shop update

It was my intention to have the Fall Little Bit Kit™ ready to go by the 15th, but no such luck. I had trouble photographing it due to the fickle light in my kitchen. I am happy to say that I managed to overcome that issue and will release it tomorrow, October 18th, but give you a look at the whole thing first. It includes some pretty fun items...super cute paper clips, the most adorable puffy apple stickers, plus a lot of exclusively designed product. The wood veneers kill me...that squirrel...eek! I love it all.

These kits are in limited supply and when they're gone...sadly, they are gone. I hope you like them, I put a ton of love into each and every one:) You can purchase them here at 11am PST on October 18th:)

the little bit kit

I love this time of year. In addition to celebrating my birthday, Keith just brought home a bag of honeycrisp apples...our first bag of the season. I have enthusiastically switched from iced drinks to hot. I made a fabulous beef stew the other night and the crock pot will soon be making an appearance. I happily look forward to more time in the kitchen now that it no longer feels like a sweat lodge. The one thing I don't like is that time moves FAST and I feel an urgency to see and smell and taste everything the season has to offer.

This also tends to be my favorite time of year for stuff. I seriously have a weakness for Fall and Winter paper collections, and even though September is not even completely finished, it seems everyone's ready for December Daily and gathering bits for that oh so special project that we scrapbookers just adore.

Forgive me if I attempt to put it off for just a tad longer...

I have decided to release a new product which isn't so much new as it is slightly different. I have had great success pulling together my favorite items into "mini mixes," "studio samplers," and my beloved accessories kit. It's no surprise that I like a bit of this and that and I've tried to bring that to my shop. A few months ago I chose to end all of my kit club subscriptions because honestly...at the rate I create, one box can last me several months. But, seriously, I miss it. I still buy a bit of paper and the occasional embellishment, and that feels like enough for me. I really love getting a few extra bits to make my projects feel special. I was telling my husband about this...about just needing a little bit and he said.."you just need to find a little bit kit." Uhm, YES...but I don't need to find it when I can make it, right?

So that's it guys. The first Fall Little Bit Kit (TM) will be available in the shop October 15th. I am currently working on a winter one as well. There's no subscription...it won't be monthly...more like seasonally and it will include just a small mix of my favorite items. It will be similar to my Everyday Accessories Kit...but a little different too.

I plan to share the whole kit on the blog a few days before I release it.

Btw...i am not actually trademarking the name...that was just a joke:)

Digi Delight

One of the shop relaunch questions I've been receiving is whether or not there will be printables available for sale and the answer is yes sireeeeee! I love digital and I can't imagine not offering them...I will be doing something a little different though...

In addition to a fun new label set:

 and the long awaited milkcaps:

I am also going to do a monthly embellishment/label set based on trends + colors I love.  No 3x4 or 4x6 cards and no limited timeframe. You can get them when you want them.

I'm also working on some really cute cut frame files

These are coming very very soon:)

and then there was none

For over 10 years I have belonged to a relatively small community of papercrafters. A community built around a shop, a message board and a gallery. People who participated in the same hobby as myself. There were times when I saw people come out of the woodwork to support fellow members...there were other times I watched as grown people descended into madness and meanness. The whole time I kept returning...to shop, to read the boards, to see what's new and to learn new things.

Two Peas in a Bucket changed things for me...you see as a child free middle aged woman, I never felt like I fit into the world of scrapbooking. The covers of most memorykeeping magazines reaffirmed the fact by rarely ever depicting layouts of people without kids. I attended crops filled with moms who questioned why in the world I would bother with this time consuming sometimes expensive hobby...who would care? For whom are you doing it. I felt like saying "myself" was never good enough. This feeling of exclusion remained until I found Two Peas.

Suddenly I found a place where other scrapbookers not so different from myself existed online. I was never one to share much...either in the gallery or the message board, but I always felt like I could. I now had tons of inspiration...travel, fun, daily life, school, jobs, friends...all kinds of topics that were important to me and didn't involve children. I started really making stuff and eventually opening a small papercrafting shop of my own.

