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Paperclipping 147 – Fix Your Journaling Disasters

Monday, June 21st, 2010
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What do you do when you write your journaling directly onto your background paper and then find it horribly wrong?

I don’t mind crossing out a word or two, but sometimes the “error” is beyond a few misspelled words. In this week’s episode, I share some of my journaled background near-tragedies and fixes!

These aren’t just “passable” fixes. These are fixes that left me even happier with the results than my original plan. I’m excited to share with you not only my techniques, but the design principles that make them work so you can apply them to your own journaling mistakes.

This week’s episode is for members only. You can watch the trailer video if you’re not a member. Please click here to find out how you can become a Paperclipping Member and get access to the archive of over 140 video tutorials.

Need to see some samples first? I have posted several full episodes for free.

Below are the “fixed” layouts I featured in this week’s tutorial…

Little Rascal

12×12 layout
little_rascal
Journaling to Aiden, age 3, reads:

the story
During one of Blake’s baseball practices an older boy, about 7 years old, challenged you to a race. You agreed and off you went. Of course, we couldn’t expect your little legs to keep up with him and he hit the finish-line with the declaration, “I won!” long before you did.

true confessions
Here I was, your protective mother, irritated that this 7-year-old boy was gloating about beating you, my 3-year-old. But then you reached the finish-line, still at a full run, and with a huge smile on your face. You began yelling, “I won! I won! I won! I won!…!”

Confidence.

the juicy part
That boy tried his best to convince you (and the rest of us!) that he beat you. But he could not overcome your boisterous, “I won!” celebrations. He was frustrated. And I have never stopped smiling about it.

T is for Trinity

12×12 layout
t_is_for_trinity
Journaling reads:

A conversation with Aiden, age 5…

a: Mom, I want a “T” on my forehead.

(after hearing him mumble, “Trinity . . . Trinity . . .” I made a guess)
m: You want a “T” on your forehead for “Trinity?”

a: Mmm-hmm.

m: T for Trinity? Because you love her?

a: Yep. I love her.

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Even Your Teens Will Love You For This

Thursday, June 10th, 2010

Hi again!
faces
You know Pam from the television show, The Office? I saw her face in an issue of O Magazine once, and since The Office is one of the only TV shows I watch, I had to find out what the actress, Jenna Fischer, had to say to O readers. Surprisingly, what she said applies directly to us as scrapbookers.

Jenna had the same teenage angst most teens feel toward their parents. One day, while fishing through a drawer that contained memorabilia from her childhood, she found an old datebook her parents kept while she was a baby. Periodically, they would write a quick note on a particular day about what she was doing, or how they were dealing with the struggles and wonder of a having new child.

This is how those simple notes affected Jenna…

As I read, I realized for the first time ever that my parents were human beings. It had honestly never dawned on me that the people responsible for incarcerating me in my bedroom, who forced me into the manual labor of taking out the garbage, had once been two kids who were overwhelmed and excited about having their first baby. And they adored me. To see that kind of humanness in them at a time when I felt so disconnected from them was deeply affecting. I could have hugged them immediately, told them how much I loved them. But I didn’t. In my own subtle, teenage way, I just…appreciated them more.

I have kept the datebook in that drawer ever since, as a reminder of how much my parents did for me, how much they love me, how much I love them.

This article moved me — so much so that I’m writing to you about it three years later! What is it about her story that causes me to recall it again and again? It’s so human. We all relate to it. I found five tips from Jenna’s experience — and from her own way of telling the story — that you and I can use as scrapbookers to encourage a similar result of mutual understanding and compassion between ourselves and the people we scrapbook about.

  1. Talk to your subject, instead of about your subject. Example: “You always wanted me to hold you facing outward so you could see all the action that was going on,” instead of, “Trinity always wanted me to hold her facing outward so she could see all the action that was going on.”
  2. Be real. Be honest. Share some of your struggles.
  3. Sometimes it’s better to let your family members come across your messages to them on their own. You don’t have to show them every page you make right away. They’ll find it later. You also don’t always have to see their responses, or be assured of your impact on them.
  4. Simplicity in communication is beautiful.
  5. Writing something down — no matter how small or mundane — is better than not writing anything at all.

And if I can add my own tip — one that is totally unrelated to the article — it would be this: spend a meal passing the camera around and make embarrassing faces when it’s on you. Your kids will love you for that, both now and in the future.

Weekly Paperclipping Roundup

Save The Date

  • The Paperclipping Festival – June 22nd! Members should have received their second email regarding how to participate. If you’re a member, and you’re not getting these, please email me. (If you’re not a member, you can learn about a membership here.)
  • Paperclipping Live! – Don’t forget to come scrapbook with us every Tuesday night at 6:30 pm PST!

How To Navigate Around the Changes to the Paperclipping Website

You probably noticed some things are in different places all of a sudden (And we’re not done making changes). You might be wondering how you can make sure you’ll see everything. Here’s the scoop…

The homepage (what you see when you go to www.paperclipping.com) only houses recent video tutorials.

