My friend Amy recently asked me for a sketch challenge to spur her creativity and get her mojo going. Considering that I have pages full of sketches, I pulled this one out and did it up for her:
Hope you enjoy!
Tanya
April 16, 2009
February 27, 2009
Tip: Covering Chipboard with Patterned Paper
I love chipboard, and I especially love covering it with patterned paper. The problem is, sometimes the paper can ‘roll’ or ‘bunch’, which causes ripples, especially when covering large pieces.
As scrapbookers, we put the adhesive onto the paper first, then adhere it to things. Unfortunately, this is likely the reason for these ripples! Next time, put the adhesive onto the chipboard first, then attach the paper. After that, use an X-acto knife to ‘trace’ and cut away excess bits of the paper that hang over the edges.
You’ll have not only smooth coverage, but also avoid any ripping of small paper pieces when trying to completely cover it with adhesive!
Happy Scrapping! 
- Tanya
December 24, 2008
June 2, 2008
Scrapbooking Space Organization Part 4 of 4
When asked what methods I have used to get organized, there are a number of things that can be done simply and inexpensively to maximize space, efficiency, and happiness. This organization series will be in four parts:
1. Room – determining what is needed; layouts
2. Boxes and Bags - practical ideas for storage
3. Sorting - sorting items to keep things de-cluttered
4. Creativity – finding your muse
Part 4: Creativity
Finding your muse and getting creative regarding your scrapbooking space can sometimes be tough, especially if you don’t know where to start! Hopefully the first three instalments of this series has helped. If you need more of a boost, here are some ideas to get further inspiration:
Books or Magazines – Many publications offer scrapbooking space and organization information in them. Sometimes the spaces are completely impractical, as many of us do not have a 20×20 room that can be used for our hobby, or we don’t have thousands to invest in our own space. The ideas can be great, though, so take them and modify it into something that will work in your home, and for your budget.
Online Ideas – Google organization and you may find some great new ideas!
Record Your Ideas – Often we get ideas that are great at the time, but then we proceed to forget them as quickly as they came to us! Keep a notepad or small journal with you at all times, so that you can record these ideas, whether for your space or for a page or project. You’ll thank me later!
Plan it Out – Prior to getting started, make sketches of how the scrapbooking space will be organized. Take measurements for shelves or bookcases. Determine the amount of storage boxes, bins, containers, etc. that will be needed to hold all of your supplies. Ensure that you take into consideration future purchases that may occur, so that those items can also fit into your space. What repairs or painting needs to be done to the walls or flooring? What tables or chairs are going to be used? Determine the cost of the project, as well as your budget. This will help you keep on track when actually creating your space, as well as avoid obstacles that can be frustrating and make you want to quit. Pricing out the various items you need will help you get a sense as to what is on the market, what you can or cannot afford, or what you will actually like using. A good example is wicker baskets. They look good and are functional, but in researching them, I deemed them not worth it for me, as I hated the texture and feel of them. As well, things would slip out between the cracks, which would annoy me, being the anal person I am. Doing your homework will ensure that you get what you want, within your budget, so that you will be happy with the end result.
Consult Someone – There are a number of professionals you can hire to organize and plan your space, but friends, family, or fellow scrapbookers are also a great (and free!) resource. Other scrapbookers may also have tips and suggestions based on their own experiences, which can save you time, money, and headaches when creating your own personal space. As the saying goes, “two heads are better than one”.
Get Energized – Prior to starting any organization or sorting, it may be helpful to do some physical activity and get the blood flowing. This can spur on creativity and get you pumped about your upcoming task, especially if you are not the type who naturally gets excited over organizing (unlike me…). Another energizing option is to listen to music that makes you get pumped, empowered, or excited. As well, reworking your space with the assistance of another person not only makes it go faster, but also provides some fun in the process!
Get organized, and have fun!
- T
May 30, 2008
Scrapbooking Space Organization Part 3 of 4
When asked what methods I have used to get organized, there are a number of things that can be done simply and inexpensively to maximize space, efficiency, and happiness. This organization series will be in four parts:
1. Room – determining what is needed; layouts
2. Boxes and Bags - practical ideas for storage
3. Sorting - sorting items to keep things de-cluttered
4. Creativity – finding your muse
Part 3: Sorting
Sorting projects and supplies into some semblance of order can be a very daunting task. Let’s try to simplify this task into possible categories that will help you get started with your sorting, so that you can get started with your projects.
Projects – organizing supplies, paper, and photos into the specific pages or projects that you are going to create helps keep everything in one place, so that you have it all when you sit down and work on it. For example, when creating a recipe album, put your recipe cards, photos, stamps, embellishments, and papers that relate to cooking all in one box or bin, so that everything is ready to go when the album is started. There is nothing more frustrating than finishing a project, only to find a key embellishment that you bought with the sole purpose of using it on that project!
Colour Schemes – This is very easy to do with StampinUP! products, as everything is created within five main colour families, and all papers, ink, ribbon, etc. all coordinate and come in specific colours. This can easily be done for any supplies, though, and helps keep specific colour groups together and on-hand.
