Size Matters

okay

you've noticed I do mostly 12x12 pages.

what you haven't seen is that I've done lots of 8-1/2x11 pages (not to mention lots of minibooks of all shapes and sizes)

When I was working on my kids school albums

(which I have just been updating for the past few years with each new year - and they are almost complete as these kids are almost done with school - a fact that totally blows my mind but i digress....)

I had a lot of items that didn't really require 2 full pages or even one full 12x12 page. I used Creative Memories albums for their school albums. CM made (perhaps still makes) these page protectors for things like awards and such - and they were really just like 8-1/2 by 11 page protectors. I used those for all their awards and such. They threaded right into the album like the other pages. Then I realized I could just make smaller pages in the albums - why not? So those albums are a mix of 8-1/2 x 11 and 12x12 pages. I guess I was a little ahead of my time huh? Cos now I see this same idea being used by a lot of other scrappers - I guess it just makes sense huh?

So, the other day I was getting ready to go to my new scrapbook club. I was looking at the photos that were up next in my son's baby album (notice how I have the school albums worked on but I'm still just at the beginning of the baby albums? ha!) A few pics here - a few pics there. None that needed a big ole 12 x 12 page and certainly didn't need a 2 page spread. So out with the 8-1/2x 11 cardstock. I made these 2 layouts and have another on my drawing table. I forgot how fast and easy these smaller layouts can be - and really a lot less stressful to boot. Fast and easy is good. No stress is good. It definitely gave me a sense of accomplishment - and for me - faced with decades (yes... decades) of scrapbooking to do - well that is definitely a bonus! Makes me want to do more!

walker happy

I have to say the most fun part of working on pages of photos that are so old is you get to look at baby pictures of your children - total trip down memory lane. Lots of reflection as you stare into that sweet little face from so many years ago. The bad part is, of course, that some of the memories are slightly fuzzy. Like I can't remember exactly when I took these pictures. But really, in the long run, it doesn't make any difference. What does make a difference is that I have these photos now in a scrapbook, right? Right.

I used some of that Making Memories Boy paper and some cardstock. Used a punch by

StampinUp! that creates scallops - for the long borders on each side. The title block was scalloped using my Nestabilities. Hey - when you buy these pricey tools you gotta use 'em every chance you get! or make some opportunities right? I used Purple Onion alpha stamps and StampinUp! ink; also a StampinUp! marker to write in the rest of the titling. And looky at all those pictures I managed to fit onto 2 pages. 10 - countem - ten pictures. I wasn't going to edit a single photo. He was just too darn cute in all of them!

Cutest

Well it's been a while. Happy New Year and all that!

I actually started this "Cutest" page before I went into my exile. And finally i had a chance to get back to it. Used some Purple Onion stamps and cardstock and that's it.

My big problem is that I cannot get over using every decent photo I have. So I'm always arranging and rearranging photos so they'll fit on a 2 page spread.

I've often thought I should take that Library of Memories class that Stacey Julian offers through Big Picture Scrapbooking. Since she came up with that class - what maybe 2 years ago - she also talks about her system in her book "Simple Scrapbooking" - I've thought about taking it but wish she'd just come out with a book detailing the system. Well - I read last week she is coming out with just that book! Yippee for me. It's called "Photo Freedom" and its due out February 1st. I'm not sure if it will finally convince me to not to scrapbook every photo but I'm willing to listen! I've loved Stacey Julian's other books so I'm going to give it a whirl. Even though I've stopped buying scrapbooking magazines and books - I'm not missing this one!

sorry i've been gone

between things going on around here and Christmas - scrapbooking is on a serious back burner. However, I anticipate getting back to a regular schedule once the holidays have been packed away for another year. This is often the way for us Suzy's and I am really not apologizing about not scrapbooking. You have to work it in when you can and that is not right now for this Suzy. So happy holidays to all - see you in the New Year!

How to fix those not-so-good pictures

does anyone know?

Oh you thought I was going to tell YOU?!

Silly.

First of all - 21 years ago there were no digital cameras (at least not that I know of). I was using a Pentax - not anything automatic and I really hadn't a clue what I was doing. Sort of a hit or miss affair. Back then - I just wanted to take the pictures and for the most part i did ok. These are evidence of my lack of skill with that camera however I have photos and that's what I cared about.

When i pulled out these pictures they looked decidedly Christmas-y.

And they are not Christmas pictures.

Really.

My husband's Aunt had sent this adorable bear to my son as a gift. And I had good intentions of taking photos of our son every month (after receiving it) with the bear to chart our son's growth - seeing as the bear was so large I thought it would be funny to see when our son actually overtook him - sizewise (of course if you'll notice in the photos, my dear son had some major double chins goin on - gawd the child was adorable - if you only knew what he looked like now you'd fully appreciate the irony - think very slim). Anyway that didn't happen - the monthly photo taking - but I do have these photos (and some others with the bear that you'll see soon).
And they looked like Christmas. Until I decided to pair the photos with this paper by KI Memories and some Bazzill cardstock. I wanted to take the Christmas out so i opted for blues and greens. And actually i think it worked. The alpha stickers are also KI.

That's all for today folks. Go make a page!

First Halloween

Now i'm actually to the first Halloween (and folks - this would mean my son was 4 months old - I've got a lot of stuff to do huh? LOL)

I am happy with this one - the pictures kinda just fell into place and I just needed to add some paper and a little journaling. I used some Doodlebug paper and cardstock, a Hero Arts stitching stamp, some black ink, my Martha Stewart writing pen and a little ribbon. The alpha stamps are, once again, from Purple Onion Designs - this time Garamouche Small. Oh and a little bit of ribbon on the tag. And I did use a small circle punch for the reinforcement on the tag. The only thing I think I would think about adding is maybe some more of that stitching stamp on the borders at top or bottom. I didn't do it because lining it up to go across the page was more effort than I wanted to expend LOL. I could just as easily use my sewing machine to get the same job done with a lot less effort.

A Father Son Talk and Classic products

You may have noticed I've been using a particular color scheme for this album of my son's baby pictures. Not really a conscious choice on my part. More of a manufacturer's decision. Most of the baby stuff out there for sale is in some form or other of pastel shades. It varies slightly from year to year - some years there is an influx of the hot color combinations - but they are always pastelled down (i made that word up LOL - but you know what i mean). And actually all the papers I'd bought over the years I liked just fine. I bought them right? But you do notice that is what people expect to find for baby stuff - I have noticed some primary colored items but for the most part - pastel. And it can get a little boring. I pulled out theese photos of my husband and son and thought - no Making Memory boy paper for this layout. It just won't work. BUT... some Making Memories Kid Collection Embellishment Paper - Sam - will be just right! No I'm not a shill for Making Memories but I am a huge fan. I think they have made some of the nicest scrapbooking products ever. The word Classic comes to mind. How much more classic can you get than the paper I used in this layout? It will always look good - and on a variety of layouts. I also threw on some of their buttons (of which i have a huge supply) - I like buttons. And i was in desperate need of something to fill that space. The title is stamped using (another of what i consider classic) Purple Onion Designs Garamouche Medium. I used a Martha Stewart writing pen for the journaling - I keep forgetting to mention these wondeful little pens! Get some. They're great- and they come in a ton of colors (make sure if you're looking for the writing pen you don't pick up the permanent marker - totally different tip!) And of course then there are the photos. I just love these pictures of my husband and son.