Scrapbooking Inspiration

Back when I first started this blog I was a serious scrapbooker, and a lot of what I blogged about was the pages I created for various challenge sites, design teams, etc. I also worked a two different scrapbooking stores since I started this blog. Loved that!! And I had a blast serving on the Scrapbooking from the Inside Out design team for the second half of 2010. I made some of my favorite pages those months. Inside Out’s concept is still dear to my heart: scrapbooking about yourself with a kit created around a theme or emotion each month. If you like to scrapbook, you should check them out. This month is all about communication. Cool, right?

So today, while reminiscing about my scrapbooking days cuz its been so long since I created a page, I thought I might put together a couple of my favorite techniques to use on my pages, just as inspiration… for me to pull out some pictures and paper and start creating again, and for you too.  

Here are 3 of my go-to things I like to use on my scrapbook pages and I’ve used 3 layouts from my Inside Out days as demonstration. First up is a page I created from the “Acceptance” kit.

This kit came with this amazing hexagon die cut paper that had a really cool pattern on the other side. But to me it screamed out “turn me over and cut me into flowers!” So I did!  I always tray to do something a little unexpected if I have a neat or different paper. I like to play with mixing patterns too…usually ones that others would be scared to pair together. I like to think that’s something I’m really good at.

The next page was created using the “Purpose” kit. I pulled this one out of the box and just fell in love with the colors. They were very Shaina!

The kit came with these neat corrugated cardboard arrows to really emphasize the theme that month. Purpose = directionality. So I used them to add visual interest while leading the viewers’ eye through the page from the journaling to the pictures to the quote. It’s a photography trick of leading lines that I find myself using quite often in my scrapbooking too.

This next page was also from the “Purpose” kit, but using lots of layers of vintage ephemera and my last favorite technique (which is actually something I used on all 3 of the pages I shared!).

I do this sooo often, and its probably my favorite way to add journaling to my layouts. Sometimes I computer generate and print off my words, but other times I’ll cut the paper strips and add my own handwriting. You know how much I’m a sucker for handwriting!!

Now that I have my office all set up and organized I hope to start scrapbooking regularly again. I’ve missed it a lot. But going through my archives to find layouts to share for the blog post has really inspired and motivated me again. Perhaps I’ll have some new pages to share soon.

Are you a scrapbooker?
Have you used any of these techniques on your pages?
What is one of your go-to techniques?

Its BLOG HOP time!!

It is the 3rd Anniversary for Scrapbooking from the Inside Out and in honor of that they're having a Blog Hop.  Being on the design team for SFTIO was a highlight of my 2010 and I'm so excited that they've included me in the hop today!

Now if you've arrived at my blog and are just now hearing of today's HOP, please jump back to Melissa's blog. That's stop number one! There are some amazing prizes and giveaways available.  You do not want to miss out!!

In honor of SFTIO, I wanted to share one of my favorite layouts from my term on the design team.  It was from the month of ENLIGHTENMENT.

So maybe you're new to this blog, or Scrapbooking from the Inside Out in general and you're wondering... "what's it all about?"  Scrapbooking from the Inside Out is more than just a kit club.  Their emotion-based kits encourage a deep self exploration with a theme each month that pushes you to scrapbook about yourself and the things that are important to you.  And on the forum you'll find a warm, welcoming community who share daily triumphs and struggles, and scrapbooking challenges that match that month's theme.  And even if you don't have a kit, you can participate and scrap right along with us.  We'd love to have you!

This month's theme is INDEPENDENCE.  Swing by and check out the inspiring layouts and projects created by the current and newly announced Design Team.  They'll also each be sharing a layout in the rest of this hop!

So make sure you keep on HOPING!  Your next stop is Pamela's blog:  HERE.
And keep going till you hit the Scrapbooking from the Inside Out Blog.  There will be lots to see along the way!  Enjoy!

