I am a Honey Bee

All about my adventures with cooking, crafts, and travel

Scrapbooking and Crafts

Snow Bunnies- Layout

I had these photos laying around for a while. I took them back in January when I had the rabbits outside in the snow. Part of me wanted to make a 2 page spread with a lot of embelishments but I decided to keep it rather simple. I fought myself about this page quite a bit. I played around with color selection, embelisments, and arrangement. Overall a simple grid would work best. I wanted to feature the rabbits so the close up’s on them to stand out. Additionally, I did not want to have multiple photo sizes- I don’t want to play favorites with them. ha.

I kept things simple since I wanted to emphasize them in the snow. The brightest thing in the photos was the harness so I started to pick colors that were similar to that and then kept going from where, while keeping in the came tonal family. I wanted to have some snowflakes on the page but did not want die cuts or stamps so I used a Hambly transperancy. I added a few colored gromets in a large (visual) triangle.

Stampin’ Up, Hambly, Cricut

A Happy Visit- Studio Calico 10/31 Sunday Sketch

10/31 Sunday Sketch

I’m been struggling with how to manage time now that school is over. I went from a VERY regimented schedule to almost nothing tying me down. Sure I have work but that is ‘just’ 10 hours of my day, previously I had my day preciously scheduled to include a few hours of sleep, then homework, rabbit care, and my morning routine before getting to work, working a full day, then 3-6 hours of class up to 4 nights a week, then homework after class, then some sleep… The point is that I have no idea what to do when I get home- I can read, watch a movie, make dinner, blog at a normal time of day, scrapbook, etc. But this freedom has left me confused and unfocused so I start to dabble in everything, making a mess and getting nothing really done in the process. So I have been trying to develop my own schedule to include nights of scrapbooking, laundry, crocheting, just lounging with TV watching. I’m doing a REAL true test run this week and it started with some scrapbooking on Sunday night.

 

While I was on the Studio Calico Blog I saw this weeks Sunday Challenge and I decided that I would focus on that. I had just developed a lot of photos so I went through and picked out one that would work with the sketch. Using some Studio Calico kit supplies, I got to work on the layout. I focused on the elements of the sketch and the colors in my photo. This was a pretty quick layout for me. Not perfect but I wanted to keep focused and get it done on Sunday night to see if I could keep my schedule. I punched out some patterned and Stampin’ Up! paper that would compliment the paper I selected in the SC kit. I also used a Sassafras flag banner sticker that I previously picked up from Torendi. I think adding banners to my LO’s is going to be a new addiction. 🙂

Mini Book: Weekend Escape

I recently took an online workshop about mini books from Amy Tangerine. I was so glad that she offered this class because I was so interested in her style of scrapbooking. Most of her scrapbooks are these minis that she creates, often by sewing the book together. While the class taught how to make these books, I decided to get the class kit anyway. The kit included a sewn mini book and embellishments for it.  Sweet!

During the class I made another book, well 2 that I combined. I’m using that as a gift later on, so more on that when the time comes. I used the provided kit, with some additional embellishments, for this past weekend Price and I spent in upstate NY. We went to visit family and going to wineries- this was the perfect opportunity to use this book because of the size. Additionally, Amy taught about her process in packing and preparing for scrapbooking on the go. She makes herself a kit that allows her to scrap, even on planes!

The most exciting thing about this is that I am done with my mini book. That is really record timing for me. Very impressive considering I only worked on it for a a bit over the weekend and at random points during the week. Pretty cool considering how hectic my week was with staying late, going in early, creating my Halloween costume, and a crocheting class. I do look forward to the point when I get it done even fast. Still very excited it’s done within a week since I still have not finished my DC book from our June trip. I’d say that this trip mini book experience has been a great success. 🙂

It was the first time that I scrapbooked on the go as well. My kit was much, much larger than Amy’s example but it’s a start. On Saturday night I sat down and started to map out and journal some pages. I’m a big planner so I realized that my future kits will need post it’s in it to block out picture locations, until I have them printing.

Aside from the ‘scrapbooking-on-the-go’, I enjoyed this class because it made me try new things. Typically, I don’t include souvenirs or write so much, but this class featured that scrapbooking style. I felt ‘safe’ doing those things in a mini book since it is a bit more whimsical compared to my 12×12 pages. This approach was really nice because I was able to toss in bits and pieces from the different wineries we went to. Even the sticker from the bakery I went to went into the book.

