Challenge #139 Week of 29th September 2014

Hello and welcome!  It's Lynnette here and I'm ready to share some inspiration with you this week.  

I'm hardly up on the latest and greatest trends as my head is usually filled with hockey and skating schedules, but lately I've actually noticed one that seems to be popping up a lot in my world (even beyond scrapbooking).  Perhaps you have noticed it, too.

Geometric designs, turquoise, triangles, feathers, leather...even arrowheads!  What comes to mind here is a Southwest, Navajo, Aztec, Native American vibe.  Now, for our Whimsical Musings friends who are outside of the US,  I tried to name this style in a variety of ways.  Hopefully, one of those terms makes sense.  If not, take a look at some of my examples to get the gist.

First, it started with the purchase of this paper collection pack at Scrapbook Expo earlier in the month.

Now, I won't lie.  This collection is from last fall (See how on top of the trends I AM?!), but it caught my eye last year and I never bought it.  When I saw it again this year at Expo and it was the only one left, I knew I couldn't let it pass by.  While not my usual "go-to" pattern and design, the warm tones and natural elements really appeal to me.  I spy feathers, arrows and a zig zag design that is reminiscent of a Navajo blanket.

Even though that paper collection was from last year, I'm still spying this look.  I received this beautiful bracelet with turquoise and silver from my sister for my birthday.

There's that trend again.

And still, while shopping the other day...

this sweater with geometric designs and earth tone colors.

Are you feeling the vibe?  If you're not or want to delve deeper, I've also created a pinterest board that you can visit here to get some other examples.  Isn't it funny how when you start to notice something, it seems to then just pop up all over the place?

Your challenge this week is to be inspired by Native American design. 

You still have a few more days to enter the "Welcome Back" giveaway for September.  Any and all entries from our September prompts are eligible.  Be sure to tag this week's layout WM#139 over on our flickr group.

I'll be back later this week to show you my layout.  You can be sure I'm going to dip into that
 new-to-me Carta Bella paper pack - FINALLY!

Happy Scrapping! 

Challenge #138 week of 22nd September 2014

Don't forget that my comeback giveaway is open throughout the whole of September so this prompt or in fact any of the previous 137, can be used for inspiration and the possibility to win! Just upload your creations over at our Flickr gallery (here) to be in with a chance. I'll be drawing a name in the first week of October and the more layouts you upload, the more chances you have. :-)

Earlier this year, I started recording my 100 days of happy over at Instagram (check me out here). It's taken me a while (currently at day 81) but honestly, if I'd started recording my happy on September 1st, I could have done a happy day every day because this is my favourite time of year. Without a doubt, autumn is just the best and makes me smile and smile and smile.

So, it only seems appropriate to let that drive our inspiration this week with this gorgeous moodboard I found over at Pinterest (here).

This wonderful moodboard was discovered on Pinterest (source here)

Neutral shades, texture, beautiful photos, rainy days, symbols of harvest as well as not to forget the cute animals gives you a lot of possible directions to take for this.

I hope you will as inspired by this stunning collection of images as I am.

Once again, please share your creations over at the Whimsical Musings Flickr gallery (here) with the tag WM#138. This, and ANY of our prompts (check out the full list on the "Whimsical Musings Past Promtps" page), can be used as inspiration for a layout to be in the drawing. So, let's get creating!

Challenge #137 week of 15th September 2014

I recently bought a pack of an old childhood favorite candy. 

So much fun to eat! Each color is a different flavor. They are a great little treat as you can savor each wafer as they come out of the pack, giving your mouth a change-up with every serving. I had a little giggle as I sorted them out, saving my favorite flavors for last. There was also a discard pile for my husband of my least favorite flavors (wink-wink.) Occasionally I can find a roll of only chocolate - swoon...

I was inspired to scrap this story about my strawberry apron which I recently passed on to my granddaughter Chloe. I haven't decided yet what I want to say about it.

How will starting with a favorite flavor help you create this week? Will the spicy heat of Thai food inspire you to scrap with a hot color scheme? Will the creamy coolness of your favorite flavor of ice cream make you reach for snow-covered photos to scrap? What memory is stirred up by the taste of your favorite beverage?

