Fall Birthday Minibook

So I finished the mini book that I started 2 weeks ago for my baby son's birthday day.  We went to a
pumpkin patch and apple picking... had soo much fun. It was great that all three of the boys had a good time!! So let me talk a little bit about this book!! I used a "kit" or products from my stash... October Afternoon, My Minds Eye, MAMBI, Recollections, Smashbook, Basic Grey, Paper House, Snap and more! You know what, I just decided to pull from my stash and have fun! I did pull some 12x12s, but didn't really use any. I knew I wanted the book to be more like an embellished photo album than a scrapbook! I grounded each photo by using photo corners.  I have to say those were the hardest to decide on... black, clear, or craft....  In the end I went with the black ones... which I know tied in better... since the binding and pen holder are also black.  I used the Recollection brand.


Here are some hints with doing a One event mini book... 
1. Put your photos in order first. I printed out and numbered all my photos first. I would even trim them down if needed.

 2. If you are using a pre-designed book go thru and see if you love and or need all the pages. This Smashbook minibook had a few pages I didn't want to use. Some I ripped out and some I just glued together.

3. Place the pictures into the book(not glued) so you see how they will look next to each other. I personally went in order of the day... so I could be telling a story with this book as well as showing the pictures!

#5

4. Decide whether or not you will be doing layer and such or just photo corners and journal or Both.  I did both so I really knew that I would be using the photo corners and only a single stripe of glue(glue runner) down the middle of each photo... so later I could tuck in layers and embellies without issue.

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5. Add the photo corners to the photo... don't try to put the corners on the page then fit the photo. Add the glue then put on page.

6. Put all the photos down first on all of the pages, then go to town embellishing the mini book.  That way if you come across something in your kit... and you are like "Oh that would go great on the Hayride page" you can just stick it in there.

7. Don't feel like you have to finish it all in one night (like me)! I used a bin and drawer to contain the "kit" while I worked on this minibook.

8. Not every page needs to be a layering masterpiece... some simple pages are good!!  Like this page... I just added stickers of pumpkins to beef up the real pumpkins in the photo.

9. Try doing the journaling after you finish the embellishing. Now that the book is all fun'ed up and lovely... it will be easier to conjure up things to say about the events.  I decided to use one 2 page area for the main journaling since it was of my son's birthday. I also did "one line" journaling thru out the book where I thought some of the pictures needed a bit of explanation.

I had a lot of fun working on this mini book! I couldn't even think that I would be able to do 10+ 12x12 layouts as well I did this mini book. Thanks for stopping by and check out these hints and photos. If you want to see more please click here for the YouTube video that is live right now!!

I did the "heaviest" layering on the back and front covers.

Christmas parties Smashbook process

Just like last year I am getting on my Christmas scrapbooking now!!! Here is a video from my 2nd page in the book.  Note: I am not going in order for this book!!

I really like this kit!!! Did any of you get one and what did you fill it with?!?!?

6 week layout!!!

Here is a layout I finished last night!! I have been straving for some scrapbooking, but I have been doing Halloween layouts and December Daily calendar cards!! So last night I finished a layout that I started 6 weeks ago!!!

Check my instagram for proof!!! I love how it came out and I am ready to do some more just fall ones today and tomorrow!!! This weekend I will finish up my December Daily cards and holder!!! Just in time for December!!! Got to go scrap!!!

I am on Two Peas also!!

Scrapbook kit Clubs

I have been jones'in to get into a scrapbook club for months now... but never was able to.  I remember for my birthday this year in March I had planned to sign up for Studio Calico. But it sold out within 2 mins. THAT left a BAD taste in my mouth.  I have to say that since then the "scrapbook kit monopoly" has been broken and there are WAY more clubs out there!!!  Which presents another problem.... which one to choose!  So I am asking my CSM'ers which clubs do you belong to?? What do you like about them??

Thanks everyone... I'm thinking either December or January to start!!

"When you can, Craft!" ~JES

Halloween Close up!!

Halloween was so much fun this year... esp. since last year we were homeless because of Super Storm Sandy.  The boys and I really got into the holiday!!! I was super happy to be able to use my passion Makeup to really get the boys into this fun time of year. Here are a few close ups of so of the layouts I have done so far!! If you have any questions or see something you want to know about let me know!!! I have been using most products I found at Michaels on sale AFTER Halloween. Recollections and My Minds Eye.

I am hoping to get finished with the Halloween stuff soon!! I want to finish up my calendar cards (my December Daily) before the first of December!!!!  I have a lot of Fall pictures to scrap before Thanksgiving comes!!! MUST SCRAP EVERYDAY!!! LOL Take care everyone!!!

"When you can, Craft!" ~JES

Busy Summer and Now we are in Fall

Hello Crafty Scrappy Mamas!!!! Wow this year has flown by!!!  Summer was a blur and with 2 of my 3 boys going to school now I am still just as busy as in the summer, only now I am doing home every night!! I have had sometime to create and plan tho!!!  I also went to the Scrapbook Expo with Nicole!! We shopped and hung out it was fun!! I have videos on Youtube showing all my hauls... check them out below.

