Behind In Posts!

Wow, I have really gotten behind in my posts. Let's see if I can get everyone caught up on this project.

On this page I wanted to point out the use of both cream and white in the layout. Remember there are no rules in scrapbooking! You can put whatever colors together that fit the mood, emotion, and style of the layout. I remember landscaping our backyard for one of our daughter's weddings and I asked the designer what rules we had to follow with the color scheme. She laughed and said, "Whatever you see in nature 'goes together'. God plants at random!" Since that time I've used the same theory in my scrapbooks. Whatever you like or that speaks to you will be just fine!

The next page I designed to look like you had just opened an old trunk and the layout is what you would find. I inked the edges of some of the papers, added a ribbon that curled into a 3D effect, and smudged the whole layout on the edges, so it would look like some of the natural effects of time had crept through the sides of the trunk. I like the overall effect of this page and will be doing more of this technique in future books.

Next, I have a page that incorporated some of the "theme" paper into the layout in a subtle way. I took a strip of the paper and added a scalloped edge, then punch pink eyelets into the design. Finally, I took some ribbon and laced it through the strip. I placed the whole piece behind a scattered stack of shapes that can be used for smaller photos or for journaling. The page will hold an oval picture as the focal point. Some scattered flowers and a little bling and ta-da! Time for another pocket page, so this time I used a side pocket. I love the pocket pages and I think the viewer enjoys taking out the photos and looking through them. All the mats on these inserts are double matted so photos can go on both sides. The birds were stamped separately and then hand-cut and added to the mats.

I was working on this album during the time that my godson happened to get married. When they posted their wedding pictures online I saw a beautiful picture with lots of detail in the background that added immensely to the photo. Because I thought it would be a shame to crop some of that type of background off, I decided to start adding a page in my albums that will hold a large photo. This page will highlight and focus on just one large picture. The embellishments are set around the edge so nothing will cover the photo. The black flourishes you see are actually part of the print on the paper so a picture can be added without causing a problem with bulges or bumps.

As always, I end with the beginning (rather prophetic, I think) and design the cover of the album. This was to be the same overall concept as the other wedding album, but I try to make each album unique.

I love the look of using different shades of white/ivory to create a layer in a layout. I used that color scheme on the cake. The canister and some of the lace background paper were a very light shade of pink. And finally, the background paper was a very light patterned paper with a green design. I picked up the green by using it in the shape of a triangle (background at the top, leaves in the roses on the cake to the right, and finally a green butterfly pin on the lower left). That lends a sense of balance to the page and the eye travels that route without realizing it, so the viewer takes in the entire layout.

Details, Details, Details

There are some things I am not picky about when it comes to my artwork. I don't like things that are perfectly centered, I tend not to like straight edges, and I believe there is no such thing as "too much bling." However, one thing I am picky about is the details of a scrapbook album because I believe that is where you find the heart of the artist. Did she care enough about her work to make sure the little things were included to give the boook that special touch.

The next few pages of this album are full of little details. On this page you will see the torn background paper has been inked for a distressed look. Each of the prima flowers has a specialty brad to make them pop. The purple tag has a cloth covered brad that matches the birdcage that was hand cut from patterned paper. The little bird was stamped on coordinating beige paper and then hand cut. The ribbon at the base of the photo mat has been doubled and folded then secured with a rose, pearls and a hat pin with silver beads and an ivory flower bead.

The next page is a pocket page that holds 5 photo mats. I always like to include at least one pocket page in my albums because for what people are paying they should be able to post a lot of pictures. For the same reason I also double mat (both the front and the back of the photo mat cards) so that people can use both sides to post photos. That means on this one page you can view 10 photos. People like to interact with with the albums and pocket pages gives the viewer a break from just looking and allows them to touch the album.





On the next page the is a place for one large picture and a small tuck in tag for a small picture or journaling. This page has a very nice little decoration that was actually an earring. It is the white flower with the silver chain cascade and pearls. I shop thrift stores quite often. It is amazing how much these little charms and embellishments cost in a craft store, but you can find some great pieces in a thrift store for next to nothing. I was able to get two earring and a necklace with the same design for $1.75 and it was still unopened in the original box. Those are savings I can pass along to my clients and it makes the album unique.

