erin terrell clarkson [etc]

Scrapbooks etc. Page Share: June 2011 (Cute As A Button)

I created a quick and easy baby album for the June issue of Scrapbooks etc. by keeping my supplies to a minimum. I selected coordinating rub-ons and stickers from K&Co. for the embelllishments, then used a chipboard album, cardstock, and a few basic punches. That's all I needed to create the entire album. (Aside from a paper trimmer, photos, and adhesive - the very basics!) 

Here's a shot of the cover:

 

I used a fun font (Fabianestem Normal) to create the title. I printed it on white cardstock, then trimmed it to fit the front of the album. I added a border of cardstock, then placed chipboard stars covered with cardstock on the lower right corner of the cover.

I like using chipboard mini albums because they are pretty sturdy. Chipboard elements as embellishments are very inexpensive and add lots of texture. After you've adhered paper to a chipboard album, lightly sand the outer edges to help the paper form to the chipboard shape.

My only goal for this album was for it to be colorful and fun...and have lots of cute photos of my adorable nephew filling the pages. Easy enough!

As mentioned above, I stuck to the basics when I was decorating the album. I used 2 sheets of rub-ons, 2 sets of stickers, the chipboard stars, and basic punched shapes such as the large circles seen in the photo above. 

If you like the album and want to see it in its entirety, you can do so HERE on the Scrapbooks etc. website.

Also, if you haven't signed up for Groupon yet, please use THIS LINK (I'll get credit, which I need so I can buy more goodies through Groupon. ThankYouVeryMuch!!!!!). The best current local deals right now seem to be:

Old Navy Deal of the Day

Half off on Marble Slab Ice Cream

$49 for a 6 Month Unlimited Pass (Texas Shine Car Wash)

SCRAPBOOKS ETC. PAGE SHARE: APRIL 2011 (BRENDEN'S 1ST EASTER)

Here is a page share from the April 2011 issue of Scrapbooks etc. This page was so fun to create - mainly because the subject matter is so cute! My nephew makes the funniest little faces. This was his first Easter, and he was pretty captivated by everything that was going on.

As seen in Scrapbooks etc. April 2011 issue (page 24). SOURCES Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper. Patterned paper: Chatterbox (orange dot). Font: Pea Hart off the Internet. Stickers: American Crafts. Rub-ons: Autumn Leaves ("spring 2010"), Making Memories ("springtime is happiness"), Doodlebug Design (all others). Software: Adobe Photoshop CS5.

I used small letters in the same color as the background so the long title wouldn't overwhelm the rest of the page. I added multi-color rub-on letters to spell out the word "colorful", so that portion of the title would stand out. 

A chick die-cut fills empty space within one photo, and also adds a touch of Easter to the page. Small colorful brads mimic the look of confetti on my nephew's bottom. (Here in Texas, we have an Easter tradition of breaking cascarones over someone's head to add to the festivities, but Brenden enjoyed sitting in the colorful mess the confetti made.)

I printed the photos in a variety of sizes and colors to keep your eye moving throughout the page. First you are drawn to the oversized photo of Brenden playing with the egg, but the smaller sized photos and the addition of B&W shots add interest and draw your attention to the second half of the page. I ended the layout with another large photo to make a statement. When I have photos I love as much as the ones on this page, I tend to go pretty simple with my overall page design and let the photos be the focal point. 

Have fun if you're planning to take Easter photos this weekend! I hope you capture some great ones. Remember to take photos throughout the day and try to capture all of the excitement (and tiredness afterwards) of the many events. Be sure to take photos from different angles and get in close for fun detail shots, as well as capturing the wide shots that show the entire event as it unfolds around you.

Scrapbooks etc Page Share: February 2011 (It's Official...)

Sharing another layout from the February issue of Scrapbooks etc. This one is in the Made In Minutes category, so it's a great one to copy for those of you who prefer your pages to be quick and easy. 

This is a page about my parents 45th wedding anniversary. I just love the photos! They're so cute together. My parents have been through plenty of rough patches - just like any other couple - but it's so sweet for me to see them kissing and holding hands after so many years together. They make me believe in true love!

How adorable are they?

