Need ideas for using small scrapbooking bits and scraps, AND a jumping off point for layouts?
Posts Tagged ‘scrapbooking ideas’
Bits and Pieces In a Versatile Scrapbooking Template – Paperclipping 215
Monday, April 15th, 2013Complete an Everyday Life Scrapbook – Paperclipping 213
Wednesday, March 13th, 2013
Recently someone told me they love it when I make pages about our big life changes, and I joked that I didn’t know how many more big changes we could handle making.
Then I started looking through my Everyday Life scrapbook album last week, and guess what I noticed? Lots and lots of pages about changes we’ve made, both big and small. And I learned something about Izzy and myself that I hadn’t fully realized before.
He and I both thrive on change. But that’s not what matters to you. What matters to you is this…
I would never have made that observation about us had I not separated my albums into topics or stories. By having an album that focuses specifically on everyday life, for example, you break your life down into a digestible section so you can actually see the patterns of your life that you didn’t realize were there.
Fourteen Prompts for Scrapbooking Everyday Life
Here are fourteen page prompts on scrapbooking the every day that come to my mind after working on my own album…
- Schedules
- Routines
- Things you do often
- Lens projects – ie. a focused look at a day or a week
- Meals or foods you eat
- Things you do daily, weekly, or monthly
- Places you visit regularly (coffee, shop, restaurants)
- What you do when you’re lounging around
- “Right Now” pages – what is everyone doing at this moment?
- Stuff you regularly find left out around the house
- Favorite TV shows
- Your exercise routine
- Your personality quirks
- Games you play a lot
- Typical weekends at home
The story of who we are when we’re the most real gets diluted when we surround everyday life layouts with the other types of layouts where our lives tend to be more dressed up.
I like to keep them separate so my scrapbooks can tell clear, defined stories.
But whether you want to do that or not, you might enjoy the video we made related to this topic.
I’m finishing up my Everyday Life album this month and it’s had lots of problems. Basically, the viewing experience of this album was unpleasant for many reasons. On video I share my album with all its pages, along with all its problems and little ugh-lies.
But I also share my solutions and show you how I very quickly modified the album into one I now really enjoy and am excited about. I make an intro page on video, start to finish, as well.
This video is for the Paperclipping Members and is now available in the Member’s Area and on iTunes.
If you’re not a member, please click here for information!
Shine On,
To move forward in the Play Along: Finish an Album, click here: Do Page Titles Really Matter?
Finding the Story: Scrapbooking Beyond the Who, What, When, and Where
Friday, September 7th, 2012
We all run into this…
We have a photo, and something about the photo makes us want to scrapbook it.
But we don’t actually have anything to say, except the time and place of the picture.
We’re always hearing and talking about telling the story. But what do you say when it’s just another day at the park with your toddler, like a dozen other days and pages?
I’m staring at a picture like that right now. It’s a picture of my youngest son.
The obvious story is this: Aiden doing his spelling homework. He’s in second grade.
Kinda boring, huh?
But when I give myself a bit of quiet time with this photo — to really look at it, to think and to fall down a tangent of memories, and even to feel stuff — a story develops.
In this case, I notice the meticulous writing on Aiden’s paper.
And noticing that makes me remember a few different school experiences and some observations we made of Aiden over time.
Suddenly I have a more compelling story — something that really tells us about Aiden. Here’s my journaling:
“We worried in 2nd grade because you wouldn’t memorize your math facts. Not even the easiest ones. You just kept working them out in your mind. It turns out that you like to take your time in many areas to think things through. Your teacher said you were slower like this with writing too, but that it’s just a part of what makes
you good at the things you do: building things and even making instructions for building things. You are meticulous.”
And here’s the thing — by taking that extra moment before scrapbooking, not trying to come up with scrapbooking ideas, but instead to observe details, relive memories, ask questions — I not only found the story I really wanted to tell, but the design ideas naturally followed with hardly any effort on my part.
With the words, “meticulous nature” in my head, metal gear embellishments and soft honeycomb patterned paper jump out at me as a great way to visually tell a story of meticulous nature.
What’s the take-away here? Spend a couple of minutes enjoying your photos and your memories before you start thinking about designing the page. Really look at the photos. Enjoy the emotions. Ask yourself why you’re drawn to scrapbook these particular photos right now, of all the hundreds that are waiting.
Give it a try!
BTW — many people have asked me how to find the story beyond basic who – what – when – and where. That’s why I decided to make this the subject of the bonus webinar that I’m offering to you for free if you sign up for True Scrap using my affiliate links BY TODAY.
