(Don't know what date this will appear as, but this was written way back in 2012.)
Before beginning the mini proper I fussy cut so many items there wasn't a real expectation in using as many. Wrong! I'm back to cutting and I'm only on page three. It's a nice respite from doing the "real" work.
Creating pages are most often like assembling a puzzle. Like most everyone else I have an eye for something not quite right. I don't often know what's not right, only that it isn't. I came up with a perfect means to display four photos using the space for only one. For example: when this display laid upon the page, that something ping hit. It took coming back to it several times before understanding this particular element dominated the focal point, that of the framed photo. This time is was all about scale. There are countless other lessons awaiting certain pending mistakes.
There aren't many YouTube videos featuring Little Darlings mini-albums. Even the masters seem to have difficulty working with this line. It finally dawned that unlike most other Graphic 45 collections, Little Darlings lacks a wide variety of images to work from. Lots of butterflies, a number of roses, words, and only a few baby/small child images. This is one that will need a few imported elements to keep from repetitively working the same. This is something to consider when looking at future collections.
I bought full packages of cherry blossoms and twisted roses from I Am Roses. Hopefully they'll arrive as quickly as last time.
Showing posts with label graphic 45. Show all posts
Showing posts with label graphic 45. Show all posts
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Slow Go
No pictures, not even a real update. And, not a whole lot of time creating.
Skill development. Lots to say about it. I became quite adept at using the ATG only to learn this wasn't the best long-term adhesive. Then I learned to use both the red sticky and score tapes. A huge step up, but it still took time to become proficient. I've since learned wet glue tops all the others. How hard could it be to learn to use a better medium? Well, a whole lot. It isn't working for me. Practice makes perfect, yes, but I want to do something rather than perfecting a skill. So, maybe the next project will involve glue but for this album the best it's going to get is the score tape. I really want to get through the Little Darlings album. There's so much more to do than to stay stuck on one project for what seems forever; although I'm having a blast putting it together. This is the fun part, right?
I might get to make a few new friends. A lady and her daughter (or perhaps just the daughter?) have recently gotten into scrapbooking and the mister offered to allow me to show off some of the tools of the trade and perhaps share a couple tips picked up along the way. This could be the greatest! The more the merrier.
Got the Graphic 45 Tropical Travelogue paper today. My bad, it was only published this year. Why, then, is it so hard buying the collection from one source? Mysteries of our universe.
Skill development. Lots to say about it. I became quite adept at using the ATG only to learn this wasn't the best long-term adhesive. Then I learned to use both the red sticky and score tapes. A huge step up, but it still took time to become proficient. I've since learned wet glue tops all the others. How hard could it be to learn to use a better medium? Well, a whole lot. It isn't working for me. Practice makes perfect, yes, but I want to do something rather than perfecting a skill. So, maybe the next project will involve glue but for this album the best it's going to get is the score tape. I really want to get through the Little Darlings album. There's so much more to do than to stay stuck on one project for what seems forever; although I'm having a blast putting it together. This is the fun part, right?
I might get to make a few new friends. A lady and her daughter (or perhaps just the daughter?) have recently gotten into scrapbooking and the mister offered to allow me to show off some of the tools of the trade and perhaps share a couple tips picked up along the way. This could be the greatest! The more the merrier.
Got the Graphic 45 Tropical Travelogue paper today. My bad, it was only published this year. Why, then, is it so hard buying the collection from one source? Mysteries of our universe.
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Improbable
 |
| Page with flip out card on left |
As improbable as it might seem, I worked out several technical issues and now back on track on the page order. Also improbable, I completed the first page. Nothing's been glued down, but there's no work remaining to complete the page. At least that's what I think today. As pretty as it is, it seems as if "something" is missing. No worries, loads of time to think this through.
Because I changed my mind about the album dimensions, I can't firmly grasp how the above page will sit on the inside cover. There may be room to add an ivory pleated trim between the book board and paper. Another reason for not gluing the components to the page at this time is because it's probably 100 times more difficult; that, and if it can be done, I haven't seen anyone do it.
Next... an absolute final commitment to the 8.5x8.5 page size. Either later this evening when there's more time, or tomorrow, I plan to cut the base paper for the first page. It's with that extra added one-half inch that the certificate, that cause so much grief, can snugly fit.
The I am Roses package arrived today. Oh, my! These are going to be fun with a capital F. The time has arrived where I can no longer ignore the (b)looming flower storage problem. From incorporating flower use only a couple of months ago, the inventory is accumulating as quickly as weeds grow. That's not including the dozens of flowers I've cut from off the Cricut. Guess it's back into the room with the rolling bins. Although... a $25 wall lateral wire shelf would go a long way in solving this problem without taking up floor space. TBD.
It's total defeat in collecting the full Once Upon a Springtime collection. What's on hand should be enough to do everything I bought it for. I saw another Graphic 45 collection, Le Cirque since retired that peaked my interest, but thought much older then the Once Upon and, as these things go for me, figured completely unobtainable. Not so fast! I got my hands on both the 12x12 and 8x8 paper pads, and some of the other pieces in the collection. I could not be more pleased. Finally, as budgeted, I bought the full Tropical Travelogue collection, but from several places; all now on the way to the house.
While browsing through YouTube the other day I ran across a mini-album design, with tutorial, that's a must for several future albums. The link for the YouTube video.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Ready! Set!...
Every single item needed for the Little Darlings mini is within reach. The last of the coordinated supplies came in today. This is it... beginning Thursday morning it gets done, one page at a time.
The Tim Holtz Tattered Rose distress ink was not what I expected. It's as flesh coloured as it gets. I'd expected a stronger hint of rose or coral; be that as it may, it still functions as planned. Although, if the either the Worn Lipstick or Moss Green happened to fall into my shopping buggy, I wouldn't take issue.
(Should anyone with two days of artistic training ever happen upon this site, they must forgive the misapplied terms because every application will be wrong.)
Ivory and brown are the two base colours that will be used throughout. I'm not crazy about using the Vintage Photo ink colour for distressing as most scrappers seem, because while it presents a lovely brown, it always comes out looking overly dark for my tastes, and despite all attempts I can't get it to tone down. In most cases I prefer working with the Tea Dye, but this has redder tones and might clash with this paper. A compromise may exist between the two, but I haven't found it yet and probably won't in the distressed lines.
I'm positively itching to get started on this mini, but there are several firm commitments between picking up the scissors/glue/inks and the starting bell tomorrow. Just to be sure, I went through all the page templates drawn up last month and still love every detail.
Even at this late hour I haven't fully committed to the final overall size. The decision to modify the book to the 8x8 size was based upon an abundance of that sized quality book board on hand. There are nine 5x7 photos included in the album and I fear that the 8x8 size may turn out to be a smidgen too small. The photos are the originals from almost 100 years ago, or about half that, so cutting them down isn't an option I'm comfortable with. And, making re-sized copies of the photos defeats the purpose of creating a safe place to permanently store them, which is exactly why the mini is being created! It's a historical preservation effort. A curiosity happened today as I reviewed the photos going in the Little Darlings album. On the back of one photo my mother had written, "My little darling." So very fitting.
The idea of documenting the album's construction still appeals. Each day I plan to post pictures of the work accomplished. Maybe, just maybe, it will all come together nicely enough to want to show it off when victims visit the house ;)
Look for pictures beginning Thursday night!
__________________
Through sheer determined effort, I discovered my worst fear: the Graphic 45 Tropical Travelogue is slowly fading out of publication. There's still time to gather everything I'd like to have, so there's no panic involved, but it's getting harder to hit one store and find an entire collection intact... a little here, a little there. Unfortunately, this interrupts my budgeting plans as it's probably best to accumulate it quickly before it becomes a complete hit or miss endeavor. As is the case in the Once Upon a Springtime collection. What a nightmare!
The Tim Holtz Tattered Rose distress ink was not what I expected. It's as flesh coloured as it gets. I'd expected a stronger hint of rose or coral; be that as it may, it still functions as planned. Although, if the either the Worn Lipstick or Moss Green happened to fall into my shopping buggy, I wouldn't take issue.
(Should anyone with two days of artistic training ever happen upon this site, they must forgive the misapplied terms because every application will be wrong.)
Ivory and brown are the two base colours that will be used throughout. I'm not crazy about using the Vintage Photo ink colour for distressing as most scrappers seem, because while it presents a lovely brown, it always comes out looking overly dark for my tastes, and despite all attempts I can't get it to tone down. In most cases I prefer working with the Tea Dye, but this has redder tones and might clash with this paper. A compromise may exist between the two, but I haven't found it yet and probably won't in the distressed lines.
I'm positively itching to get started on this mini, but there are several firm commitments between picking up the scissors/glue/inks and the starting bell tomorrow. Just to be sure, I went through all the page templates drawn up last month and still love every detail.
Even at this late hour I haven't fully committed to the final overall size. The decision to modify the book to the 8x8 size was based upon an abundance of that sized quality book board on hand. There are nine 5x7 photos included in the album and I fear that the 8x8 size may turn out to be a smidgen too small. The photos are the originals from almost 100 years ago, or about half that, so cutting them down isn't an option I'm comfortable with. And, making re-sized copies of the photos defeats the purpose of creating a safe place to permanently store them, which is exactly why the mini is being created! It's a historical preservation effort. A curiosity happened today as I reviewed the photos going in the Little Darlings album. On the back of one photo my mother had written, "My little darling." So very fitting.
The idea of documenting the album's construction still appeals. Each day I plan to post pictures of the work accomplished. Maybe, just maybe, it will all come together nicely enough to want to show it off when victims visit the house ;)
Look for pictures beginning Thursday night!
__________________
Through sheer determined effort, I discovered my worst fear: the Graphic 45 Tropical Travelogue is slowly fading out of publication. There's still time to gather everything I'd like to have, so there's no panic involved, but it's getting harder to hit one store and find an entire collection intact... a little here, a little there. Unfortunately, this interrupts my budgeting plans as it's probably best to accumulate it quickly before it becomes a complete hit or miss endeavor. As is the case in the Once Upon a Springtime collection. What a nightmare!
Friday, August 31, 2012
Learning by Mistake
What a week. Seems as if every project is somewhere up in the air... or in the mail again.
