Do You Ever Do-Over a Page?

I confess, I do make page do-overs.  Sometimes.  While in my head, I justify not making over a page with the whole "the page is done, the photos are scrapped, move on" thing.  Sometimes, I just cannot get beyond NOT liking the result and out comes my trimmer and scissors to take the page apart. 

Which is what happened here.

But since I hate to lead off with the page I didn't like, here is the "after" page.  

This was the page "before".  See what I mean.  It just misses on so many levels.  The vellum (or tracing paper in this case), the papers---which I re-used---but here it was too much, in too big pieces that just seemed to fight each other for attention.  It felt like I just threw the stuff on the page just to get the photos done.  Hate that!  

As you can see, I used the very same papers, but cut them into strips and did more mini layers at the end of each strip to tie the papers and patterns together.  On one hand the after page is busier, but to my eyes, it is more coordinated and less of a distraction to the photos.  And I removed one photo...really didn't want to , but I will probably use that photo on a different page.  There's more than one subject, so it can go in another album.

Papers and embellishments came from the October Scrapbook Circle kit.  (Which sadly I will be discontinuing as of December, so I can finish off my comparison of kit clubs.)

Detail shots of  the "after" page are here.

I did paint the 2 and the 0 because they had a printed portion on them that conflicted too much with all the rest of the patterns going on.

These are the close-ups of the paper strips with their mini layers at top and bottom.

I also chose different letter stickers for the "Birthday Boyz" title, using the golden yellow to tie that color in a bit more. 

And while not what I originally had in mind for the page, I am much happier with this result than the original page.

So, if at first you don't succeed....  cut that baby up and try it again!  What can it hurt?

best,
Cheryl  

How to Pick a Kit Club; the research continues

Since starting my little study on picking out a kit club, I am learning loads about my personal preferences and shopping preferences.  Like, feminine versus masculine paper and embellishment designs (I actually find it easier to work with more masculine or generic patterns rather than floral no matter how pretty I find the pattern to be)! ...

Now I have a granddaughter to scrap for and she LOVES pink, so some feminine pinks are a must, but I don't need entire kits (or kit club) devoted to girl-ish goodies.  I need a balance.  And I have found that Gossamer Blue provides a happy mix.  Now that being said, I have only been working with one kit from them...I'll be ordering another soon (goodie-goodie!). 

This is my latest page from the Gossamer Blue kit.  And it's from pretty much the tail end of the supplies I received.  I did a total of 9 pages with the kit and wished I could have kept going.  Now that, to me, is the sign of a good kit!  I even screwed up a big piece of one of the papers smearing gesso all over it and trying to use it as a background...trust me it was a hot mess!!! But I still was able to get 9 pages done...9!  Woo-Hoo!  (She says trying to high-five herself--ok that's never gonna get photographed!) 

So far, I am gobb-smacked with Gossamer Blue.  My only criticism would be that they have a very quiet FB group.  I feel a bit pushy, posting my pages there.  Not a lot of chatter.  I mean I've received very kind remarks and all, there just aren't many others posting pages.  And I like to have a spot to chat it up with other scrapping fiends (um, I mean friends).  So, we'll see.  I can't make that my over-riding decision buster.  But on to the layout...

I added a bit of vellum, but everything else is from the kit.   I even used a piece of packaging (that small piece of light gold diagonal stripe).  Could have done a little ink splattering, but decided to keep it very clean and went without. 

It's a simple page design, sure.  But every page I put in the kids' or my own  albums are not show stoppers.  Nor, do they need to be.  In fact, I don't think each page in any album should be over-the-top.  Wouldn't that get tiresome to look at after a while? 

Just can't wait to get my next Gossamer Blue kit, and I've already ordered my first kit from Scrapbook Circle, so I'll have some more comparisons coming soon!

Lesson #1 in picking a kit club?  Pick what you are going to work with, not just one that carries pretty stuff.  If you aren't going to have a use for it...regardless how pretty it is, what's the point?

later,
Cheryl

Choosing and Mixing Patterned Papers - A Texas Breakfast

I thought I was going to talk about paper layers (again... yawn).  OK, so that sounded b.o.r.i.n.g.  Seven different papers layered up creating the background...tore some, cut some, layered 'em up.  But why those papers?  H-m-m-m-m.  Now there's a much better topic. 

