By Christina VanGinkel
There are sketches available from a variety of places to help you plan the layout of your next scrapbook page or pages. Many scrapbook magazines offer a sketch of every page and or design in their magazine, and numerous online sites offer them in various forms. To those of you who are new to scrapbooking, you might be wondering what a sketch is. I know I was confused the first time I heard the term used in conjunction with scrapbooking, believing it to be some form of embellishment that artists were sharing. A sketch is actually a blueprint of how a layout could look. It is a rough estimate of where to place the title, photos, borders, and other embellishments. It is, simply, a sketch of how a layout could be assembled.
What amazes me most when I look through all of these many sketches is how many different designs scrap bookers have been able to come up with to assemble a single or double page layout. Even when you consider in the different combinations of page sizes, such as 8 1/2" by 11" or 8" by 8" and the popular 12" by 12 ", it is still astounding the many different ways one page can be assembled!
Some of my favorite sources for sketches to use in my own layouts include:
Creative Sketches for Scrapbooking
Creative Sketches for Scrapbooking, by Becky Higgins is broken into sections depending on how many photographs you have to include in one layout. For example, if you have three photos to scrap, flip to the section that shows sketches that incorporate three photos, if you have a single photograph, just flip to the sketches that are designed around single photos, etc., etc. There are a total of fifty-two sketches, for a year's worth of scrapping inspiration. The sketches are all laid out in miniature in the back of the book, forming a very useful visual index, making this a fantastic book on all accounts. My only gripe about
Creative Sketches Volume Two
Creative Sketches Volume Two, by Becky Higgins is a nice follow up to volume one. These two together are enough sketches to keep any scrap booker, novice or experienced, making fresh layouts for a long time to come. This book does take into consideration that the user has access to a computer though, as some layouts include numerous (one shows fifteen) photos of a small nature. As my daughter pointed out to me though, those layouts could be used with traditional sized photos, with the many smaller block used as journaling or color blocks!
Quick and Easy Sketches for Scrapbookers
Quick and Easy Sketches for Scrapbookers, by Nicole Cummings is as essential a tool in your scrapbook supplies as your trimmer, scissors, and paper. It is full of innovative designs that will have you scrapping away many a day.
Besides these books on the subject, many magazines on the topic of scrapbooking routinely include sketches of the designs included in their pages. This is a great idea, as it allows the average reader to better visualize how the stunning layouts might work for their very own pages. I for one sometimes have a hard time looking at the layouts in a magazine, and translating them into a form that I could use for my own pages, and inspiration is the reason I ultimately buy the magazines in the first place. By including the sketches, it allows me to see beyond the glitz and glamour of many of the designs, and see how I might use my own supplies to achieve just as visually stunning results, for my own memories. My favorite scrapbook magazines that routinely include sketches in their pages include Creating Keepsakes and Scrapbook Answers.
There are also online sites that offer scrapbook sketches, free. I found quite an assortment by doing a search for Scrapbook Sketches and Free Scrapbook Sketches. Kindred Creations online actually has a nice selection of sketches for free that are from Becky Higgins, the author of the two Creative Sketches book I mentioned before, so be sure to check it out if you want to have a look at some of her work before purchasing one of the volumes.
Monday, April 03, 2006
If Reading Is Your Hobby-- Start A Book Club
Most people enjoy reading but some of us do it more than others. If reading is one of your favorite things to do, starting a book club is a good way to share your love of reading with your friends and family.
The most difficult part of starting a book club is finding other people who are interested in reading the same types of books as you do. I know from personal experience that a book club will, not flourish if the readers can't agree on what type of genre of books top read. It is true that many book clubbers agree to read various genres and each member will eventually get a turn to choose what the book club selection will be. In my experience, however, we had a group of casual readers who liked to read "fluffy", chick-lit types of books and then a few readers who preferred heavier, thought-provoking books such as The "Da Vinci Code". Our group quickly became defunct when several of the readers just couldn't get through a thick, wordy book. Indeed, we had to keep pushing back the date for our book club meeting because they a few readers couldn't get through the book-- in fact, they just didn't want to. It's never fun to feel forced into reading something, so that is my first advice: pick a group of people with similar reading interests and make sure that everyone really wants to read the selected books.
Book Club Title Ideas
The great thing about book clubs is that there is always new reading material coming out. Check the bestseller lists for hot reads. Current best sellers like "Gone" by Jonathan Kellerman, and "At Risk" by Patricia Cornwell are good choices for most groups. Some other good book club title suggestions include:
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. This is a heavy read for intense readers-- also make sure that fellow club members don't have any religious reasons for not wanting to read this book.
