Inspiration Elevator Challenge- Nostalgia

Hello!
Today I'm bring a page I made for this month's Inspiration Elevator Challenge- Nostaligia.

I have a different perspective on this challenge because I don't really scrap to capture moments or even record my life.
I do it because I love messing around with paper and because it gives me a good reason to keep shooting photos- something I would otherwise forget to do in my normal day to day routine.

Basic Grey film strip paper- I'll need to get a couple more of this print. The flair is from A Flair For Buttons, chipboard and white laser cut tags from Scrap FX. New York flag from Reminisce. I also cut some leaves from vellum just for the heck of it. Since we put our things in storage and brought essentials with us when we moved to Utah, I don't have much in terms of items that are nostalgic but the printed film strips are good stand-ins- read below to find out why.

My page doesn't have a lot of journaling this month.
I've covered the subject of Brooklyn longing so frequently in the last couple of months I really just wanted to make a page to match this summer 2013 photo I love.

I am deeply nostalgic for my college days when I spent all day (literally) in the darkroom developing film and printing black and white photos for my next critique class.

The photo is of a near perfect day in May.
We walk the Brooklyn Bridge.
Discover new parts of the park by getting lost in the streets.
Finally, the sun is setting,
Saidy has brought her nephews and Lola finally has someone her own age to play with.
The food truck tacos we buy are delicious.
The salsa band playing outdoors in the park is so amazing we get up and dance in front of everyone.

Lola sits on David's shoulders the whole time.
Then... fireworks!!! Someone is getting married and we get to share in their joy.
And I cry
I AM SO HAPPY!
I know we may never get to come back to a summer concert in Brooklyn Bridge Park again.

I'm painfully grateful. 
New adventures and perfect days await in Utah but nothing compares to golden evenings by the water;
Lady Liberty waving her torch just a quarter mile away.

Quiet subway rides home

You fall asleep yet it is us who sit dreaming

This is home.

Those banner stickers are from the Target dollar aisle- they've been on a roll lately with the kraft stuff.

Onto the official challenge~

You may recall that the purpose of this challenge group is to take our scrapbooking to the next level, to stretch our creative process and to grow as artists by embracing challenges that make us think, work and grow.

You can view all of the challenges our new Inspiration Elevator Blog, here.

We are also pleased to welcome Denise Morrison and her stunning artistic style back to Inspiration Elevator.
Our challenge this month comes from the very talented Lisa Spiegel .

Here's what she had to say in her very own words:
"October is my favorite month of the year. Hands down. The temperatures here in Southern California finally start to drop, we wear a light sweater, maybe even a little boot. We pull out the scarves and the jeggings and put away the capris and tank tops. Leaves begin to change and we prepare for Halloween! My whole house is decorated, from top to bottom, and it is no small feat. I even swap out my dishes and serving ware in preparation for Fall and Halloween and I love to just keep the festivities going all the way through the Thanksgiving and then holiday season. My house will not return to "normal" until January. 

So, Lisa, tell us, how does this relate to a scrapbooking challenge? Well, what I've found over the years is my scrapping even changes over the holidays. I layer more. Reach for the bling and really dig deep to embellish with meaningful objects. Journal my thoughts and stories and feelings. Fall just make me nostalgic. So here is the challenge. Create a layout that is nostalgic...the feeling should be evident from the title, the visible journaling and the embellishments you choose. 
Choose deliberately and with purpose to tell your nostalgic story. I can't wait to see how you interpret this challenge!" 
 I hope you will stop by and see what the rest of the incredible Inspiration Elevator designers have created:

Lisa Spiegel

Laurel Seabrook 

Joanne Burton

Jodi Wilton

Michelle Hernandez

Ann Jobes

Laura Whitaker

Lisa Moen 

Christa Uttley

Guest Designer Denise Morrison

If you feel inspired to play along with my challenge this month, please share it using the linky tool on our Inspiration Elevator blog and/or our Inspiration Elevator Facebook page.
We'd LOVE to see what you made!

Normally dancers go in front of the stage but we had 3 toddlers to care for so we got up and danced
right in front of all these folks- and it spread. It WAS a good day.

Skissedilla selected scrapper for October

Hello scrap happy folks!

