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Keeping you in Stitches: Adding Details

Jennifer Larson again, sharing some of the ways I figure out how to add stitches to pages. But first, Happy Thanksgiving to all our American friends! We hope you have a day filled with family, love, and laughter. And good food, too! Don't forget to print out the gratitude cards for those gathered round your table today. It will make a quick and easy mini album for a Christmas present...

 

Getting back to stitches... How do you decide where to add details through stitching?

For me, I tend to focus on the three major parts of my pages:

1. the title
2. the journaling
3. the focal photo

When I add stitches, I want to add them to important parts of the page, so I start by looking at one of these three parts. Here's some instances where I stitched to draw attention to the title:

On this page, I put a stitcker under the title; unfortunately, it wasn't long enough for the whole title. I added some cross stitches to finish out the line and add texture.

 

I did something similar on the next page:

This was a fairly simple page, so I wanted to add some pizzazz. Since the page was about the 4th of July, a star seemed in order; since I have star punches, I used one as a template to stitch around the title. Just enough pizzazz!'

 

On the next page I added stitching to both the title and the journaling:

I hand drew the word "photos," punched holes, then stitched the title. To draw attention to the journaling, I stitched around the numbers.

 

Here I used stitching to draw attention to the focal photo:

I mentioned earlier this week that I like to stitch photo corners; I did this here.

I also added some cross stitches to the title and some embellishment clusters. When I started scrapbooking, a design principle that was emphasized involved making sure that embellishments were "nailed down" with buttons or brads to the page. (This might have been a reaction to sticker sneeze.) Cross stitches do the same thing, but less obtrusively.

 

Because I cannot get enough of stitched photo corners:

This page use iPhone photos, which were only OK--in darkness, sort of yellow. I think the stitched photo corners draw them together and make them seem a bit more formal and special. Which of course all photos are, even if they lack technical polish.

 

Finally, getting back to cicles, which I can't get enough of...

I do this technique a LOT, probably because I am not a terrific photographer (heh). When I want to draw attention to the subject in my photo, I stitch a circle around it. Here I had taken a photo of my son playing soccer at night, and the photo was just too dark and muddy. I loved the colors, though, and I wanted to record the memory, so I used my Bazzill circle template to stitch around my dude in the red hat.

I've had such a fun week sharing my stitching habits with you. Tomorrow we will be bold and daring and talk about stitching outside the box: stitching free hand!

Keeping you in Stitches: Templates

 

 

Jennifer Larson, back again, this time to share an easy and gorgeous solution for hand stitching on layouts: templates.

 

 

Templates make backstitching easy. You can add various shapes to your pages with a template. In particular, I love the Bazzill Stitching templates, though Stampin' Up! has come up with some nice templates too. Kinsey Wilson sells some that are made to order; I've never bought them, but they are very pretty. You could email her and ask about their availability.

Here's what I've done with templates that you could do too:

1. Use the templates as is

My favorite stitching template is the Bazzill Flourishes template. I love clustering elements, then using the template to punch holes and stitch around the clusters. On this page, my clusters went from the lower left to the upper right of the page. NOTE: you don't have to use the whole template.  I only used half flourishes on most of my stitches.

 

2. Use paper as a template

You can use patterned paper as a stitching guide: just stitch around the patterns that exist on the page, or cut them out and use them as guides on another page. Here I used a Jenni Bowlin piece of patterned paper that contained stenciled lettering; I outlined the letters and then paper pierced them and stitched for the title.

 

3. Use chipboard or wood veneer as a template

If you're like me, you have a lot of chipboard shapes left over that maybe you haven't used in a while. Those serve nicely as stitching templates. I also use wood veneer for a similar purpose. I had a wood veneer starburst from My Mind's Eye and used it to cut out patterned paper in that shape, then stitched around it for the sun. I also used a Bazzill flourish border template for the bottom border. Just for fun.

 

4. Use punches as a template

I have a lot of punches in various shapes, mostly circles. Since I'm having a love affair with circles right now, I'm using them a lot to stitch circles around number or just add them to various parts of the page. Case in point: this page. I punched patterned paper circles in various sizes, then put a slightly larger punched circle over as a template. That didn't work so well--my circle was never perfectly matched to the one underneath--but when I used the negative space as a template:

 

Perfection! I traced the circle perfectly around the punched paper on the page, punched holes, then stitched. Exactly.

These were just a few ideas for using templates to stitch beautiful designs easily and quickly. Tomorrow I'll share ideas on how to find the perfect place to add stitched details!

Keeping you in Stitches: Basic Stitches

It's Jennifer Larson again, sharing some basic stitches I tend to use.

First: you can find basic stitch guides online if you google "embroidery stitches" or "needlework stitches." I find this one helpful (Sharon B's guide) and this one (Johanna's embroidery stitch diagrams). I won't draw stitch diagrams for you on this post, but I will describe the stitches I used on my pages; if you want to look up how to do it more precisely, click on one of these two links and search by the stitch name.

Generally, when stitching on paper, you do not want to holes to be too close together. I use 1/4 inch as a rule, though 1/8 inch can work (sorry for internationals about the measurements--I think this would be about a centimeter for you?). Any closer will probably shred the paper. I use my ruler or straight line hole templates (mosty from Stampin' Up!) to map out my straight line stitching.

 

1. Cross Stitch

I used cross stitches in two ways here: as a line under the title and in between scallops on the bottom border. If you happen to have border punches (of course you do!), adding cross stitches in them makes it super easy. I use the Stampin' Up! stitch template to measure the cross stitches, but a ruler will do as well.

2. Back Stitch

A back stitch is an outline. You can poke holes evenly apart and then stitch until the entire line is filled in. I use this stitch and the cross stitch the most because it is the most practical (and easiest!).

 

3. Running Stitch

This is similar to a back stitch, just with empty space. I use this to outline photo blocks a lot, or to make butterfly or bird trails.

 

4. Blanket Stitch

Blanket stitches are sort of half cross stitches, and they look cozy yet masculine. I like them on borders. I also backstitched a photo corner, one of my favorite things to do.

 

5. Algerian Eye

In my mind, Algerian Eyes are like glorified cross stitches:  to make one, you make a cross stitch and a plus sign. I like them because they are sort of sparkly looking shape-wise, which fit this winter page well.

 

6. Lazy Daisy Stitch

(Please ignore my hair and the fact that I'm massively pregnant in this photo!)

Lasy Daisy stitches are basically a loop you pin down on the page: Put the needle through the hole, then go down the same hole, leaving a loop the size you want. Supposedly, you then just have to stitch down the tip of the loop to form a lovely leaf shape; in all honesty, for me this forms leaves that look like they belong on a pine tree instead of an elm, so I also pin down the sides to make it more of a traditional leaf shape.

 

7. French Knot

French Knots are made by stitcking the needle through the paper and looping the floss around the needle, then poking the needle through the loop, which will form a knot. For some reason, I found that French Knots take more looping for paper than for fabric. When I stitch on cloth, I loop twice; on paper, I do it at least 5 times. On this page, I dotted the "i" with a French Knot; the rest of the word I backstitched after handwriting the word "attitude."

