Challenge #4: Simplicity

Can you believe we are already on Challenge #4? I can't...that means summer is almost over! And... I will be home from holidays tomorrow. Boo. I'll tell you all about it later this week...

SIMPLICITY

I think this describes my usual scrapbooking style pretty well. I like my layouts to have straight, sharp lines, simple titles, and not be over-crowded. I actually came up wth this layout when I was working on the last challenge, so it has "stamped" elements as well... but I thought it represented "simplicty" to a T.

The pictures are from October 21, 2007- My Univeristy roommate and I did a photo shoot... she had lately become really interested in photography and needed a model. She actually did my wedding the next summer and I love her photos! Whay to go Laura!

You will note that this layout has stamping incorporated into it... and if you read my posts from the last challenge, you will know about my stamping-in-my-scrapbooks phobia...it must be lessening!!

This page represents simplicity in it's looks as well as in the nature of the pictures... enjoying nature = simple.

This page uses Close To My Heart paper and ink, and Stampin' Up! stamps. I also used my cricut and my "stamped" cartridge.

I started by choosing a blue paper (Close to my Heart paper pack "Sasaparilla") that would compliment the blue sky in my pictures, but not be overbearing. I then stamped the outline of leaves in a coordinating blue ("Lilac Mist" from Close To My Heart) all over the entire page.

Next, I used "Grey Wool" ink to very sparingly stamp the overlapping leaf imprint, adding just enough colour to really make the page stand out.

 I chose a really nice light brown from the same 'Close To My Heart' paper pack and used it for matting pictures, as well as cutting out my cricut images.

 I cut out "2007" and a "happy tag" and then used white paper to cut out the letters for "Autumn." I really love how these simple words bring to life what is happening... the pure enjoyment of autumn.
I then used another "Stampin' Up!" flower stamp for something 'extra'. 

For the rest of the layout I used large blocks of paper, simple matting and cleam cut corners and lines. One circle-cut picture adds some dimension to the page. 

A simple layout, yet very pleaseing to the eye. I love how it turned out!

What can YOU do using simple techniques such as random stamping and large blocky pieces of paper?
Don't forget to check out Lasting Memories to see all of the wonderful layouts my Design Teammates have come up with for this "Simplicity" Challenge!
Happy Scrappin'! And remember, link your "Simple" layouts on the Lasting Memories Blog for fun and a chance to win!

I should be driving home from holidays tomorrow... so I'll let you know all about our trip in the next few days!!

Last of the 'Alphabet Album.' S-Z of Kurt's Growing-up Years

Here is the final segment in the 'Alphabet Album' I made of Kurtis's growing up years. Click on the "Alphabet Album" category to the right to see more pages ---->

Scroll down to see S-Z of Kurt's growing-up years

S:

This picture doesn't reallydo this page much justice... it is super fun because it is SUPER bright! The lime green worked perfectly with the stickers I had, as well as the pictures of neon snow-gear that was oh-so popular in the early 90's!

T:

I love this (above) layout. My hubby has always loved bikes... always! In fact, his Dad, Mom and Brother all ride motorcycles as well. Kurt recently sold his last motorcycle... wonder when we'll get a new one? :)

This (above) is the 'prettiest' page in this album. As Kurt is a "Man's Man" (ie: extremely redneck), I tried to keep things as far away from frilly and pink as possible.

U:

 
Disclaimer: All of the pictures on this "Underwear?" page featured Kurtis naked as a baby... I figured I would keep it 'G' rated and only show the cute embellishments! (although who could possibly be offended by an adorable baby?!?)

V:

W:

X:

Y:

Z:

Kurtis loved Davey Crocket as a child. When he finally got his own 'coon-skin' hat, he wore it everywhere, even to bed! In honour of Davey...

And there you have it folks, a fully completed, 90 page 'Alphabet Album.' It is simple, lots of fun, and a great way to get through some of those years of piled up pictures without wearing yoruself out. This is a great keepsake and if I never get to the rest of Kurt's pictrues, at least he has some reminders of each year of his life growing up. Good luck with your projects... i'd love to see how they turn out!

Stamped Image Challenge... last chance to link!

This is your last chacne to link those "Stamped Image" layouts over at Lasting Memories. You could have a TON of fun playing with us, as well as win Top 3! Better get your scrapping butt in gear, you only have until Friday at 11:59 EST to show off your layouts! I'm looking forward to seeing all of the amazing things you come up with!

Even MORE 'Alphabet Album.' My Hubby, M-R.

