Sketch of the Week: 2012-05-06

This week's Sketch of the Week is an 8.5" x 11" two-page layout format.  You can swap out pictures for patterned paper blocks, embellishments or journaling


Thank you to everyone who voted!!


Happy Scrapping!

Mother's Day Card Sample #3

Happy Weekend!!  I've got a few more card samples up my sleeve, but the weather is beautiful and my bike is calling, so....I'm headed outdoors for a little while.


I'm sticking with the 5.5" x 4" size card format for now (it really is a very convenient size).  In this example, I've used three 1.5" high strips with three different lengths (4", 4.5" and 5").  You can choose to put a large embellishment on the card or leave as is - it's all up to you!  


Happy Scrapping!!

Mother's Day Card Sample #2

Happy Friday - Here is your second Mother's Day Card Sample!  


These are the size measurements if you'd like to recreate one or more for yourself!  It's a 5.5" x 4" horizontal flap card and the big pink strip on the right hand side is 1.5" x 4".  The three blocks are 1.25" (blue square), 1.5" (polka dot square) and 1.5" x 2" (pink/blue swirl).


Hope you have a great weekend!  Happy Scrapping!

Mother's Day Card Sample #1

Hi!  Hope everyone is having a good week.  I'm trying to get some of the Mother's Day card samples out quickly, since I'll be traveling yet again for work next week!!


This sample is based on a 5.5" x 4" horizontal card and the strips of paper are 1", 2" and .75" high each.  A great way to add some dimension to a card, or layout, is to replace polka dots with brads (look closely and you can see that I did that here).  Happy Scrapping!!

Sketch of the Week: 2012-04-29

Thanks to those who voted for this week's sketch!  It's a 12" x 12" two-page layout and features and entire "string" of vertical 4" x 6" photos.


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

Sketch of the Week: 2012-04-22 (8" x 8")

OK, so I promised both a 12" x 12" and an 8" x 8" two-page layout sketch this week and this is the latter of the two.


Next, with Mother's Day coming up, I'm transitioning to handmade card sketches, but you can still vote for the Sketch of the Week (I'll still keep posting those too).  Happy Scrapping!

Sketch of the Week: 2012-04-22

There was a tie in this week's Sketch of the Week (between a 12" x 12" two-page and 8" x 8" two-page layouts), so I'll post one of each.  The first one is the 12" x 12" and probably looks pretty simple, but that's the point.


This two page layout will display at least eight pictures (wallet size).  If you crop a bigger picture and use in the big strips, you can display even more.  My vision for the large strips are for patterned paper with a simple adjective vertically along the far right edge describing the picture (joy, smile, hope, courage, fun, summer, etc.) - the adjectives are your journaling.


Happy Scrapping!!

Upcoming Sketches

This week's Sketch of the Week is looking to be a 12" x 12" two-page layout (you still have time to vote)! Also, I've been on a little bit of a card kick, so I'll be posting some of those in the coming week as well. Hope everyone has a great weekend - Happy Scrapping!!!

Wanderlust

This is my take on the Sketch of the Week.  My version incorporates the arrows in the original sketch and is actually a 12" x 12" single page layout.  Since the base paper had stripes, I used those as the lines for my journaling.


Happy Scrapping!!

Sketch of the Week: 2012-04-15

Thank you to all who voted - this week's Sketch of the Week is an 8" x 8" single page layout sketch.  


This 8" x 8" version can be converted into a 12" x 12" to support a 4" x 6" photo (with slightly larger background pieces) and you don't necessarily have to use arrows in the layout (that was just part of the inspiration for the sketch - my love of travel and always being on the go).  You can change the large arrow into a large horizontal patterned paper piece and the smaller arrows can be switched up for buttons, eyelets or brads. 


As always, if you'd like to see a sketch in a different format (6" x 6", 8.5" x 11" or 12" x 12"), you can vote for your favorite @ the Choubox Scrapbook Design Sketch Pad and maybe it will be the next Sketch of the Week!!


Happy Scrapping!!

Sketch of the Week: 2012-04-12

Thanks to everyone who voted for the Sketch of the Week!!  This week's sketch is for an 8" x 8" two-page layout and incorporates Washi Tape into the layout to add some visual (vertical) interest.  If you would like a different sketch, make sure to vote!  The format of the sketch can change every week depending on your votes alone!  Happy Scrapping!!

