Outside the Box

The Last Entry for Outside the Box...

2010-08-13T09:03:00.000-07:00

With the start of every New Year, I always have a desire to purge and organize. It starts with the Christmas decorations. Then, I am reorganizing my furniture and home decor. Before I know it, I am cleaning house. I tend to do my spring cleaning in winter. That goes for me spiritually and personally too… In the last few weeks, I have been doing some maintenance cleaning from the inside out. I feel like God’s bringing me through one season, into another.

Have you picked a word to live by in 2010? I prefer choosing a word than creating unrealistic resolutions for myself. I then, post the word, along with quotes and scriptures in places I will see often. This year’s word is “Breathe". These definitions have inspired me the most:

1. to take air, oxygen, etc., into the lungs and expel it; inhale and exhale; respire. I often tell people, “Take a deep breath… now, don’t forget to exhale!” I need the reminder that God is a BIG God! Breathe in and breathe out. God is good – all of the time! Breathe in and breathe out. He is powerful, fear not (Exodus 9:16 & Matt 10:31)! I can trust that He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb 13:8, Psalm 28:7). Breathe in and breathe out. In a world of turmoil, I can hold onto the hope He brings (Rom 5:1-2)! Sigh...that’s the kind of truth I need daily.

2. to pause, as for breath; take rest: How about giving me a chance to breathe? I've been reflecting on ways I can pause, as well as balance my time wisely. That being said, some things need to go. In order to grow and mature, I’ll need to prune (John 15:1-17) to make room to reach out. Although, I loved writing weekly articles and surfing the net for talent, one of the things I have to let go of is Outside the Box. With true OTB style, the time I spend scrapbooking will be done with a new perspective - more reflective and challenging layouts. With the help of my sister Jen, I started a separate blog to share those upcoming personal paper crafts at dailygrinddesigns.blogspot.com.

3. to live; exist: Hardly a man breathes who has not known great sorrow. Our family has been listening to the Focus On The Family’s radio theater production of The Chronicles of Narnia. I’ve been fascinated by the imagery of Aslan breathing life into the beasts in The Magician’s Nephew. Genesis 2:7 says, “The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. (Gen 2:7)” God gives me life with each breath. I remember when my brother-in-law, Dave, had lung surgery and he described how difficult it was to even breathe. He felt so grateful for each breath he took. In The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Aslan breathes onto the prisoners to release them from the stone statue curse The White Witch had on them. Not only does God give us the air to breathe, he heals and restores. There have been many times I have rejoiced because He alone gave me grace to survive through trials in life.

C.S. Lewis paints beautiful imagery through his words and through these stories I have been reflecting, in new ways, how creative and magnificent God is. He is.

“Who are you?” asked Shasta.

“Myself,” said the Voice, very deep and low so that the earth shook: and again “Myself,” loud and clear and gay: and then the third time “Myself,” whispered so softly you could hardly hear it, and yet it seemed to come from all round you as if the leaves rustled with it.

Shasta was no longer afraid that the Voice belonged to something that would eat him, nor that it was the voice of a ghost. But a new and different sort of trembling came over him. Yet he felt glad too…

But after one glance at the Lion’s face he slipped out of the saddle and fell at its feet. He couldn’t say anything but then he didn’t want to say anything, and he knew he needn’t say anything.

The High King above all kings stooped towards him. Its mane, and some strange and solemn perfume that hung about the mane, was all around him. It touched his forehead with its tongue. He lifted his face and their eyes met. Then instantly the pale brightness of the mist and the fiery brightness of the Lion rolled themselves together into a swirling glory and gathered themselves up and disappeared. He was alone with the horse on a grassy hillside under a blue sky. And there were birds singing.” - excerpt from The Horse and His Boy

Anyway... that's what I have been reflecting on during the past three weeks. I hope it encourages you as its encouraged me! Have you chosen a word to live by in 2010? If so, please share it and Happy New Year!

Think Outside The Box Challenge: If you haven't picked your word for 2010, challenge yourself to do so and be inspired this year!

Christmas is coming...

2009-12-08T12:44:00.000-08:00

As you have noticed, the entries on this blog have slowed down during the holidays. More regular posts will resume again in 2010. I have so much to do to prepare for Christmas. There are only so many hours in a day!

As my birthday present, my sweet sister has been teaching me how to digital scrapbook. She made a disc, loaded full of digi kits she purchased for me, and taped the disc on the back of a cute little piece of framed art. I was so thrilled! Right there in the resturant, while we celebrated, she pulled out her laptop and showed me what kits and elements were saved on the disc. Within 5 minutes, while we waited for dessert, she showed me how quickly I could create a layout using Photo Shop and some quick keys. It was a great gift.

I made this layout of my sister-in-law. I needed to make something that warmed me up a bit and reminded me of summer.

The rest of my time has been proccupied with making cards. Lots and lots of cards. Here are some traditional as well as digital cards I have been making...

Special Post: It's A Blog Party

2009-11-13T20:35:00.000-08:00

I hope you have some papercrafting plans for the weekend!

Peace and Joy by Rebecca Grinder

Photograph of Jen Evans, by Evans Photography and used with permission

I had fun stamping a wing from the Layers of Colors, Regal Wings stamp set onto clear acetate and adding it to this Maya Road chipboard birdie. To make the birdie sparkle, I first coated it with the new silver Smooch Spritz, sprayed it with spray adhesive, and finally poured on the Pink Paislee Pixie Stix glitter. I pinned the beautiful wing on with a Making Memories decorative straight pin.

This weekend, be sure to check out some amazing papercrafting inspiration over at Scrapbook News and Review Magazine's A Faith Perspective: Thankful for Friends Faith Blog Hop (that's a mouth full!)... the blog hop starts here. As a part of the celebration, Layers of Color stamp company is having their Release Party and giving loads of free party favors! Along with free givaways, there are chances for you to win some pretty cool prizes! Be aware! You are going to be blown away by some amazing talent!

Great Gift Ideas: Bows, Bows, and more Bows…

2009-11-12T16:36:00.000-08:00

I asked my ever so talented friend, Kelly, to share this precious gift idea. Whether for a baby shower or a Christmas gift, this sweet idea is perfect for all the little girls in your life.
Kelly’s little princess started wearing small (or big) bows in her hair from infancy. Once her little one outgrew the fanciful bows, she decided to make a special box to pass them along to other little princesses in her circle of friends.

The box is accompanied by a special keepsake book, which includes a page for each girl who wears the bows. There is a spot to journal, as well as a place for favorite pictures of the little ones showing off their frills.

The box and book journey from one member of The International Bow Fan Club to another, and much like the jeans in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, I think these bows may hold special powers too! Miraculously, at the present time the bow box has found its way back into the hands of its maker, Kelly, who just delivered the newest member of TIBFC on November 9th! Congrats!

I also love this ribbon board, beautifully displaying the bows on the nursery wall.

Think Outside The Box Challenge: Create a gift which is meaningful and resourceful! Look for ways to share what you have with others. You never know when giving will come full circle!

One Bright Spot Goes Digital!

2009-11-03T00:00:00.000-08:00

Are there those special ladies in your life who you get together with to scrapbook? A friend of mine refers to them as her Scrapdawgs. Those friends who inspire you, help you "think outside the box", and challenge you to try new techniques. The friend you ask for creative advice. The one you show your project to and ask, "Do these colors offend you?" The ladies you can chat to over photographs, paper, and stickers. The friends who understand you when you use words like: crop party, embellishments, layout, and adhesive. My twin sister, Jen of Create Well Create Often, is such a friend to me. She is my inspiration when it comes to... well, everything! I get my mojo from her. I often tease by reminding her that it was I who introduced her to scrapbooking.

It was Jen who encouraged and suggested having some of my doodles turned into digital elements. Jen and I (One Bright Spot) have collaborated together with the amazing Michelle Filo of Little Dreamer Designs to create a unique and one of a kind digital kit. It is amazing when a dream comes true! Thank you Michelle and thank you, dear sis!

"Seattle, You and Me" by Jen Evans

...and of course the first layout she created with the kit was for me!

Be sure to visit Michelle’s blog and grab a free mini kit and be inspired by the amazing designer’s layouts. Then, pass the word to your special friends who inspire you to create well and create often!

Think Outside The Box Challenge: Take a suggestion from your friends and think outside the box!

