Aha! A new post. On friday! About scrapbooking.

Hello!

This post comes to you via the HTML screen because the "compose" function doesn't work on PCs. ????

Fun times. 

The wonders of modern blogging. 

As you know I've dissapeared from this space for a while. 

Mostly because the sound of my pathetic whining was getting on my own nerves. 

Also writing on a ipod SUCKS. Prolonged suckage. 

So I'm testing this method out to see if it's gonna work.

So far no- I'm back on the ipod editing the huge block of text the html became.

Perhaps you missed me?

 (aha ha, just kidding!) 

Perhaps you find blogs terribly passé?

How rude!

But you can also find me on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook. 

What I do:

Pinterest- pin salads, quilts and inspiration for pages I'll never make 

IG- post photos of Lola at home as I still lack a driver's license (laaaame)

Facebook- be reliably puzzled by my lefty political posts (and the occasional non controversial scrapbook page) 

But you're here so let's just hang.

This week I managed to finish a couple of pages. 

I forgot to mention I'm the guest designer for January over at Jennifer Bowlin Mercantile. Doh!! It's a great kit. Feb's kit is already up. So buy both. Lol.

I didn't think I would like this year's fancy name for purple "Radiant Orchid". But anything looks awesome with black and white. Sorry for uncropped pix- workng off my ipod here.

And I finally scrapped this photo of the Brooklyn Botanical Garden in full cherry blossom glory. Never thought I would use up those felt flowers but they look great here. Thanks for busting thd orejudice Jenny B. Lol.

This weekend I will be going to my first crop EVER. Crossing my fingers I don't annoy anyone by singing out loud or focusing too much and not listening.

I'm not the chat and scrap type- my brain isn't big enough to do both. 

I'm bringing my paper, washi tape, glitter, some punches and lots of paint. 

Fingers crossed! 

I'll update you on how it went Monday. 

Sneak peek of my next Inspiration Elevator challenge.

Have a great weekend! 

Michelle

Inspiration Elevator Challenge: 10 years from today

You may recall that the purpose of this challenge group is to take our scrapbooking to the next level, to stretch our creative process and to grow as artists by embracing challenges that make us think, work and grow. You can view all of the challenges our new Inspiration Elevator Blog, "http://inkspiration.typepad.com/inspirationelevator/" 

 Our challenge this month comes from the very talented Jodi Wilton . Here's what she had to say in her very own words: 

"My challenge for January. The New Year is always about bettering 

ourselves; looking into the future, and making goals (some attainable, 

some not so much). Scrapbooking is about recording the story and most of

 these stories are in the past, so we don't forget the memories we 

created. For this challenge I would like you to scrapbook yourself, your

 family, or a particular family member 

and where you (or them) would like to be in ten years time. The focus 

for this challenge is on the journaling. Your layout or art journal may 

be in the form of a letter to your future self. Your layout may or may 

not have any photo at all and be all about the journaling. Dip deep! 

Really think about what you can (or they can) accomplish! What are your 

dreams? What are your goals? Good luck ladies!"

This was a great challenge. I often thimk about the future but don't get very specific. I visualize a future where I own a home and plant a garden. Where my daughter wants to hang with her parents even if they are super embarrasing. Where my husband has the job he wants and the telescope he's been dreaming about for years now. 

Im so sorry if this photo looks fussy- it's taken with my ipod and I can't figure out how to fix it- it looks clear when I check it out close up. A mystery.

An experiment in minimalism and restraint. Perhaps not my best page
but it's exciting to try a new thing.

Jodi Wilton http://luvalotland.blogspot.ca/

Michelle Hernandez  http://myanaloglife.blogspot.ca/

Ann Jobes http://www.lovestnpaper.com/

Laura Whitaker http://scrappinaroundtheclock.blogspot.ca/

Lisa Moen http://lisasscrappyhideaway.blogspot.ca/

Christa Uttley http://dowhatyoulove-maxadriane.blogspot.ca/

Lisa Spiegel http://lisaspiegel.typepad.com/my_weblog/

Joanne Burton http://scrappingoutsidethelines.blogspot.ca/ 

Thanks for stopping by!

