The P-R-O-O-F is in the pictures

[Saturday, January 26, 2008, cont.]

My next layout should be fairly simple. I have two photos plus one postcard. The arrangement will fit into a neat square including journaling. I crop the pic of the Oscar Mayer weiner mobile (no, we didn't sing the jingle) to fit, then choose two background papers to coordinate with the page. (image 1)

Next, I trim a small box of maize single-color paper for journaling. I choose the black fine-tip pen (because there's a hint of black in the pix), then adhere the box with tape runner above the postcard. I also write a small caption under the pic of the Oscar Mayer weiner mobile.

I stop here for now and will resume tomorrow.

[Sunday, January 27, 2008]

I know I want to add a title in the top left area positioning the letters vertically, but I'm still thinking of the perfect word. I take most of the day to surmount this obstacle. I go about chores, flip through scrapbooking magazines, play with Summer, type in various words on merriam webster online, and search my stash, just waiting for my eureka moment. I consider a range of things from "kings" to "greetings" to "smile", but none of them truly capture the essence of the photos. I finally admit I have scrapper's block. Just as I'm about to settle for one of my beggared ideas, I ask myself: why do we take pictures of ourselves flanked alongside renown monuments, edifices, and other landmarks? Then, while on the phone no less, it hit me. We do it for proof. We want proof that we stood in that spot or saw that specific thing in a place where people go to see and to be seen. A place created, to a large extent, for photo opportunities. At the end of the day, all we really want is bragging rights or a chance to randomly say I was there whenever the topic arises.

I had already selected the letters I wanted to use from my stash, so I just spell out the word P-R-O-O-F, inked the edges with a black fine-tip pen, and gave them a salmon-colored backdrop. To complete the thought and help draw the eye across the page, I add another salmon-colored box on the bottom right corner, filling it with "I was here" in my own scrawl. Sometimes it pays to take time and ponder options. I wipe the photos with my polishing cloth and slide on a page protector, thankful for my resolve and satisfied that I have successfully completed two more pages, even if it did take two days. (image 2)

An inkling about inking

There are myriad techniques for inking the edges of photos, paper, letters, etc. in a scrapbook. The most common is with ink pads and sponges. However, in my opinion, that is a recipe for disaster. I try to keep ink pads as far away from my scrapbooks and paper supply as I can. A short cut to inking paper is to use a fine-tip pen and place the paper you want to ink onto another piece of scratch paper. Using the fine-tip pen, trace around the edges of the paper so that part of the ink makes it on the paper for your scrapbook and part of the ink makes it on the scratch paper. To me, this is a less messy way of inking.