Sunday, April 7, 2013

Weebly Wobbly

Just wanted to drop off a short little note to let you know that you should join me over at weebly! I have a website (that's slowly going to be perfected) and a blog over there, now. Everything under one roof. Yay!!

You can now find the Everyday Scrapbooker here! Enjoy!

Friday, April 5, 2013

Feedback Muchly Appreciated

Its come to my attention that some of my blog readers would prefer seeing a picture of the layout/project I am referring to when I share how I went about making them. Its a valid point, and one that's irked me since I ran out of storage here on my blog. I can buy more storage, so I can start posting pictures once again, but its a monthly payment. After discussing it with my husband, I decided to just leave it. Until now.

I want to (in the near future) start adding some more fun things to my page/blog, such as tutorials, guest bloggers, etc, and I would love/need to have the ability to post pictures.

So, I'm looking for your feedback and honesty. Is the way things are presented now sufficient to you, my loyal readers, or would something more graphic be more beneficial? I would love your feedback on this!

Thanks for your support and loyalty! I appreciate you all!

Oh--and in other news, I've been thinking of having a week long 'gossip blitz' (among other surprises still in the works). Tell as many of your friends about The Everyday Scrapbooker as you can, and encourage them to come on over and like my page. For every referral that becomes a new like, a prize will be sent to the person that made the referral, and to the person that liked my page. I'd really love to have more fans, and I think this would be a good way to start trying to build on my fan base.


Maybe?

This is a layout I need to re-create. I absolutely love it, but I feel like it needs more. It feels unfinished; too simple. And, I love the challenge of challenging myself to give it a go again! Ever feel that way about some of your projects? I do quite often, which is why I turn to sketches. But, I must be going through a sketch dry spell, because nothing is tickling my fancy. I've mentioned that a lot over the last couple of days. So, I'm venturing out on my own for a while. Maybe, just maybe, I'll turn my focus to cards for a bit, then come back to layouts. A change of scenery won't hurt!

Maren got a hold of the spray bottle, and commenced washing the floor for me. It was very sweet and helpful. I showed her a few spots on the floor that needed to be wiped up, and she set about cleaning them up. I love it when they take the initiative to help out. I wish it happened a little more frequently. I'm sure every mother wishes that!

What do you think of this layout? Where does your inspiration come from? Who or what inspires your layouts or projects? I'd love to hear!

What's Up Friday

Good afternoon! Wow, you'd think that Mother Nature would get her seasons right already!!? This blizzard weather stinks! Thankfully What's Up Friday doesn't stink. There's some great stuff to share!

Starting with another fabulous font download from Paper Crafts magazine! Every Friday, Paper Crafts brings back one of their most popular fonts for download- for free- but its only available for the week. That means, you can only download this particular font until next Friday, upon which a new one will be available! The font this week is pretty cute. Hurry and download yours today!

It's button mania today! I've got a couple button-related items to share with you, beginning with a button giveaway over at FaveCrafts. Head on over to their giveaway page and enter for your chance to win 1500 beautiful buttons. Its the perfect way to start off your button stash. You could use the buttons that you win to make projects like these- straight from the blog pages of Paper Crafts magazine- cute ice cream cone gift tags or beautiful Christmas tree cards, or, if you have a stamp in the shape of a jar, use the buttons to 'fill' up the jar! Or, use them to frame a picture. The list could go on and on! The possibilities are endless! What would you make with all those buttons?! I'd definitely try the Christmas tree card. Its stunning!! And, the jar filled with buttons? Adorable and ingenious! Now I need to find a jar stamp!!

And, since I'm on the topic of giveaways right now, how about an adorable western themed stamp set? The kit includes a few mini stamps (obviously), some bakers' twine, and washi tape (it looks like). This giveaway is only available for a short time, too, so get your entry in!

