How is it possible that it's been OVER a year since I have written on my blog?  It's also been almost a year since I have sat down and scrapbooked(!!).   I really don't know where to begin other or how to jump back into things or where blogging might fit back into my routine.... but I would love to revisit my blog home and share stories again here.  And what better time to blog than at the beginning of our favorite season- SUMMER!

One of the many NEW things over the last year is our frequent visits to Florida, as we now have a little place in Largo, Florida (near Clearwater Beach area.)  If you follow me on Instagram you have probably seen many of my Florida photos over the last year.  And HEY- bonus is that Disney is only 1 hour and 15 minutes away!

So to celebrate the start of summer I wanted to share a layout i made awhile ago, but haven't shared yet (feels so good to scrap again):

We can't wait to get back into this ocean very soon!!!!!

I created this using Elle's Studio's Summer line from 2016- Sunny Days. 

Thanks for swinging by after all these months!!!!  Happy Summer!

Elle's Studio Products Used:  Sunny Days-Bits and Pieces, Sunny Days 6x6 Paper Pack, Elle's Studio June 2016 Exclusive Kit

Project Life | Documenting a Fuller House Birthday

Hey everyone!  Today I wanted to share a new Project Life spread I created to document Jordan's birthday.

Jordan's birthday was in late February, and also coincided with the release of "Fuller House".

Let me stop right there.

Full House was MY JAM as a kid.  I pretty much thought I was DJ Tanner.  My family religiously watched Full House together every Friday night for TGIF!  Such great memories!

Knowing Fuller House was on the horizon, I decided to bust out the DVDs of Full House this past January and show Jonah an Jordan for the first time.  They were OBSESSED, just like their mama.

So in anticipation of the premiere I bought all of us shirts:

My friend Tiffany made Jordan a "Full House" cake (complete with favorite sayings):

And then we all went to the basement and watched the first episode of Fuller House (two thumbs up and i cried like 100 times):

And then I binged watched the rest of the series for the entire weekend.

So needless to say, this was an important event to document!  Jordan's Fuller House birthday!  Here's a look again at what I came up with:

I used a 9x12 (12 square) page and added an assortment of photos, journaling, acrylics, and ephemera)

The majority of this spread was created using Elle's Studio's Little Moments Collection and the Elle's Studio March 2016 Exclusive Kit.  I dug out the Sycamore Lane Collection and found the "Home Sweet Home" card (a nod to Kimmy Gibbler) and the house cork piece.   And how awesome is the "Did somebody say... Wood?" card?   You can find that card in the March 2016 Kit... perfect for Full House quotes!

I added her age with our Vellum Numbers and also included a candle that was on her birthday cake.  The alpha stamp I used was our Jonah Alphabet Stamp (i have a special love for that one!:) I am really pleased with how the spread turned out! 

Now... When is Fuller House Season 2 going to be released?????    Thanks for stopping by today :)

Elle’s Studio Products Used:  Elle’s Studio March 2016 Exclusive Kit, Little Moments- Bits and Pieces, Little Moments Journaling Tags,  Little Moments 12×12 Paper Collection, Acrylic Stars- Spring Mix, Jonah Labels, Jonah Alphabet Stamp, Sycamore Lane- Journaling Tags, Sycamore Lane- Cork Shapes, Vellum Numbers, Letter and Number Stickers- Grey

Documenting: Summer

Today I am sharing the opening pages to my Summer 2015 Project Life Album.

When thinking about Documenting our Summer, I came up with a few conclusions.  1) there's not a lot of "free time" (for me) during the summer.  I love how summer is a "slower" pace, however it's way more involved and has minute by minute pace.  meaning: i can relax by the pool all afternoon with the kids, however i can't really scrapbook by the pool.   which i am ok with. :) And 2) Tons of exciting things happen in the summer but many of our days look the same (pool, library, ice cream, repeat).

