Sort Those Scraps - Happy Feet

Still on the subject of choosing and layering papers, still using my stash, but this time all the papers used (except for the white cardstock background sheet) are all scraps--all previously cut pieces and odd little leftovers. 

On the photo itself... Jackson was only one, sitting on the couch, watching a cartoon show, and I happened to see these little feet crossed at the ankle.  Something little that made me smile.  And I am finding that these photos are actually having more meaning for me and touch me more than the posed, everyone facing the camera, smile big type photos. 

It seems only fitting that something so little and inconsequential should be showcased using lots of little inconsequential pieces of paper then.  And what results?  It all adds up to something I love.  And so it goes, all those little fleeting moments adding up to something meaning much more.  Kind of cool.  And I think kind of like all the moments and days piling up, adding up to a life. 

ok, enough of the life analogies and philosophizing...this is what you get when I haven't had enough coffee!  Ha! 

 

Back to scrapping talk.  It was easy to find most of the papers since they were pretty much all together in one page planner; leftovers from a lot of the sports pages in eldest grandson's graduation albums.  As those pages were created, the scraps and pieces got placed into one page planner so I could continue to pull from it.  After his albums were completed, I just left that page planner together and put it into my tote when I packed to leave.  So when this photo pooped up again, it was easy to see it needed blues and neutrals to showcase it.  All I had to do was snatch up that page planner with all the little bits, strips, and pieces already sorted into just the colors needed!  

The white cardstock got a bit of inking in blues and tans, using a scrap of mesh as a stencil.  And I also added several wood veneer hearts (just cuz I liked the different shapes of the hearts and the look of the natural wood with the blues and browns in the photo and papers). 

The title is made up of two different alpha stickers, one is an old, old, OLD Little Yellow Bicycle set that I have used almost entirely.  The other, lower case alpha is from an old Webster's Pages alpha set.   Not a lot of journaling on the page...  Jackson's first Nikes, as mandated by his older brother Jacob.  Not really sure if all my blather about odd little moments adding up to something bigger will get journaled onto the backside of the page or not.  (I mean how crazy do I want future generations to think I am? LOL All right, I am so gonna go put these thoughts down on the back! hahaha)

off to create more odd little moments now,
Cheryl 

Another Watercolor Background - Cat In The Box

W-h-a-t?   Two posts in one day, huh?   Yeah, I just finished this page up and at first wasn't so sure about the colors.  I am never sure about the colors of the painted papers.  Too light, not enough variance or contrast, too bright, too many colors, not enough color...!#@#(@

Always so unsure about these pages, especially during the process (cuz once you put the color down, it's not like papers, you can't peel 'em back up!).  Every so often though, when it's all done and put together, I am way happy.  This is one of those pages.  I couldn't be happier with the softness of the peach, gold and gray.  The darker brown was added as an afterthought really.  I just thought it needed some contrast and then was terrified I'd mucked it all up.  But once everything was in place, ahhhh, it looks how I'd imagined it. 

Still working with my limited cache of supplies, I chose a grid pattern paper and added layers of  watercolors instead of papers.  I did not bring rubber stamps along and only a few little Cat's Eye ink pads, so I used a small piece of fabric mesh and inked through it for the grid background that appears here and there.

The choice of colors came about because of my Gypsy kitty's fur.  It is what I've heard referred to as tortoise shell colored.  The paper behind the watercolor grid pattern is actually printed with vintage typewriters all over it.  Just don't see myself using that sort of pattern, but the colors worked as a border and you really do not see the typewriters when using it as a backer piece, so there you go. 

After that it was just a matter of layering up the papers under the photo and adding a title and a couple of embellishments.  Alphas are a dark metallic tan (Thickers).  The Hello speech bubble is from a partial pack (Amy Tangerine), but it had some sequins glued in the corner where the little peach heart is now.  The heart came off a camera sticker from the same pack and then I stuck it on the corner of the speech bubble after the sequins were scratched off. The banners were hand cut, stapled together and got a little shaped button glued on for fun. 

So another lesson (or two or three) learned.  When limited on paper choices, look to layering color instead of paper.  When in doubt, at least give yourself the option of finishing the page and then decide whether you like it or not. 

Oh, and one more thing... if you ever need to find your cat, open a box. 

best,
Cheryl

Limited Supplies? Watercolor a Background!

