Ny favourite journalling techniques

I was looking over some of my previous posts, and which are my favourite journalling ideas that I have used again and again in my own scrapping.

The idea of using a kenning was a helpful one – and fun too.

What’s in a name? works for placenames as well as people’s names.

Why do you like this photo? Works for 99% of the photos I scrap. A question you can always ask and answer. And then no doubt other aspects of the photo will come to mind and before you know it you need a whole journalling page!

And I haven’t done this one again – text messages – but it was such a successful layout that I’m pretty sure I will soon! And that was one of the first layouts I had the idea for and THEN took the picture :)

Transform your face

Face of the Future

Upload a photo of a face and see it in a variety of transformations including as a younger or older person, painted by botticelli or modigliani - you can morph two faces together and other interesting tweaks!

Great for a "see into the future" layout?

When I feel overwhelmed

Whenever I feel overwhelmed - by clutter, or by things to do - so that my creativity starts to suffer (and worse, my sleep starts to suffer!) I ask myself this question:

What can I do that will give me the greatest sense of accomplishment today?

Sometimes it may be a creative thing - giving myself time to complete a layout or two, make a card, allow myself time to shuffle through my papers. Sometimes it's something very much more mundane: seeing the bottom of the washing basket, phoning up someone I've been putting off.

Still, however, I find sometimes things hang over me and worry me more than once. It's silly to let that go on - recent examples have been getting round to applying for a passport, finding my birth certificate that I'd lost in the overflowing paperwork pile...

But when I finally received my new passport, and when I found the birth certificate (in the box of papers I had already thrown away, then decided to look through one more time!) I DIDN'T feel a sense of accomplishment. Despite the disproportionate stress not doing the task had caused, I didn't feel all that much better when I completed it... it was just high time! And what gives me the greatest sense of accomplishment? Clear kitchen surfaces, a dining room table clear of the usual flotsam and jetsam of family life and ready for a meal to be laid (or a creative session to start), a clean loo.... have I become a housewife in my middle age????? !!!

No - I still HATE housework with a passion. I just like the results. It was great when I could afford a cleaner, because every Thursday evening the family knuckled down and tidied up (which they would never do just for me!) before the cleaners came on Friday, and every Friday I sat in a clean and tidy house, without even cooking to do because we also had Friday as takeaway night. And the whole weekend stretched ahead with the house tidy so we could do useful family things and not chores. Maybe I really need to find the money for that again - in fact - that's a great incentive for making my new business work - if the business brings in money I spend my time doing what I want to do and hire someone else to do the housework!

My grandmother used to say "What every woman needs is a wife..."
She was right. (Think about it)
Or maybe: "Every scrapper should have a cleaner!"

What do you think?

New ways to display photos?

Get your photo, logo or picture on an abundance of different items.

Try
moo.com (interesting stickerbooks, customisations for greetings cards and the like)
or
orangehedgehog.co.uk (including a thermochromic mug that you put a pic on which is only visible when full of hot drink...)

Scrappers' links

A couple more helpful blogs this time.

Sketches and more:
http://www.littlebookofsketches.blogspot.com/

Craft Robo GSDs and more (in German)
http://meinekleinescrapwelt.blogspot.com/

Titles with double meanings

I've been musing on titles that are not quite puns, as they don't have the obvious humour, but nevertheless have more than one meaning:

• It's a walk in the park
• It’s all relative
• What A star! (for someone who's scored well at GCSE)
• Hair today
• Calendar Girl
• Hold the front page!
• Picture perfect
• Hair raising
• Top Gear
• Circle
• Marry together
• Rules of engagement
• Laws

Lightening photos that are too dark

I have just found out a really useful tip for using Photoshop to tidy up photographs.

I have been fiddling with Image > Adjust > Brightness/Contrast to try to lighten dark photos, without much success, but now I've read in an online article (I wish I could remember which!) that Image > Adjust > Levels is the tool to use to lighten up pictures. It's revolutionised my scrapping because now I can use all those photos that are a bit too dark.

