Sunday, July 14, 2013

So I'm Going to Try Something Rather New For Me. . .

For the last month or so, life was increasingly busy, and all around crazy. As a result, I seem to have fallen behind, like way behind, on my Project Life. I even considered just giving up on it, as I'm sure many who do PL have done in the past. However, seeing as how I just started it at the beginning of April, that seemed like the easy way out. It wasn't that I found the process too daunting or that I didn't have enough pictures, It's just that for the month of June all my pictures seemed to be lost in the mix somehow. I actually blame the fact that I got a new phone as the main reason I have very little to show for June. I went from an iPhone 4 to a Galaxy S4, and while I love it so much better than my iPhone, it took some time to learn how to operate a phone that runs completely different than my iPhone did. After thinking about it (a lot!), I came to the conclusion that I really do like everything about project life. I still create traditional 12x12 layouts, and don't think I'll ever give that up, but doing project life is something completely different to me - it's like the Cliff Notes version of our lives. So, because I like the process, the creating and the end product of project life, I've decided to stick with it. As for now, I've picked it back up starting in July, as well as trying to round up as many pictures as I can find for the month of June. Seeing as how there are only
This particular week was a challenge because, although it may not look like it, it was light on the pictures. When this happens, it's difficult for me to complete the spread because I have a difficult time using filler cards. I have no idea what the mental block is for me, but it just happens that way. For the filler pocket with the quote, I actually dug out something very old from my stash. I'm not sure who made it, but the quote came in a booklet. Each booklet is themed, and all the quotes are printed on vellum. I'm sure exactly how old it is, but I'd guess somewhere between 8-10 years old. So, I was really proud of myself for using it. :-) Here's a closer look at the left side of the page. . .
The calendar pocket is by Studio Calico. While it is one of my favorite PL items, it is also one that I struggle to use. Because I don't use any of the "official" PL core kits, I like all of my spreads to be unique to that week. So, when using the calendars, I try to incorporate them differently every month, so it doesn't look like the one I used in the previous month. In case you haven't noticed, I completely erased the easiness that the PL system is supposed to have. lol And lastly, here is a closer look at the right page. . .
One of my favorite things about PL is that I can include things that I wouldn't make a whole layout for otherwise. For example, my son's friend had a birthday party on this particular week. It isn't a friend he sees outside of scouts, so it's someone he isn't especially close to. For this reason, I probably wouldn't include it in our traditional scrapbook. But, the PL album is a place for things like this. Also, as you can see below, I was able to include the bracelet the trampoline place gave my son, and treat it as an embellishment.
Overall, I'm pretty happy with this spread. I like being able to use parts of my kits to make my PL layouts because it makes it so much easier to pull them together. I get why some people use the PL core kits, but I'm pretty sure they just aren't from me. I even bought a mini core kit for the boys to add things to their albums, but I believe only one card out of the whole kit has been used at this point. Hopefully there will be another PL post next Sunday, if I can figure out what/how I want to handle the few pics I have for the month of June.

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Proof That Scrapbooking is Completely Subjective

So often it seems that so many of us scrapbookers, myself included, become hyper-critical of our own creations. I know for a fact that, when it comes to scrapbooking, I am a perfectionist and need things to be a certain way. This type of self-induced stress may seem all for not to those who do not understand the joy we get when our creations meet or exceed our expectations. It wasn't until I saw my son and his friend scrapbooking that I felt a bit silly about how much I dissect some of my pages, even re-doing the parts that aren't perfect in my eyes. The boys started with Sn@p! albums, purchased at Michael's. After they decided that they wanted the cardboard portion of the cover decorated, they began going through my stash to find the perfect papers for their newly acquired scrapbooks. Of all the papers I had, and there are quite a few, both of them decided on the only shiny paper I had. Then, they set out picking out a ribbon to cover the seam where the paper met the fabric, and some washi for the edges. Here's the end result.
Personally, I think it looks like the 4th of July threw up all over their books. But, the important thing is that my "clients" were happy with the design of their books. Then, they set off to decorated a cover page - that is, after I explained to them what a cover page was and why they needed one lol I helped them pick out a sheet for their cover page, then they went through my Thickers stash to find the perfect font in the perfect color. After they settled on a title, and put everything down (by themselves), they decided they wanted to put stickers on it. . . and the stickers kept coming.
To say there was a sticker sneeze on their pages seems to be a huge understatement. The boys found every sticker they liked, and put them on their pages. The point of all this? Nathan and Zach absolutely LOVE the pages they've created, and can't wait to get started on putting pictures in their albums. Yes, they took their books to everyone that would look at them to show what they've made. But, to those boys, that's the best thing they've ever made - no matter what anyone else thinks. They put everything they like on that one page. They didn't worry if it would match. They didn't agonize over the placement of things, or whether it was "perfect" or not. They were creative, and enjoyed every single minute of it. I was supposed to be teaching them how to scrapbook, but Nathan and Zach taught me to enjoy the whole process and appreciate the imperfections.

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Don't Tell Me What To Do!

Generally speaking, I really don't like to be told what to do. And really, does anyone like to be told what to do? lol Don't get me wrong, I'm all about abiding by "the rules" most of the time. I don't go around stealing candy from kids and pushing elderly people into oncoming traffic, but thinking outside the lines is good for the soul every now and then. Ok, so what's the point? When I do creative things like scrapbooking and making cards, I tend to stay away from paper that only has one image on one side/corner of the paper. This kind of paper becomes problematic right off the bat because 1.) I feel it confines my creativity, something that I never want to happen when I'm scrapbooking, making cards, and/or being all around crafty; and 2.) I'm still using a lot of the old Creative Memories 12x12 albums, the ones that require you to cut off about 1/2" off one of the sides - this means losing part of said hindrance. I guess I could just avoid these types of papers altogether and just go on with my life, which is what I've done up to this point, but I subscribe to kits and sometimes they come in those. Yeah, I know, totally overthinking it, but it's what makes me me. :-) Last October, I ordered a special add-on Halloween kit from Scraptastic Club, as well as some papers I picked up along the way. Last week, I decided to scrap some Halloween pics. . . from 2005! (It's so great that I don't scrap chronologically, or this might really stress me out. lol) In my stash, along with the Scraptastic Club kit, I found the cutest paper with an owl in the corner - I've tried to find out the name of the company that makes it, but just couldn't. I also found this paper from the October Afternoon Witch Hazel 8x8 pad:
Always being one to want to challenge myself creatively, I decided to stop avoiding these papers, and finally use them. Thanks to an episode of Glitter Girl that I was watching, which can be seen (here, I felt empowered to use at least the OA sheet. I have to say, I absolutely love the way it came out, it was so much better than I imagined.
Here's a closer look at how I actually layered with the sheet:
After this layout turned out so well, these types of papers became a lot less intimidating. So, I took out the aforementioned cute owl paper, and decided it was time to make it a part of the scrapbook, too. Admittedly, it was much more difficult to use, but I like the way it looks, too.
I used a glittery piece of the My Mind's Eye Hallows Dots, and thought it might be too much, but the rest of the layout seems to tone it down.
The title is also made using a rub-on from about the same time the pictures were taken, so I feel like I get a triple word score for that layout - I used paper that intimidated me, overly glittery paper, and something from my stash that is at least 6 years old. Go me! ETA: I have no idea why there are no paragraphs, and that one picture is so stinkin' huge. I've redone it THREE times, and it still won't work. SOrry!