Inspiration Friday: Simple Stories Happy Day Card Keeper

Thanks for joining me on the MemoryWorks blog this month for Inspiration Fridays! I've enjoyed the opportunity to share what I'm working on, and it gave me an extra dose of motivation to get scrappin'! Hopefully, I also inspired you to create something this month! Here's one last idea for September...



I created this fun birthday card keeper using the Simple Stories Happy Day line (See, I told you it was one of my most favorite lines!) I got the idea for this album from the awesome We R MemoryKeepers class at the 2011 MemoryWorks Scrapbook Retreat. We created an adorable travel album using papers from their travel line - and it included pocket pages for memorabilia. I figured those pockets would also work great to hold cards I create for specific birthdays throughout the year.

To create your own, you'll just need six sheets of double-sided 12x12 patterned cardstock, two 6"x6" pieces of chipboard, four 6"x6" coordinating patterned sheets (I used some from the 6x6 paper pad), cardstock stickers, and some type of binding mechanism (I used the Cinch and a coil binding, but a simple office binder ring would totally work!).

Cover the front and backs of the 6"x6" chipboard with papers from the 6"x6" paper pad. SUPER easy! I added some cardstock stickers (the balloon is popped up with a pop dot) and inked the edges with brown ink.

Then, to create the inside pages, you'll need your paper trimmer. Trim the six 12"x12" sheets to 9.5" x 12". Then, score at .5" and then at 3" across. Fold on the scored line to create a 3" pocket, then fold and adhere down the .5" edge to the outside to strengthen the edge of the pocket. Then, fold the page in half vertically to create a 6"x6" page with a pocket on both sides. I used my Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher (mini stapler) to hold the page together, but you could also sandwich adhesive between the non-pocket sides to keep it together.

Then, cut the mini-calendars from the Simple Stories Happy Day cardstock. Ink the edges with brown ink and adhere to the center front of the pockets. Add cardstock stickers for decoration, as desired.

Add your covers and bind using your binding tool of choice (the Cinch or just office rings would work). Now, you'll have a fun place to keep birthday cards so you won't lose them before you give them - and a good way to keep track of the upcoming birthdays to celebrate!

Speaking of celebrating...I'm celebrating my fifth year as a MemoryWorks consultant this October. Just wanted to say thanks to the MemoryWorks team and family for all your great products, inspiration, and opportunities! An awesome group of people, and such wonderful and inspiring products! If you haven't joined the MemoryWorks team yet, you have to check it out! Join us!

Product Wednesday - A Simple Scrap Space Revisted

Where do I create? When I'm not digitally creating on my laptop, I can be found in my simple scrap space at this old desk:

I decoupaged the cat litter storage bucket on the desk to hold many of my scrapbooking essentials:

The stool that sits next to my desk was also decoupaged using the Simple Stories Life Documented Kit, including scraps from the kit's cover page and pieces from an expired MemoryWorks catalog:

I have one desk drawer dedicated to cardboard for altered projects:

My ribbon can be found in cardboard drawers that I picked up at a rummage sale...also a future altered project (just need to make time to do it!):

Most of my scrapbooking supplies are hidden away in this cabinet:

My scrap space hasn't changed too much since January when I originally shared photos with you (click here to see that post). However, I added a couple things I'd like to show you. 

There are three types of glass jars I don't usually recycle: cherry, hot fudge and candle. I upcycled each type of jar as storage for my flower embellishments:

And I've already told you about how Pinterest inspires me to create journal pages in my Smash Book. This is how it inspired me to decorate:

I printed off one of my pinboards, trimmed the photos and pinned them above, with other goodies including my crafty to do list and additional room for more inspiration.

My next project will be to reorganize all of my scrapbook paper (and my paper scraps...this one will be quite the task).

What projects are you working on in your scrap space?

Express Kit Monday - Harvest - September 2011 MW Express Kit

Well, here it is the end of September and we are officially into Fall!  It's been fun sharing all the inspiration from this months TeamWorks members.  Here a few more ideas we thought we'd pass on using this months Harvest Express Kit.

Janey Pumphrey

Altered Banner - Kelly Holbrook 

Altered Jar - Christy Musack 

Janey Pumphrey 

Janey Pumphrey 

Mini Album - Janey Pumphrey 

Thanks for checking out the MemoryWorks Express Kit this month.  Don't forget to subscribe and get your monthly kit.  You won't be disappointed!  Happy Scrappin!

Inspiration Friday: Scrapbook 26 photos (or more) this weekend!

It was a happy mail week at my house... Mixed in with my normal junk mail and scrapbooking magazines, I received a box of 309 photos! I have a tendency to print my photos all at once. I store them up on my memory card and then seasonally I upload them to an online photo processor and print them out. I waited until I got a great coupon (.01 per 4”x6” photo…awesome deal at www.snapfish.com a few weeks back), and then I printed!!