These were some basic stitches; tomorrow I'll share how I use templates to add designs that are amazing looking!

Keeping you in Stitches

Hello! It's Jennifer Larson sharing my first craft love: Embroidery.

I started cross-stitching when I was in third grade; I started scrapbooking when I was 30. I'm not sure when I meshed the two hobbies, but  stitching on layouts is now common for me. Why do I love it? Stitching is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to add detail to a page, and not just any detail, but the kind of detail that makes people stare slack jawed at the page. Seriously.

Here's what I'm planning on sharing for this week:

Day 1:( today) Basic Tools

Day 2: Basic Stitches

Day 3: Templates

Day 4: Adding Details

Day 5: Free Hand Stitching

 

It's day 1, so here are the basic tools I use:

1. foam mat. I bought mine at Michaels for cheap--two dollars?--in the kids craft section. *cheap alternative: back of a mouse pad, if you still have one.
2. paper piercer. I've gone through a few of these. Wine cork for safety. *cheap alternative to paper piercer: Push pin.
3. ruler. I like the Tim Holtz one because it has holes in it. Any ruler will do, though.
4. needles. I choose stainless steel ones so they don't rust, plus one that are not too thick but have a big eye. I'm getting older...
5. a sharp scissors. Just for ribbon and thread, not paper.
6. embroidery floss. I'm a snob and use DMC, which you can get at most craft stores (Joann's, Michaels, specialty embroidery shops). There are 6 threads in DMC; I use three when stitching on paper.

A note about DMC: There are a TON of colors. I own all of them due to cross-stitching, but I find it burdensome to search through them for my pages. I keep certain colors in my scrap supplies:

neutrals. I use white, ecru, black (210),light brown (3863), dark brown (3031), and orange brown (301). The numbers correspond with the DMC number codes, if you are interested in seeking these colors in particular.

rainbow colors. I bought a muted version ( top row: 304, 721, 743, 701, 825, 340) and a bright version (bottom row: 321, 971, 444, 910, 824, 858).

As I scrapped and stitched, I went out and got colors that seemed to fit the color trends  for scrapbooking papers: natural greens (more muted), teals, muted orange, and variegated threads.

These were my basic tools; tomorrow I will share with you the basic stitches I use and some layouts I used them on!

Welcome, November!

We welcome November with sugar-hyped kids and costumes ready to be put away. Hopefully you all had a fun Hallowed Eve, and that the kids brought home your favorite candy!!

This month we are excited to welcome four new team members! Aliza Deutsch, Jennie McGarvey, Christine Newman, and Amy Coose are joining us and we couldn't be more happy. They bring well designed pages, excellent photos, and delightful lives to you and to us. Take a moment and stop by their bio pages and get to know them. They are all participating in our gallery as well, so you will have a chance to see them in action today!

We have a terrific lineup for you this month. Sarah will be finishing out this week for us, followed by Vivian who has a fun week planned. After that we have a team week to help you get ready for Thanksgiving. Jenny will be next; and Katie will close out the month. What a month it will be!

But now, put your hands together for our new gallery! We gave you sneaks... could you figure it out? This month, our theme is We Love Color! Follow the link to the photoalbum and you can read the journaling and see the the layouts in greater detail. Here are 24 new layouts for you to love and use for inspiration! We hope you love them! (Feel free to tell us!!)

 

4 Eyes | Francine Clouden

12 x 12 | materials patterned paper (Studio Calico, Jenni Bowlin) + vinyl letter stickers (American Crafts) + paper flower (Sassafras Lass) + stamps (Banana Frog) + adhesive pearls (Kaiser Crafts) + sticker (Sassafras Lass)

A Note from Francine
My love affair with the yellow and grey combo began just over two years ago (around the time when this layout was made). Before this I was always hard pressed to name a favourite colour, but since this combination has persisted I think it is safe to say that I have found an answer!

November Fun Fact
We're moving house! Again! Send me all your good vibes please.

 

 

Hmm…Should I Wear | Aliza Deutsch

(12 x 12) | materials patterned paper (Authentique Paper, Bazzill Basics Paper, My Mind’s Eye, Amy Tangerine, Basic Grey, Echo Park) + embellishments (Amy Tangerine, My Mind’s Eye, A Flair for Buttons, We R Memory Keepers, K&Co) + stickers (Lily Bee Deigns)

A Note from Aliza
This layout is all about my little obsession with the color black. I’m not trying to be sophisticated or artsy. It’s just then when I shop for clothes, shoes, accessories, etc. I always like the black or the gray one best. I find shades of black or gray absolutely rich and delicious. And still in the morning, I need to decide which black shirt and pants to wear. I do own a smattering of colored clothes, but guess what color I always pair them with?

November Fun Fact
I also love gray and rainy days. I don’t think I’ve ever minded waking up to a rainy forecast.

 

 

Click! | Vivian Masket

(12 x 12) | materials cardstock (Bazzill Basics) + patterned paper (October Afternoon) + wood veneer embellishments (Studio Calico) + spray inks (October Afternoon, Studio Calico) + stickers (Jillibean Soup) + die cut (October Afternoon) + brad (October Afternoon) + die cutting machine (Silhouette) + font (Typenoksidi)

A Note from Vivian
My favorite colors are brights against neutrals. On this layout, that took the form of brights (both photos and embellishments) against white with a neutral wood grain pattern and matching brown cardstock border.

November Fun Fact
At Thanksgiving, I always prefer the sides to the turkey.

 

 

Got Color? | Lisa Ottosson

(8.5 x 11) | materials patterned paper (Collage Press) + stickers (Panduro Hobby, American Crafts, Webster Pages)

A Note from Lisa
This layout is one I should have done a long time ago.

November Fun Fact
When I was younger I never used nail polish, now I do almost every day!

 

 

Little Mermaids | Katie Ehmann

(12 x 12) | materials patterned paper (Ki Memories, Echo Park, Amy Tangerine) + embellishments (Studio Calico) + stickers (Amy Tangerine, October Afternoon) + mist (Studio Calico) + punches (Martha Stewart Crafts) + Royal Typewriter

A Note from Katie
This layout features my current favorite colors: bright pink and electric blue with a little kraft thrown in for good measure. I misted the whole sheet of cardstock and used some punched paper to mask the hearts and stars to give my page a little punch (literally, ha!). The instagram of my girls on their last day at the pool for the season went perfectly with the colors I chose.

November Fun Fact
I am a Disney freak. I used to tease a couple of my friends for liking Disney World so much until we went there a few years ago. Now I can't get enough and can't wait to go back in February to see the new Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom!

