Studio Calico Sock Hop....Sunday Sketch

I had so much fun with both the sketch and the Sock Hop Kit. Its amazing how helpful a sketch can be, not to mention that there can be so many different variations on the same sketch. Really one can put together a layout in no time, as well as the fact that a sketch can be translated exactly as one sees it, or as a guide and starting point. For this layout, I have to say that it pretty much looks like the sketch. 

I have found that since becoming a Studio Calico subscriber, I am now enjoying being able to use what comes in the kit, mixing and matching all the various papers together. That is something that I have to admit was NOT something I frequently did. Previously working in a store surrounded by scrapbook papers and embellishments, I was so used to buying entire paper collections and doing a layout with everything from a particular collection.....I LOVE that I am now using papers and embellishments from several different companies on one layout.

Take a chance, pull out some paper from each one of your favorite paper collections or companies, and mix it up....HAVE FUN!

Scrapping with my first Studio Calico Kit

It has been a while since I last sat down to blog, or scrapbook, or journal, or do project life....so here I am, 6 weeks since my last post and wow, life has certainly changed for me. I have gone from a small world surrounded by papers, rubber stamps and embellishments, as well as lots of people who I knew, to now, a whole new world called "STARBUCKS". I have learnt that it is HARD, very HARD to learn new things. I am also just starting to catch my breath.....I mean "JUST". Yep, a whole new beginning for me. In entering this new journey, I kept thinking about how, what and where I would be able to fulfill my need and desire for new scrapbooking goodies. I tortured and tormented myself about becoming a subscriber to Studio Calico, which I have admired online for several years, but never subscribed to, just because I was lucky and honored enough to have been a part of the wonderful world of Stamping Bella. So I succumbed, and ordered my first kit for October. 

I can not begin to tell you how much fun I had with this....the ENTIRE process, everything, from waiting for the kit to arrive, sorting through the papers and embellishments, and then challenging myself to use it all. I only ordered the main kit, and am very glad to say that I used it all.....I did about five layouts, including the one below, as well as using some of the scraps, die cuts and stickers all in my project life album (which by the way, is up to date). I am also a believer that less is sometimes more. It is quite okay to NOT, have tons to sort through, which is why, for now, I am only sticking to the main kit. There is something satisfying to me, to be able to use up what I have.

So here I am, having received my November kit, anxiously waiting for the weekend to start playing.

Just a little note to all of you, if you are asking yourselves, should you or shouldn't you become a part of this subscription....my advice to you is do it. There is just enough for so much happy satisfaction.
Wishing you all the beginning of a wonderful holiday season that lies ahead.

Write this moment on your Heart

I have decided that sometimes "LESS IS DEFINITELY MORE". 

There are times that I may feel so inclined or even obligated to put as much as I possibly can on a layout. Reasons usually being, that I LOVE using my stuff, and I LOVE layering and clustering goodies and embellishments.  I felt that the beauty and simplicity of this photograph did not require, NOR should be fighting for the attention amongst decorative titles, embellishments or layers of paper.

I wanted to just keep it simple, and I think I am happy with the result. As I believe, and have said before, that in the years to come, when someone is looking at these pages....it is the photo and the story that will be recognized. No one will know if or how I agonized to get the embellishments in just the right place, in fact the embellishments might NOT even be noticed at all.

The wording on the photo is from one of the Ali Edwards digital downloads. I love those words, and I love the significance of them as the title printed directly onto the photograph. There is not to much else to distract from the focal point, other than a simple tag, a heart and a scattering of little wooden stars.
Wishing you all a Thanksgiving filled with very simple joys and pleasures....as well as lots of good food.

According to My Minds Eye..."Not all those who wander are lost"

I simply love that quote, so when I saw the paper with the quote....I simply had to have it. Now of coarse, it has sat in my stash for quite some time, you know the RIGHT TIME. The time when we know exactly why we were saving it....for just the right layout. Well, this was it.

I saw a sketch on the October Afternoon Blog a little while ago, which I pinned to my sketch board on Pinterest, which by the way, is a wonderful place to look for and save sketches.

