What a difference a decade makes.

Ten years. One decade. More than fifty albums. Over two thousand layouts. And still counting.

This summer marks the 10 year anniversary of when I said I was going to make AN album.

Having always been one to flit around through different crafting capabilities, no one could have foreseen how big a role scrapping would play in our lives. Or how much money it would consume. Besides scrapping supplies, there is furniture, lighting, paint, cameras, printers, and let's not forget retreats. I am fond of the quote, "Most of my money is spent on scrap supplies and good wine. The rest is just wasted."

Around the five year mark, darling daughter commented to me that I had not, as I would normally do, moved on to something else. She was surprised I was still doing this. "So am I." I replied. "So am I."

It is interesting to note how this discipline slowly reveals your inner self. One small layer at a time is pulled back and every once in a while you get a glimpse or insight to what really makes you tick.

Lately I am wondering about "to what end do I do this?" I like to play with paper and make a page that supports the photo. Sometime taking a rather dodgy shot and turning it into something quite special. As I keep doing it, the layouts pile up, the albums fill the shelves. I wonder, how many albums is enough? How many is too much?

When I started, I used to have  six or eight ideas each day. Now I have a couple of ideas a month. Am I moving towards the end of my love affair with scrapping?

Recently I came to the conclusion that I really like to collect paper and alphabets. And the rest I can pretty well live without. Had I figured this out sooner, we might have save hundreds or even thousands on such peripherals as cricuts and copics and way too many embellishments.

I have to thank Counterfeit Kit Challenge blog and the master forgers for the help they have been over the past three years. As I move into my second decade of this craft, I hope they will continue to be there to assist me with inspiration and motivation. I have come a long way. Yet I have so much further to go.

A layout from 2008,

and a more current layout.

Thanks for stopping by. Double thanks for comments.

A Pirate's life for me.

Or perhaps not. But a couple of days spent at a nice hotel with fresh towels and bed made daily, and excellent water pressure, (not so excellent water pressure, here on the farm) has got me yearning for a more leisurely lifestyle.  

When last I was here, we were getting ready for the Rochester Fair.  I pulled together this layout and entered it in the bench show. The judge must have liked it as I got 10 out of 10 possible points.

It is about the bike float we built for last year's parade. The theme for the fair was Pirates of the Tawatinaw River


 This year, being Rochester's centennial, there were lots of heritage displays. I set up a scrapbook demonstration and showed some vintage scrapbooks. They are in the old school style of newspaper clippings glued with mucilage into scribbler books, also made of newsprint. Deteriorating rapidly, but of infinite interest, they are a good example of why you want to use archival quality products whenever possible.

Was feeling stalled and having trouble with the patterned papers in my "Around the Block" kit as they are too happy and cheerful for pirates, so I took a few rugged, masculine looking prints along to help get the mojo to flow while demonstrating, and I made this layout.

The day after the fair, I was off to visit Mr. Muddle as he is working way too much and has very little time off. Easier for me to go to him than for him to travel home and back, in such a short time period. So whilst there, why not stay another day or two and scrap awhile?

 Oh darn, there's that problem again with the pp not working with my pirate pictures. What was really needed was treasure map paper. And since the nearest LLS is about 500 miles from the hotel, shopping was not the answer so I googled images and got inspired.

When I returned home, I got to have grandson, Cohen and little sister Beckyboo for two nights. Cohen has a passion for mazes. He had big eyes and an ear to ear grin, checking out these pages. I bet the next maze he draws will be a treasure map.

After showing him these rather cool pages that feature his pirate adventure, he was pleasantly cooperative when later, I turned popsicle time into a photo shoot.

Now lets see how the CKC kit "Around the Block" and addition kit "Best of Show" are doing. Hmmm... very little of the patterened papers made it into the layouts, they are still relatively intact. A goodly amount of the embellishments were incorporated. Also a little paint was dabbed on while using the mesh as a mask and two banners, and a rosette were fashioned from scratch. Pirate and skull related stickers and rub-ons and a stamp joined in, just for this featured event. One piece of pp was brought into the line up (Harlequin, Kimberly Poloson, Fiskars) and all the designated cardstock has been used. The photos from this event are now on pages and in an album, and that's a good thing!

