Monday, March 30, 2020

Day 14 Sheltering In Place - College Album Around Campus Layout

Hi all,

Well, we are two weeks in to our shelter in place at my house. We accidentally started our shelter in place a week early at our house as all of our spring break plans were cancelled for us. We have adjusted splendidly with 14 days in a row of home cooked meals, fresh baked bread and fresh baked brownies.  I have gained 5 pounds in the 2 weeks of feeding my kids their favorite meals. We are now at the point where my children are asking for their favorite takeout meals, lol. And no, we are nowhere near running out of toilet paper. 

Today was an interesting day as spring break is over so the 4 of us were scrambling to find a new "norm".  My son settled into working 10 hours days in his room last week.  Best thing about it is he is not waking me up at 5:30am as he gets ready for work.  Instead he quietly works in his room until 8am then takes a 30 minute break to eat breakfast and prepare for the day.  My husband is also rolling out of bed late.  Normally his office hours would start with phone calls at 6am all the way through until he leaves at 8am.  Now, radio silence until he leaves for his "office" at 8am.  My daughter "owns" the basement.  I can hear her classes thru the door so I know she is online for class or doing homework.  She is still sorting how to WFH for her job in the campus admissions office.  We are excited that she gets to keep her job. So many of her classmates found out during the extended spring break that their jobs no longer exist.

I am counting myself blessed that our new norm included everyone working, tho in a new style. This includes me working my way through the college album I started last week.

I normally scrapbook on the kitchen isle because we were emptynesters so I would have the house to myself during the day.  I could scrapbook until 4:30pm then cleanup for dinner and never be in anyone's way.  Now I am in the way all day long, lol.  And there are even times when I have to wait for the bathroom to free up.  Oh, the changes we will make. An yes, I do plan on some scrapbooking.

The layout I am sharing today is titled of "Bright Future" as it features cap and gown pictures taken at Georgia Tech using the Close To My Hearts Bring Back My Pack Urban Decay Paper packet with Cricut cuts.  

The base pages are French Vanilla Cardstock.  Then I layered the Urban Decay papers on top.  The sapphire blue architecture pattern and the corrugated pattern screamed Mechanical Engineer to me. I choose to mat only one photo on this layout. This photo was my focal point.  Every year from kindergarten to senior in college we have a "weird" first day picture and a "weird" last day of school picture.  This is the last weird "last day" picture ever. 

After I got my base pages laid out and the photos added, I adhered accent pieces.  All of the paper pieces were cut with the Cricut using a design file from Miss Carries Creations. 



I added a stamped image in Pewter Ink made using 2 different stamp sets; For the Graduate and retired Reel Life for my accents.  Then I added the thumbs up sticker from the retired Urban complements (X7204C).  I have an extra pack of these complements (contact me directly for purchase).

I added Cricut cuts on right side of the layout to pull the layout together and call it done.

Supplies needed:

Hoping you are comfortably settled in and crafting away!!
TINA Stanczak
Facebook |     Emptynest   Scrapin   (private group for project instructions)



Saturday, March 28, 2020

College Album - Ramblin WREK / College Mascot

WELCOME FELLOW PAPERCRAFTERS! 


Today I am sharing another layout I recently created using Close To My Hearts Bring Back My Pack Urban Decay Paper packet featuring the technique of inking the wooden arrows.

The layout title of "Ramblin Wreck" as it features the Georgia Tech mascot, the Ramblin Wreck.  My artistic flow lead me into this layout since it followed the black and white theme of the last layout.  

The base pages are French Vanilla Cardstock.  Then I layered the Urban Decay papers on top.  Again I used black photo mats, this time I double matted adding a complementary French Vanilla Cardstock photo mat. 


After I get my base pages laid out and the photo mats added, I adhere my photos.  Then I add my accents.  On the left side, I added stickers from a retired CTMH Fundamentals stickers packet.  I love those little letter stickers.  I would use them on every layout if I wasn't hoarding them.  Then I added a wooden arrow after I inked it with Saffron ink.

I also added wooden arrows inked with Saffron ink and CTMH Fundamentals stickers to the right side of the layout to pull the layout together and help form a visual triangle.

Supplies needed:

Stay well and Happy crafting!!
TINA Stanczak
Facebook |     Emptynest   Scrapin   (private group for project instructions)

Thursday, March 26, 2020

College Album - Proud Parents

WELCOME FELLOW PAPERCRAFTERS! 


I am sharing a layout a recently created using Close To My Hearts Bring Back My Pack Urban Decay Paper packet. This collection is filled with wonderful elements suited to a vacation such as buildings, bicycles, suitcases, taxis, and elements equally suited to everyday life, such as skateboards and stoplights. 

The layout title of "Proud Parents" says it all,lol. While it my seem like I started this album at the end, I generally start with the layout or photos that are "speaking to me" on that particular day so I can go with my artistic flow.  

