How to add extra photos to your layout - by Cathy S

Hi All,

It's good to be sharing again and showing you how to stretch your layouts with a fun little mini-album idea.

I was super inspired by our moodboard this month and chose to scrap some beach photos from a few years back. True to form, there are always more photos that can comfortably fit on a double page spread, so what are you to do? Well this is where the mini-album idea comes in.

You will see the flip flops on my left hand page... well actually the polka-dot one is a little accordian album. I don't like having bulky stuff on my layouts, so I like to make my mini-albums as flat as possible, yet not skimp on the space for photos.

Here you can see the album open:

The album is simply made with the width of a 12x12 cardstock by the height of my photos (plus a little space for matting) and then scored to fold accordian-style. The bottom flap is glued directly to my layout. I didn't embellish anything (though you could add rub-ons or stickers) and so it all folds nice and flat. I printed my photos small so that I could use more and still capture the moment.

On this layout, if I left off the mini-album, the flip-flops would just create an extension of the theme, so by turning one into an album, it just stretches the layout ever so slightly.

Why not give it a try and share with us what you make.

Till next time.
Cathy S

String Art

Joan here today sharing a tutorial for “String Art“. An easy technique but a little time consuming.

1) Draw a circle on the back of your paper, mark the circle at equal intervals. Pierce the marks with a paper piercer or a sewing needle.

2) Tape the end of your string/floss near any pierced hole on the back of your paper. This will be hole #1. Bring your string/floss up from the back of your paper through hole #1 to the front side of your paper. Count 10 holes on the front side of your paper and take your string/floss back down through hole #10.

3) Pull your string/floss up through hole #11 and down through hole #2. Repeat this process until you have completed the circle. The string/floss will go through each hole twice.

　

(For this “So Cute” page I used a 9 inch circle and made my piercing at 1 inch intervals).

Changing the intervals or the number of holes skipped will provide different outcomes.

(For this Puddle Jumper page I used a 9 inch circle and made my piercing at ¾ inch intervals.)

July's Challenge

Welcome to the second half of the year, I am not too sure where the first half has gone but gone it has.

This month we are giving you the choice of two very different but gorgeous mood palettes.

Which one will you choose to be inspired by? Shall we see what our creative Design Team came up with?

Joan

Luciana

Mabel

Sue

Out for publication 

 Wendy

Deena

Tina

What an amazing array of work created. I am sure that you will find lots to inspire you.

This month we welcome back  Imaginarium Designs as our sponsor, thank you Imaginarium Designs.

2Crafty Chipboard Guest Designing

It is such an honor to have the 2Crafty Chipboard team popping in to Guest design for us this month. They have totally rocked this months mood palette.

Debbi Tehrani

 Helen Tilbury

Nicole Doiron

Di Garling

Margaret Misfud

Rachael Funnell

Wilma Voermans

Not only did Wilma create this stunning layout she also create a video to share on how she created it. Please follow the link below
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFELg3Y-sDQ

Don't forget to visit the links below to help support 2Crafty who is the sponsor of this month's challenge.

The Scrapbook Store

All About Scrapbooks

Face Book Page

Anna's Craft Cupboard

Blog

Web page

May's Mid Month Reveal

Do you see something in our Mood Board that has created a spark of creativity?

If you don't know what a mood palette is let me explain them to you. We have colours and we have pictures, all you need to do is use use something from them to inspire you. If this means only use 1 thing then that's ok , also if you want to use all of the mood board then that is ok to. Shall we see how the Design Team was inspire?

As always the creations from our Design Team are gorgeous to look at and so diverse. If you would like to see what the other half of what our Design Team created click Here.

Sanna

Fiona

Louise

Romain

Wendy

Sandi

Don't forget to visit 2Crafty Chipboard who are our sponsor this month. They are offering the lucky winner a selection of their  gorgeous chipboard. Who doesn't love chipboard?

