I am often inspired by the incomparable Ali Edwards. She has just re-published 20 Scrapbook Tips which was originally written in June 2007. I have repeated it, down below, without the pics or the Ali Edwards flair :)
It was exactly what I needed to read today: a virtual kick in my creative pants. It's not that I haven't been making pages, taking photos, writing; I just haven't been too creative.
20 Scrapbooking Tips
1. Get over what you "think" it should
be and just allow it to be ("it" will be
something
different for every person).
2. Examine how you look through the lens of
your camera
. What do you really see? What are
you looking for? Next time you pick up your
camera let yourself play a bit more by
looking up, down, to the sides, etc. of your
subject. There are so many interesting things
out there in the world. I am particularly
interested in the ways things meet together -
people, places, things.
3. White cardstock is always a solid
choice
for the foundation of your layout. I love it.
It is my go-to color of choice.
4. Mix up your page sizes. For the
last year
I have been experimenting with all sorts of
different sizes - this is a huge creative
boost. Online lately I have seen really cool
pages that are 6 inches x 12 inches, 4 inches
x 12 inches, 8 inches x 8 inches, etc. Don't
limit yourself to one size.
5. Keep an inspiration journal. This
is the one of the best things you can do for your
creative self. Don't
judge what you write in it or put in it -
just use it and abuse it and let it be a
place for the things that are scrambling in
your head. For a long time I have had too
many of these and it began to feel way to
scattered. Recently I have combined it into
one notebook - forcing myself to use just one
and go with it.
6. Repetition. Probably my favorite design
principle: do something once and then do it
two more times. Three is a very nice number.
Repeat colors. Repeat shapes. Repeat accents.
7. Expand yourself. Find something else to
learn about next: a new interest, a new
subject. Learning stuff fills you up, gives
you more to draw from when you sit down to
create.
8. Note to self: there is no perfect
layout. Forget about
perfection; rather adopt an attitude that you
will learn something from each layout you
complete. Maybe it will be a new way to
combine colors, create embellishments, or
crop your photos. Maybe it will be that you
totally dislike the way you did something.
Make a mental note and move on to the next
thing.
9. Alphabet stamps in classic typefaces are great for the long haul.
10. Layer. When you are putting a layout
together think in terms of layers: cardstock,
patterned paper, transparency, stickers,
stamps - what can you add on top of the last
layer to make the piece more interesting?
11. Learn how to be self-critical without
putting yourself down. How do you do
this? As
you create stuff ask yourself "does this
really need this accent? Am I adding to the
overall story or am I adding it just to add
it?" There's no right answer - it's more
about developing a general awareness and
connection with yourself as you are creating.
Be ok with stopping yourself and moving on to
the next piece.
12. Just stick it down. If you have been
looking at a single layout for days and days
and days it is probably time to just stick it
all down and move on the next. Isn't it
awesome that there is always another story to
tell?
13. You can never go wrong with circle or
square punches.
14. Collect stuff (and not just
scrapbook supplies). Mail pieces. Tags. Bits of
stuff. Cut it up. Grab a manila folder or a
basket or a box (don't make it complicated)
and stick stuff in there. Regularly dip back
into that spot for ideas and inspiration.
15. Read more about the Art
of Finding.
16. Make sure you are in your scrapbooks.
Take photos of yourself. Set your timer. Hand over your camera. Get together with
friends to take photos of one another. Your
kids and your family will thank you.
17. Bring your scrapbook talents into your
home environment (also known as living with
your art).
Create collages to hang in your
home. Enlarge and frame your favorite photos or layout. Create cool
accents for your mantle with your supplies.
There is so much that can be done with all
those supplies you have collected to bring
your hobby into the living areas in your
home.
18. Take some time to go back over all the
layouts you have created and give yourself a
hug for all the stories you have told. Taking
a look at the body of your work will give you
a whole new perspective on what you have done
and where you want to go next.
19. Create less. Rather
than doing a bunch of layouts just for the sake of filling up an album,
spend more time on just a few stories that really have meaning for you
and your family.
20. Go make something right now. Stop
whining. Stop coming up with excuses. Start now.
Do you incorporate these tips into your creativity? I know I struggle with a few of them. It's so nice to know I'm not alone! Who inspires you? What inspires you? From where do you draw your motivation?