In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, we’ve got a special treat for you today … a whole collection of fabulous layouts sure to inspire you to scrap your favorite holiday activities and traditions! Check these out…

"Leprechaun Trap" by shutch

"Go Green" by jencrook

"Memories of Guinness" by katrinak

"Green" by donitab

"Lucky" by uinthas

"Happy St. Patrick's Day" by lionsimba

"Irish Eyes" by MmeNoelle

"St. Patrick's Day Tradition" by scrappinmint

"Oh So Lucky" by tkelley

"Lucky" by Sweeet

"My Lucky Charm" by liljatr

"Lucky" by purple colourz

"Lucky" by Lizzy257

"We Are Irish" by MOLLYW8

"4 Luck" by kj4jc

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Take photos of your festivities today and then be sure to join us tomorrow for our St. Patty’s Day Story Board Scraplift Challenge Chat at 3 p.m. Mountain/5 p.m. Eastern in our chat room! We’ll have a special freebie from sponsor Jennifer Barrette of Jennifer Barrette Designs and lots of fun, too!

Get the inside scoop, be the first to know about new product releases & get special discounts by subscribing to our new weekly newsletter, the Log Your Memory INSIDER. Delivered directly to your INBOX every Sunday afternoon.

Please share your thoughts in a comment below …

Maybe it’s because St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner. Maybe it’s a burst of spring creativity. Or maybe I just happened to look in the right places at the right times. Whatever the cause, I found all kinds of great “real life” inspiration for you this week in our neighboring galleries.

"Smiling is My Favorite" by casbury

“Smiling is My Favorite” by casbury just makes you want to smile, doesn’t it? Love how casbury used a movie line as a jump-off point, then showcased all of those smiling faces in this bright, sunny page. Gotta love how she incorporate a few familiar favorites, too.

"Our First Home" by pomi

“Our First Home” by pomi caught my eye right away with its circular design and fun titlework. There’s a ton of journaling packed into this page, yet it doesn’t feel overwhelming. Love the pretty spring colors, too.

"My Week" by LeahR

Simplicity at its best … that’s how I would classify “My Week” by LeahR. Love the clean design and the use of a photo series to tell most of this story. I like that she documented her typical week, even though it sounds a lot like my own. LOL

"Caught in the Act" by Kim Mauch

“Caught in the Act” by Kim Mauch cracked me up, largely because my hubby seems to have the same definition of “reading.” A nice example of scrapping those everyday moments & habits that make us who we are.

"10 Photos" by Ebony

The circular design of “10 Photos” by Ebony caught my attention right away and I love this playful use of list journaling. The “note to self” is a nice touch, too… I’ll bet most moms could do a page like this about ourselves. I know I could… and probably should.

"2 O'Clock" by tkeetch

I share the same definition and anticipation of “naptime” as tkeetch in her layout, “2 O’Clock.” A fun use of this kit … love the layering & how the photo of little Harvey is tucked into the design.

"Little Miss Lizzy" by monsu

The bright colors contrasted with the dark background and black and white photos really make “Little Miss Lizzy” by monsu a great page in my book. I also love the clever little corner design. All I need now is a translator so I can read about this little cutie.

"50 Ideas" by emileem

It can be tough to scrapbook a long list without it looking like, well, a long list. But emileem provides a great example of how to do it well in “50 Ideas.” Love the look of the journal, complete with little check-off boxes, and the scattered embellishments do a nice job of completing the photo-less picture.

"Forget/Remember" by Britgirl

I’m always a fan of layouts that share family values in the context of an activity. Such is the case in “Forget/Remember” by Britgirl. Love the cool color scheme & the way the title/quote grabs your attention.

"Same Chin, Different Personalities" by sweetpeony

Comparing shared family traits seems to be a common occurrence at holiday get-togethers, but how often do we take the time to scrap them? “Same Chin, Different Personalities” by sweetpeony is a fun round-up of one particular family … but poor girl. Four brothers? One was plenty for me…

"Avery Year-In-Review 2009" by nikkiARNGwife

I love pages that show changes over time, which is the case in “Avery Year-In-Review 2009″ by nikkiARNGwife. Avery looks like quite the little character … the kit and design used here complement him perfectly and set a very playful stage.