 

 

Happiness | Deb Duty

(12 x 12) | materials patterned paper (American Crafts, Echo Park, Studio Calico) + embellishments (Studio Calico, My Mind's Eye, October Afternoon) + letter stickers (American Crafts) + stamps (Studio Calico)

A Note from Deb
It's hard to choose absolute favorite colors because there are so many that I love, but lately I've been leaning toward the soft blue color in my layout. When I saw the beautiful yellows and soft greenish blues in this photo, I thought it would be perfect for this theme because the colors are so very lovely.

November Fun Fact
I'm a fan of reality TV. Ever since I happened upon the very first episode of Survivor, I've been totally hooked.

 

 

Rock Star | Diane Payne

(12 x 12) | materials cardstock (American Crafts) + embellishments (A Flair for Buttons, Studio Calico, Sunstar) + stickers (American Crafts)

A Note from Diane
This layout features lots of colors! Yellow is my favorite…my happy color, but really how could I limit my layout to one? When I look through my albums all my layouts are very colorful! In my book, bold and bright layouts are beautiful!

November Fun Fact
There is something about fall that makes me want to burn candles. The fall scents are fabulous and make the house smell so good. I burn more candles in the month of November and December than the entire rest of the year.

 

 

Think Orange | Celeste Smith

(12 x 12) | materials digital kit (Catch the Falling Leaves kit by JM Designs at One Story Down) + button (Daydream kit by Tracy Martin at One Story Down) +Alphabets (Homemade Memories collaboration at One Story Down, Smell My Feet kit by Valorie Brown at One Story Down) + font (Claire Hand)

A Note from Celeste
I just adore orange and paired with a little kraft it's even better! This layout could be considered my ode to orange.

November Fun Fact
I'm looking forward to pajama day on Thanksgiving!

 

 

Favorite Color? | Kathy Martin

12 x 12 | < b>materials card stock (Bazzill Basics and Neenah Paper) + washi tape (Bella Blvd.) + buttons and twine (Doodlebug Design)

A Note from Kathy
Choosing a favorite color is like trying to pick a favorite book, movie or song. There’s just so many fabulous choices!

November Fun Fact
I’ve been known to pick red as a favorite color!

 

 

Peeler | Marnie Flores

(8.5 x 8.5) | materials patterned paper (Crystal Wilkerson) + arrow (photoshop) +parentheses (Crystal Wilkerson) + fonts

A Note from Marnie
I took a color test once. It asked you all sorts of questions using not just images but also adjectives, and emotional response questions. At the end it gives you two color families. My first was rosy pinks. I felt so exposed. I am totally a soft pink girl, but only in secret. My kids will tell you my favorite colors are orange, red, and black. I wear lots of bright colors (orange, lime green, turquoise blues) and decorate with fun pastel brights. But apparently, at the heart of me is soft pink. Paired with greige (a taupe-y grey) and I am at my most relaxed. That's what this layout is - my two secret favorites.

November Fun Fact
Poppy is getting baptized this month so we have family coming to town. That is rare for us so I have been on a decorating frenzy, trying to get everything to its ideal. Silly, I know. So far, we have switched two bedrooms, including closets and light fixtures. I have painted and rearranged the linen closet and the entry closet. (And by rearranged, I mean gutting and redoing!!) I have just pulled apart the pantry for a complete overhaul. I have painted one bedroom, with one to come tomorrow. And I am nearly finished a redo on the kids' bathroom, including a new mirror, cabinet, and light fixture. I have painted, spackled, and drywalled like a crazy woman. But with only 7 days to go, things are winding down and I am so very happy.

 

 

Week 40 – 2012 in 52 Pages | Alexandra Sirugue-Macleod

(8 x 8) | materials patterned paper (Heidi Swapp) + embellishments (Avery, Making Memories) + die cuts (Sizzix) + ink (Ranger) + font (Courier New)

A Note from Alexandra
This layout is 8 x 8 in. It is part of a project called «2012 in 52 Pages». Since January 2011, I have been scrapping a page a week that recaps the everyday of our lives. I’ve been making my photocollages under Picasa using quite a few photos taken with my iPhone. I love the various filters certain apps offer such as «Early Bird» in Instagram. I’ve always loved these faded colors. They have a timeless quality which I find very comforting.

November Fun Fact
I enjoy watching presidential debates so much I wish there were one every week!

 

 

Fools for Summer | Jennifer Larson

(12 x 12) | materials patterned paper (Studio Calico, Echo Park, Little Yellow Bicycle, Basic Grey) + embellishments (Studio Calico, We R Memory Keepers, Elle’s Studio, Technique Tuesday) + stickers (Basic Grey, American Crafts)

A Note from Jennifer
My absolute favorite color is yellow, but if I picked a favorite color family, it would be bright. Since most of the photos I’m taking now in the fall are more muted, I went back to some favorite photos from the summer to scrap. Bright colors, especially on a background of yellow, make me so happy, especially the closer we get to winter. In winter, I need to keep my summer brights in front of me.

November Fun Fact
In November I am looking forward to our annual Black Friday visit to the Mall of America. Seriously!

 

 

First Day | Erin Sweeney

(8.5 x 11) | materials patterned paper (My Mind’s Eye; KI Memories; American Crafts) + embellishments (Love, Elsie) + stickers (Making Memories; Studio Calico) + border punch (EK Success) 

A Note from Erin
You can’t tell it from the pictures, but Mackenzie was not at all excited about me taking pictures before her first day of 4’s preschool. She faked it well! Eventually I’ll add journaling, but I’m not sure what I want to say yet, so I’ve left it off.

November Fun Fact
Thanksgiving is my least favorite holiday. The Thanksgiving after Mackenzie was born (she was only a few weeks old) we skipped the family celebrations and stayed in our pajamas all day. We only got dressed when we went to Cracker Barrel for lunch and when we got home we got right back in them!

 

 

Color Full I Christa Paustenbaugh

12 x 12 | materials cardstock (American Crafts) + patterned papers (October Afternoon, Bo Bunny, Pebbles, Echo Park, My Mind’s Eye) + stickers (October Afternoon, Crate Paper) + chipboard (October Afternoon) + die cuts (Studio Calico, Banana Fish Studio, Jillibean Soup) + wood grain (Studio Calico) + twine (Ormolu) + washi tape (MT) + paint (Making Memories) + spray mist (Studio Calico) + die cut machine (Silhouette)

A Note from Christa
For this month’s gallery I went for a play on words instead of direct translation. I love this sunburst from Silhouette and wanted to add lots and lots of color to it with these bright patterned papers. Our youngest daughter has definitely brought lots of color and shades of color to our lives over the last 7+ years with much more to come! And yes, I spelled colorful wrong on purpose!

November Fun Fact
This November is shaping up to be a really great one with lots of fun! We get to put another stamp in our passport books with a Thanksgiving trip to Hong Kong. I’m beside myself with excitement for that trip!