Item Type – Sorting supplies into key item types (eyelets, brads, wood, metal, ink, flowers, etc.) helps keep like-items together. Sometimes you will go for one colour of flower, only to run across another colour that you didn’t initally consider, but that would also look great.
Themes – Items that relate to a particular theme are also good to group together, so that they are easily found and accessible when working on pages or projects of that theme. For instance, Disneyland or Christmas. Remembering where all the Mickey items are can be difficult, or what type of item it was (was that a brad, a tag, or an epoxy embellishment?), so grouping them all together can save time and ensure you don’t forget something along the way.
Frequency of Use – Some items you are going to use more than others. For instance, your black journalling pen will likely be used more than your Crop-a-Dile, so ensure that you store your pen in an easily-accessed spot. This will save you time and frustration. Having a “key items” scrap bag is essential for any scrapbooker. Periodically clean through it and determine which items really are ‘key’ and which ones can likely be stored elsewhere.
For ideas on how to store all of these organized items, check out Part 2 of this series.
- T
May 28, 2008
Scrapbooking Space Organization Part 2 of 4
When asked what methods I have used to get organized, there are a number of things that can be done simply and inexpensively to maximize space, efficiency, and happiness. This organization series will be in four parts:
1. Room – determining what is needed; layouts
2. Boxes and Bags - practical ideas for storage
3. Sorting - sorting items to keep things de-cluttered
4. Creativity – finding your muse
Part 2: Boxes and Bags
There are a lot of different storage options on the market, as well as off the market, that can be used to organize all of your supplies. It really is a matter of personal preference as to which ones will work the best for you.
Shoe Boxes – Inexpensive and easy to acquire, shoe boxes work well to store items of any size. If you don’t like the printing or are wanting to have all of the boxes coordinate, you can pick up self-adhering drawer liner material at Wal-Mart or any dollar store, which will help mask the printing and give you the coordinating boxes for your space.
Unused Pizza Boxes – Many people like to use these for individual projects, as the boxes are roomy enough for paper, embellishments, and other goodies. Do make sure that they are unused, though, as used ones have greasy spots that will damage paper. They can be purchased in some office supply stores, or you can also approach the local pizzaria about purchasing new ones from them.
Photo Boxes – Available from Wal-Mart, Michael’s, and select other stores, they are handy for more than just photos. Label holders at the end of each box allow you to move things around box to box, while still ensuring you can find what you need. Since they come in a variety of colours and patterns, they are easy to coordinate with your scrapbooking space and personality.
IKEA Boxes – Anyone who knows me knows how much I absolutely adore IKEA. They have a number of boxes and bags that are extremely useful for keeping your scrapbooking supplies organized and easily accessible. Don’t be thrown off by their categorization for CD’s and DVD’s, as those boxes are the perfect size for most scrapbooking spaces, and they have clothes storage solutions that are magnificent for holding cutters, papers, stamps, and albums.
Boxes from Dollar Stores – Many dollar stores also carry a line of boxes that are easily assembled, and often found in the kids’ aisle. For the low price they charge, often you can get the number of paper or plastic boxes or bins that you need for your supplies. Prior to buying, though, check the durability and the composition of the material. Some bins will deteriorate over time and will shatter if placed in sunlight or in colder areas…as I discovered this last weekend with the plastic bins holding my 80’s CD’s!
Office Supply Store Boxes – The large office supply chains all carry cardboard boxes designed for holding file folders or binders, which can also be used for scrapbooking. These boxes are often large in size, so you may want to use plastic bags to separate items held within the box (ie. eyelets, brads, frames, tags, etc.), to keep things neat and orderly. As well, these boxes are often a little dull and plain brown. A bit of paint can brighten them up in no time, though!
Restaurant Cardboard Boxes – Many restaurant chains use uniformly-sized boxes to ship their food between the warehouses and the actual restuarants. A&W is a good example of this. Their fry boxes are just over 12 inches long, making them ideal for storing albums, paper, etc. Ensure that they are clean before using them, as you wouldn’t want to damage any supplies. The restaurants often pile them out back, so grab what you need once they have decided to discard them.
Plastic Containers – Plastic containers is a broad category, as this can encompass a lot of ground and a lot of suppliers. Containers from Ziploc, Glad, or any dollar store variety will work well to organize and store all sorts of supplies. If you are on a tight budget and aren’t looking to spend a lot of money, then saving sour cream, yogourt, or chip dip containers with lids also work great for goodies. To get rid of the printing on the containers, try covering with patterned paper or thin cardstock and ribbon.
Empty Cans – Once done with that soup can, use it as an essentially free storage container! Ensure that there are no sharp edges that can cut you later, wrap with paper and ribbon, add a tag with what is going to be contained in it, and voila! you have a storage container!
