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General design tips for a scrapbook layout: Part 3

Embellishment:

·         Odd numbers, especially three (organized in a triangle around the picture), works well.

·         They should be positioned in focal points around the picture/s so that they drive attention back to the picture (e.g. at the 3 vertices of a triangle that circumscribes the picture or diagonally with the pictures in the middle).

·         Paper and illustration from books at thrift stores or weeded at libraries (foreign languages, music sheets…)

·         White or neutral embellishment (flowers, brats, cardboard and wood ones) are more versatile since they can be colored with ink pads, mist, heat embossed or covered with glossy accents, etc… They can be stamped on with Staz-on with music or script background.

·         Wood Veneers: they can be quite expensive and there seems to be limited sources (often out of stock). I like them very much since they are very versatile. I was quite happy to find a vendor on line. At this web address http://photobucket.com/WoodVeneers you can see their catalog and write down the items' numbers. Than you can e-mail you order to Diana G McRae dianamcrae@cox.net. You pick what you want and how many you want, They are cheaper than other brands. They will laser cut them based on your order and ship them for a reasonable price.

·         Leave some breathe, i.e. some empty background (embellishment can be arranged in two opposite corners and in the other two journaling and title).

·         For western people eyes goes automatically in the upper left corner and then down the lower right, as if we were reading. That upper left corner should stay empty or the gaze will stop there without flowing to the pictures.

·         Balance colors, size, etc. of the embellishment between the two corners where they are concentrated (or the three triangle points).

·         Cheap embellishments can be found among stationary, sewing items, small hardware, cloths tags … (e.g. doilies at Walmart)

·         They can be hand made by cutting small pattern in paper or using punches.

·        Paint sample cards can be punched and used as embellishment

·         Envelops, Tabs and Tags: add a retro look. There are tags and envelops templates that will allow you to cut them on any kind of paper. There are also tag punches. Tags can be used to tuck in journaling or to hold memorabilia.

·         Buttons: cheaper at sewing sections of department stores. They can be completed with a thread tight in the back (there is a flossing tool for people with braces that can help) or in front. They can be attached with a glue dot. Try gluing script behind transparent buttons.

·         Striped thread (baking twine) can be home made by solid one, by rolling it tight around a piece of cardboard and drawing diagonal lines with a sharpie.

·         Large stencils for letters/color canadd some movement. If for example your title is "You and I", you could write "you" and "I" with stickers and paint an ampersand with a stencil in the middle

·         Bunch of embellishment thread to a twine like a garland in half of the page and attached with two brads

·         Mist: Very popular, a mist is basically a thin paint in a spray bottle, with or without metallic or sparkling reflexes. It can be sprayed, to create an halo somewhere in the layout or to paint an embellishment. You can also spritz small drops with a small paintbrush, or larger drops with the back of tube of the sprayer. The key is the distance: spraying from far yo will have a more subtle effect, while from a close distance the color will be more saturated. You may want to spray inside an old box. Mists should not be shacked with lot of energy otherwise the sprayer will make a ton of bubbles and blots. However, the  metallic glimmer suspended in the liquid tend to deposit on the bottom. You have to gently and slowly turn it upside down or rotate for a while. After saturating in can be buffered with a paper towel or spread with a brayer. Mist can be made at home  with metallic or traditional acrylic paint (e.g. Folk Art) abundantly diluted with water or alcohol (will dry faster and will not warp the paper). You can buy empty sprayer at Wal-mart or Target (in the traveling section of the Health and Beuty department). Cover the bottom of the sprayer with paint (let's say 25 drops) and add alcohol to ¾ of the bottle. A little funnel may help. Add  pea-size glass beads (2 or 3) to help the mixing. If you are using plain acrylic paint, you can add some iridescent acrylic medium or perfect pearls or perlex (silver, gold). Some add a point of a paintbrush of Mod Podge to fix the mist but this is necessary sense only if you added Pearlex and Perfects Pearl that do not come with their own fixative (already present in the metallic acrylic paint). Water colors or distress ink refill can be used in lieu of the acrylic paint..

·         Flags and other cardboard embellishment can be home made out of a toothpicks and leftovers of paper

·         Tearing paper: tearing towards you will leave a white edge. Away will not. Cool with vellum.

·         Faux stitching: although it is possible to machine stitch the paper (avoiding areas with glue), one option is to trace little stitches with a gel pen in a contrasting color.

·         Hand stitching: lightly trace the path you want to stitch. Position the paper over a mouse pad and pierce holes with a needle or a piercing tool every ¼ inch or so along the line. Thread the needle (e.g. cross stitch thread). Hold the beginning of the thread in the back with adhesive and do a continuous back stitch. Hold the end of the thread in the back with tape. You can also make a dashed stitch by going always forward.

·         Sewing machine (See "Glitter Girle Adventure 011: the sewing Machine Solution" on you tube for an awesome tutorial) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T705Jcpyz0). In brief:

o   Always check the bobbin for enough thread

o   Pick straight stitches longer than those used for fabric (otherwise it could tear the paper)

o   Try first on scrap paper with the same weight.

o   Start with the needle down: easier to turn at corners by pivoting around the needle

o   avoid to run the needle where there is glue:  he more you are planning to sew the less glue you should try to use and try to glue at the end, after sawing

o   Threads at the end:

- Pull them on the back and fix them with adhesive so they do not unravel

 - If they are very close to the edge, just rune them around and fix them with adhesive

-  Enter them in a needle and put them in the closest hole
- Or just scatter them around for a more casual look

·         Dry cuts or thick paper embellishments can be tri-dimensionally shaped (e.g. rolling them around a pencil) by lightly spraying with water

·         Scrap paper used for masking or protect the mat: do not throw it. Over time it can become an interesting pattern itself. The same for paper form which you have punched shapes.

·         A subtle background or a picture can be framed with some irregular brush strokes of a distress color along the edges

So, what do I need to start?

There is a great video for beginners at Two Peas In A Bucket (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVOfr3A7jCg)

Following is an example of a minimal starting kit, based on my experience and for someone who is interested only in scrapbooking pictures (no cards, no mini album, etc.)

- paper trimmer 10 to 20 dollars

- paper mat, 15 to 25 dollars

- a couple of inks  for the edges of the pictures and the piece of papers: it helps bringing all the elements together, it hides any imperfection in the cut edges and adds dimension. A black and a brown. Distressed ink by Tim Holtz (about 4 dollars ech) or chalk eye-cut inks (they cam in set of 5-6 assorted colors for about 10 dollars). In an ideal world Tim Holtz's distressed inks should be used with a special applicator (about 5 dollars) but you can use the pad directly on the edge of the paper or a cosmetic foam sponges (a dollars or two for a dozen at Walmart or Wallgreen).

- assortment of paper: although bold and elaborate patterned paper can be really tempting, stock up with subtle and muted paper sheets and assorted card stock. You will use them a lot for backgrounds and matting photos.

-  adhesive: tape runners. In the beginning it may be safer to use removable ones since they are quite forgiving. If you change your mind. you will still be able to reposition your picture or embellishment without damaging the layout. They come at about 3 to 5 dollars each. The go quickly so if you find a good deal you may wont to stock up. Some have refills but I found that all procedure too cumbersome. I prefer the 'dots' ones  because if you make a mistake you can rub away the dots without damaging the paper.  If you are planning on using vellum you may want to buy the special glue runner design for it. Do not be disappointed if it will show while you put it on the vellum: it will eventually disappear once the vellum is positioned on the background paper.

- embellishment: those can be pricey! Try to make your own with punches and cut out from patterned paper. Prefer whites, neutral (you can customize them with paint, glitter, etc.) and non tematic ones (you will be able to use more often generic travel-themed embellishment as opposed to very specific ones about New York or Paris. Definitely something to buy on sale.

- alphabet stickers for titles: try to have an assortment of colors and textures...

A good starting option is the purchase of  a scrapbooking kit where you will typically find paper + embellishments + alphabet sets.

Journaling

Journaling can add a special touch to you layout and will help you remembering those details that would be otherwise lost. I am now working on a project where I am scrapbooking pictures that are up to ten years old. There are instances when I have a hard time even remembering where I took that particular shot...       

• It could be as little as just one word to introduce the page (Laugh, Sing, Family, Grandchildren, etc…) or a more substantial text, with a basic description of the event (who, where, when) or it can be a all story. You can print it with a computer or handwrite with a nice pencil (after checking  the dimension on a piece of scrap paper).
• You can use alphabet tiles, stickers with words, or magnetic poetry… 
  
•  You can use quotations, poems, lyrics…
•  The classic 5: Who, What, When, Where, Why
• Quote a conversation : she said, he said

To print on a label or a piece of patterned paper

1. Verify against a light or a window that it fits in the label, 
2. Attach the label on top of the printed area with light glue or removable tape and 
3. Run it back into the printer with the same paper.   

