Silhouette Freebies!

Been to Quickutz blog? Well, make sure you check it often because there are free digital cutting files you can download that you can't buy!!!

Here's the link:

http://quickutz.typepad.com/qk/

If It Ain't Broke...

Use it over and over again!

On a forum I frequently visit, someone asked if there are "standard" layout formats that other scrappers use over and over again as a basis for their page designs.

Many scrappers purposely use the same base page for several designs. Pam Callahan, who is often published in Scrapbooks Etc. and Creating Keepsakes, sometimes uses the same page design for several different pages. Change the embellishments, change the paper, maybe flip the page, and you get a really different look. You can see some of her work in her gallery on scrapbook.com. Here's one example of her use of the same design several different ways:

October Hunt
My Gabby
Favorites At 5 (original layout)

Pammy also hosted a challenge on scrapbook.com in which she challenged other scrapbookers to scraplift themselves by copying one of their own pages. Here you can see the ways in which other scrappers "copied" themselves: Copy Yourself Challenge

I have found a couple of formats that I really like to use over and over myself. I'll move one element, add another...just changing the papers and embellishments really makes a difference. Here are some pages I have done that are all basically "the same" layout.

DESIGN #1:
This is the original page:

Here's the "copy". I made the vertical strip go all the way to the top and bottom of the page, used one larger picture instead of the two on the right, and added a photo corner. The title and journaling at in the same spots.


DESIGN #2:

The "original"-- June kit of the month I designed for SGT:

Here I used the same page again but added mats and twisted the background mats so they were crooked instead of straight:

I copied that page to make this one, straightening everything back out:


Then I used the same design for this page, moving the partial circle from the upper right to the lower right:


DESIGN #3:

This one I made myself, inspired by a class sample by another instructor:


And this one is a copy of that page, with the embellishments moved. I also rotated the individual pages (90 degrees clockwise on the left and 90 degrees clockwise on the right page):


Here are some other ways to make the most of your favorite page designs:

• Rotate: rotate the page to get a different look. Rotate 90, 180, or 270 degrees to get different perspectives on the same layout. One a 2 page layout, rotate just one of the 2 pages to get a total of 16 different looks!
  
• Reflect: Act as if you have a mirror to reflect the page. Reflect from on side, reflect diagonally, or reflect from the halfway point.
• Change: Change the papers. If you used vintage shabby chic papers on the first layout, try bold, playful prints on the "copy". If you used stickers on one, use flowers as accents on the other.
• Sketch: Use a sketch from a book (like "Imagine" from Close to My Heart) or from a website or blog (try PageMaps or Pencil Lines).
• True Scraplift: Find a design you like that someone else did. Check out online galleries, idea books, magazines and other people's scrapbooks to find ideas you like. Then copy their page design, making sure to change the paper and embellishments to suit the topic you are scrapping. Just remember, if you share the layout publicly (in a class, in a store, or online), it's a good idea give credit to that person for the design.

Last Chance!

I'm teaching my class of the year, "Our Family Story" 6x12 book, over at SGT with PJ on Sunday from1230-330pm!

If you have not yet signed up we still have a couple of spots open. You can sign up over the phone by calling SGT at (909)305-0748.

We have also made a BUNCH of add-ons that are wrapped and ready to give. Some of the add-ons are pages that complement the book we are making in the class--if you buy the add-on, we'll add it into your book right there in the class.

So don't miss out!

Here are some snapshots of the add-ons I've made (PJ is making some as well):

"Our Family Story" and Add-Ons!

PJ and I are teaching our last class of the year, "Our Family Story" on December 2, 2007 at Scrappin' Good Times. It will also be my last class there as an instructor and Design Team member. I'll still be teaching but at other locations (closer to my home) for Scrapbook Royalty and just as a freelance instructor.

So my point is, don't miss out on my last class of the year!

Also, we have some mega good add-ons planned. I'll be posting sneak peeks all week of some of the items I have created--PJ is creating similar items as well.

Also, make sure you sign up my email list to get more sneak peeks and also to stay updated as to where I am teaching and when in 2008. To sign up, see the block on the upper left side of your screen--you can enter your email address into that block and you'll be signed up to receive emails from me about 1-2 times per month.

So keep an eye out--I'll be posting some pics of add-ons later today!

To sign up for "Our Family Story", call Scrappin' Good Times at 909-305-0748 and sign up over the phone. See you there.