Celebrate Winter – Card and Scrapbook Layout

Winter can seem like a LONG time when you live somewhere cold and snowy.

L in snow

Fun in the snow

Every year seems to take on a personality of its own, and you never know what it will be like. You may have a year with a lot of snow, or maybe not much. There are places in the USA that have had more than their share of snow this winter. Ours hasn’t been too bad, so far. We haven’t had a lot of snow, and it hasn’t been nearly as cold as it was last year, so far. No matter what it’s like, there will still be many days to figure out something to do, and if there’s enough snow, it is so fun to watch kids go sledding! I was reminded of this as I was going through some photos. Once again, I realized there was a story that needed to be told and saved!

When I first started scrapbooking, I wanted to get as many photos on a page as possible! I couldn’t image why anybody would use up a whole page and only put one single photo on it. I guess I felt like it was wasting all that precious scrapbook page real estate! Now days, I often have a story that only has one photo to go with it. Sometimes there is a lot to the story, and other times it is just one sentence or paragraph. In the end, it’s all about the photos stories!

I have really enjoyed the Close to My Heart Snowhaven papers and embellishments, and thought it would be fun to create a winter layout using that set.

When I decided to print out my photo, it just wasn’t coming out right! I finally gave up and decided to use the Snowhaven kit in the Studio J online digital scrapbooking website. All the papers and Complements pieces were right there online, and I was able to still use them all together. In the end, I was able to create my page, and ended up having my physical products to use for something else. I’m not sure what I’ll do with them!

Here is the page:

Snowhaven kit in Studio J used for winter scrapbook layout.

CTMH Snowhaven papers and embellishments are available in both physical or digital!

Why can I not catch the typos until I am already posting my layout here for the world to see? I really do know how to spell “friends.”

I hope you will take time to celebrate each season of your life, and those who are close to you! Capture even the little stories that will be fun to look back on and remember.

I promised a card in this post. The SnowHaven card kit was so fun to use to make some Christmas cards. All the materials were gathered and directions put together so I didn’t even have to plan them out!

There were left overs from the kit, and I thought they would be fun to use in part, for a card.

A few scraps can be pulled together for a quick card.

A few scraps can be pulled together for a quick card.

  • White card stock was the base of the card, and snowflakes from the SnowHaven card kit stamp set were stamped in Glacier.
  • A little strip of red and white design from one of the kit papers made a great accent.
  • Silver Shimmer Trim and the red heart were left over from the kit as well.
  • I stamped the “Have a day filled with…” and “Fun” from one of the stamp sets that accompanies the Cricut Art Philosophy bundle.
  • I used a shimmer mist on the card, and got too close.
  • Then I added some bling by attaching some little sparkles to the center of some of the snowflakes.

I think it still needs something, but I’m not sure what. Moving on…. What do you think you would do it at this point? Comments are welcome!

make it monday-pink logoIf you are following the Make It Monday blog circle, you arrived here from Jen’s site, where she is sharing a template for another one of her 52 week pocket pages.

Next, stop by and see how to Celebrate 2014! Create a layout with your top photos from last year. Alice shows you how!

 

Feel free to shop my Close to My Heart online store!

Cheers to YOUR Artful Adventures!

KS

 

Why Use Food Photos?

Have you used food photos in capturing your memories when creating a journal or scrapbook page? I’ll admit that I have not done it very often. Yet, I have found that it really does bring up memories — good or bad! I have an opportunity for you to learn more about using food photos, so be sure and read to the end!

Many of you have heard me talk about Layout A Day, the online event where everyone’s goal is to create a memory page each day for a month. There is a theme to the month, and prompts for each day, which makes it interesting. It really helps you think of stories that had escaped your memory, and it’s fun to capture those memories once more! At least a couple of times, I used food as part of those stories. Here is a story about angel food cake, and how it reminds me of my grandmother. In later years, I found out that she made it all the time not because they loved it, but because my grandpa had a sensitive stomach and it was one of the things he could eat. I still think of them when I smell it! (Sorry about the photo quality!)

