Sketching Out

This week, I have been sketching layouts for pages in my scrapbook. After jumping the gun and creating a few pages myself, I decided that I needed to try going in a different direction. From reading other student's blogs, I learned that a lot of people have not just started their project, but first made sketches or created in their mind ideas of what they are going to do. I figure this will be my best bet, because I will be able to decide what I want to do before it actually gets put on paper and is not fixable. I'm not a great artist by any means, but by doing some rough sketches I can really open my mind and be creative in how I want my scrapbook to look. Like mentioned before, that's why I really like doing this as my project. I don't like to do things by the book, hence why I am not using an instruction book or taking a class. As silly as that may seem, I want to learn for myself. I want to explore and create what feels right to me. I think that adds to the meaning of creating a piece of art, or craft.

I don't necessarily think this relates to one particular reading done in class, but it definitely goes with the bigger themes and ideas we have discussed in class. For instance, scrapbooking can be seen as a way of empowerment, a way of remembering the past, or also be part of the debate of art vs. craft. It is so interesting to think about my project in terms of al the topics we have discussed while studying for the midterm quiz. As I continue to study, I hope to make more connections to our readings and lectures that I can mention in the blog.

Update on Project

This week, I have been busy working on my scrapbook. Last week, I went out and bought a variety of different papers, stickers, and other design tools. I have decided that I'm going to create different sections of my scrapbook, and divide them into categories. For instance, I'm going to have a section dedicated to my family, one dedicated to my friends from home, one dedicated to my summer camp, and one to my sorority. They won't just include pictures, but also other sorts of memorabilia, such as ticket stubs, flyers, or small things like that.


Something I find so interesting about scrapbooks is how many different ways they can be done. There is not one conventional, ideal way of making a scrapbook. They are all about being unique and showing off individuality. That is something I really like about scrapbooking. I do not like doing things the conventional way - instead, I like to do my own thing in order to show what kind of person I really am. My goal is that at the end of the semester, I will have a finished product 

My First Page!

I finally got around to going out and buying supplies to begin my scrapbook! I don't have a lot of pictures currently, but I do have a lot printed of my sorority, so my first page is from a prior bid day. Here's a picture - apologies to the not so great quality, I will get around to using my camera to take pictures, but for now I have my webcam.

It's very simple, but this week I wanted to work on the basic concept. I have a few stickers/quotes, along with 2 pictures. I want to work on making it more detailed-oriented, with more intricate designs and what not. I'm still working on finding some sort of guidance with that - but the website I mentioned in my previous blog is very helpful!

Next week, I hope to make something more fun and exciting, and hopefully just more than one page. I will be making a few more pages dedicated to my sorority first, I think, and then focus more on things from home, like my friends and family.

Research

I decided that this week would be focused on research. I really wanted to start using my hands and creating a page of my scrapbook, but this week turned out to be too challenging to do so. However, before I start, I know that is quite important to have some sort of structure or idea of what to do. I'm not the most ambitious person, and I am one who needs to look at other sources for suggestions. I figured doing some research on scrapbooking would help give me a better idea of what I want to do specifically, and how it is to be done.

I found a website called Scrapbook.com, and I think I will be using that as my main reference throughout the semester. I also might look into purchasing a book with different examples of page layouts and techniques. I really want to work on learning how to paper cut, which I know is one way to really make a page look unique.

This week, I plan on finding time to go JoAnn's or Michael's to start shopping for supplies! I have the basic scrapbook I will be using, but I want to find fun and interesting papers and other goods to create my art. I will let you all know how that goes next week! :)

Introduction

When we first got assigned the By Hand project, I had no clue what I wanted to do. It took me forever to come up with something I was interested in doing. I have never really had time to sit down and pick up a form of art or craft, so the opportunities were endless. I then thought about scrapbooking. I've made one "scrapbook" in my life, and that was a requirement last year for recruitment at my sorority...and to tell you the truth, it just looks like a pretty photo album. I know scrapbooking is more than just putting pictures in a book (which I had done before), and it is something I am quite interested in learning how to do. I love saving pictures and memorabilia, so this will be a great way to hold onto things that mean so much to me.

In the coming weeks, I will be posting updates and pictures with my work in progress. By the end of the semester, I hope to have a finished scrapbook. It's not going to be a particular theme or trip or school year, but more just a scrapbook of things I love - my friends, family, travels, the list goes on. I think it is important to be able to show what I love through craft, and I am looking forward to showing people what I learn and come up with.