Dinolicious

Ryan loves to play with his 4-D dinosaurs all the time. Therefore, I've thought of capturing this moment for him to cherish in future.

The title of this layout actually came from my screen name. Ryan often forgets and refuses to eat his meals when he is playing with his dinosaurs just liked when I forgets my meals when I'm scrapping. That's why I've gave myself the screen name "Scrapperlicious". I guess for Ryan dinosaurs are more delicious than his meals. Therefore, I've named the layout "Dinolicious".

I've used various techniques in this layout.

First of all, I've used the "Inking In Layers with Masks" technique (refer to tips and tricks section) for the dinosaurs bones or fossils.

Secondly, I've created an acrylic paints frame to frame the photograph. (Refer to "Create a Frame Using Acrylic Paint" in my tips and tricks section)

Thirdly, I've created a Dino Autograph using "Toys as Stamping Tools" technique. (Refer to my tips and tricks section)

This a multi-techniques layout that I've had so much fun while creating it.

Create a Frame using Acrylic Paint

I know that this technique might not be anything new, but I would just liked to share this twist of mine in that technique. I've recently created a layout title "Dinolicious" in my family gallery using this technique.

To create an acrylic paint frame, just follow the steps below:

1. Place your matting of your photograph onto your cardstock.

2. Using some acrylic paints, dabbed around the edges of the mat and partly overflowing onto the cardstock. (This is to hide the straight edges of the original mat) Try to mix different colours of acrylic paints for a more interesting look.

3. Add some doodling directly on top of the dried acrylic paints. Try to doodle the whole of the section which are covered by the acrylic paints.



4. To add your photograph, use a cuticle scissors or an crafting knife, cut part of your doodle which overflows towards your photograph.



With that you will have your very own tailored made acrylic paint frame for your photograph in your layout.

Toys as Stamping Tools

I've previously posted a topic "Toys as Tools" in the tips and tricks section. This is an extension to that post. In my previous post, I've promised myself to try to use a dinosaur foot print in one of my layout. Therefore, in my latest layout titled "Dinolicious" in my family gallery, I've used this technique.





In this layout, I've used the foot prints from Ryan's dinosaurs to create a dinosaur autograph tag.

Heroes Of Earth Concert

Details on page 1:

Details on page 2:

This is a layout about a concert that we've went to in March. It's a concert by Lee Hom, a very talented Taiwanese singer and the name of the concert is "Heroes Of Earth".

The inspiration for this two-page layout is from the Chinese opera masks used during the concert. This theme of the concert based very much on the ancient Chinese cultures and the characteristics of ancient heroes in China.

There are so many photographs that I want to include into this layout. Therefore, I've come up with the idea of doing a layout with flip open photographs pile. (You can refer to "Flip Open Photos Pile" in my tips and tricks section.) I've also journaled individually about each photograph behind all the photographs in this layout.

I've tried to create an ancient feel to this two page layout. By using some nests of shapes, I'm able to create the ancient medallion look for these pages. The swirl punches on the edges and the gold colour details also add some Asian look to the layouts.

Flip Open Photos Pile

I believed that some of you had done photos pile in your layouts. The only problem is that we always dare not include too many photographs in order not to block the view of all the photographs. Recently I've done a layout about a concert that I've went to and there are too many photographs that I wish to include in my layout. Therefore, I've thought of creating a flip open photos pile for this layout.

To create a flip open photos pile, simply follow the steps below:

1. Gather all the photographs that you want to include into the layout and try to lay them out on your empty cardstock. Try to arrange it in a way that you can flip the photos in a particular order and also try to create an interesting design with your arrangement. (Do not worry about your photos overlapping)

2. Mat all your photographs and add a 1 or 2 inch tab where you want your photos to flip open. Brads will be added to these tabs to enable the photos to flip open. (Tip: make sure you have at least 1/3 of the tab attached securely onto the photos)

3. You can add some journaling at the back of each individual photographs that's in the pile. I've journaled about each individual photographs in my layout. Add a little decorations to it to create more interest.

