Kathy Zengolewicz

Here is what you will need to get started:

• 1 Paper mache book box
• Scrapbook papers: Brick Red, Musical notes (or anything you choose)
• A clock kit
• Acrylic paints: Barn red, Yellow-tan
• A ½ inch flat paintbrush
• A glue stick
• Paper trimmer
• Scissors
• Black pen, or computer-generated text

Start by painting the pages of the books with yellow-tan. Apply two coats letting them dry between coats. Paint the remainder of the book dark brown. Apply two coats here too, and let them dry in between coats.

Drill or cut a hole in the front of the book and follow the manufacturer’s directions for the clock kit.

Take the scrapbook paper, I used the musical notes, and glue them on the front and back of the book box. Cut the clock hole through the paper. Cut a strip of the red paper to wrap around the spine of the book and overlap slightly in the front and the back of the book.

Insert the clock and glue the clock numbers to the front of the box. To make the clock look authentically old you can cut out some rectangular book labels from scrap world map paper and either print a title with a black pen or use the computer to create text.

I was very impress with the outcome of this work and I’m sure that you will be too.

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Decorative Paper Mache Clock

But sometimes, you have to acknowledge the fact that you want something different for your projects. When the art itch beckons, there are millions of ideas you want to churn out right away. Even in the still of the night, you think about making your own background paper design! C’mon, you must admit that this happens to you, too.

Image by: Kenner Road

Before, it looked like this:

Image by: Kenner Road

… and this

Image by: Kenner Road

The idea I present to you comes from the talented design team member of Kenner Road, Dina Wakley. Hop on over to see the step-by-step tutorial on the Kenner Road blog.  

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Easy Handmade Background

Image: sxc.hu

However, they can be utilized for business portfolios.  Also, you can assemble these “portfolios”  online, or scan into your computer, for viewing online (at your blog or web site) by potential customers.

I used a photograph album type of scrapbook when I had a quiltmaking/patchwork business.  In it I placed photos and descriptions of items I had for sale or could make on order.  I also included a history of my quiltmaking, with photos of craft shows and displays.

Currently I’m compiling a Party Planning scrapbook portfolio for my virtual party planning venture.  This gives pictures of parties planned, ideas for parties, and resources where the customer and I can find the supplies needed.  This portfolio is in conjunction with my party planning blog.

By utilizing scrapbooking techniques, I find the portfolio is more attractive and eye-catching.  It also gives an idea of my creativity.

Have you ever thought of using your scrapbooking/collaging talents in this way?

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Scrapbooking a Business Portfolio

The scrapbook challenge site aims to help scrapbookers in general to focus on the use their craft supplies that were otherwise already forgotten, or worse, may be neglected. Each week a challenge is posted with specific instructions on what embellishments or particular tool to use. The design team then share their own take on the challenge or any technique they may have applied to the same.

Image by: Practical Scrappers

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Design Team Call: Practical Scrappers

Image credit: D Sharon Pruitt

Talk about the good things that happened that day. What are the things that made him smile? What moments made him happy? List them down — getting an A on his History quiz, sharing a funny joke with a friend. Draw pictures — let him draw the cute dog he saw by the bus stop, let him recreate the orange leaves that delighted him as he walked home from school. Attach little mementos, like a ticket from a movie he enjoyed or the wrapper of a candy his school crush shared with him. Record that day’s happy thoughts.

This daily reflection can help your child look at the positive side of things. Not all days are terrible, as there will always be something to be thankful for in his every day.

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A Daily Gratitude Journal

There are a lot of opportunities for me to satisfy my visual craving: just driving through a flea market in my car, during my weekly trips to the fruit market, sighting a delightful sunday dress at a mall, or just looking at my tween daughter putting on her daily school ensemble does it for me. The power of color is also evident all throughout my household. I have splashes of it in every nook and cranny of my home.

