What is OUT of style?

This is an interesting subject Amy!

I like to look and drool over all the latest tools and techiques too, because sometimes we just run out of ideas or just need a refresher. Do scrapping tools really go out of style? Say it isn't SO!!!

**Horrors**!!! LOL I guess those are the th> I've been enjoying the April & June issues of CK magazine. In each

(I've made cuts to the original post for length)

I agree with all of those, and would add

• paper dolls (even though they were so much fun)

• shape punches (boy, I own a ton of these)

• letter templates (more computer-generated and die-cut by Sizzix, Quickutz and the like)

-Crystal

wow, I use all of those, guess i'm out of the loop?

I have noticed lately the pages are getting so busy without much thought to journaling. I tend to be more of a simpler scrapper without putting a lot of stuff on the pages. I must be out of style because I just am not getting inspired by the magazines lately. I agree that my beginning techniques lacked in appeal. I used those silly scissors, I used construction paper, and I cut the pictures. UGH. I used a lot of stickers and did a lot of collage. Now I feel less is more a lot of the time. I still like stickers, brads, eyelets, tags, letters, and anything else that strikes my fancy. Ribbon is always a thing I buy. Right now I am making an embellishment for the title swap. I am using beads, wire, vellum, UTEE, I will probably use some sort of ribbon or fibers. I haven't used my beads and wire in a long time. I was happy to get them out and use them for an idea I have. I have been enjoying using transparency for journaling. It really adds to what I am doing. What is driving me nuts are all the papers I have from the slabs and etc that are patterned with big obnoxious patterns and I can't get rid of them nor can I do anything with them. UGH! Jacqui

Amy in Springboro wrote: > I've been enjoying the April & June issues of CK magazine. In each > issue there are articles on what are the latest tools, techniques, etc. > In other words, what's hot. For example, they said that doodling is > the latest thing...(I missed when it went out, but that is me) I don't > have 20 different colors of pens just to journal! LOL! >

I never got into fancy scissor or crazy scissors as we call them here.

I do use my CM cutting system to do ovals and circles. Though I have a few of the shapes like stars and hearts I can't say I've ever used them.

I seldom use a white background and if I do use one it's got a lot of stuff on it and not much shows. teehee

I still love stickers and use them often. Either the letters for titles or just one or 2 here and there to fill in spots I feel are blank.

I do agree everyone has their own style. I didn't know about this until I started showing a scrapping friend of mine the recipe swaps. I would wait to hear her comments on each page before I would say which was mine. She picked mine out every time with out my having to say! Only with the last swap did she have to mull it over between 2 pages and in the end she picked mine. haha

Lynne

Lynne,

I love that you play the which is mine game with your friend... sounds like fun!

I LOVE my punchies... just discovered how cool it is to own a sizzix machine (THANK YOU DAVE!!!!) will never fall out of love of Stickers (still have my sticker collection from when I was a kid... good think I'm no longer adding to it!)

I do have the fiscker cutting "shears" crazy scissors but never ever use them for anything. I should ebay them or garage sale them or something cuz I stick to scrapbooking and don't branch out into other crafts... got to much scrapping to do, don't need the added distractions.

Don't care for fibers but love ribbons. Sometimes I freehand (cut) my pictures as it seems to me some pictures just call for it but mostly I crop with templates. Gosh I've got to start taking pics and uploading all my work again. I am HORRIBLE about posting my pics, I'm sorry everyone.

I love paper tearing but suspect that is something that will eventually "get old." I don't journal enough but I constantly tell myself that if I ever catch up and scrapbook current stuff I will be able to do that accurately by giving the stories. Right now I'm more of a these are the people and location, maybe occasion with a date IF I'm lucky.

Thanks for the topic Amy... when are you coming back to Seattle? I made embellishments to go with my wonderful pooh bear you pieced together for me... still haven't used it yet even though I know what pictures I want them for... oh, too, too much to scrap!

Melissa in Seattle

I don't think good design ever goes out of style. I have been doing document design and desktop publishing since the early `80's. I remember when fonts became readily available on computers. You would see documents with 30 different fonts and then when color printers became affordable you would see

30 fonts in 50 colors. That was horrible and I think still is.

I think if you keep the pages simple and clean and uncluttered you really can't go wrong with what you choose to use. I have seen some scrapbook pages even on DIY Scrapbooking that are just too cluttered, you can't figure out where to look first as everything gets lost in everything else.

