Archive for January, 2007

Increase Your Scrapbooking Speed: Tip #1 Give Yourself A Scrapbook Area

Wednesday, January 31st, 2007

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Scrap Area

Originally uploaded by Noell.

Even if it is just a table large enough that you can leave an in-progess layout on indefinitely; even if you have to keep all the supplies in a mobile carrier that needs to be put away, you will get faster.

My home is pretty small. I thought I had a good system before when I was working on our kitchen table. I had a large wheeled-tote and most of my supplies (except for stamps and ink) fit nicely. Because it was so organized it only took me a few minutes to get set up and then put my stuff away when I was done. It seemed like the perfect system for my small home.

Last summer I found a week in my schedule with fewer than usual obligations. I decided I was going to devote that week to “catching up” on my scrapbooking. I pulled out a folding table I had bought for the kids’ birthday parties and set it up right in the walkway of my living room. It was definitely not something I could do long-term, but we could manage it for just one week.

That one week changed everything. I was in love. I was hooked. There is nothing like having an in-progress layout laying in full view while you go about your responsibilities around the house. Housecleaning and laundrey folding are perfect times for brilliant ideas to unfold. So is sleeping. I could get up in the morning, walk by my table, glance at the page I was working on and know exactly what I needed to do next.

If I had an extra ten minutes before it was time to get the kids from school I could sit down and move things around and make good progress. What is amazing about having in-progess layouts before you at all times is that you don’t have to designate a scrapbooking time and then force your muse to work according to your schedule.

Have you done that? Have you pulled out your stuff and then just sat there, not knowing what to do? For some people (and myself before I got a scrapbook area) a lot of scrapbooking time is lost to sitting and thinking.

When you have your own area for your projects to sit indefinitely, you don’t have to commit to your alotted scrapbooking time when your muse is sleeping. You can do other things. And then when that burst of inspiration comes (and it will if your project is sitting in view) you can dash over to the table and work side-by-side with your elusive muse.

Having had that table set up for the week, I knew it was a much better system. But I couldn’t stay set up where I was. And my house is small. There was no spare space. I’m super lucky to have a supportive husband. He saw how much I loved having my own table and he suggested we move that table into the corner of our bedroom. I told him there was no way it would fit.

There is an important key here to make note of: most of us have more space than we realize. There was space on both sides of my dresser. We moved the dresser over to one side of the wall, and sure enough, there was just enough space to fit my 6×11 ft. folding table. Storage for my supplies could go above and below. There was even a little space to the side to put an old end table and my painter’s easel!

I love my scrap area. It’s not glamorous. But it inspires me all day long. It was one of the biggest factors in cutting down scrapbooking time. Most of the brainstorming part of scrapbooking now happens while I am driving, exercising, or getting household chores done. My actual time at the table is mainly about putting it together.

I realize not everybody actually has undiscovered space for a table as big as mine (although I bet many do). I am sure, though, that most everyone can find space for a table just large enough to hold their layouts. If nothing else, make your supplies mobile but have a permanent table to keep layouts on. Always have something in sight that you can work on mentally until you have time to do it physically.

Photography Challenge: Cool Things In My Kitchen

Sunday, January 28th, 2007

I just had this urge to photograph some things I bought after grocery shopping.

Like this apple juice from Sprouts. It is the best apple juice, like none I’ve ever tasted before. I swear, it’s as if the apples were just juiced.

And I’m totally digging this second edition Morton Salt girl from 1921.

And then there is this magnificent vanilla powder from my favorite coffee shop, the Coffee Bean. It is so good in my coffee and tea and when I run out it is my first priority of the day to get some more. Plus, the packaging is pretty cool, don’t you think?


Note to photographers: I’ll have to update later on settings. My son is on the computer where the info is stored. Hard-hat constructive criticism welcome.


The 2 Peas Contest: This Is Why

Saturday, January 27th, 2007

I just entered my layout for the “Why I Scrapbook” contest. You can look at it here. If you’ve been reading my blog for a while you will recognize the journaling from an earlier post.

There are some really awesome layouts submitted already. I’m not holding my breath.

Photography Challenge: Trinity

Friday, January 26th, 2007



Trinity

Originally uploaded by Noell.

I’ve been playing around with my new 50mm lens. I can’t tell you what a difference it is and how happy I am to be able to have indoor pictures of my kids where I can actually see their skin the way it is in real life. No more yellow or brown-toned photos!

I owe a huge thanks to my awesome husband who surprised me with the lens last weekend. Also to Cari (from the 2peas photography challenge group) who helped me understand that improving my indoor photography required the new lens in the first place! I love looking at the photos Cari takes of her kids. Please go check her out!