Got the photos. When building the travel mini I designed everything to accommodate 4x6 photos, although there were a few pages designed with smaller mats. I realized there would be many, many pictures to include and adjusted for that. What I'm learning in putting the final touches on the album is that my matting skills have everything left to improve. For example, in one booklet alone I punched an eye out - totally avoidable - placed photos in such a way the booklet requires constant turning to view the pictures, and as cute as the booklet is, the photos still needed an additional mat, which of course I didn't allow for. It's still okay because the approach to this album was to treat this as a learning experience. That certainly happened! The next "solo" designed album will mark a dramatic advancement of skills.
While watching the daily subscription YouTube videos, I ran across someone very excited about a find at TJ Maxx getting in a huge variety of EK Success punches for $3.99 each. That is something to get excited about. I couldn't get to the Maxx until yesterday and it initially appeared as if all the punches I'd hoped to find already sold. It wasn't a total loss as I managed to find one EK Success Halloween punch and a bonus Martha Stewart Halloween Punch Around the Page set for only $8.00.
I learned an surprising fact about EK Success punches. (This also includes Martha Stewart as EK Success manufactures these as well.) They come with absolutely no guarantee, implied or otherwise. And when calling customer support, they all but told me: too bad in just about those words. It's a shame there's no alternative punch companies out there that back their products. Perhaps Fiskars, but would have to look.
I've been a very good scrapper and chained myself to a strict budget; because I've realized it's not a good policy to buy something just because I "might" need it someday - sales or not. (I must admit that I'm still working on that "chained" part :)
So... today I finally bought a couple packs of I am Roses and doing the happy dance for it. The flower inventory is still very limited, so I've decided that for the next couple of allowances to add a few packs each time.
It's very fortunate we live so close to the national Tattered Angel's warehouse as bottles and sprays can cost as little as $3.00 a bottle; fortunate because my investment for glittery sprays and paints has been minimal. After watching so many videos, it's obvious Lindy's Stamp Gang's various forms of micas are far superior to Tattered Angels. I'm buying my first four-bottle set that happens to marry up with several Graphic 45 collections already on hand. Between I am Roses and LSG, I'm going to have a blast over the next few weeks learning new techniques. Like the I am Roses, I also plan to slowly build the LSG spray/paint inventory.
For fear of retiring the collection I'm hoping to buy Graphic 45's Travel Travelogue in the 12x12 and 8x8 pads. If the collection proves to be a fairly new, then I'll just sit on this week's allowance until a good sell comes along. I wonder if there's a place where you can go to learn when a collection came out and approximately how long the sets stay in publication.
Great, great news!! I misunderstood what the seller was offering with the partial 8x8 pad Once Upon a Springtime paper, but now accidentally own TEN face pages of the collection. However (squeals of joy) I located a company that had the postcard page for 70c each, and had them in stock!!! Four of these should arrive any day now. That leaves the tag page to locate, and should I desire, the chipboard frames.
The post here is too long, but in the next day or so I'll share a project I'm coordinating.
Got the photos. When building the travel mini I designed everything to accommodate 4x6 photos, although there were a few pages designed with smaller mats. I realized there would be many, many pictures to include and adjusted for that. What I'm learning in putting the final touches on the album is that my matting skills have everything left to improve. For example, in one booklet alone I punched an eye out - totally avoidable - placed photos in such a way the booklet requires constant turning to view the pictures, and as cute as the booklet is, the photos still needed an additional mat, which of course I didn't allow for. It's still okay because the approach to this album was to treat this as a learning experience. That certainly happened! The next "solo" designed album will mark a dramatic advancement of skills.
While watching the daily subscription YouTube videos, I ran across someone very excited about a find at TJ Maxx getting in a huge variety of EK Success punches for $3.99 each. That is something to get excited about. I couldn't get to the Maxx until yesterday and it initially appeared as if all the punches I'd hoped to find already sold. It wasn't a total loss as I managed to find one EK Success Halloween punch and a bonus Martha Stewart Halloween Punch Around the Page set for only $8.00.
I learned an surprising fact about EK Success punches. (This also includes Martha Stewart as EK Success manufactures these as well.) They come with absolutely no guarantee, implied or otherwise. And when calling customer support, they all but told me: too bad in just about those words. It's a shame there's no alternative punch companies out there that back their products. Perhaps Fiskars, but would have to look.
I've been a very good scrapper and chained myself to a strict budget; because I've realized it's not a good policy to buy something just because I "might" need it someday - sales or not. (I must admit that I'm still working on that "chained" part :)
So... today I finally bought a couple packs of I am Roses and doing the happy dance for it. The flower inventory is still very limited, so I've decided that for the next couple of allowances to add a few packs each time.
It's very fortunate we live so close to the national Tattered Angel's warehouse as bottles and sprays can cost as little as $3.00 a bottle; fortunate because my investment for glittery sprays and paints has been minimal. After watching so many videos, it's obvious Lindy's Stamp Gang's various forms of micas are far superior to Tattered Angels. I'm buying my first four-bottle set that happens to marry up with several Graphic 45 collections already on hand. Between I am Roses and LSG, I'm going to have a blast over the next few weeks learning new techniques. Like the I am Roses, I also plan to slowly build the LSG spray/paint inventory.
For fear of retiring the collection I'm hoping to buy Graphic 45's Travel Travelogue in the 12x12 and 8x8 pads. If the collection proves to be a fairly new, then I'll just sit on this week's allowance until a good sell comes along. I wonder if there's a place where you can go to learn when a collection came out and approximately how long the sets stay in publication.
Great, great news!! I misunderstood what the seller was offering with the partial 8x8 pad Once Upon a Springtime paper, but now accidentally own TEN face pages of the collection. However (squeals of joy) I located a company that had the postcard page for 70c each, and had them in stock!!! Four of these should arrive any day now. That leaves the tag page to locate, and should I desire, the chipboard frames.
The post here is too long, but in the next day or so I'll share a project I'm coordinating.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Buttons and Bows
Everything ordered this past week arrived. Except the
photos. However, whether through procrastination or perfection, I
decided to change the page base to a rich brown instead of the black.
The black just seems too "heavy" if that makes any sense. And it's not
like the black will never be used, oh, far from that.
I've kept myself busy with fussy cutting and making paper embellishments. Not too bad for a first go of it. I'm not nearly as done as will probably be needed for the mini, but it's a start.
I'm particularly proud of my hand-crafted bows.
But the tiny pearl bow is awesomely cute!
Oh! Oh! Oh!
I almost forgot! I'm still short the postcard and tag page to complete the Once Upon a time collection, BUT! I did find an 8x8 pad! And one of the cuter stamp sets. Amazing. I still believe the postcard page will be found. (Actually, I did find it, but the guy wanted $3.85 for the one page and almost $5.00 for shipping. I not stoo-pid! Just patient.)
I've kept myself busy with fussy cutting and making paper embellishments. Not too bad for a first go of it. I'm not nearly as done as will probably be needed for the mini, but it's a start.
I'm particularly proud of my hand-crafted bows.
 | ||||
| A nice variety of 3 |
But the tiny pearl bow is awesomely cute!
 | ||||||
| Too cute! |
Oh! Oh! Oh!
I almost forgot! I'm still short the postcard and tag page to complete the Once Upon a time collection, BUT! I did find an 8x8 pad! And one of the cuter stamp sets. Amazing. I still believe the postcard page will be found. (Actually, I did find it, but the guy wanted $3.85 for the one page and almost $5.00 for shipping. I not stoo-pid! Just patient.)
Friday, August 17, 2012
DId It
Yes!
Finally. It all comes together, even better than hoped.
I spent hours yesterday trying to buy a few select items and ran up against wall after wall of "not currently in stock" and paying $5.00 or more for each shipping charge, adding up to over $20.00 for less than $15.00 worth of product.
I started out the day with a positive attitude. After about an hour of searching the wheels began to grind down... again. Time to take a break. I set back out after the house quieted, not really expecting results. And then, jackpot!!!
Scor-Tape. Bingo!
Flying off the shelf Prima mask. Gotcha!
Photo corners. Done deal!
I am tickled pink. But... the best was yet to come. I've lusted after a Graphic 45 collection called "Once Upon a Springtime" that I believe retired about the time I came into the craft. Through sheer perseverance I managed to collect the tag, frames and sticker pages, and all but two of the pages from the12x12 paper pad. Tonight I found the two pages, they are ordered, and mine all mine! I've resigned all hope of finding the full 8x8 pad. Notwithstanding, this is the absolute BEST. Now(!) all the Prima flowers, lace and crystals I've been hoarding will have a place to call home. Right after I finish the other three albums in line. Poo. The important thing is having the set together when time comes. I think to buy another safe to keep my most treasured papers protected in the event of a fire; either that, or find a place to stash that other junk taking up valuable safe space: birth and marriage certificates, diplomas, etc ;P
The next Graphic 45 quest is the Olde Curiosity Shoppe line. It's newer and hardly a challenge to find. Just that money thing, which always gets in the way of fun. This will be the September allowance.
I still can't figure out why the big hobby stores aren't carrying Scor-Tape. And why I haven't heard about it until now? The red sticky tape meets all demands, but gets to be down right expensive at $3.00 for five yards. The Scor-Tape does the exact same thing, but for a few dimes more buys twenty-seven yards. Every album created so far has cost over $10.00 in tape alone. Throw in the-up front paper investment and a few embellishments... and one of these books costs almost $35.00 to create - of course I still mess up a whole bunch in the process. What was it I read a few months ago? Scrapbooking is the art of spending $20.00 decorating a ten-cent photo... too funny.
So.
I've finished the full mock-up of the next album and decided the binding. Or so I thought until watching a new batch of YouTube videos. There are quite a few out there that use greeting card size pull-outs for pictures. Not a bad idea, actually; most of the fun of the mini's is the interaction, and it also provides a quick way out of figuring where to put the 5x7's collected over the years.
I'm content. There's enough work laid out now to last until Christmas. It's going to be a fun three months.
Finally. It all comes together, even better than hoped.
I spent hours yesterday trying to buy a few select items and ran up against wall after wall of "not currently in stock" and paying $5.00 or more for each shipping charge, adding up to over $20.00 for less than $15.00 worth of product.
