Top 8 of 2008

2008 was a fabulous scrappy year for me. I got 2 layouts and 1 mini-album published, was fortunate to serve as a Designer for a few of my favorite scrappy sites and developed as a scrapper. To celebrate my year of scrapping, I chose my favorite 8 layouts I created in 2008 to showcase here and explain why they are favorites.

"Unique" is a favorite because it showcases my all-time favorite photo of my childhood friend, Laurel. This was also the first layout I created using Glitz Design products, which has now become a favorite manufacturer of mine. This layout also won second place in the Glitz Designs contest at Scrap 4 Life!

"PDX BFFS" highlights our newfound friendship with Ashley & Justin. The photos are real photo booth shots we took one random night out in downtown Portland. I created this layout using the first sketch featured during Feeling Scrappy's Sketchapalooza 2. It also features KI Memories Pop Culture paper (one of my favorite lines from this year), one of my new favorite techniques-stitching and trim that came from the Treasured Scrapbooking trim swap!

"Me from A2Z" was this year's birthday layout. Each September I create a new BOM layout about my favorites at that moment in time. I used the letters of the alphabet as prompts and stuck to a very simple, graphic design to keep the focus on the photo and journaling. I also let the gorgeous paper from the Basic Grey Perhaps line be the star embellishment. I created this layout using the Crop Addict September kit while I was a Guest Designer.

"I am a Canon kind of gal" is a layout I have been wanting to do for my BOM for awhile. Sketchabilities was a new sketch site developed this year (which unfortunately has gone by the wayside due to the creator's hectic life changes) and I created this layout as my submission for their design team. And I got the position which thrilled me, even though it only lasted a couple months. I absolutely love the Fancy Pants transparency on this layout - it worked perfectly!

"Happy Jack" got me far this year. It was a submission for several design team applications but was originally created for the Design Team call at Sketch This! Part of the charm of this layout is definitely the adorable photo which I can take zero credit for - the baby is Andrew's cousin's baby and he took the photo. But I do love how the layout turned out. I took the Sketch This! sketch and angled it adding an interesting perspective. I also really like how the Love Elsie Riley line added to the playfulness of the layout.

"Forever In My Heart" is the first heritage layout I created for the heritage album I am working on for my father's side of the family. This is a tribute layout to my grandmother whom passed away in 2002. It shows my favorite photo of her which was taken the night of her wedding as her and my grandfather drove off from the reception. The Basic Grey Scarlet's Letter line was perfect for this layout. I originally created this layout for the Scrap 4 Life design team call and our challenge was to feature transparent items - so I used a Heidi Swapp ghost heart, a Hambly overlay and created my own flower embellishment using an office transparency, alcohol inks and my heat gun.

"Be the best" is a layout I created for my personal album. It features my favorite senior photo of my baby brother, Kevin. This photo is fantastic and the black and white lent itself perfectly to a monochromatic layout! Most of the products are Die Cuts With A View and Creative Imaginations - all which have a very masculine feel. I created this layout to serve double duty - it was to complete the Word Challenge at Feeling Scrappy (you had to use the word "Best" in the title) and as an entry in the NoelMignon.com Sports page contest.

As a first birthday gift to my baby cousin Cece, I am creating a scrapbook documenting the first year of her life. This is my favorite layout to date for her album. It features adorable photos from her 3-month portrait session. I also love that I got out a very old EK Success heart punch and used it and some pop dots and ink to create the heart border. I also created this layout using the Crop Addict September kit while I was a Guest Designer.