Hi there Experimenters! We hope you are having a fabulous summer!

If you are like us, and really, most people, you find yourself traveling in the summer. Some of us go to gradparents homes, or a couple of us girls just came back from CHA in Chicago. Some of us have visited the beach, others have taken day trips. But really, sometimes the best part of a vacation, is coming home. Opening the door and breathing in your house, or having your children run to you with open arms, saying they've missed you. No matter where you travel, or how long you are gone, whether it be one day, or one month, we all find comfort in our homes.

So, we bring you challenge 2o from Amy:

What in your home makes you happy? What do you look at and think really makes your home yours. Create a LO about these thing(s).

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Our wonderful guest designer AND our generous sponsor this week is the beautiful and talented Wendy Rago from Bad Girl Kits!

A bit about Wendy:

My love of art began as a small child. Instead of playing with dolls, my choice was weaving potholders, painting by numbers, and cutting up paper. I always knew I would be an artist, and of course I followed that dream, and became an Interior Designer. Here we are years later, and I followed another dream…I now own BAD GIRLS KITS. I wanted to create an artistically nurturing place where all artists would not only be welcome, but where you would not be allowed to stay stagnant…you are constantly pushed out of your comfort zone, with kits that are not just inspiring, but constantly different. It is a constant inspiration to watch so many artists grow.&n bsp; It is my belief to become the best artist you possibly can, you must be constantly challenged, and this is what we hope to accomplish. I hope you will come and visit soon!

When I am not diving into some medium of art, you are more than likely to find me haunting antique stores, shopping at the JUICY boutique, curled up with a good book, or out taking a drive somewhere in Southern California where I live with my husband Peter and my 2 children.

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"Details"
By Wendy Rago

Journaling:

In my home it is the tiny details that make me feel happy. The feel of all these things when combined really make my home feel cozy. From bows on the silk draperies to the cute little colorful rooster in the kitchen….they just speak to me and say….your home.

Thank you Wendy for your beautifully detailed layout and your continued support of us at The DesignX!

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Home
By Amy

Journaling:

If I had to pick one 'thing' in my house that makes me happy, it would have to be this wall of pictures. It's in my family room and I look at it everytime I walk in . It reminds me how wonderful my life is and how blessed I really am. These pictures make my house a home.

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Gates + Sidewalks = <3

By Emily

Journaling:

As silly as it sounds, my favorite thing about our new house is the neighborhood we live in. Being in a gated community makes me feel secure. It make me feel like my kids are safe, makes me feel like I am in the middle of Pleasantville. And equally as exciting to me are the sidewalks. I know it's weird, but living in an area with no sidewalks for 5 years has been hard. Now I am free to take the kids for a walk around the block without the fear of cars whizzing by, or strollers being stuck in gravel (something I have experienced many times!) I finally feel like we are HOME. I finally feel like we are where we are meant to be.

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Mine (All) Mine

By Leslie

Journaling:

My fave place in my house has to be my cross wall in our entry. Something about walking through the front door & seeing this gives me the greatest peace. Collected from all over, my crosses are my whole heart. My peace. Mine :)

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Our Home Is Comfort

By Sasha

Sasha Says:

This is a mini in progress to add to, it describes all the comforts of my home.

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A big HUGE thanks to Wendy from Bad Girls Kits for sponsoring us this week!

We are sooooo excited to be giving away their AUGUST monthly kit!

Once you have completed your layout, please leave us a comment in this post with a link to your layout by 7pm PST on Sunday to be eligible to win the prize. We can't wait to see YOUR takes on the challenge! We hope that if you've never joined us for a challenge here at The Design Experiment, that you are inspired to do so today!

Is:

Glenda T!

Wow Glenda! This is just stunning! We loved your color combo and the floral detail! Way to rock this challenge! Great job!

Be sure to email us at thedesignx@gmail.com with your address so we can send you your fabulous RAK from Studio Calico!!

Thank you again to everyone who played along! You continue to wow us every week!

Hi Experimenters! We hope you all had a great weekend. We hope you'll be able to join us again for this week's challenge. Again, both paper and digital entries are accepted. So, now onto this week's challenge which is brought to you by Kimmi.

What comforts you? What are the things that you go to for comfort you when in need?

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Our guest designer this week is the fabulous Suzy Plantamura.