Sketches of the Week: 2012-04-01

I'm going to be traveling with my family tomorrow, so I wanted to get the Sketch of the Week (or in this case, sketches) posted for your use!  Based on your votes, the winning format was 8" x 8" single.  I got some extra inspiration today, so I decided to make two.  :-)  I really liked the simplicity of these sketches.  If you prefer a different format, make sure to vote and then you'll get a free sketch next week!


Happy Scrapping!

Meeting Grandma and Grandpa

So, we've had a page in your new baby scrapbook featuring Mom, Dad and even siblings, but what about Grandma and Grandpa?!! We can't forget about their first visit, especially if they travelled many miles to get there.  And...just so there is equal "billing" among the two sets of grandparents....this layout features two 4" x 6" pictures.  


If you'd rather, you can use this layout for other "introduction" pictures, like your new son or daughter meeting their Aunts, Uncles, Cousins or family friends for the first time.  Happy Scrapping!!

Announcing...Your New Baby!!

You saw this sketch 10 days ago, but I wanted to put I wanted to put it in its proper context....


The design of this layout is taken almost directly from (of all things) a birth announcement.  I loved the design of my cousin’s announcement and thought it would make a great layout for a new baby scrapbook. Unlike “traditional” scrapbook layouts, where the focal picture is on left….this one has the focal picture on the right.  Now, while it may go counter to standard design criteria, it still maintains proper visual flow from left-to-right (those standard design criteria are more like guidelines anyway...).  You can use store bought patterned paper for the one-inch strip that runs across the bottom of the page or you can make your own with your new baby’s birth information (click here for more information) and for a title, you can put your baby’s name in big chipboard letters.  Happy Scrapping!!

Special Delivery!

You’ve waited nine months for the stork to arrive with a “Special Delivery”, so find two of your favorite pictures (4" x 6") of your little one or two pictures from the hospital to fill in the next two pages of your new baby scrapbook. Of course, you can always use this layout for something completely different, like baby’s first bath, pictures with siblings, the trip home or baby’s first Christmas.

Daddy's Pride and Joy

Gather up those precious pictures of Daddy with his “Little Angel” or “Little Man” and show them off on these two pages of your new baby scrapbook.  


You’ve got room for a 5” x 7” and two 3” x 5”.  You can switch up the title based on whether or not your new bundle of joy is little girl or a little boy and…if you’ve rather use another format for your “Daddy” pictures, then you can use this for “Big Brother/Sister” pictures because they are important too and it is too cute to see your first born cradle their baby brother or sister.  Happy Scrapping!!

Cute as a Button

So, how many of you loved to collect stickers as you were younger?  Or maybe you just love to accessorize?... Then you will probably love to embellish your scrapbook pages too, but what is a scrapbook embellishment?  Click here to learn more!!

Precious Moments

Precious “Mom”ents…  You can’t have a new baby scrapbook without a layout featuring Mom!  In this example, the two-page layout calls for three average size pictures (4” x 6” and 3” x 5”), but you have the room to turn your focal picture into a 5” x 7” or change the two 3” x 5” pictures into four 3” x 3” pictures.  Click here to learn more!!

New Baby Scrapbook

The birth of a child is a great motivator to start a new baby scrapbook - what better way to show off your new bundle of joy, or new grandchild! Of course, the prospect of scrapbooking can be daunting…to someone looking for the outside in. What size scrapbook to use? What kind of adhesive should I use?...and probably one of the hardest of all… How do I arrange all my pictures (in other words…how do I make a layout)?  Click here to learn more!!

What is a Scrapbook?

By its simplest definition, a scrapbook is a collection of memories, usually in photographic and/or written form (a picture does tell a thousand words, but sometimes it helps to embellish with words) bound in an album.  Of course, these albums come in many shapes and sizes and the definition of a scrapbook "album" has morphed over the years from a ring-bound photo album (with those yucky sticky pages) to 12" x 12", 8" x 8", etc., all made with archival products.  For more on how to make a scrapbook, check out this article!


For more scrapbooking definitions....visit the Scraptionary!!  Happy Scrapping

Sketch of the Week: 2012-03-19

Happy Spring (or Fall depending on where you are in the world)!!  


This week's winner of the Sketch of the Week is a 12" x 12" double page layout.  This sketch was actually inspired by a magazine ad....there were huge letters across the middle of the page with pictures all around advertising clothing and jewelry.  I thought it might make a good layout, especially for a birthday. 


I'd love to see what your layouts turn out like!!  You can post them in the Choubox Scrapbook Layout Gallery and don't forget to VOTE for your favorite layout size for the Sketch of the Week.  Happy Scrapping!!

