The story of 10 things and 10 favourite layouts from 2014

New year is just around the corner! 2014 has been a great year for me and 2015 will sure to be exciting as well!

I listed 10 mainly scrapbooking related things and memories from 2014:

1. I found white card stock. And with that I really found my (current) scrapbooking style
2. I attended my first ever scrapbooking/crafting course. The teacher was the amazing Finnabair and she couraged me to try and do some mixed media too.
3. I started to meet scrappy friends regularly. I just love the gang we have! We have so much fun scrapping and chatting together!
4. I was chosen to Paper Camellia kit club's design team for 2015. This was a dream come true for me and I can't wait to show you my layouts made with their kits, starting on Thursday!
5. I got a new job in April and I love it! 
6. I had a 3 week vacation abroad and enjoyed New York (again), Mexico, Washington DC and Philadelphia.
7. I got hooked to Instagram. I love how interactive and easy it is! I have found so many new scrappy friends through IG!
8. I got a new camera and it's amazing! With the new camera I started filming scrapbooking videos.
9. I started Project Life and failed miserably. Making weekly PL spreads just didn't work for me. Maybe I need to try to do it monthly or in a different size...
10. I realized that I need more space for my scrapbooking. At least my husband is convinced that we need to buy a house :)

I also thought I would share my favorite layouts from 2014 with you. So here they are (not in any specific order):

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See you in 2015!

The story of joining Scrap Around The World Design Team

I hope that you have had a lovely Christmas! Our Christmas included good food, great company and plenty of relaxing!

Today I can share the exciting news that I will be joining Scrap Around The World Design Team starting from January. I can promise you a ton of inspiration from the design team during the spring! Read more on SATW blog about the announcement! Here is a sneak of my first DT layout that I will share in detail in mid-January!

The story of "structured" Christmas

I love Christmas. It's a time when you get together with your loved-ones.

Our Christmases are quite structured in a way. This might sound really weird to you but let me explain. We are spending Christmas in two locations every year. This year we were with my family-in-law the Christmas eve and on Christmas day we changed venue to my family's place. And next year we will do it the other way. I really like the way we handle this! It's so easy to know what you are going to do and our families know this "structure" too. No need for discussion and hassle on where to spend Christmas :)

This layout was created for CSI.

Evidence: stripes, flourishes, holiday accents, branches
Testimony: Document the holidays





The story of pretty lights

Last week we went Christmas shopping. This time I felt that the big shopping centers did go bigger and brighter than ever with the Christmas lights! There were twinkling lights everywhere!

One shopping center had all the lights in white and gold. That was my inspiration to this layout: to use just white and gold. The photo doesn't do justice to this layout as the glitter tape and the sequins sparkle much better in real life.

Materials: American Crafts, Crate Paper, Studio Calico

The story of summer memories

Christmas is coming so fast! I don't know how time has went so quickly this fall.

I was browsing through pictures from last summer and found this picture taken by my husband. If you look the photo closely you can see his reflection from my sunglasses. This is just so typical of him: making funny faces or saying something silly to make me laugh while he takes a picture! I just love this photo!

Materials: Basic Grey, American Crafts, Crate Paper, Chickaniddy Crafts

The story of first snow this year

About a month ago we got our first real snow of this year. I'm not a big fan of snow, but it really looked pretty. As the time when we have daylight is so short the snow brings so much light!

One of the best things with snow is how much joy it brings to children. We went out together with our godson and his parents. The two-year-old little boy was so excited to sit in his sled. It was so fun to watch his excitment when he slid down the slopes.

The first snow melted in two days. Last night we got snow again, let's see if it lasts now.

This layout was created for CSI.

Evidence: Stars, stripes, buttons, string
Testimony: Document a winter event

Card with triangles and color

The last couple of months have been really grey here in Finland. I miss colors and sun!

For my last post in Paperilla Magazine's blog I wanted to create a card using grey with brighter colors. I love how the colors really pop from that woodgrain background! I want to use triangles in my scrapbooking layouts too as I really like the modern and graphic look that they bring.

