Winter Sketch #9

This week's sketch is from Page Maps (December 2010):



And here is the layout I made with it:



I stuck pretty close to this week's sketch, only adapting it to make a 12x12 layout and changing the position of the title and circle elements slightly.

If you'd like to play along with my Winter Sketches, just create a layout using one of the sketches I post. Post your layout in the MSS gallery and then link it to this thread in the forum. Your name will be entered into a draw to win a RAK from me.

AND, since I had such a positive response to the added challenges last week, I'm adding a bonus challenge for this week, too. This means that if you create a layout using the sketch, you'll be entered into the draw once. However, if you use the sketch and the following challenge, your name will be entered twice!

Here's the challenge:

Add some sparkle to your layout.

It's a little hard to tell in my photo, but when I stamped the large flourish onto my page, I'd spritzed it first with a shimmer mist to add some shine.

Okay, so there's the sketch and the challenge.

Can't wait to see what you create.

storing inspiration.

as scrappers, we get inspiration from numerous sources - magazines, clothing, websites - anything! so how do you store all that inspiration?

i mainly get my inspiration from websites - blogs, manufacturer websites, home decor websites and kit clubs. for the most part, i rotate between the same few websites so i usually remembered where i saw a particular image. but a few months ago, i decided to give tumblr a try to help me store all these websites anyway. tumblr is a blogging tool that enables you to post text, images, URLs, videos, etc. to your blog. you can then follow other tumblr sites and repost any images, etc. you see on other blogs, to your blog.


now, i fancy myself as being pretty technologically savvy, but for some reason, i could never get the hang of it. i tried and tried and tried, but for some reason, i could never get things to show up the way i wanted them to. so i reverted back to just bookmarking websites.

until a few days ago.

pinterest started popping up on scrapbooking websites as another website like tumblr. the difference between pinterest and tumblr is that you can sort your links on different boards - kind of like different bulletin boards. so you can have one for scrapbooking, one for home decor, one for recipes, etc. which for an organizational nut like me, is heaven. like tumblr, you can follow other people's boards and repin anything you see on their boards to yours.


the way it works is simple - once you get started, drag the bookmarklet to your toolbar. (don't worry, if what i said makes no sense, it's one of the steps in the set up process!). as you're browsing the web, simply hit the bookmarklet on any image you'd like to 'pin'. it will then ask what board you want to pin it to, and voila! it's stored for future reference.

one of the best features though, is the search function. you can type it anything - say, gift wrap - and up pops other people's gift wrap boards, or pins. you can then look through their links to see if anything appeals to you. for example, when i typed in scrapbooking, i got 1,309 pins and 401 boards. talk about inspiration!

the only catch with pinterest is that you need an invitation to get started. so if you're interested, shoot me a pm and i'll hook you up. i only have a limited amount of invites, though! oh, and if you want to see my pinterest site, check it out here.

how do you store your inspiration? a binder? bookmarking? a blog? i'm interested to hear!

Winter Sketch #8 & a bonus

For my sketch this week, I chose a sketch made by Jennifer Gallacher at 2Peas:



Here's the layout I made with it:



I decided to rotate the sketch once and use three photos instead of four. I really liked the circles in a row and decided to include them on my layout. However, when I was putting it together, I realized that I didn't have room for a title along the bottom, so I placed it in one of the circles instead.

If you'd like to play along with my Winter Sketches, just create a layout using one of the sketches I post. Post your layout in the MSS gallery and then link it to this thread in the forum. Your name will be entered into a draw to win a RAK from me.

And now for the bonus....

As I was making this layout, I kept thinking of challenges that would go along with it. (Not sure why-- it's just how I'm wired!)

Anyway, I thought I'd post those challenges here and if you create a layout using the sketch & one of these challenges, then your name will be entered in the draw twice. Use two challenges with the sketch, and your name will be entered in three times, etc.

So, here are the challenges:

1. Mix up your size of photos. No two photos can be the same size. On my layout, the large photo is 5"x7", the centre one is 2 5/8"x4" and the third one is 2 7/8"x4".

2. Alter a premade embellishment. The little owl in the circle is MME and came in a pack of layered stickers. However, her little bow was blue and now what I wanted for the layout. So I cut her a new bow from patterned paper so she'd coordinate better with my layout.



3. Use pop dots to add some dimension to your page. Other than with the layered owl sticker, I added pop dots to my circles/heart to raise them off the scalloped circles a little.

4. Use a sentiment stamp as your title. I used the little "just for you" stamp as my title.



5. Use 2 or more punches. I used four on this page.

Alright, I think that's good. I hope you'll play along with my bonus challenges this week.

Winter Sketch #7

For this week's sketch, I chose Sketch 138 from Creative Scrappers:



And here's the layout I made with it:



Honestly, when I first saw this sketch, I dismissed it because I didn't think I'd make a layout with a large star on it. But then I thought of my daughter's "Star of the Week" photos and the memorabilia that went along with it and I decided that the star would make a great pocket to tuck those things into.



If you'd like to play along with my Winter Sketches, just create a layout using one of the sketches I post. Post your layout in the MSS gallery and then link it to this thread in the forum. Your name will be entered into a draw to win a RAK from me.

Thanks for looking!

use your scraps

so this weekend i only managed one layout for
the online crop..bummer. but i did have fun
with the layout i made. i did a paper pieced
layout with only scraps. i did use a full sheet
of kraft cardstock, but that doesn't count.



i have done a few of these type of layouts, they
mostly get done as gifts though. i have 2 for myself
the one i currently finished and this other gem
thats hanging in my dining room.



how is it done,you ask??
its pretty easy...first i decide on a photo..i
like doing the photo in black and white. i find
with all the colour and shapes the photo stands
out better.

then i gather my supplies. i have my scraps divided
into colour..that way when i'm want dimension in the
grass i have all my shades of green together.

to assemble a layout like this is basically the same
as any other layout. lots of moving and shifting.
i also like the gradients in colour..(like in the grass
of the first photo). when doing these layouts i also try
to keep everything off the photo..and i try to be
careful with how much embellishment i stick on it. these
layouts can get crowded really easily, and with so much
patterns and layers, it can look like too much...
in my first photo, i do feel i am pushing the boundries
on too much stuff. but at first the roof of my house
seemed like too much open and empty space...originally
the heart was in the tree, i moved the heart and added
the pink butterflies...i think its the butterflies
doing that for me...maybe the bird in the sun?? i still
love it though...i love how it is imperfect. the lines
aren't straight.

anyhoo, i'd love to see how your layout like this turns
out! post it in the gallery..
let this be your challenge of the week!!
later, jen

Winter Sketch #6

I created this sketch for this week:



And since I'm very tired of winter, I decided to create a summer layout with the sketch. Here it is:



I adapted the sketch to accomodate 8 wallet sized photos, instead of two 4x6.

If you'd like to play along with my Winter Sketches, just create a layout using one of the sketches I post. Post your layout in the MSS gallery and then link it to this thread in the forum. Your name will be entered into a draw to win a RAK from me.

And if you're looking for more challenges to get your scrappy mojo going, check out the online crop that MSS is having this weekend in the forum.