Page Theme Issues

I'm still studying differences between good, great, and wow-za pages.  And learned a couple of things today.

When putting together a page I pull out all the possible paper combinations, dies, stickers, stamps, etc I expect to use, or possibly use.  Without exception, one element will capture my fancy and, wrong as it is, I'll walk on hot coals to incorporate it.

I'll use the project currently under construction to demonstrate this point.

The page features a trip to the ocean.  The colour scheme runs to pastels.  I also wanted to blend shabby chic with just a bit of whimsey.  (Probably my first mistake)  The element I fell head over heels in love with was a couple of starfish cut from a die, and stamped with a truly adorable face.

Blurry, but a fair representation for this purpose

Cute as buttons.  So far, no problem with page assembly.  The starfish works well with the photo matting demonstrated in the photo.  There are two photos featured that go on the page, one each for the right and left side.  I set waves consisting of four layers of papers to create a bottom border for the page. (I cut and chalked a few fishes to appear to be jumping in and out of the waves.  Darling!)  The title will go in the upper right hand corner, and I plan to use three separate journaling boxes between the space of the two photos.  So far, all works together very nicely...

But this is where this "hooked on an element" becomes a problem.  I need "something" that binds the two pictures, and creates another layer of depth for the journaling boxes; perhaps a large strip of paper, 12x4 inches.  When I laid the thick mid-line border across the page, I got "blah."  I then began playing with one of the Tim Holtz masks picked up the other day.  Love at first sight.  That was the answer!!  Except it wasn't.  The chalked image creates a very formal setting.  Not at all within the theme, nothing whimsical about it; however, I really, really want to use it.

A much smaller image than the mask I would use, but it's easy to see the formality.

So that's a huge chunk of my problem... choosing two non-complimentary elements to a page.  I usually justify using both and calling it "mixed," but it's not.  It just proves my lack of experience.  Maybe someone with much more experience could pull it off, but I can't with goodly results.

Since I'm more than three-quarters finished with the page, it will have to be the flourish to go.  This will be a first.  It's a start in the right direction, however.

For now on I plan the page theme and keep cute away from formal.  It can't hurt!

Gaining

I went to Fayetteville yesterday for a doctor appointment.  While there I planned to hit JoAnne's and the TM rumoured to have a much better inventory selection for scrapbooking supplies.  Imagine my surprise when TM was located in the same mall strip as HL!  Well, that works out just fine. No doubt about it; the Fayetteville store was all promised... and more!

At present, I'm collecting as many Basic Grey paper packs as possible.  (Only at greatly reduced prices, of course.)  They had two large packs.  Wow-za! The current passion for BG is that the company puts out an unique array of colours and patterns hard to find elsewhere.  And the paper quality is great.

I love Tim Holtz products, but most large box stores charge exorbitant prices and the rare times put up for sale, it's less than a significant margin. Until yesterday my Tim Holtz inventory consisted of four distress ink pads, and about five Sizzix Bigz dies.  I found two paper packs, a small and gigantic mask set, and a package of round cut out grunge board that I have NO idea how to put to use, but will eventually.  There might have been other items, but it's all put away and nothing else comes to mind.  (Oh! a butterfly border die!)

The grand find involved 7 Gypsies (yet another line tending on the expensive side).  They had a super-sized stamp set, 64 individual stamps, with every warning one could ever think of stamping on a page or envelope when mailing.

Note:  I need to rethink haul strategies.

Finally, though it's not related to scrapbooking, we stopped at a little antique/junk store I've wanted to visit every time we drive past it - 4 times every weekday.  They had quite the assortment.  Of all wonders, I found three history books published in the late 1800's, and a world atlas from 1937; pre-WWII era.  They weren't in perfect condition, but still!  While on the subject of books, the doctor gave me an outdated medical book for the asking.  There's real scrapping potential with this one.

Now to the meat of this post.

One would expect a difference in quality between a new scrapper and one with six years under her belt.  I can spot the difference in less than a second when browsing LOs at scrapbook.com.  I suppose an innately artistic brain probably differentiates, also.  I'm putting a great deal of effort trying to decipher the differences between amateur and professional work.  So far, I've only been able to learn more advanced techniques, but haven't gotten the hang of combining these to make a WOW piece.  They happen occasionally, but it's mostly by accident.

While browsing through more professional LOs today, I stumbled across Dusty Attic, a blog with blow-away tutorials.  Maybe this will be the place, and ones similar to this, I can learn the tricks of the craft.

What would be absolutely wonderful would be to recruit a few semiprofessionals to not encourage the scrapper, but to critique works submitted.  The submitters would put out their best examples and find where room for improvement exists.  It would not necessarily be put-downs, but a place to learn, "this is good, but some shadowing would make a difference."  The concept is good.  Implementing it, another.

New Directions

I went to our "secret" scrapbooking shop today, who, by the way was supposed to have already moved, but hasn't, and was floored by how the inventory had shrank since our last visit.  Plenty of stickers and one very sweet album kit begging to be bought!  While pawing through what little inventory was available, I began speaking to a nice looking woman about scrapping in general.  In one part of the conversation I mentioned that even though I'd been at the hobby for only one year, I still hadn't found anyone to share ideas, tips, and bond-ship with in this pursuit.  That's taken care of now!!

She invited me to a small scrapbooking club her and about five other ladies put together.  The next get-together is next week I think.  Better yet, she talked about so many scrapbooking events around the area... largely unadvertised, but from the sounds of it: fun.  Finally, she took a bold step and invited us to her church.  Well!  That was a heck of a deal.  I'm thrilled beyond belief to finally hook up with other people with the same passions.

The store, in what I can only assume was a consolidation tactic, bound three to four sticker packs and sold the set as one.  I would have gladly paid the asking price for any single set, but to get that many more at the same price was beyond temptation.  I bought them all.  There's plenty back in the stockroom, so this doesn't overly concern me; they'll pull out a bunch tomorrow.  During the conversation, Crystal told me about this store being also in Fayetteville with a much larger show floor, and hence a larger selection of scrapbooking area.  And it just so happens I'll be driving down there tomorrow.

I hoped over to HL (the two stores are in the same complex) and didn't hardly find anything.  I did use the standard 40% coupon to buy a punch I've been watching for awhile.  Mine, mine, mine!

The best part of all, predictably was the "chance" encounter with a scrapbooking enthusiast that will probably lead to meeting more people!  God, truly is good. 

Table, Organization & Tricky Deals

There's no comparison between my crafting table "during" the creation of a LO and the rare times when I'm not.  One looks as if a slow motion explosion has taken place, and the other a nice orderly oasis of quiet.  Without exception, and from a hard earned lesson, the table gets cleaned in between projects.  I've said it a hundred times already, but I can't think with a disorganized mess in the line of site.  I can't!  In the future I'll have to make sure any haul mention will be during those times between projects.  I want to start photographing/videoing them... for future reference.  And that simply can't be done on a disorganized table.

I find that once again there are more scrap room organizational changes necessary.  It's the paper!  There's a small box sitting on the floor layered with colour coordinated long paper strips.  There's no other place to file them neatly as they come in varying widths and lengths.  I'm thinking the solution to this could involve using the shoe tree bag currently used for punches; but then, what with all the punches?

Pink Shoe Bag, very weighted down

This, too, has become problematic lately since it's very difficult to find a particular punch within the current system.  Punches don't file into neat categories, be that size or theme.  The card ring with punched images is the only way of really knowing what I have available anymore.  That's a real lifesaver.  But most of the punches proper are heavy and restrict some options.  Maybe....?  We have a few open-wire baskets, primarily used with wire shelving systems out in the garage.  (Always a treasure trove of storage possibilities!!!)  I'm thinking using these at the back and hanging under of my craft table where they have both the weight and extra area to spread them out instead of riffling through small sleeves as required now.  Each time I wanted a punch it would require bending over and crawling under the table; bothersome, but "do-able" until I come up with a better system, and to a certain extent, I'm already doing with the current system.  The only other option would be to hang the other six-foot wire rack (the twin to the rack shown here) somewhere within the room.  And, as these things go, doing so would require rearranging that area, also.  Either way, something has to give somewhere.

The craft room was originally set up as the computer room.  I hadn't actually began scrapping at that point.  But, should we move again, the room would be set up specifically as a craft room, alleviating most of the organizational challenges dealt with over the past year.  One thing for certain... that computer desk with hutch would never grace the room!  I would certainly buy another crafting table instead.  And paint the room in pink and lime green, if I want.

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I submitted the latest LO for the CSI challenge with only hours to spare, and then only after I decided to settle with the photography results on hand, which were all less than idealistic.  Before this project, I never, in a million years, would have never considered the tricky problems with photographing a matte finished photo with a glossy.  Well, I sure do now!  I'm convinced that it can't be done.  Oh, sure, hundreds of photographers would testify to the contrary.  But not with MY skill set!  I literally spent almost two hours, some with Martin's help, trying to capture a true page likeness.  In every case it became a contest of shadows.  Even though I had two different skies to work with - 1 sunny and 1 rainy - and an abundance of natural and artificial light sources, there was no coaxing out a single great photo.  I guess the lesson taken from the experience is to consider this problem when thinking of using two different photo surfaces in the future.

