This photo of Easter eggs lodged in a tree knot have nothing to do at all with the question I would like to ask you today, which is:
What is one thing you’d like to learn about scrapbook page design? Is it technical (choosing and using fonts, or using your computer?) Is it practical (how to streamline and simplify the process?) Is it product related (how to choose and use?) Is it something else? What is it about putting pages together that either stumps or frustrates you?
When I start thinking about ideas for classes and content for blog posts, I can easily overlook things and would love to have your reader input.
Thank you. And have a great day.
Note: I apologize for any issues with my blog. My host has had some serious glitches over the past 48 hours and it seems that all is good in Typepad land again. Thank you for your patience.
Sonia says
I would love to learn more about creating a cohesive design with mini albums or in a book layout. I am thinking about a couple projects I would like to create that would incorporate both photos and text.
Sonia says
I would love to learn more about creating a cohesive design with mini albums or in a book layout. I am thinking about a couple projects I would like to create that would incorporate both photos and text.
Tlreid@westnet.com.au says
With so much choice out there – both digital and traditional – how you choose would be really helpful – a major time waster for me.,.
Ayesha says
I recently started making paper LOs (after doing digital LOs for years, and in addition to doing PL), but I don’t even know where to begin. What products to choose, which colour combos, and how do I “design” the LO. It’s so frustrating, because I could do it digitally, but can’t get it done on paper. I could use some serious help with that.
Laurel says
Cathy,
I would like more on how do you organize all of your digital scrapping items?
Papers, elements, templates, etc. in an easy way so you can see what you have to use when starting a digital page?
With traditional you can shuffle through your papers and such to see what you have but it is not so easy on the computer.
I love all of your clean scraping pages and it is how I would like to see my pages. I am struggling to get a system in place and your quick videos have been helpful but would like more of a hands on class with more time on each step to practice and be able to learn from you. Maybe more from your graphic arts background to see how your mind works 🙂
Laurel says
Cathy,
I would like more on how do you organize all of your digital scrapping items? Papers, elements, templates, etc. in an easy way so you can see what you have to use when starting a digital page?
With traditional you can shuffle through your papers and such to see what you have but it is not so easy on the computer. I love all of your clean scraping pages and it is how I would like to see my pages. I am struggling to get a system in place and your quick videos have been helpful but would like more of a hands on class with more time on each step to practice and be able to learn from you. Maybe more from your graphic arts background to see how your mind works 🙂
Bernice J says
I love to do my journaling for my traditional scrapbook pages on the computer and would like to learn how to easily position the journaling block area on the cardstock so that I can add my photos and embellishments afterwards.
Tracy says
I would like to learn about fonts – which ones to use, how to combine, etc. I would also like to learn how to organize all of my digi supplies.
Tracy says
I would like to learn about fonts – which ones to use, how to combine, etc. I would also like to learn how to organize all of my digi supplies.
Jenny B. says
I need to learn how to scrap faster. It takes me all week to do one Project Life spread. Part of the issue is indecision (So, maybe I need help with choosing and using products?). Part of it is perfectionism (I MUST edit each and every photo). And the rest… I don’t know. I have no idea how anyone ever gets a spread done in a couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon. I feel the need… the need for speed! 🙂
Jenny B. says
I need to learn how to scrap faster. It takes me all week to do one Project Life spread. Part of the issue is indecision (So, maybe I need help with choosing and using products?). Part of it is perfectionism (I MUST edit each and every photo). And the rest… I don’t know. I have no idea how anyone ever gets a spread done in a couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon. I feel the need… the need for speed! 🙂
Jenny B. says
I need to learn how to scrap faster. It takes me all week to do one Project Life spread. Part of the issue is indecision (So, maybe I need help with choosing and using products?). Part of it is perfectionism (I MUST edit each and every photo). And the rest… I don’t know. I have no idea how anyone ever gets a spread done in a couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon. I feel the need… the need for speed! 🙂
Marjorie says
I’d love to know how to create a balanced layout. I love your clean and simple approach to scrapbooking, but I never can create a clean and simple layout by myself.
Isabel says
I love to learn to create a mini album from start to finish in digital and in paper, like the ones you make for the 30 days of thankful. How to choose the colors, the design layout, choose the elements, the papers well everything. And learn in the two ways you can see the differences that digital have from tradicional scrapbooking.
Marjorie says
I’d love to know how to create a balanced layout. I really love your clean and simple approach to scrapbooking, but I never can create a clean and simple layout on my own.
Marjorie says
I’d love to know how to create a balanced layout. I really love your clean and simple approach to scrapbooking, but I never can create a clean and simple layout on my own.
