Friday, December 9, 2011

THE LET'S SCRAP DESIGN TEAM HAS BEGUN

On December 1, the photos of the new Design Team (DT) for Let's Scrap appeared on the front page of that website.  To those of us who now serve on that DT, this is akin to our photos appearing on the front page of the New York Times!  Check us out.  We are a lovely group of creative scrapbook artists with literally decades of scrapbooking experience among us!! We each applied to the website to serve on their DT for different reason, I am sure, but, the common bond we all share is our desire to create and to share.

Many of us on the Let's Scrap DT have our own personal blogs (like this one), where we share insider information (sometimes) about the website and, of course, the sketches, challenges, layouts, and now...tah-dah...tutorials.  I am going to add a list of the DT members and their blog addresses shortly.

In the meantime, here is the layout I submitted as part of my application.  To see other DT application layouts, check out the Let's Scrap web site.


A great big THANK YOU to Horgan Photography of Boston for permission to use these photos!

Thanks for visiting, and leave a comment so that I know you were here...and because it makes me happy!

Cheers!

Kay

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS CARD

Hi, Everyone,


With December well underway, the holiday cards have begun to arrive.  I received the most beautiful Christmas card I have every received from my friend Gisèle.  I met Gisèle on an online scrapbooking website called Bella Creations.  This card is truly a work of art, and I am so touched to be remembered in this very special way by Gisèle.  Thank you, my friend!


First, even before opening the card, I was greeted by this gorgeous handmade envelope:



Next, the front of the card.  If you look behind the image, you will see a tag poking out--that is a personal greeting to me!


And, finally, the backside:




This beautiful card will be a cherished decoration each year from now on.  Thank you, my friend, for making me feel so very special!


So glad you stopped by my blog today.  Leave a comment so I will know you were here....comments make me feel special, too!!


Cheers!


Kay



Friday, December 2, 2011

SIMPLE IS GOOD!



Well, it's December already, and a lot is happening. We are blessed that it is all good! My term on Let's Scrap as a Design Team (DT) member started just yesterday. We are a group of seasoned scrappers, some having already served on design teams; others, this is their first tour, but all of us are filled with excitement and a desire to make this the best DT ever!! Come visit, stay a while and get your scrapping mojo back in full gear by 2012. Guaranteed!

Here's my second ever tag that took about 5 minutes to make! Actually, it's a THANK YOU Christmas tag I created for Kim Bell of Endless Inkabilities, the sponsor of a random drawing I won over at Let's Scrap. Just a simple tag (with a thank you note on the back), where the most difficult and time-consuming part was untwisting the strands of baker's twine to add a bit of fullness! Sometimes, simple is good!

Enjoy your weekend, whether it includes holiday shopping, some relaxation before the parties start, or cleaning off that scrapping area to create something red or green or red *and* green!

Thanks for stopping by. Please leave a comment...it makes me happy!

Sunday, November 20, 2011

CHRISTMAS IS A FEELING

It's been a wonderfully warm day today in New England, but that didn't stop me from using this week's Let's Scrap card sketch (created by DebbyD) to make a Christmas card!

I am finally getting into the "layering" technique in my scrapbooking and cardmaking, and I managed to stack up 6 layers on my card!

But, wait, I am getting ahead of myself. Take a look at this versatile card sketch:




Remember, this sketch is to stimulate your creativity, and the liberty of using it exactly as you see it or using it for inspiration and varying it a bit, is totally up to the card artist. Here's my take on this sketch:


The sentiment is a quote by Edna Ferger and reads: Christmas isn't a season...it's a feeling!

Details:
red and green cardstock: my stash
diamond and poinsettia pp's: Authentique Paper, LLC
music pp: Making Memories' "Twinkle"
quote: Authentique Papers, LLC

Until next time, happy crafting! Please leave a message so that I know you were here!

LET'S SCRAP DESIGN TEAM ANNOUNCED!

