Kellie stamps - January release #4...

Do you ever get a stamp set and think, I love it but I just don't know what to do with it.  Or what about all those stamps you already have, same thing, you love them but don't know what to do with them.  

I thought I would share a little tip that I often use if I am not sure what or how to use a stamp set.  Although I came up with a million ways to use the "looks like summer" stamp set by Kellie Stamps I thought I would pick this set to show one of my favourite ways to use my stamps - use your stamps as journaling prompts!  

For my "Summer To Do" layout I used the stamps as a "to do" prompt.  I wanted to make a list of all the things that we could do this summer, but with a twist.  I created several squares, attached them to a sheet of white cardstock, these will become the mat for each of my photos.  I then stamped several images onto tabs, die cuts and strips of pattern paper then stitched them to my little squares.  By stitching them into place it meant that when we did an item off the list, all I had to do what print off the photo and slide it in under the prompt.  By doing it this way it meant that I could complete the layout then all I had to do was add the photos which was like ticking things off a to do list.

This layout is a "layout in progress".  We have probably done about 2/3 of the prompts so when all the photos are on I will share my completed layout.

This has been such a fun way to document our summer and its also giving us the encouragement to get out there and do some fun.

I also wanted to share another tip:-

Just because a stamp looks a certain way doesn't mean you have to use it that way.  The title of my layout includes the stamped word "summer" which I stamped in one line however the original stamp comes as a two lined image (as shown below).

In one of the photos above you will see the image "summer sunset", again I have stamped it as a one line image, however the original image is a two lined image.

You can just ink part of a stamp using markers or just the edge of your ink pad.

You may have an image that is quite long and narrow, attach your stamp by bending it into a curved line when attaching it to your stamping block.

I have also been known to cut stamps up.

I hope some of these ideas give you some encouragement to get your stamps out and have some fun.

Happy Stamping.

love me  :-)

Kellie Stamps - January Release #3...

When Kellie from Kellie Stamps first designed the "Love your Body" stamp set, she designed it as a clear stamp set only - no digital version.  As you probably know I am doing Project Life digitally this year, so using physical stamps is not an option in the digital world - or is it.

Now I am no expert when it comes to Photoshop, infact most of what I know has purely come about by me playing and doing lots of classes.  When I say classes, I don't necessarily mean "digital scrapbooking" classes.  I have done lots of classes about, photo editing, doodling, water colour paints etc etc and it's while doing these classes that I have learnt little bits and pieces about photoshop and how sometimes, you can turn a physical thing into a digital thing.

(while we are talking about classes here are some that I recommend - Doodle 2 by Brandi Kincaid,  Paint & Pixels by Catherine Saunders, both of these classes gave  basic instruction on how to turn  the physical into the digital)

 I have listed below a very brief (and I mean brief) explanation on  how I added these physical stamps to my digital project life page:-

1. Stamp your image/images onto white cardstock using black ink

2.  You can scan these images however I find it easier to photograph my images.

3.  Edit the images either in photoshop itself or on your phone using your favourite photo editing app.  For this project I used "Colorstory" app.  Your aim here is to make the white as white as can be and the black as black as can be.  

4.  If you have done the editing on your phone you will need to upload it to your computer and open it up in photoshop.

5.  Using the "magic eraser tool" click on the white area somewhere.  You will then notice that you lose the white background and end up with just your black images.  

6.  At this point you can save this is a PNG file so that you can use it again and again.

7.  Now add your image to your digital project.

As you can see, the images are not perfect but I love how they look just like a stamped image - which is what I was going for.  I am so glad I tried this because now the possibilities are endless with what images I can add to my digital projects.

The Love your Body stamp set is now available in digital.

Note: some digital elements used are from Paislee Press and Sahin Designs.

Let me know if you try this and how you went.  If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments and I will do my best to help.

Have a great week

love me :-)

Kellie Stamps - January release #2...

Thank you for stopping by to check out my second project using new clear stamps from Kellie Stamps.  

