Thursday, January 31, 2013

Project Life/Project 12

Hello, friends!  Jennie here with a look at Project Life and Project 12!

I decided to start Project Life in 2013.  I had tried it 2011 and it wasn't a good fit for me then.  I was scrapping A LOT of pages PLUS I was working with a kit.  I learned quickly this wasn't really for me.  So, I decided that this year it felt like it was time.  If you'd like to see my initial pages plus read my philosophy for MY album -- check it out here.

I am on a 1 week - 1 page type of plan.  It works for me -- it keeps it simple and full of photos and stories -- that is what I'm shooting for.  Here's my week 3 and week 4 pages:



I am a firm believer that this project MUST work for you.  My philosophy seems to be working great for me and I'm so happy with that.  I'm completely caught up and enjoying the few minutes a week I'm spending on the project.  Most of all, I'm happy with the stories I'm capturing.

Now some of you may not be participating in Project Life and that is just fine - not everyone has desire or the situation to do so.  But perhaps you'd like to do a layout a month, focusing on the highlights, like Project 12? I've got a Becky Fleck sketch to help you with that!


LOTS of room for photos, embellishments AND making the sketch your own.

Playing along?  Link up in the Memorable Seasons gallery, I'd love to see!

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

January 30th Sketch-A-Thon Challenge!

Hi Everyone!  Carol here to post the last sketch I'll be posting during the Sketch-A-Thon.  It's almost over, and WOW, everyone is doing an amazing job with the sketches!  Stayed tuned for the Last Scrapper Standing contest!  Before we get into that though . . . enjoy this AMAZING sketch!

This awesome sketch is courtesy of Susan Stringfellow. LOVE her sketches! 

Her sketch blog is AMAZING: Susan Stringfellow's SKETCH SAVVY

Here's the sketch I used:  Sketch #88

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Here's my version!

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I used my DT kit from last month which featured Echo Park's This & That Christmas! 

Rules:
- Be sure to create a new layout for this challenge.
- Upload your layout in the gallery and link it back to this post by January 31st.
GET YOUR SPEED SCRAP ON! :shock: You can do it!!! 
- HAVE FUN! :D

January 29th Sketch-a-thon Challenge!

Hello all! Megan here and there are still a couple days left in the Sketch-a-Thon before the Last Scrapper Standing contest starts, so be sure to head over to the forum now to get cracking on some great sketches!

Here is my final sketch challenge for this year's sketch-a-thon. For today, I chose a sketch from Jenny Evans of Creative Scrappers. Now, I know most of you have heard of Creative Scrappers with their weekly sketch challenges. I really liked the layers and cascade of embellishments in this single photo sketch from Jenny.

And here's the layout I created using my January Design Team kit featuring Little Yellow Bicycle Winterings! I adapted the sketch to fit my 5"x7" vertical photo. And by the way...for the sake of full disclosure...this is not my photo. This was taken by the Mt. Hood Meadows professional photographer. He posts his photos for digital purchase on Meadows web site. I did get this same shot (it's actually on my "Wonderful" Conditions layout) but it was with my stinky iPhone with no zoom. So of course I wanted his photo too!

I can't wait to see what you all do with this sketch! Please remember to create a new layout for this challenge. Also, make sure you post your layout in the Memorable Seasons gallery and leave a link to it in the January 29th challenge thread in the Sketch-a-thon forum by January 31st.

Monday, January 28, 2013

Jennie's 01.28 Sketch-A-Thon sketch

Hello there fellow scrapbookers! I've got another sketch to, hopefully, inspire you.

This month, I stuck with Becky Fleck's sketches from (December) Page Maps.  They were very inspiring for me and the photos I wanted to use!

The sketch that I have for you to work with today:


And my take on this sketch:


For my page, I took this sketch and altered it a bit to fit my needs.  In the sketch, there is a strip of paper that runs down the left side of the page.  I rotated that strip and it's embellishments 90 degrees and put it underneath the other patterned paper and my photos.  I also put the title in the upper left hand corner instead of under the photos, like in the sketch.

I would LOVE to see what you create with this sketch -- so head on over to the forum to see what others have created with this sketch and join in, you have until Jan 31st to participate in the Sketch-a-Thon challenges.

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Last Scrapper Standing Contest is coming!

Do you enjoy the TV show Survivor—well, we here at Memorable Seasons have our own take on the show. It's called The Last Scrapper Standing and we want all you ladies to join us here on our little island for a 6 week adventure that will cause you to scrap your sandals off! 