...and I am delighted to let you know that I am one of the members of the December 2011 through March 2012 team!!! I am privileged to serve on the Let's Scrap Design Team (DT) with both "seasoned" DT members and some serving for the first time. Here are my very talented colleagues:


Teresa Davis

Beth Koenig

Mindi Brown

Cathy van de Bruinhorst

Susanna Granroth

Jeaunes Viljoen

Sue Down

Roulien Stahnke

Elizna Parsons

Betty Hornbrook

Michelle Hartley

Erica Mouton

Wilna Cremer


After our official debut on Let's Scrap (December 1), I will let you know the blog addresses of those DT members who have them so you can "follow" them and be even further inspired on those sites. I will also add my application layout (think Christmas!) after the "big reveal" on December 7. Until then, shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!



Thanks for dropping by. Do leave comment so I know you were here!



Sunday, November 6, 2011

PIECES OF ME TODAY

And, a good Sunday evening to you all! Hope everyone has remembered to change their clocks *back* an hour so that you don't arrive at work too early tomorrow!!

There are a lot of bits and pieces to this post, so I hope you will take time to read it all!

AU NATURALE

I have been wanting to do a layout with some fall hiking photos I have had of my step-daughter (since 2008). I was motivated to complete this project by the "Nuances de Couleur" Group October Challange on the Bella Creations website. I was challenged to create a layout, card or tag using the colors black, orange and purple! I have never been fond of purple, but, you will see, I did manage to get it into the layout.


GIVING CREDIT WHEN DUE

You may have noticed an addition to the upper right-hand corner of my blog. I first saw this cute ATC on a friend's blog (http://dutchie-in-canada.blogspot.com/). It is a friendly reminder to honor proprietary rights of artists. I do have permission from the original artist, Marsha Jorgensen, to use her ATC on my blog! In that vein, I will tell you that I "lifted" the layout design for my layout above from an artist named Charity Hassel, whose similar and inspirational layout was published in the Fall 2009 issue of Scrapbook & Cards Today. Charity has graciously given me permission to "lift" her layout!

TOOT! TOOT!

I have another opportunity to "TOOT TOOT" my horn, as I have been named Bella du Mois for November on the Bella Creations website, which can be very loosely translated as Artist of the Month. There is nothing more satisfying for a scrapbooking artist than to be validated in such a way as this by her peers! My thanks to Bella for this!

REAPPLYING FOR THE LET'S SCRAP DESIGN TEAM!!

You may remember that I served on the Design Team of the Let's Scrap website for the May-July 2011 term. It was exhausting, but, I must confess, I loved every minute of it. I needed a bit of a break, though, and time to spend with my husband at our New Hampshire campsite over the summer, so did not reapply for the August to November term (yep, it's now a four-month commitment). After deep thinking, a consult with my husband and other Let's Scrap members, I have decided to throw my hat back into the DT ring! I created my application layout over the last week, completed my written application this afternoon, attached the layout, and pressed SEND! I am excited! Being a "former" DT member is no guarantee of being reappointed, so I have to sit on pins and needles once again, waiting for the announcement on November 20! Wish me luck!

Thanks so very much for spending a few minutes with me. Please do leave a comment to let me know you were here!





Monday, October 24, 2011

PUBLISHED!

Hi, Everyone! And, again, it is a great Monday! I have been published in an online magazine entitled Enchanting Creations Magazine. The November 2011 issue has just been released, and my SHOEBOX FAMILY layout appears on p. 30! Here's just a "teaser" glimpse of the layout, but I hope you will actually check out the magazine!

You will also find details on how I came to create this layout in my September 16, 2011, post (see "older posts" at the bottom of this page.)

Thanks for stopping by so I could share my news! Please do leave a comment so that I will know you were here!!

Sunday, October 23, 2011

THE FLAVOR OF FALL

When I saw the sketch of the week (10/12/2011) on the Let's Scrap website, I knew exactly which photos I would use. In our family, the beginning of Fall is marked each year when Sarah and her father head for nearby apple orchards and start plucking the red and green globes of sweetness. Greens are for eating; reds are for applesauce! Russ's mother taught him to make applesauce many decades ago, and he takes great pleasure in passing on this tradition to Sarah.

