Mr. Miyagi's Backyard: Scrapbooked Two Different Ways

I didn't plan on scrapbooking any old photos during last month's Layout a Day (LOAD514), but I ended up creating two different scrapbook layouts about an unplanned subject: the backyard where I grew up, often referred to as Mr. Miyagi's backyard.

The first page is a paper layout where scraps played a huge part, along with a mix of old photos, even ones I had cut up years ago.

My parent's backyard has always been a beautiful work-in-progress and why I decided to create a digital page using PicsArt. I simply took photos of old photos, combined them with recent photos and brought them together in the app on my phone.

The end result: two different layouts about the same subject. The journaling and photos are unique to each page and stories have been documented. Success! That's what scrapbooking is all about. ~Danielle

Related:

Scraplifting Myself

A Creative Blog Tour

Digital Scrapbooking with the PicsArt App

Digital Scrapbooking with the PicsArt App

My favorite way to scrapbook is with my hands. Cutting up paper, adhering photos and handwritten journaling are all an artistic release for me. However, I love the ability to scrapbook on the go with the PicsArt app on my phone.

I've used the free app for a couple years and it's great for editing photos, as well as creating collages. Once I got the hang of it, I began designing my own digital scrapbook layouts and layering various elements.

"Aunt Mary" Digital Scrapbook Layout - Took photo of an old photo and created the layout as a tribute to my recently deceased Aunt Mary.

Since it's Layout a Day month and May is often busy for me, PicsArt has been handy, allowing me to scrapbook when I'm not in my craft room.

"Music" Digital Scrapbook Layout - Designed a photo collage of faraway photos and added it to a background I designed in PicsArt. This is a great way to scrapbook several blurry or grainy photos.

"Cameron Dallas" Digital Scrapbook Layout - No, I'm not obsessed with a teenager, but I did make this page for my oldest daughter. She supplied the collages and I brought them together.

For the past three years, I make a year-in-review photo book where my digiscrap layouts are mixed in with my favorite photos. These pages will definitely be in my 2014 book.

"This Girl" Digital Scrapbook Layout - Once again, I played with the background and added another collage, but this one was of my youngest after she lost her first tooth. 

Do you have a favorite phone app for scrapbooking? ~Danielle

Related:

Digital Scrapbooking: 4 Simple & Quick Pages

Digital Scrapbooking with Picasa

Scrapbooking with My Memories Suite: Camping at the KOA

Scrapbookers of the Future

Fast-forward forty years. You receive an email (or whatever form of future communication, maybe an ezap?) from an old scrapbooking friend who would like for you to visit her. You accept and once the weekend arrives, you pack up a couple scrapbooks and drive across state to her house.

As you make your journey, for a brief moment, you are infatuated with the one tree that stands desolate for miles. (There are not many trees these days since scrapbookers took over the paper mills and cut them down to document all of their memories.)

It’s late afternoon when you pull into her driveway. You grab the scrapbooks, your camera and walk to the front door.

Knock. Knock.

The door opens.

photo source: blakespot on Flickr

It is me. I’m old, wrinkled and worn-out from working in the paper mills so scrapbookers like me can spend a lifetime documenting everyday moments on pretty paper in 12x12 albums. (And this photo doesn’t show me with my usual collection of archival-safe markers in my ragged hair and the pair of scissors that dangle across my chest in place of the charm that was once on my favorite necklace. I couldn’t find a photo with a crazy old scrapbooking lady like that.)

I invite you in. Upon entering, your view of the living room that you had once cropped in has been blocked by a wall of scrapbooks. From the floor to the ceiling and 10 feet wide, these albums are not in bookshelves and you wonder how they stay in place without falling.

You follow me through a maze of paper stacks, more albums, boxes of photos and begin to believe that there must be a black hole at the local scrapbook store that sucked everything from there to here. You finally end up at the only chair free from any scrappy clutter...

---

Okay. This story is not going to happen. I’m not going to end up being that crazy old scrapbook lady because over the past few years, I've changed the way I scrapbook. It's a continual process of alternative scrapbooking and my focus is ecoscrapbooking.

The premise is simple.

