Scrapbook Layout using Lawn Fawn Paper and Project Life Kits

It hasn't been that long since I created my last pocket scrapbooking page and I just had to make another one! I'm really falling in love with the scrapbooking process and today I'm giving 12 x 12 layouts a try. I'm still not too sure what the protocol is for scrapbooking but I thought it would be cute to create a cover page with my picture on it and a little note about what my goal is for my scrapbook.

I wanted this layout to have a black and white picture of me but also have lots of pops of color with the embellishments and paper. The base for this 12 x 12 layout is one of the new pieces of pattern paper from the new (not yet released) Let's Polka, Mon Amie collection by Lawn Fawn. This new paper line is due to be released mid February. I love the mint color and mini hearts on this sheet of pattern paper and I thought it would work well with the Project Life foil kit which has lots of light pastely tones. If you noticed from the images above I also tried out the Project Life Color Magic kit--this kit comes with papers that are meant to be hand colored, by you, using the coordinating sprays or with watercolor. Since I like using distress inks to watercolor I thought I'd give them a try on the Color Magic Kit and I really love the results. The 3x4" cards have more of a watercolor cardstock feel and the 4x6" cards have more of a cardstock feel so I wasn't sure how the larger cards would react with the distress ink but it turns out they work so well with them. There was hardly any warping, too, which is great! I used the embellishments from both kits and I love all of the gold foil accents on this page.

I don't really worry too much about whether I'm scrapbooking the right way; or, if there is a certain way this should all be done. I think for the most part I just want to have fun with it and simply document my life from here on out. What I also love about this is that it's just for me--I'm not selling these I'm simply creating this pages for me and that's so fun!

My First Scrapbook Page

Just recently I realized that I really should be documenting my story. When I look back on my life and all the memories I don’t want them to be lost in cyber space because they’re stuck in my phone or on my hard drive. I take tons of pictures—all the time. If I’m not taking pictures with my phone I’m using my DSLR to capture some of life’s precious moments, and I realized it—I never print any of my pictures. I imagined myself looking back on my life with maybe children or grandchildren, and not have scrapbooks or any kind of picture book scared me a little. I want to be able to show younger generations scrapbooks of how I used to look in the good ol’ days. I mean our current generation takes pictures and selfies about a thousand times a day, “so why not print them and cherish them?”, I said to myself.

I have to be honest though, I never thought I’d ever be a “scrapper” I was never really drawn to it but recent trips to Michaels have stopped me dead in my tracks as I’d walk the isles of Heidi Swapp and Project life. The papers, colors, and overall designs these two businesses are creating have really been catching me eye. I’d think to myself, “That’s my kind of style” but then I’d realize that I’m not a scrapper by any means so what would I do with these tools? Those thoughts stuck in my mind for a while until I realized—Yes! I should be keeping record of these moments. I treasure every moment I have with loves one and friends so I should express that with scrapbooking.

On my latest trip to Michaels I purchased a 12x12 photo album, some 12x12 pocket sleeves, and a Heidi Swapp/Project life pocket scrapbooking kit. The kit I purchase is a newer kit—so it’s smaller and I thought it would be a perfect starting point. I wouldn’t be losing too much money if I decided scrapping wasn’t my thing. But turns out it is…it really is. When I created my first scrapbook page I was so into it and even felt a little bit emotional by it all. Looking at the pictures remembering how I felt that day, things we did, food we ate—it was really great. I’d never felt so calm and happy in a while like I did when I was creating my first page. Then the journal entry sealed the deal, I wrote a two sentence blurb about Thanksgiving with my family. I’m hooked.