The thought of a 12x12 album was completely overwhelming considering these two items so I opted for a 6x8 handbook style method of documenting our summer.   The page above is my opening page. Super simple.  This is Jonah and Jordan on the morning of their last day of 1st grade and 2nd grade (sniff sniff).  The journaling card ("hello Summer") is from the Elle's Studio June 2015 Kit.  Can't think of a better way to start of the album.

My mom, sister, sister-in-law, and I took Jordan to see a dinner theatre production of Peter Pan at Beef and Boards (it was SO good) on the evening of the last day of school.  

I love adding hand-drawn lines to pattern paper and little journaling tags.   I also used the Elle's Studio Good Times Printable for the back side of the collage.  The pink lined circle and yellow journaling card were perfect additions to this spread (and I love that i can use them over and over again!)

Elle’s Studio’s June 2015 Kit, Good Times Printables, Let’s Eat Wood Veneers, Let’s Eat- Yummy Details Stamp, Let’s Eat Paper Collection Pack, Let’s Eat-Stickers, Hello 2015 Stickers, Letter and Number Stickers- Mint, Letter and Number Stickers- Yellow, Letter and Number Stickers- Woodgrain

I stamped a smaller ice cream image from the Let's Eat- Yummy Details Stamp (from on the back of the ice cream wood veneer from the Let's Eat - Wood Veneers.  Love this collection!

Hope you are inspired to document your summer!

Love this Moment: A Layout

Today I am over at the Big Picture Classes blog sharing this Disney- themed layout!

These photos were taken during our 36 hour whirlwind Disney trip a few weeks ago.  I haven't decided yet how I am going to document our Spring Break week, but i knew i was ready to create a Disney layout :)

One of my tips in my class, Document the Magic is to pick up TONS of maps when you visit the parks (or any travel destination)!   In my next Document the Magic class series I will share a lesson on ideas of how to use these maps in your travel album.  This layout will give you a taste of what to expect.

Supplies Used: Elle's Studio Cienna Labels, Elle's Studio's January 2015 Kit, Elle's Studio's Yellow Letter and Number Stickers, Cienna Stickers, Hello 2015 Stickers, Studio Calico Roman Ladder Add On Kit (the "LOVE" wood veneer).

secret magic -- a layout

I have a layout to share today about our Secret Disney trip...



I can not remember the last time i made a layout.  It's been SO long.  Why don't I do this more often?  It was just plain FUN.   And I love how it turned out.   Sometimes I get ahead of myself and start thinking about WHERE this layout will go (meaning in what album-- should it go in PL?  if so, what will go on the opposite side, etc).   I just need to STOP and enjoy it.



I ordered Studio Calico's Poets Society kit last month and paired it with TONS of new items from Elle's Studio's Sycamore Lane and Good Cheer collections.



I printed a few of my instagram photos in various sizes-- from 4x4 to 2x2, and layered it over the paper.  I used the white strips in the pattern paper as a place to journal, along with the kraft tags which anchored the layout.   Then was the fun part--- adding the bits and pieces.



The "Cheers" wood veneer is by Elle's Studio and the Disney flair button is by Panda Eight.   Disney is one of my favorite things to document!!!

Happy Thursday friends!

Celebrate December at Elle's Studio

Have you been checking out the Elle's Studio blog this month for our Celebrate December event?  I've been super inspired this month with all the various projects that have been featured.  Today my layout went up on the Elle's Studio blog.

I used Elle's Be Merry Number Cutouts to create a "month in review" type layout.  I had my photos printed as wallet sized or smaller (Mpix has a great "mini" size) and cropped them to fit into various number spots on the cut out.

This is a great alternative to a December Daily album if you are looking for something that doesn't require as much time as a mini album.

Thank you for swinging by today!  I hope you have a lovely weekend-- i know we are scurrying around prepping for the big day! 

InLinkz.com

Perfect Christmas?

GASP.

I have a layout to share with you today!  This is the first layout I made for the Jenni Bowlin team and i am in love with the way it turned out.

