Friday Freebie | Camptacular Cards!

It’s that time again!  Time for another Friday Freebie!  Have you had the chance to check out our July “Camptacular” set of twelve cards yet?  The cards that conceptually revolve around all things Summer Camp?  You absolutely must!  The following set of six “Freject” cards didn’t quite make the cut, but they do such a great job of completing the set, that it would be a shame to not have the full set in your creative hands!  Without further adieu…

As always, send us an email at everydayritualsblog@gmail.com and within 48 hours we will revert with an email containing the printable and digital files for your use.  We look forward to hearing from you!

credits / Sarah Kolbe // Graphic Designer 

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Week 26 | Short & Simple

My week 26 layout was really short and simple.  Not a whole lot of photos. Not any embellishments.  Some photos, some cute cards, and words.  And really that is all I need.  Times are busy.  The summer is super busy!  Sometimes my focus is less on making elaborate pages (ok that’s most of the time for me) and more time just getting the photos printed and memories written down and calling it good and done.  I rely on the cute journal cards for that creative edge! I am so glad I had the June Everyday Rituals kit  along with a couple of Becky Higgins Core Kits, and Studio Calico Kits,  to help my pages along in the “creative department”.

One trick I have learned along the way is to make collages! Collages help to simplify a weekly spread, especially for someone like me that takes a lot of photos!  It’s super easy to just make 2 8×10 collages and slip them into a 8×11.5 page protectors, and call it good!  I used the app Pic Stitch for the collages in my week 26.

(click on images to view larger) 

 

credits // Michelle Bostinelos | Author 

July Cards | Summer Camp!

What is Summer without Summer Camp?  Summer brings to mind a moment in my childhood when I spent a week at Camp Foster in 7th grade with my best friend Michelle (Coacher) Bostinelos, who also happens to be my partner in crime at Everyday Rituals.  We swam in a lake, hung out by the campfire at night, doused ourselves in mosquito repellant, and loved every second of it.   Summer = Instant Camp Nostalgia.

In the creation of the July edition of our Pocket Cards, I was inspired by all the things that make Camp, well… Camp:  Bows and Arrows, Tents, Trees, Campfire, Compasses, Canoeing, and Fishing.  The great outdoors and sleeping under the stars.  “Moonrise Kingdom”, the quirky camp inspired Wes Anderson film had me oozing and drooling with inspiration, especially with color.  The final set of cards as follows:

This set of Twelve 3″x4″ cards is currently available at our Big Cartel Shop.  There was so much inspiration for this set of cards that left so many cards cut from the final twelve… stay tuned for a Freeject Freebie next Friday for some supplemental cards!  Enjoy!

credits // Sarah Kolbe : Graphic Designer | Author

Week 25 | Mixing and Matching

Everyone has their own style when it comes to pocket scrapbooking.  Some go digital. Some paper. Some are very neat and organized. Some like lots of white space. Some like lots of colors.  There is no right or wrong way.  You just get to find your style and go with it.

For me – my style is mix matched.  I have a random collection of kits that I mash-up into one of my weekly layouts, for a look that is very unique, a little messy and totally me.

For my week 25 I actually used SEVEN kits! I might have just one card from each one  – but a card was in the mix.

Here are the seven I used:

1  June Studio Calico Project Life Kit

 

2. G’Day add-on kit

 

3.  Everyday Rituals Real Life Kit 

 

4.   Everyday Rituals June Kit:

5. Project Life Midnight Core Kit

 

6. Project Life Honey Core Kit

 

 

7. Project Life Craft Core Kit

 

 

Two of my friends and I did a swap with the core kits. We each bought a different kits (for a total of 3 kits)  and then split them each in 1/3! Which is working out great! For my first two years of putting together a Project Life Album, I only had one core kit – and I got a bit bored with it after a while.  Having a subscription to Studio Calico helps diversify too!  And of course the wonderful Everyday Rituals kits add fun and variety into my weekly spreads!

Here is a look at my week 25:

(click on images to view larger) 

 

What’s your Project Life Style? What kits are your favorite? Leave me a comment and let me know!

 

credits: Michelle Bostinelos/Author 

Top Ten Check List for Documenting the 4th of July

I loved Sarah’s Top Ten Check List for Documenting a Vacation so much that I am copying her!  🙂  Well more like borrowing her idea – but twisting it a bit…  my list is the Top Ten Check List for Documenting the 4th of July.

