Have been and Should have been

Been busy actually doing some work to my blog. You probably have not noticed the changes but I have:
Organised photos on my second hard drive so when it comes to posting them onto my blog they are easy to find.

I have started to reload photographs which I have lost from my older posts. Unfortuantly some photos I either can not remember what they were off or have looked for them and been unable to find them.

Started to label up posts.
- I do a lot of Big Picture classes so I have labelled all entries which are releated to an activity undertaken during these. Where possible I have also gone back and added the class which they releate to.
- Labelling up number of photos and journalling styles used (still experimenting with this area so wanted to be able to search for them specifically)
- Any embellishments, products or techniques I have used. o If its not actually releated to scrapbooking but other crafts e.g Home Decor

I do have loads of things I should however have been doing – especially as this task has taken a long time, and still not finished!

• Charge batteries on camera so I can take various photos – not just to put on the blog but also ones I have identifyed I want for layouts in the future.

• Print of photographs for photo frames I am giving people for christmas. (Photo Frames which I have altered/decorated)

• Make mini albums

• Create calanders - currently having problem finding/selecting photos

• Dads 60th Birthday Album to make. I have not started this project yet so I have to scan nearly 60 years of photos, sort, identify the where, when etc, select for printing, print and then actually creat the layouts. His birthday is on the 13th January!

• Decorating the house, moving furniture, unpacking boxes and doing up pieces of furniture.


Definetly think I may have got my priorities a tad wrong today and got a bit carried away on sorting out my blog!

Lets make some flowers

The one thing I had seen on the many hours if create and craft channel that I wanted was the "My Craft Studio click, print and go" flower CD Rom with four tonic punches. When it was on I never had the money to buy it or it sold out before I had chance to.

The reason I liked this set was:

1. The price. Four punches would cost £21; the price of the kit was £19.99 so you’re basically getting the CD Rom for free.
2. The punched flowers all interlocking with each other so you can make a huge variety if styles.
3. The CD Rom lets you print off lots of flower styles in lots of colours so you can get a really good variety of options.

Found out that My Craft Studio had a stand at the Hobbycrafts show so after booking my make and takes this was the first stand I went to. Was glad that I did because there was not many of the kit left.

When I got home I told Christopher I had bought it and he could give it to me as part of my Christmas present. He has kind of agreed so I can not play with it until Christmas day. I do however need to get some paper which will not soak up my printer ink - Colemans seems to be the best bet.

(Photo of kit)

Making Felt

I had seen this briefly on create and craft and a class advertised on Big Picture Classes so was really interested in learning some more. I liked the idea of being able to make my own felt embellishments for both my scrapbooking pages and for use in home decor so visiting the Japan Crafts stand at Hobbycrafts for a make and take on Needle Felting.

I was amazed at how quick and relatively easy it was. You place the wool on a sponge within a cutter and a special needle was used to make a "stabbing" action to the wool, knitting the fibres together and resulting in felt being made.

The stabbing of the needle into the sponge is a definite stress relief - pretend its someone or something that is annoying you and its bound to make you feel better! But it is not a “watch the TV at the same time” crafting activity. You have to concentrate otherwise you end up stabbing yourself with the felt needle and that hurts!

So impressed with finished results and how easy and satisfying it was that when I found out I could get the starter kit and enough wool to keep me going for a while for £10 it was a no brainer. I would only have to make a few flowers or other shapes to quickly get my money back.

I have already had a play-a-round since I got home with making them different thickness and playing about with mixing the different colour wool. Still more experimenting to come but am enjoying the time out it gives me.

(Photos to follow - make and take flowers, kit and wool, at home samples.)

Key Ring or Handbag Charm

This was the second make and take I had identified as something that I could give mum for Christmas.

It involved some jewellery making but the beads were much bigger so my eyesight could cope!

This teacher spent time explaining the different techniques involved and alternative ways they can be used. The key ring was designed to cover the maximum. It gave everyone an insight into the craft, and those who wanted to get into the hobby a good foundation.

(Photo of key chain)

First try at making jewellery

Went to Birmingham to find out that the company who was doing the make and take was located where I live!

Also found out that my eye sight is just not good enough for jewellery making. Had real trouble actually seeing the holes in the beads to let me thread them onto the beads "chain" - making jewellery making a bit difficult!

But I did manage to make the necklace and matching earrings in the allotted hour the make and take was meant to last.

Am really pleased with the end results and when I got home everyone I showed them to thought they look good.

I know they are only costume jewellery and by no means in the price bracket of mums normal jewellery but I think will she wear the necklace. No to sure about the earrings as mum doesn't normally wear this style so will have to see about that one.

(Photo to follow)

Hobbycrafts Show, NEC Birmingham

Christopher kindly paid for me to go to the Hobbycrafts show at the NEC. I had looked on the website at the free make and takes they offered and fancied doing some, I could see some of them making great Christmas presents for mum. Plus I had not seen scrapbooking items in real life for years (the few items stocked at Colemans doesn't count!).

I was amazed that there was a massive que of people already waiting to get in. Not only was it very long but 10+ people already wide, and this a good 45 minutes before the doors actually opened!

First item on my agenda was to look on the map to identify where the stands were which were doing make and takes and book my place (more on what I did in future posts).

I spent most of my time doing the make and takes I had managed to get booked on. Was really pleased as I was not excited by what I saw at the show. A lot of jewellery stands - obviously the latest thing. Only 12x12 paper I saw was in packs/pads and mainly Papermania papers so nothing really to get excited about. Basically not much to write home about.

Photo Frames

The glass from 20 frames had their glass broken when delivered at a local shop. They were tried to be returned to the supplier but as they did not want the hassle of picking them up again gave a full refund and said for the shop owner to dispose of them as they want. It was mentioned to me and I asked if I could have them. I could see with a little bit of work I could transform them with the plan of giving some as Christmas presents.

