has anyone seen the movie 'crazy beautiful', where kirsten dunst's character makes this really cool 'scrappy' scrapbook, with polaroid pictures, and masking tape, and ripped bits of notepaper and postcards and stuff? i LOVE THAT SCRAPBOOK!
this is the way i started scrapbooking, ripping things out and taping or sticking them into a book or journal, doodling, doing whatever felt fun at the time - free from lots of scrapbook products and 'trendy stuff' (which i DO love, i just love my pages more when i use in moderation!). i love to come back to those basics, just making a scrapbook for my family using whatever i find or paint or stitch in there. imperfect photos. bad photos even. but ones that make me smile, that remind me of my life, and the stories we have, written in my own imperfect handwriting. this is the kind of thing i want to have shelves of when i am old :)
this is what *i* love doing, what makes it feel real to me. and i know and LOVE that everybody is different, everyone has their own taste and style and way of doing things that are never going to be exactly like anyone else. so when i teach a class, it just doesn't feel right to *me* to make something and get everyone to do it exactly the same. i like to show some of my favourite techniques and give everyone some fun things to play with, and let them create - and i have seen some of the most amazing ideas come from this, stuff that just blows me away - i love getting inspired from everyone who comes to my class!
so i am really looking forward to teaching my new class '12'...i am teaching in 3 times next month and i can't wait to see what happens in the classes! i will be sharing and demonstrating heaps of fun ways to use paint, and we will crank out 12 double pagers, a cover page and a funky album cover! i can't wait!
for the samples, i made 2 different albums - the idea is for the album to cover a year in your life, but it can really be anything at all ;)
i made one album for ivy's year of being 3, and one for our family adventures in 2006. i loved loved loved making these. no, they are not exactly autumn leaves book material, they are scrappy scrapbook pages - and i think those are my favourite kind! here are the pages from the 2 albums :)
awesome...really i agree about the whole, just rip out and tape in kind of "scrap" book. i just started a new scrapbook just for me...more of a journal..in a cute little shabby chic composition book from target. love the 12 theme....need to make a book for my baby who will be two this week....YEAR 2....need to get busy...thanks for the inspiration. j
Posted by: jamie | February 23, 2007 at 10:55 PM
this method of "scrappy" scrapbooking completely resonates with my own methodology (for lack of a better word) for preserving my memories.
nothing in my life has been perfect; so why would i want to create a false reality of perfection in my scrapbooks?
the first time i saw crazy/beautiful was right around the time i started scrapping myself. some of my own favorite creations are the ones where i just scribbled endlessly, smacked on a photo or two, nothing but cardstock, pen and adhesive.
absolutely not-so-perfect-perfect.
love your approach.
Elizabeth
Posted by: Elizabeth | February 23, 2007 at 11:27 PM
wowowowow - SO colorful and happy all together there in the collage. Can't help but feel lifted up seeing something like this and love the idea of "just" 1 year (12) double pages to focus on one person. What a special gift that would make at the end of the year.
t
Posted by: tonya | February 24, 2007 at 01:05 AM
Geez, Emily!! You are amazing... LOVE all of it (of course!) and YOU too!
Posted by: Morgan | February 24, 2007 at 01:08 AM
this would be such a fun book to create in your class...hmmm...wanna come to mn and teach it? :)
Posted by: beth j | February 24, 2007 at 01:37 AM
12 double page spreads in one class...amazing!
As I am a very slow scrapper most of the time I find that I am totally impressed and in awe of your output.
I find you very inspiring.
Wish I could get to Perth for your class...sigh
Posted by: Sue | February 24, 2007 at 03:05 AM
I *LOVE* these layouts! They are so beautiful! I wish I could look through them in person and feel the textures on them. It would be so fun to take a class from you sometime...maybe someday. I love your "12" concept. Thanks for sharing - these are so inspiring!
Posted by: Ashley Schultz | February 24, 2007 at 04:23 AM
you never cease to amaze me.. i so wish i could take your class my friend!
hope you are feeling well... take it easy and know that you are in my heart!
