Meet Me In The Sunshine

In case you haven't noticed I have been going through and scrapping a lot of my childhood photos. This one here is of me and my parents (see those two in the background laying on the bench) at Walt Disney World a whooping 15 yrs. ago. It really does not seem like it was that long ago. I used mostly Amy Tangerine's Ready Set Go line for this one with a few touches of Sketchbook. 

The letters down the side are from Echo Parks Sweet Day line and the Pink Alphas are October Afternoon Mini Market Alphas.

My albums are the furthest thing from cohesive. This layout goes right in front of the Tea for Two layout from my last post-Then and Now.  The vellum hearts from that line really didn't catch my eye when I first saw them but after seeing them in real life and not through a computer screen I find them quite appealing.

I really liked this sticker. It was the only thing that I knew I wanted to put on this layout from the beginning.

So that is it. Now if I could only get the 500 other pictures from my childhood done I would be in good shape.

In Other News:

This past weekend was my Mother-In-Laws 55th birthday. We went, We ate..I took to few pictures. (I always do) 

Happy B-Day Robbin!!

I did manage to get a picture of my husband, his brother and their Pepa together right before we left.

Left to Right-My Brother in Law Micheal, My Hubby and their Pepa Jack

And the most exciting news--I finally got a place to put my scrap stuff. It's not a room and it is still in my living room but it is soo much better than shoe boxes!!! More on that to come later this week.

Have a Crafty Friday-

~Ashley Crafty~

Bright Sunshiney Day

It's gonna be a bright, bright, bright sunshiny day. I need some little music note emoticons. This page was created for the Scrap Your Stash Challenge over at Two Peas in a Bucket. If you haven't checked them out yet you should. (The link is above) Every year one of their free classes gets me and this year it's Scrap Your Stash. (Not that i have much of a "Stash" to scrap) 

Last Thursdays Video was all about using your stamps on a layout. I am not a big stamper, mainly because stamps intimidate me. I can never get a good impression OR once I put it on it doesn't look right. Unfortunately ink is permanent and once it is there...It's There! So, I took a step outside of my comfort zone and gave it a try. Lilith Eeckels...You really got me going and I have to say I am happy with the results.

Sorry for the dim photos but it had started getting cloudy.

That "Summer" banner you see there under the flower is a Pink Paislee Stamp, Stamped onto Vellum and then stapled to some card stock that I Printed a chevron pattern onto. It is actually a bit brighter in person but the wind was blowing and it would not stay down.

 So the hearts all around the page were stamped using a reverse mask. I simply cut my shape out of a piece of scrap paper and then taped it to the page with washi tape so that it wouldn't slide around and then stamped through it. All of the hearts were done with the same stamp I just moved it around a bit so that the pattern wouldn't be the same.

For the rest there is: Dear Lizzy 5th and Frolic, Amy Tangerine Sketchbook, October Afternoon Mini Market Alphas, Basic Grey Fact or Fiction Snippets and a Smash Journal Tag.

In Other News:

It was 60 degrees and sunny last Friday and it snowed Saturday. Granted it wasn't a lot of snow and it was gone in like 3 hrs but man did it leave us soggy!! Chloe did not like the snow...nope...not one bit!!! As evidenced by these next pictures. 

Mad because it was wet and she wanted in the front door.

 And nervous on the car ride because she didn't know what was going on when I let her stick her head out the window.

Let me know what you think. Do you like to stamp on your layouts? Have you ever tried stamping on vellum? Have you been inspired by a video on 2 peas lately? Let me know in the comments below. I love comments. 

~Ashley Crafty~

Then and Now

THEN

Yesterday I sat down with one of my oldest scrapbooks and flipped through a couple of pages. I guess everyone has to start somewhere. I started with one of those "1,000 pcs!!" kits that they sell at Wal-Mart shortly after I found my first LSS (Local Scrapbook Store).I bought a few items and a pair of decorative scissors and I sat down to record history, My history. 

