Paper, Paper, Paper

Okay, now that I have my scraps organized, I can really get to work. And that I did today. I made two layouts and they took me most of the day. I used at least four QK dies on each one, but my real stumbling block was the paper. For the one of Belle's Storytime I chose plain blue cardstock with brown for the mats. I used some Belle-themed dies (open books, a watch) and journaling blocks, but it was not coming together. Finally I added in the tree with lots of leaves along one side and that seemed to do the trick. Maybe I should have made a border with the books?

The Ariel page was easier. I used 8.5x11 patterned pages on top of solid cardstock with contrast for the mats. I added in several ocean-themed die cuts (waves, dolphin, lobster and sand dollar), but something was still missing. DH suggested a star fish. I don't have one. He was of the opionion I could make one with one of my stars - no need to buy one. He was right. I used the center of the Archiver's Multi-star REV die, aided by scissors and a marker. It was perfect!

However, as I looked at those layouts and the ones for Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty I have made this week (can you tell I am trying to get caught up on our Disney scrapbooks?), I have come to the conclusion that I use too much plain cardstock. Actually, I started to feel like this when I was working on my November DT projects. The pages just needed something else, so I added some stamped owls as a subtle background. That was the problem with Belle's pages, I left them plain and then felt I had to add something, hitting a major block.

But, the paper cannot be too busy. I used a Sleeping Beauty paper with stripes that I cut into strips and spread apart on a plain 12x12 sheet of cardstock. Once the matted photos and the journaling was in place, it was TOO much. I need to find a happy medium - but first I need to use up what I have, even if it for mats.

And I need to not add too much to my scrap bags, some of them are pretty full!

Scrap Paper Organization (At Last!!!)

I am a big believer that you should keep your scraps when you are a scrapbooker. Not sure if it is my upbringing, my nature or that the first show I watched on scrapbooking (DIY's Scrapbooking with Sandy Genovese) kept pounding in the uses for the left-over pieces - I have accumulated a ton. I am on my second rather large box where I toss them when done with my layouts. I then dumpster dive when I need a small piece for something. Actually, it is sofa-diving because I need to lean over the edge of the love seat to get at the box where it it wedged.

That is not a safe thing to do when you are as klutzy as I am!

I had to get a better system. A safer system.

I thought about it. I went to some stores. Saw lots of boxes.

Then I bought 1-gallon plastic bags.

I pulled the box out of its corner (of course losing my balance in the process!) and dumped the contents on the floor. I then started separating the pieces by colors. There were alot!

Then DH came home. The look on his face - well it was not quite priceless.

Surprise and quasi- horror would be better adjectives. (Guess I shouldn't mention purchasing more paper for awhile!)

It took me a few days, but now I have all but the biggest pieces cut and bagged.

It feels good!

Now I really have no reason not to start the Christmas Cards........

A Tree & An Owl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so EXCITED!!!

Finally QK has developed a tree die that is big enough for my needs. It is 12 inches long and has lots of branches. I am finally going to be able to work on my Animal Kingdom layouts since I really needed a big tree for the Tree of Life photos ( I have lots of them.) A giant bamboo would be a fantastic addition, but this tree is perfect and it is MINE.

I am putting the finishing touches on a Disney layout with the tree. It is for Snow White's Scary Adventures. I cut out the trees in black and put them on a turquoise background and the photo mats and title are also in black. The journaling is on velum with a blue-inked stamp and black writing. I just need to cut out some small apples and maybe an owl.

Oh, those owls!!!!!!! I have so many uses for those owls. They are perfect!!! The 2x2 owl is probably going to need to have a back-up at some point because I am afraid that I am going to wear him out. It is the perfect size and like the tree, extremely versatile. Family photos and birthday cards are just the beginning........

A New Camera and New Projects Mojo!!!

Well, we found a new camera! It's a Canon PowerShot A6501s. It shoots 12 megapixels, but only 4x zoom. Our old camera was 6 mgp and 12x zoom. Hopefully the increased details will overcome the lack of zoom. Today I tried it and it seems to take close-ups of flowers pretty well. I need to practice so that I am totally comfortable with it when we go to Disney in 62 days.

We will be staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge, where there are animals on site, so we are going to have TONS of photo opportunities. I know we will not be able to see the animals from our room (couldn't see paying for the view), but there are lots of viewing areas. BTW, the reason we are staying at AKL is due to the Buy 4 Nights, Get 3 Free Promotion. For $15 more than Port Orleans, we got a major upgrade. All of us are really psyched!

Of course, I still have not scrapped the photos from our 2005 or 2006 visits, so maybe, just maybe I should get working on those. Something tells me that soon I will have ambition for that. :) DH is hoping that MAJOR mojo overtakes me. :)

In fact, I just got a major brain storm! Unfortunately, the needed paint smells so bad that DH asked me to leave the project outside to dry. I hope that it turns out as well as I can see it in my mind. Next time I am going to use Tim Holtz, but I was in a hurry and couldn't get to SRW. With any luck, I get to go next week: there is a release in the air and a holly border die waiting for me!