I love the monthly themes at Two Peas in a Bucket. I love that it gives me a general idea of where I need my layout to go, but then I can take it from there and freely create. When it came to this month's "milestone" theme, I had to think. For several days. There are lots of ways you could go with this and I almost went with Aven losing his first tooth. That's a milestone for our family. Then we were cleaning out the garage and came across these play boots.
Each boy has worn these boots. They've splashed in the rain, been caked with mud, climbed rock mountains, played at the park, worn to ride bikes and to the pool, worn with fireman and army dress up and covered miles and miles and miles of ground in little boy adventures on little boy feet.

And now they now longer fit either boy and we had to make a decision to throw them out.
It's hard, you know. Something so seemingly insignificant that you buy at the time that becomes a symbol of childhood days. I just can't believe they can't wear them anymore.
So I scrapped about it.
I lined up the boots, snapped a photo and in my own way, kept a piece of them behind. To me, it's almost like a milestone of crossing into big boy territory. Granted, we've been there awhile...they are 5 and 7 after all, but this kinda sealed the deal in my mama head.

I printed off the photo in color and tried to scrap with it that way and just couldn't get it to work.  I had already decided I wanted this Studio Calico light blue paper for the background and had laid out some embellishments to use that were all neutral. I totally dig these Crate Paper alphas, so much that I have 2 packs and am contemplating a third. They remind me of vintage signage. So I had my color scheme: light blue, black/white, touch of brown, and reddish-orange. The green in one pair of boots was throwing me off so I printed the pic in b/w, which made it look 100x better and with a theme like milestones, helped it look timeless in a way.
I decided to make my photo layered and off to the side so everything would be semi-contained in a painted outlined rectangle. I added the polkadot paper with a constellation vellum layer and stitched a piece from this new printable onto the photo. I love these frames from this ephemera pack and add the same vellum to the openings of those pieces.
Why the title on the side? No idea.  There is no real reason and maybe it looks silly, but I like it. I combined the bold "miles" with some handwritten to the title.
I kept all the embellishments to the left side, which I think helps balance out the big title on the right side. The label carries over the title color. I left out  a word in my typed journaling. I'm okay with it. I'll handwrite it in. The black tag had a heart on it, which was cute, but didn't go. I covered it with the Basic Grey star and added a 5 (from the same pack as the die cut frames) because that is the age my youngest son is, the number when neither pair of boots fit.
I love these cork pieces from Studio Calico and when paired with some enamel dots they almost create an arrow effect. Maybe you love arrows (I'm a fan) or maybe you are so over them. I was just going to scatter them randomly, but I needed the color from the title to repeat, these were perfect and when I put them with the cork pieces I liked the look. I didn't start off thinking "I'll make an arrow alternative!" But it works and I'm sure I'll do it again.
This past week I found this layout on my desk and the bottom part was bothering me. I wanted it more simple. So I took this Heidi Swapp color pop paper with it's varnish (love) and covered over my original strip. I think it makes it look better. In the end, I had a little "2/3 rds" rule going on that I hadn't intended.

It's funny how layouts come together, for me at least. There never seems to be a rhyme or reason, but once I really think about it, maybe there is more intentionality that I originally thought. All the garden girls came up with amazing layouts for their milestone theme! So much talent right there. You can see them all here.

It's Saturday and if you are a Pea you know what that means...another free project life video! I'm up today sharing my process of putting together a spread that doesn't focus on a week this time, but rather an event. Mother's Day to be exact. 

justasiam! Congrats. I'll send over your name so you can get registered for class.
June 1 is fast approaching which means there will be another garden girl release of themed projects. I don't always love how my layouts end up, but with this one I was pretty happy. You can see it all in a few days.
Also, just TWO days left for any May printables or cut files in the digital shop. Once June hits, those May goodies will be retired and new ones will be ready to purchase.
We are loving the slow ease into summer. Farmers market trips, library runs, water balloon fights, breakfast on the porch, hummingbird watching. Yep. Summer is suiting us just fine. It isn't doing much for my productivity level, but that's ok. How many summers does a person get with their two little guys? Not enough.

