Lucky Scrapbooking Page

The first thing I do when designing a scrap book page is choose the pictures I want to use. The next step is to choose the background paper and contrasting colors that match the pictures.

The next step is the most important step in making a scrap book page. What is the theme you want for your page? What do you want your page to express?

For this page I wanted to make a St Patrick's page for the mom-stuff web site. I wanted it to use a picture of my grandson who I feel very lucky and blessed to have in my life. The picture I wanted to use did not have green in it so I had to find some paper that I could use to blend with the picture and allow me to use green for St Patrick's Day. I found a plaid and a stripe with green and grey.

The next step is to design the page (or pages). For this page I started with a page from Brazzill Stitch'z. I used the page as a pattern. I placed it over my grey page and marked the holes with a pen. Using lime green embroidery floss I back stitched between the holes. I love to hand stitch. If you do know know how to embroidery I have included instruction at the bottom of this article. 

I made my title from my Cricut Cartridge's Base Camp. I cut the letters all in caps at 1 inch. I love to use my Cricut because then the colors will match perfectly. (Note: when I am designing a page I use some construction paper to cut out my designs from first. This lets me experiment with the size without using my scrapbook paper. I also use the construction paper pieces to design my layout. I place them in different places on my page until I am happy. I ID the construction paper with the cartridge name and size of the cut to reference for cutting. After you have designed your page you are ready to cut out your pieces. I save the construction pieces for the kids to craft with.

Cut from plaid paper two-1 1/2 inch strips. Glue them to form a boarder across the top and the right side of your page. Cut from stripe paper two-3/4 inch strips. Glue them to form a boarder on the left side and bottom of the page above the stitching. Cut (heart) with Cricut cartridge Accent Essentials. Cut ten at 1 inch. These are glued on each point of the stitching and to form the shamrock. Use the last one to form the stem. Make a frame for your picture and center it on your page. I used a darker grey. I also made a square piece of the same grey to use for journaling. Glue on the title.

Finishing:

Line work: I use a black extra fine Sharpie marker to add stitching lines around the title and the dark grey frames.

Instructions for hand stitching:

To make it easy to keep track of your design use a pencil and draw the design on the back side of your scrapbooking page. Use the full strand of embroidery floss. Do not separate it. Instead of tying a knot to start stitching you will use tape and tape the end of your thread to the back of your page at the left side of your design. I used the BACKSTITCH because it has no spaces in between stitches and I wanted one continuous line. Bring the thread up through he first hole(#1) on the left side. Go through the next hole(#2) from front to the back. Bring the thread back to the front through the next hole(#3) Now take the thread back to the back through hole(#2)This completes the back stitch. Repeat by bringing the thread up through the next hole(#4) and back through hole #3 got it? Repeat until you finish all of the holes and tape the end on the back of your scrapbooking paper. Have fun. Dianne