Try it, open a dark photo in Photoshop (I have a very old Photoshop version - 5 and it works in that as well as later versions) and use Image > Adjust > Levels

Move the central slider to the left to lighten the picture instantly, and experiment with the other sliders.

Alternatively try Auto Levels and see if there's an improvement.

Put The Fun Back Into Scrapbooking

This article from Aby Garvey in August 2007 struck a chord with me. "Suddenly, where once you had an enjoyable hobby you love, now you have DREAD". And why? Because I can't find anything, and I look at my piles of paper or embellishments, or ribbons or stamps, and think - what do I do now? "Scrapbook overwhelm is typically a symptom of too much STUFF getting in the way"

Narrowing down cardstock colours

I love to read about and see pictures of other people's scrap spaces, so I was interested to read Ali Edwards' blog entry about her scraproom.

But the thing that really intrigued me was when she said:

"I have pretty much narrowed down my cardstock selection to just a few colors - white, cream, kraft, black, and red - which has really simplified my process and helps me focus more on the story."

Well if you look at her gallery there's a bit of yellow and khaki/green - but yes the colours are pretty limited - no blue, purple, pink...

Could I do that? Restrict myself to a few colours?

I have done so in my clothing. I had my "colours done" and found out that I am a "winter" (though I can wear summer colours too, especially in the summer). Which meant I could forget about brown and green. I now base my winter wardrobe around navy, black, grey and purple with turquoise and blue accents, and some red or fuchsia, and my summer wardrobe is chiefly blue, aqua and turquoise. It makes it much easier to shop (except when one of the key colours is out of fashion, as navy has been for several years!) and to choose basic pieces such as jackets with which everything will go.

Could I do the same with scrapping supplies?

Not really - because photographs can be in any colours (unless you go so far as to choose your clothing in the colours of your cardstock!), and I choose paper and cardstock to match the photos usually. However, I do have my favourite colours and paper ranges (blue and turquoise feature here too...) I don't think I'm ready to limit my colour selection just yet. How about you?

Which kind of scrapper are you?

OK I admit it - I'm a clutter bunny. Are you?

Scrapping clutter bunny
Each piece of clutter holds an important memory and you know you will scrap it someday... But make sure your memorabilia reminds you of positive things and not negative ones!

Scrapping collector
Every object that you collect is a reflection of who you are and what you have achieved. As a collector you like to never stop at just one of something - or even two - the more the merrier... The objects you collect are a major part of your identity. For a scrapper this means the type who has every bottle of Prima flowers ever sold or a pile of papers just for stroking, that you would never ever use. Think - what is scrapbooking really all about?

Mucky pup
This scrapper simply can't be bothered to clear up. (Men more often fall into this category, generally!) However, clutter creates its own stress and makes more work - you can never find the embellies you're looking for, or you discover the paper you were looking for, at the bottom of the pile, half creased and half covered in coffee. Cut that clutter, and clear up, even if it's an effort - it will save effort in the long run!

Busy bee
You're so busy that when you get a moment you want to scrap not sort out. But, gradually, forgetting to deal with those little things starts to cause problems. As time moves on the piles of clutter don't. Then you start with that feeling of "not being in control" and you can't find anything. Luckily, most busy bees will eventually make the time to deal with this.

Free daily journalling prompts

I have collected all my journalling prompts and am offering them starting today as a free ongoing journalling class or daily journalling prompts to use as you like.

We'll be having themes, and the first week's is MUSIC.

The prompts are suitable for scrapbooking, blogging or art journalling.

Come along and join me! And if you'd like to be on the design team (occasional contributions not every day!), let me know.

Daily Journalling Prompts Blog

The new blog will have short helpful prompts.

I'll continue to add longer journalling inspiration and
techniques (and scrapping organisation tips) to this blog at least twice a week.

Sources for journalling prompts

Papa Bear

From scrapbook.com: tips

Another from scrapbook.com

From Bella Online (US)

From Scrap your stories also from Angie Pedersen

Journal the hurts, scrapbook the highs from Joanna Campbell Slan on Angie Pedersen's Blog of me

30 "All About Me" Scrapbook topics from Scrapjazz

I'd recommend Shimelle's blog – she’s the journalling queen! – but if you click on the link for Free Projects: Write it Down all you get is one post from January 31^st and no way to move on to the rest…. No doubt she will fix the link in due course!

