Kiss and Tell Scrapbooking

Winter CHA 2012 Scraplifting Series Wrap Up Slide Show

Scraplifting the Winter CHA 2012 Layouts helped me make a bunch of layouts over the past couple weeks:

I've been scraplifting the Winter CHA 2012 layouts for the past couple of weeks and I think I'm done now, here's a slide show of some of those layouts:

 

P.S. Its flash from Flickr, so if you need the link:  FLICKR CHA WINTER 2012 GROUP "THE KNOCK-OFFS".  If you are a scrapbooker going through a creative rut and want to do some scraplifting to recharge your creativity batteries: scraplift some of the CHA layouts and then go join the Flickr group and add your layouts - I'd love to see them.

Cheers.

CHA WINTER 2012: The Knock-Offs - #7 of the Bella Blvd. Scraplifts & Thoughts on the Creative Process & Middle Aged Mommy Sappiness & Scrapbooking as Therapy

Bella Blvd. Layout by Janna Wilson from Pinterest & The Scraplift:

 

Thoughts on the CREATIVE PROCESS:  Sometimes I like to switch up my creative process by using scraplifting, it provides boundaries and gives me a place to go so I can get layouts accomplished quickly and it provides a means of getting a little something done everyday.  Without this technique, I think that when I'm going through a creativity rut, I'd just stop scrapbooking, and the creativity muscle is like any other - it needs daily exercise.  So scraplifting gives me a way to "call it in" while I'm experiencing a creative low.  Sometimes, however, I do take a total break from scrapbooking when I'm feeling uninspired; but the scraplifting method seems more productive and gives me something to do and think about in the meantime.  My Grandfather was a painter and he'd so his own original art, but sometimes he'd copy the masters just to switch it up.  Scraplifting gives me that same sort of creative stretching.  Seeing all the new products and layouts from CHA 2012 provided some really great eye candy for this purpose.  I've been taking inspiration from CHA 2012 - specifically 7 Gypsies, Dear Lizzy and this week Bella Blvd.  I think I'm about done with my scraplifting series.  I'm ready to start fresh on something else, I'm not sure what yet, but I'll start something new starting tomorrow. 

In the meantime, here is #7 and the final layout in the "Scraplifting Bella Blvd." series:

The Scraplift:  I made the base part of the page a week or so ago and did the photos, embellishments and journaling this morning.  The original layout caught my eye since the girl in the photo looks like one of my best friends from elementary school (Katie Yerrid) and I liked the colors and it looked easy enough to scraplift.  This is a nice layout for highlighting one photo and having some creative time with your patterned papers.

The Story: It is Saturday Morning and I'm feeling a bit lonely.  My son is playing wii and wanting to go to Toys R Us (I so don't want to go there).  My husband is engrossed in the paper and HGTV.  And my daughter is off with her BFF.  I have the urge to go downtown to the Saturday Morning Market but no one wants to come.  I don't really want to go alone today.  So I find myself in my scrapbook room trying to occupy myself, knowing I could be working out or cleaning out closets or doing something more productive, but I think my daily creative time is important.  So I started out not feeling very creative but I took the base page and started anyway.  I came across this three year old photo of my daughter which was taken on a Saturday Morning on our way to to a craft fair on Corey Avenue, St. Pete Beach; back then she was only too happy to come hang out with me; now she's got her own plans many Saturday Mornings.  I know that's the natural process of things.  But still, I wish my kids thought I was more fun to hang out with - now they've always got their own ideas about what they want to do.  Gone are the days when I could just say "get in the car - lets go on wild adventure" and leave the house without a plan but end up having a day full of fun with my kids at the park or craft fair or beach or whereever.  So I'm feeling a bit middle aged - like my kids are half way through and I miss their little selves  and  all the snuggling that used to be part of my daily routine, now I have to practically beg them for a hug and never mind on the kisses, so not happening.  I guess all mothers go through this sort of feeling at one time or another but I'm feeling particularly sappy today, I'm going to indulge this feeling a bit but just for a day, tomorrow I WILL embrace a more hopeful, forward moving, productive attitude, but today, I'll lament the fact that my kids are growing up and needing me less and that I'm getting older.

