Thursday, January 27, 2011

Tips and Tricks when Scrapbooking away from Home & GIVEAWAY!!!!

Hello Scraplings
(like earthlings, only better)
----thanks Tracy from Pansyshell Scrapping for that, I love the idea of scraplings :D

It has been a while since I have posted.  It just seems that the days turn to weeks way to quickly and I barely find the time to check blogs, let alone post on blogs :D.

I crop with a group of great friends every Tuesday morning, and we have affectionately called ourselves "Tuesday Therapy".  It is a lovely opportunity for us to get together and chew the fat.  On the odd occasion that one of us arrives in dire need of therapy (or in girl talk, desperately needing a moan session), we always find ourselves amongst a group of friends who will nod in agreement when we moan that we live with the worst husband on the planet one week, and once again nod in agreement when we sing our fantastic, lovable, generous husbands praises the next :D  True friends are the ones who will agree with you, no matter what they think ;)

I started thinking about how often we pack up to scrap, and was wondering if there are any of you out there who never know what to take, always end up taking too much, or in some cases too little, and end up sitting at a crop, frustrated and not scrapping a single thing.  I started by jotting down a few pointers, and ended up writing a 2 page document of how I like to organise my stuff for travel scrapping.  I realize that this is an entirely personal choice, as we all have different ways of packing our stash, but thought it would be nice to share with you how I do it :D

I have been scrapping for over 9 years, and during this time, I have hosted many crop sessions, taught countless lessons, attended numerous crop sessions at stores and at friends houses, as well as frequented Scrapbooking Conventions.

In the early days it was a simple matter of loading all my stash (a few pieces of paper, 3 punches, some adhesives and a paper trimmer), into my small carry tote and I was set.  As time went on and my stash grew to a size which no longer fitted into my nifty little “I will never need another crafting carry tote” bag, I had to start sorting out what was necessary to take with.  Over the years I have developed a planning system that works for me, and I would like to share some ideas with you, which you can use and make your own, to suit your scrapping away needs.


GOING TO AN OPEN CROP


1.            SELECTING YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS

First and foremost I select ONLY the photographs I want to do layouts for and I use the following “rule”.  NOTE:  I have to add here that I am not a believer of rules as such when it comes to scrapbooking, as it is a creative process and rules just takes the whimsy out of the magic that occurs during creating pages :D.  I have found that if I take a whole pile of photographs along, I get confused as to which I want to scrap and ALWAYS end up not bringing that something along that I saved or purchased with that particular photograph in mind.


2.            SELECTING YOUR PAPER & EMBELLISHMENTS

Next I choose paper and embellishments for the layout and usually add in an extra piece of plain cardstock just in case I decide to make an additional embellishment for the page.  I store types of embellishment together in a ziplock bag in a large storage container; for example, I have a bag labeled butterflies, vacation, bling, flowers, etc.  At this point, I pull out the corresponding bag of embellishments, and choose the ones that suite the page/theme.  These I place into smaller ziplock bags.  I also have my ribbons stored in ziplock bags by colour, so it make it easier for me to see EVERYTHING in the colour range, and select something suitable.  NOTE:  I take just what I want to use on the layout, e.g. 3 brads, 1m of ribbon, one butterfly and a handful of prima flowers.  These I store in a jewelry size ziplock bag.


3.            SELECTING THE EXTRA THINGS

Once I have the papers and embellishments chosen, I then turn to my non-consumable stash to see what will work on the layouts.  My” non-consumables” are the things like stamps, misters, inks, punches, etc.




4.            HOW TO ORGANISE AND TRANSPORT

I have taken some page protectors and cut the ring binding side off, leaving the tree bonded sides in tact.  I use these as my project folders.  Into this I put the paper, photograph and embellishments I wish to use on the layout.  If the embellishments chosen are too bulky to flat pack nicely, for example a roll of tissue tape, I put these separately in a compact plastic container, with the same for all the layouts.  If I have any notes to make on the page, I write them on a post-it and stick it to the outside of the plastic page protector.  The project layouts are stored and transported in my cropping tote using a commercial paper transporter (I use a Cropper Hopper Page Planner folder, which holds up to 5 page protectors)

5.            GO TO STASH WITH EVERY CROP

I have a permanently packed “go to” stash, packed ready to go in a document folder.  In this I have the little things I have found over time that I am always looking for, when I want to add a little something extra.  This is a personal choice, so I will list some of the things I have and you can customize to your personal scrapping style.