Posted by: Coconutgoddess | February 24, 2007 at 05:00 AM
Just magnificent Em! I love every page :) So bright, fun, joyful...so full of life!
Can't wait to take your class in April!
Lusi x
Posted by: Lusi Austin | February 24, 2007 at 07:22 AM
I AM SO BLESSED! I get to meet and see you 1 week from today for this class!!! I took "12" and "I AM/YOU ARE"! The sample for 12 is SO AWESOME! Thanks for sharing! This class is going to ROCK!
Posted by: Tanya | February 24, 2007 at 08:48 AM
have you seen elizabethtown? she makes a really cool scrapbook in that movie too.
Posted by: Amanda McAnnally | February 24, 2007 at 09:21 AM
Oh how I needed this post! :) Thanks Emily for sharing your approach to scrapping, and they are SO happy those pages! Love your creativity and how you share it with us!
Posted by: jennifer davis | February 24, 2007 at 09:34 AM
And, I just have to add...wow! Really, your pages are so free and beautiful...a happy start to my morning!
Posted by: jennifer davis | February 24, 2007 at 09:38 AM
You totally ROCK EMILY.....!!! This is so AWE INSPIRING...Beautiful works of art.. LOVE IT!!
T~ x0x
Posted by: Tanya Ellis | February 24, 2007 at 10:35 AM
Love your philosophy on teaching! I've gone to some classes where you get "in trouble" if you stray from the exact layout the instructer is teaching. Love that artwork! Have a wonderful day! Kim
Posted by: Kimberly White | February 24, 2007 at 10:38 AM
Gorgeous pages, love the flow the paint gives all the layouts. I've never really used paint for my all over background--I wish I could take your class!
Also love your philosophy of teaching--it's all about inspiring, not dictating. I think that can be frightening to some people who want more direction, but I also think they would get the biggest bump in self-confidence by really flying solo!
Posted by: Ann Marie | February 24, 2007 at 10:44 AM
you are TRULY amazing at this!! Em, I LOVE that movie!! I remember loving the picture part of it...how she would just snap away without making sure everything was always composed perfectly or even in focus....LOVED that!
Your albums are fantastic!!!
Posted by: suzanne | February 24, 2007 at 10:58 AM
Whoa! I love the whole "feel" of these pages. And the colors are absolutely gorgeous.
Posted by: Michelle Baker | February 24, 2007 at 12:08 PM
ahhhhhhhhh come to dfw in texas please and teach a class!! that album looks awesome!
Posted by: Leah | February 24, 2007 at 12:22 PM
oh my freaking, holy cow!
EM! this is SO INSPIRING!!!! i have been feeling SO overwhelmed and this is SO PURE. it feels like real memories. I love you. :) e
Posted by: elsie | February 24, 2007 at 12:28 PM
Ooooo oooo oooo! I'm signed up for this class next weekend and it looks awesome! Can't wait to take it!
Posted by: Jennifer | February 24, 2007 at 01:16 PM
merci for sharin'!
yep, you're right!
be different!
it's our power!
hugs*
{ThE freNcH tOuCh}
http://prolix.typepad.fr
Posted by: PROLIX from la Normandie | February 24, 2007 at 03:01 PM
oh i love this. i think too many times scrappers get worried about whether their pages are "good" enough. i know as a beginner i got a little to caught up in the whole "products" make it better way of scrapping. sometimes they do [and i too love products] but it's not the important part, the memories are.
my favorite has to be the masking tape smacked right on a couple pages. i will definitly be doing one of these, especially since i can't come to one of your classes.
Posted by: kerry : k8tykat | February 24, 2007 at 03:57 PM
those are great!!!
Posted by: lisa | February 24, 2007 at 04:23 PM
Great album. Can't wait till you are here in Florida teaching us at RR. Signed up for all your classes last week.
Jeannie
Posted by: Jeannie | February 24, 2007 at 04:47 PM