Sweet Disarray Backgrounds & Overlays

"Sweet Disarray." I love the sound of that, especially since "disarray" usually has a negative connotation. In this case, "Sweet Disarray" is a wonderful blend of grunge and vintage artistry against vivid combinations of color. And, if you follow Crafty Button Designs, you know that this is Amber's trademark style. All this makes for some fantastic foundations for art journaling. Sweet Disarray consists of four background packs and one pack of overlays:

Courtesy of Crafty Button Designs

Courtesy of Crafty Button Designs

Courtesy of Crafty Button Designs

Courtesy of Crafty Button Designs

Courtesy of Crafty Button Designs

As you can see, some of the overlays are blended into the backgrounds so you don't have to mix your own colors. If you'd prefer to "personalize" the backgrounds, though, the Sweet Disarray Overlays are a great addition to your art journaling basics stash!

The Crafty CT created wondrous designs with the Sweet Disarray Collection. (Please note that some of the following layouts include other Crafty Button Designs collections.) 

By Karine for Crafty Button Designs

By Beth for Crafty Button Designs

By Chantal for Crafty Button Designs

By Susan for Crafty Button Designs

Add these sensational basics to your stockpile for 20% off today!

The Key To Papers

Watercolor backgrounds call to me. I think it's the softness and subtlety of the colors when they are watered down just a bit. The Key To Papers, a new release from Pretty Dutch Designs has a medley of purple, yellow, and orange. Blended into this base of colors are splatters, brushes, and text to build layers for your art journaling creations. 

Courtesy of Pretty Dutch Designs

See what I mean? And there are many ways to artfully use these background papers, as the Pretty Dutch Designs CT demonstrate here:

By Lindy for Pretty Dutch Designs

By Chantal for Pretty Dutch Designs

By SoPitiscrap for Pretty Dutch Designs

Stunning, right? It's amazing how these photographs are blended into these papers! Pick up these soft, yet bold, papers at 20% off this weekend! 

Scrappin' Salmagundi Thursday

I have a new Word of the Day: SALMAGUNDI.

Salmagundi means miscellany. Yes, it's a mouthful, but still, I think it's a fun word to play around with. And, how many of you have heard of it before? ;)

So today, I have a bunch of odds and ends - all scrapping-related, of course!

First up, a freebie that I found just before Valentine's Day. It's still available as of today, so move fast!

Courtesy of 2 Curly Headed Monsters Designs

I like that this freebie has sassiness and vintage all in one!

Saw this last night on Facebook - Sesame Street character cards! You can read all about it on the Paper Ecstasy blog. I showed my little guy the photos, and he got very excited. I guess we'll have to make these soon.

Courtesy of Paper Ecstasy

Have you seen the new "I Am" line from Simple Stories?

Courtesy of Simple Stories

I've always been a fan of Simple Stories. The "I Am" Collection is focusing on getting more of "you" (aka as the memory keeper of everything and everyone) in the story. If you're already a pocket scrapper (aka Project Life to some), this whole line makes it easy. It's only available in real, touchable paper products for now, but I'm hoping they'll come out with the digital version soon! In any case, the idea is good, especially since many of us scrappers are always capturing events and lives of other family members and/or friends, but lack any real stories about ourselves. Incidentally, SS just released a free idea e-book and Sn@pbooking Guide using the "I Am" line!

Courtesy of Quirky Heart

Speaking of pocket scrapping and Project Life, there is a great article by Quirky Heart on how she has changed up Project Life for 2015. Not only did she change the size of album she is using, but Michelle is also eschewing the conventional chronological structure - yikes! I swear it's a good read, and it certainly makes you think about a new approach to Project Life, especially if you are having trouble keeping up with the traditional approach.

I am one of those that has issues with keeping up on Project Life. The last couple of years I've "failed" at it (i.e. not completed a full year), so I've been deliberating on what to do about 2015. Digital or continue hybrid? 6"x8" or 12"x12"? Less embellishments? Less journaling? The jury is still out, but I'm at least capturing notes in my day planner and in a special notebook designated to plan out my Project Life pages. This notebook is a new thing for me. I used to keep my notes in a Word doc, but I find that I don't always have my computer on when I think of something. It's easier to just be able to grab the notebook and jot a reminder down. Yes, it's old school, but I've always been better with paper and pen, lol!

That's it for today! I'm hoping to start my Project Life 2015 sometime soon - maybe March? Wish me luck. ;)