pretty paper. true stories. {and scrapbooking classes with cupcakes.}

Well, if ‘getting the hang of it’ means one cool photo in about a dozen attempts. I think bad vision and this lens make for a complicated relationship.

But hopefully more Lensbaby adventures soon. Like maybe more than one photo and three sentences.

{Have a fabulous weekend.}

xlovesx

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~Supplies: Bazzill cardstock, American Crafts Thickers, Doodlebug letter stickers, Making Memories stamps and ribbon, Fiskars border punch.~

It was my turn to put forth a sketch for this month’s Sketch Collection column in Scrapbook Inspirations. My favourite thing about this column is just a little bit awkward: I always love the contributors’ layouts far more than my own! But the boss never lets me change my layout at the last minute, so I’m always stuck with that first page I made from the sketch. There are five additional pages in the magazine, but you can see pages by Lisette and Jen on their blogs to get an idea of their yummy pages.

If you read the fine print rather than just looking at the pictures, you’ll already know that we added the sketch in a digital layout format as a free download — you can find it here, even if you didn’t read the fine print in the magazine! That template is what I used for the hybrid page above — the middle section of the layout was created digitally and printed out on an A4 sheet of photo paper, then the paper embellishments were added from there. Even better, you can also download a second version of this template just from me by clicking here. The second template is a bit more suited to a full digital page I think, but you can use either for your digital or hybrid projects. Both templates are .psd files, ready to go in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements. Enjoy!

So this month’s sketch looked something like this:

The space in the middle was the part I was most interested in when the pages started to come in. It can be filled with journaling, patterned paper, a border, a larger photograph…lots of options.

And since the article was done and dusted, I’ve been able to use it a few more times. Like this page that was featured on the Banana Frog Blog.

~Supplies: Bazzill Dotted Swiss cardstock, BasicGrey patterned paper, American Crafts Thickers (and these), Doodlebug border stickers, 7gypsies word stickers and Banana Frog stamps.~

And this fully digital page made with the layered template…

_{Supplies: Study Hall kit by Jen Allyson, Swirls by Rhonna Farrer}

So of course, I think there’s a need for a bit of a challenge, right? We’re always looking for layouts that our readers create when they’ve been inspired by something in the magazine, like the sketch. If you tell us about them, you might even find your page on the SI blog or on the pages of the magazine.

Your turn now: let’s see what you do with this sketch. If you upload your page online, make sure to leave a link in the comments. If you don’t upload your pages but still want to share, email me pretty please!

Happy scrapping!

xlovesx

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Um, make that “all LAST weekend”, okay?

Can I have a drum roll please?

Challenge one…create a page using free digital kits on paper:
Joyce and this layout

Challenge two…answer trivia questions about the party guests:
Of all the names that went in, Terri Horsman is the lucky winner!

Challenge three…use the free circle template:
Lou and this layout

Challenge four…take inspiration from the party and make something:
AbiB and this layout

Thank you so much to all our party guests and everyone who stopped by, left comments, made things or just gleaned some inspiration from the weekend. Winners, watch your inbox for a gift certificate flying your way for a little shopping fun!

All the inspiration will stay around online and you can see all the party posts here.

We’ll have to do this again sometime!
Just maybe not this weekend.

xlovesx

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_{©twopeasinabucket.com Supplies: cardboard, patterned papers by My Mind’s Eye, Bella Blvd, BasicGrey and Cosmo Cricket, dotty tape by Prima, grey, white and red Thickers by American Crafts, die-cut journaling paper by Making Memories, fabric tags by Little Yellow Bicycle, border punch by Fiskars and to cut that butterfly I keep using on every single layout, the Silhouette SD.}

While we were partying this weekend, the garden bloomed with a new gallery of pages. This month’s theme is patterned paper—definitely my must-have scrapbooking product. There was a time when I scrapped with all cardstock, all the time.

It’s a time to which I have no desire to return! Bring on the patterned paper.

In addition to the garden, check out Kelli’s project that is the first in a four week drive to get you using alllll of your patterned paper.

The patterned papers I am loving right this second:

_{Click on any paper to go shopping.}

Starting on the left, that’s the new Cosmo Cricket Boyfriend range—there is something very school film-strip about it all. It reminds me of the watching The Wonder Years, in the very best possible way.

Then Rosie McGrain from American Crafts. Easily one of my favourites from the past year. It goes with everything and it’s just a little bit quirky.