I have been using a travellers notebook to document my mantra (OLW) for this year, and I am adding many different things to help me keep on track and to keep working towards "My Fabulous Year" concept.  This new clear stamp set from Kellie Stamps "Love your body" was just what I needed.  It had the perfect words and images to create a mind map, if you like, or brainstorm about the things I need to keep in mind to stay healthy and strong this year.

My main goal this year is to move more/eat well and most of all to Love my Body the way it is now and how it will be along all the stages of my life.  I have been really struggling lately with my body image, shape, size and the fact that i am getting older, really struggling with the getting older thing and that dreaded word menopause!    I have to say that this fun little brainstorm was just that, fun, totally fun, which made me realise that I am getting way too serious about the age thing.  LOL!

... but I have joined the gym and started walking again.  Still need to work on the healthy eating thing because I don't think that a chocolate sundae comes under that category - which is such a shame really because I could eat them all day!

Happy crafting!

Love me :-)

Kellie Stamps - January release #1

It's one of my favourite times of any month... the release of new Kellie Stamps clear and digital stamps.  As part of our commitment to the Creative Team we only need to create two projects show casing the new stamps, but honestly, I struggle to keep it at only two, so I don't lol!  I am starting off this week with the first of my projects - a digital layout.

Although I have been playing with "digital" for some time I have never created a full digital layout without the use of a template.  I did find the whole process a little daunting at first, but once I started playing, moving things around I actually started enjoying myself.  The best bit, if I didn't like where I put something I  just moved it or get rid of it, too simple.

It was also a fun way to record a fun morning at the beach where we all went snorkelling.  This layout will be added to my Project Life photo book for 2017.

  I used the "the looks like summer" as a mask for a large scenic photo of the beach.  Then added a photo of myself and finished off with a few digital word stamps and some journaling. One of the things I love about working with digital elements is that you can change them around to suit your layout.  The "this looks like summer" digital stamp is actually only two lines, but I altered it so that I could fill up the entire 12x12 page - I changed it from two lines to three lines.

The more I work with digital elements the more I am learning.  If you are thinking about trying out digital, you should.  I will admit there is lots to learn but you don't need to know lots to create a layout like this.  And you don't need the latest version of photoshop elements either.  I am still using Photoshop elements 8.  Why change what isn't broke, right!!

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my first project for the new Kellie Stamps release for January.  Keep checking back this week as I continue to share my other projects.  It's not all digital either and it's not all scrapbooking.  I will be sharing my travellers notebook, a physical scrapbook layout and my Week 2 of project life.  I am also hoping to share some tips as well.

Have a great week

Love me :-)

(please note:  Paislee Press digital products also used in above layout)

January Twenty Seventeen TN...

If you have been following along, you will know that I am not doing OLW this year in the traditional sense.  Instead, I have a mantra "365 new days, 365 new chances".  With this in mind I have created "my fabulous year" which is a sort of concept, a challenge for my self if you like.  I am challenging myself to live "my fabulous year", but to do so I need to think differently, act differently and be different more than I have before.  

I needed a place to document my year long journey of living more mindfully.  It needed to be a place where I could set goals, keep things that speak to me, write, show gratitude, evaluate, review and repeat.  I decided to make my own Travellers notebooks, a new one every month.

Since starting this journey I can honestly say that a few things have happened that I never thought would.  Some of these things I am not quite ready to share yet as they are very personal and not really like me, but I have to say I am liking the direction that I am heading in.  I a not sure if it's because of the travellers notebook or whether it's just because I am living life more mindfully,  Either way I am embracing this direction.

For my first page I printed "twenty seventeen" plus "365 new days, 365 new chances onto vellum.  Loved how it came out.

To make my cover and first page I used digital elements and papers from Paislee Press by Liz Tamanaha..  Right now you can get the "twenty seventeen" (as seen above) word art and cards at 20% off but if you are a press lister you can purchase it for free (check  your emails for the discount code).

"365 new days, 365 new chances" digital image from Kellie stamps.

Later in the week I will share more of my Travellers notebook.

How are you documenting your OLW this year?

Love me :-)

Unplug the noise...

I came across The Minimalists several months ago and I have been following them, listening to them and trying to get a feel of how I can add minimalism into my life.  I know I need to "declutter", not just physical things but in all aspects of my life.  I want to make big changes this year but I need to be mindful and tackle things one at a time.  

