Blast from the Past - Stamping and contrast pages

These are really old layouts. I came across them a few days ago while looking for something else. Since they were already scanned, I figured I'd post them for fun.

I did a lot of stamping in my early scrapping days.

I was a stamper before I was a scrapper, and I have quite a collection of stamps.

On the above page, I stamped a border, a background, and letters that I'd cut out.

For the layout below, I stamped my images on cardstock, cut them out and

glued them to the page. Definitely a time-consuming pain, but I still like

this page, even though it is definitely "dated."

The Easter layout below is still one of my favorites. It's simple, but it's a charming way to

use stamps to embellish the page. The left page background was created with stamps, which were also used on the journal box and tags. And yes, as you can see, I matted the focal point photo with decorative scissors, an indication of just how old these layouts are.

One other thing about each of the pages is that they use contrast in the backgrounds. The left sides of the layouts are a strong contrast with the right sides, but they still coordinate. It's a technique that I think can be effective, even though I haven't done any pages using contrast like this recently. I tend to think of this technique as "positive/negative." Using a solid color of cardstock for one side of the page but patterned paper for the other side gives variety as well as contrast. Using the patterned paper on the cardstock side to embellish is an easy way to tie the pages together so they coordinate. Of course, for these pages my patterned papers and matching embellishments were created by me, using stamps, instead of buying patterned papers and pre-made embellishments.

The Easter page was made with Stampin' Up stamps, the dinosaur layout was created with Close to my Heart stamps, and the fishing layout was done with mostly Darcie's stamps and possibly one or two Close to my Heart and/or Stampin' Up stamps.

Since these pages were made years ago, these are not stamps currently available (except perhaps the Darcie's). However, the basic ideas could easily be adapted to any page, if a simple layout is what you're looking for. It's certainly not trendy by today's standards.

Just for the record, I do adopt trends I like, but I don't really consider myself a trend follower. I frequently use older papers, embellishments, and whatever else suits me to make my layouts. My style also is more often "clean and classic" than product oriented (my term for the use of a lot of products on a page, which is very popular right now).

Blast from the Past: Decorative Scissors

In the above layout, decorative scissors were used

to mat the photos as well as for the borders.

Strips were cut and laid parallel to each other.

Stamps and stickers were used for the embellishment.

In this heritage layout, thin strips of cardstock were folded,

then cut carefully to get a double side-by-side design.

It was a more difficult technique, but can be very pretty.

When I first started scrapbooking, there were very few materials available. Punches, decorative scissors, stickers, cardstocks and patterned papers were our main resources. Even with such limited resources, it was possible to make attractive layouts.

At first, decorative scissors were used on the photos themselves. I seriously regret ever doing that to any of my pictures. It distracted from the photos instead of enhancing. However, once I started using the fancy scissors for other things, I was very happy with the results. Even years later, I still love these simple but elegant layouts.

The decorative scissors took more time to do, since you had to cut carefully to have it look good. Most people didn't have the patience for it, and decorative scissors fell into disfavor. I was skilled at using them and even taught classes on how to use decorative scissors. I eventually stopped using them simply because I had used them so much that I got tired of the look.

It might be fun to try them again, though, and see if I can make a new, up-to-date layout with decorative scissors and be happy with the results.

Get Well Birdhouse

I made this little birdhouse for someone in the hospital. On the back is "Wishing you a quick and complete recovery." I thought it would brighten the hospital room better than a card, and due to the patient's problem, flowers weren't appropriate.

Punches used were Martha Stewart punches. The "Get Well/Wishing a quick recovery" phrase is a Stampin' Up stamp. I just cut the phrases apart. I found the little bird at JoAnn Fabrics.

The birdhouse itself is not my design. All I did was choose my colors of cardstock, cut it out, and decorate it. I've given the link before (it's the same one I used for the Creepy Cottage Halloween birdhouse), but here it is again:

Birdhouse Template by Nicole Heady

If you'd like to see Nicole's birdhouse project where she shared her template, here is the link:

Nicole's birdhouse and instructions

And finally, in case you missed my Halloween birdhouse using this template, here's a link to my Creepy Cottage:

My Halloween version using Nicole's template

It's a very versatile pattern, and I really appreciate that Nicole was willing to share it!

Tile project #4 plus a BooBoo Bunny

You get two projects in one post today. I made this plaque for my DD, who has worked hard to achieve certain goals, which seem to stay just out of reach. It's one of my favorite quotes.

Right beside the plaque is a BooBoo Bunny, which is a little bunny made from a washcloth. The body of the bunny holds an ice cube for a child's "boo-boo" and was made to go with a baby shower gift. I showed my DD how to make the BooBoo Bunny, and she made one, too. The one above is the one I made, and it's the first time I've had this much details. Normally I'd use a pom-pom ball stitch on the back for a tail, but I didn't have one, so I stitched a fluffy looped tail instead. I used to sell Tupperware many, many long years ago, and my Tupperware manager showed me how to make them. I don't remember why she taught me, maybe for a little prize to give out or something (Tupperware used to sell covered ice trays, so it's not unreasonable). Whatever the reason, it is a craft that has come in handy more than once for me. It makes a cute package topper for a baby gift.

Now, of course, you can find instructions on the internet. Here is a link:

How to make a BooBoo Bunny

The instructions shown in the link are exactly how my Tupperware manager showed me. I have made one change, however. I don't use a rubber band, which could potentially break and be a choking hazard. I wind button thread around the "neck/ears" several times instead and stitch it.

Tile project #3

This is a tile that I created as a thank you for a business that helped me with something that I needed for a special project.

Another Tile

I saw this saying on a website and liked it, so I turned it into a tile. I used my Gypsy and my Cricut to cut the vinyl for this one. I think I used a label from the Lacy Labels cartridge. It was awhile ago when I actually made it. The stripes on the butterfly in the upper right corner are actually a result of the flash or something. It's solid black there, not gold. The background vinyl for the label was a copper color.

Tile projects

I've done vinyl on tile before. Unfortunately, I had given away everything that I'd made previously, so I haven't posted any pictures here of my projects.

I offered to do a tile project with the Relief Society gals at church, so after discussing possibilities with the Relief Society counselor, we decided on an Easter project.

The project class was tonight, and I showed them how to make the above plaque, to help our families remember the Savior during the Easter season.