How do I find inspiration when I am crafting and scrapbooking on the road?

The answer is not what you might think.  Read on to see where I find it.

I am taking part in a 31 pages in 31 days challenge for the month of August. Looking for inspiration everywhere, my hope is to get some serious scrapbooking done.

Often I bank up ideas and once I get an allotment of time they come spilling out and I produce a lot of pages.  Sometimes I turn to fellow demonstrators and customers, using their talent to inspire creativity. Taking time to stop and smell the roses is a little bit magic too. (I bet you didn’t expect to hear that one did you?)

  Here are a few more of my pages for your viewing enjoyment:

 

 

This two page spread features the Dino Days Suite~ including the Dinoroar Designer Series Paper, Dino Dies and Dinoroar enamel shapes.

I decided to do 2 different sets, since it is so hard to get inspired to do pages for little boys! William attended two different sleep away camps this summer, I’m hoping to use these pages to document those adventures.

This set of pages shown below was inspired by some that I found on the 31 pages in 31 days challenge page I am on, great pages done by Shelley Zarling.  I changed up the papers and did the photo mats differently, but shout out to her and a giant thank you for the inspiration!

These adorable pages were created from a sketch I found on pinterest.  Using the Bird Ballad Designer Series Paper, I had to get pretty creative since I didn’t have the stamp set with me. I fussy cut the heck out of that DSP!  Pearls, some felt embellishments from the Art from the Heart Embellishment Kit, a doily and I was finished.  These Woven Thread layouts were so inspired by my friend Lyssa.  I loved her idea so much.  Changing up the embellishments, I used that cute camera from the stamp set Capture the Good.  The super talented and hard working Tami White designed this as her Million Dollar Sales Achiever stamp set.  How cool is that?  I had to go back to that beautiful Mosaic Mood Specialty Designer Series Paper too, for another 2 page spread. Inspired by a different facebook group and from a gal named Dori Thompson Schneider, I think these pages are beautiful! Thank you Dori.  I don’t have the stamp set here with me so I had to change it up a bit, but love the colors so much.  

Here is that darn paper again ladies! Why did I ever say I didn’t like the See a Silhouette Designer Series Paper?  I can’t. stop.myself. from.using. the. darn. stuff! hahaha.  It is so easy to use. Are you wondering what the design element is that I used for the title?

Here is a great tip for you stamper-scrapbookers out there~ especially the travelling ones. 

Ever have a pile of design elements left over from a stamping session?  Cute elements like titles, shapes and sentiments that you have stamped or cut out.   Think “something to decorate a card”.   I save all these little leftover treasures in my stash, located in a coconut shell I picked up in Fiji.  When it’s time to pack up, I put them in my embellishment bag.

I will be doing a quick facebook live in the next day or two and do a little show and tell.  My intent with this video is to show you what I’ve done so far.  Sometimes it’s easier to see it in “person”, I hope you will join in on the fun.

Tune in to the facebook live, I’ll show you some more treats I have in there that I am going to need to find a home for. It’s kind of like a secret little challenge for myself when I’m trying to find inspiration.

I have so much to chat about, can you tell?  It’s no wonder, as I have spent all weekend alone.

Here is what I have been up to this weekend:

• scrapbooking
• went for a neighborhood walk, short though because it is HOT here
• learning new things (excel and word for mac users on youtube, anyone?)
• reading & swimming at the hotel pool
• painting my toes
• face mask
• laundry
• I even went to a movie last night (Kitchen, it was good)

See you a trend here?

I am tying to take time for self care and keep busy.  When I am working on the road, weekends are generally the hardest time for me. I line up a lot of activities to keep busy, and make the most of this gift of time.  Not only is this approach productive, it also reminds me to take a moment to breathe.  You would be amazed at how smooth the creative process is when you’re comfortable, fed, and rested.

If there are any products you’ve seen here that you have got to have, (and you live in Canada), please visit my stampin up store for purchase.  You can also shoot me a message and I can place the order for you.

 I will see you soon. Happy stamping!