The blog is where you’ll find all of the posts, including…

  • Video Tutorials
  • Roundtable
  • Digi Show
  • Newsletters
  • Monthly Challenge Highlights
  • Festival
  • anything else we want to share

You can find the blog and see everything by clicking on the link that says “blog” in the navigation bar at the top of the homepage (or any page).

You can also subscribe to the feed by clicking the RSS link in the upper left-hand corner of the site, or the RSS button inside your browser. If you were already subscribed to the old feed before we posted this newsletter you will only get the videos. To get everything, please resubscribe now.

Thanks to everyone who actively participates. You’ve shown us a need to grow and expand all that we’re doing. Many thanks to our members who make all that growth possible!

Best Regards,

Noell
Host, Paperclipping

iNSD 2010 Challenge 1: Journal Your Story

Friday, April 30th, 2010

May 3rd ETA:

The Winners

Thanks to all who participated. The following three entries were chosen randomly. Congratulations! Please email me at noell@paperclipping.com so I’ll have your email address and we’ll be able to get the coupon codes for your prizes to you.

Capture Your Dream Workshop
juliamueller – My mother gave me the trait of creativity. She and her father and brothers were all artists. I have waited for years to try my hand at painting, but have found i actually do have some talent. From my father I got a quiet, loyal nature.

Ali Edwards Digital Designs Package

Karin – Why was your name chosen for you?

My father’s father was from Norway, and he had a cousin in Norway that he would talk about named Karin (car-in). My dad always thought it was a pretty name, so that’s what he wanted to name me. I’ve always really liked my name because I haven’t met many others with it and because of my Norwegian heritage being so close to me since I am third generation.

Big Picture Scrapbooking Workshop – A Baker’s Dozen
Karin – Which of your mother’s personality traits do you share? Which of your father’s?

My Mom and I both like to keep busy with making things and learning to make things. We’re both scrapbookers and like craft projects. We’re both singers. We like to give gifts to people and read magazines. We love owning our dogs and taking care of them. We love the same TV shows and a lot of the same movies. We both like to collect things and have a hard time letting go of things. We’re curious about our heritage and like to get to know all of our relatives and keep up with them. We like to travel and go to concerts. We both ask a lot of questions.

My Dad and I both like to write and blog about our daily lives and thoughts. We both like things to be orderly and cleaned and planned, yet like to be creative and try new things. We both like to garden and cook. We like to talk music, books, and movies. We’re both very emotional and deep and get upset easily. We’re really good at remembering people, their names and faces and details about their lives.

* * *

Below are the prizes and the challenge description. Good luck and have fun!

THE PRIZES

Capture Your Dream Workshop from Creativity Prompt

capture_your_dream
One winner will receive a Capture Your Dream workshop, which is a 6 weeks long, self-paced course that is designed to help you realize your dream with a unique mix of scrapbooking and self development. There is no “magic” or “secret” involved, but rather a journey of self exploration with guided journaling and inspiration prompts. Think of it as a marked trail for you to walk through towards achieving your dream.

But there’s more to it. Along your journey you will also be making a 6 by 6 mixed media mini album with step by step instructions and printable templates. The mini album is not only there for you to learn a ton of new techniques but also as a bag of motivation for your journey. The workshop is held entirely online and you will be receiving an e-mail with a pdf file every weekday for 6 weeks.

To commemorate National Scrapbooking Day Avital will be offering 50% discount throughout the month of May, dropping down the price from 49.95 USD to just 25 USD. Learn more here.

Ali Edwards Digital Designs

One winner will receive a package of some of Ali’s favorite digital products from her collection at Designer Digitals.
ali_digital_1
ali_digital_2
ali_digital_3
ali_digital_4

A Baker’s Dozen class at Big Picture Scrapbooking.com

One winner will receive…
bakers_dozen_bps
Over the course of one month, Darci Dowdle (Stacy Julian’s little sister) will help you gather specific pictures, papers, and products from your own overflowing stash and you’ll create 13 layouts — a baker’s dozen. Daily emails will tell you how to prepare in a new “egg”-xilarating way and then daily downloads will inspire to you to think outside the “egg carton” and put it all together to get pages done. Let’s get together and whip up some vibrant and meaningful pages! See more here.

THE CHALLENGE

Choose from among the questions below to answer on a layout, a minibook, or an altered book that we will assemble during our iNSD event on Saturday. To enter to win, please share your journaling with us in a comment to this post (not on facebook). This must be new journaling content that you wrote no earlier than when I first posted these questions (meaning, you can’t pull from a layout you’ve made before or journaling you wrote before I posted these questions yesterday).

You have between now and Sunday at midnight to enter. You can enter up to five times (as separate comments). I will choose randomly.

THE JOURNAL QUESTIONS

Why was your name chosen for you?

What was happening in the world when you were born?

What is your earliest memory of home?

