Embrace Life

LOAD: More 0511 Layouts

Somehow I've managed to keep up with the LOAD (Layout A Day) for May ... and keep at the digi! I have to say, I'm enjoying the "clean up" after making a digi layout. So very tidy! The portability is a plus, too.

DAY 7: So Very Thankful

MATERIALS Digi Printed Paper: Mr. Brownstone (Ashalee Wall); Template: Layered Template 14 (Cathy Zielske); Fonts: Arial & Amelie

DAY 8: A Most Colourful Surprise

MATERIALS Digi Printed Paper: DZ Artistshand2 - Paper3 (Unknown); Template: Design Your Life Class Template (Unavailable, Cathy Zielske); Fonts: A&S Rhino and Arial

DAY 9: His Joyful Moves

MATERIALS Digi Printed Paper: For The Love of Chevron (Ali Edwards); Tag: Holidays in Hand Tag Pack (Jessica Sprague); Template: Design Your Life Class Template (Unavailable, Cathy Zielske); Fonts: Adler and Arial

DAY 10: I AM

MATERIALS Template: Autobiography Layered Template Package (Ali Edwards); Fonts: Serifa

Now, after much hemming and hawing, and advice to make sure this book is submitted and printed, I decided to stick with what works for me, and I changed everything from the Aqua to the more Lee-like gold/orange. There is a better chance of it being put on the coffee table if it matches my decor.

DAY 11: New Normal

MATERIALS Digi Printed Paper: Remarkable (Karla Dudley), Remember This and That (Ali Edwards); Butterfly: Felis Elements (Karla Dudley); Template: Layered Template 28 (Cathy Zielske); Fonts: Arial and Impuls BT

DAY 12: Here & Now

MATERIALS Digi Printed Paper: Felis (Karla Dudley), Miscellaneous (ABR_UrbanLife); Template: Layered Template 1 (Cathy Zielske); Fonts: Arial

DAY 13: Quintessentially You

MATERIALS Digi Printed Paper: Mia Papers (Maplebrook Studios), TKA_CombatINT (Stash); Template: Layered Template 40 (Cathy Zielske); Fonts: Arial

DAY 14: The Details

MATERIALS Overlay: Page Frames #1 (Cathy Zielske); Fonts: Arial

Day 15: Eat Better

MATERIALS Digi Printed Paper: Envy Papers (Ashalee Wall), Kate Papers (Ashalee Wall); Template: Design Your Life Class Template (Unavailable, Cathy Zielske); Fonts: Arial and Amelie

And now you're all caught up on what I've been doing - every morning before the kids get up, I make a layout. I have found it very liberating to get stories + photos organized in such a manner that the story is fresh and told immediately. Seriously thinking a Project Life or CY365 will be far more do-able using this format. Certainly the upcoming A Week In The Life (July 25 - 31, 2011) is going to look different! It really is amazing what a bit of confidence can do!

I am almost always excited about stories + photos, but what I'm really looking forward to are more projects taken on with a sense of getting it all done rather than the fear of eventual overwhelm.

LOAD has started again!

As I mentioned in my reflections post, there is a lot going on in May with plans for participation in  StoryADay, WholeHearted Living, May Merriment, One LIttle Word and LOAD. I've learned that in order for me to get anything done, I have to make the time. I have it all mapped out and its been going pretty well ... so far!

LOAD was first offered in January 2008 on what is now Big Picture Classes and I've been hooked ever since! Lain has created a tremendous community filled with inspiration and support. LOAD has evolved into a February, May and October creative experience for me. Everyone here in my home knows to look out, mama is creating again. I have had months where I've been able to create a layout every day - and some where I've only created a few.

LOAD works for me because I tend to be a "binge" scrapper. This time around, since I've slowly (very slowly), become more confident in my Photoshop Elements skills, I'm going to make 31 digital layouts this month. I'm working on a couple of books and this should help with my confidence!

What do you think?

DAY ONE: Time To Remember

MATERIALS Digi Printed Paper: For Humanity Kit (Designer Digitals - no longer listed); Template: For Humanity Kit (Cathy Zielske); Fonts: Arial, Amelie and AussieIcons.

DAY 2: 8

MATERIALS Fonts: Flick Bold Hollow, Arial

DAY 3: Remember

MATERIALS Overlay: Remember Outline Word 8.5 x 11 (Ali Edwards); Stamp: The Story of This Day (Ali Edwards); Font: Times

 

Day 4: Perfect Practice

MATERIALS Digi Printed Paper: Remember This and That Paper Collection (Ali Edwards); Template: Layered Template 65 (Cathy Zielske); Fonts: Arial and Amelie

Day 5: 10 Things | Caden

MATERIALS Digi Printed Paper: Falling All Over (Jesse Edwards); Template: 10 Things I Love About My Life Template (Cathy Zielske); Fonts: Archer, Times and Rockwell

Day 6: You Are Like Sunshine

(Yes, another Caden layout. I'm coming to the realization that there are many of the youngers as the olders do not want to be captured by the camera. And when the youngers are tired of it, I have to go outside and capture nature!)

