*Gasp* A Layout?!

Could it be? Why yes! I did make a layout! Not only that, I made a 2-PAGER! It is rare I've been able to sit down to create for me lately...lacrosse, the middle school musical, band and chorus commitments, work, and chores...but I did it.

I started Saturday, making about 7 layouts (which were awful in my opinion, but what do you expect after what feels like months not making layouts?), and then yesterday, sat down to do this one. I loved how it turned out, so I thought I would share. Many people struggle to do multi-photo layouts, especially when there are a lot of great pictures, and resign themselves to creating a mini album instead. While that's a great solution, it can be quite time consuming. So here's an idea, using some old photos of the girls sledding in the yard from 2009:

 

Count it up -- that's 10 photos on the same page! This was extra tough since I recently had 200 photos printed out at York Photo, all 4X6, so I had to determine what size I wanted them all to be. Not only that, I didn't want to cut out any of the kids. Outdoor pics work great here, as there is usually a lot of unneeded background space that can be cut away without giving it a second thought. I tried to keep a consistent size going, but honestly, I wasn't keeping track of sizes towards the end. The hardest part of this layout was choosing a pleasing layout. that's where a lot of multi-photo layouts go horribly wrong. There's no rhyme or reason to photo placement, almost like they threw up all over the page!

I tried to keep it balanced, and after about eight minutes of shuffling photos around, came up with this. When I thought it was just right, I affixed the photos to the page starting at the bottom left hand corner and working my way across the first page, adding the second row afterwards, and then moving on to the second page of the layout. This allowed me to ensure perfect placement and spacing.

I pulled out an old sheet of Echo Park Winter Park element stickers to use up as much as I could. This allowed me to add things in random places without cluttering up the pics too much. The "Snow Day" sticker is a 3 Bugs In A Rug sticker from ages ago. One word of the title on one page and the other word on the second page, Pebbles alphabet stickers. Some great blue washi accenting the sides, and the journal box is Studio Calico Handbook journal cards. After the eight minutes of photo placement, another five or so minutes was spent placing embellishments. What a quick page!

 

 

And look at those kids! Hard to believe they are 14 and almost 12 (Rileigh's birthday is in one week!!) I am behind in my scrapping, for sure, but it's nice knowing I can catch up if I just keep it quick and easy. Yes, I'll still do pages that take me an hour, where embellishments, misting, and layers of patterned paper abound. However, I'll try to remember that it's okay to do up a page where it only takes a fraction of that hour. If it means getting caught up, I'm all for it! (Currently, I'm just starting to scrap 2009 in all of the kids albums!!!)

Alright, it's Monday, which means hubby is running errands for me. Work is done, looks like I'm getting some more scrapping done! Hope you're all having a great week!

xoxo
Khristen

Paper Crafting Challenges #6: Sketch/Pearls

Better late than never, right? Thought I would share this week's Paper Crafting Challenges mission, if you choose to accept it. It's easy peasy -- either make a card following the following sketch, or create something that includes pearls. And if you're a Lawn Fawn fan, you'll want to play -- the winner gets a free stamp set of your choice (which is a tough decision to have to make, they are all so cute!!) Of course, I chose the sketch:

 It's interesting, is it not? Here's what I created:

 I used a freebie Unity Stamp Co. sentiment included with my last order, Christy Tomlinson She Art paper, Prima flowers, and an AC pink pearl brad. I decided to move the circles on the sketch around a bit, as you can tell. I thought the sentiment would be fabulous raised off of the surface of the card, so I stuck three layers of foam adhesive squares in the center. Then I gently bent each side and adhered them to the card. Voila, an interesting banner sentiment, stamped with Memento Dew Drops in Danube Blue and Lady Bug. The blue circle felt left out, so I raised it up with adhesive foam squares too!

What are you waiting for? There are only four days left to play along with our sketch challenge for a chance to win some Lawn Fawn yumminess! Hurry over, I can't wait to see what you've created!

xoxo
Khristen

CAS-ual Fridays CFC129

Nothing like entering at the last minute! I decided to play along with challenge CFC129 at CAS-ual Fridays, where they ask you to use at least 2 shades of grey on your project.

I added a pop of purple with Memento Lulu Lavender ink and Fireworks spray (love that they are perfectly coordinated!). The sentiment is from Unity (a freebie I received with my last order), matted on two different sheets of grey cardstock. I decided all it needed at this point was a doodle and some glitter glue. Yesterday at Target, I picked up some American Crafts Grape Zazz that was on clearance. Have you used Zazz yet? I got a great spring color set, which included this pretty shade of purple. It goes so well with the Lulu Lavender, it's like they were created to go together!

I would say play along, but you'd only have 5 minutes to do so as it ends at noon! If you have the time, head on over to the CAS-ual Fridays blog and play along.

xoxo
Khristen

A Big Announcement!

Good morning! I trust everyone's weekend went well :) I'm posting with some big news: I am now designing for a new challenge blog, Paper Crafting Challenges! We bring a new challenge each and every Friday to get your creative juices flowing, and this week, it's a sketch challenge.

The sketch:

And my interpretation:

 I chose my Crafter's Companion Sentimentals Everyday - Imagine EZ Mount stamp set for this one -- the circular design lends itself well to the sketch. I felt the sketch needed to be turned, and used some pretty Authentique papers. Simple doodles added the perfect finishing touch!

So head on over to Paper Crafting Challenges and link up in our sketch challenge! Cards not your thing? Create an altered item with the theme "something sweet!" I can't wait to see what you create! Spread the word to your crafty friends about this new-blog-on-the-block, too! We'd appreciate it :) I am honored to be chosen for this team, and hope to inspire you each and every week!

xoxo
Khristen