Inspired By Circles, Globes and SOA

Just checking in and letting you all know where you can find me this week.  We are wrapping up the Watercolor Sketches over at Inspired to Scrap.  Everyone has until September 8th to share their layouts for a chance to win prizes.  This has been such an inspiring class for me personally.  I have a new excitement and love for scrapbooking because I am combining it with the skills I've learned from cardmaking.  I need to ask permission to share my layouts, but I will give you a sneak peek of my favorite page from class.

While cleaning out my inbox yesterday I came across an email from Impress.  It is a (somewhat) local stamping store.  They have a watercolor class coming up next week and I am going to call today to see if there are any spots open.  It's being taught by Sandy Allnock!  I hope there is room.  If you are local, call the Tukwila store and join me!  Wouldn't that be fun?  I've always wanted to learn how to watercolor, but I never thought of myself as an artist.  Perhaps though, I just need to be taught "how", so I can practice and become better.

Image Courtesy of Impress Email
Watercolor Freehand Flowers by Sandy Allnock

If you logged on to my blog early this morning you may have seen my guest design card for A Card A Day challenge.  There was some sort of mix-up and my card isn't on their blog today, so I took it down.  Be watching for it though.  As soon as they put me up on their blog I will post it over here.  ;)  It's a CAS design with a pop of WOW.

Last, but certainly not least, today is my day to teach in the StampNation classroom.  I will be sharing how to create this shimmery card and the inspiration behind it.   If you are ever in a rut and don't know where to start when making a card, then you will enjoy my Inspired By series.  I show you how to gain inspiration from the world around you.

Scrapbooking Again! + Announcement

I wanted to put that title in ALL CAPS with loads of !!!!!!!, but I was afraid that those of you subscribed by email would have it sent to SPAM.  Scrapbooking was my first paper crafting love.   I started scrapbooking before it became popular, putting stickers and notecards in the those old cling albums.  Over the years I have completed over 30 albums.


Over the past few years I have scrapbooked less and less.  In fact, over the past 18 months I've only scrapbooked twice and that was with friends.  Something caught my attention though and lit my fire again.  I'm so excited to share it with you!!!   Stacey Lokovic of Inspired to Scrap has a new sketch class starting this week.  You all know how much I love sketches.   It was bound to be a sketch class that got me scrapbooking again.  This class caught my IMAGINATION.  It is a Watercolor Sketch class.   All of the sketches were watercolored by Stacey and they are beautiful!!!


That brings me to my ANNOUNCEMENT.  Stacey and her design team have asked me to Guest Design for this sketch class and I am Over The Moon THRILLED about it.  After 2 years of very little scrapbooking I am suddenly chomping at the bit to get into my hobby room to create in my albums again.  It's a wonderful feeling!

The class itself does not require you to use watercolor in your layouts, but there will be tips and technique to add watercolor embellishments and pieces to your pages.  My plan is to use some of the watercolor techniques I've been playing with on my cards and add them to my layouts.  Here is a sneak peek of one of my layouts using an inlaid watercolor die cut.

Anyone can join in this class by signing up on the Inspired to Scrap blog.  Clicky    I'll leave you with a sample mini sketch to give you an idea of what you are in for.  It's only $10 for this class and worth every penny if you are looking for some scrapbooking inspiration.  See you in the forums.

Scrapbooking Again

Every year the Pacific Northwest ladies of Scrapshare get together for a day long crop in January and a long weekend retreat in July.  Yesterday was day retreat in Kent, WA.    Last year I wasn't able to make it, so it's been 2 years since I've seen most of these ladies.  It was so much fun to reconnect with these talented ladies.

L2R- Amanda Vaughn, Me, Sue Nagata

For the past 2 years I have rarely/barely scrapbooked, but after yesterday my passion has been renewed.  My pages are nothing spectacular, but I am happy in what I accomplished.  In my 7x7 album I made 5 pages and in my 2010 album I have 5 pages, mostly finished.

My new friends Shelly and her daughter, Symphony.
Check out Symphony's washi tape carpet on the RHS.

Not only is this crop a great time to reconnect with old friends, but I also meet new friends every year.  Shelly and her daughter sat at the table next to mine.  Symphony is one of the most talented 7 year olds I've ever met.  She used baker's twine in ways I've never thought of.  I wish I had take a picture of some of her pages.  She's a great little girl scout too.  If you would like to pre-order you can do it here:  Cookie Link

Last week I went through all my paper and most of my scrapbooking supplies and did a great purge.  Some of it I brought to sell at the crop and I had a couple of boxes of FREE stuff too.  It feels good to have that clutter, and I now have $150 in my pocket.  What I didn't get rid of, and don't plan to use, is staying in the car and going to be donated this week. WIN-WIN-WIN.  :)

Scrapbook Sunday

How long has it been since I posted a Scrapbook Sunday?   Probably almost as long as it has been since I have scrapbooked.  Life has been busy and something had to go.   Lately though I have been having the urge to work on my albums again.

To help me get a jumpstart I have signed up for the Inspired to Scrap Weekend Warrior Sketch class.  It's no secret that I love sketches.   Stacey Lokovic is an awesome sketch creator and her talented team always inspires me to reach higher.



The class is only $5 and it is designed with the busy scrapbooker in mind.  Hopefully I can at least pull out my pictures and create something.    Would you like to join me?  Clicky for more information.  

Scrapbook Sunday ~ Done

On Tuesday I finished our 2009 family album!  It feels so good to finally have that album done.  Now if I can just keep up the momentum and get 2010-2012 completed too.  ;)

In an effort to get this scrapbook done many of my pages were pretty simple.  I used background paper that had lots of interest so I wouldn't have to make my own borders.  Some pages were just pictures and journaling or a title. 

On this page I used my Labels Framelits Die to create add a bit of interest.  The sticker title I had wasn't showing up on the dark background, so I put it on a piece of white cardstock and cut it out with my Big Shot. The great thing about the framelits is you can see right where you are cutting.



Labels Framelits

It's fun to be able to use my framelits in my scrapbook layouts.  I feel like I am getting more for my money.  Plus they add a pretty touch.  On my next page I used the Ornament Framelits to create a string of sparkle on my Christmas tree page.  I added another little ornament to the corner of my journal box.

First I punched a small hole in each ornament then thread them on a piece of Whisper White Baker's Twine.  I tied each end in a little bow.



Silver Glimmer Paper



Champagne Glimmer Paper



Baker's Twine

Do you ever struggle to use vellum?  It's clear and most adhesives will show through.  To solve that problem you can sometime hide your adhesive behind an image. 



I didn't have anything to hide the adhesive behind, so I just stuck the vellum quote down with stickers.  It worked great!

As some of you know, I used to be a Creative Memories Consultant.  I was a consultant for about 7 years.   Last week CM closed it's doors and shut down its business.  Although I haven't been a CMC in a few years and I rarely ordered more than refills and albums from them, it is a sad day knowing I can never order another album from Creative Memories.  There is talk of restructuring and re-opening under a different name.   Time will tell.  I placed one last order to get one more album and some refills.  When I complete the albums I have in storage I will have to find a new type of album.  Any suggestions?  What do you use?  I'm considering 3 ring style binders.  I just need to find a supplier.

My 2009 album is finished.  Creative Memories is over.  Kind-of a bittersweet scrapbooking week.  Thank you to Miss Louise for having the kids and I over for a fun "play day".  It's more fun to scrapbook with friends.  If it wasn't for Louise inviting me over my album probably still wouldn't be finished. She gave me the perfect sticker to finish my album, and the boys had a blast swimming, making movies and playing airsoft. 

Creative Blessings,
Heather North





Scrapbook Sunday ~ Cannon Beach

I was hoping to share more pages with you of our trip to Cannon Beach, but I have been struggling with these two digital pages for several days now.  At this point I figure I better share what I have.  :)  If I get more done later tonight I may update my blog post.  If not then I can always share them next week.

 

 

 

Once again the sketch I used was from the weekend warriors class I took last weekend at Inspired to Scrap.  It's a great sketch to work with.  My problems came from my laptop.  I think I will try this sketch again using "real" papers and photos and see what I can come up with.

 

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Sunday Share ~ Manager's Reception

Almost every year my husband's company puts on a Manager's Meeting and Reception for it's management group and their spouses.  There are about 200 people at this event.  This year there was a theme "60's Glamour".  At first I was stumped.  When I think of the 60's I think of hippies, not glamour, but thanks to a few friends and Google I was able to find a look I could get on board with.  60's glamour is Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's or Jacqueline Kennedy as the first lady.  It's pearls and gloves and style.

I'm not 100% sure I pulled off the look, but I gave it a try. 

Both of these pages were inspired by a Weekend Warrior class I am taking this weekend over at Inspired to Scrap.  I think their sketches worked perfectly, don't you?

In case you were wondering what was in that little blue box, I made a page for it too.  :)

Next week I will show you a picture of me wearing this lovely necklace.   Hopefully I will be able to finish my weekend warrior class and have more layouts to show you.  :)  It's fun to be scrapbooking again, even if it is on the computer.   The best part of digital scrapbooking is that I was able to work on it and be in the same room as my family while they were watching Lord of the Rings. 

***Special thank you to all my friends who helped me pull my outfit together.   You sistah's rock!

Creative Blessings,
Heather North



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Scrapbook Sunday ~ Digital

My layout today is a digital one using 2 different challenges.  The first challenge was a sketch challenge from the recent Weekend Warriors class at Inspired to Scrap.  The second was StampNation's challenge to use pinwheels on your layout.

After much searching and downloading, I wasn't able to find any pinwheels I could use on my layout, so I improvised.  If you are trying out challenges, don't let obstacles stand in your way. Sometimes you have think outside the box, but you might just love what you come up with.

Creative Blessings,
Heather North




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Scrapbook Sunday ~ Simple Lessons

My scrapbook pages are fairly simple compared to many I see in magazines and on the web.  That's okay with me though, because my scrapbooks are all about capturing the memories and moments of our lives. 

Over the years I have learned that it is okay to embrace my own "style". I was taught that albums had to be filled with super simple pages containing lots of journaling.  Then the style shifted to pages with one small picture and so many flowers and do-dads that the picture was lost in the "pretties" of the page.  I usually fall somewhere in between the two.  That is okay.  So are both the simple and embellished styles. 

Scrapbooking should be the story of your life and reflect you in the pages.  Don't try to be like somebody else.  Play with your pages and find a place that is comfortable for you.  My pages today didn't have a long story, and I didn't use any stickers or themed embellishments.  The titles tell the story.  It's Halloween and my son dressed up like a ninja.  I wrote the names of the kids from our neighborhood who came to our door under their pictures.  Ribbon running down both sides tied the two pages together nicely for me.

Admittedly my pages usually aren't this basic, but something about the simplicity really appealed to me.   What is you style?  Do you stick with one or do you often try new things?  Whatever you do, as long as you are doing something you are preserving your history.   And that, my friends, is the point of scrapbooking.

Creative Blessings,
Heather




12x12 Cardstock



Basic Black 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon




Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker



Scrapbook Sunday ~ Natural Trim

From a distance this could almost be a Valentine's page, but if you look closely you will see the fall leaves.  One of the fun things about scrapbooking is to look back and see how things have changed from styles of layouts to the size of the trees in our backyard.

When I was making this page my first Spring catalog order had just come in.  I thought the Natural Trim Ribbon was perfect for my fall page.  I didn't want to add too many embellishments because I really liked the paper I was using and I wanted the pictures to shine more than the do-dads on the page.  :)

The natural trim is carried over on to the second page by tying it in knots and using glue dots to adhere them to my layout.  As you can see I made a "window pane" with my pictures in the way I placed them on my page. 

Look closely and you can see the ribbon knot in the center with a leaf brad (non-SU) that matched the brad on the coordinating page.  I like things to match and flow.  It's just the way I roll.   That's the beauty of creating personal scrapbooks.  You can create them to fit you and your style.   That's when you will make something you and your loved can cherish for generations. 

Creative Blessings,
Heather North




7/16 Natural Trim Ribbon



Mini Glue Dots



Stampin' Trimmer



Scrapbook Sunday ~ Ribbon & Banners

The scrapbook challenge at StampNation this month is to use banners.  Oh boy, do I LOVE using banners.  In fact, if you do a search on my blog of "Scrapbook" you will find lots of examples of how I like to use them in my layouts.     As a design team member though I had to come up with something new.  All of a sudden I was stumped!   LOL.  Then I decided to just start scrapbooking, knowing that the banner pages would eventually come.  And they did.

Most of the time I like to scrapbook in 2 page spreads using pictures from the same "event".  Today's example breaks all those "rules" for me.   The sky on the LHS (Left Hand Side) might not even have been taken on the same day.  On the RHS (right hand side) all 3 pictures were from different days and didn't "go together" at all.  How to tie all these pictures in that I wanted to include in my scrapbook???  

Here's what I did to create "flow".  I used the same paper packs and elements on both pages.  I went fairly neutral so that all the different colors in the pictures wouldn't be competing.   Because I had so few pictures to work with I also scaled down the page by running a 9"x12" strip of Whisper White textured cardstock down the middle of both pages.  This left me with a background paper border to keep it fairly clean, but not a huge "blank" spot crying out to be filled.  (We all know I struggle to keep it clean and simple.)

The next thing I did was to run some Basic Gray Two Tone Ribbon across both of my pages.  This again added some interest and tied the two pages together.  Adding banners became easy after that.   I used the Hearts A Flutter Framelit to cut my banners out of Fan Fair Designer Series Paper (DSP).   *Tip* You could cut them by hand if you don't want to pull out your Framelits.  Then I tucked them under the Basic Gray ribbon.  Next I decided to break up the gray a bit and added another ribbon.  This time I used Whisper White Organza ribbon and cut each end into a flag tail. 

The hardest part about the RHS was deciding what to call it.  The layout is very similar with the ribbon, banner and papers.  I arranged the pictures a bit differently.  On the top is my son's school project and one of his drawings.  On the bottom is a bench I painted 9 or 10 years ago, a broom I created who knows when, and the scarecrow my friend Angie W. made for me about 7 years ago.  It's how I decorate my front porch each Fall.  As October hits I add in pumpkins of various sizes as I pick them up at the store or pumpkin patch.  Art seemed to fit.

In the close up you can see how I carried the banners, ribbon and even brads over to the RHS.  Those brads are on clearance right now.  I think I'll go pick up another set if they are still there.  They are the PERFECT size for scrapbooking, and so easy to open!  The letters are cut using my Cricut and Basic Gray cardstock.  I made sure to use the same font for both pages.

This page really needed a journaling box, but I didn't want have a good place to put it.  So, I hid it.  I tucked it behind Michael's drawing and added a pull tab banner.  

What started out as a mish-mash of pictures that didn't really go together turned out to be a pretty cute 2 page spread thanks to the design, paper and embellishments. 

Now I want to see your banner page!  Take the challenge and create a layout using banners, then let me know you did.  They are a fun accent to most any page.


Creative Blessings,
Heather North



Fan Fair DSP



Basic Gray Two Toned Ribbon




Whisper White Organza Ribbon



Hearts A Flutter Framelits



5/16th" Neutral Brads
Clearance Rack $1.59