MATERIALS Digi Printed Paper: Falling All Over (Karla Dudley); Template: Layered Template 41 (Cathy Zielske); Fonts: Arial

I quite like learning more and more techniques using the digi stuff. I'm actually learning enough that I find some things frustrating - like I cannot kern fonts in PSE6, so each letter has to be typed individually! Once I become more proficient, I'll upgrade, but I have so much more to learn in the meantime.

I love that LOAD gives me the opportunity to USE the templates I've collected. And printed paper! I also like that the digital templates let me quickly tell the stories that might be lost or not celebrated properly - buried in a Project Life or a Capture365 - like the photo of Caden and his acceptance to the Halton Skills competition. All that and it's portable, too!

Are you participating in LOAD? What have you enjoyed the most, so far?

Blog Hop: LOAD

Welcome to my portion of the LOAD blog hop, I hope you are inspired from your visit to Janet's blog and hope you find more encouragement here at mine. And, if you're just joining in, keep hopping on and learn all of the reasons to join in LOAD for the month of February - from those of us who have participated in LOAD in the past.

Earlier this month, when I was mapping out my Year of Do, it occured to me to skip LOAD this year. After all, I've taken on a number of other fulfilling creative endeavours over at Ella Publishing Co., Log Your Memory, Paper Issues. I want to open an ETSY shop. Oh, and my writing - there is always another idea, another assignment. And yes, I remember, four kids, lots of hockey and dreaded laundry piles! Where was I going to find the time?

Well, I am going to make the time.

LOAD was first offered in January 2008 on what is now Big Picture Classes and I've been hooked ever since! It has evolved into a February, May and October creative experience for me. Everyone here in my home knows to look out, mama is creating again.

LOAD works for me because I tend to be a "binge" scrapper. Like all of us, I have a busy life running here there and everywhere, so I spend a lot of time organizing myself in order to have a successful creative experience. For three times a year I save up my photos, stories, ideas and spend the month grinding out what often turns out to be my best work!

[Note: LOAD is my non-project-related creative time. Those 12x12 or 8.5x11 layouts that hold their own stories outside of a December Daily project, a Week in the Life project, Yesterday & Today; you know, any self-contained start and end projects.]

The idea of this hop is to give you a tip for how best to approach LOAD and have a successful experience. Like most things in life, LOAD reinforces some realities:

• Success is hard work
• Success is only possible with preparation
• Success is better when shared with others

When I started my first LOAD journey, I thought I'd grab a few sketches and a few photos and "wing it" each day - after all, I'd been scrapbooking for a couple of years, I am pretty creative, how hard could it be?

Hard.

Now? My preparation happens throughout the year.

If you do nothing else, my one LOAD tip:

I have a file folder on my desktop and when I find a layout, a detail, a photo, an idea I like, it gets tossed into the LOAD Ideas folder:

Now, I haven't looked in this folder in a while. It is not organized or planned in any way. Before February 1st rolls around, all 387 ideas will be categorized into folders:

• 1-Photo
• 2-Photo
• 3-Photo
• 4+ Photos
• 2-Page Layouts
• Elements

I don't often use more than four photos on a layout and in order to get the sorting done quickly I cannot get too specific - after all, they're simply ideas to twig more ideas. This process not only organizes me, but often it energizes me and sparks all kinds of ideas whirling and twirling by the time the month starts. I usually wait until the last opportunity to do this project in order to work on that creative momentum.

My second LOAD tip:

JOIN. Participate in the community on Flickr. This is one of the most lovely, creative and supportive communities I've had the great fortune to find. Check out the gallery. What is often astounding is the evolution over the month: the first week, everyone is pretty rusty and often no one has done much since before the holidays and the last week everyone is rocking and the art created and stories shared are incredible! I do my best to leave as many comments as possible - genuine, thoughtful comments meant to encourage and support - at minimum the three layouts posted before and after mine.

This time around Lain Ehmann, the beauty and brains behind the LOAD operation, is having some guests join in for some added inspiration:

• Julie Comstock, founder of Cosmo Cricket
• Anna Aspines, digi diva with such great ideas
• Stacy Julian, the brilliance behind Big Picture Classes
• Becky Fleck, the talent behind PageMaps

I'm looking forward to what they have to say. If you think LOAD is the kind of creative opportunity you are looking for I encourage you to join in NOW!

And if you need more encouragement, the hop continues over at Danielle's blog. And, if you should get lost, you can always start at the beginning and travel your way through:

Lain www.layoutaday.com
Danielle H. scrappindanielle.blogspot.com
Margie www.xnomads.typepad.com
S snapsandsnippets.blogspot.com
Lisa lisahausmann.blogspot.com
Laura www.mom2nick.typepad.com
Rosann brooklyngirlnextdoor.blogspot.com
Gayle lifeonlilypadlane.blogspot.com
Jennifer atthebluebarn.blogspot.com
Heather www.heathersdragonsden.blogspot.com
Tere terecontodomicorazon.blogspot.com
Niki thepaperpeddler.blogspot.com
Janet www.khashabfamilymusings.blogspot.com
Lee thelinarstudio.typepad.com/embracelife <<< you are here
Danielle T. dani-adayinthelifeofacoffeeaddict.blogspot.com
Junelle www.yes-and-amen.com
Julie www.juleshollis.com

Have a great day, enjoy the hop, and I look forward to seeing your creative contributions in LOAD starting on February 1st!

