Treasured Memories Design Team: February 2010

Hi there Scrappers! It's me, Aphra. Just wanted to share my first layout for TM Design Team 2010. The requirements were as follows:

1. The layout must be about yourself.
2. The layout must contain an 8x10 or larger photo of yourself.
3. The layout must include a creative title that describes yourself.
4. The layout must be a two-page layout.

My Two Reasons: My layout includes a picture of me with my two sons, who give meaning to my life and are the main reason for my scrapbooking.

I cut my 8x10 photo into three strips to give a little more movement to my layout and to really bring the eye to the focal point of my photo. For this layout, I chose My Mind's Eye Ooo La La Girl paper. LOVE these bright, cheerful colors.

To create my title, I used my MM Slice and the Animal Crackers cartridge to cut out alphas and a large number. I spritzed the number with Tattered Angels Turquoise Glimmer Mist. And to make all those cute alphas stand out, I outlined them with my black Zig Writer.

The base butterflies on my layout are cut from a Hambly Transparency and topped with a Martha Stewart large butterfly punched from a sheet of the My Mind's Eye Ooo La La paper. I used some of the MME die cuts for their centers and to create this little cluster at the top. The cluster is anchored by a snippet of Prima packaging, the one that the blue paper flowers came in. And those book paper flowers? I made those myself. They are also spritzed with Glimmer Mist.

All of these products (except for the Martha Stewart butterfly punch) are available at Treasured Memories. Be sure to head over to the store and see all the new products rolling in since CHA. See ya'll soon!

Hi Treasured Memories ladies! Frances here. It is my first post...Whoot! Whoot! I am soooo excited to be a part of such a wonderful team. I have been a fan of Treasured Memories for years, and I still cannot really comprehend that my layouts will be around the perimeter of the store...OMG!!! I came to know Treasured Memories through visiting my family in Lafayette. And when I do visit my family, I sneak off the first chance I get for a few minutes to run up a tab! And when I get a little desperate, I scour the TM website and make a scrappy list to be delivered by my sweet momma when she comes to North Louisiana for a visit.

Well, just like the post below, it's my turn to answer the TOP 10 questions so we can get to know each other...

1. Tell us all about you.
My name is Frances Sylvia and I have just recently moved to Many, Louisiana. My husband, Chris, and I bought a beautiful home tucked away in the woods of Sabine Parish. We have 4 children, Annalise (8), Gracie (7), Vivian (5), and Brock (3)...I know we are a tad busy...and let me add TIRED! By day, I am a remedial education teacher, but my heart longs to be stowed away in my scrap space!

2. When and why did you start scrapbooking?
Like most, I was introduced to scrapbooking through Creative Memories, but I really came into my own when I met my BFF Aphra. I came to realize quickly that patterned paper was more than tone on tone stripes and checks...hehe! Needless to say, my creativity bloomed and I have been smitten with this hobby ever since.

3. Do you think you have a scrapbooking style? What best describes your scrapbooking style?
Sometimes I think I have a scrapbooking style...??...but there are many times that I don't. I am true to exploration and not being pushed into a corner. So really, I just try anything that inspires me at that sitting. With that being said, I do have some trends at the moment...white space, long titles, lots of color.

4. Besides your cutter and scissors, what are 3 scrapbooking products you couldn't live without?
For sure patterned paper, my DYMO, and buttons...lots of buttons!

5. What paper line best descibes you?
I would say Jillibean Soup and October Afternoon...vintage, hip, colorful, and very versatile!

6. What embellishment line best describes you?
Not necessarily a line, but I love journaling spots...not even for its sole purpose to journal. I tuck them anywhere I can. I love Jenni Bowlin, October Afternoon, and Jillibean Soup journaling spots, and I even like creating my own.

7. What designer inspires you?
I really love a bunch of designers, but right now Emeline Seet is my favorite...she is the cut work queen! You can check her out HERE.

8. What was your favorite innovative product of 2009 and why?
The Bind-it-All, definitely! I have not used it much, but I love the fact that I can create my own books.

9. What are you feelings about journaling?
I can live with it or without it! Once again, I try not to set rules for myself. If the layout needs some explaining...I journal, but if not...I do not bat an eye and leave it off!

10. What do you hope to get out of being on the Treasured Memories Design Team this year?
Well, I am thrilled to be on a design team with real people...LOL! I am on my share of online design teams, but I have been wanting to interact face to face with people who share my passion. So, I hope to meet lots of people and learn as much as I can from them.

There ya have it...wanna see my first layout? Here ya go!

6 of one

I tried to stay true to the kinds of layouts I usually design. Like I said before in question 3, I love white space! This was a challenge for me because the requirement was that our layout must contain a 8 X 10 photo of myself...oh dear! Just so you know...I usually scrapbook single page layouts, and I will chop a picture to pieces in a minute to allow for white space...you can imagine my dilemma. I ended up grouping all of the pictures on my BIG picture, which allowed for some white space...see I compromised. I chose pics of my kiddos and one of my husband and I, only the most important people in my life. I have been in love with the MME paper that I used, but never could quite get it to work. I also said in my questions that I love color, but in this layout I pushed from out of my comfort zone, and chose less bold colors...way to go ME!

Shew...I will be publishing this post in a book very soon, since it is as long as one...just kidding! Thanks again Janet for this wonderful opportunity and I cannot wait to get to know the sweet ladies that make up the Treasured Memories family...ta-ta!