Hilari Brooke

Quick Project Life Mini Album

One of the ways I stay somewhat current on memory keeping for our family is using a system of pocket pages by Project Life. This is a mini binder which measures about 8 inches wide by about 9 inches tall. It fits 4 4in by 6in photos or journaling cards on each page. Perfect for a vacation or special occasion! This one is filled with photos and memorabilia from our daughter's first trip to Disneyland.

My kids look so thrilled in this picture. They were ready to get into the park and have some fun!

There are many different pocket page designs and I really mixed them all up to accommodate our story. Some of the pages were trimmed down from the 12in by 12in versions while others were folded to create interactive pages. I added maps and postcards by punching holes for the binder rings as well as slipping some pieces of memorabilia into envelopes.

Project Life is so fun and user friendly that anyone could make a wonderful keepsake in a short amount of time. Embellishments can be added but are completely optional. Finishing projects makes me really happy and Project Life has helped me record so many great memories.

Supplies: Project Life Honey Edition

"little girl with a little curl"

Rory was such a "big girl" at her first haircut. So excited for it to be her turn in the chair. At almost 3 years old, this is her favorite dress and she loves to wear her hair down. She calls it her "beautiful golden hair" like Rapunzel. So much personality in such a little girl.

Supplies: Patterned Paper by Basic Grey; Cardstock by Bazzill; Tag, Label and Stamp by Heidi Swapp

Hello 2015 and a mini album

Welcome to my first post of 2015. Every new year comes with reflection on goals and accomplishments. Typically I am not much of a resolutions type but I have set some goals this year and actually wrote them down. I am always quite good at the intentions and starting new projects, so this year I want to follow through with my plans.

The first task I took on this month is printing out all of our photos from 2014 and compiling them into albums, ProjectLife and various Memory Folders. Pictured in this post is a mini album I put together to hold our family photos from last fall. I love how fresh these light and neutral colors are with our pictures. Finishing projects always make me happy, refreshed, and motivated - similar to a new year I guess.

This cover is embossed chipboard painted with layers of Gold Color Shine, cream and tan acrylic paint then sanded to enhance the texture. The "hello" is wood veneer sprayed with Gold Color Shine.

Professional Photography courtesy of Lorie Chambless Photography

Supplies: Album & Inserts by Pink Paislee, Patterned Papers by Pink Paislee & American Crafts, Color Shine, Wood Veneer & Color Magic Embellishments by Heidi Swapp, Word Labels by Pink Paislee

Pink Minnie Mouse Birthday

For my daughter's 3rd birthday she requested a "Pink Minnie Mouse" party. She had very specific instructions and a few ideas I added, here's what we came up with...

This candy Minnie Mouse head was inspired by Pinterest and used as a centerpiece. I made it very easily using 3 foam balls (found in the loral section of any craft store), skewers, hot glue, a bow, and a couple large bags of Dum-Dums. When the party was over some of this kids helped themselves to a few more suckers.

Treat take-out boxes to be filled with candy from the pinata and whatever goodies the kids choose.

Using my Silhouette Cameo, I made Minnie Mouse invitations and one extra to add to the table decor.

These cookies, made by Shana's Cookie Co., were adorable and delicious.

Sequined ears from Disneyland and a sparkly candle (Glitter Wishes by Kara on Etsy) were perfect for our pink loving girl!

"Pin the bow on Minnie" game- made using black poster board and pink construction paper- turned out so fun for the kids!

December Daily 2013

Well, it is mid-January and resolutions are swirled all around us. I am not much of a resolutions person but I love a good excuse to organize and clean out clutter. Recently I have been in the mood to finish projects. I tend to go through phases of starting  multiple projects then finishing many in a short time.

Today, I set out for a full day of errands and appointments, but I realized a super easy and quick way to complete my December Daily.

Let me tell you a little something about December Daily. It is all about recording your month of December, the holidays, preparations, or countdown to Christmas. I had made a memory file with the Heidi Swapp Believe Memory File kit & Ephemera.

In my spare time, waiting at appointments, I used the Collect Photo App to organize, date, and caption my photos. It was super easy to select photos per day, make them into "Poloroid" style, and then print them. I printed mine from home using my Christmas present- Canon Selphy- AMAZING!! You could also select a 3inch by 4inch print which would be great for Project Life.

Once all of my prints were done, I trimmed them to 4inches wide by 5 1/2 inches tall. Then I was looking at my Believe Memory File and just didn't feel like the photos would fit right. So I pulled out this mini album that I had started using Heidi's Believe Album Workshop and it came together PERFECT!

