Happy Thursday!!

 

So hello there!  This day has flown by already (hence the late post) but I wanted to share a layout I did with the latest Noel Mignon kit (Office Party Kit) - get yours Here.

Ok - this seems to be the way I do things now.  I LOVE die-cut papers and this one is no exception.  My problem is that I don't always love the pattern inside.  This wasn't the case - but I also needed something else in the layout without competing with the shape.   So I simple traced the shape onto the Jillibean Soup paper and trimmed it out about half and inch inside what I traced.  This allowed it to fit inside of the shape instead of being the same size.

I made the flower from the pattern paper that was also included in the kit.  I used a flower punch for the center and one of my own Jenni Bowlin buttons for the center.

And then using the Basic Grey rubons as more of an embellishment by overlapping them - I really liked this!  I also brought out my page punch and used it for the Pink Paislee paper, tucked under that was a Basic Grey diecut sticker.

I know I didn't focus on one technique - but I thought it would be fun just looking at different aspects of my layout.  I love learning how and why people put things together.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Michelle

Lot's of announcements!

Hello everyone! I feel like I haven't posted up on the blog in AGES! So I thought I would play catch up and get all the upcoming events announced over here on the blog to make sure everyone is in the loop as far as upcoming activities!
First up... Our "Fun in the Sun" Crop starts next week! Be sure to join us over on the message boards all week long for challenges, games, chit chat, inspiration and prizes!

Next we also have on online class going on over on the boards the same week as the crop. Britt will be presenting her class on making a "Growing Up" mini book. I believe there are still a few kits left, and even if there aren't you can still purchase the "instruction only" potion of the class. So head over to her blog and sign up. The instructions will be accessible for months to come, so even if you can't make it on the dates of the actual class, you will still have access to the directions and you can always email Britt with any questions you have.

And I wanted to share some sneaks over here of the next kit "Sweet Sue", which will be up for sale mid August. I know I have done school kits the past few years, but this year I am going a different direction for Sept. Here are a few peeks for you to see what I have in store...




And lastly, if you have enjoyed the beautiful work the team has been producing with the Office Party kit as much as I have, and you still haven't picked up your kit, you are in luck! I still have just a few left! Head over to the shop and pick yours up. It is perfect for family photos, boy photos, or to mix in with all your other colorful papers for a nice contrast.

:)
-Noel

You

Good morning and happy Wednesday to you! I have a LO today that was created for this week's challenge........to revamp an old LO. I chose these two photos of my daughter and started reconstructing a LO for them. I used Noel's Office Party. While I was redoing the LO, I noticed that just a few short years ago.....I didn't do much with my photos. I sent them to a service to be printed and that was about it. Now, I spend hours editing and tweaking photos. I lighten them, add contrast, convert them to black and white, use spot coloring, or age them to have an antique feel to them. The photos make a huge difference on a LO. They are the first thing to catch your eye. Unfortunately for this LO, these photos were still a product of film and unless I found the negatives, I had no way of editing them. So they will stay a bit dark and muddy looking.

Have you grabbed yourself an Office Party kit yet? There are only 5 left!!!

Don't forget that next week is our Summer Crop!! It starts on Monday, August 9th. I hope you can join us for all of the fun! : )

And last but not least, have you seen the September peeks? Be sure to see Noel's newest kit coming out......."Sweet Sue!"

Have a great day!!!

Seasonal Layouts: With the Office Party Kit!

I love scrapbooking vacation photos and since most vacations take place in the summer, I decided to work with some photos of our honeymoon to Colorado in 2003. I actually re-created my layout for the Now & Then Challenge going on now at the Noel Mignon Challenge Blog. 

I decided I wanted to add a few more photos of our time in Estes Park when I re-created the layout. I also added some PhotoShop actions to them because they had a lot of harsh shadows due to the bright sunshine. I also re-sized all the photos so I could fit more on the layout. Everything you see here is in the Office Party kit and there are just a few left. 

Here's a close-up of my title. I love the Pink Paislee alphabet stickers in two colors and the Bazzill pearls are so cute!

Here's a look at my journaling using a Basic Grey label sticker.

Try working with some vacation photos the next time you scrapbook. We've all got some whether it was just a day trip somewhere or a honeymoon. And, remember there's no such thing as being behind when it comes to scrapbooking. These photos are 7 years old but the memories and events are important to me so they definitely belong in my scrapbook!

Have a great day!

Inspired by a Memory: A Page Re-do

A NEW Challenge has been posted on the Noel Mignon Challenge Blog . . . the Now & Then Challenge.

We were to take an old layout and rescrap it using newer products.

I really do believe there is no such thing as a RIGHT or WRONG way to scrap. However, there are several pages in my books that have never felt "right" to me. Usually it's because I didn't capture the feeling of that memory. The two-pager below is one of those layouts that makes me cringe every time I see it. --Please try not to laugh TOO hard. ;) --

PICNIC TIME - Scrapped in 2006



This is a page recording a picnic we had with my family while on a fall drive back in October 2006. What don't I like about this page? Well, for one thing, the papers I chose overpower the memory. We DID have a picnic, but what I remember MORE about that day was the beautiful fall colors, how much fun it was to be with my family, and the fact that my youngest was just a baby. :)

I like that I chose a fall picture as the main focus of the layout. I also like the smaller photos showing my family members, but I do NOT like the photos of us eating . . . you can't even see anyone's face! What was I thinking?!

FALL DRIVE - NEW page - Scrapped 2010



(Page created with the Noel Mignon Office Party Kit)

When I recreated the page, I let the MEMORY of this event inspire me. I kept the fall photo as the focus of the page (feeling of the fall drive), and then surrounded it with pictures of family members and pictures illustrating our relationships (the memory of spending time with my family). I made sure to include a picture of little baby Camryn and also my sister-in-law who has since divorced my brother (but who I will always consider my SIL).



I clustered the photos together in a collage using a template by Scrapbooks Etc. magazine (download for free on the Scrapbooks Etc. website).This helps keep the design simple. I also kept the patterns and embellishments surrounding the photos simple so they would support the photos and not overpower them.



I was able to include the same amount of journaling by writing around the outside edge of the photo-grouping.

I'm so happy with the way it came out! It feels "right" this time. :D

So come play along with us in the latest Now & Then Challenge! You KNOW you've been meaning to redo one of "those" pages. ;) And this challenge is the perfect way to give yourself that extra little PUSH to get it done. ;)

See you next time!
Jana

Storage Tip - Trays

Happy Sunday everyone! As I was looking around my scrap space, trying to figure out what I should talk about, I thought I'd discuss my basic storage item - a serving tray. I am one of those oddball scrappers who has a scrap space but still prefers to scrap on the coffee table in the living room. I am sure a lot has to do with the fact that my TV is over there versus my scrap space. *gasp*

So instead of lugging an armful of supplies from room to room, I invested in some serving trays from Target. They are great! They are made out of hard plastic so they can withstand some weight. I place my current project in the tray along with all the other tidbits I plan on using with it. By the time I am actually done with my project, I do tend to add more supplies to the tray as I think of them. They are great for when you are working on more than on project at a time too. You can have one tray per project and just grab the one you feel like working on and everything you need will be in it. Ok maybe not everything. I am sure you'll need your paper trimmer and adhesive. I hope this little storage tip is useful to you. Here is a pic of one of my current project trays...

Until later!

Diana

New T&T by Virginia

Have you ever wondered how scrappers get that perfectly, non-perfect organic look to their pages? Be sure and stop by the Noel Mignon Tip & Technique blog to check out the latest tutorial by Virginia Tillery!

Organically Placed Elements by Virginia Tillery