Inspired By...Ombre

The assignment from Get It Scrapped!: Make a page in which you incorporate an ombre color treatment in some creative way. I decided to do something that did not involve paper. Boy, was that a challenge! After several false starts, I finally came up with this...

I combined two popular trends: ombre and hand stitching. First, unique handmade photo corners highlight my focal point photo. Next, a double border frames the entire layout, adding texture and interest. The result is a clean and simple layout using no patterned paper, yet still delivering a bold punch of color.

You can see what the rest of the team has done in the article here. What do you think about this trend? Are you on the ombre bandwagon?

Current Issue: Grids and Blocks

Click here to view more details

Go To Designs: Criss Cross

Taking my cue from Debbie Hodge's Scrapbook Coach series, I decided to make the Criss-Cross design my Go To for August. An easy choice, as I already have completed about a dozen scrapbook pages using this design scheme! I narrowed my selections to these five.

The criss-cross foundation is also known as a cross foundation, or a T foundation. It is simply a horizontal arm crossing a vertical arm on the page. In this example, my photos form the vertical arm while white cardstock and border strips define the horizontal.

The "arms" of the cross provide resting places for photos, title and journaling. Here I've placed the photos on a horizontal mat with the title and journaling above and below. The vertical arm is strictly decorative.

The intersection of the horizontal and vertical arms provides a strong focal point for the page. On this layout, all my important page elements are on the criss-cross. I've chosen to embellish in a visual triangle around it.

Once the criss-cross is defined, pieces can then be placed for impact and balance. For example, the large horizontal title is balanced by my photo and row of vertical wooden buttons. 

This most recent page came directly as a result of watching one of the videos from the Scrapbook Coach Criss Cross series. As usual, I have a Pinterest board of more criss-cross layouts for further inspiration. No matter what you call it, the criss-cross a great Go To Design! Is this one in your scrapping repertoire?

This series was inspired by the Layout Issue at Masterful Scrapbook Design.

Click here to view more details

Inspired By...Monograms

My assignment from Get It Scrapped!: Make a page with a monogram used in a creative and prominent way. I can accept that challenge. This page is about how my husband and I used to communicate when we were apart. 

Collection Featured: Fancy Pants Trendsetter

The first letters of our first names are P and S, which reminded me of the song "P.S. I Love You" by the Beatles, whose lyrics reminded me of a story I've wanted to tell about how we used to write letters to each other, but now we text and email. I know, my mind travels in strange directions at times...

To convey the double meaning of the letters, I cut them as fancy monograms with my Silhouette. I also cut a monogram flourish to use as an embellishment. The wood veneer figures and ampersand are further clues. All is revealed at the end of my journaling.

You can see what the rest of the team did with their monograms in the article here. Are you ready to get creative with your techniques and materials and embellish your next page with a monogram?

Current Issue: Grids and Blocks

Click here to view more details

Inspired By...Grids and Blocks

Taking my cue from the most recent class at Masterful Scrapbook Design, I have been happily working the grid and block design this month. I posted this grid layout earlier and moved on to this blocked page.

Collection Featured: Bella Blvd. All American

From reading the PDF and attending online webinars, I make a list of ideas I'd like to try. For instance, on this one page I worked in these design techniques:

• layering elements over a blocked canvas
• creating a grid within a grid (the circles)
• using a vertical title
• creating a visual triangle: title + journaling + embellishment grid
• adding scallops and circles to soften the lines

I've completed more layouts using grids and blocks, but they are for Design Team assignments, so I can't post  them yet. Sorry 'bout that. What I can offer you is a coupon, good for 10% off the 3-class bundle (Grids, Tension, Color) at Masterful Scrapbook Design through August 20. Simply use the coupon code msdlifememories10 when you check out.

Click here to view more details

Scrapbook Coach: Criss Cross with a Coupon!

I'm really enjoying Debbie Hodge's series of Scrapbook Coach classes this summer. I recently did one of the lessons in her newest class, Criss Cross, which consisted of watching a video about 15 minutes long, and making my own page alongside the lesson.

Since a picture is worth a thousand words, here's a 3-minute peek at one of the videos. There are 4 videos and an accompanying PDF for each class.



I normally don't watch many videos to the end, but Debbie holds my attention because:

she explain not just what she's doing, but why

she encourages me to stop and think about choices

she focuses on one design task at a time, yet considers the whole

she challenges me to try things I normally would not think to do

Collection Featured: Simple Stories 24/Seven

Here's the page I made based on Debbie's lesson. I think these video classes are especially great for summer scrapbooking. They are quick, easy, you get a layout done and go back to enjoying summer! I also love that I'm learning something in the process.

You can purchase an individual class, or save money on a bundle. All classes come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked. And from now through August 15th, I can offer you an additional 10% off the already discounted 6-class bundle, just because you are reading this post! Simply use the coupon code scraplifememories10 when you check out.

Click here to view more details

Inspired By...Scraplifting Myself

My assignment from Get It Scrapped!: Share 2 pages, one that you made without a sketch or template and one that you made as a lift of the first page.

When scraplifting myself, I like to find an older layout and create an updated version of the design for my new page. My first page from 2008 is looking a bit dated, but I still love the photos and the story about my husband's love of sweet corn. Isn't that what's important?

Collection Featured: Fancy Pants Trendsetter

The new page reflects my current style. This is a quick and easy way to complete a layout, much like using a sketch. I don't try to re-invent the wheel. It's fine with me if the two pages look similar, although they usually don't!

How I Scrapped Then: 

• 4x6 photos, no matting
• patterned paper: straight cuts, tearing
• flat letter stickers
• computer journaling
• single embellishments
• visual triangle

How I Scrap Now:

• different photo sizes, usually matted on white card stock, pop dotting
• patterned paper: border punches, inking edges, framing the page
• Thickers, Silhouette cuts
• typed journaling strips
• multiple kinds of embellishments, layered
• visual triangle

You can see what the rest of the team did with the assignment here. Have you ever scraplifted yourself?

Current Issue: Grids and Blocks

Click here to view more details

Two-Page Tuesday: Divided Page Protectors

Nope, I haven't forgotten the topic. Quite the contrary. When I have a pile of pictures I want to scrap quickly, I like to make a single page layout and simply slip the rest of my photos into a divided page protector.

I resist the urge to add more embellishments. Divided page protectors are all about speed!

Collection Featured: Bella Blvd. All American

 Here is the two-page spread. But wait! What about the other side of that divided page protector?

Never fear, the back side is filled with a little patterned paper and four more pictures. Maybe I should start a new blog feature and call it Three-Page Thursday?

Write. Click. Scrapbook August Gallery

It's August 1st and today is my very first contribution to the monthly gallery over at Write. Click. Scrapbook. The theme this month is Go To Designs. Hmmm...does that sound familiar? I decided to use a previous design, because isn't that the point of having "Go To" designs in the first place?

Collection Featured: Fancy Pants Trendsetter

This layout is an example of “Snuggle and Separate.” The photos and title are grouped on larger mats, while the journaling is layered on top of a smaller embellishment collection in the upper RH corner. Because I love to design in groups of three, I couldn’t resist adding a very small embellishment cluster at the top LH corner.

Journaling reads: Phil’s been carrying both cameras and giving me a chance to take a few shots. Which in this case, deteriorated into a shooting war of sorts.

You can see what the rest of the team has done here. There's plenty of ideas and inspiration for you to start collecting your own Go To Designs!