A little bit about Suzy:
Suzy Plantamura has been creating scrapbooks of one sort or another since she was in grade school. She has always loved creating art and collecting photos and memorabilia, so when she became a stay at home mom eight years ago, scrapbooking became her passion. Suzy designs projects and pages for Maya Road, KI Love, Elsie and MAMBI. She was named a Memory Makers Master in 2006 and a CK Hall of Famer in 2008. She is often published in industry magazines and books and teaches classes at Scrapbook Oasis. She lives in Southern California with her three children and husband and loves to spend time at the beach.

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I Am In Love With Candy
By: Suzy Plantamura

Journaling: I am head over heels in love with candy. Just the thought of it makes my mouth water. It is always there for me, offering me comfort, filling me up with it's sweetness. It makes me happy. I am so attracted to it. Candy is my soul mate. I am so glad we have found each other. This is MY taste of true love.

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Tight, Tight Hugs
By: Kimmi

Journaling: From you is all I ever need to make it all better.

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Family
By: Sasha

Journaling: When I am stressed out and need a hug or just a smile I look toward my family for that, my immediate family. When I feel like I can't go anymore I just look at my kids faces and realize that I can press on just a little more, my husband is the softness that soothes my comfort, now don't get me wrong I would love to mention food but for a girl that is still struggling with her weight I will just keep it calorie free for a minute ... but wait ... I can get full off of my family anytime of the day ... and that to me is comfort.

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My Comfort
By: Mia

Journaling: Ten things that bring me comfort when I need to be comforted. 07-08

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Comfort is..

By Leslie

Journaling:  a good pair of sneakers.  This is my true comfort.  My new polka dot Chuck's.  CUTE, comfy, ME!!  I {heart} true comfort! I LOVE the feeling of comfort. :)
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This week's prize is sponsored by Studio Calico. We are so happy to be able to give away the July Paris add-on:

It's your turn Experimenters!! Once you have completed your layout, please leave us a comment in this post with a link to your layout by 7pm PST on Sunday to be eligible to win the prize. We can't wait to see YOUR takes on the challenge! We hope that if you've never joined us for a challenge here at The Design Experiment, that you are inspired to do so today!

is Heather!!!


We loved the colors against the black background and the journaling.

Please email us your address at thedesignx@gmail.com so we can get your RAK off to you!

The X Team

Hi Experimenters! Happy Monday and we hope you all are having a fabulous start to your week. We hope you'll be able to join us again for this week's challenge. Again we take both paper and digital entries. So, now onto this week's challenge which is brought to you by Emily.

What do you remember about your Senior Year in High School? Did you have a lot of friends? Were you popular, unpopular? If the people you went to High School with saw you now, what do you think they would say?

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Our guest designer this week is the amazing Debee Campos.

A little bit about Debbee:
Hi! My name is Debee Campos. I LOVE art. I especially love messy art. And am so happy to be guest designing with you girls. I am a Fashionista at Scrap in Style TV. One thing that challenged me was the journaling. My goodness, I really had a tough start. Writing my thoughts has always been tough for me, especially about senior year in high school. But then I searched deep down inside to my Sassy Sashaness and found my voice. So here it is, all crazy and jumbled. Pretty much my random thoughts about school and pressure with a splash of art. Thanks girls for your vision and directing me to speak my thoughts down on paper. I cannot wait to see everyone's take on this prompt! :)

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Find Your Voice
By: Debee Campos

Journaling:

fortunately high school is not forever...

there's always a prom queen

beauty contests

the rules of high school

put downs

revenge in high school

i so wished to graduate early

silent and curious yet never enough to get too close and get burned

why do people still act like their in high school???!

bad year book photos :)

let go of bad teachers and hold onto tomorrow

never the prom queen and never kept score of popularity

stupid high school

be real. I am what I am still 11 years later

find your voice

Some days I have bad days. Sometimes there are bad days. move on. I get caught up in my own insecurity and I wish I could take a class to really believe the girl inside is beautiful just the way she is. Stand up and fight to accept that life is so not about being popular and fake. stand up don't wish you were someone else. One of them. You get an A in class but it really doesn't mean a thing?! Stand up!

Never believe the bad things you hear about other people.na na na. Some people make up their minds to be so cruel and mean...jerks. They make up their mind to not be your friend. You, nerd. Them, all stars. We have more in common than not la la la. Sorry that it got this way...so hard to explain what people are thinking.

That guy liked me and he threw spit balls at me. um. That was so kinder dude. And NO! I will NOT NOT NOT go to prom with you! Grow up! Sheesh.