Inside Out

i can't believe how fast the last 6 months went by during which i was honored to be on the design team for Scrapbooking from the Inside Out.  it might sound cliche to say, but i really learned so much about myself with the creation of my pages every month for their themes.  the kits push you to dig deep and create from your heart.  as part of my application for another term on their design team i created a page all about the things i'd learned over the last 6 months.  i didn't make the team, but i wanted to share the page i created.  it makes me smile.

thank you everyone at SFTIO for the opportunity i had and the friendships that i know will continue.  its was an honor. :)

in awe

another word that came to mind when thinking of WONDER for the amazing kit from Scrapbooking from the Inside Out this month was AWE:  -noun: an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, etc., produced by that which is grand, sublime, extremely powerful.  and i immediately wanted to do a page about chris and the love we share.  it is called "in awe of your love" 

it is an honor to be loved by him.  


do you have someone or something you are in AWE of??  come participate with us in our challenges (you've got a few days left in the month!!) or purchase a kit for yourself.  we'd love to see your pages.

im wondering

there are many side and many facets to this word: WONDER.  many meanings and intentions.  for the next layout i'd like to share with you i focused on WONDER as a question.... this layout is about the questions i feel are filling my life right now.

do you have questions without answers in your life right now??  why not join us and scrapbook about them?  feel free to share what you create with us over at our gallery. 
isn't this a gorgeous kit from Scrapbooking from the Inside Out??  i sure think so. :) 

gotta love a good quote

in searching for themes for my WONDER pages for this month, i came across this thought-provoking quote from e.e.cummings and i just knew it was going to be a page.  i had fun playing with the Liquid Pearls on this page too.  they come with the kit. 

we'd love to have you join us this month and explore the things that make you WONDER.  we've got challenges up early this month too.  hope to see you THERE!! 

my gypsy heart

its monday again, and that means i have another page from the gorgeous WONDER kit from Scrapbooking from the Inside Out.  in doing my searching on this theme i thought about the difference between the word "wonder" and "wander" and was intrigued by home my life embraced both concepts.  and that thought process turned into this page. 

my journaling says:  this gypsy heart of mine yearns to wander...yearns to wonder at the world around me.  i am constantly seeking, always learning and ever on this journey of self-discovery.  

i simply adored the combination of colors in this kit.  the purple and peacock blue together made me swoon.  and flowers and snowflakes together??  who would of thought!!  but this kit works so well together. 

eager to get your hands on it too??  find and purchase your own kit HERE. 
and we have lots of fun things happening over at Scrapbooking from the Inside Out this month, including the announcement of next term's design team.  come join us and take a peek at the new designers. 

WONDER revealed

can you believe its December 1st today??  i sure can't.  i was not nearly through taking pictures in the leaves... oh well.  the month has passed and here we are.
the first means kit reveal time from Scrapbooking from the Inside Out.  this month's theme:  WONDER.  this kit is full of old Hollywood, delicate snowflakes, the perfect teal color and unique bling.  its going to be a fun month sharing what i've created with this gorgeously lush kit.

 here is my first page of the month:  "wonder years"

my journaling says:  i am young.  i am newly married.  i don't have kids yet. i am discovering who i am. i am embracing my creative side.  someday all these things will be drastically changed.  so i will cherish these days while they are here.  making memories.

is this month your turn to purchase and create with one the stunning kits from Scrapbooking from the Inside Out??  head on over to our site to check out all the details.  and join our heart-centered community.  we'd love to have you!

my humanness

are there things about yourself that you've just "come to accept" ??  who says that has to be a bad thing?  that was my inspiration for my last (and favorite) page i created with the ACCEPTANCE kit from Scrapbooking from the Inside Out.  its called "accepting my humanness."

my journaling says:  i am just a human.  i am imperfect, vulnerable and authentic.  i cry at Hallmark commercials.  my naivety is a blessing and a curse.  i love completely.  i laugh with my entire soul.  i drink too much coffee and have an unnatural love of paper.  i have a story to tell.  i am me.

are you ready to scrap about your own humanness?  well, i've got a special deal for you from Scrapbooking from the Inside Out.  As our thanks to you for all your support and business this year, from Thanksgiving Day through Monday, we've got some special cyber weekend offers to share. US and Canada customers will get FREE SHIPPING and shipping to other countries will be reduced by $9.00. And, if you buy 2 or more kits, you'll ALSO get 10% off your order!  for full details go HERE.  and don't forget to sign up for our newsletter too.  you'll get lots of deals and exclusive content in your inbox. 

