NEW.

new year // same craft.

I love documenting my life. There is just something so perfect about combining photography & paper. Without nerding out to hard I wanted to do a quick post about starting out this year's project life album & write a bit about how inspired I am to continue putting photos and words together in 2018. last year I switched things up and sized down my album to a 6x8. I loved the change and the way my layouts flow so I decided to stick with that size for this year. My intro page looked almost identical last year but for 2018 I am feeling the vibe of vellum. To create my layout I used Liz's newest release over at the Lily Pad. I started out by taking the word art and opening it in my silhouette program, I used the trace tool to outline it & make my own cut file. Then I sized it to fit my design & cut it out on a thick white cardstock. Once I carefully removed the cut word from my paper I was left with a STENCIL of the word, I then used the stencil and some black spray paint to get the word art on to my vellum. I made sure to let it chill and dry for a minute before I went messing it up with my inky fingers or smearing the pretty drips. After it was dry I stapled on my cut down tag, added a couple stamps for the date and tied my bow. hello 2018. the layout underneath is almost exactly how I started last year's album & I loved it so much that I decided to make one just the same but updated for 2018. 

2018

2017

2017 was about starting over & for 2018 I started out by reflecting; last year was really difficult for me & I am excited to try new things this year while contining to do the things that make me feel like my best self. Photography has always been a strong creative emotional outlet and documenting with paper & glue has helped me reflect on everything in my life. I am so grateful to have this craft and for every single person that has encouraged me or inspired me through it. THANK YOU for following along and for letting me share it all. I'm looking forward to sharing as much as I can this year. XO

AUGUST // STUDIO CALICO

mic check ... 1.2..... *this thing on?

it has been a minute since i have posted the crafty goodness here hasn't it? i don't have much to say about that but, i am gonna leave this summer tribute page, share a little  coupon code & give you an opportunity to win a free stamp set courtesy of studio calico & yours truly to try and make up for my absence. 

first things first ... the crafts.... i made this layout using the august studio calico documenter KIT that they kindly sent me to make with. i love love love the mix of CARDS that came in this month's combo. my favorites were the black swirl, the watercolor cards, & i loved the marbles (hoarding those for something else). the TABS that tina designed were another fave & of course the STAMP by peppermint.

so now that we have all that out of the way... here's what i have for you, a PROMO CODE.

just use the code :

shareSC5

at checkout for any new 6 or 12 month subscription to get this month's kit (SEPTEMBER) at just 5$ to start. this promo cannot be combined with other offers, and must be entered at checkout, the offer is only valid  on the first month of a new subscription. 

sign up here: 

STUDIO CALICO KIT

& because i already have a monthly subscription & studio calico surprised me with an extra kit to make with i now have not ONE but TWO epic stamp sets and your girl only needs ONE soooooooo.... leave me a comment below and i will randomly select a winner on SUNDAY to send a free stamp set from the Let's Go kit designed by the fabulous Peppermint Granberg Jones of One Little Bird. Thank you guys for stopping by to say hey. i will try to share more here, i promise. 

xo

TODAY'S // TRUTHS

• i thought this summer would feel different but it's proving to be a different type of challenge for me. i thought the down time would be a welcome vacation & full of fun ... but it's almost as much work as school. different work, harder even.
• i wish personal growth came with a fucking to do list or a manual so i could track how far i have come or measure how ok i am doing. 
• i'm trying to hold on to every single moment that makes me feel alive or full, sunsets at the beach, my niece & nephew laughing or holding my hand, the feeling after finishing a spin class, driving with all the windows down & the music really loud, being with my sister.
• i'm also taking mental notes about what doesn't make me feel good, things that i need to let go of & working on being brave enough to make those changes to remove the bad stuff from my life. one day at a time, it's complex & change is too.  
• i lost my drive to craft & i refuse to give myself a hard time about it or force myself into it. it's ok to take a step back and remember WHY i make & start again whenever i feel like it. 
• i'm working on being patient with myself & just breathing, trying to remind myself how strong i am and that it's ok. 
• i'm missing my camera but allowing myself the same creative freedom to love something so deeply but take a break from any sort of creative pressure it holds. photography will always be at the heart of me in such an emotional way that when i am going through change it will change with me when i am ready to utilize its expression. right now i just want to be & photography doesn't heal me, i heal me. 

MAY // KP

on February 5th i bought myself a plant & ... the little dude is still alive. he sits on my desk looking cute & green & reminds me that with a little bit of water, light and love things grow. he's perfect for me right now; not too much to deal with plus he's that simple reminder for me every time i sit down at my desk. maybe i will give him his very own page in my scrapbook as a full photo insert? this layout documents the day i bought my little plant. i used a few of kelly's newest shop releases on this month's layout, the garden girl set & the kent alpha. i LOVE the way my tiny cactus stamped & the look the white ink gives on the photo with the "plant lady" text. i also snuck in a tiny succulent with kelly's planner set from a while back that was all about gardening & the weather. the photos are from one of my favorite shops in temescal, Crimson. one day i hope that i am brave enough to fill my place with plants like the shop but for now one is just enough. cheers to growth little plant. 

xo

APRIL // KP

have you guys ever felt like one minute you're getting off work late saturday & you blink ... and the weekend is gone? yah, same. annnnnd yes... i work every saturday & go to school on the in between days. i remind myself, often that i signed up for this shit but when finals roll around i ask myself WHY? one more week to go & i can almost feel the summer ocean breeze. sort of. almost.

this month kelly released a weekend stamp set & it had me thinking about all the sundays. all of them. at the beach, at a concert, at a museum... basically anywhere i DON'T have to write a five page paper about. if you guys didn't get to snag this set the first time KELLY plans to restock it & i will have some new sneaks up on my instagram soon enough with all the goodies coming to the shop the 28th. hello new alpha stamp. but for now ... wish me luck on my finals and i am going to dream about waking up with an extra sunday... i know, too much to wish for & mostly i just hope for sleeping at all so lets start with that maybe?

xo