Because of Thanksgiving we are not posting a video this week (if you are new here there is a selection of videos you can watch in the left column). I do have a couple layouts to share. Since my birthday is in a few days I’ve been in the mood to do some pages about myself. Maybe they’ll trigger some story ideas of your own…
The Rainbow In My Closet
8.5×11 layout
Tell a story about how you dress right now or how you organize (or don’t organize).
Published (& Paid) Writer
12×12 layout
Tell a story of something you accomplished, big or small.
Share
What was the topic of the last page you made about yourself? What’s a topic you know you want to scrap about but haven’t yet? I’d love it if you shared your story ideas by leaving a comment.
This week’s episode for the Paperclipping Members demonstrates tips and principles for turning a boring and symmetrical multi-photo layout into a much more interesting page with asymmetry. Watch the page come together and see the difference design know-how can make!
If you’re not a Paperclipping Member you can click on the player above for the trailer to this tutorial, or click here to watch the Quicktime version. You can also watch the free videos we have in the column to the left (you’ll probably need to scroll down a little to see those). If you like what you see, you may want to head over to this page to learn how you can watch the rest of our tutorials.
Below is the scrapbook page I featured in this episode…
Actors
2-pg. 12×12 layout
Making Memories was definitely my manufacture of choice for Halloween products this year. They made the witch boots paper and the charms you see in the layout above. The gorgeous laser cut paper at the bottom (Basic Grey) and the black-on-black flocked damask design that stretches across the page toward the top (Doodle Bug) are not Halloween-specific but definitely contribute the style I was going for.
These black flowers that hug the photo series (a tiny one layered on top of a larger one), plus the framed boots with small flower, are variations of two of the Halloween ornaments I designed for the tutorial here and here. Journaling reads:
Trinity – You made up the “Freaky Doll” idea when Nana said you could borrow her purple wig (something she usually wears Halloween night) and that very bizarre mask. That pink girlie dress and the striped tights were perfect final additions to complete the look. Great idea, girlie.
Aiden – While most of the school doesn’t come in Halloween costumes (rules), the kindergarten was invited to dress up like a character from a book. You picked a skeleton book we own and I used it as a model to paint bones on some old black clothes. You didn’t want to paint your face (too uncomfortable) and I was cool with that decision.
Blake – You got some good 1-on-1 time with Dad while he painted Zombie makeup on you, You love being a monster and really getting into character. Usually you’re done that with masks but this year you were excited to finally get costume makeup on your monster face. Something you’ve wanted for a while.
Today’s episode is for the Paperclipping Members. If you want to commemorate the culture of a place you’ve visited or plan to visit, you might want to consider the topic of this episode: create a book with an authentic item that portrays the place and culture. Below are a few pictures of my own book, which I made to showcase photos and items from Rocky Point, Mexico…
Mexico Minibook From A Punched Tin Frame
Scrapbooking supplies I used: Tim Holtz Distress Emboss Powder in Scattered Straw. Versamark Ink. Old Olive and Creamy Caramel by Stampin’ Up. Book Binding Tape by 7 Gypsies. Epoxy sticker by s.e.i. Letter stickers by Creative Memories. Eyelets by American Crafts.
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If you have an over-abundance of tags in your scrap stash, this week’s episode will give you a fun idea for using them.
This video is available to members only. Learn about a membership here.
Here are pictures of the layouts I featured in the video, along with journaling and supply information…
Hyman Tribe
12×12 layout
The colors got funky on this one…my apologies!
Journaling reads:Blake’s been singing this humorous jingle from the comedy, “Nacho Libre.” [the song: "I eat some bugs. I eat some grass. I use my hand to wipe my...tears."] The kids giggle so much at this song and Israel and I couldn’t tell if they knew what word the song actually implied. Israel finally asked Blake, “Do you know why that song is so funny? Blake, with a suspicious look on his face said, “Because he ate bugs and grass and that makes him cry.” We agreed verbally with Blake and left the kids to their innocence.
