Challenges of Creating Boy Pages -- A College Boy Layout

The first of my blathering(s) on creating pages for the guys... big and little guys!!  My grandson was off to his first year of college here.  (Nana cried---how could he possibly be old enough for college --- he was like just six yesterday, right?!  LOL) 

Taking color cues from his shirt, I added several colors of blue water colors in a somewhat vertical line, broadening the watercolor out toward the bottom of the page. Once that was dry, some black stamping ink was applied through a piece of mesh and then some splattering with black and blue paints were added.  The whole page got trimmed down and centered onto a piece of black cardstock. 

A torn piece of patterned paper and a piece of corrugated paper back the photo.

Acetate die cuts got tucked in at the bottom of the layered photo, as well as the ampersand at the left side and some gold acetate stars sprinkled down from the top of the page to help in directing the eye to the photo.  

And the last thing was to put the title in place at the right side of the photo, oh yeah.  (Well, almost the last thing---I did add journaling---after I had hurriedly taken photos of my page!!!  I always take photos of my pages outside for the light, but had to get this accomplished before it started raining here.) 

Only three pieces of paper (beside the watercolor paper and the black cardstock) were used on the actual layout.  It was watercolor and stamping ink used as layers, rather than layers of paper.  The embellishments taken individually could be construed as feminine due to the gold, but here added on top of color and texture, they take on a more masculine feel.

Using watercolors and texture----just one way to create that "guy" page.  Oh, yeah...

later all!
Cheryl

Crash Your Stash!! - Use Color and Icons to Support Your Page

It's time for a crash your stash page and some hints as to how to use icons and color to support your page theme. 

I've talked before about using color... it's something that is strongly ingrained in me as to how I select the papers to use on a page.  With this page being about Pearl Harbor and this photo having all that water, the steel-y gray of the ship, I had to look for blues and grays...lightened a bit with the teal color. 

I wanted to soften the background page a bit, so I used a stencil and plain white texture paste. 

 The layout itself is pretty straightforward.  Layered blues under the photo, title tucked up nice and close to the photo. But what to do to dress up the page a bit and maintain the dignity the subject demands. 

 I had some of a "boy" themed pad of Heidi Swapp papers and remembered that there was a sheet or two of cut-a-parts.  I did a bunch of fussy cutting...keeping to the military theme and the blue, gray, teal color scheme.  Military--think straight, blocky stars, banners, chevrons, map or nautical paper.  Ta-da.  Done. Borders, bent and curled a bit to add texture.  Direct the eye by the placement of the banners and chevrons.  Done.  Leave room for grandson to leave his thoughts (or parlay them to me to add).  Done.  

Told you it was straight-forward page. 

I hope my grandson likes it and that it evokes in him what he was feeling when he was there. 

Have yourself a scrappy sort of day! 
(and crash your stash!!!!)

Cheryl

Crashing My Stash - a Challenge Page!

There are challenges on various website and FB pages and sometimes it's a good thing to play along to get you to try something new, to use some of your stash, to get over a scrapper's block.

But sometimes, it's just plain old fun.  On one of my favorite FB pages, Mercy Tiara's 27 day challenge page, another gal added yet another challenge by way of a tic tac toe board, and you needed to choose a line and go for it.

I chose the line which included the use of vellum, two photos, and stencils.  After looking about at the material I had at hand (items that were already out and right at hand--I've always said I am at heart a lazy scrapper!), it turned out I was following the same line that our fearless leader, Tracy used, although I didn't set out to use the same one...  honest, I didn't!

The  background paper was one that I had stenciled quite some time ago for a different page and then never used; it was laying on the floor!  The vellum scraps were laying out, left from a page I put together a week or so ago!  And these two photos didn't seem to fit on any other paper that was within easy reach!  So, that's how this decision was made.  Nothing but pure laziness! 

The stencil pattern had been applied using two different stencils and a couple of different colors of chalk inks.  I trimmed it down some to to clean up the edges and then sewed the two pieces of vellum into place and continued sewing around the perimeter of the page.

I did the gold splatters next, since I wanted those to dry before anything else went onto the page (I've smeared gold paint or ink on too many occasions---not today!).


While the gold ink was drying I went to work layering paper scraps, tags, and journaling cards under the photos.  Once I placed my photo block in place, I could see where to add in extra pieces of paper to fill it out and also tucked in a couple of stickers from my stash. 