"Carnival 2010" by coco

I find group photos to be tough to scrap, so I just love the clever way coco did it here in “Carnival 2010.” The bright colors, cute cartoonish embellies and fun clusters really make this page feel like a carnival.

"Tribute to Bonnie" by JALong

My final choice today is an example of great design, creative listing and heartfelt journaling. But there’s more to the story of why I chose to share “Tribute to Bonnie” by JALong. This page is but one of many, many beautiful tributes to a gal that touched countless hearts in the community at Designer Digitals, as both a Creative Team member and a friend. Sadly, this lovely lady was suddenly taken from her family and friends late last week … and those who knew her, online or in person, have been sharing their thoughts through the Designer Digitals gallery ever since as a last gift to her family.

I share this with you today for two reasons – first, to express my own condolences to our friends at Designer Digitals and the people who loved Bonnie, and second, to point out how strong those ties are that are built between scrapbookers who may or may not ever meet in person, but who share lives and stories through the pages posted in our online galleries and the conversations in our forums.

We sometimes joke about our “real” versus “online” friends. But if there was ever need for proof that these relationships are real, important and meaningful, here it is. Thanks for sharing your stories & lives with me … and for letting me share mine with you.

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Please share your thoughts in a comment below …

If you’re looking for examples of great journaling, beautiful design and lots of “real life” scrapbooking, you’re in the right place! Check out these inspiring and clever pages spotted in neighboring galleries this week …

"First Job" by willow885

“First Job” by willow885 provides a nice glance back at the world of retail before the arrival of Big Box stores, complete with a few price comparisons and other little details which will only become more interesting as time presses forward. Love that the photo puts it all in context, complete with the lineup of station wagons.

"The Big 3-0" by rainydays

Having just passed a “milestone” birthday myself, I was quickly drawn to “The Big 3-0″ by rainydays. No birthday cake & candles here, but rather reflections on how she feels about reaching this life stage. Even more interesting would be a followup when she hits the big 4-0 to see if those perceptions have changed.

"Guardian Angel" by coco

The interesting composition of “Guardian Angel” by coco quickly caught my eye, but I also like how she used a quote about guardian angels to help tell her story. It’s one of those pages you can just look at and continue to find new details you hadn’t noticed before.

"Little Baby" by iciclelady

The title of this one by iciclelady says it all … “The little baby days are so fleeting.” Though the first months with this little one will soon be history, mom has done a wonderful job of documenting the experience to help the memories last a lifetime. Love the softness of this page, as well as the choice of photos.

"My Yellow Dream Room" by lunafaerie

“My Yellow Dream Room” by lunafaerie is a nice reminder that we don’t have to always scrapbook about what has already happened … or even with photos of what is. Instead, she shares her goal of what she hopes will be, complete with an image to guide her way. Love the simplicity and the fun titlework. (Wouldn’t mind crawling into that bed, either!)

"Be Happy" by gracielou

I’m always on the lookout for pages that tell a familiar story in a new way. “Be Happy” by gracielou is one of those pages. I especially like her use of a quote to set the stage, particularly when it’s presented with such great design, and the closeup photos of this little bathing beauty are just darling. Definitely an improvement over all the bath time photos I’ve taken over the years…

"My Bucket List" by Ace's Wild

Long lists can be tough to present without overwhelming the page with text, but not so with “My Bucket List” by Ace’s Wild. The fun combination of shapes, plus the use of both words and photos to convey this list makes this fun to look at. Of course, I also got a chuckle out of some of the items on her list, like #9. LOL

"He" by Valgal

There’s nothing like playing it BIG to highlight a great photo. Love how this captivating photo takes center stage in “He” by Valgal. Sounds like a cool kid, too, once you tear your eyes away from his face and check out the list. A definite case of less is more.

