LINARstudio

Organizing: Scraps

What in the world do you do with your scraps? My brilliant virtual friend, Monica, just posted on her Without Filters blog about a cute project that she did to keep her scraps in order. I would LOVE to be able to do the same thing, but my scraps, which have just been collected and put away will not fit into a binder, they fit into these:

Isn't that an obnoxious amount of paper? Well, not full, but still, a ton of space dedicated to scraps. When I am on a roll and creating projects, I toss all the scraps into a 12x12 Iris box entitled (with my handy-dandy Dymo labeler) "Work in Progress" so that if I need a scrap to match in a layout or series, it is easy to find. It's also my way of procrastinating! Once the 12x12 box is full it is all transferred into the big Gracious Living drawers: labeled by colour.

Who uses this paper? Um, not me. I think the kids do, on occasion, for projects.

So, I've made a decision. I want to be able to keep my scraps in a cute little binder, just like Monica. I could just toss everything *gasp* and start from scratch or I could actually use them. As you know, I've signed up for the LOAD Challenge which requires a LayOut A Day throughout the month of February. I've decided to not only do a layout a day, but to do one using SCRAPS ONLY. At the end of the month, I will have 28 layouts used exclusively of scraps (with the exception of the cardstock, as needed, to be the foundation of the layout).

Who knows, in an effort to use up stuff, I might just scrap "old", already developed photos, too. That's me, living on the edge. Ha!

Stay tuned.

Scrapbook Tool Carousel

As noted in my 12 of 12 post over on Lemons2Lemonade, I received two Making Memories carousels from scrapbook.com which I had ordered late in 2008. I was anxious for them to arrive as my new studio organization/desk use hinges on their use. (Annoying character trait: I'm like that, everything has to be 100% ready to go before I can start. Anything.) When they finally arrived, I was so disappointed as they were damaged. I quickly got in touch with scrapbook.com and was assured new carousels were being sent out.

Kudos to scrapbook.com! Much to my delight, the replacement carousels arrived today:

Let the organization begin!

LOAD Challenge

In an effort to keep me consistently creating and consuming product - as opposed to collecting ideas and product - I've joined the LOAD Challenge over on Lain Ehmann's blog. I have not joined to get the goodies, though winning goodies would be fun, I've joined because it will give me accountability. So, if you think you can do a LayOut A Day for the 28 days in February, be sure to join in - and let me know if you do so I can keep an eye out for you and your layouts.

DYL: Colour Assignment 3

Finally, a subject I'm good at - COLOUR! This was a fun layout to try. This is also the first layout of a planned 52 for this year. Cathy asked "how cool would it be to make an entire album out of this sketch design?" VERY, so I am. No doubt I will be able to find at least 52 things for which to be grateful in 2009.

Cardstock: Bazzill; Printed Paper: g.c.d. studios; Flowers: Heidi Swapp, Prima; Button: Autumn Leaves; Brads: Basic Grey

A binder is only a binder

until you add some order, in this case, dividers:

Cardstock: Bazzill; Printed Paper: Basic Grey, Scenic Route; Chipboard: Stash; Flowers: Prima; Brads: SEI; Tabs: provided in From Mess to Success class; Font: Comic Sans

Now to the create the goodies that are going to make this binder a functional part of my life! So much fun to do. A quick and easy project to complete. Certainly a potential gift for give-away throughout the year! It's never to late to add some order into our lives, eh? Even more fun to do with the talented ladies over at Feeling Scrappy.

From Mess to Success

I joined the "From Mess to Success" class over at Feeling Scrappy and I'm already behind! It took me a couple of days to get myself up to Staples - none of the stores close to me had anything even close to being right - and now I'm chugging right along.

The binder is done!

Once complete, this project is to be kept in our kitchen - I had to figure out where it's home would be in order to figure out the colours. My house has colours like: Autumn Leaf, Forest Floor, Spiced Rum, Maple Syrup, Rusty Nail ... you get the idea.

I'm hoping by the end of the day today I will have all of the dividers completed. I do have to say a big "thank you" to everyone over at Feeling Scrappy for all that they do. Truly a lot of work and they do it so well. So, thanks, ladies!

The front:

Cardstock: Bazzill; Printed Paper: My Minds Eye; Ribbon: A spool from Michael's; Chalk: ColorBox; Flowers: Prima, Bazzill; Brad: Basic Grey; Tag: Avery; Font: Comic Sans from download provided in class

The back and side:

I had to incorporate my "guiding word" for 2009: balance!

I enjoy that all of my creative choices can blend, mix, incorporate all of the aspects of my life. I believe that this is why I so embrace this outlet of "scrapbooking". It is really a misnomer. But it is mine and I enjoy every minute of it!

DYL: Elements Assignment 2

In general I am not a fan of a photo collage kind of layout, but in this case, I think it works. You know what I mean, photos with similar theme but dis-similar events? Maybe it's because I have trouble choosing colours, embellishments and other elements. But I think this particular layout works well showcasing many photos from our trip to Cape Cod in 2008.

Cardstock: Bazzill, SEI; Fonts: American Typewriter, Amelie

No need for any "detail" photos as there is no detail. LOVED how quick this was to put together and how well it turned out. I am making every effort to stay 'true' to the sketches throughout this course, but when I use this sketch again - think Christmas decorating - I'm likely to add some buttons, bows or other form of bling!

End of an Era

A few  years ago, when I started scrapbooking - sometime in 2002 or 2003, I discovered a magazine that appealed to my need to create with more than a strip and a triangle but it wasn't all filled with doll-shaped cut outs and photo silhouettes! They had this crazy founder who was all about "more colour" and an equally energetic and inspiring, but different crazy, creative type who inspired me to no end!

This was Simple Scrapbooks.

As it turns out, due to the economy and the unfortunate reality of necessary cut backs, Simple Scrapbooks will exist no more after the May/June issue. You can read all about it: here.

I am sad. I totally understand. But, still. I have a couple of friends who were really looking forward to submitting their fantastic talent for publication consideration and I'm sure they would have been considered, even published.

Things are indeed changing.

At least, it's not gone forever! Simple will be folded back into Creating Keepsakes from where it originated and we are to expect one big publication in future.

Change is good. It's just different.

Gotta go with the flow.

DYL: Elements Assignment 1

One key element: lines. It leads, connects, unites and communicates. They can be horizontal, vertical, diagonal, intersecting and curved. Lines are a key element of design. This was the first sketch:

Cardstock: Bazzill; Printed Paper: Stash (aka, I can't remember!); Letter Stickers: American Crafts; Ribbon: American Crafts; Font: Arial

Layout: Leaves Me Breathless

Last week I was going through some of my favourite blogs and happened upon this Becky Fleck sketch. It looked interesting, so, here is my 'take' on it:

Cardstock: Bazzill; Printed Paper: g.c.d. studio, Basic Grey; Rub Ons: Creative Imaginations; Buttons; Basic Grey, Autumn Leaves; Acrylic tag: Stash (any ideas?); Snowflakes: Heidi Swapp; Floss: Bazzill; Font: Footlight MT Light; Sketch: Becky Fleck Page Maps