One a Day

So I have signed up for (and started) participating in Lain Ehmann's LOAD (Layout a Day) challenge for the month of February.  Yup.  A Layout a DAY!!! That will be 28 layouts in February if I make it through the challenge.  It is totally motivating (uh, for the two days I have participated) and helps me actually complete layouts.  What I really love is that it is focused on stories - not just making the photos look pretty (although, of course we do that too!).  This year the theme for the month is Childhood stories - I've loosely interpreted the prompts, but I have told two stories that might not have been recorded without this challenge.

It is really fun!  I think it is inspiring because not only are you getting new ideas from the prompts, but there are hundreds (yes - there are still scrappers out there!!!) of people participating and encouraging you.  I'll keep you posted as the month goes on.  It is a bit of a marathon and not a sprint... so we will see if I can keep it up as the days continue.

Here is the layout I made for the first day:

Here is hoping you can get your "one a day" task done - no matter what it might be.

Leslie

Messy

So the latest trend in scrapbooking is "mixed media" art - don't get me wrong - it has been around for a long time, it is just now trendy with products marketed just for mixed media art and art journals.  And while most of us have been mixing plenty of mediums already (stickers, ribbons, paint, spray mists etc) I'm defining this as more textures, more layers, more of everything!  Products like gesso, texture paste, gel medium and so forth are used on canvases and scrapbook layouts.  It's messy.  And creative.  And fun.

The key lessons are:  It is ok (and in fact preferred) to make a mess.  And, Don't give up, just keep going!  

I really enjoyed to process of making this image.  I did end up using it for another sympathy card.  The lighting is not great, but here is the card I made with my "mixed media" art.

There are a lot of layers and textures to this card.  I did not have a plan when I started the project - I just kept adding papers, paint, spray mists, stamps, texture paste through a stencil and layered on stickers and distress markers. It was fun to create and I was happy with the end result.

Hope you can get messy today!

Leslie

With Sympathy

Unfortunately, I seem to be making a lot of sympathy cards these days.  I forget to take pictures of the cards since I am focused on making it, writing a note and getting it in the mail in a timely fashion.  I should probably make a supply so I have some on hand.

This card came together fairly quickly.  I used a stamp on watercolor paper and then used my Tim Holtz distress inks to create a watercolor effect.  I added some stickles for some sparkle on the butterfly and then layered the watercolor paper on a book page.  The sentiment is gold heat embossed and adhered to the background black card stock which was run through my Vagabond machine with an embossing folder.  It is hard to see the texture in the black background, but it is there.

It is hard having to send a sympathy card, but I feel good knowing that I made it with love.

Hopefully this is the last sympathy card I will make for a while!

Leslie

A bit Rusty

I have to admit that I am a bit rusty when it comes to creativity!  I'm just not feeling "in the groove" or confident in my projects... but I have decided to just keep moving forward.  I created a scrapbook layout about our stop in Chartres (ok, so it is almost three years ago now... what?!?) but it's finished and in an album.  The memories are recorded and I am moving on!  I'm encouraged that my next layout is coming together with much less effort and I am liking it better.

Sometimes I think I give up too quickly.  It is certainly true with diet and work out goals - if I don't have instant success, I stop trying.  So my new philosophy is going to be to set small goals and have early success and just keep moving forward.  Baby steps.  So if my scrapbook layouts aren't perfect, I'm okay with it.  I'm just going to keep on gluing... and inking... and stamping!

Hope you can keep moving forward!

Leslie

Backwards and Forwards

So I took some time off from scrapbooking, crafting, blogging, and general computer activities - I didn't watch videos, listen to podcasts or look at other people's blogs... and I will admit, it is hard to get going again.  And just when I was starting to feel the urge to go get creative, I went to my desk and had approximately 1 square inch of clean space.  Hmm.  Hard to create in such a mess.  So, it being a new year and all, I have made a few resolutions... not that I am all that uptight about resolutions!

Looking backward over this past year, I am excited that I accomplished some "resolutions" from last year.  I started (and maintained) this blog.  As a result of blogging, I felt more committed to producing layouts and cards, and so created a lot more projects in this past year than I expected.  Yay. I also wanted to read more, which I have done.  Another yay.  Not quite so much with the ever present goal of eating healthier and moving more.  I think that gets a nay for the past year... we will keep it on the list!

I've been watching videos of all of the new products coming out at the CHA tradeshow (Craft and Hobby Associaiton) and although I have been better about using supplies I have, I have to admit I am tempted by the new stuff coming.  So cute.  If you want to be inspired to create and want to see some cool new products for scrapbooking, home decor and card making, head to www.paperclipping.com to see the videos they produce about all of the new goodies.  I think their videos are the best (especially the ones with Tim Holtz).

This year I resolve to get creating, get organizing and get healthier!  How about you?

Looking forward to a great year!

Leslie

Top 5

My top five reasons for loving Christmas time:

5. Making meaningful donations.
4. Seeing friends (and family) at holiday parties.
3. Indulging in delicious holiday fare.
2. Giving (and receiving) presents!
and my top reason:
1. Memories (past and future!)

I know I am a scrapbooker... but I seem to be making a lot of cards lately.  They are quick and fun and require no advance planning (i.e., printing pictures).  I can play with artsy techniques and clean up everything quickly.  So, for right now, cards it is!

Here is another one I made recently:

I used an old Hero Arts (and Basic Grey) stamp set for the poinsettia (had to look up the spelling on that one!) on watercolor paper with Tim Holtz Distress Paints - Festive Berries, Evergreen bough, Antique bronze... I added some gold stickles as the berries for some sparkle and tied the sentiments in by stamping with Versamark and then adding some gold "perfect pearl."

Hope you enjoy your top 5 this season!

Leslie

In the Air

Christmas is in the air!  I love the smell of the real pine Christmas tree in my house (I admit, I also love the look of our fake christmas tree in the living room), I love the twinkling lights (inside and out), and I love all of the memories as I unpack ornaments and decorations.  It's a great time of the year.  But lots of people forget the joy.  I overheard two women in Pier One talking about how stressed they were and how they just wanted to go away during the holidays and forget it all.  People get irritable in checkout lines, at sales clerks and in parking lots.  WHAT?  It doesn't have to be so difficult.  I say focus on the JOY.  This is a time of year where people share with those less fortunate, where we remember loved ones, we honor traditions, we host and attend parties and we eat too much and do too much, but it is all good.  And if it stresses you out to decorate, send cards or host parties - then don't do it!  The world will not end if you choose to simplify.  I'm going all out because I think it's fun and exciting (and no one will see the bags of clutter I'm putting under my desk anyway!)

Here is a Christmas card I made based on (another) of May Flaum's classes.

I used a Tim Holtz red card stock that has a kraft colored interior.  I stitched (just for effect - I actually taped the book page to the base) around the edges of the ripped book page and stamped with gold paint around the edges.  The wreath is made up of several leaf stamps stamped in a circle with various green Tim Holtz distress inks.  I started with the red berries around a circle and embossed them with clear ink.  They then resisted the green ink as I layered the leaves.  Added a bow and a stamped sentiment (popped up with glue dots) and edged in gold.  Very festive.

Hope you can ENJOY the season!

Leslie