National Scrapbook Day Pages

This past Saturday was National Scrapbook Day. I hosted the challenges at Scrapjazz.com and it was so much fun!! I was not able to create scrapbook pages for each challenge but I was able to finish two. I am such a slow scrapbooker so two pages was good for me.

The first challenge was to pick an article from Scrapjazz.com and create a layout or card that was inspired by that particular article. I had a really hard time choosing but finally settled on a sketch article that featured travel layouts from Prague by Amy Sotolongo. Here was my take on the sketch:

I had extra fun creating this page because I dug through all my drawers and used so many products on this page. Chipboard, die cuts, felt flowers-it is all there. I plan to use this layout design again on a canvas I want to make for my entryway.

The second challenge I finished was another sketch challenge. I created the sketch below in Photoshop pretty much copied it exactly.

I had a lot of fun creating the layers and using conversation balloons for my journaling. Again, I pulled a lot of things out from my stash to layer on here.

I know NSD is over but if you need some inspiration, come on over to the Scrapjazz SJ Challenge Central board every month to complete new challenges and win some prizes. The next challenges will be posted on the first of June.

I hope you enjoyed your time here today. Happy Thursday!!

Nora

September 10, 2011

I seem to have really dropped the ball on my blog. It isn't even that I am not creating projects but it takes so much time to write and upload them. I need to make a pact with myself to blog at least two entries a week. What keeps you motivated?

For this post, I want to focus on the circle journal pages that I scrapped two weeks ago during Hurricane Irene-before we lost our power for SIX days!! I finally finished them and will be sending them on their way on Monday.

For those of you who don't know what a circle journal is I will try to explain it. Usually you have a group of friends that you are doing it with. You each create a journal with a specific theme. You send your journal to one of your friends, they create a scrapbook page (or art journal page) using your theme and then send it on to the next person on their list. You get another members journal as well and do the same thing. It is really fun when it works but we had a little glitch with our group, part of me being sick for 2 months and getting three at the same time!! I am very excited that I finished the pages and will be happy to forward them on to the next member. Look out Lin!!

The first theme I completed was "A Typical Week in My Life." Since I don't take photos every day, I chose a week in July and used photos from that. However, it really couldn't be considered "typical" because I have summers off and my days are filled with a different kind of "busy" then when I work.

Supplies: Paper-Bazzil Cardstock, Pink Paislee (Think Big), Studio Calico (Pie Contest), Echo Park (Big Stripes) Alphabet Stickers-Paper Studio, Cosmo Cricket, Doodlebug Design, and Basic Grey, Stickers-Crate Paper, Stamps and Die Cuts-Paper Trey Ink, Ink-Stampin Up!


The next journal I conquered had an astrology theme. We were to create a page about our astrological sign. I am an Aquarian and it was fun to see what "typical" traits I show that are Aquarian in nature and others that I don't. The best thing about this page is that I used mostly scraps or older products that I was thinking of throwing away.

Supplies: Paper-Bazzill, Basic Grey, Ruby Rocket, Alphabet Stickers-Creative Imaginations, Borders-Paper Frills by Doodlebug Design, Ink-Tim Holtz Vintage Photo by Ranger Industries, Punch-EK Success.


The last theme that I had to create a layout for was  "My Dirty Little Secret." We had to use black and white papers/embellishments with a "splash" of any color we wanted. The instructions also stated that we had to use only a photo of ourselves, with the journaling being the primary attraction to the page.

Supplies: Paper-My Minds Eye (Meadow Lark Collection-"Dawn" White Polka Dot), Ink-Memento, Blue Border-Bazzil, Flowers-Prima, Brad-Doodlebug Design, Corner Rounder-EK Success, Alphabet Stickers-Scenic Route Paper Company and Cosmo Cricket.

My "secret" isn't really dirty in nature but is about how I love books, movies and television shows about vampires, witches and magic. I also used the same photo that I used on the astrology page that Charlotte took of me a few years ago. Wish I looked that good in real life!!

If you ever have a chance to be part of a circe journal, take it. It is a lot of fun to find out random things about your friends!!

Nora

Some new layouts!!

     I am taking a break from posting cards today to show you some of the layouts I have been creating. Lately I have been trying to stretch my creativity by buying supplies I wouldn't normally buy and using techniques that I haven't tried before. I have to admit that sometimes it can be a trial and error method of creating. I also do not love all the pages I have made by using some of the products I have chosen. However, it has put the fun back into scrapbooking again-something it has been sorely lacking.

     The first page I created by using mist sprays and layering paper. I started with the lightest color and sprayed in stages, letting it dry in between each mist. I really like how it came out and I think it enhanced this photo of Charlotte and her cousins.

Supplies: Paper-Bazzill-Red Devil, Aqua Fourz and Wedding Butterfly, Echo Park-Gingham Gabby, Sally Stitches, Cindy Circles Mist Sprays-Tattered Angels Marmalade, Jazz Blue and Lavender Fields Punches-Martha Stewart Himalayan Snowflake and Glacial Snowflake, Fiskars Apron Lace and EK Success Donut Chain Ink-Inkadinkadoo Red and Pink Chalk Ink Stickles-Lavender Stamps-Basic Grey Basic Notes, Letter Stickers-American Crafts


     My next layout I experimented with using a kit. I tend to buy papers and embellishments by the same company but I rarely buy kits because I don't tend to love all the papers that come with it. Echo Park's Little Girl Collection was an exception. I loved all the papers that came with it and so I decided to try using only products that came in the kit, with the exception of cardstock and some punches. I have to admit that this isn't my favorite page because of the bright colors but the colors went with the photos.

Supplies: Paper-Echo Park Cupcake Casey, Gingham Gabby, Cindy Circles. Journaling Cards, Bazzill Precious (Pink) and Wedding White Punches-Fiskars Scallop Sentiment and EK Success Small Corner Rounder, Scallop Circle Punch Stickers-Echo Park Little Girl Element Stickers and Little Girl Alphabet Markers-Zig Writers

     The last page in this post was also created with the Echo Park Little Girl Collection. The only thing I   added to the kit was cardstock, the use of a circle punch and ink, and journal strips. I cannot believe how young Charlotte looks in these photos!!

Supplies: Paper-Bazzill Iced Pink and White, Echo Park Betty Bird and Madison Plaid Stickers-Echo Park Element Stickers  Punches-Paper Shapers Photo Labels and Marvy Uchida 2" Circle Ink-Vintage Photo Ink by Ranger Ink

     I hope you enjoy my creations and they inspire you to challenge yourself to use techniques you never thought you would try.

Nora

Happy Wednesday!!

     Valentine's Day is in 15 days!! My sister, Jen, came over last Sunday and she made a couple cards that I wanted to share. I think they came out really cute!! Enjoy!

Jen's Valentine 1

Supplies: Paper: White-Stampin Up!, Hearts-American Crafts, Red and Striped-unknown, Black-Bazzill, Flowers-Pram and Imaginisce, Brad-Queen and Company, Ribbon-unknown, Punch-Fiskars

Jen's Valentine #2

Supplies: Paper-white-Stampin Up!, hearts-American Crafts, black-Bazzill, Striped and Red-Unknown, Flowers-Prima, Brad-Queen and Company, Ribbon-Unknown, Punch-Fiskars

Nora