Design Challenges is starting soon! All of us can use a little design inspiration now and then, so this class is a must-take in my opinion! You'll not only find inspiration for a ton of layouts, you'll learn to look at the world around you in a new way!

And the winner of the Pinterest Design Challenge is Kim! This is such a fantastic layout, with such a special story! Georgia is definately adorable!

And as promised here are a few pictures of my daughter's new "big girl" room. What a nightmare! Am I the only one who bites off WAY more than she can chew with these DIY projects?

I think I'll be creating some scrapbook pages soon, using ideas from this room...The wall and fabric colors/patterns are a great starting point for a scrapbook page (small print, large print, solids); the ombre drapes could be translated into any number of ombre color schemes on a page; the chevron stripes on the wall, well, I LOVE anything chevron.

And here's the little cutie that convinced me to create this room for her!

And guess what!?! We are SO close to announcing two new classes that will give you the opportunity to take your creativity and all-around craftiness off the page and onto some fabric! Both of these classes are perfect for beginners and serious-stitchers alike.

Amy Powers is almost done with her first BPC class, Happy Go Lucky Stitchalong. This workshop will help you create an embroidered sampler that represents all of the things that make you happy.

Designer Amy Hall, of amykathryn handbags has created a fabulous class that will teach you the basics of designing a bag, creating a pattern, and then sewing a bag. How amazing is that!?!

A big thank you to those of you who participated in the challenge. It was fun to see your layouts in the gallery! I hope that all of you keep seeing inspiration in the things around you.

Thanks for letting me pop in here and give some insight into my upcoming workshop. (so excited!!)

Q. What if I don't have the specific product you use in the class projects?

A. The thing that is so fun about a Big Picture class… is that you can take the ideas, and techniques that I share and teach, and use whatever you want to execute your project! In this class, as you know, I will be specifically teaching using my new “memory files”…this concept involves creating very interactive elements inside file folders. The same ideas can be used on scrapbook pages and mini-books… so come to class with an open mind, and the intent to really make each week’s project YOU!

I did release 3 sets of ‘file folders’ that I will be using as I create “memory files”, but you can also choose to use regular, and colored file folders, or even decorative file folders. I have seen lots of different kinds of decorative file folders at office and paper stores, gift boutiques as well as online! You could also choose to cover a regular file folder with your favorite papers.

Q. What projects will we have at the end of the class?

A. We will be creating one project per week. I will be sharing/instructing on one “memory file” each week. But if you are a more traditional scrapbooker, or you might want to make that specific project into a mini… that is up to you. short answer: 12 memory file projects or 12 scrapbook layouts or 12 mini albums or an assortment of the aforementioned.

Q. I want to create page layouts instead of Memory Files, can I do that instead?

A. Absolutely- you can have as little or as much emphasis on the interactivity of the project elements. Also I teach favorite tips along the way, for example in the first week I talk about handwriting.

Q. What themes/topics does your class cover?

A. Everything from personality toChristmas to  travel. What topics you choose to scrapbook will be personal and come as a result of your unique experiences observing, and I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Q. What timeline and format will the projects be presented in?

A. Each week on

Wednesday you will receive a CLUE that will be a keyword that is a hint to that week’s theme. 

Thursday you will get the “observation assignments and techniques” in a audio recording of me explaining the Observations etc..

Sunday, I’ll share a video and provide PDF step by step instructions to complete the project.

That will happen for 12 weeks! There will be a couple chats, tons of images,  and a webshow sprinkled in there!

Q. What are you most excited about sharing in this class?

A. I love how designing this class has made me more aware of my thoughts and feelings about what is going on around me. I love how ‘authentic’ the projects are, and I LOVE the Memory Files. I love the freedom and creativity that they allow! I know you will love them too!

Q. Is there something you want us to know about the projects you are sharing in the class?

A. Here is the deal: this class is about scrapbooking. it’s about documenting your life—but from a different perspective. In everything there is beauty… we will find it. Whether you want to make scrapbook pages- or minibooks or even just write in the Observation Journal, and take photos. And THINK. You will be able to take new photos, use phone photos, and you will also be able to go back through your boxes of photos (or computer folders) and pull your existing photos and memories and create with those. There is something for everyone! And the great thing about this class is that you can make it what is best for you! make it your style, and what works for you!
 

Join in with me to make pretty stuff, class starts next week!

Oh and watch my live webshow April 4th at 7:00. Details on my blog here.

Listen to Heidi and Stacy on Paperclipping roundtable discussing this class and more.