 

Project Life - Part Two

This post is all about "my favorite things about Project Life". If you missed my last post, go back and read it, I was introducing a simple way of memory keeping that I have been using to record our 2013.

First thing I really love about this approach, is that it leads me to journaling/recording feelings, experiences, thoughts that I have not caught with my camera and may not have included in traditional scrapbooking. When I took this picture below and added it to my Instagram, the caption said "Adding journaling to hundreds of photos today thanks to my Project Life Blush Edition".  And that's just what my point is- I could slide the photos into the pocket pages then go back and add sentiments whenever I have the time or when I am in the mood to write. The page pictured was about the day we moved into our new home. That day was CRAZY and I didn't stop to take photos but I did want to tell the story because it was a day that we had worked so hard for and dreamed about. It was also amazing how life has a way of falling into place; this was a page I could look back on and remember how that happened.

While I love the Project Life Core Kits (Honey &  Blush are my favorites) another part of Project Life that I love is the easy customization- these layouts/pages can be as simple or basic as you would like or embellished and detailed. Each month I get a little box from Studio Calico in my mailbox. It is full of unique cards, small alphabets, stamps, and embellishments. These are super fun kits because each month is somewhat of a surprise and Studio Calico has a fun, fresh style that is different from the Project Life products.

Here is my daughter carrying around the Studio Calico Project Life monthly kit...

And this is the first layout I made with that kit...

"The good life" card came from Studio Calico along with the stamp. This is just an example of a detailed embellishment made from a Project Life card. I cut out a window in the card sewed a clear piece in between the two cards where the confetti could float around. Project Life lends itself to fun experiments like this and great looking time saving pages- what's not to love?

My all time favorite, THE BEST PART of this system is that it comes together perfectly using scraps of paper and embellishments leftover from other projects. The last picture here is a perfect example of what I mean here...

This is why I am loving Project Life - I am a scrapbooker at heart but I have two busy kids and so many photos. I just picked my favorites from a recent photo session for this layout. I made a Heidi Swapp inspired Memory File with other photos. Then I came back to my weekly album, used some leftover embellishments and scraps of paper & IT IS DONE too!! Yay!! I could talk paper crafting all day and these two systems (Memory Files & Project Life) excite me more than anything has in a LONG time!!!

Project Life - Part One

After taking some time off from paper crafting, one of the hardest parts for me was the overwhelming need to organize and record the bits and pieces of our lives. Not the holidays or birthdays or events with a lot of photos, but those random photos from a park playdate or swim lessons that I took using my iPhone. And while I love crafting as an outlet and creative expression, it is impossible to create an art filled masterpiece for every scrapbook page. That was when I decided to look into Project Life.

This is what I found... Project Life is a simple, easy to use, memory keeping system. All of the pieces work together with photos and slide into divided pocket pages. So to complete an album full of memories, you would just have to get an album, pocket pages, core kit, and a pen, then grab a big stack of photos and get to work. That's it. FIVE things.

This was my first purchase: Design A Pocket Pages & a Mini Album

These products came from amazon.com 

Getting started...

The cards in this photo are from the Studio Calico Project Life subscription.

Soon after I got going, it was time for more supplies: Envelopes, Dividers, and Design G Pocket Pages

Filled up one album and moved on to the next. I ended up needing 2 albums for 2013.

Working with the Blush & Honey Core Kits...these two are my favorite colors, bright and cheery.

Mini Memory File LOVE

Wanted to share a little album I finished quickly yesterday. A few months back I had created this book with the idea of just printing some of my favorite pictures from a recent photo shoot and adding them in. That is exactly what I did, and this is one of the many reasons I love the Memory File system. Files, books, and minis can be created before the pictures are even taken or printed and added later, then it is done- FAST!

Supplies used are from the Heidi Swapp Vintage Chic line. Professional photography courtesy of Lorie Chambless.

Butterfly Mini Book

Wanted to share this mini book I made for Rory's First Birthday Party. The album is from Heidi Swapp's Color Magic collection for Michaels Stores. I love the butterfly design and was able to add my own colors with Color Shine sprays. The whole book came together very quick. I added some extra patterned pages to the white ones that came with the book so I could include all of the photos we took.

ONE

I looked and looked for a great pink to use on the Heidi Swapp Color Magic Paper that would match the banner from Rory's Birthday Party. I had already sketched a layout in my notebook...

And I had tried a couple other options for the background, then I found the perfect marker at Micheals, yay!! Here is the background with the banner attached...just waiting for pictures and embellishments.

