Sunday 17 June 2012

Insert Hulk Smash [Book] reference here

I've eyed up getting a smash book for a while. Seen them, drooled over them, flicked through them and put them back down and walked away. Then I thought sod it and brought one and the fun began! Smash Books [which I've seen in both JoAnns and Target] are designed to be used pretty much however you like - from drawings, to scrap-booking to journalling. Coming in a range of colours and themes, they come with their very own half glue half pen stick thing. There are additionally a range of accessories to help you on your smash book journey.

Smash

I've always been one to collect stuff. Recipes, tickets, tokens, leaflets. You name it I've saved it if it's from somewhere we've been, something we've seen, or just a something. But they've either been thrown into a memory box [aka an old shoebox], lost in the bottom of my bag or line the edges of our mirrors. I thought it was time to try something grown up, crafty and stick them into a book, with notes and pretty tape so they tell a story.

Smash book
Smash book

Smash Books come with a really cool introduction which pretty much encourages you to use this book as you will. I started ours off with a geeky introduction page - with old photographs of us both, my visa picture [geeky!] and one of the few postcards I've ever been able to find around and abouts!

It won't be one of those neat scrapbook things with numerous coloured paper, fancy stickers and stenciled letters. It'll be a mish mash, it'll be messy, hand written, doodled things. The idea is that the things I stick in will tell the tale of a British girl finding everything in America amazing, showing the things she loves, places she's been to the things she wants to do. I'll stick in the the CTA travel ticket from our honeymoon, gig tickets to the Dave and Buster Power cards we got last week from playing on arcade games for the boys birthday. Glue glue, stick stick.

Smash book
Smash book

I'm working on a couple of pages so far - one about all the fancy American stamps I'm coming across both US and UK and pages about all about random things we do and places we've been.  I start off with writing a random title and just going with it.

Being an inpatient person however, I keep having to constantly remind myself that this Smash Book will be a work in progress, that it will take months, maybe even a year to fill. But that's okay. It doesn't need to be filled up right now. Just however and whenever.

How do you collect your random somethings? Do you journal or use a scrapbook?

36 comments:

  1. That's such a lovely idea! I used to make scrapbooks all the time when I was younger, I might start making them again!

    Julia x

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    1. I've never tried making scrapbooks until finding this, they always seemed to "neat" for me to do [i'm rather messy] so I love the intention behind this!

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  2. So jealous, I need a smash book in my life.

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  3. I love this! It reminds me of Wreck This Journal! I wonder if they sell these in the UK anywhere...lovely post! xxx

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    1. I don't mind the idea of the Wreck this Journal but I like how you can just do whatever you want on any page!

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  4. I often think about journalling or scrapbooking but somehow I never. actually. do it.

    Looks like a cool set though.

    Sarah
    http://acatlikecuriosity.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. The Smash Book and all the goodies you can buy have certainly changed my mind about what journalling can be.

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  5. How fabulous. I wonder if they sell them here, would be right up my street. X

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    1. I think you should be able to get them online, or at least perhaps on eBay.

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  6. To everyone that's asked - I think [or at least giving it a google search] there are companies that are UK based and look to be selling them. Also they are frequently on eBay!

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  7. I love this idea I do love doing the odd bit of scrapbooking, haven't done anything for myself or anyone in forever.

    Lucy
    http://lucyywrites01.blogspot.com
    x

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    1. You should - so fun! Even if it's just ripping and sticking!

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  8. I absolutely love this!! My mum and I are huge fans of scrapbooking!

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    1. I can certainly see why - it's rather addictive once you get into it.

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  9. LOVE this, I've been after something like this for a while! I definitely need to have a look on eBay :D

    xo

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    1. I could certainly see them being sold in the UK and be a big hit if they aren't already.

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  10. This is a lovely idea, always wanted to do something like this but never known where to start.

    Charlee
    http://charmedcharlee.blogspot.com/
    xxxxx

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    1. Yeah, mines pretty much a work in progress, I just work on it every now and again when I have something.

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  11. Yours looks SO good, it's clear you've spent a lot of time working on it. Your pages are so cute! I just have a memory box which I put all sorts of little things in :)

    Love, Elizabeth xx

    http://butterflyboo.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. I've had memory boxes in the pass and I love looking through them, I just see this as another way of documenting things rather then replacing it. It can get really fun just gluing things down - simple pleasures!

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  12. Great post! Maybe I'll pick one up in NYC this week to fill with the dozens of tickets and maps I have collected in the first 2 weeks of our Canada travels :) thanks for the tip xx

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    1. I'm sure they'll probably be some somewhere in Canadian craft stores!

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  13. How awesome! I have heard of these books but haven't actually seen one. Yours is so cute!!! I love that you have saved sweet little pieces of memories. They will be perfect to put in this book. I am always collecting tickets stubs, etc., but I always loose them. *sighhh. Have fun working on this project :]

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    1. Yeah half the reason why I started this was to stop loosing things, or just throwing things out and wondering why I did. Least now they can all just be kept together!

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  14. Oh I love this! I have never really understood what Smash Books are, but this is such a great use for one! Also I am jealous of your handwriting =)
    xx
    emsipop.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. See my handwriting divides people - a lot of people can't read/understand it, admittedly that is a sample of my neat writing but ya know!

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  15. What a great way of recording special moments. Yours looks really artistic and fun. I've got the memory of an elephant and a blog! x

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  16. SMASHing really is a great way of scrap booking. i've never been into scrap booking but as soon as i heard about these books i knew i needed to start it up. i have three now and it is a bit upsetting that they aren't completed yet. i like projects but i like them to be done fast. grrr lol good luck with yours! hope to see more pictures of the things you put in it! :]

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  17. I've always been into scrapbooking, I love sticking things down and keeping a book of all my favourite bits and pieces! I've never heard of Smashbooks before though, I love your geeky intro page xxx

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  18. i bought a smash book on my trip to Vermont the other week...I wanted to scrapbook our trip to America. The books are so cute. I wish they were here in England :)

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