Sandra's travel trick ...

Hi Meredith

Whenever we travel anywhere I always make sure that Teagan and I take a couple of these and I also make sure I have plenty for on the way home. Going to QLD in July and visiting the theme parks there ... I wonder if the chemist here does a special deal on bulk buys??

cheers for now

Sandra

Oh Sandra ... too funny ... you must have read Amanda's prompt to think a little off from the norm!! Oh and have a blast when you go away ... yahoo!!!

Sandra - she

WOW wow wow. Absolutely amazing. Love absolutely everything about this.....the circular framing around the photo by the vine, crochet flowers and buttons. Another Tiff photo? Fantastic. The pink on the flowers and the blue of the paper - stunning. Very clever idea with the inking of the thickers too - great saving tip and what a great way to get the 'exact' colour you need!

Sandra Says:

Finished this layout today.Lost my mojo for awhile , and I was just pushing papers around... then saw your last tip and thought... 'yep, stop your whining Sandra and just get on with it.'Finally used my prima vine flowers and also used my digital overlay which has been sitting in my misc files for ages.If anyone wants it just let me know in the comments and I will email it to you... it comes as a jpeg file.. sooo easy to use.the quote is she must be somebody special, she is, celebrate her.. you can't quite see it there on the bottom, but its there! Also downloaded new fonts (another new skill for me) and actually used one.. the font I used is called 'As I lay dying'..... lol bright and cheerful name isn't it?Also inked my thickers to match the layout.. they were white before! (something else new) such a great way to save money...Well thats me for now.off to do some housework, lost my mojo for that too. lol

***EDITED TO ADD = congratulations Sandra . Beautiful page that deserves a removed for publication picture!***

Marika - photo challenge

What a classic photo marika.

I know that we can all relate to this - great interpretation of the theme 'travel'.

She says:

Hi Amanda, Just remembered this photo I took of the kids on the way back from Adelaide. Thank god for DVD players our kids travel really well with that.

I think it looks like you are at the whyalla / cowell stretch by the looks on their faces LOL.

Great job.

Sue's travel photo

I have many great photos from various holidays, and my favourite photos i get block mounted to 5 x 7 size and are on my wall above my computer....shots from NT - Ayres Rock, Great Ocean Road VIC, Busselton jetty WA, Movie World QLD etc...

On our last trip....to Cairns and outer areas, i took photos of road signs...which proved to come handy in sorting out photos when i got home....and had many many photos of all the different falls. And at the time my DH thought i was totally crackers!! And this photo reminds me of that moment!

Sue's - Giggle 'n Play

Here's a page 'just of interest' to show you, one that was a challenge over at Scrapboxx, which was to use a patterned background, larger than 4 x 6 photo and the photo had to be imperfect. So i thought yep, i will do this..... i struggle with patterned backgrounds, so this was quite a challenge for me!! I didn't get it into the boxx in time, so here it is. The photo....well, Evan just kept running towards me giggling, hence why his head is cut off (not really imperfect, but oh well).

And 'notice' it is a smaller size too.....something i don't normally do. An inspiration from those Ali tips!! Hope you have found them inspiring, every one of them, i thought ...."yeah...so true"

So maybe you could try one of these too.... the imperfect photos have a story also to tell.

Ali E's tip of the day

20. Go make something right now. Stop whining. Stop coming up with excuses. Start now.

that wraps up all the 20 tips that Ali Edwards shared on her blog. I hope i haven't bored everyone to tears with these....i find them inspirational and i hope someone out there has too.

Thanks to the girls who have left comments on the tips.

Hopefully we will see lots of scrapping flooding into our inbox to show on here as things have been a little quiet of late!

Dont forget our challenges for this month - Sue's Sketch, Quote from the Book of She and the photography challenge. If you have already participated perhaps you would like to do either another layout OR think outside the square a little for the travel photography challenge. Get out your camera and get creative!

You might like to send in a picture of something that you have been working on at the moment - totally random and unrelated to the challenges. We love seeing what others have been making!

