Meow - One Page Scrapbook Layout

 I typically scarp two page layouts, but sometimes there just aren't enough pictures to warrant a two page spread. 

We were taking care of our youngest son and DIL's kitties while they were out of town. The grands got a kick out of playing with the kitties. 

This is a super simple layout using WeRMemory Keepers "Just Chillin" and Premier "The Optimist", along with some miscellaneous card stock and StampinUp's photo corner punch to add a little additional blue to the layout. That's it!

Thanks for checking out my layout.

This is Life - Two Page Scrapbook Layout

 Vacations are the best! Who wouldn't wish to be on vacation all the time? Obviously, not a very realistic dream, but they tell me there is this thing called retirement which will be coming some time. The older we get, the more we look forward to enjoying each day to the fullest and not having a daily alarm and work schedule. 

Here's a another sunny layout from our Lake Michigan long weekend getaway in September 2018. 

Most of the paper is We R Memory Keepers. I had fun finding some Cricut images to add to the page. Probably could have added some more things, but the paper itself had a lot going on.

What a beautiful day! Not a cloud in the sky, and that beach!! It was a little bit chilly, but who cares with a view like this!

These pics could probably be taken anywhere on Michigan's west coast, but I believe this was in Holland while we were there with Mark's siblings.

Matching paper makes it so easy to layer up a layout. Everything matches and you really can't go wrong.

Hope this brings a little sunshine to your day!
 

Toes in the Sand - Two Page Family Beach Layout

 Here's another layout from our extended family gathering in Holland, MI, 2018. The west coast of Michigan is one of our favorite places!! We can get up there in 3-5 hours depending how far north we go. It's beautiful any time of year. The beach town options are endless! The more I talk about it, I want to pack up and go right now, but we still need to work for a living. 😄

This layout features us hanging out with my husband's siblings and spouses. We have the best time together!!!!!! It feels like we never have enough time together, even if we are just sitting around chatting and catching up. We don't have to be some place beautiful or glamorous to enjoy being together! 

We're old so we usually have to do several takes before we get a good group selfie, especially with the wind blowing. It makes it all the more fun and memorable!

The cute Kraft paper banner is one that I had in my stash, but I failed to write down the brand. I thought it looked nautical and played off the distressed paper from WeRMemory Keepers and the wavy American Crafts strip. One is very distressed and the other is quite clean and crisp, but I like they play play nicely together.  I used a journaling stamp and punched it out with a larger circle punch.

As I look at this page, there are a few things I would have done differently. I'm my own worst critic, but I have learned a few things in the last 4 years. My main regret is that the layout feels a bit unbalanced. I think another strip of paper under the pics on the right would help.

Hope you are all having a great week! I will be posting several more lake MI layouts so come back and see me soon!

Waiting for Sunset - Two Page Summer Family Layout

 I've had a crazy busy summer. I've been away on business for two separate weeks, followed by some vacay days. It's been crazy, but mostly good! Hope your summer is going well.

So many fun summer layouts to share with you, so I'm going to get right to it. We had a long family weekend in Holland, MI on Lake Michigan four years ago! I can't believe it's taking me so long to post, but hey...you're probably not shocked.

Ugh...I didn't put the date on here but it was summer of 2018 based on the other layouts I will be sharing later. This paper and journaling tag came from a really cool distressed pack of paper from We R Memory Keepers. The scalloped yellow chevron banner is a paper banner by Heidi Swapp. I love how they match perfectly even though they are different brands. In addition, I added some random paper flowers from my stash.

I love all the people in these photos and the wonderful memories they bring back. Our family dynamics have changed dramatically since then. Sometimes that makes it very hard to post my layouts, but I'm choosing to dwell on the happy memories that I've documented with love. The photos of the kids playing on the beach and the anticipation of the beautiful sunset makes me smile.I really like the way it turned out and seeing all of the smiles of my beautiful family.  

 I have not felt very productive or motivated lately. I need to break that trend! When I get home from work, I make so many excuses to just not do anything, "I'm tired", "My eyes are stressed", "I need to make dinner"...you name the excuse and I've probably used it.  Then I end up doing basically nothing. Tell me all your secrets to change my lazy habits!! :)

Waiting for Sunset - Two Page Lake Michigan scrapbook layout

 Time for another Lake Michigan sunset? It's always time for a good sunset...no matter where you are when the sun says it's final goodbye for the evening. These are great memories from a family trip we took a few years back. 

The kids were clowning around in the sand as we waited for the magic to happen on the horizon. We were taking selfies together and enjoying each others' company. 

Both patterned papers and journaling tags are from a stack of beachy paper from We R Memory Keepers. I added some miscellaneous flowers and a Heidi Swapp scalloped paper banner. Using a few wallets helps to work in more pictures. 

Hope you are all enjoying your summer!! I haven't scrapped in awhile. I could use a little crafty time to ease my mind. How about you? Do you get much crafting done in the summer weeks? 

West Maui Mountains - Two Page Maui Layout

 Hello on this happy first day of  December!! Can you believe it? This year has seemed so long and hard, but some how it has flown for me. Here we are 24 days from Christmas. Ready or not, it is coming.

I'm still enjoying sharing all of my layouts from our amazing Hawaii trip last year. It's time to share some more sunshine with you.

What a beautiful day this was. Of course, every day was beautiful! These pictures were from another day of explorations through the West Maui Mountains. The vegetation is so beautiful and lush, and the rainforest type atmosphere was fun to experience.

I used a large floral tropical paper from Kaiser Craft's "Paradise Found" collection for the background and added a layer of a peach which had a much smaller pattern to highlight the photos also from Kaiser Kraft "On this Day". I almost always matt all of my photos. It makes them pop off the patterned papers that I love to use. I used some orange travel washi and journaling cards and chipboard (WeRMemory Keepers "Jet Set")  tucked under the tape along with small title letters with woodgrain design.

I cut some pennants for the right and stamped a directional arrow (Close to My Heart) to add a little detail as well as some twine around the travel cards. I need to use stamps on my pages more often! I have so many that would be appropriate for scrapbooking!

There are a total of 6 digital size pictures here. I love using this size, especially with vertical pictures. They leave enough room at the top and bottom to add some design to the page.

Thanks for looking! I have lots more Hawaii layouts to share in addition to some layouts from Christmases past! Tis the season! Have a great rest of the week!