Journalling about people: try a kenning

What's a kenning then?

Here's Wikipedia's definition which is rather heavy on the ancient Scandinavian roots.

Kennings come from Old English and Norse poetry, and they describe something without using its actual name, e.g. 'mouse catcher ' was a cat, a sword was a 'skull-splitter' and a river a 'swan road'.

So a kenning "names something without using its name". They can be like riddle poems - what am I describing?

Kids learn them in school these days: here are lots of kennings from youngsters, on the children's writing website Kids on the Net.


You probably remember a Coke advert which did something similar. The advantage is you can do it to name anything, and it can be different each time. When you don't want to just put the same old word or name on a LO - why not embellish with a kenning instead?

Using up paper scraps: #1

I was having a bit of a sort out, seeing what I had in my paper stash, and I realised that I had a lot of scraps. I LOVE patterned papers, but the scrapbooking style I prefer at the moment is the pared-down lots-of-white-space style. And that doesn't use up a lot of paper! Yet I find it difficult to throw anything away - let's face it, I might find a use for that pretty paper even if it is only 3 inches square. After all, I make cards as well. And a cardmaker can find a use for any paper pieces that are just bigger than my smallest punch... Especially if I make small paper dolls with a selection of tiny clothes...

I have scraps left over from kits and classes from up to three years ago, scraps from paper ranges that I loved, and ranges that I didn't. I even pick up scraps from other people at crops - how could they throw away nearly half a sheet of 12 x 12? So I've been looking in earnest at ways to use up paper scraps.

Here are some that I've found recently:

• Cut out letters for titles - either using a cutting machine, or by using repositionable glue to stick them to computer paper, run them through your printer to print an outline letter on the back and cut out.

• Make paper beads: Cut strips of paper and roll them tightly around a knitting needle or similar. Stick down the ends. Leave to dry, then carefully slide off the knitting needle. Make the beads more substantial by coating the beads with a layer of PVA glue or diamond accents or similar. Stick on a LO or thread them for jewellery!

• Create a 'quilt' page: cut 4 or 5 photos into 3" squares and make up to 9 squares with patterned paper cut into squares the same size.
• Create serendipity squares with scraps of paper and use the squares on a LO.

• Use the scraps to create a mat for your photograph, as in Karen's Conga class from the UKS birthday cybercrop (unfortunately not currently available, but here is my version)

• Use up scraps in Artist at Work, a UKS class from Maria

• Use strips of papers behind a photo as a stripy mat

• Radiate strips of papers like a sun from a central pic
• Create pockets
• Punch, especially squares and circles and create a pattern on cardstock as a background to the LO
• Cover chipboard shapes
• Cut flowers out of papers and use as embellishments

I'm working on a few more ideas and will upload them in a later post :)

Clines - get deeper into your journalling

When you're journalling, especially if you're using just one or two words, it’s important to find the word that accurately describes what you're trying to express. Common words such as "happy", "handsome", "cute", can be over-used: and once you've been scrapbooking longer than a year or so you start to be desperate for more! Here's a technique to explore a few different words to use.

For example: there are many words for degrees of heat in addition to the word ‘hot’. A cline is a graduated list of words to give shades of meaning, for example:

• Whitehot
• Red-hot
• Steaming
• Boiling
• Simmering
• Hot
• Warm
• Tepid
• Luke-warm
• Blood warm
• Body temperature
• Cool
• Chilly
• Cold
• Freezing
• Frozen.

Once you have your list of words, you can pick one that's perhaps more meaningful than the obvious!

Colour palettes

Do you ever need to know what colours to use to match a particular photo?

Here is a useful online tool. Now if only they would identify the Bazzill shade and paper range that's most appropriate - or perhaps that would take all the art - and fun - out of scrapbooking!

http://www.degraeve.com/color-palette/

Updated scrapbook video sites

I thought I'd update my list of scrapbooking video sites, as I do like to watch videos now and then.