Overall I enjoyed the techniques I learned during this class. One of the big things is that I will sew text and embellishments into layouts and books in the future. I love the look and the process of it. I can also hand sew some mini books in the future.  Time to experiment and do some more scrapbooking!!!

I will conquer crocheting!!!

I had my first crocheting class tonight. I struggled through the whole thing. I just about cried at the begining. I had a rough day so having an hour of almost constant failure got to me.

The teacher was really nice and helpful, even kind enough to say I was getting the hand of it at the end. I drew a line on my hand to help me hold the yarn the right way around my left hand thumb. She thought it was a clever way of ensuring I would grasp it correctly. I felt like the quite kid in the corner who was supposed to glue the Popsicle stick to the paper but glued it to her face in the end.

In the end I sorta completed a granny square.

My homework for next Thursday is to pick a pattern I want to do and get the supplies. Suggestions?

Sketchbook 2: Day 6

I always joke that I am the planner and Price is the dreamer. It’s not to say that Price does not plan and I dont dream but most of our conversations are steered that I plan and he dreams. So I say that I am a wisher. My arguement is that my wishes come and go quickly. I wish I had a glass a milk. I wish I had a new pair of boots. I wish I could take a nap. I wish we could move right NOW. Well that last one is not going away until we do. But the point is that I dont invest much time in my wishes. Price is dreaming for a jeep so he spends time online looking at old ones in order to be 100% prepared if the day comes that he can get one. Totally cute.

The layout is based on the Day 6 sketch from the Sketchbook 2 class I have been taking. I focused on the components in the sketch, rahter than where they were. I looked at the qty of things and carried that into my layout.

“I am a planner. I am not a dreamer. But I love to wish. I guess there is no real diffference but I’m a planner so that holds me back somewhat. A dream has investment but my wisher is instants. Just a thought.

My thought when this photo was taken was thatwe could stay in Maine longer. My self portrait captures my relaxing moment under the tree in the yard. I wish I could lay there looking that the wind low the leaves around. In the end I jsut took a little nap on the plaid blanket. Maybe I dreamed in the end…”

Sketchbook 2: Day 5

I was really excited about doing this layout. I loved the sketch from Kelly Purkey’s Sketchbook 2 class. I know it is one that I will refer back to time and time again. While I liked all 3 examples of LO’s, Kelly’s was the one that best related to the photos I really wanted to scrapbook. I used her layout structure to create my layout. I’m so happy that I have completed another scrapbooking page within a week of taking the photos. I just could not resist these pictures that Price took of his nephews.

I loved this paper from Cosmo Cricut. It’s call Fitting In. I told myself to get more than 1 sheet when I bought it but I was (happily) overwhelmed with all the paper in front of me that I forgot. But I have a feeling I will send up getting another sheet or a few. I just see this working inot so many things. The back is really cute too!

Supplies- Cosmo Cricut- Patterned Paper, Sticker; Stamping Up!- Cardstock, rub ons.

Sketchbook 2: Day 4

Here is an example of why you should stop scrapbooking when you are tired.

I should have stopped when I started to loose focus. I was watching Extract (really funny movie) and wanted to finish the LO last night instead of wrapping it up in the morning. I only had the title left to do at 11.30, so I figured it was mangable and I would just finish it. I should have stopped then! I cut out the title using the cricut. I laid it on the page and it felt flat. I should have recut it with a darker paper (maybe a light grey?) but no I decided to make it ‘pop’ with some spray. Once I glued it down I hated it. So I just messed around with it more by accenting some of the title text with a black pen. At least that helped some of the 10’s stand out. I’ll probably go back and cover it to put a new title on there.

Lesson learned.

So Very Happy- LO

In just a few short hours Pricer and I are leaving Boston to head up to Maine. We are going to a teeny tiny town called… ready… SUNSHINE!!! No Joke. Guess what the main road through there is? SUNSHINE ROAD! I’m absolutely giddy about our long weekend there. We are getting to hang out with Price’s family, which means getting to see the little guy who is the star of this layout. These pictures of Addison, one of Pricer’s nephews, are about 2 years old now. Can’t beleive how fast times flies!! And how slow I am at scrapbooking. Ouch!