I have loved beeing a part of Paperilla Magazine's DT. It has been an amazing year working together with some awesome Finnish crafters. Thank you all <3

Materials: American Crafts

The story of being thankful

In Finland, we don't celebrate Thanksgiving. I think we really should. I think everyone should celebrate it.

The consept of Thanksgiving is wonderful. Saying thanks to all those wonderful people you have in your life. Saying thanks to all those wonderful things that are good.

I'm thankful for so many things. I have an amazing family. I have the best husband ever. I have friends that care about me. I have a job (that so may people are missing in this economical situation) and my job challenges me in a good way. I have this wonderful hobby that has brought me so much joy and new friends. I'm happy.

This layout was created for CSI.

Materials: American crafts, Studio Calico, Pan Pastels, Teresa Collins, Carta Bella, Ikea, Sakura

The story of joining Paper Camellia Design Team

I have something super exciting to share with you. I'm happy to tell that I'm joining Paper Camellia's Design Team starting in January! Here's a link to the announcement.

Here is an introduction text from their website:

Paper Camellia is a monthly scrapbook Kit Club founded on the belief that your creative time should be a pleasure. Our goal is to make it easy and effortless for you to create by offering you a destination where beautifully coordinated scrapbook products come together with inspiration, creativity and exceptional customer care. We are located in Southern California, and design our monthly kits with an eye for new products, a clean and simple style, as well as quality and value.

Being in a kit club's design team is a dream come true to me. I love working with kits and based on what I have seen, Paper Camellia's kits are just my style. Thank you so much Ria for taking me to your team! I can't wait to start playing with your kits!

The story of inspirational quotes

I love inspirational quotes. I love reading them on Pinterest. If I'm feeling down, reading happy quotes can really help and lift my spirit. If I'm doubting myself, reading encouraging quotes reminds me to try my best and believe in myself.

For this layout I wanted to use a quote as my journaling:

Those who move forward with a happy spirit will find that things always work out.

Materials: Crate Paper, Doodlebug Designs

The story of creating

One of the topics in this week's CSI challenge was "document a daily pleasure". I instantly started thinking about this dear hobby of mine.

I scrapbook mainly during the weekends and maybe some evenings during the week. Scrapbooking is still a part of my every day. I read blog posts of fellow scrapbookers, find inspiration on Instagram and chat with scrappy friends on Facebook. I come up with ideas that I want to try next. Last night I woke up and knew how I would bind my next mini book. I'm not sure if my husband was happy that I woke him up too and shared this idea with him :)

This layout was created for this week's CSI challenge.

Evidence: branches, bird, flowers
Testimony: Document a daily pleasure

Materials: American crafts, Crate Paper, Gossamer Blue, Doodlebug, Heidi Swapp, My Mind's Eye

The story of friends

I finally found time to blog! I made this layout this weekend but was just able take a decent photo. It's so dark and grey here. I miss sunshine!

That's me and my cousin in that picture. We are such good friends, just like sisters.

Speaking of friends, I once again started watching Friends from the start. That's just one of the best sitcoms ever made. I have to share three famous quotes from that TV show that just make me laugh:

Phoebe: Je m’appelle Claude

Joey: Jet aplee blooo

Ross: We were on a break!

Joey: Joey doesn't share food!

Materials: Gossamer Blue's November kit

Scrap365: Dream, do, did

Hi there! Today I just want to pop up here quickly to show you a layout that was published in Scrap365's April/May 2014 issue. This layout reminds me that I really need to remeber to write more on my layouts. I just love how that white gel pen looks like together with that green background paper!

Speaking of writing, I've been doing that a lot lately! I'm on study leave from work this week and writing my thesis. Hopefully I will be able to finish it soon as it means more time for scrapbooking!

Materials: American Crafts, Les Papiers de Pandore, Crate Paper, Badges Folie, Sakura