It all started with a page I saw a you tube video on (and I wish I remembered whose video it was, but I don't---if I can go back and find it I will edit this post and include a link).  Layout is not the same as hers, colors are not the same, style is not even the same... but I really wanted to have torn paper layers across the top of the page like hers.  So that's where I started. 

Now which papers?  Well since my subject matter was my Texas shaped waffle, I pulled several homespun type patterns.  Ones that might have appeared in a country kitchen or old time roadside diner (at least in my imagination).  Those are the teeny floral pattern and the blue circle repeat pattern. 

Then I thought there needed to be some sort of break between the two patterns and added the little strip of ruler or tape measure looking print.  Better, but not enough of a barrier between the two kitchen-y prints. 

Next came the diagonal aqua-green stripe (always love a diagonal stripe).  And I almost thought I was done, but that black print with the arrows on it was still calling me.  I had tried using it as a larger torn piece and it was too much dark, but tucked in so only a sliver of it showed was just right!  It picks up the dark background on my photo (and I didn't know it yet, but it also picks up the dark charcoal color of the leaves on one of the photo layers--bonus!).  Tucked in a piece of a doily and one half of a little blue doily sticker (the other halves show up on the photo layers). 

Layered the photo on top of two clusters of ephemera (quite a while back I stapled stacks of Maggie Holmes ephemera pieces together --cuz you sure do get a lot of pieces in those packs!).  I did have to pull up the "3" and the blue bow and re-staple so they would fit right, but no big deal to do that. 

 

Then the alpha sets... the blue is from Basic Grey (old, old, old) and the brown is a Thickers set that I thought was perfect for a western feel.  Felt good to finally use some of those brown Thickers...only been hoarding that for (gulp) a year or so!  I just cannot let go of my Thickers.  (Is there a Thickers self-help group anyone?) 

And now I am probably heading back to Michaels, because this particular store has several Thickers sets I've not seen ,well not in person anyway---probably scoped them out online. (Great, now I am stalking Thickers.) 

oh, thit, I have a Thicker thtuck to my thoe.... 

Cheryl

All About the Layers - Say What!

Haven't been here the last several days...family drama...  car repairs... drawings for permit applications (yep, if anyone reading this knows what we've been up to at all...six weeks later and we are still piddling about --- this is where the family drama came into play).  A.n.y.w.a.y.   I stole little bits and snips of time to try and get a little scrapping done...trying to soothe my nerves by playing with paper. 

Splashed some watercolor on the left side of the white cardstock and the snatched up lots of pieces, scraps cut aparts---all with the greens, yellows, and blues that are in our Jackson man's sleeper and the watercolor splishes and splashes.  Then cut and tucked the various pieces (20 pieces in all here)until I was happy with the layering "stack."  Then plunked my photo on top of the whole pile. 

Once the photo was in place, it was easier to see where the "stack"  needed a another layer.  That was where some stickers came into play.  Added the two banner type stickers, the "today" and a couple of flowers (not too many---it is still a boy page after all!).  The cool thing is that making a pile of layering papers and stapling it together means I can adjust it on the page right up until the last moment.  (For those of us who suffer from indecision-itus!!) 

Once the layers and photo were assembled and in place on the page, it was time to add the title, enamel dots, journaling and a few coordinating pieces at the top of the page.  Alpha stickers from my ages old Echo Park About a Boy sheet... Gosh, been using this one collection for years it seems!  I guess I shouldn't complain.  Afterall, I've more than gotten my money's worth out of it!!!  But I think I may be hitting the proverbial wall....  am definitely feeling the need to look at some new stuff.  This buying freeze has lasted six months!!!! 

Even though using multiple layers of  papers under my photos isn't a new thing.  I had never piled up a big ol' stack and then stuck the photo on.  And this did work pretty slick! 

So,  glad to be back in blog-land.  So glad to have stolen some time to scrap!  And especially glad to find another technique for making up layers. 

best,
Cheryl