A painting on the wall, the pattern of a tablecloth, the color motif of a restaurant, the intricate designs of a wrought iron chair… These are just some of the things you can get design ideas from. MyScrapworks resident writer Airees Rondain talks about how she drew inspiration from the décor of a Mexican restaurant into finding yet another way of converting your scraps into a unique cover for your notebook or journal. – Angela

Last July, I went to Manila to deliver my client’s invitations and meet up with a new one. It was a delivery, meeting, and shopping trip all rolled into one! Well, it was more practical to do it this way due to the rising cost of fuel and toll fees. Little did I know that this trip would also give me the creative spark to get me started on my next to-do project!

While waiting for my client, I decided to try the tacos at the Mexican restaurant Tia Maria’s. Halfway through my 2nd order of tacos and still with no drink at hand (it took them forever!), my eyes started to wander around. The designer in me took notice of the restaurant’s interiors, from the walls all the way up to the ceiling.

I was struck by the detailed painting done on the ceiling – thin stripes in bold, different colors. Hmmm, I thought to myself, this would make a great design pattern! And just like that, the idea for a personalized notebook cover was born.

I can still utilize my tiniest scraps by cutting them into strips and use these strips to decorate anything I may have in mind. Thinking along the lines of a mosaic, instead of using square tiles, I decided to use strips of patterned papers or plain colored cardstocks instead. For this project, I used a decorative monogram as cover for my notebook/journal.

It is quite easy to create a monogram from scratch. First, print a monogram on chipboard using any graphic software. In CorelDraw, just choose the letter and size you want. Add outline and remove the fill color. Next, cut out the monogram using fine tip scissors or an Xacto knife. OR, you can use a pre-cut chipboard monogram made by several manufacturers like Chatterbox, Provo Craft, Basic Grey, etc.

Cut patterned paper into strips and paste them line per line on the monogram. Don’t worry if the strips are sticking outside the borders of the monogram. Just make sure that you cover the entire monogram. Next, flip it backwards. Using fine tip scissors, trim off the excess strips to reveal the shape of the monogram. Adhere on the cover of your notebook. You may also use foam squares as adhesive to give your monogram an added dimension.

Who said it gets harder nowadays for scrappers to get inspired? Look around you. You just might be surprised where your next inspiration will be coming from – not to mention your personalized notebook that’s bound to make your girlfriends turn green with envy!

A few more days and 2006 will be over. As another year passes, I begin to reflect on what this year has given me. If there’s one word to describe how I feel, it is THANKFUL. Yes, I am so much thankful for all the blessings God has given me, my family and my friends. Being here and typing away this article is one such blessing I am truly grateful for. It has been such a wonderful year for me as a mother, a scrapper and a businesswoman. It wasn’t smooth sailing all the time but the bumpy road made it more exciting!

And to you, our readers, I THANK YOU for your continued support to MyScrapworks. I hope the projects I made here will inspire you to use everyday materials, especially those headed for the trash bin, to create personalized handmade products.

May this season be more meaningful to all of us as we celebrate the “Reason” for this season. I’d like to share with you two quotes that I strive to live my life with: “The best things in life are not things”. “Simple pleasures are life’s treasures.” Merry Christmas to all of you!

NAPKIN RINGS
(another take on toilet paper tubes)

This year, I’d like to celebrate our 1st Noche Buena in our own house as meaningful as can be. We may have simple dishes but I’d like to put a more personal touch, not just on the food that I will prepare and cookies that I will bake, but also on our dinner table.

Another idea on using toilet paper tubes came when I was planning to set up our dinner table, but with a little flair this time. I like seeing the table set-ups on the Lifestyle Network that are complete with centerpiece, dinner plates, silverware, and table napkins with rings. I thought about making those rings using the tubes since I can easily make a set for every event without spending a lot. (that’s another brownie point I could earn from my hubby!)

Napkin rings add oomph to your table set-up. It can also double as a name card for each of your guest. It also reflects the mood you want to create on your dinner table. So let’s start making them now in time for our Noche Buena! Merry Christmas!

Here are the materials:

Toilet paper tubes
Patterned papers. For this project, I used Christmas-themed papers
Ribbons, fibers
Embellishments (beads, mulberry leaves, tags, etc.)
Adhesive, ruler, pencil, cutter, scissors, paper trimmer
Measure 1.5” inches on the paper tube. You can make approximately 3 rings out of one tube. Cut accordingly.
Trim 1.5” x 10” strip of patterned paper. Adhere to the tube with glue. Trim off excess paper and let dry.
Now, you’re ready to embellish the napkin ring using ribbons, tags, beads, etc.