Just when you think you have a "style" worked out... layers of papers peeking out under photo, lots of white or open space... Nope!  Wham! The bright idea of using water colors to create your background page comes over you.  You know, in a fit of I've only packed "X" number of papers and nothing works (in your mind) and (not that you don't have OTHER photos packed up ready to scrap---nooooooo these photos keep popping up and you simply must scrap THESE photos).  At least that's how my mind seems to work... 

So, I went with it and just dropped all kinds of color over the paper...attempting to leave some areas with less, or at least a more watered down wash of color.  And I am happy with it.  I just cannot seem to wrap my arms around how this head of mine just stubbornly leads me down the path it chooses. 

And, in my defense, I do have a limited quantity of papers packed to choose from, plus I wanted a kind of free-form look to the page to mimic the feel of the graffiti painted cars.  I did bring my cheapie water colors and a some watercolor paper and there you have it.   It was fun just to kind of merrily splotch down color after color. Having done this, I may just fling some more paint about on more papers, thereby creating some background I could pull from.  B-u-t, first I will try and concentrate on using the papers in hand.  Try being the operative word....  try not to let my own head get in my way... 

Layering papers are from the Crate Paper DIY pad I brought along, as well as various scraps.  I punched hearts in two different sizes from scraps to mimic the water colors on the paper and added  the Hello speech bubble, the couple of colored triangle wood veneer pieces (Crate Paper, Maggie Holmes), the Check It Out was from a Heidi Swapp ephemera pack and the yellow square with the hearts on it was fussy cut from a partial sheet of paper.  The Bug Farm title is from a Basic Grey sticker sheet (have no clue as to the collection--just know that they are Basic Grey--and old). 

The Bug Farm is a little roadside attraction I read about in a handbook of Route 66 "stuff" to see.  Some guy planted five VW bugs nose down in the dirt outside an old abandoned Texaco station as a spoof on the widely publicized Cadillac Ranch (where someone with money to burn paid a group of artists to do the install of ten old Cadillacs buried nose down....etc.).    This was one of the (few) things we really had a good time seeing on our trip moving out to California (or as we are calling it the Grapes of Wrath tour, circa 2015).  There was so much more I wanted to try and see and we just could not get to everything what with the various vehicle issues.  Who knows, maybe another time or another trip. 

Kind of like the page, I was just going with it, seeing as "the plan" was not wanting to be followed.. 

best,
Cheryl

Adventure Hawaii Travel Layout - From Scraps!

Packing scrapbooking supplies for this part of our move was soooo important to me.  Scrapbooking is my saving grace.  It calms me when I am full of anxiety, it helps when I am craving some internal quiet time, it soothes me when I am missing family and friends and helps me to remember being with them. 

I must have packed well, because I am still making pages....and have lots more packed to continue working on more.  Hurray! 

This travel page was made with mostly scraps!  I did slice the top border from a full 12x12 sheet, but otherwise everything was leftover cuts and partial packs of embellishments (which also gives me a cheap thrill for some weird reason!). 

Papers are a mix of Studio Calico, Heidi Swapp, and Crate Paper.  Embellishments also a mix of Heidi Swapp, Bo-Bunny, and Crate Paper.  Title is from Heidi Swapp and the alphas are from Webster's Pages and October Afternoon.  I also used a stencil (Studio Calico) and two different colors of chalk inks and then glued on several of my homemade enamel dots. 

Things I would do differently?  I am happy with the page, but yeah I would like to have added another layer of color using teal inks perhaps (but alas, I didn't pack anything but my little tin full of chalk inks, and I didn't have teal in there so... no go).  And it would have been nice to add a wood veneer airplane to the embellishment cluster.  The kicker is, I KNOW I have them...but not with me.  The little devils are packed up in our moving containers sitting right outside...and I can almost hear them calling to me...beckoning me, taunting me.   (sigh) 

Overall, I am still pleased with the page, and I have to remind myself that too many times when I have so longed to add just a few more things and did---I ended up not being so happy with the result.  Less is more.  Repeat.  Less is more.  Repeat till it sinks in--oh wait; it's almost 10 at night, husband will wonder who I am talking to. 

sh-h-h-h,  less is more
Cheryl

A Birthday Page - The Wish

Changing things up a bit from my recent travel themed projects.

This is Isabella, whose wish for her 5th birthday was...  wait for it ...    unicorns.  Yes, unicorns.  Not quite prepared for that one.  But her mommy handled it with the efficiency and style that only mommies can understand. 