Thanks again for stopping by! I love it when visitors leave comments, so, go ahead....make my day! ;-)

Monday, October 17, 2011

ONE-YEAR BLOG ANNIVERSARY GIVEAWAY FROM A FRIEND

Hi, Everyone!

An artsy friend from Bella Creations, Gisele Loiselle, is celebrating her one-year blog anniversary and is giving away some pretty cool prizes! There are lots of chances to win! Tell her Kay sent you in your comment and, if you or I win, I will send you a prize, too!



Here's the link to Gisele's blog:


Check it out. You get a chance to win just by visiting and leaving a comment. Another for joining as a "follower," and even more chances if you will post a notice on your blog (I just did!)!! Gisele is quite a talented cardmaker and altered art "artist," so this will be well worth the look!

Have a great week! Go on...scrap some life today!



Sunday, October 16, 2011

I AM LA CREME DU BELLA THIS WEEK!

And, it is a VERY good Sunday evening! I am being honored on the Bella Creations website, as La Creme Du Bella. Here is the official announcement:

"Hello everyone, I am so proud to announce this week's La Creme du Bella. She is such a joy to everyone and I just love her latest project...."Reflections of Sisterhood." Kay Wallace has the honor of being artist of the week. Kay, thank you so much for sharing your art with us and being such an important part of Bella Creations!" Starr Timmons, Bella Creations Design Team

This is such an honor for me, as I have been a member of Bella Creations for just a short time. I joined the group to learn about scrapbooking with a vintage theme. And, now I am being honored for just such a layout (I guess they are good teachers!). Here is the layout that got the attention this week:



You are looking at a picture of my sister and me from about 1950. Sandy has long been a bird enthusiast, but I have come to an increased appreciation of them rather late in life. This layout will go into an album I am creating for my sister as a gift for her 70th birthday--fast approaching!

Please leave a comment to let me know you were here. Join as a follower so you won't miss anything! ;-)





Sunday, October 9, 2011

I WON!


I just received good news this morning from the Let's Scrap website that I won this week's DT challenge hosted by DT Member Teresa! Check out my 10/2 post entitled HOME DECOR FROM THE SCRAPPING PERSPECTIVE for my project details.

Since I remain on a buying freeze this month, winning scrapbooking materials is my new way of replenishing my scrapping supplies without spending any money! Try it! Here are two more of my favorite sites for inspiration and challenge...and opportunities to win free goodies: Bella Creations and Enmarc Crafts.

Go forth and create something beautiful today!

Friday, October 7, 2011

FAMILY (mini) REUNION

Another quickie before heading off for a week away! Mid-September, the Wallace's in New England were joined by family from the Western U.S. for a get-together in Maine, some of us reuniting, others of us meeting for the first time.

The birthday cake shared had the number 1064 atop it, representing the total of all the ages of those present! Our hostess has a sense of humor!

I entitled this layout "mini" Wallace reunion because many of our family were missing, some as far away as Germany! All not present were missed.


Thanks to Cheri over at Let's Scrap for this wonderful sketch. It served as the inspiration for my layout:


Thanks to you, too, for stopping by; leave a comment to let me know you were here. Join and return if you like what you see!

Sunday, October 2, 2011

HOME DECOR FROM THE SCRAPPING PERSPECTIVE

It's late on a Sunday night, but I am so excited about a project that I just completed. This week's Design Team Challenge on Let's Scrap was posted by Teresa and she got me motivated! Check out her challenge details here. Basically, she challenged us to think outside the box (our scrapping comfort zone) and create something for the home.

A few years ago, I bought what I call a "card box" from my Stampin' Up representative (thank you, Marilyn), decorated it with an ocean motif and kept in it cards that I made. When I was in a hurry for a card, I could always reach for that box, knowing that I would find something handmade for just the occasion! Over the years, however, I had tired of the box. Teresa's recipe box, created from a box much like mine, inspired me to strip the box I had (yep, still on a buying freeze) and recover it with something I love--vintage!

