In the Know: What's Happening at Simple Scrapper- June

I just couldn't wait much longer to share my layouts with you! Normally, I start the month off by sharing  a few of my pages for Simple Scrapper. I decided to share a little early.( Close enough to the new month, right?) I will explain why further down in the post. First, I wanted to clarify how Simple Scrapper has helped me out.

Much of the time, when I bring up Simple Scrapper in conversation, a few of my friends mention that they don't think membership is for them since they don't have a simple scrapbooking style. I always find this interesting since I would say my style of memory keeping is anything but simple. I have been a Premium Member for (well, it feels like I have always been a member) over a year and a half. I love Simple Scrapper so much that I joined their creative team and became an affiliate.

So what exactly do I get from my membership?
- Inspiration to find deeper stories from my photos
- Spark magazine( for members only)
-An archive of sketches and story starters
-Access to an active and friendly community of memory keepers
- Most importantly, support and constructive ideas to help me organize my supplies.
-Tips for simplifying my scrapbooking process.(That's really where the idea of Simple Scrapper comes into play)

 Each month, there is a new set of sketches along with an entire set of story prompts based around a theme. The layouts that I share are just a little peek into the story and sketch inspiration available at Simple Scrapper. Ready to see how I was inspired this month?

Going to Disney: Rain or Shine by Christy Strickler |Supplies Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper: Sandylion; Letters: Basic Grey, American Crafts; Tape: Jenni Bowlin;Enamel Dots: My Mind's Eye; Stickers: Hallmark, EK Success; Freckled Fawn, October Afternoon; Inspired by a Sketch and Story Starter from Simple Scrapper Premium Membership









Using the story prompts and sketches from the premium membership as a guide allows me to free myself to experiment a bit.Take this page,for example. I love the look of big photos on layouts but I don't always think to use them without a gentle reminder( this time courtesy of Simple Scrapper). The large photo sets the stage but the real highlights of this layout for me are the pictures of the kids.

The Animal Garden by Christy Strickler |Supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill;Patterned Paper: Crate Paper; Transparency: Studio Calico; Letters: American Crafts; Die Cuts, Stickers: My Mind's Eye; Other: Ribbon;  Inspired by a Sketch and Story Starter from Simple Scrapper Premium Membership












Have I mentioned before that I can get lazy about the details of the story? I have a tendency to just write down the basic information but not go much into detail. Once again, prompts from the Simple Scrapper premium membership reminded me to dig a bit further into the details. Really, it's a reminder that telling more of a story isn't all that much more work that  just jotting down the basic facts.

Now it's time to tell you why I am posting a bit early. Simple Scrapper currently has a promotion going on which will save you toward the cost of membership. This discount ends on May 31st. So please act fast if you are interested.I do need to disclose that I am an affiliate, but, as you might have noticed, I use and love the Simple Scrapper Premium Membership. I wouldnt' recommend it if I didn't think it wasn't a good thing to be a part of.  Click here for more details.










This posts contains affiliate links when possible. Please shop your stash first, but should you find you need something, consider supporting MSE.

Many of the Disney Supplies I used for my layout have been in my stash for awhile. There are some lovely new updated options available.

View blog post for supplies

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Awesome Ladies Project: May Edition

The end of last month was incredibly busy. There was the upcoming excitement of iNSD and then there was the Avengers: Age of Ultron Release. I neglected to share my monthly layout for the Awesome Ladies Projects. Let's amend that, shall we?

Inked by Christy Strickler |Supplies Patterned Paper: Heidi Swapp, Letters: American Crafts; Die Cuts, Rubber: Freckled Fawn;Mist: Studio Calico; Rub-ons: Kaiser Craft;Digital Frame: Sulu Digital Designs; Based on a sketch from RuKristin.com













This was a quick page comprised of some mostly older stash items. I wanted a bold graphic look to go along with the story of my son and his temporary tattoo. I stuck with mostly blues and greys to connote ink but added some yellow and orange for contrast. This particular page is pretty self explanatory. I added a small amount of journaling later on,but it didn't need much.