can you believe its the end of november?  it feels like i was just creating my ACCEPTANCE pages and and now its time to reveal december's kit.  i know i say this every month, but i just LOVE this kit.  come back for the reveal on December 1st.  want a sneak now?  peek HERE.

open your heart

i think a huge factor that comes with ACCEPTANCE of any kind is the opening of one's heart.  it is an integral part of accepting yourself, accepting other and embracing life.  that is where i found my inspiration for my next page im going to share with you.  it was created with November's ACCEPTANCE kit from Scrapooking from the Inside Out.  this kit literally could not get any better.

my journaling says:  2010 has been a year like no other...the reason?  because i have been cognitive of the passage of time; accepting its ebbs and flows.  each week i have captured an image of life and preserved words from my soul.  i have been present in each moment, trying not to forget the present while planning for the future and learning from the past.  2010 has been wholly embraced and it is special because i will always remember.  

how are you embracing life?  is it something you want to work on?  do you have a way you're preserving your thoughts and feelings as time passes??  come scrap about it with us.  we'd love to have you on our forums.  :)

one of my favorite papers from this kit is the BasicGrey Pyrus Honeycomb paper which i used on this layout.  except i flipped it over and turned little bits of it into flowers.  see?  sometimes using papers in an unexpected way can give your layouts that little something special.  do you have a layout where you used a product in an unexpected way??  i'd love to see it! 

i have one more ACCEPTANCE layout to share with you next monday... i can't believe this month is almost gone...

just not right now

there are many aspect to ACCEPTANCE...and a lot of them are explored in our journal prompts found on our industry exclusive Inspiration Page over on our website.  the one that really matches the emotions i've shared in this next page is:

Giving In: What have you experienced that has forced you to give in to life’s twists and turns? Have you faced circumstances outside yourself that have challenged you to accept things that have caused you pain?

 lately it seems my life has been full of twists and turns and things beyond my control.  i chose to focus on just two of those things for my layout:  spencer and our house.

my journaling says:  right now our puppy spencer cannot be with us.  i miss his sweet face and his little puppy sighs so much.  it is hard to accept that right now he isn't part of our lives.  but soon our family will be complete again.  right now we don't have a house to call our own.  we thought that this house was it, but life had other plans.  it is hard to accept that right now we are floating.  but soon i know we will have a home together.  

want more ideas for scrapbooking ACCEPTANCE for yourself?  come peek at our challenges and Inspiration page.  i know i'll want to dig deep with us. 

she knows me

this is my best friend kelly-anne.  and this is a picture i took of her back in june when we were up in Canada for a visit.  i think she is radiant in this photo.  her spirit shines through her eyes.  it is an honor to call her my best friend.  and that is what this page is about.  i found this quote in my searching for our ACCEPTANCE theme this month at Scrapbooking from the Inside Out and knew i wanted to use it on a page about Kelly. 

quote says:  "a friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future and accepts you just the way you are."  

on the tag i wrote a little letter just for her thanking her for the love and support she's given me through the years of our friendship. 

isn't this paper amazing??  i am loving all the doilies popping up all over the scrapbooking world lately and the colors in this one made it stand out to me.  i wanted to make it the feature of the page, and thought it matched my picture soooo well. :)

want to get your hands on this amazing kit?!!  there is plenty of time to buy and participate in our challenges.  and we're having a DESIGN TEAM call going on right now too.  come by our website and check it out!! 