Great Gifts Special Post: Salt Dough Ornaments

2009-11-01T22:31:00.000-08:00

Salt dough ornaments are an easy project to do with your kids. Adults enjoy the process too! My sisters and I just have a blast making them with stamps. Clear stamps are a great option for easy clean-up. As I go, I have a bowl of soap and warm water to drop the stamps into. My favorite inks for this technique are Ranger Tim Holtz's Dye Ink. I found the walnut ink works best for an aged look.

The best resource I found for salt dough is on this website here.

I made this ornament for my friend Kelly who is expecting her second princess any day now. I saw this stamp by Layers of Color and thought of Kelly's girls. I used red food coloring to change the dough to pink. I "stamped" the ink pad onto the dough and then, kneaded the ink into the dough for a marble look. I hope she will like it!

Great Gift Ideas: Altered Tiles

2009-10-30T14:02:00.000-07:00

From coasters to decorative wall hangings, tiles are being used for all sorts of gift projects this season. I took a standard 6x6 ceramic tile and created the perfect layout to be hung or displayed in a little girl's nursery room. Don't forget to put felt pads on the bottom of the tile to protect your furniture or wall.

Think Outside The Box Challenge: Use tile to create a unique altered gift.

"Elephant Polka Dot Parade Altered Tile" by Rebecca Grinder

Supplies - Layers of Color Polka Dot Parade Clear Stamp, October Afternoon PP, Making Memories PP, Creative Imaginations Creative Cafe PP, K&Co felt heart sticker border, Ranger Green Dye Ink, Kaisercraft pearls, Hampton Arts G Glitter glue, Stickles Cotton Candy, Pink Paislee chipboard corner, Fiskars scalloped edger, watercolors, Blender pen tool, pop-up squares, 6x6 tile, felt pads, and ribbon.

The Layers of Color Clear Stamps are so much fun to work with. I love to use whimsical stamps and this set is perfect for baby announcements and nursery decor!

Challenge variation: Try your hand at tile coasters! Stamp an image onto tile, using Staz-On ink or try decopoging the tile with decorative papers like wine labels, collage art print-outs sheets, and thin scrapbook papers. I have also used the same technique on glass candle holder plates and the results are always fanstastic!

Oh, My! More Calendars...

2009-10-28T09:03:00.000-07:00

If you haven't had a chance to check out Michelle Filo's blog, click on over for some AMAZING calendar ideas and freebies! The downloads are perfect for any upcoming calendar gift!

Great Gift Ideas: 2010 Calendars

2009-10-24T10:51:00.000-07:00

I love to give calendars as gifts. Especially, to those who don’t papercraft. A mini book or album may be pulled off the book shelf and looked at now and again, but a calendar is a gift the receiver will look at every day.

Think Outside The Box Challenge: When creating a calendar as a gift, create one the recipient will enjoy looking at every day.

"3x6 12 Page Mini Album Calendar" by Rebecca Grinder

Supplies: Me & My Big Ideas mini book kit, silk flowers, vintage leaves, K&Co Brad, bee pin, Ranger Dye Ink, Crop-a-dile, large binder ring, screw in hook, Martha Stewart butterfly punch.

I created this kit for others to purchase at my etsy shop at One Bright Spot.

The perfect gift has the perfect price -

The Me and My Big Ideas 6x6 Mini Album kits are perfect for this type of project. I cut the patterned paper and chipboard in half, creating 2 mini books for the price of one. These kits also come with matching embellishments. I did have to pull out an additional peice of patterned paper to have enough pages for the covers.

I print wallet size pictures (4 per sheet for 39 cents) at Costco for this 3x6 size calendar. It works well if I am making duplicate gifts.

I printed the actual 2010 calendar months off onto cardstock from a free Microsoft Office Online template download.

Variation - Instead of only 12 pages, create 31 pages. Each page numbered for the day of the month. Although this calendar is much more teatious of a project, the calendar is reusable year after year. Use photo corners for the pictures so when they become outdated, they can be easily replaced.

Tips and Tricks -

In order to hold the silk flower:

1. I punched a hole in the front cover chipboard.

2. Then, I trimmed the silk flower stem, keeping between 1/2-3/4 inch of stem to feed into the front cover.

3. Next, I took the layers of the flower apart, using half or more for the outside front cover. After feeding the stem through the hole, I placed the remaining petals on the stem inside the front cover.

4. Then, using a long tailed brad, I stuck the brad into the stem to hold the flower in place (along with some adhesive on the petals should do the trick!).

Here is a super easy and quick trick...try nesting a brad into a button by punching a larger hole into your button using the Crop-a-dile tool. I love this technique when it works! Not all plastic buttons survive through the pressure of the Crop-a-dile. Yet, when it works, the effect is a fun way to use your decorative brads and buttons that are laying around.

Here are some more Calendar ideas to inspire you...

"Love Calendar" by Caryl Hope

The back...see the entire project here!

Here are some other calendar ideas you should check out…

Scrapbook Crazy has some fantastic calendar tutorials.

Go digital! Designer Michelle Filo from With Love By Mushy has an amazing Digital Desk Top Calendar kit. Check out her beyond amazing project here!

Check your local papercrafting store for upcoming calendar classes or purchase the newest Basic Grey calendar kit which retails for about $20!

Special Post: Layers of Color Stamps

2009-10-24T08:57:00.000-07:00

The amazing stamp company, Layers of Color, is throwing a huge stamp party and you are all invited!

Why all the excitement? Layers of Color releases their Autumn 2009 stamp sets - that means 9 new fabulous clear stamp sets, totaling over 70 original art stamps! I have the honor of being one of many Guest Designers for the LOC event. Have you seen their product? They have an amazing boutique and gallery. Be sure to check them out!

So when does the fun start? November 14th – 15th, 2009

Where? The Layers of Color Blog of course!

With FREE DIGIS party favors, contests, a drawing -

with $250 in PRIZES, and lots of inspiration!

Get your very own banner for your blog here and pass the word!

Favorite Childhood Picture Books

2009-10-15T22:48:00.000-07:00

As a young boy, my husband would run and play along the banks of the river that flowed behind his grandparents’ house; tucked in California’s Los Padres National Forest. He let his imagination go wild as he climbed high into a tree, swinging from branch to branch. Not unlike Max, in Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, he was a mischievous little boy who didn’t quit until his head hit the pillow each night. And even then, he was dreaming of his next big adventure in some unexplored land.

When we were discussing the release of the feature film based on the children’s book, I wasn’t surprised to hear that Where the Wild Things Are was one of my husband’s favorite picture-books. He remembers, as a child, checking it out from his local library often, so I wanted to create a layout that would capture the memory of that special childhood story.

"Where The Wild Things Are" by Rebecca Grinder
(click to see a closer look)

Digital Layout using images from Scrapblog.com

Think Outside The Box Challenge: Let your favorite childhood literature inspire your next layout.

Congrats!

2009-10-07T22:58:00.000-07:00

Congrats to the following ladies who were randomly chosen by my sweet husband!

Rosemary said...

OMG!! What a cute card!! And who doesn't love tea & chocolate?? Great testimony! Thanks for sharing it!

Rosemary, send me the address and a message for person whom you want the card with the tea and chocolate to go to. Email me at dailygrinddesign@hotmail.com

The winner of the One Bright Spot birdie cards is:

Dani said...

Such a sweet package of goodies! What a Blessing to someone that will be! :)

Dani, please email me your address and I'll get the set of cards right out to you!

Email me at dailygrinddesign@hotmail.com

Thank you for all who left comments and visited the blog hop!

WFTLC Blog Hop

2009-10-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Outside The Box and thanks for stopping by mid-week for the WFTLC Blog hop! Be sure to start your hopping from Chelsea Cook's amazing new blog, Wait For The Lord Cards. You don't want to miss what this blog hop is all about!

I have always loved giving people greeting cards; and it really is for the same reason Hallmark commercials make me cry. The message makes all the difference.

My best friend, Kati, has a gift for finding greeting cards with the best sentiments. Of the hundreds she has given me over the years, my favorite has to be the one with a bunch of adorable pink luggage. The sentiment reads, "Sure I've got emotional baggage, but at least it's really cute and matches." She delivered it just as I was getting ready to share my testimony to a room full of teenagers. It made me laugh out loud! And in that nervous moment, I was reminded that everyone has baggage. Mine may not be a cute matching set, but with God we can all overcome our baggage and find the emotional healing we long for.

Kati’s card was just what I needed. Later, I used my speech and her card to create a scrapbook page that celebrates God’s faithfulness, both in bringing me through the trial I spoke about, and in giving me the strength to be able to share my story with others.