Don't panic - we wont let your scrapping mojo rest as I am certain that there are another one or two challenges just around the corner!

Book of She ... Meredith

This quote stood out to me when I read through the quotes and I immediately thought of this series of photos I took on a weekend away in April at a stitching retreat.

Ali E's tip of the day

19. Create less. Rather than doing a bunch of layouts just for the sake of filling up an album, spend more time on just a few stories that really have meaning for you and your family

Scrapping is such a personal thing. I know scrappers who scrapbook every photo they have ever taken. If you want to do that - great.

I dont.
I do not have time or the money to waste to be bothered scrapping photos that are crappy or have no significance in my life. As Ali has suggested above, i concentrate on the guts of my life - not every single waking moment. And it isn't always the nice fluffy stuff either! This is how *I* scrapbook.

Again if you do not agree - well that is good too. This craft is such a personal thing and that is the great thing about it. How we do it, the process and the end product is different for everyone and that is WONDERFUL.

But if you want to streamline your scrapping take note of Ali's tip today.

I have also read where she writes about scrappers who scrap chronologically........and there are plenty of ladies who do this. There is always this catch cry of 'oh but i am so many years behind'. Why? Why limit yourself like this? Scrap what you want to when you want to. By the time you get to your 'now' photos you will have forgotten the story.

Dont limit yourself.

Ali E's tip of the day

18. Take some time to go back over all the layouts you have created and give yourself a hug for all the stories you have told. Taking a look at the body of your work will give you a whole new perspective on what you have done and where you want to go next.

This is so true. How often have you flicked back through your albums? I know i don't enough but my kids love getting them out and looking through them - remembering the stories and reading about what we were doing a few years back.

I saw a page that had slipped out of my album a couple of days ago which i had done in 2006. It was all about where i hoped i would be in 10 years time. Even though only 3 years had past, i had forgotten the detail of what i had written however i was relieved to read my goals were still the same. It was a strange feeling reading it, as if my 2006 self was sitting there talking to me now (if you get my drift). That is the one reason that i do believe journalling is sooooo important. Yes it is nice to do a few 'adore' 'beautiful' 'sisters' type pages but every now and then get down to the nitty gritty.

and yeah - look back at what you have done and be proud of all those memories that you have preserved!

Book of She ... Jenny

"The challenge is my most favourite photo of my Mama taken at Trafalgar square.
Jenny"

Oh Jenny what an amazing photo ... and the quote is so beautiful. Love your layout ... the birds look fabo and the cluster of embellishments at the bottom left look great. Thank you so much!!

Jenny's travels ...

Jenny said ...

" The photo was from our trip through the Simpson desert, it seems like eons ago."

Great photo Jenny!! Thank you for sending it through!!

Ali E's tip of the day

17. Bring your scrapbook talents into your home environment (also known as living with your art). Create collages to hang in your home. Enlarge and frame your favorite photos or layout. Create cool accents for your mantle with your supplies. There is so much that can be done with all those supplies you have collected to bring your hobby into the living areas in your home.

Do you display your scrapping or photographs in your home? I really hope you do = hang it up, leave an album out on the coffee table to flick through, use your Off the Page items. Be proud of what you make.

Amanda - she

This page is of my brother's girlfriend Emily. She has been a really lovely addition to our family and when i heard this quote she was the first one i thought of. Her joy of life, gorgeous smile and bright, bubbly, happy personality make her a absoulte delight to be around.

In a bit of a corny twist this photo is from 2006 when Rhino and Em were travelling in France. Very faintly in the background is the Eiffel Tower. I debated for a long time wether it was too cheesy using that photo but i was given the green light by a clever scrapper!

Also will add that the journalling block is inspired by the new Tim Holtz stamps - some delicious fonts there!

She - Tracey

Found this in my inbox today - just beautiful Tracey!!

Howdy Sue,

This is my fourth 'She' page I have done (that's what happens when you have three girls). I really like this one as it is a bit different from my normal stuff. Different size page and I also haven't done one landscape this size yet either. Journalling says ' She just has this way of brightening the day. Celebrate her radiance'. Very Charlotte, although as I am doing this she is not so radiant..... in fact she is bawling her eyes out on the lounge!!! Just another day in the Wooley household. Have a great weekend.