4. Lastly, try to flip open all the photos one by one until finally you are able to flip open all of them and reveals all the journalings behind them.

By using this technique, you are able to create a layout with lots of photographs and yet not blocking the view of each of them. You are also able to create a more interesting page by adding a mini journaling layout behind each and every photos in your layout.

For the finished layout, you can refer to my layout "Heroes Of Earth Concert" in my family gallery.

Techniques for Inking

Do you use ink on your layouts? How do you apply your inks? Most of us would ask these questions before we develop our own inking style that suits best for ourselves. One of my forum friend actually asked me this question and I think it's best to include it here for all to read. Traditionally, inks are used for stamping only but nowadays, you could see more and more layouts has ink on them directly. Inks are applied directly to layouts to create different looks. In this discussion, I will divide it into to categories. What do we use to ink? How do we apply the ink?

What do we use to ink?
There are various mediums that we could use to apply inks on our layouts.

~ink pads: This is the most direct way to apply your ink. Rub your ink pads directly onto your surfaces. This would give a distressed drag over look. However, we have very little control over the amount of ink on the surfaces. Despite the catch, this is a great way to ink on a large surface.

~balls or pieces of cotton wools: This is great for applying ink to small areas, however it soaks up too much ink and dries up too fast before you could apply your ink onto your surfaces. You will be running out of ink before you know it.

~face or toilet tissues: These mediums shared the same problems with the cotton wools. It dries up too fast and it does not apply the ink smoothly. I would not recommend this to anyone.

~soft sponges: This is also a great medium to use but its' softness reduces our controls in the process of inking. It also soaks up quite an amount of ink and wear out fast.

~triangular rubberish cosmetic sponges: This is the medium that I've used most. The triangular shape actually have a few different sides where we could use it to apply different colours of inks and it has sharp edges for easy inking on smaller or intricate surfaces. The rubberish sponge actually does not soak up very much ink and do not wear out very fast.

How do we apply the ink?

~Dabbing: This is the most common technique that most of us use. There won't be too much ink on our surface and it's easier to control over the darkness of the shades on our layouts.

~Rubbing in circles or strokes: This technique would give a more darker shade on your layout. Use it on areas or edges where you want it to look more defined. Rubbing in circles is also a great way to blend different shades of inks together and leaving you a smooth look.

~Soft strokes: This is a great technique if you are using the triangular rubberish cosmetic sponge to ink. Use the sharp edge of the sponge to start (this will be areas that you want it to be of a darker shade) and then slowly swipe your sponge towards surfaces that you would want it to be of a lighter shade. This will give a saturation of colours look to your surfaces.

I hope with this post, it would help any of my readers who needs some advice on inking.

Using Leftovers from New Stencils on Layouts

This is actually a post to explained further about the dragonfly that I've created in my layout titled "Determination" in my family gallery. Quite a number of my blog readers and forum friends love that dragonfly and would liked to know in detail for the steps in creating it. Some readers asked me whether I've stenciled that dragonfly. The answer is no. Some friends asked me whether I've hand-drawn that dragonfly. The answer is no.

The answer to the above questions can be explained in the steps below:

1. Looked for some leftovers of any of your new cardboard or cardstock stencils. Most of these stencils come with their stenciling area pre-cut but not removed yet. We would normally removed these pieces and throw it away before stenciling. Now with this technique, you would want to save all those pieces up.

2. Put some adhesives or liquid glue behind those pieces before removing them directly to your layout.

3. Put it directly on your layout and using a pencil or tweezer, slowly give a little push on those pieces and secure them down on the layout. This will ease the placing process.

4. Lastly, use some ink, gel pens, paint markers or any art materials you want to decorate it and give some details to eat. You can even tailored your colour on it to match your layout.

This technique actually give a more dimensional look to the layout and placing it anywhere in the layout is possible unlike stenciling.

