100 layouts #4 - Scary Jack (completed 12/14/05)
Mood:  chillin'
Topic: Halloween

The year-after-year "carving the Jack-o-lantern" layouts can also get kind of boring after a while. This time I decided to focus on the transformation and expression of Jack's face. And on using up some more of my nifty KI Memories Halloween stuff. (I just LOVE KI Memories. I'm incapable of walking past a KI Memories display without buying something. Or lots of somethings. Which partly explains how my credit card got to the state it did. Ahem.) I can't really explain the wire on the title tag, makes it look like a little notebook or something. It's just that I have a ton of craft wire that I bought when wire was the big trend, and I'm desperately trying to think of ways to use it up.

Journaling: "No funny or silly faces this year - Aaron designed and carved a Jack-o-lantern that was definitely spooky. 10/31-05"

Yes, I know I messed up the writing. I've debated whether to rewrite the journaling on a separate piece of paper and cover up the mistake, but I'm trying to learn to embrace imperfection.

A lot more people are doing computer-generated scrapbook pages, whether they look like computer graphics or use digital elements designed to look like traditional supplies. I can uderstand the appeal, less mess and it's easier to undo mistakes. The thing that bothers me about computer layouts is they're too perfect. They lack a human, personal touch. Years from now, or in a generation or two, when people are looking at my layouts or handling them, I want them to know that they are looking at and touching something that I made with my own hands, mistakes, crooked mats, and all. I think it makes more of a direct, personal connection between me and people who'll be looking at my work years from now.

Materials: Patterned paper, title tage, word stickers - KI Memories; letter stickers - David Walker, Creative Imaginations; orange wire - Making Memories.

100 Layouts #3 - Legend of the Red Ninja (completed 12/13/05)
Mood:  lazy
Now Playing: Red Hot Chili Peppers
Topic: Halloween
Back to the beginning, or almost to the beginning, with entry #3 in my 100 Layouts With Stuff I Already Have. (The people who have possession of #1 and 2 are presently on the other side of the world.)

Journaling: Once upon a time there was a very brave and skilled Ninja, who wore a red Ninja suit. This is the story of some of his adventures:

He went to the Cub Scout Halloween party and received several awards honoring his great Ninja Scout skills, then he demonstrated his special pumpkin-bowling jutsu. Several days later, he marched in the costume parade at the school for Ninjas, wizards, princesses and mad scientists. You can see him focusing his chakras, getting ready to bust a Ninja move on anyone who gets out of line (or on Ninja moms who keep taking too many pictures). Finally, on Halloween night, he readied his sword and prepared to brave the dark street, on a quest to liberate as much candy as possible from the local villagers. His brave Ninja quest was a great success!

Aaron, Halloween 2005

"Born in darkness, living in darkness,
Such is the fate of a Ninja."

Aya, the (hot-pink) Ninja warrior, Pokemon

This was Aaron's Halloween costume last year. I was hoping he'd want to be Harry Potter again, since we already had all the stuff, but no, a red ninja it had to be. Doing the same-old same-old Halloween thing gets to be kind of boring after a while, so I decided to tell his story as if it were the stuff of legends.

Materials: Patterned paper and reproduction Asian ephemera, DMD Industries (I think); coin, Paper Pizzazz; computer fonts, CK Fortune and Bonzai.

Used up: 1 sheet black cardstock, a bunch of that Asian ephemera I thought looked really cool but couldn't figure out what to do with.