Paper Pumpkin Meets Memories and More

So, I've made a few discoveries since I've gotten back to blogging. Such as discovering some creative projects that I'd uploaded into blog posts and never shared! 

I've got about 5 or 6 projects just hanging out in 'draft' status, and even though some of the products I used may not be available anymore, I figured a good idea is always a good idea, right? 

First up is a scrapbook page I created from my daughter's 2nd Senior Portrait session. 

Like I said, it's been awhile - she's a sophomore in college now. Lol!

This page was created obviously when SU! still was in partnership with Becky Higgins and Project Life, but happily, we still carry a solid Variety Pack of 12" x 12" Photo Pocket Pages for the Memories and More line. And I 💖  the Black Faux Leather Album that we carry! 

Even better news is that there are still some of the Pocketful of Cheer Refill Kits available to any of you that are Paper Pumpkin subscribers. 😃 I've linked the photo to my website for you. 

Here are a few close up photos of different parts of the page: 

I love the little pockets, perfect for some sweet fillers and embellishments. 

Even though we did the photo shoot on the outdoor ice rink in our town - on a FREEZING cold day in February, the colors of this kit were perfect for the photos. Bright and cheery like her sweater and the beautiful Winter sky. 

Even though Emma has retired from skating (knee injuries don't mesh well with collegiate skating...) she still has her skates and her love of the sport. 

Oh, and so far, she's kept the boyfriend too. LOL! 2 years and counting...

I wanted to point out the green pearl embellishments. I actually colored those with a sharpie marker to make them match, but it was a pain to get the right color depth. Now that we have Stampin' Blends, it'll be much easier to customize your pearls and rhinestones. 

I know you're wondering what stamp set I used for the stamped pieces - and I honestly don't remember. I'm old and that was a LONG time ago! It was probably the stamp set that came with the Pocketful of Cheer Paper Pumpkin kit, but you can use whatever stamp set you like on your page, right? 

There you have it - Paper Pumpkin meets Memories and More. 

Just a year or so later than I'd planned. 😉

You can shop the entire Memories and More line on my website, just click the icon below: 

I'd love to hear from you so leave a comment to say "Hi!". 

Happy Monday everyone! 

Scrapbooking Recipe Cards

One of the things I do on a monthly basis with my Stampin' Fools party group is to create a 6" x 6" double page scrapbook spread with recipes from their kitchens.
It's a fun way for us to share part of our lives and tastes outside of our stamping time.
Here's a link to the first post I did with recipes: http://trinitydesignstudio.blogspot.com/2011/11/stampin-fools-recipes.html

I need to go back and take photos of the pages from December and January, but here for you today are the ones from February and March.

In February, I designed the pages with the Twitterpated DSP, and Buttons and the Bordering On Romance stamp set.

The Scalloped Trim Border Punch was used along the bottom of the Pink Pirouette DSP and the stamped flowers were simply colored in with Stampin' Write Markers.

Here's the March pages:

Since it was our last chance to use Sale-A-Bration Designer Paper and Fresh Vintage stamp set, that's what i designed with for these pages.
I used the Scalloped Circle Punch for the large spots of DSP and a stamped medallion was added to a large Paper Daisy with a Sale-A-Bration Brad for an accent on the right hand page.

One of the fun things I like about doing these pages with my "fools" is that we usually get to sample one of the recipes each month! It makes for a very yummy stampin' time! :)

We are currently putting the pages in the Espresso Classic 6" x 6" album from the catalog. Once the album is filled, we'll decorate the cover and we'll all have a great keepsake.

Well, I'm off to enjoy the last day of Spring Break. Have a wonderful day stampin' friends!
~~Robin

My Digital Studio - Learning to Love It!

I know you all think that I've been off doing just the skating Mom thing this past three days - but hold on! I've been playing with my laptop, designing a scrapbook with My Digital Studio!

Say WHAT??
Yes, it's true - I'm slowly but surely coming into the digital age and learning to love the possibilities of Digital Designing.
Plus, it's really the only easy way to be creative while I'm on a long road trip.
Where else am I going to get many hours one-way of mostly uninterrupted time in front of the computer learning this fantastic program??
Nowhere, so I'm taking advantage of it.