Tracey

Just love it Tracey - love the rubon swirl down the side and your stitching!!

Hope your all having a lovely relaxing weekend...and maybe a spare moment to scrap a little!

Sue ;)

Sue's Sketch ... by Meredith

I have turned the sketch side ways ... !!!

Ali E's tip of the day

16. Make sure you are in your scrapbooks. Take photos of yourself. Set your timer. Hand over your camera. Get together with friends to take photos of one another. Your kids and your family will thank you.


Ok so this is basically following on from what Meredith was saying last month. Not only is it important to scrap great times in your life but it is vital, ESSENTIAL for you to feature in there too. Take photos of yourself goofing around with the kids. Take one of you and your husband. Just BE in the shot. Take a photo of YOU by yourself and journal about YOU - just you.

How fascinating for your children to look back on this in years to come. Can you imagine having a scrapbook album in your hands of your own grandmothers, looking at a photo of her and learning about things that she thought at that time. How awesome would that be???!!

What an amazing piece of history you can create.

Karen's Creations ...

Hi Meredith,
Thought I'd share the"LOVE" ;) I haven't gotten to the challenges yet (I will, I will) but yesterday I did some scrapping, YAY!!! (it feels like forever) I have been inspired by some of the other girls who are trying different size LO's and decided to give it a go. I'm hooked!!!! I think you don't feel like you have all this space and need to fill it up, if this makes sense?! LOL. I'm hoping to spend a day just scrapping this weekend with a beverage or two ;)
Cheers have a good weekend.
Karen D

Karen just looking at these layouts fills me with the need to scrap soon!!

Love the colours the A4 type size, the white space, the photos, the embellishments ... just love them both ...

right I'm off to scrap ... !!!

Marika - Sue's sketch

Marika has turned Sue's sketch onto it's side and come up with a fabulous page! Love the embellishment cluster and those papers just pop against the black! Very cute beach photos too = what little surfer boys you have Marika.

And that stripe paper looks familiar too ;-)

beautiful work and great alternative interpretation.

Book of She ... Tracey

Howdy Meredith,

Attached is my layout for the She challenge. I took a photo of it at an angle to avoid the glare and when I cropped it, it now looks entirely crooked. In real life it is all pretty square.

Anyway, this quote is very fitting for my mum, this is her at 17 years old. 'She made the whole world feel like home. Celebrate her warmth.'

I stuck with a layout I've done a few times but enjoy. I am so into this striped paper and I only have a smidgen left.... I'm a bit upset about that!!!
Hope you have had a great day.
Tracey

Oh Tracey what a beautiful photo!! Love the colours you have used, the layed flowers look so effective. Really like the red font too for the quote. Such a stunning layout ... fabo!!

Have you used a rub on in the top right hand corner? And that striped paper looks like a Basic Grey one ... ???

Ali E's tip of the day

15. Read more about the Art of Finding.

Now i have only had time to skim read this but as far as i can see it is about collecting bits of memorabilia from our lives and using them. While this is great for 'memory lane' type scrapping it also strongly advocating the message of 're-use and recycle'.

I am not a huge fan of collage - it just isn't my style - but i do agree a page with lots of interesting bits and peices really makes you want to look at it for hours to see what else you can find hidden!

Further along the road ... Trish's travels ...

Hi Meredith
As promised. The bottom line in red actually says "Germans 4 1/2".
Cheers Trish

Great photography Trish ... you must have known we were going to have a travel photo slot :-)

She ... by Tiff

"Hi Meredith.

Oh I love this one. It came together so well.

Lots of different influences are involved here.

