My 1st Photo Folio

Hey Ya'll,

So I did not intend to go soooo long without posting. You know the deal.. life happens between my full time job, being a wife and mommy, and owner of two part time businesses.. blog posting got pushed to the back burner. But I am going to make a greater effort to blog since most outside of my Etsy shop when I post scrapbooks, I don't get a chance to showcase them any where else. Which leads to tonight's post. Showing off one of my favorite designs for scrapbooks, the photo folio!

A photo folio is a low profile scrapbook that is more about the pictures than the embellishments but that doesn't mean that they aren't as cute. So with a photo folio paper choice is EVERYTHING!!! I like to use the paper packs/collections that have bold prints and lots of designs in the collection. Some collections you get maybe 6 to 12 designs which works fine for scrapbooks, but with folios since the focus is more on the pictures and thus you see the paper, having lots of coordinating designs is key (at least in my opinion and design style:)). Typically in my experience, the thicker paper pads the thinner the paper the design is printed on, so that is why using higher quality base cardstock is keep in creating a sturdy photo folio. You want it to last a long time and not tear after you put in all of those hours making it. I also learned that using a cardstock that folds easily will make your life easier and prevent cracking. The thinner cardstocks typically doesn't crack. The thicker ones or ones with glitter on them do.. so I tend to use those in some of my other scrapbooks.

So now that you have a general idea of what a photo folio is, let me show you the first one that I created:)

This photo folio has a magnetic closure since I wanted to keep it low profile and not use a traditional ribbon closure. Its size is  7 x 9 to hold a variety of photos. I put some embellishments on the front like keys and cut outs from the paper collection. 

This is a close up of some of the paper flowers I made and some of the keys I used. 

More coordinating paper flowers and a cut out from the paper collection finishes off the front cover. I used flat back pearls and rhinestones as the centers of each flower. 

I used the same paper pattern on the inside front and back cover of the folio and used cut aparts to make tuck spots for smaller photos or to write details about the photos you can place on the inside covers. 

This folio is full of flaps and different size pockets to fit a variety of photo sizes from 3 x 4 to 5 x 7 they can all fit in this folio. Since the folio is all apart being low profile, you can't add too many embellishments because it will bulk it up and it won't lay right so I used very few embellishments like the wooden arrow and heart that I colored with Spectrum Alcohol markers to match the colors scheme of the paper collection. I also paper clips for extra spots to tuck photos in. 

This is center portion of the folio. I created two sets of waterfalls in different sizes to add some interest. I used magnetic closures for to keep the waterfalls in place. 

I ended up giving particular photo folio to one of my best friends which she absolutely loved! I have a done a few more since this one, making modifications along the way. With folios you can create a number of them with each one being slightly different in terms of the number of photos it holds as well as interactive elements. 

Next post I will be show casing another photo folio but this one has some extra special features to it that I made for my son's teacher. 

Until next time... 

Big Bang!

Hi Ya'll!

So I have been super busy lately with scrapbooking, making  items for my Etsy shop and being a wife, mother and full time employee! Whew! But in making new items for my shop which can be found here, I have absolutely falling in love with making planner clips.What are planner clip you may be asking yourself.. Well planner clips are a cute way to jazz up your planner. I just got into planning (in an attempt to make my life more organized.. not going so great by the way..lol) but I am loving the way.. I mean LOVING the way that the serious planners out there are decorating their planners. So I figured why not add an extra category to my shop which is planner goodies. Planner clips are essentially elaborately decorated paper clips.I used gold jumbo paper clips in making planner clips because I think they look classier:)

In making new planner clips.. I dug into my geek bag (yes I am self-proclaimed nerd girl amongst other things) and to see what I could come up with. And as the title of this entry suggest.. I decided to make some ultra cute Big Bang Theory planner clips! If you haven't watched at least one episode of The Big Bang Theory you are missing some of the funniest, wittiest and smartest banter on television. I always say you can't be dumb and watch Big Bang Theory because half of what you hear them talk about will go right over your head.. but that is what makes it soo great to me! They own their geekiness 100% with no apologies. So in honor of the  awesomeness that is The Big Bang Theory I made my own set character planner clips.

So without further ado...we have:

Raj 

Sheldon

Amy 

Howard

Bernadette

Leonard

Penny 

Aren't they just the cutest?! They all will be available in my Etsy shop tomorrow. You will have the option of buying one character or the whole set! 

And since I am on a planner clip kick.. I will be blogging and adding more characters and themes every week for the next for weeks. Coming up... Game of Thrones!

Until Next Time....

Pretty in Pink

Over the past few weeks, I had been ramping up my production of mini album in preparation of an event I participated in locally today. I was very pleased with the number I was able to make in such a small amount of time. There were a few them that I feel in love with after I finished them. The I am sharing today is one of those albums. It is all things girly and pink! 

The paper collection I used is by Pink Paislee called Pink Rogue. It as such a great name for a very pretty paper collection. The  color scheme of the collection is pink, black, grey, white and gold. I also purchased some of the emphera that is available as well. And all I can say YAS! for pretty in pink! I liked it so much I got sad when someone bought it today.. but then I realized I have extra paper left over! So I am thinking maybe making a fab folio from the left overs. 

Here is the Pretty in Pink Mini Album. 

Welcome!

Welcome!
Welcome, welcome and welcome to my blog! I am so excited  to be starting this journey in blogging about my paper crafting journey. I have been paper crafting for about a year now and I thought it was time to start blogging about my creations and the process.

Well... today I just finished my first official day as a vendor in a craft show and it was great! It was a great experience and I learned much about what people are looking for in mini albums (which is what I sold today) as well as what products I need to offer more of. I think I have been bitten by the vending bug, so I think I will be doing more of these kinds of shows:)

I also learned that people value the quality work and art. I got so many nice comments on how well my albums looked and how beautiful they were... this is always nice to hear that people get your art.  Also that I need to have a show piece album with pictures in it to show people as to where their pictures might go. That was the biggest question of the day was how to put the photos in the album. Now for me I thought what a silly question until my hubby explained to me that its not always clear as to where one might place their pictures. I guess when you make them all the time its obvious as to where the pictures should go, but not to general public.

I also came home with lots of ideas of what I want to work on and maybe organizing a scrapbook crop in my area:) So who knows where this path of creating art with paper will take me, but I am sure going to enjoy the ride!