Wednesday, September 2, 2009

The anatomy of a scrapbook page.

I know many of you out there are card makers by heart, and I consider myself one as well. However, I did think it would be fun to really look into how I make a scrapbook page. Please note, I am by no means the best scrapbooker.... if you are looking for one, I would try Ali Edwards.

Before I begin, I also want to point out that the way I scrapbook and the way I make a card is completely different. 95% of the time I make a card in one sitting. When I make a scrapbook page I work on over a period of days. Every once in awhile I make it all in one day, but generally it sits around while I think it out.

So here's how it goes for me.

Step 1: Choose pictures. Bring out some paper I think might work. Let it sit.
Step 2: Still sitting on my shelf. Think about some different paper.
Step 3: Finally come up with an idea. For this page I decided I wanted to use my own handwriting, and I thought it would be fun to make a page out of all of our Twitter updates from the summer. When I got done it really looked like something I would do in High School. I decided to separate my tweets from my husbands with color.
Step 4: I decided I wanted some kind of edge on this sheet. Alot of times I have cool die cut sheets that are a great shape, but don't work with my color scheme. So I just trace away!
Step 5: Add picture and layer elements.
Step 6: Add title and I'm done.
It does look a little crazy! And I promise when I finished writing it all I didn't think there was any way I could make it look good, but in the end I like the messiness.

So here's what I would like to know. Last night I caught up on Project Runway, and one of the girls said she didn't sketch and all of the designers were shocked. I started to wonder if I'm that girl of card making. I NEVER sketch. I can work from one for a challenge, but I rarely sketch before I start my own project. I just grab swatches of paper to get my color scheme then I go from there. So how do you create?

14 comments:

Janelle said...

Great scrapbook page, Courtney. I like it! As far as creating goes, I can't think of a single time that I've sketched out a card either. I usually just pull out what I want to use and get started. (And then I pull out more stuff. And then I pull out more stuff. And then I pull out even more stuff...)

Ma Moreira said...

This is gorgeous! Love it!!!

Stephanie said...

Courtney - what a fabulous idea for a scrapbook page & I love how it turned out. all the different styles of your handwriting looks perfect!! Thanks so much for sharing this :)

I go back & forth, but mostly work with a sketch - typically I create it after I have everything pulled out hoping to avoid ruining products :)...hope you're enjoying Project Runway as much as I am - I've missed Tim Gunn!!

Traveling Mama said...

This is awesome! I love it!!

Ashley Cannon Newell said...

CUTE twitter page! How fun!

Live, Love, Craft said...

Such a great idea! I love how it turned out!

Shemaine Smith said...

I love this layout, what a Great idea for a page! Thanks for your kind words and stopping by my blog. I posted an update today, the homes were saved and all is well on Pinelawn Dr. You are so sweet and I love your scrappy style!!

Jess said...

Hi Courtney...I am loving your "tweet" pg. big time!..that is such a fabulous idea and a great way to remember all the fun things you did during the summer!

Thanks for stopping by my blog and your sweet comment...I appreciate it!

Winter said...

This is too tweet! :) I love it! I have been sketching more, and my projects seem to get done alot faster!

Laurel said...

I love the page! It is what scrapbooking is all about - the journalling!

Karen said...

I love your scrapbook page!! I think all the writing works Because of the random look to it, that its on a solid paper with its pop of color, and your sweet B&W photo with white embellishments. I scrap too and yes, it is a TOTALLY different proccess!! I haven't jumped on the Twitter bandwagon yet, but you make it look interesting! :>

As for sketches? I can work from one for a card. Sometimes they can actually hinder me more than help as I get a locked in feeling. I never sketch when creating though. And I think what you are doing works Really well for you! :>

Terri said...

Great page! I don't sketch my card layouts either. I usually do sketch challenges. :) Thanks for taking the time to stop by my blog too!

Emily said...

Wow! this is such a cute page.....i haven't scrapbooked in so long, but this has inspired me!! thanks for stopping by my blog!

~kelly marie~ said...

This post was so fun to read! I am not a scrapbooker, so it is so cool to see someone's process. The idea of writing all of your tweets down is such a good idea! I am not a sketch girl either. I just grab whatever hits my eye first. I saw that Project Runway and thought the same exact thing! :)