As a Scrapbook Evangalist, one of my passions is finding new ways to present scrapbook layouts as valid works of art. And as I was decorating my new house, I decided to take that concept and create a scrapbook gallery in the circulation hall. I wanted to make the scrapbook layouts blend in architecturally with the rest of the elements in our rambler cottage style house.
So, I went to my local Michael's, and found unfinished shadow box style memory frames, and got to work creating my gallery. I painted the inside panels black to create depth, and because Black is the New Black, as I have discussed before! And then I painted the frames white, using the same Super Hide white that all of the trim and baseboards are painted throughout the house.
Once the frames were dry and ready, I mounted a piece of store bought 12 x 12 scrapbook paper into each frame. I used the same background paper in each frame to give the gallery a consistent feel. And then I took some of my favorite digital scrapbook layouts, and had them printed at 11 x 11 at a local Kinko's type print shop. If you have your digital layouts printed at your local print shop, ask them to use a cardstock, and to print it on a Fiery or better printer. I prefer non-glossy. But that's a personal choice. The prints you'll get will look darker than they do on your computer monitor, so choose layouts that naturally have high contrast to print at a local printer. If you want prints that look EXACTLY like your layouts on your screen, then order from a PHOTO printer, such as Printroom.com.
I cut the 11 x 11 layouts so that there were no white borders, and then mounted them into the memory frames on top of the 12 x 12 background paper. Then, I measured, and hung the frames on the wall, gallery style.
I think it looks great, and it was an easy and inexpensive way to instantly increase my art collection!
With all of the doodling, handwriting, and inking going on in the scrapbook world right now, I'm happy to report that Black is the New Black! I have found myself jumping aboard, and embracing the style with much enthusiasm. When my grandchildren look back at my 2006 scrapbook, they'll refer to it as "Grandamme's Dark Ages".
Last year, I went through my "Pink Period", and perhaps next year will be "The Year of the Earth Tone". But for now, I'm cranking up the AC/DC and freestylin' with the Sharpie. I outlined every single damn element in the K & Company mini book in black, and today as I was working on my new upcoming collections for autumn, I found myself tuning the Lightness on my Hue/Saturation dial down to nearly nothing.
If these layouts get any darker, we'll have to bust out the black light, and call it a party!
How have you been using black in your layouts or designs these days?
If you have any advice for a poor warped Scrapbook Evangalist, please post a comment. I like my scrapbooks a little shabby, a little junky, a little bit rock and roll. I've been told that I have a tendency to pile it on a little thick... but never in reference to a scrapbook!
The September 2006 edition of Memory Makers Magazine was a dog ears delight. In fact, I didn't get past the Chatterbox ad inside the front cover without making my first dog ear.
Page 1- Chatterbox has introduced Chatterbox Fonts Volume 3: Fonts, Dingbats, & Doodles. The ad cleverly displays the fonts included on the CD, and I think this one is going to be a must have for my growing font collection.
There are a handful of nice handwritten journaling fonts, as well as a couple of nice fat title style fonts, with both grungy and elegant varieties. The doodles and dingbats included on the CD are creative and fresh, and I can see myself using them not only to embellish pages, but also to potentially create patterns for papers and tags for my personal stash of homemade digitals.
The ad says look for it in your favorite scrapbooking/craft store today, so I complied. As soon as I had finished the magazine, I drove to my local Michael's to try to find the collection. But of course they didn't have it. Neither did my Hobby Lobby. The craft stores in this town need to get with it, and PRONTO!
But never fear, that's why the Internet is here, right? Well, actually, I looked all over the Internet too, and could not find this CD volume in any online stores yet. Oh, Chatterbox, why do you tease us so? The collection is not even available on the Chatterbox site as far as I could tell.
The font CD is now available on the Chatterbox site: Click here to go to the product page.
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Page 13- Deja Views Plum, Blue, and Blue Raspberry and Chocolate Brown Fresh Print (R) grouping is an irresistable scrapbook layout color combination. I love it! They have complete instructions for creating this scrapbook page, and a list of all of the scrapbook materials you'll need on their Projects Page.
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She said it took her over 6 months to be able to even create scrapbook layouts again after the loss, and the page she created is just simple and precious. You'll just have to flip to page 18 to see it. So sweet. And again, I'm verklempt.
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Page 22: Dog earred to remind me to check out the Penelope's Potpourri scrapbook collection from s-e-i. The collection uses large tulips in combinations of hot pink, blues, and greens to create a very feminine and playful aesthetic.
I think this would be perfect for my niece's birthday party scrapbook.
I'm also on the hunt for a digital kit that has similar tones. So, if you know of one, please comment on this post! Or design one, pretty please.
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Page 26: Michelle Minken's layout honoring her parent's 35th wedding anniversary, and inspired by a vintage handkerchief is just lovely lovely. It is a great little article about finding inspiration in your immediate surroundings.
I think we should all challenge ourselves as artists to create beautiful surroundings that inspire us daily.
I think I have figured out what my New Year's Resolution is going to be this year!
