Getting Ready for LOAD512, day 2

The big day is tomorrow. So today, as a final step, I have gathered together some 15 minute sketches to use. I got mine as a scraphappy member. Lain has them for us every month. I may not use them during the month they come out, but they sure come in handy for quick pages. I have also gathered together some kits. One will be my JBS mercantile kit so I can play along for a few days with the Donkey Kong game going on over there. I plan to counterfeit a few kits as well. I may or may not use the kits I have put together. Sometimes the prompts call for me to take an audible. The biggest thing at this point that one can do is to just relax and enjoy the whole experience that is Layout a Day. It's not supposed to be stressful, just a fun and fast paced scrapbooking. See you in the morning for the first prompt!

Getting Ready for LOAD 512

  Here it is again. That month where I go a bit crazy trying to make a layout a day. It's called LOAD for short, if you are not familiar with it. I participated in my first Layout a Day in February, 2011. Quite honestly, I have only been successful once in completing the entire challenge. What I learned though, has become quite invaluable. It taught me about how I work, how to work faster and make more confident choices in what I do. Most importantly, I learned how to get over imperfection.
 So how does one get ready for a month long event in which you attempt to make a page a day? First of all, you print a lot of pictures. Since last weekend, I have been editing photos,printing them and then grouping them inside my albums. I group them by how I wish to tell their stories and have them placed into the albums in the order I hope they go when the pages are complete. It's how I always sort my photos. It's a real time saver and it can help me get motivated to scrap. I do have several albums like this already started. All are in various stages of completion. So while I do have my pages organized chronologically, it does not always mean I scrap that way. So when I have an assignment for Scrapbook news and Review Magazine or I participate in something like LOAD, I can just scan through my albums to find the photos that inspire me to work with the prompt at hand.
  I don't know if I will be successful at scrapping a layout every single day for LOAD 512. Only time will tell. I'll do my best to keep you up to date with my LOAD progress. Meanwhile, if you want to join in on the madness and learn a little more about yourself,  head on over to this link to sign up:  http://www.layoutaday.com/load512 . Remember, this isn't about perfect pages. This is about making pages and telling stories. As you do so, you will learn a bit about yourself in the process. I hope to see you there!

What Would you get with $150?

    Scrapbook News and Review magazine has a survey going on right now over at their blog. If you participate, you get the chance to win a $150 gift certificate to the on-line scrapbook store of your choice. This got me thinking, if I won a $150 gift certificate, what would I buy with it. It's a lot of money, and yet, with scrapbook supplies, I would have no problems spending that money in a flash. That being said, I have become a little choosier in the products I add to my stash. The reality is that I have a TON of paper and ribbon. My ribbon takes up an entire steamer trunk. I have enough paper to make albums for at least a year, maybe two. So this year, I made the decision to really reduce the amount of paper I purchase. it's not as though I purchase a lot of it. It just multiplies likes rabbits.
  So if paper collections are not on my wishlist, then what is? Tools mainly. I decided to really concentrate on adding things to my stash that can be used and that can multitask.Things like stamps, stencils, dies and embossing folders. Here is a quick list:

   1.My latest love are the M-bossibilities by spellbinders. I own a grand total of one. I love it though. it's double sided, which means two embossing folders for the price of one. This also translates to less storage. it works nicely in my Big Shot. I know...I sound like an ad for spellbinders. No, I am not affiliated with them. I wish I could be. If they ever want to send some product for me to test...I am game..
2. Anything Tim holtz makes. Pretty much...ANYTHING. Embossing folders, distress inks and stains, stamps, dies... If I had to pick  just one thing, it would be the new letter dies that sizzix makes. Just imagine the nice letters I could cut out of soda cans and canvas.
3. Crafter's workshop templates. I have a TON of these on my wish lists. I would like all of them. I think a $150 gift certifictae might cover me on that one.
4. Dylusions inks. I have nothing like these and do not think I could make them at home.
5. Paper Trey ink dies. Yes, I know. I am currently obsessed with dies. I have just a few in my collection and I can see how I could use these in a variety of ways.
6. More faber castell gelatos and products. If I had my way, I would love the whole gift set. it cost $345 so I seriously doubt I will be seeing it in my near future.
7. Washi tape and a washi tape printer. I need something else to hoard ( not really). However, I could see myself hoarding washi tape.

Scrapbook product releases come and go at a fast pace. If you are a scrapbooker on a budget like me, try making a pinterest board to track your very favorites. You will be able to see the things you really love, and when budget allows, you can actually remember when and where you can get one of them. Don't forget to pop over to SNR's blog for the chance to win!

Sneak peeks and new SNR Calls

  I am still a little bit in disbelief that I have become part of the Scrapbook news and Review magazine staff. So far, I have had a blast making pages for the upcoming May issue. Working on these pages has helped me realize another little thing about the way I work. Some of my pages are more simple and fast. Others, I put a lot more detail in. I guess part of that may be my memory attachment to those photos. Some memories live bright and large in my mind, filled with emotion. While some of that brightness may have to do with how current the photo is, it also involves the emotions the photos evoke. Those pages tend to be created with a lot more detail. That being said, there is nothing wrong with the fast and simple pages. They too tell my stories. It was just an interesting observation I had.
  The May issue is close at hand. Just a few weeks away. I wish I could share the pages I have been working on. For now though, you will have to be happy with a sneak peek.