The most gorgeous subtle tree print from Lily Bee design. Love.

Narratives patterned papers by Karen Russell. Seriously tempted to buy all I can find because I can not bear to think of a world without Narratives papers. And no news as to whether Karen will go back to designing this or not. And I cannot believe I am going to tell you this, but it is on sale.

And then two papers that are infinitely cooler in person than they could ever be on a computer screen. And they are both on sale too: Hambly frames in the black on black print. Ooooh, the glossy wonder! You will make a layout and then constantly shift it back and forth in the light to see all the frames. You will oooh and ahhh as if it is a firework display.

And last but not least—the flocked papers from Doodlebug. These are so cool for jazzing up what would otherwise be a solid colour. They have texture and dimension and people always stop at those pages in my album and ask ‘how do you do that?’ and I feel quite disappointing when I say ‘oh, you buy it like that. It’s a patterned paper.’ But it is! There are spots and also a more ornate design that is super cool (and they do them in glitter if you prefer sparkles to flock).

What are your favourite patterns right this second? Let’s compare notes!

xlovesx

PS: Prize winners from the party will be posted this evening.

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My new online scrapbooking class, Go To Press, starts today and prompt one has already been sent to your inbox if you had signed up before this morning! It’s not too late to join though, so if the party made you think your printer could be helping you a bit more in your projects, then join us!

Of course the first day normally has a few hiccups that come with sending large attachments by email. If you are signed up but didn’t receive your prompt this morning, check your spam or junk mail folder to make sure we didn’t get misplaced, and if it’s not there either, send me an email so I can get you all sorted. Please include your Two Peas username in your message so I can find you on the class list. Thanks!

And don’t forget, all the party challenges are open for your entries until the end of tonight (UK time), so you still have time to create or comment for a chance to win!

We have a beautiful blue sky here this morning: hopefully it will be a fabulous week for everyone!

xlovesx

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And one final party guest for the night—it’s Tracie! Check out the full project she created on her blog, Life and times of a 12×12 addict.

Tracie’s pages are always gorgeous and packed with the punch of bold colours, details and dimension. The pages she does with black cardstock and high-contrast papers? I think those are my favourites! But it’s oh so hard to choose.

Tracie trivia to wind up our trivia challenges: what unique item did she scrap in Pencil Lines challenge 144?

Find the answer on Tracie’s blog and post it here in the comments for a chance to win.

Tomorrow, all the trivia answers from the whole party will be entered into a prize drawing.

Thank you for partying with us, Tracie!

And with that, we must say goodnight! Class starts bright and early tomorrow morning so I best get some sleep! Hope to see you there! And thank you so much for partying with me alllll weekend long!

xlovesx

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It may be late here but not in her timezone—let’s welcome Joy to the party! She has been busy making two projects to share with you – check them out on her blog! ETA: Looks like this post isn’t up quite yet – but it should be there for you soon. Sorry for the delay.

Joy is my official crazy helper on the US west coast. When I mean crazy helper, I mean when I send her an email and say ‘what would you think if I borrowed your kitchen to make like 15 dozen cupcakes?’, she says Come on over without missing a beat. She also comes to class to help me out, stops me from losing my cool…she is genuinely the exact kind of person you want around when you’re in a stressful situation. And when you’re not in a stressful situation, then she is just hilarious. All. the. time. Love her and love her work!

Some Joy trivia for you: why did Joy have trouble getting many scrapbook pages made in July June of this year? Sorry – you guys read more carefully than I did! It was the July kit, but the month was June! Well spotted, clever ladies!

Find the answer on her blog and post it here in the comments!

Thank you for partying it up with us Joy—and this time I didn’t leave your kitchen covered in a dusting of flour! Rad.

xlovesx

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Final few party guests coming up and this is the lovely Charlotte! You can see the full project on her blog, Twinkle Twinkle. I am extra curious about this one since she showed us such a sneaky sneak peek indeed!

Charlotte makes beautifully rich pages about her family and has recently returned to her blog after a bit of a hiatus, so welcome her back to blogland, won’t you?

A Charlotte trivia question for you, of course: Charlotte had what colour dungarees/overalls/playsuit in 1975? (Sorry Charlotte, I couldn’t resist.)

Thank you for partying with us, Charlotte—and possibly for being such a good sport!

xlovesx

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