The same goes with my style of scrapbooking. While most scrapbookers would lean towards a colorful layout, others would rather be safe and come up with muted tones, but still “color-full”. But upon seeing this layout by Janis Medina, I realized that concentrating on just one color/ shade could be possible! Just look at what she did with her layout using a photoshopped photo of herself to match the overall color scheme she used.

Image: Janis Medina

There is a certain boldness that comes with doing eclectic layouts such as this. And I will definitely give this a try some day soon.

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Monochromatic Scrapbooking

Image: sxc.hu

You can use wrapping paper if not so wrinkled in scrapbooking for Christmas or birthday pages, especially those on big gift boxes that hold sweaters or coats. You can get a good12 X 12 piece or use them in strips of different sizes.

This sounds like a great idea and I’m sure scrapbookers and collage makers will enjoy trying this.  It’s something youngsters would find fun, too.

With so many different types of wrapping paper nowadays – flowers, animals, happy faces, geometric designs, movie characters, stripes - you have a multitude of activities you and your children can explore.  These can encompass paper plate creations, collages, scrapbooking, decoupage, altered books, and journals.

What other creative ideas do you have using wrapping paper?

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More Wrapping Paper Craft Ideas

The same trend is also commonly used to anchor a design, or define a photo by using it as a primary matting. For a more frilly look, a strip of paper with one side having scalloped edges makes for a lovely handmade flower. The latter takes some getting used to as you have to twirl the strip of paper to make a flower.

Image: Scrapbooks Trends Blog

Image: Scrapbook Trends Blog

No worrries if you do not have that die-cut paper I was telling you about. If you have a circle puncher, a penny or even a quarter, you can easily punch out or do simple tracing to create your very own scallop edge. As you can see in the images I provided above, it is really very simple to make and quite therapeutic too!

To view the full tutorial, please visit the Scrapbook Trends Blog

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Make Your Own Scallop Edge

It’s a common fallacy amongst scrapbookers to have piles upon piles of photos supposedly “scheduled” for that much-awaited layout. I am guilty of that too. But I have learned very recently that having too many photos to choose from, that came from a single event, milestone or a special moment can directly affect my judgement to decide on what to scrapbook – this cuts across every aspect of this craft: pictures to use, what layout to follow and of course, what papers and embellishments to work on. Sometimes it gets even harder to decide on what title to use! Having so many pictures at-hand is not really helping me much in the speed to which I would want my scrapbooking to achieve. My efficacy as a scrapbooker is actually challenged, insofar as my ability to choose my pictures for scrapbooking is concerned.

Why do you think you should follow this tip? Well for one, it works. But you have to be able to learn how to take better pictures each time, all the time. Even if the moment to be captured is candid or a spur of the moment. You can also do it another way, by not having all the photos you took printed professionaly or at home. That way, you even save money for otherwise photos that will be considered just a part of your outtakes.

This article by Tracey Rhodes is a perfect example for our tip today.

Via: The Examiner

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Take Fewer Photos for your Scrapbooking

Last August 29, 2009, Scrapfest 7 was held at the main hall of the plush Makati Park & Garden, this country. Scrapfest is the much-awaited yearly scrapbooking event in the Philippines, and it brings together the best of the best scrapbookers, crafters and local scrapbooking stores of the land in one place. The day covers multiple make and takes, pocket tutorials, on-the-spot challenges and of course, the ultimate face-off of 10 finalists to compete for the lone spot and be crowned the Scrappin’ Moms Idol!

Image: Scrappin' Moms site

This year, my very good friend Bjay Jaminal bagged the crown. She is one very talented scrapper who’ll just wow you with her wit and design execution. I think it’s a recognition that was long overdue. I just really wish I was there with her and all our scrapbooker-friends to share in her joy. Not to mention that the LSS (local scrapbooking stores) in the Philippines are always stocked up on the latest releases, especially from the recently concluded Summer CHA!

Image: Bjay Jaminal

Read all about her full story of the day here.

Watch out for the story on how Scrapfest and Scrappin’ Moms began. That’s coming to you fresh tomorrow!

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2009 Scrapfest: Scrappin’ Moms Idol 3