LOAD213: Success!

It's been a long time since I have finished the Layout a Day challenge. I have been participating for well, almost two years now. This will be my second time making it the whole way through and I have to say that it feels pretty darn good. My husband and son were very supportive and I now have a ton of layouts completed. Somehow, I managed all my LOAD layouts plus my creative team assignments. I'm a tired but happy girl.

So what now? Well, I am going to take it easy for a few days. Believe it or not, scrapbooking is planned today and this weekend. I might not make a layout every day, but I will be in my creative space working on something. I still have my JYC 2012 layout to finish, PL 365, plus some creative team assignments.

I still have a few blog posts featuring LOAD213 layouts to share, but I really wanted to share this one today. It's one of my favorites this month. I love it because it used up scraps made from several JBS Mercantile kits, it has a too cute for words cat die cut, plus some cool instagrams of our youngest furry family member.

Why So Serious? by Christy Strickler Supplies| Patterned Paper: Jillibean soup, Crate Paper; Alphas,stick pin, buttons,stencil: Jenni Bowlin; Die: Spellbinders: Flowers: Sassafrass; Jewel: Queen and Company; Cat: hybrid print from Sahlin Studio Fleetwood collection; Modeling Paste: Liquitex; Other: Burlap heart, glass beads, based on a sketch from shimelle.com





Have a great weekend everyone! Happy Crafting!

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LOAD213: In the Home Stretch

There are just a few days left of Layout a Day. I have managed to keep up, though I must confess to being quite exhausted. It hasn't been an easy feat to manage LOAD, creative team assignments and my family life. I do feel good about making it through the next few days. After all, I have made it this far.

Yesterday, I decided to keep things simple. I chose a sketch from a scrapbook pal at her blog Scrapping Wonders. Beth is running a challenge and a series of blog posts aimed at helping you document your mobile photos. Her sketch was just what I needed!

The photos are less than stellar. The layout is UBER simple compared to what I usually make. So what!?!! I documented something my husband has been saying about my son a lot lately. This is another reminder that sometimes simple really can be a good thing.

He is Good at Being Good by Christy Strickler Supplies| Cardstock: Colorbok; Patterned Paper: Lillybee Designs; Badge: A Flair for Buttons; Alphas: Basic Grey, Webster's Pages; Ribbon; October Afternoon





So yes, I have been very tired. I do plan to rest a bit after LOAD is over. I won't quit scrapping completely though, just maybe not a layout every day. That's the quirky thing about LOAD. You might get a little tired, but you sure feel like it's a shame to stop creating once it's done.

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Game On! Scattergories and LOAD213

Ever since I started subscribing to the JBS Mercantile kits, I have loved playing along with the games in their community. It's a great way to use up your kits, have fun and get some layouts finished. I honestly didn't think I would find it easy to play along with this month's game, much less find the time to do so. However, I was able to combine my LOAD213 layouts with the Scattergories challenge.

How does Scattergories work? Well, you pick a letter, then you choose supplies or items for you layout which start with the letter. The goal is to get as many supplies on your layout and you must use at least one product from a JBS Mercantile kit. Of course, we all get a little silly and we always push the rules just a tad.

Case in point. I pushed the rules a little bit here. My first letter was K. My son's name begins with K, so his pictures count. I also have kids on a flatback, kelly green ( sort of) flowers and letters. I used a JBS Mercantile kit cut and a journal spot with kelly green.

The Horned Melon by Christy Strickler Supplies| Patterned Paper: Jilliebean Soup, Lillybee; Alphas, Button, Kit Cut, Journal Spot: JBS Mercantile; Flowers: Sassafrass

When  I shared the photos of this on instagram, I had a lot of questions about the melon. Yes, it was very slimy and gross. No, he did not finish it.

I surprised myself by playing along again this morning. I chose the word M so I could bend the rules and bit and use Multiples of many items. The cat's name is Momo. I used a Monogram of an M and a mustard colored M word title. I machine stitches and used Metal Embellishments. this layout makes me happy because I was able to use up so many scraps from an older JBS Mercantile kit. To save myself time, I used one of Shimelle's layout starting points.

