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This originally was an advertising box that came in the mail, I think with CDs in it.  I don’t even remember anymore what it first looked like.  I knew when I got it though that it should be altered as opposed to thrown away.  It’s amazing what a little acrylic paint can do.  I painted it, covered it with paper and pictures using Mod Podge, added embellishments and rub-ons and turned this trash into a treasure!

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Color blocking is a technique where everything on your page is organized in blocks.  There are templates for this or you can just create the page on your own.  I find it easiest to just make spaces for my photos and then work around the space that is left.  This is a technique that cannot go out of style.  Below is a page that I did when I first started scrapbooking about 5 years ago.  It is still one of my favorite pages.  You can see how you can easily add computer journaling as well.  Just measure the size of the square you will be using for your journaling and use those measurements in MS Word whatever you use to type your journaling.  I like to full justify for a very clean look.

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One of the easiest ways to make cards is from scraps.  Match up a couple pieces of paper and embellishments, chose a stamp and you’re set!  Here’s an example:

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Here’s something that I never thought I would do – cut up a picture!  I have to say that it adds a lot to a simple layout.  The nice thing about most of us having digital pictures now is that you can easily print another copy.  This one was a professional picture but I made a copy for my scrapbook because I was scared of messing it up and losing the picture forever.  However, I am happy with the result.  Your challenge this week is to try this mosaic techique.  It works great for scenic photos and one thing to remember is that the squares do not need to all be the same size.  (Ex. you could make the first column 1″ wide, the next column 2″ and the last column 1″.

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Mulberry paper is a light-weight, semi-transparent type of handmade style paper.  It used to be quite popular in scrapbooking and has fazed out although there’s no reason why you can’t still use it.  I found this page from the past with mulberry paper and it also includes a tag (yesterday’s topic).  Mulberry paper can be used as a background, as an embellishment, or (my favorite) as a frame.  You can cut it for a straight edge, or you can wet it with a waterbrush or paintbrush and then tear it for a unique look.