He’s a Rule Challenger!

I have a new layout up on the Curtsey Boutique Blog today.  Here’s a peek, but you can see the whole layout and the products used HERE.

Our Last Visa Trip!

As a family, we recently celebrated a milestone.  We all received our long-term visas for our stay in Bulgaria.  Since photos aren’t permitted at the Embassy, I created this layout with photos from the amazing hotel breakfast the morning we picked them up.

You can find more photos, a complete description, and product details at The Curtsey Boutique HERE.

Jump Onto Acorn Avenue

I finally used Acorn Avenue from Crate Paper!  I’ve been hoarding this collection- maybe because it was the last untouched Crate Paper Collection I have in my stash… or maybe it was because I was waiting for the perfect photo.  Either way, I finally did it, and I love this collection!  It’s so very versatile.  I can see girly layouts and family layouts in this collection in addition to the fall themed ones.

I have a Project Life side to this page as well, and I’ll be sharing that soon.  Everything on this page is from Crate Paper except the envelope.  :)

Thanks for taking a peek!

~Alyssa~

Climbing the Walls

A few months ago we visited an ancient castle, with some friends.  The castle is partially restored, but there are many parts of the ruins that are available for touching, feeling, and really experiencing.  There’s less of a museum feeling and more hands-on exploration.  This photo was taken of my son that day, and it’s so appropriate to his personality that he was caught on film literally climbing the walls!

The papers I used are from Fancy Pants Swagger Collection, while the stars, tag, and cork car (I love these!) are from the Curtsey Boutique. 

Thanks for taking a peek!

~Alyssa~

Point and Shoot!

My brother took this adorable photo of my nephew recently.  It’s so fun that I couldn’t resist scrapping it.  :)  I used one of my favorite collections from Echo Park, as well as some tags and a super fun glassine circus-star embossed envelope from the Curtsey Boutique.

There aren’t a lot of specific techniques here, I just added layer upon layer and found the look I wanted.  The Curtsey Boutique items are the best for this kind of layering!  At the end of the project, I added a bit of washi tape to add some contrast and bring the whole page together.

Thanks for looking!

~Alyssa~

Scooter Saturday

**I have been having some trouble adjusting to a new monitor and making my layout photos look right when editing the colors.  I’m working on fixing some of them, but I appreciate your patience with my wonky photos.**

This layout features one of my favorite photos of my kids.  Probably ever.  We had just returned home from buying them new scooters.  When I saw this photo, my first thought was “They are city kids now!”  And they are.  Moving from a town of 3,000 to a city of 2 million is a huge adjustment. They are doing great!

I tried to make this layout work with the graffiti in the photo by using masks and mists, as well as some bold black. 

Thanks for taking a peek!

~Alyssa~

Fun In a Tree

We recently visited a ropes course, and I got lots of great shots of my family up in the trees, swinging, jumping, and moving from here to there.  I started this layout with a series of tags from The Curtsey Boutique.  Then I built my page on top of them.  I love the movement and detail of this page.

The divided side of this PL page used 6x6 layouts, and I used another Curtsey Boutique tag on this side too.  I LOVE the chevron embossed tags!

You can see all the amazing items available from The Curtsey Boutique HERE.

~Alyssa~

Still

I don’t often take photos of empty hallways, but in this case… the light was perfect, it was quiet, and this photo was calling to me. 

This layout was made with the On Trend Collection from Crate Paper.  A little doodling and misting with a Crafter’s Workshop Template brings it all together.  Thanks for looking!

~Alyssa~

She’s Turning 8!

I have mixed feelings about birthday layouts.  I hate themed layouts, but I really want to have special pages of my kids special days.  When I saw this collaboration from Glitz and Echo Park, I was delighted that there was a birthday collection that wasn’t too “little kid” for my 8 year old.  I love how this page turned out too!

The masks are from Crafter’s Workshop, and the mists are from Tattered Angels. Thanks for taking a peek.

~Alyssa~

Gracefully Aging

There is one beautiful old building in Sofia that I especially love.  It’s had a recent facelift, and it is more striking then ever.  There is something so very timeless about it.  I used Glitz papers to create this fun layered layout.

