Mikelle
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Posts posted by Mikelle
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On 4/5/2024 at 1:25 PM, Junkwithsteph said:
Hi all! Unfortunately, this was my first attempt at branching out from Junk Journal digitals, to Scrapbook digitals, so I will be posting my 12x12 content in my Etsy store, but I am not currently on any other Scrapbook type forum/store. If anyone ever wants to keep apprised of all things "Junkwithsteph" then please check my website as you can find me anywhere! I have a KOFI where I share AT LEAST 1 free printable digital every single day. I also have recently started selling some books on Amazon containing my digitals as well.
I don't know if I am going to try and get on a different website. I have been feeling like my papers and art style are not a good fit for digital scrapbooking, as it looks so very different in comparison to everything else I have seen. I also have not seen a good turnout in sales regarding the papers either so I don't know if it's worth pursuing. However, if I do dare to continue and find another store/website for Digital Scrapbooking products, I will definitely update my website with a link so... idk what else to say. It's been so wonderful here. Thank you all!@Junkwithsteph I wanted to tell you that I absolutely love your papers, and I think they're perfect for scrapbooking. I love the patterns, and your deep colors and contrasts are gorgeous. I'm going through the shop right now, and I'll be buying some of your paper sets. I wish I could get them all. Have you heard of Spoonflower? I think your designs would be perfect there, too. It's a little like Etsy, except designers (anyone) upload their designs, and then customers can order several things with your design on it. They mostly sell fabric and wallpaper; I've bought quilting fabric from Spoonflower before, and I love that the fabric designs are one of a kind, from people all over.
It's hard to overcome the "no outside links" rule, but I think now is OK to post a link: https://www.spoonflower.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Spoonflower_Branded_US&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2uiwBhCXARIsACMvIU2n1hIJ7uhcFweqmkWHI-ySlDCPaZkP_pO589DxLIZL7eW5xJNZsvIaAqOVEALw_wcB. Or just in case that doesn't work: Spoonflower
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I've been mulling all of this over since Angie's announcement, trying to decide how I feel about it all, where I want to possibly "land," and how I want to move forward in general with scrapping from here. Long post, get some coffee...
Transparency... ha ha, I know the site is going down in a couple of weeks, so this post will disappear! I've been on the Welcoming Committee for a few years now, which I've really enjoyed and I'm very grateful that I had the chance to do something like that (thank you April, Angie, and Anne-Marie for choosing me and/or giving me the opportunity). I have to say though, my post-military life has not turned out exactly as I'd hoped or envisioned. I have less time than I hoped I would (my "part-time" job isn't as part-time as I thought it would be), but even more than that, in the few years since I retired from the military, my Parkinson's symptoms really started to ramp up, and that has very much put a damper on everything for me. For the past several years I've had a very hard time staying motivated to scrap (or do anything else), since I wasn't feeling well. I'm happy to say that I feel much better now that I know what's wrong with me and I know how to minimize the symptoms, but motivation and pushing through being tired is still a daily struggle.
I have to work - DH is stay at home, so I'm the sole breadwinner of our family, and my kids are heading toward college. I've been thinking for the past year that I probably need to reign my life in, make things simpler for a while, to ensure that I'm able to do the things that I really NEED to do, like make sure my teens are healthy and happy (the pandemic fall-out has not made that easy), keep my house somewhat in control (my gosh, teenagers and pets are a mess), and I absolutely need to re-assess how to manage my health issues. Exercise is important anyway, but it's really mandatory in Parkinson's, as a way to slow down progression of the disease and minimize symptoms. Stress management is also essential, and there have been some issues in my extended family over the past few years that have made that very difficult.
Anyway, to sum this up, for the past year I've been feeling like I need to make some major changes, but I've not really done anything yet. I never would have wanted SG to close, but silver lining for me, I'm thinking this might be the first change in my life that will motivate me to make others. That old saying, unexpected endings mean new beginnings? Something like that.
I still have scrapping goals, and continuing with documenting my family life will factor into my new plans, but I think I probably won't be as active on message boards and/or with posting as I have been at SG in the past. More broadly, how much time I spend on the computer, internet, and/or staring at screens like my iPad and phone just wasting time - that has to change. I have to make an effort to be up and moving more, and that will mean reducing my screen/computer time, which also in turn means reducing the number of sites I'm on and/or online forums/groups I'm interacting with.
As many others have said, I don't particularly like Facebook anymore - I am quite opinionated myself regarding things like politics, and Facebook drastically ramps up the stress I feel when I read things that make me angry or sad. I have to force myself to not engage with the online crazy-makers, and at times that has meant I've had to completely shut down FB for a while. I have kept my FB account mostly for Parkinson's groups, quilting how-to's, and to maintain contact with old friends and some family. I'm sad to say though, I've had to weed out too many old friends and family who have just gone down too many online rabbit holes. I felt I had to, in order to manage my own stress levels.
