Just 15 Minutes

Sometimes we get so caught up in creating a “perfect” layout that we forget to just have fun with it. What if you sat down with a story you loved and a photo you loved and some products you loved and just created a page, not worrying about design, your handwriting, getting a great title, or anything else?


What if you scrapbooked just for the fun of it?

WoW - Week of Webisodes

Week of Webisodes Starts Monday!

Welcome to Paper Wishes’ Week of Webisodes!

Join Paper Wishes for a full week of inspiration! Each day you’ll have a brand-new Webisode, featuring the very latest tips and techniques on things like templates, stamps, Dazzles, and more. Here's a quick look at the lineup:

Monday: Easy Circles Template
Tuesday: Mix Your Messages / Whimsical Words stamp sets
Wednesday: Metal Embossed Jewelry
Thursday: Photo Carousel
Friday: Bargello Dazzles

Also available are FREE downloads, bonus projects, designer tips, plus bargains on our Deal of the Day.

There’s no need to register and it’s FREE! But, if you would a daily reminder when Paper Wishes uploads each new webisode during Week of Webisodes, click here.

Find Inspiration

This is what is inspiring me right now:

I’m working on becoming a better photographer. It’s not about taking perfect pictures, but good photos are the basis of a great scrapbook layout. I learned a TON about myself as a photographer by simply reviewing the photos I took last year and taking a moment to think about them. I highly recommend this simple exercise, it WILL make you a better photographer.

I’m committed to getting stories paired with photos. I believe in journaling and I rarely do a page without it. This is not easy but I’ve found many ways to prompt myself to get writing more. Katie is now am hosting a weekly Memory Monday Challenge on her blog each week with tips and ideas to help get those memories preserved.

Each week Amy hosts Sunday Scrappin' which encourages us to get some scrapbooking done each week. She also provides a simple challenge to provide some inspiration.

The Amazing Month of Memories series is back at Katie's blog. Katie has created more than 60 layouts using prompts and challenges found in these idea files. You can download a FREE sample.

Monthly Daily Inspirations by Jill provides challenges for every day of the month. Each month she offers a FREE download of her Daily Inspirations. Her challenges include web prompts, color challenges, quote prompts, title prompts, and more.

The Monthly Round-Up is one of my favorite ways to record the everyday details of my life. It is a quick and easy way to keep memories fresh and store information that will be perfect for future scrapbook pages. The idea originally comes from Katie.

Photo 365 is a very popular project among scrapbookers again this year. It's never to late to start. Katie has some great advice for those of us who want to participate in this very cool challenge. Anna used prompts to go along with her 365 Days.

Project 52 is based on the Photo 365 but with less pressure. This challenge is to take one picture each week for the year. This may feel more manageable than Photo 365 but still a good way to stretch your creative muscles.

Create a photo mosaic from your digital photographs.

Leah started Creative Every Day Challenge in 2008 to help infuse the lives of others with daily creativity. Creativity is meant in the broadest sense, so it doesn't have to be something scrapbook related or art related. Your creative acts could be cooking, taking pictures, knitting, doodling, writing, dancing, decorating, singing, playing with your kids, brainstorming ideas, gardening, or making art in the form of collage, paint, or clay...or whatever.

I picked my word this year. What does that mean? Well, if you haven’t heard of Ali Edwards one word idea be sure to check it out on Ali Edwards' blog. It is a very easy and inspiring way to set the tone for what you want to focus on during the year.

What Type of Scrapbooker Are You?

Scrapbook.com has compiled a shopping list based on various scrapbooking personalities. The intent of this list was to provide great gift ideas for holiday shopping, but the list proves to be very insightful. Check out the description of each personality to see which personality best suits you.

The Professional Organizer is the scrapbooker with everything and everything in its place! The Professional Organizer has a system and knows just where to find everything in their stash. Their space can be big or small, but they've devised a way to fit it all in and will never lose a tiny brad or a single glue dot, no matter what.

The Beginner scrapbooker is just getting started. They are enthusiastic about learning to use new products and techniques but they may be a bit overwhelmed with all the supplies available on the market today.

The Fashionista is a scrapbooker who loves the latest, the greatest, the newest, and the most fabulous products on the market. Fashionistas stay ahead of the trends and keep an eye on the "brand new" section of the scrapbook store for the freshest supplies to hit the market.

The Die-Cutter is a scrapbooker that appreciates the perfect embellishment for each page, and they'll go to great lengths to ensure consistency when they're replicating cards and invitations in multiples. Die-cutters typically love cardstock scraps and materials such as vinyl, fabric, chipboard, and cork, among others.

The Frugal Scrapper is a serious bargain hunter, looking for the most supplies at the best price. Frugal scrappers appreciate a great deal, a big value, and will take the time to hunt it down.

The Altered Artist is a true creative type, dedicated to distressing new items and using vintage finds (or replicas) in their scrapbooking design. Altered Artists revel in old trinkets, shabby-chic antiques, and the age of it all. They like to stain, burnish, fray, peel, crackle, fade, dye, and weather anything and everything they can get their hands on.

The Pink Princess is a scrapbooker who loves anything pink, anything related to Disney Princesses, and anything that is just plain fabulous! If she wears pink, owns pink handbags, pink tools, pink shoes, or pink jewelry - she's could be a Pink Princess. If she loves Cinderella, Belle, Ariel, Jasmine, Sleeping Beauty, Tinkerbell or any other Disney females, she's likely a Pink Princess.

The Diamond Diva scrapbooker loves anything with shimmer and shine. Bling is on the top of their list -- rhinestones, glitter, mirrors, mists, crowns, glossy accents, iridescent pearls and more will please the Diamond Diva.