1. Use my stash. Stop buying excess products. Save and reuse paper scraps. Dig into the recycling bin. Simplify. 

2. Seek out sustainable products. Companies like Basic Grey and K&Company have made eco-friendly changes. I've also found FSC-Certified 8.5x11 acid-free cardstock at office supply stores.

I've downsized the amount of products I use and still trying to be a full-fledged green scrapbooker. I believe the future of scrapbooking will be completely digital. We're already seeing traditional scrapbooking stores and publications close their doors.

Will I ever give up my paper and printed photos? I don't know. I love the creative process and enjoy time off the computer. However, I can imagine a virtual scrapbooking world that is easily shared, changed and moveable. Instead of traditional photo frames, think digital photo frames on your walls and shelves that can be programmed to display your scrapbook layouts. I've gone off on a tangent, but this kind of scrapbook sharing has endless possibilities and I look forward to seeing the growth of digital scrapbooking and media.

Before we get to that future, traditional paper scrapbooking must continue to change. I truly believe that ALL scrapbooking manufacturers need to jump on board and:

• Switch to FSC-certified paper, recycled paper or tree-free paper sources (maybe even elephant poo poo paper).
• Use soy or vegetable based inks.
• Offer reusable packaging.
• Consistently seek out ways to be more earth-friendly.

We must unite to make sure these changes happen so we can continue to create scrapbooks and not worry about a mass consumption of virgin paper (or scary old scrapbooking ladies of the future). ~Danielle

Learn more:

EcoScrapbooking: Crafty Ideas for Eco-Conscious Scrapbookers

Simple Ways to be an Eco-Conscious Scrapbooker

9 Scrapbooking Manufacturers the Love the Earth

25 Eco-Friendly & Free Scrapbooking Supplies

Scrapbook Comparison: 2005 vs. 2012

Scrapbooking has come a long way, especially the way I scrapbook. If you've dug into my history, you probably read that I completed my first scrapbook at the age of four, but didn't start "modern" scrapbooking until I became of mom in 2002.

I was a chronological scrapbooker during those early years as a mother and scrapbooked almost every single photo (and back then, most of us were still using 35mm film). I did the big 12x12 albums by Creative Memories too and couldn't start another year's scrapbook without finishing the one I was working on.

Fast forward to present time and I've grown as a scrapbooker. I like to mix things up and with two children, plus a digital camera AND camera phone that get plenty of use, I simply don't have time to scrapbook chronologically or include most of the photos I take.

Traditional (and eco-friendly) paper scrapbooking is still where my heart is, but I've definitely utilized today's photo book options to include more photos, cut down on my scrapbooking time and save money. I only print my favorite photos and if I get around to scrapbooking them in my craft room, super! Otherwise, they're scrapbooked (with titles, journaling and embellishments) in the photo books I create. And if something happens to my photo books, most of them can easily be reordered, unlike the traditional albums that took hours to create.

Let's compare two of my scrapbooks! One is a 12x12 album from 2012 and the other is a photo book I created earlier this year from my 2012 photos.

Comparing Traditional Scrapbooks to Photo Books

These numbers were surprising! Yes, there's an obvious difference in size, but I didn't realize that both scrapbooks had about the same amount of pages. And I practically doubled the amount of photos in the 2012 album! (Thanks to digital, I take A LOT more photos!) Time and cost are huge factors in why I choose photo books for my yearly albums, as well as vacations and birthdays.

Time for the 2005 scrapbook included ordering prints, shopping for paper and embellishments and the amount of time I spent scrapbooking. For the 2012 photo book, I didn't have to shop, but time included editing photos, adjusting layouts, adding digital embellishments and journaling.

The cost for a traditional scrapbook included the album itself, pages, page protectors, adhesive, photo developing, paper and embellishments. On the other hand, the photo book cost included the book, additional pages (beyond 20 pages), shipping and tax, plus I was able to use a couple discounts and saved even more money (already figured in the cost above).

My biggest complaint about photo books and digital scrapbooking is that I have to spend extra time on the computer. I love playing in my craft room and getting creative, which is why I won't stop traditional paper scrapbooking anytime soon.

