Tell Your Story - Prompts

So it begins.  I wrote that I had subscribed to the new Ali Edwards story stamps.  Having time before the stamps arrive and the inspiration from the class has been great to start thinking about what stories I want to tell.   

I began with the layout that she had used in her class, to get the creativity flowing.  Usually I have a set of photos from an event that I scrap.  This has prompted me to tell more of my everyday story and share more of life as it is right now.  

Loving the gallery where you get to see what others are doing and how they are using the stamps.  Usually I 'make do with what I have'.  So it is awesome to be a part of using the stamps.  While I have lots of photos printed at the moment I have been getting back into taking photos and am looking forward to printing more as we get glimpses into next months story sparks.

On a roll with my cards

This kit of gorgeous papers has been sitting together for quite some time.  Everyday enchantment is by far my favourite paper from Stampin Up.  Haven't seen more like it though.  So I have definitely been hoarding it.  Time to use it.

I decided to keep these cards blank and will stamp the sentiments as I come to use them.  Handy to have some in your stash for different occasions.

Story Stamps

 I arrived home yesterday to find a nice parcel in the mailbox.  My stamps have arrived!!!  I am so pleased that I have been clearing out things to make way for this.  While they ship on the 15th of each month it does take a bit to get to New Zealand.  10 days is really nothing though.  With the class that goes along with it there are lots of prompts and things I can do while I am waiting for the stamps.

So I am off to pull out the photos and supplies ready for some layouts.

Workspace Wednesday

With all my scrapbooking time lately I have been completing lots of great projects that have been sitting about for way to long.  I am almost ready to embark on new projects and so I had to stock up on supplies that I can't do without.  The first is white cardstock.  I have been searching for some time to find a supply at a good price.  I prefer non textured and have been using the paper insert that comes with the page protectors that I get.  With stitching on them I need two per protector and so I end up with loads of page protectors. So I was more than a little happy to find a stash of white cardstock in the bargain bin at the stationery store.

And I have been building up my containers of goodies and am loving the way that Marcy Penner and Stephanie use bowls and baskets for their little bits and pieces.  It just makes you want to use them.  Looking forward to going for treasure hunts through my goodies to add to these bowls.

And where would I be without my trusty adhesive.  Everyone has their preferences when it comes to what they use.  I discovered these gems a while ago and they have stuck (pardon the pun).  I get them in bulk from a packaging place in town.  I used to get just one box but am finding now that I am scrapping more I go through a lot more.

Project of the Week

Of all my Use it or Lose it projects this one has been a favourite.  This is a favourite colour combo of mine and I still like the papers that were in the set.  But it is time for a clear out and the last of the papers would have continued to sit there if I hadn't done something with them.  When I was away on my crop weekend we all got scrapping magazines in our goody bags and some had free papers included.  The colour match was perfect.  The bonus was also using the Kaiser word stamps that I had purchased some time ago and have been keeping for another project that I have.

Colours: baja breeze, chocolate chip, sahara sand
Stamps:  words (kaiser)
Finishing touches:  papers (kaiser and scrapping magazine), rub on, grosgrain ribbon (SU), buttons, distressing tool

Use It or Lose It

My choice of papers has certainly changed.  I used to buy sets particularly anything boy related that were themed.  I found that while I used some of them I found it difficult to match them with stories.  This one was an exception though.  The only problem was that I hadn't printed the photos to go with the layout.  You can see my other posts that had a similar issue here and here.  So here it finally is.

 I matched up other papers and some more recent purchases.

Definitely a story that I wanted to tell.  So much so that each of the boys who were in the story has a page.

It was interesting as I looked back to check the date on these photos that there is another story to tell.  They were from our first camper van adventure.  Must add it to my stories to tell file.

Use It or Lose It

So this set was a set of stickers that I had been given when we moved house.  We have been here 6 years now!  You can see the other layouts that were part of the motivation to get these stories scrapped here and here.  While a little old school they were perfect for this story and I added something new with the layering style I have been liking of late and it came together.

Use It or Lose It

If you think there is a theme happening here you would be right.  I have had three sets of papers waiting for photos to be printed to do the layouts.  With my latest photo prints I made sure that I included these photos in them.  You can see the other layouts here and here.

 This was the perfect story to go along with the ticket card that I had in this set.  While my photo (taken in the dark on my not so smart phone) wasn't amazing it was still a story that I wanted to tell so I used it.

With still more pieces of the papers and cards to use,  I pulled out another story that would work with them and used the last of the bits that I had.

Another kit down.  Another story told.

Use It or Lose It

As I continue to look through my old stash I find I am guilty of the sale bug.  Just because it is on sale may not mean that it is quite the bargain.  While I thought that I would use it, again I have had this kit sitting for a while in my stash having used a couple of the pieces without a story to add.  

 So I went through my stories and matched up photos.  Then I pulled apart the die cuts.  Laying out the different pages this made it so much easier to play around with the different pieces and find them a home.  I really only needed to add a few extra papers and a stamp to finish them off.

I was surprised at how much I liked how they turned out in the end.  Sometimes the very thing that holds us back is the belief that we can't make something of it.  Just start.  You may be surprised what you come up with.

Go to layouts

Whenever I go to retreats and crops I always come back with something new.  Lately I have been using mists on my pages and getting to know different ways to use them.  So I purchased some more and couldn't wait to have a go.  My other latest purchase has been the button trend.  I had bought a few in my last online purchase and there was a lady at camp that had one of the new machines that makes them so I got to make some of my own.  This was the perfect match up for these pages.  My go to when I want something quick and easy in a layout is working in a grid.  As I have the same story for both my boys it made sense to push repeat.

Will definitely be having more of a play with these products.

Use It or Lose It

You may have seen from my Workspace Wednesday post that I have been having a clear out and looking at using up different kits that I had put together.  These were the result of the bits and pieces that I found.

 It took some time to get into it.  The papers are brighter and busier than I am currently using.  However once I got into it I actually enjoyed putting the pieces together and liked the end result.  And the best thing is now the kit isn't hanging about and I have some great cards to give away.

I had some of the pink ribbon and buttons left and while I could have put them away I decided to keep them out and designed another couple of cards to use the last of the bits.  I had matched the ribbon to my mist but when I went to spray it was more red than I had anticipated.  So I made two cards at the same time.