After a replenishment of cardstock and a fresh stack of photos is gathered, I will be back with new layouts when we come "Around the Block" again!

Around the Block, August CKC

Wowzers! It’s a week into August already. This has been/is the best summer ever for me. Not only have I had time to spend on scrapbooking, sewing, and gardening, (my three reasons to get up in the morning) but also major projects in the yard and garden have come a long way. The tractor has harrows and a cultivator so now it is getting the weeds under control. The garden house is now dressed for a party, and the big fountain that I had been admiring for about four years was marked down to a price I could justify spending. It is a couple of weeks early but the anniversary gift/garden bench has arrived. Scads of perennials and annuals, and shrubs, and trees have been planted and are flourishing due to the most beautiful Alberta summer in my memory. 

Later this month we will spend a few days in Jasper National Park and in September, we will plant the fruit trees that were picked out last weekend.

But this week, it is time for the Counterfeit Kit Challenge. As the remainder of this blog details paper craft products, sheety friends are excused to go visit the more fabric oriented blogs.   This month the kit to copy is Summer Lovin’ from Scraporchard. Com

Colour pallet

The kit to copy

 

This weekend is the Rochester and District Agricultural Fair. The hamlet of Rochester is celebrating its centennial year. We like to participate in the parade, the bench show and the children’s activities. The parade is a hoot. Candy being thrown from tractors and wagons, quads and bicycles.  And the real quirky thing about it is that it circles around the block. So if you are sitting on the main street, you get to view it twice! With a nod to all the good people that make up the agricultural society and the work they do, I am calling this kit "Around the Block!"

Around the Block! Patterned Paper

 

I have been collecting paper for over six years. So sometime I know I have a piece just like the one in the kit. Finding it though, can be a test of determination. But I don’t mind the hunt. It get me reacquainted with so many lovely patterned papers and refreshes my memory as to what I have so that, perhaps next time, the matching process will be a bit faster. 

 

My twelve sheets of patterned paper, (as far as I can determine) are:

1 Red gingham, Checkered Tablecloth, Karen Foster Designs

2 Blue floral, uk (unknown)

3 Yellow hex, uk

4 Wide multi stripe with paisley background, uk

5 Solid taupe, uk

6 Multi confetti, uk

7 Green ledger, Fabric Store, Echo Park

8 Narrow multi stripe, uk

9 Light blue with sunglasses background, uk

10 Multi mini floral, uk

11 Dark denim, uk

12 Burlap photo, uk 

Many of these papers are from the start of my scrapping days. Back then I bought a whole wack of paper through ebay. I think most of it was Making Memories. It is a good thing when the manufacturer prints on the back or adds a strip with the design info. 

A few points in comparing my selection to the sample kit:

There is very little in the realm of the ever summery, gingham in my pp. (Make note for future acquisitions)

In the sample kit, #6 is a floral and #10 is a small confetti type of dot. I switched the patterns to better match the colour and energy of the example.

It was determined last month, during my first CKC, that I have no chevron pp. So #8 is a stripe. I’m thinking of it as a chevron that had a hot date with the ironing board.

#12 Having no wood grain photo paper, I subbed in the burlap photo paper that has the same tone. It would not be too hard to take a picture of some interesting wood and print it out but the idea for me at this time is to get my current stash onto pages. 

Then the fun stuff!

Kit to copy

 The example photo is such a hot mess, it is hard to figure out, item to item, the best matches so I worked from the list.

Around the Block! Embellies and Cardstock

First of all, the felt items. I was stumped on the bicycle, wagon and fruits. Not only do I not have these sorts of things in felt, I don’t have any ideas on how to use these items on pages. I subbed in felt flower boarders from Queen and Co. These were acquired at 70% off at a sidewalk sale that I happened upon during a holiday trip. This was back in my very early scrapping days. Can you imagine my delight? That day I bought EVERYTHING that I could lay my hands on. 

