Missing a Milestone

It has happened to all of us at one point or another. For whatever reason, we miss photos of a milestone moment. That happened for me during my son's first haircut.

My husband and I were both working a lot. We had to work opposite shifts so that one parent was always with our son. This meant that one of us sometimes missed one of the "firsts". Usually, this happened to my husband, so when he wanted to take our son to his first haircut, I didn't mind even though I was working.

Unfortunately, my camera was in my purse which meant it had gone to work with me. So my husband missed those first shots.

2nd Haircut by Christy Strickler |Supplies Patterned Paper: Farmhouse, Crate Paper, Studio Calico; Letters: Bo Bunny; Wood Veneer: Studio Calico; Tape: Jenni Bowlin; Other: Glass beads, doily, floss, Kraft cardstock; For Scrapbook News and Review Magazine

That's ok though. I went along on my son's second haircut and was able to capture some great photos.


If you miss a milestone moment, don't be afraid to recreate it at another time. You can also substitute photos from another event. Photos are very important, but they can take a backseat to the story. The reason we choose to scrapbook is to document a memory, not just the photos.

This layout is part of my monthly Color Palette Process article in Scrapbook News and Review Magazine.  

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The Scientific Method: Pie Charts

It seems a lot of people out there love the pie chart trend. The topic has come up on scrapbook forums and among my creative team members. It would also seem that many people find themselves pie chart challenged. Some of my friends have lamented the fact that making a simple pie chart is more complex than it seems.

I wanted to share a tutorial all about making your own pie chart. It ended up being just a few steps, and honestly that was pushing it. I ended up writing a little article for the Scrapbook News and Review Magazine blog instead. 

If I had gone ahead with the tutorial, it would have looked like this:

Step One: print template and cut it out.

Step Two: trace template pieces onto patterned paper and cut.

Step Three: adhere pieces together onto your layout.

See...not hard at all!



If you do decide to hand cut your own pie chart, remember to be forgiving. By that, I mean that I don't know anyone who can perfectly hand cut a circle. I think that's the problem with pie charts. People want theirs to look precise. The only way you will get a precisely perfect pie chart is to buy a die cut, cut one on a Silhouette machine, or use a stamp.

I don't know how long the pie chart trend will continue. As with any trend it's best to just  relax and enjoy the fun while it's here.

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Tales of a Craft Class Junkie: Journey in Art Journals

I have seen them on-line for awhile. I have friends who make them. It always looks like so much fun. Until recently, I told myself I didn't have time for another hobby. However, I am now finding that art journaling can be a great way to experiment with techniques I can use on layouts later on.

Making an art journal page can be as easy or difficult as you want it to be. If you need help with something step by step, you can try a class. I recently took Creating an Art Journal Page: Leave your Mark with Christy Butters at the Art Studio. The background for this page was inspired by that class.

The bonus to taking a class is that you get to focus on a specific technique or set of supplies. There are so many art supplies available that choosing the right ones can become overwhelming. Classes give you the opportunity to explore materials and discuss them with classmates and your instructor.



It's important to remember that art journaling is fun. It doesn't have to be full of deep seated meaning unless you want it or need it to be.It also gives you the opportunity to experiment. If you have a new medium and you are afraid to try it on a scrapbook layout, the journal is the place to play.

On this particular art journal page, I played with cutting out silhouettes from a magazine. I then covered them with black gesso and drew on them. I discovered that some silhouettes work better than others. I also learned about areas in which my drawing can be improved. ( I am not to fond of the lips). I discovered I really like using the white pen on black. I want more pens that might create the same effect.

The bottom line with art journaling( or any art for that matter) is to just try it out. Have fun and try not to be overly critical of yourself. After all, art is a journey.

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Happy Anniversary to the Art Studio!

It's been a year since the Art Studio opened it's doors. The staff of Scrapbook News and Review magazine would like for you to celebrate along with us. From now until May 31st, you will have the chance to win some fabulous prizes. Prizes will be posted over the coming days, so be sure to stop by the SNR blog regularly.

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SNR Magazine: The May Issue

Happy Mother's day to all of the moms and grandma's out there! I have spent a lovely day with my family and I am a bit sad to see the weekend come to a close. However, this weekend ends on a high note. The latest issue from Scrapbook News and Review Magazine is live!

I hope everyone had a nice relaxing day, just like I did. Have a great week everyone!

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TGIF with a Teaser Thursday

  Yesterday I had my hands full around the house. I didn't get over here to post the layout featured for Scrapbook News and Review Magazine's Teaser Thursday Feature. I have been experimenting with Crayola Model Magic clay and creating handmade embellishments. That little white circle on the upper left side...it's model magic.

