Wednesday, November 30, 2011

So Thankful.

 

This Thanksgiving was not the most elaborate in terms of celebration for me. But I think that it is one where I was able to celebrate the things in life that I am thankful for even more than usual. I really think that scrapbooking and the current interest in being grateful and celebrating the big and little parts of our lives has helped me to gain perspective.

That’s where this layout comes in. Some layouts we do about a small specific event. Some layouts are really general. The layout I started out making – I thought it was going to have little quirky items in a list. But it ended up being really big picture and general. I think it’s nice to zoom out and zoom in at times.

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I created this layout using Thankful by Elise’s Pieces and Embellish Holiday: Thankful by Nettio Designs and Traci Reed. I love how this template has the added stitching and slip-in pockets, they are such great layout starters. Stitching and page protectors – two of my current FAVES!

I used Rad Lab to edit this photo – it’s fun to play around with all the sliders – I think I need some more practice to see what the combinations create – it should be fun!

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Beginning a December album

I’ve decided to create a December album this year – I’ve been debating this for several years now and all the inspiration I see is finally getting to me. I’m not planning on something daily because I honestly don’t do that many holiday related events prior to Christmas… I love some parts of the holiday festivities, but others I’m just fine without. This year feels like it is going to be different and I want to celebrate it. I’d like to start out small and see what it becomes.

I’m going to do a 5 x 7 size book – the reason for the size with become apparent soon enough. And I finished my first page.

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Candy Alphas (recolored), Flowers ‘N Swirls, Holiday Stamps and Bits, Striped Papers, Photo Frames no. 7 by Jenna Desai

Pea Natalie

I’m really ready recently to be bloggily active (and scrappily active) right now. I hope it keeps up. It feels good to post and create.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Playing with Tape!

 

Jenn Barrette has released a series of tape element packs recently – most appropriately labeled Happy Tape! The set she created for Black Friday is a Christmas themed set. I challenged myself to use the tape for a hybrid project –  I wasn’t sure about my ability to make the digital tape come out well….in a physical print – but I just LOVE how it came out!!!!

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Happy Tape: Christmas by Jenn Barrette.

A tree shape turned out to be such a fun way to use lots of tape all on one project. Definitely made me happy after a tough day.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Help! Memorabilia Storage Problems!

I realized again recently that I’m not happy with my storage of memorabilia. Stuff that I love and want to keep from trips or gifts or just everyday stuff is mostly in a pile of paper that is “to be sorted.” This is ridiculous because the reason I want to keep these things is to have fun and remember, but it ends up as a tedious task.

I tried to fix this problem by sorting the papers into ziploc bags – with a different ziploc bag for each trip and a bag for items collected at home. Although this is better (I know generally where a ticket might be located), it doesn’t look pretty and doesn’t encourage me to check it out and reminisce every once and a while.

I need to have a better way to store my memorabilia so that when I go to look at it – it can be like how I look at my layouts – as a fun activity. Off to the internet to see what other people are doing….

I found this quiz that I thought might help on Club CK and thought maybe it would help.

1. What types of memorabilia do you have?

Ticket, receipts, cards, coins, brochures…

2. Where is your memorabilia currently stored?

Either in a pile or in a separate ziploc bag.

3. How important is your memorabilia to you?

Very important. I LOVE collecting paper reminders. My best friend says that I will pick up anything that is not nailed down (and free).

4. Do you enjoy your memorabilia--either by going through it, seeing it, or displaying it--on a regular basis?

No, this is what I am sad about. I never get to go through it and enjoy. I usually only encounter it as part of tidying or house cleaning and then I am on a mission and don’t get a chance to check it out.

5. Do you or would you like to use your memorabilia in your scrapbooks?

Maybe. Although since I am digi – I don’t tend to use it very much and I find scanning boring. I also love having the actual piece of paper in my hands – to me – it is very different than looking at a scan.

BUT I really want a way to display it – maybe next to pages or on their own. Or maybe I would come up with more ideas, memories, and stories if I saw my memorabilia more.

6. Are you able to find your memorabilia to incorporate into your scrapbook pages when you want it?

Short answer – no. And sometimes the loose papers that don’t have homes have gotten tossed inadvertently. Bad scrapbooker and memory keeper!

***

It’s interesting that in answering those quiz questions – I came up with some of the same ideas I had thought about before….

Then I checked out the internet some more….

Simple Scrapper

1. Folder – A majority of my memories from high school and college are tucked into a single purple folder embellished circa 1996 with stickers. It may be falling apart, but it packs away nicely and I know where it all is.

Maybe. I wish I could see it better. And I’m the kind of person who would try to fit too much in one folder.

2. Plastic Bins – I call my favorite set of Sterilite bins “double-wide shoeboxes” because they are about the same length as a shoebox, but wide enough to hold letter-sized paper, magazines etc. I keep cards and letters between my husband and I in one of these. These are also the perfect size to store a school year’s worth of memorabilia.

Also maybe. But whenever something goes into a box, I’m less likely to stop and take it out and that is one of my dreams with a new system – TO LOOK AT IT!

3. Page Protectors – Most often, the memorabilia I save is tied to a particular album I’ve planned in advance. (This helps me put boundaries on what I save.) I use page protectors in full-page and various divided configurations for saving papers, brochures and clippings from vacation.

This is intriguing. I feel like I want to be able to flip through my memorabilia and see it – is this the best way?

4. Filing Cabinet – During the year, we use our main filing system for temporary storage of memorabilia. Each child has his own folder and we also save photos we receive from friends and family. Once or twice a year, we empty these folders and transfer the items to one of the above options or the the recycle bin.

This feels practical and boring to me. My bills are in a filing cabinet. This is a dumb reason because I work on a computer. And I scrap on a computer. But I guess when I think about this I was dreaming of something prettier.

And the last informative page I looked at in my quick zoom around the net…

Get It Scrapped

I like the way those small tickets were displayed in 5.

Coins by Tammy Dailor

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What does this remind me of? Project Life! I don’t know whether I want to go for it or not (I’m afraid of buying supplies and then not following through – and I feel more nervous about purchasing paper products now that I am digi). But doesn’t this seem awesome. One page and at least nine memories and pieces of memorabilia. Protected but removable. I’m really tempted.

Any thoughts or ideas?

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Celebration Bookmark

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I just love Mickey and the Move It, Shake It, Celebrate It Party at Magic Kingdom. When I saw these sparkles and swirls by Jenna Desai, I just thought of those swirls on Mickey’s outfit and that I was planning on making a birthday card. The birthday girl loves reading, so what better shape than a bookmark!

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