That's all I've got so far today. Now, its time to start packing up! We are coming into the city for the night- first to have my hair done, and secondly to celebrate a late Easter with my parents and sister and bro in law. I'm stupid excited about it! (I'm also hoping to make it to Michael's to find track down a replacement blade for my paper trimmer. If one can't be found, I'll be investing in a totally new trimmer! Sadly, if that's the case, this'll be #3 paper trimmer. So, either I'll have to do my homework and find one that's better quality than the other two I've owned, or just find one that's easier to replace the cutting blades! Wish me luck. I'm also hoping to find some more card stock, too, if dear husband will let me splurge a little...)

So, on that note, there'll be nothing else from me after today! Until Monday, that is. So, enjoy your weekend!

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Its spring time, and we all know that means its time to start cleaning our homes from top to bottom, donating clothes and other items that no longer fit or being used, and opening up windows to freshen up stuffy houses that have been shut up for too long. But, have you ever thought about spring cleaning up your craft area, too? I think its a novel idea, and I've been slowly working on just that sort of thing. Go through your stash, and break out those papers you've had for ten years. Use them on a layout or another project! Or, donate what you know you won't use to either a school, after school program, or seniors centre. They'll put it to good use! (I'm so sorry--I don't know where I came across the ideas I just shared with you. I think it was either Paper Crafts magazine or Creating Keepsakes--or my 'old' go-to resource, Scrapbooks Etc. magazine. You can still find them online if you want to go searching for these ideas yourself. I'd love to give proper credit for the ideas I found, but alas cannot. My apologies to the ones that originally came up with these ideas!!)

Have a look at this pretty scrap room. I wish mine could look half as tidy and organized and pretty as hers. Oh, mine's a work in progress, but its slow going. What would your dream scrap room look like?

Creating Keepsakes has a giveaway going on right now! Head on over to their blog for all the deets. Its only open until next Friday!


Thursday, April 4, 2013

My Own Way

Today's layout (which was posted to the FB page last night), started out like most of my other projects- with a sketch or layout I found online that I wanted to replicate. And once again, as per tradition over the last few days, I wound up taking my own route. Nothing was jiving!

I love how this layout turned out. I love the bright colors, I love the layering, which I'm coming to realize is my 'signature style'. A layout isn't a layout if I haven't layered a bunch of papers on top of each other. I have a very hard time not layering paper! Maybe its the depth that I crave so much? The other part of my 'signature style' is that I tend to use a lot of brights in my work. I love neutrals too, but I seem to gravitate towards bright colours quite often. What do you consider your 'signature style' to be? Do you have one?

For this particular layout, I wanted to pick up the colors in the photo, so chose to use yellow, green and blue. And, as I got going, pink somehow got intertwined into the design, and now it overpowers the entire layout! It looks as though it was meant to be the dominant color, but no!! It was supposed to be an accent. Meh, oh well, I think the design is eye catching anyways. I've read, somewhere along the way, that in order to help you create an appealing and 'balanced' layout, break your color scheme into parts- from lots of one color to very little of the last color. (I can't remember how they exactly explained it, so I'm going to paraphrase). So, the dominant color (or the color you use the most of on your project) would be (for example) 75%, the next 50% (so, a moderate amount of that particular color), and the last 25% (or the least amount of your last color) of your overall layout. That's probably pretty confusing, so take my layout, for example.

The pink wound up being the dominant color, and what I mean by that, is there is a lot of it. Proportionately, there's more pink in my layout than there is any other color. Its the largest piece of paper that I used on my photo mat, and it accounts for (I'd say) 75% of the colors I chose to use. Next most dominant color is blue. There's not as much blue as there is pink, yet there's still more blue found scattered around than there is yellow. I'd say that accounts for about 50% of the overall color scheme. Lastly, is yellow. As you can see, the yellow became more of an accent color than anything else. So did the green, but there's so little of that, it most definitely IS the accent color. The yellow would account for 25% of the overall color scheme.

Does any of that make sense? Is it as clear as mud? I'll try and find the link for you and share it in the very near future. It makes sense in my brain, but I'm not sure its translating well onto the computer screen.

