World domination with C.R.A.P.

Once I read a book about design.  Ok, I have read a few.  One awesome book gave a VERY memorable acronym for the design principles of Color, Repetition, Alignment and Proximity.  

C.R.A.P.

Isn't that memorable?

Use the principles of design to get people to look at what you want them to.  

And then, you can take over the world! BWAHAHA!  

But, mostly I relate design principles to scrapbooking rather than world domination.  Mostly.  And I want to show you how I use these principles on my pages.   Today, let's focus on Repetition.  Repetition.  Repetition. The following three scrapbook pages use circles repetitively.

Simple, really.  Take one thing.  Then do it again and again!

Page 1 "FRIENDS"

Color: Monochromatic, with a contrast accent

Repetition: color & shape

Alignment: equal margins, symmetry

Proximity: lined up circles, groups of contrasting red

Here I've used a circle punch with a bunch of my yellow scraps. 

Repeating the color yellow, as well as the circle shape.

You will notice that I ALSO repeated the line of circles.

A lined up group of circles up top, and also down below. 

I (hopefully) have used repetition of colors and shapes to get you to look at the photos.

Lastly, notice that I use a contrasting color (red), 

and repeat circle shapes throughout. 

Page 2: "FUN on the Fourth!"

Color: contrasting

Repetition: color & shape

Alignment: assymmetry, title sits on a line

Proximity: triangulation

More circles!  This page utilizes a white die cut paper from Jillibean Soup.  

I filled most of the holes with repeating yellow or blue scraps of paper.  

Check out the how the title pieces are placed.  If you follow from the word "FUN"

to "on the FOURTH!" and then over to "2013" it makes a triangle.  Go ahead. 

Trace it with your finger on the screen!  The imaginary triangle makes the eye follow around the page; totally framing the photograph.  Which is, of course what I want the viewer to notice most: the photo!

Then you will notice the blue and yellow embellishments scattered around.  

I have repeated color, shape, and even type of embellishment for visual interest.

Lots of "triangle" placement is repeated as well!

Page 3: "XO XO XO!"

Color: triadic, contrasting

Repetition: colors & shapes

Alignment: groupings, title sits on a line

Proximity: circles in circles!

 More and more circles!  This time I used a circle punch to cut four circles from each of 

the papers from the Crate Paper Love Notes 6x6 paper pad.  I used a couple plates to

pencil concentric circles on the cardstock to more orderly place my circles.

 Repeats: circles (duh), sequins, washi tape, arrow clips, wood shapes, and colors!

All these elements point to (literally with arrows!) the photo.

Thanks for repeating with me today!


Thank you, thank you, thank you,
Stacey

Gratefulness 2014

There is a worship song we used to sing in Young Life:

Gratefulness

Gratefulness is what I long for 

Gratefulness is what I need

Gratefulness 

Gratefulness is what You want from me.

Each verse had a new "...ness" 

- Thankfulness

- Brokeness

- Joyfulness, etc

(Hanalei Bay, 2010)

In 2012 I began reading a book by Ann Voskamp titled, "One Thousand Gifts".  The memoir is a very deep and intense look at this woman's life - a life full of tragedy, pain, and dullness.  And yet, it is a life in which one may find a multitude of beauty.  One Thousand Gifts, in fact.  The author documents these blessings, numbers them, and sprinkles them poetically throughout her book.  

And I am, in an attempt to be more Grateful, going to list my blessings this year.  I've done an exercise in gratefulness before, and was amazed at how quickly I could fill a page with detailed, big, and small blessings.  Now, I am documenting them in my Project Life  Scrapbook.  

1,000 gifts in 2014.  

Join me? 

Off to find my cards of lists to share with you,

Stacey

Ac - cent - tu - ate the Negative.

But do not e-lim. In-ate the positive.  USE BOTH!!

Figuratively, both negative and positive experiences in our lives shape us into the person we are. 

Literally, both negative and positive scrapbooking items can shape up into amazing layouts! 

Yes, I spend too much time thinking about scrapbooking.