Three New Sketches

These three sketches are all in the "baby" scrapbook series.  They are 8.5" x 8.5" and two of them are actually new....I was inspired to make the first one based off a baby announcement I recently received and the last one was actually inspired by a website for one of our fine State Capitols.  It is truly amazing where inspiration will come from, so always keep your eye out for it.  Happy Scrapping!

NOLA

Last year, I took my first trip to New Orleans.  It was....an experience.  It was beautiful and crazy and tasty all at the same time.  This is a digital 12" x 12" layout based on my trip using the March 13th sketch.  This particular layout uses the "muted" photo idea I mentioned in that blog post.  Happy Scrapping!!

Get Out The Vote!!

As we get further into this election year, the campaigns will heat up and our opportunity for memory making will go up as we become involved with volunteer efforts for our favorite candidate.  Whether it will be your first opportunity to vote in a national election, a special post-election party or a memory of doing your part, check out these ideas for political scrapbook layouts!

Happy Scrapping!

More Sketches Please!

I have to say that I "cheated" when I came up with this sketch....I saw a similar design on the front of an informational magazine and thought it would make an interesting layout.  


The cool thing about this design is that you can make the squares whatever size you want.  It's a 12" x 12" single layout and in this example I used 3" squares throughout.  


Now, the 3" squares that surround the four pictures can be (1) patterned paper blocks or (2) other pictures that have an opaque layering on them that make the main pictures stand out even more (see example here).


Now, if this format isn't your favorite, then all you have to do is vote for the Sketch of the Week!!  Right now, the front runner is a 12" x 12" double page layout.  I count the votes each week and whatever layout format has the most votes wins - all you have to do is vote!  Happy Scrapping!

Sketch of the Week: 2012-03-12

Happy Monday!!  Thanks to everyone for your interest in the blog!  


Here is sketch #2 in the baby scrapbook series (along with a real life example of the finished product).  


It's another 8.5" x 8.5" double scrapbook layout.  This is a non-standard scrapbook size, but actually a very common "smaller" size for K&Company.  In fact, I will often use their Itsy Bitsy Baby Girl or Baby Boy lines to make this baby scrapbook.  


The example below actually uses Basic Grey (another one of my favorites).


I'm hoping to get a few more sketches up this week (baby book and others)....the last week was spent getting ready for my boys' 8th birthday and everything else was put on hold as a result.  In the meantime, hope everyone has a great week.  Happy Scrapping!!

Sketch of the Week: 2012-03-04

This is the first in a series of sketches related to a project I'm working on....a scrapbook to capture those first few baby pictures.

It's an 8.5" x 8.5" format, but can easily be modified to fit 8" or 12" scrapbook and this happens to be for a baby girl, but you can just switch up the titles and make it for a baby boy as well.  In fact, I've used a lot of the same sketches for both a baby girl and baby boy scrapbook.  They're easy and great for gifts.  Happy Scrapping!!  :-)








Don't forget to vote for the Sketch of the Week @ www.choubox.com!

Rouby Raiders

Every October we mount our road bikes and go for a 65-mile spin!  Since I ride a Roubaix bike, we decided that we would be the Rouby Raiders this year!!  :-)

A Capitol Visit

This layout is based off of one of last week's sketches (2012-02-12) and is from a trip we recently took to North Carolina!

Sketch of the Week: 2012-02-19

Thank you to all those who voted this week - the winner is a 12" x 12" single layout!

The 12" x 12" single layout is a great way to spotlight specific pictures and can be used for title/closing pages within a scrapbook.

If you're one to "step outside the scrapbook", you can frame a single page layout and mount it all the wall for everyone to see.

Hope you all have a great week and don't forget to vote!  Happy Scrapping!!

Twin Birthday Layout

A birthday for two is twice as nice!!!

This is a 12" x 12" layout with two 4" x 6" photos and six 3.5" photos.  It's always hard for me to pick pictures, so my layouts have a tendency to be filled with them vs. embellishments (and when there aren't a lot of pictures....I have a tendency to write a lot).  There is no right way....just whatever works for you!!  Happy Scrapping! :-)

6 x 6 Double Sketch

This is the last one for this week...now I need more votes to keep going!  Hope you all enjoy - Happy Scrapping!!

Additional Sketch (6 x 6)

Some of you had asked for a 6" x 6" single sketch and here it is!!  It's a super simple layout (as are most of this format) with four 2" pictures (on a 4.75" mat for journaling).  I love how the 6" x 6" format "forces" you to focus on your pictures because you have a limited amount of space to use.  It's also great for mini-books capturing a single event like a birthday.  Happy Scrapping!!