Supplies:patterned paper (Creative Imaginations) * tags + wire (Stampin’ Up) * journal spot peeking out above left journal block + acrylic heart (Heidi Swapp) * chipboard (Thickers for American Crafts) * rub-on’s (My Mind’s Eye) * plastic flower (Prima) * button and ribbon from unknown source.
Beautiful You @ 8 Yrs
12×12 layout Journaling to Trinity reads:You are one of those rare people who are naturally beautiful both inside and out. You have so much empathy and it drives you to take care of others. But you don’y do it at your own expense or when it compromises your integrity. You’re also unbelievably responsible, always remembering everything and giving the rest of us desperately needed reminders since, unlike you, we forget everything (we don’t know about Aiden yet).
You are a loyal friend. People love you and it’s easy to see why…You’re a fun and very lovable girl.
I love doing layouts with lots of scraps like this one because while I’m scrapbooking I get to enjoy happy memories of past scrapbooking times.
I love these old keys (left) with interesting shapes to them. The shape is sort of flowery. On the right is a 3-dimensional plastic flower sitting on top of a button (thank-you glue dots), sitting on top of an acrylic heart outlined in brown ink.
That green butterfly is a rub-on, but because I wanted it’s wings to hang off a raised tag, I didn’t actually rub it on. I glued it with its plastic to the tag with Diamond Glaze instead.
Did you enjoy today’s episode of Paperclipping? If so you’ll probably enjoy the others! You can find out what it means to be a Paperclipping Member by clicking here.
While there is nothing wrong with a vacation album or minibook that simply highlights the trip’s activities, there are some trips that add up to more than just that list. Some vacations impact you at a deeper level than the exciting agenda can show.
For today’s episode, I’ll share a vacation minibook I made for a trip like that. I’ll share how I found connections among my memories of the trip that led to a theme which I carried through the entire book. Many of us will have family vacations to document this summer, and I hope this episode gives you a new way to think about how you can approach your album or mini.
This video is available to members only. Learn about a membership here.
Below are a couple photos of the book I featured in the video. You can see the rest of the book in a set on my flickr page by clicking here.
The Two Of Us (In Sedona)
Supplies for these pages: Spiral minibook (7 Gypsies) * Patterned paper and title (My Mind’s Eye, background paper of second pic unknown) * Scroll sticker (Creative Imaginations) * Letter stickers (Creating Memories).
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Wow, we’ve now released our 100th tutorial! You can help us celebrate 100 helpful Paperclipping Tutorials by becoming an Affiliate so you can start making money from your blog or website. Our new affiliate program will pay you a 25% commission for anyone who comes over through your badge and becomes a Paperclipping Member within 30 days. You can sign up here.
Today’s episode is for our Members. If you’ve ever struggled to make a rectangular collage using different-sized photos, you’ll appreciate this one. I’ve come up with a very simple formula to make that often frustrating task very easy! If you’d like to watch today’s episode, as well as the other 99 waiting for you in the archives, but don’t have a Membership, please visit the Membership Information Page.
Below are the layouts I shared in the episode…
Easter 08
You see that pink egg over on the far right? That was a tag from one of the goodies I bought the kids last year. I got a kick out of the fact that last year’s Easter came so early, the product manufacturers posted the date on all the tags…I guess to make sure we were ready!
Journaling on layout reads: We’ve been adjusting our Easter tradition a bit over the last few years. We moved the early morning hunt and breakfast outdoors last year. This year we hid plastic eggs instead of our colored eggs (we still color eggs, though). Blake has played Easter Bunny with Dad and I before waking up the kids for the last few years. And this year they got more stuff and less candy. One thing remains the same, though…total fun and the enjoyment of Spring.
The circular tag and title arch are the Memory Makers Noteworthy Glitter Die Cuts. The swirly flourish is from Bazzill.
Wonderful Beautiful Amazing
The overall up-and-down placement of the 2 large photo blocks, as well as the shape and placement of the two paper journaling blocks were inspired by a layout by Ali Edwards that appeared in Creating Keepsakes Magazine a year or two ago.