 

 

I'm A Rockstar Ladies Love Me | Jennie McGarvey

(12 x 12) | materials cardstock (American Crafts) + patterned paper (Authentique) + embellishments (Bananafish Studios, Marcy Penner, Maya Road, Chic Tags, My Mind's Eye, The Stringery)

A Note from Jennie
I chose these colors because some form of light blue/soft aqua/turquoise and red have been my favorites for a very, very long time -- plus grey is all my all time favorite color so it seemed right to combine them. It was awesome to pair them with this photo of my son with his funny antics!

November Fun Fact
Potatoes are my favorite food. I've never met a kind I don't like.

 

 

That's Hilarious | Kelly Jeppson

12 x 12 | materials patterned paper, journaling card (Doodlebug Design) + letter sticker (American Crafts) + chipboard letters + buttons

A Note from Kelly
I love this yellow-green paper from Doodlebug. It is part of a line that features yellow, orange and navy blue. I thought they were perfect for this layout about my daughter, Josie. A departure from typical girl pink!

November Fun Fact
Last year I tasted my first "tofurkey" at Thanksgiving - my sister is a vegetarian. It was pretty tasty, but I'll stick to the real thing!

 

 

Love You Two | Amy Coose

(12 x 12) | materials cardstock (Bazzill) + patterned paper (Studio Calico, American Crafts) + tags (Chic Tags) + washi tape (Freckled Fawn) + index card (Lily Bee) + brad (Basic Grey) + sequin (Studio Calico) + stamps (Ali Edwards) + ink (Stampin Up!) + Silhouette Cameo, sewing machine

A Note from Amy
This layout came together just like I wanted it to.  I knew red needed to be the main color, and I remembered these pictures I had taken of my baby and his sister outside.  They were perfect.

November Fun Fact
I cannot have candy corn in my house.  It's not good for anyone.

 

 

happy together | Celeste Smith

(12 x 12) | materials digital kit (Sew Happy Collaboration by Mye DeLeon & The Ardent Sparrow at Design House Digital) + template (Grow with Love Letters March by Crystal Livesay at Design House Digital) + font (Century Gothic)

A Note from Celeste
Shh! Don't tell anyone, but secretly I wish I could scrap with more pink. I have two boys who are at an age where boys rule, girls drool. This means flowers and pink on pages are not appreciated. So I sneak it in where I can. For instance, I have free reign if I'm in the photo, the kitty has no beef with pink, and if I'm really wanting to scrap pink I can always snag a photo or two of my stunning niece!

November Fun Fact
On Thanksgiving Day, I have a pot all set up with onions, carrots, and celery just waiting for the turkey carcass. By 9:30 pm, the house is filled with the fabulous smell of turkey soup!

 

 

Shine | Christine Newman

(12 x 12) | materials cardstock (American Crafts, Bazzill) + patterned paper (Pebbles, Basic Grey) + vellum (Strathmore) + embellishments (Studio Calico, Divine Twine) + tape (American Crafts) + tag (Amy Tangerine) + Stickles (Ranger) + stamps (Technique Tuesday, Studio Calico) + ink (Jenni Bowlin) + digital die cutter (Silhouette)

A Note from Christine
My favorite colors to scrap with are light blue and yellow, because these colors make me happy and remind me of the sun and ocean. I live 15 minutes from the beach and I have a lot of photos that have blue in it. You will find that I have many blue papers in my stash. For this layout I wanted to convey sunshine and rays, and I repeat the theme throughout the layout with patterned paper, twine, die cuts, and wood veneers.

November Fun Fact
I will be running the Krispy Kreme Challenge in November, which consists of running 2 miles, eating 6 donuts, and then running another 2 miles!

 

 

Rainbow Balloons | Sarah Pendergrast

(12 x 12) | materials patterned paper (American Crafts, Studio Calico, Basic Grey, October Afternoon, Echo Park) + embellishments (Studio Calico, My Minds Eye, Freckled Fawn, American Crafts) + stickers (Making Memories, American Crafts)

A Note from Sarah
I had a hard time deciding on my favourite colour scheme, as I like a few, but when it comes to crafting, my favourite is rainbow! I’m always drawn to pages with bright rainbow colours, and it worked perfectly with this photo of rainbow balloons!

November Fun Fact
I’m actually terrified of balloons! I have to leave the room if one of the kids is playing with one.

 

 

Favorite? | Emily Spahn

(8.5 x 11) | materials cardstock (American Crafts) + patterned paper (Studio Calico) + chipboard, stickers, thickers (American Crafts) + alphabet stickers (Basic Grey) + wood embellishments (Sodalicious) + washi tape (MT) + spray mist (Studio Calico)

A Note from Emily
My favorite color combination to use on a layout always seems to be some variation of yellow, orange, and aqua. I've had these Studio Calico Heyday papers sitting around for awhile, and I was happy to finally use them on a layout! This layout is also the very first I made with my brand new Cameo!

November Fun Fact
I love November! However, it seems like every year there is so much going on and everyone is always looking forward to December and the holidays that November becomes the forgotten month!! Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and I get a week off work…I wish November could last forever!

 

 

Complementary Colors | Amy Sorensen

12 x 12 | materials card stock (Bazzill) + ink (Close to My Heart) + hexagons (Silhouette) + LD Remington and Janda Elegant Handwriting fonts

A Note from Amy
My second-favorite hobby is quilting, and by sheer coincidence I picked up a quilting book from the hold shelf just a few days before I started working on my layout: We Love Color. The book is about using Kona solids (a line of gorgeous, well-crafted solid fabrics, the quilting equivalent of cardstock) for making quilts that showcase color. A perfect wellspring of inspiration for a gallery dedicated to color! The hexagons and the title design come directly from the book.

I had initially planned on doing a layout with my current favorite color combination, but when my sister and I had this conversation about Halloween colors, it was too perfect to pass up.

November Fun Fact
Since we were speaking about color, I confess: I have a little obsession lately with all things grey.It might just be the perfect neutral!

 

 

Maybe, Perhaps? | Emily Pitts

(12 x 12) | materials cardstock (Bazzill Basics) +patterned paper (Jillibean Soup, Crate Paper, Echo Park Paper Co.) + embellishments (Crate Paper) + alphabet (Crate Paper) + spray ink (Maya Mist) + stencil (Crafter's Workshop)

A Note from Emily
Maya Road has a spray mist called Fig Magenta. I am not a purple or pink fan, but for some reason, this color is one of my all time favorite, most used inks. It's just perfect. Pair it with turquoise and a mustardy yellow and I just swoon. I'm really into the 1970s color schemes right now, I used to find them ugly because I grew up with them, but now I use them a lot. A black and white photo, white or kraft background, it's the perfect combination!

November Fun Fact
I always wanted a plain gold band instead of a diamond for a wedding ring. After my first baby, my fingers grew and my band didn't fit and we just never got it sized. My grandmother passed away and my mom got all the jewelry. In the collection was a gorgeous plain gold band that belonged to my great great grandmother. It fits perfectly. My sisters prefer white gold. So guess who is wearing a vintage plain gold band? It makes me happy.

