Create something. Inspire everyone.
GinaMarie

Everywhere you look, the focus is on going green. With this growing awareness on the environment and sustainability, Angie White, brand manager of Wausau Paper’s Creative Collection brand, shares some certifications and tips that can help you be a bit more eco-conscious when scrapbooking. Happy Earth Day!

•    Look for these two notable certifications when choosing paper: Green Seal and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council). Green Seal is a product certification that recognizes paper that has at least 30 percent recycled post-consumer fiber, while FSC certification recognizes products that support the responsible management of the world’s forests and forest resources. These two certifications require products to pass a strict application process.

•    Take a buyer-beware approach when purchasing recycled content paper. While many papers have been labeled as recycled, the way this claim is made may be misleading. The recycled nature of the product can come in two different forms: recycled content from scrap on the manufacturing floor (often called pre-consumer waste) and post-consumer recycled content. Think of it this way: The recycled content from scrap is a lot like using the paper that’s fallen on the floor, thus becoming leftovers. Post-consumer content is like using the same material from previous projects that have already served their purpose and are at the end of their life cycle. While it may not be logical to reuse prior project material since the purpose of scrapbooking is to preserve memories, it’s a simple analogy to help demonstrate the definitions of these labels.  

•    Save leftover fabric, paper scraps or photos and use them to embellish your scrapbook pages.

•    Create smaller-scale accents by cutting out flowers and other designs from scraps. Use fabric to enhance the texture of your pages.

•    Search your house for miscellaneous items to highlight your creativity. For example, old postage stamps can be used as a border to illustrate a recent trip, while a three-hole punch can create interesting designs to any edging.  

•    Consider digital or hybrid scrapbooking.


Whatever you do, take time to appreciate nature today!

chasing arrows
by Katrina Simeck, Master ‘07
Colchester, Vermont

Text: It’s no secret that I love arrows. I use them frequently in my scrapbook layouts. But this symbol isn’t just about the shape. It’s a symbol that has become as much a part of our everyday life as the stop sign or crosswalk sign. Such a simple thing. Check for the chasing arrows … If you find it, toss the glass/bottle/box into the blue bin instead of the trash. From the recycling bins outside to the recycled paper bin in my scraproom, we all do our part.

When I saw K&Co.'s Berry Sweet paper pack, it took me right back to my childhood, growing up '70s Midwestern suburbia. I knew right away that the bright girly colors, and images of butterflies, rainbows, mushrooms and, yes, the owls, would capture my happy memories. They brought back memories of riding my banana seat bicycle, watching Little House on the Prairie, collecting Wacky Pack cards, making crafts (loomed potholders, anyone?) and voraciously reading every  Nancy Drew book in existence.

I've got the makings of a great mini-album for some of my best memories. I'm purposely creating the album in a basic way, almost as though I made the album when I was 8. I'm enjoying the process and the memories and am less concerned with technique. This album is all about the feelings it invokes, and I know it's one I'll turn to again and again.

And, hey, if you need a good laugh today, check out my ears and my Carol Brady hairstyle. Oh, my! Share your own childhood pictures and memories here!

Best,
Beth

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