#22 Make a photo collage poster

I use snapfish.com to print off all my photos. Snapfish is full of gift ideas including collage posters. So this week, think of someone you'd like to capture (like baseball photos taken throughout season) or an event (like a birthday party) and turn 30 of your photos into a cool collage poster that can be hung on the bedroom wall. Your kid will feel extra special and it's a good way to display your photography skills. There are several sizes available and are a decent price.

#21 Block Letters

Maybe your name doesn't consist only of 3 letters but your initials do! Try using your initials or even just one simple letter, like in your last name. Have a daughter? She certainly would like to see her name hanging on her wall or on the shelf. Wouldn't it be great to be Mom of the Year for that kind of a gift? Again, a great idea for Mother's Day. Think outside the box. You can get the wooden block letters from your local craft store. Decoupage The paper on or paint the design on. The ideas are endless. Use your talent and the right side of your brain!

#20 Scrapbook Clipboards

What a cute idea for a gift exchange, for your sister on her birthday, or for Mother's Day! Who couldn't use a clipboard, especially one so adorable and handmade by you. Take a twist on normal scrapbooking this week.

#19 Top 50

Think of 50 of your favorite things...now list them. Top 50 things that make you smile. Top 50 things that you want to accomplish. Top 50 things...whatever it is, it's your top 50 so own it! List them in your own handwriting or 50 different fonts. Put a photo of yourself in the middle. A photo that captures the theme.

#18 Document your Month

Wouldn't it be fun to someday look back and see just how busy your life really was? As a working mother of 4 busy young children, there isn't one free day on my day planner most months. And as the school year winds down, it's getting worse! So try documenting all your activities for one month on a layout. Use a vertical timeline format to fit several of the photos taken during the month and the in-depth information in a small space.

#17 Decorate with Scrapbook pages!

I found 12x12 frames that your scrapbook pages will fit into perfectly! You can find them too at Hobby Lobby or even Michaels. They are usually used to frame your favorite old album covers and now, in this day and age of cd's and iphones, they are used for scrapbook pages!! Line your hallway with cute vacation or school layouts. Everytime you glance at them, it will bring you back to that moment and bring a smile on your face!

#16 Photography challenge

Today I'm sitting here...tired, listening to the thunderstorm outside, and completely out of ideas. I flipped through the pages of my idea book and yet I come up with nothing that jumps out at me today. So for this week, I challenge you to take your camera and tilt it ever so slightly so see the world from a different angle. Whether you are photographing a flower in your garden, your family member, or something like your favorite chair...try this approach to tell the story in a new light. It just might make it more interesting. Become a photographer. Seeing your canvas through the eye of your camera. I have a friend who is mastered this and her photos come out so unique, they almost look like a professional did them. Give it a go!


Ready, Set, Snap!
Belinda

#15-A Day in Your Life

If you took photos of everything you did in a 24 hr time frame, how many photos do you think you would take? Some choose to hire a friend to be the photographer for the day, some do it themselves. The trick is to be organized. Here is a list of some of the photo ops you may have in any given day:
-daily grooming
-kids sleeping
-doing chores
-goofing off
-riding bikes
-doing laundry
-playing a sport
-mowing the lawn
-shopping for groceries
-reading a book or newspaper
-playing instrument
-playing a game
-eating together
-praying together
-washing the car
-dancing together
-exterior of the house
-interior of the house
-view from your window
-your backyard
-your garage
-pets
-teachers
-friends
-neighbors
-bedtime routines
-favorite desserts
-backpack contents
-inside the fridge

***again, endless list! Be creative!!

#14 Go on a photo scavenger hunt!

To help evoke some creative thinking, hand over your camera to your kids and send them on a scavenger hunt! Here's a list you can work from:
1. something pretty
2. something red
3. something found on the ground
4. something happy
5. people holding hands
6. best shoes on a stranger (only when mom and dad are present)
7. funniest-looking car
8. outdoor sculpture
9. coin minted in the year you were born
10. water
11. bare feet in the park
12. favorite food

***the list is endless! Create your own and see what they come up with!

#13 Make a Favorite Sayings Album

How many times do your kids say the darndest things? Now you have a place to record it forever! When Avery was a little boy he used to stretch out his arms and say, "I love you BIG much!" That's something this mommy never wants to forget. You can add everyday photos or whatever you want. It's just a little album that you can pull out and add to as they come up with these sayings.

