Get It Scrapped CT Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to the Get It Scrapped Creative Team Blog Hop!

 I am SOOO excited to announce that I will be joining the Get It Scrapped Creative Team beginning today, June 1st. This is my first creative team position, so I must admit that I'm a little nervous about the whole thing, but I'm also super excited! And I think that this is a great place to start. I love the Get It Scrapped/Masterful Scrapbook Design community because it feeds my desire to learn and grow. There is so much incredibly meaty information at these two websites and so many opportunities to receive feedback and constructive help.

For instance, do you struggle with how to include journaling on your scrapbook page? When it comes down to it, one of my main reasons for scrapbooking is to record stories and memories, so that requires journalling. I could just put it onto the page anywhere there's room, but I like it much better when it fits in with the overall design of the page. This article from Get It Scrapped, 5 Ways to Make Scrapbook Page Journaling A Dynamic Part of Your Visual Design, discusses making journaling a part of the page design, and it gives some awesome ideas and examples. I've tried to incorporate these ideas in all of my pages lately, and here's just one example:

(Yup, that's me when I was about 6 years old.) I also took inspiration from one of the Get It Scrapped Pinterest inspiration boards (Inspo: Covers Book & Magazines) and used this book cover as my starting point. Although the  book cover doesn't look much like the final layout, you can see hints of it in the vertical column of the poem and photo.


I'm also excited that I get to offer you a discount on the Typography issue from Masterful Scrapbook Design - how cool is that??

Save 60% off of the Masterful Scrapbook Design Issue – Typography

 

Join guest teachers Anna Aspnes, Paula Gilarde, Emily PItts, Lisa Dickinson, and Tiffany Tillman as they show how to

use type as focal point, embellishment, title, and backdrop, and give you ideas and how-tos for both paper and digital scrapbook pages. Learn from these designers who rock the typography on their own scrapbook pages.

 

Use coupon code giscttsmf60p to grab this issue for 60% off thru midnight ET June 3rd
***Just place the Typography issue of Masterful Scrapbook Design in your cart and apply the coupon code above.***

For more ideas and discounts from the Get It Scrapped Creative Team keep on hopping, using the links below!

Get It Scrapped 

Amy Kingsford
Sue Althouse
Michelle Houghton and Deborah Wagner
Marie-Pierre Capistran
Christy Strickler
Heather Awsumb
Michelle Hernandez
Lise Mariann Alsli
Alexis Aragona
Kristy T
Stefanie Semple
Audrey Tan
Sian Fair
Brenda Becknell
Carrie Arick
Kiki Kougioumtzi
Tara McKernin
Susanne Brauer
You Are Here >>>Marcia Fortunato <<<You Are Here
Katie Scott
Andrea
Rosann Santos-Elliott
Doris Sander
Celeste Smith

 

Enjoy your weekend!!!

 

After completing a week plus of LOAD513, I decided that now would be a good time to get back into my blog. I've completed nine layouts (and will do a tenth today), and so far I'm pretty happy with all of them. After completing four sessions of the Get It Scrapped Guided Study Critiques Workshops (click here for more information) I do tend to be a bit more critical of my layout designs, but I've also learned what to look for so in the long run I'm much happier with my layouts! I also get started much faster, make fewer design "mistakes" (generally), and am better equipped to know how to fix the things that bother me about a design. The result is that I'm much happier with the pages I create, regardless of the time spent making them.

 

                               
Participating in LOADs (this is my fifth) and the Guided Study Critique sessions has definitely changed my scrapbooking. LOAD forces me to scrap faster (or stay up later!), and the GSC workshops help me design layouts much better from the start.  Both have also helped me define my style a bit better and to see that, regardless of how many techniques and/or embellishments I use on a page, there is still a look to it that says it's mine. I've also learned that having "a style" is not confining, but rather it's freeing, because it gives me a basic framework from which to work. I can try out lots of artsy techniques and play with products and embellishments, but still end up with a layout that's recognizable as MY work. And most importantly of all, they have both emphasized the importance of focusing on recording my stories and creating layouts that I am happy with, regardless of how "perfect" they are.

 

 

 
As I've mentioned in earlier posts, my life has changed pretty drastically over the past year, going from a stay-at-home, homeschooling mom to "being retired" from all of that as my youngest went away to college. Maybe it sounds overly dramatic, but during that time LOAD and GSC have literally changed my life. First of all, they've given me somewhere to focus my time! But beyond that, I've been exposed to so many new ideas, inspiration, and techniques; I've begun new friendships with women all over the world; and they've even begun to open up some professional opportunities in scrapbooking. I love to be able to share my stories (and yes, brag on my family a bit! :D) and have others enjoy and learn from my work. I'm just beginning to explore what my future will look like, and I am so looking forward to it!








