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Event Scrapbooking: Creating Pages + AlbumMagic is Back

At this point, I've already chosen my photos, created a basic design from which to create each layout and have pre-selected my digital supplies.

The next step is to begin making pages.  For most of us this is easier said than done.  Where do you begin?

It's not really important where you begin, just that you do.  

A big project can be overwhelming, so break it down into smaller manageable tasks.  Focus on one event at a time, as opposed to looking at all the events in the series.  My event count for my Martial Arts is 11.  I am doing a double page for each event so that's 22 pages.  That's quite a daunting task.  I overcome it by choosing to put that number out of mind and tackle just one event at a time.

You can start at the beginning, at the end or somewhere in the middle, whatever works for you.  Start chronologically or begin with the photos that inspire you most.  Pick an event and create your first page. The first page is always the most difficult, but once complete, you'll have *broken the ice.* That's half the battle in starting a project like this.

I began with Ella's most recent testing, in which I defined my design and layout, added the photos and then completed my page from my pre-selected folder of digital supplies for this project.

After you have completed your first page, it's matter of switching up your basic design to create the remaining pages in your series.  

Repetition and consistency in design principles and use of digital supplies is key in creating an album that is cohesive.

I completed my second page using my newly released Event Layered Template No. 2:

I made simple modifications to the template to make it work for the photos I have for this particular event. The majority of my Martial Arts images are of portrait orientation, so I added some white lines to the White Frame Overlay and duplicated the masks accordingly. Essentially, this splits a landscape FotoMask to create 2 portrait-style FotoMasks.  

Notice:  

1)  I created the most recent event first, the one that I was most inspired by, and then moved to a more chronological approach to creating my pages.

2)  The more photos I have in a layout, the fewer digital supplies I use. 

Additional pages created using this design model:

Next: Event Scrapbooking:  Flexibility to Change

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Want to learn more about my AlbumMaking process?

AlbumMagic is re-open for registration.  

Back by popular demand for it's third run, this 3-week course in AlbumCreation will have you *knocking out* albums, one after another, and faster than you've ever completed them before.

AlbumMagic delivers an in-depth view into my AlbumMaking process and divulges all my *secrets* in detail, as I teach you, through videos and PDF supporting files, my step-by-step process for creating a cohesive album.  

This class is not just about creating a single album but rather it teaches you about the process of creating albums.  I provide you with a framework, the knowledge you need to customize that framework, and teach you exactly how to tailor each detail to fit you, your photos and your scrapbooking preferences.

Whoever you are, wherever you are in life, and whatever memories you're documenting, this class is totally designed for you.

You can check out the details here.  I hope to see you in class.

Event Scrapbooking: Digital Supplies + Martial Arts Resources

Digital supplies are FUN.  They are my favorite aspect of scrapbooking because they enable me to personalize and add creativity to my layouts.

The biggest challenge in using digital supplies effectively is knowing how to find a harmonious balance between the supplies and the photos on any given page. The aim is for the supplies to enhance a page, and not overwhelm it.  

I allow the photos to lead my layout, which is why I add them first.  This allows me to visually assess the scope remaining for use of digital supplies, and fill in any *gaps*.  In event scrapbooking, I use supplies as *gap fillers* as opposed to *embellishers*.  I want to the supplies to contribute to my page and not make it look too busy.  As a rule of thumb, the more photos I have on a layout, the fewer digital supplies I will use, and vice versa.  With regards the layout I've been working on, there is not a whole lot of scope for supplies because the photos dominate the page.

Selecting digital supplies for a project of series of layouts can be problematic due to the sheer volume available on our hard drives.  More choice can make the process more complex, especially when you also factor in personal preference, color and style.

It's important to establish your preferences.  

I personally like to scrap based on the colors in my photos.  I'm also what I call a *flat scrapper*, in that I tend to shy away from a lot of dimensional elements, in favor of brushes.  I am also not too concerned about themed kits i.e. I don't need, or necessarily want to use, a Martial Arts kit to create Ella's Martial Arts album.  These established preferences help to narrow down the choices.

I like to create custom kits for the projects or series of layouts that I am *attacking*, and when I talk about creating a kit, I'm not talking about designing a kit.  Creating kits for specific projects involves pulling supplies together from different kits, element packs and collections into a new folder created especially for that project. 

