LINARstudio

October LOAD: Day 4

Today we were asked to scraplift a layout. I chose one by one of the other participants in the class. I don't have her permission to post her layout, but this is my take:

October LOAD: Day 1

I have, again, signed up for the LOAD challenge hosted by Lain Ehmann over on Flickr. Not only do we receive daily prompts, but for a month I participate in a positive, energetic and creative community of talented women.

My first LOAD was last February and I did manage all 28 layouts. Thank goodness for a short month. In the May LOAD, I produced less, but more than if I had not joined. That provided the impetus to join this time around. With hockey events and Thanksgiving, I cannot guarantee that I'll manage to create a layout every day, but I'll create more by joining than by being left on my own!

This was my first layout:

The gallery is already rocking with some incredible talent. I am so thrilled to see some friends: old and new. They have such wonderful stories to tell and photos to share.

It's not to late to join. If you're looking for motivation, head over to Lain's blog: here.

So much going on!

I love Autumn.

Everything about it, the crisp feel in the air; the symphony of colours; the return to order and routine and all of the many projects and courses available on line!

I have been very neglectful of this LINARstudio blog, though not out of lack of creativity! Quite the opposite. I've been very busy creating and writing and thinking and mulling and DOING all kinds of ideas and projects.

My current and upcoming projects include:

Telling Stories Deeply on BPS being taught by the brilliant and insightful Karen Grunberg, also of Creative Therapy. This course continues through September 30th. I am probably not going to share even 1/10th of what I've learned, but it has been wonderful to explore that part of myself and my stories. I do believe my writing has improved and I'm thankful for all of the brilliant insight imparted in the course of the last few weeks.

I've been thrilled to be Guest Designer over at Feeling Scrappy: Simplify the Season. I've joined the lovely Jayne Jones, and her team of talented designers, to put together a fresh and new Christmas class. I've had such a blast getting to create projects so completely out of my comfort zone: I am not a card maker. Oh, correction, I was not a card maker, but now I've made quite a few! This class runs through October 12th. I am an alter-er and that was so much fun! I'll be posting all of those projects starting November 1st so you can see the creative bounty the class produced.

I have been participating in Me: The Abridged Version over at BPS with my hero, Cathy Zielske, at the helm. Wow. I've absorbed so much on the message board over there. Really, really, supportive and creative group. This, I expect, is my last "me" focused album project for a while and I'm glad I've chosen this course as the finale. Where else would I have the opportunity to let those who come after me know that I'm directionally challenged, an emerging germophobe or that in my heart I'm really an introvert? Mind you, since every album page I ever make is from my perspective every album is one about me to some degree, right?

I'm all signed up for my third go at LOAD on Flickr which is hosted by the ridiculously energetic footwear fanatic Lain Ehmann. Recognize the name? She is also the driving force, with Angie Lucas, behind brilliant new Ella Publishing Company. The challenge is running from October 1 through 31 with the plan to make 31 layouts - a LayOut A Day, for the month of October. So anxious to get started. Itching to make a layout ... or 31.

Feeling Scrappy is offering Sketchapalooza 5 which will start on October 26th and run through November 23rd. I'm so glad to follow up my LOAD challenge with another opportunity to continue making layouts. I'm anxious to get back into the groove. I have never been disappointed with the sketches offered at any of Jayne's classes and fully expect this course to be just as challenging and inspirational!

Yesterday and Today with the talented and driven Ali Edwards is one of those courses I'm not sure why I signed up! I don't know that I'm terribly keen about resurrecting much about my past, let alone that of my parents. My focus for so many years has been to face forward, I don't know if I can turn around. But, I have faith that I will learn a ton. I have faith that I'm in capable hands with Ali Edwards and it will be money and time well spent.

I so enjoyed Susannah Conway's Unravelling course last spring that I've signed up for the follow-up course: Unravelling Further which runs through the end of the year. The course starts on October 12th and runs for six weeks. I think this should be a wonderful challenge since one of my five senses, doesn't work, at all. I wonder how I'll work around that little bump?

As for blogging creativity and sharing:

I'm participating in a new meme over at Lemons2Lemonade: *8 Things inspired by the very thoughtful Magpie Girl. Think about joining in!

