Apron Strings Day 12 and MotherLOAD Week 3

Okay, I'm continuing my crafty streak. Participating in these two challenges this month has been an awesome experience for so many reasons. I've been completing lots of layouts for one. I've been reacquainting myself with (and actually using) my stash! And I've been tackling little organizational projects from my to-do list. And, perhaps the most amazing reason of all, I've really been discovering my "style"!

So the first of the two layouts I have for you tonight is a double pager for Apron Strings Day 12. The challenge was to use the given colour scheme and some older kits/papers. Lori also gave us another sketch to help us if we needed it. I'd used it before (Day 6 I believe) and decided to give it another go.

Here's the colour scheme and the sketch.

And here's my take on things. 

I'm still digging into those old pictures from when Paige was a baby so these are of my nephew Matthew's 3rd birthday. In Marley's baby album I have a layout of Matt's 1st birthday but I'm thinking I may pull that out and make a separate album for birthday layouts. 'Cus really, Paige wasn't a player in the action here just as Marley wasn't 2 years before so why should these layouts be in their baby albums? We'll see. Work in progress, as the saying goes!

Here's a close up of some of the journalling and embellishments. I was still trying to cluster them (as I like to do now) but I admit to feeling a bit restricted by my paper choices and the colour scheme. I like this layout overall but it's not one of my favourites.

A closer look at the vellum quote I added to the left side.

Sorry for not having individual pictures of the right side and left side. I usually like to do this for double page layouts so you can see more detail but my brain forgot to fully engage while I was taking pictures tonight. :)

Products used: purple and green (base) cardstock - Bazzill; all other papers, vellum quote, letter/word stickers and embellishments - ATD Celebrate Brights 12x12 Bundle; Brads and green button - Basic Grey; other buttons - stash; Ribbon - Michael's Celebrate it basics; Journalling tag - cut from scrap on Cricut with George Basics; Punches - EK Success Swiss Cheese and MS Scallop Dot.

For our MotherLOAD assignment this week we were to pay attention to our process and examine how it may be contributing to or affecting our output. For example, do we always start a layout with the photos or is it the papers? Do we use sketches or not - how do they change the way we approach a layout? To test this out we were to create a layout using our normal process and take notes along the way, how long each step was taking, etc. This was an interesting exercise. I wanted to combine it with the Apron Strings challenge but to be honest, I don't normally start with a specific colour scheme in mind so I had to create a completely different layout. As I do have a stack of photos sitting out waiting to be scrapped I just grabbed the next ones and got to work. Here's what I came up with.

I think this is very indictative of how I scrap right now.

When I first started I was so overwhelmed with how far "behind" I was that each layout had to be FULL of photos. There was no room for embellishments and journalling was an afterthought at best. I have calmed down somewhat now. I realize that I may never get "caught up" and that's okay. I am having fun doing what I am doing and know that I am creating lasting keepsakes. Right now they have huge holes in the timeline of the story but slowly I'll fill those in. The important thing is to get layouts done not moan about how many I have left to do. As long as I remember to keep backing up my hard drive so I don't lose all those photos before I have a chance to print them I'll be okay!!

Obviously, I started with the photos and then went digging for papers and embellishments to support them. This is how most of my layouts start. Even when I have a sketch to work from, I still start with the photos. That's why a lot of my Project 12 layouts have more photos on them than they're "supposed to". I just love photos. I'm a visual kind of person I guess. My journalling is still usually left to last but I am more conscious of it and do try to leave sufficient room for it these days.

Oh, and my new obsession with grouping things prevails here too!

Products used: Grey cardstock base - Recollections 81/2 x 11; Striped patterned paper and the clouds - Bella Blvd Flirty and ??; Grey paper for tag and stars is AC but I don't remember the line; Labels - cut out on my Cricut using George Basics; Ribbon - Michael's Celebrate it grosgrain; Alphas - Making memories Cheeky Shimmer Stickers in dark blue; punches - corner rounder and MS Bubble Bath.

The photo assignment for this week was a self portrait. I don't usually like pictures of myself but ... what the hell. Here it is.

Thanks for checking in. See you around!