{Blast from the Past} Photo Collage Star

This project is one of my faves and one I get asked about A LOT!  So here it is {again} for those of you who might have missed it the first time around.

A dear and super-crafty friend told me about this project back when we were looking for fun, hand-made presents for Christmas a few years' ago and we loved the idea so much, we decided to make ones for ourselves.  She found the idea over at Better Homes and Gardens but I have searched the site over and over again and I cannot for the life of me find it.  Since I couldn't find the original or a tutorial, I've made up one up based on how I did it so you can make your own!

You'll need:

-A large, metal star-preferably one without any embellishments.  You'll need a smooth surface to glue the pictures and paper to.  I found mine at Hobby Lobby, but you can find them at lots of craft stores and/or home decor stores.  (P.S. the red one above is NOT the one I used for my collage.  It's only pictured to give you an idea and it is the exact same size as the one I used.)
*The one that I used to create mine is 22 inches across.*

-Scrapbook paper in 3 coordinating prints (one sheet of each print should be PLENTY.)

-10 pictures-you will probably want to plan ahead which pictures will go where on your star so that you have the right orientation (I recommend black and white pictures if using colored scrapbook paper-it's a little too much with color photos AND color paper)
I used 4x6's for mine, but if you're using a larger star, you'll probably want a larger print.

-Glue stick-make sure it's acid-free and safe to use with photos (think scrapbooking glue)

Mod Podge and brush

-Paper and photo patterns-these fit the size and style star that I used, you may need to adjust them to fit whatever star you are using or if you want less of a border around your picture and paper pieces.  You can click on the picture to make it larger, then right-click it to download/save (print it as a regular letter-size sheet.)

How to make it:

Trace and cut out 10 paper shapes-one small and large from one piece of paper and 2 of each from the other two ("paper front" should be facing you when tracing your shapes on the paper.)

Then do the same with your pictures ("photo front" should be facing you when tracing shapes on photos.)  

Using your glue stick, glue the paper and pictures to each point.  Cover the entire back and make sure they are pressed down very firmly onto the star so that they don't bubble when you Mod Podge them.  The pattern that you cut only one of is the top point of the star and then alternate the remaining patterns on the other 4 points.

There should be a small border around each piece where the star shows through.

Once you have all of your pictures and paper glued on, apply a thin coat of Mod Podge over the entire star.  Make sure you get all the edges.  Allow 20 minutes to dry then apply another coat.

Hang and enjoy!

Summer of Weddings

It's been a busy summer, wedding-wise, for our family.  

In June, one of my husband's younger sisters got married.

The bride with her oldest brother {my hubs}

The bride and groom {ignore the small child at the bottom :) }

In July, my grandpa got re-married and I had the pleasure of being their photographer.

I'm so happy to have Jo Ann as part of our family-she is a truly lovely lady.

 me with my sibs

My handsome husband and I

family shot

First dance

my beautiful mom and sister and me

And, as I mentioned, I have another sister-in-law getting married on Tuesday and some very good friends getting married on the 20th {remember the ones I did the engagement pictures for?  I'm also photographing their wedding.}

I guess it's the summer of love :)

{Who's That} Canvas People

If you haven't heard of Canvas People by now, you are seriously missing out.

Canvas People is a great company that turns your photos into a lovely canvas.  Their motto: A canvas in every home.

I turned a cute family pic into a canvas and I just love it.  The quality is superb and the price is great.  When we have visitors who haven't been to our house before, many ask me where I got my photo canvas from and I happily tell them.  These canvases also make a great gift for your loved ones-Christmas IS only a few months away {though I'm trying not to think about that yet.}

And you can use any photo! {of course it has to be yours to use}  So you can turn anything and everything into a one-of-a-kind work of art.  There are all kinds of fun effects you can add to jazz up your photo even more, too.

Right now, Canvas People is offering 25% off all sized canvases as well as free shipping! 

A New Toy and Engagement Pictures

I hope you all had a lovely weekend and a fabulous Mother's Day!  My sweet little boy woke me up holding a vase of beautiful roses and my darling hubby got me an awesome picture frame to fill up with lovely pictures of our family {taken with my BRAND NEW CAMERA!  more that in a bit}

Sorry for the lack of Fashion Friday this past week-I was at an engagement shoot for two dear friends.  I'm so happy for the both of them!

