Puppy Love

I’m finding more and more inspiration for scrapbook pages in reading online blogs and looking at websites selling pre-made digital templates. Because I’m not using PhotoShop, most of those templates are not much use to me. It is easier to make my own in StoryBook Creator than to figure out how to re-layer the many files that are sent with a downloaded template. (I’ve tried it on a few freebies and decided it was way more trouble than it’s worth)

What I have been doing, though, is much like what we do when we’re scrapbooking traditionally. (and I use this technique for both digital and traditional pages) I simply “eyeball” the page and make my own version using rough estimates on what sizes the pictures are and where the embellishments are placed. This challenge has been fun and I have been enjoying seeing if I can reproduce what I see online with some relative semblance of accuracy.

Here’s an example: I saw this layout from Designer Digitals:

And decided to create this layout:

You will notice I took some creative license with my design. I didn’t add the dotted/stitched border. I added an additional embellishment. I had planned to put a background in there once I was finished, but then I decided I liked the clean look of the white page, so I left it.

I’ve been thinking about doing a page on Sydney for a while, and have been waiting for the right inspiration to hit. Well, one look at that layout and I was ready to go.

Inspiration can come from many places. You can be inspired by a picture, by an advertisement, by colors, fabrics, sunrises, etc. The trick is to be open to the muse and either act on it right away or write your ideas down so that you can act later.

These Hands

These Hands…

Are Strong and Tough
Yet Gentle and Loving
Work Hard and Rough
and Caress so Softly
Represent Making a Living
and Safety and Security
These Hands are Tough
… Yet Fragile.
We love these hands.

Sunday Scrapping

Hi, everyone,

My Sunday Scrapbooking post is up at The Lady’s site. Please check it out and I’ll see you tomorrow!

Lois

Memory Jogger for Scrapbookers

I just found the coolest tool. It’s called “Log Your Memory.” It’s a daybook/journal for scrapbookers. The idea is to give you a single place to jot down things you want to remember and scrapbook. Maybe a page layout idea, a quote from your kids, a song to journal about, photos to take, etc.

There are weekly challenges and questionnaires to get your creative juices going and help you think about areas you may not have scrapbooked about before.

I’m constantly tearing pages out of magazines – layouts I’ve loved, color schemes or design ideas – I am going to add these to my Memory Logbook. There is a downloadable ebook that you can print yourself at home, or you can purchase a bound or spiral version as well. I got the downloadable version and am planning to put it in a 3-ring notebook with some pocket pages to hold all those ripped out pages and doodles or scribbles of ideas I have.

Of course, there are monthly and daily planning pages, too. You can make this your regular planning calendar if you want.

What a cool idea!

Scrapbook Layout Inspiration

Happy Tuesday, y’all…

It’s raining here. Nasty, wet and cold. My youngest is at home with me – she has the sniffles. We are snuggled up in the house and I’m trying really hard to remember that I work full-time and stay focused on work. What I really want to do is grab a blanket or two, light a fire, make some hot tea, and snuggle by the fire with my little Doodlebug. Maybe that will come in just a little bit. Must get a few more things done.

I thought today I would share a layout idea that has inspired me. I found it over at Ella Publishing Company’s website. They have a neat new eZine that has some pretty awesome ideas in it. I’m finding great inspiration for layouts, color schemes, you name it. One thing I’ve learned over the years is to always be on the lookout for things that catch my eye. Once I find them, I either take a picture, save it on my PC, or put it in a folder I have of scrapbooking ideas.

Here’s my folder –

I just rip pages out of magazines and save them here. When I sit down to scrapbook and need a little inspiration or help getting the creative juices flowing, I just rummage around in the pile of ideas. That is usually a good way to get me started.

I used to subscribe to tons of scrapbook magazines. Now, not so many. I have found that I can get the same inspiration from looking at blogs and other scrapbook related websites (like Ella’s) to find (free) ideas. So, I have started an electronic version of my idea “folder” as well. This is a little simpler – it’s just a PowerPoint file that I copy/paste images into whenever I see an idea that inspires me.

Here are some places for you to consider as you search for ideas for yourself:

Designer Digitals – they have challenges that are awesome. If you are a digital scrapbooker, the downloads that come with the challenges are pretty awesome, too. If you are traditional, consider getting the downloads anyway. You can always print them on your own cardstock or re-create the layout, etc. on your own. The ladies at DD are really talented and I always find a few things I want to try over there.
Ali Edwards – always has awesome ideas. Check her blog out (if you haven’t already) – it is well worth the visit.
Cathy Zielske – I love her no-nonsense style of scrapbooking. Clean lines, lots of whitespace and capturing the essence of a story.

Okay, enough rambling…. Here’s the original layout that inspired me:

Here’s my version:

And, here’s a bonus for you – a link to a template you can use in StoryBook Creator + (3.0) if you are using that for your digital scrapbooking. (as soon as I get Photoshop Elements, I’ll include those, too. Not in the budget yet, though)

Send me your pages! I’d love to see what you do with the idea!