Art Girlz Scrapbook Nook

Using One Photo per Page? Go Large!

I've still been working on special pages for my own scrapbook, after all these years of making books for my girls! My book will have few photos, but I'll be investing in large photos. You know those photos that remind you of a special time, or they had that perfect smile, or their favorite "blankie".

This photo was so spontaneous and one of the very few of my daughters and my (one and only) niece. This was taken the day before my cousin's wedding. It was summer and the weather was beautiful & sunny. Not sure WHY I went with the bright colors, but I fell in love with these papers (Rhonna Farrar), the background is Bazzill BLING. How I love the BLING.

The flowers show the possibilities for making different centers: one is a brad, another a button, and the third is 2 flowers layered with a brad in the center. I'm all into flowers! Not only am I a paper addict, I'm a Prima flower addict!!

I used the same technique for this title as I did on another page I made about a year ago ... threading the ribbon through holes in the top of the tags. I'm not finished with this -- it will be a 2-page spread as I need alot of space to journal our trip and the party. We drove almost 600 miles up to New York State for this wedding and semi-family reunion. Although it was only 8 years ago ... my daughters have already forgotten so many of the details. And this is precisely why I encourage everyone to bring a journal with them whenever they have their camera! Write down some of the little things: special or silly things. The scrapbook pages will mean more to your family in the years to come.

Another photo from the same wedding -- and it was so difficult to get both girls smiling in the same photo!! I found the vellum quote in a book from DCW. I haven't finished it as I am preparing some lace and small butterfly charm to add to the left of the tag (an odd number of embellishments is more appealing to the eye. It's like the rule of thirds -- dividing the page or card into thirds. Or using Gallon, Quart & Pint formula for color combos.

Although these photos are taken at the same event, the first one is very playful, so I chose playful & colorful papers. The second page is more "formal" using polka dot background with a floral / paisley strip of paper across the top. The flowers are even more formal looking -- these flowers look like dogwood blooms.

While it is more expensive to have 8x10" photos printed, choose photos that are worthy of the attention. If using digital photo files, make sure that the file will produce a good, clear print at such a large size. Usually 35mm negative film can be enlarged to almost any size.

Many of the scrapooking magazines are featuring scrapbook pages with one central photo -- these are usually no larger than 5x7". But go bold! I might find a nice frame for these pages and hang them in my office! Remember, scrapbook pages can be home decor.

Using REALLY Oversize Photos on Scrapbook Pages

I went to a crop this weekend. It was at Archiver's -- and they give us a page kit. It's adorable new paper from K&Co. They also have a layout that they've designed for the papers. This kit had a VERY OVERSIZE photo on it.

Large photos like this are usually quite expensive to have developed. And I wasn't sure I wanted to put that much money into a page I might not like ... so they have a color copier. The paper in the copier is made to print photos ... and we increased our little 4x6 photo to a 8x12. The layout called for the photo to be cropped to about 6x12.

My page is not completed yet, I think I may run a title across the top of the photo (the dark area). I think instead of putting this into a scrapbook, I'm going to do something else with it ... like frame it.

It's quite an easy layout, and obviously the photo takes center stage. A vertical photo that has extra area on the sides (so that it can be cropped to 6x12) is needed, but you could make it any size.

I love the papers with the shaped edges. The pink paper on the left (with the curved edge) has all 4 edges curved. But to maximize the shape, cut only a strip about 4 inches wide so that you have plenty of the paper for other projects.

I'm certainly not going to make tons of scrapbook pages with 12" photos, but I had fun with this one. See what you can do. And try a color copy on some photo paper!

Turn a 6x6 Page into an 8x8 page

Over the past few years I've taken part in a number of scrapbook page swaps. Most of these have been the 6x6 size. This size is quick and easy to make and swap. While there are many possibilities for these swapped pages, lately I have been primarily scrapping in 8x8 or 12x12.

What do you do with ALL those 6x6 pages?

You can try the PROGRESSIVE SCRAPBOOKING TECHNIQUE.

1) You make a 6x6 page; 2) Layer that onto an 8 1/2x11 page; 3) layer all onto a 12x12 page.

Here's an example of a finished 12x12 Progressive Page. Can you find the 6x6? the 8 1/2x11"?

*

But, we're doing 8x8. What can you do with those 6x6's on a page only 2 inches larger? A LOT!!!

The cute "PRINCESS" page (white) was a 6x6 I received in a swap. (Sorry I cannot give credit to the scrapper as there is no name on the page). I loved this page as soon as I received it -- it fits my younger daughter Perfectly!! I have been waiting to use this for just the right project. I used photos from our trip to Disney World. Added some of Queen & Company's FELT FUSION (self-adhesive felt) -- just love it! Cut it into pieces (like we did one our pages) or use as a felt strip.

Add some buttons, ribbons, brads and some printed papers. Very quick! I'm so glad to be able to use this 6x6 page because I do not own the stamps that were used on the page.

Do you have something on your photo that you'd like to hide? Try adding the flowers and buttons overlapping onto the photo, like we did on this page! Embellishments are so wonderful for hiding those yuky things you didn't see when you took the photo.Our completed 2-page layout just needs some journaling and it's completed. And it took only about 15-20 minutes. So go ahead and join some 6x6 swaps. You'll be on your way to creating a 6x6 book, 8x8, 8 1/2x11 or even a 12x12!