See more images of the class on Heidi's site

The Memory File: Start Sharing from Heidi Swapp on Vimeo.

I love this One Little Word layout from BPC student Cheri Andrews. I asked her to share a little about it, and here's what she said: 

I’ve been a BPC student since 2006. I’m a junkie!  I’d be embarrassed to admit how many classes are listed on “My Classes” page. This year I’m enrolled in the Trifecta of year-long classes: Twelve. with Stacy Julian, One Little Word with Ali Edwards, and Move More Eat Well with Cathy Zielske – three of my most fave teachers at BPC! 

Mother's Day here in the U.S. is coming up quick. I like to do something a little special for my mom and mother-in-law each year. As a busy, working mom myself, I don't always find the time but if I plan ahead, I know I can pull it off. I want to share with you a couple ideas that you can do at home to create a meaningful Mother's Day gift from the heart.

This first gift idea is something I started several years ago. I made the first one for my mom, for her birthday. She absolutely loved it and to be honest I don't think she's ever received a greater gift and no matter what I do now, it won't top this one. It was such a hit that I went on to make one for my dad for father's day/birthday (they often fall on the same day) and made them for my mother-in-law and father-in-law too. Each time the reaction was the same - a few tears, but happy tears, lots of hugs and laughter.

The "We Love You Because..... " Gift

The concept is so simple and the project is quick to assemble. It's easy to involve the whole family and the kiddos too. For my mom's gift I sent an email to all six of my brothers and sisters (yep, I come from a huge family of SEVEN kids!). I asked them each to fill in the blank "I love you because ________________." about our mom. I told them their responses could be deep and heartfelt, a simple one word response, silly, etc. It didn't matter. Each of us had about 7 reasons we needed to give to round out the number of cards I wanted to give her. I asked them to email me back their responses because some of us live in different states. I compiled the responses and typed them out then pasted them to little cards. The end result was awesome! There was a good mixture of fun, silly and also the heartfelt mushy stuff that we don't often say. One of the coolest things for me was reading the responses and seeing how many of us came up with the same response or something totally similar. It's like there were certain values and things my mom taught all of us that we each kept near and dear to our hearts and that was really neat to see. It happened again and again when I made this gift for my dad and then for my mother-in-law and father-in-law.

Here's a photo of the card assembly I made my dad. I cut circles out of patterned paper, then typed the responses and cut those into smaller circles. I used double sided tape to stick the response cards on the patterned paper, then punched a hole in the top, added a grommet to each card and assembled with a ball chain. It was ALOT of work and very time consuming!

The year I made this for my dad, I was pregnant. I had high hopes of creating these I Love You Because gifts for my in-laws but kept putting it off because I knew I didn't have the time to set aside needed to create them. Then it dawned on me to cut up patterned paper and just have the responses handwritten on the back. This saved a ton of time and I found the little tins fit my cards perfectly (if I rounded the corners). That was the ticket! It was so quick and easy to create the project this way and I absolutely love how these little boxes turned out.

You can find a step by step tutorial to this DIY project HERE on my blog.

The "Love Is" Digital Photobook Gift

This year for Mother's Day I'm creating a "Love Is" digital photobook for both my mom and mother-in-law. I'm putting a little twist on it and having my four year old daughter fill in the blanks. I'm sure the responses I get will not only be fun, but authentic too. She just had a photo shoot with the fabulous Skye Johansen so I'm really excited to use those pictures in my book. Neither my mom nor my mother-in-law have seen them yet. I sat down before working on this blog post and created all my photo pages in about twenty minutes. That's it. That's all it took. Later this week I'll talk to my daughter about Love, then add that journaling to my album and upload it to Shutterfly for printing. I'm going to print three copies because I know I'm going to want a copy too.

I created this Love Is digital quick album exclusively for my upcoming workshop at Big Picture Classes. The workshop starts March 29, 2012. You can read all about it and sign up HERE. I hope to see you in class!

How would you like the chance to win a spot in Elizabeth Dillow's popular workshop, Design Challenges? This is such a fun class! Full of inspiration and challenges to really get you scrapbooking! And this year it's better than ever! Our very own Stacy Julian loves Elizabeth's class so much that she's contributing layouts and videos to the class!

So, your challenge is inspired by my obsession lately with Pinterest. We're redoing my daughter Madeline's room to be a "big girl" room...and I think it would be safe to call it a Pinterest Room, since many of the ideas I'm incorporating in her room are inspired by things I've seen on Pinterest. We're still in phase one...well, maybe phase two...but hopefully I can share pictures next weekend when I announce the winner. So...

