Rock The Chalk : Simple Scrapper

Hello Happy Campers!  Can you believe it is December already?  OMG, me either!  I'm about to enter into a world full of Hanukkah Magic -- and, speaking of Magic, that happens to be this month's Story Starter theme at Simple Scrapper.  I was inspired to create this sweet and funky little layout featuring me and my best girl getting a little Adam Ant with a tub of sidewalk chalk last month.  This was my first month with Simple Scrapper, and I can honestly say that I am loving it.  You know that rut you sometimes feel when you know you want to scrap something but you aren't sure what?  That was totally solved!  I feel more creative than ever.  So A+ to that fabulous group of ladies -- so much inspiration!

I'll be back with another layout later this week.  Right now I think I need to hang up some dreidle decorations.  Whoo-hoo!

The Premium Membership at Simple Scrapper provides skills and shortcuts to help you simplify and find more meaning in your memory keeping.  You should totally check it out, for real.

December Daily Base Pages Pt. 1

Like everyone else in the scrapbooking world, I'm getting my base pages ready for this year's december daily.  I'm going ultra basic this year with black, white, gold and kraft.  A hint of silver, too.  Since I don't celebrate Christmas, red and green isn't really my bag.  I'm really loving this color way, though.  I think I could scrap everything in these colors.  

Cover Page Detail

A little bag to put trinkets in

Using Ali Edwards' 2012 December Daily Stamp Set

Lots of layers and pages of different sizes

Those gold scallops are on a 4x4 page

I stamped the back of the pocket with the doily glued on it so it looks good on both sides of the protector.

I'm about half way done with bases so far, which is pretty good progress.  I'm stalking instagram looking at what everyone else is up to.  I love looking at December Dailies!

Pulling Together my December Daily

This is a quick and dirty nap-time snapshot.  Excuse my lighting.

Okay, I'll admit it.  I have a love/hate affair with December Daily albums.  Love because I mean, it's a fun project and a neat way to document a very unique time of year and it feels so SPECIAL.  And hate because I'm Jewish and, well, December Daily is very Christmas-y.  And I LOVE looking at everyone else's red and green albums with their belighted pine trees and elves on shelves -- but that's not my life.  I've got candles and dreidels.  I've got potato pancakes and jelly doughnuts.  And it's awesome and I love it, but sometimes it just doesn't mesh with all the DD stuff out there.

 So this year, I'm totally going non-traditional and owning it.  I used Crate Paper's Bundled Up last year, and it was cute.  But this year I'm going black, white, kraft and gold.  Maybe a hint of red.  I found an awesomely cute little 6x6 paper pad at Tuesday Morning called Hot Cocoa by American Crafts (which is a mystery -- I can't find info on it ANYWHERE!) but I loved its graphic patterns.  I may pull out all the red and use it for different projects, or I may add it in sparingly.  I haven't decided yet.


This isn't the completed collection of what I'll be using, but it is the start and probably the bulk.  I'm going to go simple, clean, and graphic this year.  I need a few transparent overlays, maybe a bit more vellum, some sequins and enamel dots -- and the Printshop star wood veeners that Joann's is carrying in stores now (yes 50% off coupons!).  I'll be using a Studio Calico Handbook album (kraft) that I got on Uber clearance off amazon.  I pulled some mambi pocket pages cards from my DT days with them that will compliment nicely.  Overall, I'm liking it a lot.  I think it'll look cool, and different, and most importantly it'll be true to my not-so-much-about-Christmas December.  And that's awesome, if you ask me.

Love Those Daddy Pancakes

Sorry the light is weird on this -- still figuring out the best place to take photos at the new house!

Another page based off a sketch from the Scrapbook Generation 6x6 paper pad class -- I love that these pages feature lots of photos!

My goal with these pages (besides documenting memories, of course!) was to use up a lot of the little bits and pieces that I had lying on my desk.  I think it came out pretty cute!

  

Baby, You're a STAR

I'm working through the Scrapbook Generation 6x6 paper "class"right now and this is my interpretation of sketch #2 from that packet.  It's a really fun class if you're looking for ideas on how to use up your 6x6 paper pads.  Me?  I'm always terrible when it comes to two-page layouts and need to work from a sketch; I find that I like Scrapbook Generation sketches the best.  I think they're clean, photo-centric, and easy to work with and edit, which I appreciate.  They do require some odd sized photos, so there is often a good deal of photo editing before you can work on a layout, but I find the final project is worth the time invested on the front end.