Also, don't forget that there's a giveaway running all September...! Any and all entries for any prompts during September will go into the pot for a little prize! We'd love to see your creations over in the Flickr gallery (here) with the tag WM#137.

LCSmithSAVED

 

Challenge #136 week of 8th September 2014

One of the reasons I love scrapbooking is all the beautiful stash that comes with it. I am quite trend driven and love to buy and use the latest and greatest of the new items. One of those trends that's been around a long time now is woodgrain and this week, that's what I'd like you to be inspired by.

There's different directions you could take this such as using woodgrain printed paper, or perhaps letters or stickers. What about all the wood veneer products out there. Embossing, stamping or printing would work really well here and then there's the subject itself. I'm just about to throw out a wooden framed print that I particularly love because it's damaged. But there's a story behind it from the fact that my dad made the frame for me when I was about 12 from the most amazing wood through to the fact that this is a painting in the local Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery to which I find myself drawn over and over again. When times are bad, I can go there and just sit and look at it for hours. And that frame matches a desk and wardrobe also made for me by my dad from the prettiest pink tinted wood. I still have the desk...

This ready embossed woodgrain cardstock is simply beautiful to use and adds great texture and interest to the simplest design. 

For this layout I used my Big Shot to die-cut different sized stars from real wood veneer paper. I love the fact that the woodgrain is real!

We'd love to see your creations over in the Flickr gallery (here) with the tag WM#136.

Also, don't forget that there's a giveaway running all September...! Any and all entries for any prompts during September will go into the pot for a little prize! Load up your creations to our Flickr gallery (here) and join in on the fun!

Challenge #135 week of 1st September 2014

Well, that was a long break wasn't it?

I'm so sorry for leaving you all hanging! But I thought that this week was perfect to come back to the fold with Monday being the first of a brand new month. And the beginning of my favourite time of year to boot! So we're back and I'm hoping we can get organised enough to be here regularly week by week for you to find a little inspiration and some close-knit community.

It's been a chaotic few months and it's not yet over but I spoke to Leslie and Lynnette and we'd all like this little corner of the internet to keep going and get back to our friendly exchanges and shares over at our Flickr gallery (here). In fact, Leslie and Lynnette will be helping me out so I know that we all look forward to seeing what prompts they create for us! It's SO good to have friends and these two are most definitely that. I think I'd have given up on WM if it hadn't been for their friendship and support. I cherish each of them and also those of you out there reading this.

Of course, we still all miss my beloved Pam but life in the Big Apple is taking up all her time and unfortunately we will just have to wait for her to come back to us! We miss you Pam. :-) But I know that you are out there thinking of us!

I know that the blog is looking a little uninspired right now which certainly isn't how I'd like it to stay. So please bear with me while I find the time to tweak and adjust things round here until things look as pretty as they should!

I've just popped over to our Flickr gallery and am thrilled to see some recent activity! Hi there to Leslie and Ali! Tickled pink to see your uploads. :-) Thanks for keeping the spirit alive.

Now, with the promise of being here more often I'd like to offer you a fresh new prompt...

Coming back after all this time, it's only appropriate that this week I ask you to be inspired by reunions! Whether it be a school, college, university or work reunion, a reunion with a long-lost love or perhaps a friend, or even a reunion with something long neglected (à la Whimsical Musings), I'm sure we can all come up with at least one memorable event to put down on paper!

This layout I shared for our 100 celebration last year was in fact a reunion of sorts. Although it was an open day to celebrate 100 years of the school building, I met up with a couple of girls I hadn't seen for more years than I care to mention!

And how about this layout which was created for a different prompt (a relationship not yet captured) but featuring what can only be called a reunion with my wonderful Filipino friend after almost 15 years!

Let's make this little comeback a great reunion of creative minds and in case you need a little incentive, I'll put up a small giveaway! Any and all entries for any prompts during September will go into the pot for a little prize!

So come on and join in! Let's celebrate a new month and a return to whimsical inspiration!