Project Life with no kit and no clue

Hello everyone,

I have GREAT NEWS! 

I am returning to New York City- woo hooo!

The truth is that Dave and I embarked on a "business opportunity" with little planning or ideas on how to hustle in a new city. 

We thought our optimism and willingness to work hard would work it's magic- "The Secret" wise.

Nope!

It's been stressful and frankly I value my marriage and Lola's peace of mind too much to keep testing either one.

The going critique is that I gave up too early but this is a marathon- I need a water break.

Without getting into a protracted "woe is me" story (since, frankly, taking off with no real business plan was dumb)- I seriously can't  take the unpredictability of freelance work. 

I'm pretty impulsive but I've never been a fly by the seat of my pants, take big financial risks for possible gain in the future kind of person.

So I'm retreating to NYC to take advantage of free child care (thank goodness for grandmas! Hello? Major underestimated asset!)

I also plan to take some business and computer courses and get me up to speed ' cause being a Mom for 4 years has totally altered my skill set- lol!

Anyway I managed another Project Life page this week.

I printed a bunch of tiny photos at Walgreen's and wanted to use them before I left.

I'll be glad to return to my own desk and computer again- next time I won't leave without them!

Here are some close ups of the gesso covered Kraft paper inserts from Scrap FX.

Scrap FX has a variety of mini chipboard designs available for "micro scrapping"-feathers, apples and these teeny oak trees are my current favorites.

Why are these photos so blue? 

I shot these very last minute as the sun was setting. No amount of ipod app digital retouching is going to take that bluish tint away. 

I'll have to reshoot, but that's ok.

"Do overs" are my specialty.

Thanks for stopping by!

Michelle

Using gesso and Scrap FX chipboard for Project Life

Happy Friday folks!

Today I want to share a page from my moribund Project Life album.

 I readily admit my album currently holds 16 pages- 8 from 2012.

Scrap FX  Triangle border stencil on the yellow washing tape, stripes flair
from A Flair For Buttons.

I love the idea of a daily crafty photo  journal entry. 

It's keeping up with the daily deadline and printing photos that's killing me.

Scrap FX kraft 3x4 pocket inserts, Art Nouveau set C and the punchinella from
 a Scrap FX mini apples chipboard set.

Especially now I don't have an actual computer just my trusty iTouch and the local Walgreen's 1 hour photo kiosk.

 The page in planning stage. I printed the photos at
Walgreens so they are way too dark and contrasty.
Scrap FX chipboard and pocket inserts make for a great looking page but all white backgrounds are in
Vogue so I jazzed this up with some gesso. 

The less I worry about PL rules and make pages when I feel like it, the better the final product.

No dates, no random life detail photos no one cares about, no expensive dedicated paper kits that I drool over but never use.

I focus on the daily emotional moments (believe me- there are many in all families) and my journaling.

I hope you have an adventurous weekend!

Seize the Saturday and Sunday!

Michelle

Scrap FX / Ruby Rock It scrap mash up blog hop!

Hello and welcome to the Scrap FX / Ruby Rocket 2 day blog hop!

Each day, there will be 11 - 12 blogs to visit using our gorgeous products!

Blog hop list for today Saturday August 17th:

Ruby Rock-it and Scrap FX Blog Hop Day TWO…

Saturday, August 17th 

Scrap FX Blog

Ruby Rock-it Blog

Maria Schmidt

Liana Suwandi

Michelle Hernandez

Linda Auclair

Michelle Logan

Linda Kretz

Misty Russell

Pamela Young

Pattie Beltran

Renata Moni Bidin

Ro Philippsen

Scarlett O Salamone

Scrap FX Australia Face book

Here are FRIDAY'S Day One's participating designers:

 Ruby Rock-it Blog

Scrap FX Blog

Adrienne Ford

Alicia Barry

Beckie Dreyer

Anita Bownds

Carrie Walz

Cindy Porter

Cindy Stevens

Claire Luckie Barrin

Erin Yamabe

Elisabeth Hovden Bakken

June Goh

It wouldn't be a blog hop without some serious scrappy swag! 

Check it:

Here's how you can win: 

** Visit each participating designer's blog each day on the hop &  leave a comment.  
Please make sure you include your email address in your comment so we can contact you if you win.

For additional chances to win:  

Head over to Facebook and  *LIKE*  us and leave a message telling us you came from  the blog hop.  
The deadline to leave comments for prizes is 11:59pm EST, Monday, August 19th.

Winners will be announced on Ruby Rock-it and Scrap FX blogs on Tuesday, August 20th!