Options:

You may want to make a name tag assigned to each seat or use a ready-made tag with quotes then just add embellishments.
Using letter beads, spell out the name of each guest.
Use mulberry leaves, beads & ribbon to decorate the ring to reflect the festive season.

Get a peek of Airees’ Scraproom in our Escape Features. Click here! – Angela

Airees’ ingenuity never ceases to amaze me. Once again, she finds creative use for another ready to be thrown away item. I know of people who use damaged CDs as coasters. But Airees’ alternative use for them has a better purpose. And, it’s something that will be beneficial to everyone in the family. Defective CDs are transformed into Christmas ornaments, with a scrap booking twist. — Anj

A Christmas Tree that Tells a Story

Back in the days when I used to burn a lot of music CDs, I also accumulated a lot of damaged ones. I didn’t throw them away because for one thing, I didn’t know where or how to properly dispose of them the eco-friendly way. Secondly, I had a feeling I would find use for them in some form or the other. And so I kept them for years!

As early as September, we put up our Christmas tree and other decorations around the house. I like to savor the spirit of Christmas longer because it brings back happy memories of my family in this very same house we live in. This year, I was hoping to decorate our Christmas tree with new trimmings, but it would cost me an arm and a leg if I buy them from the mall. My hubby would definitely not be merry.

So I ended up using the same decors from the previous years. But deep down inside, I really wanted to do something different.

When I thought about my next project for this column, my good old defective CDs which have been sitting on the shelf came to mind. Then it occurred to me – why not make Christmas tree ornaments with pictures of my family members? This would be a great way for my kids to get to know our other relatives who now live miles away from us.

Let’s get started. Gather your favorite pictures – the ones that tell a story. I thought about using photos with family and friends from past Christmases so my kids will remember how it was on a certain year. I also selected a picture card which was sent to us last Christmas by a family friend living overseas.

Materials include: defective CDs, patterned papers, cardstocks, glue (preferably the wet type), foam squares, ribbons, gold cord or thread, stickers and other embellishments. Tools needed: scissors, pencil, pen, stapler and craft hand drill. Optional tools are: die-cutting machine or tag maker, rubber/acrylic stamps and stamp pads.

Steps:

•  Use the CD as the template for your patterned papers and cardstocks. For this project, I used Christmas-themed paper on one side and plain cardstock on the other side.

•  Cut and glue on the CDs – patterned paper on one side and plain cardstock on the other side. You can ink the sides for added dimension. Set aside.

•  Cut out your photos. You can mat them on plain cardstock to make them stand out. I added some foam squares at the back for some dimension. Adhere to side of the CD that’s covered with patterned paper. Embellish as you please. Note: leave some space at the top of the CD for the holes.

•  The plain side of the CD will be for your journaling. It doesn’t have to be long; just say a little something about the picture. You can use tags and put ribbons or write directly on the cardstock. You can do the usual who, what, why, when, where and how regarding the photo. Or, you can get sentimental and talk about the feelings these pictures invoke whenever you look at them. You can also use stickers and stamps for additional embellishment.

•  Drill 2 holes at the top of the CD using a craft drill with the smallest drill bit. Thread the gold cord through the holes and close it with a double knot. Now you have a hanging Christmas ornament!

This project will help your kids remember all your loved ones and the happy memories they bring. Your Christmas tree can also serve as a good conversation piece in the house. Guests will be drawn to your unique ornaments. Most likely, they will look at the photos and read the story behind each one. As you continue to add more of these ornaments through the years, your Christmas tree will not only be a mere decoration in your home but it will also become your family’s “storyteller” for generations to come.

To be honest, I was not impressed when I first flipped through the pages of Scrapbook Trends.  I have long forgotten about this magazine until last month.

I got a hold of the April 2007 issue of Scrapbook Trends courtesy of Bookoto’s Sheryl Martinez.  And you know what; I was pleasantly surprised to see a totally different magazine.  It was a far cry from the issue that I owned.

For one thing, the size is quite unique.  Scrapbook Trends magazine measures approximately 8” x 8” as compared to the usual 8 ½” x 11” size of regular SB magazines.  The square shaped look made its debut in the December 2006 issue.  Because of its size, you can easily fit the mag inside your purse without worrying about creasing it or ending up with folded page corners.  (If you’re like me who handle my magazines with the utmost care, this is something you would appreciate).