LOAD ... so far

Creatively, October is a favourite month, as is February and May. There are many reasons, but I have to say participating in LOAD certainly adds to the joy. The idea is to create a Layout A Day for each day of the month. Lain provides thoughtful prompts - some I incorporate into my pages, some I don't. The Flickr community is fun and the ladies are always fully engaged and participatory. The group is growing and growing and we are now close to 200 participants! The gallery is so inspiring; as the month wares on you can tell that everyone is settling into their creative groove.

My layouts, so far, look like this:

Day 1: PERFECT LIGHT

CARDSTOCK: Bazzill
PRINTED PAPER: American Crafts
CHIPBOARD: Stash
LETTERS: American Crafts
BRAD: Stash
PEN: Sharpie Marker
FONT: Franklin Gothic Book
SKETCH: Sketch by Cindy Stevens (click here)

Day 2: ALWAYS CHANGING

CARDSTOCK: Bazzill
PRINTED PAPER: Unknown (seriously, fresh sheet, no indication of who made it!)
BRADS: American Crafts
STICKERS: American Crafts, Making Memories
FONT: AlexandriaFLF

Day 3: TRUST

CARDSTOCK: Bazzill
PRINTED PAPER: Daisy Ds, The Paper Company
STICKERS: American Crafts
OVERLAY: Maya Road
FONT: Futura Medium
SKETCH: Creative Scrappers #124

Day 4: TEXT ME

CARDSTOCK: Bazzill
BRAD: Making Memories
FONT: Verdana

Day 5: HEART SKIPS A BEAT

CARDSTOCK: Bazzill, Doodlebug Design
STICKERS: American Crafts, Prima
BRADS: American Crafts
FONT: Rockwell

Day 6: Oops!

I've got nothing to show! Though, I did have one child sick at home (Claire). In order to get Cole to his hockey practice on time, I spent my afternoon in Hamilton at his Cross Country race (he won, again, whoot!); bonus, I had a chance to go to Forever Scrapbooks in Burlington on the way and got some goodies for my first ever December Daily - so much for my "no spending" plan! Both Cole made it to his hockey practice and Caden made it to his hockey practice. All homework was completed and life is good. No layout made, but much else was accomplished!

Day 7: LOVE 'YA BRO!

 

CARDSTOCK: Bazzill
PRINTED PAPER: American Crafts
LETTERS: American Crafts
BRADS: Stash
FONT: Walkway

I'm rocking the one photo layouts!

During the process of each LOAD I attempt to challenge myself over-and-above the creating a new layout each day - created, photographed, cropped and posted. One time it was using "stash" only. Then another was spent finishing up my Cape Cod vacation album. There is always something added to make the challenge, well, more challenging.

This time around? I really enjoyed my previous "use your stash" efforts and I'm doing it again. No purchases - at least until November! (So though I bought some lovely goodies for a new project, none of it will be used in LOAD). Not only am I using my materials stash, I will not be printing any photos. I have hundreds, if not thousands, of photos already printed. This is a great opportunity to just pick one (or more) from the pile and turn it into a documented memory.

The formula this time around is really simple: pick a photo, write the story, find a sketch (or not), pull out some paper, stick it all together and voila! Keeping it simple, no pressure and really enjoying getting these pages done. Some of the photos are from a while back - 2009 and 2008 and I'm enjoying the perspective of time.

Lots of lessons being learned.

Photos + Words = why I love scrapbooking :)

* * * * *

P.S. BONUS

I've never been much of a participant over at Two Peas, but decided to post the first five layouts just to start a "presence" over there. I was surprised to see this:

Cool, eh? Maybe I'll post some more :)

LOAD: We start again, today!

I have been participating in the Lain Ehmann-lead LOAD challenge since it was first offered on Big Picture Scrapbooking in January 2008. LOAD is one of those exercises I participate in with varying degrees of dedication and success. Ideally, at the end of October, I will have created 31 layouts. Even when I don't manage to make one layout every day, I am able to focus on the challenge and simply feel like I'm creative for a full month. Some days I even surprise myself and make two or three layouts. It's a wondeful opportunity, with a wonderful and community, to foster ideas and complete pages. Sweet validation!

In the months in between offerings (LOAD is offered in February, May and October) I have a file on my computer where I store all of those gorgeous layouts I find all over the www in the months in between. Sometimes I love a whole layout, a topic, colour combination, photo composition ... all kinds of things, they get stored in a jumble:

When you are trying to be creative 31 days in a row, it's helpful to have a file of inspiration!

The theme for this LOAD is "Story". When photography is not my favourite part of scrapbooking, the story is my favourite part of scrapbooking. It flips and it flops, regularly! Not only do we have a theme that I find appealing, but Lain has organized that we are also going to have guest speakers: Ali Edwards, Celeste Smith, Katrina Kennedy and Noell Hyman. Doesn't that sound wonderful? I can't wait to hear what they have to say.

If you like this idea, go here, and sign up!

Hopefully I'll see you over in the Flickr group. Drop by and say "hi". I'm listed under LINARstudio.