This was also a FANTASTIC way to use lots of pictures on one layout. These were all pictures from a trip that I had taken to Australia earlier in the year, and had still not scrapbooked them. I was thrilled to be able to get this many pics from one event on one layout.....kind of feels like the highlights are now scrapped and I can move on to other pictures. It always makes me so happy when a layout is done and completed....I feel as though the memories have moved from something digital to something that myself or others can actually LOOK at and enjoy. If you don't take the time to develop and scrap the pictures, they tend to just sit on a memory card, a disc or a computer, where we seldomly look at them and enjoy them. Remember it's the pictures with a little bit of journaling that tell our story.

Everything old is new.....Again (including Rocket Age)

There is definitely a reason that we hold onto our "old" stash of scrapbooking papers and goodies. We intend to eventually use them. Today was the day......I have finally caught up with project life, yep, exactly caught up to the here and now. I had this picture in my mind, taken last October, that I wanted to use with October Afternoon "Rocket Age". I had intended the picture to go with the paper since over a year ago......BUT, you know how it is? Life catches up with us, we get really, really busy, and we simply move on from the things we intended to do. Well, never FORGET, that it is quite okay to scrapbook pictures from a year or several years ago....it is even okay to use papers and embellishments from several years or months ago. Remember, NOTHING NEW STAYS NEW!

Don't be hesitant or neglectful to use your older stuff....when you decide to pull it out, remember it is NEW again. Also remember, using the stuff previously bought makes room for the new....and I know how much we all LOVE new stuff.
Here's to old things being new and here's to the last week of summer.
ENJOY!

Some Amy Tangerine Sketchbook

WOW.....it has almost been two months since my last post, and so much has happened. Another school year came to an end, I spent a whirlwind of a fantastic couple of days with my dear friend Agnes, in New York...eating, laughing, shopping and enjoying theatre. A chapter of my work life came to an end, and now here I am.....IN HONG KONG.

After a very long HOT day of walking around, I decided to just come back to the peace and quiet of my room and to share a layout that I did several weeks ago using the Amy Tangerine Sketchbook papers. Now, I am also extremely HAPPY to say, that when I posted this layout on "two peas", it received a comment from none other than THE AMY TANGERINE herself.

I have to say, that I really loved playing with the papers from this line. They are bright, fun, happy... and to me, they really symbolize the whole "life is good" philosophy. Have you seen the new Amy Tangerine Lines?????  I can't wait to get my hands on them.
Wishing you all a wonderful few weeks left of Summer....enjoy every moment.

I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND....7GYPSIES POSTALE

I have to admit that I have always been a fan of 7 gypsies. I also have to admit, that I don't know if I am a fan just because I LOVE the name "7 Gypsies"... it just conjures up a world of mystique, travel, sights, sounds and places I dream of going. No matter what, it is one of those lines that I always seem to buy, not necessarily buying it with a plan in mind. Now, I also have to admit, like in any collection, some lines are definitely better than others.....and I felt that this was the case with "Postale".

Everything just sat on my desk for quite a while, but I knew that if I left it all out, so that I could see it, I would eventually JUST KNOW how I was going to use it. 

I also knew that I very much wanted to do a layout with this picture....and without much thought at all, the layout came together on its own. I simply used bits and pieces of the paper, along with some of the index cards. Most important of all for me, was the journaling. This layout was about the words, more so than the picture. I wanted it clean and simple....I wanted the words to be important. 

So sometimes, if you NOT quite sure about what or how to use a patterned piece of paper, just START...it all comes together.

Take Note.....it's a Diet Coke Slogan

Everyday for the past couple of weeks, I have been driving by a "Diet Coke" advertisement in a bus shelter.....the words just jumped right out and shouted at me. I couldn't stop thinking about how effective these words were, and how great they would be for a title on a layout. 

My daughter Hannah, has also just come back from a 5 day canoe trip from Algonquin, and I thought about the appropriateness of the title and the above picture. She does things that no one else in our family does, she tries things that no one else in our family would try. She has an unbelievable sense of adventure and spirit for life. The words on the "Diet Coke" bus shelter advertisement were just so suitable as my title to this layout celebrating her. 

The Studio Calico "Take Note" collection of papers and wood veneer embellishments worked really well together. So many people liked the frames, and asked me how I would use them. Truthfully, I liked them to, BUT had no idea quite what I was going to do with them. Well, once the package was opened....I had tons of fun with them, including cutting them.

