day 1 | vacation week

October 31, 2011 By 6 Comments

What seems like weeks but was probably months ago, I was chatting with Melissa and she made asked how my Disney World album was going. I laughed and said something like “there’s a few pages in there still to go…” She mentioned that she scheduled herself to do a week of blogging about vacation scrapbooking, and asked if I wanted to join in the fun. I said YES – because it would give me some inspiration to get more done AND the chance to blog about my #1 favorite subject to scrapbook: vacations.

Today to get things started I have a video (about 7min long) where I am talking about my “big vacation” scrapbooking methods and the album and page protectors I use.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVwwqttmQEI]

Please do come back for more – I will share new layouts, tutorials, and materials using my unfinished Disney World trip/album as my inspiration all week. While I’m “going Disney” – the tips, ideas, and methods I use could be applied to any subject, event, or vacation. I hope you enjoy. Here are links to the album type and page protectors I use:

Scrapbook.com has a wonderful selection of the albums + page protectors I like to use.

If you have any questions, comments, etc. about my video, or vacation scrapbooking in general please feel free to email me or leave a comment here. Also – make sure you visit Melissa’s blog for vacation scrapbooking awesomeness! Love that girl’s style, and she’s been to some pretty cool places too.

happy crafting!

Filed Under: vacation scrapbooking Tagged With: ,

Creative Process [video 2 of 2]

October 30, 2011 By 7 Comments

As I edited this video I realized that I didn’t explain my embellishment choices much. I was more focused on finding the right things than explaining my reasons – and that is ok. Why? because my next creative process post will be about the reasoning behind embellishments, and why they always come last.

Part 2 [of 2] layout video:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3igg42JCqt8]

Finished layout:

Supplies used:

[have a Happy Halloween!!]

note: all creative process posts listed here: http://mayflaum.com/category/creative-process/

Filed Under: Creative Process

Creative Process post #2:

October 28, 2011 By 11 Comments

This is a “part 1 of 2″, and shown much better in video than typing. The focus is really much of what I was speaking about in my first post, but in practical application. I got new photos in the mail, opened envelope, turned on camera.

I made it all up as I taped – so there may be gaps or awkward moments… because I did it single take too. I wanted it as real to my process as possible.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHap4-7Cikk]

If you have questions, specific parts of my process you’d like to see more of in future, etc. – please don’t hesitate to leave a comment. All posts about creative process can be found here: http://mayflaum.com/category/creative-process/

I’ll be back very soon to post part 2, as well as full supply list, etc…

Filed Under: Creative Process

[welcome to my perfect life]

October 28, 2011 By 36 Comments

This came up yesterday, and has inspired a [silly] post…

The idea that I would let someone don’t know in real life, some stranger on the internet make me feel bad about myself through their posting about their own awesomeness… that horrifies me. Oh I get feeling jealous of an awesome house or someone who is succeeding where you are failing – that’s natural I think. But to go so far as to let it get me down? Oh noooooo.

I am in charge of my own happiness. I am responsible for my actions. I am the one who can choose to feel bad or good about myself. If there’s something about me I really don’t like it’s MY job to fix, accept, or improve. That’s not on anyone but ME.

I guess you could say I’m big on personal responsibility. and that’s all I have to say about that.

This subject led [quite naturally] to some humorous comments about the awesomeness of my never-ending laundry mountain and the fabulous studio of mine where being clean is a family JOKE. So today, I’m taking you behind the scenes of my fantastically SO NOT perfect life….

This is my “what she wore” totally glam self portrait. Do you love it? [excuse me while I fall down laughing]

- I have paint, mist, and ink all over my fingers. I almost always do.

- I have no memory of putting my hair up – but I always end up doing so

- My stained, ratty, cheap Army sweatshirt remains my #1 wardrobe staple in colder weather

- bare feet and gym pants = the rest of this haute couture ensemble

This photo makes me CRINGE. my desk was AWFUL yesterday. I wanted to clean it first… but this is about keeping it real y’all so you see the unedited HORROR of my own making. Can you handle more?!

