Weekly Challenge #16: I think I'm turning Japanese...

...I really think so. For some reason, I've entered yet another phase and entertained a Japanese fetish recently.
First, kowtow to

1. Nitza
2. Moi
3. Katie
4. Tiffany

for sharing their masterful los for Weekly Challenge #15.

Konichiwa! This week, I challenge you to design a layout inspired by Japanese prints. Your subject, however, may not be Japanese related. No sushi/sake nights nor Japanese restaurants, no Japanese tea gardens nor trips to Tokyo, no photos with Japanese motifs that can be accentuated. Instead, try looking at all the photos you have yet to scrap and think of how Japanese prints may complement them on a page. By the way, Japanese-referenced titles are acceptable. For example, a layout that features a sweet little girl may be titled "Cherry Blossom." Finally, please be sure that your layout includes inspiration from Japanese sources, and not confused by any other Asian group (i.e., Chinese, Vietnamese, etc.).

The samples I have provided for you come from Valerie Foster, a. k. a. embellies, one of our sb.com neighbors. The first one is of a Japanese bullet train entitled "Shinkansen" and does bend the rules of this challenge. The second one entitled "Say Chizu," is closer to the guidelines of this challenge, and I hope it helps give you a better idea of what you can do. Check out her harajuku kits at http://www.doyoudigi.com/ .

Given the moderate difficulty I've had in my search for the right kinds of papers and sample layouts, and what you might experience designing your own, I think it would be in order to give you a 2-week timeframe. Hence, this challenge is to be completed by Sunday, April 29.

Domo arigato!

Weekly Challenge #15

This weeks challenge is to create a layout using no glue... No glue sticks, glue dots, glue runners, glue pens, etc... You must find other ways to hold your layout together! Staple, tape, whatever your heart desires.

Have Fun!

Weekly Challenge #14

Girlzz, your challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to create a layout, any size, using ZERO embellishments. Nada. Not one brad, not one sticker, not one strand of ribbon. Pens, paper, photos.

Happy scrapping ;).

Packing & Labeling Roll Call Results

Well... we only lost one set in transit. I'll stay on the look-out for them Sarah! I'm going to scan all the pages for archival records. I suggest we get them printed as a digital scrapbook for "Our Foreign Correspondent" and future participants as well as use them in our Scrap Happenzz Blog Bios.

Updates listed in the side-bar. I'm packing and labeling the sets today. I'll get them postal ASAP.

We gotz Skillz!

Week 13- Phrase It!

Round of applause to the takers of last week's challenge:

• Nitza
• Mel
• K
• Katie
• Brenda
• Tiff
• Angela

Great LOs everyone!!!

Now, for this week I have decided to do another type of challenge that has to do with some sort of words. In this case, the words are going to be a slogan/phrase. It can be something you've seen in a commercial, a slogan/phrase you know for a particular item/brand of things, etc. There are no rules other than using a slogan/phrase that you take, meaning it already exhists. I've got a couple examples below that I've found in the gallery:

The first one is obviously from the captain morgan slogan/phrase. The second one is the Kraft macaroni and cheese slogan/phrase. It can be silly or serious. It could also just be a tid bit from a song, however you would like to interpret it. Like I said, besides including a slogan/phrase there are no other rules. Just, have fun!

Week 12 Challenge – All in a Word

Kudos to those that Completed week 11...

• Nitza
• Moi
• Mel
• Kay
• Katie
• Tiffany
• Angela
• Anne
  

Don’t forget to DELETE your bumps.

Week 12 begins Sunday, March 18th - Your challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to scrap your favorite word! No rules, restrictions etc - just what your word is, why you chose it and what it means for you… could be all photos or no photos, the choice is yours. Hint… hint: This is a great addition to your BOM – or a perfectly easy way to start one! Upload your layouts by Sunday, March 25th.

Here are some samples:

Le'ts Get Better At Photo Placement Part 4 + Weekly Challenge Week 11

Let’s become better at photo placement part 4.

Give an applause or some gallery feedback to all whom participated in last week’s scrapjack weekly challenge. Participants include:
Kayla
Tiff
Robyn
Jessica
Angela
Katie {retroactive}
Christy
Annie (I think she just needs to take a photo of it)

Weekly Challenge 11
This week’s challenege. I am really jazzed about it, because this challenge will make us better scrappers, undoubtedly. Create a layout with minimum 3 photos utilizing good photo placement. I talked about creating a “line” “circle”, or a “block” and the different ways to do these types of layouts without them looking the same. If you gave me links to your fave layouts, please try and use the analysis I came up with to do your layouts. OR tell me I am full of crap. Discussing photo placement will in turn develop your skills. Learning what and why layouts catch your eye will in turn help you develop good photo positioning. I am leaning for 100% participation here, and I am giving out a nice prize to the person deemed the best at placing photos.

Now for the rest of the personal critiques: please think about them, mull them over, and draw your own conclusions.

Tiffany: you’re a collage kind of grrrl. I would begin with a block, circle, shape, or line {doesn’t have to be straight, can be vertical, horizontal, diagonal) and place the photos linearly. Then I would tilt each photo crooked or place the photos overlapping slightly until you are comfortable with the placement. The 3 layouts you chose have unique angles and overlapping but the photo placement is ultimately in a block or a line! When you make a collage, matting is important to distinguish between photos. Matting a ton of photos is no fun, so I suggest sanding the sides lightly as a shortcut.

Sarah: if you don’t have a subscription to simple scrapbooks, you should get one. You like very linear layouts that focus on the photos. You like lines. Simple Scrapbooks magazine and online will have tons of ideas and sketches for you. But if you running out of ideas, line up the pictures and just mix patterned paper linearly above and below it. Use different textures and papers and each layout will look different.

Angela: the layouts you chose all have style, they all have a big wow factor attributed to them. So make a line out of your pictures but then add something cool. Cut the bottom of the line into a wave, or the top, or both. Or make a block with the photo both but cut one side in a half circle. Place the photos in a ring. Enlarge photos that you like the most and use this as your focal point and place the other photos around it using the guidelines established in the other part of this mini-challenge.

Mel: Linear type grrrl with a twist. You like a fun twist. The photos are in the shape of a circle which forms a line. There is a straight line of photos on the layout but there is an enlarged photo with it that grabs your attention. The photos are in a line that is not straight, and even though it is titled, it is linear and adds flow to your page. So enlarge the photos that are extra special, and place the others around it to compliment it. Start with a straight line, but if you think that’s boring, tilt them, make a less apparent line, round the corners, or cut them into circles.

Katie: I know multi-photo isn’t your style but you picked crisp, linear layouts. I would have expected you to pick layouts that Tiffany chosen. The layouts you chose would evoke the same comments that I gave Sarah!
If I missed anyone please let me know, but these are all the links I have in my pm’s and in the comments.