Old Fashioned Scrappin'

I stumbled across this old fashioned scrapbook last week. We were on holidays in Victoria, and took a trip to the Saanich Historical Artifacts Society, also called "Heritage Acres." This was just one of thousands of treasures in the museum building there. How fun to see that ladies "back in the day" collected keepsakes and stickers to scrapbook with the thought of pasting them in a book to keep for generations to come. I'm glad this lady did it (or perhaps it was a man that kept these treasures of his loved one - see how helpful a little bit of journaling can be for those who read your books down the line!!)... I love the old photograph, and just by this one page we can gather that she likes birds, traveling, and perhaps fashion.

The book was behind glass, so I couldn't peruse the rest of the pages, but seeing it there in the display made me smile. A piece of history preserved. It was nestled in with a display of children's toys, so maybe it was a child that made this book. In that case, I am even happier because it means a mother let her child have a creative outlet like scrapbooking.

Scrappin' Class

Last night, I had my final scrapbook class in a series of classes I started in the Fall. These are the pages we did last night. We used the tag punches, and the new 2-step bird punch. Also, my new favourite paper... Sweet Pea designer series paper. Love it!

My Book Arrived!!

Just wanted to share a few pics of the final product of the digital scrapbook I've been working on. I LOVE it! And it even turned out better than I was imagining.

Family Scrapbook

Feature: Scrappin' Passion!

When I scrapbook for the kids and for Steve, it is in a 12X12 format. In these books there are major events in their lives (first day of school, birthdays, Father's Day, etc) or just a layout of some of my favourite pictures of them.

I also keep family yearbooks going, in an 8 1/2 X 11 size. In these ones, there are usually 2 double layouts per month, and sometimes an extra layout in December because we have our anniversary and Christmas both in that month.

But what do I do with all the fun little family trips we take? My family lives in Victoria, so we are often on the island visiting. And in the summer there are other trips to scrap about, like camping, etc. I will put a page of these pics in our family album, and certain moments of holidays get added into each of the kids' books, but that's not enough pages! I needed a place to put several layouts of each trip, without feeling the pressure of space in a book... I think I found the perfect solution:

An 8 1/2 X 8 1/2 chipboard album from Stampin' Up! It is my new favourite size to scrapbook in!!

I covered it in Designer Paper and used my "Summer Home" Scrappin' Kit to decorate it. I am using this scrappin' kit throughout the book as well, and have completed a few pages already.

Scrapbooking with kids....

I had 3 of my friend's kids here for the day... after workbooks, outside time, lunch, snacks, reading time, and general playtime... I thought it might be fun to make little "All About Me" scrapbooks. I had planned to do this as a kids' class awhile back, but with people having to drop out due to illness, and other reasons, the class got cancelled. I used up most of the supplies on other projects, but I still had 5 of each page title (6 different titles throughout the book, including the cover). Perfect for my 2 boys, and the additional 3 kids... so after lunch I said I had a project. Elise went down for a nap and the rest of us got busy scrapbooking! There are no pictures in them yet, but those will come. Here are Scott and Todd working on their books, and the finished products at the bottom! They had a hoot... and what a great way to use up all the bits and pieces from retired scrappin' kits!!!

Dyeing Scrapbooks

Do you love the Stampin' Up! scrapbook albums, but wish you could pick a different colour? Check out Northern Stamper's blog post about Dyeing your linen albums.

http://northernstamper.blogspot.com/2008/03/coloring-ablums.html

6X6 page

Here's a 6x6 page that I showed at my last workshop. The picture is of my Morfar (my mom's dad) and Elise. They both had their b-days in July, one day apart. (I tried to book Elise's c-section on Morfar's birthday, but they could only book the surgery for a Wednesday, and his b-day was the Tuesday of that week).

Scrapbook in an Evening

Tonight I had my Scrapbook in an Evening class, and here is the book we made. Everyone made 20 6X6 pages. One front and one back page and then 9 double layouts for inside. We used the Friends and Flowers scrappin' kit that was in the level one hostess section of the last catalogue. Pictures and additional stamping will be added later.

Wanted!

