When I first started scrapbooking I told myself that starting with a "blank white page" lacked imagination and originality. I wanted as much color in my life as possible! So I went about merrily using my bold patterns and lively colors as the foundation for my pages. However, after 10 years, I am now comfortable admitting the real reason I avoided it for so long, is because it was the white background that I feared and struggled with the most. So clean and pristine--the white background was in fact the boldest choice of all --for you have no color or pattern to fall back on--leaving your design and your memories exposed and vulnerable.
Despite being inspired by scrapbookers like Karen Grunberg, Doris Sander and Lisa Dickinson--who are no strangers to white--I find that every time I start with a white page--whether I choose to cover it with mist or large patterned mats or every embellishment I own--it inevitable ends up anything but white!
So it was with an open mind and a little inspiration from my husband and I's favorite band Mumford & Sons, that I sat down and embarked on the ultimate challenge. A half-hour later I emerged with this layout, as well as, a new found appreciation for the power of the blank white page!
Danielle Young has an adorable kit in her store called Three Ring Circus...with bright, cheery colors and fun embellishments and patterns.
And finally Biograffiti has this totally cool Coloring Book Action , which includes actions for both Photoshop and Elements Users. This turns all of your photos into a page perfect for coloring, with a simple click of a button!
And as you can see...Caleb really enjoyed them!
It was a productive weekend as far as creating goes, for both Caleb and I! Together we have 6 layouts and a fridge full of coloring to show for ourselves! Don't forget to stop by Oscraps this week--to find these new products on sale!
Thanks for joining me for another Monday Meet & Greet! I hope you'll enjoy being introduced to some of my favorites, as much as I enjoy sharing them with you!
These days this is what playtime looks like at our house! Caleb eats, breathes and sleeps CARS! If he's not making adorable car noises while moving his Hot Wheels and Audimoblox around the house, then he's watching Battle Force Five and using daddy's gaming wheel and pedal to play along! When we leave the house he tells every, "Come on...Time to Drive!" This may be a childhood love that he never outgrows ;)
As I'm sure you've noticed...but not to worry you're still in the right place! I'm taking a blog design class and implementing what I learn as I have time! I think you'll like all of the new changes once I've got everything done! In the mean time just enjoy the ride ; )
This is something I've struggled with for years...what is my style?! I am inspired and intrigued by so many different styles that I have had difficulty settling on just one. I enjoy experimenting with new techniques and styles all of the time and love combining them in my work. Some people call this eclectic, some people call it indecisive...I think it's just plain FUN!
However it was after discussing and considering this topic in depth as a part of the Indie Business 3.0 Workshop I am currently enrolled in--that I took this photo of one of my son's toy cars. We had just recently bought this very nifty set of cars that are made of wood and have a very vintage feel to them, however they're shaped like modern sports cars and pick-up trucks,with brightly colored windshields and tire covers and they can be pieced together like legos:
It was as I looked at this photo that it dawned on me...THIS IS MY STYLE!
I know what you're thinking...that I've lost my mind! But in all of my exploration over the past week, I've found but one common theme that existed in everything I love and almost everything I create--that was present in my son's car set as well--and that is a blending of old and new!
As I look around at the fashion and the decor I am drawn to, as well as, the movies and music I enjoy--I see it time and time again: bold colors and patterns paired together with a classic or vintage design, modern music and fashions infused into a delightful period piece or the sound of punk music accompanied by a beautiful piano melody.
I guess you could say I like the old and I like the new--but together I love what they can accomplish--it's just my style!
Captured w/ my Nikon P90 and processed in Lightroom
My first "Not for Moms" Handbag--this marks a huge milestone in my life! No crayons or bottles or Hot Wheels have made their way into this bag! Just my camera, my journal, my wallet and my cell phone. This handbag truly belongs to ME!
Last week we began this Workspace Makeover series by talking about "Taking Control" of our spaces. Today we're going to build on that idea by...
In order to organize your space in a manner that leaves you knowing what you have and all of your supplies with a home--it may be necessary to "Take Inventory." This will help to let you know how much space you'll need for storing your supplies and what if any, storage you'll need to purchase. Let's start by getting an overall idea of how you plan to store your supplies and therefore what kind of an inventory will best suit your needs.
Visual vs. Physical Inventories
A visual inventory relies more on SEEING what you have, rather than knowing. I am a very visual person and as a result, I like to keep my supplies out in the open so I know what I have and am inspired to use them. An open system works best for me and others like me who prefer to keep their supplies visible, as a means of properly rotating and using products. A visual inventory can be executed by keeping your supplies easily accessible and visible from your primary workspace so that you have an adequate visual picture of your stash. Often an organizational plan, a labeling system, visual displays and constant maintenance are required to keep up the appearance of your visible supplies.
Other people may prefer to keep a physical inventory of their supplies, by keeping an up-to-date record. This can be a handy way for those who like to keep their supplies contained and out of sight, to know exactly what they have and need. This method requires less maintenance of your actual supplies, but a constant maintenance of your record of those supplies. Take a look at the following video by Christie Hund which shares a fabulous inventory system to model your own after! She also offers some product specific charts to include in your own inventory book, on her website Creations by Christie.
Divide and Conquer
Once you've chosen a method that's right for you can begin taking inventory by following these steps:
Group like supplies together.
Test each supply within a respective group to see if it is in working order.
Purge products no longer of use to you.