As seen in Scrapbooks etc. February 2011 issue (page 116). SOURCES Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper. Patterned paper: BasicGrey (pink), Little Yellow Bicycle (green). Font: Gill Sans off the Internet. Stickers: American Crafts (letters, "45"), BasicGrey ("it can't get better than this...", pink circle), Fancy Pants Designs (blue stars). Die Cut: BasicGrey. Punch: Fiskars. Software: Adobe Photoshop CS5.

I'm only showing a peek of this page so you will go out and buy the magazine. I can't show all of my pages here!! Truthfully, I lost the shot of the full layout or I'd probably show it, too. ;o) But still...go buy the magazine. 

Scrapbooks etc. Page Share: February 2011 (I Left My Heart In SC)

I wanted to share a layout I created for the February issue of Scrapbooks etc. I can't list the page number and sources, because I haven't received my copy yet - but I will try to remember to add that information once my copy arrives. Since some of you may be scrapping Valentines pages right about now, it seems like a good time to share:

Here is a detail shot:

I designed my title in Adobe Photoshop and added a dingbat font in the shape of a heart. I printed the photo, then used a needle to poke holes along the inner edges of the heart. I stitched pink floss through the holes to fill the heart - I like the way it adds a bit of texture to the page.

The photo of me with my parents is from this summer (2010), when Daisy and I visited South Carolina for our summer vacation. We ended up spending the majority of our visit in the hospital, because my dad had to have heart surgery. As soon as his doctor released him from the hospital, he insisted we drive down to Hilton Head and spend the last few days of our vacation together at the beach. That's just the way my dad is...always worrying about everyone else and making sure the people around him are happy. My parents are both so amazing. I truly have the best family a girl could ever hope for!!

We had a great time, and I just enjoyed every second I was able to spend with them. We even celebrated my parents 45th wedding anniversary while we were there that weekend! We had the "best steak on the planet" (according to Daisy) and the 'most expensive steak on the planet' (judging by the price on the receipt). It was all worth it, because Daisy still talks about that steak - and I still have fond memories of watching my parents walk hand-in-hand down the pier outside of that restuarant. I love visiting my parents, and I do leave a little piece of my heart behind each time I return to Texas. I hope they know how much I miss them. (I love you Mom and Dad!)

Scrapbooks etc. Page Share: Dec 2010 (Everyday Blessings)

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I wanted to share a page from the December issue of Scrapbooks etc. This page just shows a few of the little everyday blessings I'm thankful for - sometimes it's the smallest things in life that make me happiest. 

(click on the photo to see it larger)

As seen in Scrapbooks etc. December 2010 issue (page 21). SOURCES Patterned paper: American Crafts (yellow), BasicGrey (purple), Fancy Pants Designs (blue-and-cream, green). The Girls' Paperie (numbers). Font: VT Portable Remington off the Internet. Chipboard accents: Heidi Swapp (letters), Imagination Project ("November"). Ribbon: Fancy Pants Designs. Adhesive: Scrapbook Adhesives by 3:. Software: Adobe Photoshop CS5.

To create this page, I just gathered a few random fall photos that made me happy. The left-hand side of the page is a photo collage sized to 8x8" and printed on 8x10" photo paper. Looks like this:

I didn't even bother layering the photos neatly, because I knew I'd be adding patterned paper (and ribbon) over them:

I trimmed big funky numbers from patterned paper to label each photo, because I liked the pop of color it added to the page. 

On the right-hand side of the layout, I used tone-on-tone chipboard letters to create the title and I curved the path to follow along the lines of the bracket shaped patterned paper:

The journaling uses a typewriter-style font and I trimmed strips of tone-on-tone paper there, too. I like the way it makes the journaling stand out a little bit, without being too distracting.

Happy Thanksgiving to those of you celebrating, and I hope you all travel safely. 

Scrapbooks etc. Page Share: December 2010 (100 Meter Dash)

Just had to share a layout in the December issue of Scrapbooks etc., because it is one of my all-time favorites. It's the type of page I love because I am such a fan of the memory behind it. It was a fun day, and I loved watching Daisy race. Something I'll always look back on and smile...

As seen in Scrapbooks etc. December 2010 issue (page 64). SOURCES Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper. Patterned paper: Scenic Route Paper Co. (dot, blue on blue star), Fancy Pants Designs (blue and white star), Sassafras (plaid star). Font: SP Chi-Town. Rub-ons: Kaisercraft ("100 meter"), American Crafts (dashed lines), Making Memories (all other). Chipboard letters: Heidi Swapp. Die cuts: October Afternoon. Floss: Making Memories.

