:PUBBED: Creating Keepsakes July 2008 Issue

So, as a scrapper, there nothing more exciting than getting a magazine issue in the mail in which one of your layouts has been published.

This happened to me the other day when I received the July 2008 issue of CK in my mailbox. My mailman made me a very happy woman that day! :-)

This is my first time being published by CK, so it is especially thrilling for me!

Here's the layout which is featured on page 25 as part of the Seasonal Solutions column:

Although I love this layout, it has got to one of the simplest I've made in a VERY LONG TIME - cardstock, one patterned paper, letter stickers, photos, journaling.

The fact that this layout got picked up taught me a very valuable lesson about submitting.

In the past, I have bypassed submitting certain layouts because they weren't my favorite or I thought that there was nothing 'special' about them or perhaps were too simple. The funny thing is that you never know what might stand out to an editor - a design, a color combination, a theme, a creative use of words or product...you just never know.

So, if you're dreaming of publication - SUBMIT and SUBMIT some more. Regardless of what your perception of a layout is.

Submitting can be as frustrating as it is exhilarating. If you haven't yet submitted for publication, what's holding you back? If you have submitted, what has been your experience - both positive and negative?

A Layout: Goof-ball

Been awhile since I've shared a layout - here's a funny one for you. This is one of three that I finished yesterday on my day off.

Supplies:
Adhesive – Duck
Cardstock – Bazzill
Patterned Paper, Rub ons – Fancy Pants
Letter Stickers, Brads – Making Memories
Chipboard – Basic Grey
Ink - Colorbox
Fonts – Ali’s Writing, Palatino Linotype

Journaling:
Kaitlin, sometimes you are just too funny! Between your funny faces and the witty things you sometimes say, you certainly know how to make your mommy laugh. You’re not very successful at telling knock-knock jokes (they usually don’t make much sense), but you can always manage to make me smile and I can’t tell you how much I cherish your silly little giggle.

REVIEW: Scrapbook Max! Digital Scrapbooking Software

I was recently asked to review the digital scrapbooking software called "Scrapbook Max!" by Indigo Rose Software Design Corp.

I am not a digital scrapbooker - hybrid certainly, but not digital. I have been collecting beautiful free digital kits from various online sources for a couple years now, but still haven't made the switch to pure digital.

So, even though I'm not a digi scrapper, I am always interested in the software and technology and software available to scrapbookers. I wasn't sure what to expect of Scrapbook Max!, but was pleasantly surprised by its abilities.

The installation was SUPER simple - just put in the CD and within a few minutes the software is installed and a short video tutorial gives you the basics of operation. This software is very user friendly - no big learning curve here.

As I said before, I'm not a digi scrapper, but within 20 minutes of popping in the CD for installation, I had created this layout:

The software comes with numerous pre-designed scrapbook templates and hundreds of additional backgrounds and embellishments. At first glance, I didn't really care for the layout of many of the pre-designed templates, but all elements are fully customizable and require a simple drag-and-drop to move them around to more pleasing arrangements. Elements can also be easily added and deleted to produce truly unique creations.

Another great thing - if you use up the templates and elements provided or just want to try something new, you can use any of your saved digital kit elements by simply dragging them from their file on your computer to the layout window and presto...new backgrounds and elements! I made the following layout in just a few minutes using a free kit called "Echoes of Asia" by Jessica Sprague that I downloaded sometime last year:

Your creations can be shared in numerous ways in just a few clicks by converting scrapbooks to jpeg images, photo CD, PDF documents and more. You can also add music to personalize your scrapbooks even more.

Do I like this software? YES!

Am I likely to switch completely over to digital? Probably not...

Even though I certainly see the benefits of digital scrapbooking (less space required, less mess, easier sharing), for me there is just something about have pictures and product in hand and the act of physically moving them around a page that has yet to lose its attraction and fascination for me.

However, if you're someone who's just getting started with this wonderful hobby or an old paper pro for whom the draw of digital is undeniable (and their are many of you out there), Scrapbook Max! is definitely a great program with which to start! It will have you up and running and creating beautiful layouts and complete scrapbooks within minutes!

If you interested in learning more about Scrapbook Max! or would like to give their free trial a whirl, you can visit their website here.

