Scrapbooking.com's Head of the Class



	Make it Personal - Fun ways to personalize your scrapbook organizers! By Anne-Marie Spencer One of the crucial elements in creating a scrapbook page is journaling, that is, adding the words to make the page unique and tell what's going on. Have you ever thought of doing the same thing with your scrapbook organizers? Since many of us use the exact same organizers, it's a great way to make yours stand out. It's also a great way to create personal gifts! Use paint markers (I like the Zig Painty pens, they come in a wide array of colors and tip sizes) for best results. Many of them are sold in kits, so you can buy a group of colors to suit your taste. If you don't consider yourself artistic, don't worry. The advantage of the plastic organizers we use is their translucent lids! You can use a pattern, and simply trace your way to artistic talent! Here's a step-by-step guide, using a 4"x6" Cropper Hopper Fast Filer for photos as an example. (Tip: Personalizing these little organizers is a great way to package photos when you want to give them as gifts!)
		1. Decide what you want to write/draw and sketch it out on a piece of paper OR, find a pattern you'd like to use. If the pattern isn't the right size, enlarge or shrink it on a copy machine to fit the surface you are working on. Lettering can be done on the computer, and then printed to create a pattern. Clip art, as used here, is another great source of patterns.
	2. Tape the pattern face up to the inside of the container or lid. Use a pen to trace the pattern onto the surface. Black pens will give the project a coloring book effect after you have filled in the outlines. You can also outline each area in the colors that you intend to fill with. This gives a dreamier look, as shown in the picture of the handmade paper case, shown below. When you are finished tracing, remove the pattern.
		3. Use different color pens to color in the detail of your design. Remember, you don't necessarily have to color it in as shown on the pattern! Let your imagination run wild! Tip: Be careful when using a light color pen next to a dark outline, sometimes the darker color can bleed onto the pen tip and cause streaking.
	It's just that simple. Once you discover how much fun it is to personalize your organizers, you'll want to do them all. Your friends will be amazed at how artistic you are, and you'll enjoy all the wonderful compliments you'll get!
	Photo Case I personalized my Cropper Hopper photo case with freehand designs, using Mary Englebreit stickers for inspiration!
		Handmade Paper Case The paper case shown here was made by tracing a pattern from Hot Off The Press' book "Stenciled Murals for Wonderful Walls." The computer font is Harlow Solid Italic.
	Rosie's Photo Filer What better way to send photos to Rosie O'Donnell for her television program than in a Fast Filer with her image on it? I freehanded this one from the cartoon she uses in her show.