file folder mania

Remembering this post here from the May WIPkits...
Well today I am posting over at WIPkits blog with this to say::

about how I took these three layouts...

and made them an interactive single 12x12 project...

See how all the pages peak out from underneath each other?
In line with my little personal file folder obsession these days, I made these three layouts into one layout by making it interactive.
The three of them are stacked on top of each other, and then attached to a 12x12 piece of card stock.

Masking tape was used to simply bind the separate layouts together.

 Here is a look at the third and final page against the 12x12.

Now I will either place the whole layout into a 12x12 page protector and add it to our ProjectLife2012 album in one piece...
or I can slit the 12x12 allowing the pages to open freely while the foundation of the page rests in it's page protector. Either way would work perfect for me.

Really like how to tell a story like this with multiple photos yet in a file folder format.
You may be seeing more of the same. {wink}.

remember

land of the free

because of the brave

remembering::

Garrison C. Avery

1982~2006

art of observation. the love project.

This is week six of Heidi Swapp's Art of Observation class.
This is the week I call the "love project"
The prompt was to utilize the idea behind the book The Five Love Languages.
It was a fabulous observation.
Taking the time to observe what my children's love language is in how they serve others
and how their own 'love tank' is filled.
This project involved all of us talking on this subject.

The mechanics of the observation involved, of course, the memory file technique.
The rebel in me continues to make her own files. What are ya goin' to do?
It also included Heidi's signature 'back to back' book.
I love this technique. 
Had not yet tried it in the heart shape...I sort of refrain from those cutesy shapes...
so I just went for it for this project.

The book is written primarily for you and your spouse.
So I started this project with Mr. Pate & myself.
Instagram style...because I am noticing a lot of my photos are from instagram these days.
A little addiction going on here.

For Mr. Pate one of his love languages is quality time.
His tank is full when we get time together...just he and I.
And in our current lifestyle, that is no easy task.
So I took an instagram of our commuter mugs as we headed out early one morning together.
I just love this take of memory keeping more and more.

The oldest male teen's love language does not fall in a category of the five listed in the book...
however, I know one of his loves is humor...
the acting out in it...
and the receiving.
I know he is good when he is jovial and humorous and when I can make him laugh.

The youngest female's language is that of gift giving.
As well as quality time.
She loves to be with me in my studio...
creating...
her own mixed media.
I will be happy one day to have captured this memory.

Oldest female's gift is also gifts...
the gift of baking...sweet stuff...all...the...time...
But that is when she is happiest and feels the most loved when I let her have her way in the kitchen.

I included my mom and I's Mother's Day instagram.
Her love language is physical touch.
And since I am so NOT about physical touch...
it is a picture of real love that I know what speaks to her.

Middle daughter did not make the cut of photos here...
she is included in the smaller book on the lower right hand corner.
Her gift is acts of service...
she loves to help around the house and does so willingly and happily.

It's funny...
I always sort of balk at the observation prompts from this class.
But as I start to work through them...
and then let them sit in my heart and head for a bit..
they always come together...
and I am the happier for having done the project...
and capturing that particular memory of observation.

Hoping too this encourages you to find these things in the people around you...
and understand them more.

Now go...
& create.

junqued party hats

Birthday season is in the air at the Pate household.
A biggy for my oldest daughter is coming up next month...she will be 13.
I am having what I call a 'blessing' party.
Families who have played some sort of significant role in her life have been invited.
And their gift will be words of blessings that I will then place into a mini album for her to have.

Starting the decorations early so I can actually do all that is in my head.
Dear Lizzie's in Utah inspired me to start with junqued party hats set about in a festive manner.
So off to my collection of RhonnaDesigns I went to start the fun for the grey and yellow vintagey theme party.

Just because a kit is thematic, for example it was for New Year's or Easter, does not mean it should sit dormant in your digital folders doing nothing. Re-use them in new ways. Think outside the box.

We start with the It's Time kit...remember that one from New Years? Well...it's timeless.
Included in the kit are hat templates.

So I printed the music print hat several times.
Cut. and glued following the fabulous instructions on the printable.
After the hat was formed a masking paper ruffle was added to the edge.
Then a junque bow was formed from tulle, paper shreds, dyed seam binding and whatever I could add. See how an older kit has found a new use? I love that.