Examples: What do they call Grandpa or Grandma? Avery started calling my parents Grandma and Grandpa Crockett because we used to make up a song for Avery when he was little to the tune of Davey, Davey Crockett...King of the wild frontier. Only our version was Avery, Avery Crockett...King of the wild frontier. My mom one day asked Avery what his "big name" was and he said "I'm Avery. Avery Crockett." She laughed and then said, "What is Grandma's big name?" He replied, "Grandma. Grandma Crockett". And from that day 8 years ago until now, they still sign all their cards from Grandma and Grandpa Crockett.

#12 Scraplift a Color Scheme

Because I have company coming this weekend, this week's challenge is going to be easy and I'm posting it earlier than usual.

Goto a store and find a cool shirt or blanket with multiple colors. Scraplift a color scheme from one of your scrapbook buddy's layouts or your favorite catalog. This challenge isn't hard by any means it's just sometimes it's hard to know what colors really "go" together. Anything goes! Just think of how brown and pink or brown and blue are so popular in a baby's room! Use a color you normally wouldn't use. Step outside the box.

Ex. Think about sherbert...lime green, orange, and yellow. Together, this would make a yummy layout! Or how about the colors in my living room? Brown, gold, and brick red? Very rich looking for any page. I've even seen orange, green, and blue look amazing together. It's really limitless.

#11 Make up your Own Holiday

Create a day that is special for your family. Not a birthday or anniversary but just an ordinary day that you can name whatever you want and celebrate however you want. Then take photos of the special events of the day and create a layout! The creativity isn't in the layout page it's in the topic. Challenge yourself all the while creating a fun new holiday for your family!

Examples: "Eat Only Orange" day, "Wear crazy socks" day, "Eat Pizza for Every Meal" day, "Talk like a Pirate" day.

The choices are endless!

#10 Mini Album: Be Real

Some people blog, like me. Some people keep a journal, like my grandma. Some people want to but just can't find the time or energy. Why not create some "real" stuff and make a mini album out of it. Share your thoughts, your funniest moments, things you never want to forget. Things you like about yourself, your goals, your advice to your family. Leave your legacy for others to enjoy!

Take an 8x8 album (or smaller and snap a few photos of yourself. Then with different fonts or your own handwriting, create a "journal" about you. There are no rules to this except that you need to "be real". No sugar coatinng. Someday your children will understand who you are and why you are the way you are when they glance at this keepsake.

**Idea taken from Elsie Flannigan

#9 Finding Letters out of Ordinary Things

For my brother's wedding, his wife used ordinary objects around their house that looks like letters, and spelled out her new last name. She had them matted and framed and presented it to my brother for his gift from her. This was such a unique and special idea. Not to mention, a very difficult project! I would love to present something like this to my spouse for an anniversary so I'm constantly on the lookout for the letters of our last name. I found the S and that is about it so far. So I'm challenging you to find your last name or your first, your child's name, or just simply your initials. Take a photo and even if you don't want to create a new piece of artwork for your home, you certainly can make a scrapbook page showing how you did it! This is a big challenge! It may take you all year to accomplish it. Be on the lookout starting now though!
Ready, Set, Scrap!

My purse clasp looks like an "S" in the heart shape. I'll crop this to make it work as the first letter in my last name and the start of this project.

#8 Doodle on Photographs

Don't be afraid to express yourself by doodling right on your photos! Try using your own handwriting in an open space on the photo or try a rub-on instead. If you are afraid about ruining your photo, doodle on a digital print)

**By Elsie Flannigan "52 Scrapbooking Challenges"
Ready, Set, Scrap!

#7 Artist Photographs

It's easy to take photos of friends and family but try looking through the lens of your camera as a photo enthusiast. Take a closer look at things in your life that you might otherwise overlook. Look for beauty in unexpected things, both inside and outside of your home.

