MAGGIE HOLMES Photography and Scrapbooking Blog

an old favorite and project 365

I was just digging through some old photos

looking for something to use for a project

and I came across this:



I don't know if I shared this last Christmas or not,

but it is fun to come across an old favorite!

Those chubby cheeks and big blue eyes get me every time!

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I also wanted to share this:

PROJECT 365

January's Kit of the Month is an AMAZING kit designed by Becky Higgins!

The idea behind the kit is that you take a photo a day for the entire year and the kit gives you everything you need to turn those photos and memories into a complete scrapbook! The kit has page protectors designed just for this project and each spread covers 1 week, with spots for each photo and then a spot for some journaling to go with each photo/day.

This month I already did three weeks worth of photos + words + kits elements to equal three completed spreads! So fun! And the designs in the kit are awesome! I think it is easier to understand the whole concept when you see the completed pages so be sure to check out the link.

You can see the first one of my spreads over on the new Kit of the Month Blog. I believe they will be sharing my other pages along with pages from other designers soon! The kit goes on sale this Thursday and I know they will sell out fast! I can't wait to keep going with this! Such a great idea Becky!!

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Also, Target has some seriously cute new stuff right now - if you like pink, green, and/or blue you will love it all! I went there today and found the cutest hot pink and white damask rugs!

And somehow they found their way into my cart and they ended up on my scrapbook room floor!

Hmmmmmm.... not sure how that happened? ;)

I was so NOT in the market to be purchasing rugs and such but Target has a way of getting me off track.... I mean, totally off track!! I went in for milk and a new mop and I came out with rugs!! (and a few other pink, blue and green goodies for my kitchen!)

I tried to find it all online to show some pics and link you there because this new stuff is to die for cute! But alas, I am not as fond of their online shopping experience and I couldn't find any of it! I will have to take photos to share later this week!

That's it for me today! Now that my scrapbook room is a bit more clean and a lot more cute with my new rugs, I am off to start on some new projects!

Miss Emily Jane

Just playing around with some more photos of 

Emily Jane

that I took at the park earlier this month 

and some digital frames that I just got! Love them!!

I seriously can't get enough of her in this hat!! 

Too bad she can only wear hats here about 3 months out of the year 

or she would be sweating to death! 

Otherwise I might have her in a hat every day!!

fyi - The pics are a little grainy because I cropped them in a lot to fit in the frames how I wanted them.

Wish I had my zoom lens on that day so I could have gotten some really close up shots. :(

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!

Ours was great! 

Lots of happy kiddos around here!!

Hopefully I can finish up my December Daily album soon! 

Sorry to keep you waiting!!

2.5 more days!!

This month has definitely flown by for me!! I can't believe that it is almost Christmas! While I am super excited and pretty much ready, I wouldn't mind having just one more week - to clean the house, wrap the gifts and just play with the kids doing more Christmas activities!! I love that we get to do so many things together during the holidays! Each day I feel like we should do something fun and festive - whether it is make cookies, snuggle up to watch a Christmas movie or just play games! It has been great and I have taken a ton of pictures this year so I am excited to keep putting together my December Daily album! Plus, I will even have a bunch left over to make some Christmas layouts too! 

In the midst of it all I have been scrapbooking up a storm this last week and I don't think I have ever seen my scrapbook room this messy! It is out of control!! Typically I will clean up in between each project but I haven't even had the time to do that so I have just been pulling out more products and projects and piling everything on top of the last mess!! Yikes! It is definitely going to take a while to clean up!

I forgot to mention in my last post that I was asked to be the guest designer over at STUDIO CALICO for the month of January! I have been super excited about this because their monthly kits are always fabulous and I love their clear stamps too! The also have 3 new exclusive patterned papers that they are releasing with the kit and I have to say that they are fabulous!! I just finished my last layout with the kit and can't wait to share them with you.......soon!! Keep checking back here and over at the Studio Calico website for the January kit to be released along with pictures of my layouts! I pulled out some favorite photos that I have been hoarding and saving.... because the colors in this kit just called out for them! Fun stuff!!

And because I haven't shared any photos for awhile, here are a few from a family shoot I did last month. They were so fun to work with - totally up for anything! And the crazy lady speeding around the property in her car didn't even phase them! :) 

Don't you love the bike??

Wouldn't you know...

It is super crazy busy around here!

I AM working on my December Daily Album although I am now a bit behind. I am taking photos every day and jotting down notes though so I can catch up one of these days! Even if I don't have time to finish it until after Christmas I am loving the whole project and the idea of capturing bits and pieces of each day. I promise I will share the finished project at some point!!

I am now done with all of my holiday photography sessions - editing, Christmas cards, etc. It was crazy busy but tons of fun and I am super grateful for all of you that support and encourage me and refer new clients to me! THANK YOU! It really means a lot!!

I am also now working on quite a few scrapbooking assignments - some due before Christmas and others due right after and more in January! Again I am always grateful for the opportunities and the fun things I get to do in this industry!! I love the creative push that I get with my assignments from CK and I absolutely love getting to work with all of the latest and greatest products from Making Memories -- literally as they are coming out or even before they are real products! That company never ceases to amaze me with their innovation and creativity! 

We are almost done with our Christmas shopping! We have really simplified this year and cut out a lot of the extras that we typically run around frantically trying to do. We are sending out Christmas cards to family and friends and leaving it at that, rather than trying to get/make a bunch of gifts for everyone. We love and appreciate all of our friendships and hope they all can feel that throughout the year when we spend time together! We have also really tried to keep to our lists for the kids this year in our goal to scale back and not go overboard as it is so easy to do!! At the end of the day it is about being with each other and making sure they know how much we love them!! I really do think that simple can be better! Lots of things we have cut out will most likely never be missed!

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Onto some fun things that I want to share -- (sorry about the super long post!)

I was thrilled when I was asked to be a contributor to this amazing book because I love typography and have always found it to be a very inspiring element in scrapbooking. There are a ton of fun techniques and ideas in the book along with lots of great eye candy by some amazing artists! This is a book I could look through again and again!! Love it!! It is available for pre-order right now!

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I will be teaching at the Reflections Event in May of next year in California! I am super excited to be a part of this! This is an event you won't want to miss! It is a 3 day event in Newport Beach and from what I hear it is going to be the ultimate retreat -- scrapbooking, inspiration, relaxation, amazing food and lots of fun!! There are 7 teachers and you will get to take all of our classes! Each class is 3 hours long and they will be packed full of inspiration and technique... and of course, some awesome projects! I could try to explain everything but the website does it much better so just go there and check it all out! They also have payment plans so you can register and pay a little each month!! Love that! 

I am also planning to fly in a day early to do a full day of mini photography sessions so if you live in Cali and are interested in that, let me know and I will get you more details! 

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That's it for now! If you read through that whole post you are a trooper! I still have lots more to share from my holiday sessions so I will get back on track with that after Christmas. Thanks for stopping by and have a great day! I also have some things stashed to do some giveaways so check back for that too!

Baby Scrapbooking Products

If you are looking for 

baby scrapbooking products 

you may want to check out 

Jessica Turner's blog this week! 

She is featuring the 

Best in Baby Scrapbooking 

all week long. 

She will be showcasing samples of products 

and will also be giving away 

prize packages 

of the featured items every day!

(So, be sure to check it out... who doesn't love free stuff, right?)

newborns

I love photographing newborns!

There is just something about them that makes me all gushy inside...

they are sweet and pure and oh so perfect!

When they are sleepy like this and I get them all situated I just can't stop snapping away!

I love it!!

Baby J

Another little cutie...

with big blue eyes!!

Lots more to come very soon Natalie!!