ScrapFIT Reveal: Word of the Year

The Workout:
Here are the details to the workout challenge posted today on ScrapFIT's blog:

Workout #57 -  Word of the Year

Its almost a new year!!!  What single word best describes how you want to embrace the new year?  Here is your chance to think about how you want to change, improve, create, define or challenge the new year! Share with us a layout or altered project that showcases your Word Of The Year! I hope you join us in our newest Workout!  Simply link your layout to Mr. Linky in today's post by December 31st. 

My Reveal:
I was brainstorming words of the year - challenge, create, dream... and finally decided on dare. It seemed more like a command and it encompassed all the other words. I could dare to challenge myself and dare to follow my dreams. 

ScrapFIT Workout #57: Word of the Year

I wanted a multi-photo double paged layout that was a summary of the year so I printed out 2.25 x 2.25" pictures from throughout 2011 that were a bit daring and fun. Since they were of varying colors and themes, I printed them in sepia for a more cohesive look. I wanted a sketch that could incorporate 19 photos, so I went with an Allison Davis desgin from Sketch Support.

Two Page Sketch #14

The Details:

Here is a close up of each page:

Left Page

Right Page

The main variation from the sketch was I added vertical banners. I thought that would match my heralding in the new year's theme. I machine stitched around the main banners to give a separation between photos, so they can be viewed in a strip since there was so much going on. Otherwise I kept the photo size and placements basically the same. 

Title Block

Since the workout is on a "Word of the Year", I wanted to emphasize my main word, dare. For this layout I used Echo Park's For the Record collection. There is a sticker page of letters and I used the round typewriter keys one and placed them on buttons that matched the colors in the collections. I made a mini-banner, wrapped some baker's twine around that, glued the buttons on top and placed it horizontally to emphasize my main sentiment. "Dare" seemed a bit vague by itself, so I added "to herald in the new year 2012" to finish out the sentiment. 

Here are some close up shots:

The Prize:
If you want to scrap your Word of the Year layout, please post it on ScrapFIT's blog for a chance to win an Echo Park "For the Record"scrapbooking kit from Paper Lovelies. That just happened to be the collection I used in today's layout. Paper Lovelies is an online crafting site specializing in monthly scrapbooking kits for only $15. 

This month's sponsor

This month's prize

If you find that you don't have the time to make a whole album for a large event like entire year or a long vacation, then just make a summary page with numerous smaller photos almost like a collage page. If you don't have the energy to write an essay with feelings and details, then just make a list of the places or people in the photos. Then you'll feel better for getting something down on paper. 


Take care,

A ScrapFIT Giveaway

ScrapFIT is Giving Back:

During this Thanksgiving season, Sara from ScrapFIT is thankful for all the supporters for her site, and is hosting three giveaways. Just hop on over, leave a comment on today's post for two chances to win, and follow the site for another chance to win a collection of scrappy goodness. There is a total of three collections that she is giving away.

Giveaway Prize

Away from Home

I'll be sharing more crafty projects next week. This week I'm away from my desk as I'm cruising around Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. See you all soon and have a wonderful Thanksgiving. 

Self Portrait near El Arco and a pirate's cave

Take care,

Pages Reveal: Candle Stick Wreath

The Assignment

It is time for part two of my November reveal with Pages from the Heart, the little scrapbook store with a big heart, or so the motto goes. The assignment this month for the DT was to make something for a holiday celebration and I chose a Thanksgiving centerpiece with pumpkiny goodness. 

Paper Pumpkin Centerpiece

When I finished my set of five pumpkins, it still looked a bit incomplete as the centerpiece. I decided to dress up the brass candle sticks that usually reside on my dining room table. I didn't want a permanent decoration in case I change my color scheme or want to decorate for a different holiday. I decided to make a removable wreath that just tied around the candle stick using a strip of ribbon I save from a gift. 

The Reveal

Title: Candlestick Wreath

Featured Collection: We R Memory Keepers' Autumn Splendor

Dedicated to: Flower Lovers

Candlestick Wreaths

We R Memory Paper

Supply List:

Patterned Papers: We R Memory Keepers

Wired Ribbon: Kirkland

Stamen: JoAnn Crafts

Ink: ColorBox Chalk

Hot Glue Gun & Glue Sticks: Imaginisce

Candle Holder: Baldwin

Other: Candle 

I wanted to think of another project to use the 6 x 6 paper pad I received and decided to fold some kusudama flowers. This is an ancient Japanese paper model translated as "medicine ball" or "healing sphere" which was traditionally used for incense, but are now decorative. Here are some examples.