The problematic glossy photo!  Urg!

All the myriad of talents learned thus far are about to be put to a functional use.  My husband went on a new diabetic medication delivery program.  It's not insulin, but he has to administer a shot within an hour of eating dinner, never after.  He does well with the morning shot, but 9 times of 10, he forgets the evening dose.  I'm about to put together a 6x6 or 8x8 cutely decorated page to remind him each evening.  It will say something to the effect of:  No pot before the shot, or some other silly thin.  I can't wait to jump on this project.  Just right after I pull together an awesomely adorable ocean themed LO.  ;D

Latest LO

The LO mentioned last post is now 99.9% complete.  There's a journaling note required completely forgotten about.  I think it looks tacky, but may be able to correct it with some glitter in the morning.  (This tag will be removed before framing the page.)  The only other item left to attend involves good sunlight, camera and tripod.  I'll edit this post to include the photo after a satisfactory picture is cropped and sharpened.

This LO has much more white space than I'm accustomed to allowing, but in doing so I've allowed the eye to draw to the ares that were most important, or important as I saw it.

The photo of Martin and I used on the page is one of my all-time favourites!!  There's a little bit of silliness, and a whole lot of adoration caught at the most perfect moment.  I knew this would be the first photograph of the both of us to scrap when the right combination of time, inspiration and motivation hit.  And it did. 

It probably gets old, but I'm proud of the display.  I take pride in all the LO's done, but some don't have the same ooomph that rare others do.  This is one that gets framed and posted in our bedroom, along with the birthday "card" page completed last November.  Finally!  Some "art" for the room.  (Term used loosely.)

Even though decorating the coloured pencil bucket was a little over the top, I am proud of it.  Tonight while perusing YouTube, I found several videos featuring decked-out ATG guns.  Some looked professional, some looked as if they graduated 1st grade colouring class and never advanced from there.  It's theirs, and as long as they take pride in it, that's all that matters.  So now I'm thinking... given some down time, it might just be worth the effort to follow suit.  No doubt whatever I do will end up looking like the 1st grade child that failed that colouring class.  LOL.

Next week I hope to knock out three or four "everyday" scrapbook pages.  There's currently two semi-assembled pages featuring Johnna and her quirky ideas of scrap worthy events.  One involves all the not-so-major scraps, bruises, and rashes she proudly displayed for the camera, and the other concerns her foot and hand prints at age ten.  (Actually I thought of it, and she jumped at the notion.)  Also thought upon, but as yet began, are the 2012 snow photos and a few more pages from this past Christmas.

Colour Combo

I enjoy the challenges presented by CSI.  The entire point of the site is to encourage the scrapper to use five colour combinations normally not easily put to work together.  As so it is this week, also.  Another feature of the weekly challenges is incorporating shapes, elements or themes, often together.  And not least of all, journaling is part of the creation; this isn't a problem for me as I try to always journal about the subject or event represented.

This week they assembled a colour chart of a mustard, two tones of taupe, one green, and a sky blue.  I had no problem pulling all the colours from on-hand papers and putting them together in an attractive manner, but when I tried to use the blue as a background colour it clashed to high heavens.  The colours behind the heart photo are the actual colour combinations for this week.

Since there's no requisite size of the colours, they can be nothing more than accent pieces, or completely dominate the page... so long as it's there, it's all good.

I got very, very sneaky.  I glued sky blue gemstones to the cut out hearts I made for the project.  And though the gemstones in the second picture are not set yet, I managed to pull the blue up to the upper portion of the page.  (What a beautiful picture of Martin and me!)

There are times when I have to think outside the box.  It's very easy to slip into one style of layout, using the same materials and colours.  I don't think this would have ever come to mind had I not been challenged to fit together elements not normally used, but sure am glad that I did.

Quick Tip

When there's a need of a line of embellishments such as tags, pictures, etc, and absolute perfection is not critical, there's a method  I found that eliminates rulers, pencil marks, or crimped paper.

Using a 12x12 cutting map I use a large rubber band expanded over and around the mat.  Assure the rubber band is resting on a designated mark on both sides, and not twisted. Pull the background between the rubber band and mat, marry the top or bottom of the pulled through paper to a predetermined guide mark on the mat.  Line the objects upon the rubber bands once adhesives are attached and use care to place the bottom or top of the element just over/under the band while carefully not moving the placement of the band.

Works like a charm every time!