Scavenger Scrapbooking: Craft or Sewing Room Treasures

Welcome back, Scrappers for Day Five of Scavenger Scrapbooking! Yesterday's challenge was hard for me -- I was stumped with finding something.  If you found treasure from the workroom, don't forget to link up your project HERE.

There is an example I can show you of a layout completed a while ago with a found item: old luggage keys. (Remember the days when we could lock our luggage with these little things??)

 Today's search is in . . . . The Craft Room!

Yes, this may seem to be too obvious a place to look for hidden treasure, but let's take a relook, shall we?  While this may seem to be an obvious choice, we may have passed over some great goodies that can be additions to our scrapbooking stash. Ready for this challenge??

Don't forget to look through your crafts and sewing boxes for:

• sewing machine or old sewing patterns
• patches, fabric remnants
• embroidery thread
• feathers, fringe
• felt, yarn
• lace, elastic, rick rack, seam bias, zippers
• leather pieces
• foam craft pieces
• measuring tapes, pins
• gift bags and tags
• silk flowers
• beads

And if you are sure you won't find anything in your own craft room, maybe you can get permission to rummage through a family member's sewing or craft box. Not too long ago, my mom got rid of an old sewing machine table that she had around forever.  I had no place for it (I wish that I had!) but what I really wanted was to get inside those drawers before she threw everything out.  The button drawer was the grand prize; I was able to get a mason jar full of beloved buttons to use for scrapbooking and all sorts of projects!  

Or if you have the budget for it, allow yourself so much to spend at a local Thrift Shop or Goodwill Store. Look for some of the items above that you could find yourself tearing apart and using.  

Make sure you share what you find!

Lastly, if you would rather have a color challenge today, here is something fun:  Go get a favorite pillow in your home and put it by your scrap area.  Use the color and/or pattern from it as the inspiration for today's project!  

Use your item and/or inspiration to make a scrapbook or craft project.  Link up any of your projects for this series to THIS MAIN PAGE at any time so that future readers can become inspired by your project!  

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?  

Scrapbook Process: Finding the Scrapping "Mojo"

Ever have those days when you want to scrap, but just can't get the inspiration? I have those days too, and sometimes it's just a day or so, or a couple weeks. However, I have found some ways that help get your "scrappin' mojo" going:

• Search the internet for scrapbook blogs that update regularly. Subscribe to their feed so that you get new creations almost daily in your email box. Looking at what they are doing will often inspire you. Some of my faves are listed in the right margin! ------>
• Join a scrapping group. CafeMom, Ning, Facebook and other networking sites have groups with activity in which to participate and new friends to keep you motivated. Also check YouTube for numerous craft videos by some real energetic crafters!
• Clean your scrapping area. By reorganizing or straightening your space, you will often start the excitement when you again see a new stamp you had purchased, papers you forgot you had or other goodies in your stash. Add any finished pages to your photo albums too.
• Go through your photos. If you have taken several photos lately that need to be filed, or edited on your computer, now is the time to sit and do them. For editing, choose a couple select photos, make copies and then use one of your software programs to try something different: black and white, sepia, borders, color tinting, etc. Having a unique photo can create that spark of creativity for a new page.
• Look for new sketches. Many times, I let my photos dictate my layout, but other times, I just need help! There are many free sketches online at scrapbooking sites or blogs. Pagemaps is a great one, with new ideas each month.
• Go shopping. Yes, if you have a little extra spending money this week, go to your favorite craft store and choose ONE new item that will jog an idea. (Don't overdo your shopping, or you'll overwhelm yourself when you need to find your jumpstart!) Stores like Archivers are great about displaying all the newly released products and plenty of ideas for those products (including workshops!) to teach new techniques.
• Try a different media or page size. Always a 12x12 scrapbooker? Try making cards, an altered item and especially, a different size page. Use stamps if you don't normally use them. If you subscribe to new blogs or check YouTube, you'll glean new enthusiasm.
• Do a different type of page. If you always do your pages by chronological events, devote your next pages to purely a specific subject. What about pages about you? Journal thoughts, ideas, dreams, things in your past.
• Finally, don't push it. After all, this is our hobby, and sometimes a break is a good time to allow experiences to happen that will encourage us to scrap and to journal about.