To The Cloud…

Posted by Aaron aka Sir Scrapalot on Mar 7, 2011 | View Comments

Have you seen this commercial? I think it’s absolutely hysterical, especially the part when the wife gives the camera the puzzled look. Isn’t this how we all feel about “the cloud”? What is “the cloud” and how on earth is it going to help me? According to Wikipedia, “the cloud” is really just another way to refer to the internet in what is called cloud computing. If I understand it correctly, it means that you rely on using internet applications such as Google Docs to do most of your computing. Again, this is really only what I think it’s about…I’ll admit, I’m still a little unclear.

One thing that I know I am using “the cloud” for right now is backing up. I have been backing up my files to offsite for some time now. I had been using Mozy, but since their enormous price increase, I have switched to Backblaze. Backblaze takes all of my files from the computer and backs them up to “the cloud.” That way if anything insane happens here, my files are backed up “in the cloud.” I also started backing up my blog using a WordPress Plug In, and sending it to my Dropbox account. Again, I am taking my files and backing them up to “the cloud.” Recently, I’ve been looking for ways to back up my email to “the cloud” as well.

So, I guess while I don’t know exactly WHAT “the cloud” is, I am using it to my advantage.

Are you using “the cloud”? How are you using it?

21 Creative “About Me” Layout Ideas

Posted by Aaron aka Sir Scrapalot on Mar 3, 2011 | View Comments

Last week, I asked everyone who follows me on Twitter or “Likes” my Facebook Fan Page what topic they wish they scrapped about more.  One answer that seemed to come up over and over was “me” (not me, as in scrapbooking about Sir Scrapalot, but me meaning about themselves.  Aren’t you glad I cleared that up?).  I find it extremely difficult to scrapbook about myself as well, so I thought I would share a list of creative “About Me” layout topics.

1. My favorite pair of shoes
2. One song I can’t stand is…
3. A time I felt special was…
4. My morning routine
5. My secret hideout
6. If I had a theme song, it would be…
7. A time I helped someone special
8. Games I like to play
9. What my BFF and I have in common
10. One thing people usually don’t notice about me is..
11. My favorite sounds
12. My favorite words
13. One time when I got in trouble…
14. If I had a time machine, I would…
15. The day of the week I look forward to the least
16. What “trustworthy” means to me
17. If you looked into my closet…
18. My favorite Tweet is..
19. The last thing I posted on Facebook was…
20. If I were a color, I’d be….
21. My most prized possession is..

Hopefully these will help you get a jumpstart on doing some awesome “About Me” layouts!!  Make sure to come back and link us to the ones you do!

Scrapbooking Experiment #1: Success?

Posted by Aaron aka Sir Scrapalot on Feb 22, 2011 | View Comments

A few weeks back, I blogged about the three scrapbooking experiments I wanted to try this year.  They weren’t so much goals, but things that I knew I wanted to try.  They were things that I find challenging, and maybe have not done before.  I decided that this weekend was the perfect time to give Experiment #1 a shot.

Scrapbooking Experiment #1: Clean and Simple Scrapbooking

So I figured my best bet for creating a clean and simple scrapbook page was to dig into my template archive, specifically my Janet Phillips templates.  I like her clean, linear style so I knew that I would find a template that would work for what I was trying to achieve.  I decided on using one of the templates from her Collection 29, from when she was still selling at The Daily Digi.

I had a bunch of pictures from a day when the girls were playing restaurant, and I knew I had Kitschy Kitchen by Jennifer Barrette and Sahlin Studio to use, so I gathered my materials and got started.  After a bunch of moving things around and experimenting, this is the layout I ended up with.

After going through the process, these are the things I came up with.

The Pros

• This layout came together pretty quickly.  I just put the papers and the pictures on the layout and then made the adjustments.  It was very different than my usual process, which involves adding elements in and shadowing over and over.
• I like the simplicity of the page.  The linear design appeals to me, and I feel like the simplicity keeps the focus on the photos.
• I was able to keep the simple design, but still use some great patterned papers.  I didn’t want to have to use a bunch of solids in the design.
• I was able to incorporate a few choice elements that supported the theme.

The Cons

• I really wanted to layer more.  There is so much great stuff in the kit, that I wanted to include more.  I found myself thinking about tucking stuff behind papers and piling the elements on.  I had to restrain myself from doing this.
• There isn’t a lot of depth created by this style of layout.  I like to really enhance the dept of my pages, so that they appear realistic.  This layout didn’t give me many opportunities to do that.