Those first few pages are not what I would call my "best work". Far from it actually and even though I am one of those people who will take the photos off of a layout and re-do it I just can't seem to do that to those first pages. Today I took one of them outside with me while I was photographing my latest layouts and took a picture. 

My husband in in his chubbiest of times. SHH!! Don't tell him, he hates that picture.

So, what do we have here. A very lopsided decorative circle in the corner with some vellum stickers and silver flourishes. A glassine type envelope with a quote on it. Very crooked plastic letter stickers and My handwriting because I ran out of letters. Oh yeah, Those squares on the side over there, Mirrored Mosaic Tiles...I don't even know where those came from. So despite my tendency to tear my pages apart and start from scratch this page will remain safely hidden safe.

NOW

Now, onto things of a more current nature. I have gotten Three layouts done in four days. I know, Right!?! That's Crazy for Me. This one here is one of me and Jack last summer while we were walking Chloe. (You can find her (Chloe) about two posts back, if you want to know her story.) So I started with a little inspiration in the form of this Layout by Marcy Penner.

And then I jumped in with both feet. I am still getting the hang of mists. Can't seem to make them look right but still use them all the time. Before I go through all the details, I guess I can show you the layout. ;)

Yes, Those are Jesus Jones Lyrics for the title!!                                 

So, I used some Amy Tangerine Sketchbook Thickers, Some paper from a Basic Grey that I have had for at least two years, October Afternoon Mini Market Alpha and a Mistable Camera sent to me in a swap from Ising.

The little green strip on the side is from a SMASH Pad.
It says Coolness Rating 1-10.

I tried to keep the same photo grid concept that Marcy used in her layout. I also added the heart tag in the corner so that the page wouldn't seem so blank. I wish I could have found some washi in one of the greens or close so that I could have added a border around the page *(top and bottom).

Stamping under the tag at the top made me realize that I need some new ink. Something that will leave a sharp image. I think someone said Versa Mark was good for leaving a crisp image. I am going to be sad when I run out of those Thickers. I think they are my favorite alpha EVER!!! 

Have you kept any of your first pages? Do you still have any of those old supplies in you "Scrap Pantry"? Do you know of an Ink that leaves a crisp clear image?
Leave me a comment below. 

Thats all for today Folks, and I hope you will tune in next week for the newest edition of Paper for People. ::Smile:: 

~Ashley Crafty~

Found On Etsy

Etsy is a wonderful marketplace full of people with amazing talents. Every week I will seek out some of the best and brightest stars on Etsy and ask a few questions. This week I spoke to Veronica Johnson of Kits n Bit Scraps. Her shop is full of amazing paper crafts and her mini-albums....WOW!

What wonderful imagery.

A Quick Q&A with Veronica of Kits n bit Scraps.

Q) Tell us about yourself and how you got started on Etsy? 
A) I met my husband 21 years ago and have been happily marries for 16 years. I have a beautiful and very kind daughter and feel so blessed to have such a wonderful daughter and husband. I started back on Etsy in 2008, but really only got serious about it in 2011. I was born a crafter and started drawing as a small child. My mother taught me to love making things with my hands. Creating and designing is what keeps me sane, that and strong Coffee.


Q) Where do you find your inspiration?
A) My main inspiration and the base of all my designs come from color. I always start with color and then move on to pattern. 

Q) Your mini albums are so beautiful and Intricate. Do you gather your supplies into a kit first or do you pull from your stash as you go?
A) I always start gathering my supplies so that I have everything around me to pick from. Sometimes during the process I will add more embellishments or an accent color. 

A Thank You Card with Stamped and Colored image on the front. A wonderful example of adding a accent color to make it stand out.

