1.  Create a double layout of a Year in your life.

2.  Divide each page into 6 sections totaling 12 months.

3.  Select photos of the outstanding events occurring in your life in each month…some months may have several key photos.

4.  Embellish each section with the weather or colors associated with holidays occurring in that particular month.

5.  Consider events like birthdays, anniversaries, trips, buying a new car, moving, special holidays, yearly traditions – almost anything.

6.  Size your photos so that they can fit into the space allotted for them.  Don’t be afraid to create different sized sections for each month to create a more interesting layout.

7.  Collect your photos during the year with this type of project in mind.

8.   Make this a yearly project!

Have fun with this – Happy Scrapbooking!

Val at Paperhills

If you want to produce a family picture without all the hassels, why not create a layout using recent miniature photos of everyone in your family.  There are so many ways you could complete such a project and the creative possibilities are endless.  It would be interesting to do one every couple of years…hassel free.

Don’t forget – if you end up with an especially beautiful masterpiece – you can always frame it and hang it on the wall.   No wrangling required!

Cheers and Happy Scrapbooking,

Val at Paperhills

Enjoy!

Happy Scrapbooking everyone,

Val at Paperhills

Here’s one great idea I had. When you’re going through your closets to clean up your old jeans, pants or anything else…cut off the pockets and fasten them to your scrapbooking paper.  They come in all shapes and sizes.  Use the pockets to place all your extra stuff in – the small items that add to your story.  The more detail on the pockets, the better.  If the pockets are plain you can embellish them with metallics, ribbon, buttons or just about anything.  Match everything to your layout theme.

Just glue the outside edges of your pocket onto your paper and keep the top open for your photos and souvenirs to slip in.   Cheap and effective.  Have fun with this one!

Happy Scrapbooking!

Val at Paperhills

I love scrapbooking because it is a creative outlet – just one more way in which to express myself artisticly.  The heritage aspect of scrapbooking also makes it appealing to me.  But most of all, I like to create.  I love choosing the photos and then comes my idea for the layout.  Often it is more like a mosaic that develops as I go along.  I don’t always know where it will end up, but I love the journey. The finished product at the end is just the icing on the cake!

Being artistic gives me a desire to explore and experiment with scrapbooking techniques which are outside the box.

One technique I like to use is painting and decorating my pages with texture medium or crackle paint

Texture medium can be found in most craft stores, or art stores and can be colored with acrylic paint then brushed easily on to your layouts. Create landscapes, or use die cuts to create patterns in the medium. It dries for a permanent finish. Once you start playing with this technique you will come up with more and more ways to use it.

For Heritage Scrapbooking, you can create Decades of Distress in one simple step! Distress Crackle Paint is a unique one-step paint that cracks as it dries. With a convenient, built-in applicator brush, add instant aging to all your layouts. Easy-to-use, one-step crackle paint – comes in many great colors too!

Ranger Ink – Tim Holtz – Distress Crackle Paint – Antique Linen
Scrapbook.com

Don’t forget this technique can also be used with Cardmaking or other craft projects.

Cheers and Happy Scrapbooking,

Val at Paperhills

Include in your layouts:

- the year’s school photo of your child

- a sample of  their progress reports for the year (choose the best one!)

- notes on special accomplishments or activities they took part in at school

- a list of their friends and teachers

- names of their favorite games, movies, sports or other activities

- a personal note from “Mom” or “Dad”

You may want to use fall colors for your palette.  Embellishments are easy…stick to the traditional school format using school tools, etc.  You can’t go wrong with this strategy!

The album can be kept until your child leaves home – then send it along with them as a wonderful memory of their school years.  They’ll be so happy you put in the effort to capture their personalities and accomplishments!

Here are some of my favorite products for School Scrapbooking.  I hope you like them as much as I do:

# This A+ collection includes 24 acid-free prints, 12 with glitter and foil. Adorable apples, bouncing school buses, chalkboard doodlings and more make up this scholastic collection. 48 printed papers that measure 12” x 12”

Die Cuts With A View – Grade School Collection – 12 x 12 Paper Stack
Scrapbook.com

Or go the distance and get everything you’ll need in one place!

Scrapbook Album Kits contain everything you need to create an amazing, coordinated scrapbook album. Each kit contains one 12” x 12” album, 20-24 printed papers, chipboard pop-up stickers, epoxy alphabet stickers, cardstock stickers, small and large brads, ribbon, and a sturdy, reusable box to hold your scrapbooking supplies or other treasures.

