The Future of EcoScrapbooking

It's been nearly a year since I posted to EcoScrapbook. 

Life has gotten busy and I became the blogger who couldn't create new weekly content. I never thought it would be me. But it is what it is.

Over the course of a year, I didn't craft much and struggled with the future of EcoScrapbook. It was my un-craftable year and a time of being un-eco-friendly (not by choice).

My year of un-crafting made me rethink my ecoscrapbooking habits. 

There are businesses that don't have much sense of recycling and I found myself involved with two of them. I felt like a hypocrite. At EcoScrapbook, I preached about being green, but out in the work force, I have zero control of what can be recycled and what has to be trashed. It's been a daily internal struggle.

Since I was barely scrapbooking (thank goodness for mobile scrapbooking...PicsArt!), I began to take less photos. It's not that I stopped taking photos altogether (I have plenty in my gallery).

I started to enjoy life's moments by watching them without a lens in front of me.

I didn't rush to pull out my camera every time life needed to be documented. For so long, I recorded videos at school events and then finally realized that nothing compares to seeing my children through my own eyes. There's a connection you can only get when a camera isn't stealing the spotlight.

As I changed, I thought more about the bigger picture. I'm interested in the idea of teaching younger generations to take action and be more eco-conscious. In order for me to do that, my focus can't be on deciding what content to post next on EcoScrapbook.

With Earth Day here, I felt the urge to create a new post. I didn't expect it to turn into a decision on the future of EcoScrapbook.

Watch now:

What is the future of EcoScrapbooking?

That depends on you and how eco-conscious you want to be. I laid the groundwork as I presented creative and easy ways to craft and scrapbook with the Earth in mind.

The EcoScrapbook Blog and ebooks are your source for green scrapbooking and crafting. Whenever you need inspiration, just stop by and peruse my archived material or download an ebook.

As for me, I will continue to change the way I scrapbook and never stop thinking about how to turn trash to treasure. 

The EcoScrapbook Facebook page and YouTube Channel will still be up and running. Please follow along if you haven't already and I hope we can continue our community on social media. ~Danielle

Live Event: Scrapbooking Your Pets

If you're a pet owner, drop what you're doing and listen up. Do you scrapbook your pets? Would you like to take better photos of them? How about learn to scrapbook faster?

Did you say yes to at least one of the above?

Then you'll want to join me on Wednesday, May 20 at 1 p.m. EST for “Purrfect Pets: Scrapbooking Our Four-Legged Family Members."

When Lain Ehmann contacted me last fall and asked me to be a featured guest for one of her monthly scrapinars, I said sign me up! My topic, scrapbooking your pets. And I have plenty of experience with that!

There was Tabatha's Memorial Scrapbook:

Cat scrapbook pages:

A couple recent digital scrapbook layouts using PicsArt:

And so many more pet scrapbook pages!

I've taken hundreds of photos of my pets over the years and share the best ones on Instagram.

You'll learn my pet photography tips, watch how I scrapbook my four-legged friends in a fast, eco-friendly way, and more! Here are a few sneak peeks:

Click here to sign up for this FREE scrapinar and if you can't make it on May 20, there will be a replay available right after. Hope to see you there! ~Danielle

Related:

Pet Memorial Scrapbook: The First & Last Pages
A Very Recycled Scrapbook Page
A Build-A-Bear Doppelganger Says Boo!

EcoScrapbook's Top 10 Posts of 2014

Wow, 2014 has flown by! This has been such a crazy year! From losing Tabby and bringing home Bane to hubby's ankle injury, moving and everything in between, I'm looking forward to a calmer 2015 (fingers crossed).

For the first time since I started blogging in 2010, I actually took a blogcation over the summer and just started to get my groove back this month. To keep me even busier, I'm now Mama Meow at WherestheCat.com, a Toledo area events website and in the early stages of starting another blog for eco-conscious children.

