Cardstock question

[mrsbornkuntry]

Another beginner question:

Do you use cardstock as a base, like to put your paper on, or do you choose what color paper you're going to scrap on and just use that as a base to build on? Or do you use the white paper that comes in the album?

 

[huge mickey fan]

I love the cute pattern papers available so I use a cardstock as a matting for my photos to break the pattern a bit. I match the cardstock to the pictures or the pattern paper.

 

[aroyer]

I love the cute pattern papers available so I use a cardstock as a matting for my photos to break the pattern a bit. I match the cardstock to the pictures or the pattern paper.

Me too!

 

[piratesmate]

For my 12x12 albums I tend to use paper as the background & then cardstock for matting photos, borders, squares, etc to accent the pages. Although in my Creative Memories album I do have some pages that are just the white background with paper & cardstock used for accents & matting.

For smaller albums I do that too - but I also have used cardstock as the background and paper over part of it, up to half of it...sometimes with a torn edge, sometimes sewn on, etc.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

Thanks for the replies and tips. I think I'm getting too caught up in trying to do this "right", I guess that's what gets in the way of my creativity.

 

[piratesmate]

Thanks for the replies and tips. I think I'm getting too caught up in trying to do this "right", I guess that's what gets in the way of my creativity.

Exactly! I tend to have the same problem. If I might make a few suggestions?

If you are really, really struggling with this you might consider joining a newbie swap. I sat & stared at things, but couldn't put them to paper even with all the encouragement I was getting here. I finally "bit the bullet" and joined a swap. Of course I agonized over my pieces & worried they wouldn't be good enough, but it was so helpful to see what I got back. Of course most of it was MUCH better than what I'd done, but I didn't end up feeling totally hopeless either. And I got so many ideas from seeing what others had done!

Another thing that helped me was joining a circle journal. That way I had to complete 2 small pages ever month - no procrastinating! And again, I got so many ideas from seeing what others were doing.

Or you could just spend an afternoon looking at other people's LOs - either here on the Sticky thread at the top or over on TwoPeas. Of course that can be intimidating at the same time. People post some great things! And the other drawback of just looking online is that you can see how things are done so much better in person. But at least it's a start...and you'll see that there is no "right" way to do things.

Good luck with it!

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

Those are good ideas, I'll look into those. A newbie swap sounds interesting.

Whenever I get a chance I've been going over the websites mentioned in the sticky on here and I've gotten alot of great ideas, maybe too many, lol. I don't know what I think will happen if it doesn't come out right, it's not like I can't just start over .

 

[piratesmate]

Oh my - you do sound like me! Too many ideas - yup! That's me!

As for what happens if it doesn't come out right? Well, I have pulled a couple apart after a while, but mostly I'm too cheap to do that! Once I've used something I don't want to "waste" it - and some/most things can't be re-used. LOL The funny thing is - even when I'm unhappy with the end result, my family thinks they're great!

I try not to over think things now, but I don't just slap stuff down either.

 

[PrincessNancy96]

Ditto everything Deb has said and suggested... I have over analyzed the rolodex swap I am in and am just about to bury all the cardstock and diecuts I have cut out in the back yard for this swap!!!

Remember what makes you & your family happy is most important!!! This is for you and them to enjoy!!!

Feel free to come join a swap anytime!!! We have several coming up soon I'm sure..just check the 2007 swap calendar...

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

If you get a chance to sneak away and try going to a local scrap store or Michael's and take a beginners class. That is how I got my feet wet. We did simple pages and she explained what all the tools were and how to use them.

Do you have all of your pictures organized yet? That will help. Then go back through and decide which pics will go together on a 1 page or a 2 page layout.

 

[MazdaUK]

I started the CM way and sloooowly added "naughty" bits (well, CM don't do much Disney ). I still agonise about "wasting" things (What! Use a WHOLE sheet of paper on one page! What will I have left for the other pages?) but I have accepted that there are other sheets of paper I can use on the other pages (like a whole TOTE full ) and if I don't use a holiday embellishment on a holiday page, when will I use it? I'm less happy with some pages than others, but we learn more from mistakes than successes so I don't stress it, just make a note not to try that technique/arrangement next time.

I'm currently in a "complicated" page phase, where I'm even looking at page layout sketches for ideas - I've used them for my last 6 pages and was really happy with how they turned out.

I also find it helps to keep papers from each manufacturer together - I mix one brand, or one brand plus cardstock (yes, the Bazzill big has bitten me ) but don't often mix the brands as the colours don't always work well.

And if I get a paper I don't like much I use it for double matting to use it up quick

So I've got white CM pages with just a little embellishment right up to a mixture of Basic Grey papers with fibres, brads, you name it.

Remember its your story to tell the way you want to - if anyone doesn't like it they can make their own scrapbooks in future