What are your thoughts? ~Danielle

Related:

Are You an EcoScrapbooker?
We can change how we scrapbook (so we don't look like this in the future)
Digital Scrapbooking: Camping at the KOA

Digital Scrapbooking: 4 Simple & Quick Pages

When I first became a mom, I scrapbooked every single 4x6 photo I took and printed. This was over a decade ago and before I even owned a digital camera. For my oldest daughter's first birthday, I filled an entire 8.5x11 scrapbook with tons of memorabilia, photos and included all of her cards. By the time I had my second child, birthday scrapbooks became easier, less time consuming and more cost effective by creating photo books.

I recently ordered a photo book for my youngest little lady after celebrating her 5th birthday. I like to mix things up by creating digital scrapbook pages on my phone, computer and by using the online software made available via Shutterfly.

Here are four simple and quick digital pages I created just for that photo book:

"Bounce" Digital Scrapbook Layout using Pics Art app (Android).

"What? Do I Look Like Trouble?" Digital Scrapbook Layout using My Memories Suite.

"Look Who's 5" Digital Scrapbook Layout using My Memories Suite.

"Happy Birthday" Digital Scrapbook Layout using My Memories Suite.

I added these pages to the photo book, included plenty of other photos and journaling while I customized the pages to fit my style. An easy peasy time-saver! 

Do you create photo books too? Share your thoughts in the comments below. ~Danielle

Related:

Digital Scrapbooking: Highlights from the Birthday Scrapbook
Digital Scrapbooking: Camping at the KOA
Digital Scrapbooking with Picasa

The Unexpected Scrapbook Layout

Most scrapbookers will tell you they have plenty of photos to scrapbook, albeit the majority wish they could dedicate more time to their craft. I'm one of those scrapbookers and know there's never enough time to scrapbook all the things that I want.

There are always stories to be told and photos to scrap. Each day is filled with new memories. So, what happens when someone unexpectedly asks you to scrapbook a found photo, on that's not your own? That happened to me the last day of Layout a Day in May.

If you haven't heard of Layout a Day (LOAD), it's a scrapbooking class created by Lain Ehmann where participants scrapbook and upload their layouts to Flickr every single day for a month. I first signed up for LOAD in May of 2010, participated a total of six times, which resulted in over 200 of scrapbook layouts. I view this scrapbooking class as a game-changer and it's made me a better scrapbooker.

Each day, LOAD participants are greeted with a prompt. Day 31's prompt was to create a layout using a found photo. At first, I wasn't going to follow the prompt since my last layout of each LOAD is usually some sort of collage of all the scrapbook pages I completed during the month. That was planned before I knew the prompt.

"LOAD512" Digital Photo Collage of Scrapbook Layouts

But then something unexpected happened. After I finished and uploaded my collage of layouts to Flickr, my preschooler came home with a photo of our family that was taken at her school's open house last fall. I had my found photo. It was scrapbooking destiny.

I started a new layout, but due to lack of scrappin' time, the page "Thru the Year" wasn't completed until the next day.

"Thru the Year" 12x12 Eco-Friendly Scrapbook Layout

This unexpected scrapbook layout ended up being my favorite layout during May's LOAD and in my top 10 layouts I ever created.

What I love about it is the use of white space, paper scraps, corrugated cardboard and most importantly, a found photo of my family. ~Danielle

Supplies: DCWV cardstock, Jillibean Soup (paper scraps, corrugated cardboard letters, stickers), Sew Easy thread, Cosmo Cricket letter stickers, corrugated cardboard, black marker.

See all my LOAD layouts from May here and my Flickr photostream here.

Related:

Digital Scrapbooking: Highlights from the Birthday Scrapbook

3 Scrapbook Layouts That Use Photo Scraps

Would you use dryer lint on a scrapbook layout?

Digital Scrapbooking: Highlights from the Birthday Scrapbook

I've been busy scrapbooking all month long during Layout a Day. The beginning of May was full of digital scrapbook layouts, something I don't usually do during LOAD, but since there was rush to complete my daughter's birthday album (Shutterfly Groupon was about to expire!), I was glued to my laptop.

For the past year and a half, I've been digitally scrapbooking the present and printing the layouts as photobooks. My 4x6 photo printing has been reduced significantly. I'm still in love with traditional scrapbooking and will continue to play with paper since I have plenty of older photos ready to be scrapbooked and use collages for my Take Twelve project.