So, let's be honest, this layout has been sitting around my scrapbook table for months. Almost a year. Today I was able to pick it up with a couple pictures and add embellishments, some of which I have had for a long time. This is one of my favorite parts of scrapbooking- finding the perfect "thing" and using it to record a memory. Whether that "thing" is paper or sticker, new or old, the important part is that a story is being told. In this case it is my daughter's story told to her by her mommy.

A little mini album...

Have had a chance to play with this mini album for the past few days. When I saw this last weekend at Michaels, I thought it would be perfect for Wyatt's Super Hero Fourth Birthday and all the great pictures we took at Dewar's. This is just a little before and after of the album cover, which I painted with chalkboard spray paint. It turned out "super" cute!!

Rory's First Weeks Memory File

One of my favorite parts about these Memory Files is how versatile they are. I was able to take several classes from Heidi Swapp over the past few months and really love how she uses them to create mini albums or books within the files. This project is from a class Heidi taught at my local scrapbook store (more on that wonderful experience later) and it was perfect to contain a bunch of snapshots from the first couple months of Rory's life. Here are a few shots of the exterior, which is simple and fun and I love that chevron!

I am already working on a baby book for Rory, but I wanted to create a little something that had a different feel and could show our daily life and the "learning to live with a newborn" phase we all went through. The photos are not anything spectacular and they don't really even go together or match the papers I used, but that is what I LOVE about this (and the Memory File idea). This is outside of what I would have created on my own and honestly it may not even have been created at all.

Inside the file (one the left inside cover), there is a photo stack that has a bunch of little photos from the first few days at home. In the pocket I added a card, turned into a mini book, with a couple pictures all from one day.

Cutting the files and adding layers of patterned papers make the perfect place for more photos and journaling. I was able to put 35 pictures into this one file, with plenty of room for more- that is unbelievable for one project!!

Like I said above, this Memory File was from a class taught by Heidi Swapp, who created these fabulous products and helped me make this beautiful project and tell my story.

Rory Quinn One Year

One of my favorite scrapbook pages from this past year. Also one of the first pages I made using Heidi Swapp Color Magic products. Love it all!!!

Heidi Swapp Mashup Challenge

Over the weekend I participated in a scrapbooking challenge where I created this layout with specific products then posted it to my Instagram. This afternoon, while at the grocery store with both my kiddos, my phone started notifying me several times in a row. When I had a chance to check it I was shocked that I had WON!

What I really love about challenges it that they stretch your creativity. I would never have put this page together without the list of products which ultimately lead me to a fun and new design. This is Heidi's Blog Post with all of the details about the Mashup Challenge.

I LOVE Color Shine!!

You know when you find something and you think "This is exactly what I have been looking for!" That is what happened to me and the new Heidi Swapp Color Shine sprays.

So a few months back when I started scrapbooking more often, I went out looking for new products. Specifically, new ways to add color to my projects. This was about the time I was first using the Heidi Swapp Color Magic products. I remember standing in a local craft store searching for a spray mist or paint with some sheen or glitter. That was not what I was finding on the market with the spray mists. I would find ink, paints, and little spray bottles any color of the rainbow, but nothing that knocked my socks off. Until the Summer CHA show in July, when Heidi Swapp debuted this magical little product, Color Shine, to coordinate with the Color Magic. This past week, those three little bottles appeared at our home and they are AMAZING! Exactly what I needed and perfectly inspiring. It transforms everything it touches...

...canvas fabric, Color Magic papers, and plain photos corners.

Here is the first project I completed using this fabulous stuff; a single page layout with canvas dyed the perfect shade of pink shine :)

Supplies used on this layout include: Heidi Swapp Mini Memory Files, Vintage Chic paper, Primrose Color Shine, banners, labels, ghost hearts, crystals and pink flowers, Pink Paislee Mistables canvas border, Bazzill cardstock, Making Memories stick pins, other: rhinestone flower center, photo corners, ribbons, and mini tags.

Although these are not my favorite photos, I do believe in telling our family stories and recording memories for my children and I love how this page did just that.

Memory File Album

This week I have been working on Heidi Swapp's Color Magic Live Class. It has been really fun to interact with the other scrapbookers and learn new paper crating techniques. Thursday night's class was all about this Memory File turned mini album. It worked perfect for Wyatt's Halloween pictures when he and his best friend, Paisley, were dressed up as a cowboy and cowgirl. This Memory File project was more than enough room to hold 17 photos (one 8x10) and lots of journaling and embellishments. I LOVE how it turned out!!

