Ladybug Layouts Weekend Retreat

2011 Retreat Dates

June 3-5 (CANCELLED due to location issues)
October 21-23, December 2-4 (BOTH CANCELLED due to family committments)

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Today's Tip - The Rule of Odds

Like all visual arts, scrapbooking is based on some basic design principles such as:
  • The Visual Triangle;
  • Repetition;
  • The Rule of Thirds; and,
  • The Rule of Odds.
The Rule of Odds is based on the idea that our eye finds things arranged in odd numbers more natural and pleasing to the eye.  This principle is used in all aspects of art such as floral design, graphic design, painting, photography.

In scrapbooking, you can put The Rule of Odds into practice with the number of photos on a page, the number of embellishments you use, or even the background paper design.  When choosing your embellishments select them in 3’s, 5’s, 7’s, etc. When placing your photos, you have a two options that will follow The Rule of Odds, you can either have one focal point photo and an odd number of supporting photos elsewhere on the page, or you can accent the focal point photo with an even number of photos near or surrounding it (thus creating an odd number of photos).

Friday, June 11, 2010

Today's Tip - Die Cuts

A staple of any scrapbooker is die cuts. There are a plethora of different die cuts available and with new technology in scrapbooking, you can cut out a die cut to match any project.  And there are so many ways to use them!  Alphabets, licensed characters, or just about anything, die cuts have come a long way from just plain old shapes!  But don’t think that die cuts are just for paper or cardstock!

Think about adding some dimension and texture by using materials such as acetate, craft foam, felt, sand paper and more.  Whatever you choose to cut, be sure that the thickness of your material will fit in your die cut machine; otherwise, the sky really is the limit!

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Today's Tip - Chalking

The use of acid-free chalk is a great way to add color to your pages.

You can easily add chalk on die-cuts, torn edges of paper, or even to stencil a design onto your background paper using a foam applicator (like for applying eyeshadow), or you can use a cotton swab (I find the Dollar Store ones best as they do not have too much cotton at the end).

Make sure that the chalk you buy is acid-fee.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Today's Tip - Scrapbooking Terms (X)

X-acto Knife - A super sharp hobby tool with a #11 blade used to cut intricate details.
Xyron - A machine that creates stickers by applying an adhesive to cut outs. Also makes magnets, or laminations without the hazards of lamination

Monday, June 7, 2010

Today's Tip - Scrapbooking Terms (W)

Walnut Ink - A photo safe ink that gives an aged effect to your embellishments.
Wax (or grease) Pencils - Soft pencils designed for use on photographs.
Wide-Edge Scissors - Decorative-edge scissors that make a cut that is five times deeper than normal scissors.
Workshop - A class usually held at a scrapbooking store and taught by an expert. Participants bring photos and pages to work on and get advice from an instructor.

Sunday, June 6, 2010

My weekend......

Yesterday was GORGEOUS weather so I spent a good part of it out in the yard.... got a little sunburned, but not too bad.

Today was HORRIBLE weather, so I went shopping.  Got some new clothes and some time out by myself!!!  Felt good.

Might have company tonight, but if not, back down to my studio to finish a layout of my niece.


What did you do?

Today's Tip - Scrapbooking Terms (V)

Vellum - A lightweight, translucent paper.
Velveteen - An archival paper with fabric-like, velvety texture.
Vivelle - An archival paper with fabric-like texture similar to a terry-cloth towel.

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Today's Tip - Scrapbooking Terms (T)

Tape Roller - Device that distributes tape on the back of photographs and scrapbooking pages. (Hermafix is a brand of tape roller.)
Template - A stencil used to trace shapes onto scrapbook pages or photos.
Top Loading - An album or sheet protector in which your scrapbook page slides into your book from the top.
Tote - A bag or hard case you carry or pull on wheels used to carry your scrapbooking supplies.
Theme - The overall idea or emphasis of a page/scrapbook.

Friday, June 4, 2010

Today's Tip - Scrapbooking Tips (S)

Scrapbooking - The creative art of displaying your photos and memorabilia. Can incorporate journaling, and embellishments. The primary purpose of scrapbooking is to preserve memories for future generations, but a secondary purpose often is to exercise your creativity as you display your memories in a scrapbook.
Scrap lift - To use an idea for part or whole of a page layout you’ve seen someone else use.
Scroll and Brush Pens - Pens that have one tip for coloring and one for writing.
Secondary Colors - Colors created by blending primary colors. Orange, green and violet are the secondary colors created b mixing a combination of red, yellow and blue.
Self Healing Mat - A mat that can be repeatedly cut and still retains its form.
SEI - Abbreviation for a US scrapbooking company.
Serendipity Squares - Squares made by creating a torn collage of scraps on a background paper, then cutting it into squares and mounting on complimentary cardstock.
Setter - A tool used in attaching eyelets.
Shabby Chic - A style of scrapbooking that includes sanding, crumpling, and distressing paper to give an old and worn look to your page.
Shade - A colour with black added to it.
Shaker Box - A new trend (similar to a snow globe but without the water.) Use a die-cut and a piece cut out from a sheet protector. Seal in bits of confetti or small beads etc.
Shape Cutters - Tools designed to cut shapes (circles, ovals, stars, etc.). The scrapbooking cutters can be adjusted to create different sizes of these shapes.
Side Loading - Page protectors that slide over your album pages and are sealed at the top and bottom.
Sizzix - A brand of personal die cutting system.
Specialty Paper Books - Books that contain information about different papers, both pattern paper and plain. Some may come with extras, such as templates.
Spiral-Bound Books - Albums that are secured with a metal or plastic spiral binding running up the side of the album.
Sticker - A decorative adhesive used to embellish a page. Ranging in size from a few centimeters across to a full page.
Sponging - The transfer of ink to paper using a small sponge (usually a cosmetic or craft sponge) in place of a brush. The ink is applied to the sponge and then the sponge is dabbed/tapped lightly onto a piece of paper leaving a series of small dots. A sponge with many holes, squeezed tightly while sponging, will produce a beautiful lacy effect.
Stencil - A plastic pre-cut template used to trace and cut shapes. Usually used on paper and/or photos. They may also be used to apply paint/chalk to a surface in a contrasting colour.
Strap-Hinge Albums - Scrapbooking albums secured with plastic straps that run through a holder directly on the pages and keep the book in place.
Stylus - A wood/plastic/metal tool (in the shape of a stick) with blunt, rounded ends used to deboss paper (also known as a burnisher or a dry embossing tool).