Weekly Challenge #7

This will be the last weekly challenge until mid-August - I'm going on vacation! Please feel free to use this time to catch up on any challenges you haven't had time for, or come up with your own and share them with us!

The technique challenge for this week is to wrinkle or crinkle paper on a layout. Some people go as far as wadding paper up, getting it damp, and ironing it back out - personally, I feel like that's too much effort (I don't iron my CLOTHES, I'm certainly not going to start on my paper!), but if that appeals, feel free! I just wad mine up and smooth it back out. It adds an interesting texture to the page.

The journaling challenge for this week is to scrap an emotion - happy, sad, scared - anything!

As always, I look forward to what you do with this! (:

Use something old challenge - Shauna

In Shauna's words: "I used embossing powder for the first time in ages. I honestly can’t remember the last time I used it. I stamped a square with the embossing ink then poured silver powder over it, when it had melted, I poured more powder over it before it had a chance to cool off. I did these four or five times. When it was thick and before it had cool off, I stamped it. This way I got the image of a “blue jeans” button."

First home challenge - Maria

Maybe this is "cheating," but on this layout I used something I'd had for a really long time (the paper - one of the first 12" paper I ever bought! I've been waiting for a good time to use it); used ribbons (the fiber challenge from this week), and journaled about my first place - yup, three challenges down in one layout! (;

I'm posting a smaller image with both sides, and larger ones of each side so you can click on it if you want and read the journaling.

It was fun to do something so colorful. I kind of went off of the tie-dyed shirts I was wearing in the photos for inspiration. The ribbon on the bottom under the "home sweet home" one is actually an upside-down chartreuse ribbon - the blue underneath it was the closest thing I had to what I wanted. Normally, I would have matted at least one photo, or the journaling, but the paper was so bright I figured it all stood out from it enough. (:

Pet Challenge - Maria (#3)

Here is the third - and last - set of pictures from the cat album:

Pet Challenge - Maria (#2)

Here are more images from the cat album. I tried to keep things simple by keeping more or less the same neutral color scheme throughout.

Pet Challenge - Maria

This is an album I did to help the kids with their grieving process when the cat died last week. I sat down with them and talked about all the things they loved about her - all the happy memories - and then printed out pictures and put them in a book, along with what they'd said. I had them write on the back cover - Colin showed unexpected humor (he really WAS devastated) by drawing her as a ghost cat. (:

I think I can only upload 4 or 5 pictures at a time, so this will be spread across two or three posts. If you want to read what the kids had to say (and some of them are pretty cute), just click on the picture for a larger version.

Weekly Challenge #6

I hope you all had a nice 4th of July week! Without further ado, here are this week's challenges:

The technique challenge will be to use fibers of some sort (yarn, floss, twine, etc.) on your layout. If this is old hat to you, take it a step further and dangle something (a small photo, beads, charms, keys, etc.) from the fibers!

The journaling challenge is to do a page where you write about a current or past pet - beloved or not. (; This is another one where you could easily take it a step further and do a mini book or album on this topic, depending on how much you have to say about it!

Oh, and I need some more pictures from you guys! This is not all about me!!! (:

Did You Know? - an article about stockpiling

Here's a fun (and enlightening!) article about scrapbook stockpiling, from Organized Scrapbooks. For example, did you know that an inch of cardstock is the equivalent of 50 finished pages, and an inch of patterned paper is about 75-100? And here I thought I didn't have enough paper! (:

http://organizedscrapbooks.com/article71.html

Catch up week or vacation (:

Happy July 4th week! This week, instead of having a new challenge, we can either use our time to catch up on some previous challenges, or just take a week off and enjoy the holiday. Have fun!

Button Challenge - Maria

I just had FUN with this one! I had some green strips of cardstock left over from my previous layout (letter to self), and I just threw them onto some blue cardstock any old way and grabbed some bright buttons as accents. I think this is possibly the first time in my years of scrapbooking that I've made a layout first, and THEN looked for a photo to go with it! (: I keep reading about the "visual triangle" you're supposed to make on a page, and I attempted to do that with my placement of the pink buttons.

