Someday - Using Picture My Life Cards on a 12X12 layout

Someday. It is a word full of promise. I recently created a layout about one of my dreams of “someday.” The design was inspired by Shimelle.

The journaling that was the genesis of the layout is brief, but it captures an important dream of mine right now. Since I was documenting my dream, I included a photo of myself. 

I emphasized the time elements that started with the title by not cropping the clock out of my photo and using a pocket scrapbooking card with the months of the year. I used other cards to emphasize my dream of feeling free.

I ended up including six different cards on this one page (five are from CTMH's Avonlea Picture My Life). I cut the cards for the cluster on the bottom of the page which allowed me to use both sides of one card in smaller pieces. I loved combining the cards with papers from Timberline and Balloon Ride.

Subway Tidings: Check out this Stamp of the Month!

I loved this stamp of the month from the moment I saw it! There are so many possibilities! We're doing a make and take with it this Saturday at Crop N Time, why not check out the video and then join us at Crop N Time to check out the stamp. If Saturday doesn't work for you, you can get this stamp through my online store!

Soak up the Sun - a musical challenge

I love music. I often listen - and sing along - while I create, so it seems only natural that sometimes I create layouts inspired by songs. This particular one was inspired by Sheryl Crow's "Soak Up The Sun".

left page

right page

The bright, sunny colors of the Dream Pop paper were the perfect with the photos and the title - Sheryl’s title - soak up the sun. 

I stamped the title using two different sizes of letters from the Trinity alphabet set. This is my current favorite alphabet because the three sizes make it so flexible. I don't usually use many themed embellishments, but the wooden sun burst was just the right touch. The round sun was also just the right balance to other very linear elements on the page. I decided to accent with buttons to add a few more round elements. 

This is the park nearest our house. We go there regularly. Every summer. I have already created other pages from this year (and other years) that told the story about going to the park. This time I decided to tell a slightly different story by listing the necessities of the trip. I borrowed (and modified) a line from the song- “we’ve got our 45 on” - to include it in my list-style journaling.

*Tip - If you have multiple sets of photos of very similar events, create a layout that tells a different part of the story.

*Tip - Create a visual triangle with similar embellishments. I used the washi tape and buttons in three different places.


What about the challenge, you ask? Create your own layout inspired by "Soak up the Sun"! You might choose to focus on the title, the lyrics, a memory of the song - whatever inspires you! Why not play along? Link to your layout in a comment on this post sometime this month. I'd love to see how this song inspires you. Also, this is the challenge I created for all of my friends who attend  Crop N Time events. If you're around here, why not join us on September 21?

Fabulous Fabrics

I must admit I was excited when I saw the new textiles in the Spring/Summer CTMH idea book. I loved the patterns. I loved the idea of fabric on my pages. I ordered them right away. And then they sat in my craft area. I was excited about them, but I wasn't sure how to use them.

I've played with them a bit and created some fun effects on my pages. In fact, my make-n-take project at CropNTime this weekend uses some of the textiles.

If you can't wait until this weekend, or if you aren't able to attend the crop, check out this video for a couple of suggestions for using fabric.

I can't wait to see what you create!

I choose - a sunburst!

I’m not always a trend follower, but there are some trends I really like in paper crafting right now. The sunburst is one of them! I’ve seen bursts created with paper, ribbon, buttons, confetti, you name it! I’ve seen sunbursts behind photos, journaling, titles, on the edge of pages, even in pattern paper!

I was inspired to create my page by some triangular shaped scraps from another project. My triangles weren’t all the same size - they weren’t even similar (same angles, but different size). The irregular sunburst they created added the perfect energy to my small photo for this page.

 

 
Rather than focus on one word for the year, for 2013 I am focusing on choosing goals and priorities each month. The energy and focus this is giving me is captured perfectly in the sunburst and small journaling spots.










I double stamped the title in two different inks slightly offset to give the effect of depth. For the year, I attached number stickers, sponged in over them and then removed the stickers to create the negative effect.












 

I love this Chantilly paper from CTMH. The color combination is really working for me. Believe it or not, the pearl flourishes were left over from the same project as the triangles of paper. I just couldn't let either one go to waste!

Cousin Layouts

In addition to the layouts I posted last week, I created a few about my darling nieces in January.
My brother's darling Abby meeting her Great Grandma:

This uses CTMH's La Belle Vie paper packet - now sadly retired. (The tag with the heart and the frame with the flower were a make and take at the January Crop N Time event.)

I used some retired stamps, a bit of black tulle ribbon and washi tape to embellish. This tulle gives a lot of bang for the buck. The pieces on this layout are 1/4 of the full width!




Another layout using La Belle Vie. This time I used the negative space from the hearts I cut for the make and take to create the background of a layout documenting my niece Olivia's baptism:

The negative space was fun to play with. I tried many colors behind it, and settled on the pink pattern and Colonial White.