While Price and I were camping in NH 2 summers ago we met up with his family. I love how Addison is just so happy. He was so proud of himself for crawling on the rock. I love the picture of him nuzzling up to Chase. Totally love for his Dad.

Sketchbook 2: Day 3

Price is such a good sport. I bugged him 2 nights in a row about this simple layout. I started it late on Monday night because I just had to get it going then. So when he we  he was ready to get to bed I called him back to show him my work-in-progress layout. Poor tired Pricer is trying to get to bed early (to be at work at 6) and I want to stay up all night scrapbooking. And then I started working on it again on Tuesday night and had him checking it out again when he just wanted to drink a beer in peace. He is such a good sport about it considering my scrapbooking table and storage unit ended up taking over the office and now there is a table in the dining area. At this point he has as many rounds of golf and cigar smoking owed to him.

Anyway… I am absolutely loving this Sketchbook 2 class!!! It is helping me stay current with my scrapbooking. Like having 3 weekly assignments. I’m going to fall a bit behind since we are going to spend this upcoming weekend in Maine but I’m okay with it. Our long weekend in Maine will result in lots of photos and ultimately more scrapbooking! So I took this picture on the 30th when my mom came up to Boston for a weekend visit. We had a fantastic time shopping in the North End and in Coolidge Corner, going out for dinner at Euno in the North End, having a grilled dinner in the backyard, 2 trips to Haymarket, making smoothies, and another great meal at Bouchee. We were basically go, go, go so these are the best pictures from that weekend. This was such a fantastic meal and time I just had to document it.

I enjoyed playing with this sketch a lot. The sketch had spots for 2 photos and 2 small circles (focal points) Instead of just 2 photos I used 5, but I reduced the size of 4 of them to fit into a 4×6, mimicking the 2 photo look. Also I did not use 2 circles in the layout. I still wanted to use a circle but I made it 1 larger one. Instead of treating the 2 circles as just 2 circles I used their spots as focal points, which allowed me to put my text embellishments there.

Sketchbook 2: Day 2

Day 2 of the Sketchbook Class from Kelly Purkey and Studio Calico brought along another great sketch. I loved this sketch! It was fun to do this layout out. Esp since Emily was over (we watched the Informant!) and we went through a lot of my papers to pick out what to use for this paper and just discuss my addiction. Piles of blue and green solids were pulled out, as well as patterned papers as well.

I might redo the title for this. Still not decided. Or I might add something to it. Always a work in progress.

Sketchbook 2- Day One

I took an online scrapbooking class earlier this year from Kelly Purkey. Her blog is a daily stop for me 1) she does amazing work 2) she travels all over and I have wanderlust! So I (jealously) enjoy all the photos she posts of her adventures traveling. Well I loved her first class so when she offered another class I decided to sign up. The big difference was that I commited to myself that I woud stay on top of the ‘assignments’. And so far so good, I’m just slow to post them on the blog.

So the premise of the class is that there is a layout sketch that she and 2 other Studio Calico design members base their own layouts on. This is a way of getting 12 new sketches with 36 layouts to be inspired from. Everyone participating is really talented. Plus I love getting to learn about other scrapbooker’s blogs this way too.

I really enjoyed the first sketch because once I saw it I knew what photos I would use for it. There, instantly, I knew. In June Price and I went to DC for little vacation. It was so much fun. We have always clicked but it always comes through when we are on vacation. Well, this had to have been the hottest times to go in June. So when it is 100 and feels like 105 you try to go inside as much a possible, one such place was a cupcake/yogurt place. 2 of my favorite things ever!!!



Happy Layout

I wish I could tell you I have been in a scrapbooking rut. Why else would I not be posting any layouts? I have not been in a scrapbooking rut. I just have not been following through and posting them after I am done. I’m still making messes, finding strips of paper in the sofa, and unearthing ‘old’ photos and papers to rediscover. I’m having a blast.

My mom took this picture of our dog Piper this past May. Piper is 13 years old now so we let her get away with everything. She is slowing down but she surprises us when she takes off like a bullet after Cobi. She does whatever she wants, which usually means ignoring me and paying attention to Price. She is just about always happy, except when she gets shots from the vet. She greets you at the dog and practcally climbs up your leg to be held. If you stop rubbing her she will nudge you to start again. Pipes knows when you need some cuddling and some extra love.

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