I took the photos from a distance, so they weren't the best quality. I printed each photo in both B&W and color, then trimmed the portion highlighting Daisy in color and layered it on top of the B&W photo. I wanted to highlight her in the photos and thought that was the best way to make her stand out.

The stitched circle also helped draw attention to her. The rest of the page is pretty simple: lots of rub-ons, a chipboard title, and stars trimmed from patterned paper. 

 

SBE Page Share: Oct. 2010 Issue (Doodlebug Haunted House)

This little haunted house was featured in the October 2010 issue of Scrapbooks etc. You may have seen these chipboard houses before, because there are many versions of them posted online. You simply purchase a blank chipboard house (made by Doodlebug), then decorate it any way you'd like.

This isn't a 5 minute project, but the cute results are well worth the time spent creating it. Follow the assembly instructions exactly as they are written on the insert in the package, and you'll be just fine! 

My favorite part of the project was adding all of the fun little details. The bats are velvety - I'm not sure if that shows up on my photo (below). I love the decorative brad with the witch on it, used as a doorknob (below). The Bazzill "Just the Edge" strips were a perfect finishing touch for the roofline. 

As seen in Scrapbooks etc. October 2010 issue (pg. 57). SOURCES  Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper Just The Edge, Ruche Textured Paper (yellow, gray). Patterned Paper: Pink Paislee Twilight Collection (Dusk, Eclipse), Making Memories (Halloween Haunted Stripe).  Chipboard Accents: Doodlebug Haunted House. Punches: Circle Punch. Stickers: Making Memories Velvet Stickers. Ink: Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink (black, brown). Other: Hot Glue Gun

I used a patterned paper from Pink Paislee on the roof, instead of solid black paper, because I liked the distressed appearance of the paper and particularly liked that "31" in the circle. I had a purple roof on there at first, but I swapped it out and I'm glad I did.

To finish it off, I added a velvety witch on the chimney and - of course - a full moon. I used textured papers for the moon and clouds, then inked the edges for a little extra dimension.

It's a fun little project and I love the way it turned out. It will look cute near the front door when I greet all of the little trick-or-treaters who come to my neighborhood. 

HERE is a link to the new Pink Paislee Halloween line, which is just as cute as the one I used here!

"Watch Me Grow" Frame

I wanted to share a frame I created for the September issue of Scrapbooks etc. This frame is my "scrapbook inspired" version of a typical kinder through 12th grade school frame. 

I purchased a frame with 12 openings from Pottery Barn. (You can see the full shot of the frame in the current issue of Scrapbooks etc.) I printed B&W photos of Daisy throughout her school years. Then I gathered supplies with school related themes or colors I liked:

Next, I played with the arrangement of the papers until I found something I liked:

Once I decided on the arrangement, I trimmed each paper a little larger than the 4x6 opening and added a bottom "grass" border for each section. Next, I trimmed squares of patterned paper to help in the color selection for the flowers:

I created flowers that grew progressively larger for each opening  in the frame:

 

I trimmed the flowers from chipboard and layered patterned paper on top, just to give it some dimension:

I filled an opening with one of my favorite sticker sheets, because I liked the "ABC's" theme and I loved the colors and patterns on the letters. (HERE is where you can purchase the sticker sheet, which is made by October Afternoon):

When I created the title, I used patterned paper with a ruler to fit the "watch me grow" theme. I also made the letters in the title progressively larger with each one:

 

Once I receive my copy of the magazine, I'll add in the page number and the sources. For now, here are a few links to some great new scrapbook papers/stickers/embellishments with school themes:

October Afternoon Recess Report Card Paper

October Afternoon Report Card Alphabet Cards

October Afternoon Report Card Sticker Shapes

Crate Paper School Spirit Brads

Art Warehouse School Flocked Paper

Jenni Bowlin Multi Mini Chalkboard Alpha Stickers

Crate Paper School Spirit Collection Kit

Bo Bunny Press Learning Curve Paper

We R Memory Keepers "Recess" Show and Tell Collection Tag

Karen Foster Design Preschool Playtime Paper

If you own a Cricut or Sillouette, I think it would be fun to use an apple shape (or flowers, as I did on my frame) to fill the empty spaces. Here is a cartridge with an apple shape from Cricut, and here is another one. It would certainly be easier to use a die cut machine instead of hand cutting everything like I did. ;o)

Well, this has been a very photo-heavy post today. Why stop now?  I've been shopping with Daisy for back-to-school clothes lately and I've noticed a few items I'd like to add to my closet. Keep reading on the next page to see some shopping links from me...

