Nancy's Nook

Mother's Day Layouts

2009-05-16T16:01:00.005-05:00

I have so much yard work, painting, and quilting to do that I really don't have a lot of time right now to do much scrapping. But when I saw the new releases at Sweet Shoppe Designs this morning, I found several "must have" items. And A Mother's Love Quick Page Album was at the top of the list. It's so easy to do a layout with quick pages, I had two pages done before I even ate breakfast!

The album was created by Carrie Lee with Melissa Bennett's A Mother's Love Page Kit.
I used photos from Mother's Day when we were visiting Jenny, Jarrod, and Trenton in Virginia.

I used Pea Heather font on this one. And sorry about the flowers guys, but what do you expect from an album called A Mother's Love?? Haha!

I used Pea Carrie font on this one and the Happy Mother's Day word art is a freebie from Tina Chambers.

Letters in Trenton's Nursery

2009-05-16T15:58:00.003-05:00

And here are the letters in their place on the wall in Trenton's nursery.

Letters for Trenton's Nursery

2009-05-03T18:19:00.002-05:00

I just finished painting these letters for my grandson's nursery. They kind of match the bedding in his nursery (if you overlook my wobbly lines)...haha!

Dad's Birthday Gift

2009-05-03T12:49:00.005-05:00

I did this layout at as hybrid project for my dad for his birthday. He is the middle boy in the photo and the other two boys are his brothers.

I blended 3 backgrounds from:
Irene Alexeeva - Cloud #9
Irene Alexeeva - Heart Bits
Irene Alexeeva - Reverie

Remaining Credits:
Swirl - Irene Alexeeva - Reverie
"Treasured" Alpha - Jenny Binder - English Garden
Family Tag - Irene Alexeeva - Orangina
Bow - Irene Alexeeva - Baby Doll
"Family" font - 2Peas Evergreen
"Heirlooms" - made by me with Beautiful ES font and a Super Blade Pro effect
"Sweet" Alpha - Tina Chambers - Copper Penny Alpha
"Family" Alpha - Ronna Penner - Memories of Yesterday Lite
Staples - Irene Alexeeva - Arabian Fairytale
"Memories" Tag - Irene Alexeeva - Antique Patio
Heart - Irene Alexeeva - Reverie
"Memories" Font - Echelon

Font for remaining text - Andalus

I printed the layout, sprayed it with a few coats of clear acrylic sealer and then Mod Podged it onto an 8x10 artist's canvas. Then I covered the sides of the canvas with a canvas-like fabric that matched the layout.

Here's a photo of the finished project:

And this is a side view so you can see how I finished the edges:

MCAS 2 Easter Party Layout

2009-04-23T13:47:00.006-05:00

For the past 4 weeks, I have been participating in a "Slow" scrap at Scrap Orchard and Gottapixel. Each week we were given instructions on what we were allowed to add to our layouts. Once we uploaded our layout to the challenge gallery each week, we were not allowed to move any of our photos or elements in the subsequent weeks. That part was a bit scary for me because I am always moving and tweaking things as I work on a layout.

In week 1, we were to start our layout with 3 papers and 3 photos. This is how I started my layout. I used papers from Irene Alexeeva's Junk Treasures Page Kit:

In week 2, we had to add 2 fasteners (buttons, staples, brads); 3 ribbons (ric rac, ribbon wraps, straight or folded or curled ribbons); 1 set of stitches.

I added staples and rick rack from Irene Alexeeva's Fly High Page Kit and stitches from the Junk Treasures kit.

In week 3, our instructions were to:

* Add AT LEAST 4 Decorative elements to the layout- These can include doodles, flourishes, flowers, animals, splats/spills, unique elements ect.... Whatever embellishments fit within the layout you are working on- YOU CAN NOT however add more ribbons, stiches or fastners to count toward element count for this week. (since those were prior instructions)

*Add 1 element for writing - Such as a label, tag or journaling block/mat

I added a journaling label from Irene Alexeeva's Pink Mood Page Kit. Everything else that I added came from the Junk Treasure kit.

And in the final week, we were instructed to add a title using 2 separate Alpha's and at least 4 lines of journaling.

I made my title with alphas I made from papers from the Junk Treasures kit. I used the font AL Hurried Note for "MCAS 2" and I used 2 Peas Scrumptious for "Easter Party."

I used the font Pea Karen's Print for the journaling and the date.

