Scrapbook Pages

Today I have several Scrapbook Pages.  They are mostly made using old papers and scraps that I need to use up, so most are not from Stampin' Up!  I started working on this scrapbook back in 2020 and only got a few pages made over the years since then, so I REALLY want to get it finished! 

The picture above is the only one that has some things from Stampin' Up! and that is their Flip Flaps!  If you are a scrapbooker, and haven't seen these, they are a game changer that I believe will really take my scrapbooking to the next level.  I learned about them after I had completed pages 10-13 and you can see that page 10 has more pictures on it than I should probably have tried to put on it - makes it pretty busy.  The dual page layout (pages 14 and 15AB) would have been the same except that I had discovered Flip Flaps, so have four of the pictures hidden using them - allowing for a much better layout!  Here is a look at pages 10-15AB:

Page 10:

This page is not one of my favorites.  It's too busy.  When I made it, I did not know about Stampin' Up!s Flip Flaps.  That is something I'll be using on one of the pages near the end of this post - but I won't be able to show them to you yet, because I don't have them!  I've ordered them and am looking forward to getting them soon so I can finish that page!  Anyway, this page would have benefited from something like that - fewer pictures with a couple in a flip flap would have helped a lot.   I also wish I'd made more of the yellow ducks instead of adding the white one and the mallard, but it is what it is.  I DID like the grass print at the bottom and the sky print at the top, but the background papers really get lost.  Definitely not my best example!

Page 11:

I like this one quite a bit better, but I wish I hadn't split the background paper the way I had.  It looks too choppy split basically in half like that.  However, I've had a challenge in the past with embellishing my pages and while this isn't perfect (don't like the row of leaves on the bottom left side), I think I'm starting to learn about embellishing better.  A lot of people just add flowers, no matter what the subject of the page, but I like my embellishments to have some meaning to the page.  This isn't the best example, but there WAS a botanical garden and the founder WAS called Ladybird! :)

Page 12:

Though this page isn't great, there are a couple of things I REALLY like about it.  First, that I have any pictures in the upper section.  I took those from a video and they turned out much better than I thought they might!  2nd, I like the double matting of the upper photos and that they, the title, and journaling are on that rose-colored block of paper.    I like the font used for the title, and the embellishments (though wish I had one more!).

Page 13:

Again, not the best layout in the world, but there ARE some things I like.  1) I love the title block!  I picked that up at a scrapbook store several years ago and this was a great place to use it. 2) I am glad I found a way to make a page despite the fact that we had taken no pictures at the convention! and 3) While the palm trees are smaller than I'd like, I feel I'm STARTING to figure out how to come up with meaningful embellishments.

Page 14 & 15AB:

I had real trouble with this layout - everything about it - from finding papers to figuring out a layout, it took me 3 days of trying things, walking away and coming back before I finally figured out what I wanted to do with it.  I'm REALLY happy with the way it turned out, though.  It was worth the wait to figure out how I wanted to do it.  

I like a lot of things about this layout:  

• The narrow strip of green cardstock between the two patterned papers makes such a difference!
• Adding mats and bits of mats in the green helps things pop.  
• I made use of any dies I found in my stash that had grasses, cattails or grass-like features - as well as the little heron/egret die cut.  The grasses and bird embellishments took some time to make, but I'm really pleased with how they turned out, and think they add a lot to the layout.  For the grasses and cattails, I used a die from Spellbinder's Garden Builder set (mostly cut this one in pieces), cattail dies from Spellbinders Holiday Blooms, and the greenery from a Daffodils die set from Elizabeth Crafts (had to trim some of these pieces to meet my needs).  I cut the grass/stalks from green and yellow, and the cattails themselves from a brown suede.  Then I did some inking using a foam applicator (could also have used a blending brush) to make them all look more realistic.
• I like the way the entire thing feels cohesive - even though it's not only a dual page layout, but the 2nd "page" is actually a gate fold - split down the center.  (I have a bunch of "Gate Fold" sheet protectors in my stash that I bought on a close out from a scrapbook store back in Tennessee a LONG time ago.  I appreciate being able to use them from time to time.  I'll miss them when they're gone as I have no idea if I could ever get any more.)
• Instead of cramming all the photos I wanted onto these two pages, Flip Flaps on the first side of the gate fold (see pictures below) allow me to add more pictures without the layout feeling crowded.  I am SO glad Stampin' Up! is carrying these Flip Flaps.  They are SO easy to use and will make future scrapbooks MUCH better!

Close Up of left page: 

Close Up of Right Gate Fold Page:

Right Gate Fold Page with lower Flip Flap open:

Right Gate Fold Page with Upper Flip Flap Open:

I haven't completed the pages you'll see when you open the gate fold.  That will have to wait until a future time, but I'll go ahead and post these now, because an unfolding family emergency means I don't know when I'll be able to get to more scrapbooking.