In the mean time, let's have a look back at my crafty year in EcoScrapbook's top 10 posts of 2014:

1. A Very Recycled Scrapbook Page

2. Tutorial: No Sew T-Shirt Bag

3. Saying Goodbye: Pet Memorial Scrapbook Layout

4. Mini Eco-Friendly Scrapbooks

5. The Saddest Story I Ever Told

6. Digital Scrapbooking with the PicsArt App

7. Painting Roses With Celery

8. From Picture Frame to Dry Erase Board

9. Pet Memorial Scrapbook: It's Finished!

10. A Creative Blog Tour

Thanks for being part of my year! Wishing you the best in 2015! ~Danielle

Pet Memorial Scrapbook: It's Finished!

If you've followed along since the beginning of the year, you know I've been working on a pet memorial scrapbook for our German Shepherd, Tabatha. I'm happy to say it's finished and invite you to view it as you would any other scrapbook. Enjoy! ~Danielle

Click here to see the video of Tabatha's Scrapbook.

Related:

Pet Memorial Scrapbook: The First & Last Pages

Happy Pages From the Pet Memorial Scrapbook

Layout a Day is Over & I'm Still Scrapbooking

A Very Recycled Scrapbook Page

A Very Recycled Scrapbook Page

As I participated in Layout a Day last month and worked on my dog's tribute album, one of my favorite challenges was to use items not typically found in a scrapbook store. As the EcoScrapbooker, I definitely went overboard and turned trash to treasure!

Let's count the recycled items on this page...

1. Background Cardstock: It's made by Wausau and was purchased at an office supply store. The paper is recycled and FSC-certified.

2. Decorative Cardstock: BasicGrey is found in scrapbook stores, but it's one of my favorite companies to scrapbook with since their papers are FSC-certified and use soy based inks.

3. Journaling Bubble: This is the back of a Christmas gift tag and I added Pop Up Glue Dots to bring it up off the page a bit.

4. Page Title: A sweater I received for Christmas came with this "delicate and special" tag which I thought was perfect for a scrapbook page about bringing home a new baby and introducing her to the family dog.

5. Flower Petal: The white stamped flower petal was used during the baby shower for my daughter in 2002!

6. Earbuds: I've had a pair of broken earbuds and have been waiting to use them. I thought they'd work well with the serrated edges from a box of aluminum foil (close-up below).

7. "Love" Tag: This was a leftover tag from my birdseed ornaments. It's made from a toilet paper roll and paper scraps.

8. Aluminum Foil Cutter: Hmmm, what to do with the serrated edge of an aluminum foil box when it's time to recycle the box? You scrapbook with it! Be careful though and use Glue Dots Glue Lines to adhere it to the page.

9. Vintage Lace Ribbon: My husband's grandmother gave me a tin full of ribbon scraps, buttons and other do-dads. The vintage lace fit the theme of the page - "delicate and special."

10. Bread Clip: I started saving bread clips a while back and think they make interesting additions to scrapbook pages. Not convinced? Check out the colorful scrapbook layout I made for the ZISierra Blog.

11. Produce Mesh: A little knot around the bread clip added a pop of red to balance the red heart on the toilet paper roll tag.

12. Fabric Flower: My mother-in-law made custom curtains for our dining and living rooms and I kept the leftover fabric to make crafty things like this fabric flower topped with an old brown button. 

What's your favorite recycled item to scrapbook with? ~Danielle

Related:

Layout a Day is Over & I'm Still Scrapbooking

Happy Pages From the Pet Memorial Scrapbook

Pet Memorial Scrapbook: The First & Last Pages

Scrapbook Layout: Celebrating a Wedding Anniversary

Thirteen years. That's how long my husband and I have been married. To celebrate, I'd like to share a scrapbook layout about our 11th wedding anniversary when we took a little trip to Michigan to play some slots.

The photos and embellishments I chose for this anniversary layout were carefully thought out. Let's start with the title "Hallway 2 Slots" and the photo of me in our hotel room, which was connected to the casino by a long hallway. Then we move onto a photo of my husband playing slots with his arm pointing toward the third photo of the casino.

I chose an arrow to show direction, threw down some games pieces and even used a piece of broken gold jewelry to represent the cha-ching of playing slots and winning money.

Supplies: black cardstock, Jillibean Soup cardstock, Piggy Tales diecuts, CTMH cork arrows, acrylic paint, Basic Grey letter stickers, Craftwork Cards Candi, Provo Craft ephemera, ticket, broken necklace, StazOn ink.