I decided to start with a pre-designed 12" x 12" photo book template - Downtown Grunge, which I downloaded from my Stampin' Up! website. We'd had a fantastic time at the end of our Alaska trip last May, spending three days in Seattle, exploring the city for the first time ever. So I chose that small event as the focus of this scrapbook.
I've always felt that when I'm scrapbooking an event, it's best to keep it to a narrow focus anyway so you don't get overwhelmed with the project.

Believe it or not - My Digital Studio NOVICE that I am - I managed to complete 10 pages of this 24 page scrapbook in the 6 hours I worked on it in the car. If that sounds like a lot, understand that I'm truly a novice with most aspects of this program. The more I do on it though, the more I feel competent with it and the more I'm enjoying it.

So, here's a peek at my album - this is page 3:

I was able to create a Custom Background paper with one of my photos of the Space Needle. It made a great backdrop for some photos of us at the top. The photo blocks and digital tape came from the embellishments included in the Downtown Grunge Photobook Template. I used the Delight in the Day stamp brush set for the title and I took the journaling lines and brackets from other downloads - can't remember which ones now!
My plan is to write my journaling in the book when it comes - I really prefer to hand journal, but that's just me.
I really love how this page turned out and I can't WAIT to finish the book and get it printed! I'm planning to print one for Mark's mother too for Mother's Day since she enjoyed the trip with us.

So, what do you think? Do you think it's cool? I'd love your feedback.
Don't forget either that you can now download a FREE 30 Day trial of My Digital Studio from my Stampin' Up! website Products Page. You'll have full access to the basic program and many downloads, all the available downloads for purchase plus the professional printing services as well for a full 30 days. If you like it, you can choose to purchase the program by download in two different configurations. It's a great opportunity to try it out if you're not sure or a scaredy-cat like me.
Trust me, if I can do it - YOU can do it!

Happy Scrappin' and Stampin'!~~Robin

Place your order for Stampin' Up! Supplies at this link here: Robin's Online Stampin' Store
Simply click the SHOP NOW button at the top right corner to get started!

Christmas Scrapbook in a DAY! Part 3

Ok, kids, here's the last installment of this fun scrapbook!

I had scheduled a second class for this scrapbook for December 19th - but it has already filled! Are there enough of you out there for me to find time for a THIRD class?!! Let me know, ok?

So, as you are reading this, we are headed north for our second skating competition this season. We'll be in Stamford, Connecticut this weekend for the Terry Conners Synchro Classic. But today - we are spending the day in NYC!!!
We have tickets to see the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular and we'll be eating in a couple of our favorite restaurants too. I'm looking forward to seeing the tree at Rock Center and checking out the Christmas window displays and decorations.
Love NYC! I'm sure I'll have photos on Facebook from today and from the skating too. I know some of you follow Emma's skating, so I'll try and get a video up of their performance as soon as I can.

Now, how about some scrapbook pages?

Lots of white space on this one for journaling:

I stamped the background with the swirl from Season of Joy and added a bit of glitter to the berries on the holly Sticky Die Cuts.

I love this page! Two die cut Scalloped Square tags (from the duo die) Hey, you either duo or die! Get it?! Ha! I crack myself up!
Anyway, Sticky Die Cuts used for the reinforcements and threaded with Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine. The tags fit down in the white cardstock pocket.

Ok, THESE are my two favorite pages in the whole album!
I got the idea for the Santa's list from SU! demo Ashley Marostica and just altered the design to suit my style. Even if you don't have a "letter for Santa", this would be a great place to journal about your holiday!
The Santa medallion on the second page is popped up on Stampin' Dimensionals so the photo will slide under it.

The cute rik-rak Sticky Die Cuts frame out this photo mat nicely and leave a space for journaling too. The little Sticky Die Cut tag was nullified with more baby powder and added to the ribbon with a Mini Glue Dot.

Nothing fancy here, just a nice space for two photos!