Years after discovering digital scrapbooking on Two Peas...I became one of their designers...Kristina sought me out and expressed how much she loved my work. I was on cloud nine for a week. I was the girl who never submitted a single layout for publication...who had zero layouts in any gallery anywhere. I was the girl who was always on the outside looking in.  By choosing me,  a leader in the industry made me feel included, and that's a big deal. Sadly I had to end things a year later when my workload became insane. Kristina understood, and I went my own way.

As the news that has left my beloved scrapbooking community reeling settles in, I will begin to ponder the future of my hobby. I hope that wherever the members find themselves that they are kind to one another. I hope that this hobby expands and grows to include more men, more people of color, more childfree folks. I intend to continue my support for small business, but more than anything I will keep taking pictures. I will keep writing stories even and be thankful that for a while I got to be a part a something pretty neat.

sneaks

I haven't been shouting it from the rooftops or anything, but I have briefly mentioned here and there that I'm prepping the shop for a relaunch. Without getting too deep...at least not in this post, I thought I'd make a tiny visual introduction...

One of my main priorities this go round was to keep it simple and functional. Not just on the back end, but the product as well. That started by doing what I love best...designing paper based items.

As much as I love rubberstamping...there was no way I could leave them out. I will be releasing a small limited edition collection of wood handle stamps derived directly from my own hand lettering. When I refer to handlettering, I don't mean handwriting...the designs I created for this small set of stamps represent many many hours of pencil on paper work and I'm pretty excited to not only be releasing them in the shop but paying homage to how I got started in graphic design many years ago.

If you visited my Etsy shop back in the day, you know that one of my most popular items was the custom minibooks affectionately titled "project minibook." The shop will include a stripped down version of the project mini, but the name remains the same.

Next week I will share more details about the products and the shop.

makeshift | gold labels

I'm pretty fond of labels. Do you remember when I sold these & these in my old Etsy shop? I certainly appreciate the fact that they can be both colorful and useful. That said, I never buy them...why should I when I am an expert label hoarder? But, when I saw the gold edged labels in the June Scrapbook Kit by Studio Calico I swooned just a tiny bit. Like everyone on the planet...I'm digging gold right now, so those little labels caught my eye for sure.

Only thing...I don't get the scrapbook kit, and I wasn't going to get it just for some labels and they don't sell the labels separately so what's a label lover to do? You got it...it's time to makeshift.

When I decide to make things, I realize that this does not always translate to cheap or quick...it really means doing something myself for the sole purpose of immediate satisfaction. It also means trying to use what I have lying around. In this case: white sticker paper, metallic gold scrapbook paper that I bought from Joann many moons ago, a cutting mechanism, I used both my Cameo and my paper trimmer, and a bit of time.


Option #1: When I used my Cameo, I created two files...one with the label outer shapes and one with the inner. I cut the outer shapes out of the gold and the inner out of the white sticker paper and then adhered one to the other. Success! If you have a machine this is the way I would go. Perhaps you might see this and think "oh my, why waste all that gold paper when all you're really using it for is a thin frame". This is true, but I think trying to add glue and affix a thin gold frame to a piece of cardstock would make my brain break so I'm wasting a bit of gold to preserve sanity.

Option #2: If you find yourself without a diecutting machine, or you don't want to dust it off, or figure out how to make inner and outer label shapes...you might find the second route more favorable. Simply trim/cut rectangles out of the white sticker paper...this is the inner portion of your label. The size is up to you...depends how much white space you want. Then, using your eyeballs and a 1/4" hole punch, cut the notches out of the corners. If you'd rather trimmed corners you can just clip them off with a pair of scissors. If you are a perfectionist...then create a template or measure or do what you do...although I'm not a perfectionist, I do like things nice and neat. If you don't trust your eyeballing ability then take your time on this step. Once you've got a bunch of white labels, remove the sticky back and attach to the gold using the top edge and side edge as your guide. I went for a slim 1/8" border. You can do whatever pleases you. I tried to line them all up first. I then cut them apart using my paper trimmer. A craft knife and straight edge would have yielded very accurate results, but I didn't bother. Last thing to do is cut notches out of the gold...Some of the labels I just made completely straight.

