Shades of Blue August 2011 Project Ideas

Do you have adventures everyday? I want to have adventures everyday. And when I say that I do not mean that there’s any possibility or any desire in me to travel the world seeking danger and excitement. I mean that I want to find adventure in my everyday reality. I can usually do it, but every now and then I forget. But one of the best reminders of how to adjust my perspective is found in the scrapbook pages of the Little Black Dress Kit Club Designers and members. You scrapping maniacs show me all over again all the things that are important. And you probably won’t be surprised to be told that most projects aren’t based around that once in a lifetime trip to the Orient or that one time that you went on a month long cruise. MOST of the projects are based around the things we all do and love everyday. And I love that!

Everyday Adventures 12×12 Layout by Francine Clouden:

I love the burst of color Francine used on the right side of her scrapbook layout. And I love the use of the Jenni Bowlin distress stamps and the fantastic layering.

Check out detail closeups for a better idea of how Francine created this look:

I love words and these tiny, little words are all the more adorable for their size and placement on the page.

GORGEOUS! I love how Francine isn’t scared to layer even the most detailed elements. They can absolutely carry their beauty through to the top layers.

Thanks Francine! We love it! And the members always love to see your work.

Watch for more of Francine’s projects on Facebook and the LBD Ideas page.

I love when I look at what happening around me and realize that it’s lovely and it’s something I’m familiar with. It’s something that happens all the time and it’s good. It reminds me that life is good. And it reminds me that me and mine know how to enjoy it! This No. 522 12×12 layout by Francine Clouden reminded me that kids have got it right. Love the things that you love. Smile when you see them. Enjoy being around them. It makes it that much easier to love life!

Francine created the No. 522 12×12 layout using the Shades of Blue August kit from Little Black Dress Kit Club. Check it out to get ideas on what you can do with your kit or find more ideas on the LBD Ideas page!

And never forget the closeups:

I love how Francine used the film strip to echo the layout of the series of 3 pictures. And I love the concise placement of all the pieces that create the whole in the center of the background page.

Love to scrapbook, but hate to journal? It adds so much personality to the page. Don’t ignore it. We love handwritten journaling when it works with the layout, but some prefer to print journaling or access labeling tools like Dymo labelers to create the journaling for their pages. However you do it, make sure that you DO do it. Scrapbooking without journaling is like eating a hot dog without any accoutrements. It needs the onions, the pickle, the peppers, the seeded bun and the condiments to make it something special. (Have you HAD the Chicago dog at Sonic. It’s to die for if you don’t have access to the real thing. It’s the first time I’ve ever considered moving to Chicago for no real reason whatsoever. Lucky ducks get to buy them right there on the street apparently).

Sheesh! Listem to me rhapsodizing about a Chicago style hot dog. I’ll have to visit sometime and try the real thing. And you can be sure that if I do…I’ll scrapbook the experience. I’m sure it will be worth it! It can be one of those “regular” things that I love that simply make me smile like Francine’s little guy and the racing toys at the park!

What do you love? What makes you smile?

Awh. I love seeing how much my kids have changed from year to year. And…DANG IT! I hate seeing how much my kids have changed from year to year. But I do put my love/hate relationship aside when it comes to scrapping the little ones. You have to document these things no matter how badly you want to stop time and keep them teeny tiny for as long as possible. Each brings another birthday and in between each and every birthday a lot of changes are going to crop up. It’s just the natural order of things. So I applaud Francine’s way of dealing with it. She obviously has a love relationship with the passing of time that I should learn to emulate asap. I’ll be working on it. For now…check out this adorable 12×12 layout documenting the changes that have taken place in this little one’s life:

Francine’s Grow 12×12 Layout:

I have to say it again…awh. Such a sweetie! Francine’s layouts always get me. Check out the different elements that Francine used in this layout. She’s got the fantastic background ledger page (from the August Shades of Blue kit, of course) and the teeny Glitz Alphas, the Grow bingo card from Jenni Bowlin, etc. I love how she uses little pieces to make them look entirely different than they look as a whole. It’s amazing.

Check out the closeup for more scrapbook ideas and to see all the embellishments, trims and fun extras that are included in the Little Black Dress Kit Club monthly kits:

Love the button with twine that she added to top off all that layering. And love all the teeny words as well as her handwritten additions to the layout.

Inspiration…sometimes I think we’re all desperately in need of some. And I don’t know about you, but I know that for me, I usually have to look just a little bit closer to home. I have to look a little bit closer to home because the things that really, truly inspire me are the things that I know and love and live with everyday. And I think there’s something amazing in putting that down on paper. Write it down. Scrap it. Immortalize the fact that you find someone close to you…INSPIRING. And make sure they know it.

Check out Leslie’s inspirational 12×12 layout using the Little Black Dress Kit Club August Kit (Shades of Blue).

I love Leslie’s combination of papers (pulled from her LBD Kit) and I love her use of the trim with the gathering at the top of the left side of the photo – brilliant! Also love the layered look including the one crooked paper as well as the subtle addition of journaling by hand (more personal and sweet).

Check out the close up of Leslie’s 12×12 layout to get more scrapbook layout ideas:

Not sure what to do with your trims? Try something like this. They can add such a pop of texture and color and interest to your page or project if you get used to adding them in as embellishments or borders, etc.

Leslie Ashe is a Little Black Dress Kit Club Design Team Member and she used the August Shades of Blue Kit to create this 12×12 layout. The only products she used in the layout that weren’t included in her August kit were: letter stickers and card stock. We encourage our designers to incorporate small pieces from their own stock because that’s what we all do when we’re creating. And there’s nothing more exhilarating than finding the perfect spot for that gorgeous scrap you’ve been saving or those last three alphas that you couldn’t bear to toss in the trash because they were just so eye catching. You know what I’m talking about!

Want to see more ideas? Looking for suggestions and recommendations on products and tools? Read on…more blog posts will be coming your way shortly. You can also scroll back through previous posts and see what you’ve missed or check out or Facebook page if you haven’t yet!

Some of us inherit millions, but most of us inherit something a little more personal from our ancestors: our grandmother’s nose, our great aunt’s eyes, our father’s big feet, our great great grandma’s poor hearing, etc. It comes right…Down The Line. And it’s so fun to see that depicted scrapbook style.

Check out Leslie’s 12×12 Down the Line Layout using the Little Black Dress Kit Club August Kit, Shades of Blue:

The ribbon included in the August Shades of Blue kit was the most gorgeous ever, and it is displayed to perfection here as one of the upper layers in Leslie’s layering. You’ll also notice the gorgeous black alphas included in this month’s kit as well as the teeny burnt orange alphas from Glitz Design that LBD included in the Shades of Blue kit.

Check out the closeup:

Is that not the most gorgeous bit of layering you’ve ever seen? I love that she combined the ribbon, the papers, the teeny alphas, the thickers, the cardstock cutout flower, the crossword puzzle puzzle piece, etc. What a great look she came up with!

So what did you get that came “down the line?” I have my Dad’s eyes. And my Mom’s ears. I don’t know where my forehead came from, but I’d like to someday find out so that I can complain…it’s FAR too short. There’s absolutely no possibility of ever having bangs. And, I don’t know, I might have wanted to go that direction someday. You never know!