Wedding 6x6 Scrapbook Pages

My husband and I have a beautiful big photo album from when we got married five years ago, which by the way was before I started scrapbooking, but I have always wanted to create a new album, giving it a scrapbooking makeover! I decided to buy a 6x6 album, print off my favourite photos from the day (along with ones that told the "story" of the day), but then also add pages every few years as our family grew (which will be one more in the next two weeks)! I haven't got around to finishing off the later, but have done all the wedding shots.
I have used half of Simply Scrappin' kit "Sweet Nothings", but found that I started to run out of designer paper so have stamped with Baroque Motifs and Sprinkles on a couple of pages.

For most of the pages I have used a simple colour-blocking formula, then matted all photos onto Whisper White cardstock and layered them on top, finishing off with lovely die-cut stickers from the Simply Scrappin' kit. I completed all 16 pages in an afternoon while scrapping with my friend!

Colours: Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip.

Last Week of May Scrapbooking - Day 7

Well today is the last day of my mini scrapbooking extravaganza and I hope you've enjoyed it. We'll finish with a double layout of my elder son's last birthday. I've used the giant Medallion stamp as a background. This stamp can also easily be used as a focal point on cards and other projects.
Stamps: Medallion, Big Bold Birthday
Cardstock: Basic Grey, Bashful Blue, Wild Wasabi
Ink: Basic Grey
Accessories: Simply Scrappin' Crew Kids - Boys, Big Shot, Top Note Bigz Die, Timeless Type Medium Sizzlits Dies

If you would like to place an order for any products you see on my pages, or to book a workshop, give me a call on 078629112 or email wooffdog@xtra.co.nz.

Last Week of May Scrapbooking - Day 4

I thought it was about time I joined in the latest NZSU Blog List Challenge, see here for details. My family is off to visit my sisters family tomorrow so I have made these for her children which is why there's no photos in there yet. My sister will have to pleasure of choosing which ones to put in. These little scrapbooks are made from one piece of 12x12 designer paper and each took me about an hour to make. They are also a good way to use up retired Simply Scrappin' kits! See here to visit SCS for a tuturial on how to make one yourself.
Stamps: Mini Alphabet (from the Warehouse)
Ink: Basic Grey
Cardstock: Simply Scrappin' Kits - Crew Kids Boy & Girl, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink
Accessories: 1/2" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon Pumpkin Pie, 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon Whisper White

Beautiful Dreamer Scrapbook Layout

My mojo is slowly coming back. I think making/having time to craft has alot to do with it, not just the feeling unwell bit. I've put in my big preorder for the Autumn/Winter Mini Catalogue today so will soon have lots of new toys play with. I am hoping my mojo will arrive along with the box!

Todays scrapbook page incorporates two techniques which I have been wanting to try; A stamped title cut out as one word and printing journalling from the computer then slicing it up. I've seen Kelly Slattery do the title one and Delys Cram uses the journalling technique quite a bit. I think both are very interesting visually!
I didn't use the Stamp-a-ma-jig for the title (because I was feeling lazy!), so just followed along the bottom edge of the whisper white cardstock. Notice that the 't' in beautiful doesn't line up? It was very noticable before I cut the word out, but I was more than happy with the result when finished. Funny eh?

Stamps: Schoolbook Serif Alphabet, Lovely Letters Alphabet, Curly Label Punch Bundle
Cardstock: Real Red, Whisper White, Basic Gray, Hoppy Memories Simply Scrappin' Kit
Ink: Basic Gray
Accessories: Curly Label Punch, Photo Corner Punch, Metal Photo Corners

O Where O Where Has My Mojo Gone?

Yes, it's MIA! I think it's still somewhere in 2009, but I'm not planning on going back there to find it! Anyway, at least I know WHY it's missing, I've been suffering with morning sickness since Christmas. Yes, #4 is on the way, due early August. Not feeling well can certainly take the wind out of anyones sails. I have had a cleanup in my craft room which has helped, and am very excited about all the wonderful new products that Stampin' Up are releasing on April 1 so that's going to help too! The Big Shot is coming. For those of you who don't know what the Big Shot is, it's a manual die-cutting/embossing machine similar to a cuttlebug or sissix. Clear-mount stamps are also coming, along with new slimmer punches, both of which will take up less storage space, which is always a good thing.

Well even though I'm not feeling too creative, I'll share with you some scrapbook pages I did complete over the last few weeks, and in the next few days some other projects too.

