Challenge #334 - week of 14th October 2019

I'm back from a wonderful few days in the beautiful Speyside area of Scotland and full of happy memories of a fantastic trip.

More of that another time maybe as I think I might have one or two more inspiration prompts for us all from that short break.

However, while I was there I made sure to pick up a few mementos along the way. Yes, of course the typical scrapbooking classics such as receipts, business cards, leaflets and maps but also some small items from nature.

I have a few jars here in my room filled with collected treasures from my time in Nova Scotia and the Philippines (I'm pretty bad at remembering to pick up these items from other trips!) and planned to do the same for Scotland.

I managed to remember a few times and have the following small section of nature bits and pieces for a similar jar found in a few different places - Sandend Beach, the shore of Loch Ness at Urquhart Castle, a walk to the waterfall at the Aberlour distillery, the path to Slains Castle (thought to have provided inspiration for Bram Stoker when he was writing Dracular). It doesn't really matter to me which items I collected from each location - they represent the whole trip and when they are all dried out, I'll pick up a new jar from Ikea and pop them in. Maybe I should label them too.

Anyway, all of this brings me to today's prompt. I'd like you to be inspired by found nature treasures.

 

• maybe it's time to break out your favourite autumn scrapbook supplies to record a seasonal nature walk, your autumn decorations or some "treasure" that's been found for you by a little one!
• record a seasonal walk or trip
• highlight your favourite signs in nature that the seasons are changing
• talk about your favourite decorations at the turn of the season
• perhaps you set up a nature display for your children or have memories of doing this yourself that you'd like to capture
• you could make a flat lay photo like I have of your nature treasures and then sue that shot for your page
• be inspired by the textures, colours or shapes of nature items

Whichever way you decide to go, I really hope you'll share. It would be great to see what you make.  You can connect with us in our Facebook group here. Tag your entry with #WMXXX (with the number of the prompt instead of the XXX) so we know exactly which inspiration you've taken.

Have a great day everyone!

Challenge #286 - week of 30th April 2018

I'm keeping up with the posts here but not with making up the layouts. But one thing at a time, don't you think?

So, I'm back again with this week's prompt, inspired by what I was up to this last weekend. It's a long, holiday weekend here in Germany and we've enjoyed some quiet, quality down time. It's been lovely.

Today we went for a long (8km) country walk and took in everything there was to see in this wine making part of the country. How beautiful it all is.

So, I'd like you to be inspired by a country walk.

Take it literally and create a page about a walk you've made. Take it metaphorically or maybe a walk you'd like to make one day. Talk about spring or taking walks with someone special to you. Be inspired by countryside themed products. I think there are many ways to take the inspiration and make it your own so I'm interested to see where you go with it!


If you're inspired to create this week, don't forget that you can add your own creations to our Facebook group here - we love it when you share so 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... :-)

WM#265 - be inspired by bees

I've been thinking about this layout all week - mulling it over, thinking about how to tell my story, considering which photos to use.

Today I made it happen. Go me!

I was challenged by our wonderful Whimsical Musings bestie, Pam, to play along with Shimelle's 25 days of scrapbooking words so this layout also features "so much colour" - a colourful title. We are both on track with at least one layout each day since July 7th and are scrapping up a storm. It's simply glorious to be scrapping "with" her again after so long.

Along with the Shimelle challenge, I've been using up some much older Counterfeit Kit Challenge kits and today I killed my September 2016 kit, Sundance with this layout. That also feels good and that now means that I "only" have 5 kits left to finish off - yes, still too many.

Here's my layout for WM#265 - be inspired by bees.

Using my Counterfeit Kit Challenge September 2016 kit, Sundance, lo#10

I wanted to tie the story of our balcony to the observation of the increasing bee traffic which makes me happy and is something that's been increasingly on my mind over the last few years.

I created the design of the page before deciding on which photos to use on the centre panel. I then went to town with the journalling, printing it out to save space, and finally embellishments. It took my longer than it should have because I was faffing a bit but finishing off the kit brought this together more quickly than others in the last week.

Overall, I'm really happy with this and the story captured. Win, win.

