Celebrating iNSD

National Scrapbook day came and went last weekend. In years past, it was a flurry of one day events with layout challenges and short deadlines for a chance at a prize. That's not true anymore. As memory keeping has grown, so has the event. The little i in front of NSD reminds everyone that it's an international activity and we now see challenges which last throughout the week after.

Speaking of challenges, iNSD might be over, but there is still one more day to submit your layouts to Shimelle.com. You will need to scroll through to see all of the challenges options. Shimelle really pulled out the stops when it came to providing ideas to inspire you.

I am very honored to be a guest for Shimelle's iNSD party. This layout was featured for the Power of Three Challenge.

Squinty Eyes by Christy Strickler Supplies| Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye; Letters; American Crafts; Wood Veneer: Studio Calico; Brads: October Afternoon, Basic Grey; Eyelets: Making Memories; Other; Denim,trim

I also managed to create several layouts during a crop with some friends. I combined some of the challenges from Two Peas in a Bucket and Big Picture Classes with Shimelle's Challenges. This layout was inspired by some I statements I created for a BPC challenge.

I.Photograph by Christy Strickler Supplies| Patterned Paper: LillyBee Designs,Amy Tangerine; Letters: American Craft; Tape: Webster's Pages; Flair,Stamp: Amy Tangerine; Brad: Making Memories; Glitter: Ranger; Wood Veneer: Freckled Fawn; Mist: Pink Paislee; Other: Button

It's a perfect submission for Shimelle's challenge to scrapbook about yourself.

Two Peas in a Bucket and Shimelle challenged me to scraplift one of my own layouts. I decided to use a design that is a little unusual for me. Using clusters in scrapbook design was an assignment for Get It Scrapped. I loved the layout I created but until now, I had never revisited the design.

Dance to the Beat of Your Own Drum by Christy Strickler Supplies| Patterned Paper: Sassafrass, Basic Grey; Letters: My Little Shoebox,Hand lettering; Tape: My Mind's Eye; Sticker: Creative Memories; Buttons: Basic Grey; Embossing Powder: Ranger; entered in Whimsical Wednesday at the Memory Nest






I had a great time participating in the iNSD challenges. If you haven't had the chance, you still have time. Shimelle's challenges are open until tomorrow night. 

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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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Get it Scrapped: Roosters and Flair

Flair badges are one of the current hot trends in the scrapbooking world. Who can resist them?!?! There are a wide variety of them available on the scrapbook market. You can use them as is, or you can find fun ways to add them to your layouts.

As with any product, there is always that one item you just aren't sure you will use. I recently got a pack of JBS Mercantile flatback flair badges and I just wasn't too sure about the rooster. I thought  I would be sharing that particular badge with a fellow memory keeper. Then I found these photos of my son visiting my friend and her new chickens.

Soft and Silky by Christy Strickler Supplies| Patterned Paper, Flair, Flashcard: Jenni Bowlin; Alphas: My Little Shoebox, Sassafrass; Die Cuts: October Afternoon; Stamp: Basic Grey; Embossing Powder: Ranger; Other: buttons, feathers; Created for Get It Scrapped


Normally, I don't hang onto items that I won't use. However, I also found a Rooster flashcard and an older stamp in my supplies. I created a country look to the layout with the soft floral paper, vintage style die cuts, feathers and old buttons. My son kept wanting to touch the chickens. This inspired my title and the desire to use the feathers. To add sound to the layout, I created a flower with the flair badge, a die cut, and some tiny type alphas. The word cluck has been used several times around the base of the flair badge.

Flair is often themed. It's easy to use it just the way it is on any layout. It can also be used symbollicaly. I could, for example, have used this rooster flair on a layout about waking my son up in the morning or maybe even a special breakfast. Many flair items are small enough to use in custom embellishments. This allows you to further unite your story with sound or texture as you build the layout.

Looking for more flair? Here are a few other recent layouts I created utilizing flair badges:
Scrapbooking a Treasured Friendship
Sour End to a Sweet Day
MultiMedia Kid

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