There is not perfect guy. Especially in high school. well at least at MY high school. too many fighting dorks. Willing to hurt someone for a gang. No crushes. No prince...just a bunch of frogs. ugly. ugly. Inside and out ones...saved my heart and kept it away from them. Cute or not. Pretty or not. Waiting or not. Silly or not. It was the right choice. No broken heart to have to mend. Just assure me that he'll come. And love me for me. Caring and tender hearted. Full of passion and real love for me, I belong to you.

Happy. 97* full of hope. Thankful. Aspiring daily to live a life of love with grace.

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Who Knew?
By: Emily

Journaling: Looking at this picture, now that six years have passed, I can’t help but be amazed. Here I was just newly eighteen years old. I had no idea what my future would be, no idea what would lay ahead. I had so many dreams and aspirations, goals I had set for myself. I had no clue that this very night I would turn down my first marriage proposal, only to accept another one less than three months later. I had no clue that almost one year to the day from this picture, I would be bringing a life into this world. The girl people saw on this day six years ago was a funny, happy, yet undecided young woman. Just six short years later, I am a mother to three, a partner of six years, and a woman with a destiny, and a purpose. This night was not just Prom Night for me, this was the beginning of life. The beginning of forever.

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High School Days
By: Sasha

Journaling: Contrary to what one might think ... I was not the popular one in high school by engaging ... I was actually quite shy and reserve. I have lots of friends only because I ran track and was on the varsity team. Outside of track and field I did not have many friends because of who my parents were and many people thought I was stuck up, I was one of those kids that were judged based off of that ... but that was normal. If only they could see me now ... they would say ... wow, I can't believe you are the same girl in High School that barely said a word in class ... and now you just won't stop talking ... but I know I am doing a lot better than those I figured were going to be lawyers and doctors ... that's for sure an let it be known I am damn proud of that fact. But looking back on it all, I loved high school and all it had to offer, even if some people were bastards I guess I would not trade anything for the world, even that world.

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A Time To Remember
By: MiaJournaling: Senior year. All I can say is WOW! That sure was a fun year. It was the last year of carefree fun, after that I had to grow up, fast! I was never part of the popular group at school and by then I was ok with it. I had a close group of friends, most of whom I'm still close to today. I also had my softball buddies who I saw on Fridays. I finally made the varsity softball team too. So all was good even though I felt awkward and was more of a tomboy. But that was then, now things are different. I don't know what they would say now but heck, I don't care as I am me! Take it or leave it!

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It's your turn Experimenters!! Once you have completed your layout, please leave us a comment in this post with a link to your layout by 7pm PST on Sunday to be eligible to win the RAK.We can't wait to see YOUR takes on the challenge! We hope that if you've never joined us for a challenge here at The Design Experiment, that you are inspired to do so today!

is Renee Lamb!!!


We absolutely loved this layout and the heartfelt journaling you had.

Please email us your address at thedesignx@gmail.com so we can get your RAK off to you!

Thank you to everyone who played along in the challenge, we are so honored that you participated!

The X Team

Hey all!

Due to an assortment of personal issues, Challenge #18 will be posted on Monday, July 14th...Thank you for your patience and support!

The Design X Team

Hi Experimenters! Have a good 4th? We all sure did! Now that our extended weekend has come to an end, we hope you all can join in on this week's challenge. We also want to let all of you digital gals know that we are definitely open to digital layouts as well. So, with that being said, here is this week's challenge, brought to you by Mia.

We all have good and bad things about ourselves so I would love for you to scrap what you think is the good, the bad & the ugly of yourself. It can be anything from being a caring person to being addicted to Starbucks. Just get creative.

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Our guest designer this week is the fabulous Karla Dudley.

A little bio from Karla:

Hi everyone! I've been scrapping since late 2003 after picking up a scrapbook magazine at the craft store. Had no idea what it was all about but after looking at that...I never turned back:) Scrapbooking led to many other avenues. I started drawing again and even took on watercolor, wax and sewing. I love it! I'm just having a good time meeting new friends and sharing what we love to do most ^----^ I hope to one day write a hybrid book. My style is clean, geometric and imperfect at the same time :)

Sending you all lots of creative wishes...happy scrappin'

-Karla

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27/200

By: Karla Dudley

Journaling: I had always been fit. Since I was little I had been an all star cheerleader. Worked out hard multiple times a week. I was tone...I was in shape. I went to college and worked even more vigorously. I was in the best shape of my life. The I stopped. One day I was at practice and the next I quite never to do it again. I moved on to a different phase of my life. Family, being a stay at home mom...My body changed. I was no longer that athlete . The one in front of the dance. The one whom people couldn't wait to see take the stage. With my new happiness I found new sorrows. New emotions...new struggles and weight gain. I haven't weighed 200 pounds since my twins were born. I'm struggling with this everyday. I'm in a shadow and I'm grabbing for the light. I'm affraid to go back. Affraid to try and get back the "me" I once new & loved.

