Using Chipboard to Mat Photos

We often want to highlight a particular photo on a page, but don’t necessarily want to do the same old mats.  Try using chipboard!

You can often purchase sheets of chipboard for a relatively good cost, and it can be fairly pain-free to cut to the required size.  Keep those old, dull cutter blades for this purpose.  I use a Sharpie and write “dull” on them, so that I know not to use them on my good cardstock, but they work like a dream for chipboard!

Mount the photo on the chipboard (for helpful advice on which adhesive to use, check out this post), then use a sanding block on all of the edges, which will ‘meld’ the photo and the chipboard together, as well as give an interesting edge.  Careful not to get to agressive, as there is the possiblity of damaging the photo.

Using mini glue dots, adhere the matted photo to your layout.  The chipboard mat will raise the photo, give the layout some dimension, and provide a new feel to your scrapbooking!

- Tanya

Scrapbooking and Colour Intensity

As I sit and listen to awesome music from the 80’s, my mind cannot help but harken back to the days of neon shirts and acid-washed jeans…

Which got me thinking about colour and scrapbooking, because, as you know, almost anything reminds me of scrapbooking!

In teaching newbie scrapbookers, I find that the one thing that they struggle with the most is choosing the ‘right’ colours for their layouts.  This problem doesn’t just limit itself to newbies.  We’ve all known the frustration of not finding the colours of cardstock and patterned paper that make those photos pop…things are either too dark, too bright, or too blah.

Unfortunately, there is no winning formula that I can give you. 

But, there are some ways that it can become easier.  Remember that high school chemistry class that you thought you would never use?  Well, stretch that memory, as we’re going to use it now!

Okay, so you know that chemicals can be categorized into three different groups: acids, bases, and neutrals.  Remember those litmus papers that helped determine the acidity of things?  If you combine acids and bases in the right amounts, then the resulting product is neutral.  Remember? 

Okay, now relax.  That is the end of the chemistry lesson for the day…promise!

The neat thing is that this can be applied to scrapbooking, but substitute dark for acid, and bright for base.  Take a look at a photo, any photo.  Is the lighting dark, bright, or neutral?

To make it easier, here are some examples:

This would be considered a bright photo (bright colours in the subject, brighter lighting):

This would be a dark photo (the tones in the photo are dark):

This would be a neutral photo (there are a mixture of brights and darks, and the lighting is neither bright, nor dark, but rather middle-of-the-road):

Now, based on what your photo is (dark, bright, neutral), you can choose the right intensity of papers for the matting.  The goal is to neutralize things, much like in chemistry class.

Dark photos – they need to be “neutralized” with brighter mats
Bright photos – they need to be “neutralized” with darker mats
Neutral photos – since they are already neutral, you can use either darks or brights, but make sure you don’t use too many brights or darks – try and keep the papers neutralized to a point.

As an example, for the dark photo above (of the family dog), matting in a bright would ‘neutralize’ the photo, and brighten it up as a result.  Choosing a white or a brighter orange to match the flowers on the blanket would work (or, for a double mat, use both!).  To keep the focus on the tones in the dog and the bone, the background paper should likely be a rusty brown colour. 

The background, or foundation, cardstock can often be the ’swing’ paper in the layout, meaning that it can often be a dark, even when the photo is dark.  It really depends on how much you neutralize the photo with the matting cardstock.

It is important to note that neutral papers, such as sandy brown, most vanillas, some blacks, navy, mid-tone whites, etc. can be used at any time, as they are already neutral.  Play with it a bit and see how it goes.  Even though black is often given a bad rep, it sometimes gives the layout the zip it needs! 

Pulling colours from the photo is a great way to find the colours that will work.  The ‘chemistry of scrapbooking’ will help you choose the intensity of that colour, as you will be choosing bright, dark, or neutral tones based on your photo!

Have fun, and happy scrapping!

- Tanya

Collecting Embellishments for Scrapbooking Layouts

We often photograph events and occurences in our lives, only to find that we cannot locate that ‘perfect’ embellishment to fit the layout, once it comes time to scrapbook those photos!

