Happy New Year Everyone! I hope you are enjoying the beginning of what I think will be an awesome year!

Bringing in the New Year with my little one! We made party hats!

First, I want to say THANK YOU to all of my blog subbies for hanging out with me. Admittedly, I have been a horrible blogger in 2015. I am the type of person who takes on a million things at once! I love and appreciate all of my subbies and group members and I promise to be a better blogger! Girl Scout honor!

So, what’s in store for Victoria Marie in 2016? Well, a lot of things. I am working on a secret project that is scheduled to premier in March (if things go well…fingers crossed). Also…

• I will be posting regularly on this blog so don’t go away!
• After much pleading from many of my subbies, you will be able to find me on Instagram! Yay! I will post a link once I’m up and running.
• I will be posting more content on my YouTube channel to include Scrapbooking for Mortals Tutorials, Scraptastic Design Team process videos, themed scrapbooking series, and much more!

On the Victoria Marie Facebook Group, I introduced my 2016 Challenge Design Team…

From L-R: Yours Truly, Cacie Carillo-English, Elizabeth Pear, Heidi Cocca, Megan Blethen, Katty Miranda, Sarah Branch Swann, Christy Harriman

All of these ladies are super talented and will be designing fun scrapbooking challenges that will get your creative juices flowing! The team will post one themed challenge per week! If you are not currently a member, come check us out!

Okay, that is all for now! Thank you again for stopping by! I appreciate your support!

Happy New Year!

The Story for Today:

My daughter and I headed to a home decor store called At Home (formerly Garden Ridge). I was in search of new Christmas pretties that I can use to deck the halls this holiday season. With my Mini Me in tow, we walked in, grabbed a cart, and started our shopping trip. Little One noticed a sales ad in the cart and insisted on reading the specials of the day:

“Mom! Can you believe it! The blankets are on sale for $19.99! And the flowers are on sale for $29.99! Amazing!”

She is saying all of this as she leans back in the cart, sales ad open! The girl is hilarious!

I love these moments. She gets so super excited about the holidays. In fact, as we were walking into the store she said, “Mom, I love this time of year.”

“Oh really, why?” I asked.

“Because, its so much FUN!”

We skipped along…hand in hand. This is what its all about! I would bottle her sense of wonder and sell it for a million bucks! Here’s to a great Christmas season!

The Layout – Day 1

The Process Video – Enjoy!

I am so proud to share my first design team layout for the Scraptastic Kit Club! To be honest, the pressure was on. The entire Scraptastic design team is amazing!

I used the September 2015 Skinny Love kit which featured a ton of items from the new Crate Paper Wonder Collection. To say that I am in love with this collection is an understatement! The colors are perfect for a fall layout. For this first submission I worked Nathalie Leonelli, fellow design team member, in finding the perfect inspiration piece from Pinterest. Here’s what we chose:

And here’s my layout:

I love how the leaves are falling from the tree as depicted by the inspiration piece. There is a gentle flow that catches the eye. That’s what I wanted to emulated on my layout. Everything about the inspiration photo screams fall and cold weather!

This layout features a photo of my favorite fall coffee cup. Over the past couple of years fall as been one of my favorite holidays (I’m normally a spring kind of girl). During the fall, I indulge is tasty hot beverages, adorn my favorite scarves, bake delicious goodies, and snuggle under warm blankets. I believe fall is nature’s way of giving us a great big hug!

Here’s what I used:

• My Colors Cardstock – Icicles
• Pattern Paper: Sleep Tight by Kaitlin Sheaffer (Scraptastic Exclusive)
• Branding Strip from “Wonder” by Crate Paper
• Digital Die Cut – Silhouette “Leaves”
• Font: “Noted” from the Dear Lizzy Collection by Thickers and “Petite Type” by Authentique
• Stickers – “Blueberry Bits” by Bella Blvd
• Embellishments: Cork, flare, label (yellow and white), felt heart Scraptastic Exclusives; die cuts from the “Wonder” Collection by Crate Paper, Ombre Fabric Tags “Happy Things” by Pinkfresh Studio; Puffy Stickers “Wonder” by Crate Paper
• Stamp “Favorites” by Scraptastic This Life Noted Stamp (2015)

Check out the Scraptastic Blog for more product information and inspiration! Also find us on Pinterest!

Here’s the process video for this layout! Enjoy!

I’ve had a little secret I’ve been keeping in for a couple of weeks…now I can share it with all of you!

Ready!??

I have been extended an invitation to join the Scraptastic Kit Club Design Team!!!!

I have been scrapbooking for a better part of 8 years now and never imagined that I would be asked to join a design team! I am completely humbled by this opportunity! A big thank you to the folks at Scraptastic for selecting me. I have the pleasure of designing with a phenomenal team of scrappers who simply blow me away with all of their creative talent!

Look for product reviews and process videos to come!

A big thank you to all of my subbies and the Victoria Marie FB Group Members! You guys rock and I wouldn’t be here without you!

Now…want to see some delicious goodies? Check up the October kits from Scraptastic and be sure to visit our website and blog at http://www.scraptasticclub.com.

October 2015 This Life Noted Kit (Pocketed Scrapbooking)

October 2015 Riptide Kit

October 2015 This is Halloween Kit

Don’t forget to check out the Victoria Marie YouTube Channel!

My intentions were good…I purchased some Christmas themed and non-themed items, I picked out the perfect album, I made a list of all of the memories I wanted to capture, then I got started.

