Back from....the Other Side of the World

Hi!  I'm sure some of you are wondering whether I fell off the face of the Earth, but in fact, I just traveled to the other side of the Earth.  Every now and then, my "real" job takes me to far away places....places I've never been and this is no different.  As a result, though, my love for scrapbooking (and being able to post sketches and scrapbook ideas) takes a back seat as I rack up the frequent flyer miles.  :-)

In this particular instance, I spent one week in Little Rock, Arkansas and promptly turned around and spent a week in Seoul, South Korea.  I had never been to Asia before and it was a great experience, so I will definitely be going back (when it's warmer)!!

The good news is....the very long plane ride back allowed me to work on more sketches, so while my plan of handmade card sketches every week during the holidays kind of fell through, there will be more of those and of regular scrapbook pages coming very soon.

I hope everyone has an excellent holiday season and Happy New Year!!

Handmade Cards

I used two of these three templates for Thanksgiving cards.  I used small 4" x 5.5" cards. The same templates can be used for Christmas cards too and are super easy to make!!

Sketch of the Week 2011-11-13

OK....so I "sort of" lied.  Last week, I said I'd be switching to holiday card templates/sketches this week, so you can all start working on cards to your loved ones....and we will!  Just wanted to post one more scrapbook sketch for those of you that voted this week - the winner is a 12 x 12 (Double).  The first card template (and finished product) will follow shortly!

Hope you all have a great week and Happy Scrapping!!

Choubox Sketch Pad

Sketch of the Week 2011-11-06

Since one person made the effort to vote for their favorite format (6x6 Double) five times.....that's what we went with for this week's sketch (12x12 Single was a close second)!! ....and from here on out, since we're in the holiday season, the sketches are going to focus on handmade card templates - either to "Give Thanks" at Thanksgiving or wish friends and family "Happy Holidays".

Happy Scrapping!!

Sketch of the Week 2011-10-23

I oops'd last week and didn't post the Sketch of the Week on the blog!  So, here are both this week's and last week's sketches.  This week's is an 8" x 8" and last week's was a 12" x 12".  The voting results were literally split right down the middle this week, so I flipped a coin!!  Make sure to keep voting for your favorite!

Have a great week and Happy Scrapping!!

Sketch of the Week 2011-10-09

Wedding Vow Layout

One of the most common wedding pictures is of the bride and groom's hands, intertwined, with shiny new wedding bands. It's a simple, yet, powerful picture symbolizing their love and new life together. The vows spoken during the ceremony are equally powerful and the perfect journaling to accompany the "ring" picture, especially if the vows were written by the bride and groom.  The layout itself can be simple....no need for a huge title or lots of embellishments....the image will "do the talking" with the vows serving as an appropriate complement. The colors you use are up to you....you can use "traditional" wedding scrapbook paper in black and white, go metallic to match your rings (with brads and eyelets to match) or use paper that matches your exact wedding colors. You may even want to frame the end product and put it on permanent display in your house as an ever-present reminder of your love for each other. Happy Scrapping!

A Twist on The Clothes Pin Game

We've all played it....whether at a baby or bridal shower. Everyone is handed a clothes pin and you get to take others' when they say the "secret" word. The person with the most clothes pins at the end of event wins. Pretty simple, right?  Well, let's kick the "baby shower" version up a notch and make it something you can put in a scrapbook.

In my twist, everyone at the shower gets a large tag with a ribbon that they can wear like a lanyard. The tag has the baby's name or baby related words on it. Instead of starting out with a clothes pin, everyone starts out with one or two letters on their tag (attached using repositionable adhesive tabs). As you've probably figured out, the goal is to get other people's letters to complete your tag...if they say the "secret" word, you get to take one of their letters. The first person to fill up their tag WINS!!

The great thing about this version is that everyone gets to take their tag home to scrapbook as a remembrance of the event. Have fun and Happy Scrapping!!

Scrapbook Consistency

I was asked the other day whether a themed scrapbook has to be consistent from page-to-page. As with all things scrapbook, I truly believe there is no right answer, but here are some guidelines that I go by.....

