Scrapropos

I recently came across a post at a great blog called Scrap Smack 2 which led me to a related article at another blog, Scrap Bizzness. Both are discussing the types of scrappers that people tend to be.

So, what type of scrapper are you? I am not talking general style here. I do not mean Shabby Chic, Freestyle, Classic, or any of the other trendy names borrowed from the home dec world and assigned to scrapbookers today. The classifications I am thinking of and are referenced in the two blog links above are more general with only two categories:

1. The fashionista collector type that wants the newest and most trendy. Often has a stash that she treasures. Thinks “I need Basic Gray and Cosmo Cricket”.
2. The average scrapper that likes to make theme pages and use whatever is available that fits the theme. Thinks “I need some good zoo themed paper.”

I am absolutely smack in the middle of these two, probably leaning a bit towards the average scrapper. And “average” here does not mean talent just the that the type of pages you make fall more into the making a birthday themed page rather than a using that cool new paper for something page.

In terms of style trends, I do like the more design oriented looks that are popular with publications. However, when I am doing a page about one of my kids dressed as a pirate I want pirate themed paper (I have some cool stuff too). Personally, I think both types of scrappers are great and bring variety and life to the hobby.

Think about what kind of scrapper you are. Pick out a layout of yours that is a favorite (or two if you are stuck in the middle with me…ha, ha that song will be going through your head all day now), and email it to me with your name or screen name so I can give you credit. When I have enough I will be doing a showcase post.

I am also looking for some scrappers to interview for new guest artist features. If you are interested drop me an email and I will send you my questionnaire.

I ordered this canvas a couple of weeks ago and it arrived today. It looks so nice I had to share right away.

As part of my studio overhaul, which is still ongoing and turning into a bigger job than originally planned, but worth it, I want to upgrade the art on my walls.

Using GIMP 2.o and some digital papers and elements from scrapgirls.com, I made a 16×20 image at 300dpi. I will warn you in case you try to do this yourself. It was a HUGE file when I began adding all of the layers that even my brand spanking new computer choked at it a bit. I kept each individual graphic and photo on a separate layer until I was happy with the whole layout, then added a subtle drop shadow to each element to give the illusion of layers. Then I flattened the image and saved, as a still large, but manageable jpeg.

I was very nervous about how it was going to come out. Some of the small photos were taken with an older digital camera that was somewhere around 1 megapixel and there was nothing even close to what I was doing in the sample gallery on the canvas site. When I opened up my package today I was thrilled. It is perfect. The old images are so clear, much clearer than I expected.

Right now it is sitting on my pellet stove. When my husband gets home, I will have him hang it up for me.

I wrote a full review of the website I ordered from on my personal blog : Mind Of A Mom if you are interested in more information.

scrapbook, scrapbooking, journaling, scrapbook layouts, scrapbook projects, freebies, free scrapbooking, digital scrapbooking freebies

I am always coming across interesting articles about scrapbooking, especially scrapbooking in communities or scrapbooking trends, but often they are not easily included in a post by themselves. Starting this week I am going to collect links to the articles throughout the week and post them when I have enough.

Here are articles of interest for this week:

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070707/LIVING/707070305/1032

 http://www.examiner.net/stories/070707/spo_174092023.shtml

http://www.reporter-times.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=87629&format=html 

scrapbook, scrapbooking, journaling, scrapbook layouts, scrapbook projects

Unmounting Rubber Stamps project « Butterfly Gail

I posted last week about using and storing clear stamps. Butterflygail has posted a great write up about how to unmount traditional rubber stamps from their wood blocks and then store them in a similar jewel case system.

Technorati Tags: scrapbook, scrapbooking, journaling, scrapbook layouts, scrapbook projects

It is the 4th of July here in the USA. Time for BBQ and fireworks. Here are some sites to help inspire you to scrap all the fun 4th pictures.

http://scrapbooking.about.com/library/weekly/bljuly4layouts6.htm

http://www.creatingkeepsakes.com/gallery/search.ihtml?keyword=4th

http://americancroppers.com/store/index.php

http://store.scrapbook.com/?search=Patriotic

http://www.scrapscene.com/2007/07/scrap-your-national-pride.html

http://fiskateers.com/blog/2007/07/01/3-fiskateers-usa 

Have a happy and safe celebration!