  

Getting pages published in a magazine is a very exciting thing. If you want a shot at getting your work published you still have time to submit for the May calls. Check them out over at SNR's blog. All submissions are due by May 6th, 2012. Remember, if you don't submit, you will never get published!

SNR Mag Vol. 5 Issue #3

It's available! Even the tornados couldn't keep it from being published.


I hope you'll pop over to check out this month's issue!

Spring Fling

 Spring is here.  Most notable for us this time of year, is the Easter holiday. Last year, we took our son to Atlantis' Easter fair. They had a lot of fun games along with the usual fair foods. What we enjoyed the most were the arts and crafts. My son had a blast making a candle, filling candy holders with treats and sand art. We did not do all of the crafts available. We picked and chose what seemed most interesting to a 10 year old boy. His favourite by far was making a wax hand.

glimmer mist- oriental poppy, Studio 18 jewels
Ribbon- Maya Road, Making memories
Alphas- Colorbok, Cardstock- Colorbok
Buttons- Basic Grey,Bazzill Basics
Sequins, homemade mask

I thought the Scrap Our Stash Pagerize this #20 challenge was the perfect jumping off point for making my page about our Spring Fling at the Easter Fair. Have you had a fling this Spring? Share it with us at Scrap Our Stash!

April Calls for Scrapbook News and Review magazine

Hi everyone! I know a lot of you have always wanted to be published. Well, I know a place that gives paper crafters( and digi gals) of all levels a chance at being pubbed. So, give it a shot. It never hurts to try, right? There is still time to submit a project to SNR magazine's April call. The deadline is April 21st, 2012.

Eggs-tavagant Easter blog hop

   Welcome to the Eggs-travagant Easter Blog hop. There are a dozen eggs in a carton and so we've chosen a dozen colours to share with you today. You should have started out at Jordan's Blog. If you arrived here first, pop on over there to start your colourful journey.
  Egg dyeing is a lot of fun. I could have shared a page about that. I have oodles of photos. However, I have been working on photos of last year's Easter fair and figured I would share some of those. My son made a ton of crafts. My favourite was the sand art bottle. While I loved the bottle itself, what I loved more were the expressions my son made as he created his sand art. He was so serious as he measured and poured the sand.

Sequins, glimmer mist- Oriental poppy
Ribbons- Maya road and Making memories
Studio 18 jewels, Paper trunk alphas

As you can see, my colour for the hop was Orange. the vibrant colour was perfect to highlight the precise pouring action in the photos. Don't be afraid to go monochromatic with your pages. It makes paper choice and embellishing easy as you can choose a wide array of items in various shades of the same colour.
  While butterflies might be a feminine embellishment( my son even asked why I had them on this page), I was able to slip them in here. I think of Spring when I see butterflies. Using them in the bright orange also made them less feminine. If you have a son, look for opportunities to use things like butterflies and flowers in symbolic terms on a page.
  Now it's time to head off to the next blog in the hop. I am dyeing( pun intended) to see what Lorri has for us! So head on over to Lorri's blog to take a peek!

Easter is almost here

  My son is counting down the days. He is pretty spoiled. Last year we took him to the Easter Fair at the resort my husband works at. We might go again this year, since we all had a blast. They had a ton of crafts, games and of course, the usual fair foods like slushies and cotton candy.

Floral paper- cosmo cricket, polka dot paper- sassafrass, grid paper- october afternoon. Ribbon- MM, paperclip-MM, journal spot-Jillibean soup, flowers- sassafrass, waterfall stickles, glimmer mist in electric blue and viva pink, boy epoxy button- pink paislee, sweet acrylix button- KI memories, 7 gypsies red mini paperclip, October afternoon stickers, Martha Stweart background stamp with clear embossing powder, Webster's pages alphas with glossy accents, DMC floss
Inspired by Peppermint Granberg's "First Day"

I guess I need to get into the spirit of things. Easter sort of crept up on me this year. I don't even have our decorations up yet. I guess I better do that today. Whether you celebrate Easter or Passover, I wish you a wonderful holiday!

Coming Soon!

It's just a few days to the Easter blog hop! April 6th will bring a variety of blogs with a colourful array of Spring projects. I hope you will join us!!!


                                                        

Calvinball final total-March

Ok...so the total is pretty weak. I could blame it on life, but I must admit that maybe, just maybe, I played a bit too much of gears of war 3 with Hubby. It was a lot of fun though. Both the calvinball and playing the game with hubby. So it's all good. :D

Calvinball recap:

1st time player- 1 point
late to the party- 1 point
1st time sub- 1point
layouts-8 points

layout in a challenge: 3 points

spreading the word-1 point
daily blogging- 5.5 points
Handicap- 1 point

total:21.5 points 

8 layouts this month. Still not bad considering. My layout output may very well increase again as I make more pages for Scrapbook News and Review magazine. I just won't be able to share everything I make on here for about 30 days or so. Maybe I can sneak a peek for you. There should be a new SNR mag out soon. I'll post when it's available.