This is what I did:-

1. Bought the frames home from the shop in batches and removed the broken glass.
2. Removed the words "mom", "dad", "+" and "me" which had been badly stuck onto the frames.
3. Used a combination of cream cleaners to clean the frames and with the aid of a scouring sponge to remove any remnants of glue.
4. Wiped down the frames with Tim Holtz alcohol solution.
5. Using felt applicators and Tim Holtz alcohol inks to colour frames and create pattern. With each frame I got a different end result from the combination of ink colours I used and how I applied them to the frames.
6. Using some OHP sheets (the old versions which can't go through a printer but instead have to be hand written in with permanent pens) I cut them down to size to act as the glass to the photo frames.

I used up a lot of my alcohol inks which are not cheap but I did decorate 20 frames. And I had bought these inks a long time ago so it was good to finally use them. The few photos I need I will print at home, anf the OHP “glass” was from a pile that dad had got from his work when they were all going to be thrown away/ So all in all it’s a perfect "free" Christmas present.

One frame had some ink colour "splodges" which I could not remove. So instead I got some butterfly stickers and stuck to the frame to cover them up. Though defiantly not to everyone's liking it’s a perfect candidate to give to Nan.

I gave the shop owner some back once they had been "transformed" for him to sell as I did not need them all. He has already sold two!

And as for Christmas presents I am just left with finding photos, printing them off and fitting into frames and voila.

(Photos to follow)

Photos Developed

It was the first time I have got photos developed since doing the Big Picture Class "Finding your Way". This class helped me to understand that I am a single page 6x4" photo. However sometimes there is an event where lots of photos are taken and a series of photos is needed to tell the story.

Where as before I a would print all my photos at 6x4 then try to cut them down and fit onto a single page - normally making me not feel happy with the finished result. This time I thought of the stories I may want to tell. Printed off single 6x4 photos where the whole story could be told and then using adobe photocopy elements package merged two photos onto a single 6x4 photo size to cater for those events/stories where more than one photo needed to be used. This way I could either use photos that size or cut them down so they were smaller. Plus it also meant I could get more photos printed for less money!

When I got the photos back from the developers I was really pleased with the results. Now I just need to scrapbook some of them!

Thank You Card

Mick had not only kindly bought a bureau which was just the perfect size for my house he also treated it with woodwork treatment. So a thank you card was defiantly in order.

I played around with my alcohol inks on some cheap 7x5 photo paper until I was happy with the results - a piece to use as background and another for a strip for the ribbon to be mounted on.

It took a long time to get it all compiled so that I was happy with the results. Mick was really pleased to not only have a thank you card but also to have a handmade card. So all the time I spent on it was worth it.

28 Days of Sketches

I was in two minds if I should sign up for this class as I have learnt from “Finding my Way” that I need to understand my own style rather than copying someone elses pages directly. But the idea of seeing a range of peoples interpretations on a sketch, identifying those elements or layouts which inspire me and using the sketch as a basis for my own layouts and what is really “me” sounded to good an opportunity to pass up.

Unfortunately this class ran during a very busy month for me with commitments outside of my scrapbooking world so I was hindered to the amount of attention I could give towards this class.

I did look at the handouts and the gallery – thank goodness for some internet access on my mobile phone. But I was disappointed that there were not more examples of totally different interpretations of the sketches by other BPC teachers. I think this would of been very useful in the current position I am in understanding what my own scrapbooking style is.

I am currently working on one layout from a sketch in the class. I am pleased with the way it is turning out but it is taking some time to complete – a combination of other commitments and my playing around with the items to use on my layout and their position.

I do know that not having the sketch out all of the time has helped me scrapbook my way rather than doing a straight copy of the sketch. And I do look forward to using other sketches from this class to inspire me to scrapbook other layouts.

Photo Freedom

Thanks to Big Picture Scrapbooking for giving me the opportunity to undertake this class again as a 2010 alumi.

I thought I was doing really well with the implementation of the system and “tweaked” it for myself. And that in part is true. But there are so many things I have forgotten about which would make my system even better.

The main thing I am going to be looking at is using Adobe Photoshop more effectively. So need to get the manual out and learn how to do things on the programme to utilise it fully.

Where am I know at the end of “Finding Your Way” class?

Well I am still on the journey to discovering my own style, what makes me happy. I continue to experiment with how I do my journaling and ways to identify which are the best ways for each layout.

Creating layouts is taking me longer but this is because I am playing around with items on my pages till I get the “feel right, look right” moment. I know the advice from “Finding Your Way” was just to stick things down and not think about it but I just can’t make myself do it. I don’t want to fill my scrapbooking albums with more layouts which I do not like.

Cheap and Lazy Embellishments

Embellishments can be very expensive in the UK and as I am on a tight budget, and would rather spend the money I do have on paper, I am using up embellishment items I already have or making my own things using items/ diecut machines etc which I invested in some time ago.

I tend to make my own embellishments in batches so they are there ready to go as I need them when scrapbooking. I think that I can do this as I tend to use “standard” items which are not specific to the latest fashion in embellishments or specific patterned paper.

I think before investing time in creating your own embellishments you need to know:

1. What your “go to” embellishments are.
2. What effects you always use/like (e.g. embossed, distressed, glitter effect).
3. What colours you will use the

This does mean I spend some of my scrapbooking time preparing these embellishments but when I do sit down I can actually create and my work flow is not interrupted. Currently I have been working out from Finding Your Way exactly what my answers are to these questions before I prepare any more embellishments.