The unicorn bike helmet, coordinated perfectly with her new scooter (one that came complete with a big ole stuffed unicorn head, of course).  But, I'm sorry Bella, this is the most ridiculous bike helmet I've ever seen.  Laughed so hard, I about fell off the couch. 

But she of the unicorn helmet?  She was thrilled. And that is enough. 

Yes, I am still scrapping from my pre-kind-of planned page kits, packed tote and shoulder bag.  Even though we have now found our house, it will be awhile before it is disassembled and reassembled here.  Then we have some renovating to do.  So I'll be scrapping out of my totes for the immediate future.  It's working ok.   I won't say it's perfect, but there is something to be said for having to work with just what is at hand. 

Papers used here are from Echo Park and Dear Lizzie (old papers, scraps actually).  And I even ran out of white cardstock, so improvised and used the backside of patterned paper from one of the pads I brought along.  Used a little watercolor, and some chalk ink with a polka dot stencil to create a bit of interest against the white and fussy cut some flowers and tags from the papers.  Flair badges are from Basic Grey, Hey Girl.  The pink-ish red foam alpha is from Thickers and the little pink tile alpha is from Echo Park. 

Her wish was for unicorns.  Of course.  Why not? 

best,
Cheryl

Scrapping with Limited Supplies - Using Pieces and Parts

Working from a page kit does not necessarily mean everything I package together makes it onto the page. It does mean making good use of what you have, though.  Sometimes not a lot makes it onto the page!! 

In this case, the only pieces and parts that wound up on the page, were just that,,,pieces and parts.  I had envisioned a watercolor background---um no, didn't like that so much.  So I snatched a piece from a pad of paper that I was not likely to use and turned it over to use the clean white side. 

The bits and pieces that I did use?  See that tiny bit of gold thin stripe..yep that's one piece.  Then right under that is a small blue patterned paper, and there is the multi-patterned vertical strip.  That's pretty much it.  The green map paper with "Top Ten" imprinted on it was a 4x6 cut apart in the No Limits paper pad I brought along.  The grid at the top and bottom of the page was from the piece that I cut the arrows out of (on yesterday's posted page).  And since I liked the "Top Ten" map cut apart, I used a similar paper at the top of the layout--also from the Heidi Swapp No Limits pad. 

You see, what I did after packing up page kits...was to also pack a couple of paper pads and packs.  One with a definite travel feel (also very masculine), one that is very birthday, party feeling, and another that is very general--but it has a variety of types of patterns--grids, small florals, vintage.  All the paper pads had several cut apart sheets in them---the Heidi Swapp on in particular has great words---making it very usable for titles -- like on this page!   

The thinking was that even if I did not use the page kit as packed...I could dip into the paper pads and I did!  Used the backside of a paper that I thought I would not likely use--just for the clean white unprinted side.  And that grid paper; it came from the pad.  The repeated the use of the green-ish map paper?  From the pad. 

Other layering pieces were a leftover piece of another map paper and then vellum and acetate embellishments from one of the few packs I brought along (Boys Rule - Crate Paper).

The alpha stickers are Cosmo Cricket Tiny Type and Basic Grey (I think it was the Printery? or something like that).  The alphas I chose to bring along also had to serve multiple themes--masculine, travel and a couple of feminine... Again, the rule being, a select few that are specific and several that are very general (the Tiny Type for example).

So, look for more about how you can pack up your stuff--not bring along the kitchen sink, and still make pages you are happy with. 

scrappin' on,
Cheryl 

What's Wrong With This Page?

It's another round of critiquing my layout.  I did this page quite some time ago and never posted it.  Something was just not quite right with it.  I looked it over really well and then I knew what it was. This time it is a very small thing, but it is just screaming at me as I look at the page on the screen. 

I love the colors, even the goldenrod colored background paper (which took me f.or.e.v.e.r. to pick out).  I had all the burgundy, pink-y, magenta pieces selected, but the page sat untouched for month's because I just could not settle on a background piece.  Once the goldenrod piece was selected, by way of a happy accident of turning over a pink-y patterned paper, the layout itself went together rather quickly. 

Do you see it yet? Can you see what is just bugging me so?  What seems a tad askew, out of place? 

It's that doily on the right side of the layout! 

It is jutting out there just too, too far.  It seems slightly disconnected.  Like it was added as an afterthought.  It really needs to be tucked in further to the pieces under the photo, I think, to be made a part of the whole, rather than hanging out there on it's own. 

