Project Life

Welcome to another week of Project Life at Elle's Studio!   How are things going with your Project Life album?  Have you made some exciting discoveries about this method of documenting?  Are there things you struggle with?  We would love for you to share your thoughts with us!

This week's Project Life covers the week of January 16-22.  There is only one word to describe this week in our household: chaos.  I am sure you have weeks like this.  Just as we all have normal, everyday, boring weeks, there comes those weeks that are pure craziness.

A day off of school, my father-in-law was in town for a visit, heavy work loads, my husband was out of town for a day, a field trip, sick kids, an unexpected trip to the ER-- yes, all in seven days.

Since this week was really busy, I used one of Elle's Studio "This Week Lil Snippets" on my date insert.  This tag provides room for a brief overview of the entire week (or you can select one day to journal about).  I usually like to include an overview of the week somewhere on my layout, and this is a perfect way to accomplish that.

As I mentioned, we had an unexpected trip to the ER this week (everything is fine now).  Once things settled down a bit that evening, I snapped a few iPhone photos.  At the time, I felt funny doing taking photos, but I am so glad I did.   I had a few instagram photos from the evening, and I used a We R Memory Keepers 12x12 photo pocket page that holds nine 4x4 photos for these photos.  I trimmed the page down to hold four 4x4 photos.  I ended up being the perfect insert.

On the opposite side of the insert I included only one photo and used the rest for journaling.  I had previously written a blog post about our night in the ER and used that post as my journaling portion.  I decided, however, to handwrite the journaling instead of printing it out on the paper.  There are times I like to handwrite, and times I like to print, but this particular story I wanted in my own writing.

I included a few favorite quotes from the week on the journaling cards.  I also included a journaling card written by my husband (I also love seeing his handwriting in our Project Life book).

Congrats to Melissa, the winner of last weeks giveaway!  Please send an email to info@shopellesstudio.com with the following information.
Name:
Address:Contest:  January 24 Project Life

We have another giveaway this week! Leave us a comment here for a chance to win a $15 prize pack from Elle's Studio.  We will announce the winner next Tuesday on our Project Life post.

Project Life was created by Becky Higgins as a way to simplify how you document life and preserve memories. Photo pockets used in my Project Life album are created by Becky and can be found here.  You can read of all the Elle's Studio Project Life posts here.

InLinkz.com

A Love Story Inspiration

Hi everyone!  I hope you had a great weekend!  We are back today with MORE Design Team inspiration using our latest kit, A Love Story!

First we have a layout from Stephanie:

She used the exclusive doily stamp in our kit and a FABULOUS way.  What a great back drop, and the colors perfectly match the kit.  Such a beautiful layout Stephanie!!!

We also have another beautiful layout from Kim:

She just rocked it with that splash of yellow against the pinks!  I love the way she tied the envelope with the the twine and used the circle tags-- so many great details AND she used four photos-- perfection!

We have another beautiful layout from Val:

I just adore her neutral tones here with a space of pink, red, and blue.  Such a fun design and the tags look fabulous as a border and journaling spot at the bottom of her page.

Isn't our design team amazing!?  We have another day in store for you with more inspiration so stay tuned!

Our "A Love Story" Kit is currently in stock, but hurry, it won't be here for long!!!  When it's gone, it's gone, and we will not be reprinting the exclusive Elle's Studio tags or stamp.  So be sure to get yours today!!

January Guest Designer : Kelly Purkey

We are beyond thrilled to have one of our favorite scrapbookers on board and guest designing for us this month! Kelly Purkey has been a huge inspiration for me with my scrapbooking layouts over the last year I was beyond thrilled when she said she could guest design for us - I couldn't wait to see what she'd do with our tags!

Here's just a tiny peek at two of her amazing layouts - you can check out the rest of her layouts in the Inspiration Gallery!

Kelly took some time to answer some fun questions for us:
name : Kelly Purkey
location : New York City
blog : www.kellypurkey.typepad.com
twitter : kellypurkey

What/who inspires you?
Pinterest has absolutely changed my life.  I am constantly checking the site during the day and pinning or repinning amazing inspiration.  And even when I'm away from my computer, all the ideas have infiltrated my mind and I'll still be thinking about all the great projects or recipes or outfits that I've seen.  It keeps my creativity on its toes - and I love that.

I am always inspired by my fellow design team members at Studio Calico.  This is such an amazing group of women... seeing what they do with the exact same supplies that I'm given each month never fails to blow my mind. There is so much talent on that team and I'm so honored to be a part of it.  They inspire me in so many ways.

Do you record every moment or just special ones?
I don't record every little moment but I am a the type of scrapbooker who likes to document everything - not just special occasions or happy memories.  I try to be authentic - in my life, on my blog, in my layouts - and if that means admitting that I had a bad day or feel sad or am stuck.  It's all part of my life and so it all goes into the scrapbook.