Isabel says
I love to learn to create a mini album from start to finish in digital and in paper, like the ones you make for the 30 days of thankful. How to choose the colors, the design layout, choose the elements, the papers well everything. And learn in the two ways you can see the differences that digital have from tradicional scrapbooking.
Alysia Loerch says
Definitely stream lining the process! Also right now I only do project life for memory keeping but I’d love to do some other layouts. How do you choose what stories to make a layout out of??
Alysia Loerch says
Definitely stream lining the process! Also right now I only do project life for memory keeping but I’d love to do some other layouts. How do you choose what stories to make a layout out of??
D says
Colour has always been my downfall. What colours go well together when creating something new (such as designing/creating a new 3×4 card – orange, green, and blue look nice together, but not the way I pick them!) – guess that’s technique or technical, but I really have a hard time picking colours that go together well!
D says
Colour has always been my downfall. What colours go well together when creating something new (such as designing/creating a new 3×4 card – orange, green, and blue look nice together, but not the way I pick them!) – guess that’s technique or technical, but I really have a hard time picking colours that go together well!
Naomi says
I second D’s comment! How to pick colours that will go together and look stylish and modern? I love to pin colour inspiration, but would like to be able to start from my own photos and build a palette. I know how to use the eye-dropper tool in PSE to sample colours from my photo – but I’m rarely pleased with the outcome, without being able to put my finger on why.
Kirsten says
What I benefit from most is simple inspiration of other people scrapbooking. YouTube process videos and process blog posts make me want to scrap and dig into my stories more than anything technical. When I took your design your life class (I think it was called?) I got the most charge out of your examples. I
karen says
I’d like to know how to make my own digital elements for my pages so i can have my words etc there
Bernice J says
I love to do my journaling for my traditional scrapbook pages on the computer and would like to learn how to easily position the journaling block area on the cardstock so that I can add my photos and embellishments afterwards.
Cathy C says
I’d like to know more about the organisation of digital products and how to take my digital PL to a physical book…not just printed out into 12×12 LO, but to actually take your digital LO and make a book with the whole year of Project Life.
Kropster says
My favorite class in the past was Design Your Life. I like the idea of learning more design techniques and having “homework” to apply those to scrapbooking.
I realize I have been at this a long time and don’t really have too many more questions — I know how to organize digital supplies, I know how to pick out colors, I’m pretty good at whipping out pages quickly and re-using “sketches” or templates and tweaking them. Ha! Maybe I should be teaching a class.
But I do love seeing your new designs and I have “scraplifted” almost every page you have ever created and posted on your blog or in a book or in the SS magazine. I would just love to have more to pages to add to my repertoire.
And I would like any class to focus on 8.5×11, since (because of YOU!!!) that’s all I do now.
Looking forward to whatever you teach!!
Cathy C says
I would love to learn more about the organising process of digital elements and also learn about how to make a book out of the year long Project Life…not just print out 12×12 LO’s and place them into a binder, but an actual book.
Cathy C says
I would love to learn more about the organising process of digital elements and also learn about how to make a book out of the year long Project Life…not just print out 12×12 LO’s and place them into a binder, but an actual book.
Dionne says
I would love to learn how to create my own digital templates.
Dionne says
I would love to learn how to create my own digital templates.
Cathy C says
I would love to learn more about the organising process of digital elements and also learn about how to make a book out of the year long Project Life…not just print out 12×12 LO’s and place them into a binder, but an actual book.
cathy says
Hey guys, sorry for the duplicate comments! Typepad is still having glitches! but please keep the comments coming. 🙂
StephJ says
Hi Cathy!
I would like to know how to create my own digital products for Project life or digital scrapbooking, and how to create digital templates.
Thanks!
Karen says
My 12×12 scrapbooks are now a combination of traditional paper LO, digital LO, the occasional Project Life pocket pages, and blending all these elements on pocket cards, templates, and hybrid layouts. My favorite things are your videos, to polish my PSE skills, and learn to make the products more my own. I take my color cues from the photos, and have fun customizing the digital items to match the photo and paper items. Paper items add dimension, digital is magic, and I love creating and preserving the memories with a variety of methods.
Jett says
I would love to learn more about organizing digi supplies and fotos on Mac. I am using iPhoto as my library and just can’t seem to get it like I did PSE.
Marilyn says
I would like to learn my way around PSE 12. Also, I need help with journaling. Writing about myself is easy, but I have writer’s block when it comes to journaling about family members. Maybe I’m over-analyzing it, but I want the text to be snappy and interesting so people will actually read it! Thanks for asking!
