My weekend was a happy mess of patterned paper, acrylic paint, ink and other lovely supplies. I wanted to play and experiment. I wasn’t sure what the end result would be, but sometimes, it’s liberating to fearlessly play with your supplies and just see what happens. Normally, I feel frustrated when I smear ink or paint, but this weekend, I embraced those imperfections. I just wanted to create.

Today I’m happy to share my imperfect creations with you and tell you a little bit about how they came together. It’s my hope that you’ll be inspired to get messy and create, too—to fearlessly experiment with your supplies and just see what happens!




dessert love

Supplies:
Patterned paper, sticker (KI Memories)
Letter stickers (American Crafts, EK Success)
Transparency (Graphix)
Misc.: kraft cardboard, foam adhesive, acrylic paint, staples, ink, notebook paper

I was inspired by Assistant Editor GinaMarie’s use of a transparency to frame a photo, so I created this page. First, I experimented by laying down multiple strips of patterned paper and my photo. I then used foam adhesive to place a transparency on top of the photo. I embellished the transparency with acrylic paint, using the bottom of a pen to stamp paint circles around the edge of the transparency. The felt title letters and “love” sticker were added on top of the transparency to create another subtle layer. I then inked the edges of the page to add additional texture. It was an accident that the ink ended up being so thick (and that I smeared it a bit on the patterned papers), but it lends personality to the page.

Story behind the page: This page is a tribute to one of my favorite restaurants—Aladdin’s Eatery. When I moved to Cincinnati to work for Memory Makers, I was completely bummed that the closest Aladdin’s Eatery was in Columbus. (Yes, I checked the corporate site when I moved.) However, I just found out that there’s a new Aladdin’s right here in Cincinnati! (And you can bet I’ll be doing a page about my first trip to eat there!)

Creative Prompt: Create a layout about your favorite restaurant. (Hint: Sometimes, getting good food shots can be tricky. Click here to see a page by Assistant Editor GinaMarie and get a few pointers. And remember that lighting is key. When I took the dessert photo above, I took advantage of the fact that we were eating outside and the natural light was perfect.)


 

permanent ally

Supplies:
Epoxy sticker, patterned paper (KI Memories)
Label sticker (Autumn Leaves)
Letter stickers (American Crafts)
Misc.: graph paper, kraft paper, acrylic paint, bubble wrap, staples, date stamp, ink

I played with acrylic paint on this page, too, using bubble wrap to stamp circles on my kraft cardstock. This layout came together quite quickly. After laying down a few strips of patterned paper and the photo, I added a torn piece of graph paper as a journaling spot, a label sticker for the date and my title. To finish the page, I added the epoxy sticker at the top, left corner of the photo.

I recently purchased the date stamp used on this page, and I’ve had a lot of fun playing with it. (Staying with the imperfect theme of this blog entry, I love the messy look of the stamp. It’s not always straight and the ink sometimes smudges a bit. It’s great!)

Story behind the page: My sister sent me a great text message a few weeks ago, telling me that she’s a permanent ally for me. I thought it was such a funny and cute thing to say. I knew I wanted to scrapbook the memory.

Creative Prompt: Create a page about a funny or memorable text message or e-mail you’ve recently received.

I hope you’re inspired this week to dig out some of your supplies and play. And for another creative prompt, click here.

Wishing you a very inspired week,

Katie

When Christy posted this creative prompt on Friday about the origin and meaning of your name, I knew I had to participate. While I enjoy the uniqueness of my name, it does create a stir when I introduce myself to people for the first time. To play up on the humorous questions I'm sometimes asked, I typed a few of them in Photoshop Elements and layered it over my picture before I printed it out. I love the idea of integrating text directly on your photo using an image-editing program or a special pen for shiny surfaces. I made my title stand out by using different letters for my name and by painting the area behind the letters.

I have enjoyed finding new uses for packaging, so on this page, I recycled the front page of a Hambly catalog and used it for a journaling spot. For more creative ways to use packaging check out our Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. article on page 46 of the March/April issue.

I hope Christy's creative prompt inspires you to create a layout about the story behind your name. Post your inspired layouts, here, in the forum and see what others have created, too!

Create something. Inspire everyone.
GinaMarie (capital M, no space)



Journaling:
So even though it can be hard when I first meet people, I still have always enjoyed my slightly unique name. I was named GinaMarie because my parents liked the way it sounded with my last name. They said it kind of sounds like music. I've always enjoyed it, even though it seems difficult for others to understand at first. All of my closest friends know that it's never just Gina. I'm always GinaMarie.

Supplies:
Letters: Ki Memories, Li'l Davis
Transparency: Hambly
Pen: American Crafts
Paint Pens: Marvy, Sharpie
Chipboard embellishment: Ki Memories
Arrow: American Crafts
Flower: Queen & Co.
Adhesive: Tombow
Misc.: Brad, button, cardstock, letters, paint, staples

Happy Friday!

This week went by so fast. Is anyone else feeling like there are not enough hours in the day? For me, I have to have several hours a week to release all the creative energy that dwells within. But lately, there have been so many things to cross off the to-do list that my creative time has been limited to smaller, 30-miutes or less, projects. This birthday card is one example. Few supplies, glue scissors, and handwritten type made this card  and matching envelope easy to complete.

Find some time to release some creative energy this weekend. I am even going to help you get started...

Use your own handwriting or download this really nice FREE font.

