Inspiration Elevator | Challenge 14

Welcome to another month of Inspiration Elevator!

You may recall that the purpose of this challenge group is to take our scrapbooking to the next level, to stretch our creative process and to grow as artists by embracing challenges that make us think, work and grow.  You can view all of the challenges on my blog by clicking here, or check out our new Inspiration Elevator blog.

This month's challenge is issued by me! Here's the challenge that I gave to the girls:

"I have all of my parents' photos stored at my place.  Shortly after I began scrapbooking,  my mom and I spent hours removing her photos from those dreadful magnetic albums and documenting dates on the back of them all.  So I will often sift through them and marvel at how much things change - and yet, they also seem to stay the same.

This month, I'd like to challenge you all to create a comparison layout or project - THEN and NOW.  It can be any topic; just document the parallels and differences between an event/person/place from the past and a modern likeness.  REMEMBER TO JOURNAL!! :)

Can't wait to see what you all create!"

Here's my layout:

Supplies:  Bazzill cardstock; KaiserCraft patterned paper; Silhouette Cameo, Arial font, Ampersand, &, and collection by Kolette Hall Studio; Stampin' Up! and miscellaneous buttons; unknown chipboard hearts; Stampin' Up!, American Crafts and Bazzill brads; Karen Foster twine; KI Memories icicle tag; Recollections washi tape.

Sifting through older photos, I came across this photo of Connor, taken when he was about seven months old.  I was struck by the uncanny resemblance to one of Gary's baby photos!  I had always maintained that Connor was "all Puglia", meaning that he looked like my side of the family - full lips, dark brown eyes, olive complexion.  However, these photos prove that there is a little bit of Dad in him too!  The journaling, yet uncomplete, will go on the little washi-taped tags that I made, under the photos, and talk about how they are similar in so many ways, not just physically.

I have noticed a trend in what I like to call "sprinkles" on layouts nowadays and have never tried it - so I dug through my dusty collection of brads and just randomly poked holes in my layout wherever the mood struck!  Eek - nerve wracking!  Not sure if I pulled it off, but I will definitely keep trying this look, as I love the random sprinkles! :)

Please stop by and see what our other designers on this adventure have created:

Lisa Moen
Christa Uttley
Cathy Harper
Lisa Spiegel
Joanne Burton
Laurel Seabrook
Jodi Wilton
Michelle Hernandez
Ann Jobes
Laura Whitaker

Cheers,

P/S:  Don't forget about the other challenges on my blog for a chance to win:

Sketchy Challenge:  June 2013 (deadline June 30/13)
Leave Your Legacy:  Pet Peeves (deadline Aug 31/13)

Photo Booth Fun

If you've never been to ScrapFest, then you've missed the awesome canvas, painted by my friend Karen Ellis, that we use as a backdrop for our photo booth.  It's so much fun to snap a photo and give everyone a memento of their time at ScrapFest.

A few years ago, in Oshawa, Christy Riopel snapped a whole bunch of photos of Tara Thynne, Michelle Galloway and I, trying to get a good one.  I laughed so hard when I uploaded these photos! :)

Supplies used:  FabScraps patterned paper and chipboard (heart scroll, sign); Maya Road chipboard (banners, heart); Unity Stamp Co. stamp (Simple Vintage Box Memory), Stamp-It Australia (Travel Script) and Just Cre8 alpha stamps (Journaling ABC); Ranger Tim Holtz distress ink; DecoArt paint; Ranger Adirondack color wash; EK Success and Kreaxions punches; Basic Grey alpha stickers; Ranger Glossy Accents, Making Memories rhinestone brad; Stockade wooden butterfly; American Crafts pen; Scrapbook Adhesives foam adhesive; unknown half pearls and twine.  Photos by Christy Riopel.

The photos were edited using the B&W conversion and edge burn actions from The Pioneer Woman.  I had them printed as one strip photo, like a photo booth strip and mounted them on dimensional foam.  After cutting off the flourishes from the FabScraps chipboard piece, I painted them and stamped with a contrasting ink colour.  

The flowers are punched from patterned papers and rounded, using a mouse pad and embossing tool.

The wooden butterfly was also painted and stamped and added to a cluster in the corner of the journaling.

More painting and stamping on the Maya Road banners, then threaded with twine and tied to page.

Have you been to ScrapFest?  Hopefully I will meet some of you at the one in Oshawa in October!

Cheers,

P/S:  Don't forget about the other challenges on my blog for a chance to win:

Sketchy Challenge:  June 2013 (deadline June 30/13)
Leave Your Legacy:  Pet Peeves (deadline Aug 31/13)

Life is Like a Box of Chocolates...

One of the DT assignments for the Summer 2013 issue was to create a layout using "Gumpisms" - that is, pearls of wisdom from the iconic title character from the 1994 blockbuster movie, Forrest Gump.

In researching for this assignment, I came across so many great quotes, and as I listed them, I noticed that they all had an underlying message that could teach a life lesson to my kids.

Here's my layout:

Supplies:  Bazzill cardstock; Canadian Scrapbooker SuperStock; Fancy Pants patterned paper, stickers, transparent owl, felt star and rub-ons; Maya Road sheet bird & ticket; Martha Steward Crafts, EK Success and McGill punches, Martha Stewart Crafts scoring board (for pockets); American Crafts and Lily Bee alpha stickers; Scenic Route, Heidi Swapp and unknown chipboard pieces; 7 Gypsies and Recollections paper/fabric tapes; The Twinery twine, Memento ink; KI Memories acrylic tile; Making Memories metal tag; Stockade wooden dragonfly, Sakura marker; Pea Sarah font; Scrapbook Adhesives tape runner and 3L Dodz; KaiserCraft & Heidi Swapp bling; Imaginisce stamp; miscellaneous buttons.

