I haven't scrapbooked anything (minus December Daily) since October 2015.  Sometimes we all need a kick in the pants to get us motivated once we have taken a long break from something.  Challenges can be a really fun place to start when you are feeling unmotivated and intimadated by your photos, your products, and your blank page.  It just so happens that this month at Get It Scrapped, they are having a fun challenged called Calvinball.  If you are a fan of the Calvin and Hobbes comics by Bill Watterson you may be familiar with Calvin’s competitive game of Calvinball. It’s a random sport-type game with no rules, points for self-designated goals and the flexibility to change the game as you play.  Calvinball at Get It Scrapped is a month long scrapbooking competition with constantly changing rules to keep things fun and your momentum going.

#1 - Rock Your Scrapbooking Stash by Joining a Challenge

The fun has already started over at Get It Scrapped, and it is going to be a really awesome month!  You should totally check it out if you are looking for a boost in your creative mojo.  However, there a ton of challenge sites and prompts out there that can help inspire you to get started.  Simply Google or check out Pinterest for scrapbooking prompts and challenges.  I have always enjoyed using challenges and prompts to get me moving again.

#2 - Clear The Decks

Another thing that really helps me to feel inspired is to completed clean off my desk/workspace and put all the bits and pieces away.  This often includes finished projects, unfinished projects, and various products like sprays and inks.  Looking at a clean workspace can be oddly inspirational and it can help you break through your creative block.  I also use this time to put away my stack of completed layouts.  Far too often, my layouts pile up to several inches before they find their way into an album.  Plus, I find forgotten goodies that have been buried under other stuff on my table!

#3 - Create Page Kits

I love working with kits.  They simplify my decision making process so much.  I also come up with some interesting and unusual ways to use certain products when they are paired with other things, and I would never have come up with this inspiration without having a kit put together.  Since Calvinball is a month long challenge, I wanted to do a little prep over the weekend.  I decided to pull out all of the paper in one of my storage bins and create kits using every single paper that I possibly could.  Obviously, you don't need to go to this extreme - you could pull out one or two paper pads or even just several sheets of paper, depending on your available time.  The process of matching papers with similar colors and themes took me about an hour and then I stopped for the night.


When I came back for the next round, I started with my embellishment bin.  Inside this bin is everything from 6x6 paper pads, sticker sheets, diecuts, paper flowers, enamel dots, tags, DIY embellishments, cut-apart sheets, chipboard, flair, doilies, and other random bits.  I grabbed 10 of the paper kits and started matching up themes and colors once more.  I worked with one paper kit at a time and I went through ALL the embellishments.  I did this same process for each kit.  I just spread everything out on the floor in front of me and got to work.  I didn't include letter stickers, because I like to mix and match different font styles and colors.  I also haven't picked photos yet or titles for that matter so I just removed them from the equation for the moment.  For individual stickers, I used baby powder to remove the stickiness, and I applied it with a soft paintbrush.  Then, I added them to the kits so I could use the same sticker sheet for multiple kits.  By breaking down the paper kits into 10 or so layouts at a time, it made the whole process less overwhelming.  Over the weekend, I ended up with X number of prepped kits that I can now use for Calvinball.


The sky is the limit here.  Don't overwhelm yourself, but cater to how you scrapbook, adding those things that will help your process.  Do you need cut files as part of your process?  Then make sure you have them linked up with your kits or already cut.  Additional ideas could be incorporating stamps, stencils, ink pads, and spray mists.  You could also add any sketches, photos, title, and journaling to each kit, as well.  The whole idea is that when you have 10 - 15 minutes you can easily knock out a layout, because all of the decisions that you get stuck on have already been made.  This opens the process to more creative freedom without perfectionism getting in your way.  There is also a bit of magic in simply going through your stash of goodies that can be very inspiring.

I'm so excited to start playing with my new kits this month.  Stay tuned for more Calvinball updates and tips this month.  And don't forget to stop on by and play along with us - it's going to be a fun month!

Using Pocket Page Protectors and Project Life to Catch Up on December Daily

I’ve fallen way behind this week in my December Daily process.  I had a major infection in my mouth due to a tooth that needed removed in the second week of December and never managed to get caught back up! I decided to focus my second week of December Daily on using pocket page style protectors and project life cards so that I could work on quickly catching back up. 

December Week Two Highlights

The highlights of our week included treating ourselves to Starbucks, getting my tooth pulled, looking at Christmas lights with Atty, and making Jello Jigglers.  We also took an inventory of what Christmas presents had already been purchased (I shop throughout the year), and decided what else we needed to buy.  We played, a lot!  Atty loves to toss balloons back and forth.  She can play with a balloon for about an hour, which is amazing in toddler time.  I also picked up a couple new learning games for her.  One was a matching card game using seasonal (winter) icons, and she had such a blast playing with it!  We also began our traditional holiday evening movies marathon.  We started with watching Elf, and also managed to watch The Grinch, Rudolph, Frosty, and The Cat in the Hat's Christmas special this week.