When attending the event, try saving some of the souvenir items, such as programs, decorations, writing down quotes from people in attendance, etc.  For instance, several years ago at a wedding, I grabbed some of the metallic purple heart confetti on the table, which later I adhered to the layout about the reception.  Try and be discreet, though, as otherwise people around you might think you’re a cleptomaniac!  When in doubt, ask.  People wouldn’t mind letting you take home a flower to press, or an extra copy of the program. 

Bear in mind that sometimes these event momentos are not acid free, or can be bulky.  You may need to laminate them, neutralize them with spray, or press them.

You can also try creating innovative tags or images by using a variety of stamps and accessories that mimic the general theme or feeling of the event.

When in doubt, use generic items that work for almost any layout: flowers, metal label holders, chipboard shapes (arrows are really hot right now).

Have fun with it!

- Tanya

Finding Time to Scrapbook During Busy Times

Okay, I’ll admit it.

I’ve been neglecting you…

Maybe it is the advent of nice weather and summer breezes, but things have been downright crazy lately!  It has been hard to complete anything, other than what is immediately necessary…which made me think of scrapbooking.  In reality, what doesn’t make me think of scrapbooking?

The most common complaint that scrapbookers have is that “I don’t have time to scrapbook”.  It would be easy to say “make time”, but often the people and activities that fill our time have much more urgent demands for our attention, and a hobby is often the first thing that is demoted in our To Do lists.

Strangely enough, during this super-busy week, I found myself finishing about 1/3 of a mini album.  How?  I’m not sure, but pondering on it, here are some ways that I got that work done:  by not trying to ”make” time for scrapping, but finding ways to ”fit” it into my schedule.

- organize your projects into specific boxes or folders.  Then, when you have a few minutes, or are feeling creative, it is much easier to sit down and get something accomplished, rather than spending time trying to find things, only to get frustrated, or realize that you are now out of time…again.

- jot down ideas when they come to you.  Creativity cannot be forced, no matter how hard you try, and there is nothing more frustrating than finally being able to sit down to scrapbook, only to find that you cannot think of a single thing to do with a photo.  Jotting down a creative idea or layout when it comes to you will ensure that it is not “lost” in the jumble of other thoughts that must occupy your brain on a daily basis.  Plus, having that crude pencil drawing will often spark that creativity when you look at it again, or even bring out another layout idea.

- when waiting in line, or stuck in traffic, change your mind to more creative channels.  Turning your mind off from the list of things that need to get done, to thinking of scrapbooking will often give you some great ideas, which can then be implemented later.  Listening to music that inspires you will also help your mind change channels when stuck in the car.  Keep a notebook handy!

- if possible, leave your projects out on a table.  This way, sometimes you’ll walk by and do a few things to a layout or mini album while waiting for the washing machine, microwave, etc.  Five minutes here and there, all added up, can mean hours of scrapbooking time in one week!

- scrapbook when watching TV.  For other CSI lovers out there, that means three hours of scrapbooking each week!  Be sure you do projects that still allow you to watch the detectives, though.  You wouldn’t want to miss the key evidence that cracks the case!  (And, as well, some of those detectives are pretty cute! )

If you have some ideas or suggestions on how to accomplish everything on your To Do list, and still fit in your scrapbooking addiction, feel free to share!

Have a productive, and fun, weekend!

Tanya

Trouble with Photos? Try Black and White!

We’ve all been there.  We’ve all had this great photo that we really love, but the colours of the clothing, background, or the lighting is just strange, making the photo one that we struggle to scrapbook.

Try converting it to black and white!

B&W photos are much more forgiving and flexible, as you can use any colour on the layout, and the picture will still look great.  As well, B&W allows you to ‘hide’ some flaws with the photo that are apparent when it is in colour.

I use Wal-Mart’s online photo centre to upload and print my photos from the comfort of my computer, and it gives me the option to change any photo into B&W automatically when I am ordering.  Sepia is also an option (converts the photos into brown tones, making it like those old-style photos from the early 1900’s).

Most photo editing programs also have a B&W option, as do many digital cameras.  Taking the photo in B&W does give a bit more dimension to it, as the camera lens is adjusting to the light and converting it immediately into B&W, while changing it afterwards will have a slightly different outcome, but later conversions still give you the opportunity to have colour as well.  There is nothing more frustrating than having a great shot in B&W, only to realize that you would have loved to have it in colour too!

- Tanya