Page layouts, with the exception of the Title and Closing pages, should be two-page layouts. This gives you maximum space for pictures and journaling, while focusing on a single topic that allows for a smooth flow in your visual space. Single page layouts are still doable, but, to me, limit what you can put on a page....usually just a few pictures and a title.

Colors should be as consistent as possible, but it also depends on your pictures. If your pictures allow for the use of a few main colors, with coordinating patterned paper for accent, that will allow for a nice color scheme throughout the scrapbook.

As for page order, chronological order fits most themes, but you can always mix it up if you think certain items are more important than time-based order.

Happy Scrapping!!

Valley Forge Review

Let me just get this off my chest, and I promise I won't mention it again, but next time I consider driving up I-95 in the summer - on a weekend - please stop me. I spent more than eight hours getting to and from Valley Forge. Fortunately, though, while there were storms, none were strong enough to knock out the power. :-)

So, you're wondering, how was it?...

Overall, I'd rate it a B. I could never rate (1) an opportunity for "me" time or (2) the opportunity to scrap or shop for scrapbook supplies in peace badly. But, while I made some really great layouts and bought A LOT of really cool scrapbook supplies, I was disappointed that I didn't learn more technique-wise, though it does harden my determination to go to CKU next year for sure!

Here's a review of all the clases:

A Thing or Two about Boys - This was sponsored by QuikQuotes. This was simply a process of building layouts based on their kits. The one thing that I did get reinforced is a neat way to make slide mounts match your layout.

LuCKy Girl - This was sponsored by CK and taught by Creating Keepsakes, Managing Editor, Brittany Beattie. We made a little scrapbook of the things were are most grateful for that fit in a little tin. Definitely very cool scrapbook...I see Christmas presents

All About Heritage - This was also sponsored by QuikQuotes. Again, it was simply a process of creating layouts. Neat way to do photo corners out of vellum.

Boys Go Zoom! - This was a class on board books, which I wasn't quite expecting. The board book was made with glossy chipboard - I had been thinking of natural chipboard. But...I did learn a cool way to make photo corners with ribbon (if enough people are interested - write me to let me know - I'll write something up about this, the vellum photo corners and slide mounts).

You've Been Framed! - This was a class on creating unique frames with your scrapbook supplies and was sponsored by Simple Scrapbooks. Nothing fancy or complicated, but a super-cool idea!

10 Things Every Scrapbooker Should Know - This too was taught by Brittany Beattie and was full of great little tips that "every scrapbooker should know," such as...it's OK to scraplift, it's OK to create a layout without pictures, it's OK to take LOTs of pictures and more! Definitely recommend it if they offer again next year.

Now, by the time I was coming to my last class...I was exhausted and knew that I had a long drive in front of me, so what probably would have been a lot of fun ended up being disappointing in a way.

Keep it Simple, Make it Quick, Get it Done with Metropolis - It's a really long title and was set as a two-hour class, but as the title states, it was simple. In fact, too simple for my liking at the time. I wanted to be challenged, but instead I was given a pack of Scenic Route scrapbook supplies with instructions to make four two-page layouts. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about great supplies, but I wanted to learn something different and quickly realized that wasn't going to happen in this class. So, about an hour in, I decided to pack up and hit the road - even if I was giving up the chance to win a door prize.

Another year is done and I look forward to what next year will bring in my scrapbook education!

Valley Forge (Part Deux)

I'm heading out this afternoon for my second Creating Keepsakes Convention. Much like last year, I've loaded up on classes (I've always liked school). To be specific, I'm taking the following:

• A Thing or Two about Boys
• LuCKy Girl
• All About Heritage
• Boys Go Zoom!
• You’ve Been Framed!
• 10 Things Every Scrapbooker Should Know
• Keep it Simple, Make it Quick, Get it Done with Metropolis

While my true goal is to make it to CKU one day, my experience last year was incredible and I learned so much (and came back with so many scrapbook supplies...I'm still digging out of that pile). Just keep your fingers crossed that the power doesn't go out!!

