A Brothers Love

I'm back with another page for you.  With the snow day we had today I was able to get caught up on photographing pages for the blog so hopefully I'll be sharing lots of great ideas with you.  Today I not only have a page to share, but I also have a fun idea for using your leftover supplies!

The page above is a page for our family album.  I got my inspiration from a sketch I found on Pinterest.  I love starting with a sketch and going from there!  This sketch I actually turned sideways.  Don't forget that you can always flip a sketch around to fit your photos.  I love having a collection of sketches on Pinterest.  There are so many great ideas on there! 

I used a border punch and a circle punch to add a little extra to this layout.  I love to punch small circles out of a coordinating paper and put them on pop dots.  It adds just a little bit of dimension and it's an inexpensive way to add a little something to your pages.  And see that cute little index card?  I found these super small ones at back to school time.  They are a great size for adding journaling to any layout!   

 

My title was of course cut using my Cricut.  I used the Opposites Attract cartridge.  It's great for a title when you have two words that you want to emphasize.  The block and script letters look great together.  I cut the 'a' out of kraft cardstock and then inked it to give it a subtle color change.  This is also a great way to use up those scraps.  

 

Here's another view of my title.  I love how the script word connects with both the block letters and my photo.   

Remember that photo sleeve I used on the Special Delivery page?  Here is the back of that page.  I tried to keep my layout as close to the layout above as much as I could.  I only had to use scraps of the patterned paper and cardstock to fill the 4x6 openings.  I also didn't crop and mat these photos which was a time saver.  To save even more paper I adhered the photo and title to the back of the Special Delivery title!  Your possibilities really are endless with these photo sleeves.

And what about that fun tip for using your leftover supplies?  I read this in a magazine a while back.  Use what you have leftover and the tools you have left out to make a card!  We all need cards and if you already have supplies out that match why not put them to good use.   

For this card I used leftover cardstock to make the base of the card.  I then cut the train out of a piece of leftover cardstock that would have otherwise went in the recycling bin.  The little stars were also cut out of that paper.  The Doodle Twine was from a bin I leave on my desk to to save small scraps.  It happened to fit perfectly.  I left this card blank on purpose so that it could either be a baby or birthday card.  So the next time you finish a page use your leftover supplies to make a card or two!  I'm going to try to do this more in the future and of course will be sharing.

I hope you enjoyed these ideas I had for you today.  Be sure to stop back for Photo Friday.  I have some everyday moments to share that I think you'll like.  Thanks for stopping!

Supplies:

• cardstock: kraft and misc. scraps
• patterned paper: Autumn Leaves (Choo Choo, Clever)
• Cricut cartridge: Opposites Attract
• ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Walnut Stain, Faded Jeans) 
• tools: American Crafts (Knockout Border Punch), EK Success (circle punch), Perfect Layers
• pen: Zig Writer (Chocolate)
• adhesive: Xyron
• misc: pop dots, Oxford 3x2.5" index cards
• additional supplies used for card: Sakura (Jelly Roll pen-Stardust), We R Memory Keepers (Corner Chomper 1/8"), Doodlebug Designs (Doodle Twine), Scotch (Quick Dry Adhesive)

Special Delivery

 

Remember that cute little seven year old from Photo Friday?  Well, in 'scrapbook land' that little boy was just born!  Yes, I'm seven years behind in my scrapbooks.  Am I OK with it?  Absolutely!  I had an aha moment about this last week and posted it on the new Jen's Scraptography Facebook page!  Stop by there to see what that aha moment was.   

One of the reasons I'm so far behind is that I keep an album for each of my four boys and one for our family.  I know crazy, right!?  But I want them to be able to take their own albums someday to share with their own families.  Now, that doesn't mean that I make 5 copies of every layout and put them in every book.  That would be crazy!  Sometimes though special layouts make it into two or more of the albums.  This page about Alex's delivery went in our family book and his book.  Sometimes the layouts will be the exact same when going into more than one album and sometimes I'll tweak it a bit to conserve supplies or because I didn't like the way something turned out.  For this page I wanted a very simple layout to let the story and photos really take the lead.   

The title I made using my Cricut and Gypsy.  I love the way it turned out!  So fun!  And the best part is that Alex helped me!  I originally titled it Special Delivery and he said, "Mom, shouldn't that be Special Delivery from God?"  Of course I had to change it.  Love that kid!  Some twine from Doodlebug Designs and an embossing folder from Cuttlebug really make this title look like I spent some money on it.  I love knowing that it was all made from scraps!!   

