More Birthday Challenges

This week Lori really kept the challenges coming.  It is not only fun, but very inspiring.  For some reason the challenges get me started and then I have a lot of fun scrapping.

I am also back at work on my Ali Edwards class at Big Picture Scrapbooking (Yesterday and Today).  Even though the class officially ends this week, I have been very behind.  I went through and made sure that I had downloaded everything, and that I looked to see what weeks really made the most sense for me to complete.  I completed week 12 this week, and started on week 11.  Week 11 requires a week's worth of self-portraits, which is why I couldn't finish it this weekend!  Anyway, there are a couple more weeks that I want to complete, and then I will be done (for me). 

Final score: Weeks completed: 7 Weeks not completed: 4 Weeks in progress: 1

I was reflecting that I really did learn a lot through the class, and in many ways it has changed my scrapbooking far beyond the actual lessons.  I'm allowing myself some flexibility in my scrapbooks (different types of pages, page protectors and organization).  This is fun, invigorating and actually makes the albums more interesting.  I'm still trying to figure out how to make it all work, but at least I'm trying something different.

Okay, so here is my work from this week.

First, the Ali Edwards work.  Week 12 was all about ephemera.  I had this bag of things that I had saved from our Turkey trip, and I thought that this was just about perfect.  I hadn't really known what do with this stuff.  So, I took a divided page protectors, journaling blocks from Ali Edwards, and created something totally new.  I've never done this before, so it also works for the Apron Strings Designs Birthday Challenge #14: Today, do something new to you on your layout:  mists, paint, sewing, decoupage ;), chipboard, hand cutting, building your own embellishments, etc..  I'm still trying to fit it into my album, and I have a plan!  I have a couple more spreads to finish, so now I can work around this.  I think that I may try this idea on a regular basis, and have a divided page protector in every album, holding random stuff from the time covered.  We'll see...

Yesterday & Today: Week 12: Stuff

Second, I felt like scrapping some Christmas photos, and was inspired by some things I saw from some of the other designers.  For Challenge 15: Today create a layout using at least three different patterned papers. I went a little crazy and used about 6 different patterned papers.  I love how it turned out!  The patterned papers make up the strip on the left, the journaling block, the circles and the decorations.  I used some of the strategies that I learned from Nic Howard in her class that I took in the fall.

Finally, for Challenge #17: Today, incorporate a box, or block, on your layout.  I used this beautiful paper from Fancy Pants (Tradition).  I hadn't really known how to use the tree, which I loved.  However, I really like how this turned out.  I was pleased with the effect of cutting the edge of the tree and tucking the square underneath.

I'm not sure how much I will be able to get done next week.  My MIL comes into town and I'm sure that we will be busy together.

Thanks for stopping by!

More Challenges at the Birthday Party

Once again Apron Strings Designs kept me inspired and challenged with their birthday party on their blog.  I was super excited to see that I even won a prize last week!  But the best prize is having time to scrap and create.

My first creation, for Birthday Party Day #12: For your layout today, use at least four 1-2" strips of paper; no flames required was actually a birthday card (with flames!).  I make the background with 5 strips of paper.  I really like how it turned out.  The cake stamp is from {The Stamps of Life}. I have already used this set a ton, and it fun for making birthday cards.

My second creation was for Birthday Party Day #13 Today, use the following sketch from Sketchy Thursdays (love this site) on at least two layouts and I had a lot of fun with this one.  I am still waiting for a photo for the left side (from the birthday boy's mom), but I really wanted to work on this layout.

Finally, I combined my work from my class at Big Picture Classes (Yesterday and Today with Ali Edwards) with Birthday Party Day #11 Today create a layout using 6 or more photos - the more the merrier, right?  :)  I've been a bit behind, but I completed this layout for week 9.  This is a day in my life!  It was fun, and interesting, and I think that I will do something like this once a year or so.  It is a nice addition to what I usually scrap about.

So, that about covers it...I can't wait to see what Lori throws at us this week!

The Birthday Party Continues!

It was a rainy weekend here, and it made for some good scrapping time.  I was inspired by the challenges at Apron Strings Designs...as I mentioned, it is their 6th birthday!  During the week I wrote down the challenges, and then I used that as a starting off point for my creating.

My first project was based on challenge #6: Your challenge for today create a layout using banners.  I have been seeing a lot of banners in layouts, both online and in magazines, but I haven't really done any myself.  I decided to use this challenge for my title page.  I used "banners4all" from the {Stamps of Life} and "funky4lowabc".  I really like how it turned out.

Next, I started with the idea of challenge #9: Today add a bit of chaos to your page by putting something on an angle.  As I worked on the right hand page, I was suddenly completing challenge #5: Today incorporate scrapbook's version of Sprinkles:  Use at least 10 Buttons or Brads or, dare I say, Eyelets on your layout. I hadn't used eyelets in years!  But, it was fun to pound away (I don't have a crop-a-dial).  Here they are together.  This is from our trip to Turkey, and it was fun to look over these photos again.  I actually used a lot of different types of techniques on the right hand side, and after awhile I just wanted to be done.  But, I do like how it turned out.  I especially like the waves on the bottom of the left hand page.

I am trying to get to know my new cricut machine.  I still often have to cut things twice to get the right size.  BUT, I'm loving the letters and using paper to make the letters.  I can see that I might have to start collecting cartridges!

Have a great week :)

Happy Birthday Apron Strings!

This weekend I had a little bit of time on Sunday to dive into my scrapbook stuff.  It felt great!  It was nice to just have a few hours to create and look through all of my things.


At the same time, my favorite kit club, Apron Strings Designs had a number of challenges on their blog in celebration of their sixth birthday!  Wow!  Six years!  Way to go Apron Strings.  It's hard to keep a small business going, and Lori does an incredible job; every month is even better than the previous month and I get to try lots of new things.


So, I chose two challenges that I thought I would be able to get done in the time that I had.  First, I took on challenge #3: "make your journaling more than an afterthought." I knew the perfect layout!  I wanted to write about Big Picture Classes, and all of the fun I have been having.  For this layout I started with my journaling, rather than a photo.  I never do that!  Thanks for the challenge to get me going. Here is my layout.

Journaling Challenge

Second, I took on challenge #2: sketch challenge.  I love Becky Fleck, and her sketches at Page Maps.  Here is the sketch:

And, here is my take. I had a lot of fun, and it the photos brought back wonderful memories from a long weekend in November.

Challenge #2: Sketch Challenge

Did I mention that I have a new Cricut???  That will have to be on another post :)