P is for PUNCHES & PAPER #AtoZChallenge

Hello again!

We’re rolling with the punches through this blog challenge. For the month of April I will be posting about the theme Scrapbooking, and today’s letter is atheistically pleasing to say the least – P is for Punches & Paper.

To start, punches are small, all-inclusive die cuts that pop-out shapes.

Punches come in a variety of sizes and designs, like hearts, stars, leaves, and words.

When you punch paper, the result is both a small shape, as well as a negative space, which allows for a multiple of effects. You can use the loose shapes for confetti, or adhered patterns.

Another type of punch is a “pocket” edger. This punch creates a raised area to which you can tuck the corners of your photos, stubs, and other mementos.

I utilized a scroll-shaped, pocket punch for an important birthday page this year. (I love how the brown textured paper coordinates so well with the color theme.)

Which bridges over to our next P – PAPER!

I have to give a brief confession here – I am a 12x12 paper junkie. Seriously. I get stupid-excited over cool textures and fun patterns.

Half of the enjoyment I get from scrapbooking is finding the right pairing of theme, pattern, and embellishments.

That said - let's bring out the examples! *Cue fashion show music*:

This first one will look familiar. This lumpy green paper was left over from an old “grass” project and it worked beautifully for my cactus in the D is for DIE CUTS post.

I love to play with contrasting patterns and this green-on-green worked well.

My friend teases me about how I have a page dedicated to coffee in all of my albums. It's an obsession, I know.

The pairing of sticker colors works well, too, like with this fast food page. (The red and blues really pop against the yellow and white backdrop.)

I try not to make a page too busy, but sometimes you can mix-and-match embellishments perfectly.

And other times, I keep it real simple.

This is a beautiful celestial paper that matched a quote of endearment.
(I added a few rhinestones to the center of the stars at the top.)

Most of the time I buy the paper before I find a use for it.

This glitter paper came in a 12x12 sized 20-pack of different colors. The texture is smooth, doesn’t shed (which is why I love it), and it adds a glow to my pages.

I like to invest in 12x12 size paper because if I can’t use it as the base for a page, I can cut it down and use it for photo frames that border and accent.

Whether it’s patterned, plain, fuzzy, or sparkly, paper is what scrapbooking is all about. J

Well, dear blog compatriots, we are owning the alphabet this week. We’ve knocked out some fun and interesting topics, and if you are enjoying this blog theme, or if you have tips or feedback, please leave a comment below.

Me when I get a comment.

I’ve seen my fellow blogsters choose some super-cool themes for this blog sprint, so if you’d like to check out more P-letter topics, please search your friendly neighborhood social media for the #AtoZChallenge as well as the A to Z Blog Challenge website for links.

Our next letter is an important one, so I hope you’ll tune in tomorrow, same blog-time, same blog-channel, for – Q is QUOTATIONS & CONVERSATIONS.

See you then!

-         SNG

H is for HANDWRITING #AtoZChallenge

Hello and Happy Monday!

I’m participating in the A-Z Blog Challenge where throughout April, each day will correspond with a letter of the alphabet. My theme – Scrapbooking.

Last week I touched on the foundation of the hobby (Albums, Cropping, and Glue). This week we move into the sentimental parts of scrapbooking starting with H is for HANDWRITING.

I wanted to give handwriting its own letter because, similar to keepsakes, a person’s script is special. Like a voice or a thumbprint, what you write leaves an impression.

I’m a bit of a hypocrite because personally, I don’t like my own handwriting. I’ve had friends tell me it that it’s pretty, but I just tend to be more critical of my own chicken scratch.  

I think that I take handwriting seriously because I have several teachers in my family, and they all had beautiful penmanship. There is a history to handwriting in culture. In the early centuries, everyone from kings to scribes had a style to their writing. I’ve witnessed a great change in this in the modern years. When I was growing up, I was taught cursive handwriting in school, and now, in the era of computers, the art isn’t passed down anymore. My niece asked me to teach her how to use cursive to sign her name.

With these changing times, it makes sense that the pieces of handwriting that are given to us should be preserved and cherished.

My Mom and I have conversations about this often. She and I both love to get “Happy Mail” – handwritten letters and cards sent by post that aren’t just a mailed advertisement or a utility bill. There’s a positive aura to anything someone has made with their hands. It’s a special thing when someone takes the time write a letter to you.

Here's a quick example story: I was visiting my Mom, talking about the subject of Happy Mail, when she pulled out a letter she had written to my great-grandmother. My Mom was 15 years old, away at summer camp, and the letter was drafted on the complimentary stationary provided by the lodge where she had stayed.

It was simple letter, brief and beautiful. Mom spoke of the hazards of camping (bug bites and a flash sighting of a snake), but she included details of her friends and how much she enjoyed the sunshine.

For me, the address on the envelope was even more fascinating, because all that was listed were my great grandparents’ names, their street, and zip code. This sparked a discussion with my mother as to how a letter could reach its destination with so little resident information. My mom explained that at that time (mid 1960’s), there was only one family with our surname on that road, and my great-grandparents lived in a small town, so box numbers weren't necessary.

Mom went on to tell me how, at the time, my great grandparents and their neighbors still utilized the phone technology called a “Party Line,” where all of the service recipients would take turns sharing one telephone connection.  

Party phone lines eventually became obsolete by the late 70's, but it marked an interesting time in the evolution of communication.

A classic example of this technology is in the 1969 movie PILLOW TALK starring Doris Day and Rock Hudson.

And I learned all of this history from one handwritten letter.

This illustrates what a unique addition like handwriting can do for your scrapbooking. There are a lot of different ways to include handwriting in your pages.

-         Basic handwritten descriptions and labels. Like a personal seal from the scrapbook artist, you can list the names and details on your pages. J

-         You can attach the handwritten words of a loved one or a friend, such as:

o   Postcards

o   Greeting / Thank you Cards

o   Letters

o   Handwritten Recipes

o   Small, Personal Notes

This is a recipe for my grandmother’s corn bread.

Another example – years ago, I'd discovered a coffee shop recipe for a flavored latte called a “Fog Lifter.” It's still a favorite, but I have to ask the coffee baristas to make the drink for me.

My coffee guy liked to draw illustrations after I’d give him the coffee syrup recipe
(2 pumps White Chocolate, 2 pumps Toffee Nut, and 1 pump Caramel).

I smile as I look back at these memories, all of them preserved with handwriting.

I kind of went around the world with this post – Letters from Camp, Party Lines, and Coffee Recipes – I thank you for hanging in there! Lol.

There will be a few more “biggie” posts before we get to Z, but I promise to make it entertaining and educational.

Please leave a comment if you’d like. There are a bunch of awesome blogsters participating in the challenge this year, so please browse their sites if you’d like to read more A-Z topics.

I’ll be back here tomorrow with more Scrapbooking how-to – I is for Impressions.

See you then!

-         SNG