Hello Again!

 When you don’t know what to do - return to what you love. I’ve been questioning a lot of things recently and somehow that added up to me heading over to YouTube last night and watching a scrapbook video which reminded me that it’s been too long since I’ve played with pretty paper, stickers and photos. So this morning, I made a list of chores and then headed to uncover my scrapbook desk. Much to my surprise, once I found the bottom of the pile, I also found a partially started layout which allowed me to get started quickly. So here it is. A page with photos from the 70’s and my heart is happy. In my mind, I don’t have much time for my favorite hobby, but maybe I do. Stay tuned. 

More classwork featuring layouts of the 70's and 80's

Still loving this Shimelle sketch class - start with a sketch. As those of you who are following along know, I am doing the class at my own pace and out of order and it feels really good. Giving yourself permission to adjust or pick your own speed is such a gift. Here are my layouts for sketches #6 and #10 plus a little something of my own design.  

As I have been working on the Wyoming Trek Album (Girl Scout trip in the 80's) I have also pulled out the photo boxes from the 70's and 80's and grabbed a few photos to work with. I do love a good current project, but mixing in the older photos is so enjoyable. My kids find it hilarious and my mom and brother enjoy seeing photos from the "family archives" get a little attention.  

First up - two more layouts for the Trek Album. Both with the same sketch but they will be far enough apart in the album that it won't matter.  

I have been saving these three photos since I first saw sketch #10. I am also pleased to say that I used an entire sheet of Jenni Bowlin Studio red border stickers on this layout. Talk about satisfying! Currently, struggling with what to do with the creme and brown letter stickers that won't stay stuck down. Gotta fix that before I get this page in the album. 

Here are four random photos my mother took one evening. Such a sweet window into our life. It reminds me of my time when my kiddos were little. Love that you can see the pack n play and the baby gate in the pictures plus all of the cool 70's decor.   

For this last layout, I used supplies I had gathered for the July recipe from the For the Love of Homemade Kits on Redefined Creative. It really helped me use some older supplies and things I would not have normally put together. I have been working on several pages made with the supplies from this kit. Those will post soon. I did not take a photo of the kit before I started using it - but I pulled a lot of things and have been working away. Giving myself permission to pull out other things if I need them, but have been focusing on using what is on the table. It is has been really fun and has cost me nothing!

Turning in More Homework!

Summer is here, but Sketch class is still going.  Super excited to sneak in the time to complete projects for Sketches #3, #7, & #8 - cause who says you have to do your homework in order?

Again, not showing the sketches as this is a paid class from Shimelle - Start with a Sketch.  Here are my takes.

 I was thinking that this class would be success if it got me back in the scrapping habit, but, wonder of all wonders, it got me to turn on my Silhouette, download the software onto my current laptop, find a design, upload the gift card I have had FOREVER and actually cut and use a file!  Y'all, this is a serious win and a great reminder to take a class, try a sketch or something that will push you in some way.  I used a piece of equipment that I have had for years and just not in the habit of using and I am SO glad I did cause I am super happy with this page. Backing the images was a pain but I did see a recent layout without any backing and I may try that next time.  I also finally used those cute little embroidered boots that a coworker gave me about two years ago.

This is the ultimate use up random scraps pages design and it totally works.  It is busy but so is watching football - hahaha. The badges are from several old Cocoa Daisy Kits and somehow seemed to be the perfect color match. I think I am going to repeat this idea on the horizontal soon.  I save most of my scraps in a magazine holder so I have no shortage of small scraps for this type of design.  We shall see - as my Momma always says.   

This page took me a lot longer to complete that I had thought - mainly because I hemmed and hawed about the paper for a long time.  The photos were taken in the evening inside of a BBQ tent at Rodeo and they have a bluish quality.  I tried and tried to match or complement it with no luck.  It finally came together when I gave up on that idea upon seeing a stray package of an old Cosmo Cricket kit on my table that was on theme.  It's a bit "themey" and I am ok with that because it's not something I do all of the time and it is done.  And sometimes done is better than perfect.  Besides, when else am I going to get to put a horseshoe, stars and not one but two rodeo cowboys on a layout?  

Off to work on Sketches #6 and #10. A few layouts for the Wyoming Trek Album should be coming up soon plus some wonderful ole 80's photos of my Papa John and Uncle Brown. Bet they never thought they would be on a fancy scrapbook page, much less a blog!  

When You Get Stuck - Start Small

This whole not working and then working contracts and then having too much to do and then not enough rollercoaster has definitely hit my crafting mojo a little hard.  But I never give up, returning time and time again to this much beloved hobby. This time - I just started with some cards and I even got my daughter to help. We had a super fun day making more than 40 cards together. I got all of the ideas off of Splitcoast Stampers. When I'm stuck like this, sketches, copying something or a recipe always get me going. I am not making proceeds from these cards, just making them to mail to family and friends - so I simply copied some pretty cards I found online. So thankful to the amazing crafty people out there for the inspiration. Most of the supplies are from Stamping' Up and the rest are just from my stash.   

Here is our collection of pretty cards, several of which have already been mailed off. We even made some Fourth of July cards to send to folks just because. Sometimes, doing something for someone else is just what you need to do to get going again.  

 

I think we will do another session soon.  Elsie really enjoyed it and was really creative with which designs we picked and even helping to modify some to make them even prettier!  The best part was spending time together and using up some of my super old supplies.  We laughed each time we found a piece of paper or an embellishment that was older than she is. Good times.  

Still Working on the Wyoming Trek Album

In the midst of all of this crazy and the class I’m taking, I am still trying to chip away at the 80’s Wyoming Trek album for my Cadette Girl Scout Troop.  This double page LO has been sitting on my desk for months and months and it’s finally finished. It ended up just being two single pages using the same supplies, but it will work in the album! 

 

I am super excited to get these two finished and to have another story recorded.  I have pulled out some other photos and plan to use the Shimelle class to help get them complete.  Progress over perfection!  

Skipping ahead to Assignment #4

Here’s my take on assignment aka sketch #4 for the Shimelle class I’m taking. Even though I am making very similar pages with the same sketch, I’m not worried. Here’s why - they will end up in vastly different books, the design is solid, I’m happy with them and the stories are getting told. So who cares!  I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed making them.

Some bonus work

Still steadily working on my class work from the class with Shimelle. But what I’ve found is that the class is encouraging me to do other pages too. Here’s a few pages I made last week “outside” of class.   super excited to get these photos and stories captured. For the first page, I had the large photo of the White House that I recycled from the actual project and then printed the small photo. It was a super easy page to do. The other pages use photos that are from the 2000’s.

Hope you are doing well in quarantine land. I’m struggling, but scrapbooking is helping.