Have you ever used broken jewelry on a scrapbook layout? ~Danielle

Related:

Digital Scrapbook Layout: One Night in Greektown
How many things can I recycle on a scrapbook layout? (another broken jewelry scrapbook layout)
EcoScrapbooking: Crafty Ideas for Eco-Conscious Scrapbookers (free eBook!)

Scrapbook Layouts Using Paint Samples

If you've never brought home a paint sample, this post will make you grab one the next time you're out shopping at your local home improvement store. And you know what you're going to do with that paint sample? Scrapbook with it!

I've accumulated several different colors of paint samples over the years for each home decorating project I've started and when my creative kiddos want to get their hands on a few of their favorite colors.

Paint samples can be used just as they are or altered any way your creative heart desires. They're free and an eco-friendly option when using your unwanted samples.

Here are two of my scrapbook layouts featuring paint samples:

"When There are None" 12x12 Scrapbook Layout using a Paint Sample

On the 12x12 scrapbook layout above, I cut a large circle shape out of a paint sample book, adhered an Instagram photo to it, stuck both to the cardstock, added a title and some journaling and called my layout complete. Easy peasy!

For this next scrapbook layout, I not only used a paint sample, but a few other free supplies. Can you spot them?

"Caught Green Handed" 8.5x11 Scrapbook Layout using a Paint Sample

If you saw the puzzle pieces, a cardboard circle and product packaging (behind the title), you know how I think! Even the painted handprint can be considered a free scrapbooking embellishment.

Want more ideas on how to scrapbook with paint samples? Check out these crafty projects from around the web:

• Mother's Day Scrapbook by My Sweet Savannah (click here to see pin).
• Paint Sample Mini-Album by Positively Splendid (see pin).
• "Love U" Scrapbook Layout by Sharon Harnist via Copic (see pin).
• Paint Sample Mini-Scrapbook by Sheri Twing via Elle's Studio (see pin).
• "It's Summertime" Eco-Friendly Scrapbook Layout by Me :) (see pin).

Special Announcement!! Are you in need of an intense weekend filled with scrapbooking? Join me at the free sneak peak of True Scrap 5 on Thursday, September 26 to learn more.  Click here to view more details. ~Danielle

Back to School Round-Up

It's the beginning of August and children are headed back to school throughout the month. Luckily, we have a few more weeks of summer at my house!

To get into the "back to school" mood, I've gathered together a few school-related craft projects, as well as some educationally-themed posts.

Back to School Project Tutorial: Upcycled Pencil Holders:

Week in the Life: Back to School Shopping 1985 vs. 2011:

Words of Wisdom: Try Something New:

Tutorial: Framed "Things To Do" list for School-Aged Children:

Would you use dryer lint on a [school-themed] scrapbook layout?:

12 Favorite Children's Books to Read Aloud:

 

Smashed Advice: Learn Something New:

Shopping for clothes and supplies were my favorite things before going back to school. What was (or is) your favorite way to prepare for a new school year? ~Danielle

Are You an Ecoscrapbooker?

Do you consider yourself an ecoscrapbooker? If you save items from around the home or when you’re out and about with scrapbooking in mind, you’re definitely an ecoscrapbooker.

The habit of saving and using items like the ones above are so ingrained in my family that my husband saves his coffee sleeves and my girls get excited when they give me something they know I’ll use on a scrapbook layout... Continue reading my post at Messtaken Identity. ~Danielle

Related:

EcoScrapbooking eBook: Crafty Ideas for Eco-Conscious Scrapbookers
9 Scrapbook Starting Points Using Paper Scraps
The EcoScrapbooker Manifesto

Buttons Galore & More Blog Hop

Welcome to the first-ever Glue Dots blog hop! We're celebrating Father's Day and Graduation with projects featuring buttons from Buttons Galore!

As the EcoScrapbooker, I enjoy hunting for supplies from around the home and see how I can reuse them in my craft projects. Today's graduation-themed project is no different as I utilized an old photo mat, an empty Glue Dots box and the roll that goes with it!