I do have some stickers of strawberries (Francis Mayer) and a bicycle (Sandy Lion), which I will try to incorporate but may just be put back in the drawers when done.

Banner. To be made (tbm). Over and over again. Made my first ones, in fabric and in paper, last month. Now I can’t get enough. Great tutorial on banners from product packaging here. 

Bookplates. Pack of six label holders by Heidi Snapp. They will probably have a makeover with a paintbrush.

Brads in two sizes and 6 colours, to affix the fore mentioned bookplates.

Buttons in four colours. A pill box of each.

Bottle caps, three. I really don’t know what to do with these. 

Clips, four. One plastic and three metal. 

Clouds, tbm.

Flags, three.

Flowers, a handful of Prima Marketing plus a few in fabric and some mini paper ones that need a home.

Old frame, 7 Gypsies overlay.

Paper frames, My Mind’s Eye and Hallmark.

Leaves, two, Making Memories.

Staples, copper and patterned, EK Success.

Stitched boarder and stitches, Rub-ons, Play Borders, by Daisy Bucket and Bella Journee, by Bo Bunny.

Ribbons/trims 6 assorted lengths.

Strings, four bakers twine, four paper floss by Karen Foster.

Tickets, three from 50/50 draws, and one by Tim Holtz.

Watercolour and grass scatters, tbm.

Paper border, a whole page full! June Bug, Basic Grey.

Denim Pocket, Hot Off the Press.

Label, rub-on, Bella Journee, Bo Bunny.

Rosettes, one. That’s all I have in my stash. Might have to try making some.

Tags, three, Making Memories.

Alphas, Going to use up some chip alphas I purchased way back at the beginning. I think they were Basic Grey. Will use paint to coordinate them. 

While pulling the elements together, of course there were a few that didn’t make the cut but I just gotta have them in here. This makes an add-on kit essential. To honour the bench show, which my family and I always participate in and have won many awards at, I am calling it “Best of Show”

Dream Street Papers, Everyday Celebrations, Creative Cuts. Lots of nifty words/phrases and a few borders. Nice mini floral on the backside too.

Yellow gingham, Apron Strings, Echo Park. The only true gingham pp I could round up.

Mulit graphic/floral, uk. 

Kraft glassine, Tim Holtz.

Ribbon photo corners, Martha Stewart.

Square die cut, TLC. 

Navy coragated, uk.

Die-cut Journal Spot, uk.

Glass drops, uk.

Swirly stickers, uk.

These last few items are truly odds and ends. Will feel very good to work them into the pages.

And the white ribbon with the holes punched in it, reminds me of Magic Mesh. It should make a neat-o mask. Looks like the featured (messy) technique for this kit will be paint.

So it all got tossed into a sweet little basket that helps set the mood. And I am off to the fair!

Thanks for stopping by. Double thanks for comments.

Flower power

Summer heat wave has broke and I am back in the garden. While the temperatures were setting new record highs, I restricted my gardening to keeping the flowers watered. And now I am rewarded with beautiful photo ops. 

 

Wish you could smell that last one.It is a mock orange.

Still finding time to scrapbook. Using CKC kit A Bird in the Hand.

Rain in the forecast. This is a good thing. My rain barrels are getting rather low.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

A Bird in the Hand

My experience with the Counterfeit Kit Challenge was so positive, I couldn't wait a month for the next one. Going back in their blog I found new inspiration with the April 2012 challenge.  It is from Kits de Somni and the inspiration kit is in a newsletter (PDF). The fact that it is not in English stumped me a bit, because I couldn't just read down the list and pull the best match from my stash. So I printed out the pages I was trying to counterfeit from and just checked off the picture of  each patterned paper and element as I compiled the kit.