Choosing Your Cards and Page Protectors

I started my process this week by choosing a selection of pocket page style cards and protectors that would accommodate my photos from the week.  I also wanted to leave some openings to add in some clear elements and shaker pockets.  I used a mix of different manufacturers such as Simple Stories, Pink Paislee, and Becky Higgins Project Life (Heritage Core Kit).

The Project Life App

Another way that you can catch up quickly on your December Daily project is through the Project Life app if you have an iPhone.  I did a quick review this week on the print quality and how you create a project in the app.  This would be a great way to quickly get caught up on December Daily, so that all you have to do is slip them into 6x8 (or whatever size) pockets and move on to this week!  I also used this app to do my journaling and create collages of my photos for this week.  I enjoy processing my photos this way because everything is all together when I get to assembling my pages.

 

Washi Tape Shaker Pockets

Embellish to Tell the Story

December Daily Quickies (2 & 3)

Often, when we get new products, we immediately want to use them without fully understanding how.  Stamping is one of these areas for me.  I’ve been addicted to stamping for a long time, but they can be a considerable investment.  If you’re anything like me, stamping is a technique that can cause dread.  I always feel like I’m going to mess it up, and my project as well!  It’s definitely a technique that lives in the bottom of my toolbox!  Despite this, stamping can be a great way to create some custom pieces for your projects quite quickly.  Today’s December Daily Quickie is all about trying out some stamping and letting go of the need to have a perfect finished piece.  The nice thing about using this technique for December Daily is you can easily create a project life card (or pocket page card) and if you absolutely hate it, you haven’t completely ruined your entire project (or scrapbooking layout).

I’m totally in the beginner phase of this technique and what I’ve learned has mostly been trial and error.  Jennifer McGuire is a great resource if you want to learn more.  I enjoy stamping to create my own custom papers, backgrounds, project life cards, tags, and journaling cards, despite my stamping issues.  Today, I’ll walk you through stamping some custom project life or pocket page style cards that you can use in your December Daily album.

I have gained an understanding about myself, that my stamping will not be perfect right now.  Not without practice.  So I’m trying to incorporate stamping into more of my art and crafting.  And I’m trying to accept the imperfections that come because they add more handmade charm.  As you play and practice, you will get better.  Even if you don’t have the desired success the first time, you can keep at it.

Selecting Inks

For these four project life/pocket style cards I used a selection of Christmas and Winter themed stamps plus a few everyday stamps mixed in.  The inks I am using are Distress Ink - Mermaid’s Lagoon, Colorbox - Gold, and Memento - Black.  Distress Inks and Memento are water-based dye inks, while the Colorbox is a pigment ink.  Dye inks are water-soluable so they will react if you try adding water or other water-based materials (like markers, watercolors, or other Distress products).  Dye inks dry a bit quicker than pigment inks, because pigment ink doesn’t soak into the paper like dye inks.  This quality about pigment inks makes them a good choice when you are going to be heat embossing.

I always have a harder time using colored inks - they don’t stamp cleanly for me.  I have some real issues with Distress Inks stamping properly.  I’m not sure why I have these issues and it’s something I’m continuing to experiment with so that I can figure out what I’m doing wrong.  I prefer to use just plain black ink for stamping, as I seem to get the best impressions that way without messing up constantly.  But for today, I decided to get some practice, experiment, and play.  These cards will be used for my December Daily days 3 and 4.

2nd Generation Filler Card

The first card I created is a filler style card.  I chose an image of a snowflake from Close To My Heart (Flurries) and the Distress Ink (Mermaid’s Lagoon) and the Gold Colorbox ink.  I tested out the stamp ink colors that I had pulled out that I thought would coordinate with the other papers and supplies that I have in my December Daily Kit.  I decided that to get a blue that would best coordinate with my other supplies I would do a second generation stamped image in the Mermaid’s Lagoon.  So I stamped a full strength version onto a scrap piece of paper and then stamped my 3x4 card.  I started my 3x4 card with a blue snowflake in the middle of the card, and continued stamping working my way to the outside of the card.  I wanted a symmetrical design so I stamped two gold snowflakes on either side of the blue, slightly offset from the blue and off the edge of the card. 