Going through an issue of Scrapbook Trends magazine is like looking at an idea book; from the high quality of the paper to the number of pages and to the contents.  Aside from their regular features on photography, tips and techniques, mini albums, monthly projects and more, the magazine is loaded with page after page of layouts, cards and others.   Each creation is allotted an entire page with a description of how it was made and includes a list of materials used.  Each work is beautifully photographed and set against a backdrop that complements the theme or look of the layout.  But unlike other publications which tend to feature celebrity scrappers, this magazine publishes works created by their readers – regular scrappers just like us.  It is for this reason too that I like Scrapbook Trends.

Sometimes, I find it a bit discouraging and intimidating when I gawk at the amazing pages made by celebrity scrappers.  Instead of being inspired, I am left feeling unsure if I can emulate what these high profile scrappers do.  But seeing the works featured on Scrapbook Trends, I am encouraged to create my own layouts, simply because I can easily relate to how their pages are done.  Although not quite as complicated or as cutting edge as those we see in other magazines, the layouts in Scrapbook Trends are equally artistic and creative.  And isn’t that the point of buying scrapbook magazines?  To help us get out of our creative rut instead of pushing us further down the abyss of an artistic block?

Another thing I find quite refreshing with Scrapbook Trends is the unobtrusive placement of their ads.  The bulk of the ads are placed on the last pages of the magazine with only a few making their way in between layout features. While other publications bombard you with one advertisement after the other in practically every other page of their magazine, Scrapbook Trends spares you from that “annoyance.”  I don’t know about you but isn’t it better to appreciate works of art rather than to see nothing but product ads?

The only thing that might serve as a deterrent from buying this magazine is its price.  At PHP 950.00 per issue, Scrapbook Trends is one of the most expensive titles out in the market today.  But don’t knock it till you’ve tried it.  I suggest you try one issue and judge for yourself if it’s worth the price you paid for.  (I think it is)

Hello fellow scrapaholics! Missed me? I know it’s been months since I last wrote about my hoarding, ahem, I meant purchases. You probably think I’ve stopped shopping altogether, huh? On the contrary, I’ve been on a non-stop shopping binge; and it has gotten so bad that I have several shopping bags strewn all over our anteroom floor waiting to be unpacked and put away in my containers.

The bad thing is, every time I vow NOT to buy any more scrapbook items, I get a call, an email or a text message from local vendors telling me about their new arrivals. And the moment I hear from the sellers, my resolve crumbles in an instant.
Rhonna Overlays! I love it! Click to zoom!
Rhonna + Tia Stamps! Double drool!

In the past 3 months or so covering the time before I gave birth up ‘till after I had already returned to work, I think I must’ve bought enough scrapping stuff to complete a gazillion pages!

Much as I would like to share with you a complete list of my latest finds, I can’t. Otherwise, this article would end up several pages long. I can however give you a sampling of my more notable hoards.

Here they are:

STAMPS, STAMPS and MORE STAMPS!

Ever since I laid eyes on Technique Tuesday stamps back in November, I have begun a love affair with clear stamps. Never mind that I’ve only used one of the stamp sets that I bought previously. (Mabelle is the one who has been thoroughly enjoying my stamp collection. Yes, she gets to “christen” them, with my blessing of course.) (See my Daisy D LOs to see how I used Anj’ Big Timber and Serendipity! – Mabelle) When I saw the new designs from Technique Tuesday, I knew I had to buy them. Adding to my collection of Tech Tue stamps are: Catalina, Serendipity, Big Timber, Provence, Free Press, Loves Me Still and Whirly Gigs.

But it doesn’t stop with Technique Tuesday. I have also taken an interest in Autumn Leaves’ clear stamps, particularly those designed by Rhonna Farrer. I got both versions of her Swirls and Flourishes, her Word Art and her Hearts and Stars stamps. The Freestyle Alpha designed by Tia Bennett was also a must-buy for me.

Then May of Pressing Matters introduced me to Gel-A-Tins. Boy, am I in trouble! I couldn’t resist buying their Festival Letters and Laugh Out Loud alphabet sets! And there’s also Hero Arts’ line of Clear Designs for Stamping which I bought during Scrapmeet3. What can I say – the stamps were calling my name.

Last but not least are the gorgeous 12×12 stamps from Fancy Pants! They only came out with 2 designs – Pollen Dust and Bella Brush – and they are both totally to-die-for! Of course, I also had to buy Fancy Pants’ 6×6 acrylic block to use for my bigger sized stamps.

Technique Tuesday, Autumn Leaves, Gel-A-Tins, and Hero Arts stamps are available at Pressing Matters. Fancy Pants Designs stamps can be bought online at My Little Attic.