(LOAD Days 1-9 are shown in this blog post)


The end of one month, the start of another

Wow! I can hardly believe that LOAD213 is over - the month went so fast! I managed to finish all 28 layouts, and even an extra one or two for the Guided Design Workshop (through Get It Scrapped). I will admit that some of the prompts were rather challenging this time around, and the middle of the month was difficult; but I managed to "just keep swimming" and made it to the end. Here's the result of my labors:

 

 

I managed to learn a bit about myself in the LOAD process. I also tried a few new techniques, resurrected a few that I haven't used in awhile, and played a bit with supplies and tools. I managed to use up a bit of my stash and a lot from the Studio Calico kits that I've gotten over the past year. I did, of course, buy a few new supplies during the month, but most of what I used was stuff that I already had on hand.

 

I'm really pleased with the layouts I completed. There were some days that I was travelling and/or tired and felt very uninspired; but I forced myself to make something, and in the end I love even those that I spent very little time on. And on all but one, I love the stories they tell (that one just doesn't really have much story :P)

 

Over the course of the next month, I plan to share some of the techniques that I used during the month. I came up with some somewhat unique backgrounds and page elements, and I'd like to share how I did them. Stay tuned for more to come...

LOAD213 Blog Hop

     Welcome to the Layout-a-Day blog hop! If you hopped over from Betsye Erazo's blog, thank you for coming. This is my very first blog hop as a participant, and I'm so excited. It's even better that its purpose is to promote LOAD213, because I love LOAD!
     My first LOAD was February of last year, and it transformed my scrapbooking! I got so much done during that month, and the daily prompts brought out stories that I probably never would have thought to tell otherwise. Taking the time to stop and ponder the prompts brought back some memories that I hadn't thought of in years. LOAD212 got me thinking about those things, and I scrapbooked many of them that month.
     It was such a great experience that I also participated in LOAD512 and LOAD1012, despite the fact that I was away from home for half of each of those months. In October my second oldest son got married in Idaho, and then my husband and I vacationed for another week. Despite the fact that I was traveling for those two weeks, I managed to keep up, and I finished a layout each day---my first time to complete a LOAD! I'd made up a mini kit  and book that I could take with me on the plane, and I was able to complete quick, simple layouts of the events as they happened each day. Thanks to LOAD1012, at the end of the trip I had already documented the excitement!
     The whole focus of my scrapbooking was transformed last year. It was prompted by a combination of participating in the February, May, and October LOADs; going through old photos with my parents; and my youngest son's graduation from high school, leaving me facing an "empty nest." Although I've never really worried about "keeping up," I did scrap more or less chronologically. Now, however, I have discovered the freedom of scrapping whatever event and whatever time period inspires me---it might be something that happened yesterday, or something that happened when my kids were little, or even something that happened when I was little. Or maybe it's just something about someone, or perhaps even (gasp!) about ME! Yes, I even occasionally include a picture of myself on a page here and there!
     Now I'm looking forward to LOAD213. I'm excited to see what new prompts and challenges Lain has come up with this time around. I love a good challenge and have found that they inspire new ideas for layouts. I can't wait to get started!

     As of this writing there are still a few spots left, so we'd love to have you join us! Click here to sign up for LOAD213. Your next blog hop stop is Regina Huminski's blog. Or if you're just getting started, click on any of the sites listed below. Have a great day, and I hope to see you at LOAD213!

==== My stash of layouts from LOAD212  =========>





Heather Dubarry: http://noexcusescrapbooking.com
Alison Day: http://adayinthelifeor5.blogspot.com/
Danielle Taylor: http://scrapperonthestreet.com
Alison Charlton: http://scrappinginsingapore.blogspot.com/
Christy Strickler: http://myscrapbookevolution.blogspot.com/
Lynnette Nagle: http://sassyscrapper2010.blogspot.com/
Julie Shepler: www.sheplerfamily.com
Joy McHargue: http://www.studiowowjoy.com/
Kelli Panique: http://scrapbookgirl71.com/
Cathy Holiday: pikespeakscrapper.blogspot.com
Leslie Smith: http://lcsmithsaved-outofthemire.blogspot.com/
Lori Martin: http://www.chaosandcraziness.com/
Connie Hanks: http://ClickyChickCreates.wordpress.com
Betsye Erazo: betsyerose.blogspot.com
Marcia Fortunato: mfortunato.blogspot.com                <=======You are here
Regina Huminski: http://ginabeth1.blogspot.com/
Beth Soler: http://www.scrappingwonders.com
Kristie Sloan: http://kristiesloan.blogspot.com
Katrina Forman: http://k84mansramblings.blogspot.com
Danielle Hunter: http://ecoscrapbook.blogspot.com
Jessica Baldwin: www.inkyaddict.com
Cheryl McCain: http://cherylmccainphotography.com
Briel Schmitz: http://scrappingwindow.blogspot.com/
Marygail Mello: www.marygailscorner.blogspot.com

LOVE learning!

