Journalling is very important to me
I’d rather have loads of journalling on my pages and fewer “designer” techniques. I write about the things we talked about, the things that made us laugh, and the reason we went in the first place! I also love old books, mismatched vintage buttons, faded ribbons, chipped china plates...with objects and with people, I think it’s the imperfect things that make us beautiful and interesting and real. Sanding, inking, chalking, distressing...there are so many ways to add a little “instant aging” to a project to give it that not-so-perfect look.
Walking away gives me perspective
My journalling is generally done beforehand and saved on my computer so when I get ready to do the page, I experiment with fonts so it fits in with the photos. Then I dig out my embellishments and see how to incorporate them. At this point I generally place all the elements on the page and go upstairs for a cup of tea. When I come back to the project, I go with my first reaction to the page: If I immediately like it, I glue it down. If it doesn’t quite work, I move a few things, add some embellishments or take some away. I’ve found the “walk away” process really helps me get a fresh perspective.
Great photos inspire me to scrap
I travel a lot, so it’s important for me to capture the mood and experience of each trip. For cards, I’m really inspired by products, like new papers or embellishments. Sometimes I make cards just to try out my new things! For product development at HOTP, inspiration comes from really different sources, but generally I come up with new products or techniques after a long evening experimenting with my stuff and asking, “what would happen if I...”. Of course, my main motivation with each kind of project is the deadline!
I experiment to come up with HOTP ideas
I want to try things out because I know most people are busy and don’t have the time or resources to do the “what if” game with their supplies. I want to turn new techniques and styles into easily-reproduceable projects. I want to make it easy for everyone to get a designer look quickly and easily—and have fun! That’s why I love the “imperfect” approach…scrapbooking shouldn’t be stressful or make you anxious. It doesn’t have to be perfect!
Brilliant Brad idea
My current favorite is combining 22-millimeter Great Big Brads with a 3/4" circle punch. I punch a circle of paper, then ink around the edges and glue it to the head of the brad. It’s a perfect fit, and you can still see a rim of metal around the paper. Then I use the brad to attach a silk flower to my card or page. It’s a quick, simple technique but it looks so great!
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