Here's the result (front and center and before the "bling" was added):


The top contains an embellishment (envelope with wings) from Enmarc Crafts, a scrapbooking distributer from South Africa, which I have come to love:

The back:

Another side:

And the front again, after adding the bling!!

Thanks for stopping by. Please leave a comment to let me know you were here. Join as a follower, if you will, and thanks!


Saturday, October 1, 2011

THE UNEXPECTED BABY

The addition of Angelina Ava into my son and daughter-in-law's family as their foster child was unexpected, yet she was, in a very short time, easily and lovingly absorbed into their family unit. I hope you will enjoy meeting her in the following layouts, all of which were inspired by challenges on the Let's Scrap website (my thanks to their sketch artist Cheri).



This last layout has so many pieces and parts, that I will show some of the detail. Because of the paper flower, I was unable to scan this layout, so forgive my photography skills! I will share how to make the (punch & scrunch) flower by referring you to my friend Andrea's blog for directions. Andrea is currently one of the Design Team members on Let's Scrap, and you will know why after visiting her blog!


Of course, in this case, the photo of this once-in-a-lifetime experience led the way!

It is normal practice to adhere the journaling block to the layout, but I had purchased a box of these large pink paperclips at an office supply store for 50 cents, and just needed to use one!


Here's Andrea's "punch & scrunch" flower. The directions were easy to follow and give a dramatic result. I would recommend using two-sided paper for the full effect.


And, last but not least, every lady, no matter her age, deserves a bit of bling!

Thanks for stopping by, leave me a comment to let me know you were here, then--go forth and create something to brighten your world!


Friday, September 30, 2011

CREATING A CARD FROM A SKETCH

If there is little time and an easy card solution, I will find it! The sketch challenge this month on Enmarc Crafts is what I like to call elegant simplicity! Here's the sketch:


And here's my card! How simple is that? In about 15 minutes I created a card that I love and will be proud to give to a friend who has recently obtained her graduate degree. I can now call her Dr. Erhabor!


The inside of the card contains a John Ruskin quote that I have long appreciated:

The path of a good woman is indeed strewn with flowers;
but they rise behind her steps, not before them.

I used two Enmarc products on my card: the cascade of flowers--in the buff, and the title Journey--which I colored with back ink for impact!

Thanks again for coming by. Please leave a note so I will know you were here!

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

A MORE FEMININE BIRTHDAY CARD

Just a quickie to share a card that took just a few minutes to make! Truly! When I am in a hurry for a card, I grab a card sketch from DebbyD on the Let's Scrap website. I then reach for my DCWV boxes of precut cards with envelopes. Both great time savers! I then cut a card "front" using a scrap of paper; then cut a smaller shape from the reverse side of the same paper. Grabbed a box of lace tape, two die cuts, and a rub-on sentiment! Instant card.

I have submitted this card to three websites: Let's Scrap (for the card sketch), Bella Creations (for its vintage theme), and Enmarc Crafts (who sent me the great prize package!). These are the three websites I visit most often, and find the greatest of inspiration!


Here's the list of supplies/products:

Base: from DCWV Linen Closet Box of Cards
brown pp: Prima Romantique Collection (Gazette)
lace tape: decollections
green/rose pp: reverse side of Prima (above)
butterfly pp: Basic Gray die cut shapes (17)
chipboard: Enmarc Crafts
happy birthday: rub-on from Pebbles, Inc.

Thanks for looking--go forth and create something!!

Saturday, September 24, 2011

MY SON'S BIRTHDAY CARD

One of the fun things about scrapbooking websites is that they often give away free gifts, donated by sponsors, for your participation in their challenges. It is on just such a website, Let's Scrap, that I was the random winner of a challenge! I won an extremely generous prize donated by Enmarc Crafts, a South African scrapbooking supply manufacturer. I was pleased to find a myriad of delicate wooden embellishments just perfect for a birthday card for my son, as he turns 40 this month.