Letter to self challenge - Maria

Here is the layout I did in response to the Week 4 challenge. I wrote a letter from myself at age 33 to myself at age 20. Since the letter was a little more personal, I put it on coordinating cardstock and put it behind the photo (which, of course, was only adhered on three sides). It was an interesting exercise to contemplate what I'd tell a younger version of myself - I encourage you to try it, if you haven't yet!

Weekly Challenge #5

My layouts from last week are still in progress - but this is not a thing to hang over our heads and make us feel guilty, it's for FUN! On to week #5!

This week's technique challenge is to dig through your scrapbooking stash and find something that you've had for a long time but never used (this could be a tool, an accent, paper - anything!). Time to break it out and use it on a layout!

This week's journaling challenge is to make a layout (or a mini book/album, if you have a lot to say about it) about your first home, apartment or living space. It could be a room in your parents' house, your first apartment, or the first home you bought.

Have fun with this, and I look forward to seeing what you come up with!

Some inspiring reading

Take a look at http://www.paperclipping.com/ and read the "You Are Not Obligated to Scrapbook All Your Photos" article a little way down. I love this way of thinking! I just recently finished reading Stacy Julian's "The Big Picture" book, and it really opened my mind to a new attitude about scrapbooking. I highly recommend it!

Button Challenge - Shauna

Here is Shauna's response to the button challenge. Isn't it cute? (:

Weekly Challenge #4

Hello again! Are we having fun yet? (:

This week's techique challenge is to use buttons on a layout. Any buttons, any amount - have fun with this!

This week's journaling challenge is to write a letter on a layout to your past, present or future self (or you could do all three!). What advice would you give your past self? What are things you like about your present self? What goals do you hope your future self will have reached?

Good luck, and as always, I look forward to seeing your pages! Don't stress too much over the details of these - remember, the goal of this is to HAVE FUN and to get scrappin'!

Brenda's Black/White and Color challenge

This was a little different for me in another way too- to get the color and black/white together in a layout that made sense, I ended up theming just childhood pics, but they were not all the same age or place. I am moving toward not obsessing so much about being perfect chronologically!

Childhood Friend journaling challenge - Maria

Here is the layout I did about a childhood friend - in this case, Colin's friend Robbie. I'm not sure I've ever seen two kids hit it off that quickly! It was fun to do a layout about them and their friendship.

Monochromatic layout challenge - Shauna

Shauna asked if the monochromatic layout could have different colored accents - as far as I'm concerned, I'm not going to get too picky - the whole point of this is to get us scrapping! (:

Black & White with Color photo challenge - Shauna

Here is Shauna's take on using black and white photos with color - nice!!!

Tearing paper challenge - Shauna

These pages are from my sister-in-law, Shauna. She's a Close to My Heart consultant, and quite a pro!

Black & White with Color photo challenge - Maria

Here is my layout using both black & white with color photos - I had thought about really highlighting the black & white one, but decided instead just to treat it like any other photo. This particular photo was one that I wouldn't have used in color - the flash didn't go off when I took it, and the lighting was low and the color way too yellow. However, by turning it to black and white and increasing the lighting before printing, it ended up working out. (I love my Epson PictureMate printer!!!)

Weekly Challenge #3

Wow, how fast a week goes by! It's time for weekly challenge number 3 (for the week of June 11th - 17th)!

As a reminder, I'm going to have two parts to each weekly challenge. The first part will be a technique challenge, and the second will be a journaling challenge. You can do either or both, depending on your style and what you feel like!

This week's technique challenge is to use color and black and white photos together on a layout.

This week's journaling challenge is to do a layout about your child's best friend. Why are they important to your child? How long have they been friends? How did they meet? Or, do one about YOUR childhood friend!