I don’t know why I have freezer bags on the desk. I’m SURE I had a reason… right? The funniest part about my studio is that the rest of my house (scary laundry pile I’m NEVER without excluded) is clean. Yeah. I do dishes a few times a day, keep things pretty tidy and clutter-free. It is habit… I guess I just need to bring those habits into the studio door? [yeah yeah, I say that ALL the time]

Bottom line? I have the same 24hrs as everyone else, and sometimes my choices in what to do with them are more productive than others.  I have never assumed that the owner of any blog I read has a perfect life – we’ve all got our issues and our own mess (whether literal, emotional, etc) and issues.  Just know when you read my blog – I keep it real.I’m a big believer in focusing on the good, the happy, the light in my life because doing so = feeling better and having a better outlook.  Oh I might not tell you every detail or bad thing – but that’s because most of that is private, and not the point of my blog.

Today I get to face the reality of being the wife of a fireman and an ever-changing schedule. I get to go to my annual lady parts doctor appointment… with Rebecca. Now don’t be getting too jealous about that one! but do make sure and keep up with your health and regular check-ups!!!  If THAT isn’t the ultimate in glamour and fabulousness I just don’t know what is.

Challenge: share in the comments here something that truly IS fantastic about you. I’d love to hear it…

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Crate paper give-away

October 26, 2011 By

I’m here cleaning up and I discovered something. The good folks at crate paper sent me TWO sets of their farmhouse collection papers and stickers. What should I do?

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Want it? Leave me a comment here!! Winner to be drawn and posted on this post as well… Good luck… Wish me luck to get unburied from the scary mess!!!!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With:

in memory page.

October 25, 2011 By 20 Comments

I don’t often get asked to use my crafting skills by my family, in fact… I can’t remember the last time I was. So when I was asked by my mother in law to create a page with a specific photo of her dog that had been recently put down, I said of course. Allie had been sick for quite some time (cancer, among other issues) and so while not a total surprise, it was no less sad that her time had come.

Now, the challenge in creating a layout for someone else like this is doing your best, while keeping their wishes in mind as well. Easy, it is not. The absolute hardest part for me was finding the perfect paper. Normally, I’m not too picky but this isn’t some page going in a random album, and I knew I didn’t want a lot of embellishing or fuss with this single (5×7) photo as the focus. This is a specific project that will hang framed on a wall (no pressure). I literally looked at every single patterned paper I have before deciding on this one.

After some consideration I decided to post what I came up with here because the design is very simple, but absolutely perfect for the purpose of this layout. Also because the topic of scrapbooking the recently departed is rarely discussed. Now my photos were taken at night – so excuse the bad quality. But you get the idea – this is a design I’d highly recommend using for this type of a page:

 My mother in law will be adding her own journaling, framing this, and giving to the vet center that was so helpful and wonderful and ultimately the place where Allie was spent her last days. Keeping that in mind, I selected a beautiful patterned paper that complimented the photos and had detail centered around the edges (where it would show). I also did some heavy ink-blending work (Victorian Velvet distress) to add to the shabby chic/soft feel of this page.


I used some brown alcohol ink on the silver wings to make them less silver-y, and used my victorian velvet ink pad (which was perfect match to this paper from the Western Romance collection by Webster’s Pages) to custom-color the title – and I was so grateful for those letters! They were by far and away the best option I had here.

Remembering the days when Allie and Jake (our dog who died a few years ago) played, all the good times, well I used the time I was crafting to reflect and honor the dog. She might have barked too much and been unruly in her early years - but she was definitely loved. It was an honor to create this in her memory, and I’m really happy with how it came out. (that sounds weird to me – being ‘happy’ about this – but I think you know what I mean)

supplies used:

I realize this is a somber topic – and yet I can’t help but feel an important one. Being able to create a memorial paper craft item – whether a whole album or just a single page – is not something you read about often. It isn’t easy either – but something that as the scrapbooker in the family you have the skill and practice to do well.

If you have scrapbooked for someone else in such a way, or have tips to share, I invite you to leave a comment.

Filed Under: my craft life
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