Lettergirl

Pockets.

The last piece of my scrapbooking puzzle is pockets.  I don't save everything, but I do like to keep a few little what-nots, especially sentimental bits (like a note with grandma's handwriting) or items that really represent the age we live in (like brochures and ticket stubs and clothing tags). 

Every year I usually have one page that is simply a pocket for the scraps of life.  My kids' albums are all Creative Memories, and they offer a "portrait sleeve" that is simply a page-size clear pocket.  Sometimes I like to fit smaller pockets on the seasonal pages in the albums as well:

 

This pocket does double-duty as a photo mat.

 

This one adds some texture to the page.  (It's velvet.)

 

I try to squeeze as much as I can onto my seasonal pages; I especially love recording the sweet things my children say.  (And let me add here that as they get older, those precious quotations get fewer and farther between -- so pretty please write them down now before those days are behind you!  Even if they are just scribbled into a notebook.  Last month my son told me I was very "thinkative" -- and I would have forgotten all about it if not for the scrap of cardboard I wrote it on and discovered last week.)

I do have separate storage for larger memorabilia.  I keep 10x13 envelopes, one per year for each of my kids, and I put larger items in there.  Choosing representative items is key here.  We all know they bring home six art projects a week from school and create more at home and have certificates and birthday cards and theater programs.  I choose just a wee bit to save for each year.  This goes back to my guiding principle of not overcreating, oversaving, overindulging. 

Tomorrow:  giveaway + November blog theme. 

Everyday.

Read more about my scrapbook method here.

Today's focus is the everyday elements I include in my kids' albums.  I like to include the things they say, their favorite books/music/movies/foods, friends, our home, hobbies, and our rituals & traditions.  I also try to include a family photo at some point during the year.  I like to tuck little notes in between the pages -- stories from me or letters written by their grandparents.  (It brings me back to Trixie Belden and the Mystery of the Emeralds, my favorite.)

 

 

 

Two more days to enter the October giveaway.  Just leave a comment by the end of the day Thursday; on Friday I'll draw a winner of the scrapbook supply pack.  Thanks for all the comments so far!

Content (and giveaway coming soon).

In the beginning of October, I explained my system for keeping scrapbooks:  organized, low stress, limited time commitment, meaningful, fun.  This week I'm keeping it simple with content.  (I am content with my content?)  As I mentioned previously, I generally scrap about eight pages per year in my kids' books.  Here's what I typically include:

birthday     winter/spring/summer/fall      Christmas      first day of school      school year summary      clear memorabilia pocket     

Some years the seasons take up one page each, some years two.  Some years the school year can fit on one page, some years two.  I also include pages devoted to everyday life:

I write the occasional letter about what's on my mind.  And there are special vacations or activities -- like each time my daughter is in a play, that gets a page or two.  And I like to include a different perspective from mine -- so there is a page in my daughter's album written by my husband, and a page in F's album written by my daughter.

More on content tomorrow, but I hope this much gets you thinking about what you would include.  Please remember that I may do eight pages, but you might do ten or two.  I really do believe two pages would suffice! 

I will draw a winner for the Giveaway on Friday morning.  Just comment on any post this month to enter.  Thank you!

Letters.

This week I'll be wrapping up Scrapbook Month with some tips on what I include in my (streamlined) albums.  

I like to include letters in my kids' albums, whenever the mood strikes me.  (That seems to happen roughly once a year -- although some years don't have one, and others have more than one.)  Like the day J. started her summer program after kindergarten:  I was nervous for her all morning and when I called the director to check in, she was doing wonderfully.  I just had to write and tell her how proud I was.  

Or when she was seven and going through some tough times (which is to say, I was going through some tough times).  Or when F. was five and just looking at his photo on my desk brought out some feelings I needed to get down in writing.

 

 

 

 

As you can see, they don't always take the form of a traditional letter.  And I don't always have the go juice to create a page at the same time that the words are flowing.  So when the mood strikes, grab a sheet of paper -- any paper -- or your keyboard or whatever you need and jot down your thoughts.  Some of these pages were made weeks after I originally recorded my words.

