Then

Now that the month of December has started, it's only fitting that your Auntie Em's design team use Christmas-themed paper and embellishments for this month's challenge.

The collection used this month is Holly Jolly Christmas by Echo Park. It's from a few seasons ago but that just goes to show how you can find a use for past collections, even if you've past it many times in the store. Plus, it's Echo Park and how could that be bad? (It's no secret - I love Echo Park!)

Following the 2012 PageMaps calendar sketch for December, I decided to use one larger picture for this layout.

This picture brings back so many fantastic memories for me - and isn't that what scrapbooking is all about?! It was taken Christmas morning 2008 of my husband Matt holding our exactly 2-month old son Samuel. I just happened to be snapping a few pictures of papa and Sam when I saw it...Sam's first smile! Seriously. I managed to get a picture of Sam's first smile! How lucky was that??! It was such a special day to begin with but this made it even more special - my kid smiled for the first time. As any parent will tell you, this is an amazing moment that you'll never forget. Such a big moment obviously deserves it's own scrapbooking page!

I layered several patterned papers and matted the picture with the chevron pattern. I first used the Big Shot to emboss the paper with a snowflake pattern. To add some sparkle, I used Glimmer Glam in Chandelier. I also added a piece of brown trim to the bottom. Lastly, I distressed the edges of my picture and wrapped it with twine. My bow wasn't as perfect as I would have liked so I added a white brad.

The collection was accompanied by chipboard stickers and I used to the pendant in the top left of the page.

Journalling is always an important part of the scrapbooking process for me. I used the Big Shot to create my own journalling box.

Now that my husband and I are expecting our second child, I realize how fast time with Sam has gone by. It seems like yesterday that I was celebrating my first Christmas as a parent. Preserving memories through scrapbooking allows me to look back and remember these good times that fly by so quickly.

Happy scrappin'! I hope everyone has a safe and happy Christmas/holidays filled with family, friends, love and good food.

~Sarah



April showers bring ...

May flowers?  Well in this case they bring a brand new product line from My Mind's Eye; Stella & Rose!

What a wonderful collection that the Design Team got to work with this month for the Scrapbook & Cards Today/Page Maps Challenge.

  

Melissa went with a pallet rich in reds and enhanced the patterns of these papers while making her photo the central theme to this layout.  She never ceases to amaze me - she printed this photo on textured cardstock to give an allusion of canvas - ingenious!  She pulled out all the green stops with this layout, from painting the paper, to glimmer mist, to inking the chipboard letters; using Distress Ink in Peeled Paint, Making Memories paint in Meadow and Glimmer Mist in Olive Green. Her trim is from Tim Holtz rubbed down with more Distress Ink this time in Victorian Velvet, topped with a strip of Heidi Swapp bling.  The chipboard letters are Basic Grey and the brads are from the My Mind's Eye Stella & Rose collection. 

For my layout I used the same paper (that's right we had the SAME paper for this one, not just the same collection) I opted to use a stitched edge on the left and focus in more on the green and blue hues of this line.  I too used Basic Grey letters for my title.  The flowers are handmade (of course) and if you like what you see there you may be interested in attending the first every L&L flower making techniques class - just in time for spring (April 13th)  I too used Glimmer mist and Distress Inks, but I used Electric Blue and Broken China on a Glimmer chip dove, and many of the My Mind's Eye Stella & Rose collection brads.

Two very different layouts, two different styles, two different designers.  Let us know what you think of these works of art! 

Remember that all My Mind's Eye is on sale at the store for the entire month of April!

Lets see what you come up with, email your creations to EmsCreativeCorner@gmail.com and we will post them to the Fan Page on Facebook!

Thanks for looking and don't forget to become a follower and post your comments!

~Lorena~