**Pictured layout was made using Scrapbooks Plus 2.0 software**

Technorati Tags: scrapbook, scrapbooking, journaling, scrapbook layouts, scrapbook projects, freebies, free scrapbooking, digital scrapbooking freebies

If you preserve memories and moments through pictures and pages, you
are a scrapbooker. You do not have to be a designer, creative artist,
or published in magazines. If you are capturing your memories and those
of your family through a medium like photography and journaling, and
you are preserving those moments with traditional albums, photo albums,
digital photo books, slideshows, or videos, you are a scrapbooker.
Perhaps for the sake of argument, memory maker or historian is a more
accurate term.

Scrap It Real - Redefining Scrapbooking for Every Woman | 5 Minutes For Mom

I came across this great article that I need to share. So often I hear, “I bought all of the stuff for a scrapbook, but I can’t seem to get started”. Well, this article gives great advice on how to start. I can sum it up in two quoted words…”Just Start”. i know that sounds snarky, but the truth is that those two words hold the secret to getting any project you are stalled on moving on the way to completion.

Technorati Tags: scrapbook, scrapbooking, journaling, scrapbook layouts, scrapbook projects, freebies, free scrapbooking, digital scrapbooking freebies

I thought it would be nice to give you a glimpse at what I am working on. Here are some tutorials in the works that, I hope, are a little different from the average scrapbooking tutorial you might find. The ideas for the tutorials related to different video game or mobile electronic devices really originated with my husband and his request that I make some digital scrapbook pages that he could access in different ways.

Scrapbooking for TV Viewing - Seriously cool. Scrapbook pages optimized for the Nintendo Wii and X-Box 360

Using GIMP for Digital Scrapbooking- This free open source program is my choice for photo editing and scrapbooking more often than not. I have commercial programs, but I love the GIMP.

Project Organization for Inspiration and Productivity

I am Teresa the new writer here at (Scr)apropos. For the nitty gritty about me check the link at the right to see my biography, a couple of family pictures, a sampling of my art and photography…and…yes…even a picture of me.

There are lots of plans in the works for this site. To whet your appetite here is a peak at the new site description:

(Scr)apropos is an energetic scrapbooking-centric website bringing a wide variety of topics and tips for scrapbookers who like to keep up with what is new and fresh in the scrapbooking world. Weekly you will find tutorials and project how-tos, tons of layout ideas with pictures, and daily inspirational quotes to spur your creativity or to use in your scrapping projects. Interspersed with the regular features you will find product review, sites to see, scrapbooking news, and more surprises. Scrapbooking is a growing and vibrant hobby. Come join us at (Scr)apropos to celebrate our creativity and preserve our heirloom memories.

All of that is fun and informative, but without your comments I am just talking with myself (nothing wrong with that, by the way, but two-way conversations are usually more entertaining). Use the comments section to tell me what you want to see hear. What techniques do you want to learn about? What new products have tickled your fancy? What topics inspire you? Which scrapbooking artists would you like to learn more about? Don’t be shy (I’m not)! Post comments an have a say in what you will see at (Scr)apropos.

photography

Do you think your scrapbooks will ever amount to much? Be seen by people other than immediate family? Those photos, letters, stories and memorabilia might be of great interest to historians even centuries from today. Take this story of a really old, but historically important, scrapbook.

A letter written by George Washington in May 1787 was found in a brown leather scrapbook made by a 10-year-old litte girl. The letter was addressed to Jacob Morris, the grandfather of Julia Kean, the scrapbook’s owner. Julia started the scrapbook in 1826. You can read the story at the New York Times.

There are several points of interest about the letter and the scrapbook that caught my attention:

(more…)

Brooks Barnes, a reporter for Wall Street Journal, has labeled scrapbooking as a ‘dowdy craft business’.

And scrapbookers are hopping mad!

Brooks wrote the article, “Dowdy Craft Business Gets Martha Stewart Makeover“, about the launch of Martha Stewart’s crafts line. It could have been a straightforward analysis of the profit-driven decision. Instead, he peppers it with statements like these (emphasis mine):

What does the domestic-arts maven see in a dowdy industry where merchandise is sold in cluttered stores stacked floor to ceiling with pipe cleaners, Styrofoam balls, glue sticks, beads and fake flowers?