Next time you see a magazine or billboard slogan, consider it as a title for YOUR next layout.

There are some "COMPULSARY" layouts

I have to say that there are two layouts that I feel compelled and obligated to do. One of them is always "a year in review" layout and the other is a "birthday" layout. I don't necessarily do them around the time of the year when the event occurs, but it stays on my mind until I get them done. I started doing a year in review layout several years ago, and I have to say....I LOVE looking back at them. It really is a very brief synopsis of some of the highlights of our year. It is also nice to put them all together in one separate book, and from year to year, you get to see the changes, the growth, the events.  

I had nothing in mind since January for what or how I was going to do this layout, until the other day, when I picked up a piece of "simple stories" paper that had each month on it. Immediately, I knew that that would be my ticket to get started. I started by picking a photo or two from each month,  printing them and then cutting up the paper. I was also determined to make this a single page layout. YES, there are WAY many more photos and events from each month that I would have loved to include, but, I picked the ones that in some way or another stand out in a memorable way for me. I also tried to include at least a pic of each member of the family. 

Once all the pictures and paper was stuck down, I was able to pull out my boxes of goodies. I had so much fun embellishing this layout. My aim was to have some kind of something attached to each month, to signify the picture in some way. I like the way it all turned out, even if it is already mid May, I like that I have a reminder of the previous year.

Project Life....17 weeks and still going strong

Well, I am VERY pleased to say that Project Life is still going strong. Yep 17 weeks into twenty twelve, all up to date. It seems as though everyone started off this year with a big bang of enthusiasm doing Project Life. For some, that spark has subsided just a little. For others, they are weeks behind, but still doing what needs to be done. My advice is simple....if you are behind, really behind. DON'T GIVE IT UP. It is better to just pick up from here and now, the current week and move forward with it. I promised myself at the ontake of this commitment, that IF if fell behind, THAT I would NOT stress over it, BUT just pick up from where LIFE is at. Remember in the years to come, it will not matter that some weeks may be missing or incomplete....IT WILL MATTER FAR MORE of the weeks that are documented. Worry about what you can do.....not what you can't. Spend time moving forward.

Remember WHY you embarked on the whole Project Life journey. 

RIGHT SIDE

LEFT SIDE

THE DOUBLE SPREAD

I encourage you....keep going!

Prairie Hill, Chevrons, Thickers....and all good things

Ok...so I saw the Pink Paislee collection of Prairie Hill Paper and absolutely fell in love.

Of course, this layout, as alot of mine are, was based on a sketch. The paper that you see on the bottom, which was a solid sheet of these beautiful colourful chevrons....I was determined to make part of my layout. Now sometimes, we see a paper, we LOVE it, but think to ourselves, that it is just too "busy" to use on a layout. Well...if you cut up the elements in various ways, and use small bits of it, or separate the pattern, you will see that it does work.  I did the same thing with the paper on the top of the page...a full sheet of of patterned paper in diamond shapes. Yep, maybe somewhere it does work as a full sheet, but again,  I LOVED the paper and was determined to make it work for my layout. I originally started by pulling out my background piece of paper (awesome Studio Calico) and knew that I wanted to work from there. There is so much fun in mixing and matching from various paper lines. I pulled out a little simple stories and off course, no layout is complete without some "thickers".
So go ahead, I encourage you....do a little mixing and matching with paper lines.  You will be glad you did.

Konnichiwa Rocks

Ok, so I got to admit, that generally speaking I usually DON'T buy collection packs, for a number of reasons. One reason being that I don't believe that I need to have, nor will ever use all the papers that come in a collection. I also have an on again, off again like/dislike with Basic Grey.....some of there collections are outstanding, and some are okay. Well, when I saw Konnichiwa, I just knew that I had to buy the collection pack. Every sheet, whether it's the front side, the back side or both is outstanding. I LOVE the colours, and the patterns. I must admit that I also wanted to buy it, because I had pictures from last Summer when I was in Hong Kong and I thought that the paper would be perfect. Now that I have done at least 3 layouts with this collection, I see that the paper can be used for any pictures, that it is NOT necessarily themed. It can work with whatever you may want it to work with. The second that I saw the collection pack, I was immediately inspired by the front cover of it, hence my below layout. Yep, it's pretty similar to the packaging with a few minor detail changes. But how I love those colours.

