Sketches

I have been looking through the sketches on the link that I posted, and so far my favorite site on there is Pencil Lines. It is a sketch challenge blog, so basically they upload a new sketch every week and see what people can come up with. Right now I'm not really looking for a challenge, I am looking for guidance and some inspiration, so I didn't use the current challenge sketch, I browse through the previous sketches to see what I could use. For my Pirates of the Caribbean Page a few posts below I used Sketch 113 . Sometimes it is hard to see what you can come up with with just a sketch, thats why I like that they post some layouts done with the sketch to give you a better idea.

Layouts

If you are having trouble sketching your own layouts, or are stuck on coming up with new ideas, here is a link to a list of many great layout sketch sites

SketchLover

Embossing Powder....not just for stamps

Over a year ago, a friend of mine gave me a stamp and some silver embossing powder. She had used it for her wedding invitations, and didn't need it anymore. I used the stamp once for a Valentines day card, but then after that I couldn't think of a way to reuse it, but I liked the effect that the embossing powder gave to it. I didn't want to buy more stamps, because I didn't know if I would get into it, so I bought an embossing pen. It's called "ZIG Emboss Writer". Basically its just a felt pen, with two different ends (one with fine point, and one thats a bit thicker) and it has almost invisible ink that takes a while to dry. With this you can emboss whatever design you can draw or write. Something fun that I tried was to make one of my papers more exciting with embossing glitter, here is a sample of what I did:


I basically just outlined the pattern on the paper with the thicker tip of the embossing, then sprinkled "Stardust" transparent embossing powder on it, shook the excess of, and then used the heat tool to set/raise the embossing powder. You can't tell on here very well, but it made the paper sparkle very much. Another thing you can do with the embossing pen is use it to emboss your writing. I used it, with silver embossing powder, here as a title for one of the pages in the baby book:


If you are just starting scrapbooking, it is a little expensive to buy the heat tool. I have tried hair dryers and car lighters, but the results are very inconsistent. I would recommend waiting for a 40% off Michaels coupon, and buying the heat tool then. If you already stamp, this would be a cheap thing to try, if you haven't already.

The products I used:

Marvy Embossing Heat Tool
ZIG Emboss Writer (with 0.5mm and 1.2mm felt tips)
Stampendous - Stampi-N Stuff Embossing Powder in "Detail Silver Opaque and Stardust Transparent"

All of these items were purchased at Michaels
Here is a link for the current 40% off Coupon : http://vancouver.flyerland.ca/view_coupon.php?coupon_id=1315#
If you are looking for coupons in your own area, just go to the flyerland website , type in your city and go from there.

More Kitty Cat.....and a little on layouts

I enjoyed making that first page so much that I decided to make another one.


I find that the best scrapbook pages come from the simplest layouts. If you are unsure of where to start on a scrapbook page, start by drawing a rough sketch. It may take a few tries to get a sketch that you like, but its better that than putting it all together and not liking it. Here is the sketch that I started with for this scrapbook page:


Another tip I have for creating a layout that you like, is to not stick all of the elements down until you are happy with what you have. I put all of the photos and patterned paper onto black cardstock first, trimmed it, and then moved around the photos and patterned background a few times before sticking it down. I ended up going with my original idea, but its still a good idea to play around with it.

So You Want to Start Scrapbooking?

The Basics For Beginners

For some people, including me, going into a scrapbooking store is overwhelming when you first start. There are so many different tools, stickers, papers etc. What do you start with?
I would recommend not starting in a scrapbooking store. Superstore, Zellers, and Walmart all have sections for scrapbooking. Sure their selection isn't as great, but they are often cheaper and will carry the basics that you will need to get started.

This is what you will need:

• Photos
• Album
  
• Paper
• Cutter
  
• Adhesives
• Pen

Albums come in different sizes and formats. My first and only scrapbook so far was 8 1/2" x 11", and I will probably never make one that size again. Most papers and kits come in 12" x 12", so I would recommend getting an album that size. It is also a good idea to get a post bound album, they have top loading page protectors, and are expandable, so you can add pages as you need to.

Paper is the base of all scrapbook layouts. For just starting out some 12" x 12" Cardstock in solid colors will do just fine. You can get packages that have a variety of colors.

Scissors and an X-acto Knife will be your best cutting tools to begin with. To cut straight lines I use a metal ruler and a cutting mat. Just line the ruler up on the paper where you want to cut, and then drag the X-acto knife along the edge of the ruler. Don't do this without something to cut on, or you will end up with nasty cuts on your desk or table top. To cut other shapes use scissors.

Adhesives put it all together. There are many different choices, its just a matter of personal preference. You can use, glue sticks, glue runner, or my personal favorite adhesive squares. Just make sure the adhesive you choose is acid free, so you don't ruin your photos.

A Pen is used to add journaling. Write what the picture is, what was going on when the picture was taken, or how you felt when it was taken.

With these items you can make basic layouts. Use your creativity and see what you come up with. The fancy tools, stickers, and papers come later. Have fun with it.