Holiday {Art}

I spent a week working on these pieces, like I had a fire lit under my behind! Manufacturers are looking ahead to Christmas 2015, and that window of opportunity is closing soon. I did my best to interpret the projected trends of 2015 and I'm happy to say owls aren't going anywhere, and either are chalkboards. Meet my friend, Stewart the Owl (above). His cuteness kept me motivated. I finished him first and each time I doubted myself during the next three pieces, I looked at him and reminded myself: "you got this, girl!"

 I did my best to make the background of this one look like a dusty chalkboard. Birch tree limbs are already super popular and they aren't going anywhere, either. I love to decorate my own home with branches found outside and I love hanging simple items on them, changing with the seasons.

   Red, white and blue and traditional poinsettias for an All-American Christmas!

Mr. Frosty here...well, he was a different story from Stewart the Owl. Boy, did I struggle with this guy! Flowers are my specialty, not faces- and especially not eyes. I just kept adding and adding things until I was finally happy with him. As we all know, practice makes perfect and I have a lot of practice to do when it comes to animals. My next goal is to do some pieces with woodland cuties. I'm just really glad that the only snowflakes around here are in these pictures and not out my window. It won't be long, I'm sure.

Autumn {Home}

I. LOVE. FALL. I love the way the sunlight casts a golden glow on everything it touches. I love the crunch of leaves beneath my boots. I love filling my house with the scents of spiced cider, caramel and warm vanilla.

 I never tire of pumpkin patch photos, I can't get enough of paper turkey projects and my comfy sweats and a pair of moccasins never gets old. A steaming mug of hot chocolate doesn't get any better than on a cold, rainy fall day.

 And turning in early on a chilly night only to snuggle down deep under a multi-layer of blankets with my NOOK, reading until I can't keep my eyes open any longer- that's just the best.

My list could go on and on, but I'll stop now. Ah, fall, thank you for this bounty of gifts you provide us with each year.

Layouts {All Boy!}

 Here are some of the pages I made while I was at the scrapbook retreat in October. I hadn't scrapped in so long! It was so so great to get back into it. Before I started Amber Engelh{art}, I was scrapping all of the time. I was totally caught up...but not so much any more...I still have Christmas 2012 to finish up!

 Here's two things I've realized: I need to put more pictures on one layout and I need to do my best to get an event (birthday, Halloween, etc) down to a 4-page* layout. (*I mean a 2-page layout...baby steps, people!)

 One thing I'm really good at is keeping organized. Before the retreat, I printed the pictures I wanted to scrap and put them in labeled envelopes which I placed with the paper I planned to use. I put everything I needed (buttons, twine, stamps, etc.) in with the pictures and scrapbook collection- ready to jump right in. Of course I printed way more pictures than I could ever expect to scrap in one weekend- but it keeps me organized at home, too. It's a great system! Oh, I also keep little notes for title ideas and quotes I've written down from the kids in the envelope with the pictures.

 What I'm not good at: getting the pages into albums! I practically have to force myself to get them in page protectors and into the albums...I think it's because I'd much rather spend my time actually scrapping. Eventually the pile(s) become to tall to ignore and before I know it I'm spending hours sorting and organizing finished layouts.

 There's no shortage of layouts I have to share! I thought I'd share Cohen's first. He's so much fun to scrap...and the boy-themed collections just keep getting better and better (almost everything I've used on these pages are by Echo Park).

 Thanks for looking!