Wishing everyone a spring filled with warmth and colour everywhere.

Using My Minds Eye" Follow your Heart"

When I saw the papers for the My Minds Eye, "Follow your Heart", I absolutely fell in love with them. I had all sorts of ideas just how I wanted to cut up and use some of the papers, namely the hexagons. I mean c'mon, everywhere I look right now, I see some kind of a hexagon, and the possibilities are endless. Not only is the design of the papers outstanding, but also the colours. It is so nice to see fresh, bright colours as we come into Spring weather. It is just like a rebirth, where creativity starts to ebb again, after the whole winter/holiday theme of things.

It is sometimes a little difficult to control exactly HOW MUCH goes on the page. We land up buying papers and embellishments all in the same story, we look at it and we love it.....and then some of us, actually want to use it all. As I was sitting and doing this layout, which was also based on a sketch, I reminded myself that in the years to come, when either myself, my children or someone else may be looking at my scrapbooks.....they will be looking at the pictures to tell the story, and NOT the pretty things that the page has been decorated with.

So often I hear people say that they just "collect" there stuff.....don't be one of those people. Use your papers and embellishments, there will always be something new that comes along to replace what you thought was worth saving. What is really worth saving is the pages that you create with all your goodies.

Wishing you all a week in which you get to use something that you planned on saving.

"true love" with Simple Stories

There is no doubt about it that Simple Stories is definitely up there within my very favorite paper lines. Each paper collection comes with several sheets of "elements", that are so very versatile to cut up and use as embellishments or create layers with. It is also easy to take from several different lines and use them all together. I did this layout based on a sketch, and had so much fun doing it, pulling bits and pieces from different places to get it all together.

Also really excited with the three new Simple Stories collections, Awesome, Fabulous and Life Documented that are now in the store. You got to come by and see the paper in real life....it is beyond awesome and fabulous. I think my favorite line may just be Life Documented. Can't wait to just find some time and start playing.

What's your favorite line?

Simple Stories is Simply Outstanding

Firstly, thanks to dear Helen for making the most wonderful introduction between Simple Stories and myself. I had heard of it, I had seen it, I didn't display much interest in it.....and then, somewhere, somehow......I FELL IN LOVE! Everything about Simple Stories Collections are beyond fabulous. The papers are filled with so many different elements to cut up and enjoy.

The colours, the co-ordinations, EVERYTHING. Now I can honestly say, that I really do love every line, but my very favorite to date would have to be Year-o-graphy and Life Documented. There is just something about these two collections that stands out. I think probably because for me, they are directed at documenting and scrapbooking the everyday. I have also found that by cutting up the elements provides so much inspiration for what could be a scrapbook page.

I was able to use several different pieces of paper for the below layout, which I have to add was also based on a sketch (have I mentioned HOW much I LOVE sketches?)

The papers are fun, fresh and totally FABULOUS (hey, thats the name of one of the new releases). Can't wait to start playing with all the new Simple Stories Stuff.

Wishing you all longer days and early signs of Spring, as I can excitedly say that I am off for two weeks to the land down under.

Project Life.....Week Five

Well, here it is.....WEEK #5 of twenty 12!

And still loving everything about project life. I mean every single blog, that I happen to read, every where I seem to go scrapbook related online....it all seems Project Life related. Yep, it seems like the whole entire world is doing it. But, you what, it's a good thing. I say this because, just in case you are feeling uninspired or unsure of where to begin, there is just SO much inspiration on so many blogs to get you going. More often than not, I find myself looking at someone else's and walking away with a new idea, even if it is just the placement of a piece of paper, a tag, a stamp or a sticker. Project Life seems like this HUGE, global project that everyone is working on together and sharing. I love the enthusiasm and conversation that it has brought along with it, on a daily basis to the people that I may see or speak to.

Everyone has there own way and routine of tackling this weekly documentation. My system works well for me, and DOES NOT make me stressed. Basically, I try and start sometime on a Thursday evening, even if it is just to print out a few pictures. I find I am far more successful when I manage to fit in a little bit of time each day between Thursday and Sunday, rather than sitting and doing the WHOLE week at a time. But, whatever works.

