Challenge|SG Emphasis on Embellishments

One of my favorite challenges at ScrapGirls is Emphasis on Embellishments. Angela (angelaNussbaum) & Janine (J9Buckles) come up with a list of embellishments for you to use on your layout. If you struggle with creating clusters or adding more than a few embs to your layouts, then this is the perfect challenge. In fact, I believe the challenge started because Angela was struggling with the very same thing. Anyway, today my mojo was in overdrive because I've decided I want to start experimenting with "minimalism" but that's a story for another time.

The challenge:
Create a layout using a color scheme that includes mostly pink [I had the perfect photo in mind from Halloween; Jenelle's costume was fuschia/hot pink]
One large photo [tried working with a large photo but my brain is in minimalist mode; decided to go small & created an out of bounds effect]
One frame [pink + white frame]
Two ribbons [one straight ribbon anchoring my cluster, one ribbon with a bow wrapping the frame]
Two alphas [I used one for the title and then I used the letter "J" from another kit as an emb]
Seven flowers [Counted them, I got 7]
Two tags/tabs/charms [100 % girl sticker, Sweet Little Girl button]
Some stitching - as much as you like [got it]
One ScrapSimple Paper [The subtle pink pattern is a paper template]
Some beads or lace [beads, no lace]
One heart [made it into a little corrugated cardboard emb using a style]
One pin [stuck into the bow]

The results:

"Wishing"
supply list + links below

Wanna see other interpretations of the same rules? Click here to visit the Emphasis on Embellishments gallery.
Wanna play along? Create a layout, post it in the gallery, and then link it up in the thread here.

Oh and I'm just going to toot my horn a little bit! 2 posts in 1 week!! Go me! lol!

Until next time!

"Wishing" Supply List
Assemble Your Own Zoom Pages: His and Hers by Angie Briggs
Assemble Your Own Zoom Pages: Inspired by Melissa Renfro
Brush Set: Graceful Grunge by Amanda Sok
Creased N Crinkled - Sassy Paper Biggie by Angie Briggs
Dress Up Paper Super Mini by Angie Briggs
Dress Up Word Art Mini by Angie Briggs
French Linen Collection Biggie by Brandy Murry
His and Hers Collection Biggie by Angie Briggs
ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Bitty Pattern by Angie Briggs
ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Clarify 11301 Mini by Heidi Dillon
ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Photos That Pop 1801 Mini by Mandy Steward
ScrapSimple Tools - Shapes: Stylish Hearts 5001 by Melissa Renfro
ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Cardboard 6401 Super Biggie by Amanda Sok
Uptown Collection by Amanda Sok
There are Commercial Use versions available of these products:
Brush Set: Graceful Grunge by Amanda Sok
Creased N Crinkled - Sassy Paper Biggie by Angie Briggs
Dress Up Paper Super Mini by Angie Briggs
Dress Up Word Art Mini by Angie Briggs
His and Hers Collection Biggie by Angie Briggs
ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Bitty Pattern by Angie Briggs
ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Clarify 11301 Mini by Heidi Dillon
ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Photos That Pop 1801 Mini by Mandy Steward
ScrapSimple Tools - Shapes: Stylish Hearts 5001 by Melissa Renfro
ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Cardboard 6401 Super Biggie by Amanda Sok

ScrapGirls Newsletter|Extra Chit Chat

I'm a layout artist over at ScrapGirls. It's my first time being a part of a creative team and I am so enjoying it. The best thing about it is becoming so much more aware of my own creative process. Over the last few months, I've realized that I can't scrap unless I'm organized so my process demands that I spend some time keeping my digi files in order. There are other things too but perhaps that should be in a post of its own hmm?

So what's the point of this post? Well, as I said, I'm a layout artist and every Monday, the layout artists are featured in the newsletter that SG sends out 6 days a week. Each team member creates a layout and we also share a little tip or trick about the creation of that layout. I've decided to feature those layouts that appear in the newsletter here along with some elaboration on the tip I've shared in the newsletter. So without further ado, here's my layout that appeared last Monday.

[Also, if you'd like to see what my fellow layout artists have created (which I highly recommend, they're awesome) or if you want to see the newsletter (which I highly recommend, it's awesome) here's the link for you: ScrapGirls News: Monday, 11.22.10 Family Reunion]

"Giving Thanks for Family"
See Supply List w/links below

Here's my blurb from the newsletter:

"ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates can be a quick and easy way to add a special touch to your layout, but if you have more time, you can easily get even more creative with these tools. For this layout, I opened up three different PSD files from ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Heraldic Crest Clusters. Then I highlighted the layers I wanted to use on my layout and dragged them onto my blank 12x12-inch canvas. Then I arranged the various template layers on the canvas to my liking. Finally, I used clipping masks to add papers from Prairieland Collection to the template layers."