The 4th of July is coming up this weekend!! !  It’s time to think about what you want to capture in terms of the photos.  It’s always good to go in with a game plan..know what you are looking for before the event happens.

So here is my list:

1. Food and drink:  This goes for most holidays/vacations, food and drink photos are a must.  I  enjoy a nice cold beverage by the pool on the 4th! But maybe there is a special dessert you make on the 4th of July. Or you grill up some burgers?? Whatever it is you enjoy – snap a pic!

2. Dressed-up for the occasion:  Around here the kids can be found wearing red, white and blue ( I might too!).  I always like to snap a photo or two of those who proudly display their American pride!

 

(Me, below in my favorite star hat!)

 

 

 

3. Pool photos (or other activities):   We spend a lot of time at the pool over the 4th of July. I like to have my camera ready for the action!  But maybe you do other events on the 4th? A picnic? camping? Whatever it is – snap away!

4. Sparklers:  What’s the 4th of July without sparklers?  Maybe you have a different 4th of July tradition? Make sure you get a photo of it!

5. Parades:  Many towns and cities have 4th of July parades!  I love to capture all the excitement of the parade on my camera!

6. Concerts:  Our city has a huge free concert every 4th of July weekend!  I like to get a few shots of all the fun!

7. Selfies:  You know I am a fan of the selfie! It turns out that last 4th of July I was also a big fan of this hat! 

8. Mishaps and things that happen: Sometimes things happen over the 4th of July. Hopefully nothing serious! But I always say it isn’t a holiday without some type of crazy mishap! Last year Ethan got chigger bites by rolling down the grass hill of the golf course! Poor kid!

9. The whole gang: Sometimes I am so busy taking photos of the kids, I forget to take photos of our entire group! This often is the grandparents watching from the sidelines.  Don’t forget to take photos of everyone that is part of your 4th of July – not just the kiddos.

10.Fireworks:  And of course the fireworks!! I don’t have any real tricks for taking photos of fireworks. I took these photos with my Canon 60D. I took these photos by setting my ISO low (100) and my shutter speed very slow (1/30).   

It should be noted that some of the images above were taken with my Canon 60D and others with my iPhone.

Here are my Project Life pages from last year (2013) 4th of July weekend:

(click on images to view larger) 

 

I hope you have a wonderful 4th of July! Enjoy the holiday and don’t for get to document it!

credits// Michelle Bostinelos, Author 

July Inspiration : Feeling Campy!

When I embarked on the design process for the July Pocket Cards, I immediately became nostalgic for all things Camp related: tents, trees, canoes, bows and arrows.  My mind went to “Moonrise Kingdom”, Wes Anderson’s quirky “ode to camp” movie.  I created a color palette with beautiful, faded colors reminiscent of the end of a long summer day along with the fatigues and khakis that bring to mind a vintage camp experience.

Below is a collage that tells the story of my initial design process:

I have much more work to do on this set of twelve 3″x4″ cards, but I absolutely cannot wait to share the final product with all of you next week!  Happy Friday!

credits // Sarah Kolbe | Graphic Designer

Week 24 | The Layering Effect

One of my go-to techniques while working on my Project Life Album is layering of different sized page protectors. Since I do a weekly album, I like to start and end each week with a Design A (Project Life brand) page protector.   And since I take a ton of photos each week, I have several inserts in any given week.  What I like to do to create visual interest is to vary the size of those inserts. My only rule is that the inserts have to be smaller than then Design A page that start and end my week (Design A is 12×12).

My favorite package to use for page protectors is the Variety Pack 3 which includes:

• 10 Design A
• 10 Design G
• 10 Design H
• 10 Design I
• 10 Design J
• 10 8.5 x 11 Verticals

I give myself a rule that besides the 2 Design A, I won’t use any size page protector twice in a given weekly spread.

The result… A lovely layering effect in my weekly Project Life album.

 

I did trade the 8.5 x 11 vertical for a 8.5 x 11 horizontal for the spread above.

What are some of your favorite techniques to keep things interesting in your Project Life Album? I would love to hear from you – leave a comment!

 

credits|| Michelle Bostinelos/Author