"8,322 Photos" by mymalloryboys

“8,322 Photos” by mymalloryboys is another example of taking a unique angle to tell a story. In this case, it’s how the number of photos taken of this little cutie is a representation of how enamored mom is with watching him grow, not to mention that she’s shattering the old saying about the youngest kid having the fewest photos. Cool design, too… love the roughed up look and all the little details tucked in.

"Baby It's Cold" by marnie

Figuring out how to incorporate newspaper clippings and other memorabilia into a page can be tricky sometimes. I really like how marnie did it here in “Baby It’s Cold.” The clipping retains its vintage feel, yet the overall page doesn’t feel dated. Clever title, too, considering there are actually two stories here …

That wraps up this week’s Story Board! Hope you’re feeling inspired to scrap your real life … and if not, take a peek in our own gallery here at LYM. I am continually amazed at the collection of pages that grows more impressive by the day. Better yet, add a few of your own!

Get the inside scoop, be the first to know about new product releases & get special discounts by subscribing to our new weekly newsletter, the Log Your Memory INSIDER. Delivered directly to your INBOX every Sunday afternoon.

Please share your thoughts in a comment below …

This week’s Story Board is brought to you by February Calendar Girl Jen DeLorenzo. You’ll notice a theme to the pages she tracked down from our neighboring galleries… everyday things that make us happy!

"What Makes Me Smile" by Heidi2008

This layout by Heidi Glibota really stood out to me.  The design of the overly stuffed folders really gives it dimension.  I love the beautiful pops of purple and the great title work!

"These Make Me Smile" by muddygirl

This layout by muddygirl really made me smile.  I love the happy colors.  The collage of photos really works for her design and the tucked journaling is such a nice finishing touch.

"My Silly Girls" by colleenstearns

The theme of this silly layout by Colleen Stearns really made me giggle.  Capturing those goofy childlike moments is so important.  I really like how she was able to make the layout about all her daughters.  I love the additional journaling tidbits with the use of the conversation hearts.

"Just My Type" by readstoomuch

This layout by readstoomuch evoked childlike emotions.  I love the carefree spirit of the photos and the way she incorporated the title into the motion of the page.  The block design really leads your eye to those wonderful photos.

"Wheels of the Week" by thessh

This layout by thessh really stood out with its vibrant title work.  I love the documentation of such a everyday thing, but a fun memory to capture.  The pictures are great and again I loved the tucked in journaling.

"Every Moment" by champsarahjoy

This layout by champsarahjoy captures the shining personality of her daughter.  I love the colors that she pulled from the photo.  I also love that she included not only a silly picture but a more serious photo holding the things she loved.   The outlined stitching really pull it all together.

"First Taste" by Coila

This might be one of my favorite layouts I encountered by Coila.  I think the title work is outstanding.  The colors are so appealing.  The many different faces are darling and I love the sprinkled Cheerios among the yarn.  Too cute for words!!

"Confection Collection" by lltheo

I chose this layout by lltheo because of the fantastic colors.  This layout really draws you in. You can tell those items she photographed make her happy just by the happy theme.  I love the neutral background that makes everything pop.  It makes me happy just looking at it!

"Where's Waldo" by JanaMorton

This layout by Jana Morton brought me to all smiles.  I love the overall design – the use of the giant Waldo character really makes this layout pop.  The theme was such a clever way to capture the little occurrences with her little ones!

That’s it for this week’s Story Board! Thanks, Jen, for sharing these fun finds! And check back every Wednesday for a new batch of real life scrapbooking inspiration!

Get the inside scoop, be the first to know about new product releases & get special discounts by subscribing to our new weekly newsletter, the Log Your Memory INSIDER. Delivered directly to your INBOX every Sunday afternoon.

Please share your thoughts in a comment below …

This week’s Story Board includes a little bit of everything in the way of real life scrapbooking inspiration, ranging from the personal and poetic to just plain adorable. Check out our fun finds this week from our neighboring galleries…

"4 Eyes" by junebug

The captivating photo and cool titlework in “4 Eyes” by junebug caught my attention as soon as I saw it. Love the soft color scheme and fun little details, not to mention the shared history about this little slice of one scrapbooker’s life.