I hope to get into and fully participate in Creative Therapy on a weekly basis. I have always enjoyed their projects and there is a weath of ideas from which to choose. I'm thinking of just starting in the archives and creating whatever appeals to me at the moment rather than going in any particular order. You know. Change it up a bit.

I continue to participate in Susan Keuter's 12of12 challenge each month, but only on the Lemons2Lemonade blog. I'm hoping to get the pages done and posted on this blog. Hoping. Eventually!

One Little Word is a fascinating little challenge blog I've often found appealing. I started following when they were around Challenge #12, they're now at Challenge #61. Clearly I've been mulling way too long! I must schedule in their challenges and just get them done ... and posted. That and the sketches on Pencil Lines and Creative Scrappers. Again, very appealing. I'm also enjoying the Scraplift Tag over at the Just Cre8 community. You might want to check it out.

Assignments to finish:

You know, those projects we all have, those "great intentions" projects that just don't get d.o.n.e. completely. Finished and wrapped with a bow, you know? Do you have those? I don't have many but they are daunting. I know I'll feel wonderful when they're done and fortunately there are only three that have to be completed:

1. Family Gratitude Photo Spinner
2. Everyone Can Write a Little
3. The Challenge of Me

So no, I'm not trying to not be here at the virtual LINARstudio, only because I'm actually IN the real LINARstudio (my basement workshop) making a huge mess! I intend to be far more mindful and post all those things being created ... when they're completed.

What have you been doing? Are you looking for something? I'm sure, of the 22 links in the post above, you'll find something that tickles your creative fancy!

LOAD Layouts: Catch Up

I've been participating in the May LOAD challenge, hosted by the lovely Lain Ehmann, but I have not been as consistent as I was in February. May, it turns out, has been a busy month! Here are the layouts - not yet posted - I've managed to complete:

 

 

 

I am leaving for Cape Cod with a few good girlfriends. I won't be posting until I return, and even then, probably not until the first week of June. I'll be with a number of creative and talented ladies and fully expect this blog to be re-energized upon my return.

Have a wonderful week!

May LOAD: Day 2

Cardstock: Bazzill; Printed Paper, Stickers, Fabric Flowers: Pink Paislee; Pen: American Crafts

Click to enlarge!

May LOAD: Day 1

Cardstock: Creative Memories; Printed Paper: Jillibean Soup, Unknown (Stripes); Chipboard: Basic Grey; Bling: Me and My Big Ideas; Pen: Creative Memories

Happy National Scrapbook Day!

When I originally planned to have a couple of Youth Round Square participants billet with us, I thought it was through this first May weekend and canceled my plans for one of my favourite celebrations: National Scrapbook Day. On top of it, we were supposed to plan on a trunk sale at our elementary school which never gathered enough interest. (So if you're looking for older Creative Memories product, let me know!)

I was a bit bummed about it. Even more so when I go to cyber visit crafty-friends only to realize they are all heading to fun places for the weekend to scrap with their talented friends. Well, I was sad up until I discovered a box of scrapbooking goodness sitting in the doorway. Sue Sykes of JustCre8 sent out the May Kit and it is delicious! (and if you're looking for a faboo deal, check out the older kits, they're a big deal because they're on sale!!)

I am excited to dig into it, use the fabulous to-be-posted JustCre8 sketches: check out these from April, and participate in Lain's LOAD challenge.

What are your plans this weekend?

I'm liking those Jillibean Soup papers and other extras! This is going to be a fun couple of days - in between lacrosse, hockey and dragonboat :)

And, don't forget to take advantage of:

 

You can find the complete Projects Now offering: here.

Enjoy your weekend, too!

She's doing it again!

If you missed out on the LOAD (LayOut A Day) Challenge offered by Lain Ehmann in February, she's doing it again - in May.

I signed up yesterday and am anxious to get my projects ready to go and get as many layouts done as I can. I know from past experience that May is an insane month for our family, and I'll be away without access to the internet the last week of May, but still, it's worth the minimal sign up fee and to have 31 completed layouts? Priceless!

So, what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us. All the details can be found here, at Scrap Happy.

LOAD: Day 27 & 28

Late! I got these done in time to upload onto the LOAD Flickr site, but did not do it here, my apologies! These are the two remaining layouts:

DAY 27:

DAY 28:

LOAD: Day 26

I was pressed for time so the layout is something you've seen before. A few posts ago! Great to have the journaling all done :)