1. Sandra's home made Prima Lollipop Flowers

2. Nic's use of the Prima Flowers on her 'Life with you is Sweet' LO at Puzzle sketches

3. The She...challenge at e2c

4. The gorgeous photo of Annie taken by Amanda Hall.

5. Very loosely based on a sketch from Page Maps. (well it gave me the germ of an idea, but ended up nothing like it lol)

thanks.
Tiff"

Tiff ... the pink and black look stunning together, the flowers are gorgeous with those leaves and the punched decorative border is beautiful. The photo is beautiful too!! You should be so pleased with this layout!!

Sandra - she

Sandra says:

Hi Amanda
Here is my entry for the 'She' challenge...REALLY love these quotes. When I saw this quote in the list Narrelle came to mind...This is a scraplift.....look familiar?? lol
LOVED your Cry layout with young Sean, sooo used this layout as inspiration to try something new (lol.. again) and played with my photoshop.

I used photoshop to erase the background and make the photo lighter... there is a technical term there... but beyond me at the moment, and then printed the photo on to cardstock.Soo much fun... and scared the s#*t out of me too! 3 pieces of cardstock later (lol) and finally got to stick something on the page. Not 100% happy, but as Ali
says... just stick it on and move on!

thanks for the inspiration

Thank YOU Sandra. It is a huge compliment to be scraplifted and what an amazing job you have done. That quote is PERFECT and love the finished effect with the blue/teal papers picking up N's top. Stunning Sandra. You should be 110% happy chook!

Dont forget that you can forward your layouts/ photos / challenges to any one of us (Meredith, Sue and me) I am feeling like a bit of a blog hog atm so sharing out the posts would be fabbo :) We need the other two E2C ladies to feel the love as well!

Tracey - travel

Tracey has forwarded these great travel shots onto me for our travel photo theme.

She says:

Love the background in this one as it looks more like a painting. It was taken during a dust storm, hence the look. This is near Angorichina, Flinders Ranges

This one is taken on the walk into Wilpena Pound. Just love the scenery up there.

Great photos Trace! The trees and path look awesome in this bottom shot and i thought it really was an old painting effect on the top one - fantastic.

amanda - Sue's sketch

the scan is a bit fuzzy but you get the idea. Did journalling strips instead of laying pp horizontally.

Ali E's tip of the day

14. Collect stuff (and not just scrapbook supplies). Mail pieces. Tags. Bits of stuff. Cut it up. Grab a manila folder or a basket or a box (don't make it complicated) and stick stuff in there. Regularly dip back into that spot for ideas and inspiration.

This is something that i do not do = i wonder if you do? I don't really venture far from the scrapbooking products side of things. I collect ideas and that is about it. Do you have a storage place for all those little finds?

Trish's Travels ...

Trish sent me some photos from some recent travelling ...

"This was taken just north of Pt Augusta on my recent trip to Marla. "

I think this is a classic photo ;-) ... only in Australia. I grew up on a station northwest of Woomera and they didn't have those signs back then!!

"This is "travelling" home from Coffins from a night shift. This is a sunrise at Edilillie."

Beautiful Trish ... very serene.

Thank you for your photos.

Sue's - 'She' challenge

When i first read this i thought, oh wow....that's too hard for me! And while i was out walking the old brain cogs got going!

I knew which photo i wanted to use....one of my Nanna Proctor many years ago....enjoying a cuppa tea at some supper dance. I love this photo of her. Just which quote to pick was probably the most difficult....so many suited this grand lady.

I have been wanting to use my new Tim Holtz bird/ branch stamp, these new October Afternoon papers that i purchased at Lock shop on Saturday, plus cut some card in a semi circle........and before i knew it, the page had come together.

Challenge completeo!

Ali E's tip of the day

13. You can never go wrong with circle or square punches.

I have been experimenting a bit of late myself with round-ness on my pages... and do you know what? I am loving the effect.

Marika - she

*insert bulging eyes*

O.M.G. Marika. This is GREAT. love love love love the blue paint, the combo ofpapers and that clear dymo. Your photo is incredible - what a great shot! And oh my goodness i just love how that quote gives me goosebumps on that page - so beautiful.

and is this a smaller size i see too? Great work - good on you for experimenting size wise. You are total proof that bigger isn't always better and that great things come in small packages. We have been telling our men that for ages so now we need to believe it ourselves LOL.

