Celebrate Life

Wildcard Wednesday: Handwritten Journaling

Handwritten Journaling.....Sometimes it can be a little intimidating so today I thought I would share a layout and a tip.

First of all, handwritten journaling takes practice.  It also takes loosening up just a bit.  When I first started scrapbooking I always printed my journaling on the computer.  But as I started to want to scrap a little faster I decided to use my handwriting more and more.  Now I use my handwriting 99% of the time.  Some people prefer to write their journaling in pencil first and then pen.  I just go for it.  I have found that the less I think about it the more I like it.  I only loosely plan what I'm going to write in my head.  I sometimes have to shorten or lengthen depending on the space I have.  

On the layout I'm sharing today I grounded the journaling on strips of paper.  This helps keep your lines straight (or crooked) like they are supposed to be.  Adding the paper strips to the journaling also makes the journaling a larger embellishment on the page.  As you can see, I didn't have to use many embellishments at all on this page.  

  

Now, I can hear some of you saying that you don't like your handwriting.  Guess what....you can alter it.  Handwriting takes practice for most people...just like when we were in school.  I would usually choose a letter at a time that I didn't like.  I would figure out what I wanted it to look like, and practice it until it became natural.  

Pens are another big factor in handwritten journaling.  Play around until you find a pen you love...and then buy several. I use a Sharpie Ultra Fine Point.  I don't believe these are acid free, so you need to consider that when choosing.  

I hope these tips will help you add handwritten journaling to your pages if you've been wanting to try!

Supplies Used:

Toy Box 12 x 12 Paper Pad
Monkey Bars Patterned Cardstock
Toy Box Chipboard Alpha
Toy Box Chipboard Accents
Mini Brads

(Other: sewing machine, white thread, red string, circle punch)

Allotted Time: 45 minutes

Thanksgiving Week: Day 3

So we are a day closer to the big Turkey Day!  Hope your plans are going according to...well...the plan!  I'm sure we'll have a few last minute runs to the grocery store yet!  

Don't forget.....Each day we'll have a new giveaway, so be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win!  The winner will be announced on the original post.  

Today I've created a home decor project. I thought it would be fitting to frame a family photo and and of course dress up the frame a little bit.  I used all Flourish products.  A detailed supply list and instructions are below.  This would be a great gift for a grandparent with a family photo from Thanksgiving inside.  Or you could keep it for yourself!

This is a perfect project to use a repurposed frame for.  I found mine in my storage closet! It is a 12x12 frame with a the photo sandwiched between two layers of glass.  Any size frame would work though.  If you used a smaller frame you could size down the flowers a bit if you liked.  The photo can easily be changed out 

Supply List:

Lovely Glitter Cardstock
Colorful Patterned Cardstock
Burst Patterned Cardstock
Delightful Patterned Cardstock
Flourish Tag Pad
Flourish 8x8 Paper Pad
Flourish 12x12 Paper Pad
Flourish Chipboard Accents
Flourish Softies
 

1.  Cut 10-12 flowers varying in size from 4" to 2" out of different Flourish Patterned Papers. (Use templates, digital cutting machines, or draw)

2. Use pop dots to layer the flowers together into bouquets in the top right and bottom left corners of the frame.  

3.  Punch 1.5" circles of another Flourish Patterned Paper and adhere with pop dots onto flower centers.

4.  Cut five thin strips of a Flourish Patterned Paper and curl around a skinny pencil or tool to create twirls.  Adhere under flowers with glue dots. 

5.  Finish embellishing flowers with Flourish Softies as centers.  

6.  Cut a Flourish Tag in half and adhere on bottom right side.

7.  Use Flourish Chipboard Accents on Tag to embellish.  Finish off with small paper flower if desired.  

How is your Thanksgiving planning going so far?  Tell us something good, funny, crazy that's already happened this holiday!  

Your comment will enter you to win a KI Prize package.  Winner announced here tomorrow!

Please email me your mailing address!!

Well, my aunt thought that my cousin had swine flu and that was going to throw a giant wrench into the plans, but she is doing much better, so now the wrench seems to have been removed! LOL! Your frame looks great!

Posted by: Jingel | November 25, 2009 at 09:23 AM 

Wildcard Wednesday: Soccer Sketch

Happy Wednesday to everyone!  This week I've prepared a sketch and sample layout for you.  The sketch is 12" x 12" but could easily be adapted to a different size.  It uses two 4" x 6" photos and you could even add a round photo if you like.  I chose to include a 'button' my son got with his soccer pictures.  Of course as soon as he saw it on there he wanted to pull it off and put it on!  This layout features the Toy Box line.  It works wonderfully for all kinds of subjects, including sports.  

