Cuteness personified

It's Saturday. I'm going to go play. Without hearing anything of course. Until later:

Thanks for stopping in!

For all things NSD

Yeah yeah yeah. Some eye candy to make up for it is in order. Got super sick and tired (the no sleep probably contributed to it) and had to work and do all sorts of other stuff. If you stalk me online, you've seen it all, but if you're the one stop shop type...there you have it. All of it from my stash...didn't have to spend another penny to create them.

Ahhh...50/50 is going GRREEAT!

50/50 challenge...on the cheap

***Previously recorded post - I love scheduled posting not that I remembered how again so get used to it***

So how do you spend only $50 a year on scrap supplies? I mean seriously...especially if you're a paper scrapper (hey...one package of stickers can cost ya $4) or even if you're a digi scrapper? Those folks like myself who have already been doing it to it have a wealth of stash to get started with and really it just isn't fair to expect a newbie or a non-hoarder to spend only $50 for the rest of this year on scrap supplies.

But yes it is. You just need to know how to get your stuff on the cheap (aka, free).


You're reading a blog right? So probably my best tip for free scrap stuff is blog hopping. And make it easy for yourself by signing up for a blog reader like http://www.bloglines.com/ where you can track all 232 of your blogs effortlessly. Seriously...I'm back down to 62 and probably need to clear half of those out and add about 50 more of folks I've mysteriously managed to link to on my blog, but not on bloglines...go figure.

To that, some of my fave blogs to follow that are great with giveaways:

Robyn Werlich's {Discovering} Life - lots of stamp/scrap goodies
Ali Edwards' {A} - lots of scrap (paper and digi) and even scrap retreats
Kayla Aimee Only Slightly Neurotic - lots of SiS class spaces
KelliCrowe [i love folks that keep the blog name simple] - lots of scrap goodness
Ikea Goddess [did i mention my love of simple names?] - lots of digi scrap goodies

That should tide you over for a minute.

Layout of the Day | Sis eye candy faves

Actually of several days, but no matter. This was fun with a template by Tiffany.

So on most of the scrap galleries, there is an ability to save some of your fave layouts or even layout artists.

This past week at SiS, I asked folks to show me some of their personal fave layouts (of their own creation) and hip me to why they loved them. I promised I'd post an entry about why I loved their well loved layouts so here it goes! Definitely click on the name of the person to check out the photo of the layout - you won't be dissapointed~!

Pegasus - I LOVE how she used photos of folks near and dear to her that have passed. I'm always so scared to scrap photos of my grandmother because, well, I'll never get to take another picture of her and I don't want to run out of pictures of her to scrap. Hardly an issue since I hoard them all (smile).

BlessedinTexas - We all know I'm all about the pink. But I especially love how she did pink and soft and flowly on a totally grungy background with that ripped and stripped cardstock. The texture to this layout is to die for and so are the colors.

lalscrap - She rocks some awesome blue (even with a hint of pink) in this page about her son. Yes...her son. Yes...hints of pink. She really REALLY rocks the BamPop stamps and reminds me that I have a whole slew full of stamps that I need to use more often in my scrap happy fun times.

Juliaom - Yes...I linked you to her whole portfolio. Mostly because if you love heritage scrapbooking, you'll love what she does. I, admittedly, tend to play around more than preserve memories and do the research involved with heritage scrapbooking but looking at her portfolio is like reading an AWESOME story of someone else's family tree. And she does beautiful photography on the side to boot (smile).

haggith - Technique scrappers are some of my fave scrappers in the world. Mostly, because I don't have the patience for it. Something about getting out the art supplies and doing something step by step and having it turn out the way I intended is intimidating. But every time I see a page like this, I think "hmmm...bleach stamping might be work another try". Right after I try some masking... She rocked the stars on this page. Break out the inks girls!

jenniferP - She reminds me why I LOVE the SiS gallery. Every morning, before work...something bright and fun and "hey, I need to check that out today" catches my eye. Her title is actually a song lyric which I had to look up because hey...that page is FLY! Beautiful bright colors, great photo, fun take...definitely worth a peek.