 

 

Lashes | Paula Gilarde

12 x 12 | materials cardstock (Jillibean Soup) + patterned papers (Jillibean Soup)+ embellishments (7 Gypsies tape) + rub ons (American Crafts) + stencil (Crafters Workshop) + digital element (Katie Pertiet digital frame)

A Note from Paula
My favorite colors are green and blue. I nearly always use some green on my scrapbook layouts, somewhere. Currently my favorite color is teal - somewhere between blue and green.

In Review

Hello and welcome to our final October Saturday. We hope you have had a fun month with us. Our month started out with a bang as we were honored to have some magnificent guests. Thank you, again, to Jennie, Connie, Aliza, Cris, Amy, Whitney, Janice, and Christine for sharing their talent with us!

Deb then provided us a marvelous week on stamping, filled with techniques, instruction, and  inspiration. Next, we got in a Halloween mood as the whole team chipped in with festive home decor, crafts, layouts, and more. As the big night draws near, remember to read up on the photo tips! Teka closed out our last full week, giving us myriad reasons to pin even more eye candy on Pinterest. 

Looking back at our Saturday workshops, Amy gave us three challenges and helped us see the difference little changes can make in our journaling. (Doesn't she make it look easy?) Next, Lisa offered up some useful suggestions on using stock photos and creating our own stock photo libraries. Lastly, Marnie put together a sketch from Erin's layout, a color palette from Jennifer's, and brought to focus the rainbow trend from this month's gallery.

Once again, a month of terrific scrapbooking It really has been an incredible, information-packed, inspiration-filled month.

Before we welcome November, as with each month's end, today we are taking one last walk back through our gallery. Shall we take one last look at Pinterest Made Me!?

 

This month we are going to find 25 design ideas based upon our gallery.

1. wrap some twine around an element on your page Katie
2. use three tags, two the same'ish, one different Lisa
3. put a title in large letters on a photograph Lisa
4. distress the edges of your page Deb
5. created a tiled or quilted look with small squares of patterned paper Diane
6. repeat an embellishment using two different mediums Christa
7. trim your photos to the same shape as you trim your patterned paper Jennifer
8. layer a graphic element on your layout Valerie
9. use a two similar buttons in two different ways on the same layout Kathy
10. create a banner with flags of varying shapes and sizes Francine
11. using a foursquare grid, replace one quadrant with a different shape Celeste
12. open that drawer of tickets and other bits of collected ephemera. use it. Paula
13. create a bold visual triangle with your title across the top, your photos lightly narrowed below, and your journaling centered on the bottom Teka
14. place three equally sized photos in a line across your page. drop the center one slightly, making it your focal point Vivian
15. layer your patterned paper from behind and then cut out shapes from the cardstock on top Vivian
16. using one photo and two patterned papers cut into equal sizes, place them horizontally across hte page. then add a circular element behind the middle one, causing sudden movement and grace. Alexandra
17. tear a notebook page for journaling. let the torn side be the bottom for a change. Alexandra
18. create a lyout around a favorite font Amy
19. using varying sizes and perspectives, add no fewer than siz photos onto your layout Kelly
20. purposefully use two contrasting colors in your title Erin
21. add a white on white element to an otherwise colorful page for subdued texture Emily
22. add a typographic element in a way that it becomes more graphic than typo-graphic Sarah
23. leave a bit of white space in a quilted pattern Emily
24. switch out a white background for some grid or notebook paper Marnie
25. identify three trends. put them all on one layout. Marnie
    
    

 Usually our printables coincide with our theme, but this month, we thought a Halloween version might be more fun!

Little embellies, project life cards, a title, something to frame, and sweet little flags. Everything you need to put together some terrific pages. All available for you to download here.

And this time, we made a British version, too! Complete with kilos and (the proper spelling of) favourite! It is available here.

Thank you for stopping!

scrapbook!

Happy Saturday! With another week done, we are just in time for scrapbook! Saturday. Today we have our usual sketch, a color palette, and a trend alert. Three things to help your pages come alive and come together.

 

SKETCH

This month's sketch comes from Erin's layout in our gallery. 

Here it is transformed into a sketch.

 

And here is the sketch turned into a layout! I love how easily this one came together. I stayed very true to the sketch. No reason to stray on that one!

If you would like a layered template, all ready for a quick layout, just click here!

 

ROGYBIV

This month for our color palette, I looked back to our gallery and was beguiled by Jennifer Larson's layout.

and knew it needed to be our October color palette. I love the yellows and greens in equal proportions and the little drops of raspberry and brown.

I was so excited by how it turned out!

 

TRENDING

This month our gallery has 8 layouts that have rainbow colors on them. From Sarah's which goes all around the rainbow, to Emily's which takes turns stepping down the rainbow, and 6 others which dabble in the full color spectrum.

I borrowed elements from many of the layouts and put together a new rainbow layout!

Thank you for stopping by! I hope that you can put the sketch, the color palette, and the rainbow color trend to use on a layout or three!

Memorializing the Fun

Halloween is one of those occasions that photos are nearly as important as the actual event! Perhaps it is that the costumes are often a once-in-a-lifetime wear. Perhaps it is the care and cost that goes into getting dressed for just one night. Perhaps it is the fact that it is a photo that can be compared year to year to see growth, and changes. And one photo will conjure up so many memories.

We want your photos to be successful this year, so here are a few tips from our team.

 

Take Your Photos Early

Jennifer lives in Minnesota where it gets dark early. Knowing that trick or treat photos aren't really possible, she does her photos early while there is still daylight. Though this requires a little extra planning, you will certainly be happier to have photos that are not underexposed or flashed bright white. 

And if you are concerned about your photos appearing too posed, ask your subjects to do something that their costume might do. The results may make you giggle! Look at Jennifer's boys...

... and Amy's kids.

Capture Your Pumpkin With and Without Sunlight

Capture your jack-o-lanterns in the sunlight, so you can see the detail of the carving. Then take one without your flash at night (set your camera down on the ground or on a tripod to hold it more still) to get the magic of the flickering lights. Katie takes hers after the trick or treating is all wrapped up. A nice end to the evening.

 

Repetition Repetition

When she got out years of photo to create her mini album, Monika noticed that she had photos of her husband applying her son's Dracula make-up and then photos of him applying her daughter's kitty cat make-up years and years later. She was struck by the passage of time. How quickly it goes and how comforting to see things stay the same.

In looking through her pumpkin carving photos, Marnie noticed that no matter how much her kids change, there are things about them that always seem the same. She giggled at the repetition and how glad she was to take a hundred million shots each year so that she has the in between faces, too. 

 

Take Advantage of Porch Lights

Don't forget to watch for interesting porches along the way. They can make for terrific backdrops

and provide wonderful lighting.

DOWNLOAD AND BACKUP

Marnie has twice lost Halloween photos due to computer malfunction, and once to a stolen camera. She suggests backing your Halloween photos up to a third party source that night and then printing a copy for good measure. And never travel with a camera with film in it. Oh, wait. None of us use film anymore. :) 

 

Spooky Edits 

And just for fun...