A kit in the RhonnaDesigns collection is the outstanding Quatrefoil Tool Kit. I use this kit quite often.
I made the tag by creating a 2x2 canvas in Photoshop Elements.
The canvas was filled with color.
Then I added tag5 from the Quatrefoil Tool Kit: Tags.
Then...one of the starbursts brushes from the Starbursts Brush Kit was added in white. The opacity was turned down to about 50.
Then print.
Trim.
Add to the junqued up hats.

Lastly, the Easter Celebrations: Printable Sayings was used for some of the sentiments.
Simply open the printable.
Select the sentiment.
Copy to another canvas.
Print.
Cut out.
Notch.
and distress.

Wake up those older kits and reuse them into something fresh and new.

now go.
create.

art of observation ~ highlights

Art of Observation.
It's not so much about the techniques of the class.
Although Heidi's imagination and inspiration is always on and compelling one forward to try new ways.
There is that.

It's not so much about the observation techniques.
Challenging the class participants to look at life through amazement. and lyrics. and beauty.
Reminding even me what a highlight SPARK3 was to my life...and writing about it.
There is that.

For me, it's been an exercise in perspiration.
Moving forward with an idea.
Spending time and energy making it come to life.
And then being terribly disappointed by the results.

But not stopping there.
It's not enough for me to copy Heidi's work.
She shows beautiful example. after beautiful example of her projects.
And her products amaze me.
They really do.
But I am endeavoring to make my work my own.
To hone my skills. To hone my style.
And sometimes after a project falls flat, I have to be willing to throw out a bad idea, in order for the good idea to find it's place.
And you know my friends, I am not just talking about paper and photos here.

What you are seeing here today is parts of the old project, and then parts of the new. The new is at the top. I was terribly happy with the mini albums and photo-stacks inside the folder. They home to my hightlights of Spark as well as 27 photos. But I was not finding my vision with the outside of the folder and then changed, which ended up cleaning up the inside of the file. (See above.)
Much happier now, thank you very much.

Rhonna shared in her Creativity Week an amazing process by which to grow creatively.
I am still living those ideas.
They are still finding a home with me.
They continue to percolate and become real to me.
So looking forward to where they will take me.

I truly hope for you the same experience.
now go. create.

project life ~ week 14-17

Francis Chan recently stated: "Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at things in life that don't really matter."

catching up with project life

Something that matters to me is telling this family's story.
To build a foundation of reminders of who we are right now...
and who we are becoming because of our journey.

week14

week15

As I sort and and edit photos
I remember..."oh...THAT was a tough day..."
and I very often self correct.

or

"What a fun time of it was THIS day"...
and ask myself why...
what made this day good?
And then attempt to repeat.
This always with a thankful heart for the gifts of my life.

added week in the life to project life album

Right now, for me, the greatest gift
of memory keeping is the accounting of time that it allows for me to preserve.
The more I practice the habit of observation and documentation,
the more I am thrilled by the process.
What is left in my wake.
That my children will remember that special day we celebrated an academic year well earned with sundaes on the back patio.
Or that they mourned the loss of the neighborhood 'grandma' at her funeral. The ugly in the midst of the beauty.
Or that day trip to the cousins farm running wild free with the wind in their hair and fully loving life.

week16

week17

This is something that matters to me.
And I look forward as the skill continues to be refined as I press on to tell our story.

happy mothers day

I appreciate what I heard Heidi Swapp say recently:
"learn to take beautiful photos of your children 
so you can remember why you love them."

Because some days it is really hard to feel like the worlds greatest mom.

Somedays we forget.

I know even this week I feel far from the ranks.

But we love them like no other love that was ever before created.
We would give our very lives for them.
Indeed, we do just that.

So for those of you Mom's out there who love in amazing ways...day in...and day out...
Happy Mother's Day.
And may the LORD bless and keep you in your endeavors.

supplies: RhonnaDesigns ~ PrizeWinning Mom Kit ; Quatrefoil Tool Kit

mothers day celebration

Rhonna is highlighting Mother's Day on her blog this week.
So today I show you a recent card made in honor of the upcoming day to celebrate Mom.
A hybrid card using digital elements from RhonnaDesigns.

This card started with a 5x7 canvas and then filled with a soft blush color.
The TextureBrushes kit, using the distressed honeycomb brush...one of my favorite textures, was used on the background. A great tool kit to have.
Then that beautiful colored Punk Junque kit element was layered on the canvas and became the focus point of the card.
There is also a subtle pink Punk Junque brush added behind to give a bit more depth and texture.
Then...around the edges was added more of the TextureBrushes. I picked one of the greys in the Punk Junque colored png and digitally distressed the edges of the card.