Mint and Lozenge Tins – These work great for smaller items, and can be additionally stored in boxes or bins. Or, you can purchase a strip of adhesive magnet, cut a piece, stick to the bottom of the tin, and use it as storage and a magnet, all in one! Dollarama has magnetic bars for $1, or IKEA has magnetic boards for a very reasonable price that will hold a number of tins. IKEA also sells smaller containers with magnets on them, should you want the functionality, but not the printing on the tin.
Shoe Holders or Racks – Over-the-door plastic or fabric shoe holders work great for storing roller wheels, stamps, ribbon, and anything else that approximate size and dimension. Often the space behind the door is wasted by being empty, so this helps capitalize on some additional room. Shoe racks also work well as ’shelves’ that can be placed on pre-existing shelves in a cupboard or on a wall, giving you more space for supplies. Once again, IKEA!
Tie Racks – Tie racks work really well for storing ribbon, depending on how the rack is put together. Stringing spools or slips of ribbon onto the various ‘fingers’ will allow you to keep things organized and on-hand.
Organizers on Wheels – Wal-Mart (and other stores with household products) sells great plastic units with drawers that also have caster wheels, making them very handy for the scrapbooker who does not have a determined hobby space. A note of caution that the wheels will break the plastic if too much weight is in the unit, so avoid putting heavy items in them.
Pill Bottles – Used pill bottles work great for those super-small items that often get lost. Peel the labels off them, so that you can easily see what the container holds, or opt for a slip of paper with a hand-written or stamped label on it. As well, the contents can be indicated on the top of the container by using a Sharpie.
Getting organized is one of the best feelings in the world, and there are a plethora of options for you to determine the best way that you can get, and stay, organized!
To finish, a wonderful quote from Florynce R. Kennedy: “Don’t agonize, organize.”
- T
May 22, 2008
Question: Can I use Mini Glue Dots to adhere Chipboard?
You can definitely use Mini Glue Dots to cover Chipboard! For some other ideas, check out a previous blog post located at http://tanyascrapbooks.wordpress.com/2008/05/09/scrapbooking-tip-covering-chipboard-which-adhesive-do-i-use/
Mini Glue Dots are actually a great supply that come in handy for a variety of embellishments, as they are stronger than 2-way glue, snail adhesive, or tape:
Buttons – when attaching buttons to a page, Mini Glue Dots will ensure that they don’t fall off or twist around
Metals – metals are often hard to attach to pages and projects because they are so heavy and have a slick surface. Mini Glue Dots will do the trick wonderfully!
Plastics – Mini Glue Dots are perfect for embellishments made from any plastic, and with the wide range of sizes of Dot, you can find one that will be the best
Ribbon – when spanning ribbon across a 12×12 page, using the smaller size of Mini Glue Dots will adhere the ribbon to the page and avoid any pulling or stretching, which can occur when using a snail adhesive
Extra Tips:
- Mini Glue Dots can be cut, if done very carefully with a knife or sharp pair of scissors
- Once stuck down, it can be almost impossible to remove an embellishment after a Mini Glue Dot has been used. Ensure you know where you want the item before sticking it down.
- While very versatile, Mini Glue Dots will show through vellum or transparencies, so opt for another way to attach if that bothers you.
- T
May 7, 2008
Scrapbooking with Colour: Part 2 of 3
Orange
- warm (but not as much as red)
- Good Feelings: energy, balance, warmth, enthusiasm, vibrance
- Bad Feelings: flamboyancy, demanding of attention, needy
- energetic, which is why it is used for sports teams!
- warm (but not as much as red)
- Good Feelings: energy, balance, warmth, enthusiasm, vibrance
- Bad Feelings: flamboyancy, demanding of attention, needy
- energetic, which is why it is used for sports teams!
Purple
- Good Feelings: royalty, spirituality, nobility, ceremony, mystery, wisdom
- Bad Feelings: cruelty, arrogance, mourning
- often seen as exotic
- gives feelings of luxury and creativity
Red
- catches the most attention because warm and energetic (ie. red cars stand out)
- Good Feelings: love, desire, passion, speed, strength
- Bad Feelings: danger, emergencies, anger, violence, blood
- raises energy and excitement
- can also increase appetites (many fast-food chains have red as their dominant colour)
- if muted with creams or tans, can be rich and elegant
Tomorrow: Part 3 – crimson, yellow, white, and black
March 31, 2008
Hello and Welcome!
Those who know me know that I love scrapbooking. It has become more of an obsession than a hobby…an obsession that I love sharing with others.
At work, I have spent a lot of time learning about blogs and online marketing, and have been contemplating starting my own blog devoted to scrapbooking, but wanted to make sure that I understood enough and found the right tool to do what I wanted to do. Took the plunge today, and will work on sharing scrapbooking ideas and techniques from this point forward!
To reach me, feel free to send me a message at tanyascrapbooks through hotmail (avoiding putting the email address here, as posts are often skimmed by spammers, and who wants that?). I look forward to your emails and comments.
I hope you enjoy this blog as much as I will, although that is unlikely!
T