And here is my final layout:

Reading to Trenton

2009-04-14T21:19:00.003-05:00

I learned to read by watching over my older brother Glenn's shoulder as he read his first grade homework to my mom. I have always loved to read and passed my love of reading along to Jenny and Bradley. And now Trenton is being read to right from the time he was born. I think I have bought him more books than I have bought clothes for him...LOL! I got these photos of Bradley and Courtney reading to Trenton when he was here in March.

Freebie - Timeless Teal Page Kit

2009-04-10T00:01:00.002-05:00

When I posted the layout of Trenton yesterday, I noticed that I had posted 3 days in a row. Wow! That's a record for me...LOL! So I decided to make it 4 days in a row by giving away a freebie kit.

Hope you enjoy it! But don't expect me to make it 5 days in row...that's a record that is going to have to wait for another time :-)

You can download my Timeless Teal Page Kit here

Trenton Goes Sightseeing

2009-04-09T09:39:00.004-05:00

I am part of a group of friends who are working together to learn Photoshop Elements. My friend Jackie is a great teacher and I have learned a lot in the past few weeks.

I did this little layout as part of a lesson on cropping a photo into a shape. I plan to print this one and frame it for my mom and dad. They love seeing new photos of Trenton and Jenny is good about sending photos very often so we can watch him grow. I sure do miss him though and can't wait to see him again soon!

Credits:
Irene Alexeeva - Snips and Snails Page Kit
Font: Pea Karen's Print

No One Like a Mom

2009-04-08T00:01:00.003-05:00

Just a simple layout -- a photography group that I belong to was exchanging texture photos and I started playing around with some of them. I ended up making this backgound. I added a photo of Jenny and Trenton taken at the Easter Party for Jarrod's command. Word art is by Tina Chambers and is available in the freebie gallery at Digital Scrapbook Place.

If you would like my background, you can download it here

4 Generations

2009-04-07T17:01:00.003-05:00

Journaling reads:
On his last day in Texas, Trenton took four-generation photos with Mommy, Mimi, and Nanny and WaWa.

Credits:
Kristin Cronin-Barrow - Family Ties Page Kit
Zoe Pearn - Fresh & Festive Alpha - #4
Fonts: Berylium and Pea Karen's Print

DSP's Fab Five Birthday Celebration

2009-04-03T18:57:00.005-05:00

As a part of Digital Scrapbook Place's fifth birthday celebration, members of the SNL group are giving freebie kits during their regular Saturday night chat. See this thread for more information: http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=37633

I am giving a kit that I originally made last August for our monthly SNL challenge. I was inspired by a bedding set that my daughter had picked out for her nursery if her baby was a girl. We soon found out that the baby was going to be a boy, so obviously he didn't get pink and green ladybug bedding! But I have a scrapbook kit ready to use whenever Trenton has a little sister :-)

In addition, since DSP offers their kits in both 200ppi and 300ppi I am doing the same here.

Download the 200ppi version here

Download the 300ppi version here

Trenton - March 2009

2009-03-31T14:24:00.006-05:00

I did this layout as a summary of all of Trenton's activities for the month of March. He's so cute! It was lots of fun to work with all of these photos :-)

Journaling reads:
March was filled with firsts for Trenton. The month started off with Trenton's first snow - 4 inches of it! Trenton also went on his first airplane ride. He and Mommy and Daddy flew to Texas for his baptism. Trenton was able to meet a whole bunch of cool family members! After leaving Texas, Trenton took another plane ride to Florida for his first wedding and beach visit. One of Mommy's friends from college got married on the beach in Pensacola. Trenton also visited a few museums and historical sites in March - Fort Barrancas and The Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola and the Virginia Air & Space Center in Newport News. Trenton's busy month was closed out by meeting the Easter Bunny. Trenton is looking forward to the upcoming warm months so that he can get out and see some more new things!

Credits:
Misty Cato - Sadie & Her Sisters
Kay Miller - Cutie Patootie - Word Strips
Kristin Cronin-Barrow - Love Story - Red Flower & Brown Button
Kristin Cronin-Barrow - Family Ties - Red Heart
Heather Roselli & Amy Bleser - Hope Springs Eternal - Red Button

Font:Pea Amy Rica

Scraplifted from nikkiARNGwife: http://www.digishoptalk.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=576671

Growing Like a Weed

2009-03-26T13:05:00.005-05:00

Yippee!! Another Trenton layout done! These photos were taken when he and Jenny and Jarrod were here in Texas for his baptism. He has grown so much since we last saw him!