Decorating Pages

There are three things I try to include on each layout that I make. I like to layer, add something 3D, and provide a variety of textures. I think having all three of these things adds interest to the page and gives the viewer something to enjoy along with the photos.


If you are interested in the "How To" of page layouts and designs, I encourage you to purchase a CD from RainDakota's Designs on etsy or e-bay http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5601288 I have purchased every one of Tonya's CDs and have learned something new with each one. She has a very simple way of explaining the basics of layouts on your scrapbook pages and she is extremely creative as you will see with her products.


For my own work, I tend to go with vintage or eclectic design unless the customer expresses a specific design style. Here are a few pages from our newest album. Remember this is a wedding album and the customer wants pastel colors.


The first page has a vintage flair. The layering on this page gives the impression that you have come across the picture in an old attic trunk and the photos are mixed among other items. The large oval is actually vellum and the picture can be placed underneath giving it a dreamlike quality. There is a smaller frame for an additional photo. There are lots of textures on this piece. Ribbon, charms, raised flowers, pearls around the oval mat, and embossed paper on both the vellum and the ivory frame.






The second page uses the same flowers as the first page. These were all from one 12 x 12 embossed printed paper. To make it look like a cohesive 2-page spread I hand cut the flowers and arranged them on the two pages. (Yes, it is very time consuming, but I think the results are worth it. Hand cut items have a very lacy look that is perfect for wedding, baby, and vintage albums.) On this page we have added a dragonfly charm with iridescent purple ribbon. The 3D butterfly is a nice touch because of the pearls and the glitter on the wings. One triple-layer oval photo mat will hold a picture (I've added a photo on this page so you can get an idea of how the page looks with the photo included. It's just resting on top of the mat for the purposes of this blog) and the small flourish frame can either hold a small photo or be used for journaling. This would be a great place for the traditional photo of the bride and groom's rings. The photo to the left shows the 3D layering of the flowers. To create this effect you simply adhere one set of flowers with foam tape which lifts it slightly from the page.

Page 3 is pulling out the color purple from our paper line. The paper covering the chipboard is from our basic paper line and we are using purple prima flowers, a linen paper that has been torn and distressed with ink, and the page has a tag with purple lettering. I've sprinkled a little bit of pink as well, so the page isn't overpowered with purple. The bird cage was hand cut and I used a stamp to make the small bird then cut out the shape to add. There is decorative brad that adds 3D and lace on the bottom of the page had been folded and glued to add additional dimension to the layout. Behind the rose flower there are pearls and a hat pin with beads for a little extra decor.


You will find that every scrapbooker has her own favorite adhesive and type of tape that they use. I will tell you that the only thing I have found to work on the charms and the fabric is fabric tac. You can pick it up at JoAnn's. For 8 oz it is about $8.99, so I use the weekly coupon that comes out for 40% off a regular item when I need to pick some up.

For the 3D items like paper or chipboard I use the adhesive foam tape. It's not too expensive and it is easy to cut it to the size you need. Also, the foam tape allows the area being raised to be consistent. When I used glue dots, some of them "settled" a little differently and sometimes my chipboard was higher in one place than another. I do use the 3D glue dots for flowers. They have a strong enough adhesive that you can trust the flower won't fall off.

Welcome!

This is my first blog! Wow, my kids will be so proud of me. I love creating scrapbooks! Scrapbooks always look like they have been produced by a designer, but in truth once you learn the techniques, anyone can make a beautiful album. Scrapbooks are a great way to express your feelings and share your important memories with future generations.

I've started creating what I call "Sculptured Albums" which are chipboard albums that I design, shape, and bind myself. Creating a binding process was not easy! My daughter and I tried all kinds of creative approaches, but none of them allowed the album to lie flat when it was opened.

Finally, through trial and error, we came up with a process that is very durable (trust me, I had to take one apart once and ended up making a whole new album instead!) and has a very clean look to it. I've made 12 x 12 albums and mini albums using this process and have had as many as 16 pages in an album.

My first Sculptured Album took me 2 weeks to complete. Thankfully I have found several shortcuts and I can now complete a mini album in 8 hours. I'll be sharing some of those tips as I go along. (No point in everyone suffering through that learning curve!)


So for now I'm signing off, but I'll be back as soon as I determine what my next project will be. The theme of the album is always the most challenging part for me. Hmmmm......