OVERLAYS

Speaking of Autumn Leaves, while I was looking at the clear stamps at Pressing Matters, I fell in love with Rhona Farrer’s gorgeous overlays! I just had to buy ALL 8 of her designs.

There were also several other Autumn Leaves overlays that made their way into my shopping bag (Gee, how did they get in there? Ha-ha!). Overlays are ideal for scrappers like me who want to get things done quickly. All you need to do is pick a nice background paper, a photo, a little bit of journaling (if you like) and top it off with an overlay.

And just like that, you got yourself an absolutely beautiful layout (More so if the overlay is from Autumn Leaves)!
Technique Tuesday below. Click to zoom!

Catalina, Lower Letters, Extra Large Big Timber Line, Cap Letters, Tall.
If you want to see how Mabelle used this stamp, click here. Serendipity, Lowercase, Extra Large
If you want to see how Mabelle used this stamp, click here.
I have these stamps too!
Told you I was in an unstoppable
buying mood! Haha!
Provence (caps) & Free Press
(caps and lower case)
Rouge de Garance has a great-looking line that made my eyes pop! Click for VARIOUS zooms!
FancyPants 12×12 Stamps! Click to zoom!
Above: Smaller FancyPants Stamp and HUGE acrylic block!

FLOWER POWER

I can’t explain it but I am totally obsessed with Prima Flowers. The first time I learned that they were available locally I immediately bought the entire color palette of the Hydrangea flowers in tin cans. And I have continued buying more since then. I just love the colors, the various designs and not to mention the beautiful packaging of Prima Flowers. I got the Daisy Rack collection, the Forever Flowers, the Baby Girl and Romantica designs from the Essentials collection, the Silk Road Tins, the Amaranth flowers in Maxie can and Barbados from the Carribean collection.

I just got a call from Helen of Memory Lane telling me the new Prima Papers have just arrived at her store. Whoa?! Papers to match the flowers?! Give me a sec while I finish this article and I am so on my way there.

Get your Prima Flowers from Memory Lane and Lasting Impressions.

ROUGE DE GARANCE

Good news – there’s a new seller in the market. She is Michelle Sy Ong. Her store name is Visual Symphony and it’s located in Quezon City. Even better news – she is the FIRST and ONLY seller to bring in Rouge De Garance papers from France. Trust the French to come up with papers that are so strikingly elegant and chic in design. They are so beautiful I’m not sure if I can bear to cut them up for my layouts. Maybe I’ll just take them out and stare at them….

I bought practically every paper from every Rouge De Garance line that Michelle had. Plus, the Limited Edition Voyage En Inde paper pack. Simply gorgeous and stunning!

If you would like to see the other items available at Michelle’s store, please visit her blog. To see the complete line-up of RDG papers, click here.

I wish I had more time to tell you about my other purchases. There’s just too many to mention. In the meantime, please continue supporting our local sellers. I know I’ve done my part (BIG time). How about you?

To “retrace” Angela’s shopping trip (as enumerated above), click below:

My Little Attic
Memory Lane
Lasting Impressions
Visual Symphony

Liezl’s house is where the LBS scrap most often. The LBS ladies fondly refer to one room in Liezl’s house, as their “playroom”. This is where the girls usually conceptualize and come up with their individual winning layouts!

Liezl has been aptly called by fellow LBS, as the Organization Master for she loves to organize everything!

Organizing Papers
LBS members don’t throw away even the smallest pieces of acid-free papers. Liezl has deviced a segregation scheme for this. Scrap papers are stored according to size. Strips of left-over paper go into one pile, smaller rectangular ones in another pile and so on and so forth. These are then put in clear books and filed in cabinets.

Organizing Embellishments
Embellishments are neatly stored in various containers. These containers are stacked in 2 cabinets found in the “playroom.” One ex-baby cabinet now stores everything from paper to buttons. Another cabinet which Liezl said was a steal at P1,500.00 holds most of her other small embellishments. This cabinet has sliding glass doors which makes it easy to see what she has stored while protecting everything from dust and other elements.

Ribbons and fibers are arranged according to size and color and placed in see-thru plastic containers. Stickers and rub-ons are organized according to type: alphabets go together, shapes, sentiments, etc. These are all placed in clear books and filed accordingly. Old medicine cup dispensers hold various buttons according to color. Stamps and inks occupy another drawer in her shelf. Make-up sponges in various shapes have been utilized as substitute for foam brushes that cost quite a bit! Eyelets and brads have been put in spice containers and arranged according to color too! Whew!

