Fridays Are for Friends - More Fall Love from Erika!

In the midst of the darkest days of winter - Look at these colors!!!  The orange is so vibrant and alive with the rich green fields and green photo mats.  Those hoodies and those pumpkins just scream fall happiness to me.  These photos of Erika's kids just make me wish I could turn back the clock and have another day in that golden orange glory! 

Thank you, as always, for sharing with me Erika!

Tuesdays Are All About Techniques - Punches You Say??? (Scooter Mosaic)

So, I had this paper that I thought was cute with Max's scooter pictures, but I was struggling to make it work.  For starters, the color was all wrong - way more green and his scooter is blue.  Then, when I focused on the squares, I thought "mosaic" (maybe because I always think mosaic first) but the squares were too big for a 1" square and too small for 2 1/8".  

Everyone who sees mosaics thinks "wouldn't this be easier with a 1" punch?"  No!!!  In general, we don't recommend a punch for mosaics.  But, there are times when a punch has an application.  In this case, I used a 1" punch (purchase yours through the Snap N Crop link to the right) to punch out the small tiles so that I could try to align them as symetrically as possible - since there were going to be so many!   I never use a punch for photographs - because I can always use the counting and measuring technique to perfectly align what I want out of each individual photograph.  However, in this case, since I was doing so many of them, out of a piece of paper, I opted to go with the punch for consistency. 

Likewise, I was able to use the jumbo square punch (see SnapNCrop link to the right!) for my 2 1/8" mounting squares.  I mounted the full scooter squares on 2 1/8" square punched mats and I tried to "blend" the colors. by putting the whole mosaic on navy blue paper and using mounting squares with a mix of blue and green on them.

Fridays Are for Friends - and Grandmas (Erika's Gue Layout)

This layout features Erika's children making stepping stones for their grandmother (Abuela - "Gue") for Christmas a couple years ago, when she moved into her new home.  Erika says her children don't keep secrets very well so they didn't make the stepping stones until a few hours before they gave them to grandma so that the kids didn't spill the beans on the surprise!!!  I particularly love the series of 2 1/8" squares on the bottom of the left page showing the progression of their work.

Christmas 2006

These are some Christmas photos we shot at my house.  The photo accents are pics of a pine tree at my mom's house and, of course, the cornerstones are straight from snapncrop.  (Click on the link to the right to order your own!)

Fridays are for Friends - Erika's Fireman Mosaic

How many times have you bought "the perfect embelishment" or stickers for a page only to realize that the scale was too small for the rest of your page?  I hate it when that happens!  Erika has solved that problem on this layout with these solid squares with themed embellishments inside.  Everything "fits," don't you think?  I also love the frames around the middle row of pictures.

More Photo Prompts from Tami Potter

Tami's blog features another photo prompt today.  Hershey kisses!!!!  How cute is that? 

http://blog.tamipotter.com/what_was_i_thinkin/2011/12/on-the-4th-day-of-christmas.html

If anyone else is playing along with the photo prompts and wants to share some of your photos with me, I'd love to repost them on my blog.  Let me know!

Tuesdays Are All About Techniques - Chimney Mosaic

Who knew how much you could do with 1" strips of paper?  I made this chimney by taking 1" strips of paper and feeding them through my paper crimper to give them texture.  I then took that strip and cut it into the appropriate 1" and 2 1/8" brick pieces to create this fireplace and chimney.

Tami Potter's 12 Days of Photo Prompts

Hey folks!  Be sure to check out Tami Potter's blog for 12 days of photo prompts.  Today's idea is taking photographs of your Christmas ornaments!

http://blog.tamipotter.com/what_was_i_thinkin/2011/12/on-the-first-day-of-christmas.html

My friend, Erika, had recently suggested the very same thing.  These will make some great mosaics - you should really consider it!  I'm going to try to find time to play along with these daily prompts!

Fridays Are for Friends - Ho Ho Ho Christmas is Coming!

Tracy used a lot of the same pictures I used on my Santa layout for this layout for Aidan's album.  But, I have to say, I wouldn't have chosen that pic with my big butt in it!  Thanks, sis!

Eggplant Paper for Christmas Photos? Youbetcha!

Wow!  These pictures bring back memories.  I took these pictures in 2005.  We were on our way home from pictures with Santa and we stopped off at my office for an impromtu photo shoot.  The rich wood, leather, and tapestry accents at the office really set off the playfulness of the children.  The biggest problem, believe it or not, has been scrapping these pictures.  I've had them in a box for 6 years because I just couldn't decide how to scrap them. 