I started out the day with a positive attitude. After about an hour of searching the wheels began to grind down... again. Time to take a break. I set back out after the house quieted, not really expecting results. And then, jackpot!!!
Scor-Tape. Bingo!
Flying off the shelf Prima mask. Gotcha!
Photo corners. Done deal!
I am tickled pink. But... the best was yet to come. I've lusted after a Graphic 45 collection called "Once Upon a Springtime" that I believe retired about the time I came into the craft. Through sheer perseverance I managed to collect the tag, frames and sticker pages, and all but two of the pages from the12x12 paper pad. Tonight I found the two pages, they are ordered, and mine all mine! I've resigned all hope of finding the full 8x8 pad. Notwithstanding, this is the absolute BEST. Now(!) all the Prima flowers, lace and crystals I've been hoarding will have a place to call home. Right after I finish the other three albums in line. Poo. The important thing is having the set together when time comes. I think to buy another safe to keep my most treasured papers protected in the event of a fire; either that, or find a place to stash that other junk taking up valuable safe space: birth and marriage certificates, diplomas, etc ;P
The next Graphic 45 quest is the Olde Curiosity Shoppe line. It's newer and hardly a challenge to find. Just that money thing, which always gets in the way of fun. This will be the September allowance.
I still can't figure out why the big hobby stores aren't carrying Scor-Tape. And why I haven't heard about it until now? The red sticky tape meets all demands, but gets to be down right expensive at $3.00 for five yards. The Scor-Tape does the exact same thing, but for a few dimes more buys twenty-seven yards. Every album created so far has cost over $10.00 in tape alone. Throw in the-up front paper investment and a few embellishments... and one of these books costs almost $35.00 to create - of course I still mess up a whole bunch in the process. What was it I read a few months ago? Scrapbooking is the art of spending $20.00 decorating a ten-cent photo... too funny.
So.
I've finished the full mock-up of the next album and decided the binding. Or so I thought until watching a new batch of YouTube videos. There are quite a few out there that use greeting card size pull-outs for pictures. Not a bad idea, actually; most of the fun of the mini's is the interaction, and it also provides a quick way out of figuring where to put the 5x7's collected over the years.
I'm content. There's enough work laid out now to last until Christmas. It's going to be a fun three months.
Saturday, August 11, 2012
File Folders
I am on the threshold of beginning the Graphic 45 Little Darlings mini.
I'm using plain manilla file folders as the page base. Until today, I'd forgotten this was the original plan, and it got stuck in my mind that I need to take a trip to JoAnn's to buy some pretty, glimmery, heavier weight card stock before beginning. Up until now, I built all my minis pages on medium-heavy weight card stock. I've thought to use chipboard from cereal boxes, but this seems too "coarse" for a baby's album. Perhaps this would best be used on future albums where children will handle.
I know the file folder concept for scrapbooking is very popular right now; these and the memory file box Heidi Swapp's claim to fame - among her other incredible ideas. I have a couple sets of some patterned file folders, but I'm not ready to commit to a project using these. Good grief, there's only so much a novice can handle! Instead, the file folders I plan to use in this project is due solely to their strength.
When committing to the baby album, I gathered all the papers, embellishments, pictures, ribbons, etc I could possibly think to use in the creation and put it all together in a box. Today I stumbled upon several videos demonstrating how to begin a project. I was dead on. Now I'm left with figuring out what doesn't belong!
I've made an actual size mock up of the album using printer paper. This is going to save a ton of designer paper I surely would have cut incorrectly. There's only the front and back covers and four pages designed so far, and I'm fairly confident there should be at least one more page, if not two. The binding style also remains yet undetermined.
My mother did fill in a baby album for the first few years of my life, but it was very much hit or miss. Fifty years later, the book is actually beginning to crumble. I'm at a loss as how best to preserve her work. There are several options available. I could scan all the images and print them to include into the updated version; however, in doing so, it's all but guaranteed the original will continue deterioration. I could cut up the book, deacidfy the pages and use the cut portions on small journaling tags. I'm not entirely sure, but I think her notes to be so scarce as to not worry about cutting one side and cutting into another entry on the other. Either way, the original book is not going to last much longer, so it's a choice between two evils. I'm leaning toward the second option now that it's spelled out. Now to find a store willing to order Krylon's de-acidfication spray. None of the stores do at present, but I'm betting if they put it on their shelves, it would fly off the shelves.
I'm using plain manilla file folders as the page base. Until today, I'd forgotten this was the original plan, and it got stuck in my mind that I need to take a trip to JoAnn's to buy some pretty, glimmery, heavier weight card stock before beginning. Up until now, I built all my minis pages on medium-heavy weight card stock. I've thought to use chipboard from cereal boxes, but this seems too "coarse" for a baby's album. Perhaps this would best be used on future albums where children will handle.
I know the file folder concept for scrapbooking is very popular right now; these and the memory file box Heidi Swapp's claim to fame - among her other incredible ideas. I have a couple sets of some patterned file folders, but I'm not ready to commit to a project using these. Good grief, there's only so much a novice can handle! Instead, the file folders I plan to use in this project is due solely to their strength.
When committing to the baby album, I gathered all the papers, embellishments, pictures, ribbons, etc I could possibly think to use in the creation and put it all together in a box. Today I stumbled upon several videos demonstrating how to begin a project. I was dead on. Now I'm left with figuring out what doesn't belong!
I've made an actual size mock up of the album using printer paper. This is going to save a ton of designer paper I surely would have cut incorrectly. There's only the front and back covers and four pages designed so far, and I'm fairly confident there should be at least one more page, if not two. The binding style also remains yet undetermined.
My mother did fill in a baby album for the first few years of my life, but it was very much hit or miss. Fifty years later, the book is actually beginning to crumble. I'm at a loss as how best to preserve her work. There are several options available. I could scan all the images and print them to include into the updated version; however, in doing so, it's all but guaranteed the original will continue deterioration. I could cut up the book, deacidfy the pages and use the cut portions on small journaling tags. I'm not entirely sure, but I think her notes to be so scarce as to not worry about cutting one side and cutting into another entry on the other. Either way, the original book is not going to last much longer, so it's a choice between two evils. I'm leaning toward the second option now that it's spelled out. Now to find a store willing to order Krylon's de-acidfication spray. None of the stores do at present, but I'm betting if they put it on their shelves, it would fly off the shelves.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Lots to Cover & So Many Photos
We're back from vacation and there's much to cover in this post.
EDIT: Picture Revised. The original photo posted reference a haul from last week. This photo was the one intended for this area. Apologies from the author.
Several items ordered before we left arrived in the mail today. I referenced a vintage stamp, paper, postcard company a post or two back, the order shown to the left. The order was a sampling of some of the many products available and not surprisingly, was happier with some items more than others. The various stamp sets are perfectly suited for several projects I'm due to begin in the coming weeks. The little boy alpha stickers will quickly disappear. The postage card/journaling tags will slowly find secret spots as other projects evolve. I'm not sure how much the baby book chipboard stickers and chipboard pieces will actually end up in the Graphic 45 Little Darlings mini-album I begin work on this month, but with product in hand I'm now certain the colours match perfectly. This was more luck than anything else. The Flower Shoppe cartridge from Cricut also arrived and this one will save over $100 within a day of work. These cartridge offers endless dimensional flower combinations that, for under $20, cost about the same as one standard punch of this type. My deepest regrets, EK Success.
Charms are used extensively to decorate the outside binding of mini-albums; a charm bracelet for a book, as it were. During each major phase of the vacation I bought several charming (ahem) charms representing that event; and, other pieces I thought might come into use down the road. The dinosaur charms are precious! I plan to use these within the Texas vacation mini as tag danglies. I'll post pictures of how they're used once put into pace. The cute little pot bellied pig will be seen again in the upcoming mini album project using the Graphic 45 Olde Curiosity Shoppe paper collection. Unfortunately, the gift shop at the Japanese Gardens didn't have a koi charm of any sort, which was a major disappointment... the quest will continue.
Next are the photos of the book's layout almost naked, before attaching the vacation photos and other memorabilia inside. I've flipped at a breakneck speed through most of the pictures we took and can already tell I'm going to add a few more pages to the album. I suspected this would be the case, and planned accordingly, but waited until knowing exactly what we had before committing to the work. (See post: TP & Thinking, June 26th, 2012) Those, of course, aren't represented in this showing because they are still locked in my head and scattered throughout various parts of the scrapbooking room.
School starts back this week so I'll have many hours each day to devote undivided attention to several upcoming mini-album projects. The baby book, the boy's younger years, and two identical copied-to-the-letter Old Curiosity Shoppe albums - one for here and one as a Christmas gift. The album I plan to shamelessly copy - not once but twice - is shown on YouTube here. Almost needless to say, but said, is that all the paper lines will come from various Graphic 45 collections. Does the company sell stock? If so, buying in could prove a solid investment.
I promised to cover a whole bunch. Delivered, with a smile. Blessings!
PS... The vacation was positively awesome. We had a blast.
 |
| Crafty Secrets & Cricut Haul |
Several items ordered before we left arrived in the mail today. I referenced a vintage stamp, paper, postcard company a post or two back, the order shown to the left. The order was a sampling of some of the many products available and not surprisingly, was happier with some items more than others. The various stamp sets are perfectly suited for several projects I'm due to begin in the coming weeks. The little boy alpha stickers will quickly disappear. The postage card/journaling tags will slowly find secret spots as other projects evolve. I'm not sure how much the baby book chipboard stickers and chipboard pieces will actually end up in the Graphic 45 Little Darlings mini-album I begin work on this month, but with product in hand I'm now certain the colours match perfectly. This was more luck than anything else. The Flower Shoppe cartridge from Cricut also arrived and this one will save over $100 within a day of work. These cartridge offers endless dimensional flower combinations that, for under $20, cost about the same as one standard punch of this type. My deepest regrets, EK Success.
 |
| Butterfly, Turtle & Potbelly Pig charms |
 |
| Dinosaur charms |
Along side the need for a quick buildup of paper and fabric scrapbooking flowers, I've also found my charms collection miserably lacking.