Layouts/Finished Scrap Pages
Liezl’s layouts are in albums of varying shapes and sizes. A lot of altered items are on display. She refers to them as “projects” and readily gives them away as gifts whenever friends and relatives celebrate just about anything! There’s a clock, a picture frame, a book mark, a mini book when I came to visit.

Liezl’s Tips on Organizing
Know what you want and how you want everything stored before buying anything to help you organize. Look around the house. You might be surprised at how many items currently unutilized could actually be of use to you in putting some order into your precious stocks. Don’t be brand-conscious. The important thing in getting an item to help you organize is how useful it could be – not how “sosyal.”

Issa has setup her scrapbooking corner in their living room. This, she points out, is the biggest place in the house so getting some space to call her “own” wasn’t a problem. Scrapping in the living room also enables her to monitor and play with her youngest child while she goes about doing her page.

Issa, just like Liezl Arellano, feels she can scrap better when she knows where everything is at any given time. Hence, Issa is a stickler for having a sense of order in her scrapbooking space.

Issa’s space has been arranged for functionality and ease more than anything else. One word came to mind when I saw Issa’s “space” – NEAT. The entire house, just like her space was neat and perfectly organized!

Papers/Stickers
Her papers are arranged in drawers near her working table. Stickers are placed in clear books according to function and use.

Tools/Embellishments
Tools and various embellishments are stored in separate drawers. Her most commonly used tools are neatly arranged in a box on her scrapping table.

Alphabets/Shape Die Cuts
Issa has a lot of alphabet and shape die cuts. She arranges them alphabetically at first, then further arranges them by category – in trays! Her trays are like ice cube trays, only bigger! And they fit neatly into her drawers too!

Pictures
Most of her pictures are in digital format. She burns them regularly on CDs. Each CD is labeled appropriately and filed according to dates. This, she said, makes it easier for her to choose pictures she wants developed for her scrapping projects.

Issa’s Tips:
Do a routine check-up and inventory of everything you have to make sure that you don’t buy the same thing twice! Clean your storage area every now and then. It would help you know some of the stuff you own which you still haven’t fully utilized. Check your pens and adhesives once in a while. Make sure that they don’t dry up faster than they have to.

For many of us, our passion for scrapbooking has turned into more of an obsession; so much so that our supplies seem to have taken over every available space in our home.

My scrap space is in this state. I have supplies strategically placed in various locations of the house. My husband has ever so kindly asked me to do something about my stash. He feels like we live in a warehouse or it always seems like we are about to go away on a really long trip.

Why? Because I store all my scrap stuff in luggage, traveling bags, and boxes. I figured in the event of an emergency, I could easily grab the bags and boxes and throw them all into the car and off we go. But wait – reality check! Each bag weighs an average of 10-15 kilos! I only have two arms – one would definitely carry my daughter and so that leaves me with just one available arm to grab all my scrap stuff. Hello! Not exactly an ideal scenario. Another thing – with all my papers and other materials kept in bags and boxes, I could barely remember what I have or which bag I had placed them in. When it’s time for me to scrap, I spend so much time looking through each and every bag looking for a particular paper or material I want to use. I realized then that it was time to make some changes.

I knew this was going to be a huge challenge for me if I did this project by myself so I enlisted the help of my two scrap buddies, Aggie Rarangol and Alidz Bono. It took one entire Saturday for us to do a makeover of my home office. I wanted to make my existing home office to also serve as my craft room when I’m not working. My friend Aggie, aside from being a topnotch scrapper, is also a talented interior decorator. She managed to work on whatever furnishings I already had. Plus, I only had to spend an extra thousand or so for additional storage items which we purchased from Japan Home, Gourdo’s and National Bookstore.

We divided the task at hand into several missions.

Mission 1: Unpack ( 8:00-11:00 am )

Papers, embellishments, magazines, books, bags, and basically every other scrap supplies scattered around the house were all placed in my soon-to-be home office/craft room. Aggie wanted to see everything I had so she could plan the organization better.

Mission 2: Shop ( 11:00-1:00 am )

We went shopping for additional supplies to decorate and organize the room. Here’s a breakdown of how much (or should I say how little) we spent:

5 pcs. Stacker Boxes (for solid cardstock & stickers) P88 x 5 = P 440.00
1 pc. Trash bin P88 x 1 = P 88.00
4 sets Round magnetic containers (for flowers) P88 x 4 = P 352.00
1 pc. Green corrugated paper P45 x 1 = P 45.00
1 set Push pins P13.50 = P 13.50
2 pcs. Cork board P88 x 2 = P 176.00
3 pcs. Ceramic alphabets P95 x 3 = P 285.00
Total: P 1, 399.50

Mission 3: Re-arrange & Organize ( 1:00-10:00 pm )

Books and Magazines – I have tons of books; from reference books to fiction to scrapbook idea books. When I pull one book out, I would normally just stuff it back at whatever slot I could find on the shelf, unmindful of the fact that all my books have gotten all mixed up. The books were re-classified according to subject matter and then were arranged by height on the bookshelf to make it visually appealing. We also allotted space on the bookshelf for my magazines which were organized according to title and filed chronologically.