·       A4 Sheet of craft paper (or off cuts)
·       A4 Vellum sheet (or off cuts)
·       A4 White untextured cardstock (or off cuts)
·       A4 Sheet inkjet transparency
·       A few pages torn from an old novel
·       A couple of pages of sheet music
·       Tickets from a children’s games centre
·       A few meters of natural lace
·       A few meters of ribbon printed with ruler markings
·       Selection of paper clips


Along with my usual supply of cutting tools and adhesives, I have found that I am usually well enough stocked to complete several layouts without finding that I get part of the way through, and realize I have something in my supplies at home that would have worked well with the page.  In the event that I find I need a little something extra, I scout around the other scrappers and see if they have anything that will lend itself to the page and want to swap with something I may have in return.  Oops, here is another “rule”… Sharing is caring :D.  And, if you are at an open crop at a store, it is always nice to have some products at your fingertips to purchase should you wish.  I always make sure I have at least 5 layouts ready for a crop, that way, if my mojo is pumping, I am assured to have more than enough supplies and photos to scrap for the entire crop session


GOING TO A SCRAPPING CLASS

I find out prior to attending the class, what the end layout will look like, then see what I have in my stash that will lend itself to the layout.  I use the same principle as in going to a crop session, and pack my tote accordingly.  Should the class be all-inclusive, I obviously don’t take stash with me but still always take along my favorite of the month, which currently is Distress Inks and glimmer mists, as well as all my own tools and adhesives.  Not all stores have a supply of tools and adhesives that are available for use during a crop/lesson.

I hope that you found this information helpful, if it was needed and I would love you to tell me your little crop-away secrets :D  Please e-mail your ideas to jobrown0@gmail.com and I will publish your ideas on the blog.  I will randomly select one of the emails received and the winner will receive a FANTASTIC prize.

Creative Hands has kindly sponsored Giant Chipboard letters spelling C-R-E-A-T-E , for you to decorate and embellish for your scrapping space.  This is the one I have done and framed for my craft room:

Many moons ago I was fortunate enough to attend a Scrap Convention and we made LAUGH as one of the master classes.  I have also framed it for my craft room.




E-mail entries close on the 15th of February 2011.

Happy Scrapping Scraplings :D

Jo








Friday, January 21, 2011

Blog Facelift

Hello friends :D

Josocrafty has undergone a little reconstruction :D  I hope you like the new theme......

I will be posting a giveaway within the next week.  Everyone is eligible for the prize, so please enter :D

Be inspired!

Jo

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Under Cosmetic Construction

Hi!!

Please bear with me while I do some cosmetic changes to the blog :D  I am in the process of fixing up the backgrounds and headers :D

Jo

Friday, January 14, 2011

Budget Challenge

Hello ladies !!


I hope you enjoyed the blog hop :D


This week I asked our fabulous DT to come up with 3, yes THREE layouts, for less than AED 20 (US$5).  I find that doing a budget challenge like this, it not only encourages you to think out the box and get creative with items you would normally throw away or not consider for a layout, but it also stirs up those creative juices, because you REALLY need to think about what you are doing!!!


Here is what the DT has come up with and as always, we would love to see what you can come up with on this sort of a budget :D


Heba:



The paper was a gift from my sister in law :) - FREE
I cut out a card that my son made for me on mothers day and I stuck his pic on it - FREE
Chip board came in a pack. I painted it and glossed it with diamond glaze - AED 2.00
TOTAL - AED 3.00 




 
I used a cereal box, cut it out into circles - FREE
I used a milk cap and stuck one of my stickers in there -
2 sticker strips - AED 2.00
Paper - AED 3.00
TOTAL-  AED 5.00 





This layout I did at a make and take at a local craft store.
Paper - FREE
I used an old CD, covered it with paper AED 2.00
Flowers received in RAK - FREE
Journal tag AED 2.00
TOTAL - AED 4.00 


TOTAL FOR ALL THREE LAYOUTS AED 12.00






Boo:





Kaisercraft -Deck the halls  (Ivy)paper on sale - AED 2.00 
Kaisercraft Chrismas tabs-booklet on sale - AED 5.00
Sleigh tape on sale AED 3-00/roll 

TOTAL - AED 10.00





Scrappy Cat (Vintage Paper-Glamour Purple) AED 2.00
Butterfly - off of kids Barbi package - FREE
Fower-Heidi Grace, pack received as gift with purchase - FREE
Glitter brad old stash
Vellum Quotes AED 5.00

TOTAL-  AED 7.00





Bella: Melrose Vintage Paperz - AED 5.00
Black Cardstock - AED 3.00
White and Organza ribbon bits from my old stash
Letters-Paper Chic old stash 
Christmas Tree brad-my old stash


TOTAL - AED 8.00


TOTAL FOR ALL THREE LAYOUTS AED 25.00




Hana:






Black Cardstock - AED 3.00
This layout "Bloom" is made using Prima paintable paper - AED 10.00.  
I have cut out the frame from the paintable paper and
colored it in with copic markers. Then I have applied clear Rock candy crackle paint on the colored area.
I then stamped the word "Bloom" and made the O's with flowers and sprayed them with glimmer mist.
The Journaling is done on post-it papers.



TOTAL -  AED 13.00





Cardstock - AED 3.00
For Layout 2 I used a brown clothing tag, Tim holtz products packaging paper and Prima packaging .
The photo frame is made by the tag , Prima packaging and the word Ideology from Tim's packaging.
the lower right embellishment is made from paper rolling using Tim's packaging.

