:BE INSPIRED: Creativity Prompts - August 2009

Here it is...

The August 2009 edition of the :Be Inspired: Creativity Prompts (formally known as Daily Inspirations) is now ready for free download!

I've been formulating this redesign in my head for a while now and so appreciated the comments of those of you that responded to my recent survey. You really helped me get a better handle on the direction I wanted to go and I think you will find many exciting changes in this month's download.

Here are a few of the key features of the new :Be Inspired: Creativity Prompts:

3-page format:

• With the old format, I simply wasn't able to include the quantity and variety of prompts that I wished. Sometimes I had a prompt that I knew you would love, but it wouldn't fit in the challenge square format. I guess you could say, I felt a little boxed in. :-) Also, I made certain that there was plenty of room to 3-hole punch without cutting off any text in case you'd like to print them off and collect them in a binder to refer to whenever the mood strikes you.

Sketches:

• I heard you loud and clear. Sketches are certainly a favorite among scrappers and I hope you enjoy the two I've given you to play with in this month's edition. Sketches will be a regular feature from here on out.

Date Inspired Prompts:

• Personally, I have always been greatly inspired by calendar-based events and while these types of prompts were included in the old format, this new grouped format allows me to expand and improve the visual connection between those types of prompts.

Color Prompts:

• Again, while included in the old format, these color prompts are custom designed and bigger (literally) and better!

Challenge Squares:

• Yup, they're still there. Check out the bottom of page 3. Many of you said that you loved the old format, so I knew I couldn't get rid of the squares all together, so you'll find them under Product & Technique Inspired. You can use them alone are along with the other prompts included in the monthly download.

PLEASE SHARE:
If you like what you see, please share!! I have also created a couple banners for the :Be Inspired: Creativity Prompts, so if you'd be willing to share on your own blog or forum signature, I greatly appreciate it! Go here to download a banner!

THIS MONTH'S PRIZE:
An grab bag full of amazing Making Memories products including a 6x6 paper pad (great for photo mats and layering), letter stickers, ribbon, crystal brads and more!!

Download the FREE August 2009 :Be Inspired: Creativity Prompts now and start scrapping!!

I have also updated the :Be Inspired: Creativity Prompts Information & Instruction Sheet which includes all the steps for submitting your entry for the monthly drawing, so be sure to download that as well.

REMINDER:
It's not too late for your chance to be inspired and win the July 2009 Daily Inspirations prize! Layouts can be submitted until Wednesday, August 5th, 11:59 PM (CST) for a chance to win!

:PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Die Cuts with a View Premium Stacks...

When I first started scrapping, I bought a lot (and I mean a lot) of the stacks by DCWV. It was a cost-effective way to get a lot of paper (I think those stacks used to have 180 sheets or something crazy like that) and there was always room for error since every stack had three sheets of every pattern.

As I grew in my craft and developed my personal style of scrapping, I got a little more particular about the papers I spent my money on...and I pretty much abandoned the DCWV stacks.

However, in the past couple of years, DCWV has really stepped up their game and started releasing some really beautiful (and high quality) stacks again - called premium stacks.

The beautiful designs are also often enhanced with glitter, foil, embossing and other amazing textured finishes.

They have recently release 8 NEW PREMIUM STACKS!!
Be Mine Stack:
The vintage flair to these delicate patterns or perfect for some lovely layouts!
The Crafty Stack:
What better patterns could you find for scrapping about all your crafty endeavours??
The Doodlin' Around Stack:
If you love the look of doodles, but can't quite achieve the desired effect with your own hand-drawing, this stack is perfect for you!

The Downtown Loft Stack
A little urban...a little retro...these patterns are sure to create a little downtown flair.
The Generation Tech Stack:
With bright colors and fun shapes, this stack is perfect for scrapping the teens in your life!

The Mainstreet Stack:
This stack will have you daydreaming about your childhood hometown.
The Mod-Retro Stack:
This stack has me thinking of June Cleaver's kitchen!! Wouldn't this be a great stack for creating a recipe album or even some heritage layouts?The Rustic Stack:
The warm, distressed earth tones of this stack have a certain vintage elegance...

If you see one (or two...or three...) that you like, you should head on over to Joann.com!

Right now they have these brand new stacks and more on sale for 50% off! That's only $9.99 for a stack of 48 sheets of stunning patterned paper! That's like $.20 per sheet!!

READER POLL:


Please share why your favorite is your favorite in the comments below! They are all wonderful, but interested to see if there will be a 'clear' favorite.

:PHOTOS: On the tracks...

I can hardly believe it, but was February when I last took Kaitlin out for a dedicated photo shoot!!! It had been mere days before I broke my leg - which obviously put a damper on my photo taking capabilities for awhile. I'm sure that is longer than ever before (at least since I went digital several years ago.

Of course, I've taken the usual 'everyday' and 'event' shots, but no portrait type shots and I have MISSED it...

She had gotten this blue jean skirt and green tank top for her birthday earlier this summer that I have been wanting to shoot her in ever since then so last night we finally went out for a shoot.

I'm always scouting our small town for new locations and have never taken any pics of her on the railroad tracks that run through town and thought that might fit her outfit well.

What do you think??

At first, I didn't think I had that many that I liked...sometimes it's hard to tell on that tiny little screen what you've really got...especially when outside because they don't show up that well on my screen in sunlight.

...but once I got home and started doing a little color tweaking, straightening (or tilting in some cases), and cropping...

