Painted Ladies Journal

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

One Little Word, January Prompt

Who has a One Little Word with Ali this year? I've heard about this idea for years but this is my first year trying it.

In my last post I talked about using the rest of my December Kit for the January prompt. I was seeing a lot of the same themes (More of this/Less of that, etc), so I just knew I could incorporate these cards!

I kept it pretty simple. I had planned on just having the plain white cards, just like Ali. I do like that clean look. However, my laptop decided to finally die (the horror), so printing the digital files became harder. I learned that I can't tell the printer to print at full size from my phone, so my 3x4 cards were a tad smaller. So, I just mounted them on 3x4 cards.

For the title page, I printed the OLW logo on a 4x6 and added a little puffy heart. I put this in a 4x6 Sn@p! flip, which I cut the top sticky strip off of. Then, I used my favorites - those little attachers! I also added a little office supply tab that I had in my stash.

I'm really enjoying this project! I'm so glad that I'm doing it this year. There is a card from the December Take 10 Kit and I used the Studio Calico gold alphas to spell out my word. The alphas are in the glam bag, still available here.

I used the "Resolutions" card to highlight my four main uses of my word. In addition to my Take 10 Kit cards, I use some neutral cards from my MAMBI stash, also.

As you can see, I have a few prompt cards that are still blank. I felt like I needed to "grow with my word" before journaling these cards.

ENJOY!

Holly

The following are affiliate links to most everything I am using for this project (click right on the photo, if you don't see a link):

Puffy Hearts!!

Attachers

I couldn't find the exact ones, but this is what I plan on ordering when I need more:

4x6 Flips by Sn@p!

I love this set of neutral cards, and next time you attend a wedding, you have some cards for that, too!

me & my BIG ideas Pocket Pages Journaling Cards, Wedding

I cut down white cardstock to 4x6 for printing cards on my Canon Pixma! Or print digital cards that usually come on an 8.5 X 11 pdf. I actually bought the 90 lb, but it's a little thin, so I'd recommend this:

Wausau Paper Index Card Stock, 92 Brightness, 110 lb, Letter, White, 250 Sheets per Pack (49411)

I like to buy this box of 400 4x6 photo paper for my Canon Pixma:

My new printer!!!:

Canon Office Products MG7520 Black Wireless Color Photo Printer with Scanner and Copier

My favorite tape runner:

This is the exact 6x8 album I am using. It a little brighter aqua blue than shows in this image:

The Simple Stories page protectors are the same size as Becky Higgins!

If you chose to click on any links, I truly appreciate it. I get a small kick-back from Amazon and it's no additional cost to you!

Sunday, January 17, 2016

Is the Shotbox the answer to scrapbooking goals?

Following up on my 2016 goals for the year I wanted to give you all my initial impression of the Shotbox which was my big Christmas present from my DH! (I know he's a keeper right?)

I first heard about this great device from the Paperclipping Roundtable podcast from Stacey Julian and it peaked my interest. (By the way if you have never listened they have a dose of amazing inspiration over there!) At lunch that very day I jumped on their website and I knew instantly that I really wanted one... It was the answer to all of my scrapping goals!

Like so many of you, I am drowning in memorabilia which I cannot make myself dispose of! I have tons of old fragile scrapbooks that I want to document to share with my family, photos in terrible old magnetic albums, older scrapbook layouts in different sizes (8 1/2" X 11") plus I really needed a way to document lots of physical memorabilia.

I have a very nice scanner (Epson V600) but it doesn't handle everything I wanted to do. I have taken pictures with a white backdrop and had some luck but it's not so easy and I can really only take pictures on certain days. Since I work full time and really can only take pictures on the weekends - it really limits my ability and flexibility. Plus it needs to be on a fairly bright day when I don't have something else going on.. even more limits!

The Shotbox was originally sold through a Kickstarter campaign - I missed out on that but got in the first order group. The giant box arrived shortly after the holidays so this the second weekend I have had to play with it - and play I have!

I ordered the Shotbox plus the Sideshoot to take pics of physical memorabilia - the backdrops and the carry bag were "extras" that came with the package - they might have included it in the description but they were a surprise to me - a very nice surprise!

