August 1,2,3 Scrap!

Happy Third Thursday! This is pammie~k from ‘by the Shore designs’. Welcome Back to 1,2,3 Scrap! ~ a scrapbook challenge where I provide you with three ‘requirements’ and you take it from there!

This month’s 1,2,3 Scrap ! challenge has a strong focus on COLOR!

I love color (bright bold colors are my favorites, pastels come in a close second) One of my favorite internet sites is www.kuler.adobe.com! If you have not checked it out, it is a fabulous tool. Bookmark this site and explore all of the fabulous color options that are available! I stumbled on Kuler a few years ago and it is definitely a keeper!

Black and White – as much as I love color, I also like the classic look of black and white. Converting photos to black and white is a wonderful approach to take when you have the perfect paper and elements for a layout, but the color does not necessarily go with your photos. On the flip side, when I have a photo that is color rich – I might use black and white papers so the photo takes center stage.

Let’s move on to our challenge….


August 1,2,3 Scrap!

1. Choose your favorite base color on Kuler – then use one of the following color ‘rules’
a. Analogous – base color with adjacent hues
b. Monochromatic – one color with varying intensity and lightness
c. Triad – three colors from around the traditional color wheel
d. Complementary – two opposing colors on the traditional color wheel
e. Shade – subtle variations of the base color/hue

You choose the base color and let Kuler help identify the additional colors in your palette http://kuler.adobe.com/#create/fromacolor -

Try to use only paper and elements that fall within your selected color palette.

2. Convert your photos to black and white. If you wish, you may pop the color of one item in your photo – as long as it is within your color palette identified in requirement one.

3. And your final requirement is to take color away from your title (think transparent or vellum) – use a bold text for your title and the color white – reduce the opacity as low as you feel comfortable so that you can ‘see thru’ the letters. In Photoshop (or PSE) I add a white stroke to the text on the layer above or below to add a bit of definition around the letters

If you have questions, please ask . (I know my directions might be a bit confusing) Give it a whirl! For those that complete the challenge and post your layout no later than September 15th in the Faith Sisters 1,2,3 Scrap! Gallery and the 1,2,3 Scrap Forum! (here) I will send you one of ’by the Shore designs’ layered templates or quick pages of your choice. Just send me a private message at Faith Sisters with your email address and your template or quickpage choice and I will email it directly over to you. I will work on this challenge in the next few days and post my own layout (back to school week is here and I am up to my eyeballs in number 2 pencils, school paper, backpacks, etc)

Be sure to come back next month – Third Thursday – for another edition of 1,2,3 Scrap! Until then, have a wonderful ‘rest of summer’.

July 1,2,3 Scrap!

It is the Third Thursday of the month, and it is time for another round of 1,2,3 Scrap! Please join me on this fun and easy challenge. I will provide you with 3 simple "requirements" for your layout - and you take it from there.


This month we go back to the basics of writing. In grade school, we learned to incorporate the 5 W's when writing. Who? What? Where? When? and Why? (if I recall, we also threw in how occasionally) By answering these 5 simple questions, we can share with our reader what they need to understand our story.


We are also going to share a little bit about ourselves. Everyone has one thing they love to spoil themselves with - not a necessity but something we do for ourselves ' just because'. So indulge me - what is your favorite indulgence?

The three requirements for this month's 1,2,3 Scrap! Challenge


1) create a layout of your favorite indulgence using a single picture

2) journal using the 5 W's

3) use at least 2 different fonts on your page


To help get you started - I have a journaling page for you - pre-filled with the 5 W's..... you can download it >>>>> HERE

Here is my indulgence. Yes, I admit it - I love Starbucks. I know a lot of people that NEED their morning coffee - that jolt of caffeine to get their day started. But....that's not me. I always order my drinks decaf. I know, I know...some of you are shaking your head thinking 'why even bother'. The warmth of the drink is comforting, the flavor of the coffee is 'just right', the sweetness of the drink (even if it is sugar free and non fat) brings a smile to my face every time.

When you are done with your layout, please post it in our 1,2,3 Scrap! gallery - and let us know in our 1,2,3 Scrap! forum - both at Faith Sisters.

Thanks for playing along - and be sure to come back next month for a new challenge on the third Thursday of the month.

Are you ready? 1,2,3 Scrap!

June 1,2,3 Scrap!

Checking my calendar - yes, it's the third Thursday of the month - time for our 1,2,3 Scrap! challenge.

If you are new to the challenge, the “rules” are simple – I will provide three ‘requirements’ for your layout – and you take it from there. It is great to see how different each layout is from the others. This month’s challenge will focus on the photos in your layout….

Are you ready…..

1. You will use two and only two photos. One photo should fill most of the page and the second
photo will be significantly smaller.


2. Photos may not be the same “shape”.


3. The smaller photo should have a minimum of 3 mats/layers between it and the background layer.

Everything else on the layout is fair game. When you are done, please post your layout in the 1,2,3 Scrap! gallery – here


Each participant that completes a layout following this month’s 1,2,3 Scrap! challenge will receive a coupon for my recently released Photo Mask Collection (shown below) In order to receive the coupon, I simply ask that you post your layout before July 5th in the 1,2,3 Scrap! gallery and provide a link here in the 1,2,3 Scrap! forum at Faith Sisters.
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I look forward to seeing what you design! So, ready to go?….1,2,3 Scrap!

It is the third Thursday of the month and time for 1,2,3 Scrap! at Faith Sisters. Wow – April already, this year is flying by.

Did you check out the layouts from our March challenge? FABULOUS!

For anyone new to 1,2,3 Scrap! here is the ‘scoop’.