Some examples: Your DVD collection, Your children's trophy case, A stack of fresh laundry, Your organized scrapbook room. Your flower bed with newly planted flowers. Your spice rack, the list goes on and on.

Try to take photos at different, unusual angles too. Tell the story as to WHY this was important for you to capture. I may choose photographing my son's collection of Power Rangers. I would journal about how my oldest told him that the apartment complex going up by my house was really a "Power Ranger Palace". And that for the last 3 Halloween's Braden has only wanted to be a Power Ranger. He also begs me daily to take karate so he can grow up to be a Power Ranger. Someday, he and I will laugh at this obsession but in the meantime, we will enjoy watching Power Ranger episodes over and over!

#6 Ribbon Clusters

Ribbons are a beautiful accent on any page so why not take it to the next level? Try to tie 2,3,or 4 ribbons and cluster them in the same area on your page. To finish the look, try to tie them onto the cardstock, weave them through an embroidered border, staple them to the page, or hook a tiny safety pin through them.

Ready, Set, Scrap!

Week #5-Embellish Flowers

No matter what your page topic, I'm sure you can find a place for a flower accent in your design. But take it up a notch. Embellish the center of your flower with a mini-clock, a tiny button, or patterned paper. Don't be afraid to turn a large flower shape into a photo frame.

(Paraphrased from Elsie's book)

But I say, go cheap. Go out to your garage and find some fake flowers that you can take apart (like my good friend does-you know who you are!) And use brads or eyelets to secure them to a page. It looks awesome! Or take my easy way out and buy some fancy pre-embellished flowers!

Ready, Set Scrap!

Belinda's Layouts:

Week #4-Ribbon Borders

Customize a Ribbon Border:


"No matter how you turn it or what you add to it (think eyelets, buttons, lace, etc), ribbon is a terrific page border that can be attached in so many ways."
by Elsie Flannigan

Ready, Set, Scrap!

Week #3-Focus on 1 Photo

This week is easy: Convert a favorite photo into a black and white image, then use it as the focal point photo on your page. It will draw your viewer's eye right into the essence of your layout.

(from Elsie Flannigan's "52 Scrapbooking Challenges")

Week #2-One Little Word

For the last couple of years, Ali Edwards has done a very special little project (and taken us along, via her blog.) It's called One Little Word. Here's an excerpt from her blog, explaining how it works:

"The idea behind the one little word concept is to give yourself something to focus on throughout the year. As I stated in my newsletter back in January 2007, "A single word can be a powerful thing. It can be the ripple in the pond that changes everything. It can be sharp and biting or rich and soft and slow."

Pick a word and explain WHY you chose the word to focus on in 2009. Then create a layout that will keep you motivated throughout the year.

For all of you who like to make resolutions, this one will be easy for you!
Ready, Set, Scrap!

Weekly Challenge #1: Work Those Words

Most ideas are from the book "52 Scrapbooking Challenges" by Elsie Flannigan.
Now that I got that out of the way....here's the first challenge....

Whether it's a quote, a list of your favorite adjectives or computer-generated phrases, journaling on strips of cardstock is a great way to add visual excitement to your page. Be creative and cut a favorite quote into pieces to add to your design.

Ready, set, GO!!

Welcome to the Scrapbook Place!

I wanted to have a spot where we could all come to post our scrapbook challenges so I created this separate blog. When I send out a scrapbook weekly challenge, send me a photo of your layout and I'll post it to the site to share with everyone. It'll keep us motivated, give us ideas, and maybe at the end, whoever completes the most challenges, will receive some "goodies" from me! This is a yearly challenge so put it on your 2009 list of "Things to Do". Tell your friends and family. The more the merrier. When you are finished with a layout, simply send a photo of it to: bsheldonrn@gmail.com. Include in the subject line what weekly challenge it was and your name. I will put it on the site from there.

Have fun, Be creative, and Start Scrapbooking!!!
Take time for yourself in 2009!