Friday Picks

Friday Picks is a regular blog feature, showcasing my favorite scrapbooking finds for your surfing pleasure.  Click on the thumbnail photo of each pick to go to the link. Enjoy!

Click on photos for links

Pick #1 5/25/12

Pick #2 5/25/12

Pick #3 5/25/12

Pick #4 5/25/12

Pick #5 5/25/12

InLinkz.com
#1 Write.Click.Scrapbook. / Inspiration Field Trip No. 1: Go Where the Books Are 

This week was all about finding inspiration by leaving your scrapbooking space and using the change of scenery to harness your creativity. This post was my personal favorite, but read through the entire week if you have time!

#2 Practical Scrappers / 10 Things You Can Do with Letter Stickers

Here's a new Tuesday series that is worth checking out. This installment shows ways to use up your letter stash, or use what you've got in unique ways. 

#3 Paper & Cookies / Encouragement Card

I'm always looking for cards that are easy, colorful and adaptable to any occasion. Valerie's card caught my eye and fits all the criteria! 

#4 Scrapbook & Cards Today / Layering Mists with Emily Pitts

Since I now have a small collection of mists and just acquired my first masks, I found this tutorial packed full of great information. There's a link to a video at the end of the post for more misting inspiration. 

#5 My Mind's Eye / Clustering Elements

Too much, too little, just right....sometimes it's hard to know. Here are some gorgeous examples and tips for pulling off this technique with style.

BONUS PICK

#6 Two Peas in a Bucket / Through the Kaleidoscope with Amy Heller

You won't see much unless you purchase the class, which I did last weekend. If you love color and color theory, then I highly recommend this workshop. The PDF's are full of great tips and the videos are inspiring. I felt I spent my money wisely on this one!

My piano studio recital last Sunday was a success, and now I'm winding down my teaching year. It really feels like summer here and everyone is ready to lapse into a more laid back routine. We do not have big plans for the Memorial holiday, maybe catch Men In Black 3 and go to Greenfield Village for the Civil War Remembrance Days, if it's not too warm. Hot afternoons are the perfect time to retreat to the coolness of my basement scrap room!  Happy crafting!

May One Page Sketch

You can download and print this sketch over at the Sketch Support blog. 

I love long titles and had great fun with this one. I also love scrapping about my other favorite hobby! This is how I changed the sketch a bit:

• rotated the orientation of the photos
• added a third paper strip
• ran the strips all the way across the page
• used a smaller banner, and buttons instead of butterflies
• added a patterned paper border to the page

If you use this sketch to create a layout, please consider adding it to the Sketch Support Flickr Gallery! 

May Add On Sketch

You can download and print this sketch over at the Sketch Support blog.

This add-on sketch and my stamping supplies joined forces to create a fun custom embellishment on this page about my dear friend. 

I used Sketches for Scrapbooking 1-Page Sketches, Vol. 1 for my layout design. Here's how I varied the embellishment:

• used a pinking border instead of a scallop
• made the embellishment slightly larger
• omitted one of the strips

If you use this sketch to create a layout, please consider adding it to the Sketch Support Flickr Gallery! 

Two-Page Tuesday

You can download and print this sketch over at the Sketch Support blog.

Absolutely no 12x12 patterned paper was harmed in the making of this two-page layout. My collection of 6x6 paper pads was all I needed!

Copper Harbor is Michigan's northernmost harbor. A beautiful location, but absolutely no cell phone service! I varied the sketch in 3 areas:

• matted some of the photos
• changed the embellishments
• added hand stitching to the top and bottom of the layout

My Slice got a workout creating the custom embellishments. If I have multiple shapes or a specific image in mind, then I love using this tool.

If you use this sketch to create a layout, please consider adding it to the Sketch Support Flickr Gallery! 

Friday Picks

Friday Picks is a regular blog feature, showcasing my favorite scrapbooking finds for your surfing pleasure.  Click on the thumbnail photo of each pick to go to the link. Enjoy!

Click on photos for links

Pick #1 5/18/12

Pick #2 5/18/12

Pick #3 5/18/12

Pick #4 5/18/12

Pick #5 5/18/12

InLinkz.com

#1 Get It Scrapped / 5 Liftable Ideas from 1 Scrapbook Page 

Check out 5 details on this layout by Kim Watson and see if one or two of them can inspire your next page.

#2 thinking*through*design / Welcome!

Here's a brand new site that looks very promising. Their first challenge on analogous color is presented in two parts, a "thought" section and a "process" section. If you scroll down their page, you'll see more about what to expect and the design team.

#3 Aussie Scrap Source / Readers Challenge: Design

They are starting a brand new series covering basic design principles. Great information, great sketches, and a great opportunity for you to participate!

#4 Easy Scrapbook Pages / Use Over-the-Top Framing to Emphasize a Detail Photo

Here is another place that is new to me. It looks like their posts include one design idea, one page example and instructions for scraplifting the layout! These may be "easy" pages, but they hardly look like beginning scrapping.

#5 I Heart Organizing / Reader Space: A Craftaholic's Craft Room

Finally, a little eye candy. Plenty of photos and a video tour, if you prefer.

I've done a little spring cleaning here on the blog with the pages tabs right below my header. So if you are so inclined, you can take a peek at my scraproom, favorite layouts, two-page layouts, process posts and Take Twelve with just a few mouse clicks! 

This Sunday is my annual piano studio recital. I have it here in our home, so there is some major furniture re-arranging to be done. But I think it's worth it. Everyone feels very comfortable in a familiar setting. My students play their solo and duet pieces, I hand out awards, and we eat! Oh, and I keep a studio scrapbook that gets handed around. It is very popular!  Happy crafting!