Scrapbook Wonderland

Blinged up Clipboard: A Pinterest Challenge!

by Alice. on 8 May, 2013

Sparkles, bling, and pink, what could be better than that?! When I saw a gorgeous blinged up clipboard on Pinterest I knew that I needed to create one for myself.

You can see my pin on Pinterest HERE! The original blog post is HERE!

I was inspired to create my beautiful new clipboard when I heard that Young House Love was having their Spring Pinterest Challenge. I have made a few recipes I’ve found through Pinterest and I’ve used Pinterest for scrapbooking inspiration but I haven’t made made very many crafty projects… but that sure hasn’t stopped me from pinning them!

Pinterest Challenge by Young House Love

Here’s how to make a FABULOUS blinged up clip board.

Step 1. Start with a blank clipboard. I used one that is 12.5 inches wide, so it will be great to display a scrapbook layout. If you can find a clipboard with a removable clip it will be easier to decorate the board.

Step 2. Prepare the board. I used Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue to glue the Heidi Swapp Sugar Chic paper to the board. Use Washi tape to fill in any areas not covered by the paper.

Do you LOVE Washi tape? Want some ideas for using it? There’s a FREE scrapinar Friday, May 17 all about it! Click here to view more details about Washi Wahoo Too. (Affiliate link)

The scrapinar is actually the sequel to an amazing class by Monica Bradford of ScrapInspired.com. Click here to view more details about Washi Tape Wahoo! (Affiliate link) This class was so inspiring I’ve purchased over 25 rolls of Washi tape since I took it… I’m putting Washi on EVERYTHING!

Step 3. Gather an assortment of sparkle and bling! I used brads (I either bent back the ends or I trimmed them off with my metal snips.) pearls, sparkles, ribbon charms, buttons and anything else shiny I could find!

Step 4. Begin gluing on the bling. Use layers, and different sizes of sparkle. I used a hot glue gun to adhere all of the bling. Be careful! Hot glue is VERY hot! (TIP: Put the glue on the large item, and use tweezers to add small pieces of bling to save your fingers!)

Step 5. Enjoy!

Isn’t it adorable?! I’m loving it and I will use it to display my newly created layouts in my scrapbook room.

If you are inspired by this clipboard you should check out the inspiration on this Made For Mom’s Mother’s Day Blog Hop!

Thanks for visiting, I invite you to sign up for the Scrapbook Wonderland mailing list.

Happy crafting!

Alice Boll.

{ 6 comments }

Scrapbooking is Dead!

by Alice. on 4 May, 2013

Scrapbooking is Dead! (or is it?)

Scrapbooking is Dead.

Scrapbooking is Obsolete.

Scrapbooking is Over.

I’ve heard this declaration a few times. It makes me very defensive. I LOVE scrapbooking! How dare anyone suggest that my favourite pastime is dead!

The skeptics look at the ‘facts’ as they see them, and predict the demise of this amazing hobby. Discontinued magazines, closures of local scrapbooking stores and bankruptcy of manufacturers are cited as ‘proof’ that this industry is barely limping along.

I propose a different explanation.

Things have changed!

The economy has changed. Scrapbooking was at its peak in 2006. When the economy was booming people had money to spend on hobbies and crafts. Now people have tightened their purse strings and there is less money to spend on non-essentials.

Smartphones have arrived. People are now in a state of constant connection with the world via the internet. The more time we spend on the internet the more comfortable we become using it for all aspects of our lives, from banking and connecting with our friends to shopping to online education. Our world feels smaller and more accessible and we are taking full advantage of it.

Scrapbooking has changed. As the economy and technology have changed so has scrapbooking. Scrapbooking is still as relevant as ever and now it is more accessible than ever before.

3 Reasons Why Scrapbooking is NOT Dead!

1. Scrapbooking is versatile. Scrapbooking is different than it was 10 years ago. The very definition of what scrapbooking is has changed with the times too. If you make 12×12 albums, that’s scrapbooking. If you make a mini albums, that’s scrapbooking. If you create digital layouts on a computer, that’s scrapbooking. If you make digital photo books that is also scrapbooking. When you open up your definition of scrapbooking it is easy to see how it can fit into your life. The great thing about scrapbooking is how easy it is to make scrapbooking work for YOU!

2. Scrapbooking has embraced technology. No matter what style of scrapbooker you are, you can find it online now. Supplies can be easily ordered online. Classes have moved online too. You can attend virtual scrapbooking crops or ‘scrapinars’. Scrapbooking is available online at all price points, ability levels and styles. By embracing technology scrapbooking traded in the ‘video store’ model for the ‘iTunes store’ model and proved that it was adaptable to the new marketplace.

3. The goal of scrapbookers has NOT changed. Scrapbookers still want to preserve and share our memories.

So what do you think? Is scrapbooking dead? Stacy Julian, Becky Higgins and Rhonna Farrer, three dynamic scrapbooking icons, weigh in with their opinion in this video.

Or view it here: http://studio5.ksl.com/index.php?nid=71&sid=22979182

What’s your opinion? Is scrapbooking dead? I’d love to hear your opinion in the comments.

Let your creativity shine!

Alice Boll.

{ 13 comments }

Today’s Scrapbook Wonder on Facebook

by Alice. on 3 May, 2013

I love to discover interesting scrapbooking ideas and inspiration on the internet. I also love to share these super-cool finds with my friends. One way I do this is by posting a new resource every weekday on the Scrapbook Wonderland Facebook Group.

You’re haven’t been to the Scrapbook Wonderland Facebook Group? Well…. What are you waiting for?