I buy chipboard items such as swirls, borders, shape chipboard pieces but don’t actually use them on my layouts. Instead I use them as a template, drawing around and then cutting out on whatever cardstock or patterned paper I want to use. I may stick these down flat on my layout as it was the shape rather than the dimension I wanted or use foam pads to give it additional dimensions. (I know not something all those scrapbooking manufactures want to hear!)

I have learnt that I prefer to use black lettering and the preferred size of font. I have therefore invested in a pack of 12x12 black cardstock and am currently cutting out different style alphabets using my Cricut machine. This means that I have been able to cut out more of those letters you always run out of when you buy stickers/thickers and it works out a lot cheaper.

To make my own chipboard letter I have also bought a sheet of black mount board to cut out the Lollipop alphabet using my Sizzix machine.

All of this is time consuming and does mean I spend some of my scrapbooking time preparing these embellishments but when I do actually sit down to create they are there and my work flow is not interrupted. I suppose I consider it a bit like organising my scrapbooking room and supplies so that the most used things are close to hand.

A few questions for you

Dawn, a fellow class mate in "Finding Your Way" posted some questions for people on the boards to answer if they wanted, just for fun. I gave it a ago, did some thinking and here is my responses:

1. Which lesson do you think helped you the most and why?
Oh this one is very hard! Can I do a list as there was not one thing! My two main ones are:

• What scrapbooking supplies I do use. That I go for three shades of blue, red and green for my background colours, that I only like to use black titles and I do use a lot of flowers - these made me identify what I do need to spend my money on.
• That there are several different ways you can add journaling to your layouts and that you dont just have to use one, dependant on the story you can use different ideas.

2. If you could've only picked one lesson this whole time what would it have been and why?
Actually looking at my layouts and understanding the common themes (with the help of others on the boards) and a light bulb realisation that these observations were true. This big step really helped me to embrace everything else I have learnt and feel more comfortable with trying new things.

3. Which lesson do you need to go back over and try something new from it or just reread it?
I think there are several lessons I would go over. The only ones I know I have discovered what I like, and feel I have finished them is the size of photos you use and preference to what you scrap and the size you scrapbook in.

4. If you could add one more lesson that's not here what would it be?
I think that I would incorporate "Embrace Imperfection" or highlight that the "Finding Your Way" class is phase two as they followed on so well from each other, and "Embrace Imperfection" that I completed right before this class really helped me get nto the right frame of mind.

From what I have learnt here I need to continue to progress my style and understand how I can get inspired by other peoples layouts and how to use them/ incorporate them within my layouts in my style. I am therefore signing up for the sketch class on here hoping that I can progress this.

5. Which lesson surprised you?
That in fact I am a 6x4 single photo layout girl with a preference for single 12x12. Before this I always thought I liked to scrapbook multiple photos on a page or do a double page but how wrong I was! I have series of photos with a story behind them and am now trying to get comfortable with creating a layout using them a single layout with 1 photo will not work.

All in all I have learnt so much about what scrapbooking is for me and my style that it just blows me away when I sit down and think of everything! A great class.

Still Got Problems

Despite learning from Finding Your Way I still have a few problem areas. 

• Journaling placement, method and style.
• Where should my journaling go on the layout?
• Should I write the journaling or type it up?
• Should I put it on a block on the layout? Strips? Dotted around?
• Chossing the patterned paper to use. Both what I already have in stock and buying new from the internet.
• Experimenting and trying new things.

How is Your Tool Box Coming?

Tool Box? It was a term used at the end of “Finding Your Way” for you to compile the core items you use together on your layouts and would need to take with you to a crop.

Tools: Trimmer, journaling pen and ruler, pencil, pencil sharpener and eraser, safety ruler and craft knife, pokey tool, scissors.

Core cardstock colours have been identified from my stash, just need to see what colours they actually match to with the manufactures so I can order more.

Embellishments: Flowers, Brads, Paper Trim/Lace.

Ink Pads: Black, Brown

Punches: Corner rounder, scallop border punch

Trip Wire

Despite there being multiple photos for this layout I knew that this time due to the size of the main images I wanted to use that a single layout could accommodate them, the title and journaling. I was however stumped on how to place these photos and had to turn to a sketch to assist me (Sorry I did not make note of where I got the sketch from so am unable to refernce its origin).

I had problems with the placement of the photos, not sure if that is because of the size, not sure how I was going to do the journaling or fitting it in or following a sketch. Think I still have major problems with where and how to journal on my layouts. I do not like my hand writing but then on the other hand apart from the lengthy story layout I did not like typed journaling!

Lessons Learnt

1. Sketches are a good idea for inspiration but once they have given you the idea put them away so that you do not get trapped into the need to follow it exactly
2. Using foam pads to lift the main photo does help to highlight it.

You are the best wrapper in town

Another topic I wanted to scrapbook for some time. As there was a story which I could tell through each photo I decided to try the small journaling prompts typing them on the computer.

This layout took me ages to do. Firstly I could not get my head around how to place the photos, journaling and titles onto one page. Then when I had figured out how I wanted to “anchor” my photos to the page it took me a while to be happy with the size and arrangement.

I took a photo of the layout once I was happy and before I disassembled so that I had a picture of the “finished” layout. That and using a pencil to mark corners of paper definitely helped in creating it again. I did not think however of which layer was the first layer etc and stick them down in accordance which did cause a few problems.

Then of course my new love of experimenting with sewing had me trying out sewing around the edges of the strips of paper instead of inking them. It did work and gave texture to the layout – I considered it my “embellishment”. But because I did this story on a single layout the majority of  my hard work of stitching got covered up.

After I had done the page I had to ask myself “Why did you not do this as a double layout?” I had engrained in myself that I was a single layout scrapbooker that the thought of doing a double page layout did not even enter my head. This is a shame as the end result to me looks too clinical/report/display like and to my eye looks too cramped.

 Lessons Learnt

1. You can do double layouts, especially when you have many photos with journaling too.
2. Stitching is a good thing and does add texture and interest to a layout but sometimes it can be an over kill.
3. A long statement title which connects to the photos is good as it relates to the photos and tells the story without the person having to then read all of the journaling attached to it.

What are your “Don’t Use Embellishments”

I like using a variety of embellishments but the two which spring to mind I own but don't really use are stickers and metal words or letters. (After nearly 6 years I finally used a metal word on my together layout!)

An ‘embellishment’ I have not used is this "mist", something I do not own, I have not seen in real life to know if it is something I must have, or if I will like the effect on my own layouts.

Working Clothes

There was a reasonably long story to tell with this photo which I had put off doing as I was not sure the best way to go about it. My mind set was stuck on the need to do layouts with mainly journaling on 8.5x11 size paper. Finally the penny dropped that this was not the case.

I typed the story up which enabled the story to be told in a smaller space than if it had been hand written. Though I still had to cut the photos down I was able to fit everything across the page. The end result I am happy with – it tells the story, is clean/not fussy, but still pleasing to the eye.

 Lessons Learnt

1. Typing journaling means you can get more into a smaller space. Especially good if you have a long story to tell. 
2. You can do a mainly journaling layout using 12x12 paper and it does work and it does not mean that the whole page is covered in text – you can still have white space on the page.

Where do I get my embellishments from?

I tend to buy my embellishments separately from those designed specifically to go with the paper lines as the selection available may have improved the prices are definitely too high for my budget. (I’d prefer, if I had the money to spend, on purchasing cardstock or patterned paper.)

If I buy embellishments I tend to go for either neutral colours or colours which I know I will use mainly blue and greens, utilising sales to may be get some colours which I do not use a great deal (i.e. pink). However with all the discoveries about my scrapbooking style and the colours I like I know that my colour range has to expand when I next buy embellishments.

The main embellishments I do buy are brads and flowers and are rarely from brands. They tend to be Docrafts (a UK craft supplier) or a scrapbooking online stores own lines.

Making My own Flowers

I got these instructions from a “professional” scrapbooker whom gives fantastic instructions on how to do various things. Unfortunately I can not remember that persons name so I apologise I can not link you to her website. I have therefore listed the steps I obtained from her blog and followed to make my flowers for the “Wimpey” layout.

                

1.  I cut out circles of various sizes from patterned paper.
2. As I used my Sizzix machines circle die I ended up with four different size circles.
1. I used double sided patterned paper from different ranges which coordinated together. This gave me more options on the combination of the style of each flower.
2. To create the petals I cut each circle into 8th, making sure that each cut DID NOT go down to the centre point of the circle.
3. I mixed up the different size circles, using one for the main flower and the other as the centre flower.
4. I used a pencil to curl the leaves to add dimension to each flower.

 I took a lesson learnt in my Decorate Life class and combined different styles and colours of brads to make the centre of the flowers.

I was really pleased with the results and a trick I am going to use in the future.

Wimpey

It was a surprise to find a Wimpey when I we were on holiday in the Isle of Wight and visiting there made me think of all of the differences there was between a MacDonalds. This layout was to highlight what these were.

The journaling spots around the layout were good for the points I wanted to make, would use them again but only if I was telling a story in a similar short sentence/point way, copying Karen's method of journaliing.

The flowers I made by punching circles from patterned paper – some which I had used as part of the back ground and some co-ordinating patterned paper. I got this idea from a "expert" scrapbooker but I apologise that I can not remember the scrapbookers name. I took a lesson learnt in my Decorate Life class and combined different styles and colours of brads to make the centre of the flowers.

Over all am happy with the layout. Only thing I may do differently in the future was to mat the photo to make it stand out more.

 Lessons Learnt

1. You can create your own flowers using different six circles.
2. Mixing colours, sizes and styles of brads can look effective
3. Sometimes you need to mat a photo to make it pop off the page
4. You can mix different makes and patterns of paper together and it still looks good.Sometimes the title is in the photo already.

Paws

I have always loved Max’s paws, not sure why but I have always been drawn to them. This layout shows my love of his paws and the words which I associate with them.

Used the dymo junior machine to create the words, L’ill Davies Cleveland Stamps (I think) to create the title, rub-ons from WHSmiths for the “I love your” text. There was no need for any more journaling the title and key words were enough. The cardstock behind the photo just anchored the photo to the page. I did try it without anything behind it but it just looked wrong

 Lessons Learnt

1. I need something to anchor the photo to the page – coloured cardstock or patterned paper.
2. Sometimes using just key words does work, but I think I would only be happy with this if I had a sentence title.
3. Stitching around the layout brings the eyes to the centre.

Journaling is my problem

Through getting to problems of disliking my layouts one of the areas which I have identified as a problem were journaling and the way I tackled it on my layouts. Journaling is a key part of layouts and scrapbooking as a whole so not only does a layout have to have some sort of journaling on it, it also needs to be visible. Thanks to everyone whom has helped me this week on this topic. It has made me do a lot of thinking, and I have learnt:

1. I do not have to use only handwriting or only typed journaling.
2. I can use a combination. 
3. Not all layouts have to have lots of journaling. 
4. Layouts can be just as meaningful and record a topic with only a small amount of journaling. 
5. There are lots of different ways I can include journaling on my layouts and it still be visible. It does not need to be just in a block. 
6. There are different options available on how I can use typed journaling on my layouts.

Experimenting with points 4 and 5, while remembering points 1-3 is going to be one of the challenges I am going to set myself over the next few weeks.

Sales over the years

The journaling on this layout caused me all sorts of problems. Initially I did the journaling by hand – the way I normally do but to me it did not look right and was just a mess. This is the layout:

 I then redid the layout using the computer for the title and the journaling. It looked so much neater, clearer and easier to read.

 I do think it looks better with the typed journaling however I still do not like the layout. (It’s just a bit better).

There are a few layouts that I have in my album which are really heavy on journaling which follow a similar layout to the sales one with typed journaling. So I guess that where I have a lot of journaling I am just going to have to say hey ho lets get the story typed and on the page and forget that you don’t like the look of it

Lessons Learnt:

1. I like stitching around the edge of layouts as a frame.
2. Sometimes using a grid pattern for photos and journaling with minimum embellishments does work
3. Only using three colours, using photos to help you to pick the colours you use can work.

Together

I wanted to capture a small fact about my parent’s relationship, a sentence and the photo was enough.

Had to play around with the placement of the swirls – I traced chipboard shapes onto paper, used foam pads to create the height on the layout and Anita’s 3D glue to give it a glossy image. Had to play around a bit before I was happy with the placement of the swirls. The metal “together” word has been in my stash since I nearly started scrapbooking so it was great to finally find a layout to use it on.

What colour cardstock do I use?

I realised when I was going through my past LOs that the colours I use to scrapbook with are similar to the colours I use in home decor and clothes. And the reason why I used them was they were my "safe" colours.

I would definitely go through some of your LOs to see what colours you have used in the past. Then go through your PP to see what you have previously bought and if it still "speaks to you". Use this to try different combinations and identify the colours you like.

I am now playing around with what I would term "not so safe" items. That is brighter colours and patterns I may of shyed away from using before. You know you buy the paper because you like the look of it but when you come to use it to scrapbook with it totally scares you! Those are the products I am going to try to use- try being the main word LOL.

Here and Now

One of the challenges we could take as part of the “Becoming More” class was to create a layout using no photos and just text. Initially I thought that this was just not possible for me to do as normally my journaling accompanies a photo. But I remembered a challenge set in Library of Memories calendar last year to create a layout using numbers as part of our every day lives. It was the “Finding Memories” class that made me finally take the plunge as I experimented with different styles and journaling. And so the “Here and Now” layout was born.

 

I used WordArt to create the title and a good old fashioned blue pencil to colour it in once printed off.

I think this may be a layout which I redo every year or so to get an update on the latest numbers in my life and capture how some things may of changed.

Lessons Learnt

1. My scrapbooking layouts are created by the use of the photos and the story(s) I want to tell connected to them. 
2. It is possible for some subjects to be all journaling but this is the exception. 
3. Word Art can make some great titles if you want to play around with it for a different look.

Email to Karen

Karen gave me some advice on the boards and asked me to show her those layouts I had picked which I did like. I sent her the following:

 

I for the life of me could not see similarities at all. But Karen came back with so many observations! (I have written my thoughts in italics)

• You like long titles and often use questions; they are the focus of your page and are big in size. (I never realised they asked questions. I am experimenting with titles at the moment to try different things (none, one word, sentence etc) so I will be interested on how this experiment pans out.)
• You use plainer background and then mount square/rectangle of pattern paper on it so it looks like the cardstock creates an outer frame.
• You do a lot of layering of strips, and use strips of paper in general (I never thought I was a layering kind of girl I think it may be because when I first started scrapbooking layering meant LOTS of paper and embellishments and really bulky pages.)
• You prefer 4x6 or bigger photos (I do mainly get this size printed and thinking about it this is the size I do normally feel comfortable scrapbooking with.) 
• Mostly single photos but even when more, generally bigger photos not tiny (I didn’t think about this before but it is so true. Where I scrapbook multiple photos I still tend to cut down 4x6 photos rather than use smaller photos – even where I have had them printed in both sizes) 
• Mostly asymmetrical (Asymmetrical? Wow that’s a real shocker to me. I always considered myself a symmetrical person needing things to be mirrored for them to look balanced to me.) 
• Flowers appear in many layouts and so do ribbons (Now if someone said I used and liked flowers I would automatically say “No I’m not a flower kind of girl”. But relooking at my layouts I can see how flowers crop up so many times in my layouts. As for ribbon, I have stacks of ribbons which I never thought I used as I still have stacks. Guess that means I really had lots and lots and lots of ribbons to start with!) 
• Layouts are definitely story focused (Totally agree with this one, the photos always have to have a story of some sort related to them for me to consider scrapbooking them).

Advice received from fellow class members

I still want to scrapbook and store the photos and their stories by having asked I the big “Why bother scrapbooking?” question I needed some guidance and help. The good thing with Big Picture Classes is that the support and advice you get from the class when you post on the message board. This is the advice I got from my class mates,

1. Check out the articles in the issues at http://www.simplescrapbooksmag.com/index.html this magazine is no longer published but there is a wealth of info on-line from the magazines. I like your LO's.

2. If you have been scraplifting most of the time, but aren't happy with the end result, it sounds to me like maybe you have been trying to be something you are not.

3. Everyone has trouble with embellishments so maybe ask yourself the following questions: “Why do you use embellishments? Do you like the look of embellishments on your page, or do you try to use them because you think you should? There's no rule that says you have to use them. Hope this helps! :) And know you're not alone. I think many of my layouts are "good" but not "great" and I realized recently almost all of the ones I'm not thrilled with are copies, in someone else's style that I wasn't totally comfortable with. Thanks to this class though, I'm learning to be more specific in what I copy, and as a result I like my layouts more and more. They are becoming more authentic to me. But it's been a slow process. It does take time. So I hope that you can find your way too, as I am. :)

4. Cathy Z. types her journaling because she has so much to say. As a professional graphic designer she finds hand writing hard on the eye when it is extensive (I'm paraphrasing here). If you look at other people's LOs, those that have extensive journaling usually type it. Cathy Z, Nic Howard are good examples. Look at Stacy's LOs and you will see that her handwritten journaling does not take up that much space.

5. Break up your journaling as Karen does using that adorable journaling stamp. That way you can still handwrite, but it won't all be clumped together.

And not only did they give me loads of advice but also encouragement and compliments on both my layouts and my handwriting.

Why Bother Scrapbooking?

During the “Finding Your Way” class one of the tasks you were given was to look through a pile of layouts to find similarities on your layouts and the ones your really like. I went through my four American Craft ring binder albums which have samples of layouts done over a period of time. I found something very depressing; I don’t like the majority of the layouts in my albums!

The majority of layouts I found were not visually pleasing.

Those layouts which tell stories and more meaningful journaling I do not like at all!

The layouts didn’t say “read me” more “turn the page quickly and hope the next one is better!”

The result is asking me the BIG question: “Why bother scrapbooking?”

You have a cool and fun loving Nan

A photo I have wanted to scrapbook for ages as it is such a nice photo of Pam and really does capture her cool and fun loving personality.

  Lessons Learnt

1. Black font is definitely my preferred colour for titles. In fact if I had enough black letters I would use these for 99% of my layouts. 
2. Using mixed colour fonts for the title is ok (occasionally) 
3. Where the cardstock is dark then multicoloured fonts would look good. 
4. Mixing font styles in a title does not look bad

Finding Your Way

I have not been able to have proper internet access since this class began so though I have been able to read the message boards I have not been able to post. But I have been busy working through the handouts and prompts given to think about.

Lessons Learnt:

• Photos definitely decide on what I scrapbook. I go through my albums and select a bunch which “speak to me” and then scrapbook from these. 
• A layout is not complete for me unless I have some journaling. This has to be composed and written in draft before I start.
• My scrapbooking desk has to be clear before I can be inspired to scrapbook
• I do not mind scrapbooking in a variety of sizes dependant on what I am scrapbooking. On a regular basis I scrapbook on 12x12, 12x24 and 8.5x11
• I hate doing mini books and cards. They seem to take me far to long to do; I could do at least half a dozen layouts instead.( Instead of mini books to summarise a holiday or day out I use 12x12 page protectors split into 6 6x4 pockets.)
• I pick the colour of my cardstock from the photos. Rarely using white, black or Kraft.I can use a variety of different size photos.
• Normally I send my photos to be developed in 6x4 and if I want smaller photos I normally cut them down from this size. (I only print my photos at home if another size to 6x4 is required).
• I prefer to scrapbook photos in colour.
• Dependant on the story I am comfortable using both single and multiple photos on a layout. Where the multiple photo layouts may be on a single or double page.
• I use sketches to create my layouts.
• My layouts tend to be very geometrical and simple.
• I prefer using black font for my titles.

 Things I would like to change (if that is the right word?):-

• To be able to let the sketches inspire me and for me to “make it my own”. (Though there is nothing wrong with using sketches and doing a straight copy – which is what I do.). 
• To be able to use embellishments with confidence to add that bit “extra” to my layouts (which I think is missing).
• To have the confidence to mix the style of fonts I use for titles. Trying the “sentence” title and not feeling guilty if I do a layout which has not got a title.

 I am so looking forward to continuing to learn about my “style” of scrapbooking through the rest of this course.

Denver Art Museum

Another layout which captures my like for architecture. I wanted to show that though I did not like modern art I appreciated the architecture of the museum. As the topic was modern I wanted to make sure that the layout was not fussy.

The title used large letters from the “stamped” cartridge of my cricut machine with journaling running along the edge of the photos.

The hard part of this layout was the measuring of the photos so that they went across the page, with one photo straddling both pages of the layout, but equal in size. Because of all the measuring involved to get to this finished result this was no quick layout to create.

Leasons Learnt:

1. Must remember to use the "stamped" cricut cartridge again as I like the font.
2. White letters look really effect aginst dark colours, great where you want the title to stand out. 
3. Good layout for multiple photos of one subject and minimum journaling with an impact title 

Architecture

I have wanted to scrapbook my fascination of architecture when I visit somewhere. I used the photos from our visit to Denver to illustrate this as there were so many different types of architecture around the streets we walked.  

I used a 2” square punch and journalled around the photos. I was pleased by the simple clean result this layout has.

Ready to go

One of the problems I have is once I have decided on how to place photos and journaling what embellishments to use. I have a lovely scrapbooking room and am surrounded by containers of scrapbooking items. So much so that I go on over load on what exactly I should be using.

So I have taken the idea I learnt from Darci Dowdle class:-

1. I pick various photos from my albums – if they are an event I may have picked more than I actually use but then they can either go back in the albums, my category drawer or be used to scrapbook a different story I want to tell.
2. I jot down notes/full journaling of the stories I want to tell with the photos.
3. I fill plastic storage containers with a variety of embellishments – (flowers, brads, ribbon etc). I then limit myself to only using these.
4. I have my collection of sketches so I can grab one to use when/if needed.

These all sit on my scrapbooking desk, along with my tools and adhesive so I have everything I need to be able to get scrapbooking. Leaving me only the cardstock and patterned paper to pick (which I normally leave until I have decided on the sketch I am going to use and photos I’m scrapbooking) and lettering for my title.

Homework from Embrace Imperfrction Class

Part of our “homework” for this week from the “Embrace Imperfection” class was to find out what annoyed us or stopped us from scrapbooking – to think of the reasons as we scrapbooked our layouts. From the lessons learnt from recent layouts completed I came up with the following:

• Not having an idea of how to actually place the photos on the paper when it was completely blank.

• Which embellishments should I use, and where the hell should I put them.

