As the editor of Memory Makers’ newest title Starting Points, I had the opportunity to soak up all the great ideas in the book, which teaches you that anything—photos, stories, embellishments, stationery, brochures, and more—can be a starting point for a layout.

One important lesson that I learned from Starting Points is that it’s okay to start a layout with product or pattern, rather than photos or journaling (but it’s okay to start with those, too!). The starting point for my layout below was my excitement about fall and the chance to wear all the gorgeous fall textures and prints. With tweed and houndstooth on the brain, as soon as my eye caught this new houndstooth paper from American Crafts’ Moda Bella collection, I snatched it up and knew exactly where my next project would begin. (Ever since I got my first houndstooth skirt in the third grade, I have been a sucker for the pattern.)


My layout + its starting point                  

So, that’s what you’ll get out of Starting Points—fabulous illustrations of how you can use anything as inspiration if you just keep your eyes open to the possibilities.

(Here’s a quick technique tip for you: I discovered that the Daiquiri numbers from the foam Thickers collection make great stand-ins for missing letters. The Y and U in the title are actually a 9 and 0, respectively, and the brackets also came from an extra zero.)

Don’t forget to check out the Q+A with Starting Points author Linda Harrison and visit mycraftivity.com to chat with her this week. 

What inspired your most recent layout. We'd love to hear!

Happy crafting,
Kristin

This week we’re celebrating the release of Memory Makers’ newest book, Starting Points. In the book, find out how to create gorgeous layouts from a variety of starting points. To kick off the week, we have a Q+A with author Linda Harrison. Read part of the Q+A below to find out about the inspiration behind the book and what kind of starting points inspire Linda’s own layouts. Then visit mycraftivity.com to read the second half of the interview.

   
 
Q: What was your most recent scrapping purchase?
A: KI Memories Schools Days collection. With my son just starting kindergarten this year, I couldn’t resist.

Q: Starting Points is, among other things, a gallery of starting points and the layouts they inspired. What do you most want readers to get out of this book?
A: Most of all, I want the reader to be inspired. I want the book to increase the readers’ awareness of the inspirations around them and to realize that if they are uninspired by one aspect of scrapbooking at any given time, like with the journaling, or the product, that they can turn toward other points of inspiration to get them going again, like the photos or their favorite pillow.

Q: You live in Sarasota, Florida with your family. If you weren’t living in Florida, where would you be living?
A: For the longest time I swore to myself that I would live in Manhattan at least one year of my life. I still haven’t, but it’s not as much of a desire for me as it once was. Now that I have a family, I find myself craving the countryside of Tennessee more.
 
Q: What one of the most unique things that has been a starting point for a layout?
A: Candy wrappers. When my son was little and would wear a shirt with a pocket, my husband loved to stuff a piece of candy in the little pocket for him. Shortly after, I created a layout where I made a pocket out of paper and stuck actual (empty) candy wrappers into it.

Q: Speaking of starting points, how did you start scrapbooking?
A: I actually started in college when I first realized that I was now responsible for my own memory keeping. Without my parents around all the time, I knew if I didn’t take pictures and record some memories, there wasn’t around else around who would. I later got more into the scrapbooking process when my son was born and have been consistently creating since.

Q: What is on your fridge door right now?
A: Nothing. Which is a stark contrast to what can be found inside the fridge.

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Want to know more about Linda? Click here to visit mycraftivity.com to chat with her on the messageboard.

Happy Monday, everyone!

Today is my younger sister's first day of college. She's planning to study to become an art therapist. I created this hybrid card to wish her luck and let her know I'll be thinking about her this week.

supplies: Itty Bitty Epoxy Alpha (Emily Powers) • Once Upon A Dream album template (Emily Merritt) • Patterned paper (GCD Studios) • Glitter mist (Tattered Angles) • Ink (Ranger) • Misc.: date stamp, staples

—Katie

Today, we received a box of product samples from American Crafts. My favorite item? The Fla!r button accents. I put together the little collage below to give you a peek at what caught my attention. (Font used: Frutiger—which has become a recent favorite of mine)

What's been catching your eye lately?

—Katie