Writing/Creative Prompt: What is the meaning behind your name? Include a some childhood and recent photos of yourself.

Add these to your journaling if you wish:
• Find out why your parents gave you the name they gave you.
• Did you ever wish you could change your name? What would you have named yourself if you had the chance?
• Were you named after a relative? Do you share any similarities with that relative (looks, personality, interests)? Add a photo of that relative.
• Or maybe create a page about your children's names.

Post your layouts here.

Have a wonderful weekend!
christy

Today, Adobe launched Photoshop Express, a free online photo-editing-and-storing program.

Adobe Express might be a great option for you, if you’re looking to add oomph to photos but aren’t interested in purchasing software.

A few highlights of what you can do with Express:

•    Retouch photos: remove blemishes, red-eye, etc.
•    Convert photos to black and white.
•    Crop/resize.
•    Use special effects, such as Pop Color and Distort.
•    Create a gallery of your photos and share your work through slideshows or linking to social-networking sites and personal blogs.

You can explore the site at photoshop.com/express. I had a bit of time to look around this morning, but I’m just getting my feet wet.

Helpful hint: To use the site, be sure you have the latest version of Adobe Flash Player installed.

—Katie

As I become further immersed in this hobby, photographs speak to and inspire me every day. I find that I look at the world a little differently, too. I pay more attention to all of the details that surround me and help me tell my story.
 
So, it was an honor to speak with Jill Enfield, a consultant for takegreatpictures.com, this afternoon. Jill has been a professional photographer for more than 20 years, and her work is in several collections. You can see some of her pieces and read more about Jill at her Web site, jillenfield.com.
 
During our talk today, Jill shared valuable tips for better capturing the personality of photo subjects. I’m pleased to share these tips with you, here, on the Memory Makers blog. (And I can’t wait to put them into practice myself.)
 
1. Posed pictures aren’t always best. If you’re getting ready to photograph a group, snap a few shots while the group is getting assembled, Jill suggests. This way, you’ll capture spontaneous photos, in addition to the posed shots.

2. Put your subject at ease. If the person you’re photographing is uncomfortable in front of the camera, give him or her something to hold. (This tip especially is helpful when photographing children.) By giving your subject a ball, baseball mitt, flowers, etc., you will help him or her relax.

3. Encourage silliness. Encouraging silly behavior—in both children and adults—also will help your subject(s) relax. Ask your subjects to go cheek to cheek to bring out the playful sides of their personalities.

4. Place yourself in the background to capture natural smiles. If your subject is having a conversation with someone, for example, stand off to the side, unnoticed, and observe for a few minutes, Jill says. Then, with your camera ready, call out your subject’s name. When your subject looks at you, take the picture. You’ll get a wonderful smile that’s not a camera smile. “It’s part of what her personality will say, not what she thinks the camera will want to see,” Jill says.

5. Watch what’s in the background. When framing a shot, make sure there’s nothing distracting in the background, such as a pole behind your subject’s head.

6. Use a fill flash. Even on the sunniest of days, a fill flash will smooth out your subject’s complexion, resulting in a nice, even lighting effect, Jill says. This setting often is called slow sync, and it usually can be found on even the simplest of the new digital camera models.

7. Try capturing your subject with his eyes closed. People with their eyes closed can be quite beautiful, Jill says.

8. Don’t shoot from just one spot. “It’s not all about the camera or the lens,” Jill says. “You also have to move your feet.” Try shooting your subject from above. Or, get on your knees to shoot children at eye level. You need to think about different kinds of positions, so you can get different looks to make your scrapbooks more interesting, Jill explains. Avoid shooting someone from underneath, however, as that usually makes for an unflattering portrait.

9. Be prepared to capture action. Many point-and-shoot cameras have a delay between shots. To combat the delay, Jill says to “think about what the proper moment is going to be.” It’s all about timing. If your child is playing a sport, for example, practice with your camera before the game. Know how long your camera’s delay is. Then, while at the game, get the camera ready in advance. You almost want to pre-frame the photo before your child comes into view.

10. “Really shoot like crazy.” This final tip applies to all of the others. When people admire a professional photograph, they often forget that the photographer probably took hundreds of photos to get that one, perfect shot.
 
Visit takegreatpictures.com for an entire archive of helpful photo tips from Jill and other photography professionals.
 
And if you try any of the above tips, please let us know. Post your experimental shots, here.

—Katie

I created this card last night, hoping today would feel more like spring (since it is the first official day of spring) and less like the dead of winter. It had been raining for days, and it even snowed last night in Cincinnati! I made it my goal to think spring thoughts. I believe it worked! The sun is shining and it’s a gorgeous day in southern Ohio. I’m so looking forward to spring being right around the corner.

My other main goal last night, besides bringing springtime weather, was to use some of the old vintage buttons I inherited from both of my grandmothers. I recently sorted all of the buttons by color and had wanted to use them for a project. This button flower was a great place to start. I added dimension to the buttons by using glue dots and foam adhesive.

Do you have any ideas about other projects I can create with these awesome buttons? What are some ways you like to use buttons on your pages and paper projects? Leave a comment to share your great button ideas with me, and have a wonderful first day of spring!

Create something. Inspire everyone.
GinaMarie

Supplies:
Adhesives: Glue Dots, Tombow
Patterned Paper: K&Co.
Pen: EK Success
Misc.: Buttons, foam adhesive, ribbon