introducing collage papers - memory planner

If you caught my last two posts you know there's a new product over at the STAMPlorations shop - collage papers. Basically, it's a nice quality 70# patterned paper and who doesn't love patterned paper?  

There's an amazing pre-order deal being offered right now so please go check it out. But then come back to see my latest make using Analog Grunge, one of the new papers!

I decided to use the collage papers as PP in creating my latest spread in my Stop the Blur memory planner. The neutral tones worked well with my photos for this week, which were basically all over the color spectrum. I created pockets to hold a few more photos and my journaling.

Analog Grunge collage paper

Elizabeth Craft journal page die

Heidi Swapp stamps

alpha die, stickers, ticket ephemera

So if the pattern on these collage papers speaks to you, in addition to using them as an easy card front or background for a stamped/die cut image, you can make them work for you in other ways as well. 

Hope you're stopping by the STAMPlorations blog regularly to see what the other DT girls are making with the new collage papers - in addition to grungy there are botanical, coffee, travel, and bold texture themed papers.

And should you find yourself making a purchase from the STAMPlorations store, you can use my code STAMPGIRLMARIA for 20% off. Have a great day.  

STB - november 4 2024

More November 2024 in my STB memory planner. 

Not many photos so a good chance to use larger alpha stamps to create titles. Love doing this. And how fun that the Lions were still doing well back then...

 

STB - october 28 2024

Moving on to November in my STB memory planner for 2024. 

Another transition week. Goodbye USA; hello Germany.

Used up some old die cuts that having been laying around. Some stickers. Some washi. How 'bout that vellum envelope with file card? Love it.

memory planner full

I've reached the end of this planner. Before moving on to the next week's spread which will be in a new planner book, I'd like to share how I spruced up the last page of this one. Had this fulll size photo and it was too good to not include.

Hello Sunrise!

STB - october 21 2024

 Wrapping up October in my STB memory planner for 2024. 

A quick road trip to visit family. Thus lots of photos. Toned down with vellum. You know the trick.

BTW, that outhouse shot... no fear. Those are shotgun casings on the floor! Only in northern MI. And hey, how 'bout those Lions?!?

Note: If you've not checked out Presque Isle and its lighthouses you should. Get a sandwich at Ida Mae's Deli and enjoy it at the harbor. 

STB - october 14 2024

It's October in Michigan in my STB memory planner for 2024. 

And it's looking very autumnesque. On sleeves housing pull out strips of photos and journaling.

Happy to use up some stash on my memory planner this week - PP, stickers, alpha stickers for titles. All with an autumn feel. To match the rough lake, rain soaked driveway, cider and donuts.

And hey, how 'bout those Lions?!?

 

STB - october 7 2024

We've reached October 2024 in my STB memory planner! 

And MORE northern lights. OMG! On two different nights!

This was THE hardest spread to make. Actually, deciding on which of my thousand photos to use was the hardest part. The first evening I was on my own - went to the nearby point on the beach and sat there taking photos until I heard coyotes. I packed up my stuff and headed to the harbor to watch the show from the comfort of my car ;) Until 4:30 am.

Then two days later I headed to the harbor with my neighbor who'd never seen aurora before. The show did not disappoint. But even with winter jackets we got cold so headed home. She fell asleep but I had to go out to the beach for more of the show. It was so RED! And full sky. Straight up overhead. Dancing. All the things. And thank, goodness no coyotes.

Photo flips. Strips. Pockets. Belly bands. Vellum. I'm just going to put it here for your enjoyment.

Oh how beautiful a day can be. Hold it fast.

More photos - hidden.

More photos - tiny on strips.

And more. This time on a grid turned tag.

And a couple more ;)

The next morning's sunrise too. Tucked into a pocket hidden behind the belly band that holds the giant tag of photos!

STB - september 30 2024

It's end of September 2024 in my STB memory planner. 

Normal life stuff. Lots of normal life photos, but I put them in pockets or on pull-out strips. Stickers. Die cuts. Stamping. ("Gather Eat Laugh" is probably my most used stamp ;)

Stopping the blur while making it pretty!

Note: If you've never been to the White Horse Inn in Metamora, GO! And while in the area, visit Kelly at Flea Market Rescue in Dryden. Or at least watch her thrift on youtube.

STB - september 23 2024

We're in September 2024 in my STB memory planner. 

It's nearing the end of the month and I see sweatshirts and flannel shirts in photos. I absolutely love this time of year in MI.

Kids departed. DH and I got back to normal life. 

Included some more "glimmers". And did you notice I've been punching the photos of books I listened to in a circle shape. Immediate recognition = book!

Stopping the blur.

STB - september 16 2024

It's September of 2024 in my STB memory planner. 

And I experienced the northern lights for the first time ever. Oh my goodness. How do you stop THAT blur? It actually ain't even a blur! It made me an addict.

It was so cool. We were having a beach fire and keeping our eyes on the north. At one point we thought something looked different. DS headed down the beach toward the point where we can see more north. Mine was the only cell phone with us so his girlfriend took it and followed behind him. I could see her stopping every few steps to take photos, so thinking she was seeing something, of course I had to get up and follow them. It is amazing how viewing the sky through your phone makes aurora so much more visible.