Page Share: Now...Let The Games Begin

Here is a fun little page to showcase some photos from play date at Dave and Buster's. I rarely scrapbook photos like this, because they are indoor shots and are often dark and blurry. I seem to have lots of photos like this (@ Mr. Ghatti's Pizza, Incredible Pizza, Laser Quest, Chuck E Cheese, etc), because it seems every birthday party for kids age 10 and under is held at one of these indoor play places. If I have the photos, chances are good others do, too...and need good ideas for ways to scrapbook them. So, here's what I did with mine:

SOURCES  Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper. Font: Underwood Champion (journaling). Stickers: SEI En Route Epoxy Stickers (small colorful circles), SEI En Route Perforated Tickets, K&Company Embossed Stickers ("& The Winner Is" and "Super Star"). Rub-ons: Doodlebug Design (thin yellow), source unknown ("games"). Chipboard accents: Imagination Project GinX (blue chipboard arrow). Ribbon: BasicGrey Hang Ten (brown trim). 

Here is a detail shot:

I'm well-known for my extreme dislike of indoor flash photography, so I rarely ever take a flash photo--no matter how poor the lighting is. These photos are no exception. My best advice is to make the most of the lighting you have available. For example, in the main photo on the layout above, I took a picture of my niece as she was looking down at the game she was playing. The light from the game acted as a reflector and bounced light back to illuminate her face. I did the same thing in the other shots and tried to capture Daisy and her friend as the lights from the game were reflecting towards them. 

To create the page, I used a classic scrapbooking technique and pulled colors from the photos to use on my layout. Light blue, orange, browns, and yellows seemed to jump out at me most, so I went with those colors. I was actually stuck and couldn't decide how to scrapbook these photos, until I asked for advice on the Scrapbooks etc. forums and user Keithann_2003 got me going. She came up with the title and advised I use stickers for a bottom border. I was trying to use bright and colorful embellishments at first, which is likely the reason the page wasn’t coming along as I’d hoped. Once I selected embellishments with a warm tone to match the photos, the whole page fell into place!

I used perforated ticket accents from an SEI travel scrapbook kit as the bottom border, because they reminded me of the tickets the girls won while playing the games. Too bad I didn't keep any of the actual tickets, but they had to turn them in for prizes. The small colorful epoxy circle stickers reminded me of the shiny lights we saw throughout the restaurant/arcade, so I thought they were an appropriate addition to the page, too.

If you're ever stuck and don't know how to scrapbook difficult photos, the internet is a great resource to turn to for assistance. Ask for advice in a scrapbook forum, or just browse layouts with similar topics until you find something inspiring!

Publishing: Behind the Scenes

I have another fun little tidbit about layouts and how they sometimes have to be changed before publishing.

Do any of you happen to have the June 2010 issue of Scrapbooks etc. yet? If so, you may have noticed I have a layout in the wedding article. But something is odd about that layout...hmmm...what could it be?

Check out my original layout (below) compared to the one in the magazine, and let me know if you see any discrepancies. (Don't spoil the fun by commenting if your name is Laura Vegas and you already know the answer to the question.)

 

I'll be back with an explanation after I see if anyone guesses correctly. 

While I have Scrapbooks etc. on my mind, I should also share a link to a contest you may be interested in. Read all about it HERE. Get busy finding the perfect photo, and be sure to submit your entry before June 1st, 2010. Good luck! 

*Edited to add: Yes, you ladies got it right. In the magazine the title is "What I Was Thinking" instead of "What Was I Thinking?"...

"What Was I Thinkin'" is the title of a Djerks Bentley song (listen HERE). I thought it was a funny play on words about the thoughts running through my head the day I got married. I ended up changing it before I sent it in to be published, but I'll change it back when the layout is returned. 

I recently created another layout using song lyrics as my title (can't share it yet), and it's something I do fairly often. HERE is an old layout where I used a Britney Spears song, "Lucky" (listen HERE), and I once created an entire album based on lyrics from a Gary Allan song "Life Ain't Always Beautiful".