BIG EXCITING STUFF......ELLES STUDIO IS IN THE STORE!

and this stuff kicks as..k no questions, tell no lies! (get it)

It is the most outstanding stuff to include on your pages....if you doing PL, you GOT TO HAVE IT!

DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD

LEFT SIDE

RIGHT SIDE

Wishing you all a wonderful week of documenting something from your life!

Scrap a part of your routine

I have to confess that I am a total Starbucks junkie, I love everything about them. Don't ask why, I just do. For many years, I collected there signature "Starbucks Bearistas", until I ran out of room to store those little bears. I have also collected and kind of still do, all Starbucks gift cards, especially when traveling to other countries or cities. I have bought Starbucks coffee for home, and alas, it is just NOT the same. It is something about the whole going into the store to get a coffee......and this my friends, is my daily routine. Every morning, the same faces, the same Starbucks location, the same drink. There is definitely something really nice about walking into the same place every day, where you are greeted by name, and your order is ready.

I felt I owed my love of starbucks a layout!

I encourage you to scrap a part of your daily routine.....even if it is one that you don't love. It is still a part of your everyday, and one day, someone will be happy to know that part of you.

The Holiday Season is over....but not for October Afternoon Holiday Style

Well Christmas and New Years may be over, but now is the time to sit and scrap all those holiday photos, whatever it is that you may celebrate. We all get so caught up in the season, we all take so many pictures with the intention of getting them scrapped.....AND then, suddenly and quickly the season is over, and the excitement and enthusiasm has died down. Well, don't let it! Even if it is just a couple of pictures on one layout, get it done. Break the rule of "ALL OR NOTHING".....just do a little something.

When I saw the October Afternoon "Holiday Style" paper, I just knew that I had to have it. I am the most devout fan of OA in general, and LOVE everything. Even if I don't love it all on first sight, I usually land up buying each and every sheet of the paper in the collection....and, slowly, ever so slowly fall in love with each and every sheet.

Both of these layouts were inspired by various sketches. I tend to use the sketch as a kind of map to get started, so that I am NOT looking at blank page longingly and not knowing quite where to start. It is amazing how much a sketch helps to just get going. I also LOVED using all the little goodies to layer and embellish. Some people are always wanting to hold onto that one little piece, but remember, that there will always be another one little piece that you will love just as much. Use your stash, enjoy using it.

Last Week of Project Life 2011

Well, here it is.....my last week of Project Life 2011.

I can't account for all 52 weeks, only because I started this around Easter, which brought me to completing 36 weeks by the end of the year. I can't begin to tell you how very self accomplished I feel, when I sit down and flip through these pages. I also did NOT allow myself to fall behind with this project, and for the weeks that I really didn't feel like embellishing too much, and just wanting to get it down, I am grateful that I did. Yep, some weeks look far more decorated, embellished and colorful than others, but at the end of the day, what really matters, is the story this book tells, rather than the "prettiness" that surrounds it.

So, here we are....the first week of the New Year just over, and I am glad to say, that as I write this post, I have also just completed week one of Project Life 2012!

If you are thinking about embarking on this outstanding adventure in scrapbooking, I encourage you to stop thinking about it, and just start it. The whole idea can seem a little bit intimidating, but I assure you, that once you start, you will ask yourself why you didn't start it all earlier. There are also so many wonderful bloggers out there who post there weekly project life layouts, that provide so much inspiration. If at any point, I sit down to do my weekly layout, without feeling inspired, I simply look at any one of these blogs, which sometimes give me the "where" and "how" to get started.

I use tons of bits and pieces of whatever I have. It truly is a great way of getting rid of stuff, alot of old stuff, that may never have gotten used up. I have also since learnt how to purchase, download and use stuff digitally, which is something that I never thought for one second that I would ever be able to do. Project Life has opened new doors, where I have learnt new things.

I have also discovered these outstanding little journaling cards and tags, which I have fallen in love with from Elle's Studio....I can not begin to tell you how much I love them. But I am even more excited to to tell you that in the next week or so, they will be available for sale at Stamping Bella. Just looking at them all will be enough to get you, to want to start your Project Life.

Don't wait, don't hesitate...each day, each moment is precious!

Document it!