I will provide 3 specific requirements that need to be included in your layout (or hybrid project) – and you take it from there…. I find that when I am given a challenge – I actually work on and complete a layout (I know, a novel concept) Challenges will often stretch me to try something new I may not have attempted in the past.

Let’s get rocking on our April challenge.

1. Most everyone has a “look” that they use for a majority of their layouts. When you create a layout, where is your eye drawn to – where is the focal point? Center? Right? Bottom? Top? For me, I have to admit that 90% of my layouts have a focal point in the lower right hand corner. Requirement One of this month’s 1,2,3 Scrap! – have the focal point of this layout in a different place – stretch yourself to go somewhere else on the page.

2. Use a minimum of 3 photos

3. Theme of your layout will be an Easter memory or tradition. (if you wish to choose another holiday – that’s okay too) Traditions are so important to family. They create bonds from one generation to the next.

A jellybean hunt has always been a favorite family tradition. I remember as a young child that on Easter morning we would head to my Grandparent’s home still dressed in our Easter best. Upon arrival we would discover that the Easter Bunny had once again hidden jelly beans all over the main level. My brother, sister and I would have so much fun trying to find them all (and I would bet that Grandma was finding unclaimed jelly beans in nooks and crannies on the 4th of July.) The tradition (and memories) continued in my parent’s home and still occurs today in our home.

What special Easter memories do you have? What traditions have carried forward into the next generation? I cannot wait to see what you share.

And simply by completing this challenge by May 15 (must post it in the Faith Sisters 1,2,3 Scrap! gallery and share the link in our 1,2,3 Scrap! Forum), I will send you a discount coupon for $3 off anything in by the Shore designs store at Faith Sisters. (And you will find a lot of digi goodies to choose from)

Are you ready? 1,2,3 Scrap!!!

(And have a Blessed Easter. He is Risen!)

1,2,3 Scrap! February 2011

Third Thursday of the Month - and that means it is time for 1,2,3 Scrap! I enjoyed seeing your takes on our previous challenges. I hope you enjoy the February challenge I have planned!

For those that are new to the 1,2,3 Scrap! Challenge, it is really pretty simple. I provide 3 basic 'requirements' for your layout and you take it from there. (You can even try a card or a hybrid project using the requirements if you want to think outside the box) When your layout is complete, make sure you share it in our 1,2,3 Scrap! gallery at Faith Sisters and post in our 1,2,3 Scrap forum here.


The requirements:


1. Use only black and white papers and elements for the layout
2. Use 2 different fonts in a color from your focal picture for your title
3. Use lots of white space to draw your eye to the focal picture. (remember that white space does not have to be "white")

Here is my layout for the challenge. My family gave me some lovely roses for Valentine's Day~so fragrant and they are still beautiful!

Here is a Black and White Paper Pack to get you started - my gift to you. Click on the preview below to take you to the download. This paper pack is free through March 15, 2011. After that it will be available in my store at Faith Sisters.

Are you ready? I cannot wait to see your layout for this challenge!

Here we go....



1,2,3, Scrap!

DECEMBER 1,2,3 Scrap!

What a wonderful time of the year! During the season of Advent we prepare for a celebration of the birth of Christ. The hustle and bustle; decking the halls, Christmas parties, shopping and the sharing of family traditions are all part of our daily lives in December. Taking time to reflect on the TRUE meaning of the season is something that we each need to do – as often as possible. God’s gift to us came in the form of a newborn Baby Boy.

This week, an email arrived in my in-box. It is one I have seen for the last few years during the Christmas season – and it still moves me…please let me share this message with you :

The "W" in Christmas

Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience. I had cut back on nonessential obligations - extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating, and even overspending. Yet still, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family moments, and of course, the true meaning of Christmas.

My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting season for a six-year-old. For weeks, he'd been memorizing songs for his school's "Winter Pageant."

I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd be working the night of the production. Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his teacher. She assured me there'd be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation. All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then. Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise.

So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten minutes early, found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats. As I waited, the students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform their song.

Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday as Christmas," I didn't expect anything other than fun, commercial entertainment - songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer. So, when my son's class rose to sing, "Christmas Love," I was slightly taken aback by its bold title. Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and bright snowcaps upon their heads. Those in the front row-center stage -- held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song. As the class would sing "C is for Christmas," a child would hold up the letter C. Then, "H is for Happy," and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas Love."

The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her; a small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter "M" upside down -- totally unaware her letter "M" appeared as a “W." The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little one's mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall, proudly holding her "W." Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together. A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen. In that instant, we understood the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos, there was a purpose for our festivities. For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear:

"C H R I S T W A S L O V E"

And He still is! I hope this special message is one that helps you reflect on CHRISTmas and the reason for this celebration!

AND HERE WE GO!!!!

Our December 1,2,3 Scrap! challenge is about Celebration

1. The theme of your layout is Celebration! Perhaps you can share how your family celebrates Jesus’ birthday. Perhaps it is the celebration of a milestone, a family birthday, a promotion. The choice is yours.

2. Use three photos. (Try to make them all close-ups – really zoom that camera – or crop tool – in close)

3. Use only 3 different papers and only 3 different elements (but you can use these as often as you wish on the layout.

For those that participate in our December 1,2,3 Scrap Challenge, my gift to you will be my just released “Bethlehem” quick page.

Simply post your layout in our 1,2,3 Scrap! Gallery and provide a link to the layout in our 1,2,3, Scrap! Forum

Are you ready? 1,2,3 Scrap!

Merry Christmas! Happy Birthday Jesus!