Stroll through your local scrapbooking supply shop and you may die from the cuteness featured on all of the elaborate die cuts available. I am a huge fan of die cuts. In fact, the adorable embellishments are one of the reasons I got into scrapbooking more than a decade ago. I love the intricately decorated shapes and the fact that they can be used to spice up more than just a corner of a memory book page. Die cuts can be displayed on frames, in journaling blocks or strategically placed in page titles. The problem with die cuts is the … Continue reading →
Weekend scrapbooking crops are the perfect venue to learn new techniques, get inspiration from fellow scrappers and experiment with new tools. The organized get-togethers are exciting and informative, but they can also be intimidating for newbies. Depending on how large of a crop you attend, you could be looking at scrapbooking with hundreds of other memory book builders. In order to keep the event running smoothly, there are typically quite a few rules to consider. When I attended my first crop the following ditty circulated around the ballroom. It was discovered on Scrapbook.com and speaks to the unwritten rules … Continue reading →
One of my favorite ways to add texture to a scrapbook layout is to incorporate a variety of fabrics to the page design. For example, in an effort to add flair to my daughter’s First Holy Communion memory album, I used real lace and lace paper to enhance the theme. Several manufacturers have recently come out with paper that can be mixed with items to add more texture to layouts. Patterned paper with raised edges or lines for journaling can be found in a variety of colors. In addition, many online retailers offer paper that serves as an attractive background … Continue reading →
Don’t let a summer trip to the beach go to waste. While your family is having fun in the sun, be sure to snap photos of their adventures in the sand and surf. Pictures of your kids chasing seagulls, collecting seashells, swimming, surfing, sunbathing, flying a kite or reading under a colorful beach umbrella are the heart and soul of a beach vacation-themed scrapbook. In addition to snapping images of your trip, consider jotting down some of the funniest or most poignant memories to feature in journaling blocks. If you don’t have the time or energy to write down anecdotes … Continue reading →
Who says you have to break a sweat crafting an elaborate scrapbook layout design for Dad? This Father’s Day you can give your favorite guy a touching gift from the heart that he will cherish forever by using just a few simple scrapbooking techniques. One of the most precious page designs incorporates photos and poems. If you have the time and energy, you could sit down and pen an original prose detailing the reasons your Dad is so special to you. However, don’t ditch the idea if you lack inspiration or you simply don’t think you have what it takes … Continue reading →
I’m hooked on chipboard scrapbooks. Not chipboard embellishments; I am head over heels in awe of chipboard memory albums whose pages spell out words, such as “Mother,” “Love,” “Family,” “Vacation,” or “Sister.” I rarely stray from crafting anything but traditional albums. Typically, my focus is on squeezing as many photos on a single layout as possible, so using a standard 12×12 page works best for me. However, after seeing how many mini images I could fit on a page from a chipboard scrapbook, I am obsessed. Granted, when creating page designs in a chipboard scrapbook, you have to be a … Continue reading →
Thanks to a good behavior reward system designed by her second grade teacher, my daughter has accumulated a fairly impressive collection of decorative pins. Some feature ribbons and beads while others include fabric and gems. They are all beautifully constructed, and I’ve been wondering how I could help my daughter display them. Enter our neighbor. Yes, that one. The scrapbook queen of northern Wisconsin suggested we design a layout using the pretty pins. So, this weekend we found some patterned paper and used the decorative pins to embellish a double page layout. We used the bulk of the pins as … Continue reading →
Scrapbook stickers are not cheap. I know this for a fact. You could easily drain your wallet shopping for 3D stickers at your local scrapbooking store. I also know this for a fact. My magnetic attraction to themed stickers (and my dwindling bank account) is what prompted me to finally experiment with homemade embellishments. Digital stickers have been a huge money saver for me. A few years ago I would think nothing of dropping $3 to $5 on a sheet of pretty adhesives. Then, I sat down to calculate how much I spent on scrapbooking in a year’s time and … Continue reading →
Yesterday my second grader selected the Valentine’s Day cards and treats she plans to gift to her classmates in about, oh, three weeks or so. Given that Wal-Mart, Target and Walgreens have been selling Valentine’s Day paraphernalia since December 27th, I figured we’re far from ahead of the curve. Not far from the Scooby-Doo, Snoopy and Smurf cards were two gigantic displays of Love Day-themed scrapbook embellishments. Two gigantic displays of overpriced Love Day-themed embellishments. Personally, I don’t craft more than two Valentine’s Day-themed layouts per year, so my wallet is not screaming out in pain after coughing up the … Continue reading →
In a previous post I provided tips on how to incorporate lace patterned scrapbook paper into a variety of layouts. If you are looking to give your page designs a vintage, delicate or feminine look, a little lace paper can go a long way. Fortunately, you don’t have to drive from store to store or scour the Internet for retailers that carry beautiful lace paper designs. Scrapbook.com offers a wide array of lace paper, in a rainbow of colors. Last year I found some incredible blue and purple lace detailed paper on the website, and used it to embellish a … Continue reading →