The main box is super light and folds flat. And it has its own built in lighting - so no waiting for the sun and light to be just right to take pictures !! There is a great video on their site which shows them assembling it - literally takes 15 seconds! Shotbox videos

The box unfolds and has 2 simple support arms on the side.

The black base comes separately so it can also be removed. This is the carry bag for all the goodies

There are 4 different backdrops - white, black, green (my DH said it was for special effects like Star Wars..) and blue for various options for picture taking - I will have to play around with these different options to see which one works better.

The Sideshot attaches easily on the top and has its own light source in addition to the light source within the Shotbox.

As a busy scrapper I really like things that are easy to store and transport (think about going to visit family to take pictures of their heritage photos or special collection of grandma's jewelry) I know there are a lot of Etsy and Ebay sellers that will be interested potentially. All you need is access to 1 electric outlet since the Sideshot is also powered directly from the Shotbox.

The bag really makes me so happy!! Everything fits in it perfectly and has nice long shoulder straps to be able to easily carry on you shoulder.

So most importantly how does the Shotbox perform - here are a few examples of cards and scrapbook layouts plus a brochure to see how it goes..

*** Edited to add: There are 3 different light settings - I played around with those and got a much, much better image with no glare this time - I didn't even realize that this was an option - look forward to playing even more!***

So what are my impressions so far... I think the Shotbox will be a perfect tool for cards, photos (taken out of albums or frames), any brochures, tickets etc - I have boxes and boxes of school papers that I need to go through... I think it does a nice job on scrapbook layouts that are flattish.. but not in a page protector (too much glare from the LED lights). I am not sure that it will work as well for those older photos in magnetic albums - here I think a scanner is still a better tool plus the Epson has a nice built in photo restoration setting that does a fine job. 3D memorabilia will also work very well in the Shotbox with a little creative cropping.

Overall I would buy it again without hesitation! Yes, the Shotbox is mostly the answer to my Scrapbooking goals! These opinions are my own and I didn't receive any free products from them..but if you are interested please use the following affliate link to Shotbox.me to go check it out! It is the same price to you but help supports our blog.. thanks for sticking through this long and photo heavy post!

Saturday, January 16, 2016

#HashtagThisWeek : Beginnings

I'm pumped to start off this year with the fun weekly prompts hosted by Mandy over at Turquoise Avenue! She started #Hastagthisweek last year, and I mostly silently grabbed all the wonderful freebies and ideas, hoping "to get around to using them".

My new approach is to keep up by using the Project Life App and Phonto. I will print them and add them to my Project Life albums as hybrid layouts, but this will help me keep up and participate with this awesome group! Mandy started a closed Facebook group this year, too!

So, you can go here to read about the first prompt, Beginnings. And here is my layout!

I brought the cards into the Phonto app to do some journaling. Then, I just brought them in as photos when creating my Project Life App layout. I love this process because I can do it anywhere that I have a few spare moments right on my phone!!

I hope you will join in on #Hashtagthisweek!!

Holly

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Thursday, January 14, 2016

Make No Little Plans - 2016 Scrapping Goals

So when Holly and I started our blog last year we started with a joint post on our goals for scrapping. Well we have been at it for almost 1 year and I think we have both accomplished a lot... But still there is always more to get done.

2015 was the second year that I am 100% digital. I am still loving every.single.minute... With my crazy work schedule I find that I can get short bits of time to work on layouts through out the day - commuting to and from work on the train, traveling on an airplane or in the evenings. I don't have to "find" my stuff or pull anything out other than my laptop which I have with me all the time anyways! I have completed challenges at various stores (you often win freebies this way), have a few assignments on digital CTs (Creative teams) and generally kept up with Project Life.

Here are some of my favorites:

Using Janet Phillips templates from the Daily Digi and kit by Just Jaimee Storytellers

Glamour Ghoul collab by Libby Pritchett and Amber Shaw at Sweet Shoppe

Using Chelle's Creations and Prismatic from Heidi Swapp for Project Life

I also started a project that I have mentioned before - my Christmas Card albums. I have 6 years of cards already printed in 2 books. In 2015 I will add my December Documented (like Ali's Edward's December Daily - just not daily stories)

Here is the first of 2 Christmas Card books I completed

Officially I am complete through middle Sept, with several other fall weeks completed in Project Life. I have a Shutterfly coupon which expires on 1-31-16 so I am trying furiously to finish up... This is the first year I have printed a bound book - 10x10 size and I am loving this size! I do love the printed 12x12 from Persnickety but I only have so many shelves so something has to give.