Let's check out my upcycled graduation-themed photo frame:

Supplies:

photo mat

Glue Dots® (Glue Lines, Mini, Craft)

graduation-themed buttons (Buttons Galore)

thin cardboard

empty Glue Dots box and roll

black acrylic paint

1. Paint two coats of acrylic paint on the Glue Dots cardboard roll, allowing drying time in between coats. Set aside.

2. Adhere Glue Dots Glue Lines® around all edges of cardboard except the top and attach to the back of photo mat. Insert photo.

3. Cut the back of the empty Glue Dots box and attach to back of cardboard on the photo mat.

4. Use a Craft Glue Dot® to adhere a half dollar to the bottom right side of photo mat to balance the frame for the next step.

5. Flip the frame over and attach the painted Glue Dots roll to the bottom right side using Mini Glue Dots®.

6. Adhere the Buttons Galore graduation-themed buttons to the inside and outside of the roll with Mini Glue Dots®.

The upcycled photo frame is now ready to hang or give as a graduation gift!

And since we're also celebrating Father's Day, I'd like to share a dad-themed scrapbook layout I made using more Glue Dots® and buttons from Buttons Galore:

"Dad & I" 8x10 Scrapbook Layout

Instead of cardstock as the base of this layout, I "greened" it up and used double-sided cardboard and chose the white side over the plain kraft cardboard. I added colorful Basic Grey cardstock, distressed the edges with my Distrezz-It-All and painted them black before adding the final details.

The photo on the layout is memory-filled from 1983 and features my dad, someone I hold dear to my heart right now after his heart attack on Earth Day. He's doing better now and I'm thankful to be able to celebrate another Father's Day with him. This page was like scrapbook therapy for me and I'm happy to share it with you.

Layout supplies: cardboard, cardstock (Basic Grey, DCWV), Glue Dots® (Mini, Ultra Thin), buttons (Buttons Galore), thread (Jillibean Soup), gems (CTMH), star paper clip, Distrezz-It-All, black acrylic paint, letter stickers (American Crafts Thickers). Check out the EcoScrapbooking eBook for more recycled scrapbooking ideas!

Now it's time to visit the Glue Dots blog if you haven't done so already and then hop on over to each of the Dottesses' blogs and leave a comment.

Want a chance at a special prize pack? Email Glue Dots at GlueDotsFans@gmail.com with your name and address (city, state, zip) by 11:59 CST on Thursday, May 9th to be entered to win! One lucky winner will be announced on the Glue Dots blog on Friday, May 10th!

List of participating Glue Dots designers: 

Dawn Barrett 

Donna Budzynski

Erin Bullock

Joy Dickson

Holly Gagnon

You are here--> Danielle Hunter

Smitha Katti

Michelle Philippi

  

Anita Scroggins

  

Laurel Seabrook

  

Samantha Taylor

Don't forget to visit the Buttons Galore & More blog to see what their design team has created with Glue Dots! Hope you enjoy the blog hop! ~Danielle

It's Time for Another Round of Layout a Day!

I love to scrapbook (you already knew that) and as a busy mom, I don't always have time to spend on personal scrapbooking. That's why I make time for Layout a Day. 

During each month of LOAD, I scrapbook every single day and have been joining Lain Ehmann and a few hundred of my closest scrappin' friends since 2010. There are traditional scrappers, people who digiscrap and ones (like myself) who like to mix things up - many different styles of scrapbooking and SO MUCH INSPIRATION! Despite a busy lifestyle, I just can't quit! I'm addicted to LOAD!

Below are some of my favorite scrapbook pages I've created during LOAD.

May 2010:

 

October 2010:

February 2011:

May 2011:

February 2012:

May 2012:

October 2012:

February 2013:

I'm also pleased to announce that I will be one of the featured scrapbookers during May's LOAD (LOAD 513)! I invite you to join me on this adventure. Click here to view more details.

You can follow along on Flickr as I dig into my stash and create scrapbook pages. Nothing new is purchased during the month as I find this a perfect opportunity to use up what I currently own. However, I make sure I have plenty of adhesive prior to the start of the month. I won't be printing additional photos and if a prompt takes me to a recent photo, I'll digiscrap it! Can't wait to get started and I hope to see you on Flickr! ~Danielle

Read more about my LOAD tips & adventures: here, here and here.

Disclosure: This blog post contains an affiliate link to Layout a Day.