Monday, February 28, 2011

My Time - part 3 - finished

This layout was inspired by a challenge on scrapbook.com.  The criteria was to make a layout about how/where you escape.  Here is the layout closed:


and here is the 'open' part underneath the main picture:


For me, 'my time' occurs at 1:00 when the boys take a nap and 8:00 when they go to bed at night.  During these times (if I'm not busy with something else) I escape to my scrap space or the couch.  These are the shows I enjoy the most.  I watch/listen to them as they are aired or recorded on my VCR (yes, I still use a VCR).  I've found this to be the best way for me to decompress.

And this is now one of my favorite layouts.

My Time - part 2 - large shapes

For the layout I am making, I LOVE the look of the large shape on this Fancy Pants paper, but not in those colors.  So I used their paper as a template and made my own like this:

- I verified that my picture and other page elements would fit within the large shape.


- I took some tracing paper, laid it over the Fancy Pants paper and tacked it to the desk with my removable adhesive.  This way nothing will move while I trace the shape and the adhesive can be rubbed off the desk later.


- Use a pencil and trace the shape.


- Flip over the tracing paper onto a scrap piece of paper.  Use a pencil and cover the original lines on the back side of the tracing paper.  Then place the tracing paper, right side up, over the good paper you want to make the shape out of.  My first color was white (it will imitate the blue on the Fancy Pants paper).


- Cut out the shape, place and adhere it to your background paper.


- Repeat the steps for any other colors and adhere them to the main page.


In the end, you will have your own version of what you traced.


Here is my paper and the original.

My Time - part 1 - save paper

I was gathering my ideas for a layout and realized I was going to by layering a lot of paper for the photo mat.  To save some of the paper for a later date, I cut out the inside like this:

- I determined how much paper was going to be shown and the amount needed for adhering it.  Then I marked where I wanted to cut.  I placed the trimmer blade on these lines and cut the inside of the frame only.


- At the end, I have 2 pieces.  The frame and the inner scraps.


- I cut out the other pieces I needed the same way.  Then I adhered the layers together.


-Then I added the photo.


Now I have a layered photo mat frame AND more matching scraps to use on this or any other layout.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Ribbon

My collection (sounds better than stash) of ribbon has grown a lot over the past few months.  I'm trying to keep it all organized, within reach and portable for crops, without spending much (or anything).  I tried using hangers

 but that didn't work.  I don't have the wall space for it.

Then I attempted punching holes in plastic bags, that was just horrible all the way around.  I tried wire-slotted shelves but they weren't big enough and didn't hold things well.  At one point I considered putting everything into a bin, but I couldn't figure out a good way to see all the different pieces.

So, I am back to the basket I originally had.


I spent 3 hours (I know this because it was a longer nap time than usual) tightly rolling all the ribbon and placing it into the basket with ends sticking out.


Technically all the ribbon fits, but barely.  This can be portable and it does fit in my scrap area.


I will continue to use this until I figure something else out.  I do have my eye on a couple of toy holders...but I have to wait until the boys are done playing with the toys first.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

The Garbage

I was ready to create, had my pictures and found some paper that was going to work.  Then the orange wasn't just right, things weren't coming together as smoothly as I thought.  Until....

.... i had the right combination of Dr. Pepper and Goldfish in my system.  That makes the creative juices really flow.

I solved my issues by imitating the features of the background paper, ink a punch and Stickles.  I love how this turned out.


The boys LOVE helping with the garbage.  They use all their strength to get the bag to the back door.  Sometimes they get upset if we don't let them help.  I can't wait to use this LO when they are older.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

scrap space

Kristy at the scrapbooksteals.com blog used pics of my scrap space.  You can see it here:  Organizing blog post

That is so neat!  Thanks Kristy!

Monday, February 21, 2011

Award

I want to thank Sue from Scrap Petite for the awesome 'Stylish Blog Award' she gave me.  What a wonderful thing to see!  Thank you.

The requirements for receiving this award is to list 8 things about me and to pass it on to 8 other blogs.  This is so much fun.  :)


About me:
- I LOVE the color green.
- I have a bunny.  His name is Cole and he's 7.5 years old.
- I have an Associates and Bachelor's in Interior Design.
- My favorite drinks are Dr. Pepper and Moselland Reisling wine.
- As long as I can remember, I've organized my markers in 'rainbow order.' (roygbiv)
- I have been watching 'Days of Our Lives' for over 15 years.
- My feet are always cold.
- Being introduced to scrapbooking (husband's fault) is one of the best things that ever happened to me.



The blogs I chose to send this to:

- The girls at The Scrappy Tree
- Julie's A Creative Journey Through Life
- Erica's Zunky Chic
- Danielle's Piperloo
- Doreen's Really? That just happened?
- Valeria's Scraplicious Val
- Jazmin's Jazzy Cards
- Ashley's Paper, Catnip and Cupcakes

Thank you all for the support and making me smile.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

B.A.B.S.

I have really been in the mood to scrap lately but I had a hard time deciding what to do.  Then I saw some challenges listed on www.scrapbooksteals.com blog and it all started coming together.  I was able to incorporate 2 of the 4 challenges that were posted.  Here is the layout I made:


For Challenge #3 (lucky) you had to show something you are lucky to have and use green with 3 photos.  I/we are lucky to have such a nice, large, reliable, green vehicle.

