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May 19, 2010
Scrapbooking about the Women You Love
There are many women who have taught me important lessons and shepherded me through my life. My mother, of course, but others, too. Neighbors who have come to my rescue during times of distress. Good friends who have listened to me repeat myself a hundred times. Professional mentors who have helped me find success in my field. And many, many others. My memories are full of good women, and I’m sure yours are, too.
Mother’s Day may be behind us, but May is still a great time to think about and pay tribute to these influential women. So, before the month ends, I encourage you to make a page honoring at least one of the good women in your life.
Need a little help? Here are five journaling tips to help your put your thoughts into words:
I created this little album to honor my mother and remind myself what it means to be a “good mom.” The memories are simple, but they mean a lot to me.
Supplies: matchbook album (BasicGrey) + paper border (Doodlebug) + flowers (American Crafts) + brads + Garamond font + album by Rachel Gainer
1. Tell one unforgettable story. If you have known someone for a long time, it may seem impossible to summarize her or your relationship on a single layout. So don’t try! Instead focus on one vivid memory—for example, the moment you met, an impressive act of service, or a poignant conversation.
2. Focus on what you share. Women often bond over what they have in common: genetics; children of the same age; location; a favorite book, restaurant, or hobby; even a pet peeve. Let these similarities guide your journaling and help you describe what is unique about your relationship.
3. Express your admiration. Many women have a hard time not comparing themselves to other accomplished and talented females. If you’re one of these women (I know I am), try putting your envy to good use by writing about the person and the qualities you admire (or use her accomplishments to help you set goals for yourself).
4. Take it one word at a time. Instead of writing a paragraph, make a list of words that describe your friend’s personality. Set a timer for 10 minutes, and write down everything that pops into your head—even if a word isn’t “just right.” After you’ve made your list, use it as-is, or take a little extra time to edit and search for those perfect words.
5. Use Ella’s unique Compliments Quiz. In their popular eBook Quick & Creative Quizzes, Angie Lucas and Wendy Smedley provide the perfect quiz for covering the basics of any friendship. Download the eBook today, turn to page 7, and answer the simple questions. You’ll cover a little of this and a little of that to paint a complete picture of your special relationship.
After you create your layout, pat yourself on the back. Be proud of yourself for putting a memory on paper, and don’t fret over what you left unsaid. A good start is better than no start at all!
Mother’s Day may be behind us, but May is still a great time to think about and pay tribute to these influential women. So, before the month ends, I encourage you to make a page honoring at least one of the good women in your life.
Need a little help? Here are five journaling tips to help your put your thoughts into words:
I created this little album to honor my mother and remind myself what it means to be a “good mom.” The memories are simple, but they mean a lot to me.
Supplies: matchbook album (BasicGrey) + paper border (Doodlebug) + flowers (American Crafts) + brads + Garamond font + album by Rachel Gainer
1. Tell one unforgettable story. If you have known someone for a long time, it may seem impossible to summarize her or your relationship on a single layout. So don’t try! Instead focus on one vivid memory—for example, the moment you met, an impressive act of service, or a poignant conversation.
2. Focus on what you share. Women often bond over what they have in common: genetics; children of the same age; location; a favorite book, restaurant, or hobby; even a pet peeve. Let these similarities guide your journaling and help you describe what is unique about your relationship.
3. Express your admiration. Many women have a hard time not comparing themselves to other accomplished and talented females. If you’re one of these women (I know I am), try putting your envy to good use by writing about the person and the qualities you admire (or use her accomplishments to help you set goals for yourself).
4. Take it one word at a time. Instead of writing a paragraph, make a list of words that describe your friend’s personality. Set a timer for 10 minutes, and write down everything that pops into your head—even if a word isn’t “just right.” After you’ve made your list, use it as-is, or take a little extra time to edit and search for those perfect words.
5. Use Ella’s unique Compliments Quiz. In their popular eBook Quick & Creative Quizzes, Angie Lucas and Wendy Smedley provide the perfect quiz for covering the basics of any friendship. Download the eBook today, turn to page 7, and answer the simple questions. You’ll cover a little of this and a little of that to paint a complete picture of your special relationship.
After you create your layout, pat yourself on the back. Be proud of yourself for putting a memory on paper, and don’t fret over what you left unsaid. A good start is better than no start at all!
Posted at 09:00 AM
January 27, 2010
Celebrate Everyday Life
I don't make many holiday or birthday layouts. It's not that I won't--I just don't. I prefer to record ordinary observations and minor milestones in my family's life. I enjoy annual celebrations and take a lot of photos at these events, but I care more about preserving the little behaviors, silly stories, routine activities, and everyday events that fill up my life. And I'm sure I'm not the only scrapbooker who feels this way.