A bit of history is needed here. Many, many years ago, when my son and daughter and I made our home together, things at home could get a bit messy over time. I was a busy working mother, Bryan had graduated from high school and had his first job, while my daughter was still in high school, a typical teenager.

One Friday, the mess even got a bit much for me, so my plan was to spend the weekend with the major focus on housecleaning! That Friday evening, I opened the door to our home, knowing what would face me. To my astonishment, the house was immaculate! Totally! Hanging from a ceiling beam in the living room was a sign handwritten by my son Bryan: FIXED BY CAMEL. The sign made reference to a children's book, often read to my son as a youngster, about character building in children. One of the characters was named Camel, and he went about fixing things in the neighborhood that needed attention. You will now understand the reference to CAMEL in this very special 40th birthday card for my son:


The inside of the card:


My stamp on the back:


With great thanks to Let's Scrap and Enmarc Crafts, and with the greatest affection, admiration and gratitude to my son!

Thanks for sharing this poignant moment with me!


A RETURN VISIT TO ATCs

The Bella Creations website has kept me very busy of late, joining new groups and "answering" September challenges. This challenge is from a group called Oh La La, hosted by Design Team member Lacee. GeckoGalz provided free images of three dressmaker's mannequins to the members of this group, and the challenge was very broad: incorporate all three images into your work!

First, for those of you who are not familiar with the term ATC, a brief description: ATC stands for Artist's Trading Card. An ATC has a specific size, 3-1/2" x 2-1/2" (basically, the size of a playing card or baseball trading card). That is your canvas! You can do anything you want to do in that space. Along with ATCs comes an unspoken oath that one takes when they make one: ATCs are to be traded or given only; they my never be sold!

Here are the 3 ATCs I made for this challenge:


Here are a few more--some of my favorites from times past:


Thanks for stopping by! If you leave a message, I will know you were here!

Friday, September 23, 2011

MY DOG JAKE

Just finished my layout for the month-long challenge on Let's Scrap! It features a sketch by the well-known sketch artist Julie Bonner. Check out both the Let's Scrap website and Julie's blog for some instant scrapbooking inspiration!

My husband Russ and I adopted Jake from the Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem, MA, in May of 2010. He had been rescued by an organization in Puerto Rico called Save-A-Sato, sato being Spanish for "street dog," now generally referring to all animals who roam the streets there. You might say that Jake is one very lucky dog, but Russ and I both feel that WE are the lucky ones in this relationship!

The photos in this layout were taken as Jake (and Russ) played along Rye Beach in Rye, New Hampshire. Dogs there can be "off leash," but, despite his size, Jake is still a puppy, so we chose to keep a tighter control of his actions by having him remain on leash.

I had planned to do my usual computer "journaling" on this layout, but decided to be brave and try a bit of hand journaling! Go me!



Thanks for looking! Now, go be creative!!

Monday, September 19, 2011

MORE VINTAGE

Though still taking baby steps, I want to continue my path toward learning the art of vintage scrapping! This layout was inspired by a group within the Bella Creations website. It's called Souvenirs du Passe (Memories of the Past), and is hosted by DT member Maggie. I am also submitting this layout to The Paper Trail Makers, a challenge blog. This challenge is to incorporate a bit of vintage into the layout--right up my new alley!

The obvious "bit of vintage" is my photograph, c. 1949. It is a family photo of siblings (in case you missed the resemblance!). With the predominant photo color being yellow, it is from that which I chose my color palette. The background paper is from the Brilliance Collection by Authentique. I used only about 2/3 of my scalloped paper (guessing this is from Basic Gray), so was able to use a piece of what remained for the upper right-hand corner. To accent that same corner, I used a vintage time piece (with accompanying bling) from The Girls Paperie (Vintage Whimsy Glitter Charms).

One of the few purchases I have made of late is a set of stamps from Unity Stamp Company called Ticket to Life. Tickets are a very trendy embellishment these days, but lend themselves particularly well to vintage layouts. I chose to use this particular stamp because it reminded me of the cost of a movie theater ticket (15 cents) and box of candy from the concession stand (10 cents) in the old days! I stamped on a piece of canvas for a more aged appearance. The butterfly is the top two layers of a three-layer sticker from Basic Gray (Pops), with the top layer inked with a bit of yellow. (I am a great fan of "adjusting" purchased embellishments to fit the layout!)

