Michele Holcomb

simple scrapper:: happy june

supplies: One Little Bird Meadowlark; Font: Helvetica

It's not quite summer for us yet although the weather tells a different story. My girls have a week and half left of school and we're certainly counting down the days.

Even though our schedule during the week will continue to be the same, I like knowing that the school obligations are done for a couple of months and we can do as we please in the evenings and weekends. One of our favorite activities has been playing volleyball in the front yard or up at the park.

This layout documents one of our little practice sessions. I used the Simple Scrapper June template and the new One Little Bird kit - Meadowlark to create a simple and streamlined layout.

The yellows and grays are my fave go to colors right now. It definitely brightens my day!

Have a wonderful weekend!

 

***The Premium Membership at Simple Scrapper provides skills and shortcuts to help you simplify and find more meaning in your memory keeping***

simple scrapper:: may challenge layout

My girls were huge fans of the Disney TV Show Hannah Montana. With that said...I know many of those songs by heart. All lighthearted and fun. There is a particular song that they loved to listen to and I didn't mind when they had it on loop. The song is a message about being yourself and standing up for what you believe in.

supply list here

The message itself is so near and dear to my heart. The last two years have brought us new topics to deal with, one of which is being inclusive and accepting of everyone's differences. I chose this song to create a layout about Nyna. Inspired by Ali Edwards and Brooke Starnes, I took the lyrics and typed them out on the kraft cardstock. I like that the words are center stage.

Today, I have a post up over on Simple Scrapper on creating layouts with lyrics or quotes. Check out how the other designers interpreted this challenge. Play along and you could win a $15 print credit from Persnickety Prints.

***The Premium Membership at Simple Scrapper provides skills and shortcuts to help you simplify and find more meaning in your memory keeping***

simple scrapper:: april layouts

For the last 4 months I've been immersed in the digital side of the world. I'm really liking the ease of opening a template and choosing a combination of digital cardstock, patterned papers and minimal embellishments to tell a few family stories. I'm most definitely a newbie as my layouts are on the super simple side. I do like them this way. 

My contributions to Simple Scrapper April templates are some of my favorites that I have made so far. The first layout tells the story about Nyna and Shiloh. They have an amazingly crazy relationship.  

[supplies: Simple Scrapper Premium Membership April Template 2; Worn Collab. Collection (black polka dot pp and date tab); Generation Collab. Collection (pink pp, cream&green polka dot pp); Paislee Press This Much Collection (white cardstock, word art, and blue striped pp); Sahlin Studio Key To My Heart Collection (kraft cardstock, teal pp, and heart scatter); Helvetica (on tab), Myriad Pro (journaling)]

Journaling reads: there is something to be said about your relationship with shiloh. it was you that wanted to adopt a dog. it was your idea to visit the shelter back in march 2010. it was you that chose him. it was you that immediately said you loved him after hours of bringing him home. after a few years of living together, you both are finding your groove with one another. you like to bother him when he leasts expects it. he lets out a low growl which means “leave me alone.” you like to rub his ear on your lips; he likes to lick your feet. you like to have him near; he likes to curl up under your cozy blanket as you go to bed. out of all of the rooms in the house, it’s your room that he likes to spend time in. he will follow you where ever you go, especially when you have food. you two are a true match for each other. 

[supplies: Simple Scrapper Premium Membership April Template 1; Sahlin Studio Key To My Heart Collection (kraft cardstock, graph, teal, striped patterned paper); Paislee Press This Much Collection (dark blue patterned paper); Anna Aspnes Yesterday & Today (stitching, staples, and word art); Fonts: Myriad Pro (journaling) and Prestige Elite, Std. (date)]

My 2nd layout showcases some of my favorite photos from my trip to San Diego. The journaling comes from this blog post. 

 

***The Premium Membership at Simple Scrapper provides skills and shortcuts to help you simplify and find more meaning in your memory keeping***

there's history here

I have this huge box of my parents' family photos that I've been wanting to organize for sometime now. It's one of those projects that is at the top of my list to complete but it just seems to get pushed to the wayside. I think my problem is I want this perfect linen album to house them in. I just need to get over it and move forward.

As I'm sorting and organizing all of these pictures, there are those that I come across and are placed in a special pile. The photos in the layout below are just a few of them.

My parents before children in the 1970's. I would love to have their story written down one day.

How did they meet? How did their families feel about them dating and later getting married? What was it like to be an interracial couple in the early 1970's? How did they want to raise us (Catholic or Baptist)? How did my mom feel about being a military wife?

Yes...I know most of the answers to these questions...but to have it in writing is so powerful.

So as I make my way through the rest of the albums, I'll be making a list of stories that I want to tell. Then...I need to turn that list into true stories rather than a "someday" project. I just may use this space for them too. It's nice to have it all in one place.

As for the family picture in the layout, I cherish that photo. It's the only camera photo that I found of the five of us together, where my brothers and I were under 10 years old. This fuels me to take more photos with the girls and Dre. I really am always behind the scene. Definitely my comfort zone.

 

supplies: Simple Scrapper March Single 2, One Little Bird & Sahlin Studio Worn Collab kit, Generations Collab kit (yellow/beige pp), Paislee Press This Much (splatter), Anna Aspnes (Stitching & Staples), Fonts: Pretige Elite (on photos), Myriad Pro (journaling)

-----

***The Premium Membership at Simple Scrapper provides skills and shortcuts to help you simplify and find more meaning in your memory keeping***

 

boy band love

Do you remember your very first "Boy Band" that you loved? I know I do.

I was living in the Philippines and the most popular singing sensation at the time was a group of Puerto Rican boys called "Menudo". Oh Ricky Martin and Robi Rosa were my faves. My cousins and I went crazy for them. I was 10 at the time.