I’m really excited to share specific tactics you can take to find the bigger stories beyond the obvious. I’ll also walk you through more of my own page examples, just like this. And that’ll lead directly into its sequel — the topic I’m sharing for my class presentation at True Scrap.
If you haven’t really looked at what True Scrap is all about yet, please do now before you miss out on the bonus (valued at $40)!
Shine On,
P.S.> Today is your last day to qualify for my bonus webinar! Be sure to send me your receipt after you get your seat to True Scrap so I can add you to my bonus webinar invitation.
Vintage Supplies for Modern Pages – Paperclipping 180
Thursday, October 27th, 2011
Are you torn between vintage style– like that of Tim Holtz– and your own more modern-style scrapbooking?
Wish you could figure out how to make those fun distress products work with the photos and topics you actually scrapbook about?
I used to feel this way, but over time I learned to bring those two wonderful worlds together!
We just released a video tutorial that shows:
- A layout design idea for using Tim Holtz Texture Fades.
- Techniques and ideas for combining Tim Holtz products with other popular scrapbook products.
- A key technique for using any Tim Holtz product while maintaining a bright, cheery, modern scrapbooking style.
- A key principle that can help you identify which Tim Holtz products from your stash will enhance your scrapbook page.
Does that sound useful? How about fun?
It’s totally fun!
This episode is for the Paperclipping Members. If you don’t have your membership yet, you can get signed up now!
Ten Ideas for Scrapbooking Your Relationship with Your Spouse or Significant Other
Tuesday, July 19th, 2011Have you scrapbooked much about the most important relationship in your life? Here are ten ideas to get you going…
The Endearing Things They Say and Do for You
Note it. Appreciate it. Write it down.
The Things I Hear You Say
The things I hear you say to the kids on my behalf…
“Guys, get away from Mom’s door. I don’t want her to feel rushed.”
…while I was finishing a scrapbook project before leaving with the family.
The Things You Say to Me
Me: Do you need me?
You: I always need you. You’re a need and a want.
XOXO
Me: Sorry to bother you again.
You: Oh, don’t worry about bothering me. It just means I get to see you again.
The Funny Stuff
Inside Jokes
Funny Stories and Incidents
Date Nights and The Places You Go Out Together
I’m still working on the actual scrapbooking of this part, but I’ve been dong a lot of the photo-capturing and journaling!
A Favorite Venue
We come here about every other week. I have lots of pictures here!
A Favorite Activity
We love live music and going to concerts. Here we are outside Dodge Theater waiting to see Slightly Stoopid play.
The Difficulties
You don’t have to share the particulars. I didn’t…
Somehow we’ll make it cause that’s what we do. –Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Childless Vacations
Your Personalities
I think vacation scrapbook stories are even more interesting and meaningful if you focus more on how your personalities come into play in the vacation.
Or how the vacation might affect the relationship.
New Starts and Joint Discoveries
This hike inspired the idea of mountain-biking through the desert trails. We’ve been biking most every Friday since this trip except during the most extreme points of winter and summer.
We ate at our first vegan restaurant — Loving Spoonfuls! We loved it!
This trip was the start of a whole series of firsts and a fun new exciting time in our life together.
The Major Life Changes
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. (Neil Diamond).
In October you walked away from The Man. The suit and the tie disappeared and the jeans came out. We depend now 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.
Hopefully this gave you a few bits of inspiration to start some new pages.
Want more ideas for scrapbooking about love and relationships? Check out these other posts…
Four Scrapbook Layout Ideas on Love
A Romantic Mini-book Idea
Favorite Scrapbook Projects from 2010
Saturday, January 1st, 2011I’ve been seeing people around the web posting their favorite layouts and projects from the previous year. This activity can be revealing as to what you might want more of in future projects. And it seemed like a great way to portray yourself — to show all your best stuff at once! Ha!
So here are my favorite stories, all designed in 2010 in order of creation…
The story behind this layout is personal and close to my heart, enough reason alone to love it. I also like the balance of a free-flow style with a clean, bright, white and simple one — both in terms of aesthetics and personal style, but also because it feels like an accurate visual representation of Izzy and me and our personalities.
I also really like those hearts I designed.
This is one of my all-time favorite mini-books, not just of the year. It holds so many real pieces of a major part of my life. Plus, the earthiness of it feels so much like me. You can see the rest of the book here.
This page highlights everything about our wonderful, simple, yet fulfilling and happy life. I love all the little reminders in words and photos of how lucky I am. In terms of design, these are some of my favorite colors to scrapbook with. And, just like the first layout, this is another example of the balance of clean and graphic + free-flow style that feels so me.
