Be prepared...

I'm finding it funny that I called this post "Be prepared", because I wasn't.  Two weddings this month kind of snuck up on me.  I know that's crazy--I've known about the weddings for months, but with school ending and summer starting and baseball, and dance recitals, and blah, blah, blah.  I was NOT prepared. 

I had wanted to make 8x8 albums as presents for the bride and groom and needed to do them fast.  So, once again I turned to my Fiskateer friends.  I used layouts chosen by our Lead Liftateer, Groovy Deb to help inspire me to make pages.

All I needed was a little inspiration to get me going and I was able to make each album in an afternoon.  I used each layout as inspiration for 2 pages (each album was 20 pages) and then repeated them in the other album (well, actually, my very helpful, creative daughter helped too).

You would probably have a difficult time seeing similarities between my layouts and the ones I lifted---sometimes I lift the whole layout, but often it's just one or two elements that really give me inspiration.  It could be like the circles above (they were actually colorful circles about the game Twister on the original) or flower and lace placement like on the top one (which was actually part of one couple's wedding invitation).

I loved the way these turned out--I actually found metal flip frames at Michaels and decided to use those rather than putting the pages in an album.  I have a 12x12 one that I LOVE!  I'll post it next time.

It's actually very helpful and easy to make pages without pictures.  Sometimes, when I'm in a rut and just want to scrap but don't feel like being restricted, or I don't have any pictures printed out---I just create blank pages that I can pop pictures into later.

Or, I can use them as a gift.  Maybe next time, I WILL be prepared.

~Kelly

Be open to new friendships...

When you were a kid, didn't it seem easy to make a new friend?  You started talking to the kid behind you as you waited in line to go down the slide at the park and the next thing you know, you had a new friend.  That doesn't seem to happen so easily anymore.  At least not for me.  But, I've talked before how the Fiskateers site really was my gateway to exposing me to the world of paper arts that lives online. 

A lot has changed in the 3+ years since I became a Fiskateer.  In November of 2011, I got to meet some of these new "virtual" friends, and suddenly, they weren't just virtual anymore.  I still participate online at Fiskateers.  I've come and gone through other sites, but I've remained true to this site. 

This layout is another from the Liftateers.  It was time to dig out that Ultra-Shape Express to cut out this tree---representing some of my friends in my Fiskateer Family Tree.  One of my favorite things about this layout, is the background that I stamped with just this one small lined stamp that I turned back and forth 90 degrees, re-inking every 3-4 stamps.  It  happened spontaneously--an after thought after looking at my layout and thinking that it still needed a little "something".

Before Fiskateers, I didn't know what a message board was. I had never posted my work in a gallery. I didn't know what it meant to have a blog or follow other blogs.  I must of had a lot of free time before I found Fiskateers!  I've learned to be open to new friendships and new possibilities--and often I need a reminder.

~Kelly

Be hoppy...

 

Sometimes being "hoppy" takes a lot more effort than it should.  It's been a rough few weeks around here and the snow and cold that are still on the ground (despite the fact that the calendar says that it is the middle of March) are not helping.

 
A little time in the craft dungeon does make me "hoppy".  Doubly "hoppy" in this case.  Fiskateers hosted a mini-crop over the weekend.  I was only able to get 2 challenges done.  The first one, seen above, was a "Kermit" challenge.  In other words, use a frog in your project.  I had to wrap a gift for a wedding shower and had NO wrapping paper besides Christmas.  So, I turned some plain Kraft wrap into something "hoppy".  I used the Fiskars Funky Heart squeeze punch to create the big, dimensional flower. 

 
Since I was digging around in my scrappy stash of goodies and found 2 frogs for Challenge #1, I decided to use the other frog for Challenge #2-Somewhere over the Rainbow.    I used my Fiskars Banner Year XXXL Lever Punch to cut perfect triangles out of these scraps.  Ribbit--little froggy is poking out from behind to wish someone a "hoppy" birthday.

Hope it is warming up where you are and you find some ways to "be hoppy".

~Kelly

Be a stamper...

Sometimes, I get so caught up in the pretty paper, hordes of stickers, embellishments, and assortment of punches and dies that I forget to stamp on my scrapbook pages.  I've just always found it easier to use my stamps on cards than on pages.  I think I get distracted and overwhelmed easily.  I think it comes with being left-handed.

For the page above (which was a Liftateer project over at Fiskateers), this fabulous patterned stamp (from Stampin' Up) makes a vivid background anchor for the photo and glitter star/flowers.  I went back and forth for a long time trying to decide if this page needed "something else", but I couldn't decide what,  so I left it simple.  I like that too.

I used that same background stamp for this companion page, but stamped off some of the ink first to give a lighter impression.  This page, is for inspiration for the 1-2-3 Recipe Challenge going on at Scrap It Girl this month.  Use 1 stamped image, 2 punches, and 3 patterned papers to creat your project and then link it on the Scrap It Girl site for a chance to win a prize (see it here).  For these pages, I think simple is better so as to not compete with the bright, colorful photos from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

So what are you waiting for?  Go!  Go!  Go!

~Kelly

Be simple...

I love a good challenge.  Emma's challenge over on the Fiskateers site is  "Less Is More".  I am certainly guilty of not knowing when to stop.  I have been known to put on one button too many, a flower too big, or so many layers that I can't slide my page into the page protector. 


I saw this as an opportunity to catch up on some thank you notes I need to send.  I punched a Fiskars "funky heart" at the top of the front of the card and then attached a silver heat embossed "thank you" with washi tape.  I punched another "funky heart" out of patterned paper and placed it on the inside, popped up (within the negative space of the cover).