Mischief Incarnate by Christy Strickler 
Supplies| Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye, Crate Paper, Studio Calico; Letters, Stickers: Jillibean Soup; Other: monogram, glass beads, metal flowers and heart


Playing Games with your supplies is  a lot of fun. It keeps you motivated to use your supplies. It also challenges you in such a way that your story becomes a little deeper in meaning. The layout about Momo was originally just about him being caught climbing the screen door. It ended up being about how I have an attraction to mischievous creatures.

What games can you play with your supplies? Try out a challenge like the one over at the JBS Mercantile forum. There are also a lot of challenge blogs for scrapbookers around the web. Consider writing a list of challenges to yourself. Trust me, you will enjoy yourself and your layouts will reflect it!

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The Scientific Method: LOAD213 and the 6x6 Paper Pad

In January, I wrote about CHA Temptation and how I love 6x6 paper pads. I know that a lot of people prefer 12x 12. I still love my 12x12 papers. I do however, also love how easy it is to store a 6x6 pad. I love how I get a little bit of every paper from the collection. My wallet also loves the cost. Sometimes though, you have to get a little creative when you use them. Today, I thought I would share a layout using only one 6x6 paper pad and a sheet of cardstock.

I started off by using a sketch from Shimelle.com.  The sketch calls for the full use of the 12x12 canvas. This meant that I had to reduce the size of my canvas to accommodate the 6x6 papers. I cut the paper into strips and arranged them in a manner similar to the sketch. It was easy to choose the papers. Using a 6x6 pad takes a lot of guesswork out of the mix. All of the papers coordinate and it simply becomes a matter of choosing the ones you want.

Once I had adhered the paper to the cardstock, I stitched around the edges. I had used some of the borders from the top of each paper sheet. Many pads are printing designs on the top potion of the paper. The only con is that they also tend to have a hole in the dead center of the paper strip. I cut a paper strip of my own and used it to to cover the holes. I didn't need to carry the paper strip across the whole thing. It's easy to hide the gap with a photo.

It was now just a simple matter to embellish the layout as usual.  Would you have ever guessed this was created using paper from a 6x6 paper pad?


Up High by Christy Strickler Supplies| Patterned Paper: Pebbles; Flowers: Sassafrass, Recollections; Stickers: Studio Calico; Dies: Sizzix; Brads: Making Memories; Other: Letter Stickers, glass beads, metal from a soda can; submitted to Simon Says Stamp Metal-ology challenge






I know it doesn't look exactly like Shimelle's sketch. That's ok. Sketches should be a starting point and guide. I let creativity drive my choices and I like the end result. I also love how friendly this layout was on my budget. I do admit that using a 6x6  pad can be tricky. Part of the fun, for me, is the challenge of making it work.

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LOAD213: It's OK to Make Simple Layouts

Somewhere along the line, inundated with choices between techniques, patterned paper and embellishments,  we sometimes feel like our layouts must be complex to be full of meaning. Don't get me wrong! I love creating and getting the most from my supplies. I always want new things and I love using my stash on my layouts. I often love to add paint or mists. Sometimes though, we may find ourselves pressed for time. This means our layouts need to be more simple and less technique laden to accommodate our time constraints. Layout a Day teaches you how to work within the time you have and to learn that even though a layout isn't bursting with product that does not mean it is not worthy. It still tells a story.

Over the past few weeks, I have made a variety of layouts for LOAD213. Some were very detailed. Other, like the two I will share today are very simple in nature. On some days, I found myself very tired or short on time. So I chose subjects, that while meaningful, could be documented with simple supplies.

Sunset on Our Anniversary by Christy Strickler
Supplies| Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper, Buttons: Basic Grey; Alphas,Ephemera: Jenni Bowlin; Die Cut: Fancy Pants; Other: washi tape


I wanted the photos to be the focal point. They are so beautiful that little else is needed to accent the layout. If you are short of time, it helps to choose a set of photos that don't need a lot of embellishments to support the story.

S,M,L: One of Each Size by Christy Strickler Supplies| Patterned Paper, Stickers, Tag: Basic Grey; Other: Kraft cardstock

My son has been saying that we now have a cat of each size. Though the shots from Instagram are not awesome, they are perfect for a quick layout to document his thoughts about our cats. The day this layout was created was a day in which exhaustion had hit me like a brick. To save time, I started with one of Shimelle's starting point prompts and built a simple layout over the top. I could have added more embellishments. However, I was so tired I simply met the LOAD deadline. That doesn't mean I can't revisit the layout later and add more details.