 

Stories of Summer: My Submissions

When Ali Edwards asked for projects and layouts to be submitted for her Stories of Summer series, I realized a few things:

• My kids need to be equally represented, so I submitted 4 + 1
• I don't have many layouts with all four in them together
• I have not made any mini-albums about our summers
• I make way too many assignment-based projects and not enough for the simple joy of scrapbooking

I was sceptical about having any submission accepted as I was already honoured with my Week in the Life project hilighted on Ali's blog earlier this year. But another thing I've realized? You have zero chance of having your work seen if you don't submit!

These are the layouts I sent in:

What did you submit?

I don't know about you but I thoroughly enjoyed the Stories of Summer series. There is so much talent out there! I'm so inspired to capture more moments in photos and words. My enthusiasm is always there but sometimes my creativity is lagging behind. I'm more creative if I'm consistent.

You know how energy breeds energy? Well, I believe creativity breeds creativity. If you stop, you have to wind yourself up all over again. Certainly I have bursts of more creative periods than not, and that's what I was facing earlier this spring. Then I got it in gear. I started with A Week in the Life, then joined in LOAD in May, participated in Sketchapalooza over at Feeling Scrappy and it kind of snowballed from there. I've been creating in a steady hum for a while and it feels great. 

How do you create? What works best for you, do you have a process or is is stop and go?

Ahem, back to unplugging :)

Studio slowdown ... maybe?

Maybe not.

Probably not.

I don't know about you, but I tend to go on creative binges. The month of May was one solid binge. I felt energized and creative with ideas spinning through my head regularly. I hit a few frustrating walls and managed to hurdle over them and land safely on the other side.

I have to say, once it was over, I thought I would have to slow down, or pack away the adhesive for a while. I expected to be spent. Then I discovered the Creativity Boot Camp which offered another method of creativity. A way to focus again on my photography which, while creating pages, tends to be less of a priority as I'm playing with paper and writing up stories. Though the last couple of weeks of photography, and writing, I was able to maintain my creative pace and re-charge simultaneously.

I realized at the end of CBC that I had not shared all of my May goodness with you! I managed to get more out of my studio in the last eight weeks than I have in the last eight months!

Sketchapalooza was wonderful. The ladies of Feeling Scrappy are fabulous and so willing to try new things and change things up. This past month I spent much time on the forums and commenting in the gallery since most of my contribution was done in preparation for the month. For the class I created six sketches and twenty layouts. So much fun contributing to Jayne's design team! I can't wait for the next project :)

A Week in the Life was such an all-encompassing challenge. Photos and stories captured one week and magically turned into a fully-formed album sitting in our family room and enjoyed by family and friends the next week. Such a rewarding exercise. And exhausting!

With all of that going on I messed up on LOAD (Layout A Day with Lain Ehmann) and only managed a few layouts, though, I have to say, those I managed, I really liked. I mean, really liked. I shared a couple of the layouts previously, here are the (too few) rest:

CARDSTOCK: Bazzill
SANDPAPER: Close to My Heart
INK: ColorBox Cats Eye
FONT: Helvetica, SketchyTimes
CHALLENGE: Lain asked us to get a little grungy. This is my interpretation.
CARDSTOCK: Bazzill
PRINTED PAPER: Basic Grey
BRADS: Bo Bunny
FONT: Helvetica
PHOTO: Found here
SCRAPLIFT: Kelli Crowe's "Iconic Style" was the basis for the layout.
CARDSTOCK: Bazzill
PRINTED PAPER: American Crafts, KI Memories
BRADS: American Crafts
THICKERS: American Crafts
STICKERS: American Crafts
FONT: BeauRivageOne
SCRAPLIFT: Jody Wenke's "Iconic Style" inspired this layout 
CARDSTOCK: Bazzill
PRINTED PAPER: Basic Grey
FELT FLOWERS: Stash (I really can't remember!)
PEARLS: Prima
FONT: Helvetica, Cocktail Script
SCRAPLIFT: Jody Wenke's "Iconic Style" inspired this layout
CARDSTOCK: Bazzill
PRINTED PAPER: Sassafras Lass
THICKERS: American Crafts
FONT: Helvetica
EXTRAS: Dimentional Glue Dots 
CARDSTOCK: Bazzill
PRINTED PAPER: Creative Imaginations
STICKERS: Rose Moka, Creative Imaginations, Scenic Route
FONT: Helvetica, Honey Script
SCRAPLIFT: Jody Wenke which was a lift of my friend Barb Wong
CHALLENGE: Write.Click.Scrapbook
PRINTED PAPER: American Crafts
BRADS: Bazzill
THICKERS: American Crafts
FONT: American Typewriter
NOTE: Yes, I am crazy enough to remove the word " ... FREEDOM" and fix it so that the red bulls-eye is in the centre of the O. I didn't notice until after I took the photo that it was wonky. It's not now!

I have to say that I really enjoyed getting back to making some more photo-centric layouts with the big 8x12 enlargements. I've missed them, and I like a chance to showcase some fun photos that don't make it into frames! I've also gotten away from making 2-page layouts which were, a long time ago, my specialty. I'm thinking of maybe making a few - the Sketchapalooza sketches were so brilliant and versatile, I have no doubt I already have 20 places to start.

