[ Shapes | This Moment Captured (title+camera) / Frames (Sliders) / Banner (Borderlines #2)

Love everything about this…the banner, the layered frames, the photo…all of it.
(And I sort-a wanna have that ruler background she used too. ;) )

Well, just like Jordan, Naomi has made something modern looking using something vintage–a photo of her and her brother at Easter in 1985.

[ Shapes | Bloom (easter) / odds AND ends (here+now) / This+That: Spring (bee) / All About You (me&) ]

 I love all the mix of shapes she used here….all the layers and such…they all look fabulous together!

Now Naomi…we will never be vintage…and we’ll keep telling ourselves that. Okay, maybe when I’m 80 I’ll call myself vintage. ;)

[ Shapes | Envelopes / For You (scallop edge envelope) / Borderlines 2 (lace)  ]

It is indeed wonderful.

I love the way she used the envelopes here.
And with the stitching?

adore.

Just makes me want to scrap all the more.
Maybe I’ll have some assemblence of an office next week?

A girl can hope, right?

The last big wall and ceilings will be plastered tomorrow.
Next, new moldings.

Then . . .  carpet. I’d much rather have the lighter shade, but the darker (medium) shade is much more practical  . . . curses. Dang me and my practical side. It still looks good. Can’t tell you how excited I am to get rid of the brown 30-year old carpet we have now.It’s been a long-time coming.

Once that’s all done I’ll be moving all my office stuff back into the space, but will have to wait for cabinets and my new desk. At least my stacks of office stuff won’t be in my front room anymore.

Getting very excited to get this done and all organized!

[ Shapes | XOXO ('love you') / Feathers ]

Totally love her choice of patterned paper for the feathers!
gorgeous girl!

.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  

and now, some

Today I get to (get to???) do my taxes. 
Oh the joy of it all.

March is Friday . . . in case you didn’t know.
Friday???

Slowly working on remodeling the downstairs.
Blinds have been out of the windows for a few days.
It’s been glorious with the morning light beaming in!
Makes me happy.

I don’t know how I’m going to work if I move my office for the remodel.
oh boy.

Still working on trying to simplify + find balance . . .
but I keep adding to my work load.
How does that happen???

Got cheated with my Sunday afternoon nap due to the creative
process party that occurred in my head when I laid down.
(soooo not fair)

Hmm . . . I feel a new class coming on.

Can’t wait for spring!
(so tired of snow)

I got my Christmas stuff down finally . . .
*ehem* like only a week ago.
(sad, I know)

Okay, that’s all the stuff I think I have in my head at the moment.
Best be getting all my tax stuff together now . . . procrastinating.
ugh.

 [ Shapes | Need Directions? ('love this') / Monthlies (January) / inFORMS (calendar + postcard) / twentyTHIRTEEN ('2013') / Life Additions #1 (weekdays) ]

Okay, can you say giddy?
totally love!

I love the way she combined  . . . well . . . everything!

amazing.

[ Shapes | More Background Basics (diamond background) / Say What #2 (title) ]

I love the way Naomi did that diamond background! Sometimes a ‘harlequin’ design can be a really strong-looking element, but not on this page. Uh uh. It’s so soft and subtle. Mmmmm . . .  love it!

You know, every time I say one more ‘day’, it just reminds me that I am still not ready for Christmas. I remember the days when I’d have my shopping done by Halloween. Having three kids with birthdays the month before Christmas will do that to a person. But these days? Not quite so on the ball anymore.

So the question is, are you ready? What are some of your traditions? Do you open up your gifts on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day . . . or a little of both? Do you make and decorate sugar cookies for the neighbors? Do you make luminaries to light your sidewalk? Well, speaking of luminaries, check out what Miss Naomi did!

[ Shapes | This+That: Christmas (holly+berries) / This+That: Christmas Past ('let it snow' + snowflakes) / December Twenty Five (handwritten words) ]

That is a really cool idea! Soooo love them ‘all aglow’!

Naomi mod-podged tissue paper to mason jars, used some die-cuts, glittered them up, then mod-podged those to the jar after the tissue paper dried, and got these luminaries.

Great idea Naomi!

So, when I was plotting out some of the things I wanted to do over these two weeks, a star background was on my list of must-do! And when I got Naomi’s fabulous luminaries, I thought the two tied together so well!

Therefore, here is today’s freebie.

It comes in 4 different sizes so you can use it for Project Life, December Daily, or for any background for just about any reason! It doesn’t have to be Christmas. It could be Canada Day, 4th of July, a boys page . . . totally versatile!

To download this free–today only–click HERE.

This shape is no longer available for free, but you can purchase it HERE.

So in the spirit of using a fun background with your Project Life, that’s what’s on sale today!

It’s normally $10, but today (and only today) it’s on sale for $5.
This is no longer on sale, but you can click on the image above or click HERE to purchase it.

