Mini Albums - Create without Photos

Hi there! I have started playing with the Vicki Boutin, Storyteller Kit collection Scrap Shotz sent my way and wow, wow, wow. I love that this collection features purple (a pretty rare colour in our scrappy community). This collection is all kinds of pretty florals, birds, hearts, and has that very slight grunge look of Vicki’s collections. Beautiful. 

One of the goodies sent my way is the Storyteller Tags and Journaling Pieces. I have decided to use these beauties to create a tag mini album and wow am I having fun. 

To get my scrappiness on I decided to start creating without worrying about photos. What? Yup! Maybe my foray into creating Christmas Cards where I dingy have to match photos has me feeling the no-photo creative vibe! 

Don’t worry I will add photos but I know I also want to have a few tags that are just, well, pretty! Tags of different shapes and colours and textures that showcase the collection for sure but also reinforce the fun, colourful vibe of the mini album. 

Here is what I have so far: 

To get these little mini tags completed I simply laid out the chipboard, papers, stickers, phrases and stencils from the Kit on my desk beside the tag set and just freely added here and there - not worrying about running out of that perfect thing or that matching something. Just playing and loving it! 

What are you doing with your Storyteller Kit? 

Create Anchors for Embellishments

Are you addicted to embellishments as much as I am? There are so many amazing embellishments in the November Scrapbook Kit and I simply want to use them all - die cuts, stickers, chipboard, enamel dots, paper bow clips and more.

My desire to use way too many embellishments on my layouts has made it necessary to create some go-to page designs in my scrapbook repertoire that allow me to do just that - use way too many embellishments. These page designs focus on creating "anchors". A place where an embellishment can naturally be nestled or layered - not just floating in background paper space. 

One of the page designs I use often is this layered circle look. So simple! I cut a variety of sized circles (just the outline in this case but the full circle works too) of matching patterned papers (usually from scraps) and layer the circles down or across or diagonally on the page. For this layout, I layered the circles down the right-hand side and used one large circle on the left to sort-of frame my main 4x6 photo and give the layout some balance. You could also create a pattern of circles on the entire background - this is especially fun for bathtime photos, sort of like bubbles!

Once your circles are down, add you photos - I like to use a little foam to pop the photos up a little so they do not get lost in what will be embellishment organized chaos - and then start embellishing! Just make sure some edge of the embellishment is touching or "anchored" on one of the circles. Don't stop embellishing until you think you have way too many ... add a few more, then stop. 

You will notice I kept the background paper pretty plain on this layout - I knew I would have lots going on with the way too many embellishments and the circles so chose one of the Simple Stories, Winter Farmhouse coordinating dot papers from the kit as the background. I love how the simple and faint dots of the background paper also add another circle element.  

Don't have a circle cutter? Do not fret. This "anchor" concept can be created with squares of pattern paper, strips of paper (try washi or the banding strip), or stamp some words or phrases. I also love hand-drawn circles for this concept! Simply grab a few different sized cups, put them mouth down and trace with a black journaling pen - trace each a few times and make one of the lines a little less perfect than the others to give it a little something-something. 

Thanks for stopping by - I hope you are having a great December! 

Embrace Those Busy Patterned Papers

The November Scrapbook Kit featuring the Simple Stories, Winter Farmhouse collection has some fun and busy patterned paper! I love a busy pattern but once in a while I find them hard to work with - this month I am all about finding simpler ways to make the busy patterns in this collection work for me and loving it! 

If you have a magic machine (my name for any machine that can cut intricate designs on paper - magic), busy patterned paper is your best scrappy friend. Cut files backed with patterned paper look amazing! If your paper is super busy - choose files that have smaller windows or openings  (the sections you back) to show less of the busy and more of the cut file. Use a solid colour to cut the file will also help. I prefer white so it really pops off the page and contrasts fabulously with the patterns - giving the eye a place to rest. 

The Christmas Banners Background cut file from Cut To You offers a great balance between large and small openings making it a great way to showcase the simple and busiest patterned papers in this kit. Also, it’s just a really fabulous cut file! Check out how un-busy these busy patterns look now: 

I love how it turned out! The photo is of me as a little girl and clearly either I have or my family has stuck all of the Christmas present ribbons and bows on me as we opened presents - I probably did it to myself. The picture is pretty cute but wow, did you notice the couch I am sitting on? Speaking of busy patterns!  

Here are a few other ideas for embracing busy patterned papers in your projects: 

• Add a thin layer of white Gesso over the page. This will make the colours more subtle and adds a mixed media element to your layout. 
• Use patterned papers to mat your photos. The peek of the pattern behind your photo will really separate it from the background and draw the eye! Use a few different patterns to get that layered look. 
• Instead of cutting patterned paper to the size you need  - rip it! Not only is this fun (and maybe a little adrenaline pumping if you only have a sheet or 2) it also looks fabulous. Bonus, the ripped edge will be white - giving the eye place to rest and break up all that busy pattern. 
• Create a background image or design using small squares, triangles or circles of the patterned paper. A quilted heart using triangles of various patterned papers or a Christmas tree shape created with lots of small circles of the patterned papers. A quilt pattern, Christmas presents (oh with stitching for the ribbon), buildings, and more!
• Cut the patterned paper in strips and use them like you would washi tape. Create a whole layout with these strips all down the page -  rip a few shorter than the others for a fun, washi tape look! 

If you still find your page is too busy (and I bet it's not), take a photo of your layout and see if you still think so when you see the layout in a photo. When we are creating we are just a couple of feet away from all the busy - preventing us from seeing the forest from the trees. I find taking a photo gives me an opportunity to see the project as if I had stepped back and I end up really liking it!  

Embrace the busy patterns - have fun, get crafty! 

Process Video: Winter Farmhouse, Dad's Hockey Rink

I am playing with the November Scrapbook Kit this month and loving it! This kit is a beauty and features loads of the amazing Simple Stories, Winter Farmhouse collection.

I am taking full advantage of having such a fun, winter and farmhouse themed collection to document winter and Christmas stories from our family farm. In this process video, I am documenting the homemade rink my dad makes every year for us 'kids' and our friends and family get together.

Here are a few still shots if you don't have a chance to check out my video - I recognize we are embarking on the busiest season of the year here but do think a cup of coffee and some scrapbooking YouTube would be a nice treat you (wink, wink):

I love how the vintage feel of this collection is encouraging me to tell the stories from years ago but there are enough cute elements to have a little fun with it too. A perfect balance! If you would like to see all the goodies I am playing with, check out the Unboxing Video.

Hope you have a chance to get crafty this week!

November Scrapbook Kit - Unboxing Video

Hello! Have you had a chance to check out the November edition of our Monthly Scrapbook Kit?

This month's kit has loads of goodies from the Simple Stories, Winter Farmhouse collection - pattern papers, 12x12 sticker sheet, ephemera, washi, enamel dots and more. I am so excited to start playing. Before I took out the paper trimmer to get started, I filmed a quick unboxing to show you just how fabulous the kit is this month, check it out:

So fabulous right!? For more information on this kit, our monthly kit subscription and the great Add-ons each month, visit Scrap Shotz November 2019 Monthly Kit.

If you already receive our kits, pop over to the Scrap Shotz Shop and start one today, or receive any of the goodies from our Shop we would love to see what you create. Be sure to tag us @scrapshotz or use hashtag #scrapshotz so we can ohh and ahh at your fabulous creations!

Happy crafting - I am off to play!