Charms are used extensively to decorate the outside binding of mini-albums; a charm bracelet for a book, as it were. During each major phase of the vacation I bought several charming (ahem) charms representing that event; and, other pieces I thought might come into use down the road. The dinosaur charms are precious! I plan to use these within the Texas vacation mini as tag danglies. I'll post pictures of how they're used once put into pace. The cute little pot bellied pig will be seen again in the upcoming mini album project using the Graphic 45 Olde Curiosity Shoppe paper collection. Unfortunately, the gift shop at the Japanese Gardens didn't have a koi charm of any sort, which was a major disappointment... the quest will continue.
 |
| July 27th, 2012 |
I couldn't resist posting one of my favourite photos of Martin feeding the koi during our visit to the gardens. The fish practically climb out of the water for their kibbles. The little guy's mouth is wide open waiting for him to drop in the pellet. Is this a great shot or what? I love it!
Next are the photos of the book's layout almost naked, before attaching the vacation photos and other memorabilia inside. I've flipped at a breakneck speed through most of the pictures we took and can already tell I'm going to add a few more pages to the album. I suspected this would be the case, and planned accordingly, but waited until knowing exactly what we had before committing to the work. (See post: TP & Thinking, June 26th, 2012) Those, of course, aren't represented in this showing because they are still locked in my head and scattered throughout various parts of the scrapbooking room.
 |
| Front Cover |
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| Inside Front Cover |
 | |
| Japanese Garden Pages |
 | ||
 | |
| Museum Pages - Info Bundled, Ready to mount |
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| Self-descriptive |
 | |
| Family Photos & Small Pocket Page |
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| Flip Page Details |
 | |
| Glen Rose - With Back Inside Cover |
( How nice it would be to quickly figure out how to neatly arrange the photos, but this is a first and it's late! :D
Oh, well)
I'm particularly proud of this mini-album because, although I've learned many of the techniques from other great scrappers, the layout, paper combinations, and design are 100% mine... no scrap-lifting involved.
School starts back this week so I'll have many hours each day to devote undivided attention to several upcoming mini-album projects. The baby book, the boy's younger years, and two identical copied-to-the-letter Old Curiosity Shoppe albums - one for here and one as a Christmas gift. The album I plan to shamelessly copy - not once but twice - is shown on YouTube here. Almost needless to say, but said, is that all the paper lines will come from various Graphic 45 collections. Does the company sell stock? If so, buying in could prove a solid investment.
I promised to cover a whole bunch. Delivered, with a smile. Blessings!
PS... The vacation was positively awesome. We had a blast.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Flowers & Style
This is the first post about flowers and scrapbooking. The reason is quite simple; except for the few occasions I've used paper flowers - in very limited quantities - on a scrapbook page, I haven't seen a need from them. There's a dimensional aspect that I figured would fail when used in a traditional, sheet protected 12x12 album-bound book.
For the past couple of months when doing the scrapbook store run I've began picking up a package or two of assembled flowers when found on sale. They aren't cheap. Last week, TM had a sale on Prima Flowers (the industry standard) which reduced the $4.00 packages down to 99c each. Talk about building a rapid inventory!
Though I'm not quite sure where to start, I'm fascinated by the flowers made by I am Roses. You get a big bang for each buck there, and they are truly lovely. They have a huge assortment of flower types, sizes and colours, and priced very reasonably. Except that I have to restock on some very basic supplies, I would order enough to sample and play around with.
The big box craft stores all carry silk flowers, which they regularly have 50% sales. This is an area to pay more attention, especially the bridal section.
And in no way least, there's virtually an unlimited range of paper flowers created with the Cricut. I've watched scores of YouTube video demonstrating techniques of creating beautiful flowers I never would have thought possible.
Primarily through the warehouse sales, I've built a reasonable collection of Tattered Angels sprays and glimmer paints. These consistently put out stunning effects, but they really need to figure out a better spray system. I've yet to complete a project without having the sprayer clog. Everywhere I turned I kept hearing about Lindy's Stamp Gang, a direct competitor of Tattered Angels. I watched several videos from both the manufacturer and independent reviews, and I'm convinced this line definitely has a place in my growing spray paint/mist collection. Lots of them! The mention of the sprays and mists while posting about flowers is because these play such an important role in colouring flowers... and so much more.
The white flowers at the lower right corner are some left over from a wedding several years ago. Cheap, cheap, cheap. The coloured flowers are the same set but with a stingy application of differently coloured Tattered Angel's mist sprays.
____________________________
It's taken awhile to figure this out, but I do have a "style". It is the colours and images predominate between 1910-1960. Yes, that's a sizable range, but these are the colours I love working with best. G45 probably helped with that, but it holds true across all paper lines and graphics. When I heard yesterday about an online store, CraftySecrets.com carrying vintage papers, postcards, and images; I had to go check it out. Using incredible ultra-human restraint, I left the site with only a large stamp set (perfect for the G45 On the Boardwalk line!!) and 32 page postcard collection, and two booklet sets. Yes, all from the 1930-60's. And as it happened, they had a sale in place. I will go back to "visit" again, some time soon. Oh, yes, life is good!
Then, as if the gummy karma worms weren't helping along most wonderfully, today I found a blog site here called The Graphics Fairy LLC, with free(!) vintage images... thousands of them. Too good to be true.
On a sadder note, one of my all-time punches got damaged somehow. The question becomes: do I go out and buy another, or do I go with a similar punch? This is really discouraging; having to buy something a bit pricey twice.
For the past couple of months when doing the scrapbook store run I've began picking up a package or two of assembled flowers when found on sale. They aren't cheap. Last week, TM had a sale on Prima Flowers (the industry standard) which reduced the $4.00 packages down to 99c each. Talk about building a rapid inventory!
Though I'm not quite sure where to start, I'm fascinated by the flowers made by I am Roses. You get a big bang for each buck there, and they are truly lovely. They have a huge assortment of flower types, sizes and colours, and priced very reasonably. Except that I have to restock on some very basic supplies, I would order enough to sample and play around with.
The big box craft stores all carry silk flowers, which they regularly have 50% sales. This is an area to pay more attention, especially the bridal section.
And in no way least, there's virtually an unlimited range of paper flowers created with the Cricut. I've watched scores of YouTube video demonstrating techniques of creating beautiful flowers I never would have thought possible.
Primarily through the warehouse sales, I've built a reasonable collection of Tattered Angels sprays and glimmer paints. These consistently put out stunning effects, but they really need to figure out a better spray system. I've yet to complete a project without having the sprayer clog. Everywhere I turned I kept hearing about Lindy's Stamp Gang, a direct competitor of Tattered Angels. I watched several videos from both the manufacturer and independent reviews, and I'm convinced this line definitely has a place in my growing spray paint/mist collection. Lots of them! The mention of the sprays and mists while posting about flowers is because these play such an important role in colouring flowers... and so much more.
The white flowers at the lower right corner are some left over from a wedding several years ago. Cheap, cheap, cheap. The coloured flowers are the same set but with a stingy application of differently coloured Tattered Angel's mist sprays.
____________________________
It's taken awhile to figure this out, but I do have a "style". It is the colours and images predominate between 1910-1960. Yes, that's a sizable range, but these are the colours I love working with best. G45 probably helped with that, but it holds true across all paper lines and graphics. When I heard yesterday about an online store, CraftySecrets.com carrying vintage papers, postcards, and images; I had to go check it out. Using incredible ultra-human restraint, I left the site with only a large stamp set (perfect for the G45 On the Boardwalk line!!) and 32 page postcard collection, and two booklet sets. Yes, all from the 1930-60's. And as it happened, they had a sale in place. I will go back to "visit" again, some time soon. Oh, yes, life is good!
Then, as if the gummy karma worms weren't helping along most wonderfully, today I found a blog site here called The Graphics Fairy LLC, with free(!) vintage images... thousands of them. Too good to be true.
On a sadder note, one of my all-time punches got damaged somehow. The question becomes: do I go out and buy another, or do I go with a similar punch? This is really discouraging; having to buy something a bit pricey twice.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Lots of Smiling
Well.
(With a huge grin on my face...)
I did it!!! I designed my very first mini-album cover. And it ain't half bad.
Of course, there's the back and everything else left to be done, but for most of that it's all laid out either on paper or in this rattling marble up here.
I sound a little excited yet? Oh, I am. Everything I've created before this was fairly copied stitch by stitch, page by page. At least in my case, this is the way it works. So I've taken all the lessons learned thus far (many, many) and apply them to one of the most special items I'll ever own... beautifully presented photos of the wonders of life; childhood, raising children, love, babies, and everything special imaginable. But this - this - is the first mini coming straight out of my heart, into my head, and preserved in paper for decades to come.
Graphic 45 has several new lines of paper coming out to be revealed over the next few weeks. Too early to buy, but not to early to slobber over, either. I now possess the ABC Primer, Playtimes Past, Little Darlings, A Proper Gentleman, Communique, Botanicabelle, Fashionista, and most of the On the Boardwalk and Le Romantique lines. I plan to get the latest Halloween Happy Haunting, and the newest - Nutcracker Sweet - lines in the next month or so. G45 will release their other newest lines, so I'll probably want those as well. Though I'll happily cut it, it's still enough to just flip through the papers and admire the colours and images. So far as I'm concerned, it would take some really special type of paper pack to entice me into purchasing a different line.
Who could resist working with Christmas scrapbooking pages such as these?
I, for one, can not and shall not resist at all. Too bad I just finished the 2012 Christmas mini a couple of weeks ago! Maybe for a Christmas past? My fingers already itch.
(With a huge grin on my face...)
I did it!!! I designed my very first mini-album cover. And it ain't half bad.
 | ||||
| The Beginning |
Of course, there's the back and everything else left to be done, but for most of that it's all laid out either on paper or in this rattling marble up here.
I sound a little excited yet? Oh, I am. Everything I've created before this was fairly copied stitch by stitch, page by page. At least in my case, this is the way it works. So I've taken all the lessons learned thus far (many, many) and apply them to one of the most special items I'll ever own... beautifully presented photos of the wonders of life; childhood, raising children, love, babies, and everything special imaginable. But this - this - is the first mini coming straight out of my heart, into my head, and preserved in paper for decades to come.