Challenge #4 (Countdown) was a recipe.
    10 metal embellishments (4 small and 6 large brads)
     9 inches of ribon
     8 letters (BABS, FORD)
     7 non metal embellishments (3 photo corners, 2 stickers, 2 chipboard brackets)
     6 sentences of journaling
     5 patterned paper pieces
     4 solid colored paper
     3 pictures (1 large, 2 small)
     2 rub-ons (flourish, dotted lines)
     1 stamped image (zig-zag above FORD)

I also included some other ink and doodling.

I love it when I am able to combine challenges.  It makes me feel really good.  This was a lot of fun to create and I look forward to participating in more activities with them.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

days...

Ever have one of those days where you were in a very creative mood, ready to scrap...


...but then couldn't decide on which pics you wanted to use? 


it's very frustrating.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

panic attack

Shortly after New Year's, I really began to question how I scrapbook.  There was so many new products coming out that I didn't like or probably wouldn't use and that started to scare me.  Why don't I like or use stamps?  Why does it seem like the things I scrap don't coordinate with the new themes and releases so many companies are doing?

Then I saw this and really lost it.


It's one of the first papers I bought in 2006 when I began to use "fancy" papers in my albums.  I was so excited to find it and had so many plans when I bought this.  Now, almost 5 years later, it's still in my stash.  (It didnt help when I realized I had just bought some other paper and used it the day after I purchased it.) 

I began to question EVERYTHING.  Why do I still have this?  Why haven't I considered using it?  What else do I have in my stash that I constantly don't use?

I looked in my books and notice I don't scrap birthdays, actual holidays like Christmas, Easter, 4th of July but I do scrap putting lights on the tree or dying eggs.  I do a lot of pages about random occurrences and things my kids do, or fixing up the house.  Is there something wrong with me?  Am I not scrapping right?  Will my kids be mad or lose out later because I don't scrap these days?

I freaked.

I posted my concerns on scrapbook.com and talked to my husband.  Many other scrappers commented that they don't scrap the same things as me and the potential for people to have those pics plays a role in manufacturers selling those themes.

My husband (total supporter of scrapbooking, by the way) reassured me that my books are fine.  Its ok not to scrap 'the day' because everyone has their own version of what happened.  Plus I capture many moments that are overlooked and easily forgotten.  And if the kids want me to scrap a certain day they can ask me to when they are older.

I let out a HUGE sigh of relief.

Now I have accepted that I don't like/use everything that is popular, and my tastes or ideas may change over time.  Plus my kids already like my books just as they are.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

mailboxes

The boys were scheduled to attend a Valentine's Day party.  We made mailboxes for their valentines.

They colored some paper:


I used that paper to assemble the mailboxes.


With some scraps I made valentines.  (this is probably the only time you will ever see me work with pink.  I can't stand that color)


Their party was canceled because the other kids were sick.  So we had a party of our own!


They each received 6 valentines


and LOVED putting them in and out of the mailbox.


I'm sure they will play with the mailboxes until they break.  It was a good day to be a 'crafty' mom.

And yes, I will put any surviving valentines and mailbox paper into the scrapbook.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Snow Fun

After much deliberation (and consulting my husband) here is the layout:






A few challenges on scrapbook.com helped influence the design.  I really like how it turned out.  :-)

pick ONE?

For me, picking a background paper sets the tone of the entire layout.  Once I pick that, all the other papers, embellishments and other accessories seem to fall into place.

And I love how different the pictures appear with the different backgrounds.  That makes it hard to pick one.  Especially for the layout I'm working on right now.  Here are some options with the main picture:

White:





Blue:






Green:




Brown:




and Red:





As you can see, they are all VERY different.  The striped one is a little loud, I may use that as accent paper.  But how am I supposed to pick ONE?

Friday, February 11, 2011

Page protectors

Zach asked to see the "picture books" (my scrapbooks).  Alex joined us as I was showing him my first scrapbook ever, one I made in 2005.  They were happy, pointing out things they recognized: people, cars, letters.

Then Alex spit up on the book.



OMG!!!!!!!!!!




My husband started throwing tissues at me to clean the mess.  I gave him the kids and said go.  It was nuts.

I am happy to report that everything is fine.  Thanks to the page protectors and the quick response time, everything was able to be cleaned.  Even the carpet, that he completely missed when he spit up on my book.

The mild heart attack is over.  I'm going to spend some time in my scrap area and explain to my albums that this was a freak occurrence and won't happen again.  phew!

Thank God for page protectors.

my space

My scrap space is in a corner of our loft on the second floor.  The loft contains my space, the washer and dryer, the computer and a place for the boys to play.



In December, one of my x-mas gifts was some much needed shelves.  I can now safely store my books, supplies and desk.  With a 2 1/2 yr old and a 15 mo old keeping things untouched is a concern, hence the gate.

Some of the best advice I received is to keep all your favorite scrap supplies within arms reach of where you work.  When I organized the shelves, everything got a drawer or bin right next to my desk.


However, I don't have enough room for the future.  There are some albums that are empty but I'm not sure where they will go when I have pictures and layouts to put in them.

Someday we will paint this room and I want to put the words 'live, laugh, love, scrap" above the shelves too.  Someday.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Hi!

Welcome to my new scrapbooking blog.  :)  My hope is to share layouts, tips, and excitement for scrapping.  Thanks for joining me.