Then, lo and behold, in October 2011, the amazing and talented Tami Potter introduces this eggplant grid paper.  It was just perfect with this patterned paper I had long-ago paired up with these photos.  I went over the swirls on the paper with a glitter pen to bling it up, too.

Things that Make Me Go "I want one" - Santa Mosaic

First of all, let me say, I am NOT one of those folks who rushes Christmas.  I don't even love Christmas - I prefer the Fall!  I've been holding off on posting any Christmas pages, telling myself I would wait until Thanksgiving, at least!  However, I saw this layout over at http://www.outonalimbscrapbooking.com/ and thought "I want one!"  I liked it.  It spoke to me.  But it wasn't "me," somehow.  So, you know what I did?  Youbetcha!  I made it into a mosaic.

The Santa is a stamp that my sister owns.  (I love having her scrap stuff at my house!)  I stamped it on flesh colored cardstock, white, and red, then I cut out and layered the white and red layers on top of the flesh with foam adhesive.

I really tried on the belt, but looking back at the inspiration/sample, I'm thinking maybe I should also recreate the stitches on the belt?

This Friday, I Am Thankful for My Friends!!! - And Erika's Fall Layout

In the hustle & bustle insanity that is the rush of holiday shopping, I wanted to share this fall layout from Erika.  First of all, I love the paper, but more importantly, I just adore this left side center picture of her son, Johann.  Purely angelic, isn't it?  So, during the week of giving thanks, I want to thank Erika for letting me bask in the glow of fall for one more day!

Mosaic Moments SALE - Thanksgiving Weekend

http://tamipotter.typepad.com/newsletter/

Check out Tami Potter's latest newsletter!  She is having a HUGE sale on page kits this weekend!  When you're ready to make your purchase, please be sure to use the SnapNCrop link to the right to make your purchases so that I get "credit" for the sales!!  Happy Shopping!

Tuesdays Are for Techniques - Corn Maze Mosaic

Previous Corn Maze Layout

This Year's Corn Maze Layout

Way "back in the day" when I first started scrapbooking, we didn't have any of the cool tools or techniques that have come around in oh, say, the last 20 years.  I was a big fan of patterned paper, as the paper collection that fills my basement will surely attest.  (and die cuts, and ribbon, etc. etc. etc.)

We also used to rely heavily upon borders.  When I went to my first Creative Memories class, I learned how to make borders using paper strips and stickers.  Now, I make my borders using PICTURES.  Of course!  Why didn't I think of that?  It's one more way to add rich detail and texture to my layouts. 

For this layout of pictures from a corn maze, I used close-up shots (4x6 photos) of Indian Corn that I cut into 1" x 5 4/8" strips.  I used one photo for the border on one page, and another photo for the border on the second page.  This border brings a dimension and depth to the corn pictures and ties everything together. 

I also used a top/bottom border on the center picture on the left-side page.  For that border, I used a close-up taken of corn in the maze as we were walking (or should I say running) through. 

For the panoramic on each page, I used a series of about three pictures (6 total) that I mixed together using the "mending the horizon" technique from Tami Potter's "Designing Photo Mosaics" book.  You may recall that this is the same technique I used on my Niagara Falls layout, but it looks a lot different here!  It just thrills me to see how using different photos brings an entirely new context to each page pattern idea!

Fridays are for Friends - Erika's Lake Layout

Check out the frame around these pics!  As soon as Erika sent me this email, I knew I recognized the pattern.  This is a page pattern featured on the packaging from Mosaic Moments grid paper.  I've never tried it myself, but now I think I should.  I love all the little pieces of background scenery framing these fun lake photographs.

Another Quote Worth Sharing

"And I'll bury my soul in a scrapbook, With the photographs there and the moths."

Author: Leonard Cohen

 

I always joke with my sister that she has to promise never to let me be buried in the groundwhen I die.  I ask that she have me cremated and put my ashes in a Miracle Whip jar (not mayo) and then drive down the road (knowing my sister, it will be at 90 mph) and throw them out so that I will become the dust on windshields of cars that will carry me to all corners of the world!  My mother worries about my soul . . . I thought this quote provide the answers to that problem!

Tuesdays are for Techniques - Oh Canada!

Don't be afraid to use the same page pattern or technique a second time.  Unlike using stickers or die cuts or embellishments, because Mosaics focus on your PICTURES, every layout looks entirely different, even if you use a page pattern you've used before!  As you may recall, I mentioned previously that I needed some more practice on my framing a picture within a picture skills.  I tried it again here - the picture between the two maple leaves.  Still needs work, but I think I'm getting better!