ALL of the products used can be found HERE at Shop KI!  Right now there is free shipping on orders over $30! 

  

Here is the sketch:

You can download the PDF here: Download WW Sketch 11-18-09 

  

And here is the layout I made using the Sketch:

 

  

Products Used:

Somersault Glitter Cardstock
Monkey Bars Patterned Cardstock
Handwriting Patterned Cardstock
Toy Box Chipboard Alpha
Toy Box Chipboard Accents
Toy Box Icons Glitter Stickers
Toy Box Softies

Other: white cardstock, sewing machine, circle cutter, brad, corner rounder punch

Allotted Time: One Hour 

Would you like to win some Bloom lovelies?  Just complete a layout or card based on the sketch and post a link here for us all to see.  Winner will be announced next Wednesday so you have a week to work on it!  Have a great day!

Please email me your mailing address, Jennifer!

I made a card with the sketch and flipped it on it's side.

http://jenniferhansenscrapgallery.blogspot.com/2009/11/ki-memories-sketch-challenge.html

Posted by: Jennifer Hansen | November 25, 2009 at 12:49 AM 

Wildcard Wednesday: Little One Page Kit

Happy Hump Day!  This Wednesday we're going to look at another Page Kit, the cutest one of all...Little One.

The Kit includes 4 Glitter Cardstocks, 8 Patterned Cardstocks, Alpha Stickers, Glitter Stickers and Rub-Ons.  There is enough product inside the Page Kit to make a number of pages or even a small themed album.  

 

On my layout, "thank you mr stork", I decided to use a large number of photos.  One thing about having a new baby....the number of photos you take goes up about 300%!  And I seem to have to get almost all of them printed.  I decided that instead of scrapbooking just one event or day I would mix together several photos over a period of time.  They were all 4" x 6" photos that I trimmed down to 4" x 4".  I adhered them in a grid pattern on a background paper.  One photo on each row is adhered with pop dots to add some dimension to the layout.  I left one square empty and filled it with a Patterned Cardstock.  I embellished with the Alpha Stickers, Glitter Stickers and Rub-Ons.  I added a skinny strip of Patterned Cardstock to several of the photo squares to dress it up a bit.  I added the Rub-Ons directly on the photos.  I didn't put much journaling on this page because I've already scrapbooked the majority of these photos on their own individual pages.  But, if you have more journaling to add you could always create a companion page, journal on the back, or use one of the photo squares for journaling. 

 

The Page Kits are also great for cardmaking!  By creating the main embellishment out of Patterned Cardstock you could repeat the same card over again several times with just small changes in the Sticker or Rub-On embellishments.  This would be perfect for a shower invitation or for thank you notes!

 

Products Used:

Little One Page Kit

Allotted Time: 30 minutes(layout)   15 minutes (card)

Thank you so much for all your suggestions on what to share each Wednesday.  I've filled in the calendar and have some fun things in store for you!  Next week I'll be sharing a sketch & project...can't wait!

Wildcard Wednesday: Party Time Twirls

Birthday parties, oh the fun!  They are so much work but the end result....a happy child and cute photos...are what it's all about.  My youngest daughter turned one a couple months ago.  I took enough pictures to fill two scrapbooks.  I will scrap some of them to tell the story and others I will use to make cute party pages.  Scrapbooking doesn't have to be all one or the other.  Sometimes we feel like telling the story and other times we feel like making a pretty page just because.  And you know what...we can even mix to the two if we want!  Isn't scrapbooking great?!  

 

 

On this page I used an enlarged photo 12" x 8" and adhered it to a white cardstock background.  Next I cut 12" strips of several papers from the Party line as well as Flourish.  The Party Multi Stripe  is a great paper to use.  I rolled each strip around a skinny round tool I had at my desk.  I then stapled the end of each strip across the top of the page.  Once I had all the strips attached I used a border punch to make a scalloped strip of paper across the top.  I adhered it with pop dots so there was room for the staples underneath.  To help fill in some of the white space between the twirls I punched 1" circles of patterned paper and adhered them with pop dots.  

The twirls add to the fun party theme of this layout.  Yes, they are full and once in your albums they will smoosh a little, but that's okay.  You can help them smoosh down by gently pressing down on them and forming them into flatter twirls.  

Products Used:

Party 12" x 12" Paper Pad
Flourish 12" x 12" Paper Pad
Toy Box Alpha Glitter Sticker
Cute Domino Chipboard Alpha
Party Chipboard Accents
Party Epoxy Icon Stickers

Alloted Time: 45 minutes  to 1 hour

Wildcard Wednesday: Wicked School Party & Craft

Continuing with our week long Wicked theme....