I can’t fail to mention that I made this on assignment for Ella Publishing’s Top Most Influential Scrapbookers for 2010 after they chose me along with eight other wonderful people. That was definitely a highlight of my year as well. You’ll find this layout and some other awesome ones in a book on finding “Time To Scrapbook,” with 27 tips from Ella’s 9 chosen most influential.
Number one, I love those photos. I love that crazy, crazy, sweet dog that we rescued from the pound. I love that this illustrates the joy we assume we brought him and the joy he has brought us.
I love that I was able to keep the focus on the photos for this page, while also being able to add lots of brightness and happy details. The photos on their own are so brown (it’s our brown living room). They need the energy of the color and the swirling wire, the topsy-turvy tags, and all the fun stuff to portray the happiness this dog brings us.
This was my first big digital project. It’s actually hybrid, but I think of it as digital, since 99% of the sweat happened at my computer. I am so happy that I was able to tell such a large story with so many photos in one simple album. My biggest reason to feel good was that I discovered my own digital work flow as I made this — a workflow that is so simple and enjoyable.
Isn’t this on the opposite end of the style spectrum from the previous mini-album? I love indulging in many different styles. Usually I mix those styles, but once in a while I indulge in one or the other when the time is right. And for Halloween, the time is right for this. I love playing with this look at Halloween time. I also really love the photos Izzy took of the kids and the fun memories they hold. This is definitely a very favorite from 2010, even if that book doesn’t stand so steadily (my only gripe).
See the rest of the mini-book here.
I love this closeup of Trinity. I love the layout and that I was able to play on the bright summery colors while keeping the focus on that beautiful face. This page is more structured and less free-flowing than what I typically love (as was the digital mini-album) but I love it for the story. The style is a definite story-match for me.
Shine on, Trinity — my sunshine girl.
That’s it — just 7 layouts and projects that fit into my favorite list from 2010. I’m looking for another year of designing my stories in 2011. Happy New Year and shine on, all you happy talented paperclippers!
Scrapbooking with Scraps – Paperclipping 158
Monday, November 22nd, 2010How often do you use your leftover scraps of patterned paper? I use them just about every single time that I scrapbook. I love working with my scraps. They’re the first place I go for patterned paper choices and only check my full-sized sheets if I need one for my full-sized backgrounds, or if I just can’t find the colors I need from my scraps.
Would you like to get more out of your patterned papers and their scraps? In today’s episode for the Paperclipping Members, I share design tips and principles that work great with scraps! I also share some scrap maintenance tips that make scrapbooking with them (and scrapbooking in general) much easier!
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If you’re not a member, please click on the player above to see the trailer. You can get this entire episode, plus almost 160 scrapbook topics just like this and more to come every month, if you join Paperclipping! Click here to see how.
If you are a Member, you can find this video in the Member’s Area or in your premium feed.
Below are the layouts that made use of all the design and maintenance tips I shared in the episode . . .
You: Up Close
12×12 layout
Journaling reads:
- The way your eyes turn to upside down moons when you smile.
- Your long curling eye lashes.
- The sprinkling of light summer freckles across the tops of your pink cheeks.
- The eye brows you inherited from Grandma Nancy.
- The dimple in your lower cheek.
- Your perfect, perfect skin.
It’s always nice when a person’s outward beauty reflects their inner beauty the way your does. <3
Supplies: The orange paper on this layout is on clearance with only 8 left! Other supplies: Pink and green velvet pleated flowers & my favorite white letters: Foam Rockabye Thickers
Edison Music Box
12×12 layout
Journaling reads: Grandma Holt (Irene Nielsen Holt) gave us her Edison phonograph not long before she died. We call it the “music box” because that’s what she called it. It originally belonged to her grandparents. Since Grandma was born just after the turn of the century, that gives us an idea of how old the box it. It still works.
We have an old suitcase and a box full of was cylinders that play old turn of the century pieces, like, “Cute Little Wigglin Dance,” and “Hitchy-Koo.”
We love playing thee old songs, even the kids. It’s amazing to us that those folksy styles were the popular music of the time. It’s such a very different sound and personality from anything we’re used to.
Supplies: This beautiful stitched Anna Griffin paper is on clearance! I gave it a vignette effect by inking it with Old Paper and Walnut Stain Distress Ink, and an Ink Blending Tool. I used the same inks for the journaling block on off-white cardstock, but also added Vintage Photo. Other supplies: Vintage Metal Corners and Metal Philosophy Tags.