Tip: I make copies of these files so the originals remain where they are saved. Copying files allows me to delete the duplicates after I have completed the project.

The kits for Ella's Martial Arts albums is entitled *Martial Arts Kit*, and includes a variety of subfolders and solid papers.  The solid papers are pulled from several solid paper packs by Andrea Victoria and I have re-colored them using Hue/Saturation in Photoshop to represent each of the Martial Arts belts she has earned/will work toward.  Image > Adjustments> Hue and Saturation.

The Kit:

Brushes:

Elements:  

Patterned Papers:

I also downloaded 2 free fonts from Dafont: Karate and Karate Chop, and a set of shapes to supplement my Martial Arts No. 1 BrushSet.  

Tip: Dingbats, custom shapes and vectors can provide simple iconography to a themed page.

Notice: The supplies are based on a white/black/blue/red color scheme to support the colors in my photos.  The exercise mats in my images are a vibrant orange which is quite over-powering, so by supporting the other colors with my supply choices I can increase the visibility of those more traditional martial arts colors.   In other words, I'm basically making the most of what I've got.

I may not use all these supplies.  I will likely narrow it down further as I begin working on the pages and get a feel for which supplies are working best with the photos I have.  I may also add to my *master* kit as this project is on-going and will continue for as long as Ella chooses to pursue the sport. The point is that this kit is a starting point.  It's a *go to* for all current and future Martial Arts pages, that will hopefully save me some time in the long term.

Note:  I cover this process in much more detail in my AlbumMagic class which I will be re-running for those interested, in November 2010.  Specifics and class content can be found at ReneePearson.com.

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Next: Event Scrapbooking: Finding your Groove.

Event Scrapbooking: Design and Layout

The design and layout of any page are the nuts and bolts of any page, and the more photos and events you have to scrapbook, the more complex this process can become.  

I'm all about making the process more simple.

You basically have 2 choices when it comes to the design and layout of a page or series of pages.  You can design the layout(s) yourself or use a template or series of templates designed by someone else.  Ella's Martial Arts photos definitely fall in the *series of events* category.  I could design a different layout for each one of her events, but this is definitely more work, and therefore more time-consuming, than selecting a single design or template, and tweaking it to accommodate my photos for each event.

You may consider the following when designing a layout or choosing a template:

• Single or double page?  My preference for scrapbooking events is to use a double page spread because it provides a larger canvas to accommodate my MultiFoto approach.
• The number of photo masks or spaces required.  I always like to go with more photo masks than I think I need.  I can always fill in the *extras* with digital supplies.
• The orientation of my photos.  Are they predominantly landscape or portrait? 
• The weight or importance of each photo.  Favorite or more important photos might be larger than the other photos on your page.
• Do you have a series of photos that you wish to use in your layout?  In which case, these photos should be placed on the page in sequence.

Select a template according to these considerations.  I have a number of double page templates in the DesignerDigitals store.  I also highly recommend Lynn Grieveson's Scrap Express series for a more *traditionally scrapped*, and less graphic, approach.

If you would like to design your own layouts, I recommend creating your pages based on a grid.  Grids have the most flexibility when it comes to adjusting the size and orientation of photo masks or placement. See Cathy Zielske's Multi-Photo Grid Tutorial on Ali Edwards website to learn how to create a basic grid, and Grid Based Design 101 by Most Inspired for a different look at grids.

Here's the design I came up with for Ella's Martial Arts Testings.  I have created a template and have clipped her most recent testing photos to the various photo masks, to demonstrate the flow of the story.  

Notice how the photos take up the majority of the page, and that the more important photos are larger than the others.  There is room for journaling on the layout, and I will add a few anecdotes of the day, but essentially, the photos tell the story. 

I love this simple approach when dealing with lots of photos.

I intend on using this same grid design to complete pages for the photos I have, and those photos yet to come, adjusting the photo masks to accommodate each set of photos as I go.  With each event it will be a case of small adjustments and adding the photos as opposed to starting from scratch with each event.

And though I have added strips at the bottom of the grid to represent Ella's belt stripes, these could totally be replaced with ribbons, strips of patterned paper or text, and used for any type of sporting or social event, making this design appropriate for any MultiFoto event layout.

All of a sudden the task of getting Ella's Martial Arts photos into an album is now completely achievable, and I can totally see myself using this layout as a template for other pages too.