You can post the results here (I can make you an author - just let me know), or link to another site that hosts pictures. You can also email me a picture of your layout(s) and I'll post them.

Happy scrapping! (:

Tearing paper challenge - Maria

Here is my take on the tearing paper challenge. This was a quick and easy layout - about 10 minutes total - gotta love those! I tore the photo that I matted, which was a fun effect. Since it was about Spencer's sad face, it seemed appropriate.

I confess, I haven't done the journaling challenge for week 2 yet - but on to week 3!

Brenda's Week #2 Layout Challenge

Here is what I did for the paper-tearing challenge. I had so much fun with the first one, I kept going. I am still working on the journalling challenges, will post those when I am done with them. I foresee more paper-tearing in my future, though.

Weekly Challenge #2

Time for weekly challenge number 2 (for the week of June 4th - 10th)!

As a reminder, I'm going to have two parts to each weekly challenge. The first part will be a technique challenge, and the second will be a journaling challenge. You can do either or both, depending on your style and what you feel like!

This week's technique challenge is to do a layout using paper tearing. If you've never done this, here is a little article with instructions and pictures: http://scrapbooking.about.com/library/weekly/aa041005a.htm

This week's journaling challenge is to include journaling from both you AND someone else on a layout. This can be a spouse, a friend, a child . . . be creative! (And yes, you can use a letter from someone, especially if they're not available here and now - but wouldn't it be fun to do it both at once?)

I look forward to seeing your results! If you are unsure of what to do, you can e-mail me a picture of your layout and I can post it for you here on the Scrap Support Blog. (:

week #1 Brenda's monochromatic

Here is what I did for the monochromatic challenge. What I learned from this- next time I would use even more purple- probably put a purple page underneath all that. Live and learn. I am not doing it over, though! -Brenda

Journaling Challenge layout (week 1)

This is the layout I did in response to the Journaling Challenge for week one - using a list format. I decided to make a list of some of my favorite books - man, it was hard to narrow it down, even on a two-page layout! (: I used Karen Foster paper, cardstock, brads and prima flowers. (click on the image to see a much larger version)


As a side note, this is my very first layout for "The Book of Me" that will be a work in progress. I'm excited at the thought of an album that is more about the person I am than the events I've attended. (;

Monochromatic layout challenge

Here is the layout I did in response to the technique challenge for Week 1 (which technically starts next week, but I wanted to have an example up) - doing a monochromatic layout.

Introducing the Scrap Support forum!

I've been thinking about ways to let everyone have a chance to talk and post pictures of their layouts (or at least links to them), and a forum was the best method I could think of. So, I've created the Scrap Support Forums!

Just go to:
http://scrapsupport.proboards102.com/index.cgi
and register as a member. I've got next week's challenge up already. I'll still post it here, but over there is where you will be able to discuss, introduce yourself, etc.

See you there! (:

Weekly Scrapbooking Challenge! Who's in?

Does anyone else have a hard time making space in your schedule for scrapbooking? My sister Brenda and I have decided we need a PLAN and support to be more consistent, and I'm expanding it to whoever wants to join us. This will be a small group that will commit to:

• Spending at least three hours a week working on their scrapbooks when possible (we're planning on Tuesdays from 1-4, but whatever works for you!);
• Accepting a weekly challenge (anything from trying a new technique to journaling about something specific - I will post it here every Monday); and
• Posting photos to the group as a whole or to a buddy within the group of what you've done each week (that's the accountability part - as well as the fun part, when we get to "ooh" and "aah" over your beautiful work!).

This is just for FUN, and not to be taken too seriously - definitely no GUILT should be involved at any point if you can't do it every single week! (: This is about support and encouragement, not critique. Any level of scrapbooker is welcome.

I have yet to figure out the details of how we'll all share info with each other - I might be able to make you all contributing members of this blog, so you can upload your own posts and photos. I'll figure something out.