April Card a Day Challenge at WeScrap

Ally & Lucy are conduting a 'Card a Day' Challenge over at WeScrap for the month of April.

Ally asked if I would create a sample for her beautiful sketch to post today and here's what I came up with:

Products used: ALL American Crafts...

More publication news...

I had a pretty long draught, but it seems that the saying "when it rains, it pours" is true!!

When I submitted to the Memory Makers Masters contest last year, I really had no aspirations of actually being chosen. Good thing...'cause I wasn't.

One of the requirement of submitting to this contest, though, is that you have to submit one real layout (the rest are just copies) on an assigned theme. Last year's theme was "I wish." So I created a layout following that theme and sent it in.

The bad part is that you don't get the layout back - unless they decided to publish it that is - so, I had pretty much figured that the layout was lost to me and actually just reorder the picture I had used on the layout so that I could recreate it.

Then, I got an email from Patty from Memory Makers on Friday telling me that they wanted to publish the layout in the Best of the Masters 2008 feature that will run in their Scrapbook Idea Gallery which is set to hit newsstands on July 8th!

Pretty excited to have another pub and also very excited that I will get my submitted layout back!!

I can't share the layouts that have recently been requested with you on my blog, but you can be sure that I will be once the issues are available for purchase. Stay tuned!!

A Layout: fall beauty

Thought I'd share a layout here today. I created this layout not too long ago based off of a Becky Fleck PageMap...LOVE her sketches!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill
Patterned Paper, Cardstock Letters: Basic Grey
Rub ons: Making Memories
Ink: Colorbox
Circle Punches: Marvy
Font: Unnamed Melody

Journaling:
I wanted to make sure that I got some good pictures of Kaitlin before the fall foliage completely disappeared this fall and we cut it quite close. This tree at the College still had some brilliant red leaves and we were lucky we got our shoot in because within days, they were gone.

Kaitlin was so cute on this day. I basically just told her to pose near the rock and she did all the rest herself. She kept saying “Why don’t we try this?” and she’d let me shoot away……. It’s certainly a rare occurrence for her to be this cooperative and it was a very fun shoot! Thanks, Sweetie!

Comments & Techniques:
This was a fun layout with the combination of colors and the layering of circles. The second word of the title is layered right over the cardstock letters.

I also just posted a challenge over at iScrap.net based on this layout this morning. Check it out...would love to see your creation in response to the challenge!! There's are some other really great games, contests and challenges going on other than mine also...a little something for everyone.

A layout: Orchard

Thought I would share a recent layout today. The design of the layout was inspired by one of Becky Fleck's PageMaps and a contest sponsored by A Peek into Yesterday.

Here's the sketch:

Here's my interpretation of the sketch:

What do you think? I have been wanting to scrap these pictures from our trip to the orchard at Garrity's Prairie Gardens last fall for quite some time now.

The sketch was perfect and really helped me put this layout together quite quickly...plus I got to play with my new circle punches - which I am LOVING, by the way!

I don't use sketches too often when scrapping, but I do love Becky's PageMaps!!

Layout Details:

Supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill
Patterned Paper: Best Creation, Inc., Creative Imaginations, Fancy Pants
Letter Stickers: Making Memories
Chipboard Flourishes, Flowers: K&Company
Ink: Colorbox
Circle Punches: Marvy
Font: Unnamed Melody

Journaling:
It was a gorgeous day when we visited the apple orchard at Garrity’s Prairie Gardens this year. You would have never guessed that it was early October…. We were definitely experiencing a little Indian summer that day. Kaitlin had a wonderful time searching for apples and showing her daddy around the orchard since (it was the first time he had been there with us).

Comments & Techniques:
The glitter on the paper and chipboard elements as well as the band of circles add to the sense of whimsy captured in the pictures. The chipboard parentheses call attention to the small subjects in the second photo.

A layout and a little shelf cleaning...

A LAYOUT:
Here's a layout I finished recently with pictures from our late summer trip to Omaha last year.

LAYOUT TITLE: {heartland of America park}

Supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill
Patterned Paper: American Crafts
Letter Stickers: Mrs. Elizabeth’s
Pen: Sakura
Corner Rounder: Marvy
Adhesive: Duck

Comments & Techniques:The striped patterned paper mimic the rainbow in the main picture and also create a visual triangle on the page.

