Simple Magic : Simple Scrapper

Even bad (let's call them questionable, maybe?) photos that evoke sweet memories can make a good scrapbook page in my opinion.  The photos are certainly good enough to help spark the memory, despite being dark -- and who doesn't love a little lens flare?  I love the feeling of fall in this page.  Makes me want to trade in my hot cocoa for a little apple cider.

Again, this is a page done with a Simple Scrapper Sketch and Story Starter.  I think it turned out super cute, and it totally captured a memory that I want to save.  Aren't the most precious moments of motherhood those quiet afternoons of pretend and sweet hugs?  Well, the most precious moments are *really* a glass of wine after the little one is in bed, but this is a close second.  :)

I've got lots more to share this month, so stay tuned for more!

The Premium Membership at Simple Scrapper provides skills and shortcuts to help you simplify and find more meaning in your memory keeping.

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!

Celebrating with CREATE Magazine

  

Wow, has this past month been full of fun and exciting news!  First, I was asked to join the SEI Design Team and now I'm super excited to also announce that I'll be on Scrapbook Generation's CREATE magazine's creative team this coming year as well!  I am over the moon thrilled to have been asked to join this team of amazing scrapbookers and crafters that populate the pages of this amazing publication.   It is my opinion that CREATE is the freshest, most authentic scrapbooking magazine being published right now and I am just delighted to be part of it in the coming year.  So thank you to all the wonderful people at Scrapbook Generation for inviting me to join the team! I am super pumped to jump into a pile of paper, washi, sequins, stickers and glue and get to making!

And Now for Something Completely Different

Hanukkah scrapbooking materials seem to be either 1) super old fashioned or 2) non-exsistant -- so I'm working on creating a set of digital stamps/cut files to use in my December Daily this year and years to come.  If any of my Jewish friends out there want a free set to use as well, please leave me a comment and I'll get them to you once I'm finished with them (probably a week or so).  They are handwritten sentiments and are modern and pretty fun.  You can see a sample of my first one above.  It's not as sharp as I'd like, so I'll probably go back and do some editing with that, but it will hopefully give you an idea of what you'll get.

But yes, if you'd like a FREE set in the next few weeks, fill out my google form below and I'll get them to you.  After this offer, I may throw them up in an etsy shop for a small fee, so grab them now if you're interested.

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.

Kite Festival

I've been plugging away at the 6x6 paper class when I get a chance, and here is what I did with the sixth sketch in the class.  I found working with a strip of horizontal photos really challenging -- it is very much not my usual MO when it comes to how I put things together.  I kept adding washi to echo the line of the photos, and eventually it came together for me.  I'm not sure it's one of the better pages I've made, but it was a great learning experience with working through it's issues.  

I did use some cloud washi that I got with a kit that I had never used, so that was exciting for me.  Add in some hand drawing on the kite I cut with my silhouette as a cute and personal detail and it adds those little finishing touches that really make a layout feel complete to me.  I love to draw on my layouts.   I guess it seems like it puts a little bit of laurie onto the page.  Pretty paper is good, but the essence of me is what I really aim to capture.  This is my life and this is what I draw; my pages are an extension of me.  Forgive me, I got philosophical just now -- it's been a long day with lots of laundry.  :)

Much love to everyone out there in cyberspace.  Hope the chill of fall is warming your hearts!

Exciting News with SEI

Today I get to announce the exciting news that I've been asked to join the SEI 2015 Design Team!  I am super honored and can't wait to share some of the fun things I get to create (HELLO FABRIC DYE!!!).  It's a great group of designers and I'm just thrilled to be part of it.  So stay tuned -- I should be up and running with projects in the next month.  

While you're here, check out the blogs of the other designers -- they are all awesome!

