Opposites!!!

Throughout the summer I have been challenging myself to use my Scrap Shotz kit remnants and collection scraps to their fullest extent. When I scrap, I am a paper heavy scrapper so to have remnants is a bit of rarity...but no matter how frugal I make my cuts, I will inevitably have a few strips here and there. So what do I do with them?

Well, here is an option...use them to create a unique photo mat and create a platform for larger accents.

Supplies:  Close to my Heart (cardstock); Pink Paislee/Collage Press (pattern paper, die cut accents); Prima (mistables, gems); Tattered Angels (mist); Tsukineko (mist); Heidi Swapp (chipboard flower); Basic Grey (chipboard accent, alphas); Evalicious (felt accent); Making Memories (mini alphas); American Crafts (chipboard accents); Fiskars (border punch)

To create added textures and interest on my layout which I would normally do with pattern paper, I used various accents from my stash...to take the place of the "O"s I did not have for the title and to balance the layout. For my layouts, there are bits and pieces of symbolism like the heart to show the love between sisters, the clock to symbolize the passage of time, to the butterflies flitting their wings as they grow and to the dressmakers mannequin they each have in their room to hang their jewellery.

Thanks for dropping by - I hope I have inspired you to create from your heart!

The Little Details

Do you look back at your layouts that you have lovingly scrapped? I don't always look back but my family especially my kids love looking and reading the layouts. The two most asked questions I receive are..."Who is that in this picture?" and "When was this picture taken?" Do you get asked these questions too???

I always thought I would remember every detail of my girls' lives - their adventures, their foibles and their annoyances but....as I scrap my older images this summer it is very apparent I do not remember everything. So now when I scrap I make a point of including the names of everyone in the picture, not necessarily on the front of the layout as I will note the individuals on the back of the layout, when the photo was taken and the location of the image. Sure there are lots of times when I do not know where exactly the shot was taken but I will try to include the city at the very least. When I look back at the few layouts I have created, it gives me a wonderful anthology of our lives. Years from now, I hope it creates a succinct timeline for my ancestors and poignant memories for my daughters.

So besides the What? try to include the Who? and the When? and the Where? Some inspiration for you....as you can see I snuck the information into the layouts. If I didn't know the exact date, I included the year and the place. When we look at the layouts, my family and I have had lively discussions of our adventures. And if you look closely, you will also see my handwriting. While I am still not comfortable with my handwriting, it is a nice record of me on every layout...or so my family tells me! (I still computer journal but every so often, some handwriting is included too!)

Supplies:  Scrap Shotz monthly kit featuring Little Yellow Bicycle (pattern paper, layered die cut embellishments, transparencies, journal spots); Prima (gems and pearls); Basic Grey (chipboard alphas)

Supplies:  Scrap Shotz monthly kit featuring Little Yellow Bicycle (pattern paper, layered die cut embellishments, transparencies, journal spot); Prima (gems, pearls and wood veneers); Tsukineko (mist); Basic Grey (chipboard alphas); Kaisercraft (butterfly)

Thank you so much for dropping by! (I know I have not posted in a long long long time but I am hoping to change that - life has been extraordinarily busy these past few months...but I greatly appreciate any and all visitors!)

Got Sketch?

Ok it has been much too long since I last posted...*blush* No excuses it is just me being busy with life. However, it sure is great being back scrapping...and there is nothing better than scrapping to a Valerie Salmon sketch.

Here is my take on Sketch 152.

Supplies:  Bazzill (cardstock); Authentique (pattern paper, die cut stickers, alphas); WRMK (chomper); Tattered Angels (glimmer mist); Ranger Perfectly Pearls (mist); BasicGrey (raw chipboard);

Supplies: Bazzill (cardstock); Close to my Heart (cardstock); BoBunny (pattern paper, dimensional chipboard); EK Success (border punch); WRMK (chomper); Queen & Co (pearls)

Thanks for dropping by!

December Daily with Got Sketch? Days 6-10

In continuation with my December Daily, please let me share my pages for days 6 through to 10.

I must confess that assembling this album has been one of my most favorite projects and as I look at each page, I cherish it oh so much more.

