Challenge #273 - week of 23rd October 2017

My! These weeks are flying by...

I haven't found any time recently to make any pages at all :-( but I have a free day tomorrow so fingers crossed for some creative time for me. How are you doing right now?

I'm going to keep it short this week and pick a topic from my standby list of possible future prompts - sometimes, I can be a bit organised!

I'm not a big technique person which you might have got to know about me over the years, but the trend of hand lettering is definitely all over the crafting world right now so let's go in that direction.

This week, I'd like you to be inspired by hand lettering.

If you're like me, you might be challenged in this department and you might think about stamps, digital stamps, die cuts, digital (Silhouette Cameo etc) die cuts, patterned paper or even an alpha set which have a hand written design. Or maybe you've perfected the art of hand lettering yourself - and if so, would you like to teach me?!? - and can include your own creations on your project. You might even take this in the direction of recording your process of learning to hand letter or how you've worked to improve your own handwriting. Maybe your child's progress in learning to write is a topic for your page. There are definitely different ways to take this.

Here are some examples of my use of this technique on my pages - not a single one features my own writing which is probably a good thing!

I've used this Silhouette cut file by Loni Stevens several times 

This paper was so fabulous I got a couple of sheets and love using them. Such pretty writing

What's not to love with this brush lettering font alpha?

And I couldn't resist using this Loni Stevens cut file as an oversized title.

You can add your photos to our Facebook group here - we love it when you share so please don't be shy!

#48 Inspired by Ice Cream

This would have been hard for me since I am not a big ice cream fan. But being that it is summer and that we have my niece here for the summer, of course we had to have ice cream. We happened to be on our way to Serendipity in New York City last Monday when this challenge was posted. So these photos are spanking new.

I tried to keep to ice cream colors and simple design. 

Serendipity

the sketch came from Studio Calico {here}. I created two 6x6 photo collages and added a pioneer woman action for a seventies effect. this allowed me to create a 6x12 photo area. (yes, I had to print photos at home which isn't my favorite). 

the crate paper banner with the strawberries was the perfect addition to this page.

I also scattered little elements of teal/magenta punches, pale yellow butterflies and pale pink brads around the page.

I also pulled out and dusted my quickutz to cut out the title since i wanted a deep pink alpha and didn't have anything like it in my stash. (plus, it would be impossible to find an alpha with multiple e's and i's).

And that's it from me this week. It's been a few weeks since I have been able to manage multiple layouts in one week, but I haven't had a lot of time this summer. 

I hope you have been able to get out and enjoy ice cream. Keep this little inspiration in your back pocket for future pages. And if/when you do, remember to post it for us to see on the flick'r group. 

xo,

Pamage

Challenge # 43 - week of June 11th, 2012

Wow, is it just me or are these warmer weeks just flying by?

Today, I want to share with you one of the pages I recently created and love - and the source for inspiration.

if you know me by know, you know I almost exclusively scrap on a white background. Anything else feels cluttered and off to me. So you may wonder how it is I came upon this choice of background? I was inspired by the ad from a magazine photographed below.

you can easily tell that i picked up the layout composition, color pallete including the accentes in white and black, the title color and placement; even the little bobbles were inspired by the model's earrings. One of the smartest things I ever learned from Stacy Julian was this - media ad artists are paid to do this. They have gone to design school to make things that are visually pleasing to us. Why not use this free inspiration that is readily available to us?

Well, you may have guessed it, but that is our challenge for this week. But I know some of you may be saying, 'yes, but Pam, how do we find an ad we can easily break apart like you did?' or 'Pam, I don't even buy magazines'. I don't buy magazines either, but this is what I do while my nails dry at the salon - I flip through the magazines, not for celebrity gossip, but for future layout ideas. And lucky for you I have a few still sitting in my inspiration file on my computer that I haven't used. So to start us off, I have two inspiration pieces for you. 

Inspiration Option # 1

Banana Republic Ad

Inspiration Option # 2

Sally Hansen Ad

I hope you can draw some inspiration from these two ads and that is eases the process for you to create. Even if just lifting the color scheme or title placement of photo placement, try using these ads for inspiration and see where it takes you. 

If you do create based on these ads, please upload it to our flick'r gallery {here} with the tag WM#43. Lisa and I will be back next week with our results. Like always, thanks for playing along.

xo,

Pamage

#29 Inspired by Dr. Seuss

Well, I have to say that I have been blown away this week by the response from you, our readers. I have browsed our gallery and loved the projects you have come up with this week. They have exceeded my expectations of where I thought this inspiration could lead us... And as such I have been inspired to create as well.

I have to say I had to narrow down my choices of story. I really felt there was a lot of material I could explore with this. Ultimately the three stories I told feel real to me and go right along with my style and have a home in a albums.

I Do Not Like
This layout was inspired by "Green Eggs and Ham" - something I posted in the Discussion board on flick'r sparked this idea, since my name - Pam, rhymes with "Sam, I am" and "Ham". We often do pages about our faves, but I thought how fun it would be to also make one about our dislikes.

 I chose to use quirky whimsical shapes to replicate the Seussical feeling. And I added other little lines from the book to reinforce it.

 The stamped flowers were from a technique I picked up this week from Studio Calico Blog {here} of embossing an image and then coloring it in with markers.

 Oh The Places*
This layout was born of a strong memory I have attached to this book and the boy in this picture. I had never told this story and I really wanted to remember it. I recently received a care package from him {don't you love snail mail...?} So I thought it was perfect to document him/us/this memory while the feelings were fresh on my mind.

 I tried to use color, shapes and patterns that resonated with the theme of going places. The book is filled with graphics of flowing mountains and these travel papers were perfect for it. I started with the bottom paper and then worked myself up from there choosing coordinating papers.

 I have been focusing less on embellishments these days, so it was hard for me to come up with something to add to this corner, but I found a little flair button with a seuss-like creature and the ever present butterfly and buttons to round things off.

 A&P
Not a lot of journaling on this one. it doesn't need it. This one is all about fun. In looking for quotes to use, I found the one below and immediately I knew which pictures to use. This friend brings out the child in me. The layout I featured on the Challenge post was also about her. She is like a big child and when I am with her, I am too. This quote was perfect for us.

 Again I used colors that reminded me of the books and with the quirky stamped letters mixed in with my handwriting, I think I achieve the playful and whimsical look of a children's book. Simple page under 20 minutes straight out of my scrap bin. Just the way I like things.

Thank you so so much for playing along this week. If you haven't already, please upload your Seussical creation to our gallery with the tag WM#29. {which is coincidentally my favorite number}.

Have another great week and see you soon on the message boards.

xo,
Pamage