasn't the case - but I also needed something else in the layout without competing with the shape.   So I simple traced the shape onto the Jillibean Soup paper and trimmed it out about half and inch inside what I traced.  This allowed it to fit inside of the shape instead of being the same size.

I made the flower from the pattern paper that was also included in the kit.  I used a flower punch for the center and one of my own Jenni Bowlin buttons for the center.

And then using the Basic Grey rubons as more of an embellishment by overlapping them - I really liked this!  I also brought out my page punch and used it for the Pink Paislee paper, tucked under that was a Basic Grey diecut sticker.

I know I didn't focus on one technique - but I thought it would be fun just looking at different aspects of my layout.  I love learning how and why people put things together.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Michelle

A Scraplift

  Happy Wednesday!  I have a scraplift to share with you today.  I decided to scraplift this one by Jules (theblingprincess).  Love everything about this.

My take is a little different - but it was definitely inspired by this layout.  I used bits and pieces from different Noel Mignon kits.

You can't really tell in this photo but I added a lace look to the black part of the cardstock.  

I also added some bling to the "lace"

That's all I have for now - have a wonderful day!

Michelle

A Sketch for you!

Hello and good morning!  I have a quick sketch to share with you today.  I based it on the latest Noel Mignon challenge which was to not use any pattern paper - I KNOW!  Hard right?  Here is the layout I came up with.

I used a 2009 collage that I have been intending to scrap - I think this was the perfect opportunity - hee!

Here is the sketch based on the layout

Hope you have fun with it!  Have a wonderful Monday!

Storage Tips

Happy Weekend!  We will be celebrating my daughter's birthday this weekend so we will be having a good time.  Hope you will be doing something fun as well!

I have a couple storage tips that I use the help to keep me organized.  Nothing new - but it is what works for me.  I have a small but long (runs under the stairs) scrap space and so I need to try to use the space as best as I can.  I use the top shelf to store things like ribbon, sprays, mini books, etc.  Here is how I store my ribbon.

I have LOTS of ribbon. And a long time ago I started collecting these jars (from target) and now I have one for every color - I think there are a couple off to the left that you can't see.  I have an extra large jar for all of my pink ribbon.  I love this because I can easily see/grab what I want without having to go through a bag of ribbon (which is what I had years ago).  I have a few spools to the right that I keep that way - they are my satin ribbon that I love.

Another way I like to save some space is by putting many of the things I don't use all the time but may take up space.

I used to have all of these things on a shelf on display - well except for the the chipboard and the mini books.  But They just weren't getting used that much and I would rather have things that I use more frequently at reach.  So, I put them in these containers that I bought at Michael's/  All of my sprays/mists are in one container.  Chipboard pieces that are not minis are in the second container.  Then I have mini books that I buy and I KNOW I will use someday - they have a nice home in the third container.  And then,  all my lovely paint that I think my daughter uses more than I do is at the bottom.  I used some cute Creative Imginations label stickers to label them.

I know this isn't anything new, but it is what works for me.  And, I always like seeing what and how others organize their spaces, especially small spaces like mine.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Citrus Inspiration

Happy Friday!  As I was coming up with a color inspiration for today all I could think of is citrus colors.  You know lemons, oranges, limes?  So perfect for this time of year.  So here are some images I found to inspire...


And really just check out this party from Pen and Paper Flowers - GORGEOUS!  And so inspirational

And then here is the layout I created...

All items are from the Sun Kissed kit!  Really a perfect fit for this color combo!

Have a wonderful Friday!

Multi Photo Layout

So it is no surprise that I love taking photos.  I take a lot and not all of them make it onto my scrapbook pages.  An easy way to make them all "fit" on your page is to use the contact sheet menu in photoshop.  You can add and delete rows to make your photos bigger or smaller.

For my whitespace layout I wanted to use the parade photos that I took on one of visits to Disneyland.  There is nothing better than Disney photos because they are always so bright and pretty. 

Alyson was in front of me for the parade and with the lense I had and the lack of room to move - I was very limited in the photos I could take of her watching the parade.

Since 2 of the shots I have of her were from behind I layered them with the other parade photos.

To balance the layout I added a photo I took of her that day to the top of the layout.  And to 'ground' it even more I added my journaling there. 

Hope this helps you in scrapping those multi-photo layouts.  Thanks for stopping in!

Friday Color Scheme

Good Morning!  I hope you are enjoying the weather where you are because it is is nice and summery here:)  Today I have a color scheme to share with you today.  It is perfect for the sun-kissed kit - bright and sunny!

And here is the layout I made using these colors.

Everything but the black cardstock came from the sun-kissed kit.

The stamps I used for the grass and the tree are from My Favorite Things.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Michelle

Intro - Michelle Lanning

Hello there!  Michelle Lanning here and I am SOO glad to be back for another term with Noel Mignon.  I truly believe that these kits have allowed me to find my style in scrapbooking - so for that I am thankful - oh and as well as being able to play with the kits as well! heee!

I am a mom to Alyson - my princess that keeps me busy and drives my creative juices.  I teach when I am not crafting and have been doing so for the last 10 11 years.  I love to take photos, sew, and decorate my home.  My newest hobby is repurposing furniture, clothes, really anything I can find a use for.

                         

What's your favorite technique right now?

Right now I would say my favorite technique is pleating paper - odd I know - but it adds the perfect amount of dimension to a layout for me. 

I also love using coffee filters!  They are perfect for making flowers or even a border!

                                  
What part of creating a page do you enjoy the most?
    I honestly love creating each and every part - but if I did have to pick one element it would be embellishments!  Really I think it is like putting on the earrings and necklace of the layout.  When they are all put on and fit the layout - then I feel real happy. :)

What is one thing about scrapbooking that frustrates you?
  I think the most frustrating thing about scrapbooking is not producing my 'vision' for the page I am creating.  Now let me calrify by saying that usually my pages turn out different than what I envisioned - but I like it more.  But there are times when I make a left turn into a dead end.  It seems like the only way to save it is to scrap it --- but I don't and I won't - I just get through it and move on to the next!



Once again, I am so glad to be here and be back!  I can't wait to continue creating with Noel's beautiful kits!  I blog here and would love you to visit!

Michelle

Happy Firday!!

  Good Morning!  I was supposed to share a layout based on a sketch - but I am changing it up a bit.  I am going to share a my challenge layout.

To do something a little different with the pattern paper I cut a 10x10 (I think) square in the middle of the scalloped paper.  I really like the way it came out - may use the technique again!

The week in the life challenge is a popular one - one that I just couldn't be counted on to use my big camera - so instead I opted to use my iphone.  That way whenever I would remember - usually in the middle of the workday - I would dnap a photo and I was done!  I didn't think too much about it either.  I just took a photo and knew that it would represent something about that day.  From what I wore, to what activites we were doing.

When it came time for a title I didn't want to name it 'a week in the life' so I wnet with first letter for each day of the week, then my sub-title is 'a week in MY life'

I honestly couldn't decide which pattern paper to use so I decided to layer a bunch of them.  I also used my go to technique of folding paper - it is an easy way to add dimension and texture to a layout.

And instead of the traditonal journaling that I like to do I just listed one or two words to describe what was going on.

Hope this was inspirational for you - I know I always like knowing what the ideas behind the design of a page were.  Have a lovvely weekend!

Michelle