I don't know about you, but every year- post thanksgiving-- my perfectionism/OCD goes into overdrive and I am gung-ho about creating a "perfect christmas".  and every year i come to grips that there is no such thing.   the meaning of christmas goes far beyond how you decorate your home, what pinterest projects you complete, what parties you attend.  it's about preparing your heart for a King.

I wrote these words last year, and they ring true this year as I was tangled in a mess of christmas tree lights yesterday, frustrated, in a bad mood, and sweating like a banshee:

No matter how much i prepare or "do", Christmas will still be Christmas. 

And that's when i realized it's not about me anyway. It's all about Him.

Amen?  Amen.

Last year I was reminded of this when Jonah and Jordan were decorating cookies with their cousins.  I wrote a little about it here.

I had a super fun time putting this layout together and I share more about how i completed it on the Jenni Bowlin blog.  Jenni Bowlin's Christmas line is perfectly classic.

Thanks for swinging by today-- i have lots of Project Life to share with you this week,  Thanksgiving photos, and (hopefully) December Daily photos.  Happy Cyber Monday!

On Motherhood

It's been one of those weeks in our house.

Correction: one of those two weeks.

As soon as we were done with Jonah's trip to the ER, nasty coughs, colds and earaches entered our house.

Both kids got nasty ear infections (which we rarely get), one has pink eye, we have had sleepless nights, and I feel like I am running a pharmacy.

A trip to the ER, and three trips to the doctor in less than two weeks is a little much for me.  I am a little worn out.

But that's just the way it goes sometimes.  you plow through it doing the best you can and asking for God's strength (and perspective) along the way.

This may sound strange, but since becoming a wife and a mother I realize how flawed I am.   and how much i need the Lord in my life.

motherhood is an amazing thing.  my love for my children is deep and fierce, yet i am still human and I make mistakes.

I made this over the weekend and it touches on this beautiful, crazy thing called motherhood...

Journaling says:  "Being a mom is the most amazing, scary, rewarding, inspiring, frustrating, beautiful, tiring, wonderful, hilarious, sometimes embarrassing (re: conversations/questions asked in public restrooms), God-needing, lovely, life-changing, revealing job of my life.  You two are precious to me,  Daddy and I love you so much."

I was happy to use the Salvaged add on from the Studio Calico Brooklyn Flea kit.  It's sooo pretty, all the color combos.  I added the Martha Stewart doilies as a base and layered on top of them.  The photo was taken by my friend Melody during our fall family session.  Oh how i love it.

Thanks for swinging by today.  Hope your Thursday is lovely.  

scrappy saturday

Earlier this week I shared this layout over at the Lily Bee blog:

Journaling says:  "As Todd was cleaning out his den he came across this photo of us taken when i was pregnant with Jonah.  We were on the verge of a great adventure. so much was waiting ahead of us.  so much growth, joy, change, learning, responsibility.  everything would change and our joy would only be multiplied. i cherish that time that it was the two of us. it was wonderful.  i never dreamed it could get better than this, but it did."

After a bit of thinking i realized a have verrrrry few layouts of myself when i was pregnant with jonah or jordan.  kinda strange!  guess i need to find some of those photos and scrap them!

head over to Lily Bee to see how i did the lettering above!

Hope you are having a great weekend.  And in case you were wondering how my date with my iMac went, it was GREAT.  i did ask a few stupid questions, but i think we are going to get along just fine :)

one little world : 2012

Happy Monday!!  Today is the first day both of my kids are back to school-- and it's oddly quiet arond here :)   Wanted to tell you that today I have a new layout up over at Lily Bee--


Our assignment was to share our New Years Resolutions.   This is my third year creating a "resolution list" in a layout-- i just think it's the perfect layout to start to a new album.  For this layout, I visually highlighted a few items from this post. 


I also shared my one little word for 2012:  tenacity.   

Tenacity, a form of tenacious means "not easily pulled apart; persistence in maintaining, adhering to, or seeking something valued or desired".



