Finding My Style PLUS All Things Summer!

You have joined me for classes, workshops, and long scrappy weekends.  I so appreciate the awesome company - I have been so lucky.  But during all these forums I have continually searched for my own style.  I will be the first to admit that during this journey over the past few years, I have done a fine job of tuning my style to that of my scrappy hero, Shimelle.  And while I thank her for her instruction and inspiration from the bottom of my heart (and yes, still my scrappy hero), I think I have finally come into my own... and thank goodness as it's only taken 15 years.  So a few of the techniques/items that I think make up my style:

• I love pretty patterned paper! And so I almost always use it as my background.  But I am not one to layer those background papers but rather I like to showcase them: building upon them and letting them have an opportunity to shine through.
• I love a diversity of embellishments.  But I don't like too many.  I don't feel a necessity to use a lot to make a statement if I use really bold papers. 
• I believe in the rule of three though often I prefer a single embellishment cluster.
• Some things recur, especially wood.
• I love to stick within a single collection.  Now that I say that, I should clarify that it really depends on the line.  For instance, I have a large tray on my desk that has almost all my summer collections' stuff so I can mix all that up for layouts.  But for lines like DL Daydreamer, MH Flea Market, etc. I usually just stick with things from that same collection.
• I really like using title/journaling cards on layouts.  
• I'm a plain, old-fashioned scrapbooker.  While I appreciate all the Mixed Media artistics that are around: I've even tried art-journaling to get my feet wet.  But when it comes down to it, I'm just basically a paper and stickers girl.  I'm so okay with that.

Now that being said, I reserve the right to change my style at any point or deviate on any occasion.  There are no hard and fast rules to how one scrapbooks - no right and wrongs - no expectations.  But I have thought about this a bit, especially while watching those scrappy videos.  It was a great revelation, a moment of exhilaration, to discover that while I still love other peoples style and believe they are utterly IT girls, I have my own little style developed - I am my own person, not just a copycat scrapper.  WooHoo!!!

Now, on to more of that style emerging...

In case you don't remember, I LOVE! scrapbooking summer pix.  I think this season presents some of the happiest feeling supplies scrapbooking has to offer.  Last year it was the Fancy Pants What a Wonderful Day and Simple Stories I {heart} Summer.  This year the list is a bit longer:

American Crafts - #Summer
Simple Stories - Good Day Sunshine
Bo Bunny - Lemonade Stand
Bella Blvd (Everything)
Echo Park (whatever works)

These lines are working perfectly together.  And boy am I ever using them up! Not only for summer photos but for so many more of GiGi's layouts.  I can't wait to show you how this year's album is coming together...but not today.  Today I want to show the first of this years that I am contributing to the A Cherry On Top (ACOT) challenge.

See what I mean - all this bright cheeriness makes me feel so much better!

And if you're looking for a spot to 'meet' some nice ladies, get a challenge on or ten (with prizes), play fun games, view a gallery, or purchase a few supplies with discounts, don't forget to check out A Cherry on Top... and tell them I sent ya!

Okay, I hope everyone is well and basking in the rays of sunshiny scrappiness!  Love you guys!

Stay Safe and Scrap On!

“One must still have chaos in oneself to be able to give birth to a dancing star.” - Frederich Nietzche