I am a busy wife and mom. I homeschool my son and participate on several creative teams. I love what I do, but some days it can really take a lot out of me. On those days, I have given myself permission to create the very simplest of layouts. It feels good to have a layout completed with another story told. Plus, there isn't a rule stating you can't go back and add more details later. I invite you to do the same. Trust me when I say that simple layouts really can really make you just as happy as the ones with tons of details.

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LOAD213: Squeak Purr

Ironically, I had completed today's LOAD prompt several days ago. Today, we are supposed to scrapbook a sound. I use sounds every so often on my layouts as a source of inspiration. Using your senses can help you to incorporate symbols, textures or colors into your layout which can later jog your memory. You can also use sounds to guide your journaling as I did for this layout.

Squeak Purr by Christy Strickler Supplies| Cardstock: Colorbok; Mist: Ranger, Tattered Angels: Webster's pages; Die Cuts: Sassafrass; Glitz, October Afternoon; Ephemera, Chipboard: JBS Mercantile; Button: Basic Grey; Stamp: American Crafts; Submitted to the Color Challenge at Life Paper Scrapbook  and to the fabric challenge at Scrap It Girl.








Juju Bee is an unusual cat. She makes a trilling sound whenever she moves around the house. When she is happy. She purrs. When she is VERY happy, she purrs so hard she squeaks. Though a photo can not convey sound, I wanted to document this quirk in her personality. She is also very feminine, a little prissy, but somehow prone to getting into mischief. The fabric elements, sequins, flowers and ink splotches all represent who she is.


The fabric is another of my recycled/rescued items. Its a sort of scarf like belt that came with an outfit I bought. I knew I wouldn't wear the belt, but I loved the sequin design on it. I ruffled it and sewed it onto the layout.

As you work on your next layout, I invite you to explore sounds associated with your photos. Can you use them in your title? Will they direct your journaling? Perhaps there may be embellishments which can contribute to a symbolic form of sound. I think you will find you can add more meaning to your layouts by incorporating your senses.

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Sketch It Out! Homeschool, Faux Bois and LOAD213

Tuesday is both hectic and calm all at the same time. How can that be? Well, my son has two on-line classes which equal close to 4 hours of his school day. So I say that it's hectic since his studies keep him occupied. It's calm because I get a little me time while he is in class. That's a nice chunk of time. I should perhaps, do housework. However, my son informed me that I distract him while I do so. Now I consider it quiet time for me to work in my scrap space.

Though I wasn't short on time, I did have two webinars to attend for Masterful Scrapbook Design. I chose this sketch from Life Paper Scrapbook.

The daily Load prompt centered around something you have done for love. I decided to document the first apartment that my husband and I shared. Making a home together is definitely something one does for love. A wood grain motif seemed the perfect canvas for the layout. Not only does it go along with the Amy Tangerine paper, it also signifies how we built a life together. I am hoping that symbolism will translate into the design enough that the layout won't simply be regarded as one that used a trend back in the days of 2013.

Our First Home by Christy Strickler Supplies| Cardstock: Coredinations; Patterned Paper: Amy Tangerine, Pebbles; Alphas: sassafrass; Die Cuts, Stickers: Amy Tangerine; Buttons: Basic Grey; Sketch: Life, Paper Scrapbook



You might recall my mentioning how I love 6x6 paper pads. I used one here. Do you see that little strip of black patterned paper in the middle of the house paper? It's covering a seam. I cut a piece of 6x6 paper in half, then matted it on brown cardstock to form one long strip. Sometimes it takes a little ingenuity to use a 6x6 pad.

I am also loving the idea of using more of my Coredinations cardstock. I sanded this with a nail file to bring out the wood grain print. I didn't love the powder it left behind. To keep the alphabet stickers from falling off, I added a bit of glossy accents.

What have you done for love? It's a great prompt which can be used to document your role as a parent, spouse or even a friend. I invite you to explore your options and use it as a prompt for one of your next layouts.

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