Just Scraps

Things getting out of hand in the craft area? Too many scraps of paper? Take a few minutes to sort and put your scraps into handy little packages for paper piecing.

just scraps . . .

halfway there . . .

Packaged scraps - too handy!

Just finished a new layout I’ve entitled Play. Not for the faint of heart, this layout features two fabulous patterns by Jackie Spurrell of St. John’s, Newfoundland. Jackie is preparing to go global with an online paper-pieced patterns store slated to launch in June and I’ve lucked in as one of her ‘testers’. She’s given me permission to showcase the knight and the dragon here and they are gorgeous!

I’ve used Stampin’Up cardstock for the dragon (Garden Green, Certainly Celery and Ruby Red) The knight is pieced with Bazzill cardstock (Dusk, Stonehenge and Peach Glow). The brown background is Bazzill Mocha Divine. Used the Stampin’ Up Good Morning Sunshine Designer Series paper for the ‘grass’and the front photo mattes. Love this paper! My one complaint is that it is double-sided with one side being every bit as pretty as the other. What a shame to lay one side down!  Also used Stampin’Up cardstock for the second and third mattes (Not Quite Navy and Bashful Blue), Apricot Appeal for the verse, and Summer Sun for the flag and shield. The little jeweled embellishments and the helmet I picked up at the dollar store. The castle is cut from Sahara Sand and backed with blue vellum. I used the Cricut (Paper Doll Dress Up cartridge) to cut the castle, sword, shield and banner. The title was welded in Design Studio using the cartridge All Mixed Up.

The Paper Doll Dress Up cartridge also has a knight and dragon but it can’t touch these patterns!

Play

See link at right for close-ups.

I’ve sorted scrapbooking into three main categories.

1.  Newbie: This involves lots of stickers and embellishments, is generally the scrapper’s first foray into the craft - and costs a fortune! Like a kid who’s told she can eat all the candy she wants, the newbie goes crazy. I know! I have boxes and boxes of stuff I am unlikely to use any time soon and way too many layouts where I’d gone a little ’sticker crazy’.

2.  Traditional - You take a photo - or two or three - and using the elements and principles of design, you build a page around those particular pictures.

3.  Assembly Line Scrapbooking - pretty much what it claims to be: putting together scrapbook pages without the photos. This is very much what I do - with the frequent addition of paper piecing, my favorite part of the entire process.

Follow along as the pictures below give a quick tutorial on assembly line scrapbooking.

I used a patterned paper for my background. It’s a spring stack my daughter-in-law picked up for me at Michael’s.

12 x 12 Background Paper

Lay down a 12 x 5 and 12 x 4 strip of co-ordinating cardstock.

5 x 12 Cardstock

4 x 12 Cardstock

Add a sheet of 8-1/2 x 11 Whisper White (Stampin’Up) to each page 1/4″ in from side and up from bottom.

Add a 6 x 8 piece of co-ordinating solid cardstock. I used Certainly Celery by Stampin' Up. Love this color.

Add a ribbon.

Place your 4 x 4 mattes on opposite page.

Use the 1-1/4 inch circle punch and Stampin'Up scallop punch for the embellishment. Rub-on is from Making Memories.

Used the Cricut and George cartridge at 1-1/2″to cut the title. I picked the title from the rub-on, Joy of Discovery (Making Memories). Perfect for this layout!

Max and the Bunny

Crop and add pictures to page two and you’re done!

More bunnies

Another easy assemble is the 5 and 7. Lay down your 12 x 12 background pages. (I used black) Grab a 12 x 12 co-ordinating patterned paper and cut at 5″. This gives you a 12 x 5 and a 12 x 7. (black and white print) Edge each of these with a 3/4″ x 12″  piece of solid cardstock. (Here I used red) Add your 4 x 6 photo mattes and a 4 x 4 matte, both backed with 4-1/4 x 6-1/4 and 4-1/4 x 4-1/4 mattes as below. Add title, embellishments, paper piecing and you’re ready for your photos.

7 x 12 Patterned Paper

5 x 12 Patterned Paper

Too stinkin'cute!

Here’s yet another simple layout called In the Gutter. I used a Christmas print for the background on this one. Bright green 8-1/2 x 11 cardstock ‘in the gutter’ - 1/4″from side and bottom. Single mattes cut at 4 x 6 make this an incredibly easy layout. The extra large brads add a nice touch. I paper pieced Mr. and Mrs. for embellishments and didn’t even bother with a title. Too easy!

Mrs. Claus

Mr. Claus

Grab a couple sheets of paper and put together one of these oh-so easy layouts. They take minimal time to put together and you can always go back later and add paper piecing.

Sign up for our next series of scrapbooking lessons. Our focus is on paper pieced embellishments that highlight the theme of your layout. Create colorful premade pages generic enough to accommodate any photograph, yet with the look of being custom made especially for your favorite family photos. In just four evening classes, you’ll finish two double page layouts while learning the basics of scrapbooking and paper piecing. Our first layout is Say Cheese. (See link at right) The second is your choice.  No need to purchase materials or tools We supply all. Cost is $50.00 for four weekly classes, 7:00 - 9:30 p.m., beginning on Tuesday, April 21st. Email us to register.

Say Cheese!