If you get lost along the way, you will be able to find a complete list of participating blogs each day here at Scrap FX and over at Ruby-Rock-it!

There will be new eyes reading here so let me introduce myself.

I'm a former Brooklynite with a love of chipboard, modern design and vellum.

I don't usually scrap themed pages so this post is a welcome change for me.

I made this page in anticipation of my daughter Lola entering pre-school in September.

I used Scrap FX arrow boxes, funky stars and black tags in this project.
I LOVED working with Bella embossed with stickers!
I tend to think stickers are "for kids" but clustering, cutting apart
or layering rids them of their totally random design reputation.

The two black instant film frames on the top right are misfires from my Fuji Instax camera.

I plan to photograph the classroom and Lola with her teacher and place the photos there.

I had so much fun I made a second page on the same day (unheard of for me):

I used Scrap FX hexagon buttons and light bulb chipboard designs on this page.
HELLO AWESOME RED ALPHABET PAPER!!! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!

Since this is actually a page about a future event I used an old photo. When I get a good shot of Lola in her new classroom, I'll switch it out.

But wait!

There's more! (Lol)

I also made a camping mini book with the collection.

I had a hard time finding a good photo collage app for this project.
If you have one you like using please let me know int the comments!
I used Scrap FX Manilla book accessory pages,
Let the good times roll wordlet,
scribble circles, diamond buttons and mini trees chipboard.
The Bella Fundamentals camping collection also has great embossed stickers and
fun patterns. I was able to cut and assemble into this small book.

Thanks for stopping by.

Next stop on the hop is: Linda Auclair

Have a GREAT week!

Michelle

Scrap FX chipboard Insights Blog Hop (and a give away!)

Hello welcome to the Scrap FX chipboard "Insights" blog hop!
If you are looking for the Inspiration Elevator May challenge "New Beginnings" click here.

The purpose of the Scrap FX hop is to get to know the new design team members and introduce the gorgeous May 2013 designs.

I hope you are enjoying each post so far.
Here's the roster:

Scrap FX Blog

MICHELLE L

Adrienne

Amy Lynne

Anita

Cindy

Claire

Elisabeth

Maria

Michelle H  You Are Here! YAY!

Misty

Rachelle

Renata

Scarlett

First up:

Michelle Logan: What is your scrapbook "kryptonite"? I can't seem to scrapbook if I'm feeling angry or overwhelmed. Last year Die Scrapperin Magazine (Germany) challenged me to make a page and write a tutorial featuring glitter. It really stumped me. I kept comparing my ideas to other's and I just couldn't come up with something I thought fabulous and original enough to publish. The resulting page was forced and rather strange- I'm better when allowed to improvise.

Klere: Do you snack or drink while scrapping? What?

I need to stop this habit- I've gained 15 pounds drinking tea and eating cookies the last couple of years. I also have a nasty habit of eating potato chips with oranges- I like to combine healthy stuff with my heart attack food.

I used the following Scrap FX chipboard designs:
 "Cherish" mini wordlet theme pack (model number 2013053),
City Life frame model number 2013095 (I cut the words out off the frame),
Magnolia branch chipboard embellishment model number 2013002

Adrienne: How do you jump start your creativity when you find that it is missing?

I chill. Even if it takes all week. If I'm on deadline I do the following: freak out. throw stuff. freak out. take a walk. freak out. drink wine. sit down. get up. sit down. get up. sit down. start a page. freak out. go to bed. ALWAYS in the morning- finish the page.

Michelle H. (me): What do you listen to or watch while your scrap and why?

I listen to National Public Radio- chiefly for their story telling shows like "This American Life" and "Snap Judgement". I also listen to "TED" Talks on science and creativity on Youtube. Learning is a huge part of my creative process and I don't just mean scrap videos- actually I find those really boring. I feel like my brain starts sparkling when I hear something really gnarly and I immediately go and start a page. Personal stories blow my mind on the regular- I consider those my primary form of learning.

This page started at a 12x12 but I got a little too enthusiastic
with the water color and the paper  warped so badly I decided to
cut it down to 8 x11- I like it a lot more this size.

Scarlett: What is your favorite technique(s) to use right now and why? What are some tried and true techniques you love to use?

I rarely use techniques. I've actually started a blog post series called "What I Learned This Week" which I post on Mondays so I can FORCE myself to try something new and technique based each week. Right now I'm really into stencils, spray paint, vellum, paper strips and tags.

Amy: At what time of day are you most creative, or do you prefer to create?

I prefer to work in the morning but I am forced to work at night since I have an inquisitive three year old who wants to either cut, glitter or spray what I'm working on at the moment.