Kusudama

I didn't want to make the ball, but liked the flowers so I researched how to fold the origami flowers. I used a kusudama written tutorial from Folding Tree for reference. If you prefer videos, YouTube has some folding tutorials also. 

Kusudama Flowers

There are five petals in one bloom. Each petal is made from one piece of 3 x 3 paper. So each sheet of 6 x 6 paper can be cut down to make 4 petals without any wasted material. After folding five petals, I hot glued them together to create one flower. You can vary the papers per flower or use all the same paper as seen above versus below. 

5 Petaled Bloom

The Nitty Gritty

Some variations I made were:

• I chalked the edges of each mini-sheet of paper. 
• I added some stamens to the centers of the flowers. These are purchased from the floral section of a craft store. I just hot glued them in the center prior to gluing on the final petal.
• I hot glued each finished flower onto a wired ribbon. This way, the flowers are not permanently attached to the candlestick but can be easily taken off if I still want to decorate the candlestick for another holiday, like Christmas. 
• I tied the ribbon around the candlestick and curled the bottom of the bow. 

Other variations and tips:

• The paper I used was pretty stiff so I used a bone folder to crease the paper along each fold. But in the end, the flowers seem very durable. If you use a thinner paper, it will be easier to fold, but may not hold up as well over time. So the choice is yours. 
• You can cut the paper in different sizes to make bigger or smaller blooms. 
• You can use a border punch or decorative scissors along the edge of the paper before you fold it to change the shape of the petal, like more of a scalloped look. 
• You can just make one flower for an accent piece on an item, like on a present instead of a bow, on a headband or back of a pen. Or you can make a whole bunch to make the hanging decorative sphere or an actual whole wreath. These are pretty substantial flowers so I wouldn't use them on 2D projects, like a layout. But they pack quite a punch on 3D projects. 

Here it is in conjunction with the pumpkin centerpiece from last week.

Completed Centerpiece

Take care and happy scrappin',   

A ScrapFIT Reveal: Technically Inclined

The Workout
Here are the details to the workout challenge posted today on ScrapFIT's blog:

Workout #56 -  Technically Inclined 

Oh, how we all love our technical gadgets!  Computer, iPods, iPads, Wii, DS, Smart Phone, Digital SLR Camera and soooo many more!  What technical gadget do you hold dear to your heart? Show us and tell us why you can't live with out it! You will have until November 30th to link your layout to today's post for a chance to win a kit from Burlap & Buttercups!

My Interpretation

I did have a hard time with this topic, even though I use these items, I don't really feel like celebrating them. Usually I'm frustrated with them and admire the Amish and Luddites. This week we had a lot of trouble with our internet and kept getting dropped. After a lot of trouble shooting and text support, our provider sent several technicians out and one ran a new line to our house due to squirrel damage as the line runs through some trees. Who would have thought that was the source of the problem? Nature and technology collide.

Technically Inclined Layout

The Details
After a lot of brainstorming, I finally settled on an iPad game app. I chose the pet theme purely from a design standpoint as I wanted a cute layout. If I chose just the iPad, I didn't want to scrap a photo of an inanimate object. I did paper piece a white iPad and made that my title block. I put letter stickers on a piece of transparency and popped that up over a mirrored silver paper so make it more like a screen. The letters reflect on the surface below. I used some brads and Glam Rocks for the buttons. 

iPad Title Block

For a related embellishment, I made a wifi signal strength icon. I used a felt flower sticker as the base and hand stitched the curved lines for the reception strength. 

Wifi Signal Strength

 To balance out the embellishments, as I like to have three groupings, I put a cluster of hearts along the main photo. There was blue button on the felt heart sticker, which didn't match, so I colored over it with a violet Copic marker, which actually made it look brown. I hand cut two hearts, one slightly smaller than the other and hand stitched them together along the middle seam, for an accompanying 3D embellishment.

Heart Cluster

The paper collection and metal Glam Rocks are from Imaginisce and the felt stickers are from Pebbles. It is actually from a pack of cat themed stickers (don't tell the doggies), but the colors matched so perfectly so I used them in conjunction with Imaginisce's fall line. I used a single paged sketch from Sketch Support. 

Journaling Strips

The Prize

If you are unlike me and really love technology and want to scrap about it, please do so and link your creation by November 30th to today's post on ScrapFIT for a chance to win this gorgeous kit from Burlap & Buttercups. 

Burlap & Buttercups' Prize Package

Take care and happy scrappin',