JamieBoBamie - Rocks. Mostly because I love lots of couple's pictures (for obvious reasons) but also because as much as I LOVE journaling and want to see lots of it on layouts (check), I HATE cutting out journaling strips. Anyone with the patience to do that is hands down a fave in my book. LOVED the tongue in cheek humor/honesty to that journaling too.

Maritscrapworld - This layout BLEW. ME. AWAY. I was literally breathless reading the poem. And the way she scrapped it...all dark monotones with that ray of light through the window...that glimmer of hope. I'm tearing up on this one so I'll leave it at that. You HAVE TO click on this one and read it through. Scrapbooking is about not forgetting. This page so captures that.

smilesfrommel - more fun with heritage photos, but in a very unexpected way. I LOVe pages like this that use old photos (we've been over that already) BUT, in this case, I also love how she stayed pretty true to her fun scrapper style and didn't use muted colors and take us totally back to "back then". She kept it here with fun little twists (literally) like those twine stiched frames.

Got a fave layout you want me to peep at the SiS gallery and leave some love on? Link it up for me on this thread and I'll stop on by!

I'll do another installment soon with some eye candy of folks I love to love (aka, Ms. Jody).

Another day, another page

Layout of the day:

Wedding Note to Self

photo by my amazing wedding photographers

50/50 challenge for me cause I made it hybrid (you can use digi over and again)

AND because everything else was from my stash. Tip 'O the day:

Do good work, get on a design team.

They give you TONS of extra stuff

Like all the October Afternoon on this layout.

Enjoy!

This one will need to tide you over.

Till at least Friday.

I have to work for a living Thursday night.

Friday is "Show me your Faves" day.

Totally.

scrap 50/50 challenge

Ready for some fun?

The other day, I was in JoAnns for the Daffodill Days sell and I thought to myself:

Really. You don't need a lot of stuff to scrap fun pages.

So I challenged myself. Spend no more than $50 this year (well, the remainder of this year...and that doesn't include glue for you glue sniffers, but for me, it does on a go-forward basis cause I also click scrap and can totally do that without glue), get at least 50 layouts done.

Which, is a good enough challenge for me. Cause I LOVE to buy the digi pretty stuff. I've gotten better about the randomness in scrap stores mostly because I live nowhere near a reasonably priced scrap store anymore and because, well, it just is far less interesting to me the stuffs that I can find in big box places. And cause we don't have a box on the porch anymore, I totally don't order online because who has time to go and pick up packages that they won't leave for you.

I digress.

50/50. $50 spent on scrap the rest of the year. 50 layouts completed. Join me?

I know I can get more than 50 done (on weekends that I'm home) but that will totally make up for those bogus work long weeks where I get nothing done. Spreads out the pressure and all.

This challenge works well for hoarders (you can shop your stash and not count that towards your $50...thank goodness I have plenty of cardstock and adhesive). It also works really well for newbies because you can see that you can shop purposefully and get it done.

To that...let's go. Each time I post something to this strand, I'll be sure to include a link or two for inspiration (get it scrapped) or good finds.

Good inspiration and free goods find: Pencil Lines Sketch Blog

Plenty of good sketches and layouts by their amazing design team for the glue sniffers (paper)I'm a bit partial to TraciH's stuff and have been her scrap stalker for a while. Free digi templates to download for the confused (hybrid) and clickers (digital).

Show me what you do and I'll leave love in your galleries and on your blog for ya.

They lift me up (Mojo Holder)

So a little bit ago, a sweet person emailed to ask if she could lift this page:

For as long as I can remember, there has been a raging debate in the halls of scrap justice about scraplifting. I've settled on inspire and be inspired. And you know that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery (so they say).

To that, I love blogs like Mojo Holder because they actually credit the folks they lift (which is the only bone, if any, I think most people truly have with "lifting" aka "copying" a page).

Check out the amazing takes on my Urban Glimpse Farm Life layout right here at MojoHolder.

I was lift # 106 posted on April 10th.

At Mojo Holder, you'll find a sketch of my page to follow.

