Blog-spiration - week of 10/27

Blog-spiration - week of 10/27

This past week around the web I found lots of inspiration.  Here are my top ten that I hope to implement in some way this coming week:

1. Burlap trees – Top This Top That This also got me thinking about other burlap projects maybe cutting out a tree and stuffing it with plastic bags – paint before?
2. Art Journal Every Day - Julie Fei-Fan Balzer
3. Over at Get It Scrapped Tami Taylor has posted a page round up from the last three years.  I want to do this to look back on a single event and the changes over the years (think weight, hair color, kids)
4. Border Punches with Decorative Tape by Tegan Skwiat on Shimelle’s Blog
5. Books to read – Over on Shimelle's Blog there is a guest post on Scrapbooking with Vintage Books by Martha Bonneau
6. Mixed Media Monday - Packing Tape image transfer tutorial from Paper Crafters Corner
7. Priorities Discussion from Fitting It All In series on Purplemailbox.com

                  God, Family and Everything else…where do I breakdown “everything else?”

8. Cathy Zielske kicked off this week with a great iPhoto tip.  I would also like to try a digital project life page.  Not sure if I want to go digital in 2014 with project life or go back and do 2013 Week in the Life as digital?  Or both? Or neither?  But I do want to give it a go!  **Also really liked the typeface used on Nichol Magouirk’s page here
9. Cathy has also kicked off her 30 Days of Thankful Album Project…I think we are going to do this as a family.  This morning Caroline was thankful for the monkey (the sock monkey she took for show and tell today, that is). But you know, I am thankful that when I asked what she was thankful for she asked if we were going to pray.  We did.  I am thankful I have a daughter that thinks to pray when she is thankful. 
10. Lots of talk about December Daily by Ali Edwards I am really getting excited about Christmas but certainly do not want to overlook November and this “season of gratitude” we are given IF we take the time to reflect. 

 

The Usual’s:

PaperClipping – Member video, Multiply your Color Mediums – Relationship Class Sneak Peek

Challenges: Simon Says Stamp –Anything Goes and Paper Crafter’s Corner – Magazine Challenge

One to Watch:

Katie Scott has 30 days of Scrapbooking Videos –

Never Gonna Beat This Summer

 

The Magazine Challenge over at PaperCrafters Corner immediately inspired me to scrapbook a memory from this summer; one I look forward to cherishing for a long time.   Take a look at this week's inspiration piece:

 

 



I have never been to London, but the Ferris Wheel and the idea of a music festival got me!  Music can take me back to another place in time.  I think this summer's theme song for me will be Brad Paisley's "Beat This Summer."  The Lyrics open with "Like a Ferris Wheel goes around and around, the trouble with up is there is always a down..."  That has been my Summer 2013. 

 

 

 

 Typically my brother and I are lucky to see each other once or twice a year. We just live too far from one another.  This year, however, he had job training that allowed him to stay much nearer to me for six months of the year.  It was so great to see him every other weekend or so. One weekend we decided to go Whitewater Rafting!  We had a fun road trip, a great guide and a "quiet" trip down the river, HA! As fun as that was, my favorite part was the trip back home.  The sun was setting and I got to ask a bunch of questions of my husband and brothers.  The questions were taken from this blog post written by Amy Sorenson over at Write.Click.Scrapbook.

 

A beautiful sunset and conversation that didn't go too deep but allowed each of us to reminisce back to the summers of our youth.  "I ain't ever gonna beat this summer..."       

 

 I played around with my page elements for a while this week. I loved the inspiration and immediately wanted to scrap this memory, BUT how can I get all these ideas to go together.  I guess I usually scrapbook events.  They are relatively straightforward with colors and themes provided.  This was different though.  I was really trying to scrapbook this memory and the feelings I had of being with my brothers and hubby! 

 

 

I found going back to the inspiration piece really helped me.  I kept in mind all the text and the "smushy" way they all mixed together.  I also liked how tight all the elements felt, so as I designed my page I kept thinking "words, tight, and summer" in my mind.

 

 I am really happy with the way the final product turned out!

The products used on this page include cardstock and vellum from Creative Memories, Gold Colorshine by Heidi Swapp, Fibers from American Crafts, Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Spiced Marmalade, and the Ferris Wheel by Jamie Koay available in the Silhouette Online Store.

Uninspiration, Two Ways to Get Over It

On this week's episode of the Paperclipping Roundtable, Aby Garvey pointed out that if you are busy making stuff you do not spend as much time buying stuff.  WHOA!  That is so true for me. I tend to "go buy a little something to inspire me" instead of just letting my stash inspire me.   

 

This got me thinking…if I am busy using my creativity then I am not so concerned with finding it!  I have been blessed to take several classes and all of them have really sparked my creativity.  However, I have been upset with myself because I am so “behind” in my classes, but couldn't this be a GOOD thing? I have more inspiration waiting for me.

 

I have made more pages, in less time and I think it is because:

1. I am leaving a page on my desk that is "in process."  Typically, the page just needs to be adhered or an embellishment added , but I have found this brings me right back into my groove.

 

2. I take inspiration when it strikes and just "go with it!"  I want to over analyze so many choices on my page.  You know, should I use photo A or B, paper X or Y.  What if I don't like this sticker...I have started just cutting that paper, trying the sticker and placing the brad.  MOST of the time I like it! 

 

I do look forward to making even more pages and “catching up” with my classes but I am going to revel for a while at the fact I am making stuff and it feels good! 

 

Did we just help debunk the “I don’t feel inspired” excuse?

 

More thoughts soon, but for now, I am off to Get My Scrap On!