Sorry folks, photos just don't do this one justice!  The little squares are pieces of a giant ferris wheel in Niagara Falls Canada.  The kids had so much fun on the midway.  We played video games and earned tickets.  All the while, Samantha was dreaming of this giant teddy bear.  Her big brother, Owen, gave her all of his tickets so she would have enough to win it!  Sweetest story I know about that boy!

Fridays Are for Friends - Go Tracy, Go Tracy - Woot Woot!

Tracy and her son, Aidan, went to Yo Gabba Gabba Live!  They got these rad shades at the show and Tracy used hers as a funky embellishment on her page.  To quote Biz Markie, who was a part of the show, "Oh Baby, you, you got what I need . . . "

Tami Potter's November 2011 Newsletter!

Here is the "official" announcement of my status as a Design Team Member!  I could not possibly be more excited! 

http://blog.tamipotter.com/newsletter/

Be sure to follow the Snap N Crop link to the right side here on my blog if you wish to purchase this month's specials - Pewter Grid Paper for only $5.95 and the Limited Edition Paper Tiles Trio in Plum, Deep Raspberry, and Spice! 

Tuesdays Are All About Techniques - Matting and Framing - Chattanooga Mosaic

Recognize this layout?  It's the exact layout from the matting and framing class I took at CKC Louisville this year.  As soon as I saw the water lily pictures used for the frames, I KNEW this was the perfect layout to showcase my pictures from our stay at the Chattanooga Choo Choo hotel.  The small squares on the right page are pictures of the fish swimming in the pond with the water lillies.

The centerpiece pic on the left page involved cutting a 1/8" square out of the middle of my 4" square picture.  It's a skill that I could use a little work on, but I love the effect - the picture frames itself!

I'M A WINNER!

Throw the confetti, sound the horns, I've been chosen!  After what seemed like a reeeeeaaaaaalllly long 4-day wait to find out which applicants Tami Potter chose for her inaugural Mosaic Moments Design Team, I got my congratulations email today!  I've been selected.  :)
What does this mean, you ask?

Well, for starters:  "Designers will serve a 12 month term. We compensate generously with products and we will compensate well for published work . . . There will be supplies sent to all design team members who will be required to create pages for 2 challenges each month. Design team members will be responsible for preparing & posting their work." 

It's win/win!!!  I'll be getting supplies to feed my mosaic habit and I may have the opportunity to be published someday.  Oh happy day!

Fridays are for Friends - Erika's Build-a-Bear

I love the bright and playful colors dancing on Erika's page about the Build-A-Bear Workshop.  The tiles are a cool touch and they just tie everything together so nicely.

Techniques on Tues - Putting Mosaic Moments Page Kits to Work for You

At CKC Cincinnati, I got a great deal on some page kits.  I just LOVED this one, called "Seaside."  But, when I got to playing around with my photos, I kind of wanted to use an 8x10 mosaic tile format and focus in on the kids.

So, as you can see, I just fused the two ideas together.  Then, I used the "extra" space around the tiles I had punched out of the kit to die-cut the letters for my title.  Getting my money's worth on this one, for sure! 

Happy Halloween!

So, there's this strange old man who comes by my office sometimes.  And in a creepy pervy kind of voice he says things like "do you like candy?"  And he reaches in his pocket and gives candy to me and my coworker, Kristy.  So, Kristy andI have kind of a running joke with what we call "pocket candy."  There is one particularly crusty chocolate tootsie pop that we play "dirty santa" with.  She will hide it the drawer with my toothbrush then I'll sneak it into her purse, then she'll put it in my lunchbox after lunch so I don't realize it until I get home, etc.  Her best one so far is leaving it in a lawn decoration on my front porch. 

Today, it was my turn.  I took a whole slew of tootsie pops and wrapped them up and made all these fabulous fake flowers (all with scraps from old pages, etc.).  These are Kristy's favorite colors.  As you can see in the second pic, I also stamped and punched some dragonflies and butterflies and attached them to some pipe cleaners left over from Aidan's Halloween goodie boxes last week.  The whole thing is arranged in an old plaasic cookie box leftover from Christmas last year and decorated with more scraps.  For the base to put the flowers in, I took the box that the tootsie pops came in, covered with more tissue paper and poked a few holes in top to arrange the flowers in.

I put a note on it that says "pocket full of posies or posies full of pocket candy?"  LOL!  I can't wait to see how she'll get me back.

Make it Your Own - Parasailing Mosaic

For this layout, I took elements from a kit I had purchased from Dillons Laser Designs.  I loved the elements of the kit, but I couldn't make my pictures fit it.  Instead, I made the kit fit my mosaic!  I simply cut the pieces I needed off of the layout and used them like die-cuts.