You'll also find lots of great samples like this one by Angie

whose blog is Pink & Black Snaps and Scraps.

Check out all the links.

You'll like them. I promise.

Thanks for looking!

And don't forget (yes, another link)

to check out the contest at

Colored White

Guessing games are fun!

New Day...old stuff

So I spent a good chunk of this morning (and some unclocked other time) re-arranging my galleries about the world. I would say my most updated gallery still remains at SiStv, but I'm working on cleaning up the 2peas gallery and Tally as well.

It is getting there.

But in the midst of getting, figured I'd share some of my fave layouts for this time of year:

Wow! Me!

Birds are back and love is springing

Anniversary Card

4 years of breathing again

Tibetan Memories
april 2007 trip to Tibet

Happy Springtime!

Why, When, Who and What - on Leaving SiS

Officially - March 1.

I no longer have that bright little red F star next to my name at Scrap in Style TV.
All in all, I need to be purposeful and make a difference. There is a ton (okay...a ton and a HALF) of talent at SiS just oozing out your monitor and like my work life, my love life (ouch) and my life life, I just feel that I gotta keep it fresh. New challenges, new goals, new hills (mountains lately) to climb, new springness all around.

I thought I could totally just go cold turkey on the scrap with no scrap room in sight. I just can't quite that stuff man. So I'll be around. Commenting on your stuff and getting inspired. Occasionally looking at the box of scrappiness I just COULD NOT pack away (it is just so fun to touch...).

And yes, scrapping.

Keep it real, touch people, be you and watch out now.
hunkering down for 2 years (or so) of white bread, American cheese and mayonaise sandwiches.
The sacrifices we make for the American dream.

A year to grow on - blogging flow

So by now, you know I've resigned at Scrap In Style. Yeah and it goes.

So I think, while we're staging and not doing anything remotely resembling LIVING in this house for the next few billion months, I figured I'd post a scrap page recap a day (or, as often as I post since we all know daily isn't in my vocab). Just to open up the floodgates and try to convince myself that scrapbooking is essential daily living again. Wouldn't want to forget how to do it and all.

This first one is for Ms. (Mrs.) Ohio who wants to know all about scrap.

A Tale of 2 Beach Bum Lovers

Love this page. Six photos (the little circle photos around the main photos are tiny condensed photos), one piece of scrap paper from my fave 7gypsies. A lick of ribbon (not sure by who, I have TONS of ribbon scraps, really...I packed the boxes), a couple of chipboard hearts (Making Memories) painted red. Some chipboard letters also painted red (also Making Memories) and some left over letter stickers I had a while ago. A couple of great stamps (the dotted circle and the tiny heart). Some hand journaling that tells the story of the title and some stamping to list out all the different beaches we've been to together.

TFL (again)!

For every beginning...

...there is an end. I know some of ya'll never thought the day would come. Others couldn't wait for it to come soon enough. And since we're in the final tosses and turns of it all, I guess for me, it is time to share it with the world.

The hardest post I ever, EVER made at Scrap in Style TV was to my Fgirls and I said this (kinda the condensed version...as condensed as I get anyhow):

My favorite group is Boys II Men...and fittingly enough, on tele the other day, I saw a really REALLY old video. End of the Road. I loved the whole CD that song came on. Cried my eyes out because I had just broken up with a guy I never really dated to begin with. BUT that was not the story I was going to tell.

The end has come for me.

I love you all passionately.

I've never been the get it done girl.

There are a million excuses for why not - getting married, working my fingers to the nubby bloody bone just to get a cookie (literally...I have GS cookies iffen you need them!), packing up my scrap room, barely coming to grips with sharing my computer with "that dude who is my better half...until he tries to get on the one computer left standing in our very bare place", packing said whole place up and moving on up to the Eastside burbs but not until we sell the current place, settling lawsuits, etc. None of it more important than anything anyone else is dealing with, yet I kept hanging on.

Barely.

So now we've come to the end of the road. No...try it again. Sing it like the Boys. Come....to the end. of. the road. Still I can't let go. It's unnatural. You belong to me. I belong to you.