Still love the Scrapbooking Lounge videos at Craft TV Weekly: so much variety and well presented!

UKScrappers also listed a few recently that I hadn't mentioned in my previous post.

CK's online video gallery
Paperclipping blog
DIY Scraproom - from the US TV channel Home and Garden TV
Do Crafts video Library
Scrapbooks etc. (The Scrapbooks Lifestyle link mentioned in my previous post no longer works)

Write it on Wednesday - Seasonal Inspiration

Seasonal inspiration

Last weekend the weather was glorious, cold but bright, sunny and dry. I took advantage by wrapping up warm and heading off on a trip to see some famous snowdrops. It really made me think - so I guess the way to journal is simply to write about how I feel...

The children were off on weekend trips of their own and it was one of those increasingly frequent times when my husband and I were on our own and able to do "grown-up" things. Although it is odd to do things without the children, it is comforting to realise that we still have things to say to one another and can enjoy ourselves as a couple.

The snowdrops are more than a sign of growth in the spring of a new year, they are a sign of our own new style of life. One in which we must let the youngsters poke their heads up out of the family soil into the light of their own lives. As parents we must feed and nurture their roots while allowing the buds to open into lovely flowers. Then, as parents, we become free to stroll quietly a while, view and admire the beautiful blossoms.

More Write it on Wednesday

Maze book instructions

I've been looking for instructions for maze books - that is a tiny album created from one sheet of 12 x 12 paper. I was think of using it for a little inspiration book - to add pictures of loved ones and inspirational quotes and sayings.

Here are some links to instructions:

Scrapbook Crazy maze book (cut in a spiral)

Anso's maze book on Glitter Adventures, with photos - fabulous instructions.

Scrapbook Lounge Video Tricia Morris makes a maze book

Another maze book

Karen Scrapdolly's instructions

Write it on Wednesday - circular journalling

Circular journalling

Circular journalling is quite difficult to achieve.A pair of compasses can be useful to draw guides on your page in pencil.An alternative is to create circular templates of card and draw round those to get the lines.

There’s a helpful video on Paperclipping that shows how to achieve this…

If you are creating circular journalling on a computer you can use Corel Draw or Photoshop or Photoshop Elements to “fit text to path”.

Or you can even draw your circles freehand!
If you’re no good at it perhaps you can copy this bloke on Youtube…


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Write it on Wednesday - What’s in a name?

What’s in a name?

Juliet: in Romeo and Juliet:

Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What's Montague? it is not hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
And for that name which is no part of thee
Take all myself.

A US couple in 2001 who tried to find a corporate sponsor for their baby son failed to find a bidder. Jason Black and Frances Schroeder used eBay and Yahoo! to auction the name of their third child. They were aiming for at least $500,000 so they could name their little boy Cisco, Microsoft, Intel, or whatever. But time ran out. Under New York State law, the deadline to put a first name on the boy's birth certificate came and went without a substantial offer. So instead, his parents decided to simply call him - Zane.

If you think about it, there are probably many stories about names. And not just people’s names, but names of houses, boats, pets…

What’s the story behind that name? What happened when someone got the name wrong? What name do you like best?

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Write it on Wednesday - Journalling pens

Most people have a favourite pen that they like to use for journalling with.

I'm a bit fickle, personally, I'm always looking for a really good pen and I change my allegiance often.

Here are some of the pens I've used myself and been recommended:

Sharpie pens
Zig writer (I have a blue one of these and as it has two different widths it's really useful)
Gel pens are often popular
Sakura gel pens - I've had some great Sakura pens including a white one, glaze one, glitter ones, etc., but they seem variable as to how smoothly they run and how long they last.
Fountain pen - if you're not fussed about using ordinary ink, a lot of people enjoy using a favourite (often old) fountain pen for journalling - perhaps best where you're journalling on a separate piece of paper such as a journalling block, rather than all over the layout
Uniball signo - white particularly recommended

So - the challenge for today - doesn't matter what you write (did I say that??), but have a go at writing with the pens that yo have to hand. Try out a title, a saying, some journalling. Get the feel of the pens you have. You might surprise yourself!

