Getting Inspired

I am always looking for inspiration when creating scrapbook layouts.  My go-to in the past has usually been sketches; however, lately I have been enjoying all of the "pinspiration" and "inspiration" challenges that have cropped up.  One of my favorites (besides Practical Scrappers, of course!) is Pretty Little Studio.  Why?  Because every week, in addition to a sketch challenge, they feature a different inspiration challenge!  If I combine the Pretty Little Studio Challenges with the Practical Scrapper ideas, I am pretty much set for life with all the inspiration I need! *smile*

Sketches are great because they give you a design that you can follow closely or just use as a jumping off point.  Inspiration photos provide, well, inspiration, on multiple levels.  You can choose to follow the color scheme, or a certain pattern, or even choose to re-create the mood - as vague and artsy as that may sound.

This week's challenge at Pretty Little Studio is this (a little sneak preview that can only be found here!):

I wanted to sit down and create a layout as soon as I saw this photo, so I decided to play along.  I was drawn not only to the rectangular blocks but to the bright colors, which I "translated" into bright pops of color that you find during the fall.  And I liked the dark green border on the quilt so I created a similar border on my layout.  You might see this photo and think of something completely different - and that is the beauty of an inspiration challenge.  There is no wrong way to look at it and a million and one different ways to interpret it!  Yippee!!!

I have been a huge fan of Pretty Little Studio for a couple of years now, so it is a dream come true to be on their design team.  One of the reasons I fell in love with them?  They make adorable small tags like these from the Nature Walk Collection.  Of course, the tags are rectangular which made them the perfect choice for this layout.

Of course, I love to journal, and this layout was no exception!

Want to see more inspiration layouts base on this and other photos?  Check out the blog to see what the other design team members have created.  Tell them Practical Scrappers sent you!

Sunbursts

It's a fact - we love the sun.  We love spending time outside on a sunny day.  We love to take pictures when the sun's lighting is just right.  And, now, we love to add sunshine to our cards and scrapbook layouts!  Put on your sunglasses and come see how our On Trend Team has interpreted the popular trend of adding sunbursts to a project.

Practical Scrapper Wendi Robinson created a sunburst out of pattern paper and added stitching across the rays for texture

Practical Scrapper Mary Pat created a sunburst using the Silhouette and backed the negative space with pattern paper.

Practical Scrapper Cathy created a layered sunburst with the Bazzill Sweetwater Lucy's Crab Shack line!

Practical Scrapper Malika made a summery card with a Silhouette cut sunburst and an Epiphany Crafts epoxy.

Practical Scrapper Lanette covered her whole layout with a burst pattern.

Practical Scrapper Danielle de Konink made a sunburst pattern for the background and handstitched all the pieces together. She chose her photo for the dreamy effect created by the shining sun.  

Practical Scrapper Nicole Laha cut sun rays freehand from patterned paper and adhered them behind her summer photos.

Practical Scrapper Lisa Peeples used fun sunbursts to make a cover for her journal she created to record her crafty ideas and sketches.

Practical Scrapper Kerri created her sunburst with Crate Paper's Emma's Shoppe Collection.   She inked the edges of the pink/red sunbursts to highlight them.

Practical Scrapper Marcia Dehn-Nix used a Sunburst only on the top half of her layout and used stitching and sequins to accent it.

 Practical Scrapper Krissy Clark McKee used patterened paper from Pretty Little Studio's Nature Walk Collection to create her fall-themed sunburst that she accented with stitching, paper feathers, hearts, buttons, and sequins.

Pie Charts - On Trend

Here at Practical Scrappers, our On Trend Team loves pie...pie charts, that is!  Not only are pie charts sweet and trendy, but they have zero calories and are completely fat-free.  And best of all, making these colorful charts is easy as...well, pie!

Practical Scrapper Wendi Robinson used mists on a pie chart mask.

Practical Scrapper Malika Kelly made pie chart embellishments with her Epiphany Crafts round tool.

Practical Scrapper Marcia Dehn-Nix used a pie chart as the background for her title.

Practical Scrapper Cathy filled the doilies on this patterned paper then machine stitched through them. Also, she created a pie chart heart for the title~everyday love!

Practical Scrapper Danielle de Konink used the pie chart pattern from one of the Lily Bee Pinwheel papers. She also used a pie chart mask with Distress Ink.

 

Practical Scrapper Krissy Clark McKee used her Pretty Little Studio leftover scrap papers and a handmade template to create her pie chart.

 

Show and Tell with Krissy Clark McKee

Happy Thursday, Practical Scrappers.  Krissy Clark McKee here, and today I wanted to share with you some of my favorite projects that I have recently made with - Pretty Little Studio, a manufacturer that describes itself as fresh vintage whimsical fun.  I think that description sums up Pretty Little Studio products perfectly, and I am very fortunate to be part of their design team.  If you know me, you know I am all about "whimsical fun" and I think PLS products and challenges have inspired me to create some of my most-enjoyed, and perhaps best, projects yet.  So sit back and get ready for a little show and tell!

 

My most recent project is a layout created for this SKETCH CHALLENGE which is going on at the Pretty Little Studio Blog now.

 

 

Pretty Little Studio papers and ephemera are so F-U-N that they were my first choice to use for this birthday crown I made for my oldest daughter so she could be queen for a day: (Tutorial and close-ups can be found HERE)

 

 

I also made this junque mini-album, which has got to be my very, very "most favorite" mini-album so far:

 

For close-ups of more pages, click HERE.

 

And I made these two home decor projects:

 

 

If you want to make your own "fresh vintage whimsical fun" projects, Pretty Little Studio products can be found HERE.  They are taking pre-orders now for the brand new Nature Walk Collection, which will include a fabulous line of 12 x 12 papers.

 

Now it's your turn - is there a product or collection that has inspired you, lately?