I have always LOVED old globes and maps... but i don'y really have any. They tend to be a little pricey. But I think I'm gonna start a collection... little by little, of course that's the fun of collecting!
And Oh my goodness could I get myself in trouble in this Etsy shop...
What do you collect?
I am more of a browser... I wander around finding things that catch my eye. I've learned to ask myself questions like-
"Will I use this?"
"Is this really my style? Cause just cause I like it doesn't mean I know how to scrap with it."
"Do I already have this?" I know that seems silly but I picked up a Cosmo Cricket stripe today that I have goodness knows how many sheets of... but I love it... and it was 60% off. I was awfully to proud to put it back and leave the store empty handed.
That's right, empty handed. I almost feel mean for admitting it... Maybe I should of bought SOMETHING just cause?
It was, I'm sure, a little easier because I... for the first time in a long time was looking for something specific....
and
Do you remember the days of scrapbooking when there was serious buzz around the big trade shows?I feel like that excitement has been dwindling over the last few years, do ya know what I mean?
Now, this is going to sound really lame... like seriously, really lame...
But I haven't felt this way in a long time... I love those lines and I could not wait to get my hands on them.
I did finally find PIECES of these lines... but I'm going to have to wait for the drool to dry before I can use them:)
What are you dying to get your hands on?
You know that game you play..."If money were no object, where would you go, what would you do?" Well for me the list is long but a farm house in the hills of Italy is always on the top of my list. I would love to spend an entire summer lounging about, strolling through vineyards, listening to little old ladies gossip in Italian at the street market, learning to cook real italian food and sit out on the patio all evening sharing stories with good friends.
This would suite me just fine...
This is my favorite part... the Al Fresco dining area.
I music is INCREDIBLE, I can relate to the story, and cinematography is stunning. Though the movie is set in France, I'm pretty sure it is one of a few films that shape my Italian countryside fantasy.
If you haven't already, you really ought to see this movie...I'm just sayin'
I may have mentioned before that Anthropologie is one of my all time favorite stores. I would move in if they would let me but somehow I don't think that would fly. So, instead, every once in a while I wander around adoring everything in sight. The website is lovely... but the store is just magic. Here are a few things I would love to bring home given the budget and opportunity.
What's your favorite place/store to wander through?
This layout reminds me not only of the trip we took to San Diego in 2008, but also the trip we aren't taking now. We sort of had a tradition of heading to the west coast for spring break as often as we can but because we are going out to Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts in June we decided we'd better skip the spring break trip this year.
That doesn't mean we aren't having a good time though... So far we've been to the Aquarium, Children's Science Museum and tomorrow we have a trip to Jump On It planned... I do believe this is our first official "Staycation!"
I found the inspiration layout somewhere other than my own album this week.This Sketch is at CreatingKeepsakes.com. Every month the Becky's Sketch is published on the website, and sometimes... maybe always, there are additional "Same,Only DIfferent." Sketches available.
The Sketch I used is on the bottom left.
You can print out the PDF of the additional sketches from January 2010 here, not to mention several other pages of sketches and ideas that can be printed out and saved to refer to later!
Have a great day and happy scrapping!
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Isn't it incredible how the internet has changed our lives? You can find out just about anything in no time flat right in the comfort of your own home... or Starbucks, McDonalds, Hotels... and even some most phones for crying out loud. My kids think it's hilarious that not only did we not have internet till I was a teenager, but we didn't even have a computer till I was probably ten or so. It was an Apple IIe... my dad bought a magazine with computer game codes that we typed in hour after hour just to be able to play a game (which we never did get working) until we finally got an Atari and played Frogger and Pac Man ALL-DAY-LONG.
Certainly my life wouldn't be the same without my computer... I don't consider myself a traditional artist, I am a digital artist, and without my computer and some really bind-boggling software... I could never have realized my creative potential. I know that sounds a little dramatic... but just think of all the art you have seen, music you've heard and knowledge you have gained just sitting at your desk... that you NEVER could have seen any other way...CRAZY.
The reason I bring this up at all is because over the years I have collected ideas, art, music and whatever else strikes my fancy into "Inspiration Folders." They are kind of like my personal gallery of things that speak to me for any number of reasons... and when they quit speaking... they go in the recycle bin. There are endless things to discover all over the world and in these amazing times we have access to more than we'll ever be able to lay eyes on.
I opened up one folder today and was reminded of things I'd forgotten, and some that I can't quite figure out why I saved in the first place... here are just a few.