Tiff - she

oh wow this one is amazing Tiff. Really lovely.

Tiff says:

the Prima Petite Fleur vine just sets this one off perfectly. Great timing for these quotes as I have a number of Annie photos coming up that they will suit perfectly. So you may see a few from me this month. ;-P I put in an extra pic so you could see the 'watermark' print of the quote. Very very subtle in real life. Amanda Hall
Photography ;-D

that prima vine is perfect there Tiff. Lovely use of that quote.

Maryanne - photo challenges

Maryanne has sent me two images for last month's looking down photo challenge. She asked me to decide which one i liked better but i couldn't either. LOVE the vicious look of this first one

and the crispness of the photo in this next one -

Maryanne says :

this is our[sort of] cat lucky.Scruff rescued him from one of the cells at the yeelanna silos around 7 years ago.Hes never really become domesticated,still a little feral, and actually went missing for a couple of years but turned up again around a year ago!!

Fabulous- love these!

and i almost fell off my chair when i saw this next one for the current theme of TRAVEL.

Maryanne says:

And heres something for the travel challenge....very appropriate for me as I will be going to nsw in 3 weeks time and have been getting a little concerned about travelling with all this swine flu about.Have even been considering one of these....but maybe not..

classic shots Maryanne. Funny fish!

Ali E's tip of the day

12. Just stick it down. If you have been looking at a single layout for days and days and days it is probably time to just stick it all down and move on the next. Isn't it awesome that there is always another story to tell?

again i think i may have to frame this one and sing it like a monk's mantra 'stick it down, just stick it down'

Trish's gift

"Just a little project I have finished for an 80th birthday pressy. Its for a lady Mum and I stayed with in Port Augusta on our way to Marla recently. We both were given a cup of tea (saucer included) in bed each morning,ohhh bliss. I know it doesn't fit a challenge but someone suggested rather strongly that I should send it in LOL. Any guesses who?
Cheers Trish S."

Wow Trish ... love those bling embellishments and the flowers with the brad centre!! I am sure the lady will love your gift! An amazing lady by the sound of it too!

Hello June

Welcome to June and here is a whole bunch of new challenges we hope will inspire you to create!

Sue's Sketch for June

Sue says -

Here's my sketch challenge for June. I have distressed the edges of the papers, added various embellishments and even some rubons up along the side - which aren't part of the sketch..... so have fun and i look forward to seeing what you all come up with.

Amanda's Challenge

Ok well my challenge is to make a layout but incorperate a quote..........some very specific quotes actually. Don't worry - there is a LOT you can choose from. Just choose one and let the quote inspire you.

These quotes are from a great empowering book by Kobi Yamada.

{She} ...by Kobi Yamada

• She must be something special. She is. Celebrate her.




• She loved life and it loved her back. Celebrate her passion.




• She listened to her heart above all other voices. Celebrate her wisdom.




• She pursued big dreams instead of small realities. Celebrate her priorities.




• She saw every ending as a new beginning. Celebrate her resiliency.




• She discovered her real measurements had nothing to do with numbers or statistics. Celebrate her self-esteem.




• She was kind, loving and patient…with herself. Celebrate her tenderness.




• She woke up one day and threw away all her excuses. Celebrate her accountability.




• She realized that she was missing a great deal by being sensible. Celebrate her spirit.




• She turned her can’ts into cans, and her dreams into plans. Celebrate her goals.




• She ignored people who said it couldn’t be done. Celebrate her independence.




• She had a way of turning obstacles into opportunities. Celebrate her magic.




• She went out on a limb, had it break off behind her, and discovered she could fly. Celebrate her faith.




• She discovered she was the one she’d been waiting for. Celebrate her self-reliance.




• She added so much beauty to being human. Celebrate her presence.




• She walked in when everyone else walked out. Celebrate her friendship.




• She just has this way of brightening the day. Celebrate her radiance.




• She made the whole world feel like home. Celebrate her warmth.




• She decided to enjoy more and endure less. Celebrate her choices.