Paper – I’m a self-confessed paper hoarder. When I fall in love a new design line, I make sure I have the complete set of papers. So you can imagine just how much paper and cardstock I own. To make my scrapping life easier, patterned papers were separated from the solid papers first. Then the patterned papers were further divided according to design and color. Each set was placed in PE plastic zip lock bags and organized in my existing stackable wire racks. Solid papers and stickers were also stored first in PE plastic zip lock bags and then placed in my newly purchased paper stackers.

Embellishments – I like to keep my embellishments in their original packaging even after they’ve been opened already. But this eats up a lot of space said Aggie so I eventually gave in to her logic and agreed to remove the embellishments from their packaging. The embellies were then stored in various organizers like bottles, stackable drawers, and even in microwaveable food containers.

Mission 4: Decorate ( 10:00-11:00 pm )

There’s a huge hole on the wall where a window type aircon was supposed to be. But, there’s no unit there right now. To cover this very unpleasant sight of the room, Aggie cut out the word C-R-E-A-T-E from a corrugated board. She then pasted the letters to the backs of push pins for a three dimensional effect. The letters were attached to a cork board and the board was finally adhered to the wall.

The final touch was the ceramic alphabet letters that spelled A-R-T. Aggie filled the hollow portion of the ceramic letters with some of my colored alphabet and number beads and voila! – It was a perfect décor for my otherwise boring table.

At day’s end, I couldn’t help but be amazed at what we accomplished! And, it didn’t cost that much; all you need is a little creativity and a lot of help from your friends!
If you have any organization and decorating woes that you need help with or if you have tips that you would like to share, drop me a line at lala{at}happyscrappersclub.com or lala{at}myscrapworks.com

With the increasing number of people getting hooked on scrapbooking, it’s no wonder that the number of magazine titles has also grown tremendously. Here in Manila , local distributors have recognized the growing demand for this type of magazine and have started offering subscriptions to several scrapbook publications. Moreover, it’s easier to buy them now because they can be found in almost all scrapbooking stores, bookstores and magazine stands nationwide. If you’re OC like Angela and have this unexplainable need not to miss out on any issues, then it’s best to subscribe to the title/s you want. Not only will you get your issue before it hits the news stands, you also enjoy a discounted rate (approximately 20% cheaper than the retail price) plus you get other freebies. If you are working on a budget and would only choose to buy particular issues, then you can go for the back issues which are available in some stores like S.M.I.L.E., Memory Box, Papyvore, and Booksale.

Just how much inspiration can you get from scrapbook magazines? A survey conducted by Creating Keepsakes Magazine to determine where scrapbookers get their inspiration from showed that about 90% of them do so from reading magazines on scrapbooking. But before you run off and buy every title you could get your hands on, here’s a sampling of some of my favorite scrap magazines. Each publication offers a unique perspective on scrapbooking, be it instructional, practical, trendsetting or technical. Hopefully, it will guide you on which titles to get that would best inspire you on your scrapping:

Scrapbook Answers

I’ve been hooked from the moment Scrapbook Answers published its maiden issue October of last year. Why? Like other scrapbook magazines, it has its share of how-to’s, tips and techniques, etc. But the instructions provided are more detailed, with each step accompanied by full illustrations.

The magazine’s writers present the newest tools and products in the market in “no holds barred”, straight to the point reviews. They have a star-rating system for the products they review and are not shy about giving low marks if they are not too impressed with the product being assessed. Products are rated based on its design, price, user friendliness, features, functionality, etc.

Another stand out feature is their Makeover section. As the name suggests, the writers work their magic on layouts sent by readers who ask for help on how to further improve their pages. There are before and after pictures showing the transformation each layout went through with an explanation on what was done.

