Tales of a Craft Class Junkie: Stories of the Summer

Summer is a little different for my family than it is for others. Sure, we have time in the pool and we enjoy some outdoor activities. Typically though,my husband is busy at work. His job in the tourist industry ensures we never stray far from home during typical vacation season. While I don't mind that we take vacations off season, I do want to find unique ways to document our standard (and sometimes repetitive) summer activities. After all, how many swimming layouts should a person have in their album every year?

As a member of SimpleScrapper.com, I was happy to see a special summer class offering. In fact, the class is free to anyone who wants to sign up. Stories of the Summer offers you ideas for documenting the events of this particularly hot and humid season with a unique perspective.

Suggestions for a kit were provided, but I decided to create a kit of my own. I am mixing Studio Calico's Here and There with some older Simple Stories and Pink Paislee's Hometown Summer line. There are some washi tape rolls and buttons in my kit as well, however, when it comes to embellishing, I plan to pull whatever works from my supplies. I did purchase the optional extra packet from SimpleScrapper.com. It's full of additional prompts and printables which can be altered using PSE.


The class is wonderful resource for learning how to make a mini album. However, I am sticking with my usual 12x12 format. I do plan to also do some Project Life spreads. Some of the prompts seem to work better for me in list form and I don't feel all of the prompts need a full page layout. I will be using tags from Elle's Studio along with cards from my JBS Mercantile Historian kits for the PL layouts.

I'll be sharing some of the layouts here on the blog. However, a few will be made for my DT assignments.Watch for sneak peeks. I was so excited about the Stories of Summer class that I made my first layout this week.I used a sketch from Shimelle.com.

Summer of 2013 by Christy Strickler |Supplies Patterned Paper: Studio Calico, Pink Paislee, Simple Storie; Tag: Elle's Studio; Borders: Pink Paislee; Wood Veneer: Studio Calico; Flair: Kelly Purkey, A Flair for Buttons; Other: Sequins,vellum

In the islands, the blooming of the Royal Poinciana trees herald the beginning of summer. You can find them throughout the whole island.

While I have taken many photos of these beautiful trees, I have never documented the exact day I noticed their blooms. We woke up on June 1st to find the trees ablaze with orange flowers!

The weekend is here and I have more stories to tell. I'll be spending more time taking the classes I signed up for at BPC, the Art Studio and Get It Scrapped. Stay tuned for more Stories of Summer. Meanwhile, I hope you have a pleasant weekend!

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Get It Scrapped: Pinteresting

I often use Pinterest as inspiration for my layouts. I like that I can make a quick mood board or save things that inspire me from around the web. The key to using Pinterest is that you have to actually use what you pin. Don't just collect the photos.

I wasn't always a doer. I started using Pinterest as a collector. I didn't really use my pinned images until I started organizing my boards. It took me a little time to get my boards more organized (still needs a little work). I had to think about how I would use the boards and compare them to how I use my supplies. For example, I had a board just for Layouts. It's full of scrapook layouts and I find it a bit overwhelming. I now have my boards arranged by motifs, colors, or specific thoughts. I have both layouts and inspiring images mixed together in those boards. I have a reason as to why I pinned those objects so I can remember what first grabbed my attention when I saw them.

Design images are still one of my favorite ways to create layouts. I can look at a display and see a sketch. Textures and colors in the display often inspire my product choices. This is a pin from my friend G at CraftOrganic. I love the colors and the fabulous texture. As I look at this photo, I can see a picture tucked in between the food sitting on the wood dresser.

Well, Hello! by Christy Strickler |Supplies Cardstock: Colorbok; Letters: My Little Shoebox; Doilies: Recollections, other; Buttons,Stencil: JBS Mercantile; Ribbon: Prima; Wood Veneer: Studio Calico; Paint: American, Inka Gold; Mist: Pink Paislee; Modeling Paste: Liquitex; Other: Glossy Accents

The image inspired me to break out my stencils, paint and modeling paste. I added a little pink since this layout is about our female cat.

I am inspired by a lot of people. Somehow, I managed to whittle down my choices to five boards I am inspired by on Pinterest. I shared them over at the Get It Scrapped blog. I hope you will check it out and if you are inspired, please share your layout with us in the Get It Scrapped Gallery.

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Tales of a Craft Class Junkie: Summer Camp

Our kids go to summer camp or have special summer activities. So why can't we? This summer, I plan to escape the heat with time by the pool and time indoors with the AC. To keep down the summer doldrums, I have signed myself up for several creative classes. I have also have plans to finish up a few classes I had signed up for earlier this year.

Camp Scrap began this week at Big Picture Classes. I can hardly ever resist a class with May Flaum, so of course I signed up.

The summer stitch club was intended for making a summer runner or mini quilt. That's not why I signed up. I loved the idea of super cute summer themed patterns that I could use for handmade scrapbook embellishments. I plan to stitch during those summer movie nights on the couch. Thanks to my scrap buddy , Beth over at ScrappingWonders.com, I have also been tempted to learn crochet. We shall see how that goes.

I will also be joining in on this free course from Jennifer Wilson. I need to get my summer kit together as the class is starting soon.

I am taking several classes at the Art Studio this month. They inlcude another art journaling class from Christy Butters and Adventures in Alcohol inks with Roni Johnson.

I also will be continuing this month's Masterful Scrapbook Design Seminar and working with the Scrapbook Coach Series through Get It Scrapped.

I took a photography class last year, however, I can still use some practice and tips. I signed up for Photojojo's Phoneography 101 course. I am also taking a photo class through Big Picture classes.















There are a few other classes on my " need to do list" so I will work those in as I can. Meanwhile, I am off to play and have some fun. I'll share what I can, but as always, some of the class projects end up being part of my Design Team work.I hope to see some of you in class!

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