1. Pick one of these Pinterest pictures that inspires you (or choose another image from Pinterest) and create a layout inspired by that picture.

2. Upload an image of your layout to the Student Sharing Gallery by next Friday 3/30/2012, noon PST.

3. Please put "PInterest Challenge" in the description. 

I'll announce the winner next Saturday.I'm so excited to be inspired by you!!

Here's my Pinterest "For the Home" board, seen above.

Here's the BPC Pinterest page.

Look at this adorable layout by Danielle! The colors just make me think of spring, and I am ready for spring!!

Here's what Danielle said about her layout:This layout is inspired by this picture of my favorite chair and a lovely Anthropologie crocheted throw. I hadn't intended for our decor style to become granny chic, but somehow it did. I also tried to use vintage or antiqued elements such as the tea-stained doilie, colorful papers that reminded me of a needlepoint pillow, and the new Amy Tangerine yo-yo flowers.

Thanks for sharing with us Danielle!

Well we are so excited to provide you with a super giveaway that includes one spot in Heidi's upcoming class, The Art of Observation and a $40 bundle of her new product from Pink Paislee!! Whoopy!

About the class, "Heidi will help you test unique observation techniques and record your thoughts, feelings and discoveries… she'll then help you combine your findings with photos and her trademark "fabulous" to fuel the creative process. Each week will begin with a clue and a question. An observation assignment will follow, and you'll work together inside the BPC community to combine them with favorite photos and creative techniques…to better and more thoroughly document your life! "

read the rest of the class description and register here.

To enter leave a comment here on the blog sharing your favorite scrapbooking tool and include your state and or country.

Giveaway closes Friday 3/23 at 5:00 pm PT

Winner to be announced by Monday 3/26.

Update!! Heidi did a blog post all about using her Memory File system, you can read it here, and see the rest of her project.

It usually starts with one idea. An opening line. A title. An idea about a person I happened to observe in the airport. And once I’ve started dreaming, I can’t stop until I’ve told the whole story.

Creativity comes in so many forms, and for me, writing a novel was always at the back of my mind. It was the thing I thought I’d do…if I ever found the time. It seems that for us creative types, it’s easy to want to explore a variety of mediums—from papercrafting to painting to writing to photography. In my mind, each is another way to tell my story.

And I believe we were born to tell our stories.

When I first started writing my novel, I knew I wanted to tap into the world of scrapbooking, to pull all the things I loved about the craft into this little Mayberry-esque town I’d created. See, in my life, scrapbooking had become more than just something I did every once in awhile. It was the hobby that housed my creative outlet, my cherished friendships and my connection to future generations.

A Sweethaven Summer is more than just a book about a sweet little cottage town on the beach of Lake Michigan. It’s a story centered around an old scrapbook, one whose faded pages hold secrets that can bring forgiveness and new beginnings. Most of all, it’s a scrapbook that brings people together.

Because that’s kind of what art does, isn’t it? And art that helps you grieve, allows you to express yourself, helps you keep a record of your life…is like instant glue, binding you to the people you share it with.

Over the last 2+ years that I’ve been working on this novel, my entire life was turned upside-down. We moved across the country, then moved again. Our kids started a new school not once, but twice. My husband started a new job. I started a new job. And you know what kept me sane throughout all of it? My creative outlets. During that time, I began to paint. I wrote. I took the time to scrapbook all that was going on. I found time to tell my stories… Without these things in my life, I honestly don’t know if I would’ve survived it all!

Often, we think our art is frivolous. We think taking time to be creative is unnecessary, but I disagree. I think it’s our creativity—however we choose to express it—that paints a clearer picture of who we are. It helps us uncover truths about ourselves, to push ourselves. And yes, it keeps us sane.

Whether you’re writing a novel you’ll see on the shelf at Barnes and Noble (a dream come true!) or writing a letter to a child who you haven’t spoken to in years or painting a picture that will surely brighten someone else’s day or simply leaving a message that lets the world know you were here…none of it is frivolous. It’s all valid and necessary.

Go ahead. Be an artist. Do the thing that stirs a passion in your belly. Find that fire and pursue it. I can tell you…no matter how much work it requires, it’s worth it. 100%.

winner is thekkrew

"My creative dream is to fully evolve from a chronological/event scrapbooker to a truly inspired & intentional storyteller, which I have made great progress with thanks to TWELVE."
 