Graphic 45 has several new lines of paper coming out to be revealed over the next few weeks. Too early to buy, but not to early to slobber over, either. I now possess the ABC Primer, Playtimes Past, Little Darlings, A Proper Gentleman, Communique, Botanicabelle, Fashionista, and most of the On the Boardwalk and Le Romantique lines. I plan to get the latest Halloween Happy Haunting, and the newest - Nutcracker Sweet - lines in the next month or so. G45 will release their other newest lines, so I'll probably want those as well. Though I'll happily cut it, it's still enough to just flip through the papers and admire the colours and images. So far as I'm concerned, it would take some really special type of paper pack to entice me into purchasing a different line.
Who could resist working with Christmas scrapbooking pages such as these?
I, for one, can not and shall not resist at all. Too bad I just finished the 2012 Christmas mini a couple of weeks ago! Maybe for a Christmas past? My fingers already itch.
Friday, June 22, 2012
New Haul
In an incredible feat of restraint, I made the full scrapbooking run yesterday... and spent only my $80.00 weekly allowance. Yes, a show of pure restraint.
I would have done much better had TM had not had another two G45 retailer sets out for sell. There were four more pages from the "On the Boardwalk" collection, and the first four of the "Le Romantique" set. {My mind begins spinning thinking about how certain elements of the "Proper Gentleman" and the "Le Romantique" collections could/will work together for a wedding, early relationship, or Valentine's Day album.} Other than a tin of metal hinges, bookplates, and sliders picked up, now that I know how much I'll use these in other projects, that concluded the TM experience.
We had to run to the local TM to purchase three battery operated, personal misting fans. If we are to camp in Texas at the end of July, and we are, wet is absolutely essential.
Hobby Lobby has ribbon 1/2 priced this week. Four new rolls. A Sizzix keyhole with key die, regularly priced at $20.00, mine at $7.00. It took almost three albums to realize I was using Tim Holtz,'s Tea Dye instead of Vintage Photo ink. I kept wondering why my shading came out differently from the examples... well, beginning this next album, that's fixed, because now I own both. I added one gorgeous golden Prima flower package to the growing floral collection.
The TJ Maxx was a total bust this trip, but that's the nature of discount versus craft stores.
JoAnne's wasn't much better. Every item I went in for was already sold out. Not the black StazOn die I've finally committed to using. Not the 12x12 paper storage drawers. And not the paper pad I needed to refill.
There had been many, many numerous clearance items marked down as much as 80%, but it was as if someone had taken a buggy and cleared every rack of every single item. I'll certainly stock up on certain items, and pick up an extra or two of something I know can be traded or sold, or wipe a shelf out knowing it will be immediately replaced (TM) but whoever did this did so with the mind of absolute selfishness, without regard for others. It covered every item in the store, across every crafting row to just be a happenstance run of hundreds of buyers. If I figure out who's doing this, I'll cruelly mark their eBay site as the NWA greedy gut; because if this should show up on eBay it will be marked up by at least 60%.
We did, however, find a couple of reusable/dishwasher-safe, plastic screw topped Coke bottle to carry drinks in the car during the next few months.
Internet haul. I finally managed to find and purchase three magnet sets. The company I'd purchased from last week refunded my money two days later and informed me the items were temporarily out of stock. No way!! As of yesterday, they were still waiting. That's now remedied. And, Kiwi Lane Designs has another of their great 2-3 day sales, so I purchased another template set. These come in so handy it's difficult to imagine putting together a project without them. Call this one set 4 of the series.
Not strictly considered scrapbook materials, but closely related, were a pair of gold earrings at Sears - they were on sale; however, not included in the $80.00 earlier stated. Nickle-plated and inferior metals have been causing all sorts of problems lately. Reckon it will take a while... and many more sales... to rebuild a suitable earring collection again.
This and a major clothes shopping spree for the Miss mad for a very fun, and very long, day of hitting the stores.
I would have done much better had TM had not had another two G45 retailer sets out for sell. There were four more pages from the "On the Boardwalk" collection, and the first four of the "Le Romantique" set. {My mind begins spinning thinking about how certain elements of the "Proper Gentleman" and the "Le Romantique" collections could/will work together for a wedding, early relationship, or Valentine's Day album.} Other than a tin of metal hinges, bookplates, and sliders picked up, now that I know how much I'll use these in other projects, that concluded the TM experience.
We had to run to the local TM to purchase three battery operated, personal misting fans. If we are to camp in Texas at the end of July, and we are, wet is absolutely essential.
Hobby Lobby has ribbon 1/2 priced this week. Four new rolls. A Sizzix keyhole with key die, regularly priced at $20.00, mine at $7.00. It took almost three albums to realize I was using Tim Holtz,'s Tea Dye instead of Vintage Photo ink. I kept wondering why my shading came out differently from the examples... well, beginning this next album, that's fixed, because now I own both. I added one gorgeous golden Prima flower package to the growing floral collection.
The TJ Maxx was a total bust this trip, but that's the nature of discount versus craft stores.
JoAnne's wasn't much better. Every item I went in for was already sold out. Not the black StazOn die I've finally committed to using. Not the 12x12 paper storage drawers. And not the paper pad I needed to refill.
There had been many, many numerous clearance items marked down as much as 80%, but it was as if someone had taken a buggy and cleared every rack of every single item. I'll certainly stock up on certain items, and pick up an extra or two of something I know can be traded or sold, or wipe a shelf out knowing it will be immediately replaced (TM) but whoever did this did so with the mind of absolute selfishness, without regard for others. It covered every item in the store, across every crafting row to just be a happenstance run of hundreds of buyers. If I figure out who's doing this, I'll cruelly mark their eBay site as the NWA greedy gut; because if this should show up on eBay it will be marked up by at least 60%.
We did, however, find a couple of reusable/dishwasher-safe, plastic screw topped Coke bottle to carry drinks in the car during the next few months.
Internet haul. I finally managed to find and purchase three magnet sets. The company I'd purchased from last week refunded my money two days later and informed me the items were temporarily out of stock. No way!! As of yesterday, they were still waiting. That's now remedied. And, Kiwi Lane Designs has another of their great 2-3 day sales, so I purchased another template set. These come in so handy it's difficult to imagine putting together a project without them. Call this one set 4 of the series.
Not strictly considered scrapbook materials, but closely related, were a pair of gold earrings at Sears - they were on sale; however, not included in the $80.00 earlier stated. Nickle-plated and inferior metals have been causing all sorts of problems lately. Reckon it will take a while... and many more sales... to rebuild a suitable earring collection again.
This and a major clothes shopping spree for the Miss mad for a very fun, and very long, day of hitting the stores.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Boing, Boing, Busy
That whole stamping category process continues. The first day I knocked out about 100 stamps, since then only a few packs at a time. Slowly, but surely. This will curb my appetite for large random stamp purchases. (Boy, oh boy, what a meager set with such limited range, or so I know now going through the process!)
Today's focus was working with the Miss on a Father's Day card. Her ability grows.
I've virtually copied and completed two different types of mini albums, step-by-step. It's a long-standing threat, but it's time to break away from the masters at YouTube and develop my own style. And, in my fashion, design not one, but three, all at the same time.
Graphic 45's Playtimes Past is a charming collection. I don't mind cutting the paper any longer, but I only had a 12x12 inch pad. Not so much room for error. I found another 12x12 during one of the more recent excursions for only $7.00. Mine! Now there's back up, not so much nail biting. There's no getting around the fact that G45 fashions its lines with women in mind. They do publish more masculine lines - and do a marvelous job - but even then many of the details scream feminine. The Playtimes Past is a very fair mixture for both sexes. I want the more masculine pages used for a carefully selected collection of my boys childhood pictures. That leaves about 1/2 of the paper unused. However!! When I begin making pages for them, I can begin designing the feminine pages for my sister's girls; using the same page styles, but frilly it up a bit, more ribbon and sparkles, etc. So two MA's for the work of one. Not a bad idea.
The third will be a no-frills summer camp mini. I've selected a Tim Holtz Retro Grunge paper pad for the project. A little dark, perhaps, for a girl's summer album, but I'm sure this will fit her to a Tee. I think to pattern this after the wallet-style just completed for this coming Christmas photos, with major modifications since we're only looking at less than 25 shots.
First though, I must pull together a couple (four or five) regular 12x12 layouts. There's a very gratifying feeling when completing projects. LO's only take a day or so and therefore seems as if I'm accomplishing much more than when compiling a single mini. Perspective.
In less than 10 minutes I pulled together the first LO. Add paper and embellishments, and it's a done deal.
Today's focus was working with the Miss on a Father's Day card. Her ability grows.
I've virtually copied and completed two different types of mini albums, step-by-step. It's a long-standing threat, but it's time to break away from the masters at YouTube and develop my own style. And, in my fashion, design not one, but three, all at the same time.
Graphic 45's Playtimes Past is a charming collection. I don't mind cutting the paper any longer, but I only had a 12x12 inch pad. Not so much room for error. I found another 12x12 during one of the more recent excursions for only $7.00. Mine! Now there's back up, not so much nail biting. There's no getting around the fact that G45 fashions its lines with women in mind. They do publish more masculine lines - and do a marvelous job - but even then many of the details scream feminine. The Playtimes Past is a very fair mixture for both sexes. I want the more masculine pages used for a carefully selected collection of my boys childhood pictures. That leaves about 1/2 of the paper unused. However!! When I begin making pages for them, I can begin designing the feminine pages for my sister's girls; using the same page styles, but frilly it up a bit, more ribbon and sparkles, etc. So two MA's for the work of one. Not a bad idea.
The third will be a no-frills summer camp mini. I've selected a Tim Holtz Retro Grunge paper pad for the project. A little dark, perhaps, for a girl's summer album, but I'm sure this will fit her to a Tee. I think to pattern this after the wallet-style just completed for this coming Christmas photos, with major modifications since we're only looking at less than 25 shots.
First though, I must pull together a couple (four or five) regular 12x12 layouts. There's a very gratifying feeling when completing projects. LO's only take a day or so and therefore seems as if I'm accomplishing much more than when compiling a single mini. Perspective.
In less than 10 minutes I pulled together the first LO. Add paper and embellishments, and it's a done deal.
 |
| Our only snow 2012 |
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Take a Breath
There's been such a flurry of activity lately is seems almost impossible to sit down and get anything done. Not true, I've finished four 12x12 layouts, got the new organizer in place and well stocked, and have accomplished quite a series of hauls.
