Making a Great Page with Not So Great Pictures

The Echo Park This & That  papers are perfect for so many family pictures.  This month rather than using new pictures, I decided to tackle my boxes full of old pictures.  In trying to pick out pictures, I realized my pictures from the 80s are not nearly as good as those I take today.  Perhaps most importantly, I can’t fix them digitally.   I had several pictures (and none of them great) that document a major activity for my son.  I decided it was important to scrapbook them for the memories even if the pictures were not good.

Since they were dirt bike pictures, This & That Charming line full of great boy colors combined well with the Tim Holtz Cogs for just the right look.  I cut a large photo mat out of Numbers (green side) and placed it across the two pages of Vintage Fans (wood side).  I cut yardsticks from the Yardsticks Paper and a  “You Make the World Go Round”  strip (great for bicycle pictures of your son) from the Border Strip paper and used these to trim the photo mat on the right and bottom.   On the top of the photo mat on left, I used the Tim Holtz Sizzix On the Edge Steampunk Die to cut a border.  I then cut out lots of cogs in green (Numbers) and brown (Dots from the This & That Graceful Line) using the Sizzix Tim Holtz Gadget Gears die.  Most were affixed to the page.  In three, I used brads from the set in the center and raised them with pop dots.

I cut a base for my title from the Tim Holtz Baroque Movers & Shapers Dies and the Tim Holtz Movers & Shapers 3 Punches Die.  (As an aside, I kept now buying these because I couldn’t see paying over $10 for a die ot punch 3 holes when I had lots of ways to make holes.  Definitely, a mistake. The way these work is you put them wherever you want on a piece of paper in the Mover & Shaper tray and since they are magnetic, they stay in place and cut the holes exactly where you want.  I’m a convert.  They were in stock at ScrapbooksPlus last time I was there so pick up a set.)  I affixed the base with brads from the line and added a title cut using a Tim Holtz Vintage Market die. 

For my journaling, I printed on Instamatic (white side).  I inked with Vintage Photo Distress Ink and und using  the EK Binding Edge Edger  punch I punched the top edge. (I love this punch.)

My final embellishments were the new KaiserCraft  Wooden Flourishes Cogs.  They were a little too light for my page so I stamped them with Vintage Photo Distress Ink to give them texture and to darken them so they matched the paper better. Where they were still too light, I rubbed a little extra ink on them.  I affixed these to circles of brown and green paper and put them at the three corners of my large photo mat to draw the eye to the picture.

Take A Hike

I love this collection from Echo Park. These papers were perfect for scrapping about a Cub scout hike we took with my son's den last fall.

The green plaid paper had a real outdoorsy feel to me so I chose that paper first and then added the neutral zigzag paper. To pull the layout together I decided to use the army green paper as the background and edge border of the entire layout.



To make the title I used a piece of cardboard I saved from some packaging. I tore off the top layer to expose the corrugated middle. Then I used some Heidi Swap mask letters and placed them on the cardboard to spell the word HIKE. I painted over the letters using green acrylic paint by Making Memories. Once I was finished adding the paint I removed the letters to reveal part of my title. You know how "they" (everyone in the scrapbooking industry) are always saying you should include your own handwriting on your pages, well I think the same should be true for those you are scrapping for so I had my son write "Take A" on the tag for me. I attached the tag to the cardboard using my Tiny Attacher and then added a few more of the small staples to the corners of the cardboard.

I also used some ink on these word cards that I cut from one of the papers in the line. I was hoping to create a dirt effect on the cards and I am really happy with the results. Instead of using paper to mat the photos I used more of the acrylic paint and ran the photos edges through the paint to get the border effect I wanted.

Immediately after finishing this layout I started on a very girly layout with just as cute of a title. By the end of the day I had finished two very different 2 page layouts using this collection. The papers were so easy to work with and so inspiring. If you are curious about my girly layout check it out on The Wall or just stayed tuned to the blog. I'll post about it next week.

Enjoy the Spring!

I love this paper.  I seem to say that every month but truly I love this line from Echo Park!  There are great papers for boys in the collection and really pretty girly papers.  They have a vintage feel to them but aren't what I'd term 'heritage'.  My 5 year old daughter fell in love with the papers and asked if I'd make something for her bedroom with the paper.  Here's what I came up with... a 'butterfly' house. 

I measured and carefully cut each piece to cover my unfinished wood birdhouse.  I also used my Copic markers for the parts that I could not reasonably cover with paper.  Did you know you can use Copics on wood?  They do a fabulous job of letting the wood grain show through but provide a 'stained' finish!  The transparency of Copic markers is one of their best qualities!  I used 3 markers:  RV34, YG23 and BG72.

The butterfly punch is a new 3 in one punch from EK Success.

Enjoy the Spring!!

Wednesday Layout

This week's layout uses paper from SEI - mostly their Vanilla Sunshine collection with a hint of American Craft's Dear Lizzy thrown in.  With Easter just around the corner this has lots of bright cheery colors and patterns for your springtime photos.

Stop by the store for your supplies!

Not Just For the Boys

The Echo Park "This and That" Charming line is full of wonderful colors - and not just for boys. I used it in a layout about my daughter. The green was very fitting, considering the subject  - Girl Scout cookies.

Don't feel limited by papers and feel that you have to scrap only boy stuff with "boy" papers and vice versa!

4/2/2012 10:24 PM Hope you can stop in the store this week and check out all of our new products!
Advantus- Commute Tissue Tape.

Bella Blvd. - Sunshine Happiness papers and Just Write journaling stickers. We’re Expecting papers and Baby’s First miniatures diecuts. Baby Boy & Baby Girl papers and Alpha + Bits cardstock stickers. 3 new colors in Sophisticates Sprinkle & Lace Collection.

Graphic 45- Little Darlings cardstock stickers. Olde Curiosity Shoppe cardstock stickers.

My Minds Eye- Follow Your Heart “Be Amazing” layered stickers.

Simple Stories- Mix & Match 6x8 Album with matching refill packs: 6x8 multi pack, 4x6, 3x4, 6x8 and combo 3x4 & 4x6 refills pack.

WeR Memory Keepers- Lucky 8 Diecut Punches: Tatted Doily and Lace Kerchief.

Pick up your Scrapbucks for the upcoming Yard Sale on April 21st. If you would like to sell your supplies, tables are available on a first come first serve basis for $5 a table. If you would like to crop this weekend, Friday night is the only night for cropping so sign up early. Have a great Spring Break and a very Happy Easter! Debbie

Echo Park's "This and That"

Check out this fabulous paper from Echo Park! The "This and That" paper collection includes a diverse color palate for both girls (Graceful line) and boys (Charming line). With all the yummy pinks, greens, blues, creams, yellows, etc. you are sure to find the perfect grouping of papers to fit your crafting needs! You will also find a wide array of embellishments at Scrapbooks-Plus for the "This and That" line: Chipboard stickers, stickers, and buttons! Be sure to stop by Scrapbooks-Plus and check out all the great projects and layouts that our Design Team created to help inspire you!