About this blog... since this blog is for my hobby I am no longer going to feel bad about not posting... I hate feeling like I HAVE to post!!  I wish I had something mobile to with.  I have a Kindle Fire and a Galaxy s3 but I haven't found that those are great for Blogger.  So I can only get to posting when I have 10mins or so alone... which hardly happens. That being said I have some old news to get to.  IF YOU WON THE NATIONAL SCRAPBOOKING DAY mini contest I had PLEASE contact me again with you info. I still have your winnings but I don't have the addys.

New stuff: I'm doing my own December Daily and getting my Halloween layouts too!! Follow me on Youtube and Instagram to see more from me!!! Thanks everyone... Also check the Gallery link above to see more pictures and what not!!










"When you can, Craft!" ~JES

Great video inspiration!!

Thanks to watching an INSPIRING video by Ellen H... I was able to whip together this Teacher card on Tuesday morning for my son's Kindergarten teacher!! The party was for 2pm the same day!!! Here is Ellen's amazing video...


"When you can, Craft!" ~JES

Crafty Scrappy Mamas First Sketch Challenge Winner!!!

Thanks to everyone who entered and there will be more challenges and giveaways to come.... in fact check the new post!!!

"When you can, Craft!" ~JES

CSM's 1st Sketch Challenge Update #2

EDIT: CHALLENGE EXTENDED TO APRIL 2ND!!!!

Layouts any size and Cards any size are welcome!!!

"When you can, Craft!" ~JES

The Prizes... 3 more days!!

Here is the video showing the prizes for the challenge!!! Don't miss out!!




"When you can, Craft!" ~JES

Online Shopping

So what are your favorite online shopping places?? Let me know please... don't forget the Etsy shops you go to!!  Leave a comment below. I will move the ones you guys love the most to a list on the side!!

"When you can, Craft!" ~JES

 

Washi tape haul

New (clearance) washi tape from Michaels. When I was Smashbooking (Smashing is mostly pieces of your life more that fresh new items.)... I was crazy about washi tape! (see this video to see My Smashbook WOW that video is really old I have to do another one soon!!) Of course you could only get washi tape or paper tape or craft tape online back then(or at conventions). Speaking of conventions... wait wait, that's another post all together! So as I was saying, you could buy washi tape, but mostly online.  I was so not an online shopper at that point. So my collection was pretty sad.  Anyway now every store has washi/paper tape!! Even brands like Elmer's has a form of it! So using washi tape is a great way to add another element to your layouts! Bits here and there... they also make great grounders for titles, backing for burn outs, etc! 

How are you guys using washi tape? I would love to see or links to your works!!

"When you can, Craft!" ~JES

New fun Stuff from Michaels

and here is the quick video ... I show all the pieces!

"When you have time, Craft!!" ~JES

Layout Share: My Style

 I  have to say this is one of my favorite layouts. 

I guess it stems from the colors in the picture(the one in the layout) that I really love in person.  Pale greens, pumpkin and pinky purples colors.  I also loved doing this layout, cause the subject really is so diverse it was easy to get lost in the embellishments!! So as I say in the video... I took this picture while out strolling with the baby last Saturday.
 Anthropologie happens to be one of those stores I love walking into just for the fact that it is beautiful! I love getting gifts there also. I brought my Mother-in-Law a pretty monograph coffee mug a Christmas ago!

The cluster I just am over the moon about is the one on the left side! I made it a bit bigger to balance out the 2 clusters on the right. When I took the picture the lamp base that my eye goes to is the Pumpkin/Orangey Yellow glass one. But in person the Tin teapot/watercan one is the most striking.  I wanted to bring in more notice to that piece with the addition of a metal element.

Which I didn't have in my stash!! After I took the picture I remember saying over and over "get something metal at Joann's"  I found these corner pieces, which I feel worked very nicely!    I tied in the "scrolliness" of the metal with the scrolls on the die-cut piece from Studio 112 of Joann's.  Once I got to shopping for the embellishments for this layout I had my phone out to help pick the colors. I don't think I have any other
layouts with that pumpkin color and I have to change that cause it's beautiful. Basic Grey has some sweet card-stock stickers that worked great with this layout. I so wanted to use more, but I held myself back cause I have more scrapbooking to do!  Enjoy the rest of the pictures and let me know what you think!

That "Hello" is one I stamped out a few days ago!!

The title cluster

Let me get to it now!! If you want to see the me talk about this layout and see it live... click here! As mentioned in the video I did this layout from one of my own sketches!

Main cluster...I love those Heidi Swapp arrows.

Thanks so much for reading and following the blog... more to come! Check layout details page for hmm the details :)
"When you have time, Craft!!" ~JES 

Valentine's Day

I hope all of my Crafty Scrappy Mamas are having a great Valentine's Day so far!!

And if you are Anti-Valentine's Day... what are you doing to celebrate it??

"When you have time, Craft!" ~JES