Jennifer Davis: http://www.livelifecreateart.blogspot.com/

Kelly Holbrook: http://kellyrholbrook.blogspot.com/

Piali Biswas: http://touchofcreation.blogspot.com/

Stephanie Kensy: http://stephaniekensy.com/

Blog Hop Fun and an Appology

 Hi everyone!  I want to thank the lovely Penny at Pennyscraps for including me in this fun scrappy blog hop!  It's my turn to answer questions, so here I go:



1. What am I working on right now?

Right now it's the Jewish High Holy Days, so I'm mainly working on craft projects that aren't scrapbook related.  Tonight I'll be crafting my own version of this Lulav and Etrog set for my little girl.

        2. How long does it take me to create a project?

I usually do a page or two in an evening.  It rarely takes me longer than two hours beginning to end -- I just don't have time for anything longer, and I like to finish a page in one sitting if at all possible.

Sometimes mist splatters cause a project to take longer -- drying time is the worst!

        3. What are my favorite things to create with at the moment?

I love white cardstock, washi tape, gold, boldly colored paper, vellum, and tiny little embellishments.  I think I'm hitting a less-is-more phase in my creating.

This layout is obviously from a more-is-more phase, but I still love it!

        4. How does my writing/creating process work?

I keep little notes in my planner about  stories I want to tell or things that inspire me: my daughter's love of pretzels, painting the kitchen cabinets, walks in the woods to throw acorns in the creek, our family's shabbat celebrations -- and then, when I have a moment, I find photos, or take photos, to match the stories.  Usually stories come before photos when I create.  Sometimes photos come first, like family outings to the pumpkin patch, but generally I scrap with a story in mind and find photos to match that.  I create my pages to tell the story, but do pick papers and embellishments to compliment the photos that go along with the story.  I've been playing with sketches lately, but generally I just take my photos, pick some paper, and go for it.  I don't keep a large stash, so I'm able to go through papers and decide on what I want to use fairly quickly.  

Done with a Paper Camellia sketch and kit.
 I'm 100% pro monthly kit, using it all up, and that being my "stash".

        5. How do I become inspired and stay inspired?

I love looking at other people's projects, but I am mainly inspired by the drive to memory keep and play with pretty paper at the same time.  I have a fairly unique style that I embrace, so when I look at other people's layouts, I am most often inspired by their stories rather than the way they cut up their paper (although I always love to look at pretty things!).  Life is so fun and beautiful and fleeting -- I want to record all those fun little details that make my life uniquely mine.  That drive inspires me.  

Hanukkah layout -- and what a miracle she is!

        6. What is my signature style?

Wow, that's a hard one.  I guess I tend to enjoy bold, saturated colors, tend subconsciously avoid right angles, and do most of my paper cutting with scissors rather than a trimmer.  I enjoy a graphic but organic look to my pages.  I like to do my journaling by hand and doodle on my pages as well.  Mainly I like to play and have fun, and don't take my pages too seriously.  It's just paper, after all.  :)

Totally my style, right here.

__________________________________________

Okay, so here is where I freely admit failure -- I've been so busy with the holidays that I totally neglected to get folks to link to.  So I encourage you to visit the other folks Penny linked to and check out their links.  In the spirit of Yom Kippur, which was Saturday, please do forgive me and check out the links that these lovely ladies selected instead!

Stephanie Feltus  http://craftyholidaygirl.blogspot.com 

TinaGale Husong  http://tiggersscrapplace.blogspot.com  

Paper Camellia Reveal Day!

It's reveal day over at Paper Camellia!  This month's kits are a delight -- they always sell out fast, so snatch one up while you have the chance!

The Good Life

A quick and fun layout today that I did using a Scrapbook Generation sketch (from the 6x6 class) -- I didn't have much purple paper in my small paper pads; I think I used most everything I had.  Some funky tape, a fun Silhouette cut title and I'm pleased enough with how it turned out.  I'm enjoying the challenge of two page layouts lately.  I'm such a one-page girl by nature.  Getting out of my comfort zone is fun!

