Ella's Boot Camp Drill #10 Inspiration

Ella Publishing's Boot Camp Drill #10 was to create a layout based on a magazine ad.  I found this drill the MOST DIFFICULT!!!  But I trudged through and gave it a try.  Instead of focusing on trying to mimic the style of the ad, I focused on the colors + a few style elements.  First, I don 't look at too many magazines.  I happen to have this Southern Living magazine laying around; so, I chose this page for its COLORS.  Her turquoise dress against the brownish red brick, brown dress behind her and the dark green of the bushes and grass are what inspired me to chose photos and paper to coordinate.  I also like the puffy white letters of the title in the add.  I tried to mimic.  In addition, I added a blue green striped layer at the bottom to resemble the grass. Unfortunately, I ordered a clear pen vs a white pen; so, my journaling was done in white.  Not the best layout, nor do I think I will use this drill very often (my mind doesn't think this way). 

Ella's Boot Camp Drill #11 (Embossing/Resist) & Double Take Wk1 Sk3

First, I have to say, "I can't believe LOAD is completed!"  I am in shock; so it is a good thing I have a few Ella's Boot Camp Drills to complete and 4 FABULOUS weeks of Double Take with Nic Howard & May Flaum!  So excited.  Today I combined Drill #11 Embossing and Resist Technique and Double Take's Week 1 Sketch 3 into one layout.  It is about our 2 different snow days in 2011, specifically: 1/9/11 & 2/9/11.  Most of these pictures are from 1/9/11.  Embossing/Resist Technique.  The red embossed snowflake paper inspired me.  Unfortunately, I still need LOTS of practice.  I took a piece of white cardstock and stamped a snowflake image all over it.  I used Dazzle Versamark ink to create the embossed snowflake.  I used clear embossing powder (because that is all I have).  I do think white embossing powder would work better.  I embossed snowflakes on the white background cardstock and a strip of white cardstock to use for the title letters "Snow Daze".  (The title I owe a thanks to a fellow classmate in double take)  For the title letters, I inked them with vintage photo & red brick distress inks by Tim Holtz.  I sprayed Maya Roads, Maya Mist "white" spray paint on the edges of the white snowflake background cardstock.  Again, I think the snowflakes would have stood out better if I would have used white embossing powder rather than clear.  I used the leftover "handmade created" title paper for "accents".  I punched a double loop border, using Martha Stewarts' around the page punches.  I tucked in these accents primarily on the left page.  I was also SO HAPPY to use a Prima Silver Poinsettia on the right hand of the page!!  I have had these and never used them!  Also the paper is SEI "Alpine Forest".  I only used 3 sheets of PP, with several pieces left over.  The sketch used a lot more layering than I have been doing lately, which took me a bit longer to create.  But I LOVE how it turned out!  Double Take is taking me into that creative mode, trying new and old/unused techniques, such as embossing, inking, more embellishments, punching and layering!  I am truly happy to "jazz" up my pages a bit more since LOAD, even if this layout took me two days.  Off to another drill and another sketch!

LOAD: Day 25 Scraplift, Ella Boot Camp Drill # 9

          Today's LOAD challenge was to scraplift a picture, LO, theme, idea from a previous LOAD layout.  I chose to scraplift the self portrait taken during LOAD basic training.  I incorporated the picture with Ella Publishing's Boot Camp Drill #9: Guiding Principles Quiz.  The drill taught by Angie Lucas, encouraged us to use a quiz helping us define our guiding principles for life.  I completely scraplifted her layout design by placing my words of wisdom on the right and used up some "L's" from my letters stash.  I am not happy with the self adhesive clear paper I used for the journaling, but it is done!  Here is my interpretation of both challenges.

Ella's Boot Camp Drill #6 Grid Design

Ella Publishing's Boot Camp Drill #6 with Lisa Dickinson taught us about design using grids in three different ways.  I chose:  Use a grid as the background and place a picture over grid.  I used a picture of Jill Mutz, my aunt with Walker's baseball helmet on, bat in one hand and Oscar the puppy in the other!  The "Oldest t-baller".  It was fun!  Plus I got to use up some random embellishments and scraps!  Love it!

 

I also used PSE to darken up the picture because it was too light; however it looks as if I went too dark.  This is a technique I learned by Maggie Holmes.  Obviously, I didn't listen very well!

Ella's Boot Camp Drill #8 Urban Effect

Tonight's, Boot Camp, drill was to use the "urban effect" on a photo.  I applied it to the picture of Walker dressed up for spirit week's "Giddy UP" day.  I don't think I will use this effect to often.

Original

Urban Effect

Ella's Boot Camp Drill #5: Frustrated Independence

Ella Publishing's Boot Camp Drill #5 was to use connective journaling.  I am not even going to try to explain what connective journaling is because I am not sure if I got it.  However, I used some pictures of Walker at 3 1/2 trying to open a bottle of coke and becoming so frustrated doing while trying to accomplish his task. My connective journaling is "Walker is too much like me!"  Losing it when he can't accomplish something he thinks he should be able to perform by himself!  Frustrated Independence!