Next was to create a line or base for my title to sit on, so out came some washi tape, one of which I repeated in two other areas. 

  
The other additions to the page were some Raindots.  Remember those---they came out way before enamel dots came into play...and yes I still had a few...had being the operative word.  They're gone now!!!  Ya-hoo!

It makes me ridiculously happy to fulfill a challenge, use up some stash, as well as a piece of paper I had previously stenciled and not used, and get rid of old product (er, I mean use it up!).

Try a challenge to get you moving, use up some stash, finish off partial packs of older product...   See if this doesn't make you ridiculously happy!

in other words, crash your stash!

Cheryl 

How Many Pages Can You Get Out of a Kit? - Tallying Up the Pages!

So I've pretty much killed the Scrapbook Circle August kit.  I have no 12 x12 papers or even strips that are 12 inches in length.  No larger chunks of paper that could be used for photo layering, no cut-a-parts left.  I do have a few of the white puffy heart stickers, one of the leather badge embellishments and a good portion of chipboard alphas and seven completed pages! 

You can see more from this kit on previous posts, but here's the last three. 

I did use some plain white cardstock as a page background and a piece of older Basic Grey (even though I cleaned out a substantial amount of papers before we moved, I saved a stack of Basic Grey "antiqued" or mottled solid color papers because they make great backgrounds--I use them as though they were solid color cardstocks). 

And I did use some alternate alpha stickers for some titles, as well as some wood veneer pieces, a doily or two, a small sticker or tab, and vellum for layering.  I also made use of the stencil provided in the kit and paints, sprays and colored pencil.  (Loved getting a stencil with a great all-over pattern like this wonky triangle!). 

Oh, and I totally scrap-lifted a page idea from the Scrapbook Circle blog. 

Now, not having a working sewing machine did stop me from stitching all along these cut strips, and I did add the cut-a-part words from the provided strip of them; but the overall design---a straight scrap-lift!  I appreciate having creative and straightforward page ideas to peruse and the Scrapbook Circle blog does a great job! 

The September kit that is on its way to me is totally different in both color and in design.  I can't wait to get a hold of this next one!  Another good sign of a good kit club.  You finish everything off, and are feeling done and over it...and w.h.a.t.?  You glimpse the next coming kit and can't wait to get it! 

Seven pages done with the August Scrapbook Circle kit.  Hoping to get the new kit later in the coming week, fingers crossed! 

Nine pages done with the June Gossamer Blue kit.  The Gossamer Blue September kit looks divine as well and their add-ons are really hard for me to pass over this month--but I am not testing those, so am forcing myself to not look at them!! The unfortunate thing is that both Gossamer Blue and Scrapbook Circle have included the very same sticker sheet in their September kits.  H-mmmm, may have to start a give-away stack. 

Here's how the clubs stack up so far:

Scraptastic                   Kit #1    9 pages          Kit #2:  4 pages
Studio Calico               Kit #1    5 pages          Kit #2:  4 pages
Gossamer Blue            Kit #1    9 pages
Scrapbook Circle         Kit #1    7 pages

More to come!  Yippee!  More to come! 
Cheryl
 

Why It Can Be Easier to Use Kits for Problem Photos!

Really?  Easier?  Yeah, sometimes I think so.  And here's a quick why. 

When that kit shows up, you are looking at a very specific selection of papers...  you take those papers and head to your desk and spread them out (at least I do).  Let them "speak" to you for a moment or two.  Then pull out a few of those photos you've printed but have never gotten a home, because they just didn't seem to fit with anything. 

I had pulled these photos off movie advertising and the books from Amazon I think.  I had wanted to document something that was a "big hit" of the time, and the fact that my daughter and I (both voracious readers) had traded the books back and forth, then went to each of the movies.  It was fun to read and discuss, then watch and discuss.  The title came about because I kept thinking about how we traded the books between us, then my thoughts strayed to that old decorating show Trading Spaces and ta-da, "Trading Pages"! 

When I saw the kraft paper with the arrows, I thought of these photos.  Cuz of the bow and arrow thing of course, !that was the "speaking to me" part!  Since using the entire 12x12 piece seemed a bit much (and a bit dark), I experimented on a separate piece of kraft cardstock  using the included stencil, another Tim Holtz stencil and both white spray mist and white acrylic paint.  That helped lighten up the page considerably. 

