Glitter Girl's most recent episode included a 12x12 scrapbook page using 4 6x6 patterned papers and this is a page that is so easy to make and so versatile and satisfying in that you can use up so many of those 6x6 papers you've been collecting - I'm assuming you are collecting them like I am.
The challenge was to "Work Your Weakness" as in use the scrapbooking supply you seem to buy the most. And while I have been hoarding Thickers recently, I've also been addicted to 6x6 paper pads for the past year or two.
I got creative with this layout and tilted it in my "Heads in the Clouds" layout.
So that was a lot of fun - I got so much scrapbooking done in such a short time!
One of my favorite things to do around the Craft and Hobby Association Trade Shows (otherwise known as CHA) is to scraplift the CHA layouts to see how I can accomplish the trendy new looks with my old scrapbooking supplies. It is a fun creative exercise, I encourage you to give it a try - not because you're never going to get the new items - but because I get all the excitement of the new stuff combined with using what I already have - I love feeling frugal - even if the amount of scrapbooking supplies I have would clearly state that my habit - um I mean hobby - is nothing but frugal!
My Page: Gamer / The Story: My son would play video games 24/7 if we let him and he got the WiiU for Christmas - so it was a bit hard to get his attention after he opened that present.
1. 3 columns of trendy stamped background on white cardstock.
2. A hodge podge of random embellishments.
3. Placement of photo and title and journaling.
What I changed?
1. I think hers was a one photo layout on a 12x12 page (probably to show off the products); I made an 8.5 x 11 page with two photos.
2. She had lots of different types of embellishments from papers and staples and brad and buttons - lots of dimentional items which look great; but I used just the patterned papers for a flatter scrapbook page (more for the way it will fit in an album than for visual interest).
3. Photography: Her layout looks like a professional photographer (which I think she is) took the photo while mine is a self shot with the point and shoot and a blurry detail shot. Sure, her layout is much more visually stunning, but my layout tells my real life story with a few shots that I took during Christmas Morning - not at all posed, just an "oh I should capture this" moment.
This month we "lifted" the Gossamer Blue Kit Club!
The kit was seriously easy to make with my scrapbook stash, I just pulled up their kit image on my computer and started assembeling it. If you haven't actually tried this, give yourself 30 minutes and go for it! It is a lot of fun and you will have a pack of instant inspiration. Plus you'll feel good about using those scrapbooking supplies you already own. If you do make a kit, there is a link list over at the Counterfeit Kit Challenge blog.
That's Right! I made 8 Scrapbook Layouts last night! I know there may be no award for that, but I'm always very happy and proud when I made a whole bunch of layouts in a short amount of time. Whoo Hoo!
{P.S. Yes I did use lots from my Counterfeit Kit Challenge August Kit - but this time I didn't limit myself to it - I went looking for other stuff when I wanted to - I think I've found my sweet spot!}
The Story of This Page: "We climbed the huge mountain to the together slide about 20 times - can you say Stair Stepper! We, Of Course, got the bucket of Ice Cream (as a reward). " "Summer 2012: Oh Give us a cloudy day and Allison and I will have a completely awesome day at the Disney Water Parks. No lines at the Zip Line! Awesome! Love :) Mommy. (I've got) SUNSHINE on a cloudy day with my girl - my girl Allison at 8."
And Yes! That is an October Afternoon Journaling Card right in the middle of the page!
So cute right?
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Get It Scrapped has a post up about Composing the 3 Photo Scrapbook Page. I think lining up 3 photos horizontally or vertically on the page is one of the easiest ways to create a page with 3 photos. Here I used 3 photos of my daughter from different times in her life, I chose photos that showed off her beautiful blue eyes.
The first photo in this series was taken when Allison was just shy of 6 month (I make big babies). I have brown/green eyes but always wanted blue eyes so when my daughter was born with blue eyes like my husband's I was so thrilled and hoped that they'd stick (because there's something about babies eyes changing initially right?) and they did. Allison isn't always cooperative in the picture taking department, so when she does allow me to take a close up of her eyes, I always take a picture or two.