Think Outside The Box Challenge: There is power in the written word and in the generosity that comes from even the simplest handmade greeting card. If you are creative, share your gift with someone. Make them a card. Remind them that you love them. Encourage them in the hope they have in Christ!

"Thinking of You" by Rebecca Grinder

Stamped Images: Close To My Heart sentiment,
Stamping Bella, and Unity Stamp Company
"Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord." Psalm 31:24

Please leave a comment for the chance to have this card mailed to your special someone.

What's better than some hope, tea, and chocolate?

The random drawing winners will be announced
tomorrow morning, October 8th.

There is just one day to get in on the fun, so pass the word!
the hop closes at 11:59 pm Central time on Wednesday, October 7th

For some more RAK... Be sure to leave a comment for...

One Bright Spot is donating this set of six darling cards to one special someone! These cards are made with my original birdie design and are left blank inside for you to personalize with your own special message!

Remember, your comment on Outside The Box will also enter you in the
WFTLC grand prize, sponsored by Our Daily Bread Designs!

Now for the last stop on the blog hop,

jump on over to see Tanis!

Super Card Weekend

2009-10-01T23:10:00.000-07:00

Now, my first love in paper crafting is scrapbooking. Always has been, and always will be. Nothing is more satisfying than designing just the right layout – taking a great photo, coordinating the paper, adding the perfect embellishments, discovering a new technique to get the exact effect I’m looking for… I love it! And perhaps because I spend so much time finding just the right elements, I hate to throw away the bits and pieces I have left over when I’m done. That’s why I use the scraps from my layouts to make greeting cards.

In a world where technology provides us with ways to instantly communicate with one another, I still love nothing more than getting a greeting card in the mail. It’s like finding buried treasure amid all the junk and bills that seem to fill my mailbox daily! Making your own cards is an easy way to send a personal, unique message. Plus, half of the design work is already done for you , using the coordinating scraps from scrapbooking! Nothing says, “You’re special” like a handcrafted card.

I like to make my cards in bulk. Yes, bulk. I enjoy making gifts sets as well. Everyone appreciates having some blank cards around for various occasions. I call a large group of friends to come over, we pop in a movie marathon (like Anne of Green Gables, North and South, Pride & Prejudice, or my newest favorite Little Dorrit) and before you know it, we’ve made dozens of cards!

Think Outside The Box Challenge: Plan a weekend to gather with some friends, put on a mini-series marathon, and create enough cards to get everyone through the entire year! Just like the idea behind the famous Super Suppers or Dream Dinners - but for making cards in bulk!

Pick the date and invite a load of friends who, like you, want to save money and time by pre-making your cards a year in advance. You may need to charge a small fee for supplies and food.

Plan on creating bulk cards for: Birthday - Feminine, Birthday - Masculine, Birthday - Kids, Wedding, Anniversary,Thinking of You, Get Well, Christmas, Baby Shower, Bridal Shower...

If you have time… other holidays like Easter, Mother’s Day, etc…

1. Start by having each member place their order for cards. How many cards do you need to get you through the year? Be reasonable in your estimate! Otherwise, you might have to make two weekends out of it!

2. Each person will create one style of card and bring enough supplies to make the number ordered of that style. If you have fewer people than card styles, individuals may need to prepare for 2 or 3 styles of cards, to cover more categories (combining the idea of a swap and a Super Supper).

Keep your designs simple. It will keep costs down, as well as make the process time efficient. Have your design(s) pre-planned so your time together is all about mass production!

3. By the end of the weekend, each person will have created enough cards to fill the orders. If one person finishes, help another. Or you make an assembly line, if needed!

There isn’t much that warms the heart like a handmade card with a meaningful handwritten message. No piece of technology can replace that!

Here are some card ideas to hopefully get you excited to create!

"An Apple A Day" by Shaela Odd

"Wee Little One" by Jennifer Evans, designed for Craft Warehouse

"Christmas Candy" by Rebecca Grinder

Stamp Image by Unity Stamp Company

"The Greeting Farm's Red Riding Hood" by Rebecca Grinder

One Bright Spot Black and White Anniversary Card by Rebecca Grinder

"Made For You" by Jennifer Evans, Designed for Craft Warehouse

If you like to make cards, or receive them, check out the amazing blog by Chelsea Cook. She is starting a new blog, Wait For The Lord Cards, which goes live with a blog hop on October 7^th. I am honored that Outside The Box will be featured on this RAOK event! Be sure to stop by midweek to see some sweet cards and leave a comment for a chance to have a handmade card sent to someone in need!

My Family Story

2009-09-24T20:17:00.000-07:00

This week’s article is a continuation from last week’s. If you haven’t had a chance to read that one, go back to the last post and check it out. For those who need a bit of a reminder, let’s briefly recap.

Step One: Prepare a letter to each individual family member with directions. Be sure to include guidelines, like a deadline and a request for a recent picture.

Step Two: Create a Family Questionnaire to be mailed or emailed along with the letter.

Step Three: Organize the returned questionnaires into story format. Print a copy of your Family Story to take to the Thanksgiving Day get-together, promising everyone a copy of their very own soon. Include a collage of the pictures provided by the members of the family.

Step Four: As a front for the real surprise, create a “Who’s Who?” Thanksgiving Day Guessing Game to be handed out on Thanksgiving Day.

This project was a big hit with my family last Thanksgiving. The game brought everyone together in a new, memorable way. Family members passed the story around at their leisure and enjoyed laughing over episodes they had forgotten all about. I chose to pass around only one hard copy (split up into 3 parts since it was over 25 pages) for everyone to look at with the promise of disc copies for everyone soon. I chose to give a disc along with everyone’s Christmas card.

Think Outside The Box Challenge: Give a memorable keepsake for Christmas using family facts and quotes from the returned questionnaires.

Now for the real surprise! The purpose of my questionnaire was to use the quotes and facts from our Family Story in a Shutterfly book. Shutterfly has some amazing styles and options of personalized books for every occasion. Here are some questions I asked myself before getting started on my book.

What type of book do I want to make? I chose to make a Tribute book for my grandparents.

How big should it be and how may pages should it have? I chose to keep my cost down, therefore chose an 8x8 size and waited for a sale. I allotted so many pages for their early years, starting at their marriage, and giving each child and grandchild their own page.

How do I tell the story? I used quotes from my Family Story to caption the pictures I used.
A couple of years earlier, my grandparents had scanned most of their heritage pictures and gave the discs away as Christmas gifts (another great gift idea!). So with the new ones sent in with the questionnaires, I had most of the pictures needed for this project. Some of the pictures were scanned at low resolutions and for those, I had family members rescan and email them to me. They had no idea what I was up to!

Keeping with the theme of Shutterfly’s Tribute album, I chose quotes that honored the couple. I picked out the “gold nuggets” from the pages of our Family Story and had fun featuring each member on their own page. Every page was filled with memories.

When Christmas arrived, Grandpa and Grandma were in awe over the book and they cherish it. I also saved the book on Shutterfly, making it available for other members of the family to order their own copy.

Here is my finished project!

Click here to view this photo book larger

Here are some other great book ideas: Here and Here.

Think Outside The Box: This year create some out of this world gifts using memories straight from your own family’s history!

Family Questionnaire

2009-09-17T19:52:00.000-07:00

When my twin sister and I brainstorm an idea together, watch out! They tend to metamorphosis into a project of grand proportions. Last fall, our goal was to create one-of-a-kind gifts for our in-laws. The end result brought tears! My first step, in the surprise, was to create a family questionnaire to be filled out. I was able to email my questionnaires, giving at least a month for them to be completed. Then, using my relatives’ responses I made a Thanksgiving Day game. The game brought everyone together in a new way. The game was just, in fact, a front. My family didn’t know I had a bigger plan for the stories they had written.. Once I had their responses, I created a Shutterfly book for both my husband’s mother and grandmother, quoting stories and facts that I had gathered from the entire family. Come Christmas, they were even more surprised at the family treasure that sat before them!

Think Outside The Box Challenge: Create a Thanksgiving Day Game using answers from your family questionnaires with the purpose of creating a family treasure that will last generations.

Although these are the steps I used to create the game, understand it won’t always work for everybody. I chose to send an email letter to every family member attending Thanksgiving dinner. This meant altering questions to fit each person. Adjust the questions to fit your particular family and needs according to the type of end project you will create.

