Apr 16, 2013

Shall We Dance?




I will never get through all my computer files to sort if I don't quit browsing --- but  the distraction is worth reflecting back on moments like this.

This digital layout is my precious granddaughter, Bella, dancing with her cousin.  She loved being twirled and lifted to heights to the beat of the music!



I love scrapbooking - both the traditional and digital.  Each has its own merits.  There is a satisfaction in handling all the papers with their many textures, patterns and colors and embellishing them with stickers, markings and fibers to name a few.  

Digital scrapbooking is still in the process for me, but I am slowly, but surely, making progress with it.  I love the brilliant colors and effects of the embellishments and all the optical illusions that can be manipulated with computer strokes.  For someone who resisted the computer years ago, it is pretty much part of my daily routine these days………now I need to think about a tablet so I can do some creating on the go!

Apr 14, 2013

One thing leads to another --- a forgotten project found



Somehow life gets in the way and time for creativity seems to be at the bottom of the list.  As I get my squares checked on my ‘to do’ list – time to play gets nearer to the top.  

I discovered early last week that many of my Carbonite ‘recovery files’ from a computer crash of digital elements were empty to my horror.  Carbonite added to my woes in that during a recovery process it was interrupted. --- and the process started  all over again.  For whatever fluke, it put  sub-files in incorrect files as well as duplicates.  It took months to sort through them and I still have straggler files.  Fortunately, ScrapGirls (www.scrapgirls.com) can allow access to the missing purchased files.  So again, I am sorting, etc. over 10,000 files after many hours of downloading.  I fear going into my other accounts and checking other files…….oh well at least I have recovery processes available!

At any rate, as I was trying to increase hard drive storage capacity by eliminating files and during my browsing, I found this baby album I made my daughter-in-law when my first grandson was born. Since we live in different states, I didn’t yet have photos so I made an album for my DIL to easily and quickly insert those precious newborn photos.  

Brody's Newborn Baby Album
  
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:
I used an acrylic front and back cover which presents challenges in layering pages and ultimately the photos since everything is visible.  

The cardstock pages are a checkered board pattern achieved by a gradation of sizes and alternating colors.  Those pages I left blank, but I always sign and add a message to my albums which is usually on the back cover.

I used a macramĂ© technique of alternating right and left ribbon loops to embellish the metal rings that fasten the book together. 

I use a variety of adhesives depending on the application.  My favorites are: USArtQuest (PPA), Rubber CafĂ© (Scrap Happy Sheer Glue) and Sakura (3D Crystal Lacquer).  For areas of large coverage, I used a spray adhesive.  Sometimes I use Xyron film, but that can get pricey.