Jot Magazine: Issue 7

Have you seen the latest Jot Magazine?  Issue 7 is jam packed with pretty goodness and much, much more.  Pouring over this magazine with a cup of coffee is my favorite.  It's kind of like my Sunday tradition....even though I've seen it a zillion times, I just can't stop looking at it!!  I contributed a few layouts and Project Life spreads to this issue and I love both layouts.  The themes were different and fun this month, and I always love to switch things up and think outside of the box. 

This first layout was made for the polka dot theme.  I took a little bit of a twist on this theme and incorporated "polka dots" on my page using my circle punch, doilies, round elements and drops of paint.  I'm still kind of addicted to circles right now....

This layout was created using three of my favorite "things" (scrapbook related).  Old book pages, doilies and white die cuts are my go-to when I create pages, or even mini albums, so I played around with those ideas and came up with this page.  

I started by mod podging book paper all over my white background.  As you can see, I mixed up the orientation quite a bit to give a messy look.  Any of the edges that weren't completely sealed down, I frayed and folded up a little.  I love the texture and dimension it adds to my page. 

The rest of the page came together so quickly....some easy layering and embellishments and it was finished!

Be sure to hop on over to Jot to see the rest of Issue 7!  

Jot Magazine: My Favorite Boys

Today I thought I would share another layout from Issue 6 of Jot Magazine!  Kim is working hard on Issue 7 right now, which will be out the beginning of September!  I know it will be amazing!

This layout using products from Heidi Swapps' awesome collections.  This page started with those beautiful acrylic stars.  I knew I wanted to scatter them around my page, so I just randomly laid them here and there.  I punched a few stars from vellum and then layered them over some of the brighter blues to soften the page a little.

Next, I added a few paper layers, my photo and some embellishments.  I didn't really know where to include my journaling since my page was busy as it was, so I added it in the white space of my photo.

The stars give the perfect amount of texture and dimension!!  I love pages like this because something so simple (the stars) can make your layout just pop!!

Tutorial: Creating Your Own Patterned Paper

Hi there!!  Today, I thought I would share a fun little tutorial for creating your own patterned paper.  I made this layout for Issue 6 of Jot Magazine using some awesome products from Heidi Swapp and Becky Higgins' Craft Spotlight 2014 Australian tour.  

Here is a look at the layout I'll be sharing.  It's a simple layout, but it was so fun to put together!

Let's get started!

Start by gathering your supplies.  You will need a piece of white card stock (or color of choice), a blank piece of paper and some of your favorite stamps.  Here, I have a Heidi Swapp script stamp set.

Using your stamp block, add on a few different stamps.  I placed mine randomly around my block, trying to make sure the stamps were not uniform or perfectly placed.

Pick your favorite color of ink and wet your stamps.

Begin stamping all over your piece of white card stock.  To give that look of patterned paper, I like to layer a piece of scrap paper under my base page and stamp my images with part of the stamp on the card stock and part of the image on the scrap paper.  The partially completed words keep the continuity of the "patterned paper" without it being too perfect.  I continued randomly stamping all over my card stock until my page was completely covered.

You can definitely see a repetition of the stamps on my page, but I love that it's still kind of random and scattered.  This technique can easily be applied to just about any stamp or stamp set, large or small!  The possibilities are just endless!

I played around with my background page for quite a while trying to figure out exactly which I like it best.  In the end, I decided to trim my paper down to 8.5x11 inches and layer a piece of vellum over the stamps to soften and mute the color.  I then adhered that page to a piece of 12x12 card stock and added my journal in a vertical strip on the left side of my page.

A doily and simple embellishments adorn the bottom edge of my photo adding a little pop of color and texture.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you enjoyed this simple and easy tutorial for creating patterned paper!!  Let me know if you give it a try! I'd love to see your work!

Jot Magazine: Jot Pockets Workshop

In just a few short weeks, a new Project Life workshop will begin over at Jot Magazine and it's going to be amazing!  Kim Archer has really put her heart and soul into the Jot Pockets workshop and I know you will love it too!  The course runs for six weeks and covers the basics of organizing and developing a Project Life page, including weekly lessons, bonus projects, prizes and more!

Here's what Kim has to say about Project Life and the Jot Pockets workshop:

"I love the pocket style of scrapbooking. It’s totally changed the way I record our family’s comings and goings and I am thankful to Becky Higgins and her Project Life system for allowing me to create our family’s time capsule using such a great system. I create without putting any pressure on myself. I don’t have expectations of committing to it every single week. I make what I want and when I want without feeling guilty that I am not up to date. But it wasn’t always that way.

A couple of years ago I was drowning in too many choices, too many decisions, absolute overwhelm and confusion about HOW to tackle pocket scrapbooking. I was pinning like a lunatic on Pinterest and reading far too many blogs,  visiting online galleries, websites and stalking  #projectlife on Instagram. I was confused over about what products to use and how to print my photos. Home printing versus printing at Big W took up a LOT of my headspace.  I even stressed over whether to corner round my journaling cards or not as I was worried that whatever decisions I made from the outset had to be decisions I stuck with for my WHOLE PROJECT LIFE album.

I gave up before I began. It was quite a disaster. However, fast forward to January 2013 and I tried again.  I share more of my story in our JOT POCKETS  class.. but this time I took the pressure off myself  and I haven’t looked back.” ~Kim Archer

I hope you will join Kim and the Jot Girls in the workshop!  It's going to be fabulous!  The workshop begins July 6th and registration closes when the class begins!  Click here to sign up now!

