I've really been quite busy this week with some work (although for the most part it was the stress of deadlines that really hit hard) but I managed to squeeze in some time to scrap. I've become a pretty simple scrapper - not using too much embellishments (such as stickers, rubons, metal bits, frames, etc... there really is an endless list of things you can add to your scrap page!), just simple journalling and pictures. What has really deveoped is a love affair with patterned paper (very much like my love affair with fabric) and coloured cardstock. Most of the earlier stuff was made using just plain cardstock, which can work most of the time, but these patterned papers really do give an added dimension to the layout.

And for those of you looking for some cool fonts, these are the places to go to:
Dafont
Scrap Village
Two Peas in a Bucket (there are some free fonts, but it's the paid ones that are really nice, and they're not expensive - US$1.99 - 3.99)

Here are three new pages. I must say "Yesterday." is my favourite so far. It's one of those designs that just come together nicely without you trying too hard:

The Best a Mom Can Do
"Three days ago, I had the strongest urge to cut your hair. It's sort of like that state of vertigo you experience when you feel like running down the supermarket aisle, yelling at the top of your lungs and knocking people over like bowling pins. Don't know what I'm talking about? Maybe it's just me, but when I looked at your hair messing up your forehead that day, I knew I had to cut it. So I did. Randomly snipping away little chunks of hair. I had you in the bathtub so that you wouldn't have a chance to run away. After we finished I had to have a good laugh because it was a terrible job! Your hair was choppy and uneven but you looked just plain adorable because you were so puzzled by your mommy's hysteria. This would be your fourth haircut (the second DIY) and you know what, it's a relief to know that you don't think that a bad haircut is one of life's problems."

Yesterday.
"Yesterday, you crashed on the stairs twice. Not that this is a big deal at all - nothing was broken, you cried but quickly got over it; and these are pretty usual occurrences in the daily life of an average 16-month old, so there is really nothing much to shout about. The thing that was especially noteworthy about yesterday was that you had been moving up and down the stairs all on your own since you were about 11 months old, and not once, ever, have you fallen. We’ve never had to follow your movements like hawks (well, maybe in the beginning), because you had quickly grown so confident and proficient at it. But, yesterday was different. Yesterday you were trying something new. First, it was a box of cookies you were trying to hold on to while bringing it to me to open up. Then, you tried to walk up the stairs by holding on to the railing which you could just barely reach. When I related this to daddy in the evening he was amazed at the kind of adventurous spirit you seemed to have. Just two nights ago you smashed your forehead against the coffee table while trying to perform a stunt. You’ve been trying all sorts of things and injuring yourself quite a bit in the last week, and it must be noted that it never used to be this way. It is a mom’s worst nightmare, but you are indeed developing something that is very daring, very fearless, and at the same time a little bit crazy."

LOL
"Joel, at 16 months old you are so... FULL of life. It’s not so much that you’re becoming more communicative, or more happy, or even more lively - you’re just... becoming YOU. You’re not fearful of people (in fact, you LOVE the attention), you make up this funny shuffle with your feet, you try to outrun me, you are climbing into all sorts of corners and on top of things, and even though your vocabulary is so limited, you are talking as if you have all the answers in the world. And yes, you have a BIG voice and you make sure we know it! You make up this frown with a pout and a whiny voice and we both have a good giggle after because we both know that it’s actually a game you’re playing. You blow me away just by being yourself. You’re doing what it takes to LIVE OUT LOUD. Naturally."

gosh he looks so much older now!!! I like LOL. And yr haircuts are just terrible man-what did he do to deserve it? ;)

andrea   ·  Wed, 23 Feb  ·  12:50PM

yah I know, so sad about his hair right? it's really a horrible job. so, am i inspiring you to scrap? yes? YES???

b   ·  Wed, 23 Feb  ·   2:58PM

Very nice pages man... I like the yesterday and the lol one a lot, clean and chic... well done! And the hair isn't that bad at all

juju   ·  Sat, 26 Feb  ·   1:35PM

Very nice pages man... I like the yesterday and the lol one a lot, clean and chic... well done! And the hair isn't that bad at all

juju   ·  Sat, 26 Feb  ·   1:36PM

that boy has really learnt to pout.
and still it steals our hearts.
then when he smiles,
well... like you said. he blows us away.

agung   ·  Sun, 27 Feb  ·   8:13PM

your link to dafont is with a www(comma)dafont.com

(O_o) nickpan   ·  Mon, 28 Feb  ·   9:23PM

your scrap village link not working also.

(O_o) nickpan.com   ·  Mon, 28 Feb  ·   9:25PM

I like your pages. They are simple and nice! And those journaling! I wish I could write.

How did you do the photo in "Yesterday"? Did you print it yourself?

cool   ·  Thu, 10 Mar  ·   9:44AM

Hi Bren. Not even sure how I stumbled onto your Blog - once you get into these endless links it's hard to get out. HA. Anyway, sure glad I did. I just love your work! I don't frequent 2P's very often, (I'm more over at SBB) what a treasure - your work that is. Very clean, journaling is awesome and it's always fun to watch a fellow scrapper's kids grow up! As a Born Again Christian, I also enjoyed the fact you quote CS Lewis in your work :D I look forward to lurking more - LOL.
Amy

Amy   ·  Sat, 16 Apr  ·   2:45AM