Please Note our sponsors this month, 2Crafty, will post Australia-wide only.  International entrants, please note that if you enter, we have to assume that in the event you are chosen as a winner this month, you are prepared to pay the postage for your prize.

March Challenge

February was a short month this year, so we are now into the third month of the year. This means another round of inspiration from our Design Team. The Team have out done themselves this month.

Not only do we have a stunning mood palette but a gorgeous sketch to do along with it, both have been designed by Fiona. 

The team here at Off The Rails Scrapbooking cannot wait to see how you interpret the sketch and layout. Would you like to see what the design team have done.

Wendy

Sue

I'll admit that when I first saw the March palette it didn't excite me, as it looked very "vintage" to me and that is not my usual style. I was reminded that this was supposed to be a challenge though - and I am not one to back down from a challenge! Once I pulled some papers together to suit the palette, I knew I would be able to create something I was happy with. I drew my inspiration for this layout from the sketch, the colours and the image that included the pink flower. (I love that the touches of pink add some extra warmth & depth to my layout.) I hope everyone gives this challenge a go!

Luciana

Hi friends!

This is my inspiration with the sketch and mood board for March!!

This was a great challenge !!! First with the sketch made by Fiona and the second color palette!

They are colors that I use mixed with other strong colors! I liked the end result!

Enjoy!!!!

Tina

Deena

We have a new sponsor on board this month, please help me welcome

Imaginarium Designs

Imaginarium Designs are giving the challenge winner a $50 voucher. (Postage not included)

Happy Creating

Introducing Nicole Doiron

Hello everyone!

My  name is Nicole Doiron from New Brunswick Canada

and I am excited to be here today

at Off the Rails Scrabooking as the February Guest Designer.

Thank you Amanda for this opportunity!

I have been an avid scrapbooker since one of my good friends introduced me to it in 2004. 

It didn't take long before I was passionate about this wonderful hobby!  

My scrapbooking style varies a lot, adapting itself constantly to my moods and inspirations.  

I tend more towards the shabby chic style.  I like to use a lot of embellishments (chipboard shapes, 

flowers, bling, tags, eyelets and brads) and I love to add handmade stitching on a lot of my projects.

My forte is definitely layouts (from single to double-page), but I do also create 

a lot of cards and tags and have been challenging myself 

to create more and more beyond the page projects.  

I am currently on several design teams which keep me extremely busy and inspired:

Scrap Around the World, 2Crafty Chipboard, My Creative Scrapbook, White with One and Scrap our Stash.

You can visit my blog at http://scrap-utopia.blogspot.ca to see more of my creations. 

Here is my take on the hip and trendy February mood board:

  

As you can see, I stayed real close to the colour palette and was inspired by the Eiffel tower image.

This picture was taken by my friend Christine on her trip to Europe a few years back.

I simply modified it in Picassa using the 'tint' option, turning it into the shades I wanted to match the board.

If you look at this page and see more of my creations, 

you will notice that I often had a whitewash (or we could say white snowy) effect to my projects.

It is, some could say, one of my signature style.

I love how it softens up my layouts and gives them more of a shabby chic feel.

It's very easy to accomplish just using a good ol' makeup sponge covered in white acrylic paint that I lightly dab over the edge of papers and over most of my embellishments.

It doesn't always look perfect, but that's the fun of creativity! :)

Hope you have enjoyed my post!

Thank you Nicole for being our GDT, and we loved her work so very much that I've ask her to join us on the DT, and doing a happy dance,  Nicole excepted!!  So you'll be seeing more of her amazing work in the future. 

Thanks again Nicole

January Mid Month Reveal

Can you believe that it is coming to the mid point of the month already. This means that we have more amazing inspiration from our very talented Design Team. 

Sanna

My take on this moodboard is slightly different to my usual style, but I absolutely loved creating this layout with these colours!! This is one of my favorite colour palettes of all time :)! I´ve gone totally flowery and romantic with glitter and all with this one. Had a great time creating this one - hope you will too :)!!

Tina

Sue

Luciana

Gayle

Catie

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