Step One: Create a letter with directions. Be sure to include the following…

- This is for a Thanksgiving Day surprise, so don’t share your answers with anyone, including spouses

- Return the questionnaire by the set deadline (give yourself extra time in case a letter or two arrives late)

- Write your answers in full sentences (this prevents you from having to translate answers out of short hand, abbreviations, and text lingo)

- Include a recent family picture that perhaps the rest of the family hasn't seen

- Since everyone in the family is participating, complete the questionnaire on time; I wouldn’t want you to be left out on Thanksgiving Day

- In the end, everyone will get copies of each other’s questionnaires (Everyone knew their answers were going to be seen by all. This set the bar. For Christmas, I gave each member a copy on disc or a printed copy if they didn’t have a computer.)

I saved my letter and questions in a Word Doc on my computer and then copied and pasted the appropriate questions into an email to each family member. I chose to send separate emails to everyone, including each individual spouses and child. This way, answers stayed separate and I could tailor the questions to certain members of the family.

Step Two: Create a List of Questions

A few of the questions I gathered from other idea sources, like a Creating Keepsakes heritage article from 2008 or fun blogs and online surveys. Yet, most of them were just things I wanted to know and this was a way to gather the answers and have them in one place.

Here are just a variety of questions I sent out, using some of these questions for each generation…

Where are your ancestors from? Where were you born and raised? What was it like to live through the Depression? What is the fondest memory of your grandparents/parents? What was the hardest challenge in your life? Tell me a little about your mother and father. How did you meet your spouse? When did you know you were in love? What were the early years of your married life like? What was your first job(s)? What was your first car? What were your school years like? What home remedies were used when you were growing up? What were your family traditions? What were your favorite childhood toys? What book or piece of clothing or jewelry holds special significance to you? What is your fondest childhood memory? What national crisis have you lived through and where were you when they occurred? Which electrical appliance where you most excited about getting? What is your favorite part about being a grandparent? How have you dealt with life’s struggles? What advice can you give about life? What do you want to do in your future? Have you done any traveling and if so, where? What are your talents and hobbies? What characteristics do you admire about your parents? If you were planning a family reunion with unlimited funds, what would you do? Do you have a life scripture and if so, why is it important to you? What were your favorite pastimes/games? What was your most embarrassing moment? What kind of music did you listen to when you were a teen? What makes you the best aunt/uncle ever? Describe the day of your wedding? Did you have any childhood pets and which was your favorite? Did you and your siblings get along? Who was your first crush? What TV shows were your favorite? What do you love about your hometown? What is the biggest challenge you face right now? What was life like when you were growing up? Where did you go on family vacations? What are your best memories of your grandparents/parents? Where do you see yourself in 10 years? What is the greatest lesson you have learned from your parents? What do you wish you knew then that you know now? What prediction do you have for next year?

For the kiddos, print off the questions and have them write in their answers. If they are younger, write the answers for them. Have them mailed to you or scanned and emailed back. My cousin had her boys color some Thanksgiving related print offs which I scanned and included with the game.

Step Three: As the answered questionnaires start arriving, organize them however is easiest for you. For me, I chose to use my computer to create one long document file. I thought it best to remove the questions and make one long family story from the eldest generation to the youngest.

Step Four: Let’s see how much the family knows about one another! Once your questionnaires return use the answers to create a “Who’s Who?” Thanksgiving Day Guessing Game to be handed out on Thanksgiving Day. Include a page with the pictures you have collected of the family members. Each member gets their own copy of quotes. Whoever has the most guesses correct wins a prize!

Next week, I’ll be writing about how I used the facts gathered from the completed questionnaires, in order to create a memorable keepsake, the whole family will love! Stay tuned!

It's Party Time!

2009-09-11T07:54:00.000-07:00

The decorations are up, the food is ready, and all of the gifts are wrapped. You take one more look around the room to be sure everything is in its place. The guests have started to arrive. You have planned every little detail, but have you taken time to plan for your pictures? Here are a few helpful hints to be sure the pictures of your special day are as memorable as the day itself.

1. Too busy playing hostess to take pictures? Prior to your event, ask a family member (or two) to take pictures for you. Be sure they know the schedule of events. Having designated photographers gives you the opportunity to enjoy the event without being behind the lens, and this way there will at least be one picture of you!

2. Be sure your camera’s batteries are charged and extra memory cards are available. If your designated photographer is using your camera, be sure they know how to operate it.

3. When planning your event, think about the best lighting for picture opportunities. Consider the time of day and whether you can take advantage of natural light. Will you need to use the flash? Are the guests going to be back-lit? It could be as simple as planning to have the guest of honor sit in a certain chair to get the best shots.

4. Take your detail pictures before your guests arrive. If your camera has a micro option, try taking close-up pictures of the decorations, food, invitations, etc. to remember all those little touches you worked so hard to include.

5. Give yourself an extra 15-30 minutes and take special or formal shots before guests arrive. If that’s not possible, plan a photo op for the day before or the day after.

6. Take a variety of pictures from different angles. If you are snapping pictures of children, get down to their level. Try taking a group shot of everyone from above, by standing on a step stool, chair or landing.

7. Create a “photo booth”. Arrange the perfect photo atmosphere for your guests ahead of time! Have your designated photographer take pictures of your guests or just leave it open for guests to take pictures of themselves. It can be as simple as setting up a backdrop in your yard with a clothesline. Or if indoors, hang paper lanterns or banner flags from the ceiling to create a festive backdrop. Having some fun props available for your guests can add a nice touch too. This idea is also fun for the kids!

Check out this great idea for a photo booth here.

Think Outside The Box Challenge: At your next special event, plan ahead! Having planned ahead, your scrapbook layouts are bound to look fabulous!

Here are a few layout ideas to get your party started!

"Bridal Party" by Aphra

"M & S 2nd Birthday" by Trina McClune

Supplies - White Bazzill CS, Black Staz-On Ink, Tim Holtz distress ink spiced marmalade, MM Slice Lettering, Prima flowers & ‘Say it in Crystals’, Embroidery floss, & corner rounder.

Be Inspired by a Photo

2009-09-02T13:36:00.000-07:00

My lovely sister, Rebecca, has been a little under the weather, so my name is Jen, and I am your guest host for this week's Think Outside the Box Challenge.

My husband and I have a photography business called Evans Photography, so I am always searching for photo inspiration. Before we meet with a client, I usually check out new compositions, poses and popular processing techniques by looking at photo shoots online or in magazines. I am continually collecting ideas that inspire me.

My first step in using photos as inspiration is to create a journal or wall. It can be as simple as slipping magazine clippings into a three ring binder, or you can make a special handmade journal such as this one. I have an inspiration wall in my own studio. I have nailed vintage records above my desk and I clip my inspiration onto them. This way, when I am stumped on a layout all I have to do is look up! I can also easily change out the pictures as I find new ones.

Now that you have photos for inspiration how do you use them on your layouts? Step back and ask yourself, "What draws me to this photo?" Is it the color scheme, texture, or maybe a prop used?

Think Outside the Box Challenge: Use a favorite photo from a website or magazine as inspiration to create a scrapbook page. Focus on what draws you to the photo. Then use those elements in your own layout. Let the props, color or texture in the photo kick off the title to the page.

Your eyes are in for a treat! These photographers and artists are extremely talented! Thank you for the beautiful inspiration!

Photo from Once Wed: DIY headband tutorial

"Ordinary Days" by Anna Bäckström

Supplies - Credits (all digital elements): frames - Katie Pertiet; word art - Ali Edwards; pink lace, splatter frame - Rhonna Farrer; feathers, flowers & leaves - Kitschy Digitals; aqua brush stroke - Sue Cummings

"Lea" by Gina Masson

Supplies - Feathers from Kitschy Digitals at Two Peas in a Bucket, background paper cabana white - Katie Pertiet, purple ribbon - Gina Cabrera, & Font - porcelain and 1942 report

The Kiss by Erin Austin with E.D. Photography

"Beauty" by Sharmaine Kruijver

http://www.skruijver.blogspot.com/

Supplies - Cardstock: Bazzill; Pattern Paper: Pink Paislee, 3ndypapir, Basic Grey Scenic Route Paint, & Making Memories; Lettering: American Crafts; Other: Machine stitching, correction pen, sharpie & corrugated cardboard

"Soar" by Stephanie Johnson

Supplies - Acrylic paint; Black Sakura Glaze; Pen: Signo Uniball & White Gel Pen; Embroidery thread; Hambly: wing, rubons, and circle journal rubon; Cardstock: Bazzill; Watercolor pencils; Red felt; American Crafts: letter stickers; Blue Stickles & Black ink

"There is Something Special About You" by Valerie Salmon

http://www.gotsketch.blogspot.com/

http://www.gotcrafts.typepad.com/

Supplies - Jan '09 Scarlet Lime kit

"Couture Bridal - Fairy Tales" by Sarah Louise Johnson with Sarah Louise Photography

http://webmail.wbcable.net/Redirect/www.i-screamparties.co.uk
Bespoke Children's Party Photography

http://webmail.wbcable.net/Redirect/www.allisdream.com
Bespoke Wedding Photography

"Marie Antoinette Tag" by Jeynifer Tribbitt

joosycardco.etsy.com

Supplies - Pearls: Queen and Co. & vintage finds

"Tea Time" by Chimene
for Let's Get Shabby

Go ahead and play along! When you’ve completed your layout, leave a link in the comments so that we can see your work and the photo you used for inspiration.