Almost done! The Big Shot makes these pages easy. Northern Flurry embossing on the Lucky Limeade cardstock panels and two Cherry Cobbler Top Notes for photos. A little bling, a button and some twine finish it off.

Last one! Two tags for photos, journaling or both, each in it's own little pocket. I used the greeting from Notes and Details for the one tag corner.

So, there you go, all done!!
What do you think?

I'll post the photos of the four cards we made tomorrow for you, ok?
In the meantime, if you need to shop for stampin' supplies, stop by my Online Store! With my NEW Rewards Program, you earn points towards FREE Stampin' Up! products each time you shop there!

Happy stampin'!
~~Robin

Place your order for Stampin' Up! supplies at this link here: Robin's Online Stampin' Store
Simply click the SHOP NOW button at the top right corner!

Christmas Scrapbook in a DAY! Part 2

Wow!
Judging from the e-mails I got yesterday - you all really LIKE this scrapbook project!
THAT makes my heart so happy and really makes me want to do more scrapbooking!!

Here's the next few pages in the album:

The Sticky Die Cut Stocking was just screaming for glitter, so I added some Dazzling Diamonds to the cuff with my 2 Way Glue Pen.

On this page, I added some baby powder to half of the Sticky Die Cut so the photo would slide under it and not stick. Cool, huh?
The center image is stamped out of the Perfect Punches Stamp Set, punched out and popped up on Stampin' Dimensionals. That gorgeous Cherry Cobbler Ribbon makes it into a sweet wreath accent.

I love the border element on this next page. I just punched a border strip out of Whisper White cardstock with my Scalloped Ribbon Border Punch and threaded some Old Olive 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon through it and topped it with a sweet bow. Cute and Easy, plus the photo will slide right under the border or you can journal below it.
The Cherry Cobbler cardstock on this page was texturized with the Snow Burst Embossing Folder and the photo mat has a simple wrap of Old Olive Satin Ribbon. More baby powder on the Sticky Die Cut keeps it from sticking to the mat/photo and a button finishes off the element.

These next two pages are two of my favorites in the whole album - my other two favorites will post tomorrow - I added Dazzling Diamonds to the torn edges of the cardstock on each side and on the Sticky Die Cut Border piece on the next page. Lots more stamping with the Winter Post Stamp set too!

This page was fun with the Scalloped Square Die cut piece for the photo mat. Just a little Rhinestone Bling to finish it off!

So, there you have it - more fun pages!
Tomorrow you'll get the last few pages and then on Saturday, I'll show you the four cards that were made with the kit leftovers!

Don't forget that my new Robin's Rewards Program begins officially TODAY!! You can get all the details at this post HERE. Be sure to download the simple tracking form so you can begin keeping track of all your qualifying orders and earn your FREE Stampin' Up! product!

Happy Stampin'!
~~Robin

Place your order for Stampin' Up! supplies at this link here: Robin's Online Stampin' Store
Simply Click the SHOP NOW button at the top right corner!

Christmas Scrapbook in a DAY!

Last Saturday, I got to do one of my most favoritest things - I got to scrapbook!
Yes, believe it or not, I started off this paper crafting adventure wanting to scrapbook - cardmaking had never entered my mind.
But as you all may know, once you start making cards, it's kind of addicting. Not to mention the joy it brings to someone when they receive a card you've made! There's something special about getting a hug with a fold in the middle.

However, I still love to create pages and albums to hold my photos and memories - it makes me so happy, and sometimes wistful, when I go through my photos and recall the events of the day or the season. I love looking at the faces of my loved ones at different times in their lives and think about how their life was then, wonder about what was on their minds or in their hearts then. Mostly it just makes me smile and experience all over again the warm fuzzies of having them in my life. Our relationships are the most important thing in this life - it's the people we love and care for and the people we impact and who impact us that help us to leave a legacy of love.

So, last Saturday, I held my first scrapbooking class in a very long time - and I can tell you, it WILL be a more frequent occurence here in the studio! First of all, the ladies who took the class LOVED it and two of them were first time scrapbookers! Secondly, it filled a need for me in creating the sample book and I'm not walking away from that so quickly again.