Now tell me? Did I make this seem complicated? If I did I sincerely apologize for it was quite simple really. Like I said...makeshifting isn't necessarily easy and/or cheap, but it is fun and wonderfully satisfying. Oh...and although I purchased that metallic gold paper at Joann's...It cost double what I found it for online, but with shipping...I don't know, maybe it would work out to the same. It is a perfect weight and it's not too heavy which I like. The Cameo cut through it like butter. It also has a very smooth sheen...I like gold, but not shiny gold. Also, I got that little mountain of labels using less than one sheet of both the gold and the sticker paper so there you have it.

you can find another great DIY tutorial using the EK Success label punch here

the what, when & why | scrapbook edition

When it comes to Scrapbooking, I do a bit of everything. I make traditional layouts, I make minibooks, I maintain a modified monthly version of Project Life, I create photobooks and I use Instagram (which is a form of memorykeeping in my opinion). This is a lot considering I have a job, and a life and other hobbies I enjoy. I don't do any of the aforementioned for posterity...I harbour no hope that anyone will find value in my memories, but me. I do it because I enjoy the process of documenting my own life. Simple.  The real question is, with so many options for keeping my memories, how do  I determine what to use when...and why?

So here it is:

Layouts are for stories & playing.  I don't create a layout if I don't have a deeper story I want to write. The picture is a supporting character. It's also a chance to play around creatively.  I cut things up, I sew, I layer and use embellishments...this is when I experiment and try new things.

Minibooks are for subjects with a beginning and an end. Small trips, a single subject (like December Daily). I don't like open-ended minis. I find that they tend to languish in a perpetual state of incompleteness. I like setting parameters and working within them. I like that minibooks can be equally devoted to pictures, stories and play and the smaller scale makes the whole thing infinitely more fun and finish-able:)

Pockets/Project Life are for everyday.  So what about that huge part of my life that happens in between the highlights? The meals I eat, the places I go, the tasks I complete, the people that share my life...my outfits, hairstyles, complaints...my every single day? A lot of it goes in pockets every month. I collect all the photos from my random picture taking instruments and I then go about choosing which best represent the month. I write to create context and that's it. Very little decoration just words and pictures...a way for me to remember the small moments and how significant a part they play in the grand scheme.

Photobooks are for pictures. As I find myself getting better at figuring out how to take a decent photo I have longed to have something representative of that, something that I can design myself that is well done and includes really nice images. These take time and a ruthless ability to edit. I am currently making one for my trip to Paris and my niece's graduation.

Instagram is for fun and followers. The biggest difference between Instagram and my physical scrapbooks is that you can follow and be followed. I love following people...I love being inspired, I love getting that peek into peoples lives, I love liking and commenting, I love the enthusiasm people have for sharing. I like the quickness, how I can include a short phrase or a funny descriptor. I like the advertising capabilities...it's like sending a shoutout.  It doesn't replace scrapbooking for me...it's more like an extension. I could probably use it more, but because my feed is public I have to be a bit more thoughtful. I notice that there are some people that Instagram everything...do you do that? Use it like a virtual photo album? I'm curious because I don't think of it that way.

So the only remaining question is where do I find the time? How sick are you of that question? The answer is I think people are resourceful and they manage to make time for the things they love. So yeah...it's not like I found time hiding under the couch. I carve out bits here and there. I have arranged my life so I have time for these things. Sometimes that means I don't cook or I don't clean, or I take a lot longer to finish a book...the motto is true...I'd rather be scrapbooking.

girl, interrupted

image taken somewhere around 25,000 feet

I was recently reading an article about a study by Fairfield University regarding picture taking and memory. The study introduced the idea that taking photos can interrupt the brains process of remembering. This "photo-taking impairment effect" is characterized by taking more pictures but remembering fewer details. It's like "outsourcing your memory to a camera."

While there are a few caveats which I will get to in a moment, it got me thinking about my own picture taking and the sheer volume of photos I take...especially with my phone. I realized that I too had fallen victim to this memory interruption. Once upon a time I absorbed moments more completely...sure there have always been distractions, but never one I held in my hand. I find that when I put the phone down my senses become far more acute and I am experiencing moments on a more visceral level which effects how clearly I remember them. It seems like I've been trusting my camera phone to do that for me. I didn't think about remembering or even experiencing...I thought about getting the right light, focusing, looking for a place to prop my phone etc. I was blocking my own brain from truly experiencing anything. This very fact was crystallized for me last week at my niece's graduation. It took place at sunset outdoors and at the end there were fireworks. I was trying my level best to get a good picture until my husband whispered to me..."they never look as good in pictures as they do in real life." I quickly put my camera down, but it was too late...they were done.