I used an 8x10 enlargement of the parachute to get my 1" frame tiles. 

I should have left a little room for journaling because the cute story that went with these pics is that as the parasailing employee began to unfurl the parachute, he says "I bought the best parachute money can buy . . . . at Walmart!"  (as the giant smiley face was revealed!) 

This may be a chance for me to use that "hidden journaling" technique that Kevin taught at CKC Cincinnati, no?

Camo Kid! Kayden on his 4-Wheeler!

My handsome nephew, Kayden, got a 4-wheeler for Christmas last year.  He had really been wanting one for a while.  When he discovered this one in the garage on Christmas he said "Aww, man, somebody got the four-wheeler I wanted!"  He was so excited when he found it WAS for him. 

I didn't have a lot of pictures from the first date he got it (it was cold out!) and only a few pictures  here-and-there from other days when he started riding it.  So, unlike most of my pages, which consist of pics from a single day/event, these pics all just represent this child's love for dirt (and his 4-wheeler, of course!)

The neutral colors on this DIRT layout look kind of muted in this pic.  In real life, I have inked the edges of all the paper squares and the die-cut elements and I don't think it looks so "washed out."

Fridays are for Friends - Erika's Baseball Layout

Great minds think alike?  Erika took a lot of the same kind pictures that I took at the Reds Game.  She even used the same custom Reds paper, but look how different her layout looks.  My layout was a little "cluttered."  Erika's has all of these cool strips of paper aligned neatly so that you can clearly read the words.  She is so meticulous and it really gives her pages a "professional" feel to them!  I think she's got this Mosaic thing going on!

Words of Wisdom

I've been feeling so creative lately.  I picked up a bunch of mosaic paper at CKC Cincinnati a couple of weeks ago and my creative juices have just been flowing like crazy, ever since.  My girlfriend, Alicia, looked up a little astrology for me today and it seems to fall in line with what I've been feeling.  I have been compelled to stay up at night because I have all these great ideas flowing in my head.  I've been seeing mosaic elements in my photos and in layouts on other websites, etc.  I just keep finding inspiration and I can't seem to get it all on paper fast enough!

"You should make photographs with your heart, mind, eye and soul.  The capture device is simply there to allow you to transfer your vision to a medium that you can share with others."  Bill Frakes

Deep, huh???

Bling It On!

So, I saw a layout similar to this, but it wasn't a mosaic.  The layout just spoke to me and I knew I could do it as a mosaic.  The piece that had been my inspiration had stitching around each photograph and I knew I wasn't up for all that!  But, I decided to use Stickles and bling this layout up.  By using a second sheet of the same paper, I layer a second layer of the waves and the seagulls on the upper right with dimensional adhesive squares.  I also traced the existing wave paper with color-matched Stickles to make it pop.  Lastly, I added some die-cut seagulls in a couple of other places to tie it all together.

The 1" squares on the border are alternated photographs of seagulls, pelicans and the kids, interspersed with pics of sand and colored paper squares.

Tuesdays Are All About Techniques

DIY Panoramics

Nope, I don't have one of those fancy cameras that takes panormic photos.  As it turns out, I don't need one!  For this panoramic view, I used the "mending horizons" technique featured on page 53 of Tami Potter's "Designing Photo Mosaics and More" book. 

To do this, you align your photos side by side, syncing them up at a common horizon line.  Then, you cut your desired height (2 1/8, 3 2/8, etc.) with the photos aligned at that position. 

I also used some pre-printed Niagara Falls paper for the photo mats and accent pieces. 

Baseball!

So, I did a mosaic layout about our Reds game outing for my niece, Samantha's, album.  I used the  We R Memory Keepers Sew Easy stitch template to sew a 1" strip that I used across the right side page.  I used some custom "Cincinnati Reds" paper that I purchased at a local scrapbook store for accent pieces.

I used the same technique and materials to create a "traditional" non-mosaic layout for my nephew, Owen's, page about the same trip.

My Students Are My Best Inspiration!

Tracy, my sister, was my first pupil!  She has been very patient with me.  Nowadays, she is the master of the Mosaic Moments Quick Cut Guide and lining up all of her photos to cut the perfect squares.  This is her favorite mosaic so far, and it's easy to see why . . . . the black paper plays up the dark, rich caverns.  And, could my nephew (Aidan) be any cuter? 

More from Erika!

Although this photo doesn't do it justice, I just had to share Erika's second mosaic, too.  Check out those Legos!  What a great texture to play up!