• She decided to start living the life she’d imagined. Celebrate her freedom.




• She colored her thoughts with only the brightest hues. Celebrate her optimism.




• She was an artist and her life was her canvas. Celebrate her brilliance.




• She ran ahead where there were no paths. Celebrate her bravery.




• She crossed borders recklessly, refusing to recognize limits, saying bonjour and buon giorno as though she owned both France and Italy and the day itself. Celebrate her joie de vivre.




• She held her head high and looked the world straight in the eye. Celebrate her strength.




• She not only saw a light at the end of the tunnel she became that light for others. Celebrate her compassion.




• She designed a life she loved. Celebrate her joy.




• She took the leap and built her wings on the way down. Celebrate her daring.




• She said bye-bye to unhealthy relationships. Celebrate her happiness.




• She remained true to herself. Celebrate her authenticity.




• She made the world a better place. Celebrate her.

Every single one of these quotes make me want to punch my fist in the air and yell 'hell yeah' so i really encourage everyone to take the time to read them and try and feel the message that they are getting across to women.

Find one that really speaks to you and do a layout featuring the quote.

I can't wait to see the pages you make encorperating those words!

Photography Challenge

ok well this month's photography challenge has a theme - TRAVEL.

You might like to share a special photo of where you have travelled to in the past. Or somewhere that you would like to go. It may be modes of transport or think outside the square and take a creative travel shot.

This is my example but i will also do a newer one. From Meredith and my great Melbourne adventure.

There will be more fantastic challenges popped up as the month ticks by - keep checking back!

Tiff - recycle and reuse

Tiff says -

I have had the Heidi Swapp mask sitting in my stash for so long, rarely used. Such a waste really.So last night it came out. Instead of using it for it for its original intention, I cut it up and used the flower mask as an embellishment.

I really like the result.

This looks great Tiff. Love what you have done with those masks. A great example of layering here too! Black and red = striking as always.

Photo by Amanda Hall Photography ;-)

Tiff - houndstooth

Tiff Says -

I just remembered I had this Sheer Delights Hound's-tooth LO that I did a little while ago. the photo was taken at Adelaide airport with my phone camera. I was really surprised how well the pic turned out. Its called Flane and at the time Sean couldn't pronounce P for plane

this one is really eye catching Tiff. I love how you used the sheer delights here - i haven't seen them around much ....they never really caught on as 'the next big thing' as they thought they would did they? Pity as i think it looks so effective.

Ali E's tip of the day

10. Layer. When you are putting a layout together think in terms of layers: cardstock, patterned paper, transparency, stickers, stamps - what can you add on top of the last layer to make the piece more interesting?

this is a great tip on how to get the basics of your page constructed. Of course you wouldn't use transparency/stickers and stamps on every page but this is the guts of how to layer.

It sounds easy right? LOL - now off to create!

Sandra - something new

hmmmmmmmmm maybe Ali E's tips for trying something new is catching on!!

Sandra says -

just a couple of things to share :)A tissue box, (a gift for a friend), and a layout... on a 6x12 !!I used a Page Maps sketch for the layout and found it helped ;)Found the template for the flower on the box on the internet.. thought the flower turned out ok.

Ok? It turned out MUCH better than just ok!! I would say bloody fabulous! Great job Sandra for extending yourself. Lovely delicate handmade flower, and very cute saying on the tissue box!

and OMG at your long skinny page. L.O.V.E. it!!! The branches, the embellishment clusters- all totally wow...... and I need to know where that little tiny pink bird is from this second!!

brilliant work!

Marika - something new.

Marika says -

Hi Amanda, I have tried a different sized layout and loved it. I found it so easy to do with a 4 by 6 photo is just seemed to come together well. Also I have then been able to print straight onto my layout which I have never done before. This was a little scary I think I should have used bold type so that it stood out better on the dotty paper but oh well. P.s notice the type-ra font I was able to download and save it.