Does it really ruin the whole page?  No, not really.  But in this case, I have not gifted this page away.  I do still have it in my possession.  And it is an easy fix.  Were I not in the middle of packing for a cross-country move, I would pull the page out immediately and undo the doily, cut it down a bit and tuck it back in further under the photo layers.  But... I am in the middle of packing so this will have to wait a bit. 

OK, page details...  I just love the far way look in our Bella's eyes, so that's where the title comes from.  Most of the papers are Carta Bella, Beautiful Moments, I think the collection was.  Even the little banners and label stickers are from this collection.  The die cut paper on the left side of the page is old, old, old Making Memories.  Alphas used in the title are a mix of Bo-Bunny (old, old, old) and the pink glitter alphas are Thickers. The little stick pins are from Hobby Lobby (their own store brand) and the pink pearls are from Hero Arts.  I did add some torn pieces of washi tape to define the top and bottom of the page, as well as doing some outlining. 

And now back to packing, ugh.

best,
Cheryl

Turning That Stash into Christmas Pages (yes still)

Yep, still scrapping the stash and yep, still scrapping another Christmas page! 

The story (in Reader's Digest form):  between the two of us, we have been laid off for several years (cumulatively) and since money was so tight, I would not spend it on a Christmas tree when it was going to be hard enough to do gifts for children and grandchildren.  (We have not had an artificial tree for probably 20 years---one of husband's bug-a-boos.) But this year, even with money being tight, he went out and came home with a tree. 

You know what? Going without one for several years, really made this one so much more beautiful to me.  I left it up longer than we ever had in the past.  I just enjoyed it being lit up every night for as long as I could. 

Used papers from the Pink Paislee Snow Village pad again, except for the white distressed background paper--that's the B side of an Authentique paper (again from a pad, the one I used so much of on my eldest grandson's graduation album).  The "happy" title is a Doodlebug sticker (from the set that I forgot I had -- for um, like y-e-a-r-s).  The wood veneer snowflakes are from Michael's (got them on clearance last November and there are only a couple left--so those have been well used!).  The only other embellishments are really the sequins and the tissue paper.  And even those items have been repurposed from my sewing box and the gift wrap box! 

I am finding that not having nearly the stash of scrappy supplies that I used to has made me appreciate the supplies I have on hand even more...just like with the Christmas tree.  I don't need racks and stacks of paper; it is far less overwhelming now to select papers and embellishments.  And I think I may even love these pages more than ever! 

have yourself a scrappy good day,
use up some of that stash,
you'll be glad you did!

Cheryl

Flat Layouts---the saga continues

And here we are again with another "flat" layout...and it has title placement issues to boot!  Poor baby.  And again, I remind myself (and others) that the story is told, it is not an ugly page, and the recipient loved it.  Mission accomplished! 

That being said.  Let's start with the title.  Once again, when I look at the page on the computer screen, I see that I would be happier if I had cut the title slightly smaller and placed it below the photo, right on the navy print layer.  Bah... live and learn.  Always learning! 

Then the flatness.... I have an ongoing battle with myself.  I love giving some dimension to a page, using pop dots and dimensional accents. But, in this case, my practical side won out.  I simply had to make some of the pages for this project flat.  I simply did not want to venture into a third album for this project. 

Papers for the page were from Authentique (the B side for that nice distressed background), old Creative Imaginations, Basic Grey, and more pieces from Authentique.  I cut the title using my Cricut and three different cartridges to make a wack-a-mo looking title for this crazy bunch of wack-a-mo boys.  Stickers were from Lily Bee, Simple Stories and Basic Grey. 

This was the last day of school, Junior year.  Some sort of dress-up day...not sure the look they were going for (Daisy Duke?), but they were funny! 

As for me..still have to be happy with a page that makes the recipient happy. 

and better yet, still learning
Cheryl 

Challenge: Layout #3 - One and Only Son

In keeping with the challenge, this layout is for my son.  I don't think I scrap about my kids probably enough---it seems like it's all about the grandkids.  So it's good timing for a challenge like this; it helped make me think about including more of the other folks (and animals) that I love. 

I did use a different background sheet for this page.  Did not look right on any of the collection papers and it didn't look quite right on plain cardstock either.  I happened on this sheet (the B side of an older My Mind's Eye paper) and the tone on tone brown worked out quite nicely. 

The other things from outside the Burlap and Bouquets collection were two buttons, the twine I used on the buttons, a doily, the blue sticker that says "Remember You Are Loved", and the little gold sequin stars. 

