Here are two of my Eiffel Tower layouts. For some reason, I'm having trouble uploading photos to the blog, so I don't think I'll be able to add any more to this post. :-( Maybe I'll try again later.
There were so many great things to photograph in Paris that it was hard to narrow down my pictures to a reasonable number for the scrapbook. Natalie gave me a great idea to use one of the pocket pages that came with my variety pack -- a 12x12 with nine 4x4 pockets -- at the end of the book to make a couple of collages of cropped photos. As I was working on the book, I set aside photos that wouldn't fit in the main part of the book for possible use in the collages. I was able to use almost all of them that way. I would include a photo of the collages if I could get the photo feature to work! (Enter my frustration with technology!)
Now that I've finished my first hybrid album, I have to say I've measured the pros and cons. I love the ease of the 3-ring binder, but the pocket pages were a little inconvenient in the sense that they restricted me in some of my layouts. I can see myself using hybird books for future projects, though -- especially small, simple projects such as one I'm planning for a Christmas gift.
With Paris 2010 finished, I'm in between projects, trying to decide what to start next. I have a weeklong staycation starting a week from today, and I'm hoping to get in plenty of scrapping time. One project I need to do soon is a framed photo page in memory of Typo, the feral stray that adopted the SJ-R as her home more than 10 years ago and had to be put to sleep last week because she had large mammary gland tumors. I've gathered several pictures coworkers took of her over the years, and we're hoping, once I finish it, that we'll be allowed to hang it up somewhere in the building. Some other books I'm eager to dig into: the cupcake crawl, my reunion weekend at U of I with Sara, Heather and Steph this past April; a book of childhood family vacations (part of my long-term "scrapping the old, yellowing pictures" project); and a number of single layouts for my "favorite things" scrapbook, including Krispy Kreme, Einstein Bros. Bagels and meeting Boyz II Men.
I decided to do a "favorite things" book back in March, during my last staycation, when I realized my tendency to take pictures of the things I love most in life. By "things," I mean things that are tangible (I should probably tackle people and concepts in a different book). For example, so far in my "favorite things" book, I have a lot of foods and food places -- cupcakes, Mel-O-Cream doughnuts, my mom's banana bread. I also have the old Doc Marten sandals I got just after college and wore for several summers, to the point of needing a strap repaired (after which I wore them for at least one more summer). And then I have a layout for all the Dave Matthews Band concerts I've been to. (I wore the sandals to a few of those!) It's fun to have a book dedicated to the small things that bring me joy. I'm all about taking pleasure in the little things. There just aren't enough "big" moments in life. We need to find happiness and contentment in the ordinary.
I'm sure in the coming days I'll become inspired for my next project. I have a few things to focus on before I can relax, though. I have a retreat next weekend on which I'm giving a talk, and I need to get through three more days of work. I'm more than ready for a week of leisurely scrapping, though. I know I can accomplish a lot in several wide-open days. Only seven days till then!
You sound like Sara -- so many projects; so little time.
ReplyDeleteI love your idea about a favorite "things" book. I may have to steal it! (I think mine would be mostly food.)
I also love that you used your staycation time to scrapbook.
You can make nice collage sheets on Walgreens website but they're not 12 x 12. I think the biggest is 8 1/2 x 11. Still, if you could incorporate that size onto a 12 x 12 sheet...
You had very ambitious plans for your staycation. I'm impressed you got so much done because I know you had lots of other plans. I have a laundry list of projects to do, so I need to retire in order to get it all done. I wish I was faster or worked on my pages at home. Oh well. It's nice looking at yours though. You're right - it is all about the "little, everyday" things in life. The favorite things book is a good idea.
ReplyDeleteLaVonne, you should do a favorite things book! I love it partly because each project is small and can be completed quickly, so I feel satisfied more often! Plus, I tend to have a short attention span for topics, and it's refreshing creatively to be able to move on quickly. Mine is mostly food! Probably 75%. I should try doing a collage sheet especially for a scrapbook page. That's a really good idea. I have a tendency to design pages that way anyway.
ReplyDeleteSara, I still think you should set up a table in your extra room. You could have the perfect set-up in there, but I know how it is when you want to do something but the reality of actually getting it done is a completely different matter. One day you'll get there, and then you'll be bribing yourself to put off scrapping to do other things! Yesterday I needed to clean, and I told myself that once I finished a certain number of tasks, I'd reward myself wtih some scrapping time. It worked!