Friday 31 August 2018

#295 - be inspired by skylines

Of course when I created this prompt, I knew exactly which city skyline which was likely to feature on my page. And I'm sure it won't surprise you either.

It had to be New York from my most recently trip and it was wonderful to pick out two of my favourite views from this time around and bring them together on a page for the Simple Scrapper Creative Team. I used a sketch from the Simple Scrapper premium membership (find out more here) as well as a Story Starter from Simple Scrapper - Favourites.

I have a selection of supplies that I use for all my NYC layouts and I find myself adding bits and pieces to that kit as time goes on but the layouts all have a similar look to them which makes me happy - when I finally get around to filing away the hundreds of layouts I have sitting on my Kallax, that New York album will really have quite a few layouts in there. I've realised though that I need to get more organised with recording the stories I want to really capture rather than just doing random moments!

Anyway, here's my layout.


I got happy with the floral paper and spent half an hour or so fussy cutting a bunch of pretty florals and leaves to layer up. I love how all the elements look good together even though they are different collections.




Do you have a skyline to feature? It doesn't even have to be a city view - I have several ideas from my trips around Germany so I may revisit this prompt again when I have time and inspiration.

As always, I love it when you share too and if you've been inspired to create, don't forget that you can add your own creations to our Facebook group here. Please don't be shy! Tag your entry with #WMXX so we know exactly which inspiration you've taken. 

Or simply tell us in the comments where to find you... :-)

Monday 27 August 2018

Challenge #301 - week of 27th August 2018

It's hard to believe we're coming to the end of August now and after the many many weeks of hot, summery weather, I'm happy that it's cooling down and we even have rain this morning. Everything feels fresh again and I have renewed energy - let's see if I can use that for getting through chores and even some creativity!

Last week, I was busy showing my mum around a part of Germany that she hasn't been to before and therefore missed my WM meet up here on the blog but I'm back again with a prompt close to my heart!

This week, I'd like you to be inspired by supplies that you just HAD to have!

As you know, I'm lucky enough to have a LSS in the form of Scrapabilly just a short drive away. We have a crop there most Thursday evenings which is wonderful for my creativity and crafty friendships but not so good for my ability to resist a little scrapbook supply therapy from time to time!

Sometimes it's just a piece of paper or two. Sometimes it's something important like adhesive or cardstock and sometimes - and you know what's coming! - it's just something I HAVE to have! And sometimes that means that I might take something home that is out of my usual scrapbook repertoire.

These days, I like to think that I pick my supplies carefully so that I know that I will use what I buy. In the early days I bought a lot that caught my eye but never used it and these items have since been donated to schools, friends and my niece! I know what I like, I know what I will use and I know what type of things are gorgeous or sweet but not really "for me". I'm not a cutesy scrapbooker and tend to be attracted to more graphic or floral designs. In some collections, I will just pick up one or two sheets of paper having learnt my lesson over the years.

So when I saw the "Dream Big" collection by Simple Stories, I knew it wasn't for me. I picked up the puffy stickers to take home with me and thought that was it! But the others in the group had the die cuts or various sheets of paper in their hands and I commented at how lovely these were. So of course, I had to go and have a closer look. Tikki girls in grass skirts, mercats, unicorns, cupcakes, rainbows... lovely but not really my style. Yes there were stars, stripes and florals which I loved and words that were fun as well as hearts and super sweet mini stickers that would be great for cards.


And then the whole collection was in my hand and suddenly, it all belonged to me. I just couldn't bear not to bring it with me! I needed it all. And I have no idea how I'll use it. Which is where today's prompt comes in.

Your own "must have" supplies might be like mine - something out of character - or they might be just sooooo special that you've been afraid to make the first cut. Maybe it's something that you can't get anymore or just something that you saw and resistance was futile! Whatever type of products you have that fit into this category, fish them out and try to make something with them this week - you know you'll be glad when you do because you'll have a page made with products you love. How could that not be a win-win?


I hope you can find somewhere to take this this week and that you'll share! You can do that in our Facebook group here. Tag your entry with #WMXX so we know exactly which inspiration you've taken. 

Or simply tell us in the comments where to find you... :-)

Tuesday 14 August 2018

#300 - be inspired by the power of three

Well, look at me! I made my layout as soon as I'd finished writing up the blog post which is definitely something that rarely happens. But it's a special prompt and that deserves some special treatment.

It helps that I'm also playing along for a few days in the LOAD mini: Out of this World challenge (the mini challenge is just a week) and so I was fired up and inspired to get going straight away.