Click here to ‘Like’ the Scrapbook Wonderland Facebook Group

Want a peek at the kinds of resources that are shared as ‘Today’s Scrapbook Wonder’ every weekday?

Videos!

Videos, like this super fun video by Monica from ScrapInspired.com

Podcasts

Podcasts, like this podcast from Layoutaday.com about mini albums.

Tips and Tutorials

Tips and Tutorials, like this advice from NoExcusesScrapbooking.com for dealing with imperfect stamping.

Inspiration (Beautiful Scrapbook Pages!)

Inspiration (Beautiful Scrapbook Pages!), like this one from JenniferGraceCreates.com

and occasionally a little shameless Self-Promotion!

and occasionally a little shameless Self-Promotion! (For the Most Essential Scrapbooking Lesson go here!)

I invite you to join me over at the Scrapbook Wonderland Facebook Group. If you see something awesome online please give me a heads up in the comments on Facebook. I’d love to pass along YOUR Scrapbook Wonders too!

Happy scrapping!

Alice.

P.S. Come check out what’s on Twitter too! @ScrapWonder

{ 0 comments }

The Most Essential Scrapbooking Lesson

by Alice. on 1 May, 2013

Essential Scrapbook Lesson Have you ever read a blog post and thought, “I should do that!” That’s what happened when I read THIS POST on the Creating Keepsakes Blog.

What was this super inspiring blog post you ask?

Stacy Croninger wrote about how she started scrapbooking. With National Scrapbooking Day approaching on May 4, the timing couldn’t be more perfect.

In telling my story I need to share the most essential lesson that years of scrapbooking has taught me. So, on with the story…

~~It all started in 1999 with the birth of my first child, my son Joe.~~

Actually, it started BEFORE that!

I was invited to attend a Creative Memories scrapbooking party. I was asked to bring 4-6 photos with me and a small fee to cover the cost of supplies.

I showed up at the party with my photos and money and was ready to learn about scrapbooking. I took my 5 completely unrelated photos and attached them to the page with some decorative paper triangles in the corner and a sneeze of stickers. TA DA! My first ever scrapbook page!

My very first scrapbook page, created in 1997!

At the time the cost of the supplies was prohibitive to me, and to be honest, the idea of cutting my precious photos made me fairly uncomfortable. That was the end of my adventures in scrapbooking for a year and a half.

When I was pregnant with my first child, I started to think about creating a baby book. I knew I wouldn’t be satisfied with a baby book that didn’t include tons of photos, so I decided I would create a scrapbook baby book. (This was a fairly new concept back then. Most baby books were a store bought fill-in-the-blank book.)

I went back to the lady from Creative memories, purchased an album, some adhesive squares, a special journaling pen and my first tool, a corner rounder. Now I was a SCRAPBOOKER!

Baby Album Scrapbooked in 1999

ESSENTIAL LESSON!

Over the years I’ve seen many changes in scrapbooking. Tools, techniques, supplies and styles have all changed dramatically. The one thing that remains constant is the purpose of scrapbooking, to capture the stories and memories of your life.

I look back at my older pages with a bit of disappointment, the pages where I’ve left the journaling for later, or I didn’t know what to say, or I simply said “You’re so cute!” or “We had fun!”

I don’t think I realized how important the stories were. I didn’t understand that I wouldn’t always remember those adorable little details. I didn’t know that my own handwriting was good enough. I didn’t know that years later, it wouldn’t be the design or embellishments that disappointed me, but the lack of journaling on the page. Journaling really is the most important part of a scrapbook page.

I hope you will take this essential scrapbooking lesson to heart. Save time and learn it now so you will have no regrets later!

Happy Scrappin’

Alice.

P.S. I’d love to hear what YOUR most essential scrapbooking lesson has been, or how you got started in this hobby. Leave your story in the comments!

{ 1 comment }

Mother’s Day Blog Hop: Made for Moms

by Alice. on 24 April, 2013

Welcome to our MADE FOR MOM WITH LOVE Gift Ideas.

Join the journey to find some great ideas for gifts to give the Mom’s on your list or create a list to give your loved ones of the things you would enjoy for yourself! Oh, and don’t forget, there are some freebies to pick up along the way too!

It can be hard to scrapbook the special people in your life. It’s easy to get ‘stuck’ and not know what to say, or how to create a great page about someone you love.

My gift to you is a list I created to scrapbook my mom. I have a lot of stories I would like to share in my scrapbooks. I developed a list of 25 pages that I want to create about my mom.

Fill out the box below to get a free pdf of “25 Scrapbook Pages to Create about your Mother”.

Here’s a sneak preview of what’s on the list!

1. Lessons learned from my mom. This can be a deep and meaningful life lesson or a quick peek into the little things you’ve learned from your mom.

2. Me and My Mom. For fun try this as a time lapse. Use photos of you and your mom over the years.

3. Mom’s Secret Recipe. What can ONLY be cooked ‘properly’ by your mom?

4. Mom Says. Quote your mom. What does your mom always say?

5. Smells like a mom. Which smells remind you of your mom? Food? Perfume? Suntan lotion?

Want the rest?

Fill out the box below and receive the full list of 25 straight to your inbox!

Please visit each site listed below to see a special deal they are offering. There is such a diversity of creative things any mother would love to receive in honor of Mother’s Day. Note: If you joined us somewhere along the way in the hop, please start at Layout a Day so you don’t miss a thing!

Next up is MesstakenIdentity.com where you will find another creative gift idea for Moms.

In case you have missed something along the way here’s the full line up!

I would love to see the scrapbook pages you create about your mom. Leave me a link to your page in the comments or send me a photo by email. alice(at)scrapbookwonderland.com

Happy Scrappin’!

Alice.

{ 18 comments }