Journaling reads: We’ve been taking day-trips through the canyons near Superstition Mountain and Canyon Lake a lot lately. It’s only minutes from our home–one of the reasons I am so happy with where we live. We all love the scenic drive, looking at the cacti, cliffs, and joking about how Blake convinced Aiden that the winter moss on the rock walls is called, “souvenir” because Aiden wanted to collect some to bring home during this particular trip.
Today–Jan. 4, 2009–we took advantage of the rare overcast weather for great lighting and color saturation. Israel and I each brought our cameras and tripods and caught some fun memories while you kids climbed and played. I love this.
Typed journaling on photo: Trinity was having a hard time getting through the thorny path to join you on the butte. You went down and carefully led her, just like a gentleman. Later I thanked you and you said, “That’s okay. I enjoyed it.” What a cool dude…you make your mama so proud.
The digital text that I layered onto my photos (except for the journaling) are all from Ali Edwards’s Loving Life Word Art and her 12×12 Life text frames. I will demonstrate how to do this in Photoshop Elements in a future episode.
The butterflies and folliage rub-on’s are new from My Mind’s Eye. The more subtle rub-ons that add texture to the page are older ones from Chatterbox.
We’ve released today’s Member’s Only episode. As someone who loved creating art on my jeans as a teen, it was extra fun for me to create art with my jeans on my scrapbook pages last week. Fortunately, this is a material that will never be discontinued!
Membership pricing went up on January 1st, so if you’ve been playing with the idea of joining Paperclipping so you can see episodes like today’s, make sure you do it quick while we’re still issuing a coupon for the lower price. You can learn more about it on the Membership Information Page.
Below are the layouts from today’s episode…
Forever In Blue Jeans
Printed text is from Neil Diamond’s song: “Money talks. But it don’t sing and dance and it don’t walk. ‘Long as I can have you here with me I’d much rather be forever in blue jeans.”
Journaling, written to my husband, Izzy, reads: In October you walked away from The Man. The suit and tie disappeared and the jeans came out. Our lives stopped revolving around a corporate and materialistic America. Instead we depend on our creativity and drive. We gave up a lot of monetary luxuries. And we are happier. Life is more fun than ever before. The past three months have been a honeymoon for us. Life is so very, very good. Love you.
(note: In my journaling, I did not mean to call America, as a whole, “materialistic.” I was only referring to one aspect of modern American culture. There is a greater good in America that has given us the ability to do what we’re doing, for which I’m so grateful).
Just as many of us begin each year with a word we want to characterize the next 12 months, you can use that word in a year-in-review layout. I actually started my year with the word, “Build.” But as I looked back to last January, I realized that that focus resulted in a year of lots of change. Change became the key-word for my layout below…
Journaling reads as a list and corresponds with the photos at the top (except the first one) from right to left, top to bottom:
1) We gave up meat and most animal by-products. I became vegan and learned a whole new way of cooking/baking. It was quite a lifestyle change as most everything we eat is what I make from scratch.
2) We rescued a puppy from the pound.
3) We got all 3 kids in school full-time.
4) We got rid of T.V. The few shows we watch we get free online. The kids forgot t.v. within a couple weeks and became more active.
5) Israel resigned from his job and we became full-time hosts and producers.
6) We simplified our materialism.
(note: I ran out of room here and #6 may be confusing. I intend on making another layout about this subject, so I didn’t worry that it’s unclear, but you might be confused by it. I meant to say that we got rid of a lot of material excess that we’d been used to having).
After you watch the episode, I’d love to hear which of your own stories came to mind and why denim would make a great visual symbol for them.
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I’ve announced the winner of the November Paperclipping Challenge and highlighted her on my blog at The Crop Circle. It was a hard choice as the entries were top notch. Take a look by following this link so you can see why we chose Kim Strother as the winner of the November Paperclipping challenge. Congratulations, Kim!
