Scrapbooking fever

The scrapbooker in me has been somewhat stagnant lately. I really didn't have anything that I was excited about scrapbooking, it seems that I just do the same themes and events over and over again. But we all got together for scrap night last night after work and I really challenged myself to do something different that would spark my interest.

Then it hit me, I am so stupid, of course I have something that I want to record and remember - my studio! Not only can I create a scrapbook of the experience, but it can also serve as a place to keep all of those photos and fabric swatches that inspire the interior design of the studio.

The scrapbook pages that I did last night turned out so beautifully that I wanted to share them. Hopefully you will be able to see my vision for the finished space!

These are the photographs that have given me inspiration. Many of them are from one of my all time favorite blogs - design sponge while others are from products for sale on Etsy, other blogs, and DIY websites. I especially love the photo of the kitchen with all of the white cabinets, the cabinets have been painted lime green on the inside, what a great idea, and a great way to use such a bright color so that it doesn't overwhelm.

Here are some of the fabrics and papers that I have collected to use for different decorative elements, curtains, cushions, picture frames, and other fun stuff that I haven't even thought of yet.

I chose to do all of the actual photographs in black and white because I didn't want any of the colors in the photos to distract from the color scheme that I had chosen for the design, and for the scrapbook. My intention for the studio is to have a place where everything belongs, where everything fits harmoniously. I really wanted to convey this in the scrapbook too.

I had the hardest time finding an album for this scrapbook, I looked everywhere, and in the end I never did find one. So I am planning on spiral binding these pages the same way that I bind all of my planners, but I can't do that until I am completely done, so for now I will just pray that nothing happens to my pages.

Let's get back to business

Since my life has been just a bit stressful and out of control lately, my recent break from work was exactly what I needed. A week and a half gave me just enough time to indulge myself, while still allowing me to appreciate how wonderful a little break can be. I must say that I am very proud of myself, even though I had a great deal of time to relax and spend with friends and family, I also managed to find time to volunteer and create some adorable new items for my Etsy shop.

As tonight is my last evening before I have to get back to the real world I definitely find myself wishing it could last just a little longer, so I thought that this would be the perfect time to share one of my holiday ideas with you.

One of my favorite activities this holiday season was gift wrapping. I know that some do not look forward to this particular activity, but because I do love any kind of paper craft, gift wrapping puts me totally in my element.

Call me crazy, but I love to mix and match paper styles and ribbon, and each year I challenge myself to create a gift tag that doubles as a special keepsake. This year I cut each recipient's first initial from stiffened felt. I used a fine-tip permanent marker to write their whole first name on the letter, and then I punched a hole in the initial and added an eyelet. When it was time to wrap I simply slipped the ribbon right through the eyelet. It was a great time saver!

Another great gift wrap tip: I loved my wrapping paper so much that I decided to use it as the background for my holiday related scrapbook pages. In order to make the paper stiff enough to hold photos and embellishments I simply wrapped a piece of card stock just like I would wrap a gift. Now I get to showcase my favorite holiday photos and have pieces of my beautiful gift wrap to remember forever!

I have a great deal of holiday photos to share with you, keep checking in, as I plan on sharing photos of gifts that I made for others as well as new items that I have recently added to my Etsy shop!