Sketch of the Week - 2012-02-12 (#2)

Single photo layouts can make a huge impact.  They allow you use tons of pretty patterned paper and embellishments to highlight your beautiful picture!!  This one has a layered effect with huge mats of patterned paper.

We have a few more sketches coming up for those that prefer the 6" x 6" format.  Happy Scrapping!

Sketch of the Week - 2012-02-12 (#1)

Thank you to all those who have voted and for your patience as I get back into the swing of things.  Seems being out of town for a week really does slow me down, but I'm back now and making up for lost time.

This is the first of several sketches based on your voting.  Once I get all the sketches up, I'm going to put up some examples using them.  Hope you all have a great week - Happy Scrapping!! :-)

A Little Delay....

My apologies for not yet having posted the Sketch of the Week.....  Real life (travel for my job) has slightly derailed my plans, but to make up for it....I will be posting two new sketches this week.  Hope you are all having a great week!

The Sawyer Scott

To keep your creative juices flowing....here is a layout I created using this week's sketch of the week.


Happy Scrapping!!

Sketch of the Week: 2012-01-22

Thanks to all those who voted!!  This week's sketch is a 12" x 12" Double layout with room for SEVEN pictures and lots of journaling.

As you will find, my focus is usually on pictures (I love to take pictures) and journaling (I love to write), but you can always switch things up and replace pictures for embellishments or add even MORE pictures!!  A sketch is just that....a draft to get you started....you can use it to get the creative juices flowing and turn it into something you love!

Happy Scrapping!!

Scrapbooking Tools: Paper Piercers

I was asked the other day about paper piercers..... What are they?  What you can do with them (besides stick your finger)?  Where can I get one?

Well, in its simplest form, a paper piercer is a handheld tool that looks like a large needle with a handle. It works a lot like a hole punch, but on a much smaller scale. The purpose of a paper piercer is, as its name indicates, to pierce paper, but instead of creating an eraser-sized hole (like a hole punch), a paper piercer makes a pin-sized hole.  


A lot of scrappers will use it to make a hole in their cardstock when attaching brads because brads by themselves aren't sharp enough and have a tendency to rip your precious scrapbook paper.  A paper piercer will make a nice pin-size hole in your paper for the brad to fit in. You can also use it to make starter holes for thread work, if you like to embellish your scrapbook layouts with fancy thread or ribbon. 


You can find paper piercers at about an arts and crafts or hobby store and even on Amazon. They're inexpensive and a must, in my opinion, in any scrappers tool kit.

Happy Scrapping!

Sun Days....

Sun Days...., a photo by choubox on Flickr.

Here's a layout based on this week's sketch of the week!

Sketch of the Week: 2012-01-15

This week's sketch is a 12" x 12" single layout with four pictures!  The great thing about 12" x 12" layouts is that they are easily modified for those that prefer the 8" x 8" format.  In this case, the 5" square photo would become a 3" photo and you only use two 2" photos instead of three.

In either format, you can also swap out patterned paper or embellishments for the smaller square pictures and get creative with the title.  You've got lots of space!

Don't forget to vote each week!  Happy Scrapping!!

Sketch of the Week: 2012-01-08

It's not often that there are enough votes for an 8.5" x 11" sketch, but there were this week!!  Vote early and vote often for your favorite layout and you can help decide the next free layout sketch of the week!!

Happy Scrapping!!

A Year in the Life - Week 1

So, I'm a week into my Picture-a-Day challenge and it is well....a challenge. By the end of the day, I usually have a picture to use, but I determined very early on that it's easy to take a picture, but I'm trying to take a picture that is representative of the day....or a tradition of my family.....or something particularly striking. So far, I've taken several pictures of my boys, an incredible sunset, a thermometer and a book. As I've gone through this week, I've also made a list of those things that I could or want to take a picture of. For example, I always have a Starbucks in the morning and my current favorite is a skim cinnamon dolce latte, so I take a picture of the cup every morning....just in case I don't get anything else for the day. Of course, when that actually happens, I'll have to find a new "go to" picture. :-)

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year Everyone!!  I trust you had a safe and wonderful evening (and may still be recovering)!!  :-)  Here is this week's sketch - an 8" x 8" Double Layout - based on your votes.  If you'd like to see a different sketch - don't forget to vote.

Have a great week and Happy Scrapping!!