CLOSED Giveaway:

One person will win a copy of Courtney's book, A Sweethaven Summer and a spot in her self-paced class, Permission to Live a Creative Life, by leaving a comment below sharing a creative dream, something you wish to accomplish.

 Giveaway closes 3/22 at 9:00 am PT

Double Take

Those of you that missed it last year, you get another chance to take this class with fave instructors, May Flaum and Nic Howard.

This class is for you  if,

1. Are you looking for a class to help you use your stash while embarking on a journey of creative fun?
2. Do you want to put a dent in your pile of photos whilst learning through sketches and example layouts how to create visually effective layouts?

Double page scrapbook layouts are a great way to create a more cohesive looking album, include more photos and stories in your layouts and still have plenty of room left over for creative fun! What could be better than getting a whole class packed with two-page layouts? We're doubling the fun with not just one, but two of our fabulous teachers, and they are teaming up for a BPC class like never before!

Read rest of description and register here.

Welcome BPC Scrapbookers to The Hunger Games Scrapbooking Challenge #1: Main Characters. Let the Games Begin!

Hello Scrapbookers! I am Katie Scott, a long time fan of Big Picture Classes, an avid scrapbooker and blogger, and a busy working mom who only recently found time to read some fiction books. After originally thinking they sounded violent, I was reluctantly intrigued by the Hunger Games preview, and eventually read the books. After reading them, I knew I wanted to scrapbook the experience of reading these novels in some way.

Want to play along? Here's how:

Step 1. CHOOSE A FICTIONAL CHARACTER AND COMPARE WITH A REAL LIFE PERSON.

I chose myself and Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games. You could choose yourself or another person you love and pair them up with a fictional character, it doesn't have to be from The Hunger Games. For example, if I were to do this for members of my family, I might compare my son, Mac, with the boy from the No, David books by David Shannon; I might compare my daughter, Allison, with the ever creative and social pig named Olivia from the book series with the same name; and I might compare my husband, Charlie, to (hmmmmm) I'm not sure, maybe Jimmy Buffet or Alec Baldwin (I think celebrity personalities could count).

STEP 2. CHOOSE COMPARISON PHOTOS:

I found some photos of The Hunger Games' main character, Katniss Everdeen, on the internet and some photos of myself at about her age from the 80s. I picked one full body shot with weapons (amazingly enough I had a photo of myself as a teenager with a statue of Posideon and his trident) and one head shot with a more serious face for each of us. I scanned in my old photos. Then, I created a photo collage in Picasa. I would have put Katniss all on the left and me all on the right, except that I wanted our faces to be facing inward; I don't think Picasa has the mirror flip feature so I mixed them up our photos, I actually think it is a bit more interesting this way.

Step 3: COMPARE AND CONTRAST:

This part of the process sort of reminds me of high school English class when we had to write an essay comparing and contrasting something. For this layout, I created a table in Word Perfect listing the similarities between Katniss and myself – it really was funny to see our common threads. Choose categories to compare according to what the similarities are; you could start with basic demographic information like name, age, place of residence, and then go into education and life experiences, and whatever categories would be interesting to compare like taste in music, phobias, and special talents.

STEP 4: CHOOSE SCRAPBOOKING PRODUCTS TO SUPPORT YOUR THEME.

Once I had my table and photos printed, I knew I wanted to create an 8 ½” x 11” page. Because my table and photos were big, I knew I didn't have a lot of space for embellishments or the title. I wanted the photos and the table to shine and for the rest to support my theme. I found appropriate patterned paper and title stickers, and added some machine stitching to "jazz up" my page. That gave me the idea for the title: "Common Threads" so I stitched over my title letters as well and along the bottom of the photos with the zigzag stitch under the head shot photos.

STEP 5: SHARE YOUR WORK!

I would love to see what you create with this challenge, upload your page to the Big Picture Classes Student Sharing Gallery, and please leave a comment with a link to your page.

Anxiously awaiting the release of the movie The Hunger Games, your friend and fellow scrapbooker,

Katie Scott.

P.S. You can follow along with The Hunger Games Scrapbooking Challenge series on my blog, we are visiting each of the 13 Districts in the imaginary dystopian world of Panem from The Hunger Games to find scrapbooking inspiration from everything from coal to cows to lumberjacks. I also have video links which explain the inspiration concepts from the districts in greater detail and in which I explain my theory of using principles of improvisational comedy as applied to scrapbooking. It is a lot of somewhat random scrapbooking fun. You can also join in with me on Facebook.