There are a few other projects still in the midst of being completed which I'll share some other time. I'm still not 100% sure I like them. They definitely need a little tweaking, and for a minimalist scrapper as myself, that's saying a lot! I'm also signed up for a few more structured projects:

• I held out and didn't sign up for any pressure-filled or paid-for courses in the last 6 months. For an on-line course junkie like myself that level of self-restraint was hard! Then I found out that Angie Warren of The Creative Mama is teaching a photography course Project Photography starting TODAY, June 20th for five weeks and I couldn't pass it up. The price was good and I really enjoy her work. If you're going to learn a craft, learn from someone you admire, right?
• THEN I got a note from Mondo Beyondo which captured my attention sometime last year. They are offering a Dream Lab for the summer. Kind of a mini, no-pressure Mondo Beyondo. Again, I pushed that PayPal button and it starts tomorrow, on June 21st and goes for eight weeks. My quiet, non-creative summer has just filled up. SNAP. Just like that. Four clicks of my mouse. But doesn't this Dream Lab description sound perfect? "This is the thought that inspires me to no end: What would happen if we set aside our lists (our goals, our drive, struggle) for eight weeks? What would shift in our lives as a result of radical acts of play? of kindness? of rest? What would this clearing create space for in our hearts and in our lives?"
• Ali Edwards Stories of Summer series is scheduled to begin on June 21st as well, continuing through July 6th. Such inspiration. Really wonderful stuff. I always find brilliant and practical stuff when Ali gets to creating and sharing.
• Because I couldn't leave well enough alone, on the advice of my brilliant cyber-friend, Jill, I joined Everyday Elements for the 2-hour class on June 24th. I know bits and pieces about PSE, I've tried a few things to some degree of success but it was a matter of just enough information to be frustrating. Plus, I really wanted to figure out "actions".

These projects should keep me busy through summer. In case there was a fear I might get bored, I've been selected as a guest designer at Scrapbook Sussies and hope to have all of my projects done and ready to reveal soon. Not only that, I have been chosen to participate in something wonderful AND super secret ;) Both events should keep me way busy.

Though, I have to admit, the best part of the last month+ was the time I took to really take a look at the projects I am doing, want to do and need to let go. I spent the first week of June writing down everything I learned from that process. I'm no longer spinning-my-wheels when I sit down to create. There is always something on the list that appeals to me at the time. I do not like waste, and I really dislike wasted time! Everything is now catalogued with references, photographs and instructions. That is probably the best creation to come from the studio in months!

Creative Confidence Boost

I love taking photos.

I love telling stories.

I love scrapbooking as it is the perfect combination of my two favourite things to do.

It is through the great community of scrapbookers I've learned many, many things. One of those things is to participate. This includes participating in challenges and in kind and supportive communities. Lain Ehmann's LOAD is a combination of both of those things: a challenge to create a layout a day (LOAD) for the entire month of May (and February and October) and while over on Flickr be a member of the LOAD community.

I've met so many wonderful and talented women over in the Flickr group.

It was a surprise to me one day a few weeks ago when saraintexas - who, I assume, is Sara and she lives in Texas :) - posted on the message board that this layout

was featured on Flickr "Explore". I knew something was up because the layout was being viewed and commented on by all manner of (polite and positive) members of the Flickr community and they mentioned seeing it on Explore. Being a former Windows person, I was very confused.

As it turns out, Explore, in some funky way, figures how to feature any number of photos uploaded on any given day. Neato. It had me smiling all day long to know that someone liked my layout. Many someones. Then I forgot all about it. Until ...

the layout brought another deluge of kind comments, favourites and contact requests. Which resulted in  another confidence boost and smiles!

Then one of the brilliant ladies on the LOAD board posted a link which brought me to (as of today) the nineteen, NINETEEN, layouts of mine featured in Explore! Who knew? Well, LisaInRe did and she shared :) How fun is that? Well, kinda weird, but fun, too.

Follow this link and if you key in my screen name LINARstudio you find:

And you know, I think they are some of my most favourite creations over the last year, too.

Validation is a wonderful thing.

Now, if you have a ton of time and want to see some really neat stuff, hang around at Big Huge Labs for a bit. Wow. So many ideas! So many things to create!

Sketchapalooza 6 starts TODAY!!

The first sketch over at Sketchapalooza 6 will be revealed today :) I am thrilled to have been chosen to be on the Design Team this time around. I know that Jayne, Becky, Tracy and I have some really fun and creative ideas in store. If you haven't joined in, what are you waiting for? It promises to be a great group of ladies, if the pre-class chatter is anything to go by. And, if you're in LOAD with me, it will give 20 days of sketches to follow. So great to have, especially on those days you hit a creative block :)

This is the third day of LOAD and I'm thrilled to say I haven't dropped out yet! Whoot! Mind you, the day isn't over and I haven't created a layout yet today! But I can share the layout from yesterday:

CARDSTOCK: Bazzill
PRINTED PAPER: My Minds Eye
CHIPBOARD: Stash
THICKERS: American Crafts
FONT: American Typewriter
SCRAPLIFT: Jody Dent-Pruks
CHALLENGE: Write.Click.Scrapbook

This time around the focus of LOAD is to determine your own personal style. Mine is pretty well established, I think! I'm going to use this month to do a few things: use up the supplies I have on hand, pack up and give away any supplies I won't use, join in challenges to get layouts done. And, post those layouts on the challenge sites :)

My layout for Sketchapalooza 6, Sketch 1:

CARDSTOCK: Bazzill Dots
PRINTED PAPER: Stash
CHIPBOARD: Stash
INK: Color Box Liquid Chalk
FONT: Adler
SKETCH: Becky Rico
CHALLENGE: Feeling Scrappy Sketchapalooza 6

Have a wonderful Monday, and a great week! If you're on LOAD or over at Feeling Scrappy, be sure to say hi :)

Favourite Creative Process: Lifting!

