More Speed Scrappin'

ScrapMatters had another weekend of Speed Scraps, and I managed to make it to two of them! Here's what I scrapped today...

The first layout was a real challenge: the very first instruction was to pick a kit (yes, kit before pictures) that is somehow totally not your style. I made it really hard on myself by using a kit with quite a bit of pink in it (we all know how pink it my nemesis), with kind of soft, whimsical elements. Picking the photos to go with it required quite a bit of digging, and Joshua might never forgive me for scrapping his baby photos in borderline-girly colors, but I nevertheless love how this page turned out. How fun to step outside my scrapping box!



credits:

All My Loving by Tracie Stroud (DigiScrap Addict's So You Think You Can Design contest, week 3 ... download it for free here!)

fonts are American Typewriter, Clingy, and Howser

---

This one was a challenge for me in a different way: I was supposed to go simple. Some people rejoice at this instruction; I freak out and busy up my page as much as possible while still trying to follow directions. Notice how I picked a busy background paper, included way more elements than I needed to, and practically handmade my own alphas from fonts since I wasn't supposed to use actual alphas. So much work, but worth it to me -- because I do really like how this turned out, too.



credits:

background paper, buttons, ruler ribbon: Squiggle It Too by Robin Carlton

brown paper: Natural Wonders collab by ScrapMatters Design Team

string, staple, ricrac: Sunshine in My Soul by Britt-ish Designs

black and white ribbon, circle frames (one recolored), yellow ribbon, and button used in titlework: Yippee Skippee by Britt-ish Designs

wordart: Edge 2 Edge Wordart by Britt-ish Designs

fonts: The Doorman, Pea Swimmy Script, Cafe Rojo

Two Two-Pagers

I love the way two-pager layouts look printed, in actual albums; the continuity is breathtaking.

And yet, I think I've only done, uh, one other two-pager for this entire year. Well, here are two more! Two-pagers are ambitious -- they really do take me about twice as long as your average layout -- so you're seeing four days worth of work.

---

Here's the first -- pictures from a Memorial Day weekend wedding. When I set out to scrap these photos, I began digging through my stash for a template -- something with soft curves (to reflect the beauty of the day) and something with a zillion spots for photos (obviously). I soon realized I wasn't going to have anything that fit the bill so I started drawing out shapes with my rounded rectangle tool (with a few circles for good measure) and made myself a template (I do this fairly often, actually, but usually it's just for simple blocking -- so this was a step up for me).

Then it came time to pick colors (or, rather, find something in my stash that matched the established colors in the pictures). I tried out quite a few different things before hitting on just the right color combo by combining two different kits. Then came the elements from those kits (I always struggle with elements, but I think I did okay here) and the ribbons for continuity across the page (Britt's "My Ribbon Jar" is the staple of a good chunk of my layouts, if you haven't noticed -- best $3 in digi-supplies I've ever spent). My computer was grinding every time I saved as it had something like seventy Photoshop layers (per side) to deal with.

The layout was stunning ... and then I wrote all over it. ;-) Yes, it's still pretty,but it's not quite as visually amazing as it was (the white space was setting off the photos very nicely). But do you think I'm about to erase all those written memories?? Nuh-uh!



Sunshine in My Soul by Britt-ish Designs

pink papers, pink flowers, and wordart from Loverly by Sahlin Studio

most ribbons from My Ribbon Jar by Britt-ish Designs (one was from Sunshine in My Soul)

In the City Alpha by Sahlin Studio

Glitzy Paper Dot Alpha (recolored) by Britt-ish Designs

stamped heart border is from a paper from the Sisters for Life add-on by Britt-ish Designs

We're Just Dating by Britt-ish Designs

fonts are Susie's Hand and Pea Johanna

---

The second two-pager is, technically, not a two-pager -- the design does not continue over two pages and they stand alone as separte layouts. But they are variations on the same theme (Logan's preschool) and they use the same color scheme, kit, and alpha. I've noticed in my printed album that even this kind of continuity makes for a visually-pleasing two pager. Even the pages in which I used the same template twice (with different photos -- obviously -- and different kits) or where I even just used the same alpha for my title look nice next to each other.

The first was for a "Ten Things" challenge at ScrapMatters and earned a spot in the Gallery Standout thread!



credits:

Teacher's Pet by Bren Boone

Doodletime by Tracie Stroud

My Ribbon Jar by Britt-ish Designs

fonts are Arial Black, Arial Narrow, and BBD_Teacher's Pet (part of the Teacher's Pet kit)


And the second is for a ScrapMatters technique challenge -- selective blurring. I've used this technique before, but it had been a long time, and it really helped the main photo, I think.



credits:

ScrapMatters Tuesday Template (January 27, 2009) by Geeky Diva Designs

Teacher's Pet by Bren Boone

bear, leaf, and some buttons from Yippee Skippee by Britt-ish Designs

papers for photo frames from DigiScrap Addicts contest freebie by Pineapple Plantation Designs and Bren Boone Designs

Chubby Alpha by Andrea

fonts are Arial Black, Arial Narrow, and BBD_Teacher's Pet (part of the Teacher's Pet kit)

I realized after I uploaded this that I hadn't dated it. Oops! It's fixed in my copy. :-)

---

There you have it -- thanks for looking! (And reading to my rambling!)