I guess, overall, I am happy with the results of the page.  I got a nice looking layout done in a short amount of time, one that keeps the focus on the photos and tells the story I was setting out to tell.  Will I start doing this style scrapbooking all the time?  No.  I don’t think it will fit the “look” I want all the time, however, it’s an option for “branching out.”  I would like to experiment more with this style of scrapbooking, and see if I can make it fit my own style.

Do you do clean and simple scrapbooking?  What techniques and tricks do you use? What advice would you give me to help me do this style of scrapbooking?

Finding Color Inspiration

Posted by Aaron aka Sir Scrapalot on Feb 2, 2011 | View Comments

People often ask me what inspires me to create digital scrapbooking kits.  A lot of times, I am inspired by the world around me.  Sometimes, however, I am inspired by colors alone.  As a scrapbooker, I also find myself inspired to create layouts with certain color combinations that I really like.  There are a few places that I go to for color inspiration.

Colour Lovers – I love the abundance of palettes available at Colour Lovers.  I also like there is the opportunity to design your own palettes, which I have done from time to time.

Inspired Bride – I absolutely LOVE creating kits from Wedding Palettes because often, the images with the palette are as inspiring as the colors.  Inspired Bride has some of the classiest palettes I have seen.

Design Seeds – I am new to Design Seeds (thanks to Pinterest), but I can already tell that we are going to have a long and fruitful relationship.  Everyday, there are multiple palettes, and I have a hard time deciding which ones I like best.  All based on beautiful photos, these palettes have rich, fun colors.

Those are the few places that I find color inspiration.  Do you use color inspiration in your scrapbooking?  Where do you find your color inspiration?

My Three Scrapbooking Experiments for the Year

Posted by Aaron aka Sir Scrapalot on Jan 31, 2011 | View Comments

As we wrap up January, and the dust begins to settle on all the “New Year” hoopla, I’ve really started thinking about what things I want to try out in terms of scrapbooking this year. Performing scrapbooking “experiments” helps me to keep my scrapbooking fresh, and stretch myself as a scrapbooker. Sometimes, I know the things that I want to try out, and sometimes these things come to me. Today, I thought I’d share the three experiments I am looking to try out this year.

1. Clean and Simple Scrapbooking – over the last year or so, as I have discovered Cindy Schneider and her templates, I have really grown into the layered and clustered style of scrapbooking. I still love it, and think that it’s a great representation of me, but I really would like to branch out a bit more this year. I have a bunch of Janet Phillips templates that I am hoping to give a try to this year. Maybe I can switch it up a bit.
2. Adding Lighting to my Pages – Last week, I happened upon a tutorial on Traci’s Hawt Mamas’ Blog about adding lighting to your scrapbook pages. I was intrigued as to how the completed layout looked, and knew I had to try it. I am a little weary, the lighting effect really dabbles into the idea of fantasy scrapbooking, and personally, that doesn’t fit my style. I am excited to try this tutorial out and see how I can make it work for me.
3. Scrapbooking without a Template – This may possibly be the scariest one to me.  I have come to rely on templates to help me get my pages done and look good.  This year, I am going to try and take what I have learned and see if I can put together some layouts on my own.  I’m not sure how they’ll come out, but I think that I need to give it a try to help myself grow as a scrapbooker.

So those are the three experiments I am looking to try out this year in my scrapbooking.  What are you looking forward to trying this year?  What are your experiments?

You’re A Time Waster…

Posted by Aaron aka Sir Scrapalot on Jan 27, 2011 | View Comments

Come on, do your best Pat Benatar impression and sing along!

Have you seen Pinterest yet?  Ok, well let me tell you, I have found the ulitmate time waster.  With Pinterest, you create your own “boards” that you pin things too, like having your own personal bulletin boards on the computer.  See an outfit you like at JCrew.com?  Go ahead and “Pin It” and it will be on your board for you to go back to.  Pinterest will “Pin” the jpg to your board, and leave the link for you to go back to it.  The possibilities for this are endless.  My boards along show the variety of uses for this.  I have a board for clothes for me, clothes for my girls, food and recipes I like, design inspiration, color inspiration, and a list for Disney stuff I like.  Now, as I surf the web, I have a place where I can put together all the things I see that I like.

What really makes Pinterest special and work, is that it’s largely a social network as well.  You have the ability to “follow” other people, and their boards, so not only can you see what you are pinning, but you can see everyone else’s pin as well!  Then, add to the mix the ability to “repin” (very much like a retweet), it almost becomes more fun looking at what other people find than finding things yourself!

So as of right now, I realize that Pinterest is a big time waster in my life.  I get that….I am justifying it though by thinking that I am “researching” for future projects….yah, that’s it.

The only drawback to Pinterest right now is that it’s by invitation only.  Let’s open up the comments: if you are looking for an invite, let us know here…if you have invites to share, let us know too!