In order to conserve paper (and time) I put this same layout in a We R Memory Keepers Ring Albums Made Easy Photo Sleeve for Alex's book.  What a time saver!  Just put in your photos, use a large scrap of paper for the title and journaling spot, and you are done.  No stress and they look almost the same!  If you are new to scrapbooking these photo sleeves are a great way to get your feet a little wet without using a lot of supplies.  To make it even easier purchase a title at your favorite scrapbooking store and then you would only need to journal!  These photo sleeves come in many different configurations too (this one has 4-4x6 pockets and 1-8x6 pocket).  Keep an eye out for them here as I'm sure I'll be using more of them.   

I hope you enjoyed this simple and easy page.  I'm excited to finally get some more pages done in Alex's book so there will be more pages making their way to the blog soon.  Come back later this week for how I used the back of this photo sleeve.  Thanks for stopping!


Supplies:

• cardstock: kraft, misc scraps
• stamp: My Sentiments Exactly (Baby Sentiments)
• twine: Doodlebug Design Inc. (Doodle Twine Baby Boy Asst.)
• ink: VersaMark (watermark stamp pad)
• embossing powder: American Crafts (Zing! White)
• embossing folder: Cuttlebug (Polka Dots)
• adhesives: Scotch (Quick-Dry Adhesive), pop dots
• Cricut cartridges: Create a Critter
• gel pen: Uniball (Signo Broad)
• photo sleeve: We R Memory Keepers (Item #50038-4)

Photo Friday- Alex is 7!

It's Friday and I'm going to share some pictures I took last weekend of my son, Alex.  I always try to get pictures of the boys close to their birthdays but because of illness and travels Alex's had to wait.  I can't believe that he is seven already!!  Where has the time gone.  I'm still scrapbooking his baby pictures (look for some layouts up on the blog this week).  This kid is so happy and full of life.  He's also feisty and very independent.  He's smart, funny, and loves his brothers.  I love that toothless grin and the sparkle in his eyes.  These pictures say it all.  I hope you enjoy these as much as I do.  Thanks for stopping!  

Tie-Dyed Birthday Card and Fall Leaves

It's been forever since I've had anything crafty on here!  I apologize.  I've gotten a few cards and pages done recently but just haven't had time to get photos and project lists up on the blog.  I'm really going to try to be better about that this year.  Also going forward this year I'm really trying to not buy too many new supplies.  {GASP!}  For those that really know me this will be a challenge.  I love to buy new tools and supplies.  Who doesn't?!  But I have a whole room FULL of wonderful products that I need to use.  What that means on the blog is lots of creativity (I hope) for using what I have at home.  I'm hoping to inspire myself (and you) to look at your supplies in a new light.  I'm also hoping that I can give you some tips to not waste what supplies you are using.  So with all that being said here is a fun little card I made for a neighbor's birthday and an additional project.

 

I've been dying to use my Tim Holtz ink using this technique and finally tried it.  I love it!!  You just smear a little ink directly from the pad down on a craft mat (use as many colors as you want and try to leave a little space between the colors).  Here I used  Barn Door, Wild Honey, and Spiced Marmalade.  After your colors are on the craft mat spritz the mat with water from a small squirt bottle.  This will cause the colors to bubble up because the Distress Inks react with water.  Now take your paper and lay it on the ink moving your paper to make sure that all parts of the paper are colored.  You can pick it up and dab over parts that need more color if you want to.  Let it dry and when you are done you have a tie-dyed look on your paper!  (Sorry that I don't have step by step pictures of this technique.  Maybe next time).

Even though I'm trying not to buy new supplies doesn't mean that I won't be using new things.  I'm lucky to have someone close to me who is cleaning out her craft room to fill mine!  This means lots of new stamps and other items are coming my way.  So since I was trying a new technique I also wanted to use a new stamp.  This fun birthday background stamp was perfect for what I had in mind.  I stamped it on black cardstock using Versamark ink and then embossed it with clear embossing powder.  What a fun effect!!  I know that I'll be doing this more this year.  After rounding the corners I then punched a circle out to stamp my sentiment in.  Some faux stitching with a white gel pen and the card was complete.  Super simple and super fun!

Onto the other project I made.  I want to make sure that I am using all of my supplies, including the ink that is leftover on the craft mat.  Why waste that ink when it can be used to create more things!  I picked these colors of ink specifically because I had this project in mind.  I got out some scraps of white cardstock and did the same technique that I did above until I had used up all of the remaining ink.  I then got out my Gypsy and Cricut and went to work cutting out some fall leaves!  If you don't have a Cricut take a look through your punches to see what you could make.   