Catching Up

There's a bunch of layouts I've done that, for one reason or another, I haven't gotten around to posting. Time to play a little catch-up!

---

I did this one early last week as a gift for my niece. It matches her little sister's. Hopefully I'm not ruining the surprise by posting it here.



credits:

General inspiration and blending help from a tutorial by Misty Cato

Paper is from Fairy Fresh by Cuppycake Designs

Kiss Me, Sweetheart alpha by Ellie Lash (slightly recolored)

Ricrac ribbon from All I Want collab by the Sweet Shoppe Designers

Ribbons are from the My Ribbon Jar by Britt-ish Designs and Give It to Me Straight by Amanda Heimann

Button by Atomic Cupcake

Flowers are recolored and from Outre-mer by Scrapdoll

Sprinkly things are from Baby Cafe 08 Summer-time by Lencula and Schaarka

Pioneer Woman’s B&W Beauty action

Font is Susie’s Hand

---

Here's one I did last week (Thursday maybe?) that I totally just forgot to post (both here and my other blog). This was for the scraplifting challenge at ScrapMatters. A few days after I did my layout, I took a look at this scrapper's blog and found that she actually made a template from her original layout! So -- if you like this design, pop on over to Trying to Be Crafty and get the two-page template pack.

And the colors! Aren't these fun? This was a participation prize for a challenge from National Scrapbooking Day (NSD). Am I allowed to use pink in a boy layout (and a boy layout where one boy is wearing a RED sweatshirt at that??) I say yes (obviously).



credits:

This if a lift of Li14's Ryan's Place Park.

Birds of a Feather minikit by WM [squared] designs

9 to 5 bonus alpha by Krystal Hartley

circles down the side are from the ScrapMatters NSD challenge freebie: paper shapers by TheWerners

font is Rockwell

---

This one came together rather quickly and easily last Friday evening -- strange since I didn't have much of a design idea when I started.



credits:

Winter Sampler from Shabby Princess

Background paper from Moody Blues by Shabby Princess

Snowflake paper from Shabby Snow by Jenna

staple from Sun Porch by Amy Teets

fonts are Stencil Std and Rockwell

---

And I did this yesterday for a speed scrap! It was a single-photo challenge (which is a challenge for me!), had to incorporate vertical and horizontal paper strips (check, check, check-check-checkity-check), had to use wordart. The toughest prompt came late in the challenge: use glitter or bling. Bling? With this as my color scheme?? But then I found those cardboard flowers with the jewels on them (Britt-ish Designs' Reuse Recycle Flowers) and realized they were perfect (and besides, technically those squiggles are glitter squiggles, even if they aren't particularly sparkly).

Kudos to Kim Higueria, who made this great kit to work with -- I especially loved the rich, fun papers. This is the first time I've scrapped with her stuff, which is a shame because we were briefly in the same ward together when we lived in Wymount (my one claim-to-fame in the digiscrapping world -- the only digi-designer I know in real life!) I do think I will be returning to this kit again; it's a good one.



credits:

Papers, ricrac, frame, journaling box, glitter squiggles, and paperclip from Rainy Afternoon by Kim Higueria

buttons from Button It Up! Sampler Pack by Sarah Morgan Designs (from Funky Playground Designs' latest contest)

Reuse Recycle Flowers by Britt-ish Designs

"Moment" wordart by Dirty Feet Designs

"I [ ] you" wordart from Unscripted: Simply Put by TaylorMade Designs

Stitches by Gunhilde Storeide

fonts: Susie's Hand and American Typewriter

I used Pioneer Woman's "Heartland" action (and then some selective coloring)

---

*phew* That's all for now. Thanks for looking!

A Fun Challenge

I like doing the challenges at ScrapMatters; they get me doing things a little differently than I would be doing normally. Take this layout, for example, that I did for a "roadmap to scrap" (a formula challenge):



credits:

papers from DigiScrap Addicts grand opening contest kit

Glitzy Spills and Thrills by Britt-ish Designs

Word Circles (recolored) by Britt-ish Designs

scalloped frame altered from Beautiful Mess by Elizabeth Quintana

stars from Teacher's Pet by Bren Boone Designs

The first thing about this layout you probably notice is the colors: the instructions said to use at least four rainbow colors with the embellishments (so, four in addition to any neutrals ... well, and pink, but that's rarely a problem for me, scrapping my boys!). When I was imagining the colors I'd use for the layout with these pictures, I'd seen something very orange in my mind. I'm glad I went with the colorful one instead; it creates a whole different vibe for this page!

The directions said to use scallops, so I pulled out some scalloped frames from my stash. I never use frames, and I never use frames skewed from the picture. And I LOVE how it looks! I should do this more often.

I used wordart, as per the instructions. I hardly ever use wordart. But somehow, this simple wordart seemed to sum up just what I wanted to say ... and so I refrained from journaling beyond just the bare essentials (obviously, as a history major, I can't not date my pages!). I even refrained from titling, unless you count the wordart as a title. (And yes, this is so unlike me.)