Michelle

Inspiration Elevator Challenge- Christmas photo memories

Hello hello!

Perhaps you've been wondering where I disappeared to for a month.

I started a new full time job with a schedule I haven't been able to squeeze spare time from.

I've wanted to get back to blogging and creating but this hobby sucks up time like no other.
Or maybe that's just my process- I knew what I wanted to do with this page- I just needed 4 hours to do it in- lol!

One of my all-time favorite Christmas spot is Macy's Department store in 34th street.
We won't  be in New York until Thanksgiving so I used a photo from last year.

That's Lola scribbling a "Letter to Santa" from our visit to the store last year.
She's literally just making lines but I LOVE the look of intense concentration on her face!!!

For this page I used some Studio Calico paper I got at TJ Maxx, wood star buttons from Prima,
red tag from Cocoa Daisy and a star flair from A Flair For Buttons.

You may recall that the purpose of the Inspiration Elevator challenge group is to take our scrapbooking to the next level, to stretch our creative process and to mature as artists by embracing challenges that make us think, work and grow. You can view all of the challenges at the Inspiration Elevator Blog.

I have a very odd ideas about proper/good parenting.
One of my biggest quirks is the tell no lies rule.
It's absolute and can land me in plenty of social hot water.
Lola has no idea who Santa is- funny how this doesn't seem to interfere with the magic
and meaning of the holiday.
Here she's writing "Santa" a letter.
She has no idea why but that doesn't take away from the fun.

We are thrilled to welcome guest artist Misty Russell and her eclectic, artistic style to Inspiration Elevator this month.

 November's challenge comes from the very talented Joanne Burton. Here's the challenge she posed:

"November's Challenge: Back in Time.  I love looking through old photos (or not so old photos!) and remembering the great memories that go along with them. Some pictures evoke a strong emotional response while others just bring a sweet smile to our face as we recall the details of when it was taken. With that in mind, I would like each of you to pick a favourite photo and go back in time! I want you to take your photo and actually revisit the place where the photo was taken. Then take a 'picture of the picture' in it's original setting and scrapbook your new photo. **If you are absolutely not able to revisit the place where the photo was first taken, then pick a favorite picture with lots of memories attached to it and scrapbook that. 

In either case, I want you to journal the story behind your photo. Make your journaling and photo come together in such a way that we feel like we are back in time with you!"

 I hope you will stop by and see what the rest of the incredible Inspiration Elevator designers have created:

Joanne Burton 

Jodi Wilton 

Michelle Hernandez 

Ann Jobes 

 Laura Whitaker 
Cathy Harper

Lisa Moen 

Lisa Spiegel 

Guest Designer Misty Russell 

If you feel inspired to play along with our challenge this month, please share it using the linky tool on our Inspiration Elevator blog and/or our Inspiration Elevator Facebook page. We'd LOVE to see what you made!

Have a great weekend!
Michelle

Inspiration Elevator Challenge- Nostalgia

Hello!
Today I'm bring a page I made for this month's Inspiration Elevator Challenge- Nostaligia.

I have a different perspective on this challenge because I don't really scrap to capture moments or even record my life.
I do it because I love messing around with paper and because it gives me a good reason to keep shooting photos- something I would otherwise forget to do in my normal day to day routine.

Basic Grey film strip paper- I'll need to get a couple more of this print. The flair is from A Flair For Buttons, chipboard and white laser cut tags from Scrap FX. New York flag from Reminisce. I also cut some leaves from vellum just for the heck of it. Since we put our things in storage and brought essentials with us when we moved to Utah, I don't have much in terms of items that are nostalgic but the printed film strips are good stand-ins- read below to find out why.

My page doesn't have a lot of journaling this month.
I've covered the subject of Brooklyn longing so frequently in the last couple of months I really just wanted to make a page to match this summer 2013 photo I love.

I am deeply nostalgic for my college days when I spent all day (literally) in the darkroom developing film and printing black and white photos for my next critique class.

The photo is of a near perfect day in May.
We walk the Brooklyn Bridge.
Discover new parts of the park by getting lost in the streets.
Finally, the sun is setting,
Saidy has brought her nephews and Lola finally has someone her own age to play with.
The food truck tacos we buy are delicious.
The salsa band playing outdoors in the park is so amazing we get up and dance in front of everyone.