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Scrapbooks in Order: Organizing your scrap supplies

It must be the new year – the scrap blogs are awash with organisational tips.

I’m certainly up for re-organising my scrap supplies. My ribbons have overflowed their current storage and I either have to use up some of them (nooo!!!) or find a different way to store them. Plus I have so much stash I can’t use it effectively any more.

Here are some links to organising scrap supplies:

MM Blog: organizing your embellishments http://makingmemories.typepad.com/makingmemories/2008/01/organizing-yo-1.html

MM Blog: how do you stay organized – with 700 tips from readers in the comments!
http://makingmemories.typepad.com/makingmemories/2008/01/how-do-you-stay.html

How to Organize Your Scrapbook Room!
http://kadordea.blogspot.com/2008/01/how-to-organize-your-scrapbook-room.html

Ribbon storage
http://scrapbookobsession.wordpress.com/2008/01/01/scrapbook-organization-more-on-ribbon-storage/

You’re not alone…
http://scrapbookobsession.wordpress.com/2007/12/18/scrapbook-organization-my-spaceagain/

Free planner downloads from Creating Keepsakes
http://www.creatingkeepsakes.com/mag/index.ihtml?issue=January+2008

General organisation tips
http://robindiniphotography.blogspot.com/2008/01/time-to-organize.html

Write it on Wednesday - Printed quotes

I don't often use printed quotations - I find they're rather expensive when I can find quotations really easily on the Web and print them onto whatever paper matches my layout - but there's no doubt that the latter method takes longer. In this case, I had a lovely picture of my children which I wanted to scrap for their grandmother's album, and I turned to the printed quotes that came in QVC pack a few months ago. I knew the pack had a strong theme of family and selected three different elements, a transparent quotation sticker, a title and a couple of stickers. The quote:

"Life's aspirations come in the guise of children"

...summed up my feelings so that I didn't have to write my own journalling. A good quote can do that.

Often a good quotation can be the start of a layout, or it may start you off on your own journalling (I'm sure I've said this before!). Or, like this, it can be just exactly what you need, on its own.
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Scrapping inspiration - blogs and websites

Pure inspiration for the new year!
Some old, some new.... lots to borrow and hopefully nothing blue!

Scrapping the music
Mojoholder
All About Eve
Pencil Lines
Anna Bowkis 365 days

365 Gnomes
Rouge de Garance

Craft Caboodle free online craft magazine

Write it on Wednesday - How do I love thee?

How do I love thee?

Let me count the ways...
Christina Rossetti

Think of someone one you love: set down the reasons why you love them, the things about them that you love. Count the ways... here are some prompts to get you started.

I love the way you...
I love it when you...
My favourite part of your face is...
Your smile makes me ...
I love your ...
You're a great husband because ...
I'm so glad you ...

(Posted early because I'm busy this week)
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Titles for summer holiday Los

I know it's an odd time of year to be thinking of it, but I've been thinking up some summer and holiday themes titles for layouts:

• Just add water
• Splash!
• Water, water, everywhere
• Sun, sea and sand
• An English Summer
• Beachcomber
• The Shell Seekers
• Splish Splash
• Life’s a beach
• Seaside frolics
• Beach babes
• Beach boys

Write it on Wednesday - Why do you like this photo?

It's not often I scrap the same photo twice, but I did this one. Last thing on Christmas Day I decided to create an 8x8 album for my mother-in-law who was staying with us. I managed to finish it by the time she left on the 29th. OK, I printed out 6 copies of recent 12x12 layouts, but I also needed 14 new layouts.

I thought the subjects of the photo looked cute, so the first time I scrapped it I used a pun and called it "Ferret touching" - very touching - OK, OK, a bad pun!


This time I looked at the photo and thought again about why I liked it. Because my son has a right soppy look on his face! And I still thought they BOTH look cute!


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