The research scientist at the university brought up the idea that photographs are less memories and more like retrieval clues. She encourages the idea of "mindful photography" which I think could be something each of us determines individually. Back to those caveats...after reading the study I thought it should have addressed the fact that not all picture taking is meant to preserve a memory...sometimes its purpose is to evoke emotion or simply artistic in nature. I also think familiarity with the process makes a huge difference.  For example...when I'm back home in LA and I drive to the beach I am able to experience everything about that drive...the sights, the smells everything, and I think it's directly related to the fact that I know my route so well I could drive it in my sleep. That cannot be said for the times I am dependent upon my GPS. I am focused so heavily on turning right or left in 100 yards or making sure I don't miss my exit that I couldn't tell you a single thing about the drive other than thank God I made it. I think the same can be said for good photographers...they don't need to focus so heavily on their technique which frees them up to experience moments more fully.

 For me, practicing "mindful photography" means allowing myself to experience first and record second. If this means missing a few pictures or less than stellar pictures, I'm okay with that. If it means having nothing to Instagram, I'm okay with that too. I also think the very idea of this should spark a conversation about storytelling. A picture is wonderful but without the details, the story...it's just an image. That's why scrapbooking is so valuable to me...it allows me to tell a broader story...a deeper more colorful story complete with words and pictures.

my favorite | scrapbook inserts

Since switching up my scrapbook style from layouts to pockets I have occasionally needed and wanted to add a bit more. Sometimes that "more" is simply for fun, but more often than not it's for function. Choosing to do a smaller abridged version of Project Life^® means less pockets over all...couple that with the fact that I do it once a month and I often find myself with more pictures than space. Sure... I do my best to edit, but really, this is my scrapbook and I want to include what I like, so inserts have become a very necessary part of my process.

Below are my favorite ways to add in more words and pictures:

Envelopes: The epitome of "simple is best." If you don't have them you can easily make one using a downloadable template or gently pulling apart a used one and tracing it. I find that envelopes are a good way to add more photos that you don't care to display. It's also great for notes. I keep a monthly notebook and sometimes I don't feel like adding in all the stuff that I've already written down so I just rip the page out of the notebook and pop it in an envelope. Voila! journaling done. *Tip: to reinforce the punched holes use packing tape...I just fold it over the bottom edge and punch.

Small Bags: These are perfect for storing bits of ephemera and such...plus I really like the pop of color they add. Not everything needs to be encased in plastic.

Accordion Folders: I started making these a long time ago when I designed invitations. Some have built in pockets while others just provide a spot to add more pictures. It's also fun to experiment with different folds and such.

Plastic Coin Protectors: Thanks to these brand new protectors by Simple Stories, I don't have to cut down the large 2x2 coin protectors anymore...these fit right in.

Plastic Business Card Protectors: I really love this one because I can use them two different ways. They can easily accommodate vertical Instax style photos or horizontal full size photos. I like doing the little faux instax ones because it leaves me with a bit of space for journaling.

Plastic Coupon Protectors: These are roughly the same size as my normal size protectors and provide six pockets for slightly larger pictures. I don't use this one as much, but I do like having them on hand.

Zipper Pouch: These are the workhorses of my book.  My local office supply store typically has all kinds that easily fit (or can be made to fit) my 6x8 binder style album. I use the Martha Stewart ones or the ones sold for day planners. It is a great catch all for business cards, ticket stubs and other bits that I want to hang on to. Simple Stories now offers one made for the Snap album.

6x8 Plastic Protectors: I try to keep plenty of these on hand...partly to accomodate my full size layouts but also so that I have something that can easily be cut apart and stitched up to create an assortment of custom pocket sizes.