• Using the computer for headings and layouts just causes more stress

• Crooked lines when you cut some paper or photo, thus resulting in them getting smaller and smaller while you attempt to get them straight.

• Needing to place items on the layout straight with the same gaps between each piece (particularly in the layout above with all of its straight lines.

Foolish

This layout I completed to see what my “problem” areas were. The first problem was – I have the photos, I know the story I want to tell, but where do I put them all on the cardstock?? I fell at the first hurdle! So I grabbed my container full of sketches that I continue to collect and used a sketch from Becky Higgins Creative Sketches Volume 2 book to come up with this layout.

Ok so it is not my original work but it got the layout created and the story told, and am I really going to mind when I look back at my albums in years to come?

Finishing off The Dragon Dance

I used the layout idea from week three, Friday email sent by May Flaum as part of one of the Big Picture classes she ran.

When I saw this sketch I automatically thought about scrapbooking the photos I took of the dragon dance in Malvern. But I wanted to include some information about the dragon dance and the Year of the Tiger, a more educational layout than a feeling one IYSWIM. Plus I wanted to stretch myself in using colours I would not normally scrap with.

All of this meant researching on the internet, downloading images, creating text boxes etc all of which took time. And then of course I got to the point of not wanting to finish it and moving on to other layouts, this layout in a plastic bag and forgotten about.

Well the start of “Embrace Imperfection” by Karen Grunberg class on BPC and some of the posts on the message board made me go back to this layout and finish it off.

  Lessons Learnt:

1. I do like to scrapbooking with bright colours though still undecided if this is due to the colours in the photos or if I would use bright colours no matter what.
2. Researching items on the computer is a drain on my inspiration.
3. Using the computer for images, journaling and title took me ages. This and researching were the main reason for not finishing the layout. (Maybe need to get smarter if I use this method again?)

Going to Work

I was meant to do Ali Edwards “A week in your Life” earlier on in the year. I took the photos but have never got around to actually doing anything with them!

As I leave working at the college soon I thought this classes sketch was ideal to use some of these photos to document my routing to work. A daily routine which will soon stop and then be forgotten I am was pleased to be given this prompt to document this part of my daily life here and now.

Class 10 - Goodbye

The bright green is not a colour I would normally use but I liked how it picked up the lime colour in the glasses. I had picked a load of brads for this class (as per pre-class instructions) and added to as I had gone along. Using the classes guide on how many brads Darci had used I modified the number to fit into the space I had left after taking into account the size of the photo. My compiled brad collection was spread out over the desk and I tried not to look at the brad I picked up and just added it to the layout.

Looking at the three layouts - "Mum and I", "How Many Christophers" and "Goodbye" I have learnt that though I like the effect of using brads/buttons to make patterned paper I think that they detract from the photo. And the amount of journaling space available, without taking away the balance of the layout, is very small. These two facts means this sketch has to be one of my least favourites.

Class 10 - How Many Christopher’s

Taking the idea from the layout sketch I thought some small blue brads on the page would look good. However I went a bit over the top with the number of brads I used and now I think they distract from the photo and title.

I liked the title and the way it looked on the page leading to the photo but the plain blue card stock did not look right. The journaling under the photo looks OK.

I did think about redoing the brad/photo section but decided I had no brain waves on how I wanted to improve it so moved on.

Class 10 - Mum and I

This layout is about creating a layout with just one photo. Though the sketch has some space for journaling it was not that large. What I mean is that on the sketch it was just a short line. I ended up doing three different version of this sketch.

This layout is exactly as sketch – the placement of items is the same. The only difference being I have used heart shaped buttons instead of brads and my journaling is more than one line.

As the journaling is more than one line it means (I think) that the layout is no longer balanced.

State Capitol

Another sketch from Becky Higgins sketch from “Creative Sketches Volume 2”. I liked this as it enabled me to use several photos to illustrate what the inside of State Capitol was like along with allowing me to include journaling.

The title of the layout “State Capitol” is actually on a tag which includes additional journaling.

  

Lessons Learnt:

1. Using stitching and buttons to make corners to frame your layout (or photos or journaling) works for me and is an idea I will be using again.
2. Where the journaling plays such a heavy visual place in a layout I think typed journaling may be better.
3. I do not like to use dark colours or browns to do my layouts on. (I do not like this layout mainly due to the colours I used rather than design or journaling)

Sand

I used Becky Higgins sketch from “creative Sketches Volume 2”, Page 47.
I followed the sketch really closely and only used patterned paper and the title (letter stickers similar to thickers) as my only embellishment.

Like the way it enables me to incorporate journaling to tell the story and the patterned paper shows of the photos. But it does cry out to me to add some embellishments to it.

Lesson Learnt: Use a sketch as a basis and make it your own.

Sketch Library Challenge

I have done loads of Big Picture Classes over the years and have several lever arch files with the classes handouts. It is a huge resource of ideas, new techniques and inspiration that I do not really use.

So after compiling them all together in folders (well apart from the really recent ones) I have decided that I should now go through them all and make sketches on the layouts from the classes.

I decorated ages ago a box for putting sketches on white postcards and printed some off. But after the inital spurge of activity it is not something I have continued to do.

So I am now making sure that I copy all of the layouts from the Decorate Life class onto postcards. And i am currently working through one of Becky Higgins books doing exactly the same thing. (OK I know that’s not going through my Big Picture classes but its still using a source of inspiration and making the sketches more accessible.)

I know it is a big job but I thought doing a few every night while watching TV will help to get them done quicker.

Inspiration

I have signed up for another class in Big Picture – not going to crops for classes this is really the only way I can take classes and its nice every so often to be able to post on the message board.

This class is a scrapbooking retreat and for a month you get emails with ideas and inspiration.