From there it was just layering up papers, adding a punched piece (that notebook edge piece) and adding a small strip of print paper to "join" the two sides together a bit and some of the white puffy stickers (that came in the kit) for some additional dimension. 

The page actually came together fairly quickly, once the paints were dry...and it was all due to that arrow printed kraft paper and the fact that I was strictly looking at the kit inclusions.  Then I started layering papers under my photos and allowed myself to dig about a bit for some pieces to tie the colors together.  The adds from outside the kit were a piece of vellum and a scrap piece of red brick type pattern (it was a Basic Grey paper), plus that Tim Holtz stencil and the two different Thickers alpha sets. 

I've had such a good time scrapping with this kit, and it's almost time for the next one to be shipping!  Yeah!!!  But I haven't quite finished this kit up; I'll do more of a wrap up when I get closer to the end of it.  So far, even though I haven't posted them all yet, I've done six pages, and I may eek out two more.  All in all, I am quite pleased with this kit and looking forward to the next one. 

later! 
Cheryl

 

Sort Those Scraps - Happy Feet

Still on the subject of choosing and layering papers, still using my stash, but this time all the papers used (except for the white cardstock background sheet) are all scraps--all previously cut pieces and odd little leftovers. 

On the photo itself... Jackson was only one, sitting on the couch, watching a cartoon show, and I happened to see these little feet crossed at the ankle.  Something little that made me smile.  And I am finding that these photos are actually having more meaning for me and touch me more than the posed, everyone facing the camera, smile big type photos. 

It seems only fitting that something so little and inconsequential should be showcased using lots of little inconsequential pieces of paper then.  And what results?  It all adds up to something I love.  And so it goes, all those little fleeting moments adding up to something meaning much more.  Kind of cool.  And I think kind of like all the moments and days piling up, adding up to a life. 

ok, enough of the life analogies and philosophizing...this is what you get when I haven't had enough coffee!  Ha! 

 

Back to scrapping talk.  It was easy to find most of the papers since they were pretty much all together in one page planner; leftovers from a lot of the sports pages in eldest grandson's graduation albums.  As those pages were created, the scraps and pieces got placed into one page planner so I could continue to pull from it.  After his albums were completed, I just left that page planner together and put it into my tote when I packed to leave.  So when this photo pooped up again, it was easy to see it needed blues and neutrals to showcase it.  All I had to do was snatch up that page planner with all the little bits, strips, and pieces already sorted into just the colors needed!  

The white cardstock got a bit of inking in blues and tans, using a scrap of mesh as a stencil.  And I also added several wood veneer hearts (just cuz I liked the different shapes of the hearts and the look of the natural wood with the blues and browns in the photo and papers). 

The title is made up of two different alpha stickers, one is an old, old, OLD Little Yellow Bicycle set that I have used almost entirely.  The other, lower case alpha is from an old Webster's Pages alpha set.   Not a lot of journaling on the page...  Jackson's first Nikes, as mandated by his older brother Jacob.  Not really sure if all my blather about odd little moments adding up to something bigger will get journaled onto the backside of the page or not.  (I mean how crazy do I want future generations to think I am? LOL All right, I am so gonna go put these thoughts down on the back! hahaha)

off to create more odd little moments now,
Cheryl 

Salvage the Page - Ketchup and Mustard

These little faces mean the world to me.  (Even the somewhat more mature face of their older brother at age 19, is still a "little" face to me and indeed still means the world to me.)  These little faces also speak volumes....right now they are screaming summer.  Ketchup and mustard costumes in place, my little grandies are ready to run a race against the Milwaukee Brewer sausages. 

I find myself often questioning where this complete and utter joy that children are so easily and quickly able to manifest goes as we become adults.  We are so mired down in the everyday details of one thing or another that must be done, the time limits and requirements imposed on us by work, government, and even family members. 

Working with paper and photos, paint and ink, releases me from that feeling of being mired down.  Add in the bonus of working with photos of these happy little faces and there is the double win of creating something that they will have in years to come. 

Now onto page details... 

Since I am working within my stash (still) I pulled whatever red and yellow print papers together I had in my tote and started with the photos, layering rectangles and slivers of papers till there were bits of reds and yellows peeking out all the way around.   The background seemed a bit stark white at this point, so I added a bit of yellow using a stencil and ink. 