Credits:
Little Sprout Page Kit by Heather Roselli at Sweet Shoppe Designs
Font: Pea Amy Rica

I scraplifted from a layout by Rochelle789: http://www.sweetshoppecommunity.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=83407&ppuser=1000

Trenton's First Month

2009-03-23T12:46:00.005-05:00

When I saw Irene Alexeeva and Studio Mgl's collab kit, Treasures of the Deep, I knew it would be perfect for recording the memories of Trenton's first month. Trenton's daddy is in the U.S. Navy, so I couldn't resist using a nautical kit for the layout.

I used the video tutorial on Jessica Sprague's website to learn how to use a template in PSE: http://www.jessicasprague-m1.com/videos/CKHybrid/JSprague-CT0109-PhotoTemplate/JSprague-CT0109-PhotoTemplate.htm and her template can be downloaded here: http://www.creatingkeepsakes.com/content/view/17371/

I took my finished template and layered it onto a 12 x 12 scrapbook page and finished it off with more elements and journaling.

Journaling reads:
Trenton had a very busy first month of life. Mimi and Pops came to meet him when he was only a few hours old! JJ came out a few weeks later to spend some time with her new grandson. Trenton also met his furry new best friend, Bailey, and his super fun neighbors. He was a trouper while Mommy and Daddy went on all of their house hunting excursions to find him a new house to live in. Trenton was supposed to be born on Superbowl Sunday, but he sure was glad that he came early because he was able to go to his first Superbowl party at cousin Aiden's house! Trenton hopes that his second month is as exciting and fun-filled as his first!

Credits:
Treasures of the Deep Page Kit by Irene Alexeeva and Studio Mgl -- available at Scrapbookgraphics.com or ScrapOrchard.com
Little Sailor Word Art by Irene Alexeeva -- available at Scrapbookgraphics.com or ScrapOrchard.com
Fonts: Qwigley and Pea Amy Rica Script

More Scrapbook Pages

2009-02-11T20:03:00.007-06:00

I've spent entirely too much time the last few days doing scrapbook pages, but it's been fun. I am trying to make the switch from Paint Shop Pro to Photoshop Elements so it's been slow, but each layout gets easier and easier.

Here's one with Trenton's first photo.

Credits:
The Land of Nod Page Kit by Dani Mogstad
Brown Alpha -- by Zoe Pearn (part of Fresh and Festive Collab Kit at Sweet Shoppe Designs)
Alpha Beads by Ronna Penner

When Jenny sent me this photo of Jarrod, Trenton, and Bailey I knew it was destined for a layout. I had to do a little surgery on the photo though because Bailey was not looking at the camera. Jenny had sent several poses and Bailey was looking at the camera in one of them, so I cut his head from that photo and pasted into this one. I still had to do a little cleanup work since part of the original head stuck out under the new head.

Credits:
Rule My World Page Kit by Irene Alexeeva (kit included in the Scrapper's Guide Premier February Issue)
Brown Alpha by Zoe Pearn (part of Fresh and Festive collab kit at Sweet Shoppe Designs)
Scratch and Creasing Overlay 6 Pack by blushbutter

My First Grandbaby...and a Freebie!

2009-02-08T18:00:00.006-06:00

I am proud to introduce our first grandbaby, Trenton Brantley Smith. He is an absolutely adorable little guy! Robert and I were able to visit him and his Mommy and Daddy and Bailey (his doggie) for a week after he was born. We got to spend a lot of time hugging and cuddling him. We can't wait to see him again! Sure wish he didn't live so far away.

I made this layout using Sweet Beginnings: Blue by Penny's Miscellany and Word Jumbles: Baby also by Penny's Miscellany.

And for those of you who love the digi-scrapping freebies, I am giving another old SNL kit, Fall Into Christmas. I made this one in October 2007. Needless to say, my designing is going to be taking a back seat to actual scrapping since I plan to be spending more time making layouts with photos of our new little precious bundle. But keep watching the blog because I will still be giving freebies from time to time.

You can download this kit here

Autumn Splendor Page Kit

2008-11-20T08:04:00.005-06:00

It's been a while since I have given a freebie and I haven't had a whole lot of time to make anything new, so I am giving a kit that I made last year for the SNL challenge that I participate in every month. If you are interested in joining us and learning more about designing your own kits, click on the SNL blinkie in my sidebar.

Here's the kit:

Download here

My kit was used in a Sig Tag Tutorial

2008-09-08T08:24:00.002-05:00

I'm so excited to see that my Autumn Joy Page Kit has been used in a sig tag tutorial. Here is the finished sig tag:

And if you would like to try the tutorial, it can be found here: http://www.fromtheheartpostcards.com/mypsp/GorjussFanFiles.html

Cornucopia of Colors Blog Train

2008-09-01T00:01:00.007-05:00

I really intended to be a better blogger and release another freebie during August, but it has been a very busy month for me. I am happy to have had enough time to make a kit to participate in the ADS Designers September blog train.

