Integrating Photos & Background Patterned Paper Elements

Hi, guys! How are you? Ann Marie here with a 12×12 scrapbooking layout process video! Today’s video focuses on integrating photos into the background elements of the patterned paper you use.  Here is a timestamp if you’d like to skip straight to that part! There’s also written directions here, just below the video.

So, I had this really beautiful paper. It’s got a mixed-media feel, and there’s some really pretty, photo realistic butterflies. My photo overlaps some of those pretty butterflies, and that feels odd to me to just slap a photo over complete elements like these, so I wanted to find a way to integrate them.

I’m going to very lightly draw lines where my photo was going to be and then I’m going to erase where the pencil crosses the top of the butterfly wing, because we are going to put those butterfly wings on top of the photo. I’m going to leave the pencil marks in place on the borders where the edges of the photo and the butterfly wings meet up to help me line the photo up again when I am done cutting into my paper.

All I have to do is place my glass mat underneath my layout and get out my craft knife and very carefully slice around the butterfly wings where they meet up with the photo!

Altering Pre-Made Embellishments

Today I’m sharing a process video of a kid-themed single-page 8 1/2 x 11 scrapbook layout! Plus showing how I altered a pre-made chipboard sticker to better match the story in my layout–at the 4:58 mark, below!

Bevy of Beautiful Butterflies!

Hi! Time for Weekly Wrap-up #19, where I share what creative mess I’ve made this week. Today I have an in-progress layout from my mini May Counterfeit kit. What scrappy fun have you gotten into this week? Please share! ❤️ And if you enjoyed this video, please consider subscribing to my channel. Thanks for watching! :)

HACK FOR MAKING YOUR SCRAPBOOK TITLES POP

Today’s video is a process video of a 4th of July-themed single-page 8 1/2 x 11 scrapbook layout featuring the use of a digital die-cut–and includes a simple, QUICK, idea for helping small titles stand out against a patterned paper background. You can watch the video or check out the idea below the video!

It’s so easy! Just outline your title letters with a fine tip black pen–it’s quick, easy, and you don’t need any extra supplies! It provides an instant shadow effect and effortlessly helps your title pop. Even with little mistakes, the eye will “read” the title and glide right over those. ;)

Stashbusting Idea for Gems! (PLUS two original sketches)

In today’s process video, I share a stashbusting idea for gems, such as flat-backed pearls, rhinestones, enamel dots, wood dots, or other kinds of bling. I’m also sharing a sketch for a horizontal 8 1/2 x 11 layout, which I’ve also converted to 12 x 12 in case that’s your preferred size. I’ve kept all the numbers nice and round. You’ll find pics of the sketches below the video!

If you’d prefer to not watch the video, the stashbusting idea involves filling a negative space chipboard piece with a pile of bling. Picture an hourglass with a pile of sparkly sand in the bottom. :) Just pile bling inside a negative space shape and see how much you can use up!

Rain, Rain, Go Away! 8 1/2 x 11 Layout & Sketch!

Hello, hello! Today I’m sharing an 8 1/2 x 11 process video, with an original sketch. The proportions would also work for a 9×12 or a4 sized scrapbook layout. There’s also a bit of a discussion in the video over 8 1/2 x 11 vs. 12 x 12 scrapbook layouts. Do you have a preferred canvas size? My reasons for choosing what I choose can be found below the sketch!

There’s a few different ways you can get the sketch. You can watch the video below and screenshot it–it appears near the beginning and again near the end. You can also pin it from here, right- or ctrl- click and download it, or print it.  

I have decided that when it makes sense, 8 1/2 x 11 will be my default canvas size! I think it will be easier for my kids to look at their books in this size. As it is now, I use 12 x 12 D Ring layouts, and they are so big and bulky that they have to get someone to help them pull out the book. I know they enjoy looking at their layouts, hearing the stories and seeing the pictures, so I just want to make it all more accessible to them.

I also know that I will use less paper, cardstock, adhesive, embellishments, etc. on a smaller canvas. Frugal and green!

However, if it doesn’t make sense, I will stick with 12 x 12. Let’s say I have 10 photos from an event. It’s going to make more sense to me to use those on a double page 12 x 12 spread.  I want to save space in my home, too, and multiple 8 1/2 x 11 pages would be more thick than a single 12 x 12, you know? However, if I have a single photo, it makes more sense to me to put that on an 8 1/2 x 11 single page. 

SO—I am not switching completely to 8 1/2 x 11—but I am definitely making more layouts this was moving forward!

Hope you enjoy this video and have a good week. :)

Love Is… 8 1/2 x 11 Layout & Sketch!

Hi, guys! Today I’m sharing an 8 1/2 x 11 process video, with an original sketch! Of course, you could adapt 12 x 12 sketches to 8 1/2 by 11, but I wasn’t in the mood to do all the mental gymnastics because the proportions *are* different…. So then when I went searching for 8 1/2 x 11, I wasn’t finding sketches with all the components I wanted, and I decided it was easier to plan it out myself.

There’s a few different ways you can get the sketch. You can watch the video below and screenshot it–it appears near the beginning and again near the end. You can also pin it from here, right- or ctrl- click and download it, or print it.  

Hope you enjoy this video–if so, please like, comment, share, subscribe, you know the drill! ;)