BOLD August Pages?

As I was uploading my digital scrapbook pages for this blog post I noticed a trend in my pages. They all contain really bright, bold patterns. I never thought of myself as being a bright, bold pattern type of digital scrapbooker but maybe that's what I'm turning into. Or maybe it's just a phase and next month I'll go back to nice and simple. I guess we'll see.

Most of the pages I'm showing you today were scrapped late July and early August. I only have five to show you today but I've actually scrapped many more. I just can't show you them yet because the templates haven't released.

Let's get started. The first three pages were some last minute pages I made to add to Lydia's Album. The first page you see here is a timeline of important dates/times of her adoption process.

This template will be available tomorrow in a FWP deal from SO!
Happy Travels by Tinkled Pink Studio

Just a simple page of Daddy and Lydia playing in the hotel room in China.

This was a template given away at my August MIS. It will be available soon in the store.
In Real Life: Day to Day Kit by Bella Gypsy Designs

The LOA (letter of approval) is one of the most important documents you get when going through a China adoption. We waited and waited and waited. We were SOOOO happy they day it finally came. I had to make a page about it.

August Template Challenge Template over at Scrap Orchard
In Real Life: Day to Day Collection by Bella Gypsy Designs

These are pics from Lydia's first time tasting cake. We had been home just a couple weeks and it was time to celebrate a cousin's birthday. This page will most likely go in her first year home album.

Using my August Challenge Template - Revisited #14 (available FREE only for a few more days!)
Birthday Bash by mle Card Designs

Then here is a page with some current pictures. I scrapped during a Live Crop over at Scrap Orchard. I snapped these during one of our first weeks of schoolwork. Don't my two older girls look thrilled? I used a little sarcasm on my page. Do you see it?

Using Double Monthly Challenge Templates 8
and School Files by Bella Gypsy Designs

I can't wait to show you the rest of the pages I scrapped this month but I guess that will have to wait until next month!

-Liz

Lydia's Printed Album

This front cover was made with my new release tomorrow.
I also used Happy Travels by Tickled Pink Studio.

I think I've mentioned to you all that I finished up Lydia's album. My original plan was to make digital scrapbook pages of our trip to China and her first year home with us and then get them printed in an album. Well, after about 65 pages of just China pictures I just couldn't wait to get them printed. Plus I knew it would probably be a long while before I got through her first year home pictures. I decided it would be good to print our trip to China and then print her first year home in a separate album. AND I was able to have her China album at her 3rd birthday party last week. It was so great to have it there for people to look through....I'm pretty sure I saw a few tears as people read through it. Oh wait, maybe that was just me.

I chose to use Blurb for the printing of this album. I've used them before and I thought it was the best, most cost effective option for the 70 pages I was printing.

While the pages were super easy to upload and organize I had a little problem with the spine. I could not figure out how to get my digital scrapbook paper to go on the spine of the album. So I left the spine white but it kind of blends in with the front cover. I'm sure it was user error as it was late at night and I was tired.

I converted this page to a template that you'll see soon!
I also used Happy Travels by Tickled Pink Studio.

I not only included pics of our trip to China but I included our whole journey to adopt Lydia. This very first page shows the timeline of when we started the adoption process all the way through to the day we came home. I kept note of special events, like her referral, our Letter of Approval and other paperwork that was very important to her adoption process. I've scrapped all those, as well as some very personal journaling pages.

Recyclables 18 by Scrapping with Liz and Perfect to Me by Bella Gypsy Designs

About 1/3 of the pages in her album are double page spreads like the one above and the one below.

Big Photo Fun Templates by Scrapping with Liz and Leavin' On a Jet Plane by Laura Banasiak and Jenn Barrette

The double page above is one of my favorites. I think I like the really big photos and how it seems to all kind of blend together.

Left page made with Journal Card Inspired Templates 1 by Scrapping with Liz and You Rock by Kristin Aagard
Right page made with Recyclables 22 by Scrapping with Liz and Leavin' On a Jet Plane by Laura Banasiak and Jenn Barrette.

The page above shows what some of the single page layouts look like side by side. I kind of like the contrast. Proof that you don't always have to use double page, matching pages side by side in an album.

Artsy Journal Templates by Scrapping with Liz and Art and Soul by Tracie Stroud Designs.

Then this is what the last page looks like, the binding and what the album looks like when opened.

I was very happy with my Blurb book, as I was last time. I really love that Lydia has her own, special album sitting on our bookshelf right next to my other girls' baby albums. Now to work on her first year home, finish up our 2012 family album and begin to work on our 2013 family album. Shwew!

-Liz

*This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are 100% my own.