Q) I notice machine stitching on some of your pieces, Do you sew as well?
A) I do sew. My mother taught me and my twin sisters to sew, embroider, knit and cross stitch. I am always incorporating one of those crafts into my scrapbooking. Sometimes I will even hand-draw and paper piece an embellishment to add a bit of whimsy to my albums.


Q) Do you have any advise to those new to scrapbooking?
A) Yes, Have Fun! Start with 1 base color and 1 base element and sprinkle it throughout your album. That will add unity and pull your album together. 

The cover of KitsnBitscraps Travel Album and two inside pages. What wonderful attention to detail. It makes me want to go somewhere so that I will have pictures to put in it.

Q) What does your craft space typically look like?
A) I have a studio which 95% of the time I have to just shut the door. My work space and the floor around me is usually messy until my project is done. Then I have to clean up or I can't think of a new project until I have a clean space. I need a blank workspace before I can start gathering supplies for a new project.

Q) Do you have any quirky items or sentimental pieces in your studio?
A) I do have bits of inspiration on my walls for instance, I have the word IMAGINE on my shelf and I have a wreath made of buttons from mine and my daughters clothes that my mom made for us. My mother loved buttons and I do too!

Q) What is your favorite Scrapbooking Technique? 
A) My favorite techniques are distressing and inking the edges of my pages. I also love to sew on my pages.   

A12x12 Premade summer layout. She used several techniques to make this page. Paper form the Trinity Paper Arts Collection. Page tearing and handmade bunting really make this layout stand out.  

Q) What's your favorite Paper Company or Paper Line? A) Every year I am amazed by all the beautiful paper that the manufacturers put out. I do find myself working alot with Little Yellow Bicycle, My Minds Eye and Crate Paper. 

Q) If you had to pick one item from your shop as your favorite what would it be? 
A) Wow, That is a difficult question because I like different ones for different reasons. I guess if i had to pick from what is in the shop today it would be the "Summer Album" with the cute birdhouse. 

Q) Who do you think next weeks "find" should be? 
A) Just In Time -OR- Brown Paper Packaging 

Thank you so much for talking with me Veronica. Your Creations are truly One-Of-A-Kind. Great advise for all the new scrapbookers out there. Take a look at her shop or stop by her blog @ www.kitsnbits.blogspot.com. She is offering a special for all you readers out there-Use Coupon Code-TKU10PER2012 for 10% off her amazing creations. 


What do you think of this weeks "Found On Etsy". Do you know a shop that you think should be featured? Drop me a line in the box below.

Once upon an Embellishment...

An embellishment is defined as an ornament or decoration. That doesn't say much, however in 

crafts an Embellishment is anything used to add design interest to a piece. I like that definition - 

I find that some basic design principles apply when embellishing your "piece".

Here are a couple of those principles:

The first I want to talk about is "Grounding". This term is used primarily in sketching or drawing. In scrapbooking it refers to using embellishments (be it a strip of paper or paper flowers) along the bottom of your project. This will effectively draw your eye down allowing you to sweep the entire page.

The second is know as the "Visual Triangle". When applied to scrapbooking you want to draw a triangle across your page. (invisible triangle, don't go doodling triangle on all your pages) Where the points come together place small groupings. Place your photos or journaling inside these points. Surrounding your photos with groupings of embellishments will help draw the eye to the most important part of your page....The Memories. 


Some of my favorite paper companies have come out with some really awesome embellishments that are great for layering. Check them out.

These Tin Pins from the Woodland Park Collection by October Afternoon are great when used over stitching or in a cluster with buttons or flowers.

Next is of course Washi Tape. This beautiful washi tape from My Minds Eye. Tear it to different lengths place it along the edge of your page and add paper flowers to the end . Done across the bottom of a layout is a great way to ground your pages.

And last but not least Jillibean Soup's Wooden Flags. Great to use sticking out of a grouping or photo. Or string some twine through the eyelet for a Title.

So, What do you think? Have you used these principles or are you going to try them? What do you think about these new products? We would love to hear from you.
Ashley