SAPPINESS:  One summer while I was in college, I took summer classes at Eckerd and my roommate that summer was Yoko Yokohama, she was from Japan; Eckerd prides itself on being a very small liberal arts school and having students from all 50 states and many countries so the student body was very diverse which was really cool since there were only about 1500 students there when I was there (its my 20th year reunion coming up this spring - ahhh just one more reason to feel really like I'm getting older and time is passing more quickly than I'd like).  Anyway, Yoko was the most delightful person, she was like a puppy - all playful and fun and full of energy one minute and sleeping like a baby the next.  She was always so happy to see me (and anyone else) and she was sweet and nice and welcoming and had a excitement that was contagious.  I could really use a visit from Yoko today, I'm sure she's get me out of think funk I'm in today.  Whereever you are now Yoko, I miss you.  Ok, back to my original point.  One day, Yoko was in a funk, which was very unusual for her, and the conversation went like this:

"Ohhhh, Katie,  I'm so SAPPY today."  Yoko declared letting out a long sigh.

"Sappy?"  I asked, thinking maybe she needed to look up that word again for the correct usage, I'd never heard anyone describing themselves as feeling sappy before. 

"Yes, SAPPY.  You know, I'm feeling sad and happy all at the same time."  She answered.  

That made perfect sense, I thought.  I remember thinking that I was pretty sure that wasn't the dictionary definition of that word, but that was the best definition of it that I had ever heard.  That moment somehow burned itself into my brain and I can remember it quite perfectly, where she was sitting, our dorm room, the entire place in time, even though I have no photos of that summer or of Yoko or our rooom, I remember the whole thing perfectly.  Some moments are like that, twenty years later, that seemingly regular moment is still burned into my brain and it is a conversation I go back to when I'm feeling SAPPY, and the memory of Yoko and how happy she made me feel and how profound her words were to me that day, often times the memory helps to get me feeling more on the happy than the sad side of things.  Thank you Yoko, you definately left a forever imprint on me.

P.S. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defintion of SAPPINESS is 1. the state of being full of or smelling of sap, 2. the quality or state of being sappy: foolishness.  I like that foolish word because of Steve Jobs's speech, so I'm cool with being a bit sappy from time to time - and my Dad used to tap our maple trees for sap and used to make maple syrup and sugar candy, so I'm pretty sure we were in the state of sappiness back then; plus I miss him and all of his sappiness.

Journaling: Main journaling block:  "Saturday Morning.  2009 /2012.  These photos are from when you used to happily agree to going to the art fair with me.  Fast forward 3 years and you've got play dates with your BFF.  Missing you today.  Love Mommy."   Side tab: "Can we rewind a little?"

Supplies: Patterened Paper from American Crafts and DCWV; Fiskars Border Punch; K&Company Tag (at top and side) and other random bits of ribbon, buttons and brads.

 

Blogging:  The act of making this page helped me work out the feelings that I was feeling this morning, but the page doesn't really tell the whole story does it?  Thats ok, sometimes my feelings come out better in blog form.  When that happens and I really tell the story better in the blog entry than on the page, I just print out my blog entry and either slip it into a 8x11 page proector opposite the 12x12 layout in my 3 ringed album; or I just slip it in behind the layout; either way - the whole story is there for anyone who is interested (or not) in the future.  And I feel like I've gotten then feelings out and can clear my emotional slate and move forward.  Scrapbooking as self therapy is a good thing because it feels like play and because the process gets recorded so that when I look back at the page I can remember the process and when I write down the process on the blog and print it out, then maybe sometime in the future, it will help my daughter or hers when she's going through a SAPPY time.  Or maybe it will help a blog reader who's going through the same type of thing.  Any which way, it makes me feel better.  And I do.  Ahhh.  Maybe I'll go to that Saturday Morning Market thing on my own and enjoy a Gyro and being amongst people on this fine day.

