Australia Album - Getting Started

So, I removed the trip photos from the old album - the poinciana trees were just as incredibly beautiful as I remembered!

The first step is to group and sort the photos in whatever way works for you. For me, I stuck with the same basic sequence as from the old album. But, it turns out that I didn't label any it it. So, some research was required. I added some slips of paper into my stack to identify where these places were. I also did some internet searches to help "jog" my memory. (More on this later!)

The next step is to pop the photos into their placeholders in the page protectors. I chose to use various layouts. The 12 x 12 page protectors come in 5 different layouts (you can get a whole pack of one layout, or a multi-pack that has all the layouts). I usually start with the multi-pack and then venture into the others!

More later!

Protect your photos!

I got into this "scrapbooking" thing last spring when I realized that some of my older photo prints were starting to look old! My sister (a Stampin' Up consultant) -- who had been telling me to deal with it for a while -- finally made me attend one of her classes. Anyway, that was the beginning of the end. Now, I can't get enough. I started off by taking my pictures out of the old yukky albums, and redoing them in an archival-safe way -- this means not to use that sticky-back stuff, put the photos next to acid-free and lignin-free products -- use archival-safe pens -- and so on. I started off by scrapbooking a trip I made around Europe back in 1993. We were living there and I took off on a 2 week trip around Austria and Bavaria. Mostly, I matted my photos and stuck them in a Creative Memories scrapbook that I got on eBay.

My new project (which you will hear more about), is to use the Everyday Stories system (EDS) that IRW developed for a trip to Australia back in 1988. I was looking through the old photo album, and it raised some fun (although faint) memories.

Here's what you need to get started:

• Page protectors in varied configurations (see EDS catalog at http://www.jjcweb.net/catalogs.html for layouts)
• Pictures (I have about 200)
• Acid-free, lignin-free Cardstock
• Adhesive (I like the Xyron

Later on, you'll also want an album to put them in (I usually start with this, too, so that I can manage the page protectors more easily) and some embellishments. The beauty of the EDS system is that you can use as few or as many embellishments as you like!

One last thing! Backup your digital photos!

My New Tshirt

Small Gift Bag Project

We made this little gift bag during the IRW convention in early March. It's quick to make and looks good too! It was designed by Chrstina Klauer of IRW.

Supplies:

1 sheet 12x12 cardstock (reversible)
1 flower
1 brad
34" ribbon

1. Cut the paper into 2 pieces, sized at: (a) 8.5 x 11 (b) 3.5 x 11
2. Score paper (a) 1 1/4" vertically
3. Score paper (a) 4 1/2" from each end horizontally
4. Score paper (b) 4 1/2" from each end
5. Fold and cut in at 4 1/2" score marks to the 1 1/4" line to create flaps
6. Place patterned paper in center of bag and adhere (align scores)
7. Adhere sides of bag together
8. Cut ribbon into 2 17" lengths
9. Attach ribbon to bag using adhesive; Repeat on other side
10. Add flower with brad (you may want to place a hole in the bag first!)

Have Fun! I plan to make alot of these for all the earrings that I make!

Birthday Quilt

My Mom made this gorgeous quilt for me for my birthday - it rocks! Isn't she awesome?

Savannah

My sister Nancy and I met in Savannah for the first ever IRW Convention. We arrived Wednesday, toured around on Thursday, and met with the IRW crowd on Thursday night. We created, talked, walked, and much more over the next 3 days. On Sunday, we had to head home.

Nancy and I began with IRW last fall - so we're new. It was very exciting to be around 100 women who are "mad" about scrapbooking. We made several really cool pages, using Xyron, Fiskars, and Bazzill products -- and, we learned about the company's history.

And, Savannah is a beautiful city; especially in early March.

The Daily Crop

Well, many people are blogging about many things. I decided to give it a try so that I could figure out what blogs are all about, and dump thoughts focused on scrapbooking, cardmaking, and jewelry-making. So, here goes! Check back from time to time, maybe you'll get some project ideas or just laugh!

Digital Scrapbooking

I recently learned how to use "brushes" in Paint Shop Pro. These were described to me by my sister Lynn, as rubber stamps for the computer. It turns out that there are many brushes out there on the web. Some are free; some can be purchased from sites such as Scrap Girls (http://www.scrapgirls.com) And, I found some nice free ones at Bunny's Attic (http://www.bunnysattic.com). You can adjust the settings to control the color and angle, plus many other things. I've been using them to decorate the backgrounds of titles on various scrapbook pages.