Scrapburbia

Same, Only Different.

I suppose the term "Same, Only Different." is being used quite loosely here. The idea was to use arrows.. which I did, but then I took it over the top. (The second layout is the original that I used as inspiration) I cut all of the shapes free-hand, well I drew some of them first, but they aren't die cuts. I tend to do that quite a bit... I could probably get by quite happily with just my basic tools, alphabet stickers, a black pen and pattern paper. In fact I might do without alphabet stickers in order to have solid cardstock instead.

If you had to reduce your stash to just 3 types of items, not including basic supplies like a trimmer, scissors and adhesive... what would they be?

The New Basic Grey Green at Heart Collection has arrived at Two Peas.

Sand in my pants!

I mentioned last week that I did 2 layouts with Crate Paper chipboard embellishments... but only showed you one... here's the other...

And... because it helps to see them together, here's the first...

If you'd like to see the sketch again you can check it out here. I also did this layout at the same time, can you see the similarities? 

Are those birds not the cutest! I feel like I stretched out of my "comes naturally comfort zone" and really liked the result. I love both of these layouts... the colors are warm and colorful and there are lots of little details (like the scalloped grass!)

After doing these I decided that when I am out shopping, I need to look more closely at embellishments NOT JUST PAPER! Which is tough! I am a full blown paper-addict... I admit it! These little chipboard goodies came in a kit... and thank goodness they did because I probably wouldn't have picked them up otherwise. Not because I don't love them...they are super cute... but embellishments can be a little intimidating. 

Wow, that was like therapy... I didn't realize I felt that way. I thought maybe it was because I'm just cheap, but NO ONE would ever call me that, and besides I have WAY TOO MUCH paper to get away with an excuse like that. 

SO... from now on when browsing a scrapbook store I am going to make sure I make myself choose more embellishments over paper. After all... I have enough paper to last three lifetimes!

(as a side note, I've noticed that my local LSS doesn't always carry matching embellishments... maybe they've quick bringing them in because I'm not the only that is too chicken to pick them up?)

 

Arrrggg... It be Digital Monday Matey!

Alright, time for a little technical talk here, see the small green stripes? The paper I used actually had a white background but I used my blending layers to change it up a little, and make it blend with the background. Your BLENDING MODES are found here, on the layers palette...

 

Oooh, see there's the paper with a white background.  If you've never played with blending modes, try this: Open two "pattern papers" (make sure they have different colors and/or patterns), drag one over to the other so they are on the same file. With the top layer selected, scroll through the blending modes... 

Cool huh?

There really is no rhyme or reason to what they do, and different colors together can do some crazy things. For instance, check out the Scenic Route Home Page, lots of blending modes there! 

Alright... on with the layout...

 

I realize now that I am seeing the sketch, it really looks a lot more complicated than it is, so i made another without all the froo-froo stuff... (FYI, all the froo-froo stuff is by Sande Krieger, found at  Two Peas In A Bucket.)

Aaah, there... that makes a little more sense. I modified a sketch from a class I taught last year at conventions, called "Mix it up, Boy," it's a traditional layout using all Scenic Route of course.

This can be a pretty quick layout... two 6"x12" strips of coordinating patterns and two 1"x12" matching stripes and voilà... ta-done!

Have a lovely Monday!

Sarah

Same... Only Different.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETIE-PEA!!

Today, my bestest girl Amelia is turning 11!

 

AND, in other (though less exciting) news... here are todays layouts!

 

I ran across the first layout as I was flipping through my albums... it's a little dated, at least it is to me, but I still really liked the layout so I "lifted" it from myself!

The little chipboard bits on the second layout are from Crate Paper... and I liked them so much I did another layout right away with them (of course you'll have to wait to see that one!)

You may have noticed my wonky scallops, and that my friends, is because I apparently can not be bothered with scalloped scissors (or, they just don't come in that size...take your pick.) But I like them that way. I for the most part am a free hand cutter, sometimes I'll draw first... but I don't have a die-cut machine...YET!

Sunshine and polka dots

This layout was me trying to figure out how to get all the pattern papers on the layout because I LOVED them all together... without overwhelming the pictures. PLUS... I got to use those super cute Making Memories Polka Dot stickers! It's a little brighter than usual for me... but I love it none the less!

I have been having so much fun scrapping all of our San Diego road trip vacation pictures from 2008! Rather than go to theme parks and big attractions, once a year we jump in the car and drive... No plans, no hotel reservations, usually toward the Pacific Ocean. Our kids haven't been to a Disney Theme Park (yet), Sea World, or a Six Flags. We'll go eventually, but for now we love hitting the open road.

We've seen almost the entire west coast, except for a small piece between L.A. and Big Sur. We found all of the lighthouses between Newport, Oregon and San Francisco Bay, stopping at tide pools and Fish 'n Chip shops along the way. We found sun ripened peaches right off the tree at a fruit stand in who-knows-where. Certainly some of my favorite memories are on these road trips, and I am crossing my fingers that my kids will feel the same way. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from our 2006 trip from Salt Lake City to Newport Oregon, down the coast to San Francisco and back home.

Oooh, I cannot wait for Spring Break! I don't know if we'll get out of town then, but we are going to Maine in June for a wedding!

What are your favorite vacation memories?        

Here's a quick and easy one...

I love it when a layout comes together quickly. It's not fancy or technique crazy... but that's not really my thing anyway.  I like good color with the photos as the focus!

The chipboard only comes (or came) in plain chipboard - no colors, but that's cool with me because one of my favorite things to do is paint it with regular acrylic paint, dry, sand the edges then cover it with Glossy Accents. It looks like cool epoxy stickers, in any color you want and nowhere near the cost.

Papers - Basic Grey

Chipboard - Heidi Swapp

Rub-ons - Scenic Route

Same... Only Different.

 

This is a somewhat unusual color palette for me. I really loved the diamond pattern that I used in both of these and wanted to highlight it, but as it turned out I didn't have a lot that went with it... I ended up using some more OLD Basic Grey that I had from several years ago.

My buying habits have changed over the last few years. I went from buying anything and everything I liked, to not buying unless I LOVED IT and could think of an immediate use for it. Not that I had time to use it immediately, but I was surprised to find that there were a lot of things I really liked but didn't match the pictures I was taking. "I can always find things I like..." became my new mantra.

Now that I have more time for scrapbooking I have lots of things I like, still plenty I'll likely end up giving away eventually, but it's fun to go through my stash and find something fun to use that I'd forgotten about. NOW the problem is that I only bought the one piece of paper that I really liked and didn't grab coordinating papers like stripes and polka dots and you know how hard it is to find an old line when you need more of it...

How do you shop for supplies? Do you buy for specific projects and pictures, or do you buy what you like knowing you'll find a use for it eventually?