"Now and Then '09" by Darcy Baldwin

Price comparisons from different time periods always fascinate me, so I immediately fell in love with “Now and Then ‘09″ by Darcy Baldwin. In addition to all of the fun price differences (25 cents for a loaf of bread!), there are a ton of other little details packed into this journaling. Definitely among my favorite recent examples of “real life” scrapbooking and sure to be of even greater interest several years down the road!

"Crocodile Tears" by Aggie Aviso

My first thought upon finding “Crocodile Tears” by Aggie Aviso was “I have SO been there!” Love this little peek into the daily routine and those pathetically adorable teary-eyed photos. Have to chuckle at the final comment, too.

"Playing Telephone" by becca1976

“Playing Telephone” by becca1976 is just plain fun. Great photos, cute embellishments, playful colors and a fun memory of a very “everyday” type activity. My favorite kind of scrapbooking.

"February 11" by sigmakap95

If your goal is to document your real life, it’s hard NOT to scrapbook about the weather these days. It’s definitely been a season for the record books for many this year. I just loved the color scheme & playful design of “February 11″ by sigmakap95. The perfectly placed embellishments, highlighted words in the journaling, even the realistic looking snowballs all add up to a fantastic winter page.

"Blah" by dancingscrapper

The comment says it’s a “page about nothing” but I can definitely relate to having days like the one shared in “Blah” by dancingscrapper. Love the artsy feel to the whole layout, and the design with the journal and the paragraph about “nothing” are so reminiscent of diaries from my younger days.

"Imagination" by TrishB

It’s the quirky behaviors and little observations that I most want to remember about my kids’ early years, yet that is sometimes the toughest thing to capture on a scrapbook page. TrishB does this wonderfully in “Imagination.” Love the interesting palette and photo treatment, as well as the way she highlighted various pieces of her journaling.

"Blue Jean Baby" by rainydays

There is just something so completely adorable about a little tiny dude in jeans, which is exactly what rainydays highlights in “Blue Jean Baby.” Love the clustered embellishments, the splashes of red and of course, the cute patootie in these photos.

"Best Friends" by beckyandjames

The off-kilter orientation of the papers and the title caught my attention in “Best Friends” by beckyandjames … and then all the fun little details drew me in further. Interesting photo treatment, cool date cluster, scattered hearts, sweet memory … it all just comes together to make a page that’s very easy to appreciate.

"Tale of a Midnight Scrapper" by Maria W

I’ll bet I’m not alone in feeling like “Tale of a Midnight Scrapper” by Maria W was created especially for me. This clever poem describes my habit to perfection and the simple design is a perfect complement to the story. Love the artsy graphic, the jumbled title, the water-stained, heart-doodled paper and the very authentic-looking typesetting. So cute… I am very tempted to get this one printed for myself just to use as a wallhanging in my office!

That’s it for this week’s Story Board! Check back every Wednesday for more “real life” scrapbooking inspiration!

And the winner is …

A big thanks to everyone who shared their feelings of adoration in response to Monday’s post and interview with February Guest Designer Misty Cato.

"Adoration" Kit by Misty Cato

And now as promised, one lucky commenter will receive a free download of Misty’s brand new kit, Adoration. Selected by random number generator, that lucky winner is …

38.Jill says:

I’d say I really adore 3 boys in my life: my boyfriend, my little brother, and my evil little nephew. LOL They make my life more fun!

Congratulations to Jill! Please contact me with your full name & email address so I can hook you up with your free download! A big thanks to Misty, as well, for your wonderful kit and generous contribution!

Get the inside scoop, be the first to know about new product releases & get special discounts by subscribing to our new weekly newsletter, the Log Your Memory INSIDER. Delivered directly to your INBOX every Sunday afternoon.