Beyond the simple and clean I don't think it matters what tools or materials you use. If you use 20 fonts in 30 colors with 20 papers and 30 shapes and

50 embellishments your going to have a nightmare. It isn't because any of the stuff used is bad, its just they used too much.

I think if people want to improve their design skills then they should look at graphic design and desktop publishing books. There are lots of them, even some that show skeletons of good balanced layout.

Just my 2 cents,

Robert

That's one of my favorite things about having a job doing arts and crafts with kids. I can always get rid of anything I don't need anymore. I had some patterned paper that I bought the first time I ever did a scrapbook page for an extended family album, and I'd only used a few sheets from the pack because the rest of the patterns were kind of, um, cheesy, but the kids at work loved them when we did card making!

Melissa, The promise of my next trip is always on the horizon. (I would have been in TX last week if I was not already on vacation) I'm waiting on the execs to make a final decision on the new office location. I will probably be out to see the new space (unless they decide to build, then there is nothing to see). We've been asked to re-work our fourth budget scenario...none of them are cheap so the execs are not very happy. Hey! Who said rebuilding a 5000 sq ft data center was cheap?!

I promise, the second I have a confirmed flight, my very next step will be to email you that I'm on my way! Unfortunately, in most cases I have less than a week's notice. :-(

Can't wait to see the LO with the pooh bear! Take care!

-- Amy L.

I would say the only thing out of style for me are eyelets because I think brads look nicer. Although I have literally thousands of sheets of patterned paper (I have never passed a stack that I could resist) I have to force myself to use it, I like to use 2-3 colors of cardstock and then add embellishments.

I have to agree with you on the magazines not being that inspiring right now...I have multiple pictures from almost every event, and most layouts just show 1 photo layouts! And they usually are not event driven, which is the way I scrap...while I love the occasional theme page, I just need to get my everyday pictures done!

My complaint about the magazines and even DIY Scrapbooking is nothing is in depth. Most of the articles only talk briefly about an item. Like say stamping, they don't talk about all of the things you can do with a stamp, like only inking a small area, etc. DIY Scrapbooking is the same way, they try to cover too much in the 30 minute show and none if it gives much detail. I would rather see single subject shows and very in depth articles myself.

I also don't find the layout ideas in the magazines useful. Most of the layouts are ok, but not something I would use. Besides I don't know how many times I have seen something in a magazine or on DIY Scrapbooking and went to get it and it isn't available any more. From stamps to tools, to papers, etc. I think they need to do more that is less product specific, more general items like Acrylic paints, stamping in general and not even bring up a specific brand or item, etc. It it really annoying when you can get something you saw and fell in love with.

Robert

Off the main thread - but I wanted to respond...:)

Jacqui -

I have some of those papers too, that came with the slab that I know I will never use....I recently thinned those out, though, and you'd be amazed how well they sell on ebay! Just sell it as a "paper lot," and viola. you won't get top price, neccasarily, but it's better than tossing them. THe other option is to give them to a school or day care.

scrappymissjacqui wrote:

I don't like the magazines either - mainly because I hate to be told what to do!

For me a layout is an organic process, based on the pictures I am using. I can't do premade pages, for instance. And, if I go by a magazine, then I feel like I'll have a layout like everyone else who's read the magazine has, and so not only do I lose some of the fun of the creative process, but I lose the originality too.

I am this way with ANY craft - beading, crocheting, etc. Even if I find a pattern I like, I use it as a start, but I always have to change it to make it my own.

As far as what's out -at least for me (one wo/man's out is another's in

- it's all personal taste)...

The jagged scissors, some stickers (others I still like), solid colors on a white background (I'll use them with patterns, but on there own..blah),...I guess it all depends on what I am doing otherwise...

my 10 cents (adjusted for inflation)

jessica

Hebee Jeebes wrote:

Or, grind them up and make new paper out of them. That works too. Making paper is a good use for scraps as well.

Robert

That too. They have done several seasons with their current format. Maybe we should start e-mailing them and try to get them to make it an hour and to do one subject per show. Like punches, things you can do with punches, how to use them, how to take care of them, how to, etc. Then paint, metal, wire. They could do a complex project from start to finish using the subject of the show. Nothing seems to be very in-depth.

I also have to say I am little sick of their theme music. I record the three shows they have on each down and then watch a weeks worth on Sunday. With 21 shows back to back you would like to kill the person that did the music.

Robert