Write. Click. Scrapbook.

Back to school!

Hey everyone, it's Moon here again with you on this Saturday morning. Hope everyone is able to keep cool during this heat wave.

We've had a busy summer and I'm finally able to see a little light at the end of the tunnel with school starting back up on AUGUST 10th!!!! That is less than three weeks for me. I just keep telling myself to hang on for just a wee bit longer.

:)

I kid. We've had a great summer. I've really enjoyed doing things with them and will be a little sad not having my little people around all day when school starts back up.

Since I'm on the topic of school, I thought I'd share my kids' school albums with you. I think the hardest part in creating their albums was trying to decide on what to keep and what to throw away. I decided to keep just the really important stuff like report cards, test results and awards.

I started with an American Crafts 8.5x11 Modern Album because I love that they allow you to use any size page protectors with any of their albums. This is what I did for my daughter's third grade year:

I usually order the 5x7 size school picture and crop it to fit a 6x6 page protector.  Then behind it is another school picture that was taken at the end of the year (Don't you just love that pose?). The next page is her class photo that I put in an 8.5x11 page protector.

After that, it's the report card and other awards she'd won throughout the year.

Next is her fourth grade year. Same format in the beginning.

This time, she didn't get a class photo so I inserted a layout of her instead.

And notice there isn't another school photo? Yeah. I misplaced it but it's a gem. I just have to find the darn thing...

Then behind her layout, I placed another layout of her and the opposite page is her report card, again.

I really love this system because there really isn't a wrong way you can document your child's school years. Most of the "guts" of a school album are already provided for you so all you really need are some page protectors and a three ring punch.

Have a great day!

ps. If you're interested in creating a school album like this, remember to click our sponsors on the right hand column like Two Peas in a Bucket and scrapbook.com to get all your supplies.

Scrapbook Page to Sketch and Template

Hello again! In June I shared a couple of colour schemes to work with, this month I want to share a page foundation. Sometimes I make a page that I love so much, that I find myself scraplifing the design and using it on other pages. Then it hit me that in fact I was using the page as a sketch and so I thought "Why not make it into one to share?"

If you've been reading the blog for a while you might remember this page that I shared when I hosted Baby Week last year

Awwww, this is still one of my all time favourite photos and (page)!

I used this same design later in the year when Donna wrote about scraplifting yourself

and I've used it a couple more times because it's a great way to do a quick page, plus showcase one photo!

And now here it is in sketch form!

Don't despair digi and hybrid scrappers, I thought about you too. I also made it into a layered template so everyone can play!

To download just the sketch in PDF form go here. To download a zip file of the sketch plus the layered template go here. If you have any issues with downloading do let me know in the comments.

Now if you still haven't used last month's colour scheme, maybe you can combine it with this sketch for a quick scrapping session. As always make sure to show us what you do by uploading your projects to the Flickr group.

Happy Summer Scrapping!

give.away.day. featuring TRACI REED

Another digital treat for you today! If you love themed kits, with loads of fun elements and fabulous journal prompts, look no further than Traci Reed Designs! 
Traci's favorite kit is Pieces of Me which released in early 2010. She sees this kit as a reflection of everything that she loves about this hobby of memory keeping. It combines gorgeous textures, beautiful, thoughtful elements and everything about it just makes Traci happy.

 

You may have recently noticed some of Traci's designs popping up in the paper world as well. At this summer's CHA, My Mind's Eye is offering a new paper line based on this fabulous kit.

 

And now for the giveaway! Traci is giving away a TWENTY DOLLAR gift certificate to her store! If you would like to be considered for today's giveaway, simply visit Traci's store and then leave us a comment here telling us about your favorite Traci Reed kit. Comments will remain open until Friday morning. One lucky number will be drawn at random and posted on Saturday. Please remember it is your responsibility to check back and to claim your lucky number by midnight on Monday. Good luck everyone!

I {heart} Buttons

Last month I shared with you my love of patterned paper.  It is without a doubt my favorite scrapbooking supply.  Now, if you asked me what my favorite embellishment was I would immediately, with no hesitation, tell you that it is buttons.  I love buttons.  Buttons are for the mommy of boys what flowers are to the mommy of girls.  Okay, actually that designation belongs to stars.  But buttons are an amazingly versatile embellishment and they are another item that I use on almost every layout.  For today's post I thought it would be fun to share some layouts, cards and crafts that use my all-time favorite embellishment.

Alright, so this post is not about patterned paper, but I will say just one more thing about it and that is, because I use so much of it I I tend to keep the embellishments on my layouts to a minimum.  For me, buttons are the perfect way to add an embellishment without going overboard:

On the occasions when I do happen to use flowers I always put a button in the center:

You can use buttons as the main feature of your page, like Emily Pitts did on this layout:

Isn't this layout amazing? I think it just screams fun (but screaming in a happy way!) Such a great way to make use of that button stash!

Lisa Kisch used buttons to create a border on this sweet layout:

 

You can use buttons to create a subtle border too, like on this layout by Cheryl Overton:

Or use them for a more substantial one, here is another example from Emily:

Notice how she mixed some brads in there too.  Buttons and brads are pretty much interchangeable and using a mix of both can be fun.

