May Paper Trail Blog Hop - Super Hero

Welcome to the Paper Trail Blog Hop! This month each of us is highlighting a hero using the Superhero Paper Pack. If you've arrived here from Karen's blog Inky Fingers you're on the right track. If this is your first stop, no worries. This hop is circular!

I am loving the primary colors in this paper. They are perfect for highlighting the heroes in my world as I did with this two page layout about one of my favorite kinds of heroes - good friends.

I stamped the letters for "friends" in my title (using the retired Cobblestone alphabet set) and then cut them out to give the appearance of die cuts.

The paper strips under the photos showcase the reverse side of the star paper (the stripes) and the zip strip (the zig-zag). I inked the sky card stock with Grey Wool so that it fit with the distressed theme of the other papers.



I seem to have a thing for stars lately. As my 5-year-old daughter says, "Stars are like flowers for boys!"

The chipboard stars seemed a natural embellishment to use with the Moonstruck B&T paper. I love the different ways I can alter the chipboard to make it fit my projects. This time, I stamped a background stamp on the two larger stars and used a sponge to ink the two small ones.

I hope you'll check back over the next few weeks because I have a couple of other layouts in the works using this paper. If you like what you see here, check back at the end of the month for information about how you can create this layout!


Now hop on over to Pineapple Paper Artist, Amy's blog, to see what another superhero has created. I'm sure you'll be thrilled!

Just Like Dad - A layout and just a few words

I created this one earlier this month inspired by a challenge at CSI that has long since ended. I've been waiting to blog about it until I have fun, pithy things to say. Instead of continuing to wait, I've decided to post away and let the layout speak for itself. I started with a photo I love, added a simple color scheme and some classic elements and created this:

And some details:

I used older label stickers from my stash and customized them using stamps to work with this layout.


 


 
I found this poem by Carl Sandburg as I was searching for a quote to include on this layout. I liked the whole poem so much I printed it and included it on the back of the tag!

What about you? What have you created lately?

The end of an experiment

In March I tried an experiment. I tried to scrap something every day. For the first part of the month I was fairly successful. In the second part of the month, things kind of went back to normal. In many ways this experiment was a failure. I didn't keep up the change for long enough to make it a habit. I didn't create daily. I didn't accomplish more because of the short amounts of time I was spending each day.

I can't call it a failure, however, because I learned some important things about myself.

1. It is easier to craft in small segments when the supplies are at hand on my desk and when I am in the middle of a project. One of the reasons I got in a bit of a rut last week was that I didn't know what project I was going to do next. It is much easier for me to take a bit of time to create a journaling block or an embellishment than to sit down to start on a new idea.
2. I enjoy being creative on a regular basis. It makes me a happier person. For me the regular basis seems to be somewhere around every other day give or take.
3. Creativity breeds creativity. On the weeks I created more, I had more ideas about what to create next. Perhaps the way to get myself out of this slump isn't to surf around for inspiration, but to take out my supplies and get crafting!

My March experiment was useful. I did finish some projects that have been in the works. I did learn about my creative process, and I had fun. That must be a win!

The Kids of Summer - Design Team Call

I love to create layouts inspired by sketches. I was thrilled to see that Sketches in Thyme is hosting a design team call. We were challenged to create a layout based on this sketch:

Here is what I created:

I loved the design of the sketch and my layout came together quickly since I used it, but I wanted to add some whimsy with my embellishments.

I started with the die cut flower (a goodie from the last Crop N Time crop I attended) and let my design be inspired from there.

The chipboard letters have been in my stash for who knows how long.

The blue sparkles and green paper fill in embellishment triangle.

Thanks, Sketchy Mavens, for the inspiration and the chance to play along with you! I would love to join your team.

Blue cardstock: Stampin Up, Pattern Paper: CTMH - Mayberry (retired), Sparkles: CTMH

Thirty-Six Projects at 36

I'm setting a new goal as a birthday gift to me. Its a lofty goal, but I think I'm up to it. I'm challenging myself to complete thirty-six projects in this, my 36th year.

I've set scrapbooking goals for myself for two years now. My own goals and the challenges I find online inspire me to create many pages and record many stories. But I think I need to break out of my paper box. I have other projects in my head - some of the supplies are even in my house. I want to kick start my creativity off of the page.

For the purposes of this challenge, a project will be any created item that goes beyond a scrapbook page or a card. I hope to work in various media, using various tools and creating various types of products. Some items on my list I have specific plans for. Some are gifts. Some are just vague inklings right now, but I have 12 months to figure them out. The list will probably change some as the year goes on. Some projects may be postponed or even removed. At least 25 more will have to be added.  

Projects on my list so far:

• Stella paper accordion album
• girl's treasure gift box
• decorative banner
• seasonal celebration cubes
• denim bag
• a necklace
• ABC book
• prayer board
• wall canvas
• scripture/song tag book
• books of 2011 book

Since I am a memory keeper at heart, I will record my progress toward this goal. I think I feel a mini-album coming on!