     I'm getting ready to start another round of Guided-Study Critique Workshop at GetItScrapped.com (http://classroom.debbiehodge.com/guided-study-critique-workshop-registration-2/). This will be my third four-week session; the first two sessions were awesome - I learned SO much about good design and got great, practical feedback on my layouts. I've been able to hone in on what my style is, and although it sometimes varies quite a bit, I've realized that there are still some constants. My process is not necessarily a lot faster (although I can do some pretty quick pages if I 'have' to), but it is definitely more efficient; when there's something that's bugging me about a page, I have tools that make it much easier and faster to identify the problem. And during the class it's so helpful to have the instructors (in my case, Emily Pitts, Paula Gilarde, and Debbie Hodge) and other students look at my layouts with trained and impartial, but also very kind, eyes to give suggestions for improvements or even just big "pats on the back." I love learning about the design process, and this has been a great hands-on way to do it!
     At first glance, this looks like a fairly expensive class; but when you consider what you get - a good, solid design course, with personal instruction from three expert instructors, in a SMALL group setting (max of 12 students) - it is WELL worth it! Plus the feedback from the other students and also being able to see their progress is invaluable! Can you tell I'm in love with this class???
This class does take some time (although it depends some on how fast you can create a layout!), but it's definitely worth it. There are live critiques sessions once a week which are SO helpful, but for those students who can't attend live, the sessions (along with the chat logs) are also recorded; this is also nice because I can go back and listen to them over again and see what I missed the first time or just don't remember!
     I can hardly wait for this to start! The first assignment comes out this Friday and the first critique session is next week. I'm getting geared up and ready to go! Things will get really busy towards the end, since I'm also participating in LOAD213 through layoutaday.com (for more info on that, see http://www.layoutaday.com/layout-a-day-a-worldwide-phenomenon/?doing_wp_cron=1358181144.5263640880584716796875); but I figure they'll complement each other and I can work on both at once. There are still spots available in both the Guided-Study Critique Workshop and LOAD213 - you won't be disappointed! It's an exciting month ahead!!!

2012 Faves continued

Here are the six I chose from the last half of the year...

I made a scrapbook for Zack since he was graduating from high school. I loved scrapbooking these older photos!

I rarely use photos of me on my scrapbook pages, but this year I was challenged to do a couple of layouts about myself. This page was started in a class by Maggie Holmes at Archiver's ScrapFest in Minneapolis, and the basic design was based on her design. The subject idea was sparked by a Paperclipping Roundtable episode (although I don't remember who the guest was.) At first I didn't think I could come up with 52 things, but once I got started it was hard to stop!

I really miss my "boys" (guess they're actually men!), but I'm so glad that at least THEY are together!

Another older photo - and one that makes me laugh every time I see it! A great example of how incredibly creative and imaginative my boys could be :D

My newest "baby"...actually now a few years old. The journaling says it all, and this layout just makes me happy - LOVE the red!

We've had big changes in our family this year, and the marriage of my second son (Evan) to his college sweetheart was probably the biggest! But my boys proved that even the rehearsal can be fun when they're together. They're just a bit crazy!
















So those are my favorites from last year. Can't wait to see what I can come up with in 2013!

2012 Faves

2013...a new year, a new start on reviving this blog and maybe making something of it! I decided to start by looking back at 2012. I did a lot of scrapbooking layouts last year, so I decided to start with my twelve favorites from 2012. It was actually very difficult to choose only twelve! I tend to really like my layouts - some because I like the design or the look of them, and some just because I love the subject or the story. I do want to display what I consider my best work, but some of these I chose because they were milestones in my life and/or in our family or because they look back over time or because they show us all together. Many were inspired by prompts from Feb., May, and Oct. Layout-a-Day (www.layoutaday.com) prompts, and some were done for Guided Design classes that I took through Get It Scrapped (www.getitscrapped.com). Both were excellent and I'd highly recommend them. Here are the first six - from the first half of 2012 (I'll post the other six tomorrow):