Just another tip, you can also use these pieces as masks. So next time if you come across these cheap cardboard stencils, think twice before you throw any pieces away.

Determination

This is a layout that truly from my thoughts and happiness for Ryan's development. Ryan tries so many times to tie his own shoe laces and never give up. His concentration and determination to achieve his goal of getting his shoe laces done by himself really inspired me in this layout.

Therefore, I've named this layout "Determination". This title had inspired me to do a layout with depth in it. I've thought of the inking in layers technique for the background of this layout. I know that you need a lot of patience and determination to use this technique. For a twist, I've used masks in the layering technique. For more details on this technique, refer "Inking in Layers with Masks" in my tips and tricks section.

I've used the tags pile technique again (refer to "Tags Pile on Layouts" in my tips and tricks section) to weigh on the lower right corner and I've balanced it with a large dragonfly on the opposite top corner. The dragonfly is created using some leftovers from a new chipboard stencil. It's actually the part where we took off and throw away when we want to use the new stencil. Using just a little inking and detailing, I have a more dimensional dragonfly compared to just stenciling.

Noticed that I've stamped in three different shades for the design below the circle photograph of Ryan trying to tie his shoe lace. This actually resembles his stage of progress in this development skill. The lighter shade represent his first time trying it. Then as he improves, the shades get darker and clearer.

Inking in Layers with Masks

This is a technique which I've used in my latest layout titled "Determination" in my family gallery. The title of the layout actually gave me the inspirations to use this technique on the layout. You need a lot of patience and determination in this technique.

To create a background using this "inking in layers with masks" technique, simply follow the steps below:

1. Placed your masks in any design you want on a cardstock. Stick it down using some temporary adhesives or just use a normal sticky tape and fold it in a circle.

2. Using triangle shaped cosmetic sponge, inked on all the edges of the masks. You can use whatever colours you wish.

3. Remove the masks and you will have your first layer. Don't worry about its' first look as it will gets better as you add more layers to it.

4. Place the masks for your second layer and inked on it again. (repeat step 2)

5. Remove the masks and you will have your second layer. The different tones and shades of areas are beginning to form. The places that you've inked most times, will have a darker shade and vice versa.

6. Placed your masks for the third layer and inked it again. (repeat step 2) My layout has only three layers of inking and masking, therefore I've to make sure that the masks placements are where I want the layout to look liked or at least it looks balanced.

7. Removed the masks and you will have your third layer. This is the final layer in my layout and I've tried to used a different colour ink to enhance the look of it.

You can do as many layers as you wish as long as you don't over soak the cardstock with too much ink on it. Try not to do designs which are too complex as it won't turn out well. Try it!

Rollover

This is my latest layout about Chloe. This is a layout about her achieving the stage of rollover.

That's why the title of the page is "Rollover". In this layout, I've handwriiten the title directly on the photograph. This is to fill up a little space in the big photograph and to link the title directly to the photograph.

The inspiration for this layout came to me when I was reading a scrapbooking magazine about a digital layout which used tags pile technique in it. It was so easy when you are doing a digital layout. I was wondering, how would it be like if I were to do it in a paper layout? Is it possible or would it look nice? With that, I've started to work on this layout.

If I were to use only the big photograph of Chloe in this layout, it would make the layout looked bias on the vertical view. Therefore, I've cropped another two smaller photographs of Chloe taken from different angle and put them together with the big photograph to make the layout looked balanced.

I've also balanced the tags pile on the right by creating a corner of flowers and swirls on the top left corner of the layout.

In this layout, I don't want to over crowded the page by adding more tags or paper to journal on but I still want to make it more visible. Therefore, I've left part of the background paper uninked and later journaled on it.

To read more about creating tags pile, you can refer to "Tags Pile on Layouts" in my tips and tricks section.

I've used the steel ruler technique on the photograph and the matting. You can refer to"Using Steel Ruler on Photographs" in my tips and tricks section to read more about this technique.