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…


More Write it on Wednesday

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?

More Write it on Wednesday

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!

More Write it on Wednesday

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