You know that line in the grocery store -it’s always the shortest line- people with teeny tiny baskets who just popped in for a few items. You know what I’m talking about, the Express Lane. If you want to fly through your scrapbooking, like the Express shoppers, then follow my four simple steps to finish pages in half the time by limiting your supplies.
So instead of filling your pages with lots of products, like an overfilled grocery cart, try using just five items or less on your next page. Sound tough? It’s not! I’ll show you my easy plan for getting scrapbook pages done in 30 minutes or less using five or fewer products, not including photos, patterned paper, cardstock, or adhesive.
I choose items that complement my photos and help tell the story. Here are my steps for choosing these products and creating a simple layout:
- Choose your background paper, cardstock or patterned. (I like kraft cardstock because it shows off the vibrancy of my photos.)
- Pick your accent paper. (Try pre-cut paper strips, border stickers, or sticker strips to make page assembly quick.)
- Choose your products for your page title, like chipboard, letter stickers, rub-ons, or stamps.
- Pick an embellishment (or two) that adds character, such as flowers, brads, acrylic accents, buttons, or ribbon.
Loves to Swing
Materials: acrylic heart (Heidi Swapp) + journaling stamp (7gypsies) + letter stamps (Autumn Leaves) + ribbon (Little Black Dress Designs) + die-cut border (Doodlebug Designs) + 8 ½ x 11 page by Tina Cockburn
For this first project, “Loves to Swing”, I used letter stamps for my title, which are great for saving time and money. You can use your favorite font over and over again in a variety of colors without ever replenishing your supply. While you have your stamp pad out, use a journaling stamp for a quick place to write your memories.
Total Time: 20 minutes
Shades
Materials: patterned papers, border sticker (KI Memories) + letter stickers (Heidi Swapp) + stamp (Autumn Leaves) + 8 ½ x 11 page by Tina Cockburn
Total Time: 15 minutes
Cutie
Materials: patterned papers (Making Memories, Scenic Route) + ribbon, foam letters (American Crafts) + rubber accent (Love, Elsie) + word stickers (7gypsies) + 8 ½ x 11 page by Tina Cockburn
Total Time: 20 minutes
Beach Adventures
Materials: tag (Making Memories) + letter stickers (EK Success) + journaling stamp (Autumn Leaves) + border stickers (KI Memories) + 8 ½ x 11 page by Tina Cockburn
Total Time: 30 minutes
Goof Ball
Materials: patterned paper (KI Memories) + journaling card (Maya Road) + foam stickers (American Crafts) + letter stickers (Making Memories) + die-cut borders (Doodlebug Design) + word sticker (7gypsies) + 8 ½ x 11 page by Tina Cockburn
If you haven’t noticed, I love working with small photos. Adobe Photoshop has an automated contact sheet feature that actually allows you to print different sized thumbnails, and this feature works perfectly for this layout. It makes using multiple photos easier within the confines of my standard 8 ½ x 11 format.
Total Time: 20 minutes
So if your scrapping time is as limited as mine is and if simple scrapbooking is your goal, try using five items or less on your next layout – go ahead! It’s okay! I promise!
- Tina Cockburn
Tags: Inspiration
