Thursday, September 3, 2009

A Closer Look at Pilfered Joy*Rak in Progress*

Happy Thursday, Girlies!!! Is anyone else a tad bit torn between being thrilled beyond measure that the kids head back to school next week AND being a bit weepy-eyed that the kids head back to school next week?!? Alas, I digress... today I'm here to introduce you to what we will be discussing on our blog each and every Thursday. Thursdays are "Thursday Thoughts". On these days we will chat about the stories behind the photos on our pages. I won't lie, journaling is my least favorite part of the story. I don't know what it is, but this is definitely my weakness.

But, for today, I'm going to go ALL the way back to my freshman year in hs and Mr. Levin's writing class. Besides getting an awesome creative writing assignment in which I got to pen a little ditty called "Jello" set to the tune of Lionel Ritchie's "Hello" (think Weird Al Yankovic parodies), I also learned a bunch about what makes for a good story. Since scrapbooking is all about telling a story through pictures and words, the title is really quite critical in the overall design. Mr. Levin taught us that the title of your story and the opening sentence is what will capture your reader... or lose her. I think this is where I get my personal need for the punny titles that I often use in my scrapbook pages. I love a little offbeat title that will draw a person into exploring my layout further. Take my August Mosh Posh layout entitled "Pilfered Joy". When my older children left a ride-on toy out, my youngest son took one look and was off. These photos captured his pure glee at his "found" treasure. See...


While I have you here I thought I'd also show you some closer looks at this page. After I handcut the June Bug paper on the right, I cut out some shapes from the scraps and added them on top of the same shapes with pop dots. Think K & Co 3d stickers. Also, I added various chipboard embellies to enhance the paper's patterns as well. Gotta love that little birdie.


I did add a smidge of journaling on little strips of white Bazzill. And, notice that I referenced the title in my journaling.


Besides punny titles, I also like to use titles that use my kiddos own words. Almost nothing is more precious to me, then capturing my children and the funny things they say when they are young, like I did in June's Mosh Posh layout here...
Here's another page title that leaves the viewer wanting more. She has to look past my title to see exactly what I'm trying to get across. The brief journaling in the corner with the picures from 2 different periods of time tell the story of my need for things to slow down... Not So Fast...


Thanks for stopping by the old blog today. Check back in tomorrow when our newest DT member will be here with Fun Friday. Stay tuned... Anyone want a chance for a big old RAK?!? Tell me something, anything, and I'll enter your name in a drawing for a package of fabulousness. We'll draw the name at 8 am EST next Thursday the 10th!!

18 comments:

-Agnes- September 3, 2009 at 3:22 PM  

I love the details on your layouts! It's great to see how they can be very ornamental and still leave a bit of "quiet space" around the photos as to not distract from them too much.

Jennifer September 3, 2009 at 3:31 PM  

Thank you for the ideas for titles. I always fall short of thinking of something to use!

Jenn in Vancouver

julie.schellin September 3, 2009 at 3:44 PM  

that Not So Fast layout caught my eye, because I've been drawn to grids recently. your grid looks great! thanks for the chance to win a mosh posh of scrap goodies!

Aphra Bolyer September 3, 2009 at 4:20 PM  

I'm not so great at journaling myself. Love your idea that the title should leave the viewer wanting more. Great tip!

Michelle September 3, 2009 at 4:51 PM  

I am with Aphra. I am not always the best at journaling. Today we took our van to a detail carwash to get the interior shampoo'd. While that was being done, we walked along historic Summit Ave. in St. Paul, looking at all the old homes/mansions (of course camera in hand!) I am so excited that while walking and looking, I came up with my journaling.. and the title is tied into it. Now.. for the paper. I wonder if that Vintage Poppy would work?? LOL

Tffny September 3, 2009 at 6:17 PM  

Thanks for the tips. I always forget about the scraps and poping them up like that! Great tip!

Melanie September 3, 2009 at 7:52 PM  

Wow--I love your kits! So glad that Frances talked about them on her blog. She'll be a great member of your DT. Can't wait to visit here more often :)

Nitasha September 3, 2009 at 11:26 PM  

I write everything down (partly because I have a terrible memeory & i don't want to forget anything about my boys' childhood :)and of course I love collectin paper, embellishments, and new scrap toys but it takes me forever to sit down and design a layout! I am a journaling, list makeing, sketching,shopping, & blog hoppin girl- but actually sitting down and scrapping my thoughts --well that another story...

sarah_n September 4, 2009 at 4:33 PM  

Something? Anything? How about that I LOVE seeing the MP blog so active!!! =)

Shana September 4, 2009 at 8:32 PM  

Hi Jenny! I am loving all these special days and raks! The Sept kit looks so fun! Can't wait to get all my goodies. :) Have a nice holiday weekend and I'll see ya at the beginning of the week!

interactthis September 4, 2009 at 10:33 PM  

Great layouts - thx for sharing

kyopuce September 5, 2009 at 2:26 AM  

what a beautiful LO with details !! congrats !

Penny September 5, 2009 at 11:27 AM  

I used to struggle with the journaling as well. Then I changed the way I tried to tell the story and put in more of a letter format to the person/people the layout is about. Now it is something that I look forward to.

Juliana Michaels 17turtles September 5, 2009 at 9:41 PM  

Love those LO's! Gorgeous work!!!
My share...I just had the most amazing meal of Indian food this evening! YUMMY!!!

HorseChick September 5, 2009 at 10:08 PM  

Love all your tips! Especially hand-cutting patterned paper! Some of it is so busy (and so pretty!) that hand cutting makes it easy to add on to a page! :)

Heather Landry September 6, 2009 at 11:00 PM  

Something... hmmmm... I just posted a blog entry on my blog that may be the longest post ever? I made chicken spaghetti for dinner, and read "one more book" three times for my kids this evening. LOL

I love your layouts, the Not So Fast one... I totally related to that. It seems like yesterday my son was born.

kate blue September 7, 2009 at 9:30 PM  

I just wanted to know what brand of letters where those in the top layout? THey were extremely cool!

Jenny September 7, 2009 at 10:02 PM  

KateB, those letters are Jenni Bowlin. thanks for asking.

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