One of the highlights of 2012 will be the release of my Grandfather's World War 2 story in book form this coming fall.

Penguin will be publishing this book that will be authored by Bob Welch.  We just had a family meeting with Bob this past weekend-- the idea that this is really happening is mind boggling.


As a 23 year old. my grandfather escaped the Bataan Death March and was MIA in the Philippine jungles for 34 months.  In order to survive he befriended the Pygmy Negritos (who were feared by the Japanese) and created and led his own army in those mountainous jungles.   He was a key part of the American forces returning to the island and saving the American soliders.


He was tenacious to say the least.  His goal was merely survival and he would do anything to achieve that goal-- and he was beyond successful.   He didn't fall apart.  He was persistent.

"Tenacity" has the potential to change many things in my life-- namely my continuous struggle with anxiety.  I don't face anywhere near the  danger my grandfather faced, but sometimes I feel like there is a war in my mind when it comes to this particular struggle in my life.   The degree of intensity comes and goes, but there always seems to be a battle waiting to be fought. 

Grandpa is my example to not fall apart, to succeed.   To adhere to those things that will give you life-- my faith.   To devour the competition (anxiety) and take no prisoners.   To seek peace that is only found in trusting in Christ and his plan.

2012 is my year for tenacity.

Top 11 from '11

I love the week between Christmas and New Years.  It's probably my most favorite week of the year.  There are continued celebrations, reflections, and anticipation for the year to come.   At a much more relaxed pace (thank you Lord).

As we reflect on 2011 I thought it would be fun to post my favorite eleven layouts of 2011.  why not?!  (I also included links to the original post of each layout in case you want to read/see more :)

I made this layout at the beginning of 2011 as my one little word layout.  I like to make a "title page" at the start of each personal album I make, and this was the page for this year.   Love the collage feel and bits and pieces.

This layout, "name", was made for an Ella Publishing eZine article on misting.  The story here was when Jonah was four years old he would only write "Jo" for his name and said he couldn't do the "nah" part.  Right before his fifth birthday he started writing his full name- yay!  I loved saving his little handwriting and having it in the layout.

This is a pretty simple layout but i adore the colors and grid pattern.  This is a variety of Lily Bee collections all mixed into one layout about little Jordan's joy.

Do we see a pattern here?  I am slightly obsessed with circles and grids. ha!   This layout is one of my favorites EVER of Jonah.  It really depicts his helpful heart and desire to serve others.  I made this for my guest spot over at Jenni Bowlin with her gorgeous Haven Collection.

Another Lily Bee layout--- this one using the This &That collection.  I just crack up looking at the series of these photos.  This is our everyday life at the Hufford house :)

This layout was made for my guest spot at American Crafts. It's not my "typical" go-to colors  but i just LOVED how it turned out with the orange, greens and browns.   I love how there are eight photos AND tons of embellishments too.

In September i guested over at October Afternoon and just adore working with OA products.  This one is a grid layout with their Sidewalks Collection (hello my name is jenni and i am obsessed with grids)  It's a little recap of our summer and how my favorite part is just being with the kids each and every day.  I really miss them when they go back to school.

Another October Afternoon Sidewalks layout.  And another grid layout :)

I am not a huge 2 page person, but this year I discovered how much i LOVE the 8.5x11 size layout as a 2 pager-- for some reason it just makes it less daunting.   This is another Lily Bee bee layout.

Another Lily Bee/ Halloween layout that was inspired by an image i found on Pinterest.  I decided to make a fall looking wreath and just place the photo in the middle.  I think there is a paper from every Lily Bee line in this layout--- fun!

   

I posted "Favorite Ornaments" just last week but it instantly became a favorite.  The photos are on a file folder that opens up and tells the story of each ornament.

It's so fun to looks back on favorites of 2011 and enjoy each layout!  I think it's clear that grids and circles were my favorite in 2011 :).  Thanks for swinging by and taking a trip down memory lane with me!