It's been an eventful week for me and I am so glad to finally share this latest scrapbook page.

I'm the featured scrapper over at Skissedilla for October. yay!

Things are changing for the challenges- instead of  a sketch a week there's only one a month.

Skissedilla has a GREAT design team with plenty of raw inventive power- I suggest you swing on by and check it out.

Here's my solution to this month's sketch:

I loved the sketch but I got caught up in the literal- how to make that sunburst pattern look fresh and new?
Silly rabbit- just make the page! The flair is from A Flair For Buttons. The chipboard from Scrap FX.

The actual sketch:

Challenge 228

A close up:

Whenever I get stuck I start cutting strips of paper. No matter how
bad the mojo is I always seem to respond to stripes on a page.

And here is the RAK up for grabs to one lucky winner:

Some beautiful Art Deco inspired frames from Scrap FX and flair from
A Flair For Buttons and Bluebird Chic on Etsy.

Thank you so much to Skissedilla for asking me to join the team for October- I was THRILLED when I got the email.

One great thing about living in Salt Lake City- farms everywhere-
on the way to the mall- the BIGGEST tomatoes , peppers and
cucumbers are there for the picking. We bough 3 bags of fresh produce for 5 bucks.
Can't beat that with a bat!

Hope you have a great week!
Michelle

A Flair For Buttons and DCWV Blog Hop!!!!

Hello  Hello HELLO!

I am SO EXCITED to be sharing a couple of pages with you today.

DCWV was the first scrapbook brand I picked up back in 2009 when I started looking for pretty paper to make decorations for future Lola's room.

Off to Joann's I went and there it was- cue angels singing- The Mariposa Stack.
Suddenly I had a million ideas that only needed a pair of scissors to bring to life.

Since then I've had fun creating with their new Adhesive Fabric stack, The Colorful Life Stack, The Snapshot Stack and here's an oldie but still a favorite- Downtown Loft which is full of mod prints and Manhattan themed papers.

The lucky DT members of  A Flair For Buttons each got a stack to create with.
I got The Glam Rock stack.

I made this card:

Some pop dots, fussy cutting and 20 minutes later I had a party invite.

And this page:

I love paper strips so this page came together quickly after I cut the foiled silver "belts" out.
I used flair from the following packs:
Rock On Flair 1,
Arrows kraft and black 1,
and Dartboards flair- I will be ordering 20 more of those black and white striped beauties!

I did get a little stuck when I first opened my package because I have a 4 year old who's still listening to "Old McDonald" and "The Wheels on the Truck".
So I don't have a rocking out photo to use- yet.
Then I found that photo of Lola and her cousins and a page popped into my brain instantly.

That's what I love about DCWV packs- you can use the themed packs for almost anything- all you need is scissors, glue and a couple of hours.

Joining my today in this fun smash up are:

Erica Weinstock

Me! :)

Mary Ann Maldonado

Diane Payne

Ashli Oliver

Please swing by each blog to check out how we used our packs- I sure there will be a delightful surprise in each blog.

Before I forget- here is the coupon code to get 10% off your next A Flair For Buttons order:

Thanks for stopping by!
Michelle

Skissedilla and DCWV & A Flair For Buttons Blog Hop sneak peeks

Hello!
Been gone for two weeks. OOPS!
There's lots of scrappy paper crafting going on in the background.

This Saturday I'll be participating in the first ever DCWV - A Flair For Buttons blog hop.
I made a couple of pages that took me out my usual color scheme so I'm excited.
Here are two a sneaky peeks at my projects:

I looked at the large record page on the DCWV stack FOR-EVER till this subject  idea rose up.
Whew! No need for a photo of   Lola rocking out to Van Halen after all.

I made a card- an actual CARD!!! And one I like- very rare indeed.

Then on Sunday, my guest designer for the October Skissedilla sketch challenge goes up.
I'm honored to be part of this group which has introduced me to so many incredible scrappers.
Sneaky peek:

I used a butterfly punch garland I've had in my stash for over a year as well as my
absolute favorite mini feathers chipboard from Scrap FX. My page won't be the only one
posted either- it's gonna be fly mi gente.