SOME SHELF CLEANING:
There are definitely pros and cons to having a limited scrapbook space...a pro is that I have to go through my stuff periodically and purge so I don't overflow...a con is that I have to go through my stuff periodically and purge! :-)

This weekend it was my bookshelf...it was overflowing!

If you're interested in a bunch of great inspiration at a low price, check out the scrapbooking book and special issue magazines I posted today in my eBay store.

A Layout: BOOM!

Just a simple layout I completed recently about a fireworks display during Riverboat Days last summer.

Yes, I'm still a ways behind, but determined to catch up and stay there. I completed my layout for the week on Saturday and made it to the end of August, so I'm getting closer! Hopefully, I can complete a few this week.


Supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill
Patterned Paper: Autumn Leaves, Basic Grey
Chipboard Letters & Accents: American Crafts
Clear Stamp: Autumn Leaves
Ink: Colorbox
Pen: Zig

11 days...where did they go?

I had 11 days off from work for the holidays. It sounds like SO much, yet it went so very quickly!

We spent a lot of time with family and friends which was wonderful...always enjoy the family time.

I also did quite a bit of scrapping. I think I completed about 12-13 layouts total. I am now only about 4 1/2 months behind versus the 6 1/2 I was before the break...still have a ways to go, but the creative juices have been flowing lately, so I hope that continues.

This is the furthest behind I've ever been in my scrapping. This past year, I had a couple periods where I scrapped NOTHING for 2-3 months at a time and that's what really did the damage.

I think is was a combination of waining mojo, being extremely busy, not making enough effort to make time for my hobby (other than reading mags and idea books) and then feeling daunted by that BIG stack of photos!

So, my New Year's resolution this year (and this is big for me because I don't usually even bother making them) is to create AT LEAST one layout every week.

I may not be in the mood...I may not LOVE the end result, but I think it's important to find time for creativity in life - and this is the outlet that allows me to be creative.

There is always that sense of accomplishment for me, too, when I look at a completed layout. It's a good feeling...a memory preserved, thoughts recorded, pictures given a place to shine.

To help me reach this goal, I am going to print out a calendar each month to hang on my inspiration book in my scrapbooking area and every time I complete (not just start) a layout, a tick mark will go on that date.

I'm good for this week...I did four layouts on Tuesday (my last day of vacation) and two of those were two-page spreads!!

Here's one of the layouts I completed during the break:

Supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill
Rub ons: Making Memories
Font: Susie’s Hand
Pen: Sakura
Corner Rounder: Marvy
Ink: Colorbox

Journaling:
Kaitlin spent a lot of time at the kiddie pool this summer...a great place to beat the heat! On this day, her preschool buddie, Jonah, was also there and they had a great time ‘catching’ up.

Comments & Techniques:
I am generally NOT a doodler…this is like the second layout I’ve ever done it on. I am always too scared of messing it up, but this layout just really seemed to be ‘missing’ something before I added the white doodling around the scalloped circle and also the corner accents. This layout may just be the beginning of much doodling…I LOVE the effect that it has.

So, did you have any scrapbooking or photography related New Year's resolutions this year? I'd love to hear them...I might have to add a few to my list!

A Sick Girl...and a Layout!

I had to leave work early yesterday and pick Kaitlin up from school...she was running a fever - about 101 degrees. Unfortunately, she still has it today...she's been pretty non-ambitious - totally not herself. I gave her a nice warm bath this morning to sooth some of her aches and pains and it helped a bit.

When she was laying down in the bathtub, she said, "Mom, this nice warm water is helping my polka dots go away."

"Those are called goosebumps, honey."

"Oh...I'm gonna call them polka dots."

This coming from a girl who is NEVER cold...keeping socks and bed covers on her is a challenge - even in winter! So, when she's chilly, you know she's not feeling well.

Thought I'd also share a layout today...a recent favorite.

Remember this photo from this year's Czech Days celebration? Well, I finally got it scrapped!