Stamps: Lovely Letters Alphabet, Sprinkles, Dream Big stamp from Hero Arts
Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Gable Green, Apricot Appeal, Brilliant Blue, Whisper White, Patterns Pack II DSP
Ink: Billiant Blue (ink & marker), Gable Green, Bashful Blue
Accessories: Crimper, 5 Petal Flower Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch, Rhinestone Brads, Tag & Small Tag Punches, Curly Label Punch

Stamps: Big Bold Birthday, Frames with a Flourish
Carstock: Whisper White, So Saffron, Pretty in Pink, Tea Party DSP
Ink: So Saffron, Certainly Celery (ink & marker), Pretty in Pink
My Sister-in-Law gave me the Title/Flowers
Stamps: Big Bold Birthday
Cardstock: Whisper White
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Basic Black Stampin' Write
Accessories: Hoppy Memories Simply Scrappin' Kit
See this post to know more about Simply Scrappin' Kits.

Sam's Birthday Card

A quickie post today with a quickie card. I've just spent the last 2 hours putting ALOT of lego together from Sam's 6th birthday present, I plan on blobbing out for the rest of the day!
Stamps: Live Like You Mean It
Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, Wild Wasabi (Retired In-Colour)
Accessories: Stapler, Pumpkin Pie 1/2" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Crew Kids - Boy Simply Scrappin' Kit (Retired)

More Simply Scrappin'

Further to my post yesterday, here's a couple of pages I created using another Stampin' Up! Simply Scrappin' kit - Crew Kids - Girl (retired):These pages were just so easy to create because everything in the kit co-ordinates!

Product Showcase - Simply Scrappin' Kits

Is scrapbooking something you would love to try, but you are intimidated by all the screeds of scrapbooking papers, embellishments, tools and stickers available out there and it appears you need it all to complete the task? I've used quite a few kits from other stores, but none have come close in quality, quantity & creativity than Stampin' Up!'s Simply Scrappin' kits! Each kit provides 8 sheets of 12x12 cardstock, 6 sheets of double-sided patterned papers and 6 sheets (3 different designs) of self-adhesive die-cuts -many of which coordinate with matching stamp sets, punches and more! Each kit also comes with several terrific layout ideas, so to create the scrapbook pages, just cut, copy and add your own photos! You can finish whole albums using these kits, in just a few hours, and are really great for themed albums too.

Each kit can make at least 8-10 12x12 scrapbooking pages, and at $43.95 for the kit, that's less than $5 a page! You'll also have lots of leftover die cuts which can be used for cards, gift boxes, etc.

Planning on going away next holidays? Take one of these kits with you, along with a paper trimmer and some adhesive, and you're set to scrapbook on holiday!

If you have little boys, you'll love the Hoppy Memories kit:
Of course, there's nothing to stop you from using it for girls too! Check out the other kits on pages 136-138 of the Catalogue.

I haven't purchased any of this years kits yet, because I'm still using up the four I bought last year! Yesterday I made this page with my Crew Kids - Boy Kit:
And here's some other pages I made using supplies from the same kit:
Cute eh???

Lessons in Scrapbooking - Layout

I LOVE scrapbooking! And I LOVE talking about it and teaching other people how to do it! On this blog I would like to share some techniques and ideas which I've learnt since I started scrapbooking 4 years ago. Today I'm going to talk about Layouts.

This refers to the placement of titles, photos, accents and journaling on the scrapbook page. Remember that you don’t need to include all of your photos in your scrapbook – choose the best which “tell the story” so to speak. Before you adhere anything, experiment with the placement of your photos and title until you find a pleasing arrangement. Journaling and accents will add balance and interest to your layout. It's a good idea to choose one photo as a focal point and make it stand out by framing, adding additional mats or using accents to draw attention to it.

TIP – Sketches are great for creativity. Checkout www.pagemaps.com, www.stickersnfun.com or just google “scrapbooking sketches”. You can also gain inspirations from scrapbooking magazines and books or by visiting layout galleries at websites such as www.splitcoaststampers.com, www.scrapjazz.com or www.scrapbook.com.

Here's a double layout I completed today.

I haven't yet got the hang of putting photos side by side yet but bear with me!

I started off using this sketch from PageMaps but then steered a little off course:

But that's the great thing about sketches, you can follow them close or just use them to get started. The "Welcome" title was a chipboard word which I had bought at Spotlight at least 10 years ago (I had some plan to make a Welcome Friends sign with a sheep in the middle). Soooo glad I kept it now (I knew I'd use it someday, ha). It was coloured by pushing into Brilliant Blue stamp pad but then I decided to make it black. Crystal Effects were then added over the top and the final effect ended up being midnight blue. I planned it that way, NOT!

For the banner, I popped the designer paper through a crimper then used my 1 3/8" square punch to cut a nice straight, even triangle out.

I was really happy with the final effect!

Cardstock: Bashful Blue
Ink: Brilliant Blue, Basic Black
Accessories: 1 3/8" Square Punch, Patterns Pack II Designer Series Paper, Crystal Effects, Crew Kids - Girl Simply Scrappin' Kit (Retired), Crew Kids - Boy Simply Scrappin' Kit (Retired)