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!

Amanda - colour challenge

Ali E's tip of the day

3. White cardstock is always a solid choice for the foundation of your layout. I love it. It is my go-to color of choice.


How ironic that Marika sent in her page on white cardstock today when Ali's tip is about exactly that. I agree with her that white is always a great choice - some may say safe choice - but i just love how it makes every colour pop. White can also give the sense of space, without the busy-ness of fancy patterned paper. If you seem to be stuck for a page idea - pull out a sheet of white cardstock and start from there.

Marika - colour challenge

Marika has sent in an amazing page. She says -

Just finished my colour challenge a lift from Ali Edwards CK April 09. Just loved it and realised I had the same paper

I can see why you lifted this one Marika - stunning! Love the embellishments in a line under the journalling....they seem totally perfect for the page. Again i keep feeling that those colours are so funky, happy and fresh.

lovely work and a great answer to the colour challenge.

Ali E's tip of the day

2. Examine how you look through the lens of your camera . What do you really see? What are you looking for? Next time you pick up your camera let yourself play a bit more by looking up, down, to the sides, etc. of your subject. There are so many interesting things out there in the world. I am particularly interested in the ways things meet together - people, places, things.

ok well this is a big extention from our perspective challenge. Re-think how you will take that shot = zoom in and get the really important bits.

Just for a laugh ...

Okay we love to take photos and scrap them.

But these ones would be so funny to scrap!!

http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/

Make sure you look at quite a few of the cakes ... "pole dancers rock" really made me laugh!!


Then make sure you take a look at this site with photos that would be funny to scrap ...

http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/

Sue's in - with colour combo

Hi there everyone,

When i saw Amanda's colour combo challenge....it got me inspired!! And sitting home quietly on this blowy Saturday....i have been busy getting out papers and scrapping away!

What beautiful colours to put together....and i was inspired by a layout i saw in Scrapbook Trends April 09, by Laura Vegas. I have used cream instead of a yellow. I got a lovely surprise from Meredith......the circle Heidi Swapp stickers, which goes just perfect with this page!

Catchya next time

Sue xx

Ali E's tip of the day

I dont really read many blogs and am not really into following scrapping 'celebs'. (whatever the hell that is)

However i just found these tips on Ali Edwards' blog and i just love them. There are 20 tips so i will try and remember to do one tip a day. I find myself nodding and agreeing with every one.

Todays Ali Tip:

1. Get over what you "think" it should be and just allow it to be ("it" will be something different for every person).

back tomorrow for another.