I find myself using only one of the above at any given time. I think that for me, adding random inserts keeps the process fresh and I like the ability to create extra space when I need it. If adding inserts are your thing,  these flips by Simple Stories or these tabs by Basic Grey might come in handy or even this tab die by Studio Calico...as you may have guessed, I just make my own:)

BTW...if you use the Snap system like I do, Scrapbook.com is having a sale and there are a bunch of brand new protectors:)

Have a Great Memorial Day Weekend!!

anatomy of a layout | 01

How about a new blog series? I bring you...

Anatomy of a Layout.

I subscribe to the notion that the good stuff lies in the process. Whether it's knitting, cooking, or memorykeeping...I'm always so interested in the inbetween. In this series I will be sharing layouts in various stages of completeness. Some days it will be a solitary image, like today, where I simply breakdown the process via diagram. Other times it might be a before and after pictorial depicting the plan I had at the beginning and how it evolved in the end. I will also do an image heavy step by step. Lastly, while I am hardly an accomplished video maker...I do think it could be nice to see the process in real time as well.

While I know that there is nothing novel about the scrapbook layout process...I do hope you find some value in it. I intend to focus on a few particular areas, namely...Inspiration, Trends/Techniques,  Design + Color choices and Journaling. I will also mention supplies, but briefly since I don't use very many.

Layout 01 | Up Close and Personal

When seeking inspiration I rarely look to other scrapbookers. Most of what I make comes from either a print ad/magazine layout that I've pinned or collected, a recycled idea from a previously completed layout or a sketch. Some sketches are my own, but most are not. I get them a variety of places but I'm currently taking a workshop over at Studio Calico and I like it a lot.

Here's the details. Click on the picture for a larger view.

inspiration image

Aside from cutting thin rectangles into paper, this layout came together rather quickly. Because I am a painfully slow scrapbooker, I engage in a good deal of planning on the front end. I hardly ever begin a page without some notion of where I'm going with it. One of the things I didn't mention was the journaling. I like there to be words on every page I make....sometimes I keep things very brief, but there is always a story. Perhaps if I was a better photographer then my pictures would be enough, but I'm not and they aren't. So, that's it...until next time.

pocket memorykeeping | april

My April spread came together pretty quickly even though I had a lot of pictures. On average, I find I'm using two 3x4 protectors and one 2up 4x6 protector. Occasionally I add an insert. This month I used a business card page protector that I altered to accommodate four pictures on each side. I don't own an Instax, I just imitate the look.

As for using the SC Kit, I have to say, this month was far easier than last and I know that had a lot to do with the colors. I wasn't fond of the March journal cards...but loved April. Everything just worked so much better. Initially I was going to use the full cards and ignore the rounded corners as so many people suggest...but I couldn't do it. I just don't like rounded corners so I had to change things up a bit. I'm still only using a rather small percentage of the kit. Out of 24 cards I used 5 and a few of the die-cut labels. This seems like hardly enough to warrant the cost, but it's hard to say at this point if the other supplies won't find themselves useful in future projects.

who knows...the bottom line?

April is done:)

day in the life | 2014

Yesterday I participated in Ali's Day in the Life project. I've done it before, but never really accomplished much with the photos. Every year I find the constant picture taking fun at first and then annoying. I didn't want to think about setting up the camera to photograph a long ass conference call or what happens to Ronin/Cujo when the mailman comes. These are all part of my days but somewhat impossible to capture on camera.

I was happy that this years DITL landed on a pretty calm day for me. There wasn't a ton on my to-do list and it was pretty typical over all. I opted to only photograph what I would normally photograph for my monthly pocket album and didn't worry about every last detail. I did take care to write everything down though. I still wanted to record my day, I just didn't want to do it primarily through pictures. I ended up printing out a single picture for my album and writing everything out directly on it. I took one silly pic in the morning...I meant to use it to Instagram my daily bun, but ended up using all that white space for recording my day. I am quite pleased with the result and glad I took the time to write things down as they happened. This is what most of my days look like...

messy bun included.

a walk down memorykeeping lane

Happy National Scrapbooking Day! Yes, it's a thing.

I thought that it would be fun to share some of my early scrapbook layouts and kinda see how much...or how little I've evolved:)

This may very well have been my 2nd or 3rd layout ever. 8.5x11 because that was my jam and still is sometimes and lots of distress inking and stamping. I made those flowers free hand so yeah, the making of my own embellishments started from the very beginning. Just to give you a frame of reference, my niece was about two in that picture and she just turned 18 four days ago. EEK!

