Category Archives: getting started

Aug29

Solutions for the Chronological Scrapbooker

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Solutions for the Chronological Scrapbooker

Let’s switch gears a little bit, and talk to those scrapbookers who are stuck because they’ve wandered into the land of chronological guilt.

There are a lot of scrapbookers who feel they MUST scrapbook in order. Baby years must be done before school age years, and graduation after that. Never mind that the stories that keep popping up in their head have nothing to do with chronological events, but rather something like how much their child reminds them of another loved one, or of memories of their own childhood.

They’ve decided they must scrapbook chronologically, and forget about the stories that occur to them during their daily life. And then it happens. They see how much they have to do to get “caught up” to today’s stories that they loose their joy and enthusiasm for the hobby. They stop scrapbooking. And then the guilt really sets in.

We can solve this problem. And we don’t have to stop scrapbooking chronologically to do that.

I bet, by now, if you’ve been wandering around the world of scrapbooking for any length of time, you’ve heard of Project Life, by Becky Higgins. This, believe it or not, is how you can get “caught up.”

Project Life was originally designed so that people could take a photo a day, write a little something each day, and then just slip the photos and journaling cards into pockets. Quick, easy and done. It has since evolved and spread, and most people are using it weekly, and documenting the details of their lives.

I started a Project Life album in 2011, but never finished it. Here, take a look:

All very nice you say, but how does that apply to the pile of photos you have from 10, 15,  or even 20 years ago that you have to scrapbook before you can even think about today’s stories?

Well, as you saw, the Project Life I started two years ago is still incomplete. I’ll break down the process for you in easily digestible chunks, and show you how to pull an album together.

You should be able to apply that process to any time frame you want to document, whether it’s last week, or ten years ago.

I’ll have that ready for you next week. While I’m working on that, why don’t you pull together the photos you want to use, and pick out some Project Life pocket pages and cards you like? You’ll need them to make your own album!

Check out the Project Life supplies at Amazon. (affiliate link) There are a LOT of choices!

Aug21

For the Color Challenged

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For the Color Challenged

Do you have trouble choosing colors for your scrapbook pages? It doesn’t have to be hard. There are some tried and true methods for picking colors for your layouts.

You can start by choosing your colors based on the colors in your photos. Another option is to choose your colors based on a theme (ie. orange and black for Halloween, red and green for Christmas.) You could use a monochromatic theme, with different shades and tones of a single color. You can even dig out a color wheel, and use a color scheme based on the relationships diagrammed on it. (Just follow the arrows. They won’t steer you wrong!)

Another fun way to choose colors for a page? Visit a site like Design Seeds, where they create color palettes based on gorgeous photos.

In fact, you know what would be fun? How about a little challenge? Can you make a page based on the colors from a Design Seeds color palette? I think I’ll use this one:

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That’s a bit outside of my usual comfort zone, so should be a challenge. This is going to be fun! Why don’t you pick a color palette from Design Seeds, and make a page, and share it either with a link here in the comments, or in my Flickr group. I’ll share what I make a bit later this week. Any suggestions on topic?

If you are wanting more direction and instruction in color, check out this FREE (yes I said free!) class on color hosted by Lain Ehmann, and taught by color expert Lori Sawaya.

Color Aug free Sawaya

 

I’ll be there, chatting away, and expanding my scrappy knowledge base. Check it out with me! Lain’s classes are usually lots of fun and very useful.

Don’t forget to check back to see what I make with the Design Seeds color palette, and to share what you make!

Aug1

A Huge Crop Crop

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A Huge Crop Crop

You know how some days, the creative bug has hit you, and gorgeous, innovative pages just flow? Well, that wasn’t me during the crop. 😀

The crop was a workhorse kind of day for me, where I got a lot done, but it followed tried and true patterns I have used over and over in the past.

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I concentrated on creating pages using the titles for my alphabet sticker challenge. I added in other letter stickers when it helped tell the story better. Plus, I like the look of different size alphas, how about you?

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Then there were the pages where I didn’t have the photos I thought I had, so improvised. My bread machine is an integral part of Pizza Night, but a picture of some of the pizzas we’ve made would sure be nice, too.

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Have you noticed yet what every page is missing? Journaling, right? I can’t journal when I’m surrounded by people. I have enough trouble finishing a sentence when I’m by myself. When I’ve got company, there are too many interesting things going on around me for me to concentrate.