Of course, I love using buttons on cards too.  You can download this free pdf from How About Orange and make this simple but adorable button flower card:

Again, using a button as the center of flower I made this thank you card:

Looking ahead to the holidays, you can make this cute and easy tag using white buttons, ribbon and some twine:

I never seem to use my white buttons.  I think I've found a way to finally put them to use and I see myself making a lot of these this Christmas!

Thanks to the custom button tool from Epiphany Crafts you can even make your own buttons:

Aly Dosdall did just that and created this beautiful Mother's Day bouquet:

See her post at the blog of Scrapbooks & Cards Today for complete instructions.

If you have little girls in your household they might enjoy making this project from Monika Wright:

Another great way to use those buttons in your stash and make something cute and crafty in the process. 

 

So how about you, do you love buttons too?  Do you have any creative crafts to share using buttons?  Link to them in the comments, I'd love to see what you've created!

I’ll be back next month to share with you another product I love and the various ways it can be used. Don't forget to stop by tomorrow for give.away.day!

Decorating on the cheap (a work in progress)

Hello dear summer readers! I am back, wading through the boxes, cleaning supplies, and packing materials to bring you a (hopefully) fun day of decorating on the cheap. When I last left you, all of my possessions were sitting on a truck while we were waiting to close on our house. Five very long days later, we finally did. So I find myself in a position where many of you probably are. Busy, lots to do, tons of grand schemes and plans, yet a lack of time (and energy) to carry them through. After two weeks of being in the house I am nearly done unpacking boxes and ready to start enjoying some summer...and starting some of those big projects. First on my list, is Jack's room. This, is Jack...

(frames by Paislee Press, tape by Pugly Pixel)

Ahhhhhh, isn't he cute :) He is now six months old, army crawling, and beginning to sit up. Yes, must get this house unpacked very soon. In our old house, his room consisted of a corner of our bedroom. Here, he has his very own room. Yea! Perhaps he will start sleeping through the night! Fingers and toes are crossed. So his room is literally, a clean slate.

White walls, white floors (which we didn't paint but which I absolutely love)

Hand me down dresser from his brother and sister (with a handle that never actually got painted) and a (pink) hand me down radio from his sister (hey it works.)

A wall full of closets is great for storage, but not quite sure where to put his teeny tiny bookcase. Mmmmhhhh. Anyway, this is one of the ideas I had for his crib wall.

Ok, so no my example isn't perfect, but using the rectangle tool, the eye-dropper tool to pick colors from his bedding, and the eraser, now my hubs has an idea of what I was talking about with a stripey wall. I figure keep the rest white and go bold with this wall!
But, we still need some "art." Oh pinterest, how I love thee. I typed in "monsters" in the search bar and found lovely goodness.

Like this brilliant idea

Source: flickr.com via Marie on Pinterest

Although I am not really all that much of a painter, I think I could handle this.

Here is a great solution for above the changing table with all of the colorful shapes, yet will be perfectly safe for grabbing baby hands.

(from Lot 26)

And then there is the oh so cute Sassafrass Monstrosity paper.

Which sadly seems to be sold out/discontinued so I am on the hunt for some. I am picturing a few of these monsters framed in some 5x5 frames.

In my searches I also found this adorable kit from Everyday Mom Ideas. What a sweet kit-oooo and looky. Another banner for me to fawn over. Goodness gracious do I love banners.

And with it, I made this for Jack's door.

(Germs font from dafont.com)

While I was pregnant with Jack, we all starting calling him Baby Bean, and the nickname has stuck. When I saw this sign at Starbucks during Christmas time, I sniffed hormonally at it, and knew I had to have one. So my dear Daddy went to his local Starbucks and simply asked for it.

Free art. I am thinking perhaps replacing the little snowy boy with a photo matted on foam core, but haven't quite made up my mind. Suggestions?

So there you have it. My ideas for Bean/Jack's room. I will keep you updated on the progress. Oh and as for 50 First Dates? Yeah, haven't started yet. But hopefully, soon. For heaven's sakes, I still haven't seen Harry Potter!

Scrapping Summer Photos: Travel mini albums

Are you enjoying your summer?  I sure am!  We just got back from a wonderful family reunion at Yellowstone National Park and I've got a bucket load of photos to sort, edit, and (my favorite part) scrapbook.  How about you?  Do you have any travel plans this summer?  Do you have any travel photos waiting to be scrapped like me?  If you do, then this post is for you. =)

I thought I'd share with you two mini albums I've created with photos of our travels.  I'll also share a few ideas and tips with you about getting those travel photos out of your camera, and into your scrapbook.

First off, I'll share this mini album I created about all the road trips we took in 2009.  Take a peek: 

You can click on the images to get a closer look.

This chipboard album was made using Ellison dies from my local scrapbook store to cut 12x12 cardboard packaging from some paper packs.  I used Imaginisce papers and embellishments.  Here are a few tips about the album:

1. Instead of creating a whole album about each trip, I made one album about all the trips we took in one year.  Saved me some time. =)

2. To get all the photos in the album that I wanted I created 4x6 photo collages in Photoshop using the template that you can download for free below:

 Just print them like you would regular 4x6 prints, and slap them in your album.