Her Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. This book deals with serious family issues when a family member is diagnosed with a terrible disease.
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. This fantasy novel is about a man who randomly pops backing time-- and also into the future.
The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen. This epic book was the subject of some controversy a few years back when the author scoffed at being picked a one of Oprah Winfrey's book club selections (usually considered to be an honor for most authors) but that scuffle doesn't take away from the greatness of the book. A masterpiece about the complexities of families--- and of parents growing old-- this book will make for some intense book club discussions.
The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst. A woman dies unexpectedly and only her dog was a witness to it, so her distraught husband attempts to teach the dog how to speak so he can "tell" him what happened.
The Lovely Bones by Alice Seabold. This haunting book is told from the point of view of a murdered 14 year old girl. It is gritty and brutal and moving. In my own experience, I was dying to use this book in my own book club, but a few book club members couldn't get past the sad theme.
"Chick Lit" books. The chick lit term was coined to describe lighter fare books aimed at the young female demographic. In recent years, popular books like "The Nanny Diaries" by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Krauss, "Bridget Jones Diary" by Helen Fielding and "The Devil Wears Prada" by Lauren Weisburger have proven to be fun and very popular book club reads.
Oldies but goodies. Just because a book is a few years-- or even a few decades-- old doesn't mean that it isn't suitable for your book club. Classic books like Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women", "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck, "Emma" by Jane Austen and "The Last of the Mohicans' by James Fenimore Cooper are some suggestions for classic titles. Or what about revisiting a book that you haven't read since high school? Titles like J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye", Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" , Ernest Hemingway's "The Sun Also Rises", and John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath" are all classic books that you may not have read ion a few decades.
Book Clubs for Kids
Even though I am adult, I still love reading children's fiction. My own children are still young and don't read yet, but I can't wait until I can begin having a book club with my daughter. It's great fun to share your hobby of reading with your children. Children ages 9 and up can especially dig into young adult titles and these will be books that you can enjoy too. Here are some of my favorite book club titles for children and teens:
Children's Book Cub Title Ideas
From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg. This book, about two children that runaway from home to the Metropolitan Museum, is a classic. It's a Newberry Award winner from the 1970's, but the theme is still timeless. You and your children will love reading this adventurous book.
Mandy by Julie Edwards. This book, written by Mary Poppins alum Julie Andrews (Edwards is her pen name) was one of my favorites growing up. It is about an orphan named Mandy, who dreams of a better life. Always creative and nurturing, Mandy happens upon a little, abandoned cottage that she tries to make her own secret place.
The Bully of Barkham Street by Mary Stolz. Young readers will like reading about Martin Hastings, a misunderstood boy who always seems to get himself into trouble.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Raold Dahl. Your kids have probably seen the movie, which starred Johnny Depp (the original version of this movie, from the 1970s was titled "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" and it starred Gene Wilder), which is the story of a poor boy named Charlie who gets to fulfill his life long dream-- to take a tour of a world famous chocolate factory. This book is another classic and one that I would highly recommend as a children's book club selection.
The Harry Potter book series by J.K. Rowling. Unless you've been living under a rock the past few years, surely you have heard of this popular book series. The Harry Potter books are great book club reads-- and adults and children alike love this fantasy type series. If you're a novice to the series, start with book one, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" and work your way through the entire collection.
Your Book Club Meeting
No matter if you are involved in an adult book club or a children's book club, you should set a date for your book club meeting. This means that everyone needs to finish the book by this date. Most book clubs shoot for one book a month, so set a target date of 4 weeks to read the book. You can then meet to discuss the book. This can be a casual meeting at a book store or at someone's home. It's always nice to serve some snacks and make it more of social event. Very ambitious book clubbers can meet for a once a month book club dinner. Potluck style dinners are best-- that is, each member can bring a hot dish, salad or dessert and you can enjoy a feast while you discuss your book. My most recent book club meetings were always held at restaurants, so the club members could enjoy a nice, relaxing dinner out as we discussed our book.
So what do you talk about at the book club meeting? It can get very easy to get off track. If your book club meeting is with a bunch of your girlfriends that you only see once a month, you may find yourself talking about the latest gossip instead of talking about the book! To avoid this problem, set a loose format up and try to stick to it. It could be that you start off with a snack and some talk about the latest news and then you can retreat to the living room to talk about the book.