Dianne says
I would like to learn about fonts – I down load them, look at them and then can never decide which font would work best so I just lament and choose one. As I write I’m also thinking about text in general. How do I choose to center the text or not, send it right aligned or not…., where to put it on a page, Stuff like that!
Dawn says
I really loved your real time video when you put together a spread for project life. I’d love to see more of these videos. Also tips and tricks in Photoshop and using digital elements. Love your blog btw!!
Christina says
I love your hybrid but would love to learn more about placing elements on digital pages. I did your Clean & Simple and loved it. I suppose more digital stuff please.
nancy l says
I enjoy classes on fonts and how to combine. The suggestion on how to organize digital elements would be interesting and I always love your layouts so any class with suggestions would be great.
S Hurst says
I took Clean & Simple and it was a great introduction into digital. I would love to see something similar but with PSE 12, but add in how to use and store all types of digital files/supplies. Also for a mini-class…the top 5 or 10 things I know now but wish I knew when I started digital scrapbooking.
Thanks for keeping it real, love your humor.
Julia says
What stops me, is the editing of the photos… I hate that! 😉 do you have tips for that? I never know how/when my photos look “right”… And after that, I struggle with placing them on the layout…IDK which one where and which filler cards.. I know this depends a lot on the photos, but maybe you can help 🙂
I love how easy it looks when you do a process video 🙂 I want to get to that point 🙂
Heike says
I’d also really like to learn how to create a uniform, clean look throughout an entire album. I often make travel albums with photos and text, but I’m not sure how to make them look nice and clean. I love your style so much (and often try to copy it…)
Also, i enjoyed your project life process videos. Both the accelerated and the real time version. Those I’d like to see again.
Brooke says
For me it’s the technical. Which fonts, where. Design rules and aspects. Just for your research purposes I don’t have any kind of Photoshop (I use gimp) so obviously I would love a course that doesn’t require that. Totally more into the rules of design.
Jacquie Desilets says
I would jump all over a Clean and Simple Two. You covered so much in that class…design, fonts and even making our own digital templates. Would definitely love a repeat.
Also, I do follow your organization for digital (that many of my scrapbooking buddies are envious of), but streamlining it a bit more would be so helpful.
Bloomingayl says
Between the Silhouette, digital and paper I love new ideas that incorporate existing tools to create my own unique embellishments and paper scraps. It’s okay to wing my own way, but there are times when a good tutorial sparks inspiration.
heidig says
Choosing and using fonts (and figuring out which fonts work well together) is what I’d like to learn.
Kimberly says
Would love to know how to create my own png files! Also, getting text lined up with the lines on my digital project life cards is ALWAYS a challenge. Not “scrapbook” related, but I also think you take fantastic photos and know you’re way around a camera. Would love some pointers there!
Jane says
For me it has always been finding my “style” and sticking with it! I have the first pages I ever made with the dreaded torn vellum UGH…then some with all kinds of elements etc and now onto clean and simple which tends to be more me…but sometimes it feels to magaziney (that must be a word)
Choosing papers from my stash is something I really really want to do also. I have a crap load of paper and really want to use it up.
Teresa says
Page Design!
kristen says
i hadn’t thought about it before you mentioned it, but i would love some details on working with fonts. i adore fonts and constantly download new ones. i don’t usually use more than one at a time, though, because it ends up looking sloppy. thanks, cathy!
Jennifer K says
My biggest hangup and that which is totally killing my love of scrapbooking is the workflow. There has got to be a more streamlined process than what I’m doing. Take photos, upload to computer, edit in PSE, upload to print shop (local, Shutterfly, Persnickety etc), figure out what to scrapbook. It’s so overwhelming that I just freeze and stop doing anything.
But, lately, I just got an iPhone and have been using the camera on it along with the Day One app you suggested and I got to tell you that it so freakin’ freeing. I love being able to do all that so quickly – pic + anecdote = done. But, it’s all in my phone, and not on paper where my family can enjoy it.
I’m trying to do PL but I’m getting so hung up on finishing previous years (I’m still in 2010!) and I haven’t printed any pictures more recent than that. I hate that it’s consuming and overwhelming me. It shouldn’t be this hard. I used to enjoy this hobby, and I still do to an extent, I’m just, again, overwhelmed with the process that obviously isn’t working for me.
Ulla says
I vote for a sustainable approach to the scrapbook layout. Does every page have to have a unique design? Many of us only have a few hours a week for memory keeping. It doesn’t make sense that we demand a new and unique design for every single page in our scrapbook. I vote for ideas for designing our entire scrapbook around repetition of design and supplies. How can we make a modern, simple scrapbook with a few versatile designs and maybe not so much product? That would be interesting to me.
