Inspiration Station - Pocket Scrapbooking à la Nicole Harper!

Hello, everyone! Aurelie here with July 2015's Let's Capture Our Memories Inspiration Station feature. I have a confession to make: I L-O-V-E the concept of pocket scrapbooking and I actually do envy those who take the time to record the everyday happenings of their lives. I just haven't found the way to incorporate that in my own life. H-O-W-E-V-E-R, the pocket scrapbooking concept has already entered my scrapcave - I've done a travel book of a trip we took to San Diego, and I've also done a gift or two for my brothers who have been travelling abroad these past few years. I just haven't found my comfort zone, yet, that's all.

Now, when our sweet Éloïse was born in 2013, I knew that I wouldn't be able to scrap the way I had done it for Louis-Olivier. My style had changed, the industry had changed and frankly, my scrappy time had been cut a bit. I recognized that the pocket scrapbooking concept was going to help me out with this predicament and so I set off in gearing myself up with tools and supplies to get me going... Almost two years later, and a few attempts in starting Éloïse's baby book, I have finally figured out how to go about this. And this has a LOT to do with the fabulous work of Nicole Harper. 

Nicole Harper has been playing with paper since elementary school, when shopping for new supplies quickened her heart a beat. She spends her crafty time creating layouts and mini albums, but loves hunting for vintage finds whenever she can. She lives in Northeast Ohio with her husband Mike and their daughter Allison…and is a proud soccer mama, medical professional and trusty friend. She wears her heart on her sleeve with her journaling and loves to share the everyday moments that mean the most.

I've had the chance to assist a few of Nicole's pocket scrapbooking classes via Scrapbook & Cards Today's Crop and Create events, and I have fallen in love with her pocket scrapbooking style over and over and over again. She is a genius at mixing elements to add depth and interest onto her pocket cards and projects without adding bulk. L-O-V-E her work! And she is as sweet as can be, too! Here are a few samples of her work:

See what I mean? I just love how her pocket scrapbook pages aren't filled up with photos, but rather a combination of photos with tons of journalling. Now... do you wanna see what I came up with? Here we go (my goodness - I'm actually nervous! Hee!Hee!):

Using Simple Stories' SN@P! concept, I opted for the 6X8-ish version. Armed with the pink 6X8 SN@P! album, the Simple Stories Baby Girl SN@P! pockets, stickers, as well as the 3X4 and 4X6 cards, along with some Simple Stories Vintage Bliss, Pebbles Special Delivery, a Heidi Swapp photo mat, and a piece of Cosmo Cricket's 2wnty-thr3e collection, I gathered my Nicole Harper examples from classes I took with her and images of her work I found via her Gossamer Blue gallery (right here), and I plunged in. Following Nicole's examples, and using rub-ons, markers, Heidi Swapp Color Shine, stickers, wood veneer pieces, washi tape, tranparencies, and hand-stitching, I decorated some of the cards in order to add some interest to them.  I also FINALLY took out the brand-new typewriter Mathieu bought me for Christmas and typed on some cards, but also used hand-written journalling (Nicole's suggestion to use the ZIG Photo Signature pen to write directly onto photos is AWESOME!). Finally, the corners of the cards were rounded, while I left the photo corners squared. 

And there you have it! The beginning of my pocket scrapbooking project for Éloïse. Can't wait to continue!! And a huge shout out to Nicole Harper - You are a scrappy force to be reckoned with for sure, Nicole. Thanks for all you do to share your scrappy process with others. I want to pocket scrapbook like you when I grow up! Hee!Hee! To see Nicole's work, please hop on right over here.

Happy scrapping!