Lola sits on David's shoulders the whole time.
Then... fireworks!!! Someone is getting married and we get to share in their joy.
And I cry
I AM SO HAPPY!
I know we may never get to come back to a summer concert in Brooklyn Bridge Park again.

I'm painfully grateful. 
New adventures and perfect days await in Utah but nothing compares to golden evenings by the water;
Lady Liberty waving her torch just a quarter mile away.

Quiet subway rides home

You fall asleep yet it is us who sit dreaming

This is home.

Those banner stickers are from the Target dollar aisle- they've been on a roll lately with the kraft stuff.

Onto the official challenge~

You may recall that the purpose of this challenge group is to take our scrapbooking to the next level, to stretch our creative process and to grow as artists by embracing challenges that make us think, work and grow.

You can view all of the challenges our new Inspiration Elevator Blog, here.

We are also pleased to welcome Denise Morrison and her stunning artistic style back to Inspiration Elevator.
Our challenge this month comes from the very talented Lisa Spiegel .

Here's what she had to say in her very own words:
"October is my favorite month of the year. Hands down. The temperatures here in Southern California finally start to drop, we wear a light sweater, maybe even a little boot. We pull out the scarves and the jeggings and put away the capris and tank tops. Leaves begin to change and we prepare for Halloween! My whole house is decorated, from top to bottom, and it is no small feat. I even swap out my dishes and serving ware in preparation for Fall and Halloween and I love to just keep the festivities going all the way through the Thanksgiving and then holiday season. My house will not return to "normal" until January. 

So, Lisa, tell us, how does this relate to a scrapbooking challenge? Well, what I've found over the years is my scrapping even changes over the holidays. I layer more. Reach for the bling and really dig deep to embellish with meaningful objects. Journal my thoughts and stories and feelings. Fall just make me nostalgic. So here is the challenge. Create a layout that is nostalgic...the feeling should be evident from the title, the visible journaling and the embellishments you choose. 
Choose deliberately and with purpose to tell your nostalgic story. I can't wait to see how you interpret this challenge!" 
 I hope you will stop by and see what the rest of the incredible Inspiration Elevator designers have created:

Lisa Spiegel

Laurel Seabrook 

Joanne Burton

Jodi Wilton

Michelle Hernandez

Ann Jobes

Laura Whitaker

Lisa Moen 

Christa Uttley

Guest Designer Denise Morrison

If you feel inspired to play along with my challenge this month, please share it using the linky tool on our Inspiration Elevator blog and/or our Inspiration Elevator Facebook page.
We'd LOVE to see what you made!

Normally dancers go in front of the stage but we had 3 toddlers to care for so we got up and danced
right in front of all these folks- and it spread. It WAS a good day.

Skissedilla selected scrapper for October

Hello scrap happy folks!

It's been an eventful week for me and I am so glad to finally share this latest scrapbook page.

I'm the featured scrapper over at Skissedilla for October. yay!

Things are changing for the challenges- instead of  a sketch a week there's only one a month.

Skissedilla has a GREAT design team with plenty of raw inventive power- I suggest you swing on by and check it out.

Here's my solution to this month's sketch:

I loved the sketch but I got caught up in the literal- how to make that sunburst pattern look fresh and new?
Silly rabbit- just make the page! The flair is from A Flair For Buttons. The chipboard from Scrap FX.

The actual sketch:

Challenge 228

A close up:

Whenever I get stuck I start cutting strips of paper. No matter how
bad the mojo is I always seem to respond to stripes on a page.

And here is the RAK up for grabs to one lucky winner:

Some beautiful Art Deco inspired frames from Scrap FX and flair from
A Flair For Buttons and Bluebird Chic on Etsy.

Thank you so much to Skissedilla for asking me to join the team for October- I was THRILLED when I got the email.

One great thing about living in Salt Lake City- farms everywhere-
on the way to the mall- the BIGGEST tomatoes , peppers and
cucumbers are there for the picking. We bough 3 bags of fresh produce for 5 bucks.
Can't beat that with a bat!

Hope you have a great week!
Michelle