 

On the inside...from the bottom of my heart.

 

Emma, thank you for the reminder...be simple.

 

 

~Kelly





 

 

Be lifted...

 

To me, scrapbooking is about me and my family.  It is not my "job."  And, while I LOVE it, and I sometimes dream about it being my job, I like to think that IF it was my job, it wouldn't be as much fun anymore.  This is how I rationalize to help me cope with the fact that Tim Holtz is not going to be ringing my doorbell anytime soon.

 

So, a little bit of recognition in my little scrapbooking world is appreciated.  This week, my Fiskateer Liftateer friends chose my scrapbook page to "lift".  "Lift"  meaning "be inspired by." 

 

 

 

You may remember this layout I did with photos of my husband. 

This weeks challenge gave me a chance to lift myself.  The layout at the top is the result.  A photo memory of a very fun night out with the neighbors on a pontoon boat ride that we won at a school fundraiser.

 

  This time, I embossed the strips of same colored cardstock as the background, and I used one photo instead of 2.  Can you spot any other differences?

 

Being lifted gives me a chance

to show you how to make these very easy pinwheels.

 

 

With a square piece of paper (the pinwheels on my page are different sizes, 1 1/2", 2", and 2 1/2" squares). 

*Important that your paper is a square. 

Very lightly, draw lines from one corner to the opposite

(making an "x").

 

From the center point, draw a small hashmark from the center in each direction.  My hashmarks are a 1/4" from the center.

 

Starting at each corner, cut towards the center,

stopping at the hashmarks. 

Place a glue dot in the center.

 

 

Take the right corner of each section

and attach it to the glue dot in the center.

 

Place a brad, button, or a small punched piece

to cover the edges in the center.

 

Make more, and use them on your layout or card.

They are simply addicting!

~Kelly

be challenged...

One of the best things (in my opinion) about scrapbooking TODAY (and crafting in general) is how easy it is to be inspired.  Now, believe me, I know what a "time sucker" going through the blogs in Google Reader or sifting through Pinterest can be, but it's difficult to get in a rut when all you have to do is LOOK. 

Just 2 quick picture-less pages to show you today.  Finishing up a baby book for my new niece.  Both pages--inspired by Liftateers.  Its a group of us on Fiskateers who "lift" a chosen page each week.  It's one of the best things.

Speaking of BEST things...look what's happening this weekend!  Hop on over and "be challenged".

~Kelly

Whatever keeps the kids busy...

Want to keep the kids out of the kitchen while you are preparing the Thanksgiving eats?  Take a little time today to create these Thanksgiving bingo placemats that I created for the Fiskateer site.  The kids will probably "attack" each relative as they walk through the door as they eagerly try to fill their placemats with the signatures of the relative who has a cat...the one whose favorite color is orange...who has won a race...who is afraid of spiders...who still has leaves to rake in their yard.  Create your own family facts and make this very simple paper placemat.  I printed the phrases on to the papers and then let the kids help punch and glue on the shapes.  It's a great way to use up scraps (and to inventory that collection of punches and dies you've been hoarding). 

 

Wishing you and your family a very thankful Thanksgiving!

 

~Kelly

 

 

 

Whatever is festive...

These two-sided turkey candle rings are highlighted over on the Fiskateer blog today...go take a peak!

~Kelly

Whatever is orange (and black)...

 

Welcome to the 3rd Annual Fiskateers ORANGE Blog Hop!  If you are hopping along, you should have come from...
Divinity #6688 www.scrap-n-patch.blogspot.com

If you are joining us in the middle, go to www.fiskateers.com to start from the beginning.  Today, we are celebrating Fiskars' signature color, ORANGE.  Almost everyone is familiar with Fiskars' famous orange-handled scissors, but Fiskars makes so many other wonderful products for crafting, sewing, gardening, and more.  Each stop along our Blog Hop will feature different Fiskars' products with a big helping of ORANGE!

 

 

For my ORANGE project, I decided to make something a little scary!  Just a little scary for me too...I had never made a home decor collage project.  Although, all scrapbook pages are sort of a collage, and I'd created banners, this was different for me.  Lots of steps and layers were a bit intimidating, and I placed and re-placed and positioned and re-positioned all of the elements a zillion times before I started gluing.  I started by arranging (and re-arranging) an assortment of Halloween stamps onto my Fiskars stamp press as seen below.

 

 

Then, I stamped randomly on some white tissue paper using black Stazon ink.

 

 

I glued the tissue onto a thick sheet of cardstock.
Next, I started inking with Tim Holtz Distress Inks and Stain...more randomness

I started punching and cutting...I spy with my little eye Fiskars Grandma's Doily, a small cloud (as clouds and ghosts), a small bare tree, and I used my Fiskars Ultra Shape Xpress to cut this tree from the Woodland Tree Template (the checkerboard-like, flocked paper is from My Mind's Eye).

Then the arranging and layer began (that part lasted a long time).  Finally gluing.

Thanks for stopping by...
Now, all fun blog hops have a few sur-prizes thrown in!  Leave a comment below, telling me one thing you want to create but never have yet.  I'll choose a winner on Monday who will receive some "happy mail".


For more information about Fiskars and the Fiskateer program, you can go to http://www.fiskateers.com/join/.

Now, along to my friend Maya #351 at www.mayadahan.blogspot.com,

she's the next blog on the hop.

 

~Kelly

whatever gets done...

 

 

 

 

 

I'm a woman of few words today.  Just some layouts that I got done on my scrappy day last Saturday.  I've re-joined the Liftateers of Fiskateers again (we are on Year 4), and so I am guaranteed to get at least one layout done each week (or in this case 3 done in one day).

~Kelly