The flowers are by Prima, and they, too, have been "adjusted" by removing a bulky button and replacing it with a gem. My reason for doing this was to created a lower profile so that the layout would scan more easily (I need to work on my layout photography skills!). Lastly, I added that cute vintage die cut of a little girl collecting flowers in her dress. I believe she is from Vintage Attic Treasures by Melissa Frances, but not sure. The names and birth years of the siblings are computer generated and, for now, are serving as both the title and journaling. If I one day come across just the right font, I just might add SIBLINGS as my title.

For now, please enjoy this as it is. I had so much fun creating this one because I am that little girl in the middle!

Thanks again for dropping by to check out my blog. I would be pleased to know that you were here, so leave a comment!!

Friday, September 16, 2011

THE SHOEBOX FAMILY

OK, I'll say it again: Sometimes life gets in the way of blogging, even when it's good stuff! But, here I am, only slightly retired from my term as a Let's Scrap Design Team Member. Slightly, you ask? I have been invited to challenge that site's 3,000 members in November to do something slightly different. Watch for it here!

While I remain active on the Let's Scrap site, I have also aligned myself with a new site called Bella Creations to learn about a design style I have long admired, but been afraid to try. Something called vintage. Now, as a wine aficionado of good (and long) standing, I know that vintage refers to the year in which a wine was produced. It can also refer to the clothing or style of clothing worn during a certain period--like the 20's, the 50's, or even as recent as the 90's. Likewise, cars. It then follows that a scrapbooker would use papers and embellishments with an older or even antique-y feel. My reason for wanting t0 learn this very creative design style is to scrapbook some VERY old photos (as old as 1915 in the case of the photo below). This is going to be a long hard road for me to travel, as my scrapbooking design style has always been very simple, using clean straight lines, and with minimal intrusion from embellishments--you will recall my earliest struggle with using more than one patterned paper on a layout!

I am sure, like mine, most families have a shoebox full of old photos. We find that, when someone sends us photos, we are not allowed to throw them away, so we collect them in one place--usually a box. Each family passes this collection of photos from generation to generation, until, finally, the people in the photos can no longer be identified. In the scrapbooking world, these photos have come to be called Shoebox People or, in the case of my layout title, Shoebox Family.

When you think of it, most of us have neither the time nor, frankly, the inclination to open up a box of photos of people we don't know! But just maybe, if the presentation were a bit more "attractive," we just might be tempted. I am hoping that my children and my children's children might be so tempted. Along with scrapbooking a "Book About Me" (check out this group on Let's Scrap), I want to scrapbook a book about my family's ancestors. Maybe these family members will not be all identifiable by name, but wouldn't it be fun to know that you have your great grandmother's nose?

I have begun this vintage scrapbook with a photo of Mrs. Conner's 75th birthday, taken in 1915. I am not sure that her actual birthday was January 11, as documented in the lower left-hand corner of the photo, or merely the date it was celebrated. I would like to think it was--as that is my birthday, too. As my sister, brother and I are now the senior members of our family (Wonders), we could only deduce that Mrs. Conner is our great-great grandmother on our father's side. But, really, how cool is that? I found this photo especially interesting, too, in that, other than Mr. Conner, this photo is of the women and children of the family. I think that might have been a bit unusual for the time.

So here is my layout! It is still evolving, but I wanted to share it with you now--you may see it again. I initially posted this layout in the gallery on the Bella Creations website with neither the flowers nor flourish in the bottom right-hand corner. I asked for suggestions on how to complete it--it appeared naked to me. One of the "Bella" Design Team members, Maggie, made the suggestion of adding those elements. I could not be more pleased with the flowers! However, the flourish I used sort of disappears against the background paper, so I will need to work on that a bit more. It is also my intention to use some hidden journaling on a tag behind the photo, just peaking out a smidge on the left-hand side.