So basically, I was working with Angela Blanchard's lovely ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Heraldic Crest Clusters.This product includes 6 different templates and normally, I'd pull just one of them as use it the way the designer arranged them but this time, I wanted to stretch myself and use the templates differently. My idea was to deconstruct a template so I opened up a few of the different templates and chose different layers to work with and then I put them together in a completely different way on my layout. For example, the green lions on the edges of my layout were originally one crest but I split it in half using the "Layer via Cut" option in CS4. The large green triple dot circle was a part of another template that I enlarged. The burgundy swirls were part of yet another template. That's pretty much it. Then I clipped papers from Angela's Prairieland Collection to the various layers, added my title and a few embellies (i.e. the buttons) and I was done.


And elsewhere in my pixelated world:
It's almost December and I'm getting nervous about this December Daily thing because I was a total photography failure at Thanksgiving. I didn't get nearly any of the photos I wanted to get. I hope that snapping photos everyday will make photographing Christmas a lot easier because I have got to step up my game for holidays. Poor kids, they're going to think nothing happened during the holidays. Stay tuned....


Until next time y'all! (Yeah, I said y'all...I'm from the South *wink*)


"Giving Thanks for Family" Supply List
Art Journal Collection Biggie by Thao Cosgrove
Prairieland Collection by Angela Blanchard
ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Heraldic Crest Clusters by Angela Blanchard
ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: My Blessings by Shalae Tippetts
ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Clarify 11301 Mini by Heidi Dillon
ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Desaturate 5101 by Durin Eberhart
ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Photos That Pop 1801 Mini by Mandy Steward
Simple Life Paper Super Mini by Thao Cosgrove

There are also Commercial Use versions available of the following products:
Prairieland Collection by Angela Blanchard
ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Heraldic Crest Clusters by Angela Blanchard
ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: My Blessings by Shalae Tippetts
ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Clarify 11301 Mini by Heidi Dillon
ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Desaturate 5101 by Durin Eberhart
ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Photos That Pop 1801 Mini by Mandy Steward

Preparing to document December

Okay, so let's just try to ignore the fact that I haven't posted anything in over a month. I'm still trying to find my blogging groove but remember, no pressure, so I blog when I want to and/or when I can. Although I do want to post more regularly so...let's see shall we?

FYI: Pixel crafting is just my clever way of saying digital scrapbooking because digital scrapbooking is such a mouthful. I figured if paper crafters play with scissors and paper then the digital equivalent would have to be playing with pixels and there you have it: pixel crafting.

I've been, ahem, pixel crafting, for well over 4 years now but I have very little to show for it. I rarely print out layouts so most of the proof that I actually do something with the dollars I spend on digi supplies is always on my computer or online somewhere. It's a big part of my life but it seems hidden because I can't walk around with my computer all day. So I decided to make a bigger effort to go hybrid. In my opinion, hybrid scrapbooking is when the pixels become real so just printing out an all digi layout is hybrid to me but then again, I was never a paper scrapper so others may have a different definition. I have tons of ideas floating around my head just waiting for me to act on them. One is Project 365. I really like the idea of documenting the everyday especially because I have a big problem taking lots of photos during big events but I have a million "everyday" photos. Back in 2008, I started but I honestly only did one month--January. I made it way too complicated. Now I realize what my mistakes were and I hope to be able to actually complete the album for 2011. To get in the habit of taking photos every day and documenting them, I'm going to do a December Daily album a la Ali Edwards. This will be a great way for me to make sure I actually photograph some of the bigger moments of the season since I'll want to include them in the album.

So here's my plan:
I'm going to create a 4x6 album that will end up being displayed in an album similar to this one I found here at Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Umbra-Portofoto-4-Inch-6-Inch-Photo/dp/B0015AFVI0

I've created a simple template to use. I know from experience that not having to worry about design is a big time saver. One of my biggest hangups about using a template used to be feeling locked in to one scheme and not having enough variety. However, I got over that after taking "Who Am I?" a class by Anna Mansfield at ScrapGirls where you use templates to build an album all about you. (I never finished that either..hmmm...gotta work on that). So the template I created is pretty simple but I think I can still change it up as needed to create variety but the album as a whole will still feel unified. So on the days when I can only drop in a photo and jot down a few words, it will still look nice and when I have more time, I can easily add cute embellies and such to dress it up.

Front

Back

I plan to put the album on display next year during Christmas so we can look back and see how much has changed over the year. Since it will be hanging from binder rings, I want it to look nice from the front and back which is why I have 2 templates. I'm not sure if my album will be 2-up like the one pictured; I've only planned for 1-up. The front will be a photo from the day plus a smattering of journaling. The back will just be a holiday quote (I love quotes.) Another great thing about the 4x6 size is that after being on display for Christmas, it can go in a pretty little 4x6 album on its own.

Thanks to Amanda McGee, I've already found the perfect kit to use for my album. It's her December Days Collection. Isn't it lovely?!

Can't wait to get my hot little hands on that! So that's pretty much it. This album feels so much more doable since I've already chosen a design and a kit to use. All I have to do is take photos throughout the days which is something I already do. I'm going to set aside 15 minutes a day to actually drop my photos + papers/embs + journaling into the template. I'll share a few of my finished pages about mid December and of course when I get it printed out and assembled, I'll share that too.

That's it in a nutshell. Until next time..Happy Holidays!