Think Outside the Box: Be moved by what a photographer sees through their view finder. Let the emotion you feel move you to create your own masterpiece!

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Jennifer Evans is the author for Create Well, Create Often, a blog to inspire you to get creative! She loves to get her hands dirty scrapbooking and painting but loves it more when her twin sister, Rebecca Grinder gets dirty right along side her.

Think Antique

2009-08-26T21:02:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, I attended Molly Mo’s Annual Antique Faire in Oregon’s historic Willamette Valley. I hung out with my sister, Jen Evans of Evans Photography and Create Well, Create Often, who was doing a photo shoot of the event. As her assistant, I helped carry her gear while I scavenged for great buys.

Pictures used with permission: Evans Photography

The vendors provided a variety of nostalgic treasures, and I loved perusing the aisles. So many trinkets from days gone by... old photographs, ticket stubs, toys, games, buttons, broaches, lace, vintage patterns, postcards… everywhere I looked, there was a bit of American history right at my fingertips. It reminded me of what scrapbooking used to be. For generations, newspaper articles have been clipped, locks of hair preserved, love notes saved, photos collected, and precious memories have been recorded in scrapbooks.

Jessica Helfand has compiled the history of scrapbooking, from the turn of the twentieth century to present, in her book, Scrapbooks: An American History. This stunning collection is a testament to our passion for preserving cherished memories and keepsakes.

“Highly subjective and rich in emotional content, the scrapbook is a unique and often quirky form of expression in which a person gathers and arranges meaningful materials to create a personal narrative.” - Yale University Press (for Scrapbooks: An American History)

Do you have family from previous generations who loved to scrapbook? Don’t know? You might want to ask at your next family reunion or holiday get-together. Your family’s very own buried treasure may be hiding away in someone’s attic!

Think Outside The Box Challenge: Get back to the roots of scrapbooking. Create a layout resembling a page from the turn of the twentieth century using elements like trinkets, recipes, locks of hair, drawings, poems/verses, letters, postcards, handwriting, collage clippings, greeting cards, dried flowers, feathers, buttons, pins, photographs…

I have a great treat for you. This week, the collection of designer's layouts are truly amazing works of art! Thank you ladies, for sharing and inspiring!

"Christmas Family Blessings" by Rebecca Grinder

Used Rub-ons on an Antique Glass Button

by Tara Anderson

Supplies: Butterflies: KandCo, Digital Elements: Kitschy Digitals, Paper: Hambly, Pearls: Kaiser Scrapbook, Rubons: Basic Grey, misc.: spray paint, scotch tape, feathers

“Beauty” by Laura Achilles

Supplies - Adhesives: Helmar USA Antique Acrylic Sealer and Premium Craft Glue. Patterned Paper & Rub-ons: Dream Street Papers Secret Garden collection. Embellishments: Tim Holtz Tags, Maya Road Stick Pins, & Kaiser Craft Pearls. Ink: Color Box. The flowers were inspired by Kenner Road Kit Club blog tutorial.

Time Passes by Lori Gentile

Supplies - Paper: Melissa Frances "Deborah" PP & Bazzill Basics CS
Alphabets: American Crafts "Jewelry Box" Thickers and Pink Paislee Expression
Lace: Prima Marketing (the outside lace), all the rest is collected Flea Markets
Buttons: Misc; some from Flea Markets Clock faces: collected from Flea Markets
Jewelry: collected from Flea Markets Pen: Zig

“Love Divine” by Kayla Aimee

Supplies - Patterned Paper: October Afternoon. The "Hometown Die-Cut Shapes." Alphabet Stickers, Number Stickers, Definitions, Flowers, Buttons, Ribbon, Gold Staples, Ink, Distressing Powder: Making Memories Pen: American CraftsVintage Elements: Sheet Music, Postcard, Sewing Pattern, Trim, Cookbook pages.

Other Elements: Chipboard, Paint, Glimmer Mist, Colored Pencils

Distressing Tools (edge distressor, perforator, scraper): Making Memories

"Wedding Invitation Pocket" by Rebecca Grinder

Supplies - Bazzill Basics CS, Chatterbox brads, wedding invitation, program, and inserts, circle punch to make tabs.

Altered Pink Heart by Nancy Maxwell James
http://www.sugarlumpstudios.com

Supplies - K & Company Papers, Lace, old Buttons, Wire, Eyelets, Small cabinet card (or scanned photo of your choice), old book text, Green Polka dot ribbon, Pink Grosgrain ribbon, Tim Holtz pin, Charm, Small silk flowers (wedding section at Michael’s), & old postcard reprint

Places We Go by Christina Clouse

Supplies - Paper: American Crafts CS & Cosmo Cricket PP File Folder: Cavallini & Co
Die-Cut Cardstock: Creative Imaginations Letter Stickers: Collage Press Punch: Martha Stewart Crafts Stamp: Label Tulip Kits Ink: Ranger Distress

Think Outside The Box: An artist can take what the world calls junk and make a masterpeice. You are that artist! Live life and make a difference. Then don't forget to encourage others by telling your story!

Life Verse

2009-08-20T23:08:00.000-07:00

We all go through cycles of learning lessons and growing. Yet new seasons in life sometimes bring back old challenges or temptations. I can relate to a song by Barlow Girls, called "On My Own":

“How did I manage to mess up one more time?

This pattern seems to be the story of my life.

Should have learned this lesson by the thousandth time.”

Often, I find myself relearning some of the same old lessons. We are creatures of habit. I don't know about you, but I need reminders in my life to help keep me going in the right direction. A life verse or inspirational quote helps keep me focused. They become words to live by.

Before I moved, I had quotes posted throughout my house to encourage me to stay on track in my daily life. Quotes from a mentor, a poem, a Scripture verse, a passage from a book… words that inspired me were posted on the mirror in my bathroom, at work, as bookmarks, and even in my wallet. Today, I am challenged to get those quotes back up and in my line of sight. So here is my new addition to the collection:

"…that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,

that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,

that to have nothing is to possess all,

that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,

that to give is to receive,

that the valley is the place of vision.”

- from “The Valley of Vision,” author unknown

Think Outside The Box Challenge: Do you have a life verse or a quote that motivates you to live life to the fullest? Scrap a layout using your verse/quote as inspiration. Not only will the layout be an encouragement to you in the future, it will serve as a written legacy to your family.

"Words To Live By" by Jennifer Cupp

Supplies – Bazzill CS, MME & Daisy D's PP, The Crafters Workshop Doodle Template, Ribbon and Button Unknown.

"Walk By Faith" by Chelsea Cook

Supplies - Flowers cut from SEI PP, PP and mist from Lucy Edson, the red journaling tag and stick pin One Bright Spot.

"On This Day" by Vicki

Supplies - Two Peas in a Bucket Mary Ann Wise - Butterfly Button Chips Fly Away Brush and Stamp Set Doublets We Are Storytellers Audaious Designs - Frames Quotes Designer Digitals Lynn Grieveson - Worn Page Edges No 2 Anna Aspnes - FloralArt Paperie No 2 Jesse Edwards - On the Breeze brushes and stamps.

"Shoot For The Stars" by Holly Hanks

Supplies - Cardstock: Bazzill Patterned Paper: Sassafras Lass, Cosmo Cricket Die Cut: Collage Press Letter Stickers: Sassafras Lass, Basic Grey, American Crafts Stickers: Sassafras Lass Chipboard Button: Jenni Bowlin Jewels: Creative Cafe, Prima Brad: Chatterbox, Inc. Star Embellishment: Prima Rub-Ons: Fancy Pants Pom-Pom Trim: Fancy Pants Font: DaFont - "Rough Typewriter".