I used a Studio Calico Print Shop paper pad for this layout, along with some Smash washi tape, and some of the vellum die cuts from the Print Shop line as well.  Some sequins, a few wood veneers and some odds and ends (from Crate Paper & My Mind's Eye) and it all came together. I just love these photos, and I think it's such a fun layout with the bold colors and black and white pictures.

What's on your craft table this week?  My plan is to keep working through this class at a pace of two per week, plus make a few more things with my Paper Camellia kit.  I'll post results soon!

Three Reasons you are THE BEST

I love this page.  It's all bright colors and funky, graphic patterns and hand writing and drawing -- and it's very, very me.  I was inspired by the No. 1, 2 & 3 tags out of the Dear Lizzy Polka Dot Party Bits pack -- I never seem to use my numbers in die cut packs like that and I was determined to use them this time.  So I pulled them out and built this entire page around them.  I chose a photo with bright, saturated colors that could hold its own against the brightness of the papers and went to town.  In the end, I love it.  It's a sweet, personal page that really captures my essence and the sorts of things I like to make the most.

I included lots of little bits like I am want to do -- I love those tiny little details.  Love, Love, Love those Dear Lizzy Polkadot Party Bits -- I used to think that they were a stupid purchase, but there are so many of them and you can really use them on so many things -- a good die cut pack is a must buy for me.  Pop them up on some foam tape and you have instant interest.

Hope you all have a happy Monday!  I'll be getting ready for Thanksgivukkah this week - what fun!

September Kit Round Up: What I Made

To keep myself accountable, I'm going to post what I made each month from my last kit.  Citrus Twist releases in the middle of the month, so I'm not behind  -- yet!  :)  I recieved October earlier this week -- here is what I made with September.  I did add a few full sheets from my stash to the kit so I could keep going with my scraps.  Some pages are a little fugly, but not everything I make is blog worthy.  They are seeing the light of day only so I can keep my count honest. 

 

I plan on cutting into October tonight!  

xoxo, laurie

Favorite

I love the washed out, dreamy colors of Pink Paislee's Color Wash line.  This paper, which I used as a base for my layout, is so good I could eat it.  This is another page done with the September Citrus Twist Main and Pocket Life kits.  I added a few gold glitter mambi chip accents to compliment the gold on the amazingly intricate and organic lace that was in the kit.  I don't know where that lace came from, but isn't it beautiful?  

I found this lovely photo of Orli lounging in bed that was also a bit washed out (in the best way!  Love those bright whites!) that I thought would look lovely with the paper and went from there.  The photo is matted with a little bit of Carta Bella's Hello Again.  The butterflies are punched from that same 6x6 pad.  The Favorite chipboard title is from Dear Lizzy's Polka Dot Party.  The wood veneer asterisks came with the kit; I colored them pink with spray mist.  

I'm so glad you came by to see what I had to share today.  Please leave me a comment if you like my work; it makes my day to hear from you!

Spoon Love

This layout was made using the September Citrus Twist Kits Main and Pocket Life kits, plus my own alphas and a few mambi chips.  I love how it turned out.  Sometimes it seems that if you want to include a lot of journaling in on a layout it distracts from the flow of the page -- but it becomes part of the page on this little sheet of notebook paper from the Dear Lizzy Polka Dot Party cut apart page.  I punched the edge to make it look torn from a notebook.  

Of course, there is some stitching.  It's so easy and a great way to add a little texture.  This is cream thread with a gold bobbin thread -- just a little bit of sparkle shows through.

This heart mambi chip fits on the Amy Tangerine paper almost perfectly!  It was too good not to use.  I love how it keeps the flow of the paper, but adds a little extra pop with the dimension and the glitter.  I also love how the b-side of the bottom strip of paper coordinated with the rest of the line.  I wanted to show it off, so I folded it down for extra texture!  

Today on the Whimsical Twist Blog!

There is a new challenge going up on the Whimsical Twist blog today -- and it's all about TEXTURE.  I love me some texture and dimension (don't even ask how many rolls of foam tape I go through!) so I was excited to create an inspiration piece using burlap (so autumnal!) and the new Family Traditions line by Adrienne Looman for Webster's Pages.  The full layout is up on the blog -- so go check it out and be sure to enter your own creation for a chance to win a Whimsical Twist gift certificate.

Fall Card

Fall is my hands down favorite season.  I love apple cider, the smell of fireplaces, the crisp autumn air, sweaters -- I love everything about fall.  I thought I would make a little card to celebrate my favorite season.  Again, I am a novice card maker, so don't be too harsh.



Stamping on cork gave me a messier impression than I was hoping for, but the look grew on me.  The gold leave is a button that I had left over from another project and the Bronte quote is from a MAMBI sticker set.  Firstly, a Bronte quote -- that's awesome.  Secondly, a Bronte quote about my favorite season ever -- that's swoon worthy!

