Just a few more days ...

... until the September kits reveal :)

Here are a few sneaks from Julia ...

The Gallery is sooooo good this month. Can't wait to show you all :)

Remix

Have you ever done a layout that just wasn't "right"? That you didn't want to look at because it irritated you? Such was the case with one of my layouts with the Travel Journal kit.
It felt so blah and unfinished ...
So I tore it apart and came up with this ...

I misted the background cardstock with green, blue and brown Glimmer Mist and then did some stamping in two of the corners. Added a bit of decorative tape and some crocheted trim. But most importantly, I cut it down to 8.5 x 11. I think the different size is a huge improvement.

I like it much better now :)

More Travel Journal

Only a few days left until the September reveal, but I'm still not done with the August kits :)

I'm playing Catch Up with some photos from last summer and Travel Journal kit is perfect for documenting a fishing trip. These two layouts are single-page layouts, but because they will located side-by-side in the album, and are about the same event, it's nice to use co-ordinating papers to tie them together.

A simple grid is a great way to use a lot of photos on a page without the page looking too busy. Trim your photos down so that you can have a thin border of cardstock showing around each one once they're mounted.

I love the Elle's Studio vintage flashcards for titles.

A scrap of paper from the October Afternoon 8x8 Fly a Kite Paper Pad and a few bits left over from the Summer Daydream kit finish this layout.

This was Bob's first fishing trip with Dave and was thrilled when he could finally "drive" the boat.

All of the supplies used on this layout are from the Travel Journal kit.

Feast your eyes ...

... on the September sneaks I've just received from Mandy. Swoon.

Only 9 days until the reveal!

Welcome the New Design Team Members!

I am absolutely thrilled to announce the new permanent design team at Up The Street!
I think they represent a great mix of styles and will provide wonderful inspiration in the coming months.

Without further adieu, help me in welcoming ....

Heather Derbecker

Lesley Langdon

Julia Stainton

Mandy Starner

Moving right along ...

I finally went to take some measurements and pictures of the store today. I probably should have done so without dragging along three unwilling boys ... but you know how it goes.
The big windows in front went in late last week. Sigh. Windows. Mine are the two on the far left and that gaping cavern next to them will be the common entrance to the building.

Aren't they lovely? Well ... not yet. But they will be :)

Stepping inside and looking towards the back. You'll notice there is now a ceiling so the rain doesn't puddle on the floor.

Turning around and looking out the front (please disregard the muscle-shirted maniac playing up to the camera) ...

The back room where children will be locked up ... er ... I mean ... invited to spend their time. Soon to be outfitted with kitchen fixings and lounge area.
I know it doesn't look like much, but it's come a long way in the last month. We're looking at getting in after Labour Day at this point and hopefully being opened mid- to late September.

Perfect timing ... the kids will be back in school and all of the new CHA product will be shipping.

Anywho ... I'm off tomorrow to visit a cousin I haven't seen in almost 20 years. I'm sure she hasn't changed a bit ;) Have a great weekend!

September Sneak Peeks

It's that time! Only two weeks until the September kit is available to purchase!
I've managed to work on a few layouts so far, but am itching to do more :)

Basic Grey Oliver and My Minds Eye products make up a lot of this kit, but there are still a lot of other embellishments ... and some some hand-made ones this month too :) Just one add-on this month ...

I can't wait to reveal the entire kits and the new permanent design team. So excited!

More from Greta

You can do so much with the August kits.
Greta has a way of using the kit to give a completely different feel.
One of the things I love about the We R Memory Keepers papers that are included in the kit, is that the backside is divided into 4 small scale patterned papers measuring 6x6. Perfect for cards or mini albums, but Greta uses one as a side border for her photo (the multi-coloured houndstooth pictured below).
Another way to customize your embellishments is spray ink. Greta spritzed the white felt scalloped trim pink for her layout.
This one is such a fun gathering of pretty bits. I also spy the canvas tag from the March kit peeking out from behind her photo :) I hadn't even thought of mixing in the March kit, but now that I see the way the tag works, a lot of the turquoise items could be carried through to mix with this August kit.

Thanks Greta!

The Color Room

Back in June, Up The Street sponsored The Color Room challenge blog. Every week, The Color Room provides a color palette and an array of gorgeous layouts for inspiration. The design team is crazy talented, and if you've never visited the site, I insist that you do so now :)

Keri (the gal that won the RAK for June) chose an assortment of alphabets and other embellishments as her prize. I was pleasantly surprised to receive an e-mail from her yesterday sharing some of the projects she has made using her winnings.

Cosmo Cricket Flour Sack Ready Set Chipboard Alphas and Tim Holtz Tissue Tape ...

Jillibean Soup Corrugated Kraft Alphas and Cosmo Cricket Blue Line Ready Set Chipboard Alphas ...

Some of the papers Keri used can be found in the My Minds Eye Life Stories Paper Kit and the Travel Journal Project Kit.

Thanks so much for sharing Keri! I'm glad that you did :)

Birthday Card

Today seems to be Birthday Party Day. We've got two parties to attend this afternoon and evening ... with meals at both. Summer BBQ food is the best. I hate showing up empty handed, so I'm making a German-style potato salad with bacon and hardboiled eggs that I made once this summer already. My stomach is growling just thinking about it :) I'm also going to try my hand at Devilled Egss. I think I've only made them two or three times before, but as I recall, they're not rocket science.
I've gotten one card out of the way and one left to do. This one uses the Lotza Paper Boyz kit and although it's a little on the masculine side, I think it's general enough to suit just about age.
I recently purchased a Big Shot for when I get the crop area set up in my store front, and am finding myself using it all of the time. I wish I'd gotten one years ago. I've had a Silhouette for several years, but I love that you can cut shapes from Grungeboard, wood veneer, felt or fabric with the Big Shot.The "Happy" and kraft label are both Sizzix dies and I used a Martha Stewart border punch for that fun double loop border.
Off to finish my edibles! Have a great weekend and stay cool :)

More from Leslie

Leslie mixed the main kit from August "Snowcones" with the "Lotza Paper Girlz" kit to create these beautiful summery layouts ...

I love the different groupings of photos and embellishments against the white background ...

To create customized letters for her layout, she simply coloured the Basic Grey Micro Mini Monos from the main kit with a marker ...To make the most of the Girls Paperie die-cuts included in the Lotza Paper kit, trace them onto patterned paper and cut out as Leslie has done with the dress form die-cut ...

Layers and layers of distressed papers ...

Again, ink or colour your chipboard letters for a different look. Accent with a bit of glitter glue on the edges ...

Journaling tucked in behind that can be pulled out easily ...

Create your own floral embellishment with a diecutting machine ...

It's almost too hot to scrapbook, but looking at the cool beautiful colours in Leslie's layouts, I'm tempted to hit my scrap table right now. Maybe after a swim ;)

Heather's "Travel Journal" Mini Album

Heather has already made this little mini album of their summer vacation. She's just too on the ball. She's used the August Project Kit, but has also included some of the embellishments from the Main Kit.
Rather than use the book rings to bind her album, she has left it "flashcard" style and holds it together with the vintage clothespin included in the kit.

Just real simple pages that leave the focus on the photos and journaling ... the important stuff :)

Now I've got to get going on mine!

One left in the store ;)

A few more from Michelle ...

Still working with the July kit, Michelle sent me a few more fabulous layouts this past week.

I've nothing to add ... just look and enjoy :)