July Pages - Sort Of

Many of the pages you see here were actually scrapped the last week in June. I went through a phase where I wanted to scrap without templates (shhh, don't tell anyone). Actually, I do it every once in a while just to get a fresh perspective....and because I really want to scrap but I feel like I should be working instead (aka making templates). So if I scrap without a template I get the best of both worlds. I get to scrap and then I can turn it into a template. Work=Scrapping, that sure does make me happy.

I usually work at least a month ahead of time. While I made these pages last month, I couldn't really share them with you because they hadn't been released yet. I guess I could have shared them but then you might have wanted to know where the template was and I wouldn't have been able to tell you. Bummer. That's why I waited.

Enough chatting. I think I've been cooped up with 4 girls way too long and just needed someone to talk to! Let's get to the pages. The first seven you see are some of my final pages of China. I haven't scrapped them in order so some of them are from the beginning of my trip and some from the end. I have officially finished Lydia's album....although I still have a few more pages to show you. Those will have to wait until next month when the templates are released. Yes, I actually have all of my August products ready! Woohoo!

Again, to the pages.

Just some scenic pictures to remember.

Made with the Iron Scrapper Week 2 Kit - The template and kit will be at Scrap Orchard soon!

First bathtime....probably ever. Just so you know (in case you don't read the journaling) she loves bath time now.

Double Monthly Challenge Templates 7 by Scrapping with Liz and Splish Splash by Kristin Aagard

Airport pictures...because I wanted to remember everything.

Made with the Iron Scrapper Week 2 Kit - The template and kit will be at Scrap Orchard soon!

Our typical lunch while in China.

Double Monthly  Challenge Templates 7 by Scrapping with Liz and Chinese Takeout by mle Card

I think these next two are my fave pages of all...or maybe it's just my favorite memory. 

Monthly Challenge Templates 7 by Scrapping with Liz and Moment Like This by Sugary Fancy Designs

Together, finally!

Monthly Challenge Templates 7 by Scrapping with Liz and Moment Like This by Sugary Fancy Designs

This was made with my new templates releasing tomorrow. I just love all the photo spots. I did scrap this first and then turned it into a template.

Using my new templates releasing tomorrow! (consider this another sneak peek).
In Real Life Day to Day Collection by Bella Gypsy Designs

Here's the left side. I just love the way it looks close up.

Using my new templates releasing tomorrow! (consider this another sneak peek).
In Real Life Day to Day Collection by Bella Gypsy Designs

And the right side close up.

Using my new templates releasing tomorrow! (consider this another sneak peek).
In Real Life Day to Day Collection by Bella Gypsy Designs

This photo was taken last year as Cheryl and I made our way to Vegas for Scrap Orchard's Convention.

Made with the Iron Scrapper Week 2 Kit - The template and kit will be at Scrap Orchard soon!

Here is my first Mother's Day with all 4 of my girls by my side.

Double Monthly Challenge Templates 6 and Iron Scrapper Kit Week 1

Such a happy day.

Double Monthly Challenge Templates 6 and Iron Scrapper Kit Week 2

And then 4th of July this year...actually, these were taken on the 6th, but who cares. We saw fireworks.

That's So Retro Templates 2 by Scrapping with Liz and American Made Collection by Bella Gypsy Designs

There they are. How is your scrapping going?

-Liz

Tiff's AdoramaPix Album and Fireworks Photos

Today I'm going to link you up to a fellow digi-scrapper, friend and team member's blog. She's just posted pictures of her AdoramaPix Album and some of her fireworks photos.

I just LOVE her AdoramaPix Album. I've ordered a book through AdoramaPix too, and I really love the lay flat pages.

Tiff also recently practiced her firework photography skills and I think she did a great job! Go on over to this blog post to check out what she did to get some great shots.

I admire Tiff's pages and the projects she's accomplished. Do you have any favorite digi-scrappers that you look up to?

-Liz

July 4th....or July 6th!

Last week I shared some of my past July 4th pages and then some tips on photographing fireworks. I told you I would come back and let you know how my fireworks photos turned out. I was able to carry out 3 of 4 of the tips I gave on my blog post. Unfortunately, I brought the wrong tripod! So that was out. I was able to set my ISO, use manual mode to set the shutter speed to BULB mode, and I used no flash. I loved using BULB mode, definitely doing that again. I do believe my pictures were better than in past years. Next year I will remember the tripod...I think it'll make all the difference.

I did manage to scrap a few of the pictures from the fireworks show. It was such a crazy 4th. We were traveling last week. It ended up being rainy where we were and it was also rainy in our hometown. The fireworks had been postponed until the 6th and we were home just in time for them. I was so happy that Lydia was able to see her first fireworks show...even if it was on the 6th.

That's So Retro Templates 2 by Scrapping with Liz and American Made Collection by Bella Gypsy Designs

-Liz