Color Magic Live Class

I am so excited for next week because I am taking a three part class from Heidi Swapp, my FAVORITE paper craft designer! Yesterday I got an email with some prep instructions and I could not wait to bust open the box of class supplies. Now I actually have a moment to do just that!! Yay! Here we go...

Tuesday's Mini Book

A few weeks ago, I was playing with a variety of inks and the Heidi Swapp Color Magic paper, when I made this:

I cut it into smaller pieces to make a one page scrapbook layout, but that wasn't working. So I had to change it up a little.

Then, on Tuesday, I was able to make this little mini book with some pictures of Rory. Love the bright saturated colors with her little changing personality. It just makes me smile!

Monday's scrapbooking...

In an attempt to escape some of the 100+ degree heat, we will be hanging out inside as much as possible this week. So I have a few layouts I am excited to finish and the kids are content with Legos, books, and movies. At least for a couple days...

I worked on this layout of Wyatt most of the day yesterday. I had started to dye the paper on Sunday night just on a whim and when I woke up on Monday, it all came together! Yay!!



Here are a few photos of the process....

This is the background paper after being dyed. It had some bubbles and I wanted the white in the pattern to show through a bit more; so it got a couple passes with the sand paper before I built the layout.

After the circle was cut from another sheet of paper, it was inked then layered onto the background sheet with the photos.

I made a little pendant and added tags, rub-on numbers and a couple metal details all in the same colors as the papers. I wanted this layout to be simple and elegant to keep the focus on these photos (which are two of my favorites of Wyatt). 

Hope you enjoy :)

Products used: Heidi Swapp Color Magic Paper, patterned paper, chipboard letters and labels, 7gypsies rub-on numbers, metal frame charm, and silk ribbon, Other: black ink pad, stamp, skewer, star punch.

Photos by NYFotography Bakersfield, CA

You are COLORFUL!!

Colorful is such a great description of my son. He is full of life and always into something. He has also brought color into our lives and I can not image my days without him. I absolutely love how these pictures led to a scrapbook page of color and he bright personality.

Scrapbook products used: Heidi Swapp Color Magic paper and banner, Heidi Swapp letter stickers and label, Bazzill dot cardstock, Faber Castell pigment markers, and American Crafts colored pencils. Other: Ink pad and corner rounder.

Photos by NYFotography, Bakersfield, CA

Color Magic File

I absolutely love these Heidi Swapp Color Magic File Folders. This one I used a yellow pigment marker and it faded perfectly from deep orange to light yellow...amazing!!

It needed some more embellishing and photos, of course. So I printed out pictures from our day trip to Santa Barbara and Carpinteria and this is what I made...

With this file, I was trying to capture how enthusiastic Wyatt was about the beach. He loved being in the water and was not afraid at all. Which caused Jimmy and I to become worried he would go out too far. When he wouldn't come back, Jimmy had to go in after him. This was our first trip to Santa Barbara and Carpinteria. I am sure there will be many more to trips in our future.

Scrapbook supplies used: Heidi Swapp Color Magic File and banner, Heidi Swapp instaframe, labels, arrows and letter stickers, Faber Castell pigment marker, Bazzill Cardstock, American Crafts felt flowers. Other: patterned felt, brads, and sewing machine.

Sometimes they are alike

Rarely do I think my kids are similar, mostly because their personalities are so different. But every once in a while I see Rory do something that is so random and it takes me back to Wyatt doing the exact thing. This happened last week and I was able to catch her in the act.

Imagine my surprise when I looked over to her fast asleep in her highchair. Not only because she has to be rocked to sleep but I remembered Wyatt doing the exact same thing in the same spot almost two years ago to the day. I rushed to find my phone or camera and recreate the same image I had taken of Wyatt, to the best of my memory without waking her up.

Rory- July 17, 2012

Wyatt- July 7, 2010

I guess it is a pretty comfy highchair :)

Jul 23, 2012

Our summer baby!! Love how she has crackers in both hands. Her and her brother love their saltines! :)

San Diego and Disneyland Vacation

We just got home from a vacation and I am so excited about the photos...here are just a few...

Wyatt and I at SeaWorld looking forward to seeing his favorite animals there, the Sea Turtles.

And at Cars Land in California Adventure, we got to take a picture with Mater!!

More photos to come as I am working on organizing and scrapbooking...

 

Swim Lessons

In April, Wyatt started weekly swim lessons. During the lessons I would go in with him and help him learn water safety. We sing songs and do little exercises to get the babies used to the water. Wyatt and I really enjoy these times together. I am so impressed with what he has learned already!