Here's a close-up of the flowers and title:


And of the chipboard buttons with frayed twine ties:


Thanks for taking the time to come by and to read my blog. Time now for me to "go forth and create!"

Sunday, May 1, 2011

A HAPPY ANNOUNCEMENT, ETC., ETC.

Well, I have waited until today, National Scrapbook Day, to announce my appointment as a Design Team (DT) Member at Let's Scrap, an international scrapbooking site with over 2700 members! I am so very proud, emotionally thankful, and greatly humbled with this appointment. If I had a "bucket list" (which I plan to make!), serving on a Design Team would be in the top 5, for sure.

As a DT member, one of the things I did today was post a challenge on the Let's Scrap website, challenging our members to step outside of their comfort zone and create a layout using one of the website sketches, but, and here's the challenge, they need to cut their photographs on the diagonal! I will show you the example I created for this challenge:


Here's the link to my challenge on Let's Scrap:


I would love it if you visited the website and checked out not only my challenge, but those of other members, including the new DT members!

I hope you all have a wonderful week

Go forth and create!


Monday, April 18, 2011

A SPECIAL HONOR

It's great to wake up on a Monday morning when the sun is shining and you have nothing pressing on your immediate agenda! It's an even greater day when an e-mail brings good news! I received the following message from Kathy Perry, a Let's Scrap Design Team member: "Hi, Kay! Take a look at this week's IOTW [Inspiration of the Week], please!!!" Now, for those of you who have not yet visited the Let's Scrap website (and I hope you will), it's an online international website for those who love paper crafting--scrapbooking, cardmaking, and any other creative endeavor you can think of involving paper, scissors, glue and (most often) photos! Let's Scrap provides weekly sketches to get members' crafting mojo going! IOTW is a way the site recognizes a layout or card for its inspirational elements. Here's the sketch posted on Wednesday, April 13:




Members have a choice at this point. They can use the sketch exactly as it is shown...or just use it for inspiration. A "jumping off point," if you will. Another option is to use only one side or the other of the two-page sketch layout. The choice is always left to the creater. The members then, if they wish, post their creations on the website for others to see, comment, and/or be further inspired! It is a win-win scenario every time you participate. I really love sharing my pages with others and seeing what others have done. I find my inspiration as we exchange ideas!



A friend of mine often shares photos of her grandchildren with me. For my layout this week, and the one for which I have been honored, I chose to use some of those photos. Here is my interpretation of the above sketch. I strayed only slightly from the original sketch, reversing the placement of the center two photographs and varying the shape of the wavy lines at the bottom.








Thanks for visiting. Go check out Let's Scrap and be INSPIRED!



Tuesday, April 12, 2011


Justed wanted to pop in for a second to share a fun layout I just did for one of my co-workers. He showed me a photograph of his daughter, and I just knew I had to scrap it! She looked like a mini rock star all dressed in black! I would never have thought that I could use black as a predominant color in a child's layout, but, in this case, the photo led the way!


Thanks for looking!


Sunday, April 10, 2011


So happy to share with you that I have been nominated for the STYLISH BLOGGER AWARD by a friend on the Let's Scrap website! First, let me thank Beth for being so kind! Next, here are my 8 responsibilities:


After receiving the award I am to:



  • Thank the person from whom I received the award and give a link back to her blog (above).

  • Share 8 things about myself.

  • Pass the award to 8 other individuals that I have recently discovered.

  • Leave those individuals a comment so that they can pass along the recognition.

Okay, here are the 8 things about myself:



  1. I am 67 years old and have been married to Russ for only 5 years!

  2. I am a brain tumor survivor.

  3. I have my own scrapbooking .com business.

  4. I am an active member of Let's Scrap and this is where I met Beth.

  5. I have two adult children, both married, and two grandsons.

  6. I have a 15-year-old stepdaughter who was born in China.

  7. I am semi-retired, but have worked in the healthcare industry for almost 20 years.

  8. I have been scrapbooking for almost 10 years now, and was introduced to this addicting art by my daughter Michelle.

And here are links to 8 blogs I would like to nominate for the STYLISH BLOGGER AWARD. Be sure to check them out:


Rene'


Roni


Marjolein


Molly


Deanne


Linda


Abbie


Carol


Until next time, go forth and create!