Supplies:  Bazzill (cardstock); Simple Stories (pattern paper, ATC card); Urban Lily (chipboard numbered circle); Making Memories (vintage foil leaf); WRMK (chomper); VersaMagic (liquid chalk)

Supplies:  Bazzill (cardstock); Simple Stories (pattern paper, label); Urban Lily (chipboard numbered circle); American Crafts (Slick Writer); WRMK (chomper); VersaMagic (liquid chalk)

Supplies:  Bazzill (cardstock); Simple Stories (pattern paper); Urban Lily (chipboard numbered circle); Jillibean Soup (journal spot); Evalicious (conversation bubble); WRMK (chomper); VersaMagic (liquid chalk)

Supplies:  Bazzill (cardstock); Simple Stories (pattern paper); Hemptique (hemp twine); BoBunny (dimensional glitter butterfly); Prima (gems); Heidi Swapp (number 9); Making Memories (glittered alphas); EK Success (circle punch); Copics (spica pen for stitching on tag); VersaMagic (liquid chalk)

Supplies:  Bazzill (cardstock); Simple Stories (pattern paper); Jillibean Soup (corrugated die cut shapes, journal spot); Making Memories (glitter numbers); Fiskars (border punch); WRMK (chomper); VersaMagic (liquid ink)

Thanks for letting me share - the sketches can be found on Valerie Salmon's Got Sketch? blog.

December Daily with Got Sketch?

From the time Ali Edwards introduced the concept of the December Daily, I have been intrigued and took on the challenge head on! 'Tis true that I have one unfinished yet but the December Dailies that are finished are some of my most cherished albums. My approach is not to document all things Christmas but to celebrate the month of December, busy as it is, with my family.

Here are a few pages from my album. The very talented Valerie Salmon of Got Sketch? has created 5 stunning and versatile sketches that are re-used for the month of December. Her sketches can be found here.

Below are my first 5 pages...

Supplies:  Bazzill (cardstock); Simple Stories (pattern paper, die cut stickers); Queen & Co (acrylic die cut shapes); Hemptique (hemp twine); Prima (gem star); Scenic Route (chipboard star); Tattered Angels (glimmer mist); American Crafts (chipboard #1); WRMK (chomper); VersaMagic (liquid chalk)

Supplies:  Bazzill (cardstock); Simple Stories (pattern paper, ATC card); Jillibean Soup (journal spot); American Crafts (glitter chipboard #2); VersaMagic (liquid chalk)

Supplies:  Bazzill (cardstock); Simple Stories (pattern papers, die cut stickers); WRMK (chomper); Urban Lily (chipboard numbered circles); VersaMagic (liquid chalk)

Supplies:  Bazzill (cardstock); Simple Stories (pattern paper); Hemptique (hemp twine); Maya Road (chipboard #4); Tattered Angels (glimmer mist); EK Success (circle punch); Websters (ribbon roses); WRMK (chomper); VersaMagic (liquid chalk)

Supplies:  Bazzill (cardstock); Simple Stories (pattern paper); Prima (flowers); WRMK (chomper); Maya Road (chipboard #5); Tattered Angels (glimmer mist); VersaMagic (liquid chalk)

Thank you for letting me share! And Thank You Val for letting me a part of this unbelievablely awesome Got Sketch? team.

Shadow Box Photo Card

Gosh, it really has been a long time since I posted something scrappy on my blog - yikes! I have been scrapping but just oh so busy with life!

Here is the make and take I made for Scrap Shotz at the recent Carnival (Creative Stitches).

The full instructions to make this card can be found here.

Natural Light: Week 4

Well this is a bittersweet moment...week 4...gulp... Before I post my last images I must say a big thanks to Sarah and Brooke. This has been a wonderful class and I have enjoyed every moment of it! Thank you!

For this assignment, I chose to shoot outdoors. The weather has been questionable, cloudy and grey skies...but I wanted to give it my best. Here are a couple of silhouettes which I have fun doing. Now I must qualify that these were shot around mid-day (4 pm-ish) so I didn't capture the setting or rising sun but there was a break in the thick cloud cover so I took my chances!

Here is the original shot with an auto white balance.

And here it is again with my white balance as tungsten (I believe?)

And yes I made my daughter jump a third time to shoot with a white balance of kelvin! (The things I do to capture the shot!)

I really hope I captured the essence of the assignment - thanks again Sarah and Brooke for 4 fabulous weeks of shooting and learning!

Natural Light: Week 3

Wow, the Natural Light course from Brooke Snow is almost over - it is hard for me to believe as I am really loving the exercises. Now I am not saying they are easy but each assignment has made me stop and pause before I press the button...so that is a good thing.

This week we were challenged to capture an image using contrasting light that draws attention to the subject. I was rather fascinated by the discussion on sun bursts and wanted to give that a try. Did I succeed? I don't know. The image below is close to what I wanted but not quite...and I had not a clue on how to edit it so left it as is other than resizing it for the web. Any tips you can give me to edit such image would be greatly appreciated!

So here is the image and I know it is a big no-no to post 2 images but here is my reasoning. Compositionally, I like this image better from a compositional point of view...and I like the drama of the sky but I like the spiky sun rays of the second image better!