I promise myself I'm going to tackle a new finishing technique
each time I start a new chipboard centric page.
Then I chicken out.
I love the pieces so much I'd rather just add them with no finish at all.

Cindy: What makes your heart race?

OO this is a GREAT question. I love buying new materials- going into a store gives me the best feeling of power and control. Which is why I've cut back on it almost entirely- that's a symptom of addiction. Great color combos get my heart racing, new ideas, great conversation, my husband, riding my bike, dancing.

Elisabeth: If you were to describe one emotion while scrapbooking, what would it be?

Depends on the day. If I have a good idea I feel like I'm in my element and riding a great big internal wave. Things I see or hear start to make connections with other things I heard or saw in the past. I feel in tune. I feel the flow. 
If I'm feeling crappy everything sucks- the idea of scrapbooking seems idiotic and I question my need to create. Then I tell myself to get over myself and that this is just one blip in a long continuum.

Alternate image for this page- I was shooting at around 7:30 pm
so ambient light was a beautiful gold. The shadows proved to be too big of
a distraction and I had to reshoot.

Misty: What are you afraid of?

I'm afraid that I will fail. That I will bore people or that they hate me. I'm afraid that I suck and that most people BUT me know this. I'm afraid that my daughter will get hurt or grow up disconnected from her family. I'm afraid for my Mom who's getting older. Fear has held me back a long time and just recently I started working on fighting it.

Maria: If you could choose a talent/gift what would it be?

I wish I was more of a "people person". Social situations that require chatting strangers up face to face tend to freeze me. I have the gift of gab once I know a person better. Online is much easier because I feel like I have a layer of protection between me and strangers.

Before I forget!
Here is the Scrap FX GRAND PRIZE.
To be eligible just leave a comment on the Scrap FX blog.

Also? I am giving away the following goodies to one lucky hopper. 

All you have to do is leave a comment telling me what kinds of chipboard designs you'd like to see that you haven't seen before.

Thanks for swinging by!

The next person on the hop is Misty.

Michelle H.

Shimelle.com guestie and Blog Hop with A Flair For Buttons!

Happy Friday folks!

I have some fun updates today!

My guest post titled "5 Ways to finish raw chipboard" is up over at Shimelle.com.

Here's another sneaky peek:

For this title using Scrap FX "Lanky Alphas" (a personal favorite since they have huge
impact but take up very little space) I used Prima chalk ink in Teal, white gesso and
orange washi tape. 

Spray gesso and Liquitex Acrylic spray paint.
More techniques in Shimelle's blog.

Please jump over and leave a lovely comment telling me I'm either full of it because your favorite finishing technique is (fill in the blank) or flatter me whatever you wish.

ALSO:

The Flair For Buttons and Give A Girl A... team-up blog hop is happening right now.

There are prizes and 15% shop discounts involves so please head over to the Flair Buttons blog to join the fun.

You can use this code to get 15% at the 

A Flair For Buttons Etsy shop. 

Guess where I'm going after I finish this post? Not EVEN lying!

At Sea Flair- HELLO awesome blue anchor on stripes!

Vintage Travel- this ENTIRE pack- HOME! NOW!

I am SO excited to see Iron Man 3 today!

I am a total Robert Downey Jr. fangirl. 

Like wine, he gets more intoxicating with age.

Thank you for your continued support and scrappy love.

Michelle

Scrap Fx April Favorites Mini Hop!

Welcome to the Scrap Fx design team mini hop for April!

This month's mini hop theme is:

Favorite things!

Every month different members of the Scrap FX design team will be getting together to show you different ways to use chipboard in your paper crafts.

Favorites? Ombre. Yellow. cameras. Sunrays.
Summer. Sassafras Lass. Stitching. Misting.

The blog line up is:

Adrienne- Coloring My World

Cindy- Creative People (Don't Play By The Rules)

Elisabeth- Skrap-plassen

Michelle- My Analog Life- you are here- HIYA!

Scrap FX Blog

For my project I featured some of my personal favorites:

• Favorite paper brand: Sassafras Lass paper in a black and white stripe pattern. I love black and white stripes so much I have a divider just for them in my paper cubby. 
• Favorite color: yellow- it's cheerful and screams, "SUMMER!" my favorite season
• Favorite trend: sunray patterns and stitching
• Favorite technique: ombre effect using a gesso base and mist paints.
• Favorite page theme: my daughter Lola in an everyday photo- I don't scrap holidays often
• Favorite Scrap FX wordlet chipboard: The Words of Love piece because the words are still attached to their frame. I can snip the words out and use them individually in my Project Life album or as one piece for major impact on a page.

