Luke Bryan Farm Tour.

Who else loves themselves some country music?? A few months ago I saw on Facebook that Luke Bryan would be making a stop in Boone, Iowa. After my immediate thought of - WTF? I mean, Boone is by no means a big city in Iowa so I was clearly confused on why he'd pick some random stop. I actually used to live in Boone for a year... before the break-up, so I was super excited about the thought of going back "home" to see friends. I- of course, had to buy tickets as soon as I could. I texted my friend saying- you have plans in September 30th. ( 4 months later.)  

So 4 months later, we went on a road trip to see Mr. Luke Bryan on his Farm Tour - which I later learned is why he was in Boone. He picks random big farms in the Midwest and performs in their fields. I had an absolute blast, we got great spots somewhat near the stage - which was perfect!! I took a million photos, danced myself up a storm and got to spend quality time with my bestie and her ladies.  So glad I got to hear about the concert, definitely a night to remember!! 

Toward the end of the concert, we got a little closer to the stage as people were leaving- hello people, there's always an encore after you think it's over. I got a few pictures that I love when he was singing and cracking open a beer. I saw a page on instagram that had a layout similar to this with 3 clusters on the top,bottom, and middle of the paper.  With the country feel, I thought it would be a great time to use the camping line from Simple Stories although the papers are from my stash and have no tie to each other.  I cut the papers in to strips as a base for my clusters then went crazy with all the embellishments. I was so excited though when I remembered the background paper in my stash; thought the road in the middle of no where would be perfect for this!! I loved it when I bought it but honestly had no idea where I was going to go with it.  

I love how the page turned out. Its one of my favorites I've done in a while! I have more photos and more pages I want to make documenting the concert. So look for them to come soon!! 

xo. Renee

Happy Birthday to Me!

Ah, I can't believe its been almost a month since my birthday but life goes fast when you're having fun. Or... working... all the times. It's also been that long since I made a page using the birthday photos! I was really wanting to finally use a birthday collection by Pink Paislee I found at the local scrapbook store so I got excited when a birthday finally came around. Luckily it was mine! Sneaky how that works. 

I actually came up with the idea while I was on a run of how I wanted to lay out the design. It's not exactly as I envisioned but pretty close. And yes, I know - it's not entirely creative but it's the fussy cut parts that make it creative in my head. One of the papers had a pattern of the various light shades all over- I cut them out to form them in to a string like pattern across segments of the page.  Same with the triangles- they were not originally formed in to banners, I just laid them along the same path as the light shades. 

I wanted an open type face - I turned to my trusty Paper Issues for a file that I thought would fit my plan. Their cut files are free and work with all the cut machines such as silhouette. I have yet to find one I don't like - I just haven't downloaded them all yet. I try to contain myself until I need it. I actually backed the pieces with scraps I found that fit colors from the collection which is always great for my stash pile. I also fussy cut various little things from one of the papers- such as the presents and balloons to use as embellishments as I didn't have any from the collection other than puffy stickers. Which I also used in various spots. 

I wish my mixed media would have turned out stronger; but my color turned out being too light in contrast to the rest of the colors on the page. I love how fun and colorful it turned out! Works perfectly for my birthday! Thanks to my wonderful bestie for helping me celebrate a great girls day with her sweet foreign exchange girls. I'm so lucky to start year 31 in a wonderful way! 

xo. Renee

Starbucks in the Fall.

I'm actually sitting in a Starbucks typing this. How fitting, but I bought a new computer- simply couldn't wait to get home to play with it. What a great opportunity to get a fall Starbucks drink. Anyone else find this one of their favorite parts of fall? The fun cups, the all things pumpkin coming back to life? Okay so maybe it's just me, but I have to get a PSL as soon as it begins to pop up! 

This year it fell on my birthday that I would get an opportunity to jump on the boat. And of course, I had to snapchat the moment in to my story. #basicwhitegirl. I'm not going to lie, I'm not a HUGE fan of the cups for fall this year but little did I know, it would fit perfectly with my scrapbook page. Because who doesn't scrapbook their starbucks drink?? 

I followed along with another Paper Issues Challenge; their Sketchy Saturday I believe. I also as I have been doing lately, used up plenty of my stash with this page. Fussy cut the leaves I've been waiting to use from Shimelle's older collection and most of my embellishments were from Pebbles' Girl Power line. It had little coffee cups and leaves as well so it worked perfectly with a fall coffee page- as well as the blue cup! As you can tell, I used my cup ( rinsed out - of course. ) as an embellishment piece in my page also!  I love how it all turned out together. I'm always amazed at how things go together even when they weren't designed for that purpose. 

I'm learning more about my skills as well as creativity by using what I have hoarded for so long. I am literally too excited for this adventure and I'm sincerely sorry for blabbering about it in every entry lately. I'm hopeful to make it to the new year without having to buy any other supplies excluding the essentials such as glue/tape. I do have my heart set on one line though that I may excuse myself for only because I know it'll fly off fast and if I use birthday money, it doesn't count as splurging right?? I'll tell myself that anyways!! As always, check out the Paper Issues' Facebook group for inspiring projects and challenges. Their store also is a great place for supplies- if you join their group, there's always discount codes as well as sales going on!! 

xo. Renee

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First Day of School.

