A Little Bit of Jenni Bowlin Red, Black and Beige

I LOVE JENNI BOWLIN PAPERS.....and I don't always know quite how I am going to use them. So this layout was originally inspired by Shimelle, who had posted on her blog a layout with the little 4x4 papers. Well guess what????? Yep, I actually had some of those little papers lying around, and was determined to use them. The other thing that I love, is getting to use some of the product that I have purchased previously, and which has been sitting for a while. I have to say it is kind of cathartic to use up scrapbooking stuff, especially because we all have soooooo much.

For this layout I pulled out my box of red and black embellishments (all my embellishments are sorted in lovely ikea boxes, by colour), and got to use some little things just lying around, waiting to grace a page. That is also the beauty of sorting little goodies by colour....you get to see what you really have, and use up some of the older pieces that you may have forgotten about.

Lately I have been working very hard on finishing a quilt for my daughter, so I have not had much time to work on layouts. I am hoping to get some time to do that in the next couple of weeks. In fact, I have also been thinking of some of my scrapbooking goals for 2011. One of them being, is that I would like to do a monthly layout highlighting and documenting that month. Now, we all know finding time for creativity can be a little difficult, so I will settle then on doing it every couple of months....BUT, I will start it. The other thing that I hope to do is Ali Edwards big picture class on "one little word"for 2011. I love the idea that at the end of the year, I will have an entire book dedicated to that one little word, which I had picked for myself.

What about all of you? Do you have anything on your scrapbooking horizon? I would love to hear if you do.

To all who read my blog....I wish for you and your families a Healthy and Happy Holiday Season, and a year ahead filled with creativity and good things.

My Mexico Mini Book

It is finally done.....needless to say that it was started about 18 months ago.

Last Summer Making Memories put out this little mini book, which I just loved and had to have. I knew that there would be pictures from a trip sometime in the future that would move themselves onto the pages. Well shortly thereafter, one of my fave (amongst many) bloggers, Shimelle, featured the same little mini book online. So I got it together and embellished all the tab pages that came within. Can't tell you how cute and tempting it looked after it was done. JUST RIGHT for some trip pictures.

Then last September, I went on a trip to Australia and even packed the mini book in my bag with me, thinking that I would kinda start it and gather souvenirs and goodies from the trip and start it then. Well, the mini book followed me home, still bare with tales to tell.....Went straight back on the book shelf.

THEN.....

Our family Summer vacation was booked for Mexico, so down came the mini book, and this time I was determined to fill the pages......So here are just a few of them to see, filled with lots of memories of a time and place.

So want to get comfy with Spritz on a layout

Everywhere I look for inspiration, I see spritz, spray, and mist on a layout. Sometimes just in a little corner, sometimes all over the place....and I sit and I stare. I wish to myself that I had the confidence to spritz on my layouts as well, other than just covering chipboard with the stuff.

I also noticed that alot of the time, the negative image of the spritz really looks quite amazing as part of the layout, as opposed to fine misting all over the place. So Emily gave me this great idea, why don't I use tags to create the effect I wanted. VERY GOOD IDEA from da bella.

There was NOT so much thought when and where I placed the shipping tags, partly because this was all going to be an experiment, rather than a finished product. Normally after some experimentation at "Bella HeadQuarters", these things find themselves laying on the back table, until such time a cleanup is in order....and then they make way into the garbage. However, I did take this little experimentation home, and was determined to turn it into a layout.....and you know what....I LIKE IT!

The other great thing that I like about this, is that I purchased NOTHING NEW for it. I simply went home, put the paper on my table, pulled out my box housing "brown" embellishments, and remembered I had some older Sassafras paper that I liked. I also ended up using paper from My little Yellow Bicycle (ruler on edge), embellishments from Crate Paper (Restoration Chipboard), Wooden Flowers (Kaisercraft), Maya Road Kraft Envelope (of course, stamped with "SCRIPT" stamp, from Stamping Bella, and various little alphas.

Sometimes, I am all about the "SKETCH", and just when I think I need to depend on one for ideas, I surprise myself....because, there really is NO RIGHT OR WRONG WAY for a layout to look. So if you have a few bottles of spritz lying around (AND I KNOW YOU DO), just get going and see what you come up with.

HAPPY SPRITZING, SPRAYING, MISTING.....

Sew Easy....and So Many Possibilities

Have to say, "much excitement" over the new sew easy tool, and all the associated goodies.