Next was to create a border using small rectangles of the red and yellow prints adhering them at all four sides. 

Now the page seemed to be too busy for my taste.  What to do, what to do?  Now I am feeling a bit mired down with the details and the time already spent on the page.  so.  Now trying to salvage the work I had already down (and not waste the paper).  Thinking to self, if there is too much going on... remove something.  OK, let's try  trimming down the layers under the photos.  Better.  Then trimmed down the edges of the page itself, making the border narrower and adhered the whole thing on another white (back side of another paper I was not likely to use) sheet.  Winner, winner, chicken dinner!  (Why do people say that!?) 

I may not be running a race against folks dressed up as various types of sausages.  But working with ink, paper, and photos shouldn't make me feel mired down, or restricted.  And by focusing on what was possible, I got where I wanted to be. 

Hmmmm, not exactly the wild joy of the very young, but I'm working on it. 

best,
Cheryl

Adventure Hawaii Travel Layout - From Scraps!

Packing scrapbooking supplies for this part of our move was soooo important to me.  Scrapbooking is my saving grace.  It calms me when I am full of anxiety, it helps when I am craving some internal quiet time, it soothes me when I am missing family and friends and helps me to remember being with them. 

I must have packed well, because I am still making pages....and have lots more packed to continue working on more.  Hurray! 

This travel page was made with mostly scraps!  I did slice the top border from a full 12x12 sheet, but otherwise everything was leftover cuts and partial packs of embellishments (which also gives me a cheap thrill for some weird reason!). 

Papers are a mix of Studio Calico, Heidi Swapp, and Crate Paper.  Embellishments also a mix of Heidi Swapp, Bo-Bunny, and Crate Paper.  Title is from Heidi Swapp and the alphas are from Webster's Pages and October Afternoon.  I also used a stencil (Studio Calico) and two different colors of chalk inks and then glued on several of my homemade enamel dots. 

Things I would do differently?  I am happy with the page, but yeah I would like to have added another layer of color using teal inks perhaps (but alas, I didn't pack anything but my little tin full of chalk inks, and I didn't have teal in there so... no go).  And it would have been nice to add a wood veneer airplane to the embellishment cluster.  The kicker is, I KNOW I have them...but not with me.  The little devils are packed up in our moving containers sitting right outside...and I can almost hear them calling to me...beckoning me, taunting me.   (sigh) 

Overall, I am still pleased with the page, and I have to remind myself that too many times when I have so longed to add just a few more things and did---I ended up not being so happy with the result.  Less is more.  Repeat.  Less is more.  Repeat till it sinks in--oh wait; it's almost 10 at night, husband will wonder who I am talking to. 

sh-h-h-h,  less is more
Cheryl

A Birthday Page - The Wish

Changing things up a bit from my recent travel themed projects.

This is Isabella, whose wish for her 5th birthday was...  wait for it ...    unicorns.  Yes, unicorns.  Not quite prepared for that one.  But her mommy handled it with the efficiency and style that only mommies can understand. 

The unicorn bike helmet, coordinated perfectly with her new scooter (one that came complete with a big ole stuffed unicorn head, of course).  But, I'm sorry Bella, this is the most ridiculous bike helmet I've ever seen.  Laughed so hard, I about fell off the couch. 

But she of the unicorn helmet?  She was thrilled. And that is enough. 

Yes, I am still scrapping from my pre-kind-of planned page kits, packed tote and shoulder bag.  Even though we have now found our house, it will be awhile before it is disassembled and reassembled here.  Then we have some renovating to do.  So I'll be scrapping out of my totes for the immediate future.  It's working ok.   I won't say it's perfect, but there is something to be said for having to work with just what is at hand. 

Papers used here are from Echo Park and Dear Lizzie (old papers, scraps actually).  And I even ran out of white cardstock, so improvised and used the backside of patterned paper from one of the pads I brought along.  Used a little watercolor, and some chalk ink with a polka dot stencil to create a bit of interest against the white and fussy cut some flowers and tags from the papers.  Flair badges are from Basic Grey, Hey Girl.  The pink-ish red foam alpha is from Thickers and the little pink tile alpha is from Echo Park. 

Her wish was for unicorns.  Of course.  Why not? 

best,
Cheryl