A Heartwarming Memorial Day

Posted on May 27, 2013 by Jana Eubank

Each year we get together as a family and take flowers to the gravesites of our loved ones that have gone on before us. We talk about our family history, patriotism, and the gratitude we feel for our servicemen and women protecting our freedom. I am so grateful to be an American, and grateful for the sacrifices that our servicemen and women and their families make to protect our rights.

Last year, while we were visiting the cemetery I mentally took a step back. I looked out across the cemetery at ALL of the cars and families there visiting. It was heartwarming to see so many people there, gathered together with their extended families remembering their loved ones. Some families were on blankets telling stories about their family members and discussing their pioneer history and I just felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude to live in a town where people stop and take the time to REMEMBER. To appreciate. To pay tribute.

I created this layout of our photos from last year’s Memorial Day along with my feelings. I used the May 2013 Scraptastic “After the Storm” kit and Add-On. I love that Jessica includes two of a few of the cardstocks so that you are able to create a double-pager if you would like. I think sometimes we forget that we don’t need two of every patterned paper to create a double pager … you just have to get a little creative with your cuts.

For example, I knew that I could cut sections out of the multi-floral paper to use on both sides of the page because the pattern isn’t directional. Meaning, I can use it both horizontally and vertically and the pattern appears the same. I cut other patterns into blocks, grouping photos together on each of them, and pieced everything together. Keeping the margins the same across both pages keeps the continuity. I also stretched a band of striped paper across both pages to “connect” them together.

I handcut additional yellow butterflies from the patterned paper and popped them up with foam squares. The enamel dots added to the butterfly centers and arrows add another layer of dimension.

I had fun adding little pops of washi tape here-and-there.

Thanks for stopping by today! See you again soon!

Birthday 2-Pager

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Jana Eubank

Hello Tuesday Readers! I’m back with another page featuring photos that I have been ignoring for awhile. Hehe! I’m starting to call these “Get ‘Er Done!” pages in my head while I’m working on them (said in my best tow truck Mater voice). Hmmmm. Maybe that will become a weekly feature on this ol’ blog of mine … who knows?

SWEETIE PIE

I “shopped my stash” on this one pulling out an older collection by Echo Park Paper called Summer Days. I used mostly the “B” sides and a few striped paper strips. The banner sticker, word stickers, and journal blocks are also from this collection.

The hearts are inexpensive, glittery foam hearts that I picked up at Michael’s last year. They don’t even have a company name on them to give credit to, but they sure look girly and cute on this page.

The “Sweetie Pie” title and pie are from the Silhouette store. I cut them using my Cameo machine. The layered circles, cupcake, and ice cream (Sweet Shop Cartridge) were cut using my Cricut Expression. I embossed the white layer of the circles with my Cuttlebug machine and the Swiss Dots folder.

I added texture to the cupcake paper with my crimping tool.

Thanks for coming by today! Tomorrow I’ll be back with a few wintry projects created with my Cricut. I hope to see you then!

Playing Around with the Cricut Paisley Cartridge

Posted on January 7, 2013 by Jana Eubank

I have quite a few pictures that I need to get caught up on for our family scrapbooks and am hoping to fiercely tackle that list in 2013. I keep a little flip notebook on my desk where I write down sets of photos I want to scrap. This way I can browse the list for pictures that might fit a particular paper line that I need to work on for a design team project, or find a set of photos that matches the mood I am in that day. Admittedly, I have been ignoring this next set of photos from August 2010. It was a great memory, but I always struggle to find a “pretty” way to scrapbook photos with so many colors and people in them. I just never know exactly where to start!

In the of a New Year and new beginnings, I sat down one day and decided to tackle them. I grabbed some pretty papers from the Carta Bella Alphabet Junction line and started layering.

I began with the attitude of not really caring whether I liked the end-result or not … I just wanted to get them DONE and in my book. (Please tell me I’m not the only one that feels this way about scrapping from time to time. ) But as I went, I actually ended up having fun with these photos and I like how it came together.

I can’t exactly remember where I picked up these chipboard letters … I think they were a random find at WalMart several years ago. But I had fun dressing them up a bit with a tiny polka dot background stamp by Doodlebug Design.