One of the preclass projects is to make something to record inspirational layouts and other items.

This is something I already started when I was given a whole load of craft magazines – mainly of cards but with a few scrapbooking articles too. I went through all the magazines, ripping out any articles I thought sounded/looked good, and any photos of layouts or cards which inspired me.

These I all stuck into what I call a “child’s scrapbook”. You know a big A3 book with lots of different bad quality coloured “card” in it.

The other thing I am starting up again is the compiling and using my sketch library.

Play Time

I messed around with the tags on this layout.

I was amazed that for this layout I actually used some patterned paper as my background paper rather than my normal plain cardstock. Though I picked the background paper relatively quickly the rest of the layout took some playing around with.

When I first laid the photos down their crisp edges directly onto the paper did not look right. The photos got distressed with my Making Memories distress tool and nail file before being mounted onto cardstock, the mount and photos being further distressed.

The number and orientation of photos was different than the class layout, that and the wish to include journaling, meant that some playing around with where the tags went was required. And I actually used some metal word brads from my stash – bought when I first started scrapbooking!

I am pleased with the layout, and the “grunge” look this clean and simple girl normally does not go for.

Decorate Life Class

I can not believe it has been so long since I last added things to my blog! And its not because I have not done any scrapbooking, just not taken photos of the layouts I have done. Must try to change that this year.

At the moment I am doing “Decorate Life” by Big Picture Scrapbooking Classes. The first week you get told to gather certain embellishments and photos for different “themes”. And then the following weeks, every other day, you get a class layout with a sketch telling you which combination of embellishments and photos to select.

The idea of this class is so that you can quickly make layouts and scrapbook that mountain of photos we all have. Am not very good at fully sticking to using only the embellishments I have selected from the instructions but I certainly do more layouts in a much shorter space of time.

The next few entries will have photos of the layouts I have done to date.

Vegetable Display and Prize Produce

I did two layouts using this No. 7 class layout. The class layout had all the photos grouped on one side of the 12x12 paper with the two columns of the 2”x2” squares down the other side. I

The first layout “Vegetable Display” I followed the class layout closely, only moving the squares around to get all of the colourful photos I wanted to scrap on the display of vegetables at the Malvern Show, put on by a seed company. This is the layout I did,

 Lessons Learnt:

1. There is nothing more satisfying than cutting 2”x2” of your scrap patterned paper with your punch!
2.  Cutting up leftover patterned paper into 2 x 2 squares is a good way of using it up and allowing you to utilise it on another layout.
3. Using patterned paper in squares like this made me able to mix colours and patterns of paper Id normally never put together.

The second layout “Prize Produce” I used the idea of arranging all the photos together. I used 8.5 x 11 paper and grouped the photos so that there were no spaces between them with the journaling on the right hand side. This is the layout I did 

Lessons Learnt:

1. I would not journal on dark paper again as it really does not show up well
2. If I did this layout again I would type the journaling up instead of hand writing as I think that this would visually be better.
3. This style of layout, on this size of paper is great when you have several photos you want to scrap together with only a short story to tell.

Makeover - Birthday Present

A perfect layout to quickly document the story of the makeover that Josh gave me last year for my birthday. Not brilliant I know but the main thing is the story is told and its one of those which probably would never of got scrapbooked otherwise.

Library of Memories

I did the class last year and found it brilliant. I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea but it really helped me sort out my photos and has made it so much easier to a) find the photos I want on a topic b) flick through the albums for photos to scrapbook – and these are photos which preciously I may not have used.

This system has certainly helped me compile my photos together for the classes I take on Big Picture Scrapbooking.

Anyway Stacey Julian (whom runs the class) announced that this is the last year that she will be teaching the class on-line. It will only be taught in live lessons. The format is going to change slightly now that she has the rights to her book “photo freedom”

As a 2010 student I can do this new modified class for FREE!!!
Now how cool is that!

Christmas Tree Recipe

Well I really deviated from the layout done in class and added loads more photos. This caused me no end of problems moving photos around. Then I couldn’t make up my mind on the title. Not a brilliant layout but it tells the story of the Christmas Tree Recipe - how I put the tree up each year.

Max and Autumn Layouts

The design of this layout I can see me using lots of times as its perfect for those single vertical photos with a short story to.

The first one I did was of my cat Max. I came across this paper purely be chance and think it’s just perfect for this photo.

The other layout I did was on autumn, a subject which I had wanted to scrapbook on for some time but just could not figure out the best way of doing it.

Although I do not like it as much as my layout on Max it’s not too bad, and not only has it told the story but it’s also used some of those leaf buttons I have had in my stash for years!

Missing Layouts

If you do not see the “Decorate Life” classes in order, or some are missing it’s because they have not fully “grabbed” me and I would rather come back and do them at a latter stage.

I say this as though I know the photos and journaling I want to do for Decorate Life No. 1 I have yet to do it – this is a layout I do plan to get back to but just not yet. Am sure that this is not going to be the only one I do this for, but at least I know I can come back to it.

Embellishment Tray

As part of the class you had to make a tray with 14 pockets to hold your embellishments in. Darci used a Christmas bauble tray but they are really difficult to find over here.

Instead I used the lid of two paper ream boxes, joining them together. And the cardboard of the actual boxes were used to make the inserts. All of this was then covered with Beano comic pages – I still have a pile from doing my chest of drawers. Finishing off with a PVA varnish.

To hold embellishments I cut down some picnic plastic cups to various heights (used dependant on the number of embellishments I was meant to collect.

And where there were only a few brads or other small embellishments I cut up the plastic tray holding chocolates up making small pots.

Am pleased with the results and I think I may keep it out on my desk to rummage around in as it has things in there like flowers which I always forget to use.