Preparing My Vacation Album

I wanted to share my process of documenting my vacation. I love planning it out and putting together the "guts" of the album where my photos and layouts will eventually be inserted. I'm so excited! I cannot wait to come back with tons of photos to place inside my album and to scrap :)

Here's a peek at what I am doing.

I am using an embroidered American Crafts album in black. I will likely choose one favorite photo to place inside the cover window.



Then I am using this Panorama map paper as the opening page. My plan is to highlight the route we take on our road trip (we're driving through at least seven states). Behind that, I will insert a scrapbook layout.



My original plan was to use the Becky Higgins album from Project Life, but I was disappointed to discover that the album is larger than my American Crafts 12x12 D-ring binders so it doesn't even fit inside my IKEA bookcase. :( I think I am going to use some of the cards that came in the kit as graphic elements throughout the album and I LOVE the page protectors that came with it so those are going in my album as well. I can mix my photos with a few of these cool cards. I'm still deciding on that...





I also have my standard 6-up photo sleeves that I love (my favorite are the ones from We R Memory Keepers because the quality is phenomenal - not flimsy like some other brands). I use lots of these to slide in photos from my trip. Then all the layouts I create just fit in between all the photo sleeves.



I love this system! I've been doing this for the last three big annual vacations we've taken (Spain, BVI, Puerto Rico) and now our USA road trip and it works great. This way I actually get my vacation albums finished, which is great... and that makes my hubby very happy! Teehee!

Here's a link to a post I did a while back showing my completed Spain album.

I am hoarding my July Studio Calico kit, Continental, as well as my SC Documentary papers because I think they will be perfect to document our amazing vacation.

Peace and happy scrapping,
Vanessa

Sketchbook Class: Day 3

Hi my friends!

Well, I hope you had a nice weekend! I've been quite a busy little bee :) I have been running around all weekend buying stuff for my upcoming trip, running errands, preparing stuff and visiting with friends and family.

Yesterday afternoon I got to spend some time with two of my favorite people: Barb and Esther (oh and Suzy, too! Hee!). We hung out at Barb's house, chatted a while and attempted to scrap (although I feel like I just trimmed some paper and moved the pieces around. LOL!) I also enjoying petting and playing with Suzy, the sweet Beagle.

Actually, I was working on a little mini album with photos of the awesome weekend that hubby and I spent in the Keys back in June. I was inspired by the Stories of Summer series on Ali Edwards' blog (particularly Molly Irwin's mini idea). I am using some goodies from my stash along with the June Partly Sunny kit from Studio Calico (which, by the way, is a lovely kit and still available!). Here's a peek at my cover.



I also managed to make ONE layout with a couple of photos from that same trip. I used the Sketchbook Class Day 3 sketch for this one. Simple and summery. I felt like it still needed something when I finished with it, but I really like the graphic elements on these patterned papers.




I have a big week ahead of me at work with client visits and budgets in full swing! So here's hoping you have a wonderful, fun-filled, stress-free week...

Peace and happy scrapping,
Vanessa

Sketchbook Class: Day 2

Hello again! I've enjoyed receiving these sketches from Kelly Purkey and being inspired with the sample layouts provided. I'm finding it easy to just take the sketch and make it my own with the flexibility to add or eliminate some of the elements as I create my layout.

And I am loving some of the layouts that SC members are posting :)

Here's my second sketch layout of the week (I gotta take advantage of the time I have at home before I leave on vacation!) Again, I used the Echo Park Sweet Summertime collection.



Thanks for stopping by!

Peace and happy scrapping,
Vanessa

Sketchbook Class with Kelly Purkey

Yesterday was the first day of my Sketchbook Class with Kelly Purkey and the Studio Calico Design Team and I love it! I got my first sketch in my in box and I was inspired to create something last night.

I love that I can go at my own pace, but that I get 3 sketches a week with many different ideas :) I love that even when I leave town I could still come back and be inspired to create some more... and I love that the talented SC DT is part of this!

Here's my first layout based on the sketch:



Pretty much everything is from the Echo Park Sweet Summertime collection. It's so fun and colorful -- perfect for summer!

I cannot wait for the rest of the sketches!

Peace and happy scrapping,
Vanessa