And saying goodbye (evidently) is harder than hell for me.

To that, I let JJ, KA and Diane know. And JJ graciously allowed me to postpone the "final" day until March 1. Mostly because she was pretty sure I'd post stuff from the last collection I got (perpetually behind...they are coming) but honestly because I did not want to be part of any kind of drama whatsoever.

Some of my bestest scrap friends in the world have left in ways that have totally saddened me. And I knew I'd be plenty sad enough under any kind of regular goodbye to throw anything else on top of that.

All said...after March 1, I cannot promise I'll still be around [at SiStv] so I won't go there. Doesn't mean I won't stalk your blogs or still want to email you congrats when you make a dream team or do anything whatsoever that you're passionate about. Doesn't mean that because I DON'T reach out that I'm not thinking of you. Just means that I don't have my priorities straight and hawking GS cookies on the corner superseded emailing you. Or playing Scarab Solitaire on Facebook is an easy enough escape from facing the fact that I should be doing something far more productive (like, connecting with real people), but I'm going to procrastinate on that too.

All in all, no rergets, lots of self reflected learning about commitments and lots of full on appreciation for the better person you all have made me in your each and special ways.

Now. If anyone knows anyone looking to buy a fabulous house in the hood (up and coming hood though...) in Seattle, please please PLEASE be in touch. We walked a model in suburbia yesterday that had a built in scrap room. If I had that, and some subsidies from the feds to pay my mortgage, I'd totally quit my job, learn how to meet deadlines and beg JJ and LG to take me back.

Enough already.Love you all. T-minus 6 [now 3] more days until my life will never be the same.

Keep it real. And tame your addiction to Facebook my friends.

Pictureless Scrapbooking

Evidently, I do it more often than not.

Over at the Hodge Podge Art blog, they have an AMAZINGLY FUN challenge going on to scrap a layout without pictures. Of course, most folks are like "WHAT?" how in the world...but really, it is all in the details.

Here are a ton of examples of what I've done in the past. I hope to get it together in time (out tonight...painting tomorrow, probably dead and packed by Sunday) to get a new layout together, but just in case not...have fun with it!

Be sure to click on the photos because it will take you to the detail about the journaling (or the story behind the layout) over at SiStv.

The first example is of using pictures, but not photos. The images are actually clippings from travel mags pasted together from my inspiration notebook of places I want to go. The rest are truly no image layouts.

Get creative with it and have fun!

Thanks for looking!

For the love of years, Wilna and scrap

An alternate title for this post might be "A Love Affair with Kraft Cardstock."

I've blogged here for years now. Yet...my post count wouldn't seem it. So I need to be more active eh? Or not for you oh so patient ones. Maybe I'll schedule two posts for a day. Now that I have figured out (a bit late to the game) how to schedule posts, I can totally do a whole bunch of posts now for later when I'm all crashed and burned out. So the simple stuff first.

My dear DEAR friend Wilna has an amazing blog contest going on to win a spot in her super special puffy heart heart class. You totally need to sign up...at least to try to win (it is an online class...even better!) and to take the class if you don't win. I've never been so excited for a class and it is timely too. I think Valentine's Day is probably my fave crafty holiday.

Check out Wilna here.

Me. Oh yeah...my connection to Wilna is that way back in the day (way way back) she sent me a tiny box full of amazing yummy goodness. Read that as "Making Memories goodness". So I am very much practicing not hoarding and using up more of my supplies. What I love about most packages of MM stuff is that you can make a TON of layouts out of one package of stuff. So many tags, buttons, looking glass buttons (I so covet those) and other just GOOD STUFF to scrap with. And since I do it hybrid style, it just stretches those scrap goods even further in this day and age of thrift. So here you are my pretties. Thanks for still stopping by!

Unbelievable Everyday

An Unusual Trip

Mesh

Market Fresh

Maybe Relativity Matters

While I'm listening to Get Silly...Get Published

My first class at SiSTv kicks off today. I'm so very honored to get to team teach it with Jen Jockish and Corrinne Delis.

