Scrapbookers

My Crush

 This is the latest rage - My Crush Books - Louise has done a beautiful album using one of these books and has inspired many of my ladies to get into this.  Use flip flaps to protect your photos and you are away laughing.  Maybe there are some pages you would like to use in traditional scrapbooks - pull them out and you are still left with heaps of pages to complete one of these albums.  In the following video someone has done this as there are 60 pages per book - heaps I know!  The only different one is the Christmas My Crush which has vellum and pocket pages as well but altogether is only 30 pages.  You can find these on Pages 150 - 157 of the Inspiration Book and also there are a smaller version in the new Expressions 2 Page 30 - 31.  Check out this video below.

 

Albums:

So, you have bought your album - how do you put them together and what are spine expanders???  Watch this video.

 

 

 

Picture My Life 

 Picture My Life can be used in a variety of ways - I LOVE the classic page - the photos have been corner rounded and gives a structured but creative look!!!

 

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Photographers

So you want to learn how to take good photos, do you? You’re not alone. With technology these days, it seems like it would be pretty much impossible to take a bad picture, yet we all end up with our fair share of photos that make us cringe. The red eyes, the shadowy faces, the artwork shots that look like they were taken in a cave—we’ve all been there. But the good news is there’s hope! With a little knowledge, you can take your photos from blah to brilliant and upgrade your layouts.  Let’s get started.

 

 

 Learn the power behind the buttons.
All of the bells and whistles on your camera may seem overwhelming at first, but if you take a few moments to sit down, read the guidebook, and master a few key features, your pictures will reap the benefits. It won’t take any longer than scrolling through Facebook or watching an episode of your favorite sitcom. Plus, you will likely be able to find helpful tutorials through online outlets, like YouTube.

Be conscious of lighting.
When it comes to lighting amateur photos, the natural light of the sun is your best bet. But channel this power wisely. Always make sure the light is indirect. Try to take photos near a window, an open door, or even a covered porch. When possible, avoid using your flash—it can make things look flat and just plain unnatural.
Pay attention to backgrounds.
Hanging laundry? Bad. Cozy fireplaces? Good. Pay attention to what’s lurking in the background of your photos. Whatever it is, it’s more noticeable than you think.
Keep the props simple and meaningful.
Remember that the reason you’re taking the picture in the first place is to highlight your subject! Don’t lose track of the subject by overloading the photo with unnecessary props and clutter. A few simple and visually enticing props, such as a string of ribbon or a vase of flowers, are all you need to capture the right mood.
Get up close and personal.
Don’t be afraid to get cozy with your subject, whether it’s your artwork, your child, or the cat from next door. Let the subject take up the majority of the frame. If your subject is human, hold the camera at their eye level to capture the full force of their gaze.
Be patient enough to snap lots of photos.
Thanks to the advent of digital photography, we no longer live in a day when we have to fret about how many exposures we have left. Take advantage of this freedom and snap away! Have the patience to keep taking pictures and adjusting as you go until you capture just the right shot.
Edit your photos after you take them.
Photo editing software programs can perform visual wonders in mere seconds. If you don’t want to lay down the big bucks for programs like Adobe^® Photoshop^®, try free services like picmonkey.com. For smartphones, try apps like Snapseed or PicTapGo. Even just a few tweaks—like brightening and sharpening your photo—can make a world of difference.
With all that being said, always remember that you are the photographer so your photos should reflect your unique perspective. Keep these basic guidelines in mind, but don’t be afraid to follow a gut instinct or pursue a wild idea. Photos are their own special form of art, so get creative! Start from right where you are and remember that every professional was once an amateur.

Tools for Tasteful Pages 

 Close To My Heart's stitch guide helps you quickly and easily add a little "oomph" to your projects. Watch the video to see how we've added the popular hand-sewn effect to the stamped images in the My Acrylix™ Windy Day set using just three tools.

 

 

Hip Pics Album - for Mothers Day 

 Create a heartfelt Mother's Day gift complete with photos, embellishments, and sweet sentiments using the My Creations™ Hip Pics album and the My Acrylix™ Mother's Day stamp set from Close To My Heart.

 

 

PICTURE MY LIFE

Albums
 The "scoop" about the latest on albums and memory protectors - some are coming and some are going. This is an important video to watch if you are a scrapbooker!



At the moment I am offering a half price deal on these which means half of the Picture My Life cards at just $15.  That is 22 4x6 cards and 39 3x4.  THAT is a lot of cards for a fabulous price.  (This available only on certain lines and subject to availability).

Beautiful Artwork to Display your photos

Picture My Life in conjunction with the above video.  If you are someone whowouldn't do creative scrapbooking but have a heap of photos and want them displayed beautifully and quickly then Picture My Life is for you.  This is fabulous and well worth looking into.

COMPETITION

Enter and Win the Picture My Life Program here!

Although this is done on a card it is fabulous in a scrapbook. See further below my "baby" kraft pocket book that shows off this technique.

Create your own washi wonderland by mixing, layering, and mounting washi tape strips on Close To My Heart's Dimensional Elements album pages for a fresh look. Cover the Dimensional Elements shapes directly or layer the washi tape on cardstock then cut coordinating album pages from the Artiste cartridge and Cricut® machine for uniquely patterned designs.

SWIRLING SHAPES
This video is using a cricut to cut shapes - but you don't have to.  Use your punches and you can make this stunning page too.






I know some of you are wanting to keep your pages flat - no raised embellishments for you.  Here is a technique that you can use to achieve great results.  Forget the brads and just do the technique.



This is a little bit of artbooking but also has some nice layouts.



Check this out!   Please note we don't have the frosty paper - yet!!!                                                                                                                                                 






A new technique for us!  Have a go at stitching!!!  These two videos show different things about using stitching and leftovers in your own pages to give them a little "extra"!!






 Isn't this a gorgeous layout.  I think the colours go well and they have been picked out from the photo!!






 I love this layout which I found through Pinterest.  There is a template below for you to make your own!  This was made by Pam Callaghan.






 
 Then add:

 
Add walla!!  

Here is an idea using the distressed background stamps to enchance your scrapbook page.  It is really helpful if you have a plain page with plain card stock and want to make it a little more interesting.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

This can make a beautiful flower with buttons, punch or other artwork in the middle.  Put a ribbon behind and add to your page/card.  So create a strip of paper (depending on the size of flower you want to create but try one and a half inches).  Score evenly every 1 cm then fold in a concertina fashion (ie one up, one down) until finished.  Turn to get below and secure with your favourite adhesive - needs to be sturdy.  Ta da - it is ready to add to your project and cover the centre with another embellishment.

I love this page - do one when your children or grandchildren are little.  Repeat it in five, ten and fifteen years time!  What a cool thing to see the changes!