Die Cuts with a View – Grade School Collection – 12 x 12 Scrapbook Album and Box Kit
Scrapbook.com

Cheers and Happy Scrapbooking!

Val at Paperhills

I like to imagine the end result as one large picture, then I break it down into two halves.  You might want to draw it out as a whole on a scratch pad first.  Next, determine where your dividing line will be.   Be sure to cut your photos at a reasonable spot and take that into consideration when you’re planning your layouts.  Always, always use similar colors and designs elements for both pages to  create balance and connection between the two sides.

Need scrapbooking ideas for arranging a double layout?  Here are a few examples:

Need some help co-ordinating your scrapbooking papers?  Try one of these double sided paper sets, a great deal and makes color matching so simple!

24 double-sided, 12” x 12” specialty papers- two clear glitter, two glitter thermography, two flocked and two shimmer thermography papers as well as 16 flat paper sheets.   We love these!

K and Company – Berry Sweet Collection – 12×12 Patterned Cardstock Double Sided Paper Pad – Berry Sweet
Scrapbook.com

With the 12 x 12 inch K-Ology Peabody Scrap Pad To Go by K and Company you can create a whole album with just one pad! Coordinate your creations with this set of: 36 double-sided 12 x 12 inch designer papers, and more.

K and Company – 12 x 12 Scrap Pad To Go – K-Ology Peabody
Scrapbook.com

This Anna Griffin Calisto Collection Cardstock Pack includes 24 double sided papers with specialty finishes.

Anna Griffin – Calisto Collection – 12 x 12 Double Sided Glittered and Metallic Cardstock Pack, BRAND NEW
Scrapbook.com

Cheers and Happy Scrapbooking!

Val at Paperhills

- Size is a considerable difference – scrapbooking layouts are usually large, cards are smaller.  It’s challenging to work in either size of canvas.

- Creativity is required in both scrapbooking and cardmaking when it comes to choosing just the right colors of  paper and co-ordinating embellishments.  Design and technique is key in either craft.

- In scrapbooking you would place your thoughts in a journal message, along with your pictures – in a handmade card you would express your thoughts by use of poetry or verses, but could still use pictures if you chose to – I do!

-  Scrapbook pages are created to last forever – Cards are intended for a single occasion, although I admit I keep all the handmade cards I get – and guess what I sometimes do with them!  Scrapbook them.  Funny isn’t it?

- Scrapbooking is usually done as a self expression and is a way of preserving your own personal memories.  These wonderful works of art can of course be shared with others.  Cardmaking on the other hand is done entirely as a creative labour of love especially for someone else.

- Here’s another important similarity. You would use most of the same supplies to create either!  And remember, our unique scrapbooking tags are designed to be used equally well for scrapbooking or cardmaking.  Try our easy downloads for all your projects.

When you consider this information, it’s easy to understand why one of these creative passtimes could naturally lead to the other.   Do you have a favorite?  I enjoy both!

If you haven’t considered cardmaking yet – have a look at some of the great ideas in our product pick below and discover a new passion!

Paper Crafts – Card Creations Start to Finish – Volume 2, BRAND NEW
Scrapbook.com

Happy Scrapbooking and Cardmaking!

Val at Paperhills

Why not design a layout which includes numerous facial expressions of your wee one.  After all – they are born with a uniqueness and personality all their own…and we love everything about them – so show who they are as babies by capturing their quirkyness. Then as you continue to watch their little personalities evolve more and more – your scrapbooks will tell their whole story for a lifetime.  Baby expressions are just the beginning!

Cheers and Happy Scrapbooking!

Val at Paperhills

Valentines Day is drawing close and it is the season of love.  Be romantic and create a mini scrapbook album filled with old love notes or letters,  mushy cards,  photos or journaling of your most treasured gifts from your special someone, details of your most standout dates and the wonderful places you went together.  Include quotes you both appreciate.   Make a CD of your favourite music – “your” songs, and add it to a pocket inside the album.  Celebrate your Valentine by creating a forever story with a Valentine theme.  You will both treasure it!

The greatest thing you’ll ever learn

is to love and be loved in return

Cheers and Happy Scrapbooking!

Val at Paperhills