The Return

Incomplete & Cropped

Lately I've focused incorporating flowers and metals into new projects.  I've struggled with flower placement as either sprays or decorative elements from the beginning.  Inexperience with metals came down to inventory resources.  In this latest layout I've had opportunity to work with both.  The flower spray in the lower left corner still seems imbalanced somehow.  Secondly, this flower arrangement is dead flat.  Since the layout is not intended for a book where depth is an issue, it feels instinctively wrong not creating opportunity for shadowing.  Perhaps not. Overall, not a bad attempt for my first attempt.

This year's vacation is a thoroughly documented historical event, still unscrapped. Time to get serious about pulling it all together and for all that I still haven't decided which paper collection to use.  I originally bought Farm House Fair Skies collection for this purpose, but fell in love with - and purchased - Prima's Craftsman; either will work fabulously for the project. Choosing between the two collections might be the most difficult decision of the entire project. 

There's been two substantial hauls in under a week. I'm too ashamed to admit how much money changed hands; but using a spender's rationale, it can be said I saved more than paid.  The new inventory overflows with all types of goodies, covering everything from alphas to zippers.  The multiple quests involved purchasing items I've wanted to experiment with and incorporate into creations, but haven't, being unwilling to spend full price for something that may, or may not benefit future creations.

That's all for now!

Slow Down Go Around

Which comes first, the hobby or life?  Obviously, life wins every time.  Slow down yet again.

I'm still struggling through the self-designed mini-album.  One agonizing page at a time.  It's not as bad as that, I'm having fun in the creating, but find it amazing how much still remains a challenge.  Especially the mechanical aspects.  If I could ever commit to a dedicated Crop group, there would be an explosion of creativity and skills from which to draw.

I'm hoping for the luxury of creating a few designed albums before the end of the year... particularly those on YouTube I still drool over.  Over the past several weeks the complete Tropical Travelogue and Le Cirque collection pieces have filtered into the house.  I was surprised today when finding the Le Cirque 8x8 pad; something never expected!  Several weeks ago I posted a link to a YouTube video featuring a flip-flap album created from the Le Cirque collection.  With the 12x12 pad in hand I thought to pull together the measurement to get the album started.  Of course, in the manner all too familiar now, the album was built using the 8x8 pad.  Naturally.  The 12x12 could have been used, but when completely unfolded, would measure 36 inches long and over 24 high.  The problem with these proportions become abundantly clear.  A mega mini???  Purpose defeated.

It's taken awhile to decide where and to whom the albums will ultimately go.  I plan to make a childhood scrapbook for each of the boys, and one each for my sister and one brother.  Insofar as these gifts go, each will be copied versions of other albums.  The total lack of self-generated creativity will always work against my favour; yet, it's possible that, in time, it may all click together some day. 

G45 came out with a line of pigment inks that takes the guess work out of  colour coordination decisions.  That's very exciting news for partially colour-blind individuals!  In the latest haul I bought two of the five available colours, and will buy the other three over the next month.

The Mister celebrated his birthday this week and I created a stunning tag instead of the usual card.  As soon as the weather clears, and the pain isn't as crippling, I hope to photograph and post it here.  Again, there were several unanticipated mechanical problems, but was able to overcome them without great interruption.  This was the first full size tag I've created and was very pleased with the results.  See?  Some of this may eventually rub off into real creativity.

I hope to get a real jump on the Tropical Travelogue project this week.  The plan is to create one page from a tutorial and one from my own creativity.  That's the plan... now to make it a reality.

G45 & Breakthrough

I've studied Graphic 45 papers, psychology, and its philosophy intensely for almost a week now.  I think I understand the company.  There's a reason beyond incredible graphic designs that make this paper unique; someone either at the company or hired by such studied scrapbookers practically under a microscope.

Nothing about this brand intimidates. I've began cutting away and there's a beauty in doing so.  I'm so impressed with the company I already purchased the full line of the ABC Primer collection for Martin's hallmark childhood album.  Around the end of May I'll order the Magic of Oz collection to highlight my lovely granddaughter's "Scare Crow" professional shoot.  Maybe someday I'll actually pick out a few pieces of "regular" paper to scrap a page or two... but for now I'm having a blast learning to work with G45, including cutting out less than 1/2 inch butterflies for adornment.