Here is what I used:  Cardstock by American Crafts, Martha Stewart baker's twine, Glitter tape by American Crafts, a leaf button, sticker by Me and My Big Ideas, Cork sheet by Recollections,  a crazy old stamp set that I have no idea where it is from,  Vintage Photo Distress Ink, and sequins.

Yam Tastic!

Hi All!  I've been on vacation this past week, so I've been busy making memories instead of scrapping them.  It's been a blast, though!  Tie Dye, Watermelon, fireworks on the beach, family family family -- so much to record and remember.  Today, though, I wanted to share something a little older -- a page about the food I'm feeding baby Orli.

We took some great photos as we offered her new solid foods, and this set of photos of her eating yams was special to be because it included a photo of my husband feeding her -- but I already did a page about her eating solids.  So I decided to do a page about how I make all of her baby food myself here at home.  (BTW, I highly recommend a Cuisinart Baby to anyone who's looking to make baby food at home -- that thing is fantastic!)

(Our TV is not usually on ever, much less during dinner.  We were having some severe storms, though, so I was watching for storm warnings.  I feel so lame that the TV is on in that photo!  Bah!)

I hand stitched a frame around the photos and also drew a border to make it pop a little.  Add a little washi tape, some brads (I'll never be over brads) and some glitter Thickers and we're good to go.  The paper is Sweet Notes by Allison Kreft for Webster's Pages.  I haven't used a lot of that collection yet, but I love it, so I'm sure more is sure to come.  Gotta use it up with all my summer photos!

I won't be at the beach much longer, so expect more regular updates soon.  Until then, enjoy some summer!

Mega Baby!

Biggest baby in the Mother/Baby wing, no joke.

Baby girl was majority bloated after her birth, and i loved all the photos of her fat little face.  We called her the "Mega Baby" in the hospital because she dwarfed all the other newborns, so this was an ode to my little giant.  I used Dear Lizzy Neapolitan (which you will see me using a lot of)  and again kept it really simple out of necessity.  The colors are a little funky in this photo -- sorry about that.  Mommy's opportunities to take photos of layouts are fast and fleeting.  Love those little wooden buttons; picked those up in the Valentine's section of Michaels and think they're an American Crafts rebranding.  Super cute - I wish I had gotten two packs, because I'm actually close to running out.  I guess I'll just have to find something else to love!  Darn, I guess that means shopping.

Happy weekend, everyone!  Hope you're having nice Spring weather!

Being Born

When not enforcing naps, my lovely husband took over many baby duties, allowing me some blocks of time to sit down and play.

It was challenging, though, because these are such epic, important photos that I didn't want to jack them up with too much playing in the layout, or too trendy a paper -- I wanted something clean, timeless, but still fun and still "me".  So I pulled out some absolutely beautiful but understated paper from Webster's Pages Color & Composition line and went to town.  Add in some date stamping, Thickers, a flag I found on clearance at Target, and some glitter ribbon -- and I think it's sassy enough to be a "Laurie" page but classic enough that it will age pretty well in the book as years go by and I won't be horribly embarrassed when I look at it.  (And don't tell me you don't have older pages that you're embarrassed by in your books!  Somethings don't stand the test of time.  CIRCLE CUT PHOTOS I'M LOOKING AT YOU.)

Being Different (Than Myself)

Gummy candy in open bins?  YES PLEASE!

Didn't I just post on Halva?  I guess I've been inspired by food a lot lately.  That is because, um, of lady hormones, I think.  We'll be back to posts that don't feature food next week.  This week, lets chow down on some scrapbooking that was actually pretty hard for me because it deviated out of my normal colorways that I enjoy and feel comfortable in.  I took these pretty serious colors but wanted to make them true to my style (which I would describe as Rainbow Bright meets Clarissa Darling of Clarissa Explains it All and they have a disco party and you're invited!).  So how do I take my natural desire for neon and wild patterns and hand drawing and tone it down without completely losing interest?  I made myself a little checklist:

1. Pick a tamer version of a color you absolutely love (I picked this moss green variant of lime green)
2. Keep some bold pattern, just use it judiciously.  
3. Use the things you love, just make choices that fit within the color scheme.  (Thank you Tim Holtz washi tape!  And cute little "Sweet" doo-dad.  And not-quite matching but whatever, close enough glitter butterfly!) 
4. Keep the calm feeling with ample amounts of negative space
5. Add a little bit more interest with a graphic edge punch instead of adding more color

I think it worked out.  It was a struggle at times, but its fun to flip through my book and see a page that both doesn't look like my other pages, but still looks like I made it.  Don't you hate it when you're totally inspired by someones awesome page but then when you use their style it just doesn't feel like you anymore?   I feel like that all the time!  I think I struck a good balance this time, and doing something different makes me feel like I'm capable of designing on a larger scope than just what comes naturally to me.