   

This last week he graduated from his Water Babies class to Goldfishies, which means he and two other little boys go in by themselves with their instructor. I was very nervous. I pictured a screaming tantrum but was shocked when he walked right in to Miss Misty and listened so intently to her instructions.

Wyatt waited his turn very patiently then he and Wade were distracted with their starfishies. I could not believe how well he did sitting on the step.

 

The only time he got upset was when he was learning to jump into the pool. That needs a bit more practice. He goes back for a double session this week and hopefully he will learn even more!

phone photos

A few weeks ago I finally realized I could email photos from my phone to myself. Sounds simple enough, I know, but the thought never really crossed my mind. And the daunting task of finding a cord and uploading photos to my computer was never going to happen. I wanted to share what "phone photos" I have taken. They are mostly of Wyatt, of course, and I don't remember all of the dates or even why I took some of them. But it is fun to look at the last 15 months through my phone's memory.

Wyatt's Birth

 

 

 

 

first day home from the hospital- first time with a pacifier

About one week old

 

 

 

 

Eight weeks old

Almost 2 months old- infected toes

St. Patrick's Day 2009

 

 

Four months old

 

Merry Christmas!

Happy Halloween!

Love,

Jimmy, Hilari, and Wyatt

Happy October!

Here is a little glimpse into our festive month...

...we picked out pumpkins at the pumpkin patch...

...we had a Halloween party with our playgroup. Wyatt went as Nemo and Paisley dressed up like a monster...

...there has been a lot of walking...

...and we carved our pumpkins. Wyatt loves the pumpkins!

Wyatt's First Dodger Game!

Saturday we took Wyatt to his very first Los Angeles Dodgers baseball game.

Photo editing...

Wyatt 7.5 months
July 17, 2009

...added this cute overlay (from House of 3) to a darling picture of W (taken by his aunt Natalie).

And using the same overlay technique I created the banner for my Etsy shop.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Photo Catch-up!

I think it is time to add some pictures to this blog! In the photo album section (on the right hand side...just scroll down a bit) I have been working on adding some of my recent layouts, so check that out if you wish. But the really fun pictures are of Wyatt so here are some from February...

Smiling at Daddy on Valentine's Day!

All ready for church! 2/15/09

Smiling and kicking on the changing table...2/20/09

Sitting in the rocking chair wearing the sweater Grandma knitted...2/21/09

Happy Thanksgiving!

Every year, at our Thanksgiving dinner with Jimmy's family, we go around the table and each say what we are most thankful for. I have so much to be thankful for this year! Jimmy and I are extremely blessed to have family who love us. We have just been blessed in every aspect of our lives this year, but I can honestly say that I am most thankful for my husband and both of our families. We LOVE all of you!
Joleigh was so cute on her first Thanksgiving that I had to post my FAVORITE picture of her! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!

Pumpkin Patch

Last month Cheree, Natalie, Joleigh, Brandon, Jimmy and I went to the pumpkin patch to pick out pumpkins...I had so much fun! Joleigh even got a little pumpkin that she loves.

More pictures

It is on my to do list to take more pictures and I did take some more photos of Joleigh a couple weeks ago while she was trying to attack the camera. She Loves getting her picture taken and the flash of lights that go on and off on my camera so it is a win win situation for me to take her photo. She has been trying to walk for a little while now but she hasn't quite made that first step so, in these photos she would stand up at the couch, then turn around towards me, then fall down and crawl as fast as she can while I was snapping shots as fast as I could. She loves her Big Bird but I have yet to get an awesome shot of the two of them together.

I was trying to give Joleigh something to play with and ended up using the flash on my camera to entertain her, which she absolutely loved. So I took a bunch of not-so-great pictures of her while she was crawling around and I was snapping away.

this one is for jim...

Shanna took this picture of me last month and I always to "The Hulk" pose for Jim...I still can't believe she actually got a shot of it.

Jennifer's Wedding...

...has already come and gone. It was such a beautiful ceremony. Of course I have no pictures of it because my battery in my camera died during the processional, but I will share a picture of Jenn that I took while the photgrapher was taking pictures of David and the groomsmen. I hope you like it.
hilari

Wanted to share some pictures...

Since I haven't scrapped much for myself (I am only doing stuff for work and a lot of pages- about 100 in the last two weeks) I thought I would share some of the pictures I took at Nat's wedding. Hope you enjoy the pictures. hilari