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Just Being {Me!}

By: Mia

Journaling behind photos:

The GOOD: I have a very big heart. I love to talk, I seriously won't stop. I'm a hopeless romantic. I love to dance. I love a good laugh.

The BAD: I often get too emotional. I sleep very late. I'm addicted to shoes. I can be way too critical. I more often than not make decisions with my heart, not my head.

The UGLY: I'm addicted to this thing called scrapbooking. I drink way too much Starbucks, like $140/month. I hate going to the gym. I fall in love way too easily. I love anything chocolate!

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Good Bad and Ugly. It's Just Me

By: Kinsey

Journaling: You never can tell with me...I am honest to a fault...I am sooo quirky...I am the WORST at putting dirty dishes in the sink...I sing loud and not so good...I am stubborn...I know what I want and I fight for it...I am a listmaker who never uses her millions of lists...I laugh really loud when I shouldn't...I joke a lot to avoid bad or uncomfortable situations...I have a hard time saying 'no'...

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The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

By: Amy

Journaling: The one quality that I am really proud of is that I am very dedicated. I am dedicated to my family, my friends, my job, and even to scrapbooking. If I had to pick just one bad quality, because there are a few to choose from, I'd have to say I am a glass half empty type of gal. No matter how hard I try, I just can't help but see all the negative instead of the positive. This is something I am definitely not proud of. The one quality I believe is the ugliest of all--that I deal with each and every day would be anxiety. I have to work really hard to keep it in check. I am so glad that I am a work in progress--each day brings a new beginning.

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ME

B: Leslie

(layout to return soon)

Journaling: Well here you have it. The GOOD, the BAD & the UGLY.The qualities of lil' ol' me. Good being~I can make you laughin like 5 seconds. I {{heart}} to laugh. That is GOOD! I'm alsovery loving & trustworthy. Again...GOOD! Bad? Overly sensitive. Big time. That's ok - I can bounce back fast. (GOOD!) Another Bad? I can be a tad messy. Ok but WHO can't? UGLY? ----> Boy can I ever test the limits!I drive TOO fast. I overreact. I grind my teeth. I will not let you win. All uglies...BUT we all have good, bad & the uglies. It's us. It's me. This is me. I like me! Me is good. Ok badtoo. Oh and sometimes - ugly. ~July 5, 2008~

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Strong With Convictions

By: Kimberly

Journaling: I've been told this all my life...and have learned that it can be a good as well as not so good quality to have. I can put up a fight when I believe in something strongly...yet fighting isn't always the right response.

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Good, Bad, Ugly

By: Sasha

Journaling: I always try to say the in me outweighs everything that is not perfect about me. I love tovolunteer and donate to charities. I am always looking to help others and in the process make myself better. Then there is the side of meThat I try not to let loose on others but sometimesI cannot help myself and I tend to be a bee-otch.I can have the nastiest attitude and be just a crueland rude, everyday I am trying so hard to work on That. The beast in me is just that UGLYI curse worse than a sailor and I think it is okay. I think it is okay to hate others and not feel badabout hating them especially if I have been wrongedbut is that right nope … so I am still working on the bad and the ugly and I think my good outweighs it all.

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Laid Back

By: Kimmi

Journaling: Being laid back has many advantages and disadvantages for me. I try not to let the little things bother me, I try not to get stressed and not let things other people say to me, get to me. I try to be as laid back as possible. I like to relax and I am definitely a home body. At times, I find that I can be too laid back. I sometimes let others take advantage of me. I have a tendency of letting my laid back-ness get in the way, when I should definitely not be as lenient in some situations. So, you can say that being laid back is both the good and the bad in me.

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My Vices

By: Emily

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It's your turn Experimenters!! Once you have completed your layout, please leave us a comment in this post with a link to your layout by 7pm PST on Sunday to be eligible to win the RAK.We can't wait to see YOUR takes on the challenge! We hope that if you've never joined us for a challenge here at The Design Experiment, that you are inspired to do so today!

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We also want to wish both Kinsey and Wendy VERY VERY Happy Birthdays!!! We love you girls!! Hope you both have a great day!