I also have worked (inconsistently) on my vacation album from our trip to Spain last Dec/Jan. I am using the Month of Challenges at The Lilypad to try and get some of these missing pages completed. So far I've been very successful at using the challenges to fill these holes.

By the numbers- PL layouts completed - 110+ ( I did a lot of pages from our summer vacation)
Fun/Challenge pages completed - 60+
Spain vacation pages -40+
Challenges completed- Iron Scrapper at Scrap Orchard - 24+
CT teams -2
Guest CT- 2 teams

Studio Basics Hello World at the Daily Digi

So what are my goals for 2016.. as Daniel Burnham said "Make No Little Plans..."

Finish was my One Little Word last year and I did get a lot finished but I was derailed mid year by some extended family health issues and did not finish My Week in the Life- but that is life (pun intended!). I will have a full blog post about my project and my process using the Project Life app.

Finish my Spain trip album - and take some of my favorite pages and create mini albums for each son so that they can have their own This album I am printing 12x12 through Persnickety

Finish my December Documented and Christmas card album for 2015. Depending on the number of pages I may combine this with 2016... I love the ease and size of the Shutterfly 10x10 books. (will link you direct to Shutterfly site with affliate link)

Finish my 2015 Project Life and continue in 2016 - I love this project. I may change it up a bit this year - blog post to follow on this too.

Continue on 2 creative teams - realistically work and family come first but I find being on a CT really helps grow my digi skills and my productivity and proficiency...Plus I LOVE playing with pretty new stuff (you noticed I never said I spent less digi scrapping vs. paper scrapping...)

Finally and most importantly I want to document/scan lots and lots of old photos, scrapbook layouts and memorabilia. To that end I got the BEST gift ever from my hubby - A Shotbox! I don't know if you have heard about this yet but it will revolutionize they way I am able to incorporate memorabilia.
I promise to do a whole blog post this weekend but for right now I'll share some pics and a link to their website...Shotbox.me. (This is an affliate link so if you are so inclined to purchase I would love it if you used my link.)

Extremely portable and comes with its own bag - which was a surprise to me

I also got the side shot to photograph 3D objects

As I said the carry bag is awesome - everything has its own spot and can be easily carried on your shoulder.

So that's it...of course that is plenty!! I also will be a much more regular blog contributor - Holly as been doing such a fantastic job and as you can tell I have been creating so I just need to share more and more regularly.

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Tuesday, January 12, 2016

New Years Eve and Title Page

I'm starting the year off with good intentions of getting that 2016 Project Life album started! The December Kit is perfect for New Year's, a 2016 title page, AND getting your goals recorded!

I'm starting this album off like a minimalist. I dig it. I always love seeing it in others' albums. It really lets those cards and photos shine.

Just added those gold alphas by Studio Calico to one card.

And added that American Crafts "i I love you" washi to a photo of my husband and I.

Here is my title page! Yay! Um, I still need to wait half a year to get our annual summer family photos and then I'll add two. I'm liking the natural wood 2016 just like it is. Only time will tell whether I keep it plain or not...

I am thinking of using these cards in my One Little Word album. Do you have a word for this year? This is my first time doing this project that Ali Edwards leads. It is fascinating to me. I think my word chose me because it is the only one that has been on my mind. "Enjoy"

-Holly

Take 10 Kits Creative Team

Monday, January 11, 2016

"Wrapping Up" December Daily

I have persevered with this album. It is basically done (just need to do something with that Calendar Page from the kit! Coming later this week on IG. Follow me here to stay tuned!)

Went back and finished those "blanks", like Day 10. That Holiday Party with friends!

Heidi Swapp Oh What Fun Tags, Shimelle Tinsel Bow, and pre-stamped "die cut" made with the Days of December Stamp Set.

Another filler page for #14, a Polish family tradition that took place in November. Assembly line homemade pierogi making! We freeze them for Christmas Eve dinner.

And #18 was also a filler. I took all those random Elf on the Shelf photos from the month and made one spread about our funny, sneaky, sometimes naughty elf. I made those custom word strips in a Word document. It makes for super quick journaling!