Hello there! Thanks for coming from Lilith's blog. You can check out the order of the hop at the Two Peas blog. Make sure to hit all the stops as there are some prizes to be given away.
This was my May layout this month for the "focus on photos" theme. It's so cool to play along with a different theme each month and see how each person interprets it. I went in the spring snapshot direction and it went bright and crazy in a hurry. I used some photos related to the snow finally melting and the sun finally shining: muddy boy in a swimsuit, lazy boy & kitty on a hammock and a tulip. Nothing says spring like a tulip. I think my favorite part of this was using this die to cut out a frame from a vintage sheet.
I had another Project Life video go up where I played around with clear accents. I'm already prepping to film another video for the series this week :) In the both projects I played around with some of the new digital shop goodies. Love the new look to that side of the store! Have you checked them out? Only a few days left for some of the May exclusive printables and die cuts before they are gone.
This mini album cover is all kinds of awesome. I'm a sucker for anything wooden and when you add in black and aqua with some mess--YES. You can see the designer and the rest of it here in the gallery.




1. This alphabet stamp set from Mama Elephant is just begging for some gold ink.
2. These frames by Crate Paper can be used in a million ways.
3. These cameron bits from Elle's Studio are perfect for scrapping about my two little guys.
4. Travel plans this summer? These word stickers from October Afternoon's travel girl would go perfect in a travel themed mini.
5. Remember how I said I'm a sucker for anything wooden? Check out these Freckled Fawn frames... and they come with the cut out pieces, which is very cool.
So excited to be giving away a spot in the newest mini workshop at Two Peas, Tool School by Jen Gallacher! 
We all have them: punches, die cut machines, die cut shapes, and even our most basic tools. And while some of these tools get more use than others, some get completely neglected. Garden Girl Jen Gallacher comes to the rescue with this workshop designed to help you use your tools in creative new ways.
You can read the full description here. Leave a comment for your chance to win :) Winner will be announced in one week. (If you win but have already purchased the class--no problem. You will be refunded or you can give your spot to a friend.)

Anyone recovering from this weekend's national scrapbook day? I actually didn't have a chance to scrap, but cleaned out my closet instead. Don't be jealous.

This layout went up over the weekend for the festivities at Two Peas.
I had fun playing around with the elongated hexagon wood veneer shapes from Studio Calico. Paired with washi and stamps I think it gives them a new look.




I also had a new project life video go live. It was a fun week to put together and I added the challenge of working with some clear accents.




Confession: I am behind on project life. Confession #2: I am okay with it. I started project life with the real idea that I would probably fall behind. You know what? It is a-okay. The weeks I do document are more than I would be getting down if I hadn't even started at all. I do plan to go back and get the weeks I'm missing...probably in a more simple way, but I am enjoying the project and the process regardless. I hope this encourages you if you are behind to not give up!

If you are a scrapbooker, tomorrow is your day.
All kinds of fun planned at Two Peas! Here's a sneak of a layout I will have going up...
and I'll also have a new Project Life video go live. Marcy and I will be hosting a chat tomorrow night at 7p.m. and there is a special sale, too! Plus, there are a ton of new goodies in the store...including NEW Studio Calico...love this line
 Crate Paper..those plastic alphas are insane
and lots more.
Oh, and the digital store is all new, with exclusive cut files and printables, some available for this month only and some free, and photo actions.
Wow. Lots going on!  So get your scrap desk ready and the coffee prepped and I'll see you tomorrow at Two Peas :)

If you happen to like checking out scrap rooms, mine is up with a video tour over on the Two Peas blog.

A "video tour" sounds kinda silly, but someone on the message board had mentioned it would be cool if the garden girls filmed a room tour, so I did. I tried not to make you too dizzy :) You can watch it here.
National Scrapbook Day is coming up this Saturday. A day dedicated to scrapbooking? Yes, please. Marcy and I will be having a chat on the Two Peas message board that night, so please join us! I'll have a layout going up that day that involves these lovelies (which happen to be on sale).
Who can get enough wood veneers? Not me.