Want to read more on the creative process?  Check out these books:

 

P.S. Thinking I'll incorporate some of my One Little Word Class (Ali Edwards / Big Picture Classes) into my weekend and take a photo safari for my word "HOPE" and probably my last year's word "AWESOME" too - I could use a little more of both of those words in my head and heart today.

 

 

 

Bella Blvd. CHA Scraplifts: #4 of 7: All Day / All Night

 

I have been taking inspiration from the CHA releases, trends, colors, and design team layouts.  This week, I picked one scrapbooking manufacturer, Bella Blvd., and made the bases of the pages and each day I finish the layout with photos, embellishments and journaling.  Here is the Link to the Bella Blvd. Chevron Layout.

The Scraplift:  I mimiced the chevron pattern on the bottom of the original page by taking a striped patterened paper and cutting it - as you can see it is not perfect, but I'm ok with that.

The Story:  The kids and I just got back from another ski vacation and we spent almost every waking moment on the mountain, I am thrilled that the kids love skiing like I do.  (Now if I could just get my husband on board or on skis.)

Supplies:  KI Memories, Fiskars Border Punch, American Crafts Letter Stickers, Smash Sticker.

 

Winter 2012 CHA Bella Blvd. Scraplifts

Last week, I posted that I'd have my CHA Bella Blvd. inspired scrapbook knock-offs up on Sunday {here's a link to that blog post}; we got back from a ski vacation and I've been busy getting back to my daily routine and haven't had a chance to blog until now.  So here are three pages inspired by the Winter 2012 CHA layouts from Bella Blvd.:

1. Button Heart Layout. 

Scraplift: I have tons of buttons but don't often use them on my scrapbook layouts so it was fun to have a purpose for some of these mismatched buttons. 

The Story:  Since many of the CHA layouts have only one photo, I picked a photo that was very meaningful even though it is not a perfect photo; it is the first photo taken of our whole family - it was taken in the garage - actually here in my home office / scrapbooking room since we had a little crib set up in here- on the day we brought Allison home from the hospital.  Allison is now 8 years old and I didn't do a lot of scrapbooking when she was a baby since I was very busy, so its fun to take out these old photos and scrap them now.

Supplies: I used some DCWV baby themed patterened paper, random buttons fastened to the page with adhesive dots; the red polka dot paper is from Echo Park's basics pack, and the letters were from a dollar bin at Target - they didn't stick particularly well so I machine stitched them to the page.

2. Paper Strips and Buttons Layout.

Scraplift:  I loved the design of this page since it uses a big square of patterened paper and lots of patterened strips to give the page a solid base and the diagonal random buttons were a fun addition but don't feel too random, the design of this layouts allows for a lot of stuff on the page, but also allows for photos and jouranling space.

The Story:  "The school photo process - what a detail ordeal - not only did they get the orders wrong both times, but we had to do re-takes of both kids - but both kids were picture perfect cuties."  The back story is that Mac's hair was so long in the first photo that we got him a hair-cut and had a retake done and Allison's photo pose was weird so that while the photo was cute, the amount of space her head took up in the photo was so small you could barely see her face.  So both had to get re-takes and both times the processor got everything wrong about the  photo packages - and there were about a zillion photo package options, it was seriously confusing and even though the pictures were done in October, we still don't have Mac's package straightened out so that's still on my to do list!

Supplies:  KI Memories patterned paper and Bazzill cardstock, random buttons and epoxy stickers and brads, Sassafrass adhesive border stips. 

3. Horizontal Thirds Layout.

Scraplift:  The original page used a dark blue patterened paper base with a tight design, I didn't have something that worked exactly so I used two different Echo Park papers and stitched them together with the middle strip.