(Note: All product links lead to my affiliate store. I get a commission if you purchase through my links. Thank you!)
Sisters & Daughters
12×12 layouts
Journaing reads: I left my kids and husband at home this year to spend Thanksgiving with my parents and my sisters and their families. I loved getting to focus my attention on watching my sisters mother their children. Erin and Lindsay are great moms.
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How to Use Up Unloved Patterned Paper – Paperclipping 157
Monday, November 8th, 2010This week’s episode is part of an on-going series on how to use up old products in general. I’ve heard from you that patterned paper is a particular difficulty, so today I’ll share with you some of the ways I’ve been successful at making scrapbook pages I love with patterned paper I did not. Please click on the player to watch the trailer.
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I happen to be a scrapbooker who works from my stash of scraps more than from new papers. Coming soon will be an episode where I share some of my strategies for making pages with scraps of patterned paper. You’ll get to see layouts come together from start to finish, and you’ll come away with a few different strategies so you can do yourself.
This is for the Paperclipping Members. Members can also watch the other tutorials from the “Old Products” series. There will be more to come in the future. Here are the descriptions and layouts for those episodes. Members can find them in the archives in the Members Area or in their iTunes premium feed subscriptions…
Gather Your Old Products
Repurpose Your Old Items
Are you ready to start your own membership? You can learn about it here!
Below are the layouts I featured in today’s episode . . .
Sisters & Daughters
12×12 layout
Journaling reads: I left my kids and husband at home this year to spend Thanksgiving with my parents and my sisters and their families. I loved getting to focus my attention on watching my sisters mother their children. Erin and Lindsay are great moms.
A Minute Before
12×12 layout
Journaing reads: I snapped this shot with my phone just before you had a seizure. I missed the warning signs: You weren’t skipping rocks with the boys. You complained of feeling hot and said you wanted to go home. I said that was fine, looked down to grab my stuff, and when I looked up again, you were on the ground in a bizarre position. You had fallen down and scraped the shoulder on which you landed. You also scraped your elbow and your knee, but your shoulder? That’s not a normal way to fall.
I still didn’t get that you had had an aura and were now in the middle of a seizure. I asked why you fell. You said you weren’t able to control your body. I thought you were reacting to the anesthesia. I helped you up, we went back into the dental office where you’d just gotten cavities filled.
That’s when you fell again. You were standing right next to me, my arm around you, and you just dropped straight down. I grabbed you, saw your eyes — those glazed over hollow eyes — and knew you weren’t totally with me now. That’s when I recognized it for what it was. You still have Epilepsy.
We thought you had grown out of it. One and a half years seizure-free is a good amount of time and we were looking forward to taking you off of your medicine in October. I guess that won’t be happening now. Not this year, anyway.
{since some of you expressed concern in the past, and some of you have epilepsy in your family, I thought I would reassure you — Trinity’s doctor took her off her med’s the January after this event and she has been seizure-free all this time! She seems to have outgrown it and we are hoping it stays that way for the rest of her life.}
Tami-lamb
12×12 layout
Journaling reads: I love these pictures of you laughing and making other people laugh. I see you and Israel as the anchor personalities of our group. You’re stable and rational, but still sensitive and caring.
You are–
* a good listener.
* a really great friend.
* a friend of 13 years as of June 2010.
We’ve been through so many different things together. I love having a friend like you, Tami.
Not Shy
8×8 layout
Journaling reads: You were doing your hair in my bathroom. You put a headband on and suddenly squealed, “I”m so cute!” (oh my gosh, you really were!). Then you did a cute pose for the mirror enjoying your cuteness.
{this page is an example of having to find a photo to demonstrate my story, since I didn’t have one of her posing for the mirror! }
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September Monthly Challenge: Angie Ladeau
Monday, October 18th, 2010Congratulations to Angie, who submitted the page we chose to highlight this month! She submitted a response to challenge topic #2: Focus on nature sceneery, and surroundings, possibly using wider angled shots.
I am experimenting with layouts that have less “stuff” on them and more photos and words. I love the idea of a big photo used as a background to draw the viewer immediately into the action of this story. It seems to say, “Let’s go explore!” As we entered the field that evening the sun was just starting to set and the light was waning fast. I loved the texture of the mushrooms and saw my daughter walking out of the frame as I crouched down to capture its remarkable texture. Again, the photo says, “Hey, wait for me!”
My second goal with this layout was to make it look like I printed the photos on canvas, then laid it out on some cardstock, added the butterfly and took a picture of it. I played a lot with the placement of objects and the painting on the edges of the background photo to create a frame. Although I was trying to keep it simple, I couldn’t help but try to see how a visual triangle would fit in. As I added the finishing touches to the title I realized that the buttons, the butterfly, and the scripted text in the title create a visual triangle, directing the viewer into the story. I just love this design stuff!!
