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Sophisticated Scrapbooking

Are you a "grown-up" scrapper? You know, the kind of person who prefers the look of sophisticated layouts rather than cutesy ones? Then you'll love the pages created by sophisticated scrapbookers Shauna Berglund-Immel and Susan Cobb.

Both Shauna and Susan are pros at creating super-sophisticated layouts—timeless, classic pages for every theme and occasion. In this issue, they shared their top tips and guidelines for creating sophisticated scrapbook pages.

Sophisticated Style #1: Use Black and White Photos

By Shauna Berglund-Immel

Think about your favorite classic movie: Casablanca, Sabrina, Breakfast at Tiffany's...Sophistication is often as clear as black and white.

Black and white photos are timeless, perfect for sophisticated layouts like the one Shauna made here., "You can use black and white film, or you can have your developer print your color photos in black and white (some labs will do that for you). Another great thing about black and white photos: they go with everything! You don't have to worry about matching colors in the photos with colors in the background papers," says Shauna.

In Shauna's Supply Box:

Instructions:

  1. Mat all photos on gold; mat one photo on tan vellum, trim top and two sides to 1/8", trim bottom to 3/4". Outline with gold pen. Adhere to top left of brown sponged paper as shown.
  2. Trim tan vellum to 4 1/2" x 12"; outline sides with gold pen. Adhere to right side of brown sponged paper, 1/2" from edge. Center other two photos vertically.
  3. Place gold eyelets on both ends of 1/2" vellum mat on main photo. String fiber through eyelets and secure on back. Place two gold eyelets on either side of the top of the vertical photos, 1/2" apart. Thread fibers through, cross in center and secure to back.
  4. Cut out paper charms, punch 1/16" holes in the top of each, thread with gold thread, loop around fiber so that they dangle slightly and secure to brown sponged paper using foam tape. Do the same with the crossed fibers over the other photos.
  5. Computer journal on white and mat on gold. Chalk the word "believe" with brown chalk. Wrap fibers around top right and bottom left corners, secure to back. Adhere to center of vertical photos using foam mounting tape.
  6. Stamp the word "believe" to the brown sponged paper using black ink. Frame it with a bookplate, securing with two gold brads in either side.

Sophisticated Style #2: Keep it Clean with Straight Lines

Put those patterned scissors away! Set down that circle cutter! Try a clean look with straight lines instead. If your layout starts looking too linear, tilt some of your accents, or add softness by crumpling or distressing paper with chalk or inkpads. Shauna and Susan's Tip: Don't overcrowd your layout with tons of embellishments, photos and other items. Pick one or two great pictures per page, then decorate around them. Often, one of the reasons pages look busy is because there are too many elements on a page. Keep it simple and make your photos stand out by using only one or two.

Sophisticated Style #3: Add a Touch of Dimension

By Susan Cobb

Sophisticated layouts frequently have more dimension, whether that's with foam tape, vellum or three-dimensional embellishments. Susan used a little of each on this pretty page: layering a piece of green vellum on top of a patterned background paper, then cutting a frame of paper and attaching it to the vellum with foam tape. The frame is decorated with sheer ribbon, a library card holder and embossed paper charms. Yet the straight lines and the subtly patterned papers keep the photo from becoming overwhelmed by the dimension.

Susan says, "To apply foam tape to the back of a frame, place the frame on your work surface, wrong side up. Begin applying one end of the foam tape at one edge of the paper while the paper is flat, smoothing the tape down gradually as you go to prevent air bubbles. Continue all the way around the frame."

In Susan's Supply Box:

Instructions:

  1. Cut an 8 3/4" x 12" piece of the green leaves vellum and glue to the center of the lighter sheet of green leaves handmade paper. Cut a 7" x 12" piece of the darker green leaves handmade paper. Mat your photo on gold paper, trimming the edges to a thin border. Place the matted photo in the center of the 7" x 12" piece, about 3" from the bottom.
  2. Draw around the edge of the matted photo onto the patterned paper with a pencil. Measure 1/4" larger than the photo on all four sides. Cut out the resulting rectangle with your knife and ruler. Turn the frame over so the white side faces up. Score across the 1 3/4" from the bottom and 1" from the top. Fold on each line. Apply foam tape inside the lines to the back of the frame. Score an additional line about 1/16" outside each of the first two scored lines. Fold on these lines.
  3. Cut two 7" lengths of ribbon and insert the ribbon into the holes on both sides of the bookplate. Add brads to the holes and secure at the back. Write "Grandma" on a 2" x 1" piece of vellum and glue to the under side of the bookplate. Place the bookplate on the frame as shown, then pull the ribbons to the back of the frame and secure.
  4. Adhere the frame to the center of the vellum on the page, making sure the edges are even at top and bottom. Glue the matted photo to the vellum in the center. Glue the bookplate in place. Cut two 7" x 1/4" strips of gold paper and glue to the top and bottom edges of the frame.
  5. Punch a hole in each word charm and tag. Cover the tag with vellum and write the year on it with the black pen. Tie to the ribbon as shown with the gold thread. Tie two ends of the remaining ribbon and trim to fit the upper left corner of the frame. Glue in place. Tie the remaining word charm over the ribbon.