Please share your thoughts in a comment below …

Our neighboring galleries were full of “real life” inspiration this week. Check out these fun finds…

"My Daily Chocolate" by suladesign

If I didn’t want chocolate before (LOL), I definitely wanted it after finding “My Daily Chocolate” by suladesign. Love everything about this – the curvy design, the cute embellishments, the clever photo framing and of course, the yummy descriptions.

"My Favorite Color" by amystoffel

“My Favorite Color” by amystoffel is either a little scrap-therapy or a very clever way to get a message to a mother. Either way, I love that she documented this aspect of her life and enjoyed all the examples of pink’s infiltration into her life.

"Snow Cone" by mrs jb

With snowy weather dominating so much of the news lately, “Snow Cone” by mrs jb seemed like an appropriate choice this week. I love the combination of bright colors and the cool blue background and you can’t go wrong with those adorable photos. It’s a variation on the standard page with tons of outdoor shots, yet the snow story still comes through.

"Partial Portraits" by Sue Setiadji

I’m always fascinated by layouts highlighting teen behavior, probably because I have a teen of my own that I am still trying to figure out! “Partial Portraits” by Sue Setiadji provides a glimpse into that crazy world. Love the simplicity and the cropping on the photos, too.

"Because I'm Worth It" by sevenupps

“Because I’m Worth It” by sevenupps jumped out at me from the galleries because of it’s playful design and bright colors. The journaling makes it a keeper though. Love the honesty and bit of positive self-talk expressed in this work of art. The whole thing just radiates positive energy.

"ME" by breakingbrie

“ME” by breakingbrie is another page that caught my attention because of the clever design. The journaling is great too, though. Love that this mom is breaking her habit of putting herself last by creating a page focused so much on herself and her own feelings.

"5 Best Things About You" by sahlink

Everything about “5 Best Things About You” by sahlink screamed “lift me!” when I found it in the gallery. Love the fun photos and the clever cropping and framing. Love the combination of artsy brushwork and embellishments. Love the great list of all the ways this daughter is special to her mom. Lucky girl, lucky mom.

"Time Stops" by AngelaPowers

I normally favor more of a focus on journaling in my search for pages to share, but the photo in “Time Stops” by AngelaPowers really spoke to me. With little ones of my own, this photo immediately takes me to that snuggly place that is so special and yet so fleeting. Combined with the journaling, though brief, the page says all that needs to be said.

"Young Me" by KerryMac

KerryMac shares a ton of photos and information in “Young Me,” yet the page does not feel crowded or overwhelming. Love the combination of black and white and color photos, the photo as background and the various ways she added tags and labels to the page.

"A Boy Can Dream" by partsofme

Living in snowy Montana, the expression on this this guy’s face is one I’ve seen before! I like this take on scrapping about the heavy snowfall, from the extracted photo and artsy blended background to the clipped photos to the humorous title. I’m guessing mom had more fun putting this page together than the pair had dealing with the snow!

That’s it for another week! Check back every Wednesday for another set of inspiring “real life” scrapbook pages found throughout the Web.

Get the inside scoop, be the first to know about new product releases & get special discounts by subscribing to our new weekly newsletter, the Log Your Memory INSIDER. Delivered directly to your INBOX every Sunday afternoon.

Please share your thoughts in a comment below …

Some weeks, it seems our neighboring galleries are full of “real life” inspiration. Other weeks, it takes a little more digging to find what I’m looking for.

This was one of those weeks … while there were many, many beautiful layouts to be found, it was a bit more challenging to find those that also shared the kind of depth I like to highlight in our weekly Story Board. But dig I did and found these gems to inspire you to document your favorite everyday moments…

"Sweet Tea" by rebecca h

It doesn’t get much sweeter than “Sweet Tea” by rebecca h, which highlights the memory of a tea party between a child and her furry friends. Love the close-ups and the soft, feminine feel to the page.

"Apple Junkie" by talktoheather

I’m a Mac-girl myself, so I appreciated “Apple Junkie” by talktoheather. Technology changes so quickly, so taking time to document how it impacts you today is sure to be interesting down the road.

