2008 July | Scraps Of Mind

Archive for July, 2008

Posted by karooch on

July 31, 2008

Results of the Scrapbooking Survey

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Did you enter the Scrapbooking Survey on Scraps of Mind a couple of weeks ago?

Well the results are in and have been counted and analysed by our highly trained team of researchers to ensure the highest standards of integrity and accuracy.

And the answer to the question “Paper, Digital or Hybrid, what kind of Scrapbooker are you?” is a strong leaning towards the digital camp.

Click on the image for a larger view

Mind you although Digital came in with 42% over Paper’s 12% I found it interesting to note that almost half the survey respondents do both paper and digital or hybrid.

I find this very encouraging. I think that both genres of scrapbooking can work well with each other and my albums include a mixture of all three types of scrapbooking.

And I wonder if we would have seen the same results if I had posted the survey eighteen months ago. Digital scrapbooking and hybrid scrapbooking seem to have a much higher profile today than they did only a few months ago.

There seems to be a strong trend towards digital scrapbooking but with paper scrapbookers not wanting to totally give up their tactile fix, hybrid scrapbooking is rapidly growing in popularity.

So where do you sit on the Pie?

Are you digital, paper or something in between?

Do you Scrapbook with One or Many Photos?

A couple of weeks ago I wrote an article called Scrapbooking Today versus Yesterday in which we explored whether the comercialism in scrapbooking today has de-personalised’ our scrapbook albums compared to the ones our Mothers and Grandmothers used to make.

I say ‘we’ explored this proposition because I received some awesome comments on this post, some of which were articles in themselves. I recommend you read the original article and then scroll down and read the comments.

One of the themes that came out of many of the comments was single photo scrapbook layouts versus multiple photo scrapbook layouts.

Here are some of the comment snippets (note they are taken out of context so you should read the full comment):

Even looking at the requirements for submissions, they ask for a close photo, of just one person .. and I think each time, how does this tell a story .. isn’t it about those series of funny photos, the story that happened, tickets, scenery photos whatever .. embellishments that mean something.

KylieM

…how does using just one photo in a layout tell a story? A few days ago, a woman (a rubber stamp demonstrator) told me she would not take up scrapbooking because she had hundreds of photos and it was too daunting a task to make a page for every one. There is little in today’s scrapbook promotions to suggest to the newcomer that other layouts are options.

June

Now originally scrapbook pages would always have multiple photos on them (assuming they were available), as well as snippets of memorabilia and then any other pretty bits and pieces that would embellish the whole. There was no real focus on the artistic or creative side. It was purely the fun of capturing a bunch of memorabilia that told a story.

I think most of us probably would have started scrapbooking with that approach in our minds. I know I did. All my layouts had multiple photos on them. and other than putting them on a matt or in a frame and adding a small accents to the page together with journaling, that was how I designed my layouts.

And I do love going back through those albums and leafing through the layouts; enjoying the memories they evoke. Bear in mind that I brought up my daughter prior to the advent of digital cameras and as a family we had never been either very good or very prolific photographers. So I don’t have a lot photographs to choose from.

And somewhere along the line, I think it was when I had embraced digital scrapbooking, the artistic side started to kick in. And I found that one photo on my layout gave me the scope to create something that was as much about the design, look and feel, as it was about the story.

Sometimes one photo is enough for the story, if it captures the essence of the moment in, say, your subject’s expression. But often (not always) it’s because it is easier for me to create a pleasing layout design with one photo than with multiples.

Having said that, when I do scrapbook layouts of past events; such as my daughter’s earlier birthdays, I will always use multiple photos, even though they are frequently of shockingly bad quality (even after a bit of work in Photoshop Elements…thank God for the scanner) because those photos have a ’scarcity’ value.

And I wonder if the sheer volume of photos that we now have at our disposal is a contributing factor to the popularity of the single photo scrapbook layout design. Is the sheer volume of photos making it too hard to select a few and is it, in fact easier to just pick one for your scrapbook layout? Or do we now have so many that we don’t treasure them as much as we used to?

What do you think?

Are you a single photo scrapper or do your layouts usually include multiple photos? Or maybe, like me, you apply each style to different genres of your scrapbooking (does that sound too deep?).

Why do you prefer to design your scrapbook layouts with a single photo or with multiple photos?

Texture Tuesday with Wildheart

Wildheart of Wildheart’s Works brings you Texture Tuesday. Wildheart is a Paintshop Pro expert, but I know you’ll enjoy the tips and tricks even if you’re not a PaintShop Pro user. And you’ll find plenty of ideas to help you work with textures in your own program.

Despite my server having issues and me having a sinus headache off and on all weekend, I managed to spend sometime creating what I consider some interesting textures.

However, in spite of the sinus headaches I did not put together any kind of how to on these. I just wanted to zone out for most of the afternoon and well into the evening to do what I enjoy doing.

So I hope you can enjoy these textures and I’ll be back on form next week.

Return of Blog Mastermind

Great news for people everywhere who want to build their blog into a successful ongoing business.

Yaro Starak has reopened the doors on his Blog Mastermind Program.

Last December 2007, Yaro welcomed his second intake to this program before closing the doors to any new students.

As of Tuesday 29 August 2008 the Blog Mastermind doors will reopen to welcome new students.

Why am I excited?

Well those of you who have been following Scraps of Mind for some time will know that I was one of the first students when Yaro launched his Blog Mastermind Program in July 2007. I graduated six months later and as a graduate I have lifetime access to the course materials as well as any new material that Yaro has added to Blog Mastermind in this relaunch. So I’m looking forward to checking out all the new resources.

What is Blog Mastermind?

BMM (as students affectionately refer to it) is a fantastic course that shows you how to set up and build a blog to make it a successful business. Yaro is a great teacher and there is no hype or bull***t about it. It’s just great learnings each week which build on each other until you have a great workable business model.

Yaro’s aim is to build a system that will enable you to earn a full time income whilst only working part time. His focus is on lifestyle rather than get-rich-quick schemes.

And as someone who has completed his course and implemented his learnings I can only endorse his approach. It was a fantastic experience for me and has more than repaid itself.

But make no mistake, BMM is not about sitting back and letting it all happen. Each class comes with activities that you need to complete before moving on to the next. I think that’s one of the strengths of the course, because if you don’t take action then you can’t move forward. So Yaro provides the stimulus for you to work and build a blogging business, if you will.

Anyway, if this sounds like something that you can use to follow that dream to financial independence, you can find out more about Blog Mastermind here.

But even if you don’t feel ready for the Blog Mastermind Program, you should definitely watch Yaro’s free video on Conversion Blogging because it’s packed with great strategies for creating a business model out of your blog.

Low in sugar and guaranteed to be totally hype-free!

Posted by karooch on

July 26, 2008

Saturday Scrapbooking Ideas

Saturday Scrapbooking Ideas #16

When you create mini albums, let your embellishments stick out over the edges of the pages.
It creates an interesting shape for the album and increases the curiosity of the viewer to see more of what’s inside.

Learn digital scrapbooking now!

And take your scrapbooking to the next level.

Learn how at Step by Step Digital Scrapbook

Top 10 Scrapbook Ideas to rekindle your Inspiration