We’re entering the busiest time of the year, so I thought a free episode on an idea for some faster scrapbooking was in order for today’s episode of Paperclipping.
For a closer look at the layouts from the tutorial, I’ve posted them below…
Love Us Together
8.5×11 Layout
Album: People We Love album (in the “Keim Time” section)
Journaling reads: I love the stories * the tangents * the tangents * the high’s and the low’s * the many changes * the raw honest * the hysterical moments * the exploration * the differences * the sameness * the loyalty * the admiration * the joking * the memories * the freedom * the time together.
Supplies: Cardstock (Bazzill Basics Paper) * Patterned paper (Basic Grey, Daisy D’s, 7 Gypsies, other unknown) * Wordstrips (7 Gypsies) * Word + Letter stickers (7 Gypsies, Foof*A*La) * Ribbon (Basic Grey) * Transparency (My Mind’s Eye).
Favorite Things From Thanksgiving 2006
8.5×11 Layout
Album: Things We Do
(in the holiday section with the Thanksgiving layouts, which will hopefully become its own album).
Journaling written to my kids reads: Handmade turkeys on the fridge/lists of gratitudes * Running + walking around the school over and over with you-Trin + Blake * Racing and being loud, young, and active.
Supplies: Cardstock (Bazzill Basics Paper) * Patterned paper (Basic Grey, My Mind’s Eye, s.e.i.) * Stickers (Paper Salon, 7 Gypsies) * Letter stickers (Creative Memories) * Chipboard letters (American Crafts) * Journal strip (Creative Cafe with Creative Imaginations).
Remember
8.5×11 Layout
Album: This Is Us, Together
Journaling to my kids reads: I don’t know when it changed, but your interactions with each other have somehow matured. They’re different now and I’m always noticing it. Like this day–your last day of school. As soon as you got home you sat down with the new yearbook and looked through it page by page, laughing and pointing things out, and reminiscing together. There is a maturity about the way you two do this now that surprises me. I just love that you’re growing up to be good friends.
I hope this template idea helps you to continue scrapbooking during the busy holidays. If you use the template, please post it to our flickr page and let me know!
If you like this tutorial, you’ll probably like the others too. For access to all the archives, and the other members-only videos, see the Members Information Page.
After years of trying to find a good way to adhere newspaper articles (and believe me, the obvious ways don’t look so hot), I’ve finally found one I love. In fact, I’d say it’s probably the best way. Today’s episode for Paperclipping Members shows you step-by-step how to do it, and what pitfalls to avoid.
Below are the layouts from today’s episode…
On The Table
12×12 Layout
Historic Win
Two-page 12×12 Layout
Historic Win–In the album
with journal card and 8.5×11 insert
On the journal card I placed an article that demonstrates the changes in American perceptions over time.
I printed up the inspiring acceptance speech by President Elect Obama from election night on this 8.5×11 page.
To learn about how you can become a Member of Paperclipping to get access to all of the great tutorials, click here.
Want to collect the things that your family feels grateful for this month? Today’s Quick Tip is a project that will help you do that–and it works with the Reflections & Gratitude MiniBook I shared in last week’s episode.
Now, I know you are wishing you could watch today’s Quick Tip. =)
If you’ve been missing the Premium Subscriber Tutorials and Quick Tips, click here to see how easy it is to subscribe. And don’t forget, a subscription is a great gift to give a friend or family member. Please email me if you’d like to coordinate a gift subscription at noell@paperclipping.com.
This episode of Paperclipping is for a project based on my personal take on the holiday season–I see the holidays from Halloween to New Year’s Eve as all being related, not as a bunch of individual celebrations. As a result, today’s project is not only a Thanksgiving one, but also precursor to New Year’s Eve. So even if you’re not an American and don’t celebrate an American Thanksgiving, you might benefit from a book like this, too.
Today’s free Quick Tip features a journaling idea that I used on a digital product by Ali Edwards. In the next Paperclipping episode, I’ll actually show you how to use and adjust that product, so make sure you come back soon.
This video is available to members only. Learn about a membership here.