Embrace Imperfection - The Mini Book

The Embrace Imperfection online class I was taking included homework. I haven't done homework since leaving school and Uni and even then I'm not sure I was good at actually doing it. The homework was optional, we were given a PDF of several quotes about perfection/imperfection. At first I thought: "I am not wasting my precious crafting time/energy on creating something because I am supposed to. And do I really need a mini book to remind me to let go of perfection?". But, the idea grew on me. Some of the ladies on the online chat encouraged me to scrap book in 10mins sessions so I decided to give it a go. I made the book slowly over the last two weeks - 10 mins here, half an hour there.

The mini book started out life as a child's story book that I bought from an op shop for 20cents. It is only about 3" and had 10 pages so that reduced my workload. I had a theme of yellow and grey and stamped journal ling spots on blue cardstock. I didn't really have a theme after that and ended up not liking the grey ink either. I basically took each double page as a layout and they match but the pages themselves don't necessarily match each other. Can you guess which page I really don't like?

The front cover is much more my style and I really like it. I chose a random piece of patterned paper near my desk and used that on each page. I cut one for each page, inked it and glued it down (the glue stick I used didn't really work but I decided not to worry about that - it's not like my ancestors are going to be terribly interested in this wee creation!). I decided to leave the front page blank, thank goodness as now that it is done I wished I'd used the crumbled yellow paper I used on the spine for the back page too - never mind, too late now.

Every time I made a 'mistake' I laughed at myself and had to let it be - the book title is "Embrace Imperfection" after all.

One Little Word for 2011: Hush

Here's a double sided layout that I mentioned earlier. It took me awhile but I really like it. It is based on a concept by Allie Edwards (love her stuff) which is having a word for the year. Previously, I will confess, that I thought the whole idea ludicrous. Who needs a word for a year and who needs to create a layout or piece of art as a reminder of the word? Turns out - I do and I did! I don't know how it happened but somehow I ended up wondering what my word would be and the word Hush popped in to my head. It really fitted with some personal things that I wanted to focus on and improve both for myself and for the people I love.

A word of warning here: the word Hush is not for people to use on me - that would illicit such a rapid and ferocious response from me that it would totally negate the Hush concept for me! It's just a visual cue to me for me to process. I added my journaling (what the whole thing means) behind the coloured photo on the cream/teal side and the tab keeps it closed (for my own personal perusal). The photo is of a painting I have hanging in my creative space. I absolutely love this painting/print and it fills me with such a sense of Hush (like you feel at a gallery amongst some masterpieces) so it was the perfect photo to use.

Embrace Imperfections

At last, I've found a teacher who tells me to "Embrace Imperfection". I am doing a *FREE* class at Big Picture Scrapbooking called "Embrace Imperfection" by Karen Grunberg - a lady after my own heart. I highly recommend it to any one who, like me, can't glue things down straight, occasionally end up with ink/pen marks where there shouldn't be any or spends hours 'flaffing' with the smallest details of a layout (I need the right embellishment of the right colour and the right placement of said embellishment). You've heard me say it before and I'll say it again - glue it down and call it 'done', then move on to the next project.

Better Photo

I managed to take a better photo of the close-up of the faux crackle on the layout for the Aussie Scrap Source competition in November - remember the one you all voted for :)

5-6 layers of Clear embossing powder ( I don't have UTEE but it would've made the process faster) then pop it in the freezer for 10-15 mins then bend it to crack it. Not my own technique - I saw it on a Stampin' Up! demonstrator's blog who got it from Split Coast Stampers. Tried it out straight away and love it. I think it will be popping up again in future layouts.

Less Talk, More Scrapping

Someone recently told me that I talk - a lot. (It's true) . Then I noticed that my blog is very wordy so here's going against convention and a short post. This layout is about one of my BFF's daughters and links to a much earlier post with the story of "U my fren ay? It is a very different style for me but I like the result. I wanted the photo, title and story (written around the edge) to be the focus (The blocks of orange cardstock just cover up personal details - not actually part of the design).

Just finished a double-sided layout with an acetate/OHT panel (hence the need to be double-sided). I love it but I'm not quite ready to show it to you yet.

It's the new year already?

Where did 2010 go? Considering it's been two months since the last blog post I probably should make 'blogging more regularly' a new year's resolution. Lots has been happening since the last post including a week enjoying the sun in Oz. It was unusual for me to go on a holiday overseas where I wasn't doing any sight seeing or visiting. All I did was relax and maybe a little shopping; it was just perfect. I've also just got back from New Years at the beach which was another nice break from the everyday (and work).

I finally got my layout back that was published in Up2Scrap and I can share it with you here. I saw the issue in the supermarket and opened it to have a look at my layout. i got a bit of a shock to see it was used for the opening page of that section. It was a half page photo which gave me a bit of a shock! I was disappointed to note that they had put the hanging medallion up in their picture. I guess they did that to make it easier for people to read the journalling. but to me it just left a gapping [but delicately shaded] hole in the layout. I was hoping to get some creating done over the Christmas break but it has been too hot. Besides, after the month I had in December I was hanging out for some time off to just relax! I will also load a picture of the acrylic layouts I did at SENZ in July (and finished much later). I've also loaded a close up of the dog's layout so you can see just how gorgeous my wee man is - and the embellishments that hang of the edge too :)

Back to relaxing for me and maybe I'll start on all the projects and ideas that are piling up in my head and on my workdesk.

I've been creating and it feels good. This is a layout I completed based on a Becky Fleck Pagemap Sketch that I saw online on the Aussie Scrap Source Blog. It is the first time I have done a layout based on a sketch. I knew I wanted to use the butterfly and the layout came together slowly from there. (I don't know why I can't get the photo of the layout to upload in the right direction!!!).

Winning is by voting so please vote for me: http://aussiescrapsource.typepad.com/

I have put in the photo of the detail as the photo on their website doesn't show the detail: sparkly spritz on the butterfly (took me a few hours to unclog the head on the spritz bottle though before I could use it), the glittery cardstock (pale blue), the stamping and glass finish on the lettering or the faux cracked glass effect I created on the green cardstock matts (under butterfly and square stickers). The lettering was actually pale blue to start with but I spritzed them with the mist (managing to get some on my favourite designer jeans in the process!), then I added some script stamping as I wasn't happy with the overall effect and lastly added a coat of glass finish. I added the glass finish in a hurry before work (challenge deadline was looming) and it managed to overflow and spread on the background. Solution: found dog's tiny syringe and used it to mop up as much as I could then I had to use cotton buds to wipe away the excess. Even though I used Stazon ink it still bled with the movement of the glass finish.

I am really happy with the final product - been a while since you've heard me say that right? So, VOTE FOR ME!

http://aussiescrapsource.typepad.com/

The options are on the left-hand side of the web page. Mine is under the second section - single page layouts. Click the one that matches the layout here (It's the first one I think and the right way around!) and then click - Cast Your Vote on the button under my section - thanks!