Another Allie layout because early on I thought scrapbooking was all about kids and since I didn't have any I used the one and only child to whom I had somewhat unlimited access. 2005 and I was super into layering and patterns. Oh, and tearing paper...i don't know what I was thinking other than
TRY EVERYTHING!!!!

Still on the "scrap my sister's kid" train. I decided to try 12x12 and it felt like a lot of real estate to fill up. I also realized that I'm a one maybe two photos kinda gal and always have been. More layering, more handmade embellishments. I still love this picture and remember that day fondly.

Yup, I was way more prolific in my early scrapbooking years. This was pretty simple and I think it was a scraplift...so if it looks like something you made back in the day, thanks for the inspo:) To those that think using embroidery floss on scrapbook pages is new, it's not. I'm glad that it made its way back around again but I'm no longer really into it.

Yay! Seven years later my sister gives birth to another child just so I'd have someone other than Allie to scrapbook. Okay...that might not have been the whole reason. Clearly my style evolved very little. One picture, layers, buttons and handwritten journaling along the side. I have about 50 more that look just like this one.

A rare two picture layout, but it follows my basic formula. It was around this time that I started machine stitching on everything. My nephew was about two or three in this picture and he is now 11. Love that I was still using buttons and cut out embellishments.

Around 2006  I stopped scrapbooking my niece and nephew. I wanted to scrapbook my family as an extension of my own life and not as the primary subject matter. I also cancelled all of my scrapbooking magazine subscriptions since they never really got behind depicting layouts that looked like my life. I switched to the Internet where I discovered the Dares and other styles of scrapbooking that more closely fit my aesthetic.

Cut to 2010 and I was still keeping pictures to a minimum...still layering and still machine stitching. The big addition was mist. Let me tell you...it was short lived. I still like mist, but I don't do it very much.

Almost 20 years later and I'm still participating in this amazing hobby. It has helped my unwind, it has helped me become far more observant, it has helped me remember things I had long forgotten...but really it's made me happy and grateful for my life. I think all these layouts pretty much look alike...except for that first one which was kind of an anomaly. I still like all of the same things. My favorite embellishments are still the ones I make myself. I still use some of the exact same paper punches and supplies. I now scrapbook 6x8 layouts which is really a slightly smaller version of 8.5x11 and these days it's almost all about me:)

Here's to another 20 years.  Oh...and note to self...use my own handwriting more.

pocket memorykeeping | march

So I already discussed some of the challenges I faced this month with my pockets. I got a kit and had a bit of difficulty incorporating the bits into my somewhat formulaic process. I kinda think there were parts were I forced it...I'll just show you.

Like usual, I used three protectors for the month. Two 3x4's and one full size 6x8. I had lots of photos this month so I included some flip up cards as well as an accordion card. Speaking of flip cards I've been makeshifting them for a long while now, but apparently Simple Stories makes a single 3x4 or 4x6 protector that has adhesive on the top and can be used to create your own flip card. Thanks, Ali. I didn't have any so I just did what I always do...cut a bit of printer paper...sandwich between two cards and fold at the seam...voila! They're totally low budge and the top card is not in plastic, but they work for me.

I really love using a photo for the month...just putting a filler card in there feels wasteful so this month I used a circle, adjusted the opacity and wrote "March" on the inside. Done. This is also my first flip card. I made the little tabs that say "lift." That tiny heart stamp is from the kit.

The "nature" stamp was part of the Gertrude add-on. It felt just a tiny bit forced...I certainly didn't need it...but it worked and I had it so there it goes. I was surprised how much I liked the cork alphas since I don't really like cork, but that's what kits are for...to introduce you to things you thought you'd never use. On the right side I used a full size photo since I was going to document my day trip on the back.

The left side documents my trip to Bainbridge Island. I could have easily created a simple collage, but I liked the idea of designing mini polaroid-esque pictures and adhering it to a sheet of kraft cardstock. On the left, the sticker and that striped card and stamp are from the main kit. The arrow stamp and "this & that" card is from the add-on.

