Challenge #182 week of 31st August 2015

Where have I been? You might well ask and the truth is, right here at my computer. But busy working. The end is in sight but it got me thinking about our prompt in relation to the activity I was undertaking.

I've got some work translating from German to English. There's quite a lot of skill involved but also a lot of interpretation and creative thinking. So why not use this as a challenge for us? Not the German to English bit! Just the meaning of the word itself.

Be inspired by translate

translate

verb (transitiv or intransitive)

/trænsˈleɪt/  /trænz-/

to ​change words into a different ​language: 
We were ​asked to translate a ​list of ​sentences.She ​works for the UN, translating from ​English into ​French.

to ​change something into a new ​form, ​especially to ​turn a ​plan into something ​real: So how does this ​theory translate into ​practical ​policy?The ​ways of ​working that he had ​learned at ​college did not translate well (= were not ​suitable) to the ​world of ​business

to ​decide that words, ​behaviour, or ​actions ​mean a ​particular thing: 
He ​mumbled something which I translated as ​agreement.

I hope you agree with me that there are many, many ways to take this prompt and really run with it. I'm thinking literal translation, problems encountered in foreign countries, learning languages at school or foreign words you use in your own environment. Then there's more creative translation, the realisation of plans, how you understand something, how you relate to words, what you think when you travel and can't speak the language. So many directions. I can think of a list of a dozen pages at least - if only I could get around to scrapping more than a handful of pages per month :-(

As always, we love it when you share your creations over at our Whimsical Musings Flickr gallery and don't forget to tag it WM#182 so we can track you down!

Challenge #181 week of 18th August 2015

This week, I was looking over the last prompts and decided that we need to go back to something a little "old school". It's a long time since we really did a regular product type challenge and so this is that week :-)

It's something that first came out in a big way around 2009/10 and hasn't really gone away. It's something I use on my layouts (and cards) over and over again in a variety of ways and is something that I always like. My Pinterest scrapbooking board is full of them and if I'm not just cutting out shapes to form them along the top or bottom of my layout, or under my photo, then I'm fussy cutting out bits of pretty paper that can be used instead. Have you any idea what I'm talking about?

This week, I'd like you to be inspired by ... banners!

Let me share a just a couple of recent pages I've made with banners (there's quite a few out there!):

Inspired by a layout by Janna Warner

Fussy cutting is one of my favourite ways of adding some banner whimsy

An overloaded banner with loopy twine is a new favourite

A banner doesn't have to be on the main body of the page to add some detail

Another little example of fussy cutting to create a ready-made embellishment

A mix of pre-made mini cards and more loopy twine.

Where will you be adding your banners this week?

Don't forget to link up your creations over at the Whimsical Musings Flickr gallery with the tag WM#181.

Challenge #180 week of 10th August 2015

Wow, prompt #180. That's an awful lot of ideas, inspiration and sharing. Don't forget that you can always go back and find all our previous prompts to inspire you by clicking on the "Whimsical Musings Past Prompts" tab at the top of the page. It's always great to see those older ideas given a fresh airing.

And I'm already starting to think about how to celebrate our 200th. That definitely calls for a celebration - and as luck would have it, it'll be right before Christmas. Let's see how that pans out.

But for now, let's concentrate on today's challenge.

I had picked up this leaflet from Starbucks a long time ago. It's in English so I didn't find it here - I'm wondering if I actually brought this back from my New York 2014 trip. Anyway, I discovered it in the side pocket of a handbag I don't use very often and remembered that I had picked it up to use here on Whimsical Musings.

But I didn't want to use it just as a well-designed leaflet for the inspiration. Rather I was more interested in the infographic.

Isn't it fun? I love all those pretties lined up and repeated and reflecting the topic perfectly.

So, this week, I'd like you to be inspired by infographics.

Just a quick search on Pinterest brings up thousands and thousands of ideas (try this search here) and I know that I've seen several scrapbooking takes on this idea - one from Lisa Dickinson springs to mind.

On Lisa Dickinson's blog here

Whether you take a literal take on the Starbucks infographic in some way or create a looser interpretation, be sure to link up over at the Whimsical Musings Flickr gallery with the tag WM#180.

Challenge #179 week of 3rd August 2015

It's been busy round here. But there is a lull in the storm this week so I've managed to get my proverbial in gear to get a prompt up for all of you - and hopefully for myself too.

I recently came across this wonderful moodpboard/colour scheme. It's been a long time since we had a colour prompt...

Pinterest moodboard found here

And so this week, I'd like you to be inspired by colour - navy, pink, mint and a hit of gold.

Do you love this colour scheme as much as I do? I have all these colours in my New York kit that I put together shortly after my second trip this year - so that might be the way I take this prompt.

Then there'e the french phrase, the individual colours, the straws, the watercolour splotches, the gorgeous typewriter (need to get myself one!), the geometric designs on the straws as well as the cushions. You might be inspired by the collection of designs on the cushions, or the comfy look to that sofa. Any single way this mood board can be interpreted is fine by me!

We love it when you share so why not link up in our Whimsical Musings Flickr gallery here, with the tag WM#179.