WOW Marika. I SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO understand what you mean about the smaller page being so easy and just coming together well. Love, love love what you have done here. And to be able to print straight onto he page is very liberating and opens up a whole new world of possibilities.

gorgeous page with the dots. And love that striking pink with the orange - really different and so eye catching. Great combination!

Ali E's tip of the day

9. Alphabet stamps in classic typefaces are great for the long haul. Here's a couple favorites: Hero Arts Printer's Type or Basic Upper Case.


ahhhhhhh stamps. *sigh* What she has written is so true - for longevity in your stash and an 'all rounder' for an alpha you cannot go past classic type stamps.

I just have to work up the courage to use them. ~lol~

How about you? Have you got many stamps? what are your favs that you come back and use time and time again?

Colour combo - Tiff

"This LO has been on my desk for a week before I could give it any attention. Life has become so frantic lately. lol. Wouldn't have it any other way tho.

The colour challenge fitted this just perfectly has the certificate has just the right colours already.

So without much brain strain, U R A star came into being.

Tiff"

Good to see a layout without a photo ... a great way to keep track of those Super Kid awards!!

Bazzill Matchmaker ...

I found the following site advertised in an American magazine ...

http://www.bazzillbasics.com/matchmaker/

It features Bazzill cardstock colours that match newer ranges of patterned papers by companies such as
- 7 Gypsies
- Basic Grey
-Cosmo Cricket
- Chatterbox
- Creative Imanginations
- Fancy Pants
- My Minds Eye
- Pink Paislee
- Webster's Pages

and more!!

So if you were to be ordering over the internet or at your local store you could ask for specific colours of cardstock to match the papers you were buying!

Would save time trying to match them yourself!!

Ali E's tip of the day

8. Note to self: there is no perfect layout. Forget about perfection; rather adopt an attitude that you will learn something from each layout you complete. Maybe it will be a new way to combine colors, create embellishments, or crop your photos. Maybe it will be that you totally dislike the way you did something. Make a mental note and move on to the next thing.

ok well this is something i need to frame and hang alongside this next tip (particularly the first sentance) -

11. Learn how to be self-critical without putting yourself down. How do you do this? As you create stuff ask yourself "does this really need this accent? Am I adding to the overall story or am I adding it just to add it?" There's no right answer - it's more about developing a general awareness and connection with yourself as you are creating. Be ok with stopping yourself and moving on to the next piece.

and yep i have skipped ahead a little bit. Dont worry - i will fill in the blanks in the next few days :) I thought these two fitted together perfectly so included a double bang for your buck today!

Karen's - gone green

well actually i think i have gone green.

Listen to what Karen wrote -

Hi Amanda, Heres something I have been working on today at the Shack. It is a tin that some Prima flowers came in, I decided to decorate it and the plan is to make a mini album to fit inside (yet to be done) Thanks for looking.

Omg imagine working in such a cool place that there are fabbo little tins just there for the decorating.

I love this idea Karen - i can't wait to see the album you design for the inside - how cute!!! Ooooooooh at the tree, bird, sun, rainbow and that October Afternoon paper - just delicious!

This is recycling and going green in a great way!

Ali E's tip of the day

7. Expand yourself. Find something else to learn about next: a new interest, a new subject. Learning stuff fills you up, gives you more to draw from when you sit down to create.

A new interest, technique or finding a new way to present something always seems to give an extra zing in our old interests. Incorperating two together can be the magic that you need sometimes.

not long now................

until the end of the month which means...

















the start of a new month and NEW challenges!

Now who is hanging around patiently waiting? Leave us a little hello below!

Don't forget you can show us anything you are currently working on - we really love seeing your creations.

and don't forget you can email your images to either Sue, Meredith or myself. (i was feeling like a bit of a blog hog last month!)

Meredith posted a couple of really funny links and that made me think about the art of writing blogs. Some people are very clever and can make you cackle with laughter at the screen.

Lynette Van Barello is one of those funny writers.

Cathy Z is another which often has me in fits of giggles.

i have also stumbled upon this blog The Scrapbook Widow which is written from a husband's point of view. His earlier posts are more about scrapping and less about coffee and are really funny. It hasn't been updated for a long time which is a pity.