Verbena says
More “clean and simple” ideas would be welcome. Every time you share a page that you have done, I want to copy it immediately!!
Stacy S says
It’s the darn photo process. Getting it from phone to computer through Lightroom then printed. I just tried Groovebook. When I received the photos in the mail I was immediately inspired to make a layout. However I do not like the quality of the prints. (Bummer!). I need a faster photo process.
Tammy B says
Definitely choose and use, and design. I’m not very good at coming up with my own ideas and love to borrow from sketches and others. I like clean and simple mostly and I haven’t delved into the digital process. Thanks for asking Cathy!
Laurie S says
I don’t know about a class, but I’d love to hire you as my ghost scrapper. Your scrap-whispering during previous classes unfortunately only lasted for the duration of the class. You see I suffer from chronic writers block, scrap envy, photo perfectionism, font fetishes, and time deprivation. I have no qualms about scraplifting and would enjoy seeing more of your unpublished creations as inspiration. I also liked your Makeover Monday’s and would gladly register for a class where you chose candidates from the gallery to add your special touch (assuming minimal amounts of public shaming). Clearly, journaling 101 would be welcome as well. ☺
Stephanie Whitmore says
Cathy, please please please do another Clean and simple class. I loved it and was just getting into using the computer, but I need more. You are such a fantastic teacher and I would love to have you teach me more about using Photoshop. Clean&Simple:Round2????
Inspiredlifewithjess.wordpress.com says
I would love to learn more about how to design items for when I work on Project Life… Cool papers and journalling cards and the likes 🙂
RitaQ says
Echoing many sentiments regarding Clean & Simple 2 or DYL 2. Love the ‘sustainable scrapbooking’ concept. I struggle with being overwhelmed in photo/element/design selection when making photo books. (I have many to make/over promised as gifts).
Also, your selection/rad lab editing of photos to be used. And succinct journaling. 🙂
I am NOT interested in any Silouhette (sp?) classes/techniques or hybrid.
Ulla says
I would follow you on any future journaling adventure.
You really got me journaling about myself in your “Me, the abridged version” class. I got so many stories and random facts about me down during that class. I loved the Amy Krouse Rosenthal book and the idea of writing about myself by just jotting down seemingly random snippets, anecdotes and facts. Brilliant idea.
My “Encyclopedia of me” album is perhaps the most profound scrapbook I have done so far. And it was so easy and fun. You make deep storytelling approachable.
rachael robinett says
typeography. I would LOVE for you to have a class on how you do the amazing things you do with text.
Janne says
Yes please!
Robin says
1. Once I download a font, how do I find it to add it to Photoshop Elements?
2. I have all these great digital elements. How do I organize them to use them and make it easy to find and know what I have?
3. How can I create my own templates if I can’t find something out there to use which will fit my need.
Loved your typeography class and I use your templates.
Vickie says
I would love a Clean and Simple Part Two! I’ve loved all your classes but that was my absolute favorite.
Robyn says
This Robyn agrees with the above Robin! All 3 points!
Debby says
FONTSFONTSFONTSFONTS! Did I mention fonts?
I can lay out a page in either Photoshop or InDesign and am happy with my work…until I add text. No matter what I do, my digital pages just feel like they turn into big clunkers.
And not only font selection, but color selection for fonts as well. Somehow, I always end up using black and can’t bust out of that, even for titles. Nothing seems to work for me and it is making me crazy.
pam says
I struggle with embellishing. How much is enough and how much is too much. I realize this is somewhat a matter of personal taste, but I love your clean layouts. When I try to do it they end up looking naked.
Ari says
I would love to learn more about process–simplifying and streamlining so that when I want to scrapbook I can get more done with the time that I have. Design comes in a close second, though… love your clean style and would love to get some more of that into my own scrapbooks!
Jo-Lee Kelly says
I would love to hear more about choosing and using fonts from the Queen of Graphic Design!
Kay says
The organization piece – pictures, digi files, etc. – is always a problem for me – so that would be a good class. I have taken so many classes from you, Cathy, I just love your videos and your presence in my life. So almost anything you come up with would be wonderful!
Katie says
Voice! You have it down. Would love help/work to do to come to peace with one voice for public journaling.
Jennybegoode.wordpress.com says
How to visualise what a photo will look like printed out when you can only view it on a backlit screen – my photos look so bright on a screen and so dark when I print them so I waste a lot of prints.
Jennybegoode.wordpress.com says
PS thank you for asking and for your blog which is hugely useful. Jx