After all the leaves were cut I used some more Distress Ink on the edges and a brown marker on the 'veins' to give them an even better fall look.  I love how they turned out and can't wait to use them on a layout or card!  I'm so glad I didn't waste that ink!

 

The next time you get out your ink plan ahead and think of what else you could make with your leftover ink.  This same idea could be used with purples and pinks to create hearts, yellows and greens to make spring leaves, or even browns to create feathers.  See what you can come up with.  Hope to see you back for Photo Friday and thanks for stopping! 

Card Supplies:

• cardstock: misc scraps
• ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Barn Door, Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade), Versamark (Watermark)
• embossing powder: Ranger (clear)
• stamps: Close to My Heart (Seasonal Celebration), Hampton Art Stamps (Multi Birthday)
• tools: EK Success (1 1/4" circle punch), We R Memory Keepers (Corner Chomper 3/8")
• gel pen: Uniball (Signo Broad)

Leave Supplies:

• cardstock: misc scraps
• ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Barn Door, Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Walnut Stain, Frayed Burlap)
• Cricut Cartridges: Gypsy Wanderings, Cricut Classic Font, Stretch Your Imagination, Create a Critter
• marker: Zig Writer (Chocolate) 

Photo Friday- It's OK to be Square!

I have a confession to make.  I love Instagram!  Those square photos and all of those filters are just so fun!  I love turning an ordinary photo I took with my phone into a little work of art.  Sometimes it's easier to be creative when you don't have a lot of space to work with.  Plus, my phone is always with me and my DSLR is not.  That means I can capture things I normally wouldn't.  In fact I've recently been taking more pictures with my phone than my 'real' camera!  That really isn't good since I just upgraded my DSLR!  I really need to change that.   

So why is me loving Instagram something I feel guilty about?  If you know me and my photography style I like to keep things simple.  I don't like to do a lot of photo editing for these reasons:

1. It can take a lot of time.  I've read through some tutorials and blogs and some people spend hours working on their photos!  I just don't have that kind of time.  I could make the time I suppose but with four little dudes to take care of I've got other things to do.
2. Sometimes I feel like people change their pictures too much with Photoshop and other photo editing software.  The end result looks awesome don't get me wrong, but it's not the picture that was taken.  I've played around with Lightroom and my photos looked awesome but I didn't feel like they were 'my' photos anymore. 
3. I just don't know how to do it.  Plain and simple.  I know how to lighten shadows, adjust color, and other simple things.  Anything more complicated than that and I'm in the dark. 

Now this doesn't mean that I don't edit my photos.  Sometimes I do, but it's usually really simple and has to do with what I mentioned in #3 above.  It doesn't take me long.  I love to turn photos black and white or give them just a hint of color.  Simple things.  I figure if I don't get it right out of the camera I need to work on my photography skills a little more.  Maybe I'm a little square by not using all these tools at my disposal.  Maybe I just like things simple.  Maybe I'm a little old school.  Maybe I should take a Photoshop class. 

And that's why I sometimes feel guilty that I love Instagram.  It doesn't follow my normal photography style.  That's OK though.  It helps me be creative in a new way.  Maybe it will change my 'real' photography and maybe it won't.  For now though I'm happy being square and I'm going to continue to enjoy my square photos.  I'm even trying out a photo a day challenge by Fat Mum Slim.  It makes me think outside the box (which is hard for me sometimes).  It's also fun to see what all the other people come up with.  We all think so differently!

Thanks for letting me get that out there.  If you want to see my photo a day progress you can click the Instagram link on the left sidebar of my blog (it's the blue square camera).  If you are a fellow Instagram user follow me and I challenge you to give the photo a day challenge a try.  It really is fun!

I'll leave you with a few of my favorite Instagram photos so far from January.  Thanks for stopping and I hope you have a very square day!   

Something beginning with 'T'

Two things

Cotton candy sky (not from the photo a day challenge)

Water

Street

Photo Friday- I'm Back!

Sorry for the long hiatus.  I really didn't plan to be gone for so long but between the creepy crud, Christmas travels, strep throat, and school starting again the blog has gotten ignored.  Now that school has started again and the boys have had their first full week back I feel like I'm finally getting back in the swing of things.  So here are a few of my favorite photos from the last month or so.  Thanks for stopping and enjoy!