I thought I was finished, but then I saw that the instructions said to use an element at least five times. I found some stars that kind of (kind of) matched the doodly feel of the background paper and arranged them on my page. And now I can't imagine how I thought the layout was finished without them.

So -- try a challenge (and there are a lot of them out there) ... they'll really freshen up your scrapping!

Yes, More Pages

I've been scrapping a lot lately -- a LOT. The Queen of Scrap contest is going on at ScrapMatters, and I've got six layouts for the month of May so far -- fourteen more until I earn the great participation prize ... a huge kit in with which I can do even more scrapping! (Okay, yes, I'm addicted. But! All of these layouts took less than two hours to do -- I am really getting faster at this! I figure that I spend no more time scrapping than the average person does watching TV or something.) (Also: I justify myself that six layouts is nothing compared to the twenty-something other people have! I think the leader has twenty-eight right now. Six days; twenty-eight pages. WOW.)

Here are two layouts I did Monday with pictures from my husband's recent trip (the first was a lift; the second was a speed scrap AND a lift ... and it earned a spot in the Gallery Standout thread at ScrapMatters):



credits:

Lift of "Balloon Animals" by TheWerners (Grand Theft Layout 04/29/09)

Enjoy the Journey by Dirty Feet Designs and WM[squared] designs (March 2009 ScrapMatters Newsletter freebie kit)

Dark blue paper from Worn Out: Boys by Cuppycake Designs

Date Stamped by Britt-ish Designs

String by Gunhilde Storeide (freebie)

fonts: Jailbird Jenna, American Typewriter

---



credits:

lift of sahlink's The Color of Easter

Enjoy the Journey by wm[squared] designs and Dirty Feet Designs

Ransom Alpha by Bren Boone Designs

String from The Bright Side add-on by Britt-ish Designs

font is American Typewriter

---

This layout I did on Tuesday for the NSD Template Challenge at ScrapMatters (a blast from the past -- Christmas 2007):



credits:

NSD '09 ScrapMatters Template Challenge by monsu

All I Want by the Sweet Shoppe Designers

Crackled Stitch Alpha (recolored) by Dirty Feet Designs

All Stitched Up by Tracie Stroud

fonts are Susie's Hand and American Typewriter

---

And here's the only one in the batch in which I came up with the composition myself! I did this one this afternoon and evening for the Everyday Magic challenge at ScrapMatters:



credits:

Summer Bling by Matahati Designs

Smirk alpha 3 by DigiTreats

Glitzy Spills & Thrills by Britt-ish Designs (my show-off gift this week!)

fonts are Glider Girls, Gentle Redhead, and American Typewriter

---

Thanks for looking!

Speed Scrappin'

To celebrate National Scrapbooking Day, I hit the Farmer's Market at ScrapOrchard (great deals for a dollar!) and the 40%-off sale at ScrapMatters ... and then, after some serious unzipping and filing, I squeezed in a couple of speed scraps at ScrapMatters. Here are the results of a few hours of work today (I really liked how they both turned out -- though it's out of my comfort zone to scrap with black and white photos, a requirement for the first one, and to only use one patterned paper, a requirement for the second):



credits:

Inspired by Christy templates by Britt-ish Designs

Yippee Skippee by Britt-ish Designs (NSD Grab Bag)

Polka Dot alpha by Britt-ish Designs (NSD grab bag)

Playdate alpha by Tracie Stroud/Megan Turnidge

paper clip from got-a-date: strips by Britt-ish Designs

splatter from Love, Life, Nature add-on by Sya's Blueprints

fonts are American Typewriter and Susie's Hand

help with the black & white photos by Pioneer Women's actions



credits:

for Speed Scrap #96

All I Want collab from Sweet Shoppe Designers

All Stitched Up II by Tracie Stroud

font is American Typewriter

And yes, I've decided I'm going to start going back in time -- the above layout is from 2007 (I started scrapping in January 2008). This is because I am actually caught up with my scrapping! I know I have a few family members that might want me to take on some special scrapping projects, too, and I've decided I'm ready for them ... a little at a time, anyway. So, to my real-life friends and family: if you'll choose the photos you want incorporated in a layout, e-mail 'em to me (full-size, please) and I'll scrap 'em for you (in my own time and one at a time). My own 2009 photos will take priority but I should be able to do a few more layouts on top of those.

To top it all off, my layouts have been showcased the past couple weeks:

1. Apparently Bella Scraps liked my "Sunday Clothes" layout well enough to include it on their blog. But they never e-mailed me about it (and I checked my spam folder and everything). Am I published, then? Maybe.

2. I was included in the gallery standout thread at ScrapMatters for my layout "Goofy"!

3. I won the a ScrapMatters challenge with my "Peek-a-Basket" layout -- the scraplift challenge, lifting Linz. My prize is just an extra point for the month of May (which then equates to a coupon to the ScrapMatters store).

Out of the three spotlights, the third one is the one that put me on cloud nine. :-D