Scrapbook Saturday-Pretty Pages

Hello! I have another quick post to share today.  We are officially on fall break and DD#2 and I are going to sneak some college visits into our week of relaxing and enjoying the beautiful fall weather.  But today is about getting a few more pages in the albums and I'm hoping to finish 2011 and 2012 by the end of next week.  Wish me luck!!

If my new pages go together as quickly as these did, I shouldn't have any trouble with that goal.  When I have the right pages, all I need are a few embellishments and some photo matting.  I'm not even sure where the first page came from... I'm thinking it may have been a gift from a crop since I don't remember buying it.  I added a few stickers and some pearl centered flowers and that was pretty much it.  The pink tab next to the second photo is actually a journaling block I tucked in behind the photo.  I haven't used this technique in a while, but I love how it keeps the pretty paper uncluttered. 

 The second page was equally easy.  I wasn't sure when I would ever use the alphabet paper, but this back to school photo worked perfectly.  I added a quote from a sheet and a journaling block from a Project Life kit I bought a loooong time ago. 

I really hope my pages don't get too boring for my blog viewers!  I really have a lot of memories to record in albums and time doesn't seem to be slowing down to wait for me to catch up!  I will probably take one day to work on cards since I'll be needing some birthday cards soon, and I really need to work on my Christmas cards if I'm going to have those ready in time. 

Well, I really need to do something productive like laundry and cleaning today, so I better end this with a thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous weekend!

I've been cheating...

Have you ever put together a few cards that were SO simple that you felt like you were cheating?  Well, I have always heard of people doing 5 minute and 10 minute cards, but put them in the same category with unicorns, comfortable dress shoes, and tasty calorie-free treats!  So I was a little shocked when I managed to knock out not one, but FOUR cards in about ten minutes-and most of that time was picking out my papers...  CRAZY!!!!

I also have a confession to make.  I know that Project Life is huge right now and there are so many people doing amazing things with these kits, but I cannot get into it!  I have tried several times to create those 'in a few minutes' scrapbook pages and spent over an hour trying to decide just how to make things work for me.  Since Stampin' UP is offering many stamps, kits, and supplies in the new catalog, I felt like I needed to give it another try.  I am still not sold on the scrapbooking part (I really like my big blank canvas approach), but I can see the benefit of using the kits for cards.

I used the retired Everyday Adventure kit to make my super simple cards.  Many of the papers have blank spaces for titles or writing.  This makes stamping really easy! Then all I had to do was trim the 4x6 pieces, attach them to my card bases, and add a little embellishing (or not!).

This card used another piece of pattern paper, 

two strips of washi, and I even used the piece

I cut off of the 4x6! No waste at all!!

                                                                                                                                                                     

I added a puffy 'doodad' sticker to this one.

The strip cut from the second card found its 

way to the bottom of this card.

 !

And this one doesn't have a single thing

added to it, other than the sentiment!

I'm still in a minor state of shock over how quick this went and how much I liked the finished cards.  Nice and flat for mailing too!  No lumpy cards here!!  The papers in this kit worked so well for the masculine style I was needing, and I'm sure the guys won't miss the ribbons and embellishments!

While I'm sure I won't give up my more traditional card making, it is nice to know that if it's crunch time, I can make a card (or four) in under ten minutes!

It's another busy day for our family tomorrow and this Mama is getting sleepy so it's off to bed with me!  Thanks so much for stopping by!  It makes my day a little brighter knowing that I'm not alone out here!!  Have a fantastic week!