Below you will see some simple snapshots of my utilization of a scrap piece of white cardstock, some Heidi Swapp color magic letters, and HS Color Shine:  

I lined up the letters SO CLOSE together, because my cousin and I used this phrase as our hash tag to link up all our Instagrams of our Hawaii trip together in June 2013.  Check me out if you want: Stacemaee.

NOTE: When setting the letters, be gentle and don't push them down.  This way they will not stick to this paper & can be used on another project!

I used Pink on the left and faded it with Coral on the right.  Just a few sprays each will do...

Remove the letters...
And you will have two great items to use!

I trimmed the misted cardstock down, cut a triangle notch out of the right side to create a banner, and handdrew a fine black line around the edge for some definition.

And here's my final project with it!
 (this page has all Fuji Instax photos, FYI.  They are so fun!)

And here is the next page & use of the actual letters:

Because the box I spray/glitter/emboss in had so much powder and other overspray, the letters were not very sticky.  I was worried they would fall off, or that my hand would fall off trying to glue each one individually.  SOoo, I just ran it through my sewing machine.  Super easy, as long as the sewing machine is already out!

BALANCE

In my life, the scales often tip heavily in one overwhelmed direction or another.  Sometimes aimlessly.  Sometimes purposefully.  I rarely notice until it is too late and it all comes crashing down. 

This reminds me of when I had my first flight lesson.  My dad was my first instructor and he was SO.  FRUSTRATED. with me.  At least I would have been frustrated with me! (he was a pretty calm dude).  I can still remember the first (and continuous) phrase he would repeat.  “Don’t let the helicopter get away from you.”  You see, flying a helicopter is a series of CONSTANT, tiny corrective inputs.

Imagine standing on a ball.  You can’t lean too far off to one side, because you will have gone too far (“dynamic rollover” in a helicopter), and you don’t have enough time to correct it before you fall. 

(oopsie.  Dynamic rollover in a Robinson R-22.  NOT ME!) 

Literally, you would crash a helicopter if not for constant attention and tiny corrections.  Figuratively, your life crashes when you just don’t pay attention and make changes, even small ones.

All that to say, I am striving for BALANCE in 2014.

I want to take good care of my body.  Keep on running and doing yoga.  Be healthy and strong – without getting all crazy about being as skinny as so-in-so, or as fast as whats-her-name.  Healthy, not obsessed.

I want to be presentable.  Keep on putting on a little makeup and wearing cute clothes  - without getting all crazy about not being seen in public without makeup, and not worrying if I have a messy house and inviting friends over anyway.  Presentable, not obsessed.

I want to read, play, and listen to my children.  Keep on volunteering when possible and reading, reading, reading – without getting all crazy about how many letters they know or screaming at them when they don’t put their shoes on fast enough.  Loving, not obsessed.

(one of my all-time fave comics)

I want to appreciate my husband more.  Start giving compliments, encouragements, and being present – without getting all crazy about what makes me mad and focusing on the negative crap.  Positive, not obsessed.

I want to enjoy things and experiences.  Focus on travel and family and friends – without overspending money on other random crap throughout the month (Target, I’m looking in your direction).  Giving, not spending.

Healthy, Presentable, Loving, Positive.  Giving.  BALANCED.

The only place where I want the scales to tip completely is with God.  I want to be sold out, worship fully, and love others because of His great grace.  Like this one song says, “I don’t have time to maintain these regrets when I think about the way that He loves me.  Oh, how He loves us!”

Other areas where I have goals, dreams, and wishes in 2014:

Scrapbooking:

1.     Going to start Project Life for the year.  Read about what that is HERE.

2.     Getting on a manufactuer’s design team.  Trying, even if/when I fail.  And trying again.

Blogging:

1.     Actually doing it.  Scheduling time for myself to accomplish this. Aids in #2 goal above.

2.     Coming up with 2-3 weekly features.  And DOING it. J

Yoga:

1.     Going twice a week, rather than the one I currently attend.  It feels SOOOO GOOD.  If you don’t go, try it!

2.     Focusing enough to do an unassisted headstand.  (!!!)

Gratitude:

1.     Writing my blessings down.   Focusing on the positive.

2.     Trying for 1,000 gifts in 2014

Going to tackle all these items by not tackling them.  Just making tiny, constant corrections.  Course corrections that will change my landing spot entirely.  Here’s to a great 2014!