A memory of angel food cake at Grandma's!

A memory of angel food cake at Grandma’s!

 

Various Jello dishes and memories of them.

The many faces of Jello!

 

My friend Dani Leonetti, AKA Scrapper On The Street, is an avid photographer who really urges people to capture their everyday life in photos. She prompts us to take photos of things we may normally overlook. I wish she had been around a long time ago, because there have been several things lately that I just can’t remember the way they were, and a simple photo in the room at that time, could tell the tale! Dani has had several online classes and she has a new one starting next week.

Dani is passionate about food! Not just the food, but the meaning we attach to it — the events, the relationships, the traditions, etc. What better time to think of that than holidays and the foods we share; and feel like we can’t have the holidays without them! Listen to her in this video:

Dani’s new Insta-Food, Christmas Edition is starting December 18, and runs until January 1st! I am giving one of the prizes during the event! It will be a free spot in my Art Journaling Basics class, with a twist on how to give photos an artful twist!

Go over to Dani’s Scrapper On the Street site and read more about the Insta-Food, Christmas Edition class, and get signed up!    Hurry and register before you forget!  Use Coupon Code: SCRAPFANS to save $10  Dani is giving away 1 Free Seat to my readers, so use the rafflecopter entry below. If you win the free seat, and have already registered, the money will be refunded. Plus, you can enter once each day before the giveaway closes!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Easy Digital Pocket Page Cards or Tags

With the holidays here, since it has become so popular, I was thinking how much fun it would be to show some of my family how to capture some memories with Pocket Page scrapbooking. The cards come in a zillion colors and styles, and pretty much offer something for every taste or occasion. Not only can these cards make scrapbooking easy, but the cards can be used for so much more. Since they have images, words, or even phrases, they can make quick work of a card making project, or even a “traditional” scrapbook page, and can be a great addition to a mixed media piece, or art journaling! Here was a previous post showing different uses for pocket cards.

Did you know that you can create that same pocket page look digitally? It’s really not difficult! Close To My Heart’s online software, Studio J makes it easy! Or what if you want to create your own pocket cards? You can do that, too!

Watch the video and see how easy it is.

 

A Gift for You!

I would like to let you all know how much I appreciate you following my blog. It is my desire that as I share things I like to do, that you’ll pick up some tips and tricks along the way; and that you’ll want to try new things. As a special “Thank You” to you, I’d like to offer these two pages of pocket page cards. All you have to do is print, and cut. You can even size them down to an 8×8″ square and print them on a letter size paper, to use any way you’d like.

Yuletide Pocket Cards 1

Right Click the button to download, or click to view, and then download.

Yuletide Cards #1

Yuletide pocket cards

Right Click the button to download, or click to view, and then download.
Yuletide Cards #2

Create your own Studio J pages here.

Creative Christmas Bundle Preview

 

May you enjoy the holidays, and thanks for stopping by! (Leave and message so I know you were here!)

Cheers to YOUR Artful Adventures!

KS

 

 

Creative Christmas Bundle

Creative Christmas Bundle Projects and ideas from 15 crafters and designers.

Projects and ideas from 15 crafters and designers.

I am so excited to tell you about a creative bundle of goodness, which I’ve been working on behind the scenes, in preparation for the big day it is released for sale, November 24th. It is a collaborative effort of 15 crafters and designers, which can give you a jump start with ideas and how to instructions on many great holiday projects!  You’ll want to be sure and go check out the information about the designers and sign up to get updates.

Here’s a peek at some of what you’ll find in the Creative Christmas Bundle:

  • 2015 printable photo calendar
  • Advent calendar, printable supplies, tutorials, and suggested daily activities
  • December Daily scrapbook sketches and more
  • Printable pocket page cards
  • Cut files for Silhouette and Cricut
  • Gift ideas and tutorials
  • Christmas-themed cross-stitch patterns
  • Printable Christmas cards
  • Tutorials for making photo gifts
  • Tutorials on using apps to create and print photos and photo gifts
  • Art journaling (for any time of year)
  • Upcycling for a green Christmas
  • Plus bonuses galore

You won’t want to miss out on this bargain, if you are even the least bit prone to creativity! Valued at over $250 it will be on sale for just $29.99!  You can meet the designers and sign up to get the email for the initial release here. The sale runs from November 24 – December 1.