The week of Halloween always brings with it multiple parties and gatherings.....and a need for quick and easy party treats and favors.  Today I've got a couple ideas for you that won't call for you staying up all night to finish them, but they are as cute as can be.  First, cupcakes....in my experience kids don't pay too much attention to what is on top of a cupcake other than the icing.  But we want them to look cute...without spending too much time on something that will quickly be discarded.  

 

These cupcake toppers are made with 2" and 1.5" circle punches.  Punch 2" of desired Wicked Patterned Cardstock (I used Wicked Pumpkin Party Glitter Cardstock) and then 1.5" of black cardstock.  Adhere the two together with a foam pop dot.  Add a Wicked embellishment to the black circle.  (I used a mixture of Wicked Chipboard Accents, Wicked Epoxy Accents, and Wicked Pop Art Stickers.)  To attach to the cupcakes simply poke a toothpick up through the foam pop dot and then insert the other end into the cupcake.  

And the second project today is a craft you can make with your child, with their whole class or to give as party favors.  They would fit a cupcake inside nicely!  I found this craft on the Parent's Magazine website.  I didn't veer too far from their design.  I just added a little pen work around the bat wings and then tied on some Wicked Chipboard Accents with a Wicked Sash.  

 

This is actually the sample for my son's class.  His class made them on Monday.  I traced the bat template onto black cardstock so they could cut those out.  I punched the circles for the eyes and cut the shapes for the mouth and fangs so they just had to glue them on.  I also brought several of my metallic pens so they could decorate their bat wings.  The black take out boxes can be found at your favorite craft or party supply store.  

Be sure to stop by tomorrow for another fun Wicked project!!  And don't forget to check out the Craft Party Projects the KI DT made using Wicked last month!  

Comment on any of the Wicked posts this week and be entered to win a Grateful Page Kit!  The more you comment the better your chances are!  Winner announced on Halloween!

Wildcard Wednesday: Sweetheart Page Kit

Hello!  Thanks for checking out the KI Blog today.  We are happy to be bringing you a new weekly post aptly named "Wildcard Wednesday!"  Each week I'll have a new layout or project or even topic featuring KI products.  We'll discuss design, product ideas, page ideas, new products & kits, etc.  Basically anything goes!  If there is anything you'd like to see featured or discussed please email me.  This is for you!

To start out our new series today I am going to talk about the new Page Kits.  Today we are starting off with the Sweetheart Page Kit.  We'll play with the others in the coming weeks!

 

Products Included:

Specialty Cardstcok (4 Glitter Prints & 8 Designer Prints)
Alpha Stickers
Glitter Stickers
Rub-Ons

This fun kit is packed full of stuff.  The number of projects you can make with this kit are endless!  The papers are nice and sturdy high quality patterned cardstock.  And the four with glitter are extra fun.  The rub-ons transfer very easily, you are sure to be impressed.  The glitter stickers are fabulous designs that add an extra sparkle to your page without getting glitter all over your hands and face.  So, lets put these fun products to work!!  

I created this layout with this kit and just a couple staples.  I added white cardstock, and used a circle punch, border punch, brown ink, a pen, and craft knife in addition to the basics of a paper trimmer and scissors.  

 

 

To create this page I punched 2" circles from each of the different paper designs.  I adhered them across the top of the photos with pop dots.  I then added a few heart glitter stickers.  I also adhered those with pop dots to help give the border a little more interest.  I trimmed a bit off the top of the background and added a scalloped border punched from a Glitter Cardstock.  The journaling lines are cut from a Patterned Cardstock and make a great base for journaling, especially if you have a space to fill.  I added another circle above the title and cut three cupcakes from a Glitter Cardstock to embellish.  Quite honestly I added this last circle because I got a bit carried away with the inking and made a mess I needed to cover.:)  On the bottom left I adhered another heart Glitter Sticker.  This one is a scalloped outline of a heart, so I used my craft knife to cut out the center.  I added a few rub-ons to finish up and ta-da!  

Allotted Time: 30 Minutes or less

I hope you've enjoyed our first week of Wildcard Wednesday.  This post wouldn't be complete without a giveaway!  Please leave us a comment telling us more of what you'd like to see featured on the KI Blog, any questions you'd like answered, products you'd like to see used, design dilemmas you have....anything!  Winner will be announced next Wednesday.  Be sure to check back with this post for the announcement.

 

Love this new feature! 
I'm just a fan of seeing layouts. KI products are a staple in my stash so any layouts featuring old supplies along with the new lines are great inspiration.
Thanks for the opportunity!

Posted by: Laura | October 21, 2009 at 03:43 PM

Please email me, Laura!