So far my mini-album progress has advanced only to selecting coordinating buttons, ribbons, paint, chipboard, and pulling quotes out of my original baby book, now falling apart at the seams.  Much of the next week will consist of cutting out elements.  Hopefully, it will eventually begin to look like "something" instead of the mess currently on hand

Early Organization

Something clicked watching so many G45 scrapbooking videos.  Planning a page up until very recently was a very involved and mind exhausting process.  The other day I needed to quickly scrap a Futsbol series.  (Before the pictures were accidentally misplaced)  It took precisely 35 minutes from need to conception to completion to pull the page together.  Better yet, it's one of the best LO I've done.  Suddenly, the layering, framing, colour use, and element choice has become almost automatic.  I can spot "wrong" in nothing flat.  Not that I'll never commit the same crimes again, but I know it when it's there.  Oh, but should all design go so smoothly in the future.

The cute shot reminder LO hangs on the icebox and has done wonders to prompt medication action in good time.  More than that, it's caused me to look around the room to find the "blah" areas and throw something together to spice it up.  In less than 10 minutes this evening, I brought back to the craft room the small, plain Crystal Light plastic container we've used for a couple of year to collect Box Tops for Education and Campbell's soup labels until delivery to school.  It blended into the counter space, but the visible contents always made the container appear a tiny bit disorganized.  To the results:

A little "pretty" for the kitchen counter

Breakthroughs are one of the best parts of the art!  It's what drives us.

Too Much Time

I somehow injured myself Thursday afternoon, and am still on the mend as of Sunday.  There's not much to do during recovery but sit in the most comfy chair in the house; a chair that, by happenstance, resides in the craft room.  (Bed rest can become quite painful after long stretches.)

And so, stuck in the craft room all weekend long, I spent the time trying new techniques; which has paid off handsomely... and organizing project where possible.

I completed the rooster/shot reminder page.  There's a few areas most would call mistakes, but since it's not going anywhere but the inside the house, they remain as is.

Cute & functional medication reminder

At long last, I played with the chipboard available from my considerable cereal box collection.  Pre-cut chipboard costs unimaginable pennies at the craft stores.  I have Cricut, Cuttlebug and many Sizzix Bigz dies on hand.   Both Cricut and Cuttlebug claim the ability to cut light weight chipboard, but until now, I've never put either to the test.  The Cricut worked wonderfully.  It requires a very stick mat and three multi-cuts.  The selected image came out crisp and clear. The same goes for the Cuttlebug.  I shouldn't've doubt, but the tendency to protect the equipment overrules challenges.  I've also saved a fair amount of "white" chipboard from Sweet-N-Low packages that will finally be put to great use.

I also picked up my tatting materials, neglected for months now.  Surprisingly, it all came back quite easily!  The reason for review stems from the desire to use homemade lace on the mini-album planned.  How sweet a touch this offers.  Fortunately, I have the perfect pink, green, cream coordinating threads already on hand, but will need to search for baby blue and yellow; a far harder challenge than imagined.  I can knock out several inches of lace in under an hour, so now I have something to do when there remains not an iota of creativity in store.

Loosely related to tatting was beading again.  This, too, will add a personal touch to any layout in mind.  Gosh, the only skill not put to use was using a floor loom to weave a carpet or something.  :)

On to organization...

It only took a month, but every single scrap of paper bought at the 75% clearance sale last month is now put away and sorted.  This took much, much longer than should have.  But the exercise proves need for more storage solutions.

An essential tool for any scapper would be a clear pocketed, hanging jewelry bag hanging in a closet of or the back of a door.  Small rubber stamps, bottles of embossing powders, ink pads, small packages of bling, tatting shuttles, ribbon scraps, and any number of small crafting items fit nicely in these relatively inexpensive bags.  Target has a line of very sturdy organizers, and during a sale make them down-right cheap.  At present, I only have one, but will pick up several more over the next few months.

After reading the post, it's scarey what gets done when my body is up to task!