Scrapropos

Welcome this week’s guest scrapbooking artist Sharon Barrett-Shanks

Sharon

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Sharon’s First Layout

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When and why did you start scrapbooking?

Christmas 2005 my oldest child, Bonnie, gave me a scrapbooking kit she put together with an album. I remember being scared of it all and I wasn’t to sure I even wanted to start with it all so I let her “show me” how to crop and mat a photo. I went home with 2 pages which I treasure. I’ve glitzed it up a bit after I got a wee bit brave.

It must be noted I was always a picture taker and mostly they got tossed in a box. When the kids were little (5) of them I put them in albums. It must also be noted here that as a teen I kept a scrapbook and loved doing it. One other note when I was real young I just loved cut-out dolls!

How would you describe your personal style?

Clean, sleek, geometric, colorful, whimsical and impulsive.

What most influences your scrapbooking?

I have asked myself this question over and over is it the picture or is it the paper…it really is both.

Digital? Paper? A little of both? Why?

Only paper, absolutely no digis here, although I try to copy some that I love looking at. just not that creative with PC and graphics.

If you had to make an entire album using only three colors, which would you choose and why?

Pink, Brown & White

What is your favorite scrapbooking tool?

Cricut

What is your must-have indulgence?

Rub-ons and clear stamps

If you had the opportunity to witness one historical even first hand (and take photos), what event would you choose and what would the scrapbook page you make for the event be like?

Peace in USA after WW 2. I would be taking photos of all my uncles who were in the service and were handsome, they’re girlfriends and wives were deliriously happy would make great shots. My Aunts dressed daily in dresses, nylons, make-up so it would be mostly black and white and I would colorize anything red/white/blue. I may even use the Life Magazine format as my style for the page. it was a happy time for my family and I was barely old enough to know what was going on, but I remember it well. Unfortunately not a lot of pictures were taken at that time by my family.

What does your workspace look like?

You can see more of Sharon’s Work HERE

Learn to make you own glossy glitter words and accents. This would be a “technique challenge” but I do not have any Diamond Glaze on hand. I promise to post my version as soon as I restock.

scrapbooking, scrapbook, scrapbook embellishments, glitter

Scrapbook Max is a popular program for digital scrapbooking. You can download a free trial HERE. Then watch the video above to learn how to use it. Make sure to post links to your creations in the comments section!

Scrapbook Max, digital scrapbooking

The best scrapbooking pages are not always the most expensive. Here is a video showing some great tips for layouts and embellishments without a high price tag.

scrapbooking

Check out this short but sweet tutorial for creating a travel scrapbook at Martha Stewart Crafts . The accompanying photos provide some great tips especially for using punches.

In related news, Variety.com is reporting that a “new” Martha Stewart Crafts will begin on the DIY Network on Thanksgiving of this year. The show will feature “best-of” compilations from the past decade and more of Martha Stewart’s various shows. Crafts, including, scrapbooking will be the topic for the shows.

Give a big welcome to Guest Artist

Amber Vongsamphanh (aka MrsVo)

When and why did you start scrapbooking?

I started scrapbooking in June 2006. It all started in the clearance section of my local Wal-mart where I happened upon a scrapbook album that was on clearance. The bright idea struck that I would make my mom a scrapbook of my life as a gift for all her help planning my upcoming wedding. Little did I know that $2 scrapbook album would lead to an all-put obsession.

How would you describe your personal style?

Simple Schizophrenic. My LOs are pretty simple, yet contain lots of bits and pieces from my stash, and are completed at random. I tried really hard to be a chronological scrapper and it made me so stressed out! I recently gave up on that idea and have never been happier.

What most influences your scrapbooking?

Photography. I always start with the photo and the ideas go from there.

Digital? Paper? A little of both? Why?

Paper. I have been diligently teaching myself to use photoshop and love playing around with the digi stuff, but I’ll never be able to give up the feeling of new paper in my hand.

If you had to make an entire album using only three colors, which would you choose and why?

Pink, Green, and Turquoise. No real reason, just love them!

What is your favorite scrapbooking tool?

My craft knife. I use it for everything!!

What is your must-have indulgence?

As far as scrapbooking supplies, FiberMark Card Stock. LOVE the durability and texture of it. If you want more general then Hagen Daz dulce de leche, yum!

If you had the opportunity to witness one historical event first hand (and take photos), what event would you choose and what would the scrapbook page you make for the event be like?

Great questions!! I’d have to say Woodstock. Having gone to school in the Bay Area I’ve always been a bit of a hippie at heart. My page would be a cardboard colored back ground, with lots of bright papers and embellies surrounding the photo and of course the title would have to be Peace.Love.Rock and Roll.

Show us your workspace?

A BIG thanks to Amber for letting me interview her!

You can visit Amber at her blog And I Ran

scrapbooking, scrapbook, interview, guest artist, Amber Vongsamphanh, scrapbook artist

Here is another original set of patterned background papers for digital or hybrid scrapbookers. Called Paramecium Paisley because it reminds me of a bunch of single celled organisms swimming around on a microscope slide. The pages are both 8.5×11 inches and 3oo dpi for easy, high quality printing. The design was hand drawn by me in ink, then the color version was colored with watercolor markers.

Check back frequently for more funky, funny, and edgy digital scrapbooking freebies.

Right-click and choose Save Target File to download

Download Paramecium Paisley Color 300dpi

Download Paramecium Paisley Black and White 300dpi

(watermark titles appear on above banner images only, not on downloaded files)

Creative Commons information behind the cut…

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The Scrapbook lounge over at CraftTvWeekly.com has a new technique video posted. The almost 9 minute video demonstrates a variety of fun techniques to do with border and corner punches and features some great layouts created with the techniques.

Show description from CraftTvWeekly.com:

Tricia delivers a one-two punch with these beautiful pages. She starts with elegant cardstock and dresses it up with a corner punch. She turns that punch into a border punch creating unique borders and a stencil. When she’s done punching, Tricia assembles these elements into gorgeous pages that will knock your socks off!

scrapbooking, scrapbooking tutorials, scrapbooking videos