Sophisticated Style #4: Journal from the Heart

Sophisticated pages often include more personal journaling than other types of pages-more than just journaling names and dates, try including a bit more of the story behind the photos. Not a writer? That's okay. Use quotes and song lyrics that speak to your heart; journal with embossed paper word charms or Alphabet Tiles and add your own words in between. Most of all, don't be afraid to put your feelings down on your pages. In the years to come, they may even become more important than the photos.

For super-sophisticated journaling, Shauna loves the font called Cezanne. (See our Tech Talk article on Fonts for more ideas.)

Sophisticated Style #5: Presenting Your Photos

By Shauna Berglund-Immel

Sophisticated pages don't just hold the photo—they present it. Very often, we get caught up in the pressure to complete our albums and scrap as many pages as possible. This pressure sometimes results in layouts that are so crammed with photos, they simply don't present the memory the way you want to remember it. Instead of feeling the mad rush to get photos into albums, let's concentrate on creating the best pages for those photos.

Shauna advises: "Honor a favorite photograph by framing it! The frame tells the viewer there's something very special contained within. The photograph literally is the center of attention. It's great way to honor a special photo and to let your viewer know that it means a lot to you."

One note about Shauna's layout: Notice how the contrast between the light and dark colors of the papers allows the frame to stand out. The negative space that's created between the photo and the frame attracts the viewer's eye. The different textures and dimensions on the page accent the look and feel of the layout, and the vellum envelope and tag add a special touch.

In Shauna's Supply Box:

Instructions:

  1. Trim 1/2" off the top and one side of the blue floral paper. Turn it over. On the back, measure 1 1/2" in from each side, and draw pencil lines, creating a frame. Using your X-acto® knife, cut out the center of the frame. Mat the frame on silver and trim to 1/16".
  2. Wrap silver thread around frame, secure behind. Cut out paper charms, punch holes in top and tie with silver thread. Attach some under and some over the crossed thread. Use foam tape to adhere some of the charms. Computer journal on white, trim to size and outline with silver pen. Tuck under wrapped thread and adhere as shown. Place foam tape on the back of the frame and center on blue basket weave.
  3. Mat photo on silver, trim to 1/16", mat on white vellum, trim to 1/4", outline with silver pen. Center in frame and adhere.
  4. Cut out vellum envelope, tag and floral embellishments. Fold envelope and outline with silver pen. Tuck into spiral clip. Attach two floral cut-outs with glue dots. Tie a shoestring bow with white ribbon and adhere with a Gue Dot. Trace tag onto light blue mesh, cut out. Mat on silver and trim to 1/16". Attach vellum tag over light blue mesh tag and adhere with silver brad. Journal with black pen. Hang charms from bow and brad, use foam tape to adhere. Adhere envelope and tag tucked inside to lower right corner of photo as shown.

Sophisticated Style #6: Dress For the Occasion

Would you wear a ball gown dress to the ballpark? Of course not. You also wouldn’t wear your old jeans to a formal dinner. You can apply the same logic when you "dress" your pages. For example, heritage, wedding, even baby and kids?photos look great with a sophisticated style. However, photos of your 14-year old’s slumber party pillow fight will look much better when scrapbooked with a fun, funky or whimsical touch to match the photo.

You can copy these layouts down to the very last embellishment-but remember, sophistication and style is all about individual personality. Don't forget to add your own personality to every page you create!

Love Shauna's sophisticated style? See more of her work in her idea book, Shauna's Secrets of Scrapbooking. To see more of Susan's elegant layouts, see Making Fabulous Scrapbook Pages. For a selection of sophisticated papers, look at the latest designs by Paper Pizazz®.