We know we have told you about PicMonkey before. Right now they have all sorts of Halloween edits. Look at the fun you can have!

 

Fun, gruesome, or downright disgusting, they have a little for everyone!

 

We hope you have enjoyed Halloween week! We would love to hear from you to learn what you loved best! Don't only 12 days left--don't wait too long to order your costumes and stock up on your candy!

Welcome, October!

Welcome, October! We are officially entering holiday season. This month brings Halloween, and then it is just a quick few weeks until Christmas! Okay, okay... I know. Let's not panic!

This month we have lots of fun in store! First, for the remainder of this week we have some very special guests. Deb Duty will be next, followed by our first collaborative theme week of the season to help us get in a spooky mood. Teka Cochonneau will be finishing up our month. Can't wait!!

And now, let's have a drumroll as it is 

A new month always brings a new gallery! This month, our theme is Pinterest Made Me Do It! For the past year, Pinterest has swept the online community. For scrapbookers, it is a dream come true as it is just so completely visual! With just a click, you can see specific loveliness. We thought you might like to see how Pinterest impacts us and affects the pages and projects we make!

Don't forget that there are now two ways to enjoy the layouts. You may scroll below, or you may click over to the photo album! The layouts will be full size in the photoalbum and the journaling will be available there, too! But again, you may stay right here and get a taste of each layout. Enjoy!

 

Sweet Girl | Katie Ehmann

12 x 12 | materials patterned paper (Crate Paper, Kesi'Art, Basic Grey, American Crafts, Hambly, October Afternoon) + embellishments (October Afternoon, Studio Calico, Ormolu, Prima, Kaiser Craft, My Mind's Eye) + stickers (American Crafts) + vellum + typewriter

Inspired by this pin. The original source may be found here.

A Note from Katie
I loved the circles in various muted tones and shades. I decided to go with a more monotone approach and only used colors that coordinated with my photo. I covered some of the punched circles with vellum.

October Fun Fact
While summer is my favorite season, I love October in Michigan. Pumpkin patches, cider mills, jumping in leaves, and Halloween are a few of my October loves. Plus, our neighborhood holds a scarecrow contest which is super fun and I most certainly plan on winning this year!

 

 

The View | Lisa Ottosson

Inspired by this pin.

A Note from Lisa
This page just happen to be inspired by one of Diane Payne's layouts! I have had it in my "Paper" board on Pinterest for a while and I love the tags with the journaling.

October Fun Fact
Do you know I have a series on my blog called From pin to reality? Yes, it is where I actually use all the cool stuff I pin to good use as inspiration! 

 

 

Life With a Brother is More Fun | Deb Duty

12 x 12 | materials patterned paper (Studio Calico, Authentique, October Afternoon) + embellishments (Studio Calico, October Afternoon) + letter stickers (American Crafts, Pink Paislee, October Afternoon) + stamps (Studio Calico, Basic Grey)

Inspired by this pin. The original source may be found here.

A Note from Deb
I chose this layout to scraplift because I love the layers and the messy look. I did some misting and for the first time distressed the edges of my paper!

October Fun Fact
I am getting ready to go to my first crop in about 15 years!

 

 

Four | Diane Payne


12 x 12 | materials patterned paper (Jillibean Soup) + embellishments (Jillibean Soup, Pebbles, Inc., Divine Twine)



Inspired by this pin. The original source may be found here.

A Note from Diane

I thought the colored tiles with the paint swatches below made a great design for a layout and used it as a sketch. I substituted bold bright colors for the subtle hues and added my photo, jounaling and embellishment cluster to right of the design.


October Fun Fact

October is my favorite month of the year!

 

Spring Recital I Christa Paustenbaugh

12 x 12 | materials cardstock (American Crafts) + patterned papers (Jenni Bowlin Studios) + stickers (Jenni Bowlin Studios) + plastic flower (Jenni Bowlin Studios) + chipboard (Jenni Bowlin) + jewels (Making Memories) + stamp (Jenni Bowlin)

Inspired by this pin. The original source may be found here.

A Note from Christa
I loved the quilted look of this Pinterest piece and wanted to replicate that in part of my layout. I cut 2” squares and cut them into triangles to all fit together in the same pattern as the quilt. I then stitched it to look more like a quilt effect.

October Fun Fact
This is the first year we won’t have to worry about it being too cold on Halloween to wear non long sleeved costumes. Living in a sub-tropical climate has its advantages, one of them being short sleeves and shorts while going out trick or treating!

 

On My Mind | Jennifer Larson

12 x 12 | materials cardstock (American Crafts, Bazzill) + patterned paper (Studio Calico, Echo Park, My Mind’s Eye, American Crafts, Kesi'Art) + embellishments (Studio Calico) + stickers (American Crafts, Pink Paislee) + punch (EK Success) + circle cutter (Coluzzle) + ink (Jenni Bowlin) + fonts (Times New Roman)

Inspired by this pin. The original source is here.

A Note from Jennifer Larson
I am a wonderful pinner-from-Pinterest but a lazy creator-from-Pinterest. As a result, I purposefully scrolled back to find inspiration from one of my oldest pins. I found a pin from the Indigo Bunting back from March, which made me want to scrap a page of what’s on my mind, using the various-sized circles as inspiration.

October Fun Fact
I will be running in my fourth 5K this month, which is definitely on my mind right now!

 

Smile | Valerie O'Neall

12 x 12 | materials cardstock (American Crafts) + vellum (Strathmore) + markers (Copic) + stamps (American Crafts, My Mind's Eye) + snapshots tag (Elle's Studio) + stamp ink (Staz On)

Inspired by this pin. The original source is here.

A Note from Valerie
This layout was inspired by a camera illustration by Dan Gnelding of Grayhood Design & Illustration.
This was such a fun challenge! It was actually a little hard to narrow it down and find the one pin I wanted to use as inspiration. I also had a lot of fun trying out this new technique with the vellum and Copic Airbrush System that I've had in my head for awhile. It worked almost as well as I imagined.

October Fun Fact
I just finished reading Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis. LOVED it! I want to buy multiple copies and lend it to everyone I know.

 

Inspired by Pinterest | Kathy Martin

12 x 12 | < b>materials card stock (Bazzill Basics) + patterned paper (My Mind’s Eye and Teresa Collins) + embellishments (Fancy Pants, Love My Tapes, My Mind’s Eye, Pebbles, Tim Holtz)

Inspired by this board.

A Note from Kathy Martin
I’ve been keeping a crochet and knitting board on Pinterest even though I don’t know how to do either. Just a couple weeks ago I decided to take the plunge and found a YouTube tutorial saved on my board and taught myself to crochet.

August Fun Fact
I finished the scarf and look forward its snuggly warmth around my neck this winter. I’m currently working on a blanket and I’m a quarter of the way done!