Back to my layout. To beef up the scallop circle accent piece, I searched through all my Carta Bella and Jillibean (as well as the ancient CM and SU goodies I've  got) for something, but came up dry. Nothing fit. Then, I turned to Pinterest. I looked up my Quotables board, and found a great little quote to suit the theme of my layout. The quote says, 'When it rains, look for rainbows. When its dark, look for stars'. Its perfect, because the subject in my layout kept up her spirits pretty well while she was out of commission with Mono. It can be pretty rough on a person- any time they get it- but I hear its even worse as an adult. It wasn't as bad for her as it could have been (thankfully!!), and she bounced back rather quickly.          

One last quick little note--the two punched borders on the left-hand side are scraps that I'd cut down and made into my own borders. I'll post what I do with those in the near future, too!

What's Up Thursday

Exciting news to share today! Graphic 45 and Echo Park are teaming up! Graphic 45 is designing a new collection for Echo Park, which is set to be released in May. If you want to join in the fun, head over to Graphic 45's Facebook page, and enter for your chance to win some fabulous goodies. While you're at it, head over to the Echo Park page and do the same thing! 4 lucky winners will be drawn on the 8th. Hurry and get your entries in!

Read this article carefully and bookmark it for future reference! I will definitely do it! There's some fantastic tips for getting fabulous pictures and descriptions of what the different terms means, such as apertures, ISO (which is one that always had me stumped), and the different settings to use when (such as portrait mode, night time, sports and actions shots, etc). Very useful information and very good to know! Thanks, Paper Crafts!

Pom Poms are pretty hot right now. Like the way they look? Want to decorate your space using them, or have an event coming up that pom poms would be perfect for? FaveCrafts has a tutorial up on their blog today, showing you how to make them! Uber cool!

That's all I've got for now. Pretty quiet around here today. Must be coming up on the weekend or something!





Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Count Your Blessings

The layout I created tonight has been circulating in my brain for months. I've attempted a few times to put what I'm envisioning in my brain down onto paper, but it never actually happened. I'd get flustered too quickly and bail.

This time, I sat down and drew it out on paper before cutting up my good papers and hating the outcome. I'm fairly satisfied with the outcome, but what I've got envisioned still isn't totally conveyed. Its pretty darn close, though, so I'm fairly happy. I'm thinking I'm going to hang onto the sketch I made for this layout, and use it for May's sketch challenge.

Although Kyle's blood test for diabetes happened back in November, and he just got the second blood test done recently, I still don't know if he actually has diabetes. Kyle's acting like he is diabetic, but we don't really know for sure. Why make yourself a martyr if you don't have to be? Making changes is great, but don't give out false information.

The embellishments for this layout tie into the whole theme so neatly. Count your blessings- we are still healthy, we can change things, we can even reverse a pre-diabetes diagnosis with the proper diet and lifestyle changes. We are blessed to have Kyle in our lives! And, he's been blessed to have his health. Family-- I know the Krogsgaard family has its health issues; cancer is rampant in our family, and I suspect diabetes is, too, though the only person I know for sure that has it is Kyle's dad. I think his cousin, Roy, has it, too. The girls getting it is a real concern for me. I hope Kyle doesn't have it- and I hope he never gets it. I hope the girls don't get it, either.

Wednesday What's Up

Oh, there's some really cool things to share with you again today. I came across a really neat rain drop technique that is going to have to show up on one of my layouts one of these days. This technique obviously will be awesome for rainy day layouts, snowy day layouts (just change the droplets for snowflakes) or alligator tear drop layouts.

If you're big into sewing, and enjoy using sewing in your layouts, then this will be right up your alley. Stitch directly on your layout, and adhere brads at the end of the stitching to create rain falling from the sky. You can find the particular layout I'm referring to here.

Want to win a prize worth $130? A company called the Plaid Barn, is giving away 73 rolls of Washi Tape to one lucky entrant. Get your entry in. You don't want to miss out on such a fabulous opportunity!!

There is a lot of inspiration out there. All you need to do is look around you. There are also a lot of talented crafters and artists out there. One of my favorite blogs to follow is Kelly Fosters' All The Pretty Things. She shares a step-by-step tutorial today guiding you through how she makes her layouts. I love her style, though its too much work for me! Have a look- her work is gorgeous!