Now, I also have to be honest in admitting that I don't usually go bonkers over new tools and stuff...you know, coz' they tend to be a little more costly, and my mentality dictates that I would rather have "LOTS" of things (like paper), than one thing. Sometimes, there is an exception to this rule. The sew easy, I did want. What a great tool, let me tell you. Options allow for six different heads....all very reasonably priced...and I LOVE the coordinating spools of floss that you can purchase. Just all so incredibly yummy.

This is the cross stitch head that I used at the top of my layout.

The zig-zag stitch that I used a little on the bottom

AND THE LAYOUT

BTW...the layout looks a little crooked...so for this I apologize...my picture taking skills need a little improvement. Now you might be thinking if you got a sewing machine, who needs a sew easy? The stitches look so very different....it's a whole different look. Floss vs thread. Thick needle vs thin needle. I really like it.....and I think you will to.

Wishing you all a weekend filled with sunshine and some time to do something crafty.

When you just don't want to think on your own....

.....think SCRAPLIFT!

Well, let me tell you how grateful I am that some other people have put together layouts, with products that I have loved and purchased. I remember when American Crafts Abode line came out....I just had to have it. Every time I looked at the paper, at the thickers, at the cute little house and button embellishments, some kind of layout would spring to mind. However, since I bought all that stuff, there has been way to much NEW to concentrate on the old. So today, as I was cleaning and organizing a little of my scrap space, I came across an older AC catalogue, and was thrilled, I mean really thrilled to see the reason that I must have saved it. Yep, the layout that you see below. I would love to give credit to the person who did it. I can't because there was no name attached, so therefore, whoever you are, that designed this for American Crafts, thank you. It was so enjoyable just sitting there doing this layout, without having to think about where anything was going to go....I had it all in front of me. The only thing that I changed from the original layout was maybe the colour of the chipboard button, more thicker words above and an additional circle, so that I could add some journaling.....and VOILA! I mean, c'mon, how easy is that. So, to you my peeps, if you ever just want to sit down and do a layout....SCRAPLIFT one.

The other thing that I did this weekend, was begin another quilt. I am doing this one in a class, which I am really excited about. I will now get to learn how to go about doing certain things properly....like being able to use a rotary cutter as a left handed person. Yep, up until now, I did not know the blades on those things rotated to the other side to accommodate a leftie. I just walked around my dining room table a million times to cut fabric. NOW... I don't.

Could not help but take a picture of the fabrics that I have chosen for this new quilt. I really have to say....I LOVE THEM. Fabric is beginning to remind me alot like scrapbook paper, and a quilt, the finished page. I hope that my colour combo makes you as happy as it makes me.

So my friends....give yourselves permission this week to sit down and just SCRAPLIFT.

Wishing you all a week filled with everything wonderful.

We all have a little bit of chipboard pieces.....NOW DON'T WE

I know you guys have some chipboard pieces, just hanging around, waiting to occupy space on a page. I was just simply waiting for the right time to use the maya road pieces from the baking set. We all have lots....lots and lots and lots of chipboard. Now it's time to use it.

Sometimes, I find we just don't use what we have, because we are not quite sure HOW to use it or WHAT to do with it. You know what, peeps? There doesn't have to be instruction. Just use it the way you want to. All I did was spray my Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists, which by the way absorb into the chipboard just beautifully. AND VOILA, thats it. I know that you will not be able to necessarily see that it comes shimmery, but trust me it does. So, I encourage you to use some chipboard on your next layout. Stamp on it, gesso it, spray it, paint it......OR JUST LEAVE IT. Wishing you all a wonderful first week of November, filled with something that makes you all happy.

AND.....if you still don't know what to do with a polaroid stamp

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the polaroid stamp! How can you not NEED this stamp?

I have to admit, that sometimes, I find it quite difficult and challenging for me to use stamps on a layout. In fact, I get stressed about it, and am never quite sure where, why and how I should incorporate stamping with scrapbooking (I feel the same about spritzing and spraying). However, this stamp, I could use in so many ways, and I guarantee, that on every single layout it would look different.

I decided to use the polaroid stamp to highlight and show some of the pictures from the Summer. As I sit here blogging, looking at the layout, several other things come to mind.

How much fun would it be to stamp on patterned paper, use the centre as a journaling block or use pattern paper on the inside. Really, the ideas are endless.

This week I encourage you to use a stamp on your layout, or use something that you maybe "scared" of or not so comfortable using or doing. You will be glad you did.

Wishing you all a very Happy Halloweenish week ahead, filled with chocolates, smiles and sunshine.