Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Digital Scrapbooking


Digital scrapbooking is becoming more popular then ever before.
You can purchase and download digital scrapbook kits from many websites 
and there are even "free downloads" too.

Once purchased, these kits can be used over and over again!
Usually they are color-coordinated which guarantees great matching pages. 


These kits contain all the things we use to make a real scrapbook page
* Papers (both solid and prints)
* Pins, Brads and Paper Clips
* Tags and Book plates
*Alphabets and Word art
*and much more


In order to use digital kits you must have software installed on your computer.
I used My Memories Suite Digital Scrapbooking Software to make these pages
I just purchased Adobe Photoshop Elements, but I still have to learn the program.


I sure love looking at all the papers that are available for digital scrapbooking.
I just can't believe all the talented people that put together all the kits.
Everything looks so realistic.



Am I The Only One?

As I sit here and think about how crazy I am about paper, I have to wonder if I'm the only one? When I was younger, I loved to go to any office supply store with my father. I could spend hours looking at the resume papers, notebooks, index cards, envelopes and anything else that was made from paper.

I also remember spending hours with a box of crayons, a pair of scissors, and a few sheets of printer paper. I have always loved to color! My mother use to buy me coloring books with the geometrical or 3D shapes in them instead of the plain kids coloring books. (and we had to make copies of them BEFORE I could color them, because I colored so often)

During my rubber stamping years, shopping for paper was always a burst of excitement for me. I'd match colors, look for patterns that complimented each other and whenever I made my picks, I HAD to buy at least two sheets of each! When I saw a pattern that I just loved, I would buy two sheets of every color it came in.

Scrap booking is another craft that involves paper...and lots of it! I just can't get enough of the background papers, stickers, layers behind the pictures, embossed patterns, tags, little envelopes and everything else paper related. I made a family scrapbook for my Grandmother for her 85th birthday, since she is has been gone for years now, my mom and her sisters pass the book back and forth each year, so they can read all the things that my family members had to say to my Grandmother.

I have dabbled in quilling and have packages of many colors and widths of the paper.

I am also crazy about wrapping paper!  (which I think started back when I was in school and we were asked to wrap our books to keep them in good shape for the next student) I didn't just use brown paper bags, I used wrapping paper to make them look better.

I look forward to sharing my paper addiction with all of you.

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Rubber Stamped Cards

One of my paper passions has been rubber stamping.
I was the owner of Wood-n-Paper Ink for seven wonderful years. 
I made many great friends during that time, and I can honestly say, 
rubber stampers are the most friendly people you will ever meet!
Here are some of the cards that were made 
from the Wood-n-Paper, Ink  line of rubber stamps. 


If you are interested in any of these images, please contact Amy at:
AJ's Wood-n-Paper, Ink
N9681 Cattail Lane
Elkhart Lake, WI 53020
(920) 565-5164


Coloring is very relaxing and enjoyable for me.
Water color pencils leave a soft subtle look while 
markers make a more strong bold look.


HINT: 
Embossing the stamped image will raise the image off the paper and make coloring much easier.


On many of these cards I used a stipple brush and dye based inks...
How did I stay within the lines?
Many of the original Wood-n-Paper, Ink stamps also have a stencil set that can be purchased. Each section of the image is cut out of a thin plastic sheet, and when positioned over the stamped image it can be quickly colored with 
a stipple brush and your favorite ink pads.



Sunday, March 2, 2014

Paper

Paper is manufactured from the pulp of wood or other fibrous substances. It comes in thin sheets in an array of sizes, colors, and textures. It is used for writing, drawing, printing, wrapping and now has become it's own art form. I am always amazed at the things people do with paper. I hope to post many paper items that will have you "Crazy For Paper" like I am.