Noel Mignon Balboa kit recap

Oh my goodness, I just realized that I have neglected to post my final 2 layouts using the June Noel Mignon kit, "Balboa". Ack! SO I'm going to post the final two along with the previous ones for earlier in the month.  The thing I love most about Noel's kits is that I can EASILY create 4+ layouts without skimping on paper or embellishments. So here are my June layouts, 2 of which are making their first appearance here. (If you'd like upclose pics or design details, feel free to check out the Noel Mignon blog. )

VERY soon I'll come back and fill in all the happenings from the rest of June. We went berry picking, hiking at a local state park, lots of trips to the pool, and more. Those pictures will be coming soon.

In her HAPPY place

Today is my day to post over on the Noel Mignon blog and I thought I'd share one of my favorite pics of Caroline doing what she loves best--drawing and coloring.  I got my inspiration from the photo itself as well as the green "happy" overlay found in the Balboa kit.

Have you SEEN the Balboa kit?? I love this kit so much for all it's bright bold colors and patterns and I wanted my layout to reflect that.

 

Here's the layout I shared over on the NM blog:

Also, as my scrapbooking has evolved over the years I've found that I like to focus on my photos first and foremost and let the design revolve around them. Today's layout is no different. I chose to layer 3 different patterned papers behind my picture and then bring in even more color with the top and bottom borders. Since the "happy" overlay wasn't quite the size I needed it to be, I cut away the frame and used the word as a part of my title. I'm all about making my kit work for me! Plus it's fun sometimes to deconstruct embellishments and use them in new and different ways.


Well that's all for me. Hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

8U Champs!

Hi everyone!! I've got a celebratory layout using the brand new Noel Mignon Balboa kit to share with you today.

This Spring I helped coach Caroline's softball team and we ended up winning the end-of-the-year tournament!  We'd started a tradition last summer of taking selfies before the season and before big games. So Caroline and I took a selfie BEFORE the championship game (the one on the left) and then AFTER the game when we'd won the whole tournament. She was so excited to win a medal! It was a super fun moment, one I'll always remember, and I'm so glad we got to share it together!

  

I kept the color scheme pretty simple, and chose to highlight the pictures, the fun green and yellow embellishments as well as the black chalkboard elements that come in the Balboa kit. I love the the chalkboard adds texture to go along with the brads, rub-ons, and the different printed patterns. I had fun making this one. Be sure to check out the Noel Mignon blog to see what the other designers are doing with this kit too!

Hope you have a great weekend!


ETA--linking up with the August Paper Issue, Admit ONE. Check out this issue here.

Carousel kit review

So it's the end of May and I've only shown you half of my Noel Mignon projects. So I thought I'd do a quick run down of ALL this month's work using the Carousel kit. One thing I love about Noel's kits is that THEY. ARE. PACKED with product! I don't think I've ever created this many layouts and projects with just one kit. And I haven't fully used it up yet! Craziness. Here's peek at what I got done this month before I move on the the super colorful Balboa kit. (Hurry, it's still available and I have a feeling it's going to be well-loved at my house. ;)  )

Carousel wrap-up:

 "Friends Always"

 "Being Intentional"

 "Life is Beautiful"

"Love You"

 and a Carousel card trio:

 

To see close-up details of any of these projects, be sure to check out the Noel Mignon blog for each of my posts.  I'll be back tomorrow to share some fun pics of our Memorial Day weekend, some fun end-of-school shots, and a fun little announcement.

Hope you're having a great weekend!

Embracing the Camera

I'm up on the Noel Mignon blog today with a Mother's Day layout inspired by the Embrace the Camera movement on Instagram.

The ETC movement initiated from a blog post written Ashley Ann the author of the Under the Sycamore blog. Ashley Ann encouraged moms to jump in the pictures WITH their kids--no matter what their hair looks like, even if they don't have on make-up or what the house looks like--but to GET IN THE PICTURE! It's those memories of everyday activities, that the kids will want to remember when they look back through our albums one day. On Instagram those pictures are hashtagged with #embracethecamera.

So I've taken that challenge and have tried to be more intentional about getting in pictures with my kids. THEY love selfies, so that's what we do.  I've also tried to mix up the scenarios a little bit by taking a selfie of all of us in carpool or laying in the grass (that's what these two pictures are of). And if I admit it, I really do like that I'm forcing myself to capture these shots too. I like seeing myself with my kids in our everyday environments, or just being silly with them.  So here's my layout of 2 of our #embracethecamera selfies.

"Being Intentional"

Details about the layout: I used a neutral palette with the pops of blue from the Carousel kit (sorry, sold out) to create a fun whimsical LO. Keeping with an Instagram theme, I layered my layout on a white cardstock border, added a few mists to the kraft paper and lots of hand-drawn squigglies around the pictures and edges.

SO, This Mother's Day weekend, I want to encourage you to get out there and Embrace the Camera with your family--your kids, your mother, and other generations if you have them. I really believe it's a big deal to leave a legacy for our kids, and what better way to evidence it than by taking a picture with them. Go. Embrace the Camera. Capture your memories. Love on your family!

Love you!

Today is my first post on the Noel Mignon blog, and I get to wrap up "May flowers" week with a layout I created using some non-traditional flowers. I layered several embellishments from the Carousel kit to create my "flowers".

Here's a peek at the Carousel kit: 

  And here's my first layout using it:

 

 At first glimpse you may not SEE the flowers, but up close can see them in more detail.

Here I created 2 layered non-traditional "flowers" to go along with the newsprint vellum flower from the kit.  To get the first layered flowered look I used a MME green flower sticker and 2 MME chipboard buttons. For the second layered "flower", if you can call it that, I hand-cut the pink hearts from the Glitz Carpe Diem paper and layered it underneath the wood veneer sentiment.  

The third layered flower is on the other side of the photo, and again I stacked a coral MME sticker with two MME buttons.

In case you haven't snagged your Carousel kit yet, I heard a rumor that there was ONE left in the shop.  Sorry, it's now sold out. But it's also not too late to sign up for a 6-month subscription to Noel's fabulous kits.

Thanks for letting me share! Hope you have a fantastic weekend!