Ever want to see your name in flashing lights?
Splashed across the glossies?
Recognized as one of the greatest scrapbookers of all time?

Well, this isn't the class for you.

But if you WOULD just like to see some of your pages in the mags (because they just about all rely on everyday ordinary folks with mad skills just like you to fill their fantastic pages), then our

"How to Get Published" class is for you!

You can register for it here if you are quick.

There are hundreds of tips, photos and nuggets of goodness that you get to pursue at your own pace (it is an e-class via email...save the messages, print and read when you have time). It is appropriate for all level of published or not person--I've been published tons and already learned a few new tricks to the trade. And if you're new to the process, the materials are presented in a nice step by step format so that it isn't all overwhelming.

So what are you waiting for? Can't wait to see your name in flashing lights!

2008 Recap #1: "Reverse" Hybrid

So. We come to 12/28/2008 and I feel the need (since there are three 2s up in all that) to recap the year. In scrapbooking. There were plenty of highs and a low or two, but all in all, scrapbooking is still scrapbooking and life is life. So three for 2008. Starting with my trend towards reverse hybrids.

Now. I'm not so sure that this is what it is called. But generally, my understanding is that you scrap digitally (with a computer), you scrap paper (without a computer) or you scrap hybrid (generally, paper, with some computer help that is printed to paper and then scrapped "paper").
For instance, if you break out all your letter stickers, paper, rub ons, your sewing machine and all the cute buttons and the whole layout, complete with maybe hand journaling, then that is a paper layout.

If instead, you sit down at your computer and pull up your digital pictures which you don't print out, you start up a photo editing program (ie, Digital Image Suite...rest in peace), you create a 12x12 canvas and you start dropping all sorts of great digi elements that you find at places like 2peas and DesignerDigitals or from the Freebie Blog (Ikea Goddess), and you basically don't print anything until you've basically finished it all, then that is a digital layout.

So for me, reverse hybrid is what I've always called layouts that start out paper. But you leave lots of space to go digi on it. It is probably really just easier for me to show than tell so here we go...some of my fave "reverse" hybrid layouts I created this year with some details on what I think makes them hybrid and reverse hybrid at that.

Enjoy!

You Are My Everything

This one is pretty simple

Almost everything is paper:

kraft cardstock, letter sticker, patterned paper cutout,

buttons, staples, chipboard and sharpies

Where it goes digital is with the title work

After photographing the entire paper layout,

I added the title digitally in Digital Image Suite.

Sagitarian

Much more complex layout in this case.

I stamped the title in the corner.

The photo is attached with real hand stitching,

the miniature book pages, blue ribbon, foam flowers,

masking tape (and journaling on it) are all paper based.

Where this goes digital is with the colored in doodled circles,

the "all about me" journal strip, the letter B,

the "fun" label, the doodled scalloped circle,

the pink inked edge and the paint swatches.

This got a little more complex because

the layering of the digital elements

also had to reach behind the paper elements.

Play Hard '07

This one is probably about medium level difficulty

patience considered.

The cardstock, patterned paper, photos, thickers, chipboard,

tag and sharpies are all paper based.

The "good times" tag is digital and had to be layered

under the "hard" thickers.

Other digital elements were the word stickers in the top right corner,

the stitching and the cardboard strip in the top left corner.

The ric rac and yellow paint circles are also digital.

October Patch Work

Really simple hybrid based off a really simple paper layout.

Photos, foam letter stickers, paper flower, sharpies are paper.

Cardboard, stitching, brads/eyelets, tags, journaling, butterfly

are all digital done in Digital Image Suite.

Live Your Life 24/7 Journey

Another really simple reverse hybrid where everything is paper, photographed into digital and then I layered the word art onto the photo and the journaling to the side of the photo.

Life

Here, once the patience is down, is a medium difficulty one.

There's some digital that had to be layered behind the paper version

(the patterned paper strip on the bottom)

but generally, the digi elements are layered on top

(cardstock, patterned paper, word art, sticky note, chipboard photo corner)

Life At 30

Super simple one here...just added the journaling after the fact.