So, where will I be in the future... if the SG private FB group is established, I will be part of it, but might not be very active only because I need to draw down my online presence in general. I've been a member at Ginger Scraps for quite a while, and I have a very small gallery of layouts there (Sprite is my GS name), but I haven't posted on GS for years. I'll probably participate in challenges there once in a while. I also do like Digital Scrapper, I've had an account there for several years too, and I might end up being a little more active there, maybe do some classes or tutorials. But I think that may be it, for now.
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I dropped in over there and said hello. I took a class a few years ago, and so I already had an account. Glad the site remembered me!
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58 minutes ago, Jane in N.Z said:
Well mine is a bit jumbled but its the thoughts that came to mind of my time at Scrap Girls over the years. I joined in 2006
Your layout is perfect. 💕
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2 hours ago, April Showers said:
While it is a bit late now, it is pretty easy for me to merge two forum user accounts.
😂 Good to know, lol
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Yes, just one "monthly" challenge this month - our last month with our beloved Scrap Girls. This challenge will not have a prize, but I'd love to see your layouts all the same, if you feel compelled to make one.
This month's challenge: Create a layout conveying what Scrap Girls has meant to you over the years. Your layout can be any type - a list, art journal, just colors and shapes - as long as it means something to you, as long as you think of Scrap Girls when you see this layout in the future. The only requirement is that the layout include the approximate date that you joined Scrap Girls. (If you go to your profile, the upper left shows you "Date Joined." Mine says August 28th, 2010, although I'll be using my actual join date in 2007... 2010 was a new profile. I was lazy, it was easier to make a new profile than request a new password, lol).
When your layout out is done, upload it to the Monthly Challenge Gallery, then come back to this thread, leave a link to your layout, and any thoughts or comments you have. 💕
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Layout #4, Task 6! Saturday, March 30th:
Well, I have to admit that I considered adding something more - but since it's Easter weekend I will be good! 😃
TASK: Add last adjustments like shadows, date, etc, and then when you're happy with your layout, upload it to the Slow Scrap Gallery. Whew, finally! Come back to this thread and leave a link to your layout so we can all admire it!
YAAAAYYYY! Remember you have until midnight tomorrow night (Sunday night, March 31st, midnight ET) to upload this last layout to be eligible for week 4 drawing; you've got until then to post any other layouts you're missing, in order to be eligible for the grand prize drawing! Winners will be posted in April's weekly winners post (I think - I will check with her).
Thank you to everyone for playing this month, I've had a lot of fun! And ummmm... can I come out from behind the couch yet?
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Layout #4, Task 5 (Friday already?!!! March 29th):
We're almost to the end, and your layouts are beautiful!
TASKS:
1. Find an embellishment of your choice (flower? button? bird?) and add it to your title. For example, if you choose a small flower, layer it over the edge of one of your title letters. If you wish, you may add more than one (duplicate the one, or add more unique embellishments). Voila! You've turned your title into word art!
2. You have a mad, mad choice to make:
a. remove two of your existing embellishments (the one(s) on your title is/are off limits) AND add one patterned paper in some way (blended or layered, but must be seen);
OR
b. remove one paper AND add two embellishments, one of which must be a creature of some sort.
Oh the madness! I will miss it so much. 🤭
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10 hours ago, alsoarty said:
I changed a lot... and the accent color from purple to blue, both are complimentary to yellow. So here is where I am.
This is turning out gorgeous!
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Layout #4, Task 4 (Thursday, March 28th):
I'm loving the layouts! You all are doing great! Are we stretching like little rubber bands? 😄
TASKS:
1. Uh-oh... not sure you'll like this one, but I think it will stretch your creativity... Carla has already kind of done this on her layout: Duplicate one of your photos or a part of one of your photos, and layer it onto or under the original photo(s). Make sure we can see at least part of it (especially if you layer it under). There are several possibilities for this task, some more obvious than others. Here are some suggestions:
a. You could choose a part of the photo and blow it up larger, shadow it to make it stand out, and/or angle it
b. You could duplicate the entire photo (maybe even multiple times), stack the duplicates and turn them at odd angles (Carla's done this already).
c. You could extract a duplicate of something from one of your photos (a flower, person, etc) and layer it on in some way.
