Scrapbook Process: The Sweetest Thing from My Minds Eye

This week I am on a roll, finishing pages for my "heritage" album.  This album is not just old photos of my family, but also contains newer family portraits, so they are all together.

For the Make it Monday challenge this week at The Memory Nest, I used their sketch to finish another page for this album:

Here is my interpretation of the sketch:  (sorry for the lighting glare!)

From my stash, I used the collection "The Sweetest Thing" from My Minds Eye.  The title, journaling block and the parentheses chipboard pieces were the only things not from the collection, along with the cream paper for the background.  This layout is of my niece and her husband's wedding from just seven years ago, but it is a must addition for the family album.  I thought the soft blue, flowered paper was a perfect choice for wedding photos.  

You still have time to complete your own layout using this sketch from The Memory Nest!

Happy (inter) National Scrapbooking Day!

We scrappers NEED our own holiday, don't we?  Not that we need any excuse to scrap!

Today I will share a couple different things in honor of our holiday:  a video with ideas on how to make your large album projects easily cohesive, a free sketch and a sneak peak at what I'm using for the month of May in the "New to Me" series at The Memory Nest!

First for today, here is a free sketch to get your mojo going:

Please feel free to share this sketch with friends if you'd like!

If you want to get some great bargain shopping in during a scrapping break, be sure to check out the new color kits at The Memory Nest -- and today Leslie has a super sale going on!!

See you again later today when I will post my tutorial video!

Happy Scrappy New Year! See What's Coming!

Happy 2014!  I hope that this year brings you many wonderful memories that will fill your scrapbooks to overflowing!

The last couple weeks, I have been busy planning what the "Living a Crafting Life" blog will include for the new year. Here is what you can expect:

• Learn how to easily incorporate Faith and more of Yourself into your scrapbooking;
• Begin card making with simple, fast and cute cards from your scrapbooking supplies;
• Be inspired by many project ideas with current and "throwback" paper designs and kits;
• Have fun with unique scrapbooking challenges and techniques;
• Find shopping links to items showcased on the blog if you want to add to your stash; 
• Enjoy FREE video tutorials, sketches and printables;
• Benefit from more fun, subscriber only freebies and prizes!

So have you subscribed here yet?  Do so today so that you don't miss the exciting announcements coming later this week! (It includes the word "FREE!")  

Use the social media links on the top of the right bar of this blog to find me on Instagram, YouTube and Twitter.  Let's stay in touch and have some scrappy fun together!

Card Making Process: Joy of a Challenge

This past week I have been finishing up my Christmas cards to send out, and to keep me going, I completed the latest Make It Monday Challenge over at The Memory Nest for fun!

This challenge really required me to think outside the box, especially since I wanted to twist it and use this opportunity to make another Christmas card.  Here is the challenge:

Since I'm playing for fun, I "cheated" just a little by taking one word as my title.  The second sketch is what I used to make my card:

The paper was from a BoBunny collection from a couple years ago; I just love the bright, happy colors!  As for using an item from my office supplies, I used a coordinating circle paper clip that is hooked on the inside of the card (not seen here).  

Do you have all your Christmas cards mailed yet?  How many do you send each year?

There is still time to link up to Leslie's "Make it Monday" challenge!  Your participation gives you eligibility in the monthly giveaway!

Card Making Process: Use Sketch; Repeat!

Okay, Card Makers -- did you have a productive Saturday for World Card Making Day?  I feel as though I did, even though the day afternoon was broken up by having to drive to an away game for my youngest son's soccer league. However, I didn't mind because it was a beautiful weekend here in Texas!  We are finally cooling off so it can feel like fall.

Although I was productive with card making on Saturday, the day didn't start out with much creativity.  My goal was to make several cards to keep in my stash that was depleted, but the ideas just weren't coming, despite the fact that I pulled out several different 6"x 6" pads and other printed paper that I wanted to use.

After some time of fussing, I looked at Pagemaps.com.  Becky's sketches always seem to create a spark, and I hoped it would this time too.  This is a sketch from the September 2013 Cardmaps:  

Because I had so much pattern paper I wanted to use, this sketch offered ideas for layering different paper.  

The first card with this sketch turned out well.

After this card, I was stuck again.  Instead of looking for another sketch and starting over, I decided to reuse the sketch since I was pleased how the first card evolved.

Now I was on a roll, so I completed a couple more:  

And finally, one more with a twist:  

Even though I used the same sketch, with a variety of paper and stamps, I was still able to complete five different cards.

Do you use the same sketch more than once? Leave your comments below!

Sketch Work: Chevrons and Scraps

Today I am being "differently" creative!  I had a few layouts sketched out, so I decided that today was a good day to digitize them so that they can be freely shared.  (Besides, it is going to be another scorcher in Texas -- high of 102 degrees!  A good reason to stay in and be creative!)

Feel free to use and share, although I would love it if you would leave a link below so that I can see your creation!

Here is a sketch with a focus on the popular chevrons:

Sketch #2

And another one, designed to use scraps of wonderful patterned paper that are hard to throw away!

Sketch #3

Enjoy!

Sketch Work: Trying Out My Own Sketches

I am now creating some of my own sketches to share, which has been great fun!  To start out this new month, I decided to share one with you!  I would love to get your opinion, and also see what you can do with it yourself!

Sketch #1:

Of course I had to try out my own sketch, right?  Here is what I came up with:

American Crafts "City Park" paper and Thickers

Two of my crafty friends and owners of the Cafemom group, Scrap Craft and Chat, have allowed me to share their beautiful work with my sketch!  

This is Christy's with a traditional layout like mine (her daughter had some Photoshop fun and made up these hilarious photos!):

Here is Gin's, who is the Digi Queen of our group:

You can find Gin at Dare's Designz

Hope you enjoy!  Leave a comment if you have used my sketch!  And please share my website with scrappy friends!

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.