"Meeting Dustin Petroia" by Kat Stokes

Every town has its local heroes, so it’s fun to see the story of how one such hero impacted this little guy in “Meeting Dustin Petroia” by Kat Stokes. Very clever design, too … love the incorporation of the baseball details.

"Go the Distance" by Britgirl

It’s always interesting to me to see what details our kids remember as they get older. I enjoyed how Britgirl documented a detail of her everyday life in “Go the Distance.” I’m even more curious to see if her child remembers it the same way several years from now. Great titlework, too!

"me right now" by shhbabymine

I’m a big fan of “right here, right now” type pages, so I was immediately drawn to “me right now” by shhbabymine. I like the way she used repetition in her journaling style (I love…, I wish…, I laugh…) and especially love the cool, serene design.

"Beginning of the Olympics" by avalon4

I’m not normally one drawn to event or location pages. But “Beginning of the Olympics” by avalon4 jumped out at me as a little different. I like the angle taken here – the page shares the “behind-the-scenes” look at something most of the world has an interest in but will probably never experience – living so near an Olympics competition site. Plus it’s just a very eye-catching page! I’d love to see more as the Games get rolling…

"Favorite Haunts" by lingovise

I like the creative approach taken by lingovise in “Favorite Haunts.” We share a lot of the same interests & favorite sites – I love her use of all of the logos and icons, plus her clever comparison to a night at the movies.

"Finding Your Way" by SuzanneB

If you’ve ever thought about putting together a little book on what it’s really like to be a parent, “Finding Your Way” by SuzanneB offers a great example of where to start. I like how she combined a recap of her conversation with her son with her own thoughts on the subject.

"Mr. Puzzle Man" by Karen_

I’m all about the “everyday” memories and “Mr. Puzzle Man” by Karen_ is exactly that. Though a simple story about naptime struggles and a clever child’s response, the journaling shares a lot of the little details that really help to paint the picture of life in this household at this moment in time. Plus I just really like the sketchy style and splashes of color.

That’s it for another week! Check back next Wednesday for more real life scrapbooking inspiration! And if you really want to get inspired, take a peek in our own gallery. It is just packed with fantastic pages full of real life stories … and the collection is growing more quickly by the day!

Today’s Story Board brought to you by …

Interested in seeing YOUR business, store, Web site or favorite designer promoted here? Sponsorship opportunities are available … to find out more, inquire through the Contact Us page.

Comments regarding this post are welcome via the Log Your Memory forum.

You’re in for a special treat in this week’s Story Board, brought to you courtesy of our lead Calendar Girl of the month, Heather Guenther! Get ready to be inspired with these fantastic examples of “real life” scrapbooking and commentary by Heather …

"Love Letter" by taracotta7

Love the heartfelt journaling and the appearance of a handwritten letter. These days, we often so many more emails than letters that there is something extra special about the look of a handwritten letter to me.

"Eating Dirt" by ahillo5

Love the pops of teal with the neutral color palette. A little dirt never hurt, but oh my, finding a brown recluse would definitely be the last time I went near that area too.

"Happiness" by kaleandkiara

I really love the monotone coloring to this layout with just a tiny bit of color. The black and white photo against the gray page is very striking and soothing at the same time. I love the documenting of such an everyday moment and how it touches her heart so dearly.

"Snow Play" by hondachicc

I wish I had documentation of these types of days as a child as the memories are so faded at my age now. I really like how the photos are laid out with the framing and touch of metallic look in the circles to give it that touch of texture, cold weather touch.

"Seven Random Thoughts" by nininano

Wonderful list of 7 random thoughts and I love the clean color palette and design. The blended image with it is very powerful. A great page for looking back on later and remembering the random thoughts we have everyday.

"Nini's Spotlight" by schneeflocke

Another in the 7 random thoughts challenge. Again, I adore the simple use of a single color to bring a page alive. Seeing these pages, I think it would be wonderful to add a seven random thoughts page monthly to my projects to see how a year of random thoughts would look at the end of it.