 

Cusp | Francine Clouden

12 x 12 | materials patterned paper (Dear Lizzy, Amy Tangerine, American Crafts) + chipboard stickers (American Crafts) + stickers (American Crafts, Amy Tangerine) + stamp (Dear Lizzy) + brad (Amy Tangerine) + masking tape + baker's twine + mini clothespins

Inspired by this pin. The original source is here.

A Note from Francine
As soon as I saw this ad on Pinterest I added it to my inspiration board. I just loved the large photo with the hanging tags, twine and mini clothespins. The great thing about inspiration is that you don't have to use everything, just the elements that stand out to you, You will notice that my layout has nothing to do with the holidays.

October Fun Fact
I'm looking forward to cracking open the first butternut squash from our garden this month.

 

Milo | Celeste Smith

12 x 12 | materials digital kit (Daydream by Tracy Martin at One Story Down) + alphabet (Noted Alphabet by Valorie Brown at One Story Down) + font (Traveling Typewriter)

Inspired by this pin. The original source is here.

A Note from Celeste
When I saw these pretty stitched cakes, I knew I wanted to use a white on white stitched background on a page. I love how the stitching gives the background some nice texture and draws the eye from the top left corner to the heart of the page.

October Fun Fact
Last year, Halloween was cancelled in our town due to a crazy early snowstorm that downed power lines and trees. The boys were so unhappy. They can't wait to get to trick-or-treat again this year!

 

NYC | Paula Gilarde

12 x 12 | materialscardstock (Core'dinations) + embellishments (Jillibean Soup twine and buttons) + stickers (Cosmo Cricket, October Afternoon, Studio Calico)

Inspired by this pin. The original source is here.

A Note from Paula
I've always been a collector of memorabilia. Even before I started scrapbooking, I used to save my tickets stubs and bits and pieces from places I visited. I occasionally try to incorporate one or two into my layouts but when I saw this layout by Amanda Jones on Pinterest, I was inspired to use ALL the ephemera I collected from our trip to NYC. It's a fun way to remember everything we did. In fact, I liked it so much that I pinned it twice!

October Fun Fact
I'm looking forward to the return of chilly weather so that I have an excuse to spend time indoors working on all the crafty projects that I've pinned!

 

be-YOU-tiful | Teka Cochonneau

8.5 x 11 | materials patterned paper (Jillibean Soup, Sassafrass) + embellishments (Jillibean Soup, Studio Calico) + stickers (Jillibean Soup) + stamps (Studio Calico) + washi (October Afternoon)

Inspired by this pin. The original source is here.

A Note from Teka
Pinterest is one of my favorite inspirational sites. I use it for ideas for backgrounds, colors, quotes, tutorials and so much more. Today I wanted to use a title from a cool quirky sign that is originally from Etsy.

October Fun Fact
October makes me want to cook. For some reason I crave curry when the weather starts to cool.

 

Rides | Vivian Masket

12 x 12 | materials cardstock (Bazzill Basics) + patterned paper (October Afternoon) + flashcard (October Afternoon) + washi tape (October Afternoon) + stickers (October Afternoon) + die cutting machine (Silhouette) + font (Typenoksidi)

Inspired by this pin. The original source is here.

A Note from Vivian
I love the look of confetti, but I find the mess of it daunting. I solved that problem my creating reverse confetti. I used a Silhouette cut file that contained multiple different shapes and then simply backed it with a vibrant patterned paper to create a fun confetti-look background for my layout…with one-step gluing rather than gluing down a hundred pieces of confetti..

October Fun Fact
October is my favorite month of the year. It always brings both our first snow and lots of days in the 80s (sometimes after the first snow!). The colors are just gorgeous everywhere we go.

 

Today | Alexandra Sirugue-Macleod

8.5 x 11 | materials paper and stamps (Penny Black) + glassine envelope and tag (Staples)+ paper clip (Target) + alphabets (Quickutz)

Inspired by this layout.

A Note from Alexandra
I love Laura’s fresh style and was inspired to lift the design of her page. It is an 8 1/2 by 11 inch page and it bears the same title "Today." The stamp and patterned paper (Madison collection)are from Penny Black. I used white ink and white embossing powder to stamp/heat emboss the border (Puzzle Parts) over a wash of water colors. The glassine bag is adhered underneath the stamped image and allows for more journaling to be tucked away.

October Fun Fact
While attending the Sorbonne, I worked as a bookie every morning!

 

More | Amy Sorensen

12 x 12 | materials patterened paper (Crate Paper, Echo Park, Pebbles) + alpha stickers (Basic Grey) + pennants (Silhouette) + fonts (Origin, Cafe Rojo)

A Note from Amy
My layout was inspired by two different pins. The first one wasn't actually pinned in Pinterest though! I first clicked on this pin that Lisa Kisch had pinned to the WCS Write board. Then I followed the link to the original website, The Handmade Home, and while browsing her blog I found this post (which has a funny bit about comic sans), which introduced me to the font Cafe Rojo. When I saw it I was like,hmmmmm, that looks just like a Basic Grey alpha sticker. So I dug around in my drawers until I found one. (These happen to be from their Lemonade line but there are several Basic Grey stickers that match this font nearly exactly.)

Still with me?

My next step down the inspiration path was to this pin also done by Lisa in the WCS Write board. I loved the repetition of the word "more," so I went digging through photos to find some that would work. The thing I loved about this process is that I might never have scrapped these pictures, because they're not very good—bad indoor lighting and grainy results. But they fit so well with the idea that I went ahead and used them anyway!

October Fun Fact
Back in September I told you I'd be trying to finish my son Kaleb's dinosaur quilt. I didn't quite manage to finish it, but the entire top is pieced and I'll start quilting it soon!

 

Shaved Ice | Erin Sweeney

8.5 x 11 | materials patterned paper (KI Memories, Scenic Route, Studio Calico, My Mind’s Eye) + stickers (American Crafts)

Inspired by this pin. The original source is here.

A Note from Erin
I pinned this game to my Halloween board since I’m starting to gather ideas for Mackenzie’s preschool Halloween party. I drew my inspiration from the buckets - replicating the circles and placing them on top of strips of patterned paper, just as the buckets are on rectangles of concrete.

October Fun Fact
My baby has just turned 2, which means I officially no longer have a baby, but rather a toddler. Let the terrible two’s begin!

 

Scenes | Emily Spahn

8.5 x 11 | materials {Gossamer Blue kit}: patterned paper (Bella Blvd, Jillibean Soup, October Afternoon) + alphabet stickers (Webster's Pages, Jillibean Soup, Prima Marketing) + buttons (Bella Blvd) + die cut tags (Chic Tags) + washi tape (Bella Blvd) + twine (Lawn Fawn) + cardstock (American Crafts) + border punch (Fiskars)

Inspired by this pin. The original source is here.

October Fun Fact
October is a month that I have a love/hate relationship with. I love everything about fall…apple picking, the pumpkin patch, football games, etc. However, I do not love that we tend to be busy with said fun activities every single weekend! We are definitely a busy family that's always on the move! But, I wouldn't change it for anything…before we know it, the snow will be here!!

