Just the Basics

I have been thinking about this week’s blog entry for several days trying to come up with something original or funny or inspiring. Of course, my overworked and constantly tired brain came up with nothing until this past weekend. I started thinking about the basics. If I had to give up all of the supplies I owned except for the very basics, what would I keep?
I think I’d like to separate this into supplies, tools, and embellishments.

The basic supplies I would keep would be assorted colors of cardstock, adhesive, pens in assorted colors, an album and page protectors.

The basic tools I would keep would be a paper trimmer and scissors. These items would do the job if all I wanted to do is get my pictures on the page and tell the story. but I want my pages to look pretty, too.

My basic embellishments would include letter stickers, basic punches like stars and flowers, patterned paper and a circle cutter.

My add ons would be buttons, brads, flowers and journal stamps. It is really hard to narrow it down, isnt' it? With so much beautiful stuff out there, how is a girl to choose.

What about you? What do you think you could get by with? What would your add ons be?

Hello Planner...

Are you ready? Is all your Christmas shopping done and the cookies baked and in the freezer? What's that you say? Too early for all that? Well.... YES it is!! BUT, it really is not too early to be thinking about and gathering your Christmas Scrapping Supplies and Needs!!

I know, we have all thought, "I am going to scrap those 25 days before Christmas this year, really I am!"... and then, we have three class parties on the same day, out of town guests, trips to the mall, and an ever growing to do list, all making us feel more than busy. Before we know it, it is October 20th of the FOLLOWING year and our Christmas Mini from LAST December is glaring up at us as we type a blog post... um, not that I know anyone currently doing that very thing.
So, what to do??? You know you want to make the mini, but will it get done???
YES!! And here is how...

PLAN AHEAD! Make that mini NOW! I mean it... get on the Memorable Seasons site and browse through all the great items Jill has stocked in the Christmas category. Fill up your cart, and get those goodies on their way to your doorstep.
Next step... actually make the book ahead of time!! I know, sometimes we like to wait to have photos, etc, but this is no time for all that preciseness. ( is preciseness technically a word? I don't know, but according to spell check, scrapbooking isn't so... we will see come spell check time.)

Seriously, pick a book to use, get your papers out, label them 1-25, and get them in there. You can take a step further and place some embellishments too. I know, it is crazy talk, pre-embellishing, but live on the edge!

If daily scrapping is simply not in the December time budget, pick a weekly day/time to devote at least on hour to the Mini Book... it won't take as long thanks to those pre-made pages!!

So... get those supplies together and go! Then upload your project to the Memorable Seasons Gallery for all to see!! We look foward to seeing your work... and hopefully before spring... or summer... or, gulp, next fall... !

More Cards

This month we have been focusing on cards and I had to go looking for online inspration, too. One of my favorite sketch sites Got Sketch also has card sketches so I was able to find lots of good ideas there. Here is a card based on one of those sketches. I used papers from My Minds's Eye (Ooh La La collection).

Welcome Avina our GDT for October

Hi everyone! I am Avina from the sunny island country of Singapore! Scrapbooking has been my creative outlet for the last 2 – 3 years, combining my need for a form of artistic expression and documentation of my family’s life. Before the little one came along, I used to be an instructor at my local scrapbook store teaching stamping & cards and fancy mini albums. Currently, I’m on the Moments Recorded challenge blog DT and have done a number of guest designer spots too. Thank you so much for having me here!--
Avina

Cards!

As promised, here are two cards I created using sketches from the PageMaps and Caardvarks websites. The embellishments from Cosmo Cricket's Earth Love collection are so perfect for creating cards! TFL and to all of you Card Sharks out there - watch for my card challenge - coming later this week! :)

Card Inspiration

I have never been much of a card maker myself and was quite nervous when I found out we would be focusing on them more here at Memorable Seasons. But I have found some online inspiration and am actually making cards regularly now! The following websites have FABULOUS tips, sketches, and inspiring designers!

Caardvarks

Card Positioning Systems

Inspirational Card Sketches

Page Maps - Card Maps

Check back later in the week - I will share some cards I made after persuing these fantastic sites!

Deadline for week 1 of Card Sharks has been extended

You will now have until Monday, Oct 11 to get your polka dot and scallop cards uploaded. However, all those who meet the original deadline of tonight at midnight will be entered into a drawing for a gift card to the store.

Card Sharks

Be sure to get your entries in by Monday at midnight to be entered in the first round of card sharks.