It's Time for a Throwback Thursday(An Evolution in Scrapbooking)

Just for today, I thought that it might be fun to re-share the first layout that I shared on my blog. It was an 8x8 layout, that I shared in February of 2009, and I am not really sure where it is now.

I still think that I like it, even though my scrapbooking style has taken many swings in many different directions since then.

I went through a diecut heavy phase, back when I used to scour the internet searching for hours for the perfect free file:

(I posted that one in May of 2010) Which also was the beginning of a flowery phase-I didn't like a layout unless it had some sort of flowers on it!

October 2010:

February 2011:

April 2011:

During April of 2011 sometime, I realized that bigger pictures=a good thing on my blog, so my pictures got bigger, and my layouts just kept getting heavier. 

I still love this page, though!

September 2011:

(more flowers)

November 2011:

(My layouts for that year or two were very heavy, and filled about 2 scrapbook albums very full each year!But, that's what I loved right then, and I didn't care)
After that, I went through a phase for about a year where I used a sketch for nearly every layout or card that I made. Partly because I wanted to enter a bunch of the contests that the websites ran, partly because I felt that I could scrap more quickly that way. Until I discovered Shimelle's classes/Glitter Girl videos on 2Peas, and I finally started to find a style that just flowed for me. I loved layering, I loved using up my bits and pieces, and she was just so easy and inspiring to listen to. Here is the first Glitter Girl inspired layout that I shared on my blog:

One from Shimelle's Pretty Paper Party class:

One of several that I made inspired by her Scrapbook Remix Class:

One of many inspired by Shimelle's Return to the Collection class:

Shimelle got me interested in watching all of the other garden girls videos on two peas, as well, and then I fell in love with Wilna's dreamy, artsy style.
Here's one of my favorite pages inspired by her Art and Design class:

And finally, one of my most recently completed pages, using my April Fantastic&Fabulous kit:

I definitely used bits and pieces of inspiration that I have gathered from both Wilna and Shimelle in this page, but it just sort of flowed out for me. No sketches, just me, some fun products (the flowers were printables from Wilna's Art and Design Class, and the lightbulbs on the previous page were cut files from that same class-so I guess this falls in the "sharing my homework" category as well).

Thank you for stopping by today, I hope you have been inspired as I have reminisced through at least my online scrapbooking history today!

Monday Morning Inspiration and Sharing

Does anyone else get a case of the "Monday's" like me? You just feel a little tired and blah, and uninspired? Well, I was looking through my photos and editing a few (basically because I didn't feel like doing anything else yet), and I realized that I had never shared the layouts that I made in a class I took a few months ago. If you have followed my blog for very long at all (as I know most of you have), you already know that I am a big fan of Shimelle Laine a.k.a. Glitter Girl. And, when she gives a class I generally try to join in. Her most recent class was a Return To the Collection , a spin-off on a popular class that she gave for True Scrap a few years ago, called The Perfect Collection , which was all about using a collection pack up from start to finish (or really, just about overcoming your fear of cutting into those pretty papers!). The Return to The Collection was  focused on using a single collection, but also inspired us to add in embellishments and stamping to complete our pages.  I signed up with the early birds, and was lucky enough to be given access to the first Perfect Collection class for a week. I used the first class as it was meant to be used, cutting by the pdf diagram, etc, and then jumped back in to do the second class. Here is a look at the pages the that resulted from the second class, using Glitz Designs Wild And Free Collection:
"Enjoy":

journaling reads:
 "S'mores by the fire; Fun time together with our family always seems to include some type of yummy food."

"Happy Hikers": 

journaling reads:

•  Finding walking sticks
• Swimming under the falls
• Braving the open sheer cliffs
• A rainy day for a hike
• Treasured moments to remember of time spent together

"One of the highlights of our first trip to John and Trina's cabin was definitely the hiking! We braved a few steep trails (and sore muscles on the 2nd hike), but it was worth it to see Greeter Falls and The Great Stone Door. Sept. 2012"

Flip Day Fun: 

journaling reads: "In honor of "Flip Day", Maggie Moo's gave away ice cream-if you could catch it! I'll get serious to catch Red Velvet Cake Batter Ice Cream!"

Must See:

journaling reads: "Bethany told me about this treasure in GA-a wonderful nature center. Lots of plants and animals to see-and it was FREE?! Can't beat that! Of course I made the kids pose on the wooden alligator! 7/24/2013"

This Is What Happy Looks Like:

journaling reads: "I don't know what it is, but being around Molley makes you act so silly! "Pawface" and "Cutie Patootie" are often heard, along with lots of other baby talk and the occasional "snuggle muffins." It it so funny to watch! Molley&Natalie 11/18/2012"

To Cool To Smile?

journaling reads: "Ahh... those wonderful teenage years, when you are still young enough to want to play (sometimes), but you don't want us to see you having fun and enjoying it! I get a glimpse of it in your eyes every once in a while, though! 7/14/13"

Silly, Fun, And Colored Tongues:

journaling reads: "An afternoon at the mall in Newnan, GA, finished with a trip to the candy store. Pixie sticks & blue Icees equal colorful tongues to show off for mom's camera. July 23, 2013"

If you stuck with me for this long, thank you!  If you are in need of some crafty inspiration, why not take a class? I highly recommend Shimelle's classes if you are looking for an easy to follow, inspiration-based class! Leave me a comment and let me know what you think!