Yesterday was {Inter}National Scrapbook Day and I was hoping to get some creative things done, but I was doing the running around with Louis out of town at a Coach Mentor program in Richmond Hill. Everyone was busy: Claire had a sleepover at Marley's then a day at the mall (better her than me!), Cole needed a chauffeur to take him to and from his morning workout and his afternoon football practice, and the youngers were busy around the house - inside and out.

How was I going to find some time to get my creative on?

The answer was offered in combination by Lain Ehmann as her first challenge on LOAD and on the Write.Click.Scrapbook. site. LOAD this month is all about defining our style. Though I often take a bit of a detour, my style tends to be pretty clean, simple, linear, photo- and word-centric. Everything is deliberately placed on the page, not random. The LOAD challenge was to make a page we love using the elements and tools we love. The challenge on W.C.S. was to go through the gallery and find a layout to lift.

(Thanks to the kind guidance of Barb Wong, I finally figured out the W.C.S. deal and rather than just reading, I may just participate more over there, this was my first attempt. I only pick really busy days to do new things! Thanks, Barb!)

Since lifting is one of my favourite things to do, I was thrilled to see so many of my favourite ladies represented! It was going through the layouts and found three I wanted to complete. I managed two:

CARDSTOCK: Bazzill
JOURNAL SPOTS: Chatter Box
BRAD: Making Memories
THICKERS: American Crafts
STICKERS: Rose Moka
INK: ColorBox Fluid Chalk
FONT: Helvetica
SCRAPLIFT: Jen Wozab which was a lift of Jennifer Larson
CHALLENGE: Write.Click.Scrapbook

WHY THIS REFLECTS MY STYLE: Many of my layouts have one gigantic photo. Now that my local Fortino's offers them, usually I get 8x12 rather than the more awkward 8x10 prints. It is simple, a great photo paired up with a fun story. The colours are keyed off the photo with very few embellishments, not used as intended. My journaling is not in the journaling spots, but on the photo as is the title.  

CARDSTOCK: Bazzill
PRINTED PAPER: KaiserCraft
BRADS: Bazzill
THICKERS: American Crafts
STICKERS: Rose Moka
RIBBON: Basic Grey
FONT: Helvetica
SCRAPLIFT: Jody Wenke which was a lift of my friend Barb Wong
CHALLENGE: Write.Click.Scrapbook

WHY THIS REFLECTS MY STYLE: A bit of cardstock, a bit of printed paper, straight lines, a great everyday photo, a story to go with it. I chose this layout because I'd never written a letter as a journaling idea. I liked it. As always, the colours are keyed off the photo.

The layout I didn't manage to lift by the deadline was one by another favourite: Jody Dent-Pruks, which I hope to get completed by the end of the day today. After all, this is Day 2 of LOAD and I have to get a layout completed! Oh, and my Week in the Life project still needs some finishing touches. Now to find some time to focus in between 3on3 hockey for Caden, a Science experiment for Cole, I know Claire has something, just can't remember what it is ... and Chloe will refuse to be left out of the action. 

Enjoy your Sunday!

Project Prep

I have three big projects coming up:

A Week in the Life: April 19 through April 25
LOAD with Lain Ehmann: May 1 through May 31
Sketchapalooza 6: May 3 through May 31

I have been diligently working on my contributions for Sketchapalooza 6 and this is what happened to my work space:

I love the idea of being on a design team, it's so much fun, but boy what a mess! I have to say, I cannot wait for everyone to see the gorgeous sketches the team has created - and the resulting layouts.

At this point I had three layouts, out of twenty, left to complete, and no space!

So, tada:

Once I got that all cleared up, I moved onto reorganizing my printed paper:

Originally I had all of my printed paper organized by colour, by use, but now have realized that I can get away with just having it organized by colour. It's fast and easy - just what organization is supposed to be!

Last week I realized all of my pens were in various stages of dried up, so when I sent in an order to scrapbook.com for the paper I needed for my A Week in the Life Project, I also ordered all four packages of the American Crafts pens, and a few black ones, too:

And then there was all that cardstock:

This pile will have to be incorporated into the Cropper Hopper holders, again organized by colour, but in the meantime, it is just a pile of colour!

I am a huge fan of order and I feel relieved now that my workspace has been cleared up, my paper organized and I have some working pens! There is still plenty to do to get the studio in 100% working order, but this exercise has certainly made a big dent.

I'm excited to be productive! And ready to get started :) Join me?

LOAD: You don't want to miss this!

Are you interested in getting 31 scrapbook pages done in 31 days?

If you are like me you have plenty of layouts in various stages of completion: still in idea form, unprocessed photos; processed photos lying around, sketches in a pile, embellishments you love but don't know what to do with them; half completed, journaling ideas on post it notes, then you need to join LOAD! Just GET THEM DONE. Unless you are a pro, not every one of your layouts is publish-worthy, so take a deep breath and get started, get finished, just get them done. You will be amazed at how good your layouts get with daily practice. Who knows, by the time the end of May rolls around your layouts may just be publish-worthy.