Thanks for looking.  I hope you feel inspired today!

~Alyssa~

Sick 3 Days…

Shortly after we moved, Elijah got an double ear infection.  It was a challenge trying to get him to the doctor and navigate an unfamiliar medical system, but we made it, and he recovered after a week on antibiotics. 

Poor kid was pretty miserable.  I was thankful it was not a contagious illness.  Lesson for mom: no swimming right before airline travel!

Thanks for taking a peek!

~Alyssa~

A Little Nervous

A few months ago, we boarded a plane to move to Europe.  It was my son’s first flight, and for the most part he was filled with bluster and bravado.  There were moments, however, when the inner uncertainty showed through.  This was one of those moments, while we were waiting to check in for our flight. 

That amazing burlap star is from The Curtsey Boutique, the rest of the items are older items form Basic Grey (Wander) and Simple Stories.

Thanks for taking a peek!

~Alyssa~

A New Library!

We love the library!  It’s one of the things we will miss the most when we move overseas.  We recently moved to a new, short term rental for our last 3 months in the USA.  It’s in a new town, thus a new library to explore!  I took these photos on our first visit there.

Fitting for a library page, this layout features a mix of old and new product, mostly from Cosmo Cricket.  Social Club really is a versatile collection with amazing colors.  Love it!

Thanks for taking a peek!

~Alyssa~

Smile and Nod

Today I have a Crate Paper layout to share- and I couldn’t resist sneaking in a glassine envelope from the Curtsey Boutique too.  I’ve been saving this line for a long time, and as a reward to myself for successfully seeing my family through a move and a 75% reduction in our belongings, I decided it was time to break it out.  This, therefore, is my first project with the On Trend Collection.

Nothing like a big sister “helping” you pose for a photo!  :)  The glassine bag is from the Curtsey Boutique.  Everything else is from Crate Paper (Need color?  Crate Paper is my fave for bright cheery papers).

Thanks for stopping by!

~Alyssa~

Game Time!

I love a good monochromatic page!  This one was made with the Crate Paper Color Challenge in mind, and it was fun to return to something I haven’t done in a while.  There’s a little bit of blue in nearly every Crate line, and many of them are on this page.  Represented are Party Day, Maggie Holmes, Story Teller, Farmhouse, and probably one other line I am forgetting about.  The photos are Instagram shots of my son and his favorite activity these days: Computer time!

Thanks for the fun challenge, Crate Paper!

~Alyssa~

Doing “Reshersh”

We recently had a school day that involved some fairly in=depth study of the planets.  My kids requested the topic, and then spent nearly 3 hours watching videos, making paper plate planet models, and, as Elijah called it, “Doing reshersh.”  It was a completely awesome morning in every way.  I love watching my kiddos soak up information.

This is the Dear Lizzy Neapolitan Collection- and it could not have been more perfect for this photo.  A little paint, some mist droplets, and layers.  Sweet!

Thanks for looking!

~Alyssa~

Pout, Eat, Repeat

 

My son (age 5) has mastered the art of avoiding school work.  In this series of photos, the snack he begged for provided a full 15 minutes of stalling.  I dug out some much loved Crate Paper for this layout.  :)

Thanks for taking a peek,

~Alyssa~

It Snowed… Again

I have a new Project Life Layout up on the Curtsey Boutique Blog.  You can check it out HERE.  :)

Here are a few of the photos:

Curtsey Boutique items are AWESOME for Project Life.  You can check out the whole selection, including the tags and doily I used in this spread in the Etsy shop.

TFL!

~Alyssa~

Curtis Orchard

This layout was created with the April kit from the Little Black Dress Kit Club, and though it is primarily filled with happy primary colors, there is plenty of softness on the “B” sides of the papers.  I tried to really bring that out in this layout.  The photo is from our trip to the local orchard last summer. 

The scattered hearts are cut from one of the papers- the perfect finishing touch!  Thanks for coming by!

~Alyssa~