Determine the amount of, as well as, the type of storage necessary to house the supplies within each group.
Make note of items that need to be replaced or added to your stash.
Repeat Steps 2-4 for each grouping of supplies.
Execute an inventory of your supplies by developing either a written record, ideas for visual displays, a labeling system and/or an organizational plan for your supplies.
(Note: This will need to be done from time to time to keep your inventory up-to-date and accurate!)
Join me next week for the third part in this four part series, "Taking Action," in which we look at piecing together a space that is organized, clean, practical and inspiring.
Try using pastels or chalks, white sharpies, milk paints or chalk inks on your dark paper backgrounds for a fun chalkboard effect.
#2 Dress Forms
Vintage dress forms can bring a very feminine feel to your layouts. Try using the shape of their silhouette for a bolder look or in a beautiful background for a softer feel.
#3 Embroidery
Adding a few floss stitches to your pages—or even an entire design can really liven things up!
#4 Buntings
These little beauties can offer a little bit of flair to your celebration layouts or a nice flowy effect perfect for those Spring-time pages.
#5 Ornate Frames
Just as they are perfect for framing your prized art possesions in your home—ornate frames can also draw attention to those beautiful photos on your scrapbook layouts!
Thanks to everyone who participated in my little riddle yesterday...as I stated in the comments I believe I may have tried to be a little too tricky! So because no one came up with the answer I was looking for--instead I took everyone's name who offered up a guess and entered it in a drawing. The winner of the issue of Green Craft Magazine was MISCELLANEA. Congratulations! Please contact me at swilde1957@yahoo.com with your mailing information and I'll get that out to you right away!
Take a good hard look at my life and everywhere you look you'll see GREEN! In my closet, in my scrapbook room, in my decor and even in my fridge--you might say its become a slightly unhealthy obsession! And worst of all...it seems I'm passing it on to my son--who's favorite hot wheel (the one that never leaves his hands...not even when he's sleeping) is GREEN, he even likes to eat his GREEN fruit loops first! So why is it that with all of this GREEN in my life--that I always forget to wear GREEN on St. Patty's day?
While I typically don't discriminate against shades of GREEN--I do have a few favorites when it comes to the things in my life that are GREEN:
My husband's GREEN eyes
My little GREEN Cuttlebug
My son's favorite GREEN blankie
Somerset Studio's GREENCraft Magazine
Key LIME Pie
My Emerald GREEN Birthstone
Now for some fun... how many times did the word GREEN appear within this post? The first person to come up with the correct answer in the comments below will win a copy of Somerset Studio's Spring 2011 GREENCraft Magazine!
ALSO that reminds me...Log your Memory is offering 50% off of all of their downloadable products for today only so run on over there and get your Memory Logbook 2011: Full Year Download for half the price. Just use coupon code LUCKY4me.
I am in love with the trend of "silhouettes" that is sweeping over the photography, scrapbooking and craft worlds, as of late. As I was browsing through Etsy, I ran across this fun little shop that specializes in custom silhouette prints and ceramics called Pretty Faces.
Photo Source: Pretty Faces
Not only would I love to have one of these pendants with my boys' silhouettes on them--but I got to thinking about how much fun it would be to use their silhouettes on a scrapbook page--and as a result, the following layout was born!
Digital Designs by One Little Bird Designs
To make my own layout-ready silhouette of my son I:
1. Found my photo
2. Extracted the subject in my photo editing software.
3. Clipped a favorite digital paper to the extracted image.
4. Added a bit of definition to my silhouette with a stroked outline.
Need more help with making your own silhouette for your scrapbook pages? Splendid Fiins has a wonderful tutorial available for making your own silhouette portraits, which includes tips on getting the perfect photo and turning it into a silhouette; a swoop brush set for that great head bust look; and backgrounds and mats for mounting your silhouettes on-- check it out here.
A BIG thanks to Pretty Faces for the inspiration! Stop by her shop to have a look...and I think you'll be inspired too!
They say the first step to overcoming any obstacle in your life is to acknowledge the problem and confront it head on! So it would make sense that before we can have that beautifully inspiring workspace we've always dreamed of, that we must first acknowledge the problems with our current space and address them one by one! Even if the problems in your space seem small now...just remember what you may end up with if you let them pile up on you! So why not take the first step towards taking control, by assessing your current workspace, TODAY?!
My Stash Two Months Ago--How Did I ever Find Anything in That Mess?
Ask yourself the following questions:
Can I create easily and comfortably in my current workspace?
Is my current space of sufficient size for my crafting needs?
Do all of my supplies have a home in my current workspace?
Do I have a clear surface large enough to work on in my space?
Have I purged my stash of products that I will never use?
Do I know what I have and if its still usable?
Do I feel inspired to create by my surroundings?
If you answered all of these questions with a YES, then congratulations--you're in better shape than the rest of us ;) If you answered a few of these question with a NO then you may have a few things you want to consider--if you answered most or all of these questions NO--then like me--you may have your work cut out for you...but not to worry I'm here to tell you: you CAN have the space you always wanted and maintain it too!
Take a peek at my action plan!
So your homework for the week is to go back over the list of questions above and decide what needs to change in order for you to answer each question with a "yes." Using that information draft a realistic set of goals, as well as, a list of actionable steps to take in order to reach those goals. Once you have a clear plan of attack you will be prepared to TAKE CONTROL of your space!
Want more...well you're in luck! Click on the links below for the rest of this four-part series!
