Gosh, has it really been about a month since my last post?  I'm ashamed of myself!  I seemed to have had a dormant month of June.  Inspiration wise, job-wise, scrapbooking wise....

I was not completely unproductive though.  I created in my own little world.  I worked on a few things for our wedding, I did scrapbook a little (my creative teams keep me on task!) and I beaded a lot.  I also created another cake for my fiance and his co-worker for their successful completion of another year of Star Wars Weekends at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Okay, so a few pictures, right?

I'm on Micheline Martin's creative team, which I just love because I adore her designs.  I created this little 3x3 Maya Road chipboard album using her Colourful World kit.  I scrapped my trip to Disneyland with my fiance from May 2007.

I managed to get a few layouts done too but I'll highlight my 2 favorites.  One is "Pay It Forward" about a handmade bronze heart pendant 2 artists gave me as a gift at a bead show I went to and the other is a kind of engaged at Walt Disney World layout I made after my future sister-in-law got engaged in a Disney way 2 weeks after I did!  So we had some fun trying on the bridal minnie ears in the park and I decided to scrap a layout with the photo.

That's it for now.  I have some fun kits in the works that hopefully I'll have done this week!  So I'm back and I'm designing and scrapping and more....  See you soon!

I've been finding I get a lot of joy out of creating kits lately.  So I'm proud to present my latest two:

JONESING

Inspired by a popular movie that recently hit the theaters!

And of course a fashion inspired kit.  It's great for the fashionita inside that needs to get out and scrap!  It's not for the faint of heart but if you're daring and love bold elements and vibrant colors it's for you!

ICONIC

I'll be sending out a special offer in my newsletter for these kits soon so be on the lookout and make sure you're signed up for it!

And here's a layout I created with Jonesing.  The photo is of my fiance and me with another couple.  We're in front of the Indiana Jones 4 movie poster (Kingdom of the Crystal Skull).

Have a great week!

For anyone who doesn't personally know me I'll fill you in a bit on my life - I'm considered by my friends, family and more importantly, myself, to be a highly creative person.  Not just in scrapbooking, but in anything I do.  Long series of my life's events shortened, I have a job that does anything but allow me to exercise my creative mind.  In fact, I'd argue it sucks the creativity out of me.  To keep this very important creative side of my brain in check (and quite frankly, to keep me sane) I scrapbook any time I can when I'm home and during lunch hours at work.  I also engage myself in jewelry making, cake decorating and I really enjoy making invitations for events, most recently my engagement announcements and soon my wedding invitations.  I thrive on creativity so I'm certain others will be able to relate when I say that not having creativity  [or fill in the blank to relate to your own situation] in my life really affects my optimism, energy and overall mood. 

I constantly look for inspiration from others to keep up my creative mind even when I get depressed about my job (which is often).  So while browsing the pages of Amazon for books I came across "Wreck this Journal" by Keri Smith.  I've heard of this before but never really looked into it.  I think I may do it.  That is besides the point and maybe a topic for another post. 

I took a look at her website and I've been enjoying navigating through it.  Here's a link to Keri's Site and her blog.

I also found this comical "10 Rules" to make you feel like a miserable artist.  If you consider yourself an artist in any way, shape or form I think you may enjoy it.  It's from a blog post in March of last year.

On that note, I hope you create something today and think out of the box!  Don't let your job or others define you.  Have a good Tuesday.  :-)

I was in Barnes and Noble a few weeks ago and was flipping through an artistic blog magazine.  I was inspired and amazed at the creativity that's out there.  (This is nothing new, I just love that I can be continually amazed by the new ideas and originality that's out there in a world that sometimes seems like everything's been done before.)  I think many people look at certain art pieces and think, "Oh well I can do that."  But here's the thing....did you come up with the idea?  I don't think paper cutting is a new art by any means but a new twist on it or interpretation of the art form is something to be admired.

So when I was flipping through the magazine I came across Sherill Ann Gross's blog, called Sagworks.  Here are some photos of her work which she appropriately calls "Cut Paper Illustrations," all done with paper, x-acto knives and adhesive:

HULA GIRL

SEED

I've noticed that many stores extended their National Scrapbooking Day celebration well beyond this past Saturday.  I had menitoned on a number of forums that I would have a blog freebie and challenge and I like to keep my word!  Though I could not put the freebie up on May 3rd due to personal reasons, I definitely wanted to offer it to you now!  (See the end of this post.)

Additionally, I have a simple challenge for you with a chance to win a gift certificate to my store.

All you need to do is scrapbook a layout about why you scrapbook using any of my products, including freebies.  Post a link to your layout by May 15th, 8pm EST and I'll pick a random winner!  Maybe you love the creative outlet or simply want to share your story with others or perhaps your children.  Whatever the reason may be I want to know!

Also, I have a new kit in the store.  Nautical Mile is 20% off for 2 days only.  Sale ends Friday evening.  If you love the beach, enjoy boating or sailing or dream of going to the shore you'll love this jam-packed kit.  It has over 15 papers, an alpha and over 25 elements.  I even included a BONUS nautical flag alphabet! 

Nautical Mile {kit}

Jute Pulls

One last thing.  I have a new alpha in the store as well, Doodly Do Alpha 1.  It's my first alpha that includes international characters.  Let me know what you think!

Happy scrapping everyone!