I'd love to know if you've recorded something inspired by this - or in fact any other - prompt. Don't forget you can share in the following ways!

Use the Whimsical Musings Flickr gallery with the tag WM#XXX 
or post in our Whimsical Musings Facebook group with the tag WM#XXX

Challenge #31 - Week of March 19th 2012

Well, in celebration of the upcoming Equinox {March 21st - read more about it here} and the wonderful little surprises that have been sprouting and blooming around here, I couldn't resist.

I have recently been inspired to take more pictures of nature and in doing so I have gained a new appreciation for it.

pictures I took around my neighborhood

Who could resist being inspired by this? Weather (get it?) Spring has arrived in your part of the world (and how I hope it has) or even if it is a few weeks away, I hope you will indulge me in celebrating this season.

Now, I have always been a Summer girl. And living in South Florida for a long time I never really noticed much of a change in the seasons. Living in a place with four seasons has given me a renewed appreciation for change, and re-birth and newness.

So choose to take Spring literally and pepper your layout with pretty blooms or choose to take it in a more metaphorical sense and talk about the abstract concept of Spring - your challenge this week is to be Inspired by Spring.


I so look forward to seeing how you interpret this and what Spring means in your life. I know Lisa will have a great take on this as her layouts often remind me of Spring. Happy Vernal Equinox to all.


If you are so inspired, I would love to see your creation in our ever-growing little gallery with the tag WM#31.

xo,
Pamage

#10 Inspired by Fall

Lisa's challenge was to be inspired by fall... except right up until this year I wasn't really crazy about fall. So I decided to take her prompt seriously and ponder on the things I do like about fall and came up with this layout.

I just made a list of all the things I love, of course an off-numbered list. I also challenged myself beyond the theme to  honor Lisa - and include a "cluster" or my version of one. I was inspired by the look of leaves collecting almost everywhere around here.

I hand-cut some leaves from fabric scraps and felt. Then I added a few buttons and presto.

But you know me, I need my white space. I chose this Amy Tangerine paper for the background because it reminded me of fall, but every time I use a patterned paper background I feel overwhelmed. So I misted some white to try and recover some of the balance. The final result, with the leaves peeking through actually worked out quite well.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you guys can find ways to be inspired by fall.

xo,
Pamage

#10 Inspiration from right outside your window

Challenge #10 was inspired by the fact that Autumn is here and I LOVE it. There's so much there to be seen, felt, smelt. There were so many ways to approach this prompt and I'm really excited to see what Pam has to share today ;-)


I left it really late to get to grips with my own prompt and also took my chances with the weather but luckily for me, it was as wonderful today as it was last Sunday. I went outside with my camera and just took it all in. All those colours, the blue skies, the sun shining through the trees. What a shame I couldn't capture the sound of the rustling leaves with my camera too.


I just brought some images together and made a collage of those superb colours. I decided to take the challenge one step further and make the surrounding layout with non-autumnal colours, using my Counterfeit Kit, Balmy August. I just layered it up and am quite happy with the result. No oranges or browns necessary. 

Thanks for looking!


Lisa
x

Challenge #10 Week of 17th October 2011

Another week, another challenge. And this week, it's my turn to provide the inspiration.

At first, I was unsure as to what to do but then when I stepped out onto my balcony this morning it was clear...

Step outside and use what you see as inspiration for your layout this week.

This is my favourite time of year and there is so much to love at the moment where I live:

• blue skies
• autumn sunshine
• colourful leaves
• misty morning
• late flowers
• dew on spider webs
• early sunsets
• cold, fresh air
• that "winter is on its way" feeling
• the rustle of wind in the trees
• that autumn "light"
• tractors and farm vehicles trundling past day and night harvesting the last of the crops
• the low sun in the sky
• the feeling of time moving on

What do you see where you are? What will you use as your inspiration? Take it whichever direction you like: subject matter, autumn quotes, colour schemes, choice of papers, nature photos, your perspective at this time of year... I see a myriad of possibilities and am excited to see how this takes you.

Make sure you say Hi in the comments and leave us your link if you join in the challenge. :-)

Lisa

x