ACCEPTANCE revealed

it is November 1st already (crazy eh?) which means that i have the pleasure of sharing with you the November ACCEPTANCE kit from Scrapbooking from the Inside Out.  It has such yummy patterned papers from Crate Paper, My Mind's Eye, Basic Grey and American Crafts.  these are totally MY kind of colors.  i swooned when i opened this kit.  i loved the bright purple thickers and the die cuts too. 

sometimes i find myself having a hard time with the theme of the month, but for ACCEPTANCE i ended up with too many ideas and not enough paper!  I am so eager to share with you what i've created.  here is my first page:

this page is called "my own terms" and is is about coming to grips with the fact that im getting older now and its "about time" for me to accept and live by my own terms and not any one else's.

my journaling says:  for most of my life i have lived and accepted other people's requirements and terms.  and i was good at it.  i got a 4.0 in school.  i was obedient to my parents, did what was expected of me.  but now that im 24 i need to set my own terms for my life, for my actions, for my motives.  i know i will accomplish my goals because they are on my own terms and i accept.  

feel like creating along with us??  you are more than welcome....

sneak peek

in just 2 days the reveal of november's ACCEPTANCE kit from Scrapbooking from the Inside Out will be here.  im sooo looking forward to sharing these pages.  we would love to have you join the fun over at our forums and participate in all our challenges.

what does ACCEPTANCE mean to you??  can you ACCEPT life how it is or are you eager for change??  how important is other people ACCEPTING you to your life??  there are so many ways this theme could go.

November is going to be a great month!!

purpose: meant to be

here is my last page from this month's PURPOSE kit from Scrapbooking from the Inside Out.  when i thought about my purpose in life i immediately thought of my relationship with chris.  i truly feel that i am meant to be his wife.  and i am so grateful to be his wife.  that is what this page is about.

my journaling says:  chris, you are the man i am meant to spend the rest of my life with.  i feel safe in this world with you by my side.  together we can support each other and fulfill our dreams.  i do believe that we were made for each other.  i love you completely. 

i really love how this page turned out.  i was initially having a harder time with the combination of papers and colors in this kit, but after stepping away from it and then approaching it with a fresh perspective i was able to create some very special layouts to me.  it was such a thought-provoking theme this month.

you can still get in on the action with a PURPOSE kit of your own and participate in our challenges.  make sure to swing by our site. 

my intentions

in·ten·tion
–noun
1.an act or instance of determining mentally upon some action or result.
2.the end or object intended; purpose.
3.intentions,
   a.purpose or attitude toward the effect of one's actions or conduct

what i intend to do... what i purpose to do. 
that is what my next page from this month's PURPOSE kit found at Scrapbooking from the Inside Out. 

thanks for taking a peek at another one of my pages.  i have one more left to share for this month and then we're off on another journey of self-discovery with a new theme next month.  hope you'll join us.

one more time!

im excited to take another quick moment to share that Scrapbooking from the Inside Out is being featured over at Cathy Zielske's blog today with yet another giveaway!! 
2 of our DT's pages are featured using our PURPOSE kit.

its such a pretty kit.  and its been quite a journey with the theme this month.

here is a sample of one of the challenges we have going over on the forum this month:

Meaning: Do you know what your purpose is? Does your work, your family life, your avocation give you a sense of meaning and value? What parts of your life aren’t working, and what could you do to change that? Do you believe that there’s a purpose for your life that was decided for you by a greater force, or do you determine your own meaning? Is there such a thing as ‘mattering’? How would you know if you did matter?  Please create a LO about your purpose and how it is divided between the different parts of your life.  For the design twist, show us the slices of the pie of your time...maybe it's a brownie pan...in any case, break something up that you normally wouldn't!

we would love to have you join us and create with us.  :D

you can win a PURPOSE kit

i am so honored to be a part of the amazing design team over at Scrapbooking from the Inside Out and today we're being featured on, not one, but two manufactures blogs with giveaways on each!!  The kit this month features the Crate Paper Restoration line and Lush from Kaisercraft.

i have already shared my page that has the most Crate Paper on it (those amazing flowers!! yum!) and so today i'd like to share one of my layouts that features one of the beautiful papers from Kaisercraft. this line is flowery and soft and feminine.  it was a pleasure to work with.

my journaling reads:  it is a goal of mine to lead a purposeful life...to dream big and live out loud.  sometimes it gets hard...life can bring me down fast.  but i keep trying.  living life on purpose.

click HERE to leave a comment on Crate Paper's blog.
click HERE to leave a comment on Kaisercraft's blog.
you can win a kit on both!!