Note to Photographers:
ISO-400
f/1.4
ss-1/125
Hard-hat criticism welcome.

On Developing Creativity

Thursday, January 25th, 2007



The Creative Habit

Originally uploaded by Noell.

An exerpt from Twyla Tharp’s book, The Creative Habit (pg. 7):

“I keep stressing the point about creativity being augmented by routine and habit. Get used to it. In these pages a philosophical tug of war will periodically rear its head. It is the perennial debate, born in the Romantic era, between the beliefs that all creative acts are born of (a) some transcendent, inexplicable Dionysian act of inspiration, a kiss from God on your brow that allows you to give the world The Magic Flute, or (b) hard work.

If it isn’t obvious already, I come down on the side of hard work.”

Amen.

Scrapbooking Layout: Wine.-Cheese.–Us.

Tuesday, January 23rd, 2007



Wine.-Cheese.–Us.

Originally uploaded by Noell.

We love having wine with cheeses and olives. Add apples, grapes, or dried fruits and it’s even better. Sometimes we go out to our favorite wine bar, D’Vine. Most of the time we enjoy it at home.

Israel’s favorites are Brie and Sharp Cheddar. Mine are Havarti and Gruyere. I especially love Gruyere.

Products:
Cardstock: Bazzill, Sampin’ Up
Patterned Paper: Chatter Box, Creative Imaginations
Rub-On’s: American Crafts, Basic Grey
Stamp and Ink: Stampin’ Up
Alpha Sticker: K & Company
Pen: Creative Memoties

Art And My Children

Sunday, January 21st, 2007



Blake Hanging On A Tree

Originally uploaded by Noell.

One thing I’ve been wanting to do is give my children a foundation in art appreciation, and maybe even some skill. I signed up as a volunteer with my school district and they trained me in three different sessions to lead “Art Masterpiece” discussions in the schools.

Every other Friday I get to go Blake’s third grade class with a print of one of the art masters and lead a discussion with the kids. Friday was my first day and it was so much fun. We studied a painting by Jean Honore Fragonard; “Blindman’s Bluff.” We discussed the artist’s use of light and dark, as well as lines, to draw the eye. We discussed perception, how to make some objects look closer while others look farther.

We also talked about the Rococo style and how the French Revolution played it’s role in ending it.

It’s all so fascinating. Paintings that otherwise would not hold my interest are so engaging when you look at them in terms of design principles and historical background.

Another benefit to this is the fact that my son still wants me present and involved in school and he is not shy to express it. That always makes a mom feel good, right?

Note to fellow photographers: Hard-hat constructive criticism wanted on the photo of Blake, please. Personally, I would move the subject over to the right. Hindsight. Also, you may not be able to tell on my blog but the photo is grainy. I had to set the camera on the highest ISO because it was overcast. My husband just surprised me with a new 50mm lens, so I shouldn’t have that problem anymore! Any other critiques to add to my own?

Proof That I Have Been Scrapbooking

Saturday, January 20th, 2007



Proof That I Have Been Scrapbooking

Originally uploaded by Noell.

I know I haven’t posted a layout in a while. I will be submitting most of the pages I have been working on to Creating Keepsakes, hopefully in one and a half weeks. I do have a couple of quickies I whipped up in between that I need to photograph and post here.

Note to self: Take photos of those layouts today!

I also expect to film the next episode of Paper Clipping in one week. So stay tuned!

i run

Tuesday, January 16th, 2007



i run

Originally uploaded by Noell.

Israel customed designed these Nike + ipod shoes for me for Christmas. He picked out the color, the design. And did you see my name on the tongues? You may need to click on the picture to make it larger.

There is a little thing inside the sole that syncs with my ipod. (I call it a “thing” although I’m sure there is a name for it, such as “chip”).

The “thing” allows me to set different programs. For example, I can set my ipod to tell me how many miles I’ve run or how many calories I’ve burned. Super cool.

MiniBook: Be Delicious. Flow.

Sunday, January 14th, 2007


Be Delicious. Flow.

Originally uploaded by Noell.

The Ali Edwards challenge this week is to create something visual with our chosen 2007 word. I combined a few of her ideas and turned it into a minibook.



What’s cool about this minibook is that I reclaimed a disposable item to make it. I took an outdated newsletter from my scrapbook store, cut it to size, and painted over it. Very messy. And fun.

I put a poem on the first page.


Definitions on the second page.

Synonyms on the rest of the pages.