ONE PHOTO, ONE TASK, ONE PAGE AT A TIME
How do you tackle those stacks of photos that are staring at you? How do you record all of those stories that you want to write down? How do you create all of those scrapbook pages or do all of those craft projects? One of the things we heard at CKU this last month was to no longer proclaim, “I am so behind,” but say as you complete each task… “I am ahead!”
Keep that in mind and tackle those pages, those photos and those projects just one at a time! You are no longer one stack behind but you are one photo or one page or one completed craft ahead.
There are different calls to scrapping. Sometimes we want to scrap at a leisurely pace, be creative and let our imaginations soar. We want to bask in the experience, revel in the creative juices, and create …..just create to our hearts content.
There are other times when we are on a deadline or feel overwhelmed with a project or a vast amount of photos and ephemera from one event or era and just want to get the most done in the least time using the smallest amount of space.
One of the advantages that we have with computer scrapbooking, graphic or digital design is the unlimited possibilities at our disposal. More and more traditional cut and paste scrapbookers are becoming interested in seeing just what the fuss is about. They see our pages in the magazines and on the websites now and realize they are missing out on a lot of fun. Where once I felt as if I were the only computer scrapper in the world, now I see them popping up everywhere. Nowadays my laptop is not the only one at the crop!! You might say there is a whole new “crop” of digital scrapbookers!!
If you find that you have more pages to create than you have time or energy, then create some templates with variations on the same them to help you. You can also create color blocked or collage pages with little or no journaling to help you get more pages done in a short time frame.
One of the most popular forms of albums is the ABC album. Several years ago I created one in order to use the adorable Angel Alphabet Creatable by Cara Bradshaw. I decided on my colors and design and created a page template. Then I could either save the template and duplicate it each time or duplicate and save it 26 times right at the start. I did another one using the same template for a visit with my friend in Fresno. I created the template and a title page and then all I had to do was to change the colors and photos. If you want to stick to one size photo, with a program such as Picture It or Digital Image Pro you can place the frame on each page and then use the fill with photo or color to place your photo in the space saver with ease.
I would love to share some ways to make doing those pages fast, fun, and easy!
Let’s get busy now and create some pages.
Project 1: Creating A Simple Template
Thank you to my friends Angela and Sheila from the Two Peas Community for graciously loaning their cute kiddles to me for this project. (Actually, they still have the kids….I just got the photos…)
This will be my main template. With it I can create the entire book just changing the angel letter and the angel embellishment. (Angels are from Angel Alphabet and Never a Dull Moment by Cara Bradshaw.)
In order to create your alphabet all you have to do is change the size of the photo mats to fit your photo, change your text and the position of the angels to fit the position of the photo and text.
I used the same gradient filled page for each of these pages, but used the flip tool to place different portions of the page at the top or bottom, right or left.
Once you have a template you like you can use it over and over as is or with a few minor changes to create a variety of pages. Use the effects function and change the texture of the page, use dry brush to make the photo look like a painting. Use the effects function to change the look of the image art.
Project 2: A is For Adorable
Rose image is from Angel Bears
Another good way to do an ABC book template is to create a collage effect. If you find an arrangement you want to use as a template you may want to use slight variations to fit the photos and to prevent monotony.
ABC books are fun to do and don’t have to be “a is for airplane, alligator, ants and artichoke”. They can be done in so many ways. You can list your little ones favorite things, use the book to acquaint him with all of the family members, teach Bible verses, remind him of favorite songs or toys or just (as in Adorable) tell baby with 26 different words how much you love him!
Project 3: B is For Boy
One more slight variation using effects from Digital Image Pro to create a more interesting background, along with slanted mats and photos with a splattering of applicable images from Bugs and Boys and Derby and Friends.
1. Create background using your choice of color gradients 2. Use the make transparent, gradual. 3. Add mats and slant them. Fill with color of your choice. 4. Add images as desired. 5. Add photo and write little verse. 6. Add Alphabet letter, copy and add again. Add shadow to bottom letter and then add edge for this effect.
There you have it! These are some fun and simple ways to create quick and easy pages to begin your ABC albums.
Now for your assignments should you decide to accept them:
1. Take a photo of your house and/or office in each season and do a page with you or your family in the same setting. This page will take a year to do. 2. Try your hand at a simple collage created with only photos. 3. Find someone without a smile and give them yours! 4. Hug someone. 5. Stop by the message board and say hello. 6. Share your photo creations and craft creations with friends and family. 7. Meet me back here next month!
Until we meet again….Happy Scrapping!