2. Add some journaling to your page, or if you don't particularly like journaling, find at least two word-arts and/or word strips to add. Or do both of these options! 🤪
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17 hours ago, Florida granny said:
Here's a little trick I do to find a complementary color on my layouts: Click on the paper (in my case a brown paper), then go to Filter > Adjustments > Invert. It automatically changes the color to its complement. (Just remember to invert again to get it back to its original color. )
Oh... that's a pretty blue! Now to find blue embellishments.... that don't look weird with the bird.
This IS brilliant, I did not know to do this! I'm behind, but I can't wait to try this, thank you!
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1 hour ago, Tracy said:
Alright. I arranged things and framed the photo. I added buttons from Kissing booth and Spring break. I added the flower and gem from Birthstone flowers and used a beautiful pink flower from Mischief Makers.
I love this photo, lol!
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Layout #4, Task 3 (Wednesday, March 27th):
The layouts are looking great! I've been so impressed with how everyone has handled this month's "madness!"
TASKS:
1. NOW... add 4 more embellishments, but choose embellishments that complement one or both of the colors you already chose. What are complementary colors? They are opposite each other on the color wheel (I won't post a link here, but Google color wheel, and you'll be able to find your complementary colors; a basic example, red and blue are complementary, they are opposite each other on the color wheel). If you already have two colors that are complementary to each other, then instead choose 4 embellishments that are white or black, whichever you don't already have (for example, if you already chose to use white, now find 4 mostly black embellishments). Make sense? Madness, I tell you!
2. Create a title for your layout using at least one alpha. Wait... this is too easy... tilt or rotate your letters in some way, or place them unevenly on your layout. 😃
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We've got a color challenge for you this week: RED! I'm seeing red! Create a layout using red, or a red theme. When your layout is complete, post it to the Weekly Newsletter Challenge Gallery, then come back to this thread and leave a link to your layout. If you're participating in March's Challenge Chase, don't forget to post a link in that thread too. Happy scrapping!
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Layout #4, Task 2 (Tuesday, March 26th):
TASKS - today isn't too hard! 😁
1. Frame your photo in some way (make a frame for it, or find one from a collection), OR mask your photo.
2. Find 5 unique embellishments to use on your layout. Try to match them with your chosen colors (there is a reason for this coming soon...)
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The tracker is updated! I'm trying to work on my own PL layouts today a little - I'm having a hard time sitting at my computer for very long lately, too much running around.
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I am off work today (Monday) - I'm hoping to get a little caught up on my own layouts, and leave some love on everyone else's! I can't wait to pore over everyone's AJ layouts from last week!
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Welcome to Layout #4! This is our last week of March Madness. Prizes will be announced at the very end - oh, the anticipation! You've got until Sunday night at midnight, March 31st, to upload all 4 layouts from this month, in order to be eligible for the grand prize.
Layout #4, Task 1 (Monday, March 25th):
1. Find a photo (or photos) that you think will work well, and change it/them to black and white.
2. Choose ONE or TWO main colors to use for your layout, and then choose either black OR white to use in addition to the other one or two colors.
3. Find 5 papers that fit your color theme; if there are other colors in the papers you choose, that is fine, but try to choose papers that mostly fit the one or two colors you've chosen. You may crop them, layer them, blend them, whatever you'd like, for your background behind your photo(s).
Woo hoo, off to the races! 😃
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Layout #3, Task 6 (Saturday, March 23rd)
TASK: You made it to the end of your Art Journal of Madness layout! Last minute tweaks - move things around, add shadows, adjust opacity, etc - then upload your layout to the Slow Scrap Gallery and leave a link to your layout in this thread. Happy Saturday!
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Speaking of March Madness, tonight was the first real night of NCAA tournament games - both Gonzaga and WSU (Washington State University) won! I'm in Spokane, so we've always cheered on the Zags. I remember yeeeaaaarrrrssss ago when I was in dental school in Maryland, one of my roommates (who was from Connecticut) mentioned March Madness, and said something about some random team named Gonzaga (she pronounced it Gonzaahhhga) being in it that she'd never heard of. I was so surprised - really, like Gonzaga from Spokane?!!! It was the first year the Zags made it into the tournament, they were a Cinderella team that year - and if I remember right, they made it to the final 4! Out of nowhere. I had never paid any attention to March Madness until then, but I have ever since, no matter where I've lived.
Does anyone else here pay attention to the NCAA tournament? If so, who are you rooting for?
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Layout #3, Task 5 (Friday, March 22nd):
Aaaawwww, we've already reached Friday? Darn, I had so many more things to add to these AJ layouts. Guess I have to pick and choose...
TASKS:
1. Find a quote or song lyrics that go with your theme, and add it to your layout. Remember if things are getting really crowded and/or busy, you can reduce the opacity, blend things in so they are subtle and part of the background, adjust colors to more closely match the background - all of these techniques will add texture to your layout but will help lessen the busy-ness. I love AJ pages that at first glance don't look too complicated, but then the longer you admire it, the more you notice - like hidden treasures.