In fact, in Ella's popular eBook 20 Simple Secrets of Happy Scrapbookers, authors Stacy Julian and Lain Ehmann offer scientific proof that enjoying the ordinary is one of 20 behaviors that make scrapbookers some of the happiest people around. If you need someone else to remind you that scrapbooking is good for your soul--or if you just want 20 fresh page ideas to jump-start your creativity--then download this eBook. Stacy and Lain's words inspired me to create this simple page celebrating the mini milestones that transformed my baby into a little girl. And there are a dozen other ideas still rolling around in my head. I can't wait to get started, and neither should you!
supplies patterned papers (BasicGrey) + chipboard letters, letter stickers (October Afternoon) + felt butterflies (Heidi Swapp) + American Typewriter font + 11 x 8.5 page by Rachel Gainer
(Note from Ella: Today's guest blogger, Rachel Gainer, is also Ella Publishing Co.'s talented copy editor. We'd like to thank Rachel for helping out while Wendy & Angie are at CHA!)
In fact, in Ella's popular eBook 20 Simple Secrets of Happy Scrapbookers, authors Stacy Julian and Lain Ehmann offer scientific proof that enjoying the ordinary is one of 20 behaviors that make scrapbookers some of the happiest people around. If you need someone else to remind you that scrapbooking is good for your soul--or if you just want 20 fresh page ideas to jump-start your creativity--then download this eBook. Stacy and Lain's words inspired me to create this simple page celebrating the mini milestones that transformed my baby into a little girl. And there are a dozen other ideas still rolling around in my head. I can't wait to get started, and neither should you!
supplies patterned papers (BasicGrey) + chipboard letters, letter stickers (October Afternoon) + felt butterflies (Heidi Swapp) + American Typewriter font + 11 x 8.5 page by Rachel Gainer
(Note from Ella: Today's guest blogger, Rachel Gainer, is also Ella Publishing Co.'s talented copy editor. We'd like to thank Rachel for helping out while Wendy & Angie are at CHA!)
January 19, 2010
Fun with Fonts
Do you know what I love about fonts? They all have their own personalities--and they're not afraid to show them. Some are simple, clean, and no nonsense. Others are complicated, messy, and falling apart. There's a font for every occasion and every emotion--you just have to find it. And that's the fun part! Here are a few tips to make choosing fonts simpler and faster.
Tip #1: Choose one hero and one sidekick.
Some fonts (the heroes) have a special talent for stealing the spotlight. They're good at drawing attention and making a big splash. Others (the sidekicks) are more subtle, doing the work without making a scene (most serif and sans-serif fonts fall into this category). Hero fonts don't like to share the spotlight, but they do play nice with sidekick fonts. When you're choosing fonts for layouts, it's best to call on hero fonts in special circumstances--for example, when you want to draw attention to a specific word or phrase in a tile or journaling. Use sidekick fonts for large blocks of text or in conjunction with a hero font.
For this layout, I used two fonts that came preinstalled on my computer. The bulk of the text is in Gill Sans Light, a great sidekick font. Since the theme of this page isn't obvious from the photos, I decided to use Brush Script MT to spotlight the word "ChapStick." I wanted the font to look a bit like the official ChapStick font, and this was as close as I could get without investing a ridiculous amount of time in the search (sometimes pretty close is good enough). By using my hero font for just one word, I ensured that it would receive the most attention, making my page topic more obvious.
Tip #2: Match your hero font to your page's mood or theme.
Just because a font is cool or clever doesn't mean it's right for a layout. As you're choosing your font (or fonts), think about what message you're trying to convey. Is your subject feminine or masculine? Peaceful or chaotic? Joyful or melancholy? What story are you trying to tell? When you look at a font, does it inspire the right emotion? Does it clarify or confuse your theme? Look for fonts that will help you tell your story.
There are thousands of free fonts online. Just type "free fonts" into your web browser, and you'll have your pick of dozens of great resources. But keep in mind, not all free fonts are created equally. Some may be incomplete, including only upper- or lowercase letters. Some may require special spacing adjustments to look right. Some may look great at large font sizes but terrible at small font sizes. Be sure you preview and test fonts (when possible) before downloading, and please use virus-detection software to protect your computer.
Personally, I like fonts from dafont.com. I've found dozens of useful fonts on this website. Here's a little list of some of my favorites:
Tip #3: Search and download efficiently.
Most free font websites group fonts by styles or themes. Use these categories to speed up your search. Or, if you're looking for something specific, like a movie-inspired font, try typing a keyword into the search field. These tricks will make your hunt a lot simpler. If you stumble upon fonts you like--even if they aren't right for the current project--consider downloading them anyway. You'll build your font library and save yourself search time in the future.
Most importantly, have fun! The best font is the one that inspires you!
Posted at 03:18 PM