And so may I present, "A Bird in the Hand"

17 pieces of patterned paper, ten of which are double sided.
One off cut (bottom row, first on right.)
Thickers, Lullaby
Basic Grey, chip stickers and bloomers
Prima flowers
Daisy bucket rub-ons
Mini tags, American Crafts
Draw tickets that didn't win anything and  3 die cut tags I made about five years ago.
Assortment of ribbons and buttons, antique book pages, and paper doilies.

And to encourage me to do some "technique" stuff, manila tags and a Heidi Snapp mini mask

In an effort to clean up the workspace,  I tossed a few items in a basket. The goal is to use it or loose it. This "last chance"  kit addition includes:
Some chip titles
Set of chipboard alphas that are  mostly used up
A denim pocket from Hot of the Press
Four die-cuts that I don't know what to do with
Four fabric and button flowers I made a couple of weeks ago
A few pieces of interesting packaging.

Cardstock will be added as needed. Also twine, more buttons, glimmer mist, inks, etcetera. Hmmmm.....now which photo shall I begin with?

Counterfeit Kit Add-on

While doing the Counterfeit Kit blog hop today, I learnt a couple of things.

1. You get to name your kit.
2. If you want more in your kit, create an "add-on."

And so, I christen my first kit, which you can see in yesterday's blog, A Summer's Breese.

And my add on begins with:

Cardstock, 2 sheets each
Cream, CTMH
Blue, CTMH
Patterned paper, 4 sheets of a grungy turquiose. This paper is from the big bag of 300 sheets that was at Costco about three years ago. It is really heavy; almost cardstock. I think it was made by K and Company.
Alpha stickers, Delight, Creative Memories
Chipboard word stickers, Making Memories
Ribbon, Welcoming, American Crafts
Florish die-cut, uk
Journaling die-cuts, Scenic Route

And then, I added all my fabric flower collection: bloomers by Basic Grey.

As you can see by the volume of these delicious posies, I Love, LOVE, LOVE, these. And they all coordinate soooooo well with the pp in my kit. You will be seeing a lot of these on the next series of pages, I am sure.

Thanks for stopping by and as always, your comments are truly appreciated.

Counterfiet Kit Challenge July 2012

I have lurked around the Counterfeit Kit  site, long enough. Time to get in on the fun.

Put together a kit this morning using the photos and the list at Citrus Twist to match their June kit from my existing stash. Sometimes I was bang on. Sometimes I matched the colour; sometimes the energy. Spent over 45 minutes trying to find one piece of paper that I know I have that would be perfect. Alas, either my organization or my memory is failing me.

My Kit includes:
Blue textured cardstock, uk (unknown)
Green textured cardstock, Bazzill
White smooth cardstock, Creative Memories
Turquoise smooth cardstock, CTMH (Close to my heart)
Neutral print paper, uk
Blue wave print, Colorbok
Pink floral print, Basic Grey
Yellow pattern paper, uk
Red pattern paper, uk
Multi colour floral paper, uk
Multi colour plaid paper, uk
Pink wood pattern paper, uk
Mini Alpha Stamps, Addison Hill / Taffy Ink, CTMH
(these two items are to replace the mini alpha stickers as I don't have anything like theirs in my stash)
Vinyl Alphas, Sprinkles, Thickers, American Crafts
Chalk Ink, Lettuce, Colorbox
Dimensional word stickers, Kurio, K & Company

15 assorted buttons from "Gramma's Stash"
Yellow boot lace, found item
Light green embroidery floss, "Gramma's Stash"
Stamps, My Sunshine, See D's, Inque Boutique
Paper flower, Bazzill
6 antique buttons from "Gramma's Stash"
3 chipboard flowers, uk
3 speech balloons, Buzz and Bloom
Vintage book page, Reader's Digest
Antique white handmade paper, as I don't have any scraps of linen.

This is a great approach to get you looking at your supplies with a fresh perspective. Some of these are partly used. Some, like the stamps are years old and never been used. By assembling a kit  I hope to get these items onto pages and into albums. Investing the time, up front, to choose the coordinates, should improve page production time. CK gives challenges and tutorials through the month using the current kit, I will try my hand at them and post results here.