Not only that, it has to be one of the most lovely groups of encouraging and upbeat ladies on the internet. Why don't you have a listen to Lain, she is our lovely host and can tell you all about it:

So print your photos, get your adhesive, organize your supplies, and if you need a bit of a "push" be sure to join the Sketchapalooza 6 class over at Feeling Scrappy. This time I'm on the design team with Becky Rico and Jayne Jones and I have to say the layouts and ideas we've been working on since February are really, really wonderful. 

Oh, and if you sign up for LOAD before April 15th you might just win one of two opportunities to take Sketchapalooza for FREE! And, if you sign up for Sketchapalooza before April 15th you might just win an opportunity to pariticipate in LOAD. Nice!!

I'm in both, so let me know if you're joining in and don't forget to say "hi"!

On a binge

One of the many charming aspects (read: flaws) of my personality is my tendency to binge.

I'm happy to wait and prepare and mull and wait some more and then I go silly. The one area where this is most obvious is with my scrapbooking and crafting. I spend a great deal of time mulling, and then I immerse myself, hours and hours and hours on end with photos, sketches, adhesive, printed paper, paper trimmers, card stock and embellishments. Oooh! Such good stuff. I think it is the delayed gratification that gives me such joy: seeing all of the projects completed from start to finish in one sitting.

I have just embarked on another creative binge. 

This time I am more mindful of my process, and I'm sharing it with you:

This is the file I started a couple of weeks ago:

In order to get all of this accomplished my next step was to select all of the appropriate photos which I keep stored in iPhoto:

Since a number of my current projects are based on specific outlines: a 4x6 album, a sketch class, a blog entry to be turned into a mini album, preparing for an upcoming week-long project, I print off the design outlines and assign the photos/story:

Now, I love scraplifing and find it a very effective way to get layouts DONE. Not everything I do is based on a pre-done layout or sketch, but my current lifestyle requires me to implement the 80-20 rule. That means 80% of my layouts are based upon the brilliance of others and 20% of the work I produce is completely original.

Once the photos are selected and matched up to the projects, in this case there are 25 individual projects) the photos are burned:

I take my photos over to my local Fortino's, along with the project outline, and use the Kodak machine they have there to submit all the photos and different sizes. I get perfect prints in an hour:

 

though I have a printer that can handle photos, I really do not like how they turn out at home, they take forever, if ever, to dry; and, their durability is questionable. I realize it is so nice, and convenient, to size things in Photoshop and print them immediately, but I'd rather deal with the inconvenience and cost effectiveness of taking my photos down to the store.

In the meantime, once the design is selected, the photos/theme determined, I start writing out, in various Word documents, all of the journaling for the layouts and projects. I really love that I can utilize my time efficiently by saving up all the projects and do all the writing at one time.

I have various journals I bring with me to some rinks, which I transcribe when I get home, and if I have space and time I drag along the laptop to other rinks. I much prefer the opportunities to bring the laptop! Once the documents are proof-read a few hundred times, they get printed off and ready to incorporate into the project design.

It is at this point that each project or layout can be started. And, as they get done, I post them here to show them to you!

Right now, the scrappy-project list includes, but is not limited to:

• Album: Going Away Gift
• Status: Completed and posted
• 
  
• Layouts: Sketchapalooza6
• Status: In progress. No layouts (20 in total) will be posted until Sketchapalooza 6 is completed. Have you joined up? You really don't want to miss it!
•  
• Mini-Album: 10 Things That Make Me Happy (based off this blog post)
  
• Status: Preparations completed. Photos printed, Journaling written, Album chosen, Printed Paper selected
•  
• Album: A Week In The Life
  
• Status: Preparatory stage. Album, Printed Paper, Cardstock and Design selected
•  
• Mini-Album: Hockey Cole Tyke - PeeWee (6 Years so far); Caden Timbit - Minor Atom (3 Years so far)
• Status: Preliminary Collection. Collecting photos (mine, team & pro), collecting stats
•  
• Altered Tin: Affirmation Collection (for Mother's Day)
  
• Status: Preparatory stage. Affirmations downloaded, tins purchased, materials collected. 

There are more things in the works and on the list, but for now, these are the immediate front-burner scrappy/photo things I'm anxious not only to start, but to get finished. I've also signed up for another dose of LOAD which is starting May 1st and going through the whole month so much preparation is required to accomplish that particular test of scrappy-stamina!! Though, to be honest, the challenge with LOAD, for me, is not in the creating 30 layouts, it's creating it one-day-at-a-time. I could easily prepare and make 30 layouts in a weekend, but throughout a month. That's hard.

Because, I'm a binger. I have to immerse myself completely. Attack a project from start to finish with tons of enthusiasm and as few interruptions as possible. Once all of the elements are in place and I can start, look out, I'm in full create mode and nothing will get in my way!

How about you? Do you binge or are you more orderly?

 

Creative Bail Out

Thank goodness for my talented and creative friends. In this case: Barb Wong, scrapbooker extraordinaire!

Before LOAD started this time around, Barb sent me a note. She wanted to change things up a bit for herself and did I have photos and a story that she could use to make a layout?

