BoBunny Snowy Day Line

The Design Team used BoBunny’s Snowy Day line to create its January projects.  As the name conveys, the papers, journaling blocks, tags and embellishements have a snow theme.  Lots of snowflakes, mittens and snow sayings, such as "let it snow."   Typical of BoBunny, the line includes brads, cute buttons,  jewels, die cuts and chipboard shapes. 

The rich hues of blues,  browns, plums and golds provide great backgrounds for winter pictures. The Design Team added some of the BoBunny cooridinating solid papers with dots on the reverse side.  Slate Dots, Plum Dots and Curry Dots papers go especially well with the Snowy Day line  

Although the papers are perfect for snow pictures, the color combination is great for other pictures as well.  As an example of the versatility,  I made two layouts of travel pictures, without any snow in them.  Many of the prints work for a variety of pictures. 

I can’t wait to see what the Design Team has made with this versatile line.  You can check out the Design Team’s projects at ScrapbooksPlus.  Feel free to take pictures of those that give you ideas for your layouts.  While you're there you can pick up the supplies you’ll need to make some great layouts. Or you can sign up for one of January's crops and usethe Design Team Wall for ideas create your own layouts. 

Storing Christmas Memories

If you’re like me you have hundreds of pictures from Christmas, some adorable and others not such great pictures but you can’t throw them away because they have a special memory to you.  And then there’s a special tag that one of the younger members of your family made.  There’s a program from a Christmas play that you want to save and the menu and receipes from your Christmas dinner.  Of course you could make layouts that include all of this memorabilia, but this is a time consuming project and you’ll likely not find the time. 

I have a way of storing all these memories quickly so they’ll all be available when you want them – Scrappin’ Folders.  This way you have an attractive folder that displays some of the great pictures, two pockets for other memorabilia and a CD pocket so all the pictures are preserved. When you want any of these items you’ll know exactly where they are.

You can use any line of cooridinated papers, but Simple Stories papers are always so easy because the variety of coordinated colors and messages allows you to put together pages in the perfect to tell your story.  The Handmade Holiday line is perfect for Christmas.    It is festive, has lots of borders, vellum picture frames, journaling blocks and stickers so it is easy to customize to your special Christmas.   

One of my favorite parts of the Scrappin’ Folder that I made with Handmade Holidays line is the  little matchbooks for notes and little pictures that are attached them with magnets so I can remove to look inside but they always go back in the same place.

To make a Scrappin' Folder, you cover the outside of one folder with paper and the inside of the other.  You decorate each.  I add a couple of pockets to the inside – one for a photo CD and one for a small book I make by just folding 12” x 12” paper to make a book with 4” x 6” pages. You then glue the folders together at the bottom using a permanent and strong glue.  Using Wonder Tape you affix the sides, leaving a pocket on the front and back.  I make a file folder for each of these pockets.

If you prefer, I’m teaching a class at Scrapbooks Plus on  January 12^th from 11:00 – 4:00pm.  In one afternoon, you’ll make a Scrappin’ Folder for either your Thanksgiving or Christmas memories.    In this class, you’ll learn how to make such a folder with just a few supplies.  You’ll use lots of tools and techniques, including the Tim Holtz Vagabond and dies, Martha Stewart Scoring Board, inks, punches, magnets. 

And you’ll leave with either a Thanksgiving or Christmas Scrappin’ Folder.  With your class fee, you’ll get a full Collection Kit (either Autumn Lane or Handmade Holidays), extra paper and instructions.  A sample of each is on display at the store so let us know which one you want when you sign up.  You’ll just need to bring basic tools, a paint brush and a variety of adhesives.

Sign up at the store or by calling 703.263.9503. 