The Story:  "CHA 2009:  As a scrapbooker, it was a total delight to take an entire week off work and go get totall immersed in the world of my hobby and to learn about the industry and all the players.  So total interesting to get an upclose peek into this subculture that I spend so many hours in."  In the photo are Tina Cockburn (Simple Scrapbooks & Write.Click.Scrapbook.); me; Angie Lucas (Simple Scrapbooks & Ella Publishing); Diva Danielle (she had a podcast which I'm not sure is still around or not); Lain Ehmann (Simple Scrapbooks & Layout A Day); & Tami Morrison (Funnest Ever Scrapbooker from Simple Scrapbooks & teacher at Big Picture Classes).

Supplies:  Echo Park patterened paper, QuicKutz die cut letters, sharpie marker, and random other odds and ends.

That's all for now and now that I'm back to my regularly scheduled blog programming, I'll have the rest of the seven Bella Blvd. inspired scrapbook layouts up one per day for the rest of the week.

Plus I'll have my Project Life Album pages up soon and the travel scrapbook I made during our recent ski trip; and I'll be participating in Ali Edward's Day in the Life tomorrow - which also happens to be my son's 10th birthday - but I'm under strict order that we are not to celebrate (not sure what to do about that command). 

Cheers.

 

Scrapbookers: How Do Edit Your Layouts Before Uploading?

I recently took the Ella Publishing Boot Camp and a few of the exercises by Maggie Holmes were instruction in PhotoShop Elements 9.  I have owned this program for a long time but I have been afraid to use it, the video instuction in the Ella Boot Camp was very informative and made me comfortable with at least going in to the program to do some more editing on my own with some of my photographs. 

Tonight I made a layout based on a Sketchy Thursdays Sketch and then edited the photograph of it in PhotoShop Elements. 

 
So my questions for you, dear blog-reader:

1. Do you upload your layouts to the internet?

2. Do you scan or photograph your scrapbook layouts?

3. Do you edit the photos of your scrapbook layouts before uploading to them your blog or internet sharing site?

4. Can you give me some tips on making my layouts look better on my blog?

Thanks!

Katie Scott. 

Ella Boot Camp: Last Drill

 
This challenge was to use an ad as inspiration for a layout.  I don't think mine turned out nearly as clever as the BC ad, but I still like the overall effect. 

Ella Boot Camp: Custom Backgrounds {Stamping}

I'm a bit behind on the Ella Publishing Boot Camp because I came down with the flu this week, but I'm on the mend now and catching up on the challenges.  I made this layout by stamping the circles in the horizontal border strip in the bottom third - and then I punched patterned paper to fill in the circles. 

 
I don't often stamp on my pages so this was challenging for me even through it was very simple to accomplish.  Trying something new - or something you haven't done in a while - is a good thing.

 
The circles and the papers I used made me think of the seasons - and that there were more than four circles running all together made me think of the seasons in Florida and how my Floridian children don't really get the experience of the changing seasons like I did growing up in New England.

Journaling:  Growing up in New England, I felt very connected with the 4 seasons because it was always very obvious from the weather which season it was.  The quote by John Keats "The Human Seasons" which goes "Four seasons fill the measure of a year; there are four seasons in the mind of [humans]".  I do think the seasons mimic our lifespan and my kids are Floridians and all the seasons blend together.  I do my best to take them to other states to see and feel the seasons, but its hard to know withtout experience." 

I sort of ran out of space before I could write something better to end upon; but its ok, I'll maybe put this page near the beginning of a seasons scrapbook & then the rest of the layouts will finish this thought that even though they haven't gotten the seasons here in Florida, we have done many things to fill in this gap and the other layouts will exemplify that.

I also did a scraplift of Nichol Migouirk's boot camp layout:

 
I tried to do this with stamping - but the patterned papers I already had were close enough - somehow stamping always seems like too much effort for me when it is actually not all that time / effort intensive.  Do you stamp on your layouts? 