Journaling: "If your baby had blue eyes like these, you'd take a million pictures too."
Supplies: DCWV "The Snapshot Stack"; Copic Marker; American Crafts cardstock, machine stitching,
P.S. My mother's 3rd husband worked at Polaroid in Massachusetts for his whole career so its kind of fun that Polaroids are back and so trendy now.
If you'd like to get yourself a DCWV stack and challenge yourself to make 24 layouts AND support this blog at the same time (how exciting right?), please click through to one of the following affiliate links! Thanks!
Hey Scrapbookers: The Hunger Games is coming out on video! If you missed the movie at theaters or if you missed The Hunger Games Scrapbooking Challenge Series, here are a few links to get you up to speed. May the Odds Be Ever In Your Favor!
I used brighter colors than the original two pages; but the basic set up is the same. I used the supplies from my August Counterfeit Kit Club tote - I love being able to pull this out and commit to using it. It makes the scrapbooking process go so much faster because much of the time choosing stuff is taken out of the equation so the page goes together very quickly.
Journaling: "I showed Allson how to braid only once and she got it instantly. She put together this multi-braid look and outfit all by herself (of course) and she was styling on our family date. Go Allison Go! Summer 2012."
Hey - did you hear? Jillibean Soup has a Design Team Call up on their blog. I don't normally apply for design teams for manufacturers, but Jillibean Soup is one of my favorites because the colors are so bright and happy, mixed with neutrals, and because they make awesome and affordable embellishments - like the sticker sheets for one dollar!
So I'm thinking I'm going to send in something for the design team call - the deadline to submit an application is September 15, 2012 if you were thinking about it.
I made the banner from the cover of the 6x6 paper pad and stitched it to the page, I also stiched some lines in the lower right corner for my journaling. One of the stickers says "Memories are Stitched with Love" so I kind of had to use some stitching - plus my daugther loves to sew in addition to drawing and making all sorts of creations.
P.S. here are a few more Jillibean Soup projects I've made:
1. 1974
This is Jillibean Soup mixed with Basic Grey's Gypsy line (the colors were very similar) using a square punch to make a quilt like pattern.
2. This next one is inspired by the new Jillibean Soup Lima Bean Soup Line which was released at Summer CHA 2012; I copied the paper with the circles, I can't wait to get some actual Lima Bean Soup papers - seriously love that line.
I think I did this page for a Get It Scrapped post which is not out yet, so I'll just show the peek there and save the whole page for when the post is up.
How about you - do you apply for design or creative teams? Why or why not? Please leave a comment, I'd love to hear from you :)
I have lots of Polaroid pictures from the 70s and 80s but rarely use them in scrapbooking. First I scanned the Polaroid just in case and then I used the actual photo on my page as done by Glitter Girl (click here for the Glitter Girl Video).
I don't know exactly when or where this photo was taken but I can tell it is my sister and I and I love that "draw a self portrait" prompt at the top of that board; we LOVED art.
I used my Counterfeit Kit Challenge August Kit for this page - I was again tempted to go into my scrapbook stash and grab colors that were similar to those used by Shimelle in the Glitter Girl video, but I stuck to my kit - I'm keeping it in a scrapbook carrier tote so I just pull out the kit tote when I'm ready to make a page - and then I force myself to stick to it! It is indeed challenging but a fun creative exercise.
I'm not sure if Ashley Horton's CKC July Sketch It Challenge is still "live" or not, but I loved this sketch and it was easy to execute with my newly home-made Counterfeit Kit Club for August; here's a link to another CKC forum with lots of scrapbooking challenges.
Ashley suggested misting, but I opted for stamping through a crafter's workshop template.
It was tempting to go back into my regular supplies for the embellishments, but I made a small box of embellishments last night and stuck with them for this layout - even the completely bright yellow - which I was hesitant to use but in retrospect it worked well with my son's bright yellow kayak, so the kit totally worked.