The photo is layered on several pieces of torn papers  and then onto the black corrugated cardstock that was in the package.  I wanted to build a somewhat vertical line, so I added the title at the top of the photo stack, tucked in the You Are Loved sticker at the bottom of the stack, along with a doily.  Then I added the buttons, flair badge and the mini sign, keeping everything tight and close so as not to ruin the vertical line of things.  I used another of the die cut cork words and kept that up close to the photo stack too.  Next was to add a few strips of the coordinating papers at the top and bottom of the page and build the small cluster at the top using part of the left over doily, a button and one of the little banner stickers.   Last I sprinkled on some gold sequin stars.  (I had tried some enamel dots, but they looked out of place--the tiny little stars worked out much better.)

More to come,
Cheryl

Challenge: One Collection, How Many Layouts?

Actually, the challenge (at NicoleJones911 on facebook) is to use a paper line (or kit) that you love (but have not broken into); papers, embellishments, stickers. etc.) and since it is February, to make the theme of the layout(s) about those that you love.  (And to see how many layouts, you get from the line you have stashed, I mean collected, i.e., hoarded...) 

And here is Layout #1 - Love My Girls

I chose a collection from Fancy Pants that I just felt as though I HAD to HAVE it.  Burlap and Bouquets.  And then it sat here.  I had acquired the collection pack, which contained 8 sheets of double sided paper, a corrugated piece of cardstock, an alpha sticker sheet, a 12x12 sticker sheet of tiny alphas and tabs, a small sticker sheet of words, tabs and phrases.  Then I also had a pack of flair badges (which were much larger when I received them than what I thought they were when I ordered them--I much prefer the smaller size) and I had a pack of little flags or mini-sign thing-ys. 

The background paper had the ring of flowers printed on it, but I cut some additional flowers out of another sheet so I could pop up some up.  I also used a white gel pen to highlight the small flower blooms.  Beyond that, it was a matter of cutting strips of some of the various coordinating papers and placing my photo on top of the stacked up strips and then tucking in a piece of a doily and a tab,  Once that was done, I felt as though the photo needed a ledge of some sort to sit upon, so I added a small strip of one of the papers (a diagonal stripe) and punched a small scalloped strip out of another.  Still didn't seem substantial enough, so I added a piece of lace from my stash. 

I punched a circle for the circular phrase sticker and popped it up, tucked in a small bow from some twine in my stash, and added one of the flair badges.  Last was to construct a small cluster at the top of the page (another smaller piece of the doily, a strip of patterned paper, and one of the little flowers I had cut out).

This photo was snapped at Thanksgiving (the after dinner nap, you know!).   My daughter and granddaughter -- out cold.  Love this. 

best,
Cheryl

Sweater Weather Layout #5 - Favorite Holiday Memories

So here's the fifth layout I've created using just the main Sweater Weather kit from Scraptastic.  I've had such a good time trying to work from just the kit (pretty much).  It's good to have a challenge, a scrapbooking challenge that is! 

This time the items from my stash are sequins, white cardstock (for the circle punches),  the light gray cardstock (used as a base for the page), a doily, the journaling card and the baker's twine. 

The page background was inspired by a Simple Stories Christmas paper I saw Mercy Tiara use in one of her you tube videos.  It had printed circles, sequin shapes, and snowflakes scattered across the middle portion of the paper and I just loved that paper.  So I thought I might be able to use real sequins, some circle punches and snowflake stamps to mimic that paper design.  Now mine does not look at all the same, but I think I like it!  I did decide to add some white paint drops here and there after I was done stamping and gluing down the circles and just a few red punched snowflakes.  Really wanted to include the journaling card because that wood grain border so goes with the wood grain paper.  Then I decided to just use the title on the journaling card as the page title because every alpha set I laid on the page just took away from the overall light feeling of the page. 

The look on my little Bella's face only speaks a bit about how goofy she got over this musical and light up elf hat.  She was just beside herself with glee over this thing (course it probably didn't help that we had been baking cookies all day and sugar may have been involved...). 

So, there you have it.  Layout #5. 

to be continued,
Cheryl

Sweater Weather Layout #4 - Found!

Oh my goodness, I so love the woodblock print from Kaisercraft that was included in this kit!  And I knew as soon as I saw it what photo I was going to use with it. 

