In my monthly San Antonio Scrapbook Club, this is the layout we made for July, keying off on the Reason to Smile stamp set, the Stampin' Up! special this month. I really, really love the Reason to Smile stamp set! Its images are just gorgeous, and here we used it to make our own custom background for this 12 x 12 layout. Reason to Smile is the Stampin' Up! Special this month–you get it for just $5 with any order of $50 or more. That means you can buy $50 in albums, adhesives, papers, etc., and then get this awesome stamp set for just $5. Now that's a deal! As you read on, I'll give you the supply list for this 12 x 12 layout we made in this month's San Antonio Scrapbook Club meeting.
For this 12 x 12 layout, I employed an all neutrals color scheme, and my theme is "memories." While you could put many different types of photos in here, I was thinking, in particular, about black and white photos. I find black and white photos a bit challenging to scrapbook as sometimes, lots of different colors can overwhelm the photos. My scrapbooking "style" is all about the photos. I believe scrapbooking should highlight and enhance my photos. After all, that is what I am wanting to remember, not the amazing scrapbooking technique I just learned:)
I love scrapbooking with my Big Shot! I never make scrapbook pages without Big Shot elements. It just makes it so easy for me to create my own custom embellishments. Here, I used a full Top Note–which can be a photo background or a journaling piece–as well as a 1/2 Top Note. The 1/2 Top Notes, cut in either direction, make fabulous journaling pieces. And I have used the Tasteful Trim Die so much. Being able to cut 12" long pieces of beautiful trim makes scrapbooking in style a cinch:)
For this 12 x 12 layout, I opted for a small "title" signifying my theme. Again, this puts the focus mainly on the photos. My little "memories" flag is embossed in gold for bit of glimmer and shine while still keeping with my antiquey look. I think it's just enough to give cohesion to my 12 x 12 layout, pulling both sides together.
The Vintage Faceted Buttons are perfect for my pages since they are vintagey! These buttons can take on lots of different looks, but I particularly love that they are clear. That makes them super-versatile. I used just one for a subtle bit of light and shine. Sometimes, less is more.
Stamps: Reason to Smile set, Loving Thoughts set
Ink: Basic Black, Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pads
Paper: Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Basic Black Card Stocks; First Edition, Comfort Cafe, and Neutrals Collection Designer Series Papers
Accessories: Big Shot Die Cutting Machine, Tasteful Trim Die, Top Note Die; Scallop Trim Edge Punch, Crumb Cake Seam Binding Ribbon, Vintage Faceted Buttons
My San Antonio Scrapbook Club starts a new round in September. If you are in the area (some members travel to San Antonio from outlying areas for a morning of scrapbook fun), we meet on the 2nd Thursday of each month. We make a 12 x 12 layout (2 pages) each month plus a 3D item like a favor box or bookmark or such. The projects are FREE, and each member places a minimum $25 Stampin' Up! order. Each member also takes her turn at being the "hostess" which simply means she gets $25 in free stuff! Hostess dollars may be spent on anything at all in current Stampin' Up! catalogs. Full information on my San Antonio Scrapbook Club can be found here (scroll down a bit to see the info about scrapbooking). I hope you can join us! We can't wait to stamp and scrap with you:) You will have lots and lots of Reasons to Smile!