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I’ve got plans for what I’m going to talk about, and where to add it for each page, but, for right now, these pages are not done. They need a bit of embellishing too. They look so plain right now!

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End result? Twelve pages started. Nothing finished, but I’m close, I can taste it! 😉

Do you go to crops? How much do you get done when you go?

 

Jul29

Scrapbook Crop, Here I Come!

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Scrapbook Crop, Here I Come!

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Right now, I am packing for a full day crop hosted by a local scrapbook store/community. Normally I pack pretty quickly and easily, because I use a project based approach to scrapbooking away from home.

What does that mean? Let’s break it down for you.

When you use a project based approach to your scrapbooking, you assemble your supplies so you have everything you need to finish a particular project, like a baby album or travel album, all in one place. There are a few supplies I store this way: papers and embellishments I use for my children’s school of life albums, Christmas supplies. Most everything else I store based on type of supply or general theme or technique. Punches live in one place, alphabet stickers in another, and stamps are sorted by theme. (Have I mentioned I have a LOT of stamps?) Papers are sorted by color, paint supplies and coloring mediums have their own places.

When I go to a crop however, I ramp up the project based approach. If I haven’t updated my kids’ round up albums, I bring the school themed box. If it’s Christmas time, I start assembling or completing a Christmas album. If I’ve got a project in the works, like a wedding album or travel album I bring those supplies.

But sometimes, I have no project in the works. That happens to be the case tonight. I haven’t gathered together highlight photos for my kids’ highlight albums. I have no travel albums in the works. I am working on a summer album, but that’s all digital this time around.

The only project I have in the works is trying to use up all the letter stickers for the alpha sticker challenge. While I do have papers set aside, the subject matter for each page is so different, I have no idea how I’m going to choose embellishments and extra tools to bring along. This should be interesting.

There are some basics I will be bringing. Paper trimmer. Adhesives. Scissors. Ruler. Paper. Pens and markers. But the extras? This will be challenging. I’ll let you know how it went later this week!

Jun24

Must Have Tools: Alpha Stamps

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Must Have Tools: Alpha Stamps

There are some things every scrapbooker needs in their tool box: a decent paper trimmer, a good pair of non-stick scissors, adhesive (you can never have too much), journaling pens or markers, and a clear ruler. (You can see the items I recommend here.)

Then there are the tools that, while not absolutely essential, can be used over and over again, in many different ways.

Today let’s talk about alphabet stamp sets.

While I LOVE alphabet stickers, they have a couple really big drawbacks. You always run out of a letter you want before you’ve used up the set. You will not run into that problem if you have an alphabet stamp set. Nor will you find your stamped letters lying in the bottom of your page protector when you come back to look at your page in a year or two.

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A lot of people worry about messing up their titles if they stamp them, and while that is a concern, there are a couple things you can do to alleviate possible problems.

First thing you can do: adjust your attitude. You are stamping. You are making a handmade craft. Imperfection is a wonderful embellishment that shows your humanity.

That’s all well and good, but you still want to make sure your title is readable, right?

If you are using clear stamps, mount each stamp together on a single block. Fiskars (among others) even has blocks that have a gridline on them, which makes lining up your stamps even easier.

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If you are using wood mounted stamps, place a ruler along the lower edge of where you are stamping your word. Use the marks on the ruler to evenly space out your letters, and keep the lower edge of the stamp on the edge of the ruler to stamp in a fairly straight line.

Another trick you can keep up your sleeve: use a fine tipped color matched marker to fill in any missing spots. If you don’t have a color matched marker, you can take a very fine tipped paint brush or one of ranger’s fantastixs to pick up color off your ink pad and fill in any empty spots.

Some of my favorite inks to use for stamping are Memento, Archival, and Palette inks in black. Be careful if you use Tim Holtz’ Distress Inks. They are wonderful inks, but they can bead up more than the average dye ink when used on clear stamps. Most pigment inks also work really well, but since they are slower drying, you may smear them.

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One of my favorite things to do is to mix alpha letters with stamps, to create a really eclectic, texturally interesting title. Don’t be afraid of stamping! You can do it!

If you are still unsure of your ability to stamp, sign up for my newsletter. I’ve got a free video and .pdf all about common stamping mistakes and how to avoid them for newsletter subscribers.

Looking for more things you can do with alpha stamps? I’ll have more for you later this week!