How do you get out of your comfort zone?  Do you embrace the foreignness of creating something that doesn't look like you or do you add a little bit of yourself and your style into all of your layouts?  I would love to know!

Another Michaels Crop Night

No, that is not my husband.

Perfection is  overrated.

 I wrote awhile back about Micheal's Crop Night, and I went back last Friday for my second crop night and it was much more crowded but still pretty fun.  I got 5 layouts done in 6 hours and that is pretty darn productive.  I'm not much of a chatter and I happened to sit next to a chatty seventh grader who wanted to show me lots of photos of her dogs, so, in self preservation mode, I delved deep into that dark and creative place that tunes things out (while still being polite, of course) and got to work.  There is only so much of "This is my dog with hair, and here she is without hair and look, here she is wet!" (while, I would like to add, arguing with her sister across the table) that I can take.  And that amount is very little.  So I did answer all her questions (Favorite Movie: The Big Lebowski.  I don't have cable so I don't really watch much TV.  I have a cat.  My husband is an engineer and yes he likes to work a lot.  I don't use glue sticks, I prefer a tape runner) and told her a little about Israel since I had my photos from my last trip with me but after the initial questioning got busy with my SERIOUS CONCENTRATION FACE and my scissors and got down to business.  SERIOUS BUSINESS.

And, as anyone familiar with SERIOUS BUSINESS knows, the first stop on the SERIOUS TRAIN is a page about smootching a camel.  This SERIOUS PAGE included:

1. Glitter
2. Twine
3. Heart Paper
4. Gemstones
5. A paperclip
6. A View-Master Reel

As you can tell,  the chatty seventh grader must have thought I was the height of maturity and sophistication with my sensible and mature design choices.  Look at those repeated circles creating a visual triangle!  Enjoy the texture telling a visual story with a feel of ephemera without actually including a lock of the camel's hair.  (I mean, what could you possibly include from kissing a camel?  I have no idea.) Also, GLITTER AND TAPE AND BAUBLES WEEEEEEEEEEEEEE*!

*I did not say that out loud as I made this page, but I am certain I thought it and maybe even fist pumped once or twice when I got the placement just right.  Moral of this story:  Never go to a crop that I am at.  I am crazy.

BPC: Design Challenge 7

When I was your age I used film cameras and I liked it!  Just kidding, sorta.

I like things to look like what they are.  Let a chair look like a chair, don't disguise it as a high heeled shoe.  Dress children like children, not tiny adults.  And scrapbook pages that harken back to the original days of gluing photos to paper -- I like those a lot.  And so I was inspired to put away my paper trimmer (not that it cuts right angles, but that is a story for a different day) and pick up my handy dandy scissors and go to town with some brightly colored paper and some photos that I took on some vintage and toy cameras a few summers ago.

Luckily (?) I had my bike tire exploded by Andy's (who has asked to be referred to as Mr. Wonderful) uncle, so I had an interesting story to tell on my page.  Now you see, Uncle Wonderful (which is to say, Andy's Uncle) is a bike dude.  He has spandex pants and a shirt with pockets all over its back and shoes with clips and all that fancy stuff and a bike with like 107 speeds*.  I, on the other hand, have an awesome vintage 3 speed that I got at a garage sale.  So Uncle Wonderful does not approve of my tire inflation levels and comes over with his pump and proceeds to add so much air that my tire cannot take it and literally explodes.  The sound of a bicycle tire exploding is horrifying, by the way. 

So here we are, on a small island with one general store and an exploded bike tire.  We rent houses on the island, so we don't really know where any tools are to fix the bike and even if we had tools we don't have a replacement tire.  But the men of the Wonderful Family are true heros and hop on their bikes (the irony is not lost on me) to go to the island general store and see what can be done to repair my tire.

And they fix it.  There was a lot of digging in the rental house's garage and a good deal of sweating (its hot in July in Georgia) but my tire was repaired.  And, of course, by then I was cranky and tired and pretty over riding my bike around the island.  The cool morning had faded into the blistering afternoon and no one wants to ride around in that.  I mean, maybe you do if you have on spandex pants and a shirt with pockets on its back.  I can't say. 

Wow, that was rambly.

But the photos look vintage and I thought it was a good fit for a more traditional looking page.  And man do I love that paper.  Love love love!

*107 may be a touch high.