I made another flip card on this side using the Gertrude Add-on again. I think I was really drawn to that kit because I found it to be much more simple and clean. I also loved that the cards weren't rounded. I'm not a fan of the rounding, but I'm trying to get over it.

I also got bit fancy and made an accordion card. I made it the same way I make my flips...just times four. I find if I stack more than four it's just too thick. When I fold it up it's not much thicker than a piece of flair. It's a fun way to add more pics and I love little surprises like this.

March is officially in the can and I'm ready to get started on April.

the second part

Before you invest too much time, this post is about memorykeeping...specifically Project Life^® or pocket scrapbooking or whatever you call it.

It happens quite frequently that I'll read an article or a blog post about the trying of a new recipe or the purchase of a new whatever and I think to myself...I hope they write a follow up. I want to know how that recipe turned out or if that whatever was really as good as people claim. Does that happen to you? All too often I am left hanging. I never find out. Sometimes I think people prefer to write about the first part. The first part is exciting and full of possibility. The first part stimulates our imaginations and sometimes ignites our envy.

I like the second part. The part that is reality. So you didn't just snap a few pics of your brand new juicer you actually used it, loved it and have a few things to share. You tried that new recipe and almost burnt down your house...okay, that would be bad, but I would love you for sharing.

So in the interest of sharing the second part I thought I would write a bit about using my Studio Calico Project Life^® kit. If you read this post, you know I already discussed the first part...took some pretty pictures and led you to believe that everything was going swimmingly, and it was until I had to get down to business.

Something happens when you take all the lovely goodies out of the box and actually attempt to incorporate them into your book. Make no mistake...this months kit was lovely. I also got the Gertrude Add-on which did not disappoint either, but man oh man was it a challenge. Maybe I've kept things too plain for too long. Maybe the colors weren't working for me. Maybe I wanted the kit more than I needed the kit, but nothing looked right to me. I arranged, rearranged and ended up using about 5 items. So, if you're doing the math, that's two kits at about 30 bucks each...and well...yeah.

I am now waiting for  my May kit and preparing to do my April spreads. I did not get any add-ons this month because if I can't work with the main kit I needn't bother. I really want to add more color and more personality to my pockets...but I'm thinking maybe the pictures and words were enough.

I know, this is not a very happy ending. That's why people avoid the second part...because sometimes it sucks. I think I'll go back to that other post and read some of my own advice. I'm not quite ready to give up. I'm going to try one more month and if it doesn't work it may just be time for the "it's not you, it's me" conversation.

I'll share my March spread on Friday.

from break up to make up

About a year ago I decided to cancel my scrapbook kit subscription. While I liked most of the product, I felt overwhelmed by all the stuff I still had yet to use, not to mention all the boxes that I had not even opened. I also felt like choosing my own stuff might be worth the effort if it meant that I would end up with only the things I wanted.

That worked for about two months...and then I took a break from buying stuff period. At least paper crafting stuff. I think I just needed a really good purge and some time to figure out what I really wanted. My style had evolved so much. I no longer made traditional layouts and had more than enough supplies to support both my card and stamping habits...but what about my pockets?

Granted, my memorykeeping style is very simple. I place pictures in pockets with a bit of story and that's it. Would going back to a kit make sense for me? Well...this past month I did it. It's an experiment really. This time I chose a kit more in line with what I do. The Studio Calico Project Life® kit. I've been curious about it for a while. It's smaller...just enough bits and pieces to do a monthly spread and then some. Truthfully, not everything was my style. That happens sometimes with a kit. But this time I had a system. I use the elements for three main things...my pockets, minibooks and layouts. I separate out what I know will work for each one and put a rubber band around them.  Everything I know I will absolutely not use I place in a flat rate postal box. When it's full it's gone...I'll either sell it on my blog for a small cost, give it away, or drop it off at my local Goodwill.

If you're thinking about subscribing to a papercrafting kit...specifically a memorykeeping kit here's some things I've learned...

♥ Choose a kit that fits your hobby. If you don't make cards a card kit might not make much sense in the long run.

♥ Give yourself 3-6 months to just look at what's released. Look at projects made with those releases. If you can see yourself using a large percentage of the materials it might be a good idea.