Creating A Great Layout without Great Pictures

The most interesting story from last Christmas in our family was the challenge my son and niece had in putting together a ping pong table for my nephew.  Even though it was an important aspect of our Christmas that I wanted to journal, I did not have great pictures so I couldn’t tell the story with pictures.  Using a little creativity, I created a layout that tells the story in an attractive way with only two small pictures and not great ones at that.  Perhaps this layout can inspire you to tell some stories even though you don’t have great pictures.  Alternatively, you could use this layout  with a large picture in the photo box.

I used the KaiserCraft Just Believe Magic paper for the background and added an almost square piece of Keepsake paper to the right bottom corner.  I punched the left side with  a small scallop edging punch. 

I really like the metallic paper (sold at Scrapbooks Plus in a variety of colors) so I used the turquoise metallic paper for title and accents.  Since I didn’t have good pictures, I made a large title the focus of this page.  I cut letters in three different sizes, three fonts and two different papers with my Cricut.  To add a graphic representation of their rush against time, I added an alarm clock cut with the Tim Holtz Sizzix Movers and Shapers.  I made a photo mat using a 6” square of metallic paper  and a slightly smaller square of Keepsakes.  I added two small photos and a subtitle using the line’s Alpha Sticker set. 

I printed the journaling on a 2 ½” x 11” piece of Hymm paper.  I punched the bottom with the same edging punch used on the background.   To add some focus, I added a strip of the metallic paper at the top of the journaling and punched the bottom with the edging punch.  I added the label strip from Keepsakes paper to the metallic strip and added natural-colored small rickrack at the top.  To add the final touches, I added the date from the sticker set and ½ of one of the journaling blocks from the Collectibles set.

Spectacular Spin in Wurzburg

Kaisercraft’s Just Believe Collection was a great line for a two-page layout on a day in Wurzburg, Germany during a Holiday Markets cruis.  I had a lot of pictures so wanted to design a layout that could be used for several photos.  This one displays five.

The left and right backgrounds almost identical.  Each is made using four pieces of paper (both sides of Hymm & Magic paper)  On the left side, they are  squares of 12” , 11 ½” , 10 ¾” and 10 ¼”.    On the right side, I made the Magic pages just a little smaller (10 ¾” x 10 ½” and 10 ¼” x 10”) and added a 10 ¾” x 1 ½” strip from Glisten that has an interesting design that coordinates well with the other papers. On the second side of Hymm, I punched two sides with a stamp around the page punch so that they meet in the middle.

A few of the die cuts from the Just Believe Collectables added some charm, but the real highlight of this layout is three embellishments made with the Spellbinders Spectacular Spin die.   I saw this die at ScrapbooksPlus and knew I had to use it.   What is unique about these dies is that you cut out the design with the die, then you fold certain parts and tuck them so they stay.  The result is a fun design that looks kind of like a quilt square.  I used the Keepsakes paper, producing a nice contrast with the red on one side and a white with green on the other.  The sets includes three dies (1 ⅝”, 2 ⅝” & 3 ¾”). I used one of each in the layout, adding a button for the center and putting some light cardstock on the back as I used them in places that I didn’t want the background to show through. 

The title was created with the Winter Wonderland Cricut cartridge using Keepsakes for the shadow and Hymm for the letters.  I wanted to show what I purchased so I added a little arrow cut with Tim Holtz Sizzix Movers and Shapers die and wrote “My Purchases” on it to point from the bag to a tiny picture on a small die from the Just Believe Collectables.  I think it actually looks better without this, but for me telling the story is always the most important part.

Snow Angels

I was inspired to scrap a few photos of my then very young daughter making snow angels with her Daddy (just before the big blizzard a few years ago) by these great papers from Kaiser Craft as well as the pretty snowflake embellishments.  I put together a simple layout that uses just a few colors so my pictures wouldn't be lost on the pages.  I further enhanced the Kaiser Craft embellishments with a sparkle, ink on the edges and spritzed white paint.  I also used the backside of a few of the embellishments from the pack-- the bracket under the photo on the left page and the journaling tag.  The creamy color matched my snowflakes and the reverse had Christmas sayings which didn't really work for my layout.  I always try to look at my embellishments in different ways- sometimes the backside is the best side!

I cut the other snowflakes on my Cricut and using a border punch from a grey blue cardstock-- then spritzed them with white paint and added more sparkles.  The white paint I spritzed was Studio Calico's Mister Huey.  It is nice and thick and opaque.  It looks like snow.  I had fun spraying and thought it looked like a snowball hitting a window before it melts.  So fun!

 As I am typing this we are having a very unusual 60+ degree day here in Northern Virginia.  With so little snow last year, I actually am looking forward to a bit of snow this year.  As in these pictures, a few inches suits me just fine-- within a few weeks of these pictures we received several consecutive storms with several feet at a time, accumulating to over 4 feet at once!  I do hope we don't repeat this year or any time soon!  Happy Winter!

Make & Take: Memories of 2012

With cold weather and hurricanes, I needed something to cheer  me up so I designed this week’s Make & Take, “Sweet Memories of 2012,” with Basic Grey’s Plumeria line.  Flowers with lavender, creams and greens were so cheery to work with.   The embellishments come from the Plumeria chipboard or stickers.  One thing I love about this line is that the letters are chipboard, rather than stickers, and there are lots of them so you have plenty to spell whatever you want.  You can make Sweet Memories of almost anything.  A few I thought of were of Love, My Daughter, Spring, Weddings, Vacation.  Really anything that you have pictures of.  Of course, you’re not limited to  “Sweet”  you could substitute another word or just start with “Memories.”   The layered “Memories” is the free element for this week’s Make & Take.  Add a few self-sticking pearls of cream and lavender and you are done!

For those of you not familiar with how Make & Takes work, every Wednesday one of Scrapbook Plus’s designers creates a two-page layout specially for you to copy.  It is displayed at the cash register, the items you need to make the page are displayed together so it is easy for you to get just what you need, written instructions are provided,  and we give you a free element.   It’s your choice whether you make the page at the store so you can use the actual sample or take the items home and make using the instructions, which include a picture.  Either way this is a great way to make a page a week and get that stash of pictures on pages.

There are limited supplies this week so be sure to get to Scrapbooks Plus as soon as you can.  And you’ll have lots of extra chipboard so pick up a few extra pieces of paper and you’ll be able to make another layout or two.  The variety is great so you’re layouts won’t look the same.

Holiday Scrappin' Folders

Harvest Lane Scrappin' Folder

 Using Simple Stories papers is always so easy because the variety of coordinated colors and messages allows you to put together pages in the perfect to tell your story.  Using the Harvest Lane line, I created a Scrappin’ Folder to keep my Thanksgiving pictures, recipes and notes about those special Thanksgiving memories.  Scrappin’ Folders are a concept that I came up with to record special events without having to create a whole scrapbooks or lots of pages to showcase my photos and memories.  I create a folder that is appealing to look at, has space for a few pictures and a pocket for a CD so I can keep all of the pictures, lots of space for notes and other memorabilia.  The Harvest Lane line was great for this.  In fact, I liked my Thanksgiving one so much that I created a Christmas one using the Handmade Holiday line.  It is festive with two files for lots of notes and extra pictures, etc.  One of my favorite parts of these Scrappin’ Folders is that I made little matchbooks for notes and little pictures and attached them with magnets so I can remove to look inside but they always go back in the same place.



Handmade Holiday Scrappin' Folder



Rather than putting the pictures and memorabilia someplace intending to scrap them later and then usually not being able to find everything when I have time to scrap, now I put everything from an event  in a Scrappin’ Folder.  In a few hours, I have an attractive showcase that I can easily pull it out and enjoy it time and again and all my memoires from the event filed in one place.  And if I have time, I have everything in one place to make the scrapbook pages of the event

To share this concept with you, I’m teaching a class at Scrapbooks Plus on November 24^th.  In one afternoon, you’ll make a  Scrappin’ Folder for either your Thanksgiving or Christmas memories.    In this class, you’ll learn how to make such a folder with just a few supplies.  You’ll use lots of tools and techniques, including the Tim Holtz Vagabond and dies,  Martha Stewart Scoring Board, inks, punches, magnets. 

And you’ll leave with either a Thanksgiving or Christmas Scrappin’ Folder.  With your class fee, you’ll get a  full Collection Kit (either Autumn Lane or Handmade Holidays),  extra paper and instructions.  A sample of each is on display at the store so let us know which one you want when you sign up.  You’ll just need to bring basic tools, a paint brush and a variety of adhesives.

Sign up at the store or by calling 703.263.9503. 

See you on the 24th!



Matchbooks Held in Place with Magnets



Halloween Coffin Candy Dish

Halloween Candy Dish

When I saw some paper mache coffins, I twanted to make a candy dish.  Like many of my projects, I started out with the basics (covering the coffin with paper) and then kept adding so I ended up with a skull, printer’s block letters, etc. I had a lot of fun and think you will too.  With this candy dish at home or the office, you’ll sure to be a hit.  I’ll describe what I did, but once you get started I’m  sure you’ll see ways to do it better.

To begin, I painted the edges of the top and bottom of the coffin using Ranger Pitch Black Paint Dabber. Everything else will be covered with paper.  I covered all sides of the coffin top and bottom with paper.  To do the bottom outside, I simply glued the paper to the bottom of the coffin and then cut out about ¼” larger than the coffin.  I cut a slice from edge to the coffin in the corners so it would fold up smoothly.  For the inside bottom, I drew a pattern by running a pencil around the edges of the coffin.  I then cut out a piece just slightly larger, maybe an 1/8”.  Neither of these need to be exact as you will be covering edges.  I made some slits like on the outside bottom so it would fold easily.  Then I put some glue on it and stuffed it into the bottom of the coffin.  You need two strips of paper for each surface you need to cover that are about 1/8” to ¼” smaller than the surface.  Glue them together and then glue them on the outiside or inside, cutting off the extra.  Smooth carefully so you don’t have ridges or gaps in your final project.  For accents, I used two strips from the Apothecary Labels paper.  I sprayed it lightly with water, crumpled it up really good and then inked it with Vintage Photo and Black Soot Distress Ink and glued around the outside.  On the top, I used the same technique with a piece of the dictionary paper.  (I love this – dictionary with spooky definitions!)  I also stamped som Halloween designs with black ink.  I also inked the top of the coffin lid.   In the bottom of the candy dish, I used stickers from the Alpha Stickers, which includes some great options – words, letters (in two sizes), creatures and apothecary jars. animals and letters.  I then gave all surfaces a good coat of sealer.  You could probably avoid this, but when I am going to use something  I like to make it a little stronger and the sealer dose that.

I used Modge Podge for all the gluing and sealing on this project, but since then I’ve run out of Modge Podge and replaced it with Ranger’s new Glue n’seal.  It doesn’t smell better and is easy to work with.  If you’re buying something for this project, pick up Glue n’seal at ScrapbooksPlus.  As a hint, get the small bottle as it has a brush built in so you don’t have to keep washing brushes.  When you run out you can buy a 4 oz bottle and refill. 

Using 405 glue, I glued the lid of the coffin to the coffin.  I used quite a bit of glue and let it dry for quite awhile.

Inside View of Candy Dish

Making the skull was easy.  I couldn’t find a paper mache skull the size I wanted, but found the perfect size that was covered with glitter.  I soaked it and rubbed glitter off; then I discovered that it was a Styrofoam skull.  I took metal tape and cut it in small strips and pieces and covered the skull.  I smoothed it out, but as you can see it was very bumpy.  I used pens and assorted other items to make imprints on the skull.  Then I covered it with alcohol inks (black, brown & terra cotta) and wiped off much of it.  I colored some really large staples with orange alcohol ink and put them on the skull.   Using 405 glue, I glued the skull to the candy dish.