YOU CAN TOO!

I taught my first class this past Saturday - the easter page featured on my blog last week.  Then, Monday I met with my good friend, Erika, to teach her the mosaic technique.  She didn't bring her Easter pics but she had these fabulous underwater photos from an excursion she took on vacation.  We worked from the same page design as the Easter layout, but Erika used her own photos, ticket stubs, etc. to customize the layout.  As you can see she did a GREAT JOB!  I think she was jockeying for the position of "star student" this week?  ;)   Erika, move to the head of the class!

Keep in mind that this was her first time ever attempting this technique and look how awesome it turned out.  You can do this, too.  Shoot me an email and set up an appointment when I can show you and your friends how to make your photos POP on the Mosaic Moments grid paper.  I know you'll love it!

MY FIRST CLASS!!!

I am so excited to be teaching my first class.  I tried to keep it simple.  I intentionally mixed products from a variety of collections - the bunny stamp is from Stampin Up, the solid color background papers are from Close to My Heart,  the chalk ink is from Cat's Eye, the ribbon is American Crafts and the easter basket is a Sizzix die.  Mosaics lend themselves to so many options for using stamps, stitching, die cuts and more - keep your mind open and mix up your supplies! 

More Butterflies!

I think I have about 1,000 butterfly pictures.  We have taken my niece and nephews to the Butterfly Show every year for a very long time.  I used a butterfly cornerstone from Snap N Crop.  I ordered a white one and used copper Tattered Angels spray to make it blend in with the greens, yellows and oranges of the layout.

My Sister's First Mosaic!

  These things are addictive, aren't they?  I've been professing my love for mosaics for two months.  I taught my sister how to do it and now she's addicted, too!

Butterflies and Scallops

I had been wondering whether I could incorporate some patterened paper in to my layouts.  I had this awesome butterfly paper that I really wanted to use for our butterfly show pictures, but since it was round and scalloped, I wasn't sure I could make it work with the mosaic paper.  It took a little finessing but I was finally able to get everything worked in.  I know the layout is kind of busy, but it kind of fit the mood of the day for me - chasing three kids around a giant room full of butterflies going in every direction!

Pumpkins!

Back in 2007, I took these close-up photographs of a couple of buckets of tiny pumpkins that were for sale at a Pumpkin Farm we went to.  I still don't know why I took those photographs, but now that I am a mosaic scrapbooker, I certainly was glad to find them there in my stacks of "needs to be scrapped" photos!  Tami Potter's book says that the first mosaic she ever made was with pictures of her kids at a pumpkin farm - and I have to agree that those kind of pics really lend themselves to this format. 

Ugh, that cord!  I promise to do a better job of taking pictures of my layouts in the future.

Eggspert!

When my nephew, Kayden, was three years old, he colored every one of his Easter eggs the same shade of robin's egg blue.  It was the first time he was big enough to blow out his own eggs and to do everything "all by himself" so we just let him have at it.  Absolutely priceless!!!

Thank you Samuel Clemens!

Mark Twain has always been one of my heroes, mostly because I share his wanderlust and many of his philosophical views.  But did you know he was a scrapbooker???  According to the PBS website:

"Mark Twain was a lifelong creator and keeper of scrapbooks. He took them with him everywhere and filled them with souvenirs, pictures, and articles about his books and performances. But in time, he grew tired of the lost glue, rock-hard paste, and the swearing that resulted from the standard scrapbook process. So, he came up with the idea of printing thin strips of glue on the pages to make updates neat and easy to do. In 1872, he patented his “self-pasting” scrapbook, and by 1901, at least 57 different types of his albums were available. It would be his only invention that ever made money."

Check it out!  http://www.pbs.org/marktwain/scrapbook/index.html

Chihuly Mosaic

I knew as soon as I discovered mosaics that these pictures from the Dave Chihuly exhibit at the Indianapolis Children's Museum would an ideal concept for a mosaic.  The small mosaic pieces are from photos that I took while lying down (see upper right pic on left page) looking up through the bottom of the exhibit.  After I did this mosaic, my friend Erika kindly pointed out that the pic on the lower right of the left-hand page was UPSIDE DOWN!  DOHLT!  I have since turned it around, but saved this picture to show how I can sometimes get so caught up in the concept and all the little pieces, that I lose sight of the BIG PICTURE.  Thanks Erika!

First Attempt!

This was my first ever on-my-own mosaic.  I took a "matting and framing" class from Tami Potter at CKC in Louisville and I learned a great technique.  I worked directly from the template we designed in class, but the fireworks were my idea!