LAYOUT TITLE: Czech Princess

Supplies:
Patterned Paper – Cosmo Cricket, Creative Imaginations
Ribbon – Offray
Buttons – Oriental Trading Company
Pearl - Unknown
Ink – Colorbox
Font – Porcelain, Garamond

Journaling:
Oh, how you love to dance, little girl!

This year, while waiting to find out the results of the Czech Days Kiddie Parade, they played all kinds of fun songs for the children (and a few brave adults) to boogie down to on the park lawn…the Hokey Pokey, the Bunny Hop, the Macarena.

I caught you in the act and this has to be one of my favorite shots of you of all time…your happy expression, the costume, your arms at your side and your little foot up in dance. I hope you never stop dancing, little one!

Comments & Techniques:
The photo was edited in Photoshop to have a ‘watercolor’ look using instructions from Jessica Sprague's Computer Tricks for Scrapbookers. The curved patterned paper adds a sense of movement to the layout and mimics the idea of dancing in the photo. The edge of the layout is actually the scallop-edged paper (the black is the background on which I took the photo).

A Layout!! - girl in grandpa's hat

What's this? A layout? Why, yes! Yes, it is! I promised...didn't I?

Here's one I completed this past weekend with some pictures I took back around Easter at my parent's farm. My dad was giving the kids rides on the 4-wheeler and I thought these pics of Kaitlin in her grandpa's hat were just so cute...they were calling to be scrapped!

I used the Crate Paper Crush Theme Set, some Scenic Route letters and Susie's Hand font for my title (used shapes and a text box to align "in grandpa's hat" before printing on my patterned paper circle), Colorbox ink (because I have a compulsion to ink the edges of everything), and some ribbon from Michael's.

The journaling is handwritten and hidden behind the photo on the bottom left:

"Kaitlin proudly wore Grandpa Joe's hat while waiting patiently for her turn to take a ride on the 4-wheeler. 4-07"

Here's My Page in Simple Scrapbooks "Scrapbook Play!"

Scrapbook Play, the Simple Scrapbooks special issue that is home to one of my layouts it OUT!! I saw it for the first time in Archiver's in Omaha last weekend.

It was just as exciting as the first time to actually see one of my layouts in print. Even though I've known for months that it was coming, there's just nothing like having the publication in hand.

I'm 'playful play prompt' #101 on page 134. Here it is:

I haven't had a chance to make it through the whole magazine yet, but what I have seen, I LOVE! There are some great ideas in this special issue.

Just a side note on the Sunday Spur for Scrapbookers...as I am getting ready for several days travel on the road for work this week, there will be no SSFS tomorrow. Stay tuned and in the meantime visit (or revisit) some of the previous SSFS's editions for a little extra inspiration.

Wedding Scrapbook Album...Completed!

So, my wedding gift to my sister-in-law, Katie, was to make a scrapbook of her favorite wedding photos. Well, she got married last October and guess what...yup...the album wasn't done. At least not until this past Saturday, that is. Of course, I didn't actually get the pictures until February or something, but I don't have much for an excuse other than my own procrastination since then (sorry, Katie).

However, I finally bit the bullet and dedicated three full days (including two days off from work) and just went to it...and completed a 28-page 12x12 album in three days.

The actual pages end with the black border (slide.com added the nifty white border with corner treatments). The flowers used throughout are actually from the bridesmaids bouquets and made great embellishments. The cream colored cards behind most of the 5x7's are journaling cards onto which my sister-in-law can add her own thoughts and memories about her special day. In case you are admiring the photography...no, I definitely can't claim that. Her photographer was Rebecca Miner of Rebecca Miner Photography...a personal friend of mine and obviously, great photographer.

Now, if only I could complete that many pages of my own in that amount of time! :-)

SSFS #21 - Scrapbooking Your Heritage

All this posting on last weekends Czech Days this week got me thinking that this week's Sunday Spur was simply obvious - scrapbooking your heritage! One's heritage is such an important part of who they are, so why not celebrate it by documenting it in our scrapbooks!

There are so many topics/themes that could be considered for a layout:

*traditional costumes
*traditional foods
*festivals/celebrations
*traditions/holidays specific to your heritage
*facts about the 'home country' - past and/or present
*physical or personality traits of those of your nationality

This is just the tip of the iceberg!

