Scrapbooking Tip #8: Journaling Strips

If you read My Crafty Life regularly, you already know that journaling is very important to me. It's the main thing that separates my scrapbooks from my photo albums. Sometimes, though, I find that I don't have enough room on my layout for journaling. This is especially true if I use a lot of photos on my layout, as I did in the Disney layout below. Even though it's a 2-page layout, I included so many photos that I just couldn't squeeze anything else in without making the page look too crowded. So I cut my journaling into strips.

It's very easy. Just write or type your journaling onto whatever paper/cardstock you've chosen. (I usually hand-write my journaling; but in this case, the Disney font was just perfect. I used regular acid-free printer paper.) If you're handwriting it, be sure to start every sentence on a new line. In either case, leave a lot of room in between your lines. Then cut the lines apart, using either scissors for a free-form look, or a paper trimmer for a more uniform look. To add a little dimension, you can also ink the edges.

Journaling is so important to me that I feel that I have to include it on every layout - even if it's just a few lines. Thanks for stopping by! See you next week (or sooner)!

Scrapbooking Tip of the Week - Tip #7: Diecuts

I have to admit that I'm cheating a little bit this week.  Yesterday was my birthday, so I was a little lazy.  I'm using my Weekend Challenge idea for A Shade of Blue.  (See the sidebar for the Challenge link.)  Try using a diecut or two to embellish your scrapbook pages (or cards).  They're easy to make, and you can customize the colors to match your layouts.  I used the Sizzix Birthday Cake and Rectangle Frame dies for the card below.  The photo corners are from the frame.  I just cut the corners off!  All of the papers that I used are from my scraps. 

If you'd like me to explain how to layer diecuts, just post a comment, and I'll do that later this week.  And to all my friends who tell me they check out my Blog, I'd love to hear from you.  Thanks to everyone who pops in to check out My Crafty Life!

Scrapbooking Tip #6: Keep It Real!

Honestly, if I were just starting out with scrapbooking, I would feel so intimidated by the layouts I see in magazines, and even some online galleries, that I might hesitate to even try.  Well, let me tell you that most of the layouts you see in scrapbooking magazines today are done by professional graphic designers who have been designing for years.  Just look at their studios!  Really, how many of us have entire levels of our homes dedicated to crafting?  I'm happy (and lucky) to have my little corner in the dining room!  Until I set it up, I did just fine on my dining room table, on my bed - wherever! 

Don't be intimidated into thinking that you can't measure up to professional standards.  There's nothing wrong with aspiring to improve your techniques and skills, but it isn't healthy to keep bringing yourself down because your layouts don't look like the "scrapbooking celebs'."  I've heard people doing this at crops I've been to and at expos I've attended.  It's very sad when people don't appreciate themselves.

Instead of looking at those magazines and saying, "I can't do that," try using magazine layouts as inspiration.  Find something you like about a particular layout, and use that as a jumping-off point.  It might be the color combination, the layout of the photos, a particular embellishment or technique, or even the title.  Keep your expectations realistic.  Relax, breathe, and enjoy your hobby!  Until next week....

Scrapbooking Tip of the Week - Tip #5: Choosing your embellishments

A quick tip this week, and then I'm off to the Scrapbook Expo at Hofstra.  It's easy to get overwhelmed with all the embellishments out there, especially if you've accumulated a lot of "stuff" like I have.  The best way to keep yourself from spending more time on choosing the embellishments than it did to make the memory is to limit yourself to 3 embellishments or types of embellishment.  This keeps the focus on your photos, yet gives you some creative options.   It also takes the pressure off.

It's OK to change your mind and switch out one embellishment for another, and it's OK to use 2, 4, or even no embellishments at all.  It's your layout, your scrapbook, and your decision.  Trust yourself and have fun!  I'm off to shop!  Remember to check back next week for another cool scrapbooking tip.

Is anyone going to the Hofstra Scrapbook Expo. on Saturday?

I'm planning to go with a few people.  Post a comment here if you're going and if you need a ride.  I can fit 2 more people. 

Scrapbooking Tip of the Week - Tip #4: Titles

Most of my pages have titles.  In fact, I think ALL of my layouts have titles.  Some are one word, and some are pretty long.  It all depends on the layout.  I find that a catchy title really makes people want to look at the page(s).  You might not want to put a title on all of your pages, and that's OK, too.

I create my titles in different ways.  Sometimes I stamp them, and other times I use my BigKick to die-cut them.  I use rub-ons, my computer, and occasionally stickers. 

Here is a layout from Halloween of last year.  The title is simple, but effective.  I used my BigKick and the Vixen set by QuicKutz.