But there’s more (and this is probably the best part of this magazine!)… Each issue comes with a cd called the Answers Disc which contains how-to videos, free fonts, free high-resolution images you can use for your layouts, demo software and a whole lot more! Scrapbook Answers is published monthly and has recently released a special issue called Scrapbook Answers Ultimate How-To Guide that comes with a DVD! For more info visit their website at: www.scrapbookanswers.com

Simple Scrapbooks (SS)

Simple Scrapbooks upholds its name to the dot. Everything in the magazine from the layouts, to the articles depicts simplicity at its best. Being a simple scrapper myself, this magazine has a lot of appeal to me. Clean, easy, uncomplicated and effortless are some of the words that come to mind when one sees the layouts featured in this publication.

Every issue comes with a project planner called Formula Worksheet which proved to be such a great help to me back when I was a newbie scrapper and until now. This worksheet basically guides you on how to plan for your album by making you fill out a series of questions.

But this is not to say that Simple Scrapbooks is only for beginner scrappers. A regular section called Step It Up shows how you can take your layouts a notch higher every time you add a new element to it. This is great for those who have gained enough confidence to try something new. Having a strong basic scrapbooking foundation would ensure better scrapbooking success. And this magazine will help you do just that. Simple Scrapbooks is published 6 times a year with special issues coming out every season. Visit their website at: www.simplescrapbooksmag.com

Creating Keepsakes (CK)

Creating Keepsakes is widely recognized as the scrapbooking authority today. Where Vogue is usually referred to as the “bible” of the fashion industry, CK is its equivalent in the scrapbooking community. Rightly so because the latest tools and products in the market as well as cutting edge techniques are usually first seen and read in CK. What began as a 68-page bi-monthly magazine back in 1996 is now a 170+ page “must read” monthly publication.

Each issue is packed with pages upon pages of beautiful layouts, featuring artists who have become household names in the industry. One of the more popular columns of the magazine is Becky’s Sketch (One Sketch, Many Looks) by Contributing Editor Becky Higgins. Here, one scrapbook design is interpreted in different ways by CK readers. This column has spawned 2 bestselling idea books called Creative Sketches for Scrapbooking Vols. 1 & 2.

Another interesting section is “3 Products, 5 Scrapbookers.” It is similar in concept with Becky’s Sketches but this time, scrappers are provided the same products and each artist has his/her own way of utilizing the materials in their layout.

The magazine is a great source for design ideas without compromising the personal creative style of scrappers. While it gives you a basic idea or design concept you can follow, CK also encourages individuality; by showing you that you can take one particular concept and make it uniquely your own, as evidenced in the two aforementioned columns.

CK is also loaded with ads from the leading manufacturers, giving readers a glimpse into upcoming trends and product lines. And if that’s not enough, the magazine also has a section called Latest and Greatest, featuring the hottest and newest finds in the market.

And if you have a penchant for joining contests, CK regularly holds numerous scrap challenges ranging in various themes and topics; and the prizes given away are not too shabby either! The most prestigious of them all is the CK Hall of Fame contest. Started in 1999, CK’s HOF is an annual contest which picks the 25 best scapbookers of the year. Each year’s winners become instant stars; all their winning layouts are featured in a special CK publication called, what else, The Scrapbook Hall Of Fame. Some winners have even gone on to work for CK, some have developed their own design lines and some have even published their own idea books! Past Hall of Famers include: Faye Morrow-Bell, Denise Pauley, Heidi Swapp, Rebecca Sower, Chrisina Cole, Rhonna Farrer, Ali Edwards, Leah Fung, Joy Uzarraga, and more.

Creating Keepsakes is published 13 times a year with numerous special issues and idea books released in between. www.creatingkeepsakes.com

Memory Makers (MM)

Memory Makers is basically a how-to magazine. This magazine gives great emphasis on techniques and is big on journaling in layout pages. The works featured will leave you in awe, for they all look like they’ve been worked on for hours. This may be discouraging for some scrappers, but to others, it’s a great motivation to further improve on the craft. Layouts are accompanied with explanations (most times detailed descriptions even) of how a certain technique was done. And oftentimes, a particular step is highlighted or given a closer look in order to get a clearer picture as to how it was done.

But while the pages seem complicated, they are presented according to subject matters you can easily relate to. The Reader Idea Gallery in each issue features layouts classified under headings like “moms”, “dads”, “graduation”, “holiday” etc. It’s this matter of fact way of identifying page themes that make this magazine a great resource guide for scrapbooking ideas.

And if you’re in a rush to find a design idea, tip or technique, or you want a quick and complete overview of what’s in store, go to the issue index found on the first few pages of the magazine. This is where you will find a complete listing of all the topics featured in that month’s issue. Topics are arranged alphabetically, with 2 subheadings; page theme and techniques/products. It’s like looking at a directory, thus making it easy to find what you’re looking for.

