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. (: