Recently I was asked if there was a description somewhere on my blog of my “method” of scrapbooking. In case it would be of help to someone, here is a brief and general description of how I scrapbook.
First of all, although I do some digital pages just for fun, for my “real” scrapbooks, my method is traditional/paper. I scrapbook chronologically, rather than topically. I take pictures of most everything that happens in our lives, and I scrapbook most pictures. I complete 2-3 albums, 12x12, each year. So far, I have almost exclusively used Creative Memories albums. (I do topical albums for vacations/trips, and usually use K&Company post albums for those.) I started scrapbooking in 2004 and have about 30 albums, stored on several shelves such as this one:
I have a hobby room with lots of supplies, laptop, printer, Cricut Expression and Cricut Imagine. I have a table to sit and work on embellishments (inking, stamping, for example), and another table where I stack some things in process. But I stand to scrapbook. My husband made a raised box that brings my work area up closer for me, for comfort for my neck and shoulders. This is my main scrapbooking station:
This is my process: When I have a group of photos (I order from Snapfish), I organize them by “event” and try to keep each event to 5-8 photos (for a two-page layout). I label each group of two-page layouts with the date. Each of these “stacks” represents a two-page layout.
For a layout, I spread out the photos on my work mat.
Next, I think about the colors I want to use for the layout. I tend to let the colors of the photos, and the “mood” of the “event” determine what background paper (actually cardstock) I will use. Foundational to my scrapbooking style is the use of color. So, I look through my Die Cuts with a View card stacks. Some of them are here:
I pull one or more stacks and/or a few sheets from the stacks to play with, laying out the photos to see how they look on the different backgrounds.
I narrow down the paper/cardstock selection until I’m down to a couple of sheets per page.
Then I play around with placement and paper use. I work some with simple embellishments (Cricut die cuts, etc.). For me, the pictures really are the main thing, followed by journaling. So there is not a lot of room for elaborate embellishments.
I mat some of the photos (using white cardstock in this one), add some buttons with baker’s twine, ribbon, etc.
I usually use the Cricut for the letters of the title, but occasionally I revert to my old method of self-stick alphas.
This layout came together quickly. Sometimes I do more elaborate layouts and spend much more time. I was putting together an album on our Florida trip and had about 80 photos to scrap, so I wanted direct and simple, with focus on the pictures and journaling.
It’s difficult to give a brief description , but this is a general overall picture of how I scrapbook. If you have questions, email scrappermamo@gmail.com.
2 comments:
Love your description of creating a LO! Very easy to follow or utilize for a beginner. I've been scrapping for 4 years and this is pretty much how I determine which paper and cardstock to use for my LOs too! TFS your thoughts and methods :)
Barbara, I just have to say that I have looked at a lot of your blog today and I LOVE the whole thing! This scrapbooking description is awesome, you have a beautiful house, and it looks like you have a wonderful relationship with the Lord! My goal right now is to be more like you :) I want to be more active with blogging/journaling and scrapping, and spending time with God.
You are AWESOME!
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