 

 

Birthday Card Boycotter & Using Some 10+ Year Old Patterned Paper & Astrological Sign Compatibility Between Gemini and Virgo

On birthdays, I'm not the best at buying cards - actually I think they are a giant waste of money - and I'm not a card maker either.  Chances are, however, if you are in my family and its your birthday - I'll make a scrapbook layout about you.  I won't give you the layout, mind you, but I will make it and think happy thoughts about you.  Maybe someday, I'll put these types of layouts in a digital photobook so that the people in my People We Love Albums will actually get to enjoy these layouts.

 
This aqua colored patterened paper with the cameras is one of the first pieces of scrapbooking patterened paper I ever bought probably in 1998 - but here it is looking hip and trendy (imho) - in this layout which is a scraplift inspired idea from This Layout from I Heart Penguins . 

Chances are, if its your birthday and you are in my family, I'll also make you a birthday border from odds and ends scrapbooking supplies:

 
Ok, so I'm off to a birthday party for a Virgo - we have a lot of Virgo's in our family (my sister, my mother, my cousin, my sister in law, just to name a few); so I've thought a lot about the commonalities of Virgos and my compatibility with them.  I think there is probably a little something to the astology thing - and tarot.com seems to have a general enough but also specific enough daily email horoscope that I've been getting for years and it is freakishly right on every day.  So here's what tarot.com says about Gemini's and Virgo's being friends:

"The two of you have keen intellects and enjoy discussing books, politics and current events. Your attitude toward these issues is a little more detached than your friend's, but that's only to be expected. Virgo takes everything to heart, which can be a source of strain in your friendship. Be very careful about making offhanded jokes to the Virgin, for your friend can take such remarks very personally. At times, your pal's anxiousness can get on your nerves, while your frivolity can drive Virgo to distraction. For the most part, though, you can enjoy a fulfilling friendship. Activities like hiking appeal to you both, since Virgo loves the outdoors and you like exploring. Alternately, you could both enjoy bird watching. Hands-on activities like pottery and knitting could also have tremendous appeal for you."

Hmmmm.   Here's what a few other sites say:

"A relationship between a Gemini and a Virgo is one that evolves over time. Both friends need to take an effort to understand and appreciate each other. Gemini could often have more than one opinion about everything. Vigo must accept this character of Gemini, and act accordingly. If they could understand each other well, Gemini and Virgo could have a long lasting friendship. Initially Gemini might find Virgo too serious and fussy. Both star signs need to be patient and wait for their friendship to blossom.  Gemini and Virgo have an entirely dissimilar outlook of everything. Gemini might find the bare, plain attitude of Virgo drab and monotonous, and Virgo might resent the vacillating and unrealistic nature of Gemini.  Gemini could introduce excitement and fun into the lives of Virgo.  The twins are quicker in reaching decisions than the virgin, but the virgin is more stable in its decisions.  Gemini do whatever suits their fancy for the moment, while Virgo work towards achieving set goals. Gemini must be careful not to be too aloof from Virgo, while Virgo must learn not to censure or rebuke Gemini too much. Gemini might dislike the fussy and exacting character of Virgo, and Virgo might find the fickle and changing nature of Gemini unappealing. Virgo usually concentrate on one thing at a time, while Gemini keep changing their attention to different things. Virgo should not deprive Gemini of their independence. They could always make use of the ideas and innovations of Gemini."

"Gemini is a jack-of-all-trades, a whiz-kid, a trickster and a messenger. Virgo is a technician, an efficiency expert, and a bargain seeker.  If you can give a Gemini good communication, social interchanges and a variety of life experience, then you have a better chance of getting their love and affection. If you can give a Virgo good health and the time to do things right you have a better chance of getting their love and affection. TIP: You will be happy when you determine exactly what you want together. Gemini is essentially articulate, versatile and adroit; Gemini likes variety. Gemini is an idea person. Virgo is essentially level- headed with something of a flair for statistics and analysis. Virgo is highly selective and prone to inquiries and examinations.  Gemini will find Virgo to be practical, methodical and in possession of natural money handling abilities. Gemini's mind naturally likes to go from subject to subject. Gemini has varied interests and like to keep up with what's going on in the world. Gemini can be the original "quick study" who grasps facts, concepts and ideas; but  Gemini can get bored easily and do not like things to drag along. Virgo can be cautious in matters of the heart. Virgo likes to do things for people and tends to be more of a giver than a taker. However, Virgo does need to be thanked. Virgo may feel like Gemini has not one, but at least two different personality sides. Gemini needs open lines of communication. The best friends for Gemini are the ones who appreciate Gemini's sense of humor."