After a few weeks…I also got lazy.

Folks, I am a December Daily Slacker! Big time slacker! A hide the album under my craft desk type of slacker! A “I’ll finish this album next year” type of slacker!

I went through the trouble of premaking all of my pagers…like a good December Daily follower. Then it all went down hill!

What’s December Daily  you ask? Click HERE!

I even blogged about it!

I am like so many scrappers who get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays.  Recording my special holiday moments came dead last next to work projects, vacations, holiday events, and out-of-state travel.

But, but…BUT…this year things are going to be different. I am challenging myself (and you of course) to finish your 2014 December Daily Album by October 31st!

Yep, in 31 days!

Yes, you can do this! Unless of course you have already finished your album…good for you!

The steps for slackers is very simple:

1.) PRINT YOUR STINKIN’ PHOTOS! Seriously, go through all of your photos and only print the ones that you truly love and that tell the story of your holiday adventures or everyday moments. Remember, if it has been a while since you last worked on your DD album, some of those memories may not be so fresh. Focus on the truly important moments and don’t worry so much about all of the fine details.

2) PURGE AND ORGANIZE YOUR OLD SUPPLIES: Between 2014 to now I had forgotten about all of the supplies I purchased! I took some time to organize my stash and take inventory all of my goodies. There really isn’t a need to go out and buy new stuff…try to use what you have on hand.

3) MAKE A LIST OF YOUR STORIES: What are the most important stories you want to tell from December 2014? Make a list of those stories and prioritize them. You may want to capture special holiday events or simply everyday moments. It’s okay if you don’t remember everything. Just focus on the most special and important memories that are still fresh in your mind.

4) CREATE! This is the hard part…getting those DD layouts DONE! I have decided to work on 2-3 layouts per week in my DD album. If you don’t have time throughout the week, perhaps set aside a weekend to work exclusively on this album. Whatever you decide, just work on getting your DD album DONE by October 31st!

See, that isn’t so hard, right? You can totally do this!

DECEMBER DAILY FOR SLACKERS CHALLENGE!

I am hosting a December Daily for Slackers Challenge on the Victoria Marie Facebook Group. To play all you have to do is:

• Post a picture your completed DD layouts or album to the group photo album called DECEMBER DAILY FOR SLACKERS ALBUM on the Victoria Marie Facebook Group.
• Participants will be added to the drawing for a $25.00 virtual gift card to Studio Calico!
• All submissions must be posted no later than OCTOBER 31, 2015!
• You can submit photos of any December Daily Album, not just your 2014 album.
• The winner will be announced on November 1st!

Now, go find your December Daily album and let’s get started! Look for my December Daily for Slackers process videos on my YouTube channel!

Life is interesting. Everyday, every month, every year brings about new challenges, some expected, many unexpected. When I think about the story of my life, my experiences, my challenges, I often wonder what pieces of my life’s journey I will leave behind.

In my opinion, scrapbooking is a way to tell the story of our lives. Some choose only to include the happy moments, the joys, the ups, the good times. And while I think it is wonderful to remember the good, I think that is important to share the moments that leave an everlasting imprint on our lives. The moments that are hard, challenging, and sad.

The moments that make us truly human.

During the summer of 2014, my husband came out as transgender. The handsome, funny, smart, intelligent man I once knew felt trapped, living an existence that didn’t feel right. For years my husband struggled with gender identity; over compensating to muffle the deep yearning to be female. The time had come…the truth had to be set free.

I said goodbye to Bryan.

I said hello to Aubree.

The transition from male to female has been an education to say the least. Our new “normal” began quickly: wigs, dresses, makeup, shoes, a new name…a new existence. Some things remained the same while other things changed. This experience was both exciting and terrifying. I struggled for months trying to find the “perfect” words to describe what I felt about all of this. What was to be lost? What was to be gained?

During this time, Aubree and I sought counseling and began the work of adapting to this change. I played the role of emotional spouse and fiercely protective ally. In our most vulnerable moments, we questioned if our marriage would survive.

What would our lives look like as a divorced couple?

Where would we live? Would we be roommates?

We have a kid to consider. How would visitation look?

Millions of questions, thoughts, and worries flooded our heads until finally, one day while having yet another deep conversation about our future, we both raised the white flag and said, “No more.” We could not imagine a world or a scenario where we were not together.

We were going to walk through the fire. We were going to FIGHT for our marriage.

And so we did.

Today, we celebrate 7 years of marriage. And to think that we almost didn’t make it gives this particular anniversary more meaning. We have come so far and continue to have a long journey ahead of us.

We are stronger than ever.

And we are holding on.

Scrapbooking has been my therapy through out this process and without it, I do not think I would have been able to express my feelings. I have learned that it’s okay to be transparent with myself through this art form. I want to leave behind my life’s story…the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Here’s what I used for this layout:

• Gray and white card stock from my stash
• Title “Brush Script HT” cut from Silhouette Cameo
• Frames – Maggie Holmes (Crate Paper)
• Ephemera – Maggie Holmes (Crate Paper)
• Gold Puffy Stickers – Craft Market (Crate Paper)
• Chip board die cuts – Maggie Holmes “Open Book” (Crate Paper)
• Patterned Paper – “On Trend” by My Mind’s Eye
• Gold Mist – Heidi Swapp Color Shine

And here’s the process video! Happy scrappin’!