Jot Magazine: Issue 6

It's here!  It's here!!  Issue 6 of Jot Magazine is now available for viewing and I'm pretty sure it's my favorite issue yet!!  There is just so much gorgeous inspiration packed inside this magazine.  It's definitely the "grab a cup of coffee, sit and relax" type of read!  I know you will enjoy it!

I am so fortunate to have several layouts and Project Life spreads in the latest issue.  I had so much fun putting my pages together, and they just came together so easily.  I really love when everything "just works", you know.  

Did you know the magazine is "clickable" meaning, you can click links through the magazine to be taken to blogs, challenges, shopping, etc.  That's so awesome, right?  Below are my layouts for each of the challenges in the magazine (stripes, mega photo, birthday).  Be sure to add your project by following the links (or by stopping by the Jot blog).  We can't wait to see what you create!!

Easter Love

I love when the Easter clothes come out and every kids starts carrying around a basket full of plastic eggs (and I secretly love stealing my kid's candy while they sleep....shhhh).  We broke out our baskets for a neighborhood Easter egg hunt this past weekend and looking back through these pages and photos just made me tear up.  Wow...kids sure do grow fast, don't they.

I have two Easter pages from last year up right now.  One is in Issue 5 of Jot Magazine and the other can be found on the Glitz Design blog.  Both pages are super simple and sweet with plenty of pastel colors and white space.

This Moment

Issue 5 of Jot Magazine

I started this page with my photo and the small text heart card from the Dear Lizzy 5th and Frolic collection.  I wanted the simple heart card to be somewhere around my photo, but I wasn't quite sure how I wanted the layout to be.  And just like I do normally, I just push paper around until I like the design and layout.  Once I was satisfied with where my photo and card would be, I started building my layers around those two.  The top and bottom paper borders and little bits and pieces were the finishing touches!

Remember 

Glitz Design blog: Easter Week

For this layout, I was inspired by the blue of my son's shirt and wanted to pull coordinating papers from a few of the newer Glitz Design collection.  I trimmed the papers down to roughly 3x4  and then started creating a horizontal band across the middle of my page.  I didn't want everything to line up perfectly, so I tried to overlap the papers and have some higher/lower than the others.  I finished this page with a few paper strips, a title, some paint splatters and a cute little bunny (who also was the recipient of a few paint splatters....oops!). 

I have some new Easter related pages and Project Life spreads coming soon!  Can't wait to share more.  Until then, I will leave you with this cute little bunny of mine!!

Jot Magazine: Issue 5

Have you checked out Issue 5 of Jot Magazine yet?  It's jam-packed with inspiration and is just amazing!  The magazine is full of layouts, articles and challenges to get your creative juices flowing.  You can download your own copy by visiting the Jot Magazine blog.

My contribution to the magazine was several layouts and a Project Life spread.  I always love the varying themes of the magazine and had so much fun putting my projects together.

Inspiration

This layout is part of the "wood veneer" theme.  I love adding touches of wood to my layouts and projects.  It helps to ground my patterned papers and adds a touch of softness and earthiness to the project.

Hello Handsome

I went big and bold with this layout using a larger photo.  I also stuck with a grid design around my photo.

This Moment

Sharing this layout is perfect right now since Easter is right around the corner.  I kept my photo the main focus of this page and added simple embellishments and tags around the photo.  Easy peasy!

I hope you will grab a cup of coffee and check out the latest Jot Magazine Issue!!  Theres tons of fun and inspiration in store for you!

Happy Monday!

jot magazine: issue 4

how you checked out issue 4 of jot magazine?  it's another fabulous issue packed with amazing inspiration, interviews, challenges and the like.  

i contributed several layouts, as well as an interview about my project life album and process to the magazine.

here are a few of my layouts.  you can see the rest of my projects and more amazing inspiration throughout issue 4. 

you can see my interview about project life on pages 33-47.  how cool is that?

jot magazine: felt & fabric mini album

yes, i'm slightly obsessed with mini albums.  :)

today, on the jot blog, i'm sharing a fun way to use your fabric and felt scraps to make a sweet little mini album for your valentine.  sometimes it's fun to play around with different textures.  hope you will check it out!  

this week in blog land...

my minds eye

i put together a "2013 in review" album using one of the new starter kit albums from my minds eye.  you can see the full tutorial, as well as how to create a simple photo collage on the mme blog.

write.click.scrapbook

the january gallery at write.click.scrapbook is now live!!  this month is all about "the times" and for my layout, i decided to reflect on these moments that are too fast and too fleeting.  i kept my layout pretty simple with some sewn crepe paper, a doily and a few embellishments.  take a look....

be sure to stop by the write.click.scrapbook blog for more inspiration from the design team!

gossamer blue

and since it's january, the new design team gallery is up at gossamer blue too!  i used the awesome january kits to get caught up with my project life album!  i only have a little bit of journaling left to do on weeks 52 and 52.5 and that book is all finished!

jot magazine

if you are looking for a new challenge, the january mood board at jot magazine is up and running!  it's winter here, but in australia, it's the middle of their summer!  this month's challenge includes beautiful beach colors and pretty summer pictures!  totally makes me long for warm weather and my bathing suit!!