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Next:  Event Scrapbooking:  Digital Supplies

Event Scrapbooking: The Photos

There are always lots of them.

I've noticed I become a lot more *snap happy* when I'm taking photos of special events and  I think this is because of the *importance factor*.  I'm very aware of every single second and I want to capture as much of it as possible.  I have that fear that all photographers have.  What if I miss any of the all-important shots?  I therefore overcompensate and end up with many more photos than I actually require.

This leaves me with the overwhelming task of deciding which photos I want to use.  

The more photos I use the more complex the layout is to put together.  If I return to the jigsaw puzzle analogy, a 100 piece puzzle is more challenging, and time-consuming, to complete than one that has just 10 pieces. 

It also a fact, that more photos means smaller photos on a page.

So how do I choose?

I look at the event or story I want to document and make an outline of the highlights.  I basically need just one photo to represent each highlight with the option, if I choose, to add in a few *fillers*, that I might not be able to can't pass up.  I like to set myself parameters in which to work as opposed to steadfast rules to which I must adhere.

• A birthday, for example, would include a couple of photos to capture all the guests that attended, the entertainment, the food, blowing out the candles, opening presents, and any other important occurances unique to this event.
• For a wedding, it would include a combination of classic shots of the wedding events, as well as the unique captures.
• For Ella's testing, I am thinking along the lines of her warming up, being part of the bigger picture, doing her form and self-defense, answering questions posed by the black belt table, breaking her board and receiving her new belt.

You get the picture.

What I am trying to do is establish an outline for my story, just as I would if I were writing it.  With these points in mind, I then go to my photos folder and look for one photo that represents each one of my predetermined highlights.   If I do happen to have a good sequence of shots that give an indication to the motion or action of the event, I will consider using these in succession as part of the layout, or I might create an additional layout using these images.

I tend not to delete images unless they are exact duplicates or cannot be saved in any way, shape or form. I usually create a new folder and transfer copies of the images I wish to use for a layout into that folder.

All of a sudden, 10 photos is a lot less daunting than 100, and I'm more inclined to actually get these photos onto a page or two.  

My wise friend, Zalaine, said in the comments yesterday, "Glad we have a slew of photos for them to see but probably could have taken 1/2 and been just as happy."

I think she's totally dead on. It's the conclusion I have come to over the past few years through observation of my own scrapbooking journey.  I have noticed, having documented several birthdays, Martial Arts testings, vacations, for example, that the outlines remain the same, only the content changes.  

This has lead me to begin the selection process at the source i.e. when I'm taking the photos.  I have basically become more mindful about the number of photos I take at any given event.  Going in with a plan, an outline of shots that I'm aiming for, has reduced some of the angst I have about missing something important, and has allowed me to enjoy the view as a Mother, and not just a scrapbooker.   

The camera, however, rarely leaves my hand, just in case some unplanned or out-of-the-ordinary happens.

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Next: Event Scrapbooking: Design and Layout

Scrapbooking Life's Special Events

Ella transitioned into the Black Belt Club a few months ago, and tested for her yellow belt this weekend. She was awesome. 

Although this was her first testing in the Black Belt Club, she did at least 5 testings with the Kid Kickers over a period of 12 months. That is a total of 6 events, that I have not yet even attempted to scrapbook.  I am basically procrastinating biding my time, trying to figure out the best way to move forward with this project.  So many photos.  So many choices.  So many decisions to be made. 

It's a classic case of *Scrapbooking Life's Events*.  In other words, those events that occur as a matter of course throughout life.  They're the milestone events, the one's we want to remember, such as birthdays, holidays, and social events.  Unfortunately, the sheer volume of photos, and the weight of their importance, prevents us somehow taking those steps to documenting them.  We are left procrastinating for fear that we might not get it just right.

Ella's testing inspired me on Saturday to tackle this project.  Seeing her there among the brown and black belts was pretty cool in itself, but I had this thought that if she does decide to stick with this sport, she'll be a black belt herself in 3 1/2 years, give or take a year.  That's potentially a lot of testings, and therefore a lot of photos, and a whole LOT more choices.  If I'm overwhelmed now, it's going to be a complete nightmare if I let this slide much longer.

Time to act now and get a plan of action.

Join me this week as I share my process for Event Scrapbooking.