The Book Worm is a crafter that seeks ideas and inspiration in printed form, such as idea books and magazines. You might have a Book Worm on your hands if you are constantly finding publications around your house with dog-earred pages, writing in the margins, and otherwise mutilated reference guides.

The Cardmaker Extraordinaire appreciates a handmade greeting, but enjoys making handmade greetings even more.

The Digi Geek is very endearing term for the digital or hybrid scrapbooker. The Digi Geek knows how to navigate Photoshop applications, what the word "brushes" means when applied to scrapbooking, and that a "clone" isn't actually a scientific breakthrough.

The Eco-Scrapper wants to help save the earth. They like to preserve and conserve and find great joy in recycling and recycled items. They like to re-purpose old items and make them new again.

The Storyteller is all about the story (or the journaling). This scrapbooker wants to document everything in writing, so as to pass on a complete legacy to the next generation. They want to capture the message and the history behind the photos.

The Tool Junkie likes her hardware! You know they're a Tool Junkie by the big amount of wacky gadgets they have in your scrapping stash.

The Gift Giver is a scrapbooker that makes so many different things, from albums to altered items, and lovingly gives them away as gifts to friends and family members. The Gift Giver rarely ends up with any keepsakes of their own because they are so immersed in creating for others.

The Home Decorator takes the ordinary and makes it extraordinary! If there isn't much wall or surface space left in your home or hers, you're well-acquainted with the Home Decorator. From mini-albums, to framed masterpieces, to mod podged, or altered items, the Home Decorator can master it all and make it look store-bought.

The Mobile Scrapper is always on the go - whether it's to a crop, a class, a girlfriend's house, or just to the living room, she's moving and shaking all the time.

The Overlap Scrapper is a crafter that mixes crafty mediums, such as sewing, knitting, crocheting, beading and jewelry-making, painting, and many other hobbies.

The Shutterbug is the ultimate photographer whether amature, aspiring, already running a successful business, or just enjoys snapping hundreds of photos each day.

The Stamp Addict loves all things related to ink, embossing, clear stamps, rubber stamps, and card making.

Adapted from Scrapbook.com.

Around the Scrapbooking 'Net #3

WoW - Week of Webisodes

You’re invited to Paper Wishes’ first-ever online event: Week of Webisodes.
Mark your calendar for October 6-10, 2008, because you won’t want to miss out on this inspiring event. Every day Paper Wishes will have a brand-new Webisode featuring the very latest tips and techniques.

There will be FREE downloads, bonus projects, designer tips, and great bargains.

There’s no need to register and it’s free! Check it out at Paper Wishes where you'll see the tab for Week of Webisodes.

Heart and Friendship Quotes

Here are some of my favorite heart quotes:

No trumpets sound when the important decisions of our life are made. Destiny is made known silently.
~~ Agnes de Mille ~~

A miracle, my friend, is an event which creates faith.
~~ Geroge Bernard Shaw ~~

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.
~~ Helen Keller ~~

Only a life lived for others is the life worthwhile.
~~ Albert Einstein ~~

You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing you think you cannot do.
~~ Eleanor Roosevelt ~~

Where there is great love, there are always miracles.
~~ Willa Cather ~~

Journaling Your Life Challenges

Step 1: Develop a “Dreams” List

Get several letter-sized sheets of paper, and label one of the pages “Dreams.” On this page, list all of the wildest ideas you have ever had. This is the page for the really big dreams, the ones you have always talked about, but knew deep down, you’d never accomplish. These are the goals that will take years to reach. Your list might include ideas such as: climbing Washington state’s Mt. Rainier, hiking the Appalachian Trail, building your dream home from the ground up, or getting a doctorate in your favorite subject.

Go crazy with this list. Think of all the fun this world has to offer that you’d like to experience. Some people go all out and even cut pictures out of magazines to illustrate their dream, or decorate their list with yarn and glitter. Just make it yours. When you are done, put the list where you will see it often.


Step 2: Develop a “Desires” List

Now title the second sheet of paper “Desires.” This list consists of items that are achievable within a year or two, if you work hard. Dreams on this list might be: learning to snowboard, becoming debt free, writing a book, taking a big vacation, organizing a family reunion, or taking your business to another level.

Again, give your mind free rein and have fun decorating the list. These lists will probably take several days or more to complete since you will likely think of additional dreams and desires. Hang it next to the “Dreams” list when you are done.

Step 3: Develop a “Goals” List

Finally, you are to the “Goals” list. This is the list of all the little things you can get done in the next few months. Cleaning closets, landscaping your yard, starting piano lessons, taking the family to the zoo, exploring a nearby town, having a family movie night at home, organizing a pajama party, learning to roller blade, or taking a computer class are goals that might be on this list. This is the last list you will decorate, so go all out. Be sure to hang it with the other two lists.

Step 4: Take Action

Now you are ready to begin. Choose something from your “Goals” list, and in your Success Within notebook itemize all the steps you need to take to make that specific goal happen. For example, if one of your goals is to take a train trip, you’d need to check train schedules and costs, figure out how to pay for the trip (maybe your savings, or getting a second job, or selling an unneeded piece of furniture), decide where you’d like to go, choose the day(s) for the trip, have some idea of what you’d like to do when you reach your destination, and find a place to stay if you are taking an overnight trip. Remember to bring your camera!

As you accomplish each item on the list, cross it out or, if you like, put a little gold star by it. When you finally take your trip, add a big star next to where the trip is listed on your “Goals” list. Before too long, your “Goals” sheet will be full of stars, and your life will be full of great moments.

You’ll find that as you move through your goals, you’ll begin working on specific steps to make your desires happen. Remember to visualize your goals every day. Then, as your desires become realities, you’ll begin achieving some of your dreams. Before too long, you’ll be making new lists, because your original lists are full of gold stars, and you’ll have a whole new set of ideas to explore, and experiences to remember.