The show probably lasted a half hour. Amazingly enough under a full moon! That's why the photo looks like it was taken in daylight! There we were (DH was unfortunately home in the shower!) jaws gaping, jumping around, screaming as aurora appeared, arced, stretched, changed from green to purple... Incredible. If you've never seen it, I hope you get the chance one day.

Had to include a full size photo of the kids with aurora (and even a lit freighter) in the background. Used it to hide a couple more photos and stories - like real life stuff going on that week too. But I chose to dedicate the full week spread to aurora. Well, and the Detroit Lions ;)

Cheers to aurora and stopping the blur. 

STB - september 9 2024

We're in September of 2024 in my STB memory planner. 

Never a dull moment when the kids are in town. They actually headed to northern MN for some fishing while I stayed home nursing a cold. Fine with me, I'm not into the bugs.

Used a full size photo to hide a couple more photos and stories behind. Like the story of girlfriend kissing her first catch before tossing it back in (it was too big). They caught many fish after that. Probably cuz that fish went and told his buddies, "Hey, go over there and you'll get a kiss" ;) 

Cheers to stopping the blur by documenting all those little things.

 

STB - september 2 2024

We've made it to September of 2024 in my STB memory planner. 

This is such fun. Breakfast in town in Germany; McDonalds baby pancake breakfast at the airport; breakfast at our favorite place in Croswell. Doesn't get any better than that. Why do I get the feeling all we do in MI is eat and drink?!?

Such fun to have DS and his girlfriend with us.

Lots of stamping, most obvious the titles with alpha stamps. I love those things.

Note: If you have any kind of relationship with a Great Lake you must read Tom Lake. Better yet, listen to Meryl Streep read the audiobook.

 

STB - august 26 2024

Let's finish up August 2024 in my STB memory planner. 

Another "slow" week ;)  Not a lot to document with photos so I used a great piece of original art I'd saved from a note card. Actually housed a tag with journaling behind it. And then decorated the layout with various items I found that were green/yellow!

Stop the blur. Even if there's not a lot to blur.

STB - august 19 2024

We're in August 2024 in my STB memory planner. 

Might be the week with the most white space I've ever done! A week of appointments and take away food. Not a lot to document with photos. But that's life.

Grabbed some bits and bobs that were laying around and incorporated them. Hid some journaling on a tag in a pocket and a cardstock strip housed behind a couple photos.

This too stops the blur a bit.

STB - august 12 2024

We're in August 2024 in my STB memory planner. 

It was only a week but it packed a punch. An unforgettable short trip to Munich to see the one and only Adele. In the rain. All of us, including Adele!

Unfortunately also bad news about a friend's husband at the same time.

Used my tried and true trick of hiding photos behind vellum when I find myself needing to include lots of photos.

Pulled out the colorful vellum alpha stickers again and decorated with various butterflies from my stash.

Stopping the blur.

 

STB - august 5 2024

Welcome to August 2024 in my STB memory planner. 

Continued with those Basic Grey alpha stickers that were still on my desk for some titles. Added some strips of PP from my stash cuz the cup holding them happened to be in front of my face. What can I say? More journaling than photos this week. But that's fun too cuz I get to bring in more stickers. And labels - which I never think to use.

Don't think I mentioned it, but you can tell on this layout. This "planner" is actually intended to be used for something else. I'm not sure what. Its format is different. But I went through the whole thing drawing lines to create the spaces for days like the original planners from Heidi had. Call me thrifty ;)

Stopping the blur, I am.

STB - july 29 2024

Wrapping up July 2024 in my STB memory planner. 

It's usually a slow week as we recover from jet lag. Not a lot of photos. Some journaling which I chose to hide in those cute little file folder die cuts. Made it all pretty with complementary washi tape. And can we have a moment for that cool clipboard die cut? Wowzers. Love that I could even fit the larger one here in the slow week.

I added something new after seeing it in social media - glimmers. What sets off a glimmer in your soul in your everyday life? Write it down.

Stopping the blur. 

STB - july 22 2024

More of July 2024 in my STB memory planner. 

Unfortunately it was time for DD to leave. Which led to two trips to the airport within 48 hours when Delta's snafu created the biggest airport chaos I have ever seen! But it also gave us an additional unexpected 24 hours together and that was pretty wonderful after the anger and frustration subsided. Following her departure it was time for us to wrap things up before heading to Germany for a month. 

Even with all the busyness and chaos, I find this week's layout peaceful.

Stopping the blur.   

STB - july 15 2024

We're in July 2024 in my STB memory planner. 

That monarch mural in Frankenmuth (and my beautiful girl who just happened to be dressed perfectly to pose with it)!!! Might be my favorite photo of this summer. Add to that the photos of the colorful silos in Saginaw...

The spread just screamed for some groovy vibes. I went with it. Stickers. Orange and purples. Fun. 

Flip ups allowed me to add additional photos and cover up my journaling. Kinda digging the vertical strip of small photos to document more memories of our outing.

 

STB - july 8 2024

Moving on in July 2024 in my Heidi Swapp STB memory planner...

Going places. Seeing people. Doing things. Busy week.

A little road trip too. Even though it was short it created more photos than usual. Time for a flip book. And a couple belly bands to contain momentos and journaling.