I will report back as soon as I get home on Saturday evening and share with all of you what I've learned.

Happy Scrapping!

Harry Potter Month

Platform 9 3/4
Originally uploaded by choubox

July 2007 is officially Harry Potter month!! With the release of the seventh and final book and the premiere of the fifth movie, it's all about Harry!!

Watch for Harry Potter scrapbook layout ideas all month long on my site!!

Sketch of the Week

The votes for this week's Sketch of the Week are in and it's another 12" x 12" double page layout. This sketch calls for four photos and has LOTS of room for journaling.

You could use this sketch as a basis for a layout to scrap your children's end of year party at school (focal shot is a class photo and the smaller ones can be more candid shots).

Or...you can flip your focal shot to make it vertical and it can be used for a birthday layout, with your child's birthday photo along with more pictures from the party.

Happy Scrapping!

Need Sketches?

Recently, as part of the voting for the Sketch of the Week, I've noticed that a lot of you are looking for a variety of sketch sizes, from 6 x 6 to 8.5 x 11 to 8 x 8, yet the 12 x 12 typically wins out in the voting.

So...I'd ask that you take a minute and fill out this little survey to see if we can make everyone happy.

I'd love to hear from you. Happy Scrapping!

Sketch of the Week - 27 May 2007

I hope you are all enjoying a wonderful Memorial Day (and getting a little extra time to scrap). This week's Sketch of the Week is an 8.5" x 11" single - many thanks to those who voted this week. While I do love to make 12" x 12" sketches, it's a nice break every once and a while to do something different. :-)

I chose a single photo layout, as one of the voters asked for it specifically. Each of the strips behind the picture is .5" high. The gray corners can serve any real purpose you'd like to, but are meant to just create a little visual interest by displaying a different color or pattern underneath the primary background.

If you'd like to vote for the Sketch of the Week, please check me out at the Choubox Sketch Pad.

If you have any general scrapbook questions, please don't hesitate to drop me a line!

Precious Moments

Precious Moments
Originally uploaded by choubox.

To all the Moms and Moms to be, wishing you a very Happy Mother's Day!

Sketch of the Week - 22 Apr 2007

This week's sketch is another 12" x 12" single. If you like this sketch, and want more like it, don't forget to vote for the Sketch of the Week at the Choubox Sketch Pad.

I've also started a new feature on my website - Scrapbook Challenges. The current challenge is using lyrics in your scrapbook layouts.

Happy Scrapping!

Sketch of the Week - 8 Apr 2007

Sketch of the Week - 8 Apr 2007
Originally uploaded by choubox.

It's beginning to look a lot like....Easter...but the first "white" Easter that I can ever remember. I'm just hoping we're not going to redefine the meaning of snow bunnies tomorrow morning.

Any who...here is this week's sketch a little early, as I'm sure we'll be otherwise occupied tomorrow. Wishing you all a joyful Easter!

Happy Scrapping!

Planning a Layout

I first want to thank all of you who have submitted article requests, whether they are for tips and techniques or general content. I am posting them as quickly as my little fingers can type along with articles I already had in the queue.

But, over the past several weeks, several of you have requested articles that all revolve around the same theme, planning layouts. So, in the coming weeks, I will be making these articles my priority as, in the end, the basics of designing layouts are at the heart of scrapbooking.

Thank you again for all your input and Happy Scrapping!

Sketch of the Week - 18 Mar 2007

Sketch of the Week - 18 Mar 2007 #2
Originally uploaded by choubox.

This sketch, along with its 12x12 cousin, are this week's sketches.

You're getting an 8x8 single page layout because that's what my son picked, but you're also getting a 12x12 version because of his twin brother. :-)

I have to admit....it's been a crazy month and while I've kept up with my sketches...I've been lagging behind in just about everything else, thanks in part to a week's worth of illness and the preparations for my boys' 3rd Birthday Party. It seems like these past two weeks have gone on forever, but I'm very glad that they're over (and that the birthday party was a huge success). I'm very much ready to get back to my "normal" schedule.

Hope you have a great St. Patrick's Day!! Happy Scrapping!!