First glance you might think, wait, that looks nothing like the Urban Decay paper packet.  True.  I knew I wanted to use a black and white theme with hints of yellow to focus on the pictures of us with our graduate. I used Fench Vanilla cardstock as the base with a complementary black pattern paper for the mixin paper packet with some black cardstock photo mats to pop the pictures.

My focus was on using stamps to create accents for my layout.  I used Pewter ink to stamp the city image, from the Urban Decay stamp set, in a row to form a border for my layout. I used Saffron Ink to stamp the word Awesome for the accent on the top right of the page.


I also used Saffron Ink to stamp the word EPIC for the accent on the top right of the page.  The remaining Saffron colored paper accents came straight out of my scrap bag which sits on my scrapbooking cart next to my work area.  I keep it handy for when I need to quickly complete a layout.  

KISS - Keep it simple to get it done!  That was my theme for today.  

Now that I got the ball rolling, I will be back every couple of days showing more layouts featuring the Close To My Heart Urban Decay paper packet with a college theme.

Stay well and Happy crafting!!
TINA Stanczak
Facebook |     Emptynest   Scrapin   (private group for project instructions)

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Album Prep Process featuring CTMH Urban Decay

Hi all,

I am now neck deep in planning my next album.   I have a process I follow to prep before diving into the actual artistic bit of scrapbooking. 

My process
Step 1 gather photos.
Step 2 outline album. 
Step 3 gather inspiration from Pinterest and scrapbooking blogs.
Step 4 put together the base pages/accents
Step 5 print pictures and attach to base pages
Step 6 add the bling/pop to each layout


Yesterday was devoted to step 2, creating the outline for my album.  Today is devoted to step 3, gathering inspiration from Pinterest and scrapbooking blogs.  I devoted my search to the Close To My Heart Urban Decay paper packet/kits because fell in love with Urban Decay the first time I saw it.  

There are so many reasons I loved the designs, mainly because I am an engineer, and so are my husband and son.  There are so many ways to use this paper packet.  My husband spends his spare time rebuilding a B-17, so I could use it for airplane layouts.  The colors match my son's school colors so I could use for his college album.  The possibilities are endless!!  

Here is one example of URBAN DECAY artwork.  


There are many more on my Urban Decay Paper Packet Inspiration Pinterest board.

I have to admit, I bought my first urban decay paper kit second hand from someone who was selling it online.  When I got it, I stashed it away.  Then I bought a second paper packet kit second hand from someone who was selling it online, having forgot that I already owned it.    Whoops!!  Yes, when I went to put the second kit away, I discovered I already owned this paper packet. sigh.  I am sure I am not the only one who has accidentally bought a kit they already own.  


I have to say the best advice I have received about scrapbooking is use product you are inspired by.  If the product doesn't speak to you, you will never use it.  This is one of the reasons I stopped stocking up on themed items, for example graduation themed, and only buy these items as I need them.

Catch me Thursday when I post artwork / layouts using the Urban Decay paper packet.


Stay well and Happy crafting!!
TINA Stanczak
Facebook |     Emptynest   Scrapin   (private group for project instructions)

Monday, March 23, 2020

Day 7 Sheltering In Place

Hi all,
The Governor of Illinois has now issued a shelter in place order due to COVID-19.  Seems nothing is blowing over anytime soon.  My son is waiting for email instructions on how to work from home and my husband faces the chore of laying off staff.  My daughter is the only happy person in the house as she gets to sleep in and enjoy a now 2 week long spring break.

I have decided to make the most of my full house by continuing our spring break traditions of home cooked meal, and movie/game nights.  Additionally, we have plans to bake more bread and make another batch of brownies.  And yes, I do plan on some scrapbooking.

I spent the day putting together I plan for a College Album for my son who graduated from Georgia Tech last May.  Here is my plan outline.


I have set myself a goal of completing the album for the one year anniversary of his graduation.  Wish me luck.

Stay well and Happy crafting!!
TINA Stanczak
Facebook |     Emptynest   Scrapin   (private group for project instructions)

Monday, March 16, 2020

Day 1 Sheltering In Place

Hi all,
As we live in Chicago, my daughter and I are taking the precaution of sheltering in place due to COVID-19.  My husband and son are still going to work as there is no official order to shelter in place.  It should have been spring bring week but as reported yesterday, those plans went to the wayside.  My daughters and my plans were pretty simple, 4 doctors appointments between the two of us with a trip to Wisconsin Dells for a couple of day sandwiched in between for some hot tubing and Spa days.  None of that now.

New plans in place; spend a week staycationing. We will be doing all of the things we normally do on our vacations.  We always have home cooked meals every night with movies nights and game nights every single evening.  So no blogging this week.  I am focusing on spending time with my family and hoping this whole COVID-19 thing has blown over by next week.

Stay well and Happy crafting!!
TINA Stanczak
Facebook |     Emptynest   Scrapin   (private group for project instructions)