You see, we have done a whole lotta cleaning out around here what with readying the house for showings and getting ready for our move.  After 25 years in one house, you tend to lose sight of just how much stuff you have acquired (ahem...stashed, hoarded, forgotten about....)  And then sometimes, you are greeted with a surprise. 

One day husband of mine called me to the garage door and wanted to know if I was going to get rid of this sewing machine... to which I replied, I already got rid of my old sewing machine.  He then inquired, well then what's this?  I took one look at the case and told him, I've never seen this before! 
Apparently the machine has been up in the rafters in our garage ever since we bought the house 25 years ago.  I think it's a keeper---heavy as all get out though.  Man is this sucker heavy!  But it's so neat looking and there is this really cool brass plate on the front that says Made in West Germany.  Now I don't really know anything about old sewing machines...but I know what I like and I really do like the looks of this old machine.   

I started with a piece of black cardstock and placed about a 4-inch wide slice of the wood block print paper, added a teeny little strip of the My Mind's Eye woodgrain and then trimmed one of the border stickers into a skinnier strip to define the left side of the page.  I also used a piece of the vellum that came in the kit (from Webster's Pages, their Hall Pass collection) to layer the photo on top of.  Popped the photo up, but also added some old fashioned black photo corners and a couple of photo turns (from my stash--7 Gypsies) in keeping with the vintage vibe thing I was aiming for.  I originally thought I would use the darker woodgrain alpha from the kit for the title and was going to place it in the open block of vellum (where I now have my journaling), but the alpha was just too small and not quite bold enough.  I opted for a black foam Thickers alpha for the title and placed it on the right side, journaling then went on the left side.  Also from my stash are the several torn strips of black diagonal striped washi tape and the tab at the top of the photo.   A little outlining on the black cardstock with a white pen and I figured I better quit while I was ahead. 

(I just noticed that that one of the photo corners is coming undone....love the look of the old fashioned photo corners, but they can be real buggers to work with!   A new one with a little dab of glue has this situation remedied!) 

Layout # 4 and still counting!
Cheryl 

Too Tired for Complicated Pages

Ho, Ho, Ho, It's my "after Christmas I'm so tired I can't think straight" time of year. 

Time for an easy page layout.  It helps that the paper was so easy to work with.  Heidi Swapp's No Limits paper pack had this arrow border paper that needed little but to pile on some coordinating papers under my photo. 

I added a few things; stamped title, a (for real) Bingo card, some tags (Pink Paislee and Tim Holtz), several banner stickers (from Glitz) for who, what, when kind of journaling, a strip of paper and a length of washi tape for the photo to rest on.  After that, I fussy cut some of the circles from the circle patterned paper (I think that one was a scrap of old Cosmo Cricket), added some leftover pieces of border stickers, and  glued on some teeny gold star sequins.  But that's really about it. This was just stuff that was out on my desk and within easy reach.   Just what I needed right now, an easy, no brainer kind of page. 

I know I mentioned posting some of my gift card holders...the pictures I took were pretty awful.  My daughter did put them aside Christmas Day so I could take photos again and hopefully I do a better job this time and can get that post up in the next day or two.  (Cuz they really did turn out cute!) 

best,
Cheryl

It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas - Without Christmas Papers! Say What?

I've said it before.  I don't have much in the way of Christmas papers.  It's not that I don't scrapbook Christmas, I do.  We just do not seem to have Christmas colors going on in our photos and they never have seemed to look right on traditional Christmas-y papers. 

In more recent years, lots of paper companies have designed papers using non-traditional colors, so they are out there, yeah!  But I've gotten kind of used to making things "merry and bright" without the use of Christmas themed papers.  I have some....see,  Oh, Deer! that I did use Christmas paper (Wassail from Basic Grey) on.  But more often than not, I've used whatever papers are on hand, combined with Christmas embellishments, sayings, punches or dies to create that Christmas feeling. 

I used old, old, old My Mind's Eye papers on this page, along with stickers from a short-lived, but extra sweet company called Girl's Paperie.  The vellum stickers are from Little Yellow Bicycle (a bargain, purchased on clearance at good old Hobby Lobby for $1.07), the Joy To The World title was made from little scrabble style letters from EK Success (and those are years and years old, you don't even want to know how long I've had those things hanging around), the glitter brads were from Making Memories, the star shaped buttons are Prima, and the ribbon is actually a piece of seam binding, scrunched and taped into place.  I added some random dots of dark red Stickles glitter glue and some outlining around the edge of the page. 