Birthday Boy by Christy Strickler |Supplies Cardstock: Bazzill; Digital Kit: All Year Round-Celebrations by Traci Reed Designs and Jady Day Studios; Based on a sketch from RuKristin.com














The birthday themed kit really drove the creation of this particular layout.(see more about that here) I modified the Awesome Ladies project sketch to include 3 photos instead of two and shifted things around just a bit in order to accommodate all of my embellishments.

Joining in with the Awesome Ladies Project is free. To find out more, head over to RuKristin.com to join in on the fun and meet other creatives. You'll find the sign up section listed under classes.

This posts contains affiliate links when possible. Please shop your stash first, but should you find you need something, consider supporting MSE.

Grunge Edge Brushes from Sulu Digital Designs

All Year Round: Celebrations by Traci Reed Designs and Jady Day Studio

The Awesome Ladies Project Post Archive

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Project Life: May 2015

Here it is, time to start another month with a brand new Pocket Life Collection from Traci Reed Designs. This page heralds something new...the start of a new video series for My Scrapbook Evolution. In the Pockets of a Paper Scientist will share a behind the scenes look at my hybrid pocket pages.

 I am also pleased to say that the video quality is improving. There are a few things I would like to get a better handle on. I need to make a few lighting adjustments in my creative space. There is also the issue of my HD webcam focusing and unfocusing itself a few times. It's still a learning process. If there is something you would like to see in particular regarding Pocket Page scrapbooking, please feel free to drop a note in the comments or send me an email by clicking the "write to me" button above.

Now, let's get to the pocket life inspiration!

I especially loved the shaker pocket. It does take a little time to get used to the feel of the We R Memory Keeper's Fuse tool. I have a few other ideas for stuffing some of the page protector pockets for future pages. I guess that means I better get off the blog and start creating! Perhaps, you should do the same.

May Pocket Page by Christy Strickler |Supplies Digital Kit: May Pocket Life Collection by Traci Reed Designs; Other: Sequins, Glossy Accents

This posts contains affiliate links when possible. Please shop your stash first, but should you find you need something, consider supporting MSE.

May 2015 Pocket Life Collection by Traci Reed Designs

365 Unscripted: 4x6 collage Cards by Traci Reed Designs

Follow My Scrapbook Evolution's board Project Life Inspiration on Pinterest.

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Scrapbook Challenges: A Quick Round Up for May Challenges

So far, May has been an interesting month...and not always in a good way. It's my goal to have all of my blog posts written and posted ahead of time. A few things have thrown me off track this month (including regular power outages and a sick cat). I managed to go through all of my written and scheduled posts in a blur! Despite those things, I have been working hard to find a new balance to my summer schedule and hope to be back on track very soon. Meanwhile, several challenges have posted over at the Scrapbook Challenges blog and I would be remiss if I didn't share my take on them.

Halloween Under the Sea by Christy Strickler |Supplies Patterned Paper: Studio Calico; Letters, Chip Board, Die Cuts: Basic Grey; Rub-Ons: Fancy Pants; Flair: Panda Eight Designs; Glitter Glue: Stickles

This month's Mood board is reminiscent of a sunset. Soft purples and oranges mix together with yellow and peach for an artsy feel.  Despite the sunset feel of the layout, I chose to focus on the color scheme. It's also perfect for Halloween photos. I managed to mix in a few summer themed items for this Halloween picture of my son with some Sea Witches.

Keep Calm and Just Be by Christy Strickler |Supplies Patterned Paper: Studio Calico, October Afternoon, Cocoa Daisy; Traci Reed Designs; Letters: October Afternoon; Chipboard: Studio Calico, My Mind's Eye: Flowers: Freckled Fawn, Sassafrass; Punch: Ek Success; Other: Doily, tape; Based on Scrapbook Challenges Sketch # 175

Flashback Friday continues with sketch #175. I manged to make this page from all scraps. That was quite a nice little victory for me. 

Just a Little Bit of History by Christy Strickler |Supplies Patterned Paper: Fancy Pants, Cocoa Daisy; Letters: Alison Kreft, American Crafts; Watercolor: Yasutomo; Enamel Dots, Chipboard: My Mind's Eye; Die Cuts: Elle's Studio; Based on Scrapbook Challenges Sketch # 440

Sketch #440 posted earlier this morning. This page ended up being a new favorite for me. I wasn't too sure of the supplies at first but they came together wonderfully for a page that has a mixed feel between fresh and traditional.

