Time (like water) Flows On

This is actually a two-page layout that started out as one page. I created the left page in response to the challenge over at Paper Thrills this week. The challenge is to use a old movie poster as inspiration. I have to admit, it was an intimidating challenge for me. Once inspiration struck, however, it just...flowed (pun intended). I had lots of fun stamping the flourishes that were inspired by the monster's tentacles. I had many more photos than the ones I included on the layout, but limiting myself to three on my original one page forced me to tell a more specific story. I found that I had so much to say I had to type my journaling!

After I had finished my one page, I decided that I did want to use some of the other photos from the day, so I created the right hand page using the same cardstock and flourish stamp as the original page. It seemed a little flat, so at the suggestion of my scrappin' buddy Karen, I added a couple of grunge board flourishes as well. Not such as scary layout after all!

Scrapping on vacation?

My family is at the beach this week. Every year my hubby packs up his hobby items to work on for after the kids go to bed or in case we have a rainy day. In a funny way, I think he gets more done on vacation than he does at home. A few years ago I decided I wanted to be able to take advantage of those times to scrapbook. He gave me a worried look when I told him since he knows how many bags I take to crops. I packed only one small shoulder bag filled with photos, other people's sketches, a notebook, a ruler and a trimmer. It worked out great. I sorted photos into layout piles, decided on page designs and sketched them out. Sometimes I included my plans for titles, papers, embellishments. It was easy to make a few final decisions and put the pages together once I was home. I think I used those sketches for a couple of months.

This year, I'm trying something different. The house where we are staying has wireless, and I have a laptop. I'm planning to do some digital pages. This is still a very new area for me, but I'm really liking Close to my Heart's Studio J online. I'll let you know how it goes.

Up for a Challenge?

I've been writing a monthly challenge for my friends Karen and Rene over at CropNTime for a year and half now. It has been great fun coming up with challenges that will stretch scrappers' creativity and designing my own layouts that meet the requirements (sometimes harder than you would think). My favorite part of this adventure though has been seeing what the talented ladies at the crops come up with in response to the challenges. I am constantly inspired by the responses to the challenges!

Starting this month, I've decided to run a challenge here as well. I figure I can use all the inspiration I can get.

July Challenge

It is a recipe challenge, but this one has a bit of a twist. In addition to page elements, this recipe includes techniques for you to use. You might call this a recipe with room for improvisation. You don’t have to use all of elements or techniques and you can add whatever other elements or techniques make the page work for you.

The page elements – use at least three of the following:

• laser cut or die cut paper
• flower embellishments
• buttons
• plaid pattern paper

The techniques – use at least two of the following:

• stamp
• doodle
• write by hand

And here is my interpretation of the challenge based roughly on a sketch by Allison Davis.

Page elements from the recipe: The die cut paper, felt daisies and blue buttons were all in my "new products" pile. The plaid paper is an oldie made new.

Techniques from the recipe:

stamped journal spot (cute, huh? I received it in a swap!)

handwritten journaling - to be honest I usually hand write my journaling. It is easier and quicker for me.

Doodled border elements. A bit out of my comfort zone, but I like the way it turned out.

Want to play along? Post your layout (or a link) in the comments here by August 15. If at least 5 people play along, I'll draw a random winner for a small prize after that date.

I can't wait to see what you create!

A Return

I've been a bad  blogger - the one my hubby warned me about - the one who just stops posting.

The good news is that even though I haven't been blogging, it hasn't stopped me from creating. In fact, summer vacation has left me with some extra time to be crafty. I started out my vacation right by hitting a going out of business sale at my local scrapbook store. I was very sorry to see them go, but the products I purchased have kept me going for the last month. When I get new products I love to keep them right close at hand for inspiration. Check it out:

The die cut paper is the new product that inspired this layout. The folder tab sticker was from the sale. The die cut letters (and number) are from a kit I received recently. The other elements are old, but I love the way they look here!

Are you up for a challenge? Pair a new product with some old ones to get a new look! Post your project (or link) in the comments. I can't wait to see what you create!