A Time Capsule

2009-08-13T22:30:00.000-07:00

When I look at old photographs, one of the first things I notice is the way life has changed. Fashion, hairstyles, transportation, landmarks, prices… all of these things add nostalgia to the moment captured on film. But often when I take a picture, I am trying to capture the subject. I forget to capture the world that’s changing around us.

Think Outside The Box Challenge: Create a scrapbook-style time capsule. Using photographs and other mementos, capture life today. Your focus can be as broad or narrow as you like. Capture lots of the places and things that are an everyday part of your life, or choose one aspect of life that’s important to you. Fashion, décor, technology, your community… You will be amazed how quickly you look back on this layout with nostalgia!

Here are some ideas for your time capsule layout:

· News paper/magazine Headlines
· Movie Theater Marques
· Currency/Stamps/Coins
· Gas Stations/Price of Gasoline
· Books/Magazines
· Sports Team Memorabilia
· Your Town’s Center
· Local Landmarks/Signs
· Local Construction/Demolition
· Your Home
· Your Street/Neighborhood
· Your worksite
· Schools/Classrooms
· Your Church/Synagogue/Mosque
· Favorite Parks/Playgrounds/Recreation Areas
· Vehicles/Local Transportation
· Favorite Places to Shop/Businesses you Frequent
· Favorite Outfits
· Your Home’s Décor
· A Child’s Room
· Children’s Toys
· Family Pets
· Family Meals
· Inside Your Purse
· Favorite Cereal Boxes
· Favorite Food/Candy/Snacks
· TV Shows
· Music/Music Players
· Electronics/Computers/Cameras
· Cell Phones

If you play along, be sure to leave a comment with a link!

"Capsule Time 2009" by Rebecca Grinder

(click on the photo to get a better view)

Supplies: PP My Mind's Eye, Kaiser Crafts Gems & paper flowers, K&Co felt ribbon, Making Memories pop-up squares & 2009 stickers, black alpha stickers unknown & white Thickers alpha stickers, pearl head straight pins.

What I Wish I Knew

2009-08-06T20:42:00.000-07:00

For years, writer and comedian Anita Renfroe has been causing laughter in homes across America. Last year, she was featured once a month on Good Morning America, and her latest concert comedy DVD release, It’s Probably Just My Thyroid, is 78 minutes of pure hilarity. The segment on scrapbooking is an absolute crack-up. She ends the concert by reading a letter that she wrote to her younger self about all the things she wishes she’d known back then.

“Moisturize your neck for pete’s sake! One day it will occur to you that you could have used a dab more and gone down another seven inches and preserved your ability to wear something other than turtle necks!”

“Stop obsessing about your waistline… unless you’re just looking at it to memorize it… because, it will leave you!”

“Don’t worry about your future husband and children. Turns out, they’re way better than you’re anticipating. It’s the truth!”

“But what I really need to tell you is this, so pay attention! – There are so many great things happening and you’re missing half of them worrying if you are pretty enough, or capable enough, or good enough!”

“Pay attention to the people that God is bringing into your life right now, with so much wisdom and experience, who want to share it with you. Don’t miss that!”

“ ...And by the way, pay extra attention to your Nanaw because this time next year, she won’t be around and you are going to miss her!”

If only we knew then what we know now. When I was in high school, the final assignment of my senior-year English class was to write a letter describing where I saw myself in five years. I wrote about my hopes and plans for the future. I detailed all that was important to me at the tender age of seventeen.

Five years later, as promised, that letter arrived in my mailbox. I was completely surprised. I’d forgotten all about it. However, when I re-read the letter, I was poignantly struck by my naiveté. Who knew that just weeks after I wrote it, circumstances would occur that would change the course of my life?

Our destinies are never what we expect. More often than not, our lives end up quite different than we dreamed when we were children. Looking back, much of what I thought was important doesn’t even matter today, but the things I took for granted meant more than I knew.

This week’s Think Outside the Box Challenge:

Create a layout incorporating your own letter to a younger you. List the things you wish you’d known when you were younger. What wisdom have you gained? What insights do you have now? What have you learned over time? Don’t let this layout focus on recrimination or regret. Instead, let it bring reflection and thanksgiving.

For a different twist, address the letter to your children. Pass on to them some of what life has taught you.

My Advice by Rebecca Grinder

Supplies - CS: Bazzill PP: Bo-Bunny, Heidi Grace, SEI. Title Letters: Thickers. Other: Anna Griffin Sticker Border, thread w/sewing machine, skeleton leaves, staples, Making Memories blue ribbon, broken beaded charm bracelet, circle punch, clear sleeve for journaling pocket.

Journaling: Rebecca, I know at times you struggle to find your way. You hide the fact that you are lonely. You wonder about your destiny and the purpose God has for you. You ask questions about your future – Will home life ever become peaceful? Will I ever get married? Have a family? Now that I am older, I can see His hand in it all. Remember that God has always and will forever provide for you (Deuteronomy 31:8, Luke 12:17).
When it gets tough at home, and you don’t feel loved, know that things will get better because you put your trust in the Lord (Psalm 40:3). He is the giver of peace (Psalm 29:11). I know you feel like time is moving slowly but in just a few years you will meet your husband. He is the man you always dreamed of. Even more than you ever prayed for. He will be your best friend and your days will be filled with laughter. God is still working in him right now, so don’t forget to pray for him...he needs your prayers.
Take a look around! See the friends you have by your side? Don’t take them for granted. They are a diamond in the ruff. They are so rare… roses amidst the world’s thorns. Time brings change, often to quickly. You won’t know how rare they are until you’re no longer by each other’s side.
Be content in all that you have. Enjoy life and learn from the mentors around you. They won’t always be at arms length, so cherish them. Love them. Learn all you can from them. You won’t get that chance until you meet them again in heaven. Make lasting relationships, centered on truth, respect, and compassion. Surround yourself with people who lift you up in encouragement.
Granted, you can’t see the whole picture right now, but be assured that God is moving. Eventually, you will see the puzzle pieces, events of your life, fit together. All has happened for His reasons and although the pieces right now don’t fit, fear not (Romans 8:28)! The whole picture looks more beautiful than you can imagine. Just wait and see (Psalm 27:14)! Signed by Rebecca Grinder, 2009

"If I knew..." by Jennifer Evans

Supplies- Paper: Fancy Pants Designs, Making Memories, & Cosmo Cricket; Sticker: Anna Griffin; Alphas: American Crafts; Other: Thread

Think Technique: Spray Paint

2009-07-30T20:41:00.000-07:00

Whether it’s out of a can or a squirt bottle, sprayed on paint is becoming all the rage in scrapbooking techniques. With the newest Craft and Hobby Association Show this week, we are likely to see even more of the spray misters hit our local craft store shelves soon. Although I love the stuff, I have steered away from adding misters to my already bulging collection of scrapbooking must-haves. Instead, I thought outside the box a little and came up with these helpful hints to achieve that same wonderful spray painted look without having to break the piggy bank.

- Have some Pearl-Ex mica powders lying around? Make custom shimmer mists by mixing a scoop of powder and some liquid non-aerosol hairspray into a spray bottle.

- Instead of using hairspray with your mica powders, try clear fine embossing powder and water. Give it a good shake, spray, then heat set. For fun, try colored embossing powders. For instance, gold embossing powder goes nicely with yellow mica powders and silver embossing powder adds a nice touch with turquoise or purple mica powders. Be sure to use fine embossing powders to avoid clogging your spray bottle.

- Rummage through your garage for your left over spray cans. I love the drip-drop look by pressing the nozzle only partial way, causing the paint to not come out in an even spray. My hubby even gave me the idea to look for different texture paints at our local hardware store. There are a variety of textures and colors for under $4 a can.

- Half the fun is the trial and error process. Be sure to test the look on scratch paper before spraying your final project. Try different spray bottles for different coverage. I like to use Stampendeous’ empty spray bottles but my favorite is Ranger Tim Holtz’s mini mister since the bottle has a good looking spray and is small and compact. I can then mix a small amount of paint and I am less likely to waste product. Check out your local dollar store for empty bottles too.

- Do you have paint from your other hobbies? Look through your stash. Experiment mixing the paint with some water in a spray bottle.

- Mix water and re-inkers in a bottle. Try your dye inks on paper embellishments like flowers and chipboard.