How is it that my niece is in middle school? What the heck happened? I feel entirely too old right now. She grew like a weed- has such long little legs. I think she needs to be shrunk in the dryer. I feel I blinked and this all just happened. I can't even imagine what my sister is feeling. So here they are beginning school, ahhh- how I miss that part of fall but kind of glad I don't have the rest of the year to deal with.  ANYWAYS! I had to make pages of the pictures! It's so fun to be included still on their first day fun even when we're across the country. 

When I saw the pictures of my niece, excluding the tissues I felt like grabbing- I immediately thought of the Girl Power line I have by Pebbles. I hadn't even used it yet- yes, hoarding thing is horrible. It would be perfect for her! She's such a strong, independent lady already; she's really going places and I'm so excited for her! I wanted to use so many of the pieces because they fit the tween stage and girl power she's displaying. How fun is it all put together??

Then of course, they had to have photos taken together! How goofy are they?? Love it. I got inspired from Instagram to make a page with circles so I came across this paper from Shimelles Little You. I cut out all the circles my little hands could handle then scattered them around the circle I traced on the paper.  Added clusters of embellishments and journaling. I thought this collection went so well with going back to school. Turned out perfectly for how awesome they are!! 

I'm so proud to be their aunt; they are such loving, sweet souls. They'll do amazing things in this lifetime- I can feel it. With everything crazy going on in the world, I know these guys will be a pair of the good people still left for this generation. Please pray for the world, for these sweet little people who need a safe place to be when the day is done. I hope that some answers will come in the time coming soon or for at least them as they grow older.  They don't deserve this craziness. 

xo. Renee

Friend Night.

You know it's a good time when your snapchat stories are flooded with goofy photos with your best friends. And you know, you'll get good scrapbook pages when you save all those photos to your phone. So this is what happens when those photos are printed. 

I saw an idea ( as usual ) from Instagram. Of course, I forget who it was I scraplifted but I promise that this was not whole heartedly my design. I saw how the girl used her sayings paper from one of Amy Tangerine's collections. Cutting them out and using them scattered however she saw fit on a white paper so it kind of blended in which I loved. So I took this idea and ran with it because I have been hoarding this paper for a while as I had no idea what to do with it but I couldn't not have it! 

I arranged sayings that I cut out that I felt fitting down the middle of the page leaving space for the photos which I layered with the cut aparts from this line. I also stuck stickers from the line as well as embellishments between the layers on both sides. My journaling I did along the side of the paper, don't ask me why but it just worked out that way. 

I made two pages with photos from this night; including this gem of me with the beer pitcher.  I used the sketch from the Paper Issues  challenge as inspiration for this page as well as my title was based off the idea I did earlier with a different page. I had so much fun with it and it uses so many of my alphas.  I also got to use up a lot of scraps and product from Fancy Pants Family line including also some beer related embellishments from Paper House Productions.  I thought it ended up being a fun, sassy page - the title adds a little spunk to my already goofy picture. Title is lyrics from Drinking Problem by Midland. 

Hope you enjoyed my pages and are inspired to use up your stash!! Join me at Paper Issues for their monthly challenges!!

xo. Renee

New Kittens!

After the loss of our sweet Sienna and Pumpkin this summer, our house was far to quiet for our own good. I wasn't sure that my dad would even listen really to my suggestion to look at animals at our local Humane Society open house. But Dad asked for the time and in a car we were. I was a bit surprised at his reaction but I think he was lonesome for animal interaction as we all were. (Just not as willing to admit it.) 

Dad kind of wanted a black kitten, he always seemed to have good luck with them. So he was drawn to this particular little black kitten. He held him and the kitten turned my dad in to a pile of goo with all of his kitty purrs. Of course, we had to check out all the other adorable felines but Dad just never put the black kitten down. Even when he was playing with the others. 

So I guess our decision was made, this little black kitten was going to be ours. Although as we were filling out paper work, the lady said "You know he has a brother, and we would like them to be adopted together."  Without a moment of hesitation, Dad asked which kitten was his brother. This little gray tiger striped kitten was shown to us. We were only intending for one kitten but Dad said - "Well, I'd hate to split them up." and boom, we came home with two. 

So it begins our journey with two kittens. Mom and Dad happened to be on the phone with the grandchildren when we were discussing names for these little guys. Shouting options from the other side, a lot were declined- Dad has had a lot of black cats so common names were already taken. Finally she said Stormy and Smokey. Well perfect! We now have names for our crazy babies. Smokey is our gray striped little guy and Stormy is our black kitten. 

I think all of our phones are filled with millions of photos and they're finding anything to get their paws on. We simply can't get enough of them and so far it's been quite the experience, it's been so long since we've had a beeb of any kind in the house. 

Both pages were made with photos of them cuddling, of course- I have a thousand. I loved also getting to use up some of my stash with the baby boy line by Crate Paper as well as other scraps/supplies that match up with the line.  And I saw an idea on the Paper Issues Facebook group which inspired me to use up some cactus supplies I've been hoarding for the second page. Both turned out perfect!! I repeat it every page  but I'm so excited to see my stash dwindling. I've needed this for so long- although I'm still drooling over the newer stuff - Cassie has been missing charging my card. 

Hope you enjoy my crazy kittens, I promise - no I'm certain- you'll be seeing a ton more of them along the way!!

xo. Renee