Aren't they cute?  And I am super-honored that they asked me to document their special day coming up in August.  Here are some of my favorites from their shoot:

With them hiring me, I had to get a new camera {sucks, I know :)} since I had recently sold my professional DSLR-I was planning on getting a newer, better camera anyways, so it all worked out.  Let me just say, I'm totally in love!  This camera takes such beautiful pictures!  

I am now the proud owner a Canon Rebel EOS T3 DSLR.  I know lots of people out there are Nikon fans, but I've just never gotten on board that bandwagon.  I have a Canon Rebel 35 mm that I used throughout high school and it made me a Canon girl for life.  AND now that I have a new camera, I can finally use my lovely camera strap cover that I won from the Polka Dot Bungalow ages ago!

Oh, total side note: I went to our local Home Depot over the weekend to get some glaze for some projects I've been working on and not only do they not carry Ralph Lauren paints anymore, but they don't have glaze AT ALL!  I was so annoyed!  So, do any of you lovely ladies know of other places where a crafty girl can go to find some glaze?  I'm making a trip to Lowe's this week {our Home Depot also did not have the color of spray paint that I needed.  They totally just lost some cool points} so hopefully I'll able to find some there, but I'd love to have suggestions on where else to look if they don't.

{Who's That} Project Alicia

This week's guest is the lovely and amazing Alica from Project Alicia.  Her blog is just as lovely as she is and I know you all will love her.

Alicia here from Project Alicia. Such an honor to be at Scraps and Scribbles today.

I am a late 30 something, married 18 years, with a couple of pre-pubescent tweeners on my hands.

Somewhere along the messy, unpredictable road of life I happened on photography.

I took my first shot through that DSLR and I knew. We were destined to be together, like something straight out of a movie script. I see the world in an entirely new light. Clouds and trees come to life.

And otherwise forgotten, ordinary moments become extraordinary as I press the shutter and seize them.

It is empowering and moving- like nothing else I have ever experienced. And every single new capture is like a beautiful gift just waiting to be unveiled.

Project Alicia is a blog dedicated to my journey as I delve into the world of photography.

I never have a shortage of photo or learning opportunities, particularly with my critter lovin', adventure seeking youngins.

Frogs, snakes, and spiders are frequent subjects.

I also capture many of our road adventures and candid life moments, much to my children's dismay.

But just as projects come in all forms, Project Alicia is not limited to photos. My passions are often as unpredictable as the Iowa winds.

You may find recipe cards, organizing or travel tips, tutorials ranging from 4th of July chalk

to blanching a peach to achieving a vintage flair for your photos.

My blog is never short of material. Life gives me plenty of blog fodder. Miscarriages, bullies, wet dreams, and disease were definitely not in my mothering handbook. But I find that what doesn't kill you can only make you stronger.

This is one of the reasons that Project Smile was created. It is a bloghop that runs the last day of every month for one week. An attempt to focus on the smiles rather than the hiccups and heartaches. Kristi of Live and Love Out Loud is minding it for the next 6 months. I host September through February. There are no set rules. Just document the sweet, simple moments that make you smile.

At project alicia you may even find a laugh or two as I gracefully evolve. Whether it's waxing, getting caught at amusement parks with flash flooding, or living to tell the tales of Vegas, life is anything but dull. Oh,and crazy loves company.

So feel free to pop in and join me for the next chapter of project alicia.

I hope you all have loved getting to know Alicia.  She is truly amazing!  Go check out her blog-you won't be disappointed.

I'll be guest posting over at her place tomorrow : )

Chubby Face

I was going through my folders and folders on photos on my computer, organizing things (because I'm a little neurotic about those kinds of things) and came across this picture of the little man when he was just a few months old.

This face makes me melt.  I can't believe it's been 19 months since he entered our lives.  I can't imagine things without him.  Now he's a "big boy," running around, talking, wanting to do things himself.  But he'll always be my baby.