Most everything revolves around an incredible discovery at TM. They had retail packs (24 each) of almost then entire "A Proper Gentleman" collection. Martin actually stumbled across this treasure, bought two packs, and made the mistake of telling me they had stacks of other G45 retail packs in different designs. At the end of the quest I have twelve full 12x12 pads of this collection, minus two pages... for less than what a single pad would have cost. Profit time!!! We were also able to pick up almost half the "On the Boardwalk" collection in retail packs. I think we've exhausted the bonanza. There were arm fulls of book board, but I stopped at six sets. They had Tim Holtz Grunge Paper sets, retailed at $40; I paid $8. Finally, a 5 inch Xyron. A couple of adorable embellishments and the run ended there.
I decided to hit JoAnn's because we were in town it's rare we make it that far south. Phew! Almost all paper crafting supplies are 50% off this week, plus a coupon in the paper allows an extra 10% off from the total purchase. 60% savings?! Heck, yeah!! I managed some control and walked out of the store with only two large bags. A wider variety of adhesives, the first alcohol inks, specialty paper, and yes a Crop-A-Dile II (Big Bite).
The stamps, ink, paper, embellishments, etc never quit coming in; however, it's hard to imagine any other tool needed to carry on this business. Maybe a Zutter Cutter for the extra weight chipboard? Maybe, but not a necessity.
I'm attempting to design my first, original mini-album. It's sketched out, roughly, but I'm finding it hard to cut that first page; there seems to be so little room for error, which, in itself, is an error. How, besides looking amateurish, can a person go wrong with G45? For sure it won't be the best album I'll ever create, and will quickly prove true, but it's all part of this glorious process called creative expression.
Most everything revolves around an incredible discovery at TM. They had retail packs (24 each) of almost then entire "A Proper Gentleman" collection. Martin actually stumbled across this treasure, bought two packs, and made the mistake of telling me they had stacks of other G45 retail packs in different designs. At the end of the quest I have twelve full 12x12 pads of this collection, minus two pages... for less than what a single pad would have cost. Profit time!!! We were also able to pick up almost half the "On the Boardwalk" collection in retail packs. I think we've exhausted the bonanza. There were arm fulls of book board, but I stopped at six sets. They had Tim Holtz Grunge Paper sets, retailed at $40; I paid $8. Finally, a 5 inch Xyron. A couple of adorable embellishments and the run ended there.
I decided to hit JoAnn's because we were in town it's rare we make it that far south. Phew! Almost all paper crafting supplies are 50% off this week, plus a coupon in the paper allows an extra 10% off from the total purchase. 60% savings?! Heck, yeah!! I managed some control and walked out of the store with only two large bags. A wider variety of adhesives, the first alcohol inks, specialty paper, and yes a Crop-A-Dile II (Big Bite).
The stamps, ink, paper, embellishments, etc never quit coming in; however, it's hard to imagine any other tool needed to carry on this business. Maybe a Zutter Cutter for the extra weight chipboard? Maybe, but not a necessity.
I'm attempting to design my first, original mini-album. It's sketched out, roughly, but I'm finding it hard to cut that first page; there seems to be so little room for error, which, in itself, is an error. How, besides looking amateurish, can a person go wrong with G45? For sure it won't be the best album I'll ever create, and will quickly prove true, but it's all part of this glorious process called creative expression.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Mother's Day Present
My husband found a steal for a complete professional desk set. Mother's Day, I'll be sitting in a room with coordinating furniture with tons of table top space. And reorganizing yet again.
Tonight and tomorrow night we'll be breaking down the craft room down to walls and carpeting. I wish we could paint the room before the furniture gets set up Saturday morning; however, there's a limit to available energy on such short notice. There won't be a pen or pair of scissors in proper place during the transition, and probably for a week after that. This is the mother of all reorganization efforts.
The new work surfaces is muchly appreciated, but the bookcase is the crowning touch. Finally! A place to store all the completed LO books (how quickly they all add up!) and yet another shelf or two to store essential supplies without going into the closet multiple times each day.
I'm a little excited about all of this!
_______________________________________
The Kiwi Lane Designs templates came in on Wednesday and they're perfect for the Little Darlings album once I begin. The ABC Primer is almost complete, it's still the more advanced techniques that consume most setbacks. Since I feel I'm still not ready to design a book on my own, I've found two YouTube videos using only the 12x12 Graphic 45 paper packs conveniently already on hand. No detailed instructions for these, but at this point I'll be able to assemble what is shown without instruction.
I've studied Graphic 45 even further and realize how very easy it is to look at a page and instinctively know how a page works best; background or as a complimentary layer to build upon. This may very well bleed over into other company's patterned paper sets, and if so, I've finally "got" it; if not, back to the drawing table Once this organizational nightmare is over, I'll put the theory to the test.
Tonight and tomorrow night we'll be breaking down the craft room down to walls and carpeting. I wish we could paint the room before the furniture gets set up Saturday morning; however, there's a limit to available energy on such short notice. There won't be a pen or pair of scissors in proper place during the transition, and probably for a week after that. This is the mother of all reorganization efforts.
The new work surfaces is muchly appreciated, but the bookcase is the crowning touch. Finally! A place to store all the completed LO books (how quickly they all add up!) and yet another shelf or two to store essential supplies without going into the closet multiple times each day.
I'm a little excited about all of this!
_______________________________________
The Kiwi Lane Designs templates came in on Wednesday and they're perfect for the Little Darlings album once I begin. The ABC Primer is almost complete, it's still the more advanced techniques that consume most setbacks. Since I feel I'm still not ready to design a book on my own, I've found two YouTube videos using only the 12x12 Graphic 45 paper packs conveniently already on hand. No detailed instructions for these, but at this point I'll be able to assemble what is shown without instruction.
I've studied Graphic 45 even further and realize how very easy it is to look at a page and instinctively know how a page works best; background or as a complimentary layer to build upon. This may very well bleed over into other company's patterned paper sets, and if so, I've finally "got" it; if not, back to the drawing table Once this organizational nightmare is over, I'll put the theory to the test.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Progress Steady Now
I'm almost to the point where I can begin constructing pages for the mini-album. I shiver with a girlish nervousness simply thinking of sitting down and beginning the first page.
I own a fair collection of Cricut cartridges; like everyone else, there are the go-to favourites. There's still so much uncovered possibilities in these cartridges; options available that have only been skimmed. For instance, I tried to make a card and envelope from one of my cartridges, and the effort was a miserable failure. This was in the early days with the Cricut, when getting the image I selected was magical. A few more hours under the belt, and I'm looking at some of the functions best left alone until now.
In the upcoming (and future) project, there are dozens of tags and envelopes to make. Though willing, the thought of constructing all these by hand, with only a limited supply of "hard" dies was painful. I pulled a dozen or so cartridges out to look at again and found (duh) that there were literally thousands of possibilities with the Cricut. The amount whittled down to three primary and a couple more secondary cartridges to work with. More interesting to discover was that some of the cartridges contained complimentary images to others.
Martin, at the least bit of prompting, hung the six-foot wire rack today. The hope was to transfer all the punches from the the shoe bag to the new rack.. He had no sooner packed the electric drill before I began moving punches. The result? Ugly. This will never work for what I imagined. Never. Had it been in the closet I could have lived with a little bit of ugly, but this is front and center of the entry into the room. Aaack! Instead, I've began loading the rack with "pretty" items taking valuable closet space. Such as: tatting thread, glass jars with colourful contents, all the bright colours of glitter and stickles, Tattered Angel bottles, etc. That takes care of the short shelves, but the wider spaced shelves on the bottom half stay empty for the time being. In the meantime, most of the punches are scattered between the table and closet floor.
Decisions, decisions... The SSD Annex hosts another 75% sale Tuesday through Friday this week. The scope of the 75% off is rather limited, but 10 sheets of name brand, heavy weight paper for $1.00 is worth the trip. There's more, but won't know what until getting there. Now it gets tricky. TM also brings out a new line of products at 66% off this Tuesday. The problem is money. Martin generously offered $50 split between each sale, because I'd already spent my allowance. What he may or may not realize it how hard it is to walk out of either for less than $60. I could be extra sneaky and take him with me! He's worse than I when it comes to, "Oh, you could really use this. Right?" Yes, I think so is the only reasonable reply. Honestly, there's not much more in supplies I need for now, but the hunt is highly addictive.
Time to wrangle up the punches!
I own a fair collection of Cricut cartridges; like everyone else, there are the go-to favourites. There's still so much uncovered possibilities in these cartridges; options available that have only been skimmed. For instance, I tried to make a card and envelope from one of my cartridges, and the effort was a miserable failure. This was in the early days with the Cricut, when getting the image I selected was magical. A few more hours under the belt, and I'm looking at some of the functions best left alone until now.
In the upcoming (and future) project, there are dozens of tags and envelopes to make. Though willing, the thought of constructing all these by hand, with only a limited supply of "hard" dies was painful. I pulled a dozen or so cartridges out to look at again and found (duh) that there were literally thousands of possibilities with the Cricut. The amount whittled down to three primary and a couple more secondary cartridges to work with. More interesting to discover was that some of the cartridges contained complimentary images to others.
Martin, at the least bit of prompting, hung the six-foot wire rack today. The hope was to transfer all the punches from the the shoe bag to the new rack.. He had no sooner packed the electric drill before I began moving punches. The result? Ugly. This will never work for what I imagined. Never. Had it been in the closet I could have lived with a little bit of ugly, but this is front and center of the entry into the room. Aaack! Instead, I've began loading the rack with "pretty" items taking valuable closet space. Such as: tatting thread, glass jars with colourful contents, all the bright colours of glitter and stickles, Tattered Angel bottles, etc. That takes care of the short shelves, but the wider spaced shelves on the bottom half stay empty for the time being. In the meantime, most of the punches are scattered between the table and closet floor.
Decisions, decisions... The SSD Annex hosts another 75% sale Tuesday through Friday this week. The scope of the 75% off is rather limited, but 10 sheets of name brand, heavy weight paper for $1.00 is worth the trip. There's more, but won't know what until getting there. Now it gets tricky. TM also brings out a new line of products at 66% off this Tuesday. The problem is money. Martin generously offered $50 split between each sale, because I'd already spent my allowance. What he may or may not realize it how hard it is to walk out of either for less than $60. I could be extra sneaky and take him with me! He's worse than I when it comes to, "Oh, you could really use this. Right?" Yes, I think so is the only reasonable reply. Honestly, there's not much more in supplies I need for now, but the hunt is highly addictive.