Calling all digi scrappers- Echo Park and Carta Bella have another One Buck Wednesday happening today, which means some of their digi kits are on sale for $1! Head over to their blogs to get all the deets!

Looking for a unique way to use up your scrap papers? Why not adhere them to a sheet of plain white card stock, run them through your die cut machine, and attach them as embellishments to your cards, layouts, or altered items? This is such a neat idea- head over to the Paper Crafts blog to see how Teri Anderson does it!

Love the look of the sunburst technique, but have a hard time wrapping your brain around how to do it, like me? Then you'll want to save this download for future use! Once again, Paper Crafts to the rescue!

And, one last item I forgot to post to yesterday's What's Up: Create your very own band aid box! Head over here for the tutorial. (You'll need to search for the February 17, 2011 blog post, or scroll down until you find it). She's also got some amazing cards on her blog, too. Browse through it- they're incredible!

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I found a new sketch tonight, and boy does it look awesome!!!! I can hardly wait to jump into this one! Unfortunately, I have a design team assignment that's due first, but once that's out of the way, watch out new sketch, cause here I come! You'll find it at Erin's blog here.

And, even though this project isn't scrapbooking related, I wanted to share it anyways. I know there's lots of mama's out there, and aunties, and this would make a perfect gift or toy for our kids to play with. Head over to FaveCrafts and have a look at this neat felt book!

Not much else to share tonight. Alls quiet on the home front. Happy Wednesday evening. The week is half over!

On a totally unrelated note, FINDING.DORY.

Need I say more?????????!!!!!!!!







Stumped

Stumped. That's the best way to describe the last layout I made, and the first of the two that I posted to my FB page today. For me, nothing seemed to jive. I hope I'm past this crop block, because I go through withdrawals when I can't play! Its utter torture.

There's nothing too fancy about my Blessings layout. I began with a sketch that I had printed out, but in the end, I just didn't feel it at all. I wound up going my own way, after much fussing and rearranging and not liking how things looked. Heh. Sometimes, we just have to go our own way. All the patterned papers on this particular layout are Jillibean Soup- from the Winter Tortellini and Country Pumpkin collections. The Blessings tag is also Jillibean (Country Pumpkin). The folder tag in the top right corner, along with the scallop circle embellishment are Carta Bella, and the rest is just miscellaneous stash that I used up.

The most important thing to note about this layout is that the black folder that's slipped behind all the paper, is actually the print of the photo that the Melting Pot took while we were having dinner. I forgot all about it until I finished the layout! I didn't know how else to incorporate it at that point, other than just slipping it in somewhere. It also meant that I needed stronger adhesive so that my project wouldn't pull apart. So, I pulled out a new pack of glue dots, and re-adhered my main photo mat (all the paper that the photo and journalling tag are adhered to).

My next layout is a little more detailed. I picked up the colors that are already found in the program and postcard that the group of actors gave me for my birthday- which was red, black and blue. I immediately thought of my nautical stamp set for this layout. It fit the theme perfectly!

On the flip side of the postcard, I adhered a small piece of scrap punched card stock, just to add a bit of interest to an otherwise busy but boring layout. I also added a journalling tag that I punched using my CM tag punch, and included just a bit of journalling on it. I also included the date we saw NCIS, which was the date of my birthday- November 3.

I also included the ticket stub from our evening out at Jubilations. A really great way to hold onto memorabilia that you eventually want to scrapbook is throwing everything into a folder or page protector. Then, everything is in one place, and you can refer to it as you complete those projects. If you really want to get organized, you can create a folder for every event, or one of every month of the year, and throw things into the corresponding folder after the event happens. Just a little food for thought. I personally like using a page protector. I can see what's inside, and it isn't often that we enjoy things such as this, so for now, I don't need anything more. Maybe that'll evolve one day in the future, but for now, don't fix anything that's not broken!

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Bulletin Board

Who else found the April sketchy challenge layout incredibly inspiring? There were two ways I immediately thought of doing to recreate the background- first was to use Washi Tape to mimic the look of a bulletin board, and the second idea was to cut squares of patterned paper, and rotate them on their side so they create the illusion of diamonds. I want to try that technique next, so I'm pretty sure that if I get scrappy time tonight, that's what I'll be doing next.