The DT will issue you a challenge every Friday starting February 8th, you will then have until the following Wednesday to get your layout loaded to the gallery and linked back to the appropriate thread. On Thursday all of us on the island will vote for our top 3 favorites, depending on how many entries we have entered on week 1, a percentage of those will move forward to next week. This will continue until week 5. The last week only the DT members aka THE JURY will vote on the top 3. The layout which receives the most votes will become our Last Scrapper Standing.

So what if you are voted off or what if you don’t want to join in the contest, no problem, because every week ANYONE that participates in the challenges will be eligible for a random prize drawing!
So we encourage you to invite your friends and spread the news because this promises to be the event of 2013, right here on our own little island at Memorable Seasons. So who is ready to be challenged?  Stop by the forum for more details.

See you Friday, February 8th

Friday, January 25, 2013

Sketchy with Patricia 1/25

Hello everyone!
I am back with my final selected sketch for the month.
I really like how this sketch from Jocelyne Roy of Lets capture these sketches really led to a lot of patterned paper use!
Below you'll see my GDT kit, of Crate Paper-On Trend-featured one last time on my layout.


I hope you've enjoyed our selected sketches so far!
Join in on the forum and share your layouts featuring our selected sketches!
Patricia

Thursday, January 24, 2013

A New Sketch

Are you caught up and ready for today's sketch? I chose this great one from Pagemaps!


I will post my example as soon as it is daylight and I can take another photograph. Something moved covering up part of my photo!

Have fun and don't forget you have until the 31st to be eligible for the prize drawing. Be sure to visit the gallery and see all the wonderful layouts that have been created!



Wednesday, January 23, 2013

January 23 Sketch-a-thon Challenge

Hi, again, everybody!  This is Susan and I'm back to offer a new sketch for you.  This one comes from Dolores Schaeffer at http://ideasforscrapbookers.blogspot.com.  Isn't this a cute sketch and kind of different?  I really like how it challenged me to do something I wouldn't normally think of doing.





Here's my page.  I'm really happy with how it turned out.  Give this one a try and see what you can come up with! Come visit us at Memorable Seasons and see what fun we have been having!


Tuesday, January 22, 2013

1/22 sketch time

Hi everyone, Wendy here today with my last sketch for Memorable Season's Sketch-a-thon.  We have 15 sketches that have been issued and 6 more to come so there is still time to jump on over and play along.  I used my Little Yellow Bicycle Winterings kit for this layout - I loved the paper with the trees and didn't want to take away from the design of the paper, so I found a picture of our last Christmas tree hunt and nestled my picture in the trees, perfect!

Here is the sketch I created,

I omitted the second photo and instead used a long title in its place,

Hope you stop by and join in you have until January 31st to be eligible for our prize drawing!

Monday, January 21, 2013

January 21st Sketch!

The talented and completely wonderful Liz Chidester created an exclusive sketch just for us! :D This is the SECOND one she created! Thank you so much Liz!

Liz's blog and sketch site is located here: THE SCRAPPIEST

Thanks for such a great sketch Liz! I loved working with it! :D

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I used my January DT kit which features Basic Grey Lucille! The two flowers are the sewing pattern paper that I got with my kit! I used many layers and die cut the sewing pattern paper with my Tim Holtz Sizzix Tattered Florals die! I was playing around with a banner, but in the end, I liked the page without the banner and more negative space on the bottom, so I left the banner off! That's what I love about sketches, you can truly make them your own!

Rules:
- Be sure to create a new layout for this challenge.
- Upload your layout in the gallery and link it back to this post by January 31st.
- HAVE FUN! :D

Friday, January 18, 2013

January 18th Sketch-a-thon Challenge!

Hello all! Megan here and today I have a sketch for you from Karan Gerber of Sketchabilities. I love how detailed her sketches are and how she always provides a great variety! And, like today's sketch, most of them showcase multiple photos!

And here's the layout I created using my January Design Team kit featuring Little Yellow Bicycle Winterings! I changed up the placement of the photos and embellishments a bit to accommodate my horizontal focal photo.

I can't wait to see what you all do with this sketch! Please remember to create a new layout for this challenge. Also, make sure you post your layout in the Memorable Seasons gallery and leave a link to it in the January 18th challenge thread in the Sketch-a-thon forum by January 31st.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

01.17 Jennie's Sketch

Hello, scrappy friends!  I've got a new sketch a thon sketch to share with you today.  I used another Becky Fleck sketch from (December) Page Maps for today.  I loved how it worked for my materials and the photos that I wanted to use.


