When my worlds collide

I scheduled this post to go up at 5pm on Saturday, May 26, 2012. I think it's fitting because, at that time, I will be starting my 5k run for Ottawa Race Weekend.

If you read my other blog Getting to 175lbs, you know that I started running the the fall of 2011. I never ever EVER thought I would be a runner. To this day, I can't believe I started running and it's even more amazing that I actually stuck with it.

Since running has become such an important part of my life, I decided to a) take pictures of myself before and after running, and b) create a scrapbook page about my running.

I called this blog post 'When my worlds collide' because fitness and scrapbooking are two very important parts of my life. However, they don't really go together. One involves sitting and using my brain to bring my creativity to life and the other involves moving, using my body and sweating (a lot).

Really, because I enjoy both activities so much, it's only natural that I make a scrapbook page about my running. I called it 'Why I Run' and here it is:

Like a lot of my layouts, there's a lot of white space. I used two pictures I had of myself in my running gear: one taken before I left to go run and one after my run was over. Guess which one is which! Anyway, I cut different lengths of different papers and I slightly layered them. If you notice, the paper on the far left is a sports themed paper. I thought it was appropriate.

I then added very simple embellishments:

I used the title as a jumping off point for my journalling. I have said several times that I strongly believe that journalling is a necessary component to the vast majority of scrapbooking pages. Journalling doesn't have to be long but, in this case, it is. I had lots to say on the topic!

I encourage any one who scrapbooks and has a love of sports to make your worlds collide. As scrapbookers, we tend to be the picture takers and we tend to scrapbook everyone else but ourselves. Why not make a page focused on YOU?!

Thanks for looking and happy scrappin'!

My NAV Experience

In mid-April, I went with the Scrapbooking Divas to the NAV Centre for my first scrapbooking retreat. I wanted to blog about my experience before now but time just did not permit. I have 3 blogs to update people! Still, I have managed to blog about projects that I completed while at NAV. You can read about Anabelle's Album and my Buffalo pages on my blog and on Auntie Em's blog.

Anyway, getting back to my experience at NAV, it was fantastic! It was 2.5 days of scrapbooking goodness! It was so nice to be steps from my room and food. The scrap space we had was wall-to-wall windows so the room was nice a bright. I got lots of scrapbooking done but best of all, I spent quality time with the Divas and met some great people.

Here is a picture of me taking a booze break from scrapbooking. See the great windows?!

Other than the projects I already blogged about, I made one double-page layouts and one single-page layout. Here is a picture of the double-page layout:

This layout features recent pictures of Sam and I playing in the backyard this spring, just after the snow had melted.

On the first page, I kept it simple. I started, as always, with a piece of cardstock. I then layered two pattern papers from the Country Drive collection by Echo Park. It's no secret, I love Echo Park! This is one of many Echo Park collections that I own.

I distressed the edge of the blue pattern paper and used Distress Ink afterwards. I also distressed the edges of my pictures and glued them on the pages slightly overlapped. I added the cream ribbon vertically.

Next, I used the Big Shot to create a journalling box. I added my cluster of flowers. I made most of the flowers myself!

For the title, I used Close to My Heart cork letters. I love these letters! Bonus: they are self-adhesive.

I kept it pretty simple on the second page as well. I used the 'vertical band' photo placement.

On the right side of the vertical band, I used a detailed border punch. The paper was originally white. I used Glimmer Mist in Crème de Cocoa to change the colour. I repeated the same ribbon as on the first page but I placed it horizontally here.

I used the Big Shot a lot on this layout. I used it to create the butterflies, the journalling box and the small doilies.

The last page I made during the scrapbooking retreat was a one-page layout featuring my little guy with his toy guitar. Music is in Sam's genes. My husband Matt is a guitarist and was in a band for years.

My friend Natalie says that I embrace white space. Yes I do and I'm proud of it! White space, if properly used, allow the pictures to stand out and not the technique. Still, I did use techniques on this page!

I wanted to tone down the pattern paper so I used Perfect Pearls in Perfect Pearl. I cropped my pictures and a piece of the sprayed pattern paper to the same dimensions and glued them in a square pattern. I added the blue ribbon for a pop of colour. I created my own journalling box using white paper, a piece of the same pattern paper and a border punch.

I added two clusters of embellishments by using buttons, corrugated cardboard and twine, aka 'manly' embellishments,

And there you have it folks, my NAV experience. I can't wait to go again in the fall. The Divas will take over Cornwall again!