These patterns came from other backgrounds altogether. The rose is from one of the A Year to Follow Your Heart 6x8jpgs. I simply cropped the flower, printed, and then trimmed to a banner shape for placement at the top of the card.
Same with the music pattern that came from the Christmas Junque background kit. It was part of the Collage Junque paper. That paper is so diverse to use for different flags and banners and paper punches. It's rather timeless.

To finish the card I added sequins. coffee dyed seam binding and doily. plus i added glittered glue to the butterfly. The butterfly could be printed out separately and then popped up on the card...but I am happy with the little touch of bling.

now go.
create.

work in progress ~ may

May's WIPkit gallery posted this week.
Here are a few of my contributions to the team.

May's kit included some gorgeous papers by Heidi Swapp, and Pink Paislee, + Bazzill papers that included designs by Janet Hopkins (Wayfarer) and Margie Aslett (Vintage Market). I was very partial to the Bazzill patterns.

The above layout is an 8x8. It is my simple current formula of layering papers, die cuts, insta frames, punched papers, letters, and labels. The blue die cut pocket actually said 'proof' on the lower portion. But it was not working for this Easter story, so I covered it up with a Jillibean Soup label, Heidi Swapp paper piece, a circle punch from a Bazzill print, plus letters from Jillibean Soup. (all supplies found here.)

This layout included book paper...because I just have to have book paper on everything right now. Then I just went to layering again. and again. and again.
The collage frame can be found here and is by RhonnaDESIGNS.

I love the rub-ons from Heidi Swapp's new line and was so glad they were part of this kit. (That insta frame package includes 72 pieces! amazing!!) They layer so well (because we know not all rub-ons are created equal.) And this included adding them to the top of the Jillibean letters.

These layouts tell the story of our Easter Sunday. (but o.k..did I take any photos of my girls in their dresses?...and is there a family pic? the hostess simply can't do everything...where IS my assistant anyway?)

What delighted me about this day was a house full of people. Eating fabulous food. Amazing conversation. New friendships made. And a yard filled with 12 kiddos from four different families playing and laughing and enjoying the day and the sun! Happy-dance.

Come back tomorrow...because these layouts will be part of one 12x12 page as I folder them up...because that is my new favorite thing.

now go. create.

creatively speaking

all digital supplies: RhonnaDESIGNS

This past week Rhonna has been sharing on her blog a Creativity Week.
A*maz*ing!
Her words have imparted such an amazing power that not only encompasses for me a creative life...
but they are finding themselves overflowing in my whole life.
inspiration.
perspiration.
innovation.

so far she has been sharing these insights. (as she says 'to be continued'.)
and i have to tell you...
they are at serious work in my heart and soul.

i keep thinking about the other day.
sunday.
i often get more time in my studio.
and this past sunday was no exception...even had a little friend join me for some of her own art time...

anyhow...
i just kept stumbling...
had ideas...
but they would not work...
they would not find the vision i had in my head.

so i would set something aside for a time...
and go on to another project...
same thing...
it just would not flow for me.


so again...
set it aside...
and either get up and get something to drink...
or dance wii with my teen daughter (which i won everytime thank you very much)...
or play with the baby...

and then i would get back to it.

the theme that kept coming back to me was 'what am i learning?'
even though my creative attempts were failing...
they weren't failures.
do you hear the difference?
i kept summing up what I was learning...
what i would do next time...
how the process could be improved...

i was definitely practicing perspiration...LOL...
no...seriously...
i need to work more on gathering that which inspires me...
and later in the day when i did that...
when i honed my ideas down...
ta-dah! the inspiration really went to work.

i also had to practice being still...
for me that was setting aside something that was not working
to take it up later.
to be more refreshed in spirit and ideas...
and then to often find i would go in a different way altogether...

and the being still worked through the night as i slept too!
i woke the next morning with many ideas moving through my mind...
a re-shaping of thoughts from yesterday...
that just might see the light of day today.

how exciting is that?
her words could NOT have come at a better time...
i am seeking.
i am striving.
i am endeavoring to find my voice in a renewed way...
plus having goals out there that scare the ba-jee-bees out of ya really lights a fire too!!!
{more on that later..}

supplies:

textures brush kit

mini textures brush kit

quatrefoil tool kit

mini seals brush kit

spring circus borders kit

spring circus brush kit

spring circus printable cards kit

spring circus backgrounds