Time to wrangle up the punches!
Friday, April 27, 2012
G45 & Breakthrough
I've studied Graphic 45 papers, psychology, and its philosophy intensely for almost a week now. I think I understand the company. There's a reason beyond incredible graphic designs that make this paper unique; someone either at the company or hired by such studied scrapbookers practically under a microscope.
Nothing about this brand intimidates. I've began cutting away and there's a beauty in doing so. I'm so impressed with the company I already purchased the full line of the ABC Primer collection for Martin's hallmark childhood album. Around the end of May I'll order the Magic of Oz collection to highlight my lovely granddaughter's "Scare Crow" professional shoot. Maybe someday I'll actually pick out a few pieces of "regular" paper to scrap a page or two... but for now I'm having a blast learning to work with G45, including cutting out less than 1/2 inch butterflies for adornment.
So far my mini-album progress has advanced only to selecting coordinating buttons, ribbons, paint, chipboard, and pulling quotes out of my original baby book, now falling apart at the seams. Much of the next week will consist of cutting out elements. Hopefully, it will eventually begin to look like "something" instead of the mess currently on hand
Something clicked watching so many G45 scrapbooking videos. Planning a page up until very recently was a very involved and mind exhausting process. The other day I needed to quickly scrap a Futsbol series. (Before the pictures were accidentally misplaced) It took precisely 35 minutes from need to conception to completion to pull the page together. Better yet, it's one of the best LO I've done. Suddenly, the layering, framing, colour use, and element choice has become almost automatic. I can spot "wrong" in nothing flat. Not that I'll never commit the same crimes again, but I know it when it's there. Oh, but should all design go so smoothly in the future.
The cute shot reminder LO hangs on the icebox and has done wonders to prompt medication action in good time. More than that, it's caused me to look around the room to find the "blah" areas and throw something together to spice it up. In less than 10 minutes this evening, I brought back to the craft room the small, plain Crystal Light plastic container we've used for a couple of year to collect Box Tops for Education and Campbell's soup labels until delivery to school. It blended into the counter space, but the visible contents always made the container appear a tiny bit disorganized. To the results:
Breakthroughs are one of the best parts of the art! It's what drives us.
Nothing about this brand intimidates. I've began cutting away and there's a beauty in doing so. I'm so impressed with the company I already purchased the full line of the ABC Primer collection for Martin's hallmark childhood album. Around the end of May I'll order the Magic of Oz collection to highlight my lovely granddaughter's "Scare Crow" professional shoot. Maybe someday I'll actually pick out a few pieces of "regular" paper to scrap a page or two... but for now I'm having a blast learning to work with G45, including cutting out less than 1/2 inch butterflies for adornment.
So far my mini-album progress has advanced only to selecting coordinating buttons, ribbons, paint, chipboard, and pulling quotes out of my original baby book, now falling apart at the seams. Much of the next week will consist of cutting out elements. Hopefully, it will eventually begin to look like "something" instead of the mess currently on hand
 |
| Early Organization |
Something clicked watching so many G45 scrapbooking videos. Planning a page up until very recently was a very involved and mind exhausting process. The other day I needed to quickly scrap a Futsbol series. (Before the pictures were accidentally misplaced) It took precisely 35 minutes from need to conception to completion to pull the page together. Better yet, it's one of the best LO I've done. Suddenly, the layering, framing, colour use, and element choice has become almost automatic. I can spot "wrong" in nothing flat. Not that I'll never commit the same crimes again, but I know it when it's there. Oh, but should all design go so smoothly in the future.
The cute shot reminder LO hangs on the icebox and has done wonders to prompt medication action in good time. More than that, it's caused me to look around the room to find the "blah" areas and throw something together to spice it up. In less than 10 minutes this evening, I brought back to the craft room the small, plain Crystal Light plastic container we've used for a couple of year to collect Box Tops for Education and Campbell's soup labels until delivery to school. It blended into the counter space, but the visible contents always made the container appear a tiny bit disorganized. To the results:
 |
| A little "pretty" for the kitchen counter |
Breakthroughs are one of the best parts of the art! It's what drives us.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Stuff
My husband began a new diabetic medication, though while not insulin, does require two injections each day. He handles the morning dose just fine, but not so much with the pre-dinner shot.
I've decided to venture beyond scrapbooking proper and make a cute little 9x9 framed page to hopefully prompt his memory before dinner. Going all out, I'm working with colours and sizes never used before. It should do the trick; if not as a visual reminder, then as new splash of colour in a very monochromatic kitchen.
When I first began using the Cricut I counted a well-cut image miraculous. I stayed very, very basic with the cuts, and came to the point of frustration where I almost decided to sell the kit and kaboodle. Time and practice has refined enough to get the image I want every time. There's enough confidence to now have fun and play around. And... I no longer fear cutting the pattern on 15 different pages to get the results desired. The differences between the first successful cuts and what's put out today is remarkable! While still plenty of room to improve, it ain't half bad.
Thus far, I've given the mini-albums a mile-wide divide between them and me. No way, never going to happen! (That pesky word: never) Finally, at long last, I saw one of these, putting to great use the beautiful Graphic 45 paper. To put it simply, I was awestruck. This is what scrapbooking is all about!
Graphic 45 Mini Album at YouTube. I am going to shamelessly copy every little detail demonstrated in the video. I'll practice all the different techniques on less expensive paper, so maybe there will be two in the end... maybe three or twenty before getting it right?
During a total mental meltdown last night, I created a list of all the scrapbook paper/card stock packs. The list includes the manufacturer, size, dominate colours, coordinating accessories on hand, and special features such as maps, stamps, tickets, etc. There were almost 50 packs accumulated thus far... this is on the frightening side of paper obsession. This list does not include single patterned, themed papers, or special bonuses like vellum and transparencies. There must be a totally different approach to the 7 inch stack of primarily unsorted paper. Perhaps tomorrow I'll inventory the paper kits on hand; another 5 inch stack I've lost the ability to instantly recall. Stamps will have to follow at some point soon; just trying to think of the most effective way to accomplish/organize the system.
It doesn't get any simpler than this, but the dowel rod was finally hung in the closet (amazing dead space remains!) with three evenly spaced curtain rod support screws. Most ribbons fit on the rod, but a couple more spools will necessitate another row.
I ordered my first Cricut Cartridge since December. It was on the list and at the right price. What's up with eBay charging as much, or more, for these cartridges as can be bought in stores? I wouldn't have nearly the collection if most of these were bought at (usually) less than $20.
At long last, I want to offer praise to our Lord Jesus for answering a prayer thought unanswerable. Well, I knew He would! The answer came in the form of yet another miracle, but my God always does it in style. Thank you so very much, eternal praise for your faithfulness.
I've decided to venture beyond scrapbooking proper and make a cute little 9x9 framed page to hopefully prompt his memory before dinner. Going all out, I'm working with colours and sizes never used before. It should do the trick; if not as a visual reminder, then as new splash of colour in a very monochromatic kitchen.
When I first began using the Cricut I counted a well-cut image miraculous. I stayed very, very basic with the cuts, and came to the point of frustration where I almost decided to sell the kit and kaboodle. Time and practice has refined enough to get the image I want every time. There's enough confidence to now have fun and play around. And... I no longer fear cutting the pattern on 15 different pages to get the results desired. The differences between the first successful cuts and what's put out today is remarkable! While still plenty of room to improve, it ain't half bad.
 |
| A Cricut Rooster |
Thus far, I've given the mini-albums a mile-wide divide between them and me. No way, never going to happen! (That pesky word: never) Finally, at long last, I saw one of these, putting to great use the beautiful Graphic 45 paper. To put it simply, I was awestruck. This is what scrapbooking is all about!
Graphic 45 Mini Album at YouTube. I am going to shamelessly copy every little detail demonstrated in the video. I'll practice all the different techniques on less expensive paper, so maybe there will be two in the end... maybe three or twenty before getting it right?
During a total mental meltdown last night, I created a list of all the scrapbook paper/card stock packs. The list includes the manufacturer, size, dominate colours, coordinating accessories on hand, and special features such as maps, stamps, tickets, etc. There were almost 50 packs accumulated thus far... this is on the frightening side of paper obsession. This list does not include single patterned, themed papers, or special bonuses like vellum and transparencies. There must be a totally different approach to the 7 inch stack of primarily unsorted paper. Perhaps tomorrow I'll inventory the paper kits on hand; another 5 inch stack I've lost the ability to instantly recall. Stamps will have to follow at some point soon; just trying to think of the most effective way to accomplish/organize the system.
It doesn't get any simpler than this, but the dowel rod was finally hung in the closet (amazing dead space remains!) with three evenly spaced curtain rod support screws. Most ribbons fit on the rod, but a couple more spools will necessitate another row.
I ordered my first Cricut Cartridge since December. It was on the list and at the right price. What's up with eBay charging as much, or more, for these cartridges as can be bought in stores? I wouldn't have nearly the collection if most of these were bought at (usually) less than $20.
At long last, I want to offer praise to our Lord Jesus for answering a prayer thought unanswerable. Well, I knew He would! The answer came in the form of yet another miracle, but my God always does it in style. Thank you so very much, eternal praise for your faithfulness.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
75% Off Haul
Oh. My. Goodness!
The warehouse portion open to the public wasn't as large as it might be in the future, but was still larger than their flagship store.
What did they have? What not, indeed?
12x12 sheets @ 3/$1.00, including some Graphic 45 papers... Most of these run between $1.00- 1.50 each in the store.
An area with assorted size papers and envelopes. Pick up an extra large 20x20 inch Ziplock bag, and as long as the papers fit and the bag zips, pay $3.00 total.
Sticker and chipboard packages, varied between $0.25 and $.75 each pack.
Small tags regular price...about $2.50 for less than 20, today's find, 100 tags for $0.50.
Ribbons for $.25 per roll.
A sealing wax monogram stamp, something I've search the world over, (well, for awhile, anyway) all of $2.00
Christmas, Easter, and Halloween decor... way, way cheap!