Similar to CK, Memory Makers also holds their search for the 10 most talented scrappers who will share their expertise and their work in future MM issues for a whole year. The chosen few are called Memory Makers Masters. This year, one of the Masters is Fil-Am scrapbook artist Valerie Salmon. ( Anj: Read more about Valerie in this month’s extra special upload ).

Memory Makers is published 9 times a year. Special issues and idea books are released regularly throughout the year. www.memorymakersmagazine.com

There are so many other titles available now like BHG’s Scrapbooks, Etc., Paper Crafts, Scrapbooking & Beyond, Scrapbook Magic, and The Scrapbook Magazine, to name a few. It’s just a matter of finding the one that would best aid you in your scrapbooking style.

So the next time you’re stuck in a creative rut, go grab a scrapbook magazine to get a healthy dose of instant inspiration.

Our featured artist is a scrapbooker who has turned her creativity into a thriving business. Airees designs and creates handcrafted items and markets them here and abroad. Handcrafted Expressions is the name of her business and her home serves as her office. In order to keep up with the growing demands of her business, Airees turned their family lanai into her war room, which is how she humorously refers to her craft room.

What makes Airees’ craft room unique are the items she personally designed and handcrafted to aid in her organization. And just like her knack for transforming trash to treasure, Airees also managed to make use of old, unused furniture and reinvented them into workable craft tables and storage for her tools and materials.

“I don’t believe in a single fail-safe strategy to organization.
I believe if something works for you then you just go ahead and do it.”

Airees realized that getting organized had to be her top priority, and the first step to doing so was to choose an area of the house which she can turn into a dedicated craft area.

The lanai turned out to be the best place for this. It was an open area so an air-conditioning unit was not needed. Next came the furnishings. Before buying anything new, she went over her existing stuff and decided on several pieces of old furniture that could still be utilized.

She also made a few trips to local department stores like SM, Robinsons and other small stores to complete the list of items that were needed for her craft room.

Organizing

The Furnishings

Everything is placed on either sides of the room. The middle part of the room is always open. Airees wanted this arrangement so that she can conveniently move between work spaces.

Hanging open cabinets line one side of the room. Underneath these cabinets lies an old study table which used to be her computer table and currently holds other craft items. The hole that served as a provision for the computer cords and cables is now where Airees throws her trash into. There’s a trash can placed underneath the hole. This is a fast and easy way of getting rid of the mess while you scrap. On the other wall, an old bar shelf now doubles up as a display area for some of her finished works and family pictures and also holds her paints and other materials. For Airees, the best buy she made for her craft room was a multi-purpose open cabinet. It was such a steal at less than a thousand pesos since it accommodated so many of her things.

Tools

Airees has numerous types of cutters and die cutting tools ranging from a pair of scissors to Ellison’s Big Shot. She believes that you must not trade quality for price when it comes to your tools. “Tools will make your life easier in the long run so I don’t mind spending a little more for it”, she said. Her favorite brand is Fiskars because of its lifetime warranty on cutting tools and dependability.

She makes sure her tools are easily accessible or within arms’ reach. Her tools are kept in the shelves either beside or underneath her table. She just takes them out when she needs them.

Papers

It was only quite recently that Airees discovered the beauty of patterned papers. As a designer, she never found it necessary to buy patterned paper and could easily make do with plain cardstock for her projects. But after seeing all the beautiful designs that have flooded our local market, she has acquired so much that it has become an organizational problem.

She used to store her paper horizontally on the shelves of her table but later realized that it was easier to see the designs if they were stored vertically. So she designed and made her own 12×12 paper boxes.

Beads, Stamps and Inks

Aside from scrapping and creating handmade cards, Airees is also into beading. She kept her beads in see-thru plastic containers and placed them on the hanging walls for easy reach and identification. All containers have been labeled as well.

Ribbons & Fibers

Non-fabric ribbons are placed on a ribbon bobbin, placed in an 0-ring and then hung on racks. This added an artistic appeal to the room. Her ribbon bobbins were actually made from rolled up chipboards, another ingenious design idea from Airees. Ribbons which were not used as often were stored in see-thru plastic containers and placed in cabinets underneath the tables.

The Extras

On one side of her table sits a very cool rotating caboodle caddy. This is another one of her creations. It’s handmade and yet it’s sturdy enough to hold at most 3 kilos of anything. This caddy contains most of her commonly used tools, like fiskars scissors, cutter, pens, rulers, and some adhesives.

You can’t miss the different types and colors of A monograms that are scattered in different parts of the craft room. This she said was her way of placing a personal stamp in her scrap room.