And here is my take on this sketch:



I would LOVE to see what you create with this sketch -- so head on over to the forum to see what others have created with this sketch and join in, you have until Jan 31st to participate in the Sketch-a-Thon challenges.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

1/16 Sketch with Patricia

Hi everyone!
I am back with the second sketch I have chosen for this months Sketch A Thon 
and also my layout for it, featuring my GDT kit- Crate Paper- On Trend!
The sketch I chose this week is by Diana Fisher!
You can see more of her great sketches at her blog Design by Diana

Here is my interpretation featuring a my daughter and my niece when they were just babies.



Thanks so much for taking a peek and I hope you are inspired to join us
on the forums to work on any of the great sketches we have been presenting and having fun with!
Patricia



Monday, January 14, 2013

1/14 Susan's Sketch 

Hey, everybody!  This is Susan again with the next sketch in the Memorable Seasons Sketch-a-thon. I can't believe the month is almost half over! I hope all of you have been creating some layouts that are destined to be among your favorites.  I know I have!

Today's sketch comes compliments of www.pagemaps.com.  Thanks, Pagemaps!


And here's the page I created following today's sketch:

Be sure and stop by our forum to join in the fun chit-chat.  And be sure to check out the gallery to see more pages from this sketch and others.

Friday, January 11, 2013

1/11 Wendy's sketch

Welcome back everyone, I hope you have enjoyed yet another week of sketches!  Today I (Wendy) created this sketch for you with the idea that you can fit a lot of various size pictures on your layout depending what you like to work with.

Here is the sketch I created,

And here is the layout I created,


Come on by the forum and join in, you have until January 31st to complete the sketches for Sketch-a-thon.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

1/10 - Carol's Sketch

Hi Everyone!  Carol here today, and I'm posting my 1st sketch for the Sketch-A-Thon!  The fabulous and amazing Liz Chidester created an exclusive sketch just for us!

Liz's blog and sketch site is located here: THE SCRAPPIEST

Thanks for such a great sketch Liz! I loved working with it! :D


I used my January DT kit which features Basic Grey Lucille!

Rules:
- Be sure to create a new layout for this challenge.
- Upload your layout in the gallery and link it back to the post in the forum by January 31st.
- HAVE FUN! :D

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Today's Sketch-a-thon Challenge!

Hello all! Megan here and I am so excited to be presenting you with my first sketch challenge for the Sketch-a-thon! 

Now, you really didn't think I was going to let you get away without at least one double-page sketch, did you? So here is this awesome two-page sketch from Becky Fleck of Page Maps. I love how this one allows for one large focal photo, five supporting photos and still has lots of room for journaling.

And here's the layout I created using my January DT kit - Little Yellow Bicycle Winterings! I am still playing catchup with Project 12 and I love how this one turned out. Subtle winter touches but more focused on the warm, family feeling of the Winterings collection.

I can't wait to see what you all do with this sketch! Please remember to create a new layout for this challenge. Also, make sure you post your layout in the Memorable Seasons gallery and leave a link to it in the January 9th challenge thread in the Sketch-a-thon forum by January 31st.

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Sketch a thon 01.08

Hello there, scrappy friends!  It's Jennie here and I'm excited to be with you on the Memorable Seasons blog for the very first time.

I am happy to share with you a sketch from Becky Fleck of Page Maps!  She has some really easy to work with, fun and basic sketches that are favorites of mine.


And here is my take on the sketch:


I used my Memorable Seasons kit  to create this page, using loads of Studio Calico, Lily Bee and October Afternoon goodies.  (Plus those really fun American Crafts Thickers that are glittery and fun to use)

I would LOVE to see what you create with this sketch -- so head on over to the forum to see what others have created with this sketch and join in, you have until Jan 31st to participate in the Sketch-a-Thon challenges.


Monday, January 7, 2013

1/7 sketch time

Hi All! It's an honor to be GDT member this month here at Memorable Seasons!
I was chosen to highlight Crate Paper's "On Trend" line this month and with that I have done so with my first chosen sketch and layout for the month!
 
The sketch I chose was from Liz Qualman!
I loved the fact that it allowed for layering of those bright "On Trend" papers!
My layout: 
I hope it inspires you to jump in and join us in completing some layouts, checking out the "On Trend" line here, or just using up some stash while working on a great sketch
Patricia

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Composition with Detta!

Welcome to the first edition of my monthly photography class here at Memorable Seasons. Today, we are going to talk about composition. There are several elements of composition. Some of them are Simplicity, Rule of thirds, balance, framing and leading lines.