Little decorations to spice up the home decor... even less than cheap.
I bought everything that I wanted and could possible use, but despite that, I barely put a dent into any of the inventory. I came out with a goodly sized box (estimated at 12x12x24) almost filled to the top with paper, and a large reusable cloth bag... stuffed and overflowing.
This was the very first day the warehouse was open to the public. The everything 75% sale ends Friday. They are thinking of opening the warehouse a couple of days each week, but prices will only be cut to 50%. Even so, this delights my treasure hunt obsession.
Oh, did I mention everything brought home cost right at $60? Oh, yeah! Not the $240 the supplies would have cost full price.
Now, whew, I have to find a way to organize all the new paper from the fill-it and seal-it bag; the goods there had six different sizes, not including the tags. Ye-haw!!!
The warehouse portion open to the public wasn't as large as it might be in the future, but was still larger than their flagship store.
What did they have? What not, indeed?
12x12 sheets @ 3/$1.00, including some Graphic 45 papers... Most of these run between $1.00- 1.50 each in the store.
An area with assorted size papers and envelopes. Pick up an extra large 20x20 inch Ziplock bag, and as long as the papers fit and the bag zips, pay $3.00 total.
Sticker and chipboard packages, varied between $0.25 and $.75 each pack.
Small tags regular price...about $2.50 for less than 20, today's find, 100 tags for $0.50.
Ribbons for $.25 per roll.
A sealing wax monogram stamp, something I've search the world over, (well, for awhile, anyway) all of $2.00
Christmas, Easter, and Halloween decor... way, way cheap!
Little decorations to spice up the home decor... even less than cheap.
I bought everything that I wanted and could possible use, but despite that, I barely put a dent into any of the inventory. I came out with a goodly sized box (estimated at 12x12x24) almost filled to the top with paper, and a large reusable cloth bag... stuffed and overflowing.
This was the very first day the warehouse was open to the public. The everything 75% sale ends Friday. They are thinking of opening the warehouse a couple of days each week, but prices will only be cut to 50%. Even so, this delights my treasure hunt obsession.
Oh, did I mention everything brought home cost right at $60? Oh, yeah! Not the $240 the supplies would have cost full price.
Now, whew, I have to find a way to organize all the new paper from the fill-it and seal-it bag; the goods there had six different sizes, not including the tags. Ye-haw!!!
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Adhesives, Photography & Lessons Learned
I've selected some of my best pages (best in my opinion) and began photographing them. Certainly a skill set of its own! I've noticed some of the pages set out in the house as temporary decorations throughout the year warped. Too much heat? Not enough support? Really, there was no clue as to what factors, or combination therein, cased this discernible warping. The largest concern was that once warped the page could not be straightened or photographed properly.
I just LOVE the internet. There's absolutely no question that anyone can ask that the internet can't provide an answer. However did we live our lives without it? A couple of inquiries solved the riddle about warping.
The key seems to involve the amount of adhesives used on the page. The more glues, the more certainty to warp. Well... that's a problem since almost everything on the page requires taking down onto the page.
Early on I understood different sorts of glue were on the market, and many not suited for scrapbooking due to acid or other chemical content. Fortunately I have a niece with years of experience in the hobby pound this information into my head before I ever picked up a pair of scissors, and nothing was ever ruined or threatened by paper- or photo-toxic adhesives.
Without a little experience in this craft it's difficult imagining how many, many different types of adhesives are available specifically for scrapbooking. There are dimensional dots that raise an element off the page. There are liquid glues for paper-to-paper bonding. Glue runners, where a line of rubbery glue bonds many types of elements together. All stickers come pre-glued. And finally, for purposes of discussion, there are glitter glues.
(Upon reflection the previous two paragraphs probably been posted previously... if so, whoops. It's not as if anyone happens on to the page anyway.)
So! Is it the weight of the glues or the types of glues that cause the warping?
The project in question begins with a heavy paper, or what I consider card stock. In this case I used the Cricut to cut out "Give Thanks" in 3 inch letters to mount on the page. (Side note: the size of the script was primarily determined by the skill set I had at the time in working with the Cricut. Today I could easily bring that down to 1 inch.) This element was also heavily decorated with glitter, since this was my first work with the stuff and I wanted to experiment. And, because the glittered element was never to actually come into contact with the photo page, I cheated and used regular Elmer's Glue from a bottle. (Covering a 3 inch phrase with glitter requires a whole lot of glue!) There were several dimensional stickers added to balance the height of the overall page. Finally, since the page was created to decorate a holiday table, it was placed on a plate holder for a full month.
When described as such, retrospect tells me I probably did everything possibly wrong to the page. The tip offered here is: watch the use of glue and the quantity used.
Live and Learn!!
_________________________________________
In a huge departure of my buying philosophy "never pay full price for anything," I did just that. Not once, but twice!
Paper companies come out with full lines of accessories in almost all collections. This usually includes: 12x12, 8x8, and sometimes 6x6 inch paper pads, individual sheets, stickers, chip board sets, perhaps coordinating ribbons, alphabet stickers, stamps and possibly more. The longer a collection has been out in the market, the harder it is to find many of the accessories. Thus and therefore, to assure the option of buying collection accessories, it has to be bought early on, and usually at full price. This lesson came painfully when I found an older collection and discovered nothing but the one pad and a sticker set remained. That was after I conducted the most extensive internet search possible.
Graphic 45 specializes in nostalgic 1920-30's images in incredible colours. It's a great paper to work with be that scrapbooking, or in creating home decor; some pages are nice enough to frame as is. It also runs on the expensive side. Thus far, I found the paper line too intimidating to use in everyday scrapping. What I have worked with has been found at greatly reduced prices with limited accessories, if any. This year they came out with a line called "Little Darlings." It was love at first sight. I knew this was a collection applicable to so many pages I want to scrap, but had not found paper to do the intended photos justice. I bought the FULL line, except the 3 different stamp sets and the 8x8 paper pad; however, I bought extra copies of some of the accessories. I all but fell over when the price totaled over $50, but every scrap of this stuff will be used for years. I may go back and make up for the accessories not originally purchased my next allowance cycle.
Then I found a completed layout from scrapbooking.com featuring a different company line. I used restraint and didn't go all out and buy the full collection, but did purchase enough of the coordinating supplies to pull together a couple of antique photo pages. Again at full price.
This is the type of post (very chatty) where there's not much I can't do for the day. Obviously, this is one of those days.
I couldn't resist putting an image of the collection here!
I just LOVE the internet. There's absolutely no question that anyone can ask that the internet can't provide an answer. However did we live our lives without it? A couple of inquiries solved the riddle about warping.
The key seems to involve the amount of adhesives used on the page. The more glues, the more certainty to warp. Well... that's a problem since almost everything on the page requires taking down onto the page.
Early on I understood different sorts of glue were on the market, and many not suited for scrapbooking due to acid or other chemical content. Fortunately I have a niece with years of experience in the hobby pound this information into my head before I ever picked up a pair of scissors, and nothing was ever ruined or threatened by paper- or photo-toxic adhesives.
Without a little experience in this craft it's difficult imagining how many, many different types of adhesives are available specifically for scrapbooking. There are dimensional dots that raise an element off the page. There are liquid glues for paper-to-paper bonding. Glue runners, where a line of rubbery glue bonds many types of elements together. All stickers come pre-glued. And finally, for purposes of discussion, there are glitter glues.
(Upon reflection the previous two paragraphs probably been posted previously... if so, whoops. It's not as if anyone happens on to the page anyway.)
So! Is it the weight of the glues or the types of glues that cause the warping?
The project in question begins with a heavy paper, or what I consider card stock. In this case I used the Cricut to cut out "Give Thanks" in 3 inch letters to mount on the page. (Side note: the size of the script was primarily determined by the skill set I had at the time in working with the Cricut. Today I could easily bring that down to 1 inch.) This element was also heavily decorated with glitter, since this was my first work with the stuff and I wanted to experiment. And, because the glittered element was never to actually come into contact with the photo page, I cheated and used regular Elmer's Glue from a bottle. (Covering a 3 inch phrase with glitter requires a whole lot of glue!) There were several dimensional stickers added to balance the height of the overall page. Finally, since the page was created to decorate a holiday table, it was placed on a plate holder for a full month.
When described as such, retrospect tells me I probably did everything possibly wrong to the page. The tip offered here is: watch the use of glue and the quantity used.
Live and Learn!!
_________________________________________
In a huge departure of my buying philosophy "never pay full price for anything," I did just that. Not once, but twice!
Paper companies come out with full lines of accessories in almost all collections. This usually includes: 12x12, 8x8, and sometimes 6x6 inch paper pads, individual sheets, stickers, chip board sets, perhaps coordinating ribbons, alphabet stickers, stamps and possibly more. The longer a collection has been out in the market, the harder it is to find many of the accessories. Thus and therefore, to assure the option of buying collection accessories, it has to be bought early on, and usually at full price. This lesson came painfully when I found an older collection and discovered nothing but the one pad and a sticker set remained. That was after I conducted the most extensive internet search possible.
Graphic 45 specializes in nostalgic 1920-30's images in incredible colours. It's a great paper to work with be that scrapbooking, or in creating home decor; some pages are nice enough to frame as is. It also runs on the expensive side. Thus far, I found the paper line too intimidating to use in everyday scrapping. What I have worked with has been found at greatly reduced prices with limited accessories, if any. This year they came out with a line called "Little Darlings." It was love at first sight. I knew this was a collection applicable to so many pages I want to scrap, but had not found paper to do the intended photos justice. I bought the FULL line, except the 3 different stamp sets and the 8x8 paper pad; however, I bought extra copies of some of the accessories. I all but fell over when the price totaled over $50, but every scrap of this stuff will be used for years. I may go back and make up for the accessories not originally purchased my next allowance cycle.
Then I found a completed layout from scrapbooking.com featuring a different company line. I used restraint and didn't go all out and buy the full collection, but did purchase enough of the coordinating supplies to pull together a couple of antique photo pages. Again at full price.
This is the type of post (very chatty) where there's not much I can't do for the day. Obviously, this is one of those days.
I couldn't resist putting an image of the collection here!
 |
| Graphic 45 Little Darlings Main Image Page |
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