TOTAL - AED 3.00





Cardstock - AED 3.00
For Layout 3 I have used handmade fabric flower, 6x6 paper pad cover, Prima packaging .
The butterflies and the top right embellishment is made from Prima packaging. To frame the photo I have used the 6x6 paper pad cover.
The Title is done through Picket fence crackle paint using stencils - all
FREE

TOTAL - AED 3.00

TOTAL FOR ALL THREE LAYOUTS - AED 19.00

Riri:

"Finally , finally I could finish these ….. such a fun challenge!!! I really have to crack my head to get 20dhs for all three layouts …. You know that even a cardstock would cost 4-6 dhs here in Dubai, let alone the embellishment !!!!

So for all three, I just used the normal 150gm textured white paper that we can find anywhere here, A4 size, the cost will be 1dhs each only. For each layout I used one or two papers.

Thanks so much for the challenge, this has made me realized that we can create something from just a very simple and cheap supplies."




Two sheets of white A4 cardstock - AED 3.00 
- misted one of them and stitched both together. 
Got the punched out circles from photocopy paper. 
The hot air balloon was stamped on the same type of cardstock and cut. That’s it!!!

TOTAL - AED 3.00




 

A sheet of white textured cardstock -  AED 1.00
I  printed the writing and just used some alpha leftover for the ‘happiness’ - FREE 
The circle colored papers are just a punched out from Carrefour catalogue and stitched to the paper with black thread - FREE

TOTAL - AED 1.00



Again, two sheets of white A4 cardstock - AED 3.00
printed the writing and cut out before adhering it to the paper. 
Punched out white butterfly from just photocopy paper  - FREE
Lulu doilies - already for home use - FREE
button that I got as extra button from clothes - FREE

TOTAL - AED 3.00

TOTAL FOR ALL 3 LAYOUTS - AED 7.00

Jo:


Printed Paper - AED 5.00
Manilla packaging tag, taken off gift and recycled as a pull out journalling tag - FREE
Title is stamped on - FREE

TOTAL - AED 5.00


Printed paper AED 3.00
Frame around photo is hand drawn with a Zig writer - FREE
All other embellishments are stamped images - FREE

TOTAL - AED 3.00


Printed paper AED 3.00
Frame painted with back paint - FREE
Owl image, paint splatters and title stamped with white ink - FREE

TOTAL - AED 3.00

TOTAL FOR ALL THREE LAYOUTS - AED 11.00

Thank you for stopping by and I hope that you have fun trying out your own budget challenge :D

Be inspired

Jo



Friday, January 7, 2011

Scrapbook Challenges Blog Hop





Welcome, welcome.  If you have arrived at this blog first, and are wanting to participate in the Scrapbook Challenges Blog Hop, please start at Pamela's blog, Pamela's World of Scrap who is the first stop on the Blog Hop.  If you have arrived here from the amazing Shannon's blog, us and our princess welcome and enjoy your visit :D 


My name is Jo and I am a new DT to Scrapbook Challenges.  I am so pleased to be part of the team.  I am an expat South African living in Dubai.  I have been scrapping since 2002.




This is the sketch for the Blog Hop
and this is my interpretation of the sketch, I flipped the sketch on the side, as it worked better with the size and orientation of my photographs.

Amazing RAKS have been organized for this blog hop, why don't you give getting your hands on one of the awesome prizes :D





  1. For one person who leaves a comment on all the blogs in the hop, they will get the new Spring Market collection from Webster's Pages, including chipboard buttons and twine.  
  2. For one person who does a layout based on the sketch, they will get the Be Mine collection from Echo Park Paper Company.  
  3. For inviting people to join the group, one person will get a collection of adhesive from Helmar.
  4. For one new member over the weekend, they will get some new stamps from Unity and Webster's Pages.

You can view the whole Webster's Pages Market Collection by clicking HERE

Be Mine Collection from Echo Park

Helmar Adhesives

Thank you for visiting my blog, now you need to hop on to Rene's Blog ,Stamping in Sunny SA.  Enjoy Rene's inspiring blog and thanks for joining the Blog Hop :D

Happy Scrapping

Jo


Thursday, January 6, 2011

SCNTS Results

With the silly season still ringing in my ears, I have realized that I did not update on the Scrapbook Challenges Next Top Scrapper Competition!!!

The results came in and I am VERY happy to say that I came in at 3rd place!!!  I am so pleased and totally loved the competition!!!

Here are my layouts submitted again...

WEEK 1

This LO got me into the TOP 20


WEEK 2

For week 2, we had to choose an old layout we weren't entirely happy with, and do a makeover.  This was the layout I wanted to makeover.

This is the made over page, which got me into the TOP 10


WEEK 3

Week 3 required us to take note of the little things we do during a day, and scrap the events.  This layout got me into the TOP 5


WEEK 4

Week 4's challenge required us to set our own challenge.  I chose to set a challenge of taking 8 points of something/someone you love and scrap them.
This layout got me 3rd place :D

Thanks for journeying with me on this amazing adventure!!!!

Happy Scrapping!!!

Jo