To succeed, Ms. Stewart will have to connect with a far-flung world of customers, including legions of Middle Americans who may never have used her tips on home decor or holiday cooking. She put her designers to work coming up with new twists on such mundane products as scrapbooks, ribbon, and cardboard boxes. Her executives went looking for a retail partner whose stores didn’t look like a mess.

The crafts business, in some ways, is eccentric. Even outlets operated by big craft chains often resemble Main Street hardware stores from a bygone era, with oddball items stacked inefficiently in a dusty jumble. Suppliers are a hodgepodge, ranging from the office supply giant 3M Co. to a two-person company that sells a single item, Baby Tooth Album Inc.

(more…)

I have some more NSD events to tell you about. But before I go to that, here’s a contest you might want to check out:

What: Altered Idol (Junkitz) Contest

Where: Cropper’s Cottage

When: First project is due on May 4, 2007

Details: Here are the contest rules:

1. This contest is for non-Design Team members.
2. Product used must be 70% Junkitz product.
3. The contest is a 3-phase contest, being voted on by the Design Team.
4. The contest begins immediately. The first project must be completed by May 4th and uploaded to the Gallery in the Junkitz Contest section by May 4th.
5. The first project is to be an altered letter of your choice that is at least 8 inches in height or bigger.
6. The second and third projects will be spaced 10 days from the time of announcement of winner of the previous round.

The prize is donated by Junkitz, worth over $50 (Tim Holtz stamps, Tim Holtz Ruler book with refills, and a class kit). If you love altered projects, you have one week to join this fun contest, and maybe win some great new products!

Tags: scrapbooking, Cropper’s Cottage, Tim Holtz, scrapbook contest, Junkitz

One of the fun things I’m starting here at Scrapropos is a feature called “One Week to Scrap”. I’ll be highlighting a contest, challenge, or page call that will end one week from the date of its posting here. I don’t know about you but I need reminders every now and then of events that I want to join. This feature will hopefuly serve that purpose.

Here’s the first One Week to Scrap feature:

What: Caardvarks Felt Challenge

When: ongoing until May 2, 2007

Where: http://caardvarks.blogspot.com/

Details: Make a card using felt on your cardfront. Link your creation(s) to Caardvarks in the comments section of the post announcement or email them to caardvarks@yahoo.com (under 200k please). Entries will be added to the Challenge Gallery. The winner will be announced on on May 5. The prize is sponsored by 2Jills. Plus the winner will be invited to be a Guest Designer at Caardvarks!

Here’s a sample card made by Bety, posted at Caardvarks:

Remember, you have One Week to Scrap and finish the card! Have fun!

Tags: scrapbooking, cardmaking, Caardvarks

Hello, fellow scrappers and paper lovers! My name is Maricar and I’m the new blogger here at Scrapropos. I’m excited to be here at 451 Press, blogging about this hobby/therapy called scrapbooking. Stacy has certainly done a great job here, and I hope you will welcome me as warmly as you did her.

I’ve been fascinated by pretty papers since childhood, and have been scrapbooking since 2000. But before I found out about acid-free scrapbooking, I dabbled with arranging photos and magazine cut-outs in magnetic pages (horrors!). Now that I know a bit more the proper archival preservation, my photos and memorabilia are safe. But scrapbooking is not just about the photos. And though the papers and embellishments certainly make my heart flutter, I tell myself that it’s not about those either. My goal is to tell my story and leave a record for future generations to discover.

As Stacy Julian said:

Scrapbook your life, and a whole lot more!

I want to learn more this hobby and, in the process, discover more about myself and this thing called life. Will you join me?

Tags: scrapbooking, Scrapropos, scrap blog

Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund

April 16, 2007, will be remembered as one of the darkest days in the history of the Virginia Tech community and the world beyond.

To remember and honor the victims of those tragic events, the university has established the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund to aid in the healing process and generate financial support.

The fund will be used to cover expenses including but not limited to:

• Grief counseling
• Memorials
• Communication expenses
• Comfort expenses
• Incidental needs

If you plan to give, please click the link below:

This site is currently in need of a writer. If you have any interest in writing on the topic this site covers, feel free to submit an application at 451 Press. Thank you.

451 Press, Writer Needed, (Scr)apropos