These are just a few of the challenges available to inspire you from the Scrapbook Challenges site. Be sure to stop by to see additional inspiration from the SBC sketch crew. I do have additional thoughts to share for all of these pages. It is just a matter of me re-balancing my current home life schedule with all the time I want to spend creating and blogging. Stay Tuned....

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A Super Hero Desk Sign with Deflecto Craft Solutions

This month's theme inspiration for Deflecto Craft Solutions features Dads and Grads. It's also the end of  my son's first year as high school student.Now typically, I know most people don't celebrate graduation from 9th grade. However, I wanted to give him a little something(partially practical) that he could use in the upcoming school term. Homeschool kids have the option of continuing on through the summer months and my son has chosen to continue on his computer programming lessons throughout the summer.

We're huge fans of the Marvel and DC universes, so I figured that a gift featuring a comic book hero  would be perfect for him. The cool thing about this gift is that it's perfect for anyone who loves superheroes whether they are Dads or grads from any grade level. So what exactly is this gift? It's a themed wet erase sign.

The wet erase sign comes as you see here. It's designed to work with chalk markers. You can decorate it with a drawing or jot down a to do list. Now I know what you are thinking. That's for an office not for a kid. A few alterations is all you need to make any kid(or dad) think it's cool.

The first step is to paint the base. You probably want to have a superhero in mind so you can coordinate the colors. We're going with a Batman theme, so silver works well. Use spray paint for a nice even finish. I used a metallic silver from Krylon and of course, I completed this step outside in a well ventilated area. The chalkboard slides out of the base. Remove it before you paint,then you can decorate the chalkboard while the base dries.

You are going to need something to create a trim or border along the top of the chalkboard frame. Washi tape or ribbon will work well. If you want something really sturdy with a nice metallic finish I recommend HVAC metal repair foil tape. Cut a strip long enough to go across the length of the chalkboard. The tape is really wide. If you like, trim it down just a bit, then adhere it to the chalkboard.

Choose a sticker or tag to decorate the sign with. I am using a clothing tag I saved from one of my son's t-shirts. Any super hero themed stickers would work.  To make your sticker or tag a little more sturdy, adhere it to a piece of chipboard and trim off the excess parts. You can then use liquid adhesive or hot glue to add it to the chalkboard.

The nice thing about being able to remove the chalkboard is that it makes it easier to write on. You might want to write a simple message on the sign before gifting it. Don't forget to include a pack of the chalk markers!

A little paint and a few decorations will give you a unique gift that your child(or dad) will be sure to love. After making one for my son, I am now contemplating how I might customize one for my own desk.

This posts contains affiliate links when possible. Please shop your stash first, but should you find you need something, consider supporting MSE.

Visit Deflecto Craft Solutions to find a store near you. Or look for Deflecto at Amazon.com.

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Scrapbook Challenges: FlashBack to Older Sketches

In February, I successfully completed the Layout a Day Challenge. In a large part, that was due to my use of sketches. Once again, I am attempting to complete another one. Crazy? Maybe. I had a great start out to the month on iNSD, but other things captured my attention( like website maintenance and writing blog posts). Power outages cramped my style a bit this week as well. Currently, I have four completed layouts for the month. It's not too late for me to pick up the pace. It's also time to break out a little extra inspiration.

Trouble? by Christy Strickler |Supplies Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper: Prima,Studio Calico; Letters, Vellum Die Cuts: Studio Calico; Chipboard: Marcella K; Tape: Amy Tangerine; Stickers: Freckled Fawn; Based on Scrapbook Challenges Sketch # 162

This month, Scrapbook Challenges is visiting the sketch archive.You'll find new inspiration from the SBC Sketch Crew to accompany refreshed versions of older sketches, starting with Sketch #162. Just the perfect thing to help someone finish a Layout a Day Challenge.

How is your month progressing? Have you made a lot of pages since iNSD or are you missing your creative space?

This posts contains affiliate links when possible. Please shop your stash first, but should you find you need something, consider supporting MSE.

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