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!

To Sleep. Perchance to Dream...

We put up Akira's crib a few months ago but she rarely slept in it on her own. Eventually, all little ones must learn to fall asleep on their own, without mommy & daddy within arm's reach. I'd have to wait until she was already deeply sleeping to put her in the crib only to have her wake up screaming, panicking that she was not with me. Mission terminated.

She was back in our bed and she was very happy indeed. I'd be happy too if I could just roll over, get a quick snack, and roll back over and go back to sleep. But, deep down, I knew that it was time to try again. The longer we wait, the harder it gets. So, Friday night, we tried again. This time, we put her in the crib while she was awake so she can learn to fall asleep on her own. All of the sleeping experts recommend creating a routine so we have bath + story + goodnight kiss = bedtime. Needless to say, she's not fond of this new math at all. The first night, she screamed for the full 30 minutes I allowed her to cry it out. Half an hour is all I can take of hearing her scream while resisting the overwhelming urge to respond to her, to make it all better, to say "Oh baby, you can sleep with mama until you're 25 if you'll stop screaming as if your poor little heart is breaking." I brought her back to my bed, cuddling her while she whimpered in her sleep. Started having thoughts like "Maybe I should wait until she's older to transition her to sleeping on her own." "She's too young." "I'll never get any sleep again if we have to keep this up."

Daddy wasn't having it though. He's tougher than I am. Even though it rocks him to the core to hear her screams of agony, he's more willing to be a sadist than I am.  He reassured me that it'll get better. According to his mother, it only took her 2 weeks to break him out of the family bed. So, we had to try again. Saturday night, we put her in the crib, kissed her goodnight, and left the room. She screamed--but it was different this time. She only screamed for 5 minutes and then it was silence. And then she'd scream again and then again...silence. Every time she got quiet, one of us would check to see if she'd gone to sleep and whenever she saw us, she'd scream again so the cycle continued until I got smart. I used my hand mirror to watch her from my room without her seeing me. Thank you to all of those action movies where they use this trick!

Soon, the mirror revealed the impossible. She started to fall asleep, sitting up. She'd rock forward, startle herself, whimper, fall asleep again. What's that bright light you say?! It's the light at the end of the tunnel that's what! A few minutes later, she face planted forward, exhausted. I moved her into a better sleeping position which disturbed her a little but I just rubbed her tummy until she gave into sleep again.

Cue the Dora the Explorer "Lo Hicimos" music! Hark the herald angels sing! My baby is sleeping all on her own! I should be happy right? I'm not. I'm actually kind of sad. I'm going to miss her wild romping around my bed in her attempt to fight sleep. I'm going to miss her soft, squishy baby body curled up next to me. I'm going to miss seeing her bright eyes staring at me when she wakes up in the morning. I'm going to miss co-sleeping. But that's the push + pull of parenting. Pride and joy commingle with nostalgia and bittersweet acceptance that slowly but surely, time is taking your sweet baby away from you.

Photo overlay: Brush Set: 4x6 Fancy Frames by Amanda Sok

Never announce your intentions...

So I set up my blog, get it all nice & spiffy, got some post ideas bouncing around my head; and ALL hell breaks loose. Jenelle gets sick, passes it on to Akira, who required a trip to the ER due to  a fever of 103.8+ vomiting, then I get sick and yeah, no blogging happens. Things have calmed down now (and I hate to say this for fear of enduring another round of chaos), so I should be able to post a little bit more regularly. We'll see....

About my blog

I have started several blogs, none of which have survived very long. Usually, the blogs were scrapbooking related which is very fine but my life is about more than scrapbooking. So then I started another blog that was supposed to be about my life but I couldn't keep up with both blogs. Now I have this blog. No witty title, just my name. I'm not promising anything, except that I'll post when I get a chance. I think keeping things low pressure will make this something I want to do rather than something to put off until later.

Generally, my posts will be about digital scrapbooking. I'm a Layout Artist at ScrapGirls.com (SG) so I'll share the LOs I create for SG along with my layouts done for personal pleasure.

Also, I post about my natural hair journey. I went natural in June 2010 and I've become very interested in all things hair related.

I'll also discuss the challenges + pleasures of raising children and being in a relationship. I'm not an expert in either of those things but I'll share what I know :)

And of course, I have my catch all category of "Life: In General" because maybe sometimes I don't want to talk about any of the above and I'll go off on a tangent on something completely random.

So that's it. Stay tuned for more.