"All About Me" by saintamara

I love the reflective journaling of this page, as well the blending and coordinating images. The effect is a very soothing, reflective feel to the page.

"Chaos Theory" by Mindy Hanson

How can you not be drawn in by that photo and want to read the journaling? The journaling is great and hopefully was very therapeutic for her dealing with everything that she is dealing with. I love her sense of humor in the photo and can see myself feeling that way at times, too.

"Emerson" by digikiwichick

I adore the colors of this page as well as the simple yet striking design styling. The questions and answers are a great way to capture how your kids are feeling at this particular moment in their lives. I especially adore how she added in the “runs off to check” in her journaling as to whether her room was messy or clean. It gives it that touch more personality and memory to smile about years from now.

"Together We Stand" by ANJnMDS

The design of this page drew me in and then reading it, I was deeply affected. Beautiful journaling about the unfortunate events that have happened, but also a cheerful, hopeful page in the personal way that their lives were touched.

"Secret Recipe" by chengie

Beautiful photo and love the journaling to go with the empty recipe card. There is no doubt from this that it is a wonderful, treasured family recipe which is to remain secret.

Thanks, Heather, for sharing these great finds from around the Web! Check back next Wednesday for even more inspiration … and until then, happy scrapping!
Today’s Story Board brought to you by …

Interested in seeing YOUR business, store, Web site or favorite designer promoted here? Sponsorship opportunities are available … to find out more, inquire through the Contact Us page.

Comments regarding this post are welcome via the Log Your Memory forum.

It’s time for another round of “real life” scrapbooking inspiration! Check out these great finds from neighboring galleries this week…

"Being Your Mom" by misfitinmn

In “Being Your Mom,” misfitinmn goes beyond the cute baby photo to share insights into what it’s really like to be a new mom, from the pure exhaustion to the complete pride and adoration. A great keepsake for when this little one gets big, which will happen all too soon…

"Rebuilding in Review" by nevache

Home construction and remodeling photos are always a fun thing to look back on … AFTER the dust has had time to settle and normalcy has returned! “Rebuilding in Review” by nevache will be a great springboard for those “remember when” conversations when that time comes.

"Crabby" by Carolee

Though relatively simple in design, “Crabby” by Carolee actually provides a great deal of insight into this particular scrapbooker’s “real” life, from her astrological sign to the things that cause her mood to swing to a great variety of words she feels describe her many characteristics. This one jumped out of the gallery at me.

"Me & You" by amandajane

I really enjoyed how “Me & You” by amandajane describes the many ways this mother and daughter are alike beyond the obvious physical characteristics. The sweetly sophisticated design was just the icing on the cake!

"Tween" by novita

I’m always attracted to pages that share insights into those difficult “Tween” and early adolescent years, such as this layout by novita. The colors are perfect for this fun but no longer “childish” age, and the journaling really helps describe what it’s like trying to navigate the unique challenges that come with this age group.

"Life Changing" by kellig

‘Tis the season to document goals and resolutions. Kellig provides a great example here in “Life Changing.” I was immediately drawn to the simple, yet interesting design and color scheme. I also like the way the journaling outlines the “why” behind this couple’s goals.

"Don't Ever Change" by Manderin Oranges

The cute kiddos first drew my attention to “Don’t Ever Change” by Manderin Oranges, but mom’s admissions about her weaknesses as a parent and message to her kids to just be who they are made it a page I wanted to share. A nice reminder to take a moment to see what is rather than what is expected.

"Grown Up Girl" by lunafaerie

When our kids are little and we spend hours just adoring their cute features & behaviors, it doesn’t seem like we could possibly ever forget them. But the time goes so quickly and unfortunately, all too often we lose those little details. This won’t be the case, though, for lunafaerie and her “Grown Up Girl.” The journaling does a great job of describing just what this little one is like and how she’s changed in this early stage of her life. Plus, it’s simply a beautiful page.

