Confessions of a Serial Scraplifter

[Genuine Beauty 2007]

When I first started scrapbooking, I would look through the magazines and internet galleries for inspiration and concepts. I saw lots of outstanding and complex work that was clearly out of my league as a beginner. It did introduce me to various techniques and offer different ways to apply them. I was discouraged sometimes by the enormous number of single page, single photo, and oversized photo layouts. They just didn't seem quite reasonable considering the "scrapbook every moment with a million digital photos" kind of style I had adopted.

I'm not sure when it started, but I must have run across a layout in a magazine that did more than inspire me, it screamed, "You could do this, too!" I created a great page "Easter Basket" using the magazine as map. It was really one of my favorites from my daughter's first year album.


[Easter 2004]


[Chocolate Smiles 2006]

I've never looked back. Like Ishmael, my white whale is really an endless series of sketches and shared layouts that make my head spin. Becky Higgins Sketch Book was awesome and gave me permission to take as many ideas as I wanted to use and reuse. While many magazines had a regular sketch features, I didn't really fall into scrapbook love love until I discovered the amazing talent found at online sketch blogs. Wow! These folks have so many awesome ideas, that I can't look away. These artists have truly legitamized my scraplifting tendancies. I never claim to come up with original or unique ideas for my page layouts. I never enter my pages in to contests or submit to magazines, because I know that the design is probably lifted someone else much more talented than I. I have included links to some of my favorite sketch sources; so visit them be inspired!


[Happy as Clams 2007]




[Pizza Time 2006]

Shamelessly, I use the ideas and designs that others post. This I freely admit. And I do take pride in how I am able to make the sketch or design my own. I add my own style and favorite embellishments like ribbon, flowers and brads & eyelets. When I'm done it's mine, but I always know from whence it came. Read More...

Latest Crop Session

[So Grown Up 2007]

Finding time for the casual crop time with friends is always a challenge for me. It seems like we all have such busy schedules that nailing down a time to gather just for a few hours of uninterrupted scrapping time becomes more effort than it's worth. When we actually make it happen, we agree, it's always worth it. One group I know has scheduled a monthly evening gathering at their workplace on a Fridays. It's five hours of casual cropping and conversation. They schedule them for six months at a time so everyone can plan and set aside the time. The group shifts and changes each month reflecting the differences in the lives of these busy women. Depending on the time of year, the room is full and other times it is only one or two in the big room. I am privilaged to get an invite to this group and attend when I can.

I have also taken up their example. Instead of waiting for another invitation, I have been working to gather together the scrapbookers at my workplace. I know they are there; I've recognized the casual knowledge of mini glue dots and veiled references to being "behind on my pictures." Conversations about not being able to find time and getting together are slowly moving to action. We actually scheduled an evening after work. While I was able to finished a few layouts, Kristi spent most of her time getting caught up on thank you notes. Hey, you use the time as you need to. To her credit, she had designed and printed her own notes.

By bringing the pre-matched pictures and paper, I was able to get three layouts glued down. When I had also thought to bring the coordinating ribbon or embellishments, it went even faster. Once home, I was able to finish up the journaling and details.

[Toasty Marshamallows 2007]

While attendance was limited, there were sincere regrets at being unable to come. Now we have the next few months on the calendar. My hope is that others will take advantage of a time written on the calendar and begin to plan for it. Gotta take time to feed your soul! Read More...

Why Two-Pagers?

[field of flowers 2006]

It was because I had so many pictures. You know, the reason I was so drawn to the two-page layout. Double the space-double the potential. Room for all my pictures and ribbons. I loved have the giant cavas on which to plan, design and glue. I embraced the two-page layout with gusto. I really gained momentum when I got a hold of Becky Higgin's Sketch Book. Pages and pages of two-page ideas. The two-pagers really offered me the freedom to keep the three pictures that looked basically the same. It also gave my endless supply of standard 4x6 prints a hope of seeing the light of day. The extra space was so much more forgiving of my novice skills and lack of technique. Some of my experiments were more successful than others. The title split across the page seemed to be okay, but the funky fiber frames intended to tie the two halves together was awkward and still gets a, "What is that supposed to be?" look every time I see it.

One way of thinking of the two-pager is as a space saver. With the space for so many pictures, I could tell a multi-faceted story. In Summer Cabin Fun! I consolidated most of the visit into a single layout: cousins at sunset, girls swimming, fishing net game, big fish catch, and a highlight photo for each kid. (And still have room for fun patterned paper and a couple of ribbon embellishments.) It's not quite a masterpiece, but I am pleased with the storytelling with a clean presentation.

[Summer Cabin Fun! 2006]

[Bananas for Your Birthday 2006]

[February Fun 2006]

Lately I have been looking at the at the accommodations on the two-pages with a different eye. Maybe I've just been taking better photos. When I see two or three really strong photos capable of telling a rich story, I think about how best to showcase them. I have been experimenting with larger photos and more space. The field of flowers layout was a challenge. I really loved the photos and didn't want anything to distract from them. I wanted the layout to represent expanse of the field of dandelions. Now I can use the real estate to enhance the story rather than just hold a pile of photos and hope a story emerges.

[Snow Dog 2007]

While I feel like I've put together some great stories in my two-page layouts, I've begun to realize that not all my stories need that much space. I'm enjoying a return to the single pagers, and taking lessons about highlighting the better photos. Just ask, "What's the best way to tell this story?"

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All Done But the Journaling

Artist at Work [April 2006]

It seems like every page has a story to tell. The photos have been carefully chosen to present the event, action or emotion. The papers were selected to bring together the colors of the photos with the theme of the layout. The title somehow comes through with a nice little punch. It's all there-a terrific layout. All there except the journaling.I have entire albums completed to the last button and brad, sans journaling. I know a some scrapbookers who do little or no journaling, letting the pictures speak for themselves. Their pages may be silent, but they certainly communicate volumes. Others pen their stories and comments in their own handwriting on carefully crafted journaling blocks. My layouts usually include a dedicated design element for my thoughtful, computer generated journaling recounting my remembrances and anecdotes. I plan for them and integrate them carefully into my pages. I just never seem to get around to actually printing them and getting them on the page.

I have grandiose plans for completing the albums and putting them away on the shelf. Truth is I haven't put in a new piece of journaling since fall 2006. I do have the journaling done. It's typed out and sitting in the computer waiting for me to format and size to the individual spaces on each page. Once that is done, I will print them on vellum or clear sticker paper and add them to the pages. It's just that I've already put the pages in the plastic page protectors and put the album on the shelf. I know I need to finish them, but I just want to move forward. My favorite part of scrapbooking isn't the finishing, it's the doing.

Here are just a few of the pages waiting for the final touch. I will get to them; I will finish them. Just not now; I just got a great idea for a page.

Chocolate Smiles [April 2006]

Autumn Style [September 2006]



Our Little Mermaid [November 2006]

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