Sunday, February 10, 2008

How to Start Scrapbooking, Part II


This is continued from my post last Monday...


We’re going to start by creating a page layout without the photo. This is the simplest way to learn how to create a page, sort of like a template approach. It will also give you some confidence with one of your most useful tools, the paper trimmer. Of course, you can also use scissors to make these cuts, but it’s tough to cut straight!

I suggest before you start, you practice with your paper trimmer. The cut line—that place where the blade meets the paper—is different on each trimmer, and the cut line is not always obvious. Use some crummy waste paper and practice. It’s worth the effort.

The proportions of 1/3 a page of one color or pattern and 2/3s of another always look great. You can fill an entire album with these and have a wonderful, consistent look to the project. You can also flip the page upside down, giving the layout a different look. And last, but not least, try this with a variety of patterned papers and solids. You’ll be surprised at how versatile it is, and how changing up the patterned paper and solid background changes the whole mood of the page.

1. Start by trimming your solid paper to a little less (about ¼ inch) than 8 ½ x 11 inches. (Keep that little strip of paper.) Here’s why I’m asking you to trim a piece of paper that probably seems the right size, little known fact: Plastic page protectors are usually a little smaller than they are advertised as being. If you don’t pre-trim your page, you’ll make a gorgeous page you can’t slip into the protector.

2. Trim your patterned paper. If it’s 12 x 12 inches, trim off 3 ½ inches from one side. Now cut the paper that’s left (8 ½ x 12 inches) into 3 equal pieces, 8 ½ x 4 inches.

3. Use your adhesive to attach the patterned strip which is 8 ½ inches by 4 inches to the top of your solid paper. There might be a little overhang, if so, use your scissors to trim the patterned paper to the size of the solid. You now have a page background.

You’ll notice I have a strip of solid paper between the top and bottom. That’s why it’s a good idea to keep any scraps you had when you trimmed down the 8 ½ x 11 inch piece of solid paper.

At the center of the thin strip, I adhered an embellishment which came in my paper package. You could do the same, but you don’t need to.

If your solid colored paper is the same color all the way through, back and front, you can repeat this procedure on the backside of your 8 ½ x 11 inch page, so that you’ll have TWO layouts.

Next week we’ll add embellishments and photos, but you can easy do a lot of these pages without much thought to get ready for breezing through this album.
By the way, you'll want to go to my scrapbooking website and sign up for my ezine. I have a new issue coming out this week with a cool Valentine's Day layout and embellishment.
Joanna
By the way, I didn't change the lock when my husband returned from Las Vegas. I forgave him. And he bought me a beautiful purse! So I was smart to let him in the house.

3 comments:

Terri Thayer said...

A new purse, huh? Sounds like the man knows how to stay in your good graces!

Joanna Campbell Slan said...

Yes, and it's gorgeous. Handmade leather from Italy. So...for that I can put up with not watching the Super Bowl!

Anonymous said...

I have the MM paper trimmer and love it!!!! Very good trimmer and supposedly the blades never need replacing since it resharpens itself. I did have one issue with the plastic guide breaking, (my cat did it) but MM was very nice to replace it free of

charge