I Heart Your Old Soul

Just a bit of layering the stitched hearts (digital) behind the thickers (paper).

Cardstock, ribbon, patterned paper, KI embie, sharpies, thickers are paper.

Brown patterend paper, staples, stitches and stiched stars are digital.

Even the torn/curled edge is a digi element added after the fact.

Full Color Learn

Really easy. Everything is paper except the cluster of journaling tags. On that cluster, everything is digital (brushes, stamps, journaling, staples) and the red rubber band towards the bottom of the page is also digital.

Flick Play

Another simple hybrid just because not much hard layering.

the title and large photo cluster in the center are all paper.

Everything else is digital added after I took a photo of the paper page.

Do You Remember?

This is an easy one except that with the circle cutout, when you digitize a paper layout, of course anything you cut leaves a white background. So had to do a bit of dodging and burning to cut the photo but still leave the kraft cardstock as I didn't think to notch the photo in the paper version. All said, the Heidi rub on, photo, white label, question mark and patterned paper are all paper. The title, the circle lable and scalloped edge and heart (and the journaling) are all digital. The staples are paper, but I digitally duplicated them for emphasis.

Dizzy Luv

This is one of my all time fave reverse hybrid layouts because I honestly thought the paper version was pretty sparse. This is one of the few reverse hybrids where just a few simple bits really completed the layout. The paper bits are the patterned paper, brown flower, photo, fuzzy sticker letters, sharpie, tags and paper frills. The word art, cardstock strips, staples, vintage pharma label and the strip of tape in the lower left corner of the photo are all digital.

Click

Another very simple one. All paper except the journaling which I added as a digital layer on top of the white labels after digitizing the layout.

At The Fair

This one looks a little more complex than it is. Added the journaling digitally to all the white space areas after everything else was paper scrapped. Then to add the layered effect of the journaling being under the vintage fan, just duplicated the fan and added it as a digital layer on top of itself.

All of You Make Me Better

Some slightly difficult layering of digital elements under the bottom right photo.

All the labels, stitching, word stickers on the photos, "Love You" stamp are digital; rest is paper.

2nd Fiddle Assistant

I think this was the first reverse hybrid I did with the thought in mind that I was going to do it. all the stitching is digital and I ended up adding the cardstock too.

The rest is paper including some stamping (the journal block, stars, lettering).

&

This is one of the more complex hybrids I've done just because of the layering. The cardstock frame, "&", chipboard tab, thickers and circular clear stickers are paper. Then I layered the art mark overlay under the paper elements and the journaling was layered on top of the art marks, but under the paper elements.

latest goods - Asher's Class is a must take!

Be sure to sign up for Ashley's Class

She's cool, scrapbooking is cool, the class will be cool.

Still I do.
Was mostly working on the wedding album that is kicking my butt.
So here's what else I've done as well:

But we did have lots of other fun stuff happen this year. Although most of these pictures are not from this year. Like I said, I'm a slacker.

For half a minute, we had Haute Spot Challenges at SiStv where the Fashionistas would challenge you to do some something or another. This challenge was to scrap for/about someone you had never met. I only met this dude online, back in college, was totally my first internet crush, right down to sending me a baby picture which was my first warning about internet love. And so it goes.

I have lots of pics of him with camera in hand. Which, I would think, would suggest that I've also got camera in hand to take said pics. But I don't know, so many folks are convinced I can't take a picture to save my life so maybe it's just magic (yeah, I called you out, and what). Anywho...(I miss Alex...dude Alex, not girl Alex). This was a fun simple one with just some journaling (digi) bout what we each see through the lens/art/science/adventure of photography.

Just a quick collage of the boys in my life that just totally rock my world.

And it wouldn't be a scrap session without some music inspiro (live your life) and some deep journaling to try to motivate myself to do something rather than just stare at pieces of paper for hours on end.

Thanks for looking and be sure to check out my posts at Scrap In Style TV where I'm Bernadette (really easy, imagine that) aka SiS # 57. Really. Check it out.