However, before we get into those, let's talk about orientation. We are all scrapbookers. I love using sketches and I know many of you do, too. Have you ever seen a sketch that you really loved but it called for vertical photos and all yours were horizontal or visa versa? Well, the answer to that is simple. Take both! Shooting digital is cheap. You just print what you want. It is not like the film days where you only took as many pictures as you had rolls of film. See a scene you like? Take a vertical picture AND a horizontal one of the same scene. Then, you can choose which one you use.In my opinion, the vertical picture gives Henry a more imposing look and the horizontal one is more friendly. What do you think?





Think about a picture that you or someone else took that you immediately thought, "wow, I love that picture!" Most likely, it contained elements in its composition that drew you in. It could be that it was striking in its simplicity.

Try to avoid cluttered backgrounds by getting in close to your subject unless of course, the background is part of the story. You might also try moving around your subject and trying for a different perspective to get the clutter out of the background. In the following picture, all that really mattered was Stella's face and that zebra. I didn't need her whole body to tell the story. If I had zoomed out to get her whole body, you would have had all the furniture behind her in the picture and it would have been cluttered.
In this one, taken the same night, all I really wanted to show was Seth and his game. Again, if I had zoomed out, there would be a whole living room (most likely messy) in the background and it would have taken away from the story.

 Again, get in close. Eliminate the clutter. Sometimes, if you move your feet and walk around your subject looking at the background with an objective eye, you can find a way to take the picture with the least amount of distractions behind them. In these pictures, my husband is sitting at the table working at his computer. Behind him is the coat rack with my black coat and cute turquoise scarf  hanging on it. The background on the first one is distracting. You see the coat and the ugly wallpaper and that little sliver of blue. However, when I moved around and shot from a different angle, I still have the coat but now I have the laundry room door which is less distracting.

This is where he got annoyed and told me to stop. Sorry. Now I need to find a different subject.


Now, I'm sure many of you have heard of the rule of thirds. The rule of thirds applies not just to photography but to all visual images like paintings and other artwork. It is where you divide your image into 9 parts with two evenly placed vertical lines and two evenly placed horizontal lines. Your subject should be placed along those lines or at their intersections. The intersections are called the power points and there are 4 of them.
rule-of-thirds
Placing your subject along these lines creates more interest and energy than placing your subject right smack in the middle of the photo. In a picture of scenery, your horizon should be along either the top or bottom horizontal line. The shore line is along the bottom third.




In this one, you can see my horizon line is at the top third and my subject is along the right vertical third. 

 Here are some more examples of lining your subject up on the power points or slightly off center. Can you see where I put the lines on the first one? The mailbag sign is on the top right power point.





Did your eye go directly to the subject in each picture?

 If you are taking a picture of a person's face, your power points should be on their eyes. Remember to always focus on your subject's eyes, too. In the first one, Ryann's outside eye is on the power point and both of her eyes are along the top third.




Most cameras, whether a point and shoot or a DSLR have an option to put the grid on the screen or in your viewfinder so you can actually see it over your scene. My iphone even has the option to do so. Read your manual. If it has the option, use it. The more you practice, the more it will become second nature.

Leading lines are just what the description says. They are lines in the picture, whether real lines or inferred lines that lead your eye to the subject and draw you in or just lead you through the picture. Look at the picture of the railroad tie above. The cracks in the wood lead your eye to the bolt. In the picture of the geese, the lines of the waves lead you from the left side of the picture to the geese. Look for lines in fences, in paths, in roads, in railings. They can be the bricks on the wall, or slats of siding on a building. Here are a few more examples. Can you see the lines?

The barbed wire leads you through the picture and adds depth

In this one, the lines of the steps circle back from the right side of the picture to Camryn's face.

 In this one, the diagonal lines lead to their hands and to the smiles.



In these, the path leads through the picture.


And finally, let's talk about framing your shot. This is not something you would always use but sometimes, you can add depth and interest by including a frame as part of the photo. It can also give your shot some context, telling your viewer what your point of view was when you were taking the picture. For example, in this shot, I was looking through the trees and framed the shot with the branches of the tree.
 Here, I am looking through a stack of books at the rows in the library.


You could also use architecture or windows, etc. This is not my picture. I "borrowed" it from the internet.
Framing-Shot

These are mine, though. I used doorways to frame the shot





To conclude, these are some composition techniques you can use to make your photos more interesting and appealing. 

1.  Decide whether you want the orientation to be vertical or horizontal or just do both
2.  Keep your composition simple. Eliminate the clutter.
3. Utilize the rule of thirds 
4. Look for leading lines and incorporate them in your picture. 
5. Look for natural or man made frames that might add interest to your shot.

I hope you can use some of this information when composing your next shot. I promise they will become second nature and you will do them without even thinking about it after a while.