...I ended up liking quite a few of the shots we took.

I gave her minimal direction...most of the poses are completely her own...

...she is quite the 'poser' sometimes!

I think that this is my favorite shot of the night! I love that little knee sticking out!

However, I do quite love this one also...it was one of those happy accidents. I almost deleted it because Kaitlin was out of focus, but then I caught myself and took another look and fell in love.

I can already see a scrapbook layout featuring this photo with some introspective journaling about her future and the path (tracks) she may follow...can you see it??

Then we went across the street to take some pics on this little walking bridge.

I really tried to get some close-ups, but she wasn't having it.

Notice the tattoo?? It is fake, of course...she's been on a little rub on tattoo kick lately, but I figured in this case it might even add to the location shots.

I'd love to hear what you think of these. Any favorites? Any suggestions?

Until the next shoot (hopefully much sooner than 5 months from now!!)...

:QUOTES: on COLOR according to Wilde, O'Keeffe, & Addison

OSCAR WILDE:
"Mere color, unspoiled by meaning, and unallied with definite form, can speak to the soul in a thousand ways."

GEORGIA O'KEEFFE:
"I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way--things I had no words for."

JOSEPH ADDISON:
"Colors speak all languages."

Photo: A Splash of Color by Rackat

:LAYOUT: The daughter catches fish...the dad catches moss...

Whenever my husband (who has fished all his life) and my daughter go fishing, she always seems to catch more than him and it’s just so funny!!

He hasn't taken Kaitlin fishing much this summer (maybe it's a little too hard on his ego), but summer just seems to be slipping away from us this year.

We're still hoping to go camping one weekend, but we'll just have to see.

Anyway, with this layout I wanted to let the photos and the large title tell the story. I wanted to highlight the photo of the two of them together with their ‘catch’ so I double-matted it.

The two parts of the large title are balanced by placing one part on the upper left and the other on the bottom right.

Supplies:
Adhesive: Duck
Cardstock: Bazzill
Patterned Paper: We R Memory Keepers
Alpha Stickers, Alpha Rub Ons: Making Memories
Alpha Chipboard, Rub Ons: Basic Grey
Ink: Colorbox
Scallop Punch: Fiskars

:DAILY INSPIRATIONS: 10 days left to submit for the July giveaway...

Don't forget to submit your entries for the July 2009 Daily Inspirations giveaway!

You have 10 crafty days left your chance to win the complete Cosmo Cricket Honey Pie Crafting Kit!

For fully submission details, go here.

:REVIEW: Scrapbook Secrets by Kimber McGray

You would think that after scrapbooking for 7+ years and all the idea books and crafting magazines that I've read that their wouldn't be any 'secrets' left that I haven't heard, but I was proven wrong as I read Scrapbook Secrets: Shortcuts and Solutions Every Scrapbooker Needs to Know by Kimber McGray.

In the intro, Kimber describes her book as containing "...50 basic techniques that will make scrapbooking easier and your layouts more interesting."

While the word 'basic' may be used to describe the technique itself, the layout results highlighted in this book are certainly not (basic, that is)!

The book is divided into 4 chapters:

Chapter 1 - Best Practices: Secrets of Scrapbook Basics

• This chapter includes "best design secrets and helpful tool how-tos."
• 15 secrets are revealed ranging from how to successfully draw your color scheme from your photos to how to maintain your sanity when working with eyelets and brads. (Admit it...as cute as they are, we all know those little buggers can be a pain in the a** sometimes!)

Chapter 2 - Easier Ways: Secrets to Simpler Scrapping

• This chapter proves that "there is always an easier way to complete even simple tasks."
• 13 secrets are revealed including how to use a punch to create uniformly sized photos and how to create quick tags to embellish your layouts in a multitude of ways.

Chapter 3 - Making Do: Secrets to Scrapping in a Pinch

• This chapter shows how making up for missing embellishments or fixing a 'mistake' can actually lead to a better layout.
• 11 secrets are revealed including tool tricks to creating perfect rings and creating a successful mixed-font title.

Chapter 4 - Who Knew?: Secrets That May Surprise You

• This chapter will have you looking at your tools and supplies in a whole new light!
• 10 secrets are revealed including using stamps to create custom die-cuts and creating scallop borders without a scallop punch or trimmer.

There are over 60 amazing layouts and over a dozen stunning cards included in this book demonstrating each and every one of the 50 scrapbooking secrets outlined in this book. Each scrapbook secret is accompanied by detailed instructions and photos to guide you along the way.

There is a list of 17 amazingly talented contributors (including the author), so there is a wide range of themes and styles included...a little something for everyone.

The contributors include: Yvonne Busdeker, Lisa Dorsey, Summer Fullerton, Paula Gilarde, Linda Harrison, Sarah Hodgkinson, Kim Hughes, Marci Lambert, Vivian Masket, Kim Moreno, Janet Ohlson, Melissa Phillips, Janelle Richmond, Katrina Simeck, Sherry Stevenson, and Anja Wade.

READER RESPONSE:
Have you read this book? Tell us what you think of it in the comments below.

WANT TO READ MORE OR PURCHASE?
Visit the Scrapbook Secrets page at Amazon.com. You can also read more of my reviews for other recommendations.

UPCOMING REVIEW:
The Scrapbooker's Creativity Kit: Prompts And Ideas To Jump Start Your Layouts by Claudine Hellmuth