"Today You" by rsowers

I’m a big fan of pages that simply share an everyday moment, such as this one described in “Today You” by rsowers. The full page photo treatment is perfect, as is the subtle journaling on the beach. So simple in design,  yet I loved it the moment I saw it in the gallery. This one would be great made into a canvas for the wall.

"In My Office" by annaaspnes

If you aren’t familiar with the unique style of designer Anna Aspnes, you should check her out. I love this page that she shared this week, not only because it’s an example of her amazing design sense but also because it documents a part of life that often gets left out of scrapbooks – our work lives. Plus I must admit – I was glad to see mine isn’t the only less than immaculate office!

That’s it for another week! Check back next Wednesday for another series of inspirational “real life” scrapbook pages from around the Web … and until then, be sure to add a few of your own to the mix!

Click on “comment” below to share your thoughts…

In keeping with the subject of Monday’s blog post, I decided to focus today’s Story Board on inspirational layouts that tell a story that isn’t entirely bright and cheery. Little did I know (well, I suspected…) that I would need to go through more than 3 times the number of pages I normally visit in order to find these 10 pages.

Hopefully these will inspire you to scrap a little more of your “real” …and somewhat imperfect… life!

"What Hurts the Most" by scrapperjade

Every one of us has someone in our life who has disappointed us. Hopefully through the process of creating “What Hurts the Most,” artist scrapperjade was able to work through some of that hurt. Nothing like a little scrap-therapy to help us move forward…

"Created a Monster" by Bush Girl

Teens and pre-teens can be tough to scrapbook about, especially their not-so-wonderful sides. “Created a Monster” by Bush Girl is a good example of combining a description of life “right now” with this gal, as well as giving some insight into mom’s thoughts about it, including her admission that she helped create the situation.

"To Move On" by snaggletooth75

“To Move On” by snaggletooth75 is not only cool to look at, but it’s a good example of how putting something in writing can be a great way to reinforce the ideas in your mind. This will be neat for her to look back on in 10 years and see if she feels any differently.

"The Penny Plan" by JenJ

As a parent, I don’t especially like to admit I don’t have all the answers. I enjoyed “The Penny Plan” by JenJ for a couple reasons – first, because I can totally relate to what this mom is going through, and second, because I may just have to copy her idea with my own kids!

"Right Now" by NikkiE

To read “Right Now” is like taking a journey into NikkiE’s mind, right where all her fears and insecurities live. But it’s also an example of how she chooses to focus on the positive, despite her worries, and is trying to make a conscious choice to live in the moment. Powerful stuff.

"Is This Really My Life?" by Tracy107

“Is This Really My Life?” by Tracy107 made me chuckle, not because it’s particularly humorous but because I think my family must have visited her house! I could SO do a page like this … only it would be a real struggle to limit it to four examples. I like how she documented these particular frustrations but in a somewhat humorous manner. I get the feeling she doesn’t really get too bent out of shape over these things.

"Eye of the Beholder" by gypsystar

I know more than one scrapbooker who prefers to be behind, rather in front of, the camera. In “Eye of the Beholder,” gypsystar admits to feelings many of us probably have shared at one time or another. Not the easiest thing to scrap … and then share with all of us. I’m glad she did.

"Broken" by Cristina

Scrapping the less-than-perfect doesn’t always mean deep soul-searching and admissions of inadequacy. A great example of taking time to document life’s mishaps is “Broken” by Christina. Hopefully mom will be on the mend soon…

"A New Me" by chia

Moms are supposed to be brave for their kids … not the other way around, right? I like how chia let us hear her thoughts in “A New Me” as she grappled with a fear I share with her … and then turn it around into a promise to herself to “be bolder and braver” in the New Year.

"Worst Buy of 2009" by melanier

Oops! We’ve all done it … bought something that turned out to be a dud. At least something good came of melanier’s “Worst Buy of 2009″ … a fun scrapbook page to inspire us to document our real lives!

That’s it for another week! Hopefully you are now inspired to get busy scrapping all aspects of your everyday life!

Curious about how Story Board layouts are selected? Check out the end of this Story Board blog post.

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