♥ Make sure that the designs align with your personal aesthetic and challenge yourself to use items within a 30 day period.

♥ This may not matter to you but if the company has a design team that makes projects you like it can make a big difference. Sometimes all I need to get going is just a bit of inspiration.

♥ If you hoard more than you make, a kit may not be a good idea. If you have more than 1 or 2 boxes that sit untouched....don't be afraid to put the breaks on your subscription. You can always pick it up in the future.

♥ If you find the product or community not to your liking. Just. Stop. Subscribing. Use the product list as a jumping off point and curate your own kit.

♥ If you receive a kit you don't like, challenge yourself to use it in a different way...home decor, a minibook, recipe cards, make a notepad and stick it in your purse, love notes for your family or yourself, create a cute ephemera pack and send it to a friend who loves paper like you do. 

♥ You can't worry about missing out. I know that we all want everything...but that can make you crazy. After that major Target/Missoni nightmare I will never go nuts trying to buy anything online again. On reveal days...I get off the computer and I go and DO something...make dinner, knit, walk my dog, watch a movie, read. Sure, I may not get everything...but I get my kit, and that's enough:)

**this month I totally missed out on that cute 4x4 gold album. I ended up scoring it week or so later and received it way before my other stuff. Missing out gave me time to think about whether I really wanted it and come up with an actual use for it. I always manage to track down the things I must have and when I don't...there's always next month:) 

pocket memorykeeping | my process I

edited to add: a few people asked about the page protector to the left in the above photo. It is actually made for business cards and I got it at Staples. I just cut it down from 8.5x11 so it would fit in my book. I turn it to the side and punch holes. The top two pockets are open on the bottom...it may seem like the photo would slip out but that never happens since the cards on the other side keep things pretty snug. I modified my pictures so they would look like Instax photos...but they're not:)

Because I update my album monthly, I am always working a month behind. I love it...for me it means that I can relax, take pictures, and just let life happen. I use a small notebook to jot down highlights...it's not a journal or a date book, it's just for things I might forget. I don't even concern myself with the current month until it's over. Once the new month begins I begin my process... usually within the first week.

Step 1. I transfer photos from my devices to my computer. I save to an external hard drive at the same time.  Sometimes this is all I do on a given day. It helps to break things up a bit.

Step 2. Using Aperture, I clear out the pictures I don't want and I place the ones I do want into an album titled "month_year." I occasionally edit my photos in Aperture using VSCO, but this is rare. I simply prefer and am more proficient in Photoshop.  I create a new folder and export the images I want to use into that folder. I then edit using Rad Lab. I always edit a bit...it makes up for my less than stellar photography talents. I stash any ephemera I have in a MS zipper pouch.

Step 3. I draw up a little sketch of where I want things to go and then crop accordingly. Because my style is so basic, I use a handful of different designs over and over. At this point I work on adding journaling...some directly to photographs...some on journal cards in Illustrator. I know that there are people who add journaling the way I do using apps on their phone and just printing the whole thing out, but I don't.

Step 4. I print my pictures separately and then adhere them to plain white cards that I've already printed and cut. It might seem a bit inefficient to print them separately, but it's my process and it works and it allows me to utilize every inch of photopaper for pictures.

Step 5. Once I have all my photocards completed, I look them over and see if anything needs to be added. Usually I keep things basic...occasionally I'll add a label, a bit of flair or some wood veneer or washi...but more often I just slip them into the page protector and call it done.

That's it. 90% of the work takes place even before the pictures are printed out. From start to finish it takes me no more than a few days. I know this isn't the most creative process...I don't use that much stuff, but that's not what it is for me right now. I get creative with other parts of this book...but I'll leave that for part two.

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The winner of the giveaway was Rhonda Nichol.

rhonda nickol said...

Right now my go to essentials are my stamps, mist/spray paint, wood veneer,labels/tags esp. Bananfish(my favorite),tiny attacher and i recently found a liking for doilies and enamel dots. I love adding some of these items to projects, I like alot of detailing to projects. Gotta start using my stash!

April 8, 2014 at 9:22 PM

send me your mailing address and I'll get your album out pronto. france@bananafishstudio.com