For the sign, I covered a small tube with paper. (If you don’t have a tube of the right size, you can make one with a piece of cardstock. I’d use something that is a little heavier and glue two pieces together.)   I covered it and one of the tags from the set with sealer.  I added an eyelet to the tag and put a little shiny ribbon through it.  I put memory thread through the back of the ribbon and stuck one end  through a small hole in the tube and wrapped it together at the bottom and glued the tube to the coffin.  I thought I could make it look like a lamp post by adding a Tim Holtz Curio Knob on top. 

I love the printer’s blocks and they are really easy to make.  I used three chipboard squares/rectangles that my chipboard letters will fit on.  I painted the squares black on all sides and the letters on the top and sides.  After gluing the letters to the blocks, I sanded off the paint on top and edges. (If you have a sander’s block, it is good to use for this project.)  Ink again with another color; I used Vintage Photo.  Glue to the coffin.

Add candy and you’re done!!!

Embellishments Plus

This bright paper made me happy -- just to looking at it.  Once I got started embellishing the embellishments I had a great time.  The end result is a lovely layout with 5 pictures from a wedding I recently attended and lots of room for journaling.  (You can’t see it in this picture because I hid it!). 

On a background of Smile Beam, I used a 11 ½” square piece of Bright Blossom.  I put the five 3 ½’ x 5” pictures on a piece of Smile Bouquet paper ¼” larger on all sides than picture block and added this to a piece of Smile Beam about ¼” larger on all sides than Smile Bouquet.  I inked the edges with Tumbled Glass Distress Ink

I used the new Tim Holtz Brushed Pewter Distress Stain to make the two silver (okay actually peweter) accents, one of which is a pull tag for the hidden journaling.  Here’s how you make them.  Cut  2”  X 4” and 2 x 6” pieces from neutral-colored cardstock.  Using the Sizzix Tim Holtz On the Edge Brackets Die cut one edge of each piece.  Put a piece of scotch or masking tape across the edge of the design (the part above the tape is what will show.)   Color the part above tape on each piece with Brushed Pewter Distress Stain. Quickly after adding 2^nd coat, cover with clear embossing powder and heat emboss.  Affix the shorter strip to bottom left of photo block. Apply Range Wonder Tape ¼” around sides and bottom fof the photo block.  Affix to backgroung forming a large pocket for the journaling tag.  To finishe the pull tag, put a small brad from the Everday Decorative Brads in the center of the remaining strip.    Add piece of thread or ribbon around brad to pull in and out of pocket and you’ve got a pull tag.  (I colored white thread with the Brushed Pewter Distress Stain.)   Add journaling now or later.   (I printed mine on Playful Mischief paper and scalloped the top & bottom before affixing to pull tag.  I really like it with the scalloped edge showing just above the photo block.) I added the “Tell Me A Story” label  from the Label Sticker set.

I used embellishments in three corners.  Instructions for making them follow. 

Upper right – Start with Decorative Brad from the Everyday Decorative Brad set.   Attach to a 1”scalloped circle from Smile Beam paper and inked with Tumbled Glass Distress Ink with a pop dot.  Affix to a 1 1/2” scalloped circle from Smile Beam and inked with Tumbled Glass Distress Ink with a pop dot.

Lower right – Start with Bright Chipboard flower that is same flower as is in the background.  Affix to a 1 ½ ” Smile Beam scalloped circle inked with Scattered Straw Distress ink with a pop dot.  Affix to a 2.5 circle cut from Smile Beam and inked with Tumbled Glass Distress ink with a pop dot. 

Lower left –Start with a 3” circle of Smile Beam inked with Tumbled Glass Distress Ink and affix it to the background.  Add a 2.5” of Remember Record.  Ink a strip (approx 9 ½”)  of net ribbon (available at Scrapbooks Plus) with Brushed Pewter Distress Ink.    Fold into a bow and secure with two heart pins Little Yellow Bicycle Stick Pins.  To create the center, you start with a 1” scalloped circle of Playful Mischief (inked with Scattered Straw & Tumbled Glass) and insert a brad from the Everyday Decorative Brad set.  Insert this in the center of the bow you have made.  Add two smaller brads.   Using 450 glue or Glossy Accents affix the bow to the circles on the page.

A variation of this page could be made with a variety of the papers and embellishments.  And if you don’t to journal (and I know many of you don’t), either just use the brackets for embellishments and don’t make into a pull tag or use the pull tag for additional pictures instead of journaling.

Rat Pack Themed Layout

I love it when I can design layouts the reflect the essence of my pictures.  Although it wasn't mmediately obvious when I saw the Basic Grey Clippings line, upon review I discovered that the grey herringbone and red houndstooth paper worked well to create a perfect layout for pictures from a Rat Pack-themed party at a famous nightclub in San Fran.

Here’s how to make this page.  Start with a background of Novella.  Add a 5” x 12” piece of Handmade Quilt on the top.  Affix a strip of shiny black ribbon (available at ScrapbooksPlus) where the papers meet.

Cut 6 ¼ ” X 10 ¼ ” piece of white cardstock; print or write message in right bottom corner.  Add two  4” x 6” pictures (one horizontal and one vertical).

To make the sign and the flourish, you use one of my favorite techniques.  Using the Tim Holtz Sizzix Hanging Sign Die cut sign hangar from chipboard.  Cover hangar with VersaMark by pressing into VersaMark pad, emboss with Zing black embossing powder.  The texture created is wonderful.  Put eyelets in holes.  The flourish was cut with the Tim Holtz Mover & Shapers Mini Flourish die.  To make the sign, glue a 5” x 3” piece of Novella to a piece of chipboard. (For this purpose I use a glue stick and even out with brayer.  Because of how you are cutting you need every bit of the paper glued to the chipboard and this is a great way to do it.)  Cut out sign using same die as you used for hangar. Put eyelets in holes.  Affix sign to hangar using Tim Holtz Jump Rings or Clasp Clips.

Put title on sign using alphabet from Printed Chipboard & Alpha Set.  I love this set of alpha for several reasons.  A couple are that they give you lots of letters and even have a apostrophe’s. 

In bottom right and left corners, embellish with  Clippings Brads and Wooden Buttons.  I put Memory Thread in the holes of the buttons.   This set of brads gives you lots of options and the buttons are really fun.

Page map and the rest of the story!

Using the Design Team page map this month I crated this layout.  I had some really great photos from my daughter's school trip that I also wanted to use, so I created a second layout to go with the given page map! 

One of the fun things I've pulled out of my scrapbooking tool stash recently is my Fiskars crimper.  I haven't used it in years but have been having a fun time making patterned paper look like corrugated cardboard- which is so hot right now!

The crimper adds fun texture and dimension to any project.    It is great to distress the ridges or leave as it.  I used it on my card set as well!

Pull out your old crimper and give it a try!

Easily Embellishing your paper

I was excited to see this paper in the Design Team kit! It was black and white and had this great scroll design on it! I knew right away I would be pulling out my Copic markers. I used a caribbean blue green sea color Bazzill cardstock which matches one of the borders from another paper in the DT kit (used on the second page of this layout) as my inspiration and chose a similar Copic color and a pale blue to blend. For those of you that use Copic markers, this is surprisingly great paper for blending!! --An added bonus!!

Here's a close up of the completed coloring above and below is the completed two page layout. You could really use your Copic markers to embellish any scrapbook paper. The markers are transparent so you can slightly alter (or significantly alter by layering your color) any paper of any color! I hope you find something creative to do with this fun paper!

Cordinating Core Papers by Loretta Cooper

One of my favorite new things from CHA this year is this coordinating paper. Here's the secret the "core" ... it's a different color than the exterior. Why would you want paper with a different color core?, you may well ask. The answer is, all the better to emboss with. I ran this paper through my Quick Kuts Revolution with one of their 4X4 inche embossing dies.... You can of course do that with any kind of paper... but here's where the really cool part comes in. Lightly sand the raised ridges with fine grade paper or one of the Making Memories Sanding Blocks (anybody can show you where they are in the store!) and voilia! I just LOVE the way this looks. After trying it out once, I rushed back to the store, and purchased about 20 pounds of this paper... This promises to be my new card making trick... plus it's just so much fun to see the color reveal itself!

Have Fun!
Loretta

Spring Fling by Loretta Cooper

I loved this paper as soon as I saw it! Great choice Deborah. It's the Bloom and Grow line from My Mind's Eye. The inspiration for the layout was really the great colors in the line. As you can see I layered several prints and created chip board embellishments out of some of the coordiating stickers.

The oranged scallop piece was part of the kit, but I balanced it with a scalloped white stripe placed horizontally across the bottom. You can purchase all kinds of pre-cut scallops, but if you love the look you might consider investing in a cutter that includes various decorative blades. Debbie or any of the girls at Scrapbooks Plus can help you choose one you are sure to love.

Thanks for dropping by the DT Blog,

Loretta

Basic Grey Marrakech Working with BIG Prints -- Loretta Cooper

If you are anything like me, you adore printed paper. I have enough printed paper in my stash to complete albums for the next 10 generations. (And I'm always in the market for more....)

But sometimes, working with printed paper can present a challenge. especially if the prints are big and bold like Basic Grey's new Marrakech.

It's easy to let those gorgeous prints steal the stage from the real focal point; your photos. So here are a few tips that I've learned about working with printed paper, without upstaging those family faces.

1. More is Less. It's true in life, it's true when in comes to printed paper. If you want to indulge is big prints and bright colors, use them sparingly. You can actually play up the print more if you use less.

2. Balance it out with Card Stock. Next time you are at Scrapbooks Plus, and are turning cartwheels over the latest Basic Grey, Cosmo Cricket, or Wild Asparagus prints (a few of my faves!) head immediately to the back and collect coordinating solid card stock. And don't just go for the deep hues. Sometimes a neutral shade will make that print pop!


3. Create Your Own Matching Embellishments. Because I love prints so much, I am always looking for new ways to add it to my layouts, without overpowering my photos. One of my favorite tricks is to pick the prettiest part of the print, (or the part that best matches my theme) and turn it into a one of a kind chipboard embellishment.
Just glue it onto a piece of cardboard (I highly recommend using ZipDry, Debbie always keeps it in stock!) and cut around it by hand. It doesn't have to be perfect. Then use a file to knock down weird angles or the uneven parts. Finish it off by inking around the edges in a coordinating, darker shade.

Happy Scrapping!
Loretta

New to the Neighborhood!

Hi there!
My name is Loretta Cooper and I am one of the new members of the Scrapbook-Plus Design Team. Although I'm new to the team, I've been a compulsive Scrapbook-Plus Customer for years.

I am a storyteller and journalist by profession. So it makes sense that documenting and preserving my own family history is a personal passion.

I began scrapping just after our first child was born, but quickly realized that this was a generational undertaking. Both of my grandmothers kept scrapbooks and photo albums. My books are just the latest editions in an ongoing story.

In my grandmothers’ scrapbooks I find the minutia and details of their lives both fascinating and surprising. I try to keep this in mind as I create my own pages.
Sometimes I worry that this hobby is too self indulgent and sucks up too much of my time. And then I realized that this undertaking reaches both forward and backward in time. It provides a larger context for our understanding of ourselves and our families. I read my grandmother’s thoughts about my father as a child, and I suddenly see traces of my own children. I see my grandfather’s relentless entrepreneurial spirit, and I know where my drive comes from.

… and you thought this was just about paper and glue!