The photo is from my daughter's Christmas card circa 2006 and I only just got this scrapped---what can I say---this is how I roll--I scrap what I want, when I want and never in any particular order! The holidays can be overwhelming for lots of us...why make it any harder on yourself?  Scrap, craft, sew, bake, whatever you do, do what you love.  It makes things loads easier.  And just know, you do not have to have the perfect holiday papers to make a perfectly joyous holiday page. 

best
Cheryl

Updated Uses for Old Supplies

My bad.  Haven't blogged in a whole week.  Since Thanksgiving we've done the small town Christmas parade with the grandkids (and kids), had a house showing, spent another evening with the grandies because mommy had to travel for work (meaning Nana picked them up from their respective schools, fed them, checked school papers, and had Miss Isabella do her "homework"  -- loved this!).  So much busy-ness going on here. 

The kids here last night were "stamping" with some little Scooby and friends rubber stamps (I've had these since Jacob was little---they've more than paid for the $1.75 they cost me some 15 years ago!!!).  And it was how excited they got over this that made me think of the following page and the using old supplies thing. 

The papers were mostly older Cosmo Cricket and there is an overlay (old 7 Gypsies--from before photo overlays were all the rage).  New additions to update the page a bit was the use of washi tapes, the little cluster of tabs (punched, fussy cut and stickers) and the more updated use of two alphabet styles in the title.  Did a little outlining, added the chipboard star/circle piece (that was part of a pack purchased at Tuesday Morning for a whopping $.99 several months ago), and did my journaling using the lines of the background paper (since I cannot write in a straight line for love nor money!). 

Old supplies can sooooo be updated depending upon how they are used.  (And old supplies, or toys, are new again in new little hands.)  Jacob absolutely adored Scooby Doo and all the Scooby cartoons and movies and I'm glad to see that (old) Scooby is still well loved by my (new) youngest grandies.  I sense another Scooby layout sometime in my future! 

best,
Cheryl 

Thankful for Friends

The pumpkin pies just came out of the oven, old Tom the turkey has defrosted quite well in the fridge over the past couple days, the ingredients for artichoke dip are lined up ready to go in the mini crockpot, the bread cubes for stuffing have been seasoned and have dried out nice and crunchy, and the apple pie is set to go into the oven bright and early in the morning.  Potatoes-check, corn-check, dinner rolls-check.  All is ready for a Thanksgiving Day feast.  And of course I am thankful for family, which will be arriving (invading?) at about 11 a.m. tomorrow with even more food goodies.  But what else? 

Friends.  I am so grateful and fortunate to be able to count these two ladies as friends. 

The page?   I wanted to use white. White on white on white   I applied some white modeling paste on the background through a honeycomb stencil, used a whitewashed looking barn board paper, vellum and a piece of white handmade paper for layering.  I also used a piece of diagonally striped black and white paper (Crate, the DIY collection) as a photo mat.   Then added the white die cut (Sizzix, Stem and Leaves I think it's called), painted the wood veneer butterflies and "Laugh" with Picket Fence White stain, split a white doily in two, tied on some white (and gold) baker's twine, and added a scrap of off-white lace trim.  And because there is so much white, I repeated the black and white diagonal striped papers at the top and bottom of the page, curling up and bending the edges bit.

I saw a quote these words on a church message board the other day, "When you are down to nothing, the Lord is up to something."  I hope so.  I have to believe so.   In the meantime, we are warm and snug. We will be together.  We have family.  We have friends. 

Happy Thanksgiving all. 
Cheryl 





 

Favorites - The Last Installment - I Promise

Probably sick of my oldies but goodies, huh?  Well, bear with me through one more session while I get this out of my system... 

Favorite # 7 - a two page layout

This set of pages isn't that old, the papers are, but the layout I did just this past summer and it has become a favorite due to the contrast between the photos, papers and the black background page.  The photos, paper feathers, and title pops and I was able to include six photos across the two pages. 

Favorite #8  - a one pager

Another more recent layout.  Again, it's the simplicity and the colors I think I am drawn to.  The red and yellow plays off the colors of my Isabella's little shirt and it feels to me like a summer day, a play day.  Still not a ton of embellishments, but those that are on the page are sprinkled on to lead the eye diagonally across the page, so I guess while I really do love all the embellies that are out there on the market for us to play with, I really don't NEED a lot of them to make my pages work for me. 


