Hi, it's me again! Em
ily. I loved seeing Marnie's past avatars, so you get to see a few of mine too. Heaven knows I have plenty. :) This was one of my first self portraits I ever took. The first of many. Now back to catalysts.
CATALYST #3 MY FRIENDS
About the same time I started doing the Pub Ad Challenges over at Two Peas (which is still going by the way, if you want to check it out), I found the next catalyst. This one was a much more subtle method of change, but for my personal life, it was huge. They were the subject of one of my first publications in the former magazine Simple Scrapbooks:
Note the changes: I started getting comfortable with more white space because of the influence of advertisements. Stamping started creeping in here–-I found this wonderful handwriting-like font and I started to really enjoy this technique. I started sewing my buttons on at this point too, now I can't leave a button unstitched, it really gets under my skin. Note the similarities: Still using my own handwriting.
It was at this crop where I met my friends that I came across catalyst #4.
CATALYST #4 CATHY ZIELSKE
I won! I won! I won! Not only did gain a whole new group of friends, I won the Cathy's Clean and Simple Scrapbooking, The Sequel, and that completely changed my life. That was where I was introduced to the idea that I didn't need to scrap every photo. It's OK to use a single photo to tell the whole story. It's OK to scrap moments and not just events. Lots of things became OK after I read that book. So thanks Cathy.
CATALYST #5 MORE CHALLENGES
I became a challenge junkie after I started playing the Pub Ad Challenge. It got to the point where one of my friends gave me a non challenge to see if I could scrap without being inspired by a challenge. I did it, but it really was kind of a challenge in itself. I played a product challenge that got me using products that I wouldn't normally use. Note the changes: Lots more product, one photo, and playing with techniques. Punching those circles took a lot more time than I was used to, but I liked the look, so I did it. I think this is the first time I used staples and ephemera, if you can call a candy wrapper ephemera. The embellishments are getting bigger and bigger. I loved those flowers, I bought a bouquet at Michaels and was sad when I'd used the last one. Flowers were a big deal for me for a while. Note the similarities: Sticking with the very ad-like feel. Handwriting again.
I played a challenge called How Much Is Too Much? that encourages you to use up our stash, we'd get a specific number of different items we'd have to use on a layout. Sometimes it was easy, other times it was really hard, but I got some really fun layouts from it. Note changes: PAINT! argh, that was SCARY and I did it to myself, it wasn't one of the requirements, but I decided to try it. Note the similarities: I'd been playing with my photos now in quite a few different ways. Here I'd cut the photo up into 6 smaller ones and sanded the edges. And to bring attention to the main photo, I added rivets (something I'd purchased a LONG time ago, but never used.). Again, handwriting...
I played a color challenge called Color Combos Galore that gives a palette of colors and you can go from there. This is one I struggled with because I thought I had to go out and buy papers to match those exact colors. Once I finally let go of that notion, I had a fun time with it! I
Then came the journaling challenge, which I eventually got the pleasure of co-hosting. It was called Journaler's Junction, it's not active right now, but you can check the archives for lots ideas. This was a huge catalyst for me. I have always loved to write my stories, but this challenge made me find many new ways to write those stories. Here's the first one I participated in, the challenge was to "Write It How You Say It." I realized I changed how I spoke depending on who I was talking to. Note the changes: I started playing with images digitally. Note the similarities: Handwriting still my own. I was still creating things from scratch, like in the beginning––my fancy divider lines (totally an accident, I smudged the line and so had to make them all smudgy like that.) and my fancy hand drawn photo corners. I was sticking to the one photo, one page layout now. I didn't feel the need to have matching pages in my albums anymore.
For the next couple of years I played as many challenges as I could manage a week. I loved them. I got pretty good at combining two and more challenges on one page. It was fun!
This one combined 3 challenges: scrap an old picture, write a letter to someone, and the Pub Ad Challenge. Note the changes: I think the one of only things that was different about this page was the hidden journaling, I got really fancy with how to hide this journaling. This is a special layout because it's a letter to my friend after she passed away. It makes me weepy looking at it again. You can read the journaling in my Two Peas gallery if you want. Oh and I think this is when doodling was big. I didn't do much of it, but I did make it a design element. Note the similarities: Again I'm back to my hand drawn title work. Handwriting again :) No comments on the hair OK?
Here's a couple more from the journaling challenge. While I was co-hosting this challenge, I got more publications from the layouts I created for it than any other challenge. I think my story telling skills became honed because of this catalyst. This challenge had to do with design, journaling down the side, one word at a time. Note the changes: I started using the computer for journaling more. I figured out you could cut the cardstock in half and run it through the printer. HOW EXCITING! This is also the first layout I used floss on. Note the similarities: I love the graphic ad designs, nice and clean. Hand drawn titles. Single pager, but more than one picture because they told the story better.
This challenge was to go to a random word generator and from the first 5 words that came up, you had to pick one of them to jumpstart your journaling. It was one of my top 5 five favorite challenges. Note the changes: Machine stitching. Note the similarities: LOTS. Buttons stitched down, white space, handwriting, clean graphic design.
To sum up, a major catalyst in my scrapping style came from participating in challenges. They push you out of your comfort zone, and sometimes you find things you never knew you'd love. There are so many great challenges out there, I've linked a few, but would love you have you comment and add your favorites as well. I'll post a list of them at the end of the week.
Tomorrow we'll look at some more of my catalysts. Aren't you enjoying me talking about me? :)