My mojo must have fled the scene, because I sure struggled with what to do after I got the background completed on this layout. I just didn't know what direction I wanted to take, or how to proceed. I knew that rather than using three small photos, I just wanted to use one. I didn't want any other pictures distracting from the beautiful flowers Kyle ordered for me before we got to the Melting Pot. I'd never been to an upscale restaurant that has the option of pre-ordering full bouquets of flowers for loved ones. What a lovely and unique idea, and it blew me away (hence the title). I thought they were a centre piece for the table we were sitting at.

After playing around with squares of patterned paper and re-arranging them multiple times, I came up with the idea of taking my postcard stamp (by Stampendous) to recreate a post card, and the twine and mini clothes pins add a unique twist to the traditional bulletin board. There's a small blue tag slipped behind the postcard and photo, which houses the journalling for this layout. All I really knew after I got the lines in the background adhered was that I wanted to recreate the look of a personal bulletin board any one of us would have at home. I think for the next one I do, I'll include some receipts and a little more stamping (which I had planned on doing on this one, and forgot!!); maybe some of the kids' artwork. I'll know when I actually get there!

I did begin working on another layout after this one last night, but I struggled even more with the layout I printed to scrap lift; I scrapped that idea, and am now trying to work it out on my own. I sat for 45 minutes moving things around and not liking any of what I saw, so I decided to leave it and sleep. I'll try it again when my head has cleared. I think I left it last night before bed is the way I want to keep it. Now its just a matter of figuring out the embellishing and where to add journalling and a title!

Oh, the challenges of scrapbooking (sometimes)!!!

Tuesday What's Up

Ok...the kids are downstairs watching the Berenstein bears...lets see how far into this post I get before I'm sabotaged!!!

Happy Tuesday, all! Its overcast and not the nicest here today, and I see that the Weather Network is calling for flurries over the next couple of days. I seriously hope not. The warm weather has been sooo great to lift ones spirits! Wouldn't you agree?!

The great finds out there today are super for lifting ones spirits, too! Check these out!

This is the ultimate dream of mine- and I've been seriously of doing this for the last six months, at least! Crop and CRUISE!!!! What is a Crop and Cruise? Pack all your scrapbooking goodies, some comfy clothes, your CAMERA, and scrap your way through a dreamy cruise. Of course, there'll be opportunities for some sight seeing and (obviously) picture taking. But, you get the best of both worlds- a getaway with nothing more than scrapbooking and crafting, if that's all you want to do. ON.A.CRUISE.LINER!!!!! Sounds fabulous, doesn't it? I know that Canadian Scrapbooker does one, and now I've just found out that Paper Crafts magazine also has a crop and cruise. Read all about it here. Who's in with me??

Fathers' Day is fast approaching, and soon it'll be time to be thinking about what to get/make for the Fathers in your life. There's a free E-book at FaveCrafts.com (blech- if you're interested) and a couple cute examples of great hand made Fathers Day gifts here for you to check out. I personally really like the wreath (but, its SOOO not Kyle). Have you come across any other hand made gifts to make for the Fathers/Mothers in your life? Feel free to share them!

Heidi Kelley, the author (and uber talented fellow scrapbooker) of an incredible blog that I follow shares this incredible Easter egg she made, and the instructions on how to re-create it yourself. I know the holiday is over, but I guarantee you'll be sorry if you miss out on the opportunity to make one for yourself. WOW!!!!

If you enjoy scrapbooking with the use of scrapbook kits, then you'll want to know (if you haven't heard already) that My Creative Scrapbooks April kit is now available. Head over to Izzy's blog to see sneak peeks of the projects she's made with the kit. On Friday, she'll have the full reveal. You won't want to miss out on that, either!!

Wow. Ever made a project using paper packaging- the plastic cup that holds buttons in it or brads, or other small type embellishments? Ever used other types of paper packaging to up cycle a unique project? I have not, as of yet, other than using bits and pieces of cardboard pieces of packaging as borders and paper elements on layouts. Melinda Spinks, over at the Jillibean blog today, shares how she made a candy holder using the plastic packaging portion of a Jillibean button package. Its truly awe-inspiring! I want to try it now!