A birthday-themed photobook is just the thing to reduce all that 4x6 photo clutter and is a great way to be able to share dozens of pics in a smaller form when compared to a typical traditional scrapbook.

Below are a few favorite layouts from my daughter's 4th birthday (it was a Hello Kitty theme!):

"Happy Birthday" Digital Scrapbook Layout

The layout above was from a pre-made template in My Memories Suite and all I had to do was add the photos. I ended up completing three layouts in less than 30 minutes using templates (one reason why I love digital scrapbooking - it can be fast).

But, for me, I tend to like simpler pages that I design myself when digital scrapbooking, like this one below:

"Thank You" Digital Scrapbook Layout

I was inspired by a cereal box (see it here) the day I made the "Thank You" layout and the photo was from the exact moment my daughter expressed her gratitude after opening her birthday presents.

My hubby grilled out during the party and I took this opportunity to ask his mom to take a photo of us. We are rarely photographed together and of course, there was a funny story to compliment it:

"You Never Know..." Digital Scrapbook Layout

Yep, that's us and this page exhibits our personalities perfectly. You can get a feel of our daughter's personality through the interview I forced her into had with her:

"Q&A" Digital Scrapbook Layout

Finally, the weekend after her party, we were camping on her actual birthday. I just love this photo of her:

"Happy Day" Digital Scrapbook Layout

Want to see more? Swing by Flickr to view my Birthday Digital Scrapbook set. (Note: There were a few extra pages added in during the photobook creation using Shutterfly's software.) Enjoy! ~Danielle

All layouts shown were made with My Memories Suite Digital Scrapbooking Software:

You can now take advantage of my special affiliate code (STMMMS67809) for a discount!

Related:

Digital Scrapbooking With My Memories Suite
Digital Scrapbooking: Camping at the KOA!
Take Twelve: May 2012

One night in Greektown

"Driving Thru Greektown" Digital Scrapbook Page

Three days ago, the hubby and I packed up our minivan and drove up to Detroit for a one night stay in the Greektown Hotel & Casino, located in the Historic Greektown District. 

We were there to celebrate our eleventh wedding anniversary and haven't gambled since we renewed our vows in a limo at a drive-thru wedding chapel in Las Vegas several years earlier.

As we drove through downtown Detroit, I happily snapped away with my cell phone's camera as my husband reminded me to also look out for road signs leading to the hotel. 

There is something about buildings, especially tall buildings, that gets my heart pumping. Maybe it's because I grew up in a small town, but these architectural structures are not taken for granted.

We knew we were in Greektown when we arrived at the bustling, banner filled street, with the 30-story hotel skyscraper in the distance. 

A few minutes later, we pulled up to our hotel, checked-in and headed to our corner room on the 19th floor...but you'll have to wait for a future blog post to see more!

Related:

Digital Scrapbooking: Camping at the KOA

Words of Wisdom Wednesday: Try something new

Scrapbooker Saturday: I want you!

I created the above digital scrapbook layout using My Memories Suite.

Coupon Code: STMMMS67809

Interested in My Memories? I have a coupon code for you to use when you purchase the My Memories digital scrapbooking software: STMMMS67809 (unique code is only good for a $10 discount on My Memories Suite v2 and $10 coupon at the MyMemories.com store - $20 value!).

Digital Scrapbooking: Camping at the KOA

I wish I could tell you that my family and I traveled to an exotic beach destination during the summer, but alas, we ended up an hour away from home at the Sandusky, Ohio KOA.

Fortunately, we enjoyed our time together, the girls loved it and can't wait to go back again next year...and I ended up making an twenty-page 8x8 digital scrapbook of our "upscale" camping adventure using the My Memories Suite software and Shutterfly.

Below are a few of my favorite pages. They are simple digital pages where I played around with word art, photo opacity and shadows, things that I haven't been able to do using Picasa.

