The Lazy Scrapbook

"Little Man"

6 x 6 Chipboard Album covered in Canvas & adorned with a vintage materials.

So I used to scrapbook. A lot. As in, over-a-dozen-albums-in-my-kid's-first-year a lot. And I loved it. I could spend hours on one 12 x 12 layout, happily oblivious to everything else around me. Until one day I noticed that my scrapbook pages were slowly being replaced by altered books and experiments on canvas. The paint I bought to accent my pages was being used in ways I would have never expected and from there . . . well, let's just say my scrapbook obsession has never been the same again. 

With the exception of once a year. Once a year I get out the ole' mojo and attempt a mini album for the children - both of whom were born on the same day, 7 years apart - of my childhood friend. It's a gift for their birthday and although I usually end up doing them last minute, this year, I really went the lazy route and created Camden's using as few products as possible . . .

I started by using all B & W photos for a uniform look. Each picture was carefully cut out and distressed with sandpaper and / or scissors.

I gathered all the supplies I could find with a similar look and feel. Mini folders in various sizes, small journal cards, ledger papers, vintage ephemera, tissue paper (7 Gypsies) and one stack of Tim Holtz Kraft Resist Paper Stash were the mainstays. 

I then cut the pages in bulk and enhanced them (in an assembly line fashion) with watered-down buff paint, bright white acrylic paint (applied with a brayer) and smudges of charcoal.

Additional details came from images torn from tissue paper and neutral-colored pencils around the images. Personal notes were added to the mini-folders and around some of the pictures with ink. Sparkly touches (naturally ;) were made using Stickles glitter and silver leaf.

For the finale, I kept the last image color and etched a #4 into the picture to represent the year he was turning. 

And you know what? I liked the limitations I placed on myself: not only did the album have a uniform look, but there was a lot less to think about during the creative process. It was easy, fun and fast. So you see, being lazy isn't always that bad after all . . .

Kristin xo