Neglected But Not Forgotten

I'm currently working on a memory album for one of my lovely Reverie Creations customers, and it's rekindled that neglected (but not forgotten!) love of scrapbooking.  I'm ashamed to admit that it's been a year (or more) since I've scrapped.  Funny thing, whether or not I'm keeping up with creatively chronicling my little family's memories, we keep on making them.  ;)

  

When the girls were younger, I was able to design and create two to four pages every week, and with three girls there wasn't time to waste.   These days, I realize that the only way I'm ever going to find the time is if I make the time.  New Year's resolution?  

Anywho, here are some sneak peeks at a few of the completed pages...

This album is being gifted to the President of the LOWC, and I'm honored to be doing it for her.  It's become such a labor of love.

It's my hope to be finished by the end of November so that I can fully focus on holiday preparations.  Can you believe Thanksgiving is next week?! 

Find time to do something you love.

M.

Hello October!!

My sister's birthday.  My daughter's birthday.  My father's birthday.  It's also the start of holiday preparations for Reverie Creations...not to mention Halloween.  October is a busy month.

Every year, I put together little bags of goodies for my girls and my nephews on Halloween.  Just a little something to put in their pillow cases at the start of their trick or treating adventures.  The tradition started with my Mom who did it for my sister and I.    

For this year's goody bags/tags, I based my design on the Tall&Skinny sketch over at Mojo Monday.

I started with splattering a small paper lunch bag with black paint...simple.  The tag was created by painting Tim Holtz Kraft Resist paper (Moths & Butterflies) black and then adding orange splatter.  Washi tape, a Petaloo daisy and a vintage button were added to round out the look. 

Tied up with raffia and stained muslin. 

Simple and perfectly Halloween-ish for the kids.

All that's left is to fill them with all their favorite treats!

These are also available for purchase at Reverie Creations.

Have a fantastic weekend!

M.

Autumn Bliss

We've established that I'm not a fan of snow or being cold...ergo winter, but I am looking forward to autumn.  It's by far my favorite time of the year here in Maine.  You're surrounded by deep and comforting colors of the changing leaves, county fairs, warm days, cool nights, and lingering smells of apple cider.  Sweater weather as we like to call it.

Inspired by the challenge photo over at The Shabby Tea Room, I created this card for Reverie Creations.

The image is an old Italian illustration that I came across on the Internet.  I liked the that the pumpkin was white and it fit nicely with my design.

The paper is 7 Gypsies Avignon, and I also used Pink Paislee's Fall clear stamp set...both oldies. 

The buttons are vintage as is the paper that the image is printed on (graph paper from my Bampa's stash- I'm in love with the color it's aged to and the thickness of it)

I've also been working on another project based on autumn for Reverie Creations...here is a little sneak peek:

Distressed and shabby with vintage goodies and everything else that I love.

Take some time for yourself today,

M.

Let It Snow!?! Trash or Stash?

I.am.shivering. It is 68 degrees. 

My teeth are chattering...AND I'm in a complete outfit (+/-).  It's September.  I was born in Maine so to be wearing only two items of clothing while working (in my second story studio/office/laundry room/sweat box - I felt I should explain) wouldn't be a stretch for this time of year.  Yet, I just counted eight articles of clothing on my body at this very second.  

I'm going to have myself another brownie, and this time it's going to be the biggest one.  It's time to start on the winter chub. ;)

So it would stand to reason with all these clothes on that I'd be thinking of winter....and snow.

I don't want it to snow.  I promise.  Snow is evil  cold  pretty - for all of 5 seconds and then sand and salt get involved.

I dislike snow, and based on precedents alone it should be, at the very least, grey in color. ;)

*I promise there is a point*

I love this image.  I love everything about it...the colors, the story it tells me, and...how cute is that face?!  I used it for a project I was doing last Christmas, so I printed off two sheets in varying sizes.  The first run came out with the snow looking...dirty.  Personally, I loved the distressed tones but it didn't work for the project I was working on at the time.  I needed white... the "pretty" snow all the out-of-Staters refer to.

Now I have a printed sheet of 'ugly ducklings'...do I trash or stash?

*insert cricket noises here*

"Hi.  My name is Mandee and I'm a paper hoarder...."

I stashed them, of course!  From *ahem* 'ugly ducking' to ...

"Let It Snow"

Inspiration: shivering, a *dislike* of snow, an entire outfit in September!, some one's weakness for paper

Design:  based on Mojo Monday's sketch challenge #362.

I also designed a gift tag set using the smaller version of the 'ugly duckling' along with other little gems from my 'stashes'.

The magic of winter (for longer than 5 seconds) because I refused to trash it couldn't help myself .

Stop by Reverie Creations at Etsy for these new designs.  Get a start on ... snow?

....and while you're up can you get me a blanket?

Have a fantastic weekend,

M.