Favorite # 9 - another one pager

This has to be one of the first pages selected as a favorite that is heavier on the embellishments.  But it's still not the embellishments that I think make me happiest with this page.  I think, for me, that it the embellishments would actually detract from the page if it were not for the monochromatic color scheme.  (and that little behind just makes me laugh)

And finally,

Favorite #10 - a one pager

This is the most recent of my favorites and it is embellishment heavy, but it really only works (for me that is) because the embellishments are the layers for the photo and are somewhat subtle in color.  If the ephemera stuff I layered up was brighter in color or more modern and not vintage in feel, I think it would have over-powered the photo. 

I've learned a lot by going back through layouts and selecting some favorites and then trying to view the pages objectively to determine what about them I really like.  It's not going to be the same for everyone...but for me I've learned that I can be really happy with simpler pages.  I should maybe quit struggling to include a bunch of embellishments (maybe just because everyone else is using them I've tried to use them too?) and focus on color, small tight clusters of embellies or tiny embellies sprinkled on in select areas. 

So, maybe go back through your pages and try to take an objective view of them to determine what you really are drawn to.  It's been a true learning experience for me.  I will still try new techniques, my style will still change and evolve, but I will try to pay attention to the core things that make me happy with a page. 

Done blabbing on this subject...blah, blah, blah and returning shortly to the posting of new pages and such... 

best,
Cheryl

My Favorite Layouts

A fellow scrapping buddy and I were talking about favorite layouts and what made them our favorites.  Now lots of time, the most recent layout I have finished is my current favorite.  But when looking through albums (or when I page way back in my blog), I found I have favorites that are not current at all...not current materials...or styles...or even current photos.  Happily, most of the time, it's the photos and the memories they evoke.  But if I look at the page as a whole, I'm surprised at some of my favorites. 

So here are some of my all time favorite pages...and a little bit about why. 

Favorite Layout #1 - a two pager

I love the colors and the little accents of aqua gemstones (reminds me of water droplets).  It feels like a bright, hot summer day at the pool when I look at these pages and I love that they make me feel like this.  I love the mix of patterns, and the dash of clean white here and there and that even with the inclusion of 5 photos, I I can still see the paper patterns.   

Favorite Layout #2

What makes this one a fave?  That look on my boy's face!  Now about the layout... the paper layers, sitting on the stacked strips and a title tucked in, nice and tight (also that little bunny-- that silly little bunny).  

and one more for today

Favorite #3 -- another two pager

Always love red, white and blue... what else makes this a favorite?  The buttons and stars and the layers of border pieces with that piece of pleated fabric, and I am still loving that title in various fonts, but word and color coordinated.  The linear photo placement appeals to me...much as I like pattern and color, I crave order (split personality, perhaps?). 

I used to do almost all two page layouts; I do them now sometimes, but I no longer feel as though I absolutely must have two pages together in an album.    I am a work in progress and so are my pages, my style evolves and changes. But, there are things that I can see that I gravitate toward; linear placement of photos and border strips, color speaks strongly to me, scattering small embellishments to lead the eye, leaving some clean or open spaces to let the eye rest. 

to be continued...
 Best! 
Cheryl

Not So Traditional Baby Page

OK, I know baby photos are typically all soft and ethereal or cutsie-patootsie (technical term, cutsie-patootsie--you know all bunnies and toys and such).  But Jackson was seated in a child's leatherette wing chair, looking rather like Winston Churchill...um, just did not really lend itself to said cutsie-patootsie. 

So I went with a distressed (Paper Loft) background paper and layered up the photo with coordinating papers in blues and browns, some tags, wood veneer butterflies, tiny paper clip and several small red accents (the baker's twine, the tiny red game pieces...love me a tiny red accent or two or three!!!). 

The tile letters in the title are Thickers, the other alpha is from Basic Grey, the Clippings collection.  I also added a little more stamping, the "love your face" and the arrows. 

Bubba-Lu is what we often call Jackson.  He's a big boy.  Always been a big boy.  Hence "Bubba."   A while ago, at lunch, I prompted him, "Come on Bubba Lu, let's eat", when his sister admonished me, in her ever so prim and proper 4-year old voice, "His name is Jackson Daniel."  To which he knitted up his eyebrows, pursed his little lips, leaned over the table and replied, "I a Bubba-U!"  Cracked me up!   Had to get this on a page.  Yes, Jackson, we do indeed call you Bubba-Lu. 

Love you, Bubba-Lu.
Nana