- Share your supplies! Swap misters with your scrapbook buddies. Sharing your stash keeps the expense down while keeping the experience fresh and fun.

- Want the look without the mess? Go digital! Check out this link for some amazing digital brushes by designer Anna Aspnes.

"You & Me" by Rebecca Grinder

Supplies - Lasting Impressions PP, Carolyn Gavin K & Co stickers, Making Memories vintage line flower block, Maya Road mister iridescent pearl mixed with Pearl-Ex Antique Bronze, gold embossing powder mixed with Pearl-Ex Burnt Orange, fabric button unknown.

"Living Simply For You" by Rebecca Grinder

Supplies - Basic Grey PP, Creative Imaginations PP, Bazzill CS, Pearl-Ex Sky Blue mixed with silver embossing powder and sprayed with mini mister, Making Memories vintage findings line contents tag, twine, ticket, stamp.

"Fly, Soar On Wings" by Rebecca Grinder

Supplies - Ivory CS, vintage dictionary pages, Starbuck's gift card holder, Michael's Crafts butterfly, Thickers letter stickers, Making Memories vintage findings flowers, sequins, Making Memories letters stickers, My Mind's Eye tickets, Vintage paper dye ink w/ blending tool, black spray paint, Maya Rd iridescent pearl mister, gold embossing powder mixed with Pearl-Ex Pumpkin Orange, white acrylic paint mixed w/water and sprayed on, & perforating tool edger tool.

Scrapbooking and Healing

2009-07-23T21:21:00.000-07:00

Although scrapbooking is lots of fun, it can actually serve a larger purpose than simply helping us remember the special moments. It isn’t just about the fancy paper, the buttons, and the glitter. Scrapbooking can help us heal. The heart of scrapbooking is the story you have to tell. Often we tend to scrap the glorious moments of our lives, skipping over the difficult seasons. We all experience times of grief… loss… change… disappointment. That story can be a tough one to put down on paper, let alone, put into a family album. Yet, the process of scrapping can be very therapeutic. As we express our emotions, both in words and images, we begin to heal. And the pages we create can encourage others as well.

Think Outside The Box Challenge:

Are you grieving? Going through a trial? Facing change?

Do a layout about this difficult time in your life.

Not sure where to start?

While no single approach fits every scenario,

maybe one of these suggestions will help:

Journal about what you’re going through.

Write a letter.

Create a memorial or tribute.

Express your emotions abstractly.

Focus on a single aspect.

Be honest. Struggle. Grieve. Mourn. Hope. Dream. Grow.

*** leave a comment with a link to share your layout based on this challenge ***

I want to thank the following ladies, not only for sharing their amazing scrapbook pages with us, but for being willing to share the difficult times in their lives with us too. After reading some of their journaling and personal notes, I cried. And I did some healing of my own. Their art and writing was such an encouragement to me! I hope they encourage you as well!

Clink on the picture images to enlarge!

“Missing” by Edna

“I made this page last year, after I lost our daughter in a shopping mall for about 10 minutes while she was just 4 1/2 years old and we just had moved into a new neighborhood. This was a terrible and stressful experience for me…”

Supplies - Ranger distress powders, tea dye ink, liquid pearls. Prima Marketing stamped angel and bird with distress powder and I changed the colors of the photo with PS. Paper: Prima Collection Cavalier & 7 Gypsies.

“May Prayer” by Wilna Furstenberg

Supplies - Paper: Teresa Collins, My Minds Eye and 7Gypsies. Letter stickers: Making Memories. Pen: Sharpie. Embellishments: 2 Artist trading cards from friends.

“In Awe” by Stacey Michaud

Journaling Reads: “I am inspired by you, my younger sister. Michelle, I am
amazed by your strength, astonished by your grace, in awe of how well you
handled yourself. You giggled when things were funny, grieved openly when
you needed to, and made decisions when the time came. You have looked for
the purpose, which is helping us all to heal. During trying times, we see
a person's true character. I saw...And I am left speechless.”

Supplies – (All from My Scrapbook Nook July Kit): Paper: Basic Grey
Lemonade; Letter Stickers: Basic Grey; Buttons: Basic Grey; Flowers:
Prima Marketing; Bling: Basic Grey; Canvas Tag: Prima Marketing; Lace:
Making Memories.

"Say Yes" by Christa

Supplies – CS: Wassau PP: October Afternoon, Making Memories, Daisy Bucket, Studio Calico (journaling spot) Letters: Hand cut from Studio Calico paper (June Kit) Rub-Ons: (leaf): Pink Paislee, (word phrases): Chatterbox Metal Embellishment: Making Memories Pearls: Basic Grey Twine: Studio Calico

"Home Sweet Home" by Rebecca Grinder

Supplies: Scrapblog.com Digital Elements

After The Fog by Becky Thompson

Supplies -All of the following items are by Erica Hernandez @ 2 Peas In A Bucket:

Krafty Boy Digi Kit, Bubblewrap Stamp Single, Letter Template #11 , Haphazard Mini Kit, Feeling Bookish Collage Elements, Also used: Rough Riders kit - Sande Krieger, 2 Peas In A Bucket. Font is WillnGrace (free download from the internet). Layout was designed using Photoshop CS2.

Journaling: "The area I live in is notorious for winter inversions. Periods of time when the sun disappears completely behind a thick wall of fog - sometimes for days, sometimes for weeks. I have a hard time with this time of year. All that endless grey makes me sad. Brad asks me often how I think I would handle living on the coast if this makes me feel this way - I try to explain to him that having the ocean there makes it different, but he doesn't quite understand. That's okay. I don't live on the beach yet, so it doesn't really matter.Anyway, it's been probably a good two weeks since we've seen the sun for more than just a few minutes. My mood has matched the grey. For the last few days, though, we've had rain and snow. Funny thing about precipitation - it breaks up the fog - clears the sky - and lets the sun peek through. I took this picture a few minutes ago. I tried (in vain, I might add) to capture the feeling of the sun coming through that darkness. Have you ever tried to drive in a thick fog? It envelops you - chases the surroundings away, causing you, if you're not very cautious and careful, to lose your way and crash your car. It's oppressing - it feels like a weight is pressing itself heavy on your chest. It's hard to get a good strong breath when it's foggy. But once the rain begins to fall, once the skies open up and the winds and the storm begin to rage - the fog has no choice but to retreat. Fog cannot stand against the strength of the storm. It has to dissipate. It's simply not strong enough to withstand the purifying process of the storm. The part we look forward to the most, though, is what happens once the storm stops. Once the snow stops falling - the winds calm their raging - that's when we get excited as humans. The sun comes out. It casts it's rays slowly over the earth, warming and healing and bringing new life to the ravaged world. It's a beautiful sight, that first sunshine after the fog and the storm. Life seems a little easier - and you can finally get a good breath. I was thinking how amazing it is that God gives us such beautiful pictures of how He works in the majesty of his creation. Every one of us has times of inversion. I found the meteorological definition of the word inversion particularly interesting: "Inversion: An atmospheric condition in which the air temperature rises with increasing altitude, holding surface air down and preventing dispersion of pollutants." If you put inversion in the spiritual context, you can see how well it fits. Times when our lives feel held down by the pollutants of the world - by our sins - by whatever it is that we're going through. What happens when we are "held down" so to speak? Our temperatures rise. We get angry. We get frustrated. We feel trapped - maybe even, when the fog is at it's thickest, like we've been abandoned. But that's not the way God works. He doesn't just leave us there in the fog. That's not His plan. He wants us to come through it. This is where the real pain begins sometimes. The storms begin to rage. They have to, you see. Fog doesn't lift without some force to move it, whether that's a storm, or the sun burning it away. In an inversion, it almost always has to be a storm of some sort. The same is true in our own personal situations. You can't find your way out of the fog without going through the pain of the storm. It hurts when the sleet pelts your flesh. Your bones ache from the chill of the wind that cuts through you. The wind tosses you to and fro, and you feel like you can't find your way...like you can't go any farther. The truth is, you can't. Not without Him. The master navigator, if you will. Only He can bring you through that storm. That's really a key point, too - you have to go THROUGH it to get to the other side."

Think Outside The Box: Once you finish your layout, don’t hide it away. Sharing your work will help others understand what you’re going through. And you never know who may be touched by your story! You might help to begin the healing process for someone else!