And today is the release day! The members of the ADS Designers yahoogroup have been working hard to bring you this fabulous freebie. One color palette + one theme + 56 designers = one HUGE kit. And this is my contribution. I hope you all enjoy my kit and if you make a layout with it, please leave me a link to your gallery and I will showcase your layout on my blog.

Download here

Please visit the following blogs to collect all the rest of the matching kits:

Aisne http://grafx4all.blogspot.com/
Amanda http://www.mommyaddictedtoscraps.blogspot.com/
Amber LaBau http://stolenmomentsdesign.blogspot.com/
Andrea - MemoriesByScraps http://andreawhitt.wordpress.com/
Angel http://angelflyingsolo.blogspot.com/
Ann http://mumsy-meanderingsandcrafts.blogspot.com/
Beckmoore http://beckmoorescrapalittle.blogspot.com/
Beth http://lighthousedesigns-beth.blogspot.com/
Brooke & Joni http://www.ahhhscrap.blogspot.com/
By God's Design http://digibygodsdesign.biz/
Carol R http://artsygrannysdigitaldelights.blogspot.com/
cbruski http://digitalscrapfun.blogspot.com/
Charlie http://charliesdigiscraps.blogspot.com/
Chiara http://creativedigitalscraps.blogspot.com/
Crazy Diamond http://designsbycrazydiamond.com/
Deb http://thescrappincop.blogspot.com/
Debbie http://www.digital-keepsakes.blogspot.com/
Jaydensmama http://jaydensmamadesigns.blogspot.com/
Jamie http://jamiescreationsandscraps.blogspot.com/
jeannieb http://jeanniebenson.blogspot.com/
Julia http://bluetoillescrap.livejournal.com/
Kathy Goldstein http://thescraploft.blogspot.com/
Kelly http://jrzgrl189.blogspot.com/
Kimberly http://www.cityscribescraps.com/
Lei http://fairydustprincess-magicmaker.blogspot.com/
Lioness3 Legacies http://www.digitalscrapmall.com/Lioness3Legacies/blog.html
Lois http://scrappinwithladye.blogspot.com/
Lori Imel http://living4him2.blogspot.com/
Lori J http://www.scripityscrap.blogspot.com/
Lyndie http://gonescrappindesigns.blogspot.com/
Lynn http://heavenlycrafts.blogspot.com/
MagsGraphics http://magsgraphics.blogspot.com/
Mandy http://www.scrapswithspunkitude.harkinsfamilyblog.com/
Mardesia http://www.craftersboutique.blogspot.com/
Marie http://emceescraps.blogspot.com/
Melonie http://designsbymel.blogspot.com/
Merrilee http://thisnthatandscrapbookchat.blogspot.com/
Michaele http://burkhartscrapzone.blogspot.com/
Michelle Blagg http://inasunshinestateofmind.blogspot.com/
Nadine http://scrappinmammasdigitals.blogspot.com/
Nancy Schmidt http://nancyschmidt.blogspot.com/ You are here
Nora http://nbdigiscrappin.blogspot.com/
Oase http://www.pandabeardesigns.blogspot.com/
Pam http://lsoldesigns.blogspot.com/
Penny http://buzybeehive.blogspot.com
Penny http://www.alliekatcreations.blogspot.com
Rachel www.creationsbyrachael.blogspot.com
Scrappy Cat http://catstation.net/scrappycats/blog/
Shannon http://scrappyshannon.blogspot.com
Shel http://shelbellescraps.blogspot.com
Sheryl http://www.azonefordigiscraps.com
Stacy http://kalodesigns.blogspot.com/
Stephanie http://superspecialspice.blogspot.com/
Terimayo www.teristhingomyjigs.blogspot.com
Terresa http://terresasdesigns.blogspot.com/
Virginia Higgins http://ladyvdzine.com/

Zoo Spirit Collaborative Kit Freebie

2008-08-01T00:01:00.001-05:00

Today is the big day! It is the official release day of the Zoo Spirit Collaborative Kit. The members of the ADS Designers yahoogroup have been working hard to bring you this fabulous freebie. One color palette + one theme + 52 designers = one HUGE kit.