Let me know if you come across any blogs that make you chuckle.

Sandra - trying something new.

This chook is gaining so much confidence it is so lovely to see. She says -

been playing today, trying a few new things.
Bright colours, large photo on a smaller sized paper.

This is really beautiful Sandra. The journallingyou have included, those yummy colours and a great photo make this a stunning page.

Fan-bloody-tastic.

Ali E's tip of the day

6. Repetition. Probably my favorite design principle: do something once and then do it two more times. Three is a very nice number. Repeat colors. Repeat shapes. Repeat accents.


clever.

creates harmony and balance.

and

gotta love this next bit...................

easy.

Ali E's tip of the day

5. Keep an inspiration journal. This is the one of the best things you can do for your creative self. Don't judge what you write in it or put in it - just use it and abuse it and let it be a place for the things that are scrambling in your head. For a long time I have had too many of these and it began to feel way to scattered. Recently I have combined it into one notebook - forcing myself to use just one and go with it.


This has been one of the best things that i have done. Over a year ago i made myself a little diary to put snippets of inspiration for scrapping. While it sounds a bit anal, I was sick of walking around and seeing design elements that i wanted to try in the world of scrapping and then promptly forgetting them. I have since stuck images that i would like to scraplift, or just some elements from pages that i would like to try, and written in colour schemes that catch my eye, quotes or just a general idea / theme for a page. Often i will write the journalling that i would like to have on my page well in advance and have it all ready to go.

This is a hugely helpful scrapping tool to me. I would love everyone to try it - if you have a spare little notebook to write your ideas in i am sure you will find it a massive help / mojo boost too.

Mine is titled 'see art in your everyday' as i really do see ideas everywhere. Look around you and i am sure you will too :)

Ali E's tip of the day

4. Mix up your page sizes. For the last year I have been experimenting with all sorts of different sizes - this is a huge creative boost. Online lately I have seen really cool pages that are 6 inches x 12 inches, 4 inches x 12 inches, 8 inches x 8 inches, etc. Don't limit yourself to one size.

I think this is the biggest hangup some scrappers seem to have. Let me tell you from my own experience that i never felt more inspired than when i changed to an A4 (or 8.5 x 11 inch) sized page. Although i find it much much easier now, i also dont limit myself to ONLY doing that size. If i feel like a 12 x12, or things look better on a bigger page = well i do a bigger page.

I also have done 3 or 4 layouts with the long skinny size (12 x 6 inch) which were also great to get that mojo flowing. It challenges you to think about your page a different way.

Dont be scared to try different sizes. There is a much bigger world out there than just 12 x 12.

Karen - Sue's sketch

Karen Says -

I have finally gotten to a LO. This is Sues sketch, mind you I always start off planning to be true to the sketch but end up wandering off the track a bit!! You can sort of see, if you squint!!

Oh Karen...that brown with the BG stripe is delicious. And that little birdy rubon coming out from the calendar card is a sweet touch. Love your little highlights in red and i really need to know what kind of alpha you have used for the main title - got to have some of those!

Glad to see you back in here. Hope all has settled back to normal at home and you can fit a little bit more scrapping in. Great work.

Sandra - colour challenge

gee wizz - my inbox has been overflowing with pages lately! It is great to see so much action and support on the blog - well done everyone!

Sandra has sent in her page for the colour challenge. Love that background - so bright and vibrant. The other colours just seem to set it all off brilliantly. Those flowers coming off the blue strip = stunning. Also love how the main cluster - photo, title, date and journalling is all at the bottom. Very clever design which works so well here. It has a nice sense of balance to it all.

Great job Sandra

Colour combo - Meredith's LO

Houndstooth challenge ... Meredith

Marika - sue's sketch

goodness we are all getting so much inspiration from Sue's sketch. Marika has rotated this for a classic black, white and pink layout about her precious fairy! I am also loving how you trimmed that photo down - nice a skinny. I have also noticed that this is a bit of an incoming trend so you are right onto it Marika!

Love your choice of papers against that pink - striking!