Music Can Inspire

2009-07-15T15:24:00.000-07:00

Music is a powerful part of our existence. And recently, music has been scientifically proven to stimulate the brain in a number of ways. Small sound waves in music, like a bird’s song or a classical melody, stimulate the brain in ways that make us feel happy and rejuvenated. Larger sound waves, produced by instruments like a bass, can actually make us feel depressed and sick. We even know that certain types of music promote learning. And now they’re finding that music can even make us more creative. There is no doubt that music moves us on many levels: mentally, emotionally, spiritually and artistically. How does music bring out your creativity?

Jae Richter is a talented up-and-coming country music singer and songwriter, and a dear friend of mine. Her songs always have me tapping my feet and singing along, but most of all they inspire me creatively. This girl's melodies are amazing! So, I asked Jae to share with us a bit about herself as well as some of her thoughts on what inspires her - from her songwriter's point of view.

Jae Richter, photograph by Daveen Photography

I am a 23 year old singer/songwriter who was born and raised in Oregon. I'm currently a college student in Nashville, Tennessee. Eventually, I hope to have a career in some area of the music business. I started singing into a toy microphone at 2 years old and wrote my first song at age 4. That first song was a bunch of random letters typed on a page and I worked very hard on it. At the time, I remember hearing a little melody running through my head.

When writing a song, the creative process always varies. One thing for sure, songs never come together in the same way. Sometimes, they start with a melody or a song idea. Some result from a conversation or come from an emotion I'm feeling at the same time or from a past experience. Inspiration can be found all around and being observant plus a good listener can really pay off. The process almost always takes more time than I think it will. The process takes a lot of twists and turns before it’s finally a song.

I love listening to all kids of music. Dolly Parton, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Sheryl Crow, Brooks and Dunn, and U2 all inspire me creatively.

Thinking outside the box is key. It helps keep variety in my writing. I try to think through each song from as many perspectives as I can. Take a break-up song for instance; there’s always his side, her side, and the truth. As a result, a break-up song can go in a variety of directions. It’s all about telling a story and coloring a relatable picture for the listener. Songwriting is about capturing a moment and using your instincts to pin down something elusive that represents what we are emotionally, physically, and spiritually. It’s about imagination and learning from others. But mostly it’s about having fun.

Thanks, Jae

You can hear Jae's recently recorded songs by going to her website here.

Think Outside The Box Challenge:

Let music inspire you during your next layout and perhaps stimulate your brain in a new direction.

Use these questions to jumpstart that creative process:

What type of music is playing in your everyday life?

Do you have a favorite tune?

If your life had a soundtrack, what would the playlist be?

Are there any lyrics that have special meaning for you?

Has a song ever helped the healing process?

What’s playing right now?

Thanks to these talented designers, here are some ideas to get you moving to whatever beats your drum! Let these layouts inspire you to create your own with a fresh new perspective! *** If you want to share your completed work, leave a comment with a link!

Fly by Corinne Delis

Music Makes Me Happy by Amy Coose

Supplies - Bazzill CS, Sassafrass Lass and Cosmo Cricket PP, Magistical Memories circle chipboard border, Cosmo Cricket chipboard word (happy) and flowers.

Every Day by Jennifer Evans

Supplies -Paper: Fancy Pants Designs; Cardstock: Bazzill Basics;

Alphas: American Crafts; Rhinestones: Kaisercrafts;

Flocker: Stampendous; Font: Times New Roman

Other: muslin, thread, liquid watercolor

Ten Thousand Years by Andrea Wiebe

Supplies - CS Bazzill, Embroidery Floss: DMC Ink: Clearsnap Letter Stickers: Making Memories Paint Mist: Maya Road Pattern Paper: Rose Moka and KI Memories

Other: doily, photo corners, pom pom trim, and vinyl flourish

She Makes Music by LauraBean

Supplies - Katie Pertiet Naturally Krafty No. 5; Worth Repeating Expressions; Musical Clusters; Scallop Strip Masks; Shadow Styles. Mindy Terasawa Crazy Beautiful. Anna Aspnes Basic Masking Gradient Brushes. Texture by Bittbox on Flickr. Texture lesson by Pattie Knox at Get It Scrapped.

It Had Been Too Long by Stephanie

Supplies - Paper: Crate Paper; Journaling Spot: Making Memories; Brad: Making Memories; Buttons: BasicGrey; Clear Stamps: BasicGrey, Rhonna Farrer for Autumn Leaves, Inkadinkado (alphabet); Stickers: BasicGrey; Journaling Pen: Martha Stewart; Ink: Stampin' Up Bravo Burgundy

On This Day by Rebecca Grinder

Supplies - CS Bazzill, PP Sassafras Vintage, Do-dads: My Mind's Eye sticker borders, Making Memories tickets, Michael's Crafts Pearls and silk gerber daisy, Karen Foster metal clip. Title: Little Davis Designs chip board letters, #641 Pearlex, Studio G orange ink, clear embossing powder. Other: Twill, Pin, Button, twine, wine bottle foil, silk flower.

Tools: Fiskars border punch & paper edgers.

Think Outside The Box: Let music bring out your creativity

and it's ok to whistle or sing along while you work!

Simple Summer Pleasures

2009-07-10T13:28:00.000-07:00

Summer is a spectacular time of year! As a child, my summer days were filled with simple pleasures… long afternoons swimming at the pool… grasping tightly to my two quarters as I ran to meet the ice cream truck... playing hide and seek during warm summer evenings. Those everyday activities became some of my fondest memories! And today, I still look for ways to slow down my hectic schedule and enjoy the simple pleasures of summertime.

Savoring summer doesn’t have to take a lot of money, just a little imagination. Here’s a list of some of my favorite summer pastimes:
> Spread a blanket at the local park to read a book
> Go for a bike ride
> Check out a local music festival
> Chase butterflies and dragonflies
> Pack a picnic lunch
> Tour the local lavender farms
> Pick berries
> See a movie in the park
> Have a water balloon or squirt gun fight
> Visit the farmers’ market
> Take a hike
> Savor an ice cream cone at the local DQ
> Be a tourist for a day in my own town

This week's Think Outside The Box Challenge: How do you slow down and enjoy the summer months? Create a layout depicting a simple summer pleasure.

To jump start your creative juices, take a look at these amazing designers’ simple summer pleasures! A great big thank you to all of the following talented ladies for letting us feature their summertime layouts! If these pages wow you, be sure to link over to their blogs to see even more fabulous inspiration.

Blueberries by Dani Johnston

Prism Cardstock - Shelby's TanOctober Afternoon - Lunchbox Alphabet Stickers- Picnic Table GreatScott Etsy Shop - Book Page from 1957 Frozen Food Hints book schOOLLOcker Etsy Shop - Brown Ticket schOOLLOcker Etsy Shop - blue and white bakery twineMade by Stace Klug for Vintage Plum - Handmade Dictionary FlowersIvory LaceWhite Cupcake Liners (Used for masking and folded behind the photo)Vintage Plum - Pacific Avenue Diner Paper (All the above Products are from Vintage Plum's July kit "Cherry Pie") Making Memories Yellow StaplesTattered Angels Turquoise Blue Glimmer Mist Tim Holtz for Ranger Weather Wood Distress Ink Color Box Yellow Citrus Chalk InkpadSakura Black Jelly Roll Pen

Yummy by Akiko Kuroki

Cosmo Cricket papers and ribbon, Crafting Kit, Ready Set Chipboard, & misc. stickers

Not Quite by Frances Sylvia

designed for the So Sketchy! using the July #1 Sketch, created by Allison CopeBazzil Cardstock, October Afternoon Cherry Hill, Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday, DMC floss, American Crafts Thickers Sprinkles, Bazzil Die Cut Strips, My Little Shoebox Tiny Alphas, Starbuck's corrugated cardboard coozy, DYMO, and all buttons and brads from personal stash

Sweet Summer by Norma Kennedy

Pattern Paper: My Little Shoebox Cardstock: Core'dinatons Embellishments: October Afternoon Cherry Hill Stickers Alpha: American Craft Thickers Twine: Martha Stewart Baking Twine

Flower Girl by Gudrun Loennecken

Patternd paper: 3ndypapir, design Lene Solhaug Cardstock: Bazzill criss-cross white heavy woolen Felt & Craft Felt: Panduro Letters: Thickers & black pen by American Crafts & Buttons, DMC embroidery floss

Create Well: Take the time to enjoy a simple summer pleasure. And don't forget to take your camera because before you know it, summer will be gone!

Article written by Rebecca Grinder. Rebecca has been guest designer on Create Well...Create Often before. To visit her feature go to this post.

All photos used by permission.