While I love the spikey sun rays of this image better, I do not like the sun to be in the dead centre of my image and I could see the power pole in the back. Yes I was trying to be careful about composing my shot but if truth be told I felt myself going blind by shooting directly into the sun even though I was pushing some button that limits the light into my lens! And, I suppose I could have cropped the image but then I wondered if the image was too dark so I found myself in a bit of a conundrum! 

Anyways I am keen to hear your feedback this week as I wasn't very happy with my results this week...and Sarah, I am deeply sorry for your loss...you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Natural Light: Week 2

Hello Brooke and Sarah! Below are my submissions for Week 2. If we are speaking truths now, I must say I messed up the assignment.

When you asked for a hazy photo, I know you wanted a photo with something like this...but when I was here capturing the time and location of my shot, I had not a cute subject nearby! Consequently, I am left with this...

Now the bigger questions is whether I can capture this gorgeous light again but with a subject in the image, yes? I love this light but I missed the sunset light by about 15 minutes as the sun is setting quite early now...my apologies...

Then I thought, could my other images be considered hazy??? The answer was no. Actually I blew out the image as I over exposed the image :-(

Now for a sharp backlit image...(psst...I know I am supposed to only post 2 but my rellies from abroad like to read my blog from time to time so I hope you will excuse my indiscretion!)

 

I look forward to hearing my review this week - thanks! Don't read any further because I am going to post my mistaken assignment part now! Thanks Brooke and Sarah!

For everyone else, I misread the assignment and thought I was to shoot a silhouette - oops! I did however surprise myself as I did not think it would be possible to shoot a silhouette with a deeply setting sun at 6:30 ish in the evening...ah the joys of the impending winter...

 

Watch for my subsequent post this week!

Natural Light: Week 1

Welcome back to my blog - it has been 2 months since I have posted anything, yikes! Gosh, life has been busy!!!

Let me start with some photos from Brooke Snow's Natural Light class. I love Brooke and her teaching style. After watching her videos, I am so inspired to practice and practice and practice.

Our assignment this week was Catch Lights and Even Light. Up until a week ago, I "thought" I understood how to capture catch lights. When I looked back at images I recently shot, it looked like there were catch lights in the eyes...but then it got me thinking...did I "really" know how to capture catch lights or did I just get lucky???

So all week long I was practicing the study elements and struggled to shoot with catch lights! What gives??? Eeek! In a last ditch attempt, here are my images from today, shot with a cloudy sky and sinking sun. I so love the glow of the setting sun though :-)

Here is the catch lights...(I hope!)...and yes, this is not a stellar smile on her face!

And no catch lights ...

I look forward to hearing from you!

Got Sketch Express 3: Sketch 8

Valerie Salmon has created fabulous sketch classes - if you haven't tried one, you should definitely give it a go! Her sketches are so versatile and easy to use. For myself, I find I save her sketches and use them over and over again. When all the layouts are in my albums, no one will ever know the sketches have been re-used!

Here is my interpretation of Sketch 8 from her recent Got Sketch Express class. Don't you love the dancing circles on the bottom of the layout? I adore it! And in my Idea Book, I will repeat the sketch again but substitute the bubbles for waves and even flowers - see what I mean about versatile???

Supplies:  Bazzill (cardstock); Echo Park (pattern paper, die cut stitckers); American Crafts (alphas); Kaisercraft (large butterfly); Maya Road (chipboard alphas); Tattered Angels (glimmer mist); Spellbinders (circle dies); Queen & Co (pearls)

Here is a close-up of the bubble border!

Thanks for dropping by!

Laugh

I wanted to share an uber quick layout with two 4x6 photos...of my daughter's birthday sleepover party.  The papers are from a very old BasicGrey collection, Lickety (something? sorry I can't remember) ... the papers were perfect for the festive mood of the party and the colours!

As you all know, I adore vivid colours with bold papers. It is sometimes a challenge to use the papers side by side without the layout looking cluttered or overwhelming. One technique I use often to give the eye a rest is to mat the adjoining pattern papers with a basic coloured cardstock such as white, black or cream. My layout below demonstrates this oh so easy technique.

Supplies:  BasicGrey (pattern paper, cardstock borders, cardstock accents, alphas); stitching; EK Success (border punch); Queen & Co (gems)

Thank you so much for dropping by!

Grown with Love!

Sorry I have not posted in awhile...we have been away, vacationing in France and England! It has been a trip of a lifetime and one that I am glad to have shared with my family. Stay tuned for layouts with my gajillion pictures! Now onto the layout I am sharing!

My youngest has a green thumb. She has always been an outdoorsy type of girl and loves any activity that provides her with that opportunity. Gardening is something she has fun with but needs my help...of course! This layout documents the rewards of her efforts...and I think she is pretty darn cute too!