Then when we moved to the states I fell madly in love with New Edition, New Kids On the Block, Boys to Men....and the list goes on.

[supplies: Simple Scrapper March Single Template #1, One Little Bird (Beige Like Me Cardstock), Generations Collab kit (Chevron PP), One Little Bird & Sahlin Studio Worn Collab kit (Ledger PP, Dots PP, Tape Measure), Anna Aspnes (Stitching), Fonts: "Big Time" - Bebas, All other - Myriad Pro, Instagram Photos]

Fast forward to today. I am now the parent to two squealing and screaming girls, which really is a surprise because they are pretty calm kids. On February 20th, the girls and I headed downtown to see Big Time Rush in concert. The original tickets that we bought had us on the floor in the last row. Imagine our surprise when we were told that they had to reconfigure the seating and we would have to be moved - TEN ROWS TO THE FRONT! Can you say excited?!

Both my girls have a love for this group but it's my 9 year old who is an ultimate fan (move over Justin Beiber - you've been replaced). During one of the numbers, the boys came off the stage and walked through the crowd. Nyna was arms length away from being able to touch one of them, but with the sea of screaming teenage girls, it was not going to happen.

I definitely want to tell a more detailed story about that night. Really, more of a reflective piece and how right now I enjoy this stage that they are in. It won't be long when going to a concert with friends is much preferred rather than with mom. 

This page will go into Nyna's 4th grade album. I think she'll get a kick out of seeing this type of pop culture later on down the road.

***The Premium Membership at Simple Scrapper provides skills and shortcuts to help you simplify and find more meaning in your memory keeping***

valentine treat bags

This is the last post in my Celebrate the Love series. I wanted to share the treat bags that Nyna is giving away to her classmates today. We've been making her valentine cards since 1st grade. But since this day seriously crept up on us, we both decided that little craft bags with candy and glow bracelet is good enough. Thirty-three little bags all packed and ready to go.

Happy Love Day!

supplies: 

• craft bags - michael's
• stamp - michael's dollar bin
• ink - ranger ink fired brick
• glow bracelets - target dollar bin ($1-15 bracelets)
• crunch candy bars - target

Valentines Banner DIY

supplies needed:

• patterned paper - 6x4 pieces
• red heart shape doilies
• various chipboard hearts
• various brads
• valentine tags and tickets
• scallop punch
• red raffia ribbon
• glue gun
• hole puncher

Doilies just seem to be hot trend right now and I personally can't get enough of them. This simple and quick banner was made a few weekends ago to brighten the girls headboards. I used product from My Mind's Eye, Teresa Collins, Basic Grey, and Making Memories. Assembly line style was the way to go and I didn't fuss to much with the placement of all of the items. 

Have you made a Valentines Banner? I would love to see. Link me up in the comments section. 

*****

Additional Celebrate The Love posts: 

• Key To My Heart
• Vintage Valentines
• Valentine Card Set
• Weekend "Love" List

weekend "love" list

Just sharing the "love" of some of my favorite sites that I came across this week.

• Urban Comfort - a selection of favorite Valentine Stamps
• Stephanie Howell - *love*ly things series - this post gives me goosebumps
• Oh Joy! - marshmallow tea latte
• Poppy Talk - heart frame: valentine's DIY + printable by Geninne
• Designer Digitals - this is love brush set by Ali Edwards
• Under the Tulip Tree - family pancake - i simply love Saturday morning breakfasts with the family
• Oh, Hello Friend - free vintage paper dowloads

 Happy Weekending!

vintage valentines

The moment I saw this set of vintage valentines cards from Cavallini & Co., I knew I had to had them. Not for my kids to give out...but for me to use as I desire. I know...selfish of me but what can I say, I'm addicted to stationary.

This set totally reminds me of my childhood. I remember feeling so nervous that I'd be the only one giving out little love notes in class and would work myself up into a frenzy. But the exchanging always turned out better than I expected and I truly treasured each of the cards that I received from my classmates.

I bought this set at Pottery Barn Kids. You can also find it at Paper Source.

[set includes 24 assorted cards and envies, 3 stamps, stamp pad and 100 assorted labels]

simple scrapper:: february reveal

I am excited to share my contributions using the Simple Scrapper February templates that will be available on Wednesday through the premium membership. Out of all of the layouts I have made over the months, these have got to be my favorite. 

I love the first one for the comparison photos of my girl when she first started kindergarten and the start of fourth grade. Makes me a bit sentimental. I used the new collab. digi kit Generations from Paislee Press, One Little Bird and Traci Murphy Designs. Such beautifully designed papers and embellies. 

Template: Simple Scrapper's Premium Membership; Papers: Generations by One Little Bird, Traci Murphy and Paislee Press; This Much Paint Splatter by Paislee Press; Staples by Anna Aspnes Yesterday & Today; Fonts - Bebas (initial), Apple Chancery (title), Myriad Pro (journaling).

This second layout tells such a simple story of a lazy Sunday afternoon when both the girls were reading in their rooms. Love seeing them in their spaces enjoying some downtime. The word art "Seeing Them" is from Ali Edwards Yesterday & Today class. 

Template: Simple Scrapper's Premium Membership; Patterned Paper, Tags, "All Together" tag: Generations by One Little Bird, Traci Murphy and Paislee Press; Patterned Paper (red) Katie Pertiet LaCremerieFraise Collection; This Much Arrows by Paislee Press; "Seeing Them" word title Ali Edwards Yesterday & Today; Fonts - Myriad Pro (journaling).

***The Premium Membership at Simple Scrapper provides skills and shortcuts to help you simplify and find more meaning in your memory keeping***