What was your favorite hiding place as a child? What is your favorite hiding place as an adult?

Describe your favorite outfit as a child, and as a youth. What about now?

In your opinion, what has been the most significant world event that has taken place during your lifetime and why?

Write about some places you went with your mother. With your father.

Tell about your civic or political activities.

What frightens you and why?

What is your greatest joy? Greatest sorrow?

What is your personal secret to happiness?

What lessons did you take as a child?

What personality trait do you admire and why?

What was your most embarrassing moment?

What would you like to be remembered for?

Where, when and why did you go to college?

Did you have a close relationship with any of your grandparents? Tell about it.

How do you feel about death?

Tell a story about you and each of your brothers and sisters.

What was (is) dating like for you?

Tell about a teacher or class that had a great influence on you.

Tell about teenage social life: Your friends, dances, movies, dating, activities, etc.
Were you ever in drama, speech, sports, pep or glee club?

Tell about your first “crush”. What was he or she like?

What are your favorite foods? What foods do you detest?

What color was your house, your bedroom, your living room as a child?

What did you do as a child that got you in the most trouble with your parents? With your teacher?

What games did you play in your home or neighborhood?

What places in the world do you want to visit, and why?

What is the most trying experience that ever happened to you?

What is the most wonderful thing that ever happened to you?

What is your favorite book? What do books mean to you?

What are your most precious and deeply embedded values?

Where is the most exciting place you have ever been? What made it interesting?

Which of your mother’s personality traits do you share? Which of your father’s?

Would you choose differently if you could choose your occupation again? Why and how?

Tell about your life as the children left home: New interests, what you did with the extra time, new employment, moves, hobbies, etc.

Do you have a best friend? Why do you get along well?

How do you feel about winning? Losing?

Tell about your bicycle experiences.

Do you have a favorite author? Who is it and why?

Describe your Sundays.

List all the places you have worked and tell something about each one.

What things do you enjoy doing today that you also enjoyed as a child?

Do you remember any special fears, fantasies, etc. that you had as a child? Tell about them.

What musical instrument can you play?

What does real success in life mean to you?

What is the value of pursuing a vocation, hobby or activity that you love?

For more information on our iNSD event and the projects we will be doing, please click here. Be sure to join us from 1-3pm PST at http://www.paperclipping.com/live

Paperclipping 134 – Use Mystery: a Different Way to Journal

Monday, January 18th, 2010
You need the free Flash Player to view this video.

This week’s video is for members only.

In this tutorial, you’ll see:

  • How to add mystery to your journaling
  • Examples of scrapbooking “inside jokes”
  • Examples of scrapbooking private details from your life
  • Tips for using “stream of consciousness” journaling to create a background texture

You can download the trailer, or you can become a member to see the full version of the video.

Also, if you’re not subscribed to the free version of Paperclipping in iTunes, here’s a link that will take you there.

Layouts you’ll see in this episode:
smile

amazed

am_I_that_mom?

Layouts About Yourself

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

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).
the_rainbow_in_my_closet

Published (& Paid) Writer

12×12 layout
Tell a story of something you accomplished, big or small.
published_writer

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.

Paperclipping 127 – Asymmetry

Monday, November 2nd, 2009
Get the Flash Player to see this video.

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
actors
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.
actors_flower
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.
actors_journaling
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.

Paperclipping 115 – Minibooks from Authentic Items

Wednesday, August 12th, 2009
Get the Flash Player to see this video.

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

Mexico Minibook from a Punched Tin Frame
Mexico Minibook 2
Mexico Minibook 3
Mexico Minibook 4
Mexico Minibook 5
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.

Do you wish you could watch this video? Get access to this and all the others after checking out the Membership Information Page.

Paperclipping 109 – A Use For Old Tags

Monday, June 22nd, 2009

paperclipping 109

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
Hyman Tribe
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
Beautiful You
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.

Supplies: Cardstock (Bazzill) * patterned paper (Basic Grey, s.e.i., Creative Imaginations, green paper-unknown) * lace paper ribbon (Creative Imaginations) * tags + wire (Stampin’ Up) * rub-on’s (My Mind’s Eye) * vintage key.

Details

Tag Layouts Closeups
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.
Hyman Tribe Closeup
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.

Paperclipping 107 – Make Your Vacation Album More Meaningful

Thursday, June 4th, 2009

paperclipping 107

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)
The Two Of Us Minibook

Two of us last page
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).

Do you like this free video? You can get access to all of the Paperclipping tutorials if you are Member. Please click here to find out more.

* * *

Show notes for this episode are here.

Paperclipping 100 – A Collage Formula

Thursday, April 16th, 2009

Paperclipping 100 - A Collage Formula
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

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.
Easter_08_Selections
The circular tag and title arch are the Memory Makers Noteworthy Glitter Die Cuts. The swirly flourish is from Bazzill.

Wonderful Beautiful Amazing

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.

Wonderful_Selections
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.