ScrapHappier213

What makes you happy about scrapbooking?  I think for me, it is seeing finished pages that have the pictures and the stories.  For me, that is what makes my scrapbooks special, to have the stories with the pictures.  My family has a history of strokes and memory loss, and when I am old and can't remember, I'll still have my memories. But don't think that's all, I adore using different techniques on the pages. I love using tools and creating my own embellishments.  Nothing better than making a title or an embellishment and knowing it's better than what I could have bought in the store.

This time last year, I was preparing to do something that I heard Lain Ehmann talking about on paperclipping round tables (the most amazing scrapbooking podcast).    It seemed revolutionary, or perhaps I should say it was evolutionary.  The task: to create one scrapbook layout each and every day, no matter what.  The premise is that by doing this task, you find out what your style is, what supplies you really do like, and improve your personal process of creating a page.

I succeeded.  I created a page each and every day in February 2012.  I created pages with pictures I had wanted to scrap every time I came across them in my box of photos,  pictures I hadn't thought about scrapping, and even ones that I had almost forgotten I had.  It was an incredible experience and one that I would encourage everyone who loves to scrap to embrace at least once!  The video prompts are general enough that it can be interpreted many different ways!

I had a routine in place.  When I woke up, I would watch the video prompt.  Sometimes I knew right away what I was going to scrap, and other days I didn't have a clue, and figured I'd just scrap whatever inspired me for the day.  Then I would go to work at my real world job and let the prompt stew around in my mind.  I usually wound up writing my journaling on a break, and my title would usually come to me as a result of the journaling.  I discovered that for me, I like having the journaling done first.  Having the journaling done helped me know where I was going with the page, which helped in choosing the paper from all my options, which embellishments would compliment the story, and made me realize what I wanted to stand out from the pictures, even helping in narrowing down the photo selection in some cases...and send me looking for another picture that I knew I had somewhere. 

These are a few of my favorite layouts from last February:

I had seen a layout which inspired me to want to create a graphic background with hexagons.  I didn't have anything to punch out hexagons, but I did have a set of spellbinder octagons.  It took me too long to cut these out, and placing them was a pill, but I did this on one of those days that I had more time to play:

I don't have a cricut, but a couple of years ago when I was shopping with my friend who does have one, we came across a smoking hot deal on some cricut cartridges, and I bought a couple of pooh cartridges for her knowing that one day I'd be using them.  I went to her house one day last Feb, and knew it was my chance to use it.  I had so much fun making this page of my daughter's last birthday with her papa.

I almost forgot about these pictures of me and my best friend in elementary school.  As you can see, some of them have been damaged over the years.  This page didn't take me very long at all because the owls were print and cut, the design was simple, and 

This was a great time to finally put some of those scrapbook ideas that I'd save to lift to use.  I had so much fun with this one.

Sometimes a sketch is just screaming to be done, and I had so much fun with this one.

One day the prompt was to simply scrap some photos that make you happy.

Very importantly, I also took time to document some of my family history

I hope you think of joining me for the February 2013 layout a day challenge. 

On to the next stop!

Heather Dubarry: http://noexcusescrapbooking.com

Alison Day: http://adayinthelifeor5.blogspot.com/

Danielle Taylor: http://scrapperonthestreet.com

Alison Charlton: http://scrappinginsingapore.blogspot.com/

Christy Strickler: http://myscrapbookevolution.blogspot.com/

Lynnette Nagle: http://sassyscrapper2010.blogspot.com/

Julie Shepler: www.sheplerfamily.com

Joy McHargue: http://www.studiowowjoy.com/

Kelli Panique: http://scrapbookgirl71.com/

Cathy Holiday: pikespeakscrapper.blogspot.com

Leslie Smith: http://lcsmithsaved-outofthemire.blogspot.com/

Lori Martin: http://Www.chaosandcraziness.com/

Connie Hanks: http://ClickyChickCreates.wordpress.com

 

Betsye Erazo: betsyerose.blogspot.com

 

Marcia Fortunato: mfortunato.blogspot.com

 

Regina Huminski: http://ginabeth1.blogspot.com/

Beth Soler: http://www.scrappingwonders.com

Kristie Sloan: http://kristiesloan.com/blog/

Danielle Hunter: http://ecoscrapbook.blogspot.com/

Katrina Forman: http://k84mansramblings.blogspot.com

Jessica Baldwin: www.inkyaddict.com

Cheryl McCain: http://cherylmccainphotography.com

Briel Schmitz: http://scrappingwindow.blogspot.com/

Marygail Mello: www.marygailscorner.blogspot.com