Heaven Knows I could go on and on... but I'll spare you. Afterall these are things that speak to me.
I just finished a layout for which I found the inspiration on a blog I read called Designer Jots... there is so much that translates to great scrapbooking ideas there. I'll share the layout and the inspiration piece soon!
Where do you turn for eye candy and inspiration? I can't wait to see what kinds of things fill up your inspiration folders...I'll post links if you'd like to share!
And I think I have a thing for her pin cushions...weird I know. If I could buy them, as opposed to making them, I might even have a few:)
She is yet another sewing genius... she sews, she designs fabric and patterns and she's teamed up with Autumn Leaves to bring her style to the scrapbooking world! You can check our more of her paper crafts stuff here.
No one would ever mistake me for a seamstress...ever. Aside from quilting, which to me is very different than sewing I only use my sewing machine for scrapbooking. I can count on one hand the number of things that I have made... A pair of pants, a couple of Halloween costumes and... well, that might be it. Oh yeah and stockings, for which I had to run up to my seamstress neighbors house and ask for help to interpret the directions.
For Halloween 2006 Amelia wanted to be Mrs. Clause and of course that isn't a costume option in any retail store I have visited...so we bought the stuff, which I'm sure cost WAY MORE than a pre-made costume would have. I don't usually buy patterns, I just pretend to know what I'm doing and figure it only has to last one night...right?
Okay, so have you seen Disney's Sleeping beauty when the fairy godmothers are planning a party for the princess without magic? They swirl together fabric with long stitch and eventually it just slumps off MaryWeathers cute chubby self... that my friends was my inspiration.
I put big square of fluffy red "fabric" flat on the floor, cut a circle out of the middle, then cut the whole piece into a circle. I then had Amelia put it on and we trimmed away until it resembled a skirt.
I kid you not.
In the end it looked just fine and Amelia was very happy with it... so who needs a pattern anyway?
Unfortunatly I didn't take a good picture of the skirt, but here is a darling Mrs. Clause.
I'm not sharing this story just to shine a spotlight on my lack of talent in the sewing catagory. But rather to spotlight a couple of women who could probably sew a new wardrobe in one day with one arm tied behind their backs. They must have been born with a sewing machine in tow... they just make it look so easy.
First...meet Meg McElwee of Sew Liberated.
Now while her sewing is lovely and effortless seeming... it is the photography that inspires me here. I know the sewing would too if only I could sew. Check these out...
I may know better than to think I ought to try to sew something... but my goodness she sure makes me want to go on a field trip with my camera!
If you are a seamstress, Meg has published a book of her patterns which you can find along with individual patterns of fabulous things like baby carriers, book bags, and wouldn't you know it...twirly skirts.
I think I'll share my other favorite seamstress tomorrow... while I imagine she probably considers herself a sewing diva first... her designs have ventured into the scrapbooking world!
hasta mañana!
Sarah
I recently stumbled on Allison Davis' blog.
She posts a new 2-page sketch each month and posts a new layout each week with that sketch.
I love her style, clean and linear with lots of pattern paper!
Here are a couple samples
And, she's published her sketches in collections which you can check out here!
I do admit I am a shopper, not that I buy all sorts of crazy and expensive things... I don't think my kids own any GAP clothing. What I am saying is that I can find a reason to go shopping almost instantly.
For instance..."We are out of Silk!(as in soy milk, not the sweaty boy at a church dance kind of silk)... GAH... get your shoes everyone we are going to COSTCO!"
Or..."Oooh, I could really use that Martha Stewart butterfly punch on this layout... JIM! I'm taking the baby and going out, I have an errand I HAVE GOT TO RUN!"
I have been working on it though... in fact I waited till the baby woke up from his nap to go get that punch :)... that is progress people.
Any-whoo... along with loving to just go out... I am a sucker for packaging. I beautifully designed box can make me swoon for something I have absolutely NO NEED FOR... and I'll pay more for it... Ugg, I can't believe I am admitting that.
Fortunately it requires little more than avoiding certain stores, or aisles within certain stores...who am I kidding THOSE are the stores I love! Check these out...
So cute, it must be healthy!
I'm pretty sure I'd feel like the hippest girl ever drinking outta one of these.
That's the kinda bag you leave on the counter when the Jones' come over, just to show off.
Oh, and these... I bet those drinks taste like sunshine and rainbows!
I don't think I've ever seen these in a store... But heaven knows if I do, I'll have to buy all three...but only because they are such great scrapbooking inspiration:)
