Strawberries, Sweetness and Scrapbooking

We have done several memorable things this summer and lots of ordinary things but I have not been motivated to document them. Yes, I am committed to doing one monthly page, but I made myself make that commitment--lol! I have been having scrapper's block and burnout. Since I've been a scrapper for years now, I know that this is a common cycle. The funny thing is, I never know what is going to help get me out of the funk. Well recently I was given a self-paced scrapbooking class to review called Building Pages.  I wasn't sure what to expect but was looking forward to checking it out.

This class is designed by Debbie Hodge. She knows her stuff.  She was a contributing editor to Memory Makers Magazine, and her scrapbook pages and articles have appeared in many scrapbook magazines. She's written Get It Scrapped, published by F+W Media and has a couple of scrapbooking e-books published at Designer Digitals. So yeah, Debbie knows how to scrap! I have long admired how she captures the story of each event on her pages. She also does multi-photo, double-page spreads so well.

I, on the other hand, am not usually a multi-photo layout nor a double-page-spread type of scrapper, After reading the "blocked" section of the class, I was inspired to finally get the story down of our Strawberry Picking festival experience. This was a memorable day not only for the fun and food, but because it was a first for my oldest daughter---the first time she had to go to the ER to get stitches in her leg! All is fine now, but on that day it was quite a big deal.

I used a template included in the class to be the basis, or building block for my page. This is the first page.

As you can see all I basically did was change the photos for the second side of the layout. Using the principles of a "blocked" layout I was finally able to get my Strawberry Festival layout done!

After going through the "shelved" section I was ready to do some more scrapping! I created this layout using that design approach. (You'll have to read the lesson to find out more :) )

I have loved going through this class! I wasn't expecting it to inspire me so much, but this class has jumped-started my scrapbooking again! It is very well laid out and very professional. I'm hooked.

What I like:

* Debbie gives 12 strategies to create a layout, giving starting point ideas which help eliminate that "What am I going to do now?" feeling I often get when staring at a blank layout. Then she show you multiple directions in which you could  go with each approach.

* Lots of page examples are included with each lesson. I'm visual so I need to see what is being taught.

* All the lessons are in  PDF format so that you can print it out as a reference book.

* All lessons also have a video segment to watch if you don't want to read the PDF :)

* Debbie explains things so well that scrappers of all levels can gain a lot of useful design information.

* This class is for paper scrappers and digital scrappers.

* Included are PSD templates which digital scrappers can use as layout templates or paper scrappers can use a page sketches. Lots of resources!


Through July 2nd, the entire “Building Pages” class is $42. On July 3rd, the class price goes up to $54.  For the information, handouts, videos and extras you get, I believe the class is totally worth it.

Disclosure:
I was given this class for review purposes. The opinions are my own. Because I think so highly of this class I have joined as an affiliate, so if you do purchase this class you will be helping to fund our new baby's cover the booty fund (aka cloth diaper fund) We thank you in advance!