I am 100% Czech...and for individuals my age in America, it is quite rare to be 100% anything. So, this is definitely something that makes me feel somewhat unique. When I was in college (we won't talk about how long ago that was), I did a family history project and found the following excerpt describing Czechs:

“As regards their physiological features, the Czechs are of middle height, not fat but muscular, resilient, firm and strong. Their build is excellent, and they are possessed of much sensual agility. The Czechs’ spiritual nature is generally good. Their heart is tender and gentle. A generally prevailing passion which might have Czechs in its grip is not in evidence. Their mental gifts are certainly excellent. Their aptitude for various sciences and art is tremendous. They are well-endowed with natural intelligence. They share their, practically innate, predisposition for music with other Slav nations. As regards their morals, the Czechs are generally religious, often even superstitious, they are devoted to the religion of their fathers, the old monarchy-based system of government, and their old customs and habits; they are industrious and perseverant, they face courageously all adversity, even war, but remain peace-loving, always in good spirits, understanding, charitable, honest, and faithful; in their outward behaviour they are direct, dry, and typically display less refinement. That is the basic nature of Czechs, where it remained pure and untouched…”

This description was written in 1794 by Jos. Ant. Riegger, a knight, German by birth but otherwise an authority on things Czech. Is it a generalization? Sure. Is it still interesting (at least for someone who is Czech)? Definitely! It is interesting to me to here how my ancestors would be described before they ever even set foot on American soil, let alone made a home in the Midwest. It is interesting (and somewhat amazing) to me how much of this description I can still recognize in my family members and myself.

With my daughter, I have broken the chain by marrying a 'DIG' (Dutch, Irish & German) boy, but she is STILL 50% Czech. by gosh, and I certainly hope she we retain all the best of what the nationality has to offer.

Remember the layout I shared last week from the last Czech Days? Well, behind the main photo on the bottom right, you will find the passage above...just one way of keeping the heritage alive!

Serendipity Kits June 'Focus on Photography' & 'Layout' Contests

One of my photos, which I titled "Spring is Here," made it into the final judging stage for the June "Focus on Photography" contest over at Serendipity Kits...very exciting!! This photo was taken at the very end of April on a day we went out to take advantage of some FINALLY nice weather to pick some dandelions and feed the ducks. I love the crop on this pic and the sense of motion...one of my favorites from the day. If you'd like, you can see more pics from this day here.

One of my layouts, entitled "roses," also made it into the final judging for the June Layout Contest.

Details on this layout:
Supplies:
Cardstock – Bazzill
Patterned Paper – American Crafts
Glittery Flower Stickers – EK Success
Chipboard – Scenic Route
Font – Albemarle Swash

Journaling/Title Quote:
A life with love will have some thorns, but a life without love will have no...roses.
Author Unknown

Comments & Techniques:
I loved the unique color combination of the pinkish-peach on the teal mat and green background. I cut the PP into a curve to compliment the curve of the petals and added glittered flowers along the curve…even the font I chose compliments the theme as it has a ‘viney’ feel.

If you like them, please go to Serendipity Kits and vote for me. You do NOT need to be a member or log in or anything to be able to vote, so would definitely appreciate anyone's vote!! However, voting ends tomorrow (June 11th) at midnight EST, so visit soon.

Chris Daughtry at the Sioux Empire Fair, My Becky Fleck Page Maps Debute and a Kaitlin Witticism

I actually have quite a lot to cover tonight, so here it goes:

#1 - I love my sister. Yes, I do! My sister Lynnie, with all of her awesome workplace connections, emailed me today that she got FREE TICKETS for us to Chris Daughtry's concert at the Sioux Empire Fair in Sioux Falls, SD on August 9th. I am so pumped!! I haven't been to a concert since I was in college (we won't discuss how long ago that was) and now I'm going to TWO of them (post about the other one) in August!! For your listening pleasure, click play to hear Daughtry's "Home."

Chris_Daughtry - H...

#2 - The June edition of Becky Fleck's PageMaps came out today. Why is this a big deal (to me anyway), you might ask? Well, because I have a layout featured in it and Becky Fleck is my FAVORITE scrapbook layout sketch artist...LOVE this woman's work. Here was the sketch assignment I received in late April:

And this is the layout I created which was inspired by it: