let's go travel journal

This project was posted over at heidiswapp.com  yesterday.
There is not much more to add about this travel journal save to answer a few questions I have received regarding it.
As well as simply show off some larger photos.
oh...thanks for dropping in! I appreciate it so much.

I used several techniques taught in the Stencil Magic class.
That class has been such a great technique booster for me. I am not usually a techy girl...but that class has been so useful.

 The clear page used here is actually packaging. It is from the Wood Shadow Box Frame package. I would love to get my hands on some Bazzill acrylic paper...but I cannot find it local...and I guess I am just too lazy to order it online.

The seven is for us...our family. I seem to always throw a 7 in our travel albums. It's just a little tradition for me.

Any and all die cuts will work beautifully for the pocket pages. The pinked circle cut is from a Studio Calico class I took earlier in the year.

Had a question about the page protectors, and wanted to relay that they are included in the Chipboard Binder which is available at Michaels. There are 12 to the binder. Fabulous!

 Had several people mention to me that this must have taken me a long time to create...

I explain in my post of yesterday, that I come up with an idea for several pages, and then just repeat the main ideas over and over.
This is how I approach most of my mini albums.

I also include over there the order of my pages and how they worked together.

So for me, once I know how the book is going to flow, it's just a matter of pulling embellishments and paper together. And since I keep to specific colors, it really comes together pretty easily.

This book was a chance to play with technique, some new ideas, lots of layering, and just whatever made me smile. And trust me...I did a lot of smiling while I was creating this book. Found my groove and just went with it.
I. LOVE. IT. WHEN. THAT. HAPPENS.

 
 And yes...there is a wide cross over of many (if not all) of Heidi's collections used in here. Not to mention plenty of items from the Digital Shop. It's one of the many things about her product lines that is so great. So much of everything works right back into another collection.

This view is a good example of my above paragraph, as it includes:
Word Quotes
Sugar Chic
Color Magic Notes
Clear Stamps
Color Pop Tags

One of the emphasis for this journal was to focus on just that: JOURNAL.
It is becoming even more important to me that I write stuff down.
The little details.
Right now, at this point in my life...I have a senior,
and a freshman...
and other ones right behind those two...
life is flying by me.
So... I need to write it down. Now.

Thank you so much for the interest you showed in this album this week. It is my new favorite. I have loved this pre made travel journal format for many years now...
and so it makes me happy to share with you, well...what makes me happy.

now i just need someplace to go...(wink)

stencil magic contagion

maggie made a great observation yesterday on heidiswapp.com...
she often observes other creatives use of a stencil and say "wow, that's cool, but looks like way too much work."
and then forget about it. until she was challenged to do a stencil project, and now i think she is a believer!
(side note: this layout was originally inspired by a recent Liz Kartchner layout)

well i know i am a stencil believer...
i am on a bit of a kick with stencils.
and in particular heidi swapp stencils.
i put them to work as part of the background on my little adventure man's layout.
i used the arrows stencil for details on the page.

i made a mask to cover the part of the stencil i did not want in order to spray over the patterns i did want.
color shine tinsel was used to add a subtle background and extra texture to this layout. i almost think i could use that technique for every page i do!




on the top layer i used the 6x6 chevron stencil...

 

with some Claudine Hellmuth paint to add another pattern and additional texture.

i tried to add contrast to the No Limits Buzzword with the paint too.
it didn't work...so i had to fix my mistake as it was the last 'adventure' Buzzword I had.
so i scraped some of it off, leaving some of it on...and i think it added interest to the already boyish layout.
i love fixing my mistakes.
i do it so often.

a bit more stencil detail up top...
some pink paislee Luxe rubons...
plus cut out chevrons, a photo corner, and a Color Magic Arrows keep to the theme bringing one's attention to the rest of the piece.

so...
the moral of the story is...
be adventurous and try new techniques.
Heidi's Stencil Magic online class is a safe place to play with this technique...
and as heidi says...
make pretty stuff.

summer fun...

you know how a season can be very busy...

yet not? 

a contradiction in terms...
but it is what is happening here.

we have stayed busy this summer.
yet we have rested and stayed true to simple things...
like going to the pool.
or an evening bike ride.
the kids playing in the neighborhood till after the sun has gone down.

and now i feel as though the academic year is staring me straight in the face.
but it is actually o.k.
this summer has allowed for me to refresh and renew and organize and declutter.

i love the seasons of life for that very thing.

which is why i have not been blogging very often...
but it's not to say i have not been creative.

here is a sneak of a project for Heidi Swapp coming up soon...

i have stayed creative.
and even planning a few new things.

taking this class from the lovely janna ...



she is a sweet and creative soul and i have enjoyed watching her process.

so how about a little musing...

enjoying:: these amazing summer evenings. and the sounds of summer.

listening:: to silence. it is just me up. the house is quiet. one of my favorite times of the day.

wishing:: how i would love to attend this.




kim and heidi are so excited for this upcoming adventure. it is going to be an amazing time.

making:: monthly menus and pantry lists and even re organizing my wardrobe. told you i was in organizing mode.

thinking:: this is always a scary category...my thoughts are in many places presently. mostly thinking about today and this week and how the kids and i will enjoy summer.

feeling:: tired, actually.

loving:: our family meals together. it's been great slow time together. thankful when we are all together, but even when we are not. it's all good.

hoping:: o.k...seriously...to get back to project life! it's on my list. i have a goal. i am going to do it.

have a wonderful week. hope to be back soon with a new favorite layout and maybe even a journal. gasp...a journal? me???

monday musings

so it's foggy and misty out side this morning.
it's like living in seattle again.
so it causes me to be in a contemplative mood.

besides that...i have been thinking about a post reflecting on the current.
a way to keep better track perhaps of these weeks that are truly flying by.

a sort of this and that kind of post.

not to mention i was inspired by annette haring's post here ...
her own musings.

so...
to start...

location: i am sitting at my computer desk in my studio that is right next to the largest window in the house. although the view is a tad dreary, i love being near the light.

eating: have not eaten today as...well...a grocery run is desperately needed...so i will just eat later.
that said...there has been lots of cake in the house as we had two birthdays last week. sort of glad the cake is almost all gone.

drinking: lots and lots of water. we are at 7,000 feet here...sort of needful.

enjoying: sort of still enjoying the effects of a lovely sunday being home. working in the studio. playing with the kids. and a lazy morning sleeping in late and waking to coffee cake. (yep...more cake).

listening: currently my oldest daughters ipod playlist AND the other girl's audio book. yes. at the same time.

wishing: for time at the beach.

making: plans for my newest high schoolers first year. planning her classes. we home school and so this takes a bit of creativity. also starting to make a meal plan for the next month. yep. i am feeling the need to step up the home organization.

thinking: oh...so many thoughts. my oldest son just returned from a life changing trip. been thinking over his stories so far. i think i am amazed.

feeling: at peace. maybe it's the weather. maybe it's the week's schedule that is a bit slower paced for once. maybe it's a renewed heart on certain matters. maybe it's all the above.

loving: my new morning schedule. i have purposed to be up much before the household in order to work, and think, and enjoy the peace that comes from a restful nights sleep and an early morning in a quiet home. it's a sacrifice of sleep to be up early, but i really love what is being gained by this time.

hoping: to get back on track with project life. been thinking through, yet again, how to simplify yet keep it going. i love love this project. i hate hate when i get behind.

your thoughts on that are greatly appreciated.

have a wonderful day.
~j

hey dude...find your wings

hello friends...
so i had me a little throw down...
a personal challenge if you will...
and that was to use MyMind'sEye ~ Find Your Wings,
which is a sweet, soft, feminine collection...

but add some maleness to it.
to create a layout using Find Your Wings elements...
but could it still work for a teen male story?

supplies:

paper: layered ephemera, labeled, pick a card, zig zag skies, quatrefoil, carousel

stickers: sky's the limit, up and away, sky's the limit word stickers

other: up and away stamps, color magic chipboard stars, color shine tinsel

using a piece of book paper for the base...
and keeping the hues neutral with only a pop of that soft coral...

taking advantage of the more iconic embelishments...
i think i accomplished my task.
a star image didn't hurt either.
nor did splotches of color shine.
(just where is Janna Werner when you need her...she is queen of the splotches.)

i could of gone all out and really grunged this up...
but this layout is about heart and desire and finding one's way...
and i have plenty of space to add my personal journaling to my son...
to encourage him in just those things.
and so i decided for a bit more of a clean look.

so now i challenge you...
to challenge yourself to use products in a different light.

family time

This week over at heidiswapp.com  the team was challenged to use our paper crafting wiles to create a few games.
Yesterday Kim totally wowed with her super hero game. She is such a greatly creative mom.
And today I share a family dinner conversation game.

 Using a pedestal frame I took pretty stuff and layered it all up to have a place to house questions for my family to utilize at dinner time.

There are lots of details over on Heidi's blog...

I knew the game would need to be out to remind us to play. So it of course had to be pretty. That said I just began to layer frames and papers and tags sticking out to make the piece inviting. The kiddos have already responded to it and are intrigued. I did not add a lot of details once I started adding the cards. So the creative emphasis remained on the first part of this table top project.

Now here I have to plug the stencils...if you do not own a stencil (or three, or four...) you are missing on sheer creative fun and play. I used the Polka Dot 6x6 Stencil here to add a bit more detail and depth to the inside of the InstaFrame window. If you start to play with these stencils you will just find yourself making up reasons to use them on projects. Heidi's self paced class is still available for download and is really a no miss class.

O.K...now on to the questions...

This particular project holds about 25 questions, but because all are attached by book rings the cards can be changed out or added too...or just about anything you desire.

I made them available as a free download on my post today.

 Would love to hear how you creatively bring everyone together for dinner. I know in our home dinner together has always been important, but I am catching a view that our times together may be fewer and fewer as they are getting older and I now have two of mine in high school.

So I encourage you...
create something fun for your family.
and if your family is you and your spouse...there is absolutely no reason why this idea cannot enrich your meals together.