Today, I'm showing you the outside of the book we made along with the first 5 pages - sans photos - if you like what you see, I've been asked to add one more of this class to my calendar this season. It will be on Monday, December 19th from 10 am - 3 pm; details are on my Events page on my Stampin' Up! website.

Here's the album cover. I used the Cherry Trim 6" x 6" Designer Album from the Holiday Mini. It has 20 pages inside and includes the page protectors!

The cover has a big bow of Old Olive Striped Ribbon tied around it (retired ribbon, but it was perfect!), and I used one of the sticky die cuts from the Simply Scrappin' Kit that the album is designed around for a fun tag. Some Basic Rhinestones and a Trinket Key (Santa's Key) tied with some Cherry Cobbler Bakers Twine finish off the cover embellishment.
Are you wondering how I got the sticky die cut to not be sticky? Well, here's a little secret for you - baby powder! Yep, I put a little baby powder in an empty embellishment container and use a paint brush to brush it on the back of the die cut. It neutralizes the adhesive and allows me to use the die cuts any way I'd like! Yes, folks, that tip alone is worth the price of admission right there! Ha!

Here's page one:
All my pages were designed using one-half of the Christmas Lane Simply Scrappin' Kit that's in the Holiday Mini Catalog. The best part was that I had enough supplies left over to make four Christmas Cards too!

Here's page two:
I added many other embellishments along the way - Dazzling Diamonds glitter, ribbon, buttons, etc.

Here's page three:
I designed the album using several different stamp sets - Winter Post (which today is the LAST day to get it at 1/2 price - just $13.47!), Season of Joy and Perfect Punches.

Here's page four:
Lots of punches and ribbon and Baker's Twine through the album - see the glitter on the stamped and punched ornament? Really, just little touches like that can elevate a page. I like my scrapbooks to let the photos tell the story, so I try to keep my embellishments subtle or minimal.

Here's page five:

The color combination of this Simply Scrappin' Kit is gorgeous! Cherry Cobbler, Lucky Limeade, Early Espresso, Soft Suede - so yummy!

So, want to come take the class now?!! I hope so, I love having a studio full of stampers and scrappers! But, if you can't come or want to do it yourself, here's the info on the main products I used to create this album. You can shop in my Online Stampin' Store anytime 24/7 and have it delivered right to your door!

#124008 - Cherry Trim Designer 6" x 6" Album w/ 10 page protectors $10.95

#111780 - Winter Post Stamp Set (wood mount) SALE $13.47 TODAY ONLY!!

#124007 - Christmas Lane Simply Scrappin' Kit $21.95

Be sure to order the stamp set TODAY before the 50% off sale closes! It's part of the Online Extravaganza SALE that Stampin' Up! has been offering since the 21st! You can place your order from my website up until Midnight Mountain Time.

Have a great day folks - thanks for coming to visit!
I'll have the info available for you on my NEW Robin's Rewards Program posted this evening, so be sure to check back!
Stamped blessings,
~~Robin

Place your order at this link here for all your Stampin' Up! needs: Robin's Online Stampin' Store
Simply click the SHOP NOW button at the top right corner to get started!

Stampin' Fools Recipes!

Just a quick creative post this evening -
my day got away from me entirely and I'm just now sitting down to share with you!

Anyway, you've read about my Stampin' Fools party group here before, they are a fantastic bunch of stampers who meet at my house each month to stamp, laugh, eat and have a fun, foolish time. They are also my friends and I love them dearly.

Well, for our party this month, we started something new. Two of the Fools brought a dish they had cooked for us to sample and they sent me the recipe ahead of time so we could scrapbook them as one of our projects. We're going to do this each month for a while and fill up a 20 page 6" x 6" Stampin' Up! album. What a cool project huh?

Here are the two recipes and pages for November.


The recipe on the left is from Pat for Praline Sweet Potato Casserole and the one on the right is from Betty for Corn Pudding. Both were really delicious and I was lucky enough to be able to keep the leftovers!