I would love to hear from anyone out there in the Internets. 

Do you have some goals? Resolutions? Some desire for BALANCE?

Let me know!

Making tiny corrections,

Stacey

December Daily

 Considering that I haven't done this type of project for three years, I am super hopped up on the topic this year!

The December Daily project... a lovely idea created by scrapbooker Ali Edwards as a means to document her month of December.  As usual, we are all super busy and preoccupied during the holiday season.  This project is a way to take a moment to step back, breathe, and remember the traditions and memories while you are making them.  Read Ali's blog HERE.

This book was created using the following supply list:

From Heidi Swapp:

   o Memory Files Scrapbook Kit

   o Christmas Ephemera Pack

   o Silver Color Magic tags

   o Embossed Frame Embellishments

   o Color Magic Chipboard Alphabet

   o Color Shine: Sweet Cherry,  Mustard, Citron, Navy & Bronzer

  From Scrapbook  Island:

   o Trims

   o large black tags

   o book rings

  From Bazzill Basics

   o White orange peel cardstock

   Other:

   o twine

   o Scotch Quick Dry adhesive

   o 4” doily

   o Scrapbook Adhesive foam squares

   o sequins

One of my favorite things to add to a mini album is a glassine bag filled with sequins and confetti - then sewn shut.  

I had fun mixing Heidi Swapp Color Shine colors to get the green I was looking for and more.  I mixed Navy with Citron, and mixed Sweet Cherry with the tiniest bit of bronze to darken it up.  

I'm just realizing that I also used the Christmas themed pack of Heidi Swapp banners.  Those are great to cut up and layer :)

This project was made for the Scrapbook Island Design Team.  Thanks, Laurie for another amazing box of goodies to create with!!

Thank you for taking a look at my project.  I hope you are inspired to create a little December journal of your own.  Mostly, I pray that you are able to take time this holiday season to sit back and have moments of gratitude for God's mind-blowingly extravagant gifts of grace and mercy in Jesus.

Much love,

Stacey

Adventures of a Boy

Last month I was selected to be on my very first Design Team!!  Woot!  Thank you so so much to San Jose's Scrapbook Island!  The following is one of my projects I completed for the store.  

It is a mini (5x7-ish) book by Farmhouse Paper Co.  There are eight neutral interior pages that were super fun to cover and embellish.

All of my papers and embellishments were from the About a Boy line by Echo Park Paper Co.  Love Echo Park.  Vibrant, diverse, and yet totally versatile.

Sewing on a page is my newest favorite thing.  I recently cleaned out my scrap desk and made a spot so my sewing machine can stay out all the time.  I really is easy - as long as it is just sitting there!

Keeping my space clean on the other hand... not so easy!


Lots of scrapbooking,
S-money

All About Me

Hi.  I am Stacey. 

Standard info:

wife (11 years)

mom (2 kids)

friend (as long as we can get real) 

child of God (Jesus is our great Redeemer) 

sister (x4 and 1 bro) 

cousin (mine are better than yours)

I can be a little loud, and I really like this hot trend of brightly colored jeans – you just can’t be too cranky when you look down on some neon orange legs! I could eat French fries every day, but I don’t because then I’d have to torture myself with more running.  And I started wearing fedoras this year.  It used to be intimidating, but why the heck not wear them (especially on a bad hair day)?!

It has been fun to see my scrapbooking evolve as well.  From cutting out my 110 film pictures with pinking shears to misting it up all over the place with some Mr Huey’s, this hobby has been more of a lifestyle.  You photograph, you print, you tell your life story.  It is so meaningful.  Give me a grid, some bright Crate Paper, and a handful of sequins, and I’m a happy girl.  Just don’t forget the French fries.

Find me on Facebook: staceycheathamwilson, 

Instagram: stacemaee, 

or (very) occasionally here on my blog: staceycheathamwilson.blogspot.com

Maybe more often.  Maybe.

Much love, 

Stacey