Of course you don't have to make your quote/lyrics subtle if you don't want to. Shout it to the world!
2. Find or create a scatter to add to your layout. Some ideas, you can find pre-made scatters in collections, or create your own using a dynamic brush or by placing several small elements (like sequins, stars, etc) scattered about in a loose cluster or line.
Woo hoo, you're all doing awesome, I love these layouts! 🥰
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Layout #3, Task 4 (Thursday, March 21st):
Oh what fun that last task was! More fun for me, hearing all the (good-natured) grumbling! 🤣 Ready for this next weird task?
TASK: I know some of the layouts are getting quite full at this point, and today's task will add even more to your page. Today we'll add a few embellishments, and same as with the words from yesterday, you may blend them in or not, make them bigger or smaller, cluster them or scatter them, etc. Here are the requirements, though:
1. You may choose however many embellishments to add to your layout, but the minimum number will be two, BECAUSE...
2. One of your embellishments must be something that starts with the first letter of your first name, and a second embellishment must start with the first letter of your last name. For example, my initials are MK, so I might choose a mulberry for M and... a kite for K.
LOL, good luck finding embellishments that go with your theme... OH! Did I say that out loud? Very sorry, mic was on. 😆 😈 🥸
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11 hours ago, Belle said:
Task 3 If I use Lukas, I would only have to use One word art and no word strips. 😁
But Lukas is not in your generation! I'm obviously angling for lots of words... I was afraid someone might use a grandchild's age, if I didn't specify! 😄
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Layout #3, Task 3 (Wednesday, March 20th):
Wow, I really think everyone's layouts are looking great! I love art journal layouts... but this is March Madness, right? Let's get crazy! 🤪 Read through the entire directions below, so that you know all of your options.
TASK steps:
1. For this task, you can choose to use one of a few numbers: EITHER your age, OR the last two numbers of the year you were born in; second option is to use the age or year of birth of a friend or family member who is also within your generation. Want to hear more before you choose? I thought so! What IS this craziness? See #2 below.
2. Assuming you will have a double-digit number no matter which of the above you use, you will take the first number (the decade) and find or create that number of word-arts to scatter around your page. Then take the second number of your double digit and find or create that number of word strips to use on your page.
Here's an example: I'm 53, and I was born in 1971, so I can choose to use either 53 or 71. Ummmm... either way I'll have 8 words scattered around. I'll choose 53. So I need to find 5 word-arts and 3 word strips that help convey my art journaling theme. If I had chosen to use 71 instead, I would find 7 word-arts and 1 word strip. Make sense?
If you're not too excited about revealing how old you are, then use the age or birth year of your spouse or other family, or a good friend - but that person needs to be within your own generation.
Today is only Wednesday, so we do have at least two more crazy steps to endure (Thursday and Friday at least), so put your word-art and word strips on your page, but you may rearrange them later if you wish. You also may choose to blend them in or not, as you wish.
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Where are you going to be?
in News & Announcements
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I still haven't found any new motivation to scrap lately. But, I have been looking at all of my supplies and plotting how I'm going to possibly reorganize them, partly because SG is closing, but also because DH got me a much bigger EHD, and we'll need to transfer EVVVVVVERYTHING over soon. Yikes, that will take forever. The timing is good with SG closing, though. I told DH we'll wait to mess with the new EHD until after April 30th. 😔
I have been a member of Gingerscraps for several years, and I have quite a bit of product from there - but I have never bothered to keep track of what designers are still there, what kits are still being sold vs retired, etc. I've taken part in the Cookie Jar challenges before, and it was fun, but I really don't want to have to worry so much about whether designers/collections are retired or not. Ugh. And if I don't take part in the Cookie Jar challenges, then some of the incentive to post layouts is gone.
One thing I've almost always made sure to keep up with at Gingerscraps is the daily download. If you don't know about it, check it out on their blog - as long as you make sure to check the blog every three or four days, you'll be able to keep up with the downloads, and by the end of each month you'll have a complete collection for free. It really is an awesome deal. Then, the following month there is always a Daily Download challenge, where you scrap a layout with the previous month's DD collection. I think Anne-Marie mentioned this in another post somewhere, but I'll just mention it again. It's a good deal! I think I will eventually do the Daily Download challenge each month at GS.
Other than that, I think once I get my feet under me again, reorganized on my new EHD, and get my mojo back, I'll probably post LO's in the new Facebook group, and on Digital Scrapper. Both of those places will be much easier, not having to worry about where designers are and if the supplies I want to use are still active.