Fondue Fun by Christy Strickler Supplies Patterned Paper,Tag: Basic Grey; Letters: Fancy Pants; Stencil: Crafter's Workshop; Modeling Paste: Liquitex;Stamp: JBS Mercantile; Other: button,Crayola Model Magic clay,cardstock

I have a tutorial inside Scrapbook News and Review Magazine which shares how you can use model magic to create your own layouts. It's full of tips and tricks for how to keep the clay from cracking and how to add colorants.

I also recently submitted this layout for a review in the Get It Scrapped Guided Study Critique class. I feel like I am getting better with design, and I am now learning how to tweak my layouts for more impact. One suggestion I received was to have used the pie chart stencil with modeling paste on vellum. Then it would have popped up more from the background.

Overall, I really love this layout. I have more to share for iNSD after I get caught up today. Meanwhile, it's Friday and I hope everyone has a lovely weekend.

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NSD Prep and Let's Sketch It Out! for SNR Magazine

It's Friday! NSD is coming up tomorrow.I think they need to change the name from National Scrapbook day to International Scrapbook day. I have a crop planned with some friends and I am so excited. Today, I will begin my prep work. I need to print some photos, make a few mini kits, and stock up on a coke or two (because I know at least one of my friends will want one, then I will want one too!). I also like to gather some sketches. When I am busy chatting with everyone, I find I don't have a lot of time to make design decisions. Having the sketches and the mini kits ready allows me to chat without worrying about the planning part of the layout.

If you need some sketches, Scrapbook News and Review has a ton. Every Friday, they share a sketch and a color palette for you. I have a layout featured with this week's sketch.

First Swim of the Season by Christy Strickler Supplies Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper, Letters, Sticker: Echo Park; Other: Button

You might notice how this layout is very simply done. Remember, there are a lot of NSD challenges out there. It's ok to keep things simple. 






If you don't have time to gather some sketches of your own, here are a few resources for you:
- My Sketches board on Pinterest: I have all of the sketches pinned from Scrapbook News and Review magazine. Plus there are others I love from around the web.
- The Get It Scrapped Pinterest Board
- Shimelle.com has a sketch of the week. You can find them here.

I do find that I have a hard time journaling when I crop with friends. To save myself time, I often gather my photos and write the journaling ahead of time. This also helps me choose the right products for the layout and sketch to go with it before I even set foot in the crop.

There are going to be a lot of challenges over this weekend. Remind yourself that it's ok to not complete every single NSD challenge. Prepare some things ahead of time, especially if you are going to a crop. It's ok to scrap simply. The most important thing is to have fun and get stories onto layouts.

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Layouts in 30 Minutes?

I often hear friends say they are slow scrapbookers. I was too, once. There is really nothing wrong with scrapbooking slowly. However, if you desire to work faster, you can.  Speed often relies upon making clear, confident choices when you work. Much of what slows us down lies within finding the materials you want to use and deciding how to use them. You also need to understand how you work and to manage your time.

Today, I have a post up over at the Scrapbook News and Review blog. The layout I shared isn't fancy, but it was made in less then 30 minutes. It was also created while I cleaned my desk. ( to see how, pop on over to the SNR blog)

Been Caught Peeking by Christy Strickler Supplies Cardstock: Colorbok; Patterned Paper: Crate Paper, American Crafts; Letters: My Little Shoebox; Stamps: American Crafts, Poulain; Embossing Powder: Ranger; Punch: EK Success; Tape: Jenni Bowlin; Other: Patterned paper, ribbon, buttons








Scrapbooking doesn't have to be complex. Some layouts take me longer than others. Some have more detail or time consuming techniques. When I sit down to work, I have a rough idea of how much time I can spend creating. Knowing how I work allows me to choose the right project for the time allotted  or to break a larger project into smaller parts. Each part would then fit a specific time frame. I have learned to be realistic in what I can accomplish. I won't, for example, plan to do a fancy wedding layout in just 30 minutes.I will break it into stages to be completed or I will choose a different topic. 

I have, over time, learned to choose supplies quickly and to live with my decisions. There will, after all, always be more paper or supplies that I want to buy. Buying them and and not using them just doesn't make sense. Yes, I have special papers. The difference now is that I no longer am saving special papers for a rainy day. Sometimes I do complete a layout and think, well, just maybe that other paper would have been better. At the end of the day, I have a great layout. I used my supplies and I am happy. Don't allow yourself to get caught up on which paper is the perfect paper for each set of photos. Options are good but not if they cause a halt to your creative process.

Once upon a time, I would have said I never could have made a layout in under an hour, much less in just 30 minutes. Banish the though that you are only a slow scrapper. Get to know yourself and how you work better. Adjust your supplies to fit your scrapbooking style. Be realistic about the time you have and what you can do. Challenge yourself to try a layout in less than an hour. Set the timer and then observe what happens next. What is slowing you down? What do you do efficiently? All of your supplies are fair game. Don't let the options stop the creative process. You might not get a layout done in that hour the first time. I do know you will know more about how you work and the things you can do to improve your scrapbooking speed.

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