Supplies:  BasicGrey (laser cut paper, pattern paper, chipboard accents, chipboard borders, alphas); American Crafts (border punch)

Here is a close-up of the arrow! I struggle with arrows but this funky chipboard arrow was perfect for my layout. As you also know I love pop dots and use them alot to create dimension on my project. Below is a close-up of the area on the my layout!

Thanks for dropping by!

Flower Child

It is summer in Calgary...well as summery as Calgary can be! When I saw the Tigerlily papers from Kaisercraft, I knew exactly what pictures to use.

In the collection, there are several yummy pattern papers, some softly patterned and others with bold designs and vivid colours. I personally love the packet of coordinating die cuts as there is a wide assortment included. The colours are rather summery; there is a sweet pairing of orange and pink with a touch of chocolate brown...all in all, these papers are perfect for those spring/summer days, birthdays, weddings and that special little girl in your life.

Supplies:  Bazzill (cardstock); Kaisercraft (pattern paper, die cut, words); Stampin' Up (torn book edge punch); American Crafts (alphas); WRMK (chomper); stitching

Thanks for dropping by!

Field of Dreams

Want a quick and easy layout to make? Maybe my layout will inspire you?

I found this photo of Danielle on my desk; well, it has been sitting there for awhile now but I have not had a chance to scrap it yet...until now. 

Supplies:  BasicGrey (die cut pattern paper, patern papers, die cuts, dimensional accents, alphas); Queen & Co (pearls); Prima (alphas); EK Success (square punch); Tim Holtz (mini attacher); Little Yellow Bicycle (dimensional butterfly)

Thanks for dropping by!

Playground Moments

Whoooo hoooo summer is here! In Calgary, summer is so short that in our household we capitalize on every waking moment, the first of which is savouring the local playground!

Here is a layout capturing our time!

Supplies:  Echo Park (pattern paper, die cut stickers, alphas); Fiskars (cloud punch); Hemptique (hemp); EK Success (square punch); American Crafts (pen for faux stitching); Queen & Co (pearls)

And a close-up of the fun clouds!

A side view of the dimension!

Supplies:  Echo Park (pattern paper, die cut stickers, alphas); Fiskars (cloud punch); Hemptique (hemp); EK Success (square punch); American Crafts (pen for faux stitching); Queen & Co (pearls)


Does your family love playgrounds too?

Authentique Celebrate

Celebrate with me using Authentique's stunning line titled Authentique. This line features the standard heavier good quality paper weight, along with gorgeous patterns and bold colours.

Here is my layout which documents my daughter's first track meet.

Supplies:  Authentique (pattern paper, alphas); Close to my Heart (cardstock); Cosmo Cricket (alphas); Heidi Swapp (number 6); Hemptique (hemp)

Thanks for dropping by!

Got Sketch! Sketch #132

Awhile back I created this layout for Valerie Salmon's Sketch #132.

SOURCES  Bazzill (cardstock); Authentique (pattern paper, brad); Heidi Swapp (gem oval frame); Prima (resistant canvas); Tattered Angels (glimmer mist); Kaiser (gems and pearls); American Crafts (alphas); EK Success (border punch); stitching

Got Sketch 107 Sketch #6

Sketch #6 from Valerie Salmon's Got Sketch 107 class is what I call a quick and easy sketch. It is like the Little Black Dress every woman has in her closet. It look stunning on its own but is dynamite with a few accessories! LOL

Here is my interpretation of the sketch...

Supplies:  Bazzill (cardstock); Echo Park (pattern paper, die cut stickers, alphas); Fiskars (cloud punch); Spellbinders dies; Cosmo Cricket (chipboard accents); American Crafts (pen for faux stitching); EK Success (border punch); Queen & Co (pearls)

Scrapbooking Pressure???

Have you ever felt pressure or anxiety when scrapping? Are there certain photos and/or events that you are apprehensive about scrapping or have not scrapped? If so, you are not alone! Me too!

15 years later and I still haven't scrapped my wedding! Why? I am worried about doing justice to my wedding photos and memories. Birthday photos...a similar feeling but not so paralyzing! Recently, after 12 years of birthday photos, I realized I needed to get over my fear and start scrapping!

So....guess what? Yup, I have some birthday layouts to share...yeah, me!!! To start off the birthday layout parade, I have a double pager of Danielle's 5 year birthday party which showcases the yummy BoBunny collection. It was my interpretation of Valerie Salmon's Sketch #122...which can be found here.

Supplies:  Bazzill (cardstock); BoBunny (pattern paper, alphas, die cut), WRMK (chomper)

 And Madison's 11th sleepover birthday party using the luscious Pink Paislee collection...

Supplies:  Pink Paislee (pattern paper, die cuts, chipboard accents); Prima (alphas); WRMK (chomper)

Thanks for dropping by!