Encouragement for Beginning Scrapbooking

National Scrapbooking Day was May 3rd.

So I thought what better time than to encourage and enlighten those of you that are hesitant to begin scrapbooking.

I spent the day with hubby at the casino and horse races (it was his birthday gift from me!) so I missed all the action with the crafting community on the web.
Classes, giveaways, blog hops and all kinds of stuff was going on!

I started scrapbooking around (can't remember exactly!) 10 yrs ago.
The first scrapbook album I had ever seen was my sister's and was immediately hooked!
She had generously given me the basic supplies to start with. 
And that's how I began!

Wow, how simple it seemed back then!

{a brief thought} I should insert a photo of my very first layout here.....
naa, don't think so!!

Fast forward...to today!
The inspiration, techniques, and variety of supplies are so immense, that one even thinking about scrapbooking can feel strongly overwhelmed!
Do not fear!

When trying to figure out where to begin, scrapbooking can be as simple or as complex as you would like to make it.

Start out simple and in no time soon your inspiration and creative mojo will grow and grow, along with your supplies!!

Don't be intimidated by the seasoned pros on the Internet or magazines. You don't have to be a professional artist to scrapbook. I'm not!!

Don't feel bound to chronologically scrapbook your mounds of photos from way back when.
In no particular order, I will chose a photo or two that I especially like, it can be from years ago, then for the next layout I might chose a more recent photo.

There is no right or wrong way to document your precious memories.

Though I have not embarked on Project Life, it is a great format for beginners. It's a simple and straight forward memory keeping system that incorporates pockets for photos and journaling cards, without a lot of embellishments.
No glue, no fancy tools needed!!

You might benefit by purchasing a scrapbooking kit club available on the Internet.
They offer a collection of coordinated papers, embellishments, etc. that changes from month to month. Companies like cocoadaisy.com and studiocalico.com or clubsei.com are just some of the many clubs that offer great one of a kind kits.

I find oodles and oodles of inspiration online!

It's okay to scrap lift - getting layout ideas from others.

Do a Google search for 'scrapbooking sketches' for creative ideas from sketch images. A awesome place for tons of free sketches is pagemaps.com.

Check out sites and galleries, such as Pinterest, scrapbook.com, splitcoaststampers.com, and acherryontop.com.
Twopeasinabucket.com was my very first station for inspiration!

Search YouTube for great tutorials and ideas from crafters all around the world.

You don't have to scrapbook every single photo you take or own.
Let's say you want to make a layout or two from the many photos of last Christmas. Pick out just couple or so of your favorites and go from there.

Not comfortable with journaling–then don't! That's me! But I have not totally disregarded it yet!
Instead, incorporate a couple words or short phrases that pop in your head when you look at your photos that you have chosen to scrapbook.

Don't think you have to create the perfect page using the perfect supplies!
Handmade is not supposed to be perfect! And what exactly is the perfect embellishment ??

Embrace the imperfections, make it your own unique style, your own special memories.

Most of all, enjoy the process, without any guilt!

It's all about having fun!


TTFN and have a great week!

Happy Crafting!

aka The Rebel Blogger

Is It Doodling or Zentangle?

In my last post, I mentioned that I was frustrated with my photos. 

With everything I have tried in the last few months, I just felt that I was not the culprit and that my camera was the problem.

So I took it to a local camera shop. 
No matter what he did, as always, certain corners were always blurry.
That was my complaint for so long!! 

To my dismay, he more or less told me my camera was junk. 

I was so upset, my Nikon is only four or five years old! 
Boo-hoo :-(

Needless to say, I was then on a mission to find a new camera. 

Being on a tight limited budget, cost was an issue, so I picked the Fujifilm Finepix 6800, with the help of my dear friend. 
On the positive side though, I am now able to manually adjust ISO, aperture, etc., which was not an option with my Nikon.

I am now on a photography learning adventure via the Internet and YouTube. 
Hopefully in the future, my budget will allow for enrollment in some photography classes but for now it will be trial and error on my part, and not the cameras fault! I can deal with that!

PS  I want to send out a sincere thank you to Missy at Quick Chick Designs for giving me some advice on photographing my creations!! 

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While on my endeavors on YouTube, I came across Zentangle and doodling.

The Zentangle Method is an easy to learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns. 

Whether it's doodling or Zentangle, they provide a fun and lighthearted way to relax and intentionally facilitate a shift in focus.  

You do not have to have a preconceived idea of your final result, your creation is not restricted by your expectations. Yeah! 

Here are just a few of the benefits and uses that can be enjoyed from practicing Zentangle and doodling....

• Relaxation
• Stress reduction
• Nurture and develop creative abilities
• Improve our eye/hand coordination
• Develop/rehabilitate fine motor skills
• Self esteem
• Addiction therapy tool
• Problem solving
• Early artist development and appreciation

What I found so awesome is that everything you need to create Zentangle/doodling art can fit in your pocket or purse. It can be done almost anywhere, without any special abilities or costly equipment. 

I created mine with American Crafts Precision Pens in different sizes on cheap copy paper.

This one was my first attempt.

I started with the simple frame, next was the corners, then the bottom middle. 

Everything else just happened or shall I say flowed together! 

I call this the Exploding Bush!

On this one, I started at the top with the checker board look and scrolls.

Stopped there and took a break for a day or so.

In the meantime, I looked at what I created thus far.

It reminded me of kitchen/cafe decor. 

So that was my thought process...

a warm cup of java in a cozy cafe!

I consider these more on the side of doodling, not quite the Zentangle Method.

In either case, for me, it was very relaxing. 

Why not give it a try?

You have got nothing to lose but your stress level!

TTFN
and as always...

Happy Crafting!

aka The Rebel Blogger

Sunshine and Laughter and a Cake

Oops...looks like I have been missing in action again!

And this is why...


I am so disgusted with my photos :(
I can edit all I want, but the blurriness is driving me nuts!!

Waiting for the sun to pop out to get enough light is a big problem. 
When it does decide to show, I am busy with other stuff, not at home or the sun plays peek-a-boo every couple of minutes!

Have been pondering the thought of purchasing a light box kit and tripod in the hopes of rectifying most of the problem.
It's the cheaper way to go, I can't see forking out big bucks on a more expensive camera and lens for my simple enjoyment of Cindy's Paper Creation.

I have mailed out a couple of my cards without taking pics because I did not want to deal with my lack of photo taking issues. 


Now a creative funk is what I have done to myself (again) because of this unnecessary frustration.

I am going to reorganize my crafting supplies in the hopes of acquiring that creative passion as it once was. 
Wish me luck!

I repeatedly say to myself ...this too will pass!

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But in the meantime, I really wanted to show a card creation that I sorta scrap lifted the idea!

Earlier this month my sister, who lives miles away from me near Daytona Florida, had a birthday and of course I wanted to make her a special card.

She owns Wildflour Cakes. 
Her custom cake studio specializes in creating modern and elegant wedding cakes and special occasion cakes. She incorporates her own organic, free-range eggs into her recipes to guarantee a cake that tastes as amazing as it looks!

So when she posted this picture on Facebook of a cake she created,

I thought I would make her a card using the idea from her cake and by coincidence I had just purchased a package of miniature clothespins that was on sale at Michaels.

Of course the photo does not do the card justice. 

I am hoping this will give you some creative inspiration.

You can create by scrap or card lifting from cakes!!  :-)

Happy Crafting!

TTFN 

aka The Rebel Blogger