{Melissa Bennett buttons and background papers from “Autumn Memories” (TDF21; thedailydigi.com)}
What the judges had to say:
Our goal is to identify the layouts that do a great job telling the story. Angie accomplished that with this page. The haziness she gave her photo adds to the almost surreal beauty. Light from the sunset burns through the haze to catch your attention. It emphasize the horizon and places you immediately into the narrative. The child at the front of the background (main) photo adds to the feeling that you’re included in this experience. A part of it. Both she and the diagonal horizon line give a sense of movement to the page and photo.
We love that she chose to journal directly onto the photo so that she could use it as the backdrop of the entire page, enveloping you in her story. The handwritten font lends to a personal feel — that this photo isn’t just a mystery photographer’s nice shot; this was Angie’s personal experience. The title is subtle, so it doesn’t distract from the beauty of the picture.
And Angie was right. There is no need for a third yellow accent to create a visual triangle. She had already created a triangular shape with her title and the other elements. Her restraint keeps the focus on the best story-telling element of this layout — the photo.
Find Angie Ladeau
You can find her in our community, The Crop Circle. She also has a blog.
August Monthly Challenge
Want to join in on a challenge? Every month we issue a challenge based on recent tutorials and discussions. Anyone can participate.Our judges (Lesley, Suz, and Kristyn) choose one layout or project from the submissions and I highlight that project here by combining the judges’ thoughts with my own! Give it a try!
Advanced Design With L-Frames – Paperclipping 154
Tuesday, October 5th, 2010You may or may not know about the L-frame as a possible foundation for the design of your scrapbook pages. Today’s episode will take you beyond the basics of the L-frame — although you’ll learn it if it’s new to you — to show you more artistic and less obvious ways to use this as the foundational structure of your scrapbook design.
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Please click on the video trailer above to see how today’s tutorial goes beyond what you might already know with regard to the L-frame, and how to use it to your advantage and with whatever style of scrapbooking you prefer.
Today’s episode is for Paperclipping Members. Does it sound helpful? We have more than 150 other tutorials that could help you with your scrapbook design and scrapbooking ideas. Please visit the Membership Information Page to learn more!
Below are the layouts I featured in today’s episode. You’ll need to watch the video for the specific design tips and techniques, but in the meantime, I hope you get some inspiration and ideas . . .
All Hallow’s Eve
7×10 mini-book
I loved working with this minibook cover made by Teresa Collins! She created it for Thanksgiving but I wanted it for my Halloween book. The price for this is so low, you may want to consider the entire kit for Thanksgiving, plus a second cover for Halloween! I altered my cover by spraying it with Glimmer Mist in Tiger Lilly and Pumpkin Pie. Since Tiger Lilly isn’t available, you might try Jack O Lantern or Sugar Maple as a second mist color.
Some of the items on my cover: Prima Flowers, Venice * The Girl’s Paperie Toil & Trouble Charm.
I made the foundation of my title from an old piece of sheet music that had belonged to my husband’s mother decades ago. I distressed it with Tim Holtz’s Old Paper Distress Ink his Ink Blending Tool, some water spritzing, hand-wrinkling, and edge fraying.
The 3-Wheeler
2-page 12×12 scrapbook page
I wanted to chronicle the life of this bike, which began with my first born (top photos) and ended when my last child outgrew it. I used list-journaling to recall our memories.
The journaling reads: This bike went a long way. And I don’t mean on one literal trip . . .
- 3 toddlers who turned into big kids seeking thrills on steep hills
- 2 apartments + 2 homes
- an early Izzy production “commercial” starring Trinity and the bike
- a little dying cricket being treated to a ride by Aiden in the square indentation between the handles
- the removal of handle bars
- being flipped upside-down for the sharpening of fingernails with the turning of the wheel and pedals
Supplies:
Around the outside of basic white cardstock I sprayed Lemon Grass Glimmer Mist, then inked the edges with Old Paper Distress Ink and Ink Blending Tool.
The letter B is a chipboard letter from the Pocket Watch Glimmer Chip chipboard letters. I inked it with Fired Brick Distress Ink.
Amazed . . .
12×12 scrapbook page
Life Explorer
12×12 scrapbook page
Today: 2-28-08
2 pages from a mini-book
Are you ready to get creative with L-frames? Watch the episode (or get your membership first), choose your story, then start Paperclipping!