These are two very different styles of layouts, and yet both are essentially “me”. I tend to create smaller and simpler layouts, usually 8x8 or 8.5x11 inches, because they can be completed in a relatively short period of time. As a mother of two young children, I have to squeeze my scrapping in between diaper changes, feedings, tantrums, baths, playtime, naps… well, you get the point! Also, I find that 8x8 inch albums are a great size for gifts.



I created this bright layout as an ode to my little camera! If I hadn’t had boxes full of pictures that I didn’t know what to do with it, I might never have gotten into scrapbooking! I decided to do a lot of sloppy doodling on this page because the patterned paper resembled a notebook, and threw in some funky bright colors and a lot of angles to keep it fresh. I also used a few free fonts for some of the words on the layout, in addition to my hand-journaling.



This is a humorous layout I created for an 8x8 baby album. As much as I adore all the pictures of my son being a perfect angel, I felt I needed to also show his naughtier side! I found this great picture of him crying, and based the layout around that. The journaling reads, “Coupon Good For The Following: Free One Year Supply of Interrupted Sleep, Projectile Vomit, Drool, Judgment and Criticism, +BONUS SURPRISE IN EVER DIAPER!” I used various leftover alphabet stickers and decorated the buttons by hand. I also used a brown marker to darken the color of the die-cut swirl embellishment, and wrote the date directly on the patterned paper.

To find the products mentioned in this article and shown in these layouts, check with your local scrapbook retailer. Browse our Premier Retail Stores for coupons to a store near you.

I am a stay-at-home mother of two, law student, and freelance artist, currently residing in Seattle. I started scrapbooking after the birth of my son, and have been obsessed ever since! My creations can be viewed on my blog at http://tracyiskindofwhiney.com, and in my Etsy store http://cheztxracy.etsy.com