Last year I unplugged for a week, yes a whole week and while the thought almost made we want to vomit (such a good reason to unplug don't you think) and I wasn't sure how I would cope with not being able to "keep up" with everyone...  but I am so glad I did.  The first few days were tough, so tough that it shocked me. It was only then did I realise how addicted I was to social media (instagram is my weakness).  I turned off notifications so that I wasn't tempted to check out "just that one post" and so when I picked up my phone (out of habit) there was nothing on my screen, so no temptation was there.

I could write a whole book on my feelings from that week, but to sum it up - SO WORTH IT.

When I came across this post (see below) on Instagram it was a timely reminder to UNPLUG again.  This time however, I am going to schedule it in my diary for one day a week and, I am going to unplug one weekend a month.

With all the technological advances of the past few decades, we’ve become more efficient than ever.  But, of course, with every discrete bit of input from our laptops, tablets, smartphones, earbuds, email apps, and Wi-Fi toasters, our world has grown louder. Noise is an unintentional by-product of productivity.  The more we produce, the more we increase the volume. 

Eventually the noise is so loud we must shout to be heard.  

There are many ways to turn down the volume.

Check social media only once a day

Turn off all notifications, beep, bells, whistles.

Schedule alone time, quiet time free time.

Respond to only the emails that require a response.

Ensure your creations add value, not just noise.

Unfollow, unfriend, mute, block, opt out, let go.

Speak less, meditate more, breathe deeply.

The best way to turn down the volume is to avoid turning it up in the first place.  As with your car stereo, the potential for noise is always there, sure, but the noise itself is present only if we allow it to be -

Only if we rank the knob clockwise.  Otherwise, silence reigns supreme.

(this essay originally published at @Minimalism. Life)

Every Sunday night I am going to schedule in my "unplug" day for the week - I'm looking forward to turning down the noise.

Have a great week

love me :-)

Project Life - Week One

Hello Project Life for 2017.  

I have been doing Project Life, in the physical format since it started and completely love everything that it stands for.  I love how it's made me document the everyday, rather than just the big things.  But as a crafter, and if you are a crafter yourself, you will understand what I say next - I needed to change things up a bit, needed something different, but WHAT?  I spent a very long time trying to figure out what direction I was going to go in 2017, and yes, I even thought about not doing it and taking a break, however, I knew that wouldn't work.

I did a photo book (for Paislee Press during my time as guest creative team member) of a holiday we had in Bali back in July 2016.  I loved the simplicity of it and I loved how easy it was go put together.  

In December I decided to a do a December Daily type project, but in digital form as a photo book (this project is still in progress) and totally loved the simplicity and ease again. 

Making it onto the Paislee Press Creative Team for 2017 and my two previous successes with photo books made my decision clear -I would attempt to do a photo book for Project Life for 2017.

Today I am sharing my Week One of our Album for 2017. 

Again, I can't tell you how much I love the simplicity of going digital.  Yes, some part of me misses the touch and feel of paper etc but I love how easy this is to do.  I still plan to do layouts, card making and travellers notebooks - so I will get my fix of paper etc there.

Liz from Paislee Press just released the 4x6 Photo templates Vol 6 which made doing Week One so so easy.  The best thing about these templates is how much you can change them to fit your layout or number of photos.

I am so looking forward to seeing where this project takes me.  Will it last it the biggest question I have.  My other major question is "how do I add ephemera?"  But, as I said I am keen to see where this new direction takes me.

How are you doing Project Life this year?

Love me :-)

Positive Vibes - New Year Resolutions...

How are your plans going for 2017 - have you made a list, are you working on OLW by Ali Edwards or are you just going to wing it.  If you know me you know that lists are my thing, and yes, I have very long lists about what I intend to do in 2017.  You can check out a previous post here.  

I decided that I wanted to document that previous blog post as a way to remind myself of where I am now and where I want to go.  I used the Positive Vibes Scrapbook Kit from Paislee Press to help me document the start of this journey.  I have used the journal cards and elements from the above kit but you can also purchase them separately.