·         Journaling can be written on a tag, empty music sheet, notes page with the broken border, doylies, journaling stamps, journaling templates, memory cards, music paper, between large parentheses…

·         Dictionary or thesaurus: definitions can be used for journaling and a thesaurus is helpful when seeking different words to describe an event (www.dictionary.com and www.thesaurus.com). If you find a cheap thesaurus (1 dolalr at Dollar store) you can cut definition form it and glue them to the layout.

·        you can journal all around the border of the layout, making a frame out of it.

·         Journaling can be hidden behind large pictures, tack into tags, behind a large tag swinging through a brad, behind a gatefold design (two flaps folded to meet in the center, made from a cardstock piece twice the final length, a pocket form an old pair of pants…. depending on how mcuh private you want to make them

·         Words in isolation: action verbs  in different tenses (embarked - pushed - climbing – flying),  adjectives and adverbs  (bright - breezy - fresh - exciting – exhausting -eager - driven - free – fulfilled - high - far - gently - independently – alone), nouns (niece - seven-year-old - second grader - future aviator), proper nouns, places and dates (John – Green Lake Park - Monday, March 8, 2011), pronouns (she - herself - I - someone – many) prepositions (up - above - with - toward – into).

·         Use the name of the person in the picture as an acrostic.

General design tips for a scrapbook layout: Part 2

Paper: for a double 12x12 layout you will need up to 5 or 6 different sheets of papers.

·         2 for the background: better if the same and with a subtle pattern

·         1 for the photo mats, patterned or cardstock

·         2 to 3 for borders and embellishments (or 3 to 4 if they are single sided: this way you will have more options

·         Once you find a complete set of paper you can store it in the page protectors with the pictures and work on it later on.
Paper can be bought in single sheets (I want to say, on average, 50 cents for a one sided 12x12, 1 dollar for a double sided) or you can buy a package containing a full collections (paper pad). This can provide you with a set of coordinated papers that will work well together. This will be quite helpful if you are working an a specific large project (like an album for a wedding, a new baby or a graduation or if you are building a mini-album as a gift). The price of a paper pad can range betwen 5 and 30 dollars. Often times paper pads come a couple of additional sheet containing coordinated alphabet stickers or die-cuts, labels and embellishment. Double sided paper are more versatile and can be really indispensable when dealing with projects where you will see both sides of the paper (like mini-album with pockets).  Another thing to check is how many copies of the same paper are in the pad: when building double layouts it can be really important to match the backgrounds.

Vellum is a translucent lightweight paper. It’s interesting for matting or softening photos (e.g. matting the background highlighting the center of the picture), for journaling or to create embellishments. It comes with a waxy cover that makes it quite  impermeable to water and ink. As a consequence, adhesives and inks won’t be absorbed as quickly. And because vellum paper is so transparent, most adhesives will show through. There is specific tape for vellum that is quite invisible (E-Z scrapbook, purple, is excellent). You can also place the glue so it’s hidden under another element on the page or use brads to attach it, or tack it under a layer of paper or a picture. It can be used in the desk jet by choosing the option for transparency or for low quality (less ink). For the same reason (very limited capability of absorbing) only some pens and markers will work on it. To stamp on vellum you will have to use an ink like Staz-on (see future post about inks). If you are using a dye ink you will have to dry it with the heat-embossing tool or the iron (using an old hankie to protect the paper). Vellum can be impressed (embossed) with a tool with a rounded tip (like the handle of a paintbrush) from the back. A stamp image with clear Versamark can be used as a guide (or a stencil).Vellum can be heat embossed (in white, e.g.). The heat gun has to be a little bit more far away or it will burn/crinkle the vellum. After heat embossing it can be painted with mist and the embossed part will not take the paint (resist). To make it more permeable to ink it can be pretreated with alcohol and let it dry after printing for a very long time.As an example, I wrote on the computer our vows. Because at our wedding we read them in our two languages I organize the text in two columns, one for English and one for Italian. I also left an empty rectangular (6.5x4.5) in the middle. I used a nice handwriting-like font and printed on vellum. I then build the layout so that a close up picture of our hands has my husband put the wedding ring of my finger was behind the vellum, where I left the empty area .

Transparencies: can be cut and stamped with Staz-on ink. They can be cleaned with water and soap, ink cleaner or alcohol. They can be used to make stencils or masks and in the mirror printing technique (see post about stamping).  I found some old ones among our stationary. We are both old enought to have been using them for presentations... I am not even sure if they are sold anymore. Some clear stamps or emebellishemt come with transparency in the packaging. I keep them, just in case...

Borders: one possibility is to use some curve template. Cutting halfway a large strip along a curve line will produce two specular borders. These can be used of each one of the two pages of a double layout to create continuity. You can create two different sets and overlap them, or arrange them back to back, or overlap them to a ordinary straight border in a different pattern. There is  series of video on you tube, where they show you a technique, using some templates that they sell. My feeling is that you end up with very repetitive layouts so I decided to maybe try once using a curve template (I believe in English they are called French curve sets) simply because I happened to have one already. Shadowing the edge of the borders with an ink pad will add dimension and hide any irregularity.

Also, washi tape, ribbons, twine, you name it… can be used as borders. Some paper pads come with borders (self adhesive or die cut) in the embellishment page.

Cutting paper: You may want to buy yourself a cutting mat (about 20 dollars). My choice was Basic Grey Magnetic Precision Mat Set. It comes with a ruler that sticks to the mat keeping in place you project and I like the black neutral color. When I have to punch holes or cut with a blade I put an old mouse pad underneath so I did not really care about the cutting board resilience (self-healing) to cuts, although this one is, in fact, self healing.. You will also need a paper trimmer (15-25 dollars). I have a  compact 12-inches one from Fiskars. There is a retractable arms that is convenient for storing. On smart tip that I have found somewhere on internet is to cut always in the same direction (for example always up or always down). Since the blade will come out every now and then, you will have to make a mark to know which side is up. This way, when the blade will eventually get old you can just turn it around and use it for some extra time.

Punches (borders and shapes): They can be quite expensive so you may want to wait for a sale or a coupon and plane ahead how many and which ones you want. Basic shapes (like butterflies, flowers, circles and scalloped circles) can be used to create embellishments. As per the borders, there is a large variety of choices. Give yourself the time to understand your stile and see if you would use more a very ornate one or a more linear one. They are also typically quite bulky, so storage can be challenging. I have seen them stored in multiple pockets organizers (like those used for jewelry). To keep them in good shapes you can cut through Wax paper to lubricate them and through aluminum foil to sharpen them.

General design tips for a scrapbook layout: Part 1

1.      Layouts may come in different sizes (in inches): 12x12, 8.5x11, 8x8, etc.

2.      Finished layouts are typically stored in page protectors

3.      Page protectors can be collected in albums. There two main types of albums: three rings and post-bound.

·         3-rings albums are more practical: they hold more (especially if you have lots of embellishments), the pages are easier to move around and you don't have to take the whole album apart to insert more page protector. However, when you use double layouts, there will be a gap between the pages.

·         Post-bounds look fancier and adjacent pages touch each other without any discontinuity. Many come with the capability of expanding the back to add more pages. Adding or moving around pages, however, is a royal pain.

4.      When buying page protectors and albums you may want to stick to a standard in order to have the holes in the page protector matching the album. For example, American Craft albums and page protectors have the same standards of ordinary 3-ring binders. This allow you to insert in your album photo protectors in different sizes, to add some variety and accommodate for more pictures (see below, #7). Wal-mart (where you can find very good deals for scrapbooking and crafting in general) sells CölorBook brand: their prices are significantly lower but they use a different standard for the holes.

5.      You can also frame a particular layout in special frames designed for the purpose and deeper than the usual print frames

6.      The picture should be the main focus: one big, 2 with the same orientation, or up to 4 smalle. 

7.      If you wish to add more pictures there are several options:

• You can add a file folder side (with the tag) as a border or insert a 6-pocket 12x12 picture protector. These hold either 6 landscape or 6 portrait 4x6 pictures (or journaling tags) on each side (available @ Hobbi Lobby and Michaels). Note that 4x6 is the less expensive format to print. There are also (@ Amazon) page protector with mixed pockets (like, e.g. 2 portraits and 3 landscape or vice versa). There is a variety pack available on Amazon (8.5x11 3-Ring Photo Sleeve Refills: 4x6 & 4.75x8.5 Pocket 10-Pack - We R Memory Keepers)    
• In a 12x12 album you could  insert 8.5x11 page protectors, either the plain one (let’s say to accommodate school awards in a graduation album) or a subset of pictures. 
• Another option is to create a fold out page by cutting in half vertically a 12x12 photo page protector (there is a very clear tutorial on You tube called Glitter Girl adventure 005, part one). By cutting it in two you end up with two half protectors holding 6 4x6 pictures each. Besides pictures, you can put there memorabilia, embellishments or journaling. Works only for landscape pictures (unless you crop them and glue them on paper). The half protector with the holder edge still on, is easy to use in between pages. The one without it can be taped (washi tape, mailing tape, invisible tape would cut over time) on the external side of the main paper protector, after adding journaling and embellishments. This will create a flip over half page. You can than use tape on the open side so that the picture do not fall out.
• You can also create accordion-like sequence of pictures (this solution is sometimes called interactive layout, many tutorials available on You Tube). In order to allow access to the pictures once that the layout is inside the page protector, you will have to cut an opening in the page protector.    

9.      Color: your palette can be softer or bold but there should be some rationale, like matching colors in the picture. Typically a quiet back ground works better. If the background is plain, or has lines, can be written on directly, for handwritten journaling. Solid color craft paper can be a great background.

10.  Add title, legends and journaling. Title, especially if long, can be split in two (with a main tittle and a subtitle) and written alternating different fonts, size, dimension, and color. Add punctuation at the end.

11.  You can create pockets behind pictures to insert (with clips or envelops) memorabilia journaling that is meant to be more private

12.  Double layouts: There has to be some connection between the two pages; the simpler way is to use the same background and/or a second smaller piece of paper shared between the two. One page might have just one bigger picture (or two) with people in them, the other more and smaller pictures, maybe with places and objects.You may also cut a photo in two two, to then put each half in a different page, where the to pages touch each other. However, if you are using a 3-ring binder remember that there will be a gap in between.

How to save money

1.     Many supplier, like for example Hobby Lobby and Michaels, have weekly specials including a 40% coupon that you can use for one specific item. If you plan ahead of time, you can use the 40% off coupon  for the most expensive tools, like the heat gun or a punch. They have weekly sales on specific items like stamps, or certain brands of embellishment, etc. Coupons have to be retrieved from their website and printed. However, some places accept coupons on a smart phone.

2.      Both Hobby Lobby and Michaels have also an area at the very back of the shop, with items at a much reduced price. Michaels has “1$-baskets” close to the check out. They sell online but I found their shipping quite expensive.

3.      Wal-Mart (at least the super-center) is somewhere you may want to check out. They do not have everything but what they have is very cheap. For examples they have patterned paper pads for 5 dollars. The paper (Cölorbook) is quite thin but pretty and you can always reinforce the final layout with inexpensive card stock in the back. Their album and page protectors (from the same brand) are cheaper than other brands but the holes do not match American Craft. They have a lot in the craft section too (gesso, a variety of acrylic paint from Folk Art, stencils…). They also have a ‘On Sale’ area (in the shop close to me is near the paints and garden area) where you may occasionally find good stuff. If they do not have what you are looking for, I would suggest to check online: they typically have a larger choice and the delivery is free if you pick up at the store. FOrexample, aolthough they do not sell American Craft albums in my store, they do have it online.

4.      Marshall and TJMax are a less obvious source but a quite valuable one. It’s like fishing, in the sense that you never know what you can find but whatever it is, it can be as low as 20% of the typical retail price.

5.      Thrift shops: you can find all sort of treasures: ribbons, lace, ink pads, etc…The book section may offer interesting books from which you can rip illustrations, vintage looking printed paper or music sheets.

6.   Many libraries give away for free the books they weed and those are a good sources too.

7.      Dollar store is another place to look at.

8.      Think out of the box: buttons and ribbons are much cheaper at the sewing section at Wal-Mart than in the scrapbooking area of a craft shop. Beads and charms can be obtained by hold jewelry found at a garage sale. Office supplies shops may have nice paper clips, labels, envelops, etc.

9.      Ricycling: Start looking at every-day items with a scrapbooker eye: small doilies can be colored and used as embellishment or for journaling and the larger as stencils. Nice paper from packaging can be used to cut embellishments form with punches. The same for cloths tags, cards and wrapping papers... the packaging of some embellishment is sometimes really pretty and can be recycled to make tags.

10.  Blogs and You-tube channels  may give you tons of hints and information, telling you about alternative sources or recipe to make you own supplies. For examples, color mists (bottles with liquid paint ready to spray, with or without metallic effects) are very popular and fun to play with, but are also very expensive. Online there are several efficient recipe explaining how to home-make them.