In this layout, I used a technique to keep the letters of my title together after cutting them out. This makes it so much easier to place them on the project nice and straight. It was so simple — all I did was create a very thin rectangle and stretched it across the letters in each word. I then selected the entire word and the rectangle and welded them together. I went through the welding process for each word.

Another great method for making sure you place your letters or elements exactly as you laid them out in your design is to use the negative space as an alignment tool. Just place the negative space over the spot where you want to place your letters or elements. Then put glue in the negative space and then place the letter or element in that space, or use a Xyron sticker maker to put adhesive on the back of your letters or elements first and then just press them in place.

I used a file I purchased from the Silhouette store for the month (September) at the top of the layout, but this is super easy to create yourself.

I typed the word September in a nice thick font and then created a rounded rectangle. I centred the two items and then just slightly overlapped the two.

The above close-up image shows that they are just barely overlapped.

I then welded the two together. Easy peesy!!!

Hope this has been helpful to you.

One of my Scrappin' Sistas organized an all-day crop this weekend and we had a fantastic time. The hall she rented is huge -- big enough that we could each have an entire table and there were still enough tables free to sit and eat. She plans to organize more soon and I'm really looking forward to them!!!!

This is another layout inspired by Nichol Magouirk. The photo is a class picture with my son taken 27 years ago.

It was funny because when I glued all the strips onto the page, I thought it looked terrible, but once I added all the other elements, I really liked the result.

I used both my Cricut and Silhouette machines on this layout. I cut the clouds with the Create a Critter Cricut cartridge and the word Elementary with my Silhouette. 

I totally scraplifted this idea from Nichol Magouirk. She does a weekly series of From Start to Finish videos at Two Peas in a Bucket and I wait for each new video. I just love how she shows putting everything together and she uses many elements in her layouts.

I find it fairly easy to get ideas for layouts for girls or families, but it's harder to find ideas for boy layouts. Luckily for me, Nichol has a son and her layouts are perfect for boys.

She inspired me to learn more about using Photoshop and Photoshop Elements and I have been wanting to learn more about them for some time.

You can see Nichol's videos on the Two Peas in a Bucket YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/TwoPeasInABucket and you can visit Nichol's blog at http://www.nicholmagouirk.typepad.com/
... be careful, make sure you visit these sites when you have a bit of free time ahead of you!

You really can use ribbon on a boy's layout

Last weekend, we went to the St. Patrick's Parade in Montreal and really enjoyed ourselves. There were so many people, you'd think a rock star was in the area!! I brought my camera and took lots of pictures.

Since I was very young, I have always loved parades and marching bands in particular. The music from parades actually makes me cry. I absolutely love the drums. So much so that I finally gave in to a dream I'd had for a long time and started learning to play the drums. I only love them more now.

It is normally pretty cold for the St. Patrick's Parade in Montreal, but it was just beautiful last weekend -- nice and warm and sunny.