If you’re new here–or maybe you may not remember–you may want to see what Nichol did with one of these shapes.

sooooo love.

This is the time of year when our hearts turn to being grateful.  Grateful for what we have and who we have in our lives. It’s just natural with the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays at hand. So of course now is the time take a few moments and create a page about the people you are grateful for like Miss Naomi did here:

[ Shapes | Giving Thanks (grateful) / Need Directions? (arrow tab) / Modern Nature (pussy willow) / This+That: Summertime (leaves) / inFORMS (post card) ]

I was amazed at how many shapes were on this page! Everything is so subtle yet put it all together and you have a page full of gorgeousness. And I love the post card image printed on kraft cardstock. Looks so old fashioned. And how Naomi added text to the arrow tab . . . and the vellum leaves? love.

So this is my challenge to you today:

Take a moment and right down ten things you are grateful for and why.

If you don’t do a page with it soon, at least you’ll have those thoughts ready to go when you are.
I’ll be making my list as soon as I press Publish. :)

And now, for a little flashback showing a couple fun things Nichol made last year!

( For details on this project, look HERE. )

And how about this one?

( For details on this, look HERE. )

Hmm . . . There’s that snowflake again!

I look back on some of those very first kits with fondness . . . with a memory of starting out on a new adventure. Could I really do this? Could I really start my own business?

It’s amazing to see how this little place has grown. The friends that I’ve made all over the world. You probably don’t know this, but every time I see an order or a comment from a new place in this wonderful world, it gets announced at my house. :) Places like South Africa, Vietnam, Iceland, and my most recent shout out . . . Poland.

So when I saw this page from our newest creative team member, Miss Naomi Atkins, it just brought  back a flood of memories, how I’ve grown as a business and a person, and a deep appreciation for all of you. The ‘Round and Round’ kit was one of my very first kits and I loooove how Naomi uses it here!

[ Shapes | Round and Round (title) / Say What #1 ('this girl) ]

I think I have the same grin on my face that cute little girl right now.
Love the page Naomi!

And at the risk of sounding corny,
it’s all of you–around this beautiful world--that makes my life go round and round and round.
What a ride! :)

Love to you all!

Hey everyone . . .I’m so excited for today!
Help me welcome our newest creative team member

Miss Naomi Atkins!

I first saw Naomi’s work a few months ago when she shared a page (using one of my shapes) with me. It was beautiful! Wanna see it too? Yeah . . . well . . .  it’s on the cover of September’s Scrapbook Trends Magazine!

Is that not just gorgeous?? And her daughter…the lighting…hello! Beautiful!
In case you hadn’t guessed it, she’s an amazing photographer too!

Shall we see what she made for us?

[ Shapes | This+That: Autumn ('finding fall' + leaves) / This+That: Family ('family') / Designer Edition Class Extras ('beauty') ]

Here’s what Naomi has to say about the page.

I cut the leaf shapes out in all different sizes, and cute them out and attached to the top right. I used the leaves as masks for the top tags, and then I used the negative space from the large “FALL” word to spray on the burlap ;)

And you can check out more of her amaaaazing work on TwoPeasInABucket.com HERE.
you must. :)

And now here’s a bit about Naomi herself!

My name is Naomi Atkins, and I’m a wife to Jonathan, and mama of five amazing kids- Katlyn, Elise, Everett, Weston and Camille! Growing up I never thought I would have five children, but I do…and I LOVE being a mom! My children are my source of inspiration! I recently left an eight year teaching career at a local college, teaching legal research and writing classes. I only taught one or two classes a semester, but I enjoyed it. Once my business took off, I had to quit. There was just no time for everything! I co-own Inspired and Enchanted Photography with an awesome business partner, who has been shooting a few years longer than I. I have learned a lot from her! I homeshool my oldest daughter, and she is SUCH a huge help to me…she is just a lovely girl! I love to do so many things and there are never enough hours in a day! I enjoy reading, baking, sewing, and of course Scrapbooking, my favorite!

I have been scrapbooking for about eight years! When I got married, I told my husband, “I’m just not creative.” But my sister in law was a scrapbooker, and got me hooked! Then I started paying attention to pictures in layouts that I liked, and wanted mine to look the same! That is what started the photography journey, and I’m so grateful to do what I love! I currently have layouts being published in Scrapbook trends, and design for Crate Paper, the Freckled Fawn, and the new monthly kit club Gossamer Blue! I had my first cover layout in September, so that was exciting for me! I am SO excited to be on this design team. I LOVE my silhouette.. I bought it just so I could use Kerri Bradford shapes and words. I have been in love with them for a long time…and with the other girls on this design team!

So soooo thrilled to have you here Naomi!!!

Can’t wait to see what you have up your creative little sleeve. :)