Long Story Short?  I think that the relationship between Gemini's and Virgo's can be challenging because I feel like we are totally different beasts; but I've got a lot of these relationships in my life, so like understanding people with their Myers-Briggs personalities - I think its useful to know astrological signs too, even though I'm not sure I totally and completely believe the astrology bit, the common traits do seem to be right on; and September is a busy birthday month for me because of all of the Virgos in our family.

Sketchy Thursdays Challenge

I love the Sketchy Thursdays Challenge  {click here for the challenge} site - here's my version of this week's sketch - I made a card out of a 12x6 strip and so these are the front & back covers:

Inside I included more pictures of her and a little note about how fast she is growing & that I'll always love her & more butterflies, I almost put in the quote about little girls & butterflies but skipped it. 
 
I'm really digging these colors, my Pintrest boards {My Pintrest Boards}really show the colors I love:  aqua, coral, olive green, orange, red and white.  Mmmm.  Love these colors.  And that girl.

May 6 Scrapbook Inspiration {Noell Hyman's Flexible Train Template} : Hula Hoop

The Inspiration:  I was a member of Noell Hyman's Paperclipping / Scrapbooking Membership Community starting I think around this time last year and the membership lasted 6 months; I think I watched most of the videos but the "Flexible Train Template" is the one that stuck with me.  I continue to be an avid fan of the Paperclipping Roundtable and DigiShow and most likely I'll probably become a Paperclipping member again some time in the future, the videos are awesome and I can watch them on my iphone while I'm doing the stepper (haven't tried to use the iphone with the hula hoop - yet).   Here's the Link to Noell's Flexible Train Template Post.

 
The Process Behind the Page:  So last night I got back 300 photos from the photo developer and after I put them into my Stacy Julian Library of Memories Pioneer Storage Binder, flipping back through, it wasn't Easter or really cute photos of my daughter or pictures of my son in the park that called to me - it was the 6 photos of me - that I took with my Canon point & shoot's self timer - showing off my new Hula Hoop!   Noell Hyman's Flexible Train Template seemed like the perfect way to lay out these photos and having the template made it really easy to put this page together.  Then I could play with the flowers and Quic Kutz Nesting Circles - I even used my Quic Kutz Revolution! 

The Story:  Allison & I went to a festival in Gulfport about a month ago and I finally splurged and bought an adult / weighted hula hoop  - and I LOVE it!  I've been thinking about buying one for years and it always seemed too frivolous to pay $30-$50 for a hula hoop - but I'm thinking it was worth every penny.  I can exercise in a really fun way while I'm playing lifeguard - and I spend hours almost everyday by the pool with my kids from St. Patrick's Day until almost Thanksgiving every year - its  a lot of time!  So I love to find ways to make use of my life guarding time - and the hula hooping is perfect!

How Old Are You Again? Right now? {Scrapbook Layout Inspired by Noell Hymann's Number Layout on the Paperclipping Roundtable}

Since Mac turned 9 he's been saying that he's still 8 and that he's going to be 8 forever.  Maybe it was because being eight was great or maybe it was because we had a bit of a rough time on his ninth birthday.  Maybe he's just being silly. 

 
This page was inspired by Noell Hymann's page about number paper - click here for the link to her page. 

Supplies:  The Girls' Paperie; October Afternoon; DCWV; Me & My Big Ideas; & Scrap It In Seconds.