What is your favorite thing about scrapbooking?
My favorite thing about scrapbooking is that besides the layouts and photos I'll have forever, is the friendships that I will have forever.  Recently I had a thought... someday when I get married, the majority of the friends sitting on my side will be scrapbookers.  That is amazing.  This hobby has given me some of the best friends and most supportive people that I am so lucky to have in my life.

What are three facts about you that others might not now?
The only pet I've ever had was a hamster that my friends gave me for my birthday in Jr. High.  Oh and some short lived fish along the way too!
I had my gallbladder removed when I was six years old and have a wicked scar across my stomach.
I can fall asleep anywhere and at anytime of day.  Sleep is my friend.

And now it's time to give away Kelly's favorite Elle's Studio items:

Just leave a comment to be entered to win: Layered Number Cut Outs, Handmade Layers Date and Place Strips, and Handmade Layer Pennants - blank! One comment per person, please. We'll draw the winner this Wednesday, February 1st, 2012.

Make It Sunday with Gail Lindner - 01.29.12

I'm Gail Lindner and I'm so excited to be back on the Elle's Studio blog today! I live in Queensland, Australia and am a stay at home mum to two: an almost four-year-old girl and a six-month-old baby boy. I've been scrapbooking for over 12 years now and love it just as much today as the day I started! I'm so passionate about recording stories, moments and thoughts for my children!

Here in the southern hemisphere we are in the midst of our hot summer, so my layout today is celebrating that!

 

Here's how this layout came together:
1. Start by trimming down your patterned paper blocks to create the background. I've used a couple of favourite patterned from Crate Paper.

2. Distress the edges of the patterned paper and use your sewing machine to stitch them on the background, also from Crate Paper. Add a few splatters of brown and white mist to your background now.

3. Run a length of ribbon across your layout and tie a bow to the right, leaving room for your photos on your left.

4. Adhere your photos to the layout. I've given mine a thin mat of white cardstock first.

5. Add your Elle's Studio journaling tags - I've cut tags from Lil' Snippets Beach and Lil' Snippets Explore and layered them above the photos and an Everyday Journaling Large Circle Tag and 2011 Monthly Pennant to the bottom right corner, overlapping a photo. I've lightly sanded the edges of all the tags. Photo -

6. Add your title (a mix of older Basic Grey stickers and chipboard letters) as well as a chevron badge and punched flowers. I've trimmed the tiny flowers from a strip from a border punch and added tiny pearls to the centre.

7. To finish off the cluster near the photo, add another tiny flower, fabric yo-yo and chipboard flourish. I've also typed the location on a Crate Paper label sticker and added it. Photo - The Shore b

8. I realised that I had quite a bit of journaling to add but didn't want to clutter up the layout so I wrote the journaling on a Summer Memories Large Journaling Tag and added a patterned paper tab to the top.

9. I then trimmed an envelope, added double sided tape to the back and adhered it to the back of the layout. It's so easy now to pull out the extra journaling

It's time for a giveaway! We are giving away the Elle's Studio products Rebecca used on this layout:

Lil' Snippets Beach, Lil' Snippets Explore, Everyday Journaling Large Circle Tag, 2011 Monthly Pennant, and Summer Memories Large Journaling Tags.

Just leave a comment to be entered to win - one comment per person, please! Then, check back next Sunday to see if you have won!

Congrats to last Sunday's winner:

Monique Liedtke, please email us the info below to claim your prize to info@shopellesstudio.com

Name:
Address:
Prize: January 22nd

A Love Story Inspiration

We hope you are enjoying this week of inspiration with our "A Love Story" exclusive kit!  Isn't our Design Team the best!?

Today we are excited to share this fabulous layout by Meghann"

She pieced together all the colors of this kit in a gorgeous layout.  I also love how she used the exclusive Elle's Studio tags and the stitching with the twine!!

We also have another wonderful layout by Rahel:

I love how she uses bright colors against the white space, and how that makes her photo pop.  Such a lovely layout!!

We hope you are enjoying the daily inspiration-- there is more to come!!

"A Love Story" Exclusive Kit is available (but probably not for long!) here in the shop.  Be sure to check out the shop for extra card stocks, pattern paper, punches, and mists  that compliment this kit as well.  Thanks for stopping by today!

Love Story Inspiration

We have more inspiration from our DT using "A Love Story Kit" today!  I wanted to share with you two layouts and a card that really show off the amazing exclusive Elle's Studio doily stamp in the kit:

First from Valerie:

I just adore how she used the stamp on this layout and added so much layering with the tags and embellishments--so gorgeous.

We also have another layout from Ursula:

How fun are all these bits and pieces and the gorgeous bright colors?  I love how she used the stamp on kraft envelope!

And check out this sweet card by Kimberly:

Another great example of how to use this stamp in a layout or card.   Isn's that stamp great!?

Thanks ladies!

"A Love Story" Exclusive Kit is still available (but probably not for long!) here in the shop.  Be sure to check out the shop for extra card stocks, pattern paper, punches, and mists  that compliment this kit as well.  Thanks for stopping by today!