I am love the challenge of taking a digital product and turning into a physical one.  The journal cards come in a pdf as well so even if you don't get the whole digital thing you can still print off the digital cards.  And the best bit about digital - it never runs out.  I can re-print these cards and elements as many times as I want and any size I want and in some case can even change the colours.

If you have any questions about this layout or working with digital products, please leave a comment and I will do my best to answer you.

Thanks again for stopping by

Love me :-)

Countdown...

I am so excited to share my first project as a Creative Team member for Paislee Press.  

As the kids were opening each advent calendar, I got them to keep the numbered tags.  At the time I didn't know what I would do with them but I did know that I would use them somehow.  When I saw the 'Merrier' set from Paislee Press I instantly knew that they would go with my numbered tags so well on a layout. 

 I set them up as a print and cut on my Silhouette and then simply threaded them onto gold string along with my numbered tags.

This is one set that I know I will use over and over again every year.

How are you documenting your Christmas?  I would love to know!
Love me :-)

OLW... or in my case Mantra!

For many years I have done OLW by Ali Edwards and I don't know that I could have gone through any of those years without having a "word" to keep me focused.  I love the idea, the class, the prompts, the community, everything.

But this year I am trying something new...
A new concept for me.  Instead of having a word I am focusing on a mantra.  It all came about when Kellie from Kellie Stamps sent out the new digital stamps for us to play with.  I saw the image "365 days, 365 new chances".  I loved it.  It got me thinking.  It got me thinking so much that I needed to get a notebook and pen so that I didn't miss any thoughts.

I started writing down ideas, tons of ideas, too many ideas.  But I kept writing and writing, drawing diagrams and more writing.

 I came up with a concept  - "my fabulous year 2017"

Every year, as the year come to a close and before the next one started, I take pen in hand and make plans in a fresh new notebook.  I make many lists and notes, jot down dons of ideas all with the intention to have a well organised and fun new year.  I promise myself that the next will be better, that I wil fix all the things that I think are broken (or not) and vow to stop spending so much and have money in the bank.  Then there are the wild ideas I have about becoming the next "big thing" in something.  They say to "dream big" right!  As well as becoming the next big thing in something, having money in the bank there is always a list about how to keep my house clean, a list about all the books I am going to read, all the shows that I want to see and the adventures I will have...

... the new year starts and I set about living the exact same life I had previous.  For some reason my great plans and lists never see the light of day.  I continue my life just as I have in the past, not really changing anything.   I'm not being negative here or complaining, just saying it as it is  I love my life and all those who are in it.  but this is about being more mindful in life.

Making choices and decisions based on being open and in the moment instead of making them "because that's the way I always do it". 

 I love starting new things and trying out new things, which brings about another problem.  I am a great starter but not such a great finisher.  I start a new idea/project all full of enthusiasm, buy all the things to start said project and then "bam" I see something else to try.  So I put the previous project aside, vowing to finish it later, buy all the things for the next projects... and so the pattern continues.  See my problem LOL!

"My fabulous Year 2017" project is my way of documenting and keeping track of my year.  Helping me to stay focused, mindful and authentic.  Not to just plan for a better life but to actually do it

So let's see what happens in a year.

My Mantra is my way to remind myself that everyday can and is different.  It will remind me to stay mindful and authentic and remind me to make choices consciously and with thought.
Here's to a fabulous year!

Love me :-)

Please note: products used are by Kellie Stamps, Felicity Jane and Paislee Press.

Hello 2017...

Happy New Year!

Yes it's been awhile since I did one of these posts, but I am bringing them back.  Every month I will do a "hello" post to welcome in the new month.  It's my way of greeting the month, along with any new experiences and challenges that it will bring with it, in a positive way.  Sort of like  a "to do" list, something to keep me on track and focused.

Also at this time I usually let everyone know what my OLW for the year will be.  I am not actually doing a word this year, insert shocked look.  I know, I know, "You have always done one", I hear ya!  I will post about this a little later, but just quietly, I think it's going to be way better than a word.

I hope you have the most amazing year, you deserve it.

Love me :-)

Note: digital stamp by Kellie Stamps, digital paper by Paislee Press, flair by Feed your Craft