Advice for New Scrapbookers!

If you're a brand new scrapbooker, here is some advice and tips to help you get started! I've also created a YouTube video with more advice, so feel free to check it out!

1. START SMALL
When you are new to scrapbooking, it is a good idea to start small with your first album. Perhaps a weekend vacation or holiday would be a good start. Don't try to do something too big or important -- like your family history or wedding.


2. BASIC PAGE ELEMENTS
There are so many wonderful supplies available in stores! But, when you're just starting out, you'll want to start with basic page elements. Here is a list of the items you'll need for your first pages. As you develop your own style, you can add to this list as you discover embellishments and supplies that appeal to you!
- photos
- page base (pattern paper or solid card stock)
- photo mats
- page title (letter stickers)
- buttons / brads

3. BASIC TOOL KIT
You're also going to want to assemble a basic tool kit. I recommend the following items to get you started!
- Paper Trimmer
- Adhesive (glue stick, ATG gun, foam squares are a few examples)
- Ink (for distressing paper edges and for stamping)
- Ribbon and/or Bakers twine
- Scissors
- Pencil with Eraser
- Journaling Pen or Marker
- Paper Piercer

Here is an example of a page I created using only basic page elements! The top 3 things I love about scrapbooking are shared  on this page.

Until next time, happy scrap booking and paper crafting!

Border Ideas!

In my most recent YouTube Video, I share ideas for scrapbook borders for every month of the year!

Borders are a great way to use your stash of border strips, punches, stickers and paper scraps. Not only can you use them on scrapbook pages, but you can also use them on handmade cards.

Here's an example of a quick and simple birthday card using just small section of a 12 inch scrapbook border. You could probably even make 2 or 3 cards from one 12 inch border strip!

Until next time, keep on scrap booking and paper crafting!!

Scrapbooking with Stickers!

When I first started scrapbooking more than 20 years ago, stickers at die cuts were some of the only page embellishments available! After all these years, stickers are still one of my favorite supplies because they are cute, inexpensive and there are so many varieties to choose from.

Here is a recent layout I created using stickers for the page title and embellishments. By using only some stickers for page embellishments, the photos really stand out on this page!

My favorite sticker company has to be Mrs. Grossman's! I'm even signed up for the Mrs. Grossman's sticker club through which I receive LOTS of wonderful stickers each month. Here is a look at the stickers I received in the April Sticker Club mailing! For information about the Club, visit: https://stickerclub.mrsgrossmans.com/,

Until next time, happy scrap booking and paper crafting!

April Sketch from Lets Get Sketchy

Take a look at the page created from the April sketch from the Lets Get Sketchy blog!

See below, OR, check out the process video on YouTube!

Today it is SNOWING here in central Illinois. But, it is mid-April and we are ready for SPRING weather, not WINTER weather. So, to help me think WARM thoughts I decided to scrapbook a photo taken in DISNEY WORLD back in 2003!!

Instead of a large star as called for by the sketch, I decdied to use a large Mickey icon instead.

Until next time, happy scrap booking and paper crafting!!

2019 Scrapbook Resolutions - First Quarter Update

For 2019 one of my Scrapbooking Resolutions is to USE the mats, papers and supplies in this basket as much as possible. Here is a photo of it at the beginning of the year. It's packed full of supplies and I've been making this my FIRST place to look when I need a photo mat!

Now that the first three months of the year are over, it's time to take another look at this basket and see how I'm doing on this goal! Here is a photo of what the basket looks like today....

I've used MANY things from this basket over the last 3 months and the basket is starting to look a little less full. At the beginning of the year, there was no room to "flip" through the basket -- it was all packed in tightly! Now, there is room to "flip" through! 

I'm NOT going to add anything to this basket until 2020. I'm going to keep going to this basket FIRST anytime I need a photo mat or other embellishments (like a journal spot). I'll post another update after 3 more months and by that time, I hope to show even more progress! By the end of the year, I'd imagine there will still be some things left, but I hope to use A LOT of the contents by that time.

How are you doing with your goals and resolutions for 2019? I'd love to hear what you're trying to accomplish!

Until next time, happy scrap booking and paper crafting!

Donate Extra Scrapbook Supplies!

This page documents a recent visit to Nashville where we took a donation of scrapbooking supplies to a store called SmART Supplies! Craft supplies find new life at this store which is a non-profit organization that employs adults with intellectual disabilities. (www.SmartSupplies.org, Facebook.com/SmartSupplies)

Here are some photos of the completed page. There is a process video on YouTube if you'd like to see how the page was created step by step!

Since it's still March, I'm still playing Calvinball! This page is worth 33 points. I'll list the point details below.

What is Calvinball? It's a fun way to play along with other scrapbookers who want to scrap their stash and get some pages done! You earn points by using materials called for in the rules, for posting to the facebook group and social media. There are even points for process videos like this one! The rules are always changing, so things should be pretty interesting.

For more information visit https://www.scraphappy.org/calvinball/. There is also a Facebook group called Calvinball. Let's see how many pages we can get done playing Calvinball during the month of March!

This layout is worth 33 points in Calvinball!
1 - (for this video)
1 - 1 page layout
1 - social media (Instagram and Facebook post to Calvinball group)
1 - star
1 - enamel dot
1- bling
1- wood veneer (#3 in title)
1- handwriting
1- happy
1- washitape
1- citrus fruit
1- sequins
1- date
1- flower
1- heart
1- arrow
1- circle
1- flair
1- tag
1- frame
1- rainbow
1- bakers twine
1- photo corners
1- metal embellishment
1- border punch
1- camera
1- yellow
1- green
1- unicorn
1- galaxy
1- moon
1- butterfly
1- 2 different fonts

Until next time, happy scrap booking and paper crafting!

Let's Get Sketchy - March Sketch Challenge

Here is the March sketch from Let's Get Sketchy! I used this sketch to create a 2 page layout. 

By flipping the sketch upside down, the pages have a cohesive design. 

Below are photos of the completed layout and there is also a process video on YouTube! 

Left page

Right page

For second page of the 2 page layout, just put the sketch upside-down!

Until next time, happy scrap booking and paper crafting!!