"Back from the Bay" Digital Scrapbook Page

"Gone Fishing: Huron Mile Long Pier" Digital Scrapbook Page

"Playtime" Digital Scrapbook Page

And do you remember the winner of My Memories Suite giveaway? Victoria of Mommy Is Green didn't hesitate to download the software and made her first page using it:

Digital Scrapbook Page by Mommy Is Green

Interested in My Memories? I have a coupon code for you to use when you purchase the My Memories digital scrapbooking software: STMMMS67809 (unique code is only good for a $10 discount on My Memories Suite v2 and $10 coupon at the MyMemories.com store - $20 value!).


Additional Eco-Friendly Scrapbook Pages:
Wedding Scrapbook Page: Trash the Dress
We have the power to change how the world scrapbooks
How many things can I recycle on a scrapbook page?

i'm gonna get u + a giveaway winner

"i'm gonna get u" Digital Scrapbook Layout

Another digital scrapbook layout completed and I can't even count how many more pages I need to do for 2011. I have tons of photos and predict there will be several collages mixed in with pages like the one above and from when I introduced My Memories Suite on my blog a week ago.

Speaking of My Memories...

It's time to announce the winner of a free My Memories Suite digital scrapbooking software download! (Say that five times really fast.)

My Memories Suite Digital Scrapbooking Software

Drum roll please....

Congratulations Mommy Is Green!

And since you are my lovely readers, I have a coupon code for you to use when you purchase the My Memories digital scrapbooking software: STMMMS67809 (unique code is only good for a $10 discount on My Memories Suite v2 and $10 coupon at the MyMemories.com store - $20 value!).

Thanks to all of you that entered and shared my giveway! 

Digital scrapbooking with My Memories Suite + a giveaway

We all know that digital scrapbooking is not a new concept and there are many people that can probably digiscrap with their eyes closed. However, I do not fit into that category and consider myself a

digiscrap newbie.

Besides using basic photo editing tools and making photobooks on various sites, I haven't had much experience with digital scrapbook software until My Memories Suite.

My Memories Suite

I excitedly downloaded the digital scrapbooking software (it's not a super-fast download, so clear a little time out of your schedule before you do it) and once it was ready, I opened it up and started to play.

There's an assortment of pre-loaded basic templates and designer templates with plenty of add-ons available at the My Memories site (including free stuff...yay!). I decided to start my first layout with a basic three-photo template and went from there. 

I added in an additional photo, changed the background color, moved the photos around, added a mat and shadows, inserted text and embellishments...well, you get the point. 

I had full control over my scrapbook page:

"Camping" Digital Scrapbook Layout

I know this isn't an incredibly knock-out page, but with a bit of practice, I'll be digiscrapping like the pros!

The next layout I created using the digital scrapbooking software was a designer template. All I really needed to do was add photos and say I'm done. But...that's not me and I

always have to tweak things to my liking. 

So once again, I added the photos, cropped as needed, inserted journaling and a couple embellishments...then when I thought my layout was complete, I said NO, I'll move things around a little bit more. Done. Saved. Check it out:

"Diva" Digital Scrapbook Layout

Just so you know, I haven't done much traditional scrapbooking for about three months and with digital scrapbooking software easily accessible on my laptop, I'm beginning to think that my scrapbooking supplies are going to continue to gather dust while I keep playing with My Memories Suite. 

I haven't printed a single photo this year and as of right now, I don't plan to since 

I'll be digiscrapping all my photos from 2011.

Quite a task for a newbie, but My Memories Suite makes it easy. And now you have a chance to win your very own digital scrapbooking software download!

All you have to do is visit My Memories, browse the site, then come back here and leave a comment with the names your favorite digital paper packs or layouts.

I'll leave the comments open until Sunday and announce the winner on Monday, September 12, 2011. Good luck!

And if you want to skip the giveaway and start scrapbooking today, use coupon code STMMMS67809 (unique code is only good for a $10 discount on My Memories Suite v2 and $10 coupon at the MyMemories.com store - $20 value!).

Until then, learn more about My Memories by visiting their blog or following them on Facebook and Twitter.

Disclosure: This post is part of the My Memories affiliate program.

Layout A Day Blog Hop

The email arrives shortly after midnight. As I click the link, I wonder what the day's challenge will be. Once the page loads and the password is entered, I read over a post written in a familiar tone and the wheels start turning in my head.