Rain Dancer

I've been going through my stash trying to use things up and I had these fun little October Afternoon rain clouds.  They came with a kit, and while I'm not sure I'd ever buy them for myself, I basically designed this layout around them (based off a Scrapbook Generation sketch).  Love that Mon Ami paper with the rain and the clouds -- perfect for my photos of Orli dancing in the rain.  And the best news -- the chipboard clouds are now in my album and off of my desk.  Gotta love that!

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!

She's a Book Worm

Another layout from this summer that I haven't yet posted.  I cut into an older set of papers by Websters Pages and I just love the happy colors that echo the colors on my girl's shirt.  As you can tell, I was very into (and I still am very into!) great big pictures on my pages.  Story first, then decoration -- and the story is all about the photo in this one.

I'd like to say that this layout makes me long for summer again, but the truth is that it's still in the 90s in this part of the world and I want fall to come like nothing else.  I'm totally looking forward to the Chickaniddy Scrumptious line.  I just love that line -- I can't wait to pick up some pieces!

Bring on Apple Cider Weather!

Love That Tongue

I am so behind posting, you guys, and I am totally sorry.  Life happened -- we bought a house, moved, my baby girl turned into a toddler, started one year old preschool, projects at the new house piled up (and continue to do so -- goodness knows there are always about 100 things to be done at any given time!).  I'm going to get better about posting regularly, though, I swear.  Things are calming down at the new house, as in things are unpacked and everything mostly has a place, so I'll have time to scrap and blog more regularly now.  

This is a page I made over the summer utilizing a lot of orange, and I love how it turned out.  I'm a color girl, so I enjoy the bold on white.  I've been pondering lately simplifying my scrapping style, getting rid of stuff, and memory keeping in a very basic, clean way.  I think this layout is a good move in that direction.  Still fun and enjoyable to make, but less visual clutter while still looking a little funky.  I think all the white space helps.

You'll hear from me again soon, friends!  I won't get so behind again!

Hello Sweet Thing

Valentines Day is fast approaching and I'm filled to the brim with love.  Love for my girl, love for my husband, love for the world at large.  This is the result of some of my love leaking out onto my craft table.  Who can resist a sweet little face covered in cookie crumbs?  Not this mommy.

I'm super into doilies right now, if you couldn't tell.  Can't get enough of them.  Which is good, because I have a giant stack!  This layout was done with thePaper Camellia February Kit -- so if you like the papers, go check it out.

Reveal Day at Paper Camellia!

Today is Reveal Day at Paper Camellia Kits!  I love reveal day!  This month is a beautiful kit full of mint, soft teal, reds, pinks and grey.  

I'll be sharing a few more layouts over the next few days, but be sure to go and check out the kit!  

Moon and Back with me & my BIG ideas

Chalkboard is everywhere now and I am still loving it.  I'm still loving chevrons, too.  So this page is basically full of my favorite things:  my adorable baby, bold graphic patterns, saturated color, and a touch of fun texture.  All the paper came from one awesome mambi sheets pad:

Everything you need in one pad?  Couldn't be easier!  And you can make A LOT of pages from a pad.

Hope you're staying warm -- it's cold out there!  No better time to put on an extra sweater and scrap, I say!  :)

Sketch fun with Paper Camellia

I'm normally not a sketch user, but when the amazingly talented and awesome Kristine Davidson put together a sketch for the Paper Camellia blog, I couldn't help but want to join in on the fun.  Here is the sketch for January:

And here is what I did with it:

Am I the only one who thinks that printshop card says "lone" instead of "love"?  My second grade teacher would not approve of that cursive!  

Paper Camellia Jan 2014 Kit Fun

Hi everyone!  I'm back from my holiday hiatus and today I wanted to share some layouts I made using the lovely Paper Camellia January 2014 Kit!

So many embellishments!  And beautiful colors, too!

This one is my favorite so far.  I love the simplicity.

I'll have more to share a little later -- so stay tuned!