The downside to this approach is feeling a tad overwhelmed by the prospect of actually scrapbooking those printed photos. And, questioning what to do with all the “unused” photos. If you’ve never read the book Photo Freedom by Stacy Julian, I highly recommend it for some awesome ideas on organizing your photos. She recommends getting photos into an album as quickly as possible…so we can actually see and share them! This is why I also love the Simple Stories system, available from MemoryWorks and other retailers! It’s the perfect way to get a lot of photos into an album (stylishly), while also getting their story told!

A couple nights ago, I created this six-page scrapbook spread showcasing 26 photos (and their story) in 1.5 hours using the Simple Stories Destination line. It is super simple, but I love how it turned out.

I realized when I was done that I hadn’t used any adhesive, with the exception of a few pop dots to add some depth under some of the Destinations cardstock stickers. I really only needed my Destinations collection pack, paper trimmer, a pen, and pop dots…how simple is that!?

This weekend, I challenge you to get out a stack of photos from a trip, event, or a group of people. Use the We R MemoryKeepers photo sleeves and one of the seven available Simple Stories lines to get them out of those envelopes or photo boxes…and into an album. Share their story!

Guest Designer...Thursday?

Every once in a while, a blog post you won't want to miss gets "buried" in the rest of the blog awesomeness...so please be sure to check out Pamela's awesome September Express projects posted HERE !

Product Wednesday - Making Smash Magnets

I bet you have a few unwanted magnets gracing the outside of your refrigerator. So what can we do with them?

Let's upcycle!

Supplies:

unwanted magnets

K&Company's Smash pads

twine (I used Daily Junque/Pink Paislee)

adhesive

buttons

scrap paper

After you've gathered all the supplies, trim the Smash pad tear-off sheet to your liking and adhere to scrap paper with adhesive. Wrap twine around the paper, add a button and secure with a knot. Add adhesive to the back of the paper and place on top of the magnet. Repeat with each magnet and be creative. There is no right or wrong way to make your Smash magnets.

And here's the finished product:

See you next Wednesday!

Guest Designer Tuesday: Pamela's Express Kit Awesomeness!

I admit it…I hoard Express Kits.  When they come in the mail I dive right in to look at all the goodies.   All those beautifully coordinated items…how can I break them up?  So, in a scrap container they get neatly placed until just the perfect scrap project arrives (and it always does).  So when I got Septembers Express Kit and knew right off the bat I would HAVE to use it…yikes.  But then I pulled it all out of the box and layouts formed in my head, ideas for projects appeared before me and all was right in the world.  I only needed to find the time to actually get those things created. 

Using the cellophane the kit came in, I created a window off sorts…a way for the photo to float within the layout.    Everything is from the kit with the exception of the brown floss I used (WRMK Sew Easy).  I also stitched the journaling lines.  The tag I had originally made with a separate use in mind, but I liked the way it looked on the layout so I used it.

My second layout was created by cutting strips from the MME Mabel “Play” Silly Stripe Paper.  Love that paper.  So I used it for the banner too.  The word “springs” was made by putting the sassafras cardstock stickers lightly down on the page and sponging over them with some tan chalk ink.  I did this quickly and as a result the ink wiped off the stickers and I was able to just put them back on the sticker sheet.  Waste not, want not…right?

I was excited when I saw the chipboard banners in the kit!  I had the perfect idea for how to use them in kitchen.  The MME Lost and Found Sweet paper got crumpled a bit by an overzealous child.  To hide that…I crumpled it the rest of the way.  It gave it a rustic look which I really like.  The two end banners have pieces from that sheet that were lined.  I ran them through my laminating machine (making them dry erase) so they could be used for dessert and sweet treat ideas.  As it would happen the colors match the dry erase menu board I while back.  Bonus!

Next I made a card of sorts.  It is actually a little file folder.  I plan on putting photos of the kids in it for my in-laws.  The button flower hides a Velcro closure.  It is a pretty simple concept, but I know it will be greatly appreciated.

The last thing I have to share was what had I had intended to be a series of journaling tags…but they turned into a mini book.  I always have little random shots from an outing and I thought they would be perfect for a little book like this.  I cut out tag shapes using some leftover backings from mini pads of paper and covered them with paper.  I only had silver binder rings and wanted something more matchy-matchy so I covered the ring with little glue dots and wrapped some twine around it.  Love the way it turned out.  Maybe be doing that with more rings in the future.

The inside pages of the tag album have room for pictures or journaling.  I wanted the banner for both pages, so I cut it.  It turned out to be a cute little tag mini that I can't wait to fill with little pictures.
And I am happy to say I still have tons of paper and stickers left from my kit that I can hoard for a little while…phew!

Thanks for looking.