I wasn’t sure what to accent this page with to pull everything together. At first I was thinking of finding an image of a microphone to add to the end of the title and then sprinkling a bunch of stars around the page. I started browsing my Cricut cartridges and found these cute puppies on the Paisley cartridge doing their tricks. I love the one with a hula hoop! So cute! I knew he would add a cute a whimsical touch … and animals always look cute on kid pages.

Yay! These photos are now DONE and marked off my list. Thanks for letting me share! Now to start brainstorming for that next set of pictures ….

Until next time!

A Few Last Christmas Projects

Posted on December 28, 2012 by Jana Eubank

I’ve been wrapped up in the bliss that is called the holiday season. Our Christmas was wonderful and cozy and I have loved every minute of it … well, except for the touch of flu I have been experiencing. But even that has been bearable knowing the kids and family have been enjoying Christmas.

Among the swirl of parties and celebrating, I have neglected to post a few last Christmas projects. And even though Christmas is old news now, I thought you still might like to see them.

Last year I decided to start doing the 12 Days of Christmas for my kids on the twelve days leading up to Christmas day. I created doorhangers last year, and decided that I wanted to do the same thing this year, but I wanted to make them slightly larger. I found this December Doorhanger file on SVG Cuts. It was perfect! I simply cut it out and added a few doodads. All supplies are leftover goodies I have from Christmas collections/kits from the past couple of years.

The great thing about this file is that you could cut it in wintry blues/purples/whites, place a goodie in side and then leave it on someone’s doorstep in January. I love when designs are versatile like that.

The Nutcracker comes from the Clara’s Christmas Eve set by SVG Cuts. I couldn’t wait to make him! He took about 2.5 hours to cut out and assemble, but I had so much fun making him, I didn’t even care! He kept us company in the kitchen throughout the holiday season.

Finally, I have a two-page layout to share with you. These are pics from last Christmas. My kids sleep out under the Christmas tree every year on the 23rd. I look at these pictures and wonder if they will keep it up as teens and adults … Who knows? … maybe one day they’ll still be there on the 23rd with their spouses and children. Hee!

All products are from the My Mind’s Eye Winter Wonderland Collection.

The buttons look so cute on the folded Christmas tree (created from THIS cut file by SVG Cuts). The chipboard presents fit perfectly under the tree and the snowflake pieces balanced out the other page perfectly.

Just a heads up … you might not see me around here over the next week or so until the kiddos go back to school. We are having my family over this Saturday for our Christmas party and then it will be New Year’s. Can you believe that it is almost 2013?! Where does the time go?

Have a Happy New Year and I will see you again soon!

Magical Memories

Posted on July 27, 2012 by Jana Eubank

Hello, friends! Are you gearing up for another great weekend? I’ve been on a roll lately scrapping some family vacation memories and today I have a Disney page to share. Typically, when people think of scrapping their Disney pages they reach for the red/white/black/yellow colors that are so iconic of Mickey Mouse. This time, I took my inspiration from the bright colors of Disney cartoons, instead. So what makes this page feel “Disney” . . . how about a magical, Cricut castle cut?!

The castle cut is from the Wrap It Up Cartridge anchored on an oval created with the Cake Basics Digital Cartridge. Stars act as a great supporting element to the castle cut! The felt star stickers are oldies, but goodies. I updated them a bit by adding plastic stars on top of them.

I added circle mats to the circular pages on the left page with the Cake Basics cartridge. The “Magical” letters were cut using Martha Stewart All Occasions Cake Art Digital Cartridge. The banner image from the Jubilee cartridge was stretched on my Gypsy Design Device and used to house the word “memories” (cut with the Billionaire Digital Cartridge). All of my other page accents were items that I had in my stash. I used my Cuttlebug Machine to emboss a few layers of the castle with the Swiss Dots embossing folder.

See the “Remember” tab stamp? I created that myself! Woot! Woot! Last year I bought the Teresa Collins Stampmaker from HSN.com and I had yet to try it out. Ummmm . . . LOOOOOOVE this thing!!!! I am totally addicted now! It took me a few tries to get the hang of it (didn’t quite figure out that I had to “flash” the back of the stamp first for the smaller pieces to stay put), but I can’t wait to create more stamps!