Here is my contribution to the kit. My muse took a wrong turn on the way to the zoo and ended up at the botanical garden. When she saw all the pretty flowers, no amount of begging and pleading could get her to the zoo. So my kit ended up being an elegant style that will be perfect for all of your photos of the zoo's beautiful landscaping.

I hope you all enjoy my kit and if you make a layout with it, please leave me a link to your gallery and I will showcase your layout on my blog.

Download here

And head on over to these blogs to pick up the remaining kits:

abyscraps

Amanda Truitt

Angel

A Zone for Digiscraps

Brooke & Joni

Burkhart Scrapzone (Michaele)

Buzybee Designs (Penny Lewis)

By God's Design

City Scribe Scraps

Crafter's Boutique (Mardesia)

Creations By Rachael

Creative Digital Scraps by Chiara

Creative Dreams

Deb

Debbie

Designs by Crazy Diamond

Designs by Lisa Minor

Erika (PinkuPixie)

fairydustprincess-magicmaker

Gloria's Retreat

Gone Scrappin' Designs

Heartprints Digital Designs

Kalo Designs

Kelly's Sanity Saver

Kim's Scrappin'

Lady V dZine

LBCreations: Designs by Babette

Lighthouse Designs by Beth

Lighthouse Scrapping and Harbor Designs

Lori Imel

MagsGraphics

Michelle Blagg Designs

Monica at Random Inspirations

Munchkin Scraps by Jody

Nadine: Scrappinmamma

Nancy Schmidt You are here

Panda Bear Designs

Serina,s Designz

Scrappin with Doodle

Scrappin' with Ladye

Scrappin' with Jersey Girl

Scrappy Cats

ScrappyShannon

Scraps by Shilo

ScripityScrap Designs

Share Joy

Stacey Crossley

Stellarific Creations

Stephanie

Sweetasmel

The Scrap Loft: Kathy Goldstein Designs

utski can scrap

SNL Santa Surprise Sack

2008-07-24T15:20:00.009-05:00

In conjunction with Digital Scrapbook Place's Christmas in July celebration, the SNL group is giving away some freebies during their regular chat on Saturday night.

My contribution is a kit I originally made in November 2007. Since I design at 300ppi and then convert all my files to 200ppi to meet the SNL rules, I am offering this kit in both sizes so you can choose the size you prefer.

If you use my kit to make a layout, please send me a link to your gallery and I'll be glad to show your layout on my blog.

Also included in the zip file is this plopper:

Download the 300ppi kit here

Download the 200ppi kit here

Bow Tutorial

2008-07-23T16:55:00.006-05:00

I wrote this tutorial several months ago and have seen that there has been quite a bit of interest in it from different forums and yahoo groups. Since the old SNL website where it has been hosted is going to be taking it down in a month or two, I decided to add it to my blog in addition to the new SNL website.

A discussion thread related to the tutorial remains on the DSP forum here:
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27763

This is a preview of the finished bow you can make using this tutorial:

You can download the tutorial here.

Another Peek at the New Kit

2008-07-13T14:58:00.007-05:00

This layout was also done with the kit I will be releasing on August 1. I used a template by Ann (the3chickens). It is template #4 available here: http://the3chickens.blogspot.com/search/label/Eggs-to-Share While you're there check out the rest of Ann's blog. She does a super job of hunting down all of the best freebies and sales on digi-scrapping supplies.

I also found a really cool PSP script that drastically reduces your time in making a layout from a template. It is available here: http://www.digishoptalk.com/boards/showthread.php?t=133771
The download is in post #1 and there is a mini tutorial in post #17.

SNL Scrappers

2008-07-12T10:29:00.004-05:00

I have been designing with the SNL Scrappers for about a year and a half. Once a month, we are given a color scheme and a theme. Each person then creates parts of a color-coordinated mega-kit.

Each person uploads their part to the SNL website on or before the end of the month. Then they are given access to download the parts that all the other members have created.

One member provides a tutorial each month and we hold a tutorial chat on the third Saturday of the month.

We all enjoy helping each other learn new techniques. And it's always exciting to see one of our members accepted at a shop to sell their creations.

If you would like more information about our group, click here: http://www.snlscrappers.com/ or on the blinkie on my sidebar. When you get to the site, click on the "New Member Guide" in the Site Navigation category.

Sneak Peek

2008-07-09T13:54:00.010-05:00

This layout is a sneak peek at a kit I designed as part of a Collaboration Kit with the ADSDesigners yahoogroup. The kit will be released on August 1 on the blogs of several designers. Check back here for my part.

The photos were taken when Jenny and Jarrod were on vacation in China this past spring.