Saturday, April 2, 2011

INSPIRATION & MOTIVATION

Want to be a really, REALLY good scrapbook artist? Check out a novel approach in this PICKLES cartoon (you may click on it to enlarge it):

If you really, REALLY want to be a good scrapbooker, and the PICKLES APPROACH (above) does not work for you, then you have to scrap the idea that you will never be a really good scrapbooker! Yep! It’s that simple! Here’s an excerpt from one of my earliest blog posts:


I didn't love it [scrapbooking] at first. I actually thought it quite intimidating. I found myself copying others' styles and then comparing my work to theirs--with disastrous results.


Rule #1 in scrapbooking should be to NEVER compare your layouts to those of other scrapbook artists! I have admitted to cruising online scrapbooking galleries for inspiration, especially when I feel stuck on a layout. Many of the online websites that have these galleries also have design teams. Their design team members’ layouts, cards and altered art projects are usually created using the products sold on that website. But not always! I have found new inspiration for my work on a website recommended by a friend. Let's Scrap doesn’t want to sell you anything. They exist solely to inspire and motivate--and, yes, there is a difference.


Let’s start with inspire. Inspiration is something intangible, even supernatural, if you will! Something that must be absorbed. In an artistic sense, this would be to absorb something into your creative mind; to allow something to communicate with your artistic spirit. This “something” is going to be different for each of us at any given time. For instance, an ad in a magazine could trigger inspiration for me. It could be the framework of the layout of that ad, or maybe the color combination used in the ad, or even the product being showcased. Another artist could look at the same ad and get nothing from it! Yet, when another artist looks at a bottle of wine and finds its burgundy color generates a sense of warmth, they might find themselves inspired to take pictures of a summer sunrise and create a layout. Inspiration is all around us; we just need to look for it.


Ah, here comes that difference! A scrapbook artist can certainly be inspired, yet not motivated (or motivated, yet not inspired). Being motivated for a scrapbooker is being sufficiently excited (inspired) to generate action. I can look at that inspirational magazine ad all day, but if the inspiration has not been great enough to make me “do” something, I have accomplished nothing. On their forum, Let’s Scrap has a feature called the “Question of the Week.” Recently, Michela, one of the Design Team members, posed this question:


Sometimes, I arrive at home after work full of desire to scrap...but when I sit at my desk and I take the materials and photos for my page, the inspiration doesn't come!!!!! What are you doing in this situation?


It made me stop and think about what I actually do when I am not feeling the creativity. Here’s my answer:


Since scrapbooking is not only my avocation, but my vocation, it is very serious when my mojo doesn't show up for work! When nothing comes to me after pushing the same three photos around and around on various papers, I walk away. I may even walk around outside for 15 minutes. I find that stepping away from my scrapping table, even for just a short time, can clear out the cobwebs in my artistic brain!


I assume, now, we all can agree we need both inspiration and motivation to actually sit down and create a scrapbook layout. But there is a third component—time—which may be the most elusive for many of us. Sadly, I cannot advise on how to find that time, I can only encourage you to do it!


I hope you will visit Let’s Scrap for a bit of inspiration. You will find a myriad of sketches there for both scrapbooking layouts and cards, weekly challenges, and an active forum where you can chat up a storm or simply “lurk and learn,” which is my personal favorite!


That said, I want to take just a moment to address the practice of “scraplifting.” Scraplifting is not artistic plagiarism, unless you copy the original artist’s work exactly. Scraplifting is more like the paraphrasing of that work, and that’s considered a compliment! Still, when I scraplift, I most often will state that my work is done “in the style of (artist).”


I cannot leave you without offering up some humorous inspiration for you. You can click on my layout to enlarge it to read the journaling!

OK, go forth and create!