I added some stamped and fussy-cut flowers from Hooray Bouquet with clear sparkles to embellish.

I also pulled out some more retired stamps to create the borders and the title.










And finally, a layout that actually includes cousins! Near the end of the day at the January crop I wanted to continue creating, but my table was a mess. I decided to try to use the things on my table to create another page. I found two photos of my little guy with his cousin and this was the result:

I loved the bright colors of the play mat with the papers and embellishments. The supplies are a mish-mash of manufacturers. Almost all of the CTMH materials are long retired.

I'm glad to get these girls into my scrapbooks! What have you been creating about your family lately?

Odds and Ends from January

Last month, it seems, I created many more layouts than I blogged. I'm here today to catch up on a couple of those layouts.

This first one was the one hour challenge at the January Crop N Time crop. The challenge was inspired by January in our neck of the woods:

• one photo - for the first month of the year
• the word “new” - for the year and the resolutions some of us make
• white - for the snow we often see
• something fuzzy - for the mittens and sweaters we wear

Here is my creation:

I have to confess. Since I write the challenges, I don't always time myself. This page was definitely a quick one, however. 


This next layout started with the title block. I had a piece with tag shapes cut out leftover from one of my workshops. I was inspired by the many ways I've seen people using negative space recently to create this: 

The four letter title worked perfectly for the page. 

 

Yellow is not one of my go-to colors, but I liked the way it balanced the blue hues on the page. I have lots of photos of my kids reading. (They like to do it, and I find it adorable that they do!) Rather than rehashing how I feel about them reading, again, I decided to use a quote about reading as the journaling:
      "Anyone who says they only have one life to live must not know how to read a book!"


There you have it. A bit of what I created in January. What have you created so far this year? Stop back next week for some more new creations!

Megan at 5 - A Rainbow Challenge for Crop N Time

I write a challenge column for my friends Karen and Rene at Crop N Time. Sometimes the biggest challenge for me is coming up with the challenges! This month, however, I am full of ideas. All of the new products that have come out - both from CTMH and at CHA - have inspired lots of people to create - thus inspiring me!

The February challenge is to use a rainbow in your page elements. Here is the layout I created:

I used washi tape and strips of paper to create the rainbow behind my darling daughter. Here is a detail of the stamped title:

Would you believe that it was a coincidence that the "5" on the washi tape ended up so close to the title? Since it did, I decided to capitalize on it!

I like this rainbow trend - especially when there is so much white outside right now. Thanks for the challenge to create a challenge, Karen and Rene.

If you're local, come check out the next Crop N Time event on  Saturday, April 27! Not in the area? Busy that day? I'd still love to see what you created!

Crop tomorrow!

I'm excited! I get to crop with my friends Karen and Rene (and quite a few others) at Crop N Time tomorrow! I spent about 2 hours last night gathering supplies, organizing what I might work on. I have discovered stamps and papers that I had forgotten. I had to stop myself from starting a project last night when I was supposed to be packing.

I can't wait for my full day of creative time. I'm sure I'll have much to share next week.

What about you? Will you find some creative time this weekend? I hope so!

The final post in which I share layouts I created over a month ago

And finally we have it. The last installment of the May layouts. This one page layout came together very quickly at the Crop N Time event in May.

The ledger paper, the wood grain and the red plaid were new purchases that day. Would you ever guess that they were from a Christmas pack? Paired with the blue pattern from Elemental, they seemed to fit with my son's trip over the top of the couch.

These are the moments I never thought I would document. Still, what is a scrapbooker to do?

The ribbon was a lucky break I received in my goodie bag at the crop! Just like that, the layout came together.

Check back soon to see some more up to date creations.

Recap of Last Weekend's Crop

I was fortunate to be able to attend the Crop N Time event last Saturday. The big project I worked on was the mini-album for my husband (I'll share more photos later.) That meant that I finished fewer layouts than I typically do, but it was still a very productive day.

I used a page kit Karen and Rene created to make both of these layouts (and earn chances for a prize!)
 

A few of my favorite things (as of 2/26/12). I used a CTMH background stamp (now retired) to create the pattern on the base page. This layout came together quickly, but I really like the way it captures some of the "right now"

I also created this one about a much older memory.

I found these photos of my cousin's wedding (about 10 years ago) while I was working on the book for my husband. We don't get this many cousins together very often and we certainly had a good time that day! This celebration was perfect for Lasting Memories current challenge to document a celebration. I used a few buttons and some hemp as well as a couple of other retired stamps as accents.

Scrappy Saturday

I'm at a crop today with my friends Karen and Rene from Crop N Time.

I have been looking forward to this scrappy day for at least a month. I'm sure I'll have lots to share next week!











What about you? How are you getting creative this weekend?