I started with some scraps from a Studio Calico print and pushed them around the page for quite a while.
Then I realized the scraps should resemble a sunray pattern. I painted the chipboard in an ombre pattern- something I've been meaning to do for months now. ONLY after I realized I was out of yellow Amy Tangerine floss did I think to use orange jute cord to stitch the sun. I LOVE the result! It's organic design process took three days to accomplish but I felt none of the stress/pressure I usually feel when making a page.

I used the following Scrap Fx chipboard items here:

• On tour/itinerary/sighseeing pack model number 2010180
• Words of love model number 2013050

So this journaling makes me laugh- did I really just journal about sweat???
My thinking was "The photos are pretty abstract here- let me add some meaning."
This was the result. I tried getting the traditional smily toddler shot, promise!
Lola rarely co-operates with my camera antics .
I got tired of yelling HI! OO LOOKY HERE! HEY PRETTY PRETTY GIRL!! SMILE!
 This type of photo is more interesting anyway. I hope she feels the same way.
If anything I can blame her for not looking up ever EVER when I was trying to get a cute shot.

Now hop along to the Scrap FX Blog and...

Have a GREAT weekend!!
Michelle

WHAT I LEARNED THIS WEEK: Minimalist Design

Happy Monday folks!

Today's installment of what I learned this week is all about minimalism.
Well ok- not ALL about it-
just the part that pertains to scrapbook pages that take hours and hours and hourssss.

I've always been attracted to the stark and beautifully balanced look of Japanese art and interior design.

This style is more about visual harmony and quality materials than proving you are wealthy (or a really talented scrapbooker) by gilding everything.

You can also fall under the false impression that minimalist projects take less time.

Yeah, no.
Not if you take forever and EVER to choose items so that they contrast just enough to make the page pop but not enough to stab the viewer's eyes.
That last part is subjective.

Materials: Scrap FX Endless Beauty wordlet #2012036, Sakura Flowers #2013009 and
Magnolia branch #2013001, Coredinations Jenni Bowlin paper, October Afternoon chevron pattern paper, GCD Studios Sweet Surrender print paper, 

I started with the beautiful Sakura photo of the Brooklyn Botanical Garden.
This photo is AMAZING. I still can't believe I took it.

My camera has a panoramic setting but you can use an app called Picstitch to get that same look with your iPod or you can crop and print to photos and stick them down on your page for a really fun collage look.

What I learned

• Without basic design knowledge you can easily spend hours shuffling an image around the page for "balance". 

Simple is not easy.

So I found this chart by Grant Snider of Incidental Comics. 

It helped. A LOT.

• I've been using CoreDinations paper a LOT lately. I went to their blog to get technique tips and found out they are having a design team call. !!!!  I considered applying but a public blog post is required as your application. Right... 'nuff said on that.

You can stitch through delicate wordlets!
Just use the hand knob to advance and bring up your foot so you don't stitch through the actual letters.
You can put it down again when you reach the border.
Hope I'm using the right terms for the parts there...

I'm reading Dina Wakely's Art Journal Freedom. You MUST pick it up!
She details the products she uses on her spectacular pages.
I picked up some acrylic artist ink which is super ka DUPER opaque
and the dropper means you get CRAZY awesome splatter.
Also? It fully covers chipboard in 1 coat!
 New finishing fave!

The larger Sakura is finished with Stabilo water color pencil and a bit of water to
smooth away pencil lines. The brighter white flowers were finished with artist ink.

• Going by the chart above- I've already failed. The loose gold thread all over this page is hardly "clean".  I just learned the rules and I'm already having fun breaking them!
• I also added hidden meaning (another no no- OOPS!) with some GCD Studios paper snippets so  you don't have to "search" for it in the page. You're welcome!
• Sanding Core'Dinations paper is easier with a sanding sponge from your local hardware store. It's 2 dollars versus the 10 you'll pay for a fancy Tim Holtz scrapbook sanding block. 
• I made vellum Sakura by tracing the chipboard and cutting them out. This was time consuming. I really love the look. I REALLY love it. I'll have to make a separate page just with those.
• My scanner is still going strong. I can't believe I can get clear impressions even with the thick chipboard on this page! SO EXCITED!!! Now I can work AND shoot pages later at night!

Today marks 2 years since the Tsunami that killed over 19,000 people and displaced another 300,000 in Japan.
Sometimes my inner brain tells me things that my outer brain wants to ignore.
Let's all pause for the lives lost.

One of my favorite Williamsburg spots.

MuChOs SmOoChEs!
Michelle