For those of you who are stopping by for the first time, or haven't been around for awhile, I have been showcasing a full "Alphabet Album" that I created for my husband from 22 years of growing-up pictures. Feel free to look back at the previous posts for pages A-L. Just clikc on my "Alphabet Album" link in the Categories section to the right ---->  

And now, without further ado, M-R:

M:

N:

I found 'N' to be one of the hardest letters to come up with a title for. That is until I remembered that Kurtis had been part of the National Rifle Team. I had to search for these pictrues (since he had them personally, not his Mother, who I got all of the other pictrues from). I like how these pages turned out though... 

O:

This is another of my favourite pages, and a technique I really like to use when I have a lot of pictures from an event. You will note, that on the left page below, there is nothing but pictures. Sometimes it can take quite a while to get all the pictures to fit exactly and fill up every bit of space, but I love how it looks!

P:

Q:

R:

Above is another layout I really like (can you tell I love to scrap 'farm' pictures?). I really like it, because of the photos on the right page. These were actually taken outside when it was cold, and the shutters did not open all the way. Of course there weren't digital cameras back then, so they didn't know it until the pictures were printed. What a neat effect!!

I'd love to hear any ideas about your 'Alphabet Albums'... either those you have made, or those that you have been inspired to make. What sort of theme will your album have? What is your favourite title?

Don't forget to LINK those Layouts!

Hey all... we are working on our second layout challenge over at Lasting Memories: "Stamped Image." Don't forget to link those layouts in Mister Linky over at Lasting Memories for you chance to win Top 3!! We can't wait to see what you come up with, so get scrappin!! Need some inspiration? Check out what the Design team came up with here.

Creative Thinking with Pris- Stamp Your Layouts!

Today is the first ever "Creative Thinking" post at Lasting Memories, and I am the very first poster! Check it out!!

This was a tough challenge for me. Mentally. As a rule, I don't stamp in my scrapbooks. I am paranoid about ink rubbing off on the plastic page protectors (happened to me once!) so I usually shy away from stamping near my precious pics!

I was very surprised to find that I love Love LOVE this layout! Here is how it went:

Despite my stamping-in-my-scrapbook apprehensions, I DO own quite a number of stamps and some very lovely Close To My Heart ink pads (which I use when I {very rarely} make cards).  At first I was only going to use my giant snowflake and 'Barn-Red' ink, but I was soon enjoying stamping and needed to add 'New England Ivy' snowflakes as well. It then evolved, and I ended up stamping "a very merry Christmas to you" on a side-bar piece of paper as well.

I randomly stamped snowflakes, in varying shades (this is the famous "keep stamping till you run out of ink" technique). The biggest problem with this sort of thing, is knowing when to stop. Your page can very easily become over crowded. LESS IS MORE!!

I used my Creative Memories "Tag Maker" punch on a bunch of pictures, and attached small pieces of white ribbon to each one to make them look like Christmas gift tags. I randomly stamped "a very merry Christmas to you" in black ink on this red side-bar piece of paper, and then attached some of my picture tags on top of it. 

I used my handy-dandy cricut and "storybook" cartridge to spell out Christmas Eve with the same red paper, lovely!

This "Special Day" sticker is from Creative Memories, mounted on a white piece of paper, cut out, and then mounted on green paper. I also used several Creative Memories holly stickers to add a little 'something.'

And there you have it... a lovely stamped page!! I just may use stamps in my scrapbook again, who knows!!

 

Be sure to leave a comment letting me know if this was helpful. I would love to see what you come up with!

DON'T FORGET... to link your own "stamped" pages over at the Lasting Memories Layout Challenge. This challenge ends Friday, August 13 at 11:59 EST... so get out those stamps and scrap to your heart's content! For inspiration, check out my Lasting Memories Design Team & Schedule page above... you could be the next 'Top 3' winner! Good luck!

Challenge #3- Use Your Stamps!!

Wow, we are already on our third challenge at Lasting Memories!!! I can hardly believe the time has gone by so quickly! Currently, I am on holidays in Southern British Columbia... (hopefully!) enjoying the hunting, fishing and foraging of the Queen Charlotte Islands! (This post has been automatically scheduled... so who really knows!)

This week's Challenge was to "Stamp" on our layouts... here is what I came up with. Check back tomorrow for details on this layout as I will be hosting the first ever "Creative Thinking" column over at Lasting Memories... should be fun!!

Don't forget to check out the rest of my lovely Design Teammates "Stamped" layouts at the Lasting Memories Layout Challenge blog!! Link up your own designs and you may be the next recipient of a "Top 3" award! We love to see other people's designs, so head on over to your craft table and get busy!