Using a Background Stamp Plus Focal Images to Create a Filler Card

The second card that I created is another filler style card using a Dylusion background stamp set (Graphic Backgrounds) and Studio G stamps.  I started with a Dylusion stamp of text.  It looks like a bunch of writing, scribbles, overlapping one another.  I did another second generation stamped impression using the Mermaid’s Lagoon color so that my cards would coordinate.  I love the Dylusion stamps.  For some reason I seem able to get good impressions from them.  I also like that I can use the Dylusions without any kind of mount and can just pounce the stamp across my surface with little concern if the impression turns out perfect.  After I stamped the Dylusion stamp across my card, I wanted to bring in some focal images from the Studio G stamp sets.  I chose the word art “Let it Snow” and some snowflakes.  I scattered the “Let It Snow” randomly on my card in black ink.  For the snowflake clusters, I chose to use the full strength Distress Ink to add some contrast to the card.  I also stamped a border for the card using the snowflake border stamp that is part of the Studio G set.

Learning from a Fail

I attempted to stamp using the Distress Ink and some journaling style stamps to create some journaling 3x4 cards.  Unfortunately, I had some issues with getting a clean impression.  My image ended up looking very blotchy so I tried stamping it several times, just to get a couple of images that don’t look horrible.  I think I was simply pressing too hard, but I’m not 100% sure.  Despite, the fact that I can’t use these for a journaling card, I can cut these out and put them on a tag or something and still make use of them.  Don’t be afraid to have a piece that doesn’t work out how you expected it to.  Try to find a new use for it!

Mixing Everyday Stamps with Seasonal Projects

The last card, I decided to use some everyday stamps.  I applied the same ideas as the first card for my background of the gold circles.  I took the Colorbox Gold Pigment ink and a circle stamp from Martha Stewart’s Heart and Flower stamp set, and I began stamping with one circle in the center and the others in a symmetrical design on the sides of the first.  I also decided to stamp the coffee cup from TPC Studio’s Coffee Cafe stamp set as a focal image using the Black Memento ink.  I still felt like the card needed something, so I added the sentiment.  This card will be used in my December Daily to represent the day that I had a migraine.  I tried everything to get rid of that thing, including some rather excess amounts of coffee.  Don’t forget you can add in your everyday stamps that you have in your stash by using similar colors that you are using in your seasonal projects.  Snowflakes, presents, and holly are not the only icons you are allowed to include in your December Daily!


I hope you’ve enjoyed today’s December Daily Quickie.  I’d love to see any projects you make with your stamps!  And if you have any tips for making stamping easier, please share in the comments below! 



Remember, its okay to not be a master at something.  You grow by practicing and experimenting.  It's okay to play, even if you don’t have the desired success.  Imperfections in stamping simply adds to the handmade character of the piece.  

I'm really late on getting this post up.  Please forgive me :)  My husband was in the hospital for most of August and once he was released, we spent the rest of the month trying to adjust and get him to his appointments.
Follow Andrea's board August 2014 Counterfeit Kit on Pinterest.


I focused on counterfeiting the Project Life Kit for Penny Arcade.  Here's what I ended up with:

Mini Album -

• *BoBunny - Misc Me - Family Is - Album
• *BoBunny - Misc Me - Family Is - Dividers

Project Life Cards -

• *BoBunny - Misc Me - Family Is Contents
• *Becky Higgins - Travel - Mini Kit
• MAMBI - Pocket Pages Cards - Summertime

• *Heidi Swapp Stencil Mini Kit - Patterns
• 2 Wood Veneer Tags
• *Studio Calico - Snippets - 12 x 12 Sticker Sheet
• *K & Company - Dimensional Stickers - Grandma Themed
• *Recollections - Dimensional Stickers - Cameras
• *Momenta - Travel Stickers

Paper - 

Back in January, one of my goals was to really focus on destashing and using up some of the stuff that I own and not buying more!  So this month for my Destash Project, I am going to be focusing on Theme and Mini Album supplies.  I currently have three baby books in various stages of completion, as well as one baby book I haven't even started yet.  Plus, I want to create a small travel book for our vacation at the end of the month!  I hope you will join me in this adventure of Destashing your Themed and Mini Album supplies!

Just a quick video from me today since unfortunately, I haven't quite made up my kits yet (I'm working on them - Promise!).  Between work and writing up several cover letters for jobs that I'm looking at applying for, I've been crazy busy and super tired.  So I thought today, I would show you a quick video flip that I made of the albums in their current states.  I hope you enjoy it and I would love to know what you think of my progress so far!



The count down is on!  I have 10 days to complete Atty's baby book by my deadline (her 1st birthday party) and 15 days to complete the two gift albums that involve Atty's 1st year.  Wish me luck!  For more information on this month's destash project check out the original post - August Destash Project - Theme and Mini Album Supplies.  Feel free to join in, I could definitely use some motivating pushes!

Birth - 1 week :

I have birth pictures (3 or 4) that I will include in my album, but for the sake of this post I decided not to showcase them. I do hope you understand :)

Atty's first day

Daddy watching his brand new baby girl sleep.

This is one from the Professional Photographer on the day that we left the hospital (Day 2).

This is another photograph from the Professional Photographer on the day we left the hospital (Day 2).

Atty on Day 5 on a trip to get her blood tested due to jaundice.