Whew!  That was quite the supplies list!  There's a lot of detail on this layout - and while it took me longer than originally thought (story of my life!), I am really happy with how this turned out!

I created a grid, using 2.25” squares of patterned paper and leaving spaces for my journaling.  I created library card pocket-styled sleeves and matching cards.  The quotes are printed on the cards, with my handwritten journaling on the back of each.

Each pocket holds a quote from the movie, and my advice to my children, based on the quotes.  And every square has a little bit of happy on it! :)

Quotes and Journaling (in numbered pockets) reads:

1) “Life is like a box of chocolates – you never know what you’re gonna get.”  Life will throw you some curves – take them in stride and do the best with what you have.
2) “Mama always said you’ve got to put the past behind you before you can move on.”  Remember – to err is human; to forgive, divine.  Forgive and move on…
3) “Mama always had a way of explaining things so I could understand them.”  Be simple.  Don’t overcomplicate things.  Explain it to me like I’m a child, but listen to me like you’re an adult…
4) “If I’d a known that was the last time I was gonna talk to Bubba, I would have thought of something better to say.”  It’s important to tell people how you feel.  Life is too short to be wasted and it’s important to make each moment count.  Live life like it’s your last day – enjoy it completely.
5) “Run, Forrest!  Run!”  Those you love (and who love you) will tell your strengths.  Listen… and use them to your advantage.
6) “Stupid is as stupid does.”  You’re smart enough to know right from wrong.  Just remember that actions speak louder than words.

Cheers,

P/S:  Don't forget about the other challenges on my blog for a chance to win:

Sketchy Challenge:  May 2013 (deadline May 31/13)
Leave Your Legacy:  Pet Peeves (deadline Aug 31/13)

For Sale - Just Cre8 Stamps

My studio has been completed for less than a year and I'm already running out of room!  I also still have Just Cre8 stamps left over after we closed down the business website.

I've started a FOR SALE page that will list all items for sale, with links to posts such as this one.  For each item, I will list the name of the product, its' state (new in packaging, gently loved, etc...) and the price.  Actual shipping charges not included in prices listed.  Most stamp sets will ship in an envelope for less than a few bucks, depending on where you are - and how many you order, of course!

Please email me with your item list and mailing address and I will reply with the total amount, including shipping.  PayPal, cash, email transfers or Cdn/US money orders only, please.

Just Cre8 clear* stamps - ALL NEW IN PACKAGING

Backgrounds:
Sheet size approx. 4" x 6"(10cm x 15cm)

GRIDLOCKED  $5.00		EN FRANCAIS  $5.00

GRIDIRON  $5.00		HELD ACCOUNTABLE  $5.00

JOURNALINES  $5.00		WORN OUT JOURNALINES  $5.00

MERRY-GO-ROUND AND ROUND  $5.00		NOTEBOOK PAPER  $5.00

GOING DOTTY $5.00		GOING DOTTY BIG TIME  $5.00

ALPHABETS:
Sheet size approx. 4" x 6"(10cm x 15cm)

SCRATCHED TAILG8  $5.00		HAPPY GO LUCKY  $5.00

CLASSIC LOWERCASE  $5.00		SILVER GUPPY  $5.00

DISTRESSED OUT  $5.00		SILHOUETTE  $5.00

ME AND MY SHADOW  $5.00		HAPPY  $5.00

IMAGES:
Sheet size approx. 4" x 6"(10cm x 15cm)

LOVE GIVES YOU WINGS  $5.00		AILI'S GARDEN  $5.00

HANG A SHINGLE  $5.00		WHAT'S YOUR POINT?  $5.00

TINY BUBBLES  $5.00		IT'S A DATE  $5.00

PRICELESS  $5.00		WRITE ON!  $5.00

CALL THE OFFICE  $5.00		ORNAMENTALS  $5.00

STARS & SNOWFLAKES  $5.00		MERRY AND BRIGHT  $5.00

SWIRLY WHIRLS $5.00		TINY DANCER $5.00

SUMMER FUN $5.00		TIME OUT $5.00

HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW?  $5.00		FLOAT LIKE A BUTTERFLY  $5.00

BUILD YOUR OWN BORDER $5.00	DESIGNER LABELS  $5.00

GEARS TO YOU  $5.00		POETRY IN MOTION  $5.00

CRE8IVE FLOWERS  $5.00		IN A ROUNDABOUT WAY  $5.00

FLORAL FLOURISHES  $5.00		A TREE FOR ALL SEASONS  $5.00

WROUGHT IRONED  $5.00

LARGE STAMP SETS:
Sheet size approx 8"x10" (20cm x 25cm)

GINA'S GARDEN  $12.00	TAILG8  $12.00

* The company which manufactured these stamps for me is no longer on the internet so I am unable to confirm if these stamps are created from photopolymer or acrylic materials.  I will say that I have never had a problem with yellowing and they ink up well.  With proper inking and by using standard stamping techniques (no rocking or sliding), they have provided sharp, clear stamped images.  Hope that helps - if you have additional questions, please email me!