After I drop my oldest daughter at school (on a weekday) and occupy my youngest with a snack, scrap mode is turned on. I jam to music and create away. Once my scrapbook layout is complete, I photograph it (if it's a traditional paper page) and then upload it to Flickr. Add to Group. Comment. Read comments.

That is my daily routine during a month of Layout A Day and I love every second of it!

Welcome to the Layout A Day - May 2011 Is Over - Blog Hop!

The Layout A Day community is filled with creative and supportive scrapbookers from all over the world. The  mastermind behind this scrapbooking cult is Lain Ehmann and you can read all about her here.

Today, I'm sharing a few of my favorite scrapbook layouts I created last month during Layout A Day (LOAD).

I don't consider myself a full-fledged digital scrapbooker, but I like to add text to photos and create collages using Picasa. My favorite submission during LOAD was this digital scrapbook page:

"Words To Tell Your Children When They're Older" Digital Scrapbook Layout

And if you've been following my eco-friendly scrapbooking journey, you'll know my favorite scrapbooking manufacturer is Cosmo Cricket, so of course this page was my favorite traditional (& eco-friendly) layout:

"The Happy Days Of My Childhood" 12x12 Eco-Friendly Scrapbook Layout

Yep, that's me as a little girl! I loved trying out Cosmo Cricket's Glubers for the first time to make those three flowers.

Another earth-loving scrapbooking manufacturer I enjoy crafting with is DCWV. I mixed recycled paper from their Green Stack (even used the white backside of a sheet) with Cosmo Cricket to create another page from my childhood:

"Dad's Fishing Hat" 12x12 Eco-Friendly Scrapbook Layout

You can see the rest of my May 2011 LOAD layouts here and check out my favorites from other scrapbookers here.

I'm sad to see you go, so please keep in touch with me on Twitter and like EcoScrapbook on Facebook for a chance to win a Cosmo Cricket theme set!

You're next stop is:

Jennifer - At The Blue Barn


And don't forget to visit:

Katrina - Capture your 365

Abbie - Happie by Abbie

Trista - The Little Things

Lisa - Gettin' Creative

Christina - She's a Crafty Pumpkin

Caroline -  Pouring Over Pictures

Kathleen - Taking Pictures, Enjoying Life

Related:

Digital scrapbooking with Picasa
25 eco-friendly & free scrapbooking supplies
We can change how we scrapbook (so we don't look like this in the future)

Digital Scrapbooking with Picasa

If you have ever been scared of digital scrapbooking, 

have no fear, Picasa is here! 

Picasa is Google's free photo-editing software and a useful tool for creating digital scrapbook pages (click here to download).

I've been using Picasa for over a year now and my photos have never been more organized. Slowly, I began experimenting with the collage option and realized that I was becoming a digital scrapbooker. 

Two years ago: Me + Digiscrap = Are you crazy? 

I love my scissors and paper, but finding time to scrapbook with a family isn't always easy, so digital scrapbooking is a must. Plus, I don't want to look like a crazy scrapbook hoarding lady in the future.

Here are a few digital scrapbooking collages I made using Picasa:

"This is the Highway to Hell" 8x8 Digital Scrapbook Page

"Marker Face" 8x10 Digital Scrapbook Page

"A Summer Drive Through Downtown Toledo During Sunset" 8x10 Digital Scrapbook Page

And that's just the basics. I haven't even tried using digital scrapbook paper yet.

If you're new to Picasa or looking for more information on how to scrapbook using the software, check out the following:

• Basic Picasa information from The Daily Digi

• Persnickety Prints shares free Picasa-friendly paper here and video tutorials: "Creating a Digital Scrapbook Page with Google Picasa" Step 1 (installing and basic info), Step 2 (make a 12x12 collage) and Step 3 (adding background paper).

• Visit Clover Lane for digital scrapbook layouts created in Picasa as well as a tutorial on how to download scrapbook paper.

Like the information you see here? Then go like EcoScrapbook on Facebook and get a chance to win some eco-friendly scrapbooking supplies from one of these companies.

Related:

25 eco-friendly & free scrapbooking supplies

We can change how we scrapbook (so we don't look like this in the future)
How many things can I recycle on a scrapbook page?