LOAD: Day 22 Scrap an "End": Ella Boot Camp Drill #7 Stamping w/ Words

Today's LOAD challenge was to scrap something came to an end.  The end of an era, journey, task, etc.  At first, I thought I would not follow the prompt, because I could not think of anything that had come to an end that wasn't extremely sad or frustrating. That is until, I looked through the wonderful Big Picture Gallery and I found a layout of someone's children who had fallen asleep at the end of dinner at the table!  Too Cute!  Then I thought of ALL those holiday pictures to Niagara Falls and BAM!!!  The last page of my travel album was born!  Thanks Laine! I began with Prima Marketing's Road Trip Collection, "Twists & Turns" entire page.  I did cut the bottom off and used a piece of blue "graphed" paper from the same line to create my subtitle "Memories to remember".  I also decided that this was the perfect layout to incorporate Ella Publishing's Boot Camp Drill #7, stamping with words.  I stamped the title "An Adventure Begins" and the subtitle, Memories to Remember.  My word stamp (my entire stamp) arsenal is limited and old.  And my technique is rough; hence why you see part of the square of the actual block stamp.  But I do like how this layout turned out;  I don't think I would have ever thought of the theme nor used stamps to create the title!  Thanks Laine & Nichol, respectively!

LOAD: Day 20 & Ella Publishing Drill #3

Today's LOAD challenge was to use an action shot you took during training (or any picture you took during training as part of the homework assignments).  The bottom picture is a photo of my scraproom, which was part of our training homework assignments. The picture of above is a candid of me, which my son took while I was sitting at the computer in my scrap room.  I wanted to highlight a little poem I wrote the eve of the eve of LOAD.  The poem can be read in its entirety by clicking on this link Twas The Night Before LOAD .  The names of the scrappers are of a small "accountability group" within MotherLOAD.  I have been waiting all month to scrap this poem with a picture of my scrap room;  today's prompt was the calling! I have had a blast during LOAD!!  I have also incorporated Ella Publishing's Boot Camp Drill #3, stamp a background by Nichol Magorik and Jennifer McGuire's Inspiration lesson of using distress inks.  I stamped the entire "pattern paper" background using Tim Holtz' Distress Inks (Fired Brick, Faded Jeans, Walnut Stain & Spiced Marmalade: my only colors of ink) on multi patterned Inkadinkado stamp.  I placed all four colors of ink on the stamp, misted it with water and randomly stamped a white piece of cardstock, creating a "patterned paper" background. In addition, I used spiced marmalade & fired brick on a dot stamp.  Using the dot stamp, I stamped watercolor paper, misted and cut out the title LOAD using my Cricut.  I matted the title in black cardstock. Last, I used stickles on the dots in the title, making them sparkle.  I tried to pull out the stamped butterfly by including glittered butterflies on the page.   I matted the poem and pictures in Bazzill Bling Cardstock.  I kind of like the look.  I need to procure some new stamps to make this "stamped background" look even better.  I had fun making this layout.   Thanks for looking!

Ella's Boot Camp Drill #4

Yes, I skipped Drill #3 of Ella Publishing's Boot Camp 2011.  It is coming soon.  I have not finished the LO.  Tonight's drill was a Photoshop Elements or photo editing drill!  Loved IT!  Immediately applied to the skating pictures of Walker, from classmate's birthday party.  The rink was dark, black light was in action!  So, my pictures were less than desirable.   PLUS, I was on skates!  The new photo editing techniques certainly improved the photo! I can actually see my child, in the blue shirt, skating towards me! 

After PSE

Before PSE

LOAD: Day 20 & Ella Boot Camp: Drill #2

Today's LOAD challenge was to scrap the "action" photo or any photo we took during basic training.  I am hoping to accomplish that today, too but this layout is based on Ella's Publishing Boot Camp's Day #1, Drill #2 (night drill): Use pattern paper.  I chose a bold pattern, a geometric pattern and solid. The funny thing is I really thought I was choosing a bold statement pattern and adding coordinating patters to complement it.  The drill was to focus on how to use pattern papers, how to mix and match pattern papers.  I also focused on one of last week's LOAD challenges, use a bad photo.  These photos were taken last year on my blackberry. The lighting was bad and the chef's movements were fast! Hence the not-so-good photos.  I also included one of the embossed accordian fold flowers from Jennifer McGuire's Inspiration class. Walker had a blast during his first trip to the Hibachi Grill!  I loved seeing his face light up when the chef gave us an extraordinary display of dexterity.  PLUS, I really liked using all these pink papers on this layout to capture the pink tint in the pictures. I don't normally get to use pink on LOs with Walker. The pictures are from summer 2010.


 

LOAD: Day 19 Scrap Out of Order & Ella's Boot Camp Drill #1

Today's LOAD challenge was to scrap out of chronological order.  It was also the first day of Ella's Boot Camp.  Boot Camp lesson was "no-grammar" journaling.  Document something in a pie chart, or comparison of two people on your LO.  I chose to document our daily schedule in a pie chart:  20% sleeping, 30% working or being educated, 15% sports, 15% either hunting (for the boys) or scrapbooking (for me), 10% fighting over homework, 5% watching Netflix streaming Hercules while playing with Daisy Dawg and 5% Deciding what to eat and then either going to get it or popping it in the microwave!  It was a fun challenge!  I also included some last week LOAD challenges, scrap a picture I have already used on a LO, stamp on your LO (row of flowers, title and flower embellishment), scrap something difficult (our daily routine).  I also used a new technique learned in Jennifer McGuire's Inspiration workshop; embossing and using distress inks on watercolor paper.  The embossed/watercolored flower (top left) is my attempt.  Here is our daily schedule layout!