What I Do: Creative Coach For Scrapbook Enthusiasts

By JILL CARLSON
For the State Journal

jillcarlson1957@gmail.com

Name: Shirley Merker

Occupation: Scrapbooking teacher for Stampin’ Up, Sun Prairie

Web site: www.sjsinks.stampinup.net

Years on the job: five

I’m a creative coach and offer fresh project ideas and encouragement to my customers who want to make scrapbook pages, greeting cards or gift items.

Helping someone create that perfect project for a special occasion is the best feeling in the world. Creating cards, scrapbook pages and gift items is about more than just stamps and ink; it’s about sharing a part of yourself with the people you love.

I started scrapbooking 12 years ago and my first project was a scrapbook calendar for my grandma with pages of family photos and fun memories.

There are three types of stamping events: the club, the in-home workshop and the class. At each event, I teach and share rubber-stamping tips and techniques so that guests can go home and create additional projects.

I keep events under two hours so that guests can stamp, shop, crop and then get back to their lives. I provide a little quality time where husbands, children, pets and cell phones are not allowed.

The club meets four times in six months. The club members create three scrapbook pages per meeting and I provide the samples and precut materials. The in-home workshop is held at the hostess’ home.

I provide two free make-n-takes and the hostess provides light refreshments. The goal of the in-home workshop is to expose new stampers to this hobby, teach a fun technique and educate guests on what Stampin’ Up has to offer.

Classes are usually held at my home and the guests create a set number of cards or scrapbook pages for a fee. I provide samples of the projects and the supplies to create them. New stampers are helped out by the more experienced stampers and we all go home with some nice projects and a smile on our face.

I teach that projects look better with two coordinating colors and neutral colored paper selections along with using non-paper embellishments like ribbon, eyelets, brads or pearls.

What I Do invites people to tell in their own words what they do to earn a living. The column runs every Tuesday. To suggest someone to feature, contact Jill Carlson at jillcarlson1957@gmail.com.

Taken From Madison.com

12 Quick Scrapbooking Ideas to Add Interest to Your Page Layouts

1. One of the easiest scrapbooking techniques to learn is paper tearing. Paper tearing adds a soft edge to your cardstock and texture to your pages. You can choose to tear just one edge of a paper or tear completely around a mat or frame. Try tearing the bottom edge of a tag or mount a sticker to cardstock and tear around the ends.

2. Matting highlights photos and page elements. Double or triple mat a special photo on the page. Match the mat color to enhance the photo. Photos aren뭪 the only page elements that can be matted. Mat a sticker or dimensional embellishment.

3. Add metal embellishments to your pages. Scrapbooking isn뭪 just about paper. Use brads, paper clips, eyelets and staples as accents on your pages. You can also use them to attach other embellishments, like ribbons and tags, to your page.

4. Ribbons can be used as borders on your layouts. Take both ends of a ribbon piece and tie them together. Now cut the ribbon so the knot will be positioned as an accent on your page.

5. Add something extra to your paper accents. Run your paper edges and frames along an ink pad to add some additional depth to your page.

6. Take out the sandpaper. Distressing your page elements is quick and easy. Just rub the sandpaper along the edges of your chipboard. You also can sand some cardstock paper giving it a different effect.

7. Keep journaling simple. The important thing is to document the photograph. Use bullet lists for journaling or just stick with who, what, where, how and when.

8. Use your own handwriting. Instead of printing out journaling from your computer, try using your own handwriting. It is much more personal, and future generations will appreciate seeing your handwriting.

9. Tags are one of the most versatile page elements available. Put your page titles on tags. Photos or journaling blocks can be mounted onto tags as well.

10. Scrapbooking page kits keep everything coordinated. Using page kits makes putting together a scrapbooking layout fast and simple. All the paper and page elements work together, and most kits have instructions and ideas for layouts.

11. Use a rubber stamp to create your own patterned page. For example, stamp a leaf image randomly on a piece of cardstock to make your own autumn-themed patterned paper.

12. Make your pages interactive. By adding envelopes and pockets to your pages, you can involve others in your scrapbook album. Hide little journaling notes in envelopes, and try tucking memorabilia into pockets. You can also create mini scrapbook albums on your pages that fold out with more photos.

These scrapbooking ideas are quick and easy, and they can inspire you to get more pages done. Keep your layouts simple, and try one of these ideas to add interest to your next scrapbooking page.

Taken From MSOKorea.com