Creative Christmas Bundle art journaling basics online class coverI am bringing my Art Journaling Basics class online, and the first release will be part of the Creative Christmas Bundle!

In this class you will:

  • Learn what art journaling is.  Discover ways you may decide to use it.
  • Receive tips on what to use for a journal. Don’t get lost in the sea of choices, you can make informed decisions.
  • Learn how to make your own journal by recycling a book. It’s easy to go green!
  • Learn about basic supplies and adhesives. Don’t spend money on supplies you don’t need to get started. Find out what you may already have on hand that will work.
  • Receive product recommendations. Get tips you can use to make your selections and save time and money.
  • Learn how to create five fast and easy ways to make backgrounds. Get started right away,  so you aren’t staring at a blank page wondering what to do next.
  • Receive a list of page prompts and learn how using prompts can spark your creativity. Never feel ‘stuck’ or lacking ideas!
  • Receive printable images and quotes to get started without delay! Great to take shopping!

Bonus 1You will also receive the original Artful Adventures Art Journaling Basics eBook for free! This ebook in .pdf format also contains links to the videos and the printables, giving you multiple options to access the class information.

Bonus 2: A private Facebook Group to connect with others and share your projects without the judgement of family and friends who have no idea what you’re doing! We’ll have our own fun!

What you get:

7 Lessons

5 Videos

6 Pages of Printable Images (91 single images)

2 Page of Quotes and online quote resources

Samples with basic description of steps to complete.

List of page prompts

Printable list of basic Product Recommendations

This class is a steal at $20, but it will be part of the Creative Christmas Bundle. So you can have access to the online class and do it whenever you want to, and get all the other goodies in the bundle as well! All content is available upon payment of your Creative Christmas Bundle. You’ll receive a code for your class registration, and there is no expiration date to access your content. Hurry over now to sign up and get updates!

Cheers to YOUR Artful Adventures,

KS

Base and Bling, More than Crafty Jewelry

make it monday blog hop fall logoIt’s another Make It Monday blog hop! If you’ve come here from Alison Day’s site, welcome! Alison shared how she turned an inspiration prompt into a fall themed decoration perfect for her Canadian Thanksgiving today. She shows a lovely piece of home decor she has artfully created. Don’t forget to go back and see it if you haven’t already.

Don’t you love it when you can find more than one way to use something? I know I do! Previously, I introduced you to the quick and easy Base and Bling products in this post. But did you know you can use them for more than just accessories? Take a peek at this video and see more great ideas. Remember, I ALWAYS show you ideas because it can lead you to think of using things in new ways. This is another one of the the times that what was intended for one thing can lead you to use it in several different ways. I didn’t create this video, but why spend time doing that when I can share this one and I’ll be making something or looking for something else to share with you!

If you see anything for which you want more info, there are links below that will take you to my Close to My Heart online shop,

Here is a quick card made with one of the Base and Bling images. I will probably never use all the images for jewelry, so it’s fun to know they can work on other things! This image came from the Journey Style Sheet and was used with a piece of paper from the Chalk it Up paper pack, Black Shimmer Trim, and an arrow from the Chalk it Up Assortment.

base and bling card

base and bling journey style sheet image on card

Now you’ll want to go over and visit Connie Hanks from Clicky Chick Creates who has created fall banners in preparation for US Thanksgiving next month, but is saying “cheers” to her Canadian friends in celebration of Thanksgiving Day in Canada today! You’ll love her helpful hints regarding creating banners that have a cohesive look with their theme by the papers and textures you select.

See you next time!

Get your digital copy of the annual idea book here:

CTMH annual inspirations 2014-15

Right Click on the image to download your own digital copy of the Annual Inspirations Book.

Cheers to YOUR Artful Adventures,

KS

 

 

Look at all the options for Base and Bling!