Since this is a recipe album, I kept the page design very simple. The base page is Crumb Cake cardstock and it's stamped all over with a floral image from Day of Gratitude in Soft Suede ink. I printed out the recipes on Very Vanilla cardstock and sponged the edges with Crumb Cake ink. I laid them side by side and used More Mustard to ink up the large medallion stamp from Day of Gratitude and stamped it on both pages at once. It creates a cool effect when you separate them in the album. The recipe itself was mounted on a mat of Soft Suede cardstock and adhered to the page.
For a nice border, I took a piece of 2" x 6" Spice Cake Designer Paper and tore it down one edge, sponging the exposed edge with more Crumb Cake ink. It was adhered to the outside edge of the page to finish it off.

I can't wait for next month to see what we get to sample and share!
Have a great evening friends - I'll be back tomorrow with another fun project for you AND the details of my Robin' Rewards Program!

Stamped blessings,
~~Robin

We Live

Like you, I have a 9/11 story.
In fact, I'm pretty sure that anyone alive that day who had access to any form of media has a 9/11 story.

I believe that we remember our lives by milestone events, by those things that shape us and it's usually only in retrospect do we realize that those events are our shared history.

On 9/11, we knew that we were sharing history that day. Knew that this was no ordinary news flash or special report. Knew in our gut that our lives - all of us - would change forever that day.

We didn't need a news anchor to tell us - we knew it in our first glimpses of gaping holes and burning buildings; towers of smoke rising from towers of steel and from a massive, jagged hole in the soil of our countryside.

And even if those images in and of themselves didn't squeeze your heart till it hurt, the humanity and heroism we witnessed in the ensuing hours and days surely did.

As I read through my devotional and Bible study the other day, the paragraphs and passages dealt with fear. The commentary that day talked specifically about one woman's struggle to get past her fears after the tragedy of 9/11, about how it changed her life.
And as I prayed and journaled, I asked myself "Did 9/11 really CHANGE me?" I know it affected me, shocked me, saddened me, angered me, stirred me - but did it really change me?

Always a patriot, I found myself feeling the pride of America stronger than ever, so yes, 9/11 strengthened my Patriotism. I wrote in my journal that yes, I made changes because they were forced upon me - think TSA - but aside from a new alertness and new rules to follow that clearly help protect us, did that really change who I am at my core?

I found my answer to be no, it did not. And here, I think, is why.
In a world full of evil and misery and pain that we see played out in the media each and every day, I have a hope that is sure and true and faithful. That hope, that truth that is my bedrock is what sustained me then and sustains me now. And the confident peace I feel that God is entirely in control of his creation is what reminds me that we are called to live out His purposes for us, His awesome plan for us. And He tells us to "Fear not." And He tells us to "Press on." And to "run the race set before us."

So while my memories of 9/11 ten years ago will be forever etched in my memory - as they should be as a testament to those who gave and sacrificed and showed great courage - my experience on 9/11 has not changed me, because of the unchanging, unfailing, always faithful God of the universe that I serve.

Several years ago, I attempted - poorly perhaps - to scrapbook a layout of that time as we lived it.

We were on vacation in Williamsburg, Virginia and as we prepared to go out that beautiful September Tuesday, we witnessed the horrifying scenes being played out on the television. I am forever grateful that Emma was not quite 4 years old - causing us to decide to go about our day and shield her from the non-stop tragedy on every channel.
I tried to journal about it, but I'm not sure I was able to capture all that I felt and believed.

But as I look once again at this photo of Mark pushing Emma on a swing, I think the greatest tribute to those who died that day, to those who lost precious loved ones; is to go on living, go on being and not BE changed by the evil that hurt us that day.

No, we will never forget - that's impossible don't you think?

But we continue to Hope and Dream and LIVE.

God bless you today and always,
and
God Bless America!

~~Robin

Butterflies for Spring!

Good morning stamping friends!
I've been away from the ol' blog since Monday and I'm sorry for leaving you hanging. But, my Dad has been in the hospital since Monday with heart complications from his Chemotherapy. They have him stabilized in CCU right now, but he's been a pretty hurt puppy really since last Saturday. Please keep him in your prayers - I know you will, you all have been so wonderful with encouragement and support since his cancer diagnosis. I can't tell you what it means to know we have friends praying for us from all over the world. My Dad even mentioned it yesterday, that he couldn't believe so many who didn't even know him would be praying for him. It's an awesome thing!