I bought this display stand at the craft store recently and I've been putting my recently made layouts in it and it is fun to see the layouts on display and it is easy to use.
I couldn't find the exact stand on Amazon but here are a few similar items:
As a way to recharge my creativity, I enjoy playing along with the Counterfeit Kit Club Blog. This month's colors are red, navy, yellow, craft, olive green, light blue and brown and a touch of pink. The patterns are gingham, stripes and lines, polka dots and flowers. The embellishments include flowers, pinwheels, banners, ribbons and twine, summer things, tickets, and lots of color with white embellishments.
I'm thinking I'll try to make 12 layouts with this kit and maybe finish off a mini book about summer.
I plan to use my die cutters to make lots of the embellishments and letters and such; I might even break out my stamps and inks. We'll see.
Remember last Sunday I mused about starting a weekly Sunday sketch challenge?Sunday Sketch Challenge #1 Well? Here's week #2.
Scrapbook Confession #2: I start blog series and then never finish them {click here for the DCWV 24 Layouts from One Stack Challenge} {click here for scrapbook confession #1} One of my known self-admitted scrapbooking (and life) weaknesses is that I love to start things, but get less excited about maintaining or finishing things (like mini books for example). I think this Sunday Series is do-able for me to continue since I won't be creating the sketch, I'll be linking up to another challenge or inpsiration site. Please play along and post a comment with a link to your layout!
This week is more a concept than a sketch but the sketch is roughly this:
Fancy graphic right? And yes that is blue ink on my thumb nail - which is probably reason #3 why I don't stamp more often (see below for reasons #1 and #2). The basic concept for this page is to take a stamp and stamp it horizontally across a white sheet of cardstock and create several rows of it. Then add your photo or photos on top of the horizontal band and add a title and some embellishments (if you want - I didn't) and call it done.
If you need more of a challenge then create the basic page using the fancy sketch above and also make the page monochromatic and have the subject matter be "something awesome you take for granted".
My page is about our backyard pool and how lucky they are to have it and how they'll probably never get that since they grew up with it. Here's my journaling: "When I was a kid, we'd sometimes get a small plastic pool but most of my swim time was in friends' pools or in lakes or the very cold Atlantic Ocean. I'm not sure my kids can even begin to understand how lucky they really are. So seriously lucky to have a backyard pool."
I have lots and lots and lots of stamps and ink pads and they rarely get used. One reason is that I don't think I'm very good technically at stamping and another reason is that when I get that sort of thing out, if the kids see me do it, they want to get involved and it instantly becomes super messy and I go from scrapbooker to scrapbook caddy for the kids and number one clean upper. I should probably just get over the #2 reason and embrace the mess, and sometimes I do, but most times, it just seems like one more mess to clean up - and scrapbooking is my happy fun time when I try to escape from the dishes, laundry and vacuuming - which I need to get to as soon as this post is done - oh hurrah.
***
The Scrapbook Improv Thought of the Day / or maybe lets call this the Scrapbook Yoga Tip of the Day: The point of scrapbooking for me isn't so much the finished page as it is the mental play time I get from creating the page. I even find it gratifying when I push myself to make a page or use a technique (like stamping) on a page when I am not inspired to do so; I think that pushing through the initial hesitation that sometimes comes with creativity gets you to the place where you are having fun and forget time in the creative process. FORGETTING TIME is the goal for me. I want to get to a place where I'm so into what I'm doing that I can turn my brain off to all the other stuff that is usually on my brain. Scrapbooking can be a meditiation. It can also be a place where, if you let it, your subconcious can bring things to your attention - almost like dreaming. But to get there, you have to be open to listening and to letting go of knowing the end when you start, you have to start with an improv kind of mind - and just respond to what is in front of you - or in front of your brain and go with it. To get there, you can't be too concerned with whether your page is going to look completely awesome, if it does great, if it doesn't that is ok too - especially if you got your process and your brain get completely immersed in the process.