Did I? I did!

In actual fact, there was one set of photos I was having a hard time putting together. I was stuck because of the story. I sent Barb the photos and the story and this is what she created:

Isn't it fantastic? LOVE how she turned the photos to black & white, the colours used, and how she flipped the orientation of the 8.5x11 layout from the traditional vertical to horizontal. I am so honoured to have been asked and now I have this wonderful layout from my friend Barb, a scrapbooker I greatly admire.

Here is the story as I sent via e-mail:

I've just uploaded 5 photos to my Flickr account. They are of Chloe and Caden laughing hysterically.

I can't scrapbook these only because the only title I can think of is TESTICLE.

Anyway, the story is, the kids had been at the park across the street for a while. They were getting testy - too many hours together! It was really the last nice weekend of Indian Summer and I wanted to get some nice shots of them. So much for good intentions. I couldn't get a cooperative shot for anything. I managed to get this fit of funny by using the word "testicle". Seems they thought that was hysterical.

I love what she did with it! I was well and truly stuck and Barb came to the rescue! Thank you so much, my friend. The layout is wonderful :)

Are you ever stuck on a layout? Does it help to have a pair of fresh eyes to look at your photos and take in yours story? Maybe you can trade pages with a girlfriend and make a layout for each other. Hmm. Maybe I should do that, too!

P.S. About LOAD ... I've slipped off the wagon. With a thud. After finally finishing my Me: The Abridged Version album I'm tapped out! Plan on heading to the studio today, though. Fingers crossed something worthy is created!

P.P.S. Have you signed up for Sketchapalooza 6 yet? It runs simultaneously with the next LOAD in May. Oh, and I have a post over at Feeling Scrappy today, come on over for a visit, hang out for a while!

Ella Sketch #3 & LOAD, so far

I am enjoying my time back in the studio. I got it cleaned up enough, and just in time, to mess it all up again! There's nothing better than a studio in mid-mess to put me in a good mood.

Here is the latest Ella Sketch:

and my take:

Cardstock: Bazzill, Creative Memories; Printed Paper: Basic Grey; Stickers: Memory Makers, American Crafts; Pen: Micron; Bling: Me and My Big Ideas

I'm also keeping up with LOAD (what a great place for inspiration, encouragement and conversation!):

Day 1: THE EXPERIMENT

Cardstock: Bazzill; Printed Paper: Basic Grey; Stickers: Making Memories, American Crafts; Bling: Prima; Font: American Typewriter

Day 2: THE PAPA HAT

Cardstock: Bazzill; Letter Stickers: Making Memories; Brads: American Crafts; Font: Arial, 2Peas RF RhonnaDESIGNSRegular

DAY 3: I'M NO SUPERMAN

Cardstock: Bazzill; Printed Paper: Basic Grey; Stickers: American Crafts; Font: Garamond

So far, so good. I hope to keep it up through the end of the month. Fingers crossed!

Are you participating in the Ella sketch challenge? In LOAD?

Upcoming Scrapbooking Projects

I am looking forward to joining Lain Ehmann and Tami Morrison and the inspiring group of women who participate in LOAD. That means: LayOut A Day for the uninitiated - that means you Janet, Laurie, and Aliki :)!

I have been participating in this challenge since it was first offered by Lain on Big Picture Scrapbooking in January 2008. It is an incredible way to get a lot done. The venue has moved over to Flickr and for the month of February - all 28 days - you have to create and upload a completed layout daily.

I was so inspired during our last LOAD challenge, I created a 365 Layout Flickr group. I'm thinking that might have been a bit ambitious. Though, I have managed to do a number of them - I have not uploaded those layouts. Kind of defeating the purpose of the group. My perfection-driven tendencies are holding me back. I don't want to put up crap on the internet. I suppose that makes me ... a flake? a failure? Argh.

I have to say though, those ladies who are still creating are amazing, and inspiring. I'm humbled and awed by their dedication.

Anyway ...

That is my tremendously long-winded invitation for you to

JOIN IN THE FUN!

Why?

Well there are plenty gratuitous photos and mentions of the incredible Hugh Jackman.

And, if that's not enough ...

Even if you create nothing (which is almost impossible), the ladies are amazing. The support and kindness. The comments, inspiration and enthusiasm. I have been counting down the days to February 1st to be WOWED. And the ladies will WOW because they have since 2008. Best event on the web ... ever.

Another event I find appealing (it's in it's second week) and only because it is almost all done for you, and it appeals to my lazy side:

SIX WEEKS OF SKETCHES

over at Ella Publishing Co. One of my most favourite places on the web! Now, don't take that the wrong way. Lazy as in the concept is already done for you, the subjectivity is limited. There's still plenty to think about! And for me, the first sketch has a big challenge: vertical photos. Eek!

And, just found this morning from the inspiring and talented Aud Neal has a new FREE offering that I find really appealing: R3WIND. Not only do I have a long relationship with music, performing and listening, but I am married to an audiophile, so this might be a nice way to engage him in my love of scrapbooking. Hmm. Here's the "poster", what do you think?

What projects are out there that appeal to you? Are you going to join me at Ella or LOAD or R3WIND? Have you found something else with more appeal? If so, SPILL!