Two Peas In a Bucket + Counterfeit Kit Club Challenge + Paperclipping Roundtable + Lisa Dickinson = Third Bird Layout

On the fifth of April, I made a kit for the Counterfeit Kit Club Challenge "A Little Birdie Told Me" based on the Front Porch Kit Club and I wanted to play with my kit so I looked on the Two Peas in a Bucket Scrapbook Gallery for inspiration and found a layout titled Details that incorporated lots of different patterned papers - perfect for my itch to play with my kit.  I made this layout:

 
The story is all about how we've had three different birds try to become our pet 1. a potty talking parrot; 2. a grey cockatoo or some such exotic bird, and 3. the "Third Bird" a yellow little bird whom Allison named "Cutie Bird" over this past Spring Break. 

So today I was listening to the most recent Paperclipping Scrapbooking Roundtable on my iphone so I couldn't see layouts they were talking about, but when Lisa Dickinson started describing hers it sounded really familiar - I scraplifted this from the Two Peas site, but didn't look to see who made the layout and I think her Two Peas name is different than her actual name, otherwise I probably would have recognized it - I've been a fan of Lisa's since she featured in Simple Scrapbooks.    Love this layout & her style in general.  I'm thinking I might scraplift the rest of the layouts on Paperclipping this week.

Here are more "Details" on my layout:

 

Three Scrapbook Layouts Inspired by Counterfeit Kit Club & Studio Calico

I am so intrigued and inspired by the Scrapbooking Blog: Counterfeit Kit Challenge - finally  there is a way to make your existing scrapbooking supplies feel fresh and current.  I am an avid scrapbooker but I am not currently on any design teams nor do I have any current publishing hook-ups.  {Hint: That means I'm open to any opportunities & love to scrapbook & can whip up a page pretty quickly - I did all three of these last night}.   In other words, I don't have a way to get new scrapbooking supplies for free right now.   While I love seeing the new scrapbook product reports from the recent CHA, I don't necessarily feel the need to go out or get online to buy them.  

Fact is, I already have a lot of scrapbooking supplies.  Lovely stuff, sure its not newly relased, but the vast majority of my scrapbooking stash is still pretty cool - I purged the die cut teddy bears and super cutesy stuff from the late 90s a long time ago.   So, I don't really feel right about buying more supplies when I already have so much from being a scrapbooker for the last 10+ years.   But, the "new" scrapbooking supplies always have their allure - they look fresh and fun to play with and sometimes seem irresistible.  Which is where the Counterfeit Kit Challenge site solves the scrapbooker's dilemma of having a large stash of scrapbooking supplies but still wanting the latest and greatest - the Counterfeit Kit Challenge finally offers a way to use your existing supplies in a way that feels hip and trendy and new!  

I did make a scrapbook kit but didn't take a picture of it.  What is more exciting to me is that I made a bunch of pages inspired by the Studio Calico Design Team, take a look, here they are:

1.  Fall 2010:  This 8.5x11 scrapbook page was inspired by The "Love" Layout at the Ginger Grace Blog.  I made the collage in Google's free photo software Picasa.  Even though I pulled a bunch of 12x12 papers for the Counterfeit Kit Club Challenge, I pulled all of the papers in this layout from my scraps bin instead of cutting up my 12x12 paper.  I am feeling quite thrifty about this page. 

 

2. Almost April:  Another 8.5 x11 Scrapbook page, this time inspired by April Foster's 2 Weeks Layout which also happens to be Studio Calico's Sunday Sketch of the Week.  When I started this page, I again went to my scrap bin rather than the papers I set aside for the Counterfeit Kit Club Challenge and when I was looking for something aqua blue, I found a scrap of Karen Foster Calendar Months paper with the month April on it; since I was scraplifting someone named April, I pulled it.  Then I remembered some thoughts I've had recently brought on by the flyer I found recently on our front gate:

 

