How to Create 2 Layouts 1 Way | Side by Side

 

As a mom, my time is valuable. I use to take several hours to create a scrapbook layout and now have looked that that time differently. I might have a few hours to scrapbook, but whipping out as many pages is now my goal! 

Using Heidi Swapp's Storyline Chapters albums helps save time because the albums come with base pages. These pages are acid free and designed to add photos and a story.

Another time saver is deciding a design for a layout and creating several pages that are similar. Here I have created two layouts with one way - side by side photos.

I usually keep my images 4x6 because it quick to print from home or have printed at my local printer. So, with this design of putting 2 4x6 images side by side keeps me from wasting time overthinking it! 

The first layout is matted with some basic scrapbook paper. Card paper pads can even make this matting job faster! The title runs along the left side for a fun look.

The second layout is quickly put together with stickers. I usually like to type my journaling but when I am creating Storyline layouts I am making sure to remember that it is going to be important for my children to see my handwriting one day. These journaling spots on the bottom of the page help keep my handwriting in a controlled space, Ha!

This is simple yet a great way to get 2 layouts done in under 20 minutes! It gives me such satisfaction to get these pages into the kids' albums. 

You can find Heidi Swapp Storyline albums at JOANN and online. Please note that this is not a sponsored post and all these designs and ideas are my own.

Stay tuned in to for a few more ways I am using Storyline to scrapbook pages in under 20 minutes. 

Foil Quill Stenciling

I love foil. I also love mixed media. However, more than ever, I love finding a quick and easy way to add that foiled look to my project without pulling out a dozen supplies.

This layout came together quickly with adding the Heidi Swapp Stencil to the top of the paper and using the We R Memory Keepers Foil Quill Freestyle Pen to just trace the words on to the paper. This stencil pack is made with thick poster board and designed to use the MINC Texture Paste. Yet, I love that I can get several uses out of it by using it with the Foil Quill first. 

Please note this is not a sponsored post and all ideas and opinions are my own.

To get this foiled distressed look on the alphabet chipboard letters, I drew with the Heidi Swapp Glue Pen along the edges and then, when it was tacky, used MINC foil to press gold on those tacky areas. This was so quick and easy that I will be doing it again!

I hope these simple foiling techniques will make you stretch your foiling supplies even farther! 

Grateful Blessings

This week I have felt God's blessings in unmeasurable ways. Have you ever just had one of those weeks? You look at your family and those you love and wonder if you could bottle up all that love and happiness for the times in the future that you may need it more?

Today was my last guest designer post for Helmar. I am still pinching myself to see if it is still true that Helmar wanted me for their design team during the next six month term. I feel so blessed to be able to create for them several times a month now.

Craft Warehouse then contacted me this week to help them with their blog design for the holidays and the new year. I was bubbling with excitement when Echo Park agreed for me to use their designs for the blog. You have to go and check it out. Isn't the little girl darling? I am so thankful for the chance to work with such a great team and company. They truly let me use my talents.

Then, you look across the table at dinner time and see how your family has changed and grown. When did he get that big? How old he sounds when he tells us about his day. Time goes by so fast and I feel thankful that I get to record it all in photographs and paper.

It seems like such a simple thing. But, right now, it is beautiful.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Create Well: It's the little things that make life special.

Evans Photography - Helmar and May Arts

So, my dear husband took loads of pictures for me yesterday. I needed pictures for my first design team post for Helmar with May Arts ribbon. (A great excuse to wear my new Anthropologie sweater that I got for my birthday.) ;)

(top and sweater: Anthropologie; belt: The Gap; 

necklace and headband by Jen Evans)

It's nice to know our old fence is good for something. ;)

These aren't the only wear-ables I have been creating lately. Soon I will be able to share with you some new necklaces that I have been working on for Helmar.

Besides this super cute sweater, I also got two more of my "favorite things" for my birthday last week. A super soft blanket and Cadbury's Crunchie candy bar! Now you know why I need to finish this post. ;) 

Create Well: Give yourself a break. Snuggle under a warm blanket and just eat some chocolate.

A Faith Perspective Blog

Wow... very humbled to find that my blog was featured at A Faith Perspective Blog. At Faith Perspective, "the owners and many of the staff at Scrapbook News and Review are men and women of faith. It is our great joy to provide a resource for the faith scapping community that is a companion to the faithbooking column in our magazine. Here we have gathered art, ideas, and resources to help in our growth as Children of the King, and Scrappers with a purpose."

What a blessing to find a site that you can go to to find other believers into papercrafting!