3. I also saved time by copying and pasting my blog posts about our trips into a Word document, printing it on white cardstock, and cutting it into journaling strips.

4. I kept the basic design scheme the same throughout the album, again saving time and also creating a cohesive feel.

5. To create the rounded tabs, I just printed the locations of our trips on white cardstock and punched them out with a 2 inch circle punch.

 

Next up, an 8x8 mini album about a trip my hubby and I took to China last year...sans kids:

 
Again, click to enlarge images.

This was actually a birthday gift for my dear hubby.  I love making stuff like this for him. =)  Anyway, here are a few tips about this album:

1. I used Google's free photo editing software, Picasa, to create the 8x8 photo collages for this album.  I printed them as 8x10 enlargements and then trimmed off the extra.

2. I used an American Crafts Modern Album which gave me the flexibility to alter the cover to my liking, and since it’s a D-ring I can add in more photo collages or pages in the future. 

3. I also used two October Afternoon 8x8 paper pads as my background pages, which saved me some time so I didn’t have to crop down 12x12 papers.

4. To create the memorabilia pocket, I cut out a pocket shape from patterned paper and machine stitched it to my background page.  I then used glue dots to adhere the coins we saved from our trip to a kraft luggage tag, and added a ribbon and some letter stickers to make the word, “pull”.

5. The journaling blocks were made by simply using a ruler and a fine point marker to create light lines as guides for my handwritten journaling.

Well, I hope these ideas have inspired you to get those travel photos scrapped.  Sometimes a stack of travel photos can be overwhelming, but using these tips I’ve shared with you can help save time and effort while still producing an album that you’ll love.  Happy travels!

Sunday Photo + Words

ice cream is love...

Happy Saturday! This weekend marks one of my favorite days of the year because tomorrow, July 17th, is National Ice Cream Day! In my (humble) opinion, there's no better treat than ice cream. Vanilla or chocolate, cone or cup, soft serve or scooped, sprinkles or crunchies--the possibilities are endless! Admittedly, not a day goes by that I don't enjoy a frozen treat, but I still think it's fun to have an "official" reason to indulge a little extra one day a year. And to celebrate tomorrow, the kids will be "cashing in" one of these coupons at our favorite little ice cream stand.

(digital banners by Crystal Wilkerson)

Whatever your plans include this weekend, I hope you'll celebrate National Ice Cream Day too! Take a trip to your favorite ice cream shoppe or set up your own sundae bar at home. Either way, make it extra fun for the kids by slipping a coupon under their breakfast plates tomorrow morning. Simply click, print and trim!

Download Ice cream_coupon

And, just for the record, I'll be ordering vanilla soft serve in a wafer cone with rainbow sprinkles. What will you be having? You know I'd love to hear!

 

and the giveaways go to . . .

Thank you everyone for the amazing suggestions! Our reading lists just became much more diverse (and lengthy, tee hee!).

Listography belongs to

and Scott Kelby's newest belongs to

Congratulations, ladies! Please email us at writeclickscrapbook at gmail dot com at your earliest convenience. Thank you for taking the time to comment.

Scrapbook a Family FavoriteAKA Any other Harry fans out there today?

Hey guys, it's Autumn today. Ready for a little story? Here we go...

Ten years ago my husband was in graduate school and I was a stay at home mom with one little boy. We lived on my husband’s graduate stipend, in a tiny apartment in Memphis, and funds were limited. Extremely limited. (I once waited two days before buying new lightbulbs for the living room because I’d already gone over budget for the month.) Babysitters were expensive. Going out to eat was expensive. Everything was expensive! Everything, that is, except gas. Way back then, in Memphis, gas was only 97 cents a gallon! And checking out books on tape from the library was free. And so our weekend entertainment was, more often than not, driving around the gorgeous neighborhoods we could never hope to live in and listening to books on tape. And what better books to listen to than the very long, and very enjoyable, Harry Potter series.

Of course at that time the series wasn’t finished yet, but we were hooked. As each movie came out we splurged and went to see it together, and as each successive book came out we read them aloud to each other. A tradition was born.

 

(as seen in the January 2009 issue of Simple Scrapbooks Magazine)

 

There are so many things I love about Harry Potter. The books are hilarious, smart, and full of action and fantastic characters. And they have provided hours of enjoyment while I’ve been raising my rapidly expanding family. We’ve listened to them in the car again, this time on CD, and this time our boys have fallen in love with them too.

 

If you love Harry as much as I do, you already know that the very last Harry Potter movie comes out today. I can’t wait to see the movie! Due to a family get-together I’m going to have to wait until Monday to see it—torture! Are any of you going to see it tonight? Any seen it already? I hope it satisfies. I know at least one boys who’s going to be pretty jealous he doesn’t get to see it yet (parents have to approve it first, of course):

 

Whatever you’re doing this weekend, have a great time. And maybe take a few minutes to make a scrapbook page about a book or movie that you and your family enjoy!