Scheme 13: doodling.

I jumped on the doodling trend bandwagon when I started working on F's pages for age 7 last spring.  And I am enjoying it so much that I am using the same concept for J's pages this year -- now that's a system!

 

 

 

 

 

Paper:  assorted patterned papers + similar colors in solid + kraft

Lettering:  cut-out letters with uneven outlines in black

Embellishments:  none

Techniques:  doodles in black -- outlines, scallops, dashed lines, etc.; some edges cut with "postage stamp" scissors; all mats + journaling blocks cut by hand

Next week I'll review my content choices -- what I like to include each year -- plus some ideas for pockets to save memorabilia.  Have a great weekend!

Scheme 12: solids.

J. at 8 was chock full of patterns, so I turned the tables for 9 and used all solids, inspired by scrapbook artist Shelley Laming:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paper:  Solid kraft for all backgrounds; yellow, orange, blue, purple & green

Lettering:  chipboard letter titles; a few titles are handcut letters with edges inked in brown

Embellishments:  handcut shapes with edges inked in brown

Techniques:  handcut edges/inked in brown for mats & journaling blocks; some hand-drawn outlines around photos

Scheme 11: my golden girl.

 

This spread folds open on the left & right to reveal another spread that is four "pages" wide:

 

 

(Golden birthdays are a pretty big deal in our family.)

 

 

 

 

 

Paper:  subdued colors (shades of brown, greyish blue, ochre); a few patterns in the same color scheme (polka dots, leaves, floral)

Lettering:  mostly my own lettering embellished with watercolors & gold paint; some large patterned paper stickers (see "W" in winter)

Embellishments:  brads in same color scheme as paper; strips of patterned paper (along paper edges, pockets, photos); a little ribbon in same color scheme

Techniques:  nothing new here...

Don't forget this month's giveaway!

Scheme 10: bandanas & distressed wood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paper:  solid red, red bandana (one all-over pattern, and one that frames a whole page), solid green, solid off-white, "distressed" papers in off-white, green, and brown

Lettering:  green stickers; some writing in opaque white

Embellishments:  frames that look like distressed wood; bronze brads (large & small)

Techniques:  some torn edges

Scheme 9: my girl at 7 + a giveaway.

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Paper:  assortment of patterned papers, solid green, solid teal, solid brown, solid golden yellow

Lettering:  large glittery stickers + handcut letters embellished with smaller stickers; some accent writing in silver

Embellishments:  ric rac, button stickers, small glitter stickers

Techniques:  plain mats, some photos outlined in hand-drawn silver line

Now the giveaway!  A few times I've gotten carried away and purchased all the items for a scheme and then decided on something else.  Do you see where this is going?  I will draw a name from all the comments this month and send the winner a care package of scrapbook supplies/scheme style.  Thanks for following along as I share seven years worth of my scrapbooking method.

Scheme 8: my lucky number.

By sheer coincidence, day 8 of my scrapbook schemes is one of my favorites:  F. at 5.  (Eight has been my lucky number ever since I won the cake walk on #8 at mardi gras in grade school.  That must have been some cake!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The key with this scheme is to divide & conquer.  Make the stitched items ahead of time so that when it comes time to work on the scrapbook, you can produce.  I like to pile up stuff like this when we're watching a family movie.  (I almost always fall asleep during evening movies if my hands are not busy.  So even though I miss some of the movie by working, I miss a whole lot less than I would if I was sleeping!)  I made most of the titles (winter, spring, etc.), some journaling blocks (like the breakfast one above), and some photo mats (like the party bag photo above) ahead of time and kept them with the other supplies, ready to use.

Paper:  green (polka dot & solid), orange (polka dot & woven), woven blue, solid yellow

Lettering:  stitched

Embellishments:  buttons

Techniques:  stitching (with matching embroidery floss)

No school the next few days, and I will be taking a break too.  Back next week with the last five schemes!