I've been doing a lot of soul searching as of late.
I write posts in my head but because I committed to a path of positivity (wait- is that even a word?) here I haven't been able to truly capture how I feel.
How much do I reveal?
How much detail do readers care to know?

It's hard to find the middle ground between honesty and pure emotional detritus.
So I'm keeping my trap shut for now.
Frankly- how I feel changes so frequently shutting up is probably the best idea- when I figure things out I can  tell it all with some perspective or just laugh at all the internal drama and move the effer on.

Anyway if you have some time this weekend please swing by and say hello.

We stumbled across a pumpkin farm on the way home yesterday- lots of  last minute Fall themed photos ensued.

Have a great week.
Michelle

Inspiration Elevator challenge- what do you find inspiring.

You may recall that the purpose of this challenge group is to take our scrapbooking to the next level, to stretch our creative process and to grow as artists by embracing challenges that make us think, work and grow. You can view all of the challenges our new Inspiration Elevator Blog, here.

Our challenge this month comes from the very talented Cathy Harper. Here's what she had to say in her very own words:
"I want to know what inspires you to create. As I was driving home the other day from my trip back to Black Hills, I saw a really cool billboard...clouds, the sun, and a few hearts. I immediately thought how great the design was and how I could transform it into a card or layout.(No, I didn't get a picture of it as it was the week of the annual Sturgis Bike Rally and no way was I pulling off the side of the interstate with all of that crazy traffic.) Even the other day, as I was walking through Target, I saw a couple of cute Baby gift bags that had great design principle that I could use as inspiration to create with too! Then it hit me that this would be a great challenge for my IE teammates. We recently had Sue's challenge where we were inspired by another teammate and lifted their style..but I want to know what else inspires you besides other designers cards and layouts. Are you a Pinterest addict like me? And find great design ideas there or in a magazine with a brilliant ad!? Find something inspires you, pin it or take a photo and create your work from there...you must include a photo of your inspiration and a link (if there is one) with your project for the challenge!"

What inspires me?

My family. 

This is central to my life because I grew up in a broken home where my father and mother, although very loving towards their children, fought all the time. 

Eventually they divorced. I feel like I'm still dealing with the ramifications of their break up.

My husband and I met one warm summer evening in 1998. It was not love at first sight or anything like a romance novel.

It was like a kid's movie- "Up" to be exact.

We were fast friends and enjoyed each other's company immensely.

I like to say that one day I was watching him practice his salsas moves when it struck me;

"Damn! He's a sexy beast."

Funny how that goes- before he was just good 'ol Dave- best buddy- best pal.

Next minute I'm mauling him like a "twilight" vampire.

Good thing he was ok with that. 

Ten years later (don't ask- it was New York- no one thinks they are ready to marry till they hit 40) we married.

11 months later Lola was born- early due to severe complications but alive, thank goodness.

These days our friendship and patience is being tested by every financial issue imaginable.

But the trust and respect is still there.

We won't break.

We won't surrender to self pity or blame.

We will make it through this.

Two best friends and the talking spark plug they made...

And their whole crazy Latino extended family.

What? Did you think we faced these problems alone?

Never!

Since I'm working from an iPod Touch I can't link to the website that inspired this page (thank goodness for copy paste or else I wouldn't be able to give you the blog hop list at all) but you'll find my favorite scrap blogs right there on my side bar.

This page takes inspiration from Louise Nelson's style.

I couldn't find a family portrait small enough to fit area I was willing to cover in this page!

I really got to like how the magenta, yellow and blue-green paints mixed.

The feather stamp and chipboard are from Scrap FX. Flowers from Prima and Petaloo. Acrylic Paint from Martha Stewart. 

Please try to swing by the rest of the blogs linked below to see what the other Inspiration Elevator designers have created:

Cathy Harper

Lisa Spiegel
Laurel Seabrook

Joanne Burton

Jodi Wilton

Michelle Hernandez

Ann Jobes

Laura Whitaker

Sue Sykes
Lisa Moen
 Christa Uttley

If you feel inspired to play along with my challenge this month, please share it using the linky tool on our Inspiration Elevator blog and/or our Inspiration Elevator Facebook page. We'd LOVE to see what you made!

Until next time, keep doing what you love.