The LOAD prompt was to include white space or use space as the theme of the page so of course, I managed to do both!


It seemed a perfect combination to make a page about our Whimsical Musings bestie Pam, my trip to New York to see her, a LOAD prompt and a WM prompt all on one page.

I used my New York kit of supplies which was inspired by Pam herself and which features some products bought there (the gold leaves and the gold and green paper that is matting the photos) and all in all, I think this ticks all the boxes I wanted it to.


Of course, those of you who've been around some time will remember that it was a little challenge that Pam and I gave ourselves that gave birth to Whimsical Musings and over the years, we attended many LOADs together. I feel like she really is my scrapbooking twin.


Even though I was unable to reduce the photos to three, there are plenty of other threes to discover.

Three journaling cards, three little paper heart embellies, three stars at the bottom, visual triangles, three gold leaves, three dots of gold elements and three stamped phrases. And even though you can't see the third person on the photo, I can just about spot a certain young man (on the bridge waving!) who I had the pleasure of getting to know while I was there, and the three of us had such a fun weekend together. So, threes all over the place!


I'd especially love it if you shared this week! 

Help us celebrate this major milestone with a layout of your own. 

Don't forget that you can add your own creations to our Facebook group here

Please don't be shy! Tag your entry with #WMXX so we know exactly which inspiration you've taken. 

Or simply tell us in the comments where to find you... :-)

Monday 13 August 2018

Challenge #300 - week of 13th August 2018

300! 

This is our 300th challenge - whoop whoop!

Who would have thought that we would still be going - 300 prompt down the line - when Pam and I set up this little corner of the web all those years ago. 1st August 2011 to be precise, so just over 7 years.

Just the two of us to begin with - challenging each other with little prompts which we decided to turn into a mini community. Over the years, I've become less than regular, although I do try my best! And I really need to get creating - all the prompts I come up with are ones that I have ideas for but somehow, my scrappy life is less than it used to be and I struggle to make the time to create all that often.

But here we are, 300 prompts on and hoping there is someone - anyone - out there reading and finding inspiration!

This week, I'd like you to be inspired by the power of three.

Three photos, visual triangles, groupings of three items, repetition of threes, stories featuring three in some way, three papers or even three pages! Let's make sure we embrace the wonderful world of three. I know that I use it in my clusters, and visual triangles are really something that I work with often so I'm sure you can also find a way to bring three into your life this week.

Here, I added two groups of three stars as well as a group of three circles. There's also a visual triangle.

Again, three stars and a visual triangle. I also used that paint chip die cut featuring shades of pink which is a strong use of "three".

Three photos here which feature on a Simple Scrapper Creative Team page - Story Starter and sketch are both part of the Simple Scrapper premium membership.

How long have you been playing along with Whimsical Musings? We'd love to hear from you and how we've inspired your creative memory keeping!

I hope you can find somewhere to take the prompt this week and that you'll share! You can do that in our Facebook group here. Tag your entry with #WMXX so we know exactly which inspiration you've taken. 

Or simply tell us in the comments where to find you... :-)

Monday 6 August 2018

Challenge #299 - week of 6th August 2018

We are still burning up here in Europe with a serious heatwave and it can be hard to sit here working while most of the people I know head off on their holidays. I know that I've had some trips already this year but there is really something special and exciting about packing your bags and heading off for faraway adventures for more than just a few days. Yes, I'm a "hint" envious!

But that got me thinking about this week's challenge and I'd like you to be inspired by passports.


I love my British passport and take great care of it - I don't want to find myself living in a foreign country with a missing passport, worrying about the wait for a new one to arrive! You might also have a strong connection to your own passport that you'd like to tell.

Think about telling a passport related story - the stamps we used to receive when we travelled, when you got your first one or even when you lost it, losing it just before you travelled or arriving at the airport to realise that you'd forgotten it. Perhaps you have a funny story about the awful photo that everyone seems to have these days in there. What about passport related stash - papers, washi, die cuts. Personally, I have a serious "thing" about travel themed collections. Or you might just want to make a more general travel related page - bucket list destinations, trips you've made, tours you're planning or maybe trips you won't be making!

Again, as always I think there are many ways to take the prompt so why not give this one a go?

I hope you can find somewhere to take this this week and that you'll share! You can do that in our Facebook group here. Tag your entry with #WMXX so we know exactly which inspiration you've taken. 

Or simply tell us in the comments where to find you... :-)

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...