And, speaking of up cycling and altering items, how about making over a guitar?! Ever thought of doing that??! I certainly haven't. But, this tutorial will blow your mind away! You'll find it here, at the Echo Park blog.

There's one last tutorial to share with you this morning- this time using alcohol ink and transparencies. This incredible tutorial shows you how to mimic the look of water. This technique is great for swimming or hot weather, or sports themed projects. Re-create the look by following the instructions you'll find here!

That's all for now! Phew! Got through it before the kids interrupted me. Whoo!

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There are some really simple and adorable crafts I found on Pinterest today that you should check out! You'll find everything I'm about to mention on my All Things Scrappy board over at Pinterest. What kinds of things will you find? Cute tags and embellishments, bookmarks made from the spines of old books, a denim journal cover, cute little 'you have a message' clothes pins (that when you open them up, says 'I love you' inside); if you like to crochet or want to learn, you'll find a tutorial on how to crochet using bakers twine; Paper Crafts magazine has some really fantastic downloads- from Easter to hey hot stuff to baby under construction. Check them out!

Lastly, I just happened upon this pin, and what this woman does with old books is simply and utterly a.maz.ing. You'll also find it under my All Things Scrappy board at Pinterest. Wow, if only I could be so talented!!

Thanks for dropping by! TTFN











Monday, April 1, 2013

Monday What's Up

Good morning! Happy April first! Its April Fools' Day. Has anyone pranked you yet?

Its a new day; its Monday, and that means today is Mojo Monday. For our inspiration today, I'll be using a card that I made, using my own design, to kick off our first ever monthly challenge! Instead of 24 hours to complete a project, you've got the entire month! You can create as many projects as you want, using the example I've provided (which, you'll find on our page at FB), until midnight on the 30th of April. After all your projects are submitted, we'll vote on our favorite and the winner will be inducted into the Everday Scrapbooker hall of fame. Doesn't that sound exciting? Maybe in the process, you'll inspire someone else. That'd be the biggest compliment of all!

There's a few What's Up items to share today:

A good friend of mine, Sharon, just shared on her blog today, that's she's been asked to be a contributing author on a blog called Ideas for Scrapbookers. Whether you're a seasoned scrapbooker, or are just beginning in a new found hobby, you'll find a lot of great inspiration at this site. Sharon, I'm positive, will help jumpstart your mojo, too, with all her wonderful work and encouraging words. Go check it out! I'll be bookmarking it, for sure!

There are some breathtaking cards up on the Jillibean blog today, some of which are momentarily going to be pinned to my Pinterest. Oh.My.Word!!!

Looking for some inspiration? Need a new project to start, but don't know what to do? How about make a notebook-shaped storage box like this one?! Isn't it gorgeous?!

Lastly, there's a beautiful new sketch posted to the PaperHaus magazine blog. If you're looking for a great starting point for your next layout, you'll want to pin this one!

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I Just wanted to share a few really neat things I found browsing Pinterest tonight.

First I've been seeing wedding dress cards that are made out of doilies floating around the web. The link that I finally pinned includes a tutorial on how to make it. You'll find it here!

Don't know what to do with all those Christmas cards you got for Christmas, your kids' birthdays, your own birthday, or postcards from family that are on vacation or live too far away to see regularly? Punch holes in them and make them into mini card albums! You can tie them together any way you please- either with ribbon or twine, or if you really want to get fancy, use binder rings! I love this idea. No more cards hiding in boxes around the house- now they can be displayed in an uber cute and economical way! You're saving trees (though they could be recycled if you don't want to hang on to them); but if you do, this is such a fantabulous idea!!! I've JUST started doing it!

Lastly, Paper Crafts magazine has a little giveaway going on over at their blog in honor of April Fools Day. One lucky commenter could receive a variety of stamps from a variety of manufacturers. But hurry, your entry needs to be in by Wednesday. Don't delay!