 

Rockin’ Her Birthday Duds | Sarah Pendergrast

12 x 12 | materials patterned paper (American Crafts) + embellishments (October Afternoon, Studio Calico) + mask (Studio Calico) + mist (Studio Calico)+ stickers (American Crafts Thickers)

Inspired by this pin.

October Fun Fact
I’m secretly jealous of my daughter’s obsession with everything “rockstar.” I can only wish I was as “cool” when I was a kid! I have a feeling though she’ll eventually end up like me, a sporty nerd. ;)

 

Count | Emily Pitts

12 x 12 | materials cardstock (Bazzill Basics) + patterned papers, alphabet, stickers (Simple Stories) + floss (DMC) + chipboard (Maya Road) + embossing powder (Prima) + thread (Coats & Clark) + pen (EK Success)

Inspired by this pin. The original source is here.

A Note from Emily
I am not a huge fan of the hexagon shape, but pull it out like this and I find it really cool. I knew it would be easy to replace one of the hexagons with a photo, but was worried how to do that with the precision it required.

AH HA moment—a template! I hand cut an elongated hexagon that would fit over the photo, traced it in the middle of a large piece of paper and then cut it out again so I’d have a template to use when I cut the photo so it would fit perfectly in the shape. I used the same template to create all the shapes, hand cut them, and then moved everything around until it looked right.

I wasn’t too sure how to place my title, I usually don’t block one like this, but by leaving the top left and bottom right of the design open so you’d have a visual place to enter, see the title inside the shape, move to the photo, and then exit through the other space. I am happy with how it turned out.

A hand-stitched title supported the playful feel I was going for, and the happy and energetic repeated pattern is fun, kind of quirky, and full of life, very much like my daughter and her dear friend.

October Fun Fact
If my life were a movie, I’d want Drew Barrymore to play me. I also really like the subjunctive tense.

 

Our New Normal | Marnie Flores

12 x 12 | materials patterned papers & elements (Crystal Wilkerson) + font (KG Call Me Maybe)

Inspired by this pin. The original source is here.

A Note from Marnie
I loved all the colors and the banners and well, just everything about Nicole's layout. I added in a place for journaling at the bottom because I just didn't want to detract from that top left hand corner white space!!

October Fun Fact
Last summer, Costco had a lifesize skeleton guy for sale. My kids convinced my sweet spouse to buy it (something which I am sure took all of .01 milliseconds!). Today is the day the scary guy gets to come play. They are soooooo excited!

 

Dare Greatly | Marnie Flores

8 x 10 | materials patterned papers (Crystal Wilkerson) + ruler (Lori Whitlock) + elements (Jen Barrett Designs) + font (dropping tears sans)

Inspired by this pin. The original source is here.

A Note from Marnie
The beauty of Pinterest is that once you find something you love, you click on the designer and then suddenly lose yourself and fall in love with all sorts of other things. Then you try to make one just like it. Then you realize that you need to just be yourself. Then magic can happen. Just need to let go. That's the hardest part.

Before we go, we wanted to let you know that one of our partners is having a sale! Blurb is offering 15% off any book you create with promo code FALL15OFFBOOK. As the cold weather season begins, a Blurb book makes the perfect indoor project for the entire family. Plus, with Blurb, you can create a photo book by uploading your Instagram and Facebook images! Don't let your pictures sit in a camera. Capture your favorite moments today and create a photo book that you can cherish for a lifetime. Enjoy creating your Blurb Book today! Be sure to click through the link to let them know we sent you!

That's it! Another amazing gallery from our equally amazing write. click. scrapbook. team!Thank you, dear readers, for stopping by and please leave a comment for our designers letting them know how much you loved their layouts!

In Review

Hello and welcome to our final September Saturday! We have had a wonderful month here and hope that you have had as well. While we love our Summertime Dailies, our week long author weeks are near and dear to our hearts, and this month has been spectacular! Marnie got us off to a good start with a week of preparations for a "new year." Then Francine provided us all with a much appreciated photography skills week. Monika spearheaded an inspirational week demonstrating the many uses of twine which lead us right into this technique week filled with Kathy's amazing talents, hints, and suggestions.

And as if that wasn't enough, we had our Saturday workshop challenges. Did you practice adding in details as per Amy's helpful article? Or maybe you were inspired by Lisa's monthly photo challenge? You still have a couple of days before the calendar changes to put together a plan for the month of October... Lastly, Marnie brought you three more page starters, with a sketch, a color combo, and a design trend.

It really has been an incredible, information-packed, inspiration-filled month.

Before we welcome October, as with each month's end, today we are taking one last walk back through our gallery. Let's look back at Looking Back!

 

This month we are going to maintain our lists, but with a twist. Using our gallery layouts, we've put together three lists of ten things we can try on our layouts.

1. make a list of things that you mightn't have expected from your life Diane
2. find a childhood photo and let your mind wander. spend 10 minutes recording memories. Vivian
3. write about something that affected you greatly Celeste
4. find a childhood photo. write down the thing that first comes to mind. Deb
5. relate the story of a skill that was acquired Erin
6. find a then and now photo pairing and record the changes Christa
7. write about a recent event as if it had happened longer before. see how (if) your perspective changes. Alexandra
8. record things about your older children that their younger selves would have loved Amy
9. compare and contrast a photo from now with a photo taken on the exact day two years earlier. Marnie
10. document your ongoing (or everchanging!) food loves Francine

 

1. use a now and a then photo Francine
2. find an photo that you haven't scrapped that shows a snippet of real life Emily
3. gather a selection of photos that span a year and use them all on one layout Jennifer
4. use a photo more than 15 years old Monika
5. find friends who have shown up in photos over the years. put the photos all on one layout. Paula
6. enlarge a closeup photograph Teka
7. find a photo from the same day two years earlier. use both on one layout. Marnie
8. ask your parents for a photo of you as a child with your grandparent(s) Kelly
9. go take a photo of a place you used to live/visit/spend time (even if it doesn't look the same) Katie
10. take a photo of your rearview mirror or side mirror to help emphasize a reflective layout Diane

 

1. use a graphic element three times in varying proportion Katie
2. mask and mist Valerie
3. punch an element out of your patterned paper and then use the punched piece elsewhere on the layout Lisa
4. use patterned paper that helps tell the story of your layout Kathy
5. use a calender element on a page about change Christa
6. use varying shades of the same color Sarah
7. try out a new size Alexandra
8. trim your photos and papers in varying sizes of the same shape Jennifer
9. keep all your page elements in a central column Teka
10. use two primary colors and one secondary Deb

 

30 more reasons to scrapbook!! And to help you create some fun pages we have a new printable for you that accompanies our theme of Looking Back.

You may download it here. And for extra points, see if you can name the tv show that inspired the 90s tag!

Have a terrific weekend and we will see you back Monday for our brand new gallery!