(P.S. The subconscious notion that this page brought to my attention is the the whole parenting thing of trying to make up for the stuff you felt like you didn't have in childhood; so you end up sort of spoiling your kids or giving them too much. I sometimes I think (I know) I go overboard with trying to make things awesome for my kids. I don't think I'm alone in this - I think lots of people from my generation do this - and I think we also know its probably not the best thing to do. Its just that trying to find the right balance of making things fun and awesome but also instilling the work ethic and value of a dollar thing that I got from not being given so much as a kid. I guess its one of those ever ongoing things - trying to get things right - knowing that you can't possibly ever be the perfect parent no matter how hard you try. There's a commercial on tv right now that says something like Mrs. So-and-So would do everything for her kids if she could.... I'm kind of like that - but I also know that's not what they want or need. We had an issue with my son yesterday, a sort of total meltdown, and it was hard but we recovered and had a great day, but I don't think it is fully resolved. So that's been on my mind and it is probably the undercurrent of this pool page. Isn't that punny? Undercurrent / pool? I know, not super funny - but sometimes when things are hard, it is good to add a little bit of silly in to keep things lighter.)
My page included misting, stencils and puff paint!
The Studio Challenges post includes scrapbook pages from Amanda Jones, Anna White-Sharman, Christina Collins, Daphne Wuenn-Rihm, Ellie Augustin, Emi Parczewska, Jan Tatomir, Julie Dix, Kat Benjamin, Katherine Sutton, Petra Offrell, and Valerine Mangan. Go check out all of the "new technique" goodness and try a scrapbook technique you haven't tried yet - it is fun!
***
What We've Been Up To & Major Tangent Alert about Tom Cruise:
Ok I'm off to do some actual archery, swimming, and kayaking with a group of energetic 7-10 year olds.
Yesterday we all went to Blizzard Beach - and when we got back Charlie said that Tom Cruise and Suri were at Blizzard Beach too! I guess we must have totally missed them, but I couldn't help to imagine some of the one liners I'd say to Tom Cruise if I were to be standing in a water park slide line with him, here are a few:
1. "Seriously, you were married to Nicole Kidman and you messed that up? Did you see that singing and dancing movie with Ewan McGregor?" Seriously, wow they are light years hotter than you. (I probably would NOT have actually said that out loud - but seriously - Nicole Kidman is a goddess).
2. "My lawyer says hi." (Our personal lawyer -even though we are ourselves lawyers - is the same lawyer that battles the church that Tom is hooked up with, so I'm guessing Tom would not be a fan of that comment either and again, I probably wouldn't actually say it out loud).
4. "You had me at Risky Business and Jerry McGuire, but lost me on the Today Show and Oprah's couch."
5. "Yes, sure, you can borrow our sunscreen. You don't want to return that kid with a sunburn."
***
Ok that seems too snarky right? Thing is, I used to have a major crush on Tom Cruise back in the 1980s when he was in Risky Business etc. But he's gone down this intense weird road since then and I just totally lost all attraction for him. I know I'm just some random fan, but I don't get crushes on movies stars that often, so when they fall it is disappointing. My current movie star crush has been Andy Samberg for a good 8 years now - I know, super different than Tom Cruise. I have eclectic tastes. But bottom line? Funny is way more important than conventionally cute.
Last night I spent two hours organizing the layouts I've made this year into my scrapbook ablums which I store Library of Memories style. I had lots of layouts about my kids for the "All About Us" and about "Places We Love" and "Things We Do" especially under the celebrations category; not so many about "People we Love" although I did have lots of recent pages for a new album I'm calling "Ancestry".
I also had lots of layouts for what I'm calling "Project Lifetime" - which I think I heard about somewhere in the online scrapbooking world, but it is the concept of making a page or two per year or a page per season or month. I'm not keeping to any specific time period rules, but I am storing these pages in chronological order. So one page might be Feburary 2008 and the next would be Summer of 2008 and then maybe one page from the Christmas Season 2008. So today's layout is all about Spring 2012 and its going in the "Project Lifetime" ablum.
The random stuff on this layout was inspired by a CHA Summer challenge over at Two Peas in a Bucket.
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