Here's a 6X6 page that I demoed at my last workshop. I love all the Boho West line that Stampin' Up! came out with this year. I have the "Wanted" set, and the Outlaw paper, but I have my eyes on the Round Up scrappin' kit and some of the other westerny sets too. The picture on this page is of Scott last year when we visited relatives in Alberta. It was printed off of our old printer... pretty lame colours, but we have a brand spankin' new printer now that so far I am happy with! I haven't put the new one to the "picture printing test" yet, though.

Baby Ella

Our neigbours had a baby girl a week and a half ago. Tonight, I took them dinner and made this little bitty book for her. She is such a sweet little baby... it is so hard to believe they start out so small and quiet (well, at least Ella was quiet while I was visiting because she was fast asleep!!)

Stamper's Club Projects

Last night I had my Friday Stamper's Club here for our last time together. I can't believe how fast the last 9 months of this club seemed to go... Time flies when you're having fun and stamping up a storm! In the Fall I will start a new club and some of the same people will be in it, but there will be new people too.

We did two projects. First a Father's Day card using Good Things Grow and Expressive Flexible Phrases, along with 3 of the retiring In Colors.

Secondly, we made Brag Books for Father's Day gifts... my dad got to open his this morning at coffee break and the boys loved looking through it with Papa! The idea for this little book came from Kerry. Thanks for the inspiration Kerry!

Stamping Class

Today I had a stamping class at my house and we made a mini scrapbook/journal using the On Board Art Journal in the SU! catalogue. Everyone did a great job. The title I chose was "What Makes Me Smile" but I gave the option to make your title more personalized. Other choices were:
- Live Laugh Love
- Things I love
- Special People, Special Smiles,
- Moments in my life
I might have missed one or two, so if you had a different title and want to tell me, leave a comment and I will add it!

When I was at Regionals in April we learned some great tricks with this journal to make pockets. Here are a couple shots of the journal, I won't show you every page, though!

book cover
top and bottom side pockets
tags in pockets
folded pocket with scalloped edge
oval photo matte

When I get the pictures printed from Church Ladies Retreat, I want to make another journal like this using the "Out and About" scrappin' kit.

Have you scrapbooked today??

I have!! Just one 12 X 12 page to finish a layout I started as a demonstration at a workshop. But hey, that's 5 more pictures out of the box and into the book! Did you know that May is National Scrapbooking month? I think there is a specific Scrapbooking DAY, but I like the idea of celebrating it all month... My birthday is in May as well, and when my cousin Silja sent me birthday greetings from England she said "Happy Birthmonth!" It is a tradition of her family to celebrate not just the day of your birth, but the entire month.. hey - it works for me!!!

So, in honour of this month (and with only a few days to spare) here is a scrapbooking poem to share with you by Kimberly Rinehart....

A Scrapbooker's Verse

We gather up pictures
and bits of our past
and srapbook them into
a gift that will last.

We write about milestones
and travels and such-
the times of our lives
that we treasure so much.

A few special photos,
A Family Tree,
A few thoughtful words
and soon we will see...

This album we've made
is much more than a book.
It's worth even more
than the time that it took.

It's a gift holding memories
and made with great care
by hearts and hands
with love to share.

-Kimberly Rinehart

Mini Albums

I am planning a mini scrapbook class and to get some inspiration for a theme I put out a call for help to a couple of the yahoo groups I am a part of. I was looking for themes for mini albums that would work for anyone... not so specific as "My Trip to Hawaii...." which wouldn't appeal to people that had never been to Hawaii :)

Here are a bunch of the ideas that I was given, and some I came up with as well...... The one I have decided to use, btw, is "What Makes Me Smile!"

- What's Special to Me
- Christmas or other Holidays
- a special vacation
- Life is Good
- Family Fun
- All in the Family
- Celebrating Siblings
- Nature or Natural Instincts
- Happy Days
- Smiling Faces
- Friends
- Legacy Book (most influential people in my life)
- Personal Goals/Dreams
- Gratitude scrapbook
- Through the years (birthday book)
- ABC's (every page a different letter)

If you have any other ideas, please share them in the comments! Thanks! I will post a picture after the class (which is not for another 5 weeks or so..... hopefully I'll have my camera back by then :)

MORE IDEAS.....
- Seasons
- 10 Reasons why I love you
- My Heart Belongs to...
- New Baby
- Favourite Photos of the year
- Recipes