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Jun 24, 2013

Scrapbook Process: Haul Share from The Memory Nest

Super excited!  I have been chosen to join one of the Design Teams over at The Memory Nest!  Over the next two months, I will have the opportunity to share some of my designs along with many other wonderful crafty ladies.  It is an honor to be included in this talented bunch!

Recently I got an order from The Memory Nest with some of the papers that I will be using for July and August.  Here is a peek at my haul:


Add The Memory Nest to your RSS feed so that you don't miss any of the exciting posts this summer! There will be a lot of exciting summer challenges with fun sketches, color combos and more!

Jun 11, 2013

Scrapbook Process: Smiling with Patterned Paper

Yesterday I talked about my latest project of reorganizing my patterned paper by color.  It has produced good results:  I have found paper that I had forgotten about and now able to use.

This is a layout I finished after my paper reorganization that is for The Memory Nest's sketch challenge that starts linking up today:


The layout started with solid colored cardstock, layered with My Mind's Eye "Lost and Found 3" paper, and  stickers which I believe are from the Indie collection. The photo mat is from Basic Grey's "PB&J" line that I purchased from The Memory Nest store.    

What is a collection you have in your stash that you need to bring out and use?

Jun 10, 2013

Scrapbook Process: Organizing My Patterned Paper

When I have some downtime, I like to watch videos on YouTube of other scrapbooking and cardmaking designers.  There is such an abundance of inspiration out there when you look for it!  I am continually amazed at the unique ideas and creativity of other crafters.  If you have read any of my past posts, you may have seen my attempts at doing my part of inspiring other crafters with tips, tricks and ideas for frugal and easier scrapbooking via YouTube.

This past week, after watching videos on how some crafters were organizing their craft rooms, I decided to take one of their ideas to see if it would work for me.

For probably the last four years (maybe longer), I organized my patterned paper by manufacturer. This may be due to the fact that while I was teaching at a locally owned scrapbook store, the process of organizing in this way seemed to work best when I was creating classes. A manufacturer's current products always meshed and coordinated well with their other products, so it was easy to mix and match items for designing class projects.

Now that I am paper crafting for just myself, I was finding that many paper treasures I purchased would be forgotten and untouched.  One thing I discovered about myself just recently is that I first and foremost pick patterned paper based on the colors of my photo(s) first, instead of choosing paper and then selecting a photo that can go with it. (Are many of you that way too?)  As a result, I would choose the first paper I would see in my stash that seemed to work with my photo, and not take time to look at ALL the choices available.

After watching the inspiring craftroom videos, I decided to organize my patterned paper by color.  It didn't take too long since I don't have an incredibly large stash. All my 12"x12" patterned paper is stored in one of these great bins from Target, which fits perfectly in my IKEA bookcase:


Cardboard is used to separate the color catagories.  If I were REALLY organized, I would have have made tabs for each section, but alas, that may take awhile:


As I filed by color, I chose to file by the color of the "B" side, since I seem to use that side the most. As in this example, I will most definitely pick the navy before I would choose the floral:


And finally, for those papers that didn't have a "B" side, or just wasn't categorical, there is a section in the front with these few sheets of renegade paper who refuse to pick a team:


And yes, if I have patterned paper left from a project that is still 6"x12" or more, I still file it with the full size paper.  Color scraps are in another accordion file.  That is something I can share on another day.  :)

The next question you may ask is:  "Well, does it work better?"  Absolutely -- for me it appears to work more efficiently.  I finished two layouts where planning time was a little shorter, and I got into some stash I hadn't seen in awhile. One of these layouts I will share tomorrow -- I am submitting it for a sketch challenge at The Memory Nest that starts linking up at that time.  I hope you will come back and visit me tomorrow!

How do you organize your patterned paper?  

Jun 4, 2013

Scrapbooking Process Video: 6 x 6 Paper for 12 x 12 Layouts

After organizing all our family's digital photos in one place, you can imagine that I found some real treasures.  The below layout is now one of my new favorites.  My hubby was trying out a new lens back when Josh was three years old, and these are a couple of the photos that came from that little mini photo session.


For this layout, I used three 6 x 6" sheets from an old Sassafrass pad. This pad had so many bold and crazy prints, but I was determined to challenge myself!  I chose a striped pattern and pieced them together on black cardstock, leaving a "hole" for two photos and embellished around them.

The video this week shares some of my tips on how to use 6x6 papers for your full page layouts:




Bonus projects:

With this same paper pad, I finished a card using a Tim Holtz Sizzix die for the card edge and some flower stickers from my stash.  A great card for one of my cool, hippy-type friends:


Finally, a "junk" layout -- using wilder patterns and a variety of miscellaneous diecuts and handmade embellishments from my stash that I wanted to use up.  I suppose you could call this one "eclectic":



I am sharing my creations this week at:
http://thememorynest.blogspot.com/2013/06/whimsical-wednesday-6-share-layouts-and.html

How can you challenge yourself today with 6x6 paper?