So, today I'm spending the day in the studio trying to play catch up on many things - plus, I have my fun stamp camp - Stampin' at the Firehouse tonight at 7 pm! There is still room for a few more if you want to come stamp with us. All the deets are on my events page, just click the link at the left on my sidebar.

Edited 4/14 - Post with Measurements/instructions is HERE.
The project I'm sharing today is one that I made for my party hostess, Lynn, last Saturday. We had a great time at her Stampin' party and I always like to make something unique just for my special hostess. Here's a photo of the front:

No, it's not a card - it's a mini scrapbook album! Doesn't it make you long for Spring to get here in earnest?!~ I know it does me!
We got the original idea for this album at Founder's Circle 3 years ago, which just goes to show that a good idea is always a good idea, no matter how old it is. The original album used the stamp set Simple Friendship and some coordinating DSP. My album actually has NO stamping at all! I know, get out!! But, I did have some fun with my Big Shot making the cover pieces. I used the Beautiful Butterflies Die and the Square Lattice Die.
Here's a photo of the cover opened up:

My color combo came from the Greenhouse Gala DSP - yes, it really is one of my favorite packs of DSP. You can get so many varied looks from just one package. Did you know that all the colors in this DSP can be found in the Getting Started Cardstock and Ink Spots collection? Yep, it's a great way for new stampers to get started with a nice variety of coordinating colors.
Here's a photo of the "pages" opened up halfway:

This is not a complicated album at all to create - in fact, I think I finished this one in just 1/2 hour. That included cutting all the cardstock and paper.
Here's one more photo of it opened up all the way:

I think my flash didn't go off for this photo, sorry, but since I gave it away, I can't retake it! :)
I kept the embellishments simple since I didn't know what Lynn would do with her gift, but the ones I did use were some of my favorites. Buttons from the Sew Suite Big Buttons, Linen thread, Daffodil Delight 5/8" Grosgrain, Pear Pizazz Seam Binding and those yummy self-adhesive Pearls!

Thanks for stopping by to visit today - I plan to have a project up for you tomorrow as well, so come back and check it out, ok?
Stamped blessings,
~~Robin

UDI Inspiration Challenge - Santa Memories

Welcome to my walk down Christmas Memory Lane!
For this week's UDI Blog Inspiration Challenge, I knew as soon as I saw the inspiration photo that I HAD to scrapbook one of Emma's Santa pictures!
Here is my finished layout:

And here is the inspiration photo:

This page was so fun for me to put together - I haven't looked at these photos in AGES and it was such a sweet time to reminisce about. This particular Christmas, Emma had just turned 8 years old and she was so stinkin' cute! She went to see Santa completely prepared and even brought him a copy of her list so he woudn't forget anything. (Wish I still had a copy of it! HA!)
She was still in full BELIEVE mode so the greeting stamp from Just Believe was the perfect title for this page:

It was wonderful to discover that the color of her pretty shirt was perfect to use Real Red for my background, so I used a piece of textured 12 x 12 cardstock to build my page on.
I know the Candy Cane Lane DSP is sold out, but luckily, I still had some, so I was able to cut the strips out for this fun border weave and just added the simple Real Red Satin ribbon bow for an accent.

The giant snowflakes were super easy to make. I just took pieces of Whisper White cardstock and coated them with Versamark ink then heat embossed the whole piece with Iridescent Ice powder. I'd added some chunky glitter to the powder to give it some extra sparkle. Once the embossing was done, I simply cut them out with my Snowflake Die on the Big Shot.
I LOVE how sparkly they are!

I'm sure you have some wonderful memories of Christmases past and visits to Santa - maybe this layout will inspire you to finally scrapbook some of them!
And I know you'll want to see what the other design team members created from our inspiration piece, so be sure to stop by the UDI Blog and check them out.

Stamped blessings everyone,
~~Robin