That's right, last year our home actually won the Beautification Award, there was a ceremony and everything.  Actually the ceremony was on the very long side and Allison did and said some funny things during the event so I remember it quite well, I actually remember it like it was not all that long ago - I was thinking - It couldn't possibly have been one year ago already.  So the idea behind the page became about how time flies and 11 months can pass in the blink of an eye.  What's more is I remembered that I did the Ali Edwards Scrapbooking Project "A Week In The Life" during the week that we received the award last year - so I pulled out that album yesterday and flipped through it - cementing my astonishment about how time goes so fast.  Scrapbooking helps to freeze that time so at least I can look back and remember all the details.  Unlike April Foster's page which had about 8 vertical strips on the bottom, I used just 4 - a wink to the four seasons of the year and that there is four in our family. 

 

P.S. I actually put the scrapbook layout on the backside of the Beautification Flyer so that it sits in one page protector in my album - so the inspiration for the page is automatically connected to the page and the Beautification flyer is automatically going into the scrapbook instead of sitting around in a "memorabilia" bin and chances are getting lost or tossed at some point.

3. The third scrapbook layout is another 8.5 x 11 page, but this time in landscape rather than portrait orientation.  I was inspired by  Maggie Holmes' Love Your Laugh Layout because she featured a boy in her layout and I feel like lately I've been scrapbooking my girl more than my boy, so this inspired me to make a page about my son using recent photos.  These two photos were the most recent - I took them a few weeks ago - quickly in the car circle - as he was explaining in great detail all about how me made this ceramic mask for me. 

 
Its hard to tell from the photo of the layout but the pattered paper in the background is beige with large light beige circles - above it just looks white.  I used the scanner for these three layouts and sometimes I think that the camera works better even if the alignment of the layout isn't perfect.

Three things about this layout in retrospect:  1. If I used a 12x12 sheet, I would have had more white space which probably would have been more pleasing to the eye; but the 8.5x11 layout fits into smaller albums which is a plus.  2. The cluster of embellishments in the lower left feels a little too forced to me - like I put too much there, but it was fun to use up some scrapbooking do-dads anyway so I'm ok with that too.  3. I need to print some pictures soon - I intended to print every Friday this year but its been almost a month - I need to get a print order in soon!  I need my photo fix!

That's all for now folks (my kids have been watching Bugs Bunny lately).   Thanks for looking & let me know if you are doing the Counterfeit Kit Challenge - I'd love to see some other layouts inspired by this idea & the Studio Calico March Kit.  Please leave a link!

Hello Kitty Electric Guitar ! & Sketchy Thursdays Challenge Blog

Click Here for the Link to the Sketchy Thursday Challenge Blog.

Here's my 12x12 scrapbook layout based on the Sketchy Thursdays sketch:

 
Allison & I had this conversation while Daddy was on a "play-date" with a real band - they invited him to play drums and keyboards for their Thursday night gig - Go Daddy! 

Journaling:  "Hey Ally - Do you want to take piano or guitar lessons?" I asked.  "Helllllo! I was Made to Play Guitar - Born to be a Rock Star!" She declared.   "A musician = someone who has magic." - Allison 7 yrs old 2/2011."

Supplies:  Sassafrass Lass; American Crafts; Die Cuts With A View; Sharpie; Hello Kitty Tag (from those jammy pants or that cute Hello Kitty ruffle shirt."

P.S. I started this layout during the ustream video I made this morning.

P.S. Here's a link to another page I made in 2008 with that same music notes scrapbook paper.

I {heart} the Sketchy Thursdays Challenge Site

Here's a sort of quick video about me starting the layout for the Sketchy Thursdays Challenge Site:

 

If the box above doesn't work please click here to get to Ustream.

And here is the link to Sketchy Thursdays Challenge Blog.

You can make a layout, link it on their site with Mr. Linky (love that name) and then be entered to win fabulous scrapbooking prizes (when you read that last bit - try to imagine the announcer from the Price is Right saying it "our showcase of fabulous scrapbooking prizes!")