Book club discussion questions. I have found that the best way to probe into the book is to ask some hard and fast questions. I like to hear how others have interpreted the books -- their opinions may be completely different from mine. Here are a few key book club questions that can work in just about any club situation:
Were the characters in the story well developed? Who was your favorite character and why? Did this character remind you of anyone that you know?
What was your favorite part of the book and why?
What was your least favorite part of the book and why?
Was there a character in the book that you feel that you did not get to know very well?
Were there any issues in the book that you felt were unresolved?
You can also ask each participant to read a passage from the book and then ask the group a question about it.
Other types of book clubs. If you have found that your friends just aren't into the idea of starting a book club, you have several other options. Most libraries and bookstores sponsor monthly book clubs. Talk show diva, Oprah Winfrey, sporadically sponsors her own book club selections and she usually devotes an entire show to the discussion. You can log into her website's message boards to participate in online book club discussions about her most recent selections (some recent books include the controversial James Frey's "A Million Little Pieces" and "Night" by Elie Wiesel). In addition, you can always go online and find an online book club for just about any of the most popular bestsellers and authors.
No matter which way you choose to do it, a book club is a great way to expand upon your hobby of reading. Sharing your thoughts and ideas with family, friends and even strangers will make your book club experience an enriching one.
The most difficult part of starting a book club is finding other people who are interested in reading the same types of books as you do. I know from personal experience that a book club will, not flourish if the readers can't agree on what type of genre of books top read. It is true that many book clubbers agree to read various genres and each member will eventually get a turn to choose what the book club selection will be. In my experience, however, we had a group of casual readers who liked to read "fluffy", chick-lit types of books and then a few readers who preferred heavier, thought-provoking books such as The "Da Vinci Code". Our group quickly became defunct when several of the readers just couldn't get through a thick, wordy book. Indeed, we had to keep pushing back the date for our book club meeting because they a few readers couldn't get through the book-- in fact, they just didn't want to. It's never fun to feel forced into reading something, so that is my first advice: pick a group of people with similar reading interests and make sure that everyone really wants to read the selected books.
Book Club Title Ideas
The great thing about book clubs is that there is always new reading material coming out. Check the bestseller lists for hot reads. Current best sellers like "Gone" by Jonathan Kellerman, and "At Risk" by Patricia Cornwell are good choices for most groups. Some other good book club title suggestions include:
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. This is a heavy read for intense readers-- also make sure that fellow club members don't have any religious reasons for not wanting to read this book.
Her Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. This book deals with serious family issues when a family member is diagnosed with a terrible disease.
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. This fantasy novel is about a man who randomly pops backing time-- and also into the future.
The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen. This epic book was the subject of some controversy a few years back when the author scoffed at being picked a one of Oprah Winfrey's book club selections (usually considered to be an honor for most authors) but that scuffle doesn't take away from the greatness of the book. A masterpiece about the complexities of families--- and of parents growing old-- this book will make for some intense book club discussions.
The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst. A woman dies unexpectedly and only her dog was a witness to it, so her distraught husband attempts to teach the dog how to speak so he can "tell" him what happened.
The Lovely Bones by Alice Seabold. This haunting book is told from the point of view of a murdered 14 year old girl. It is gritty and brutal and moving. In my own experience, I was dying to use this book in my own book club, but a few book club members couldn't get past the sad theme.
"Chick Lit" books. The chick lit term was coined to describe lighter fare books aimed at the young female demographic. In recent years, popular books like "The Nanny Diaries" by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Krauss, "Bridget Jones Diary" by Helen Fielding and "The Devil Wears Prada" by Lauren Weisburger have proven to be fun and very popular book club reads.
Oldies but goodies. Just because a book is a few years-- or even a few decades-- old doesn't mean that it isn't suitable for your book club. Classic books like Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women", "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck, "Emma" by Jane Austen and "The Last of the Mohicans' by James Fenimore Cooper are some suggestions for classic titles. Or what about revisiting a book that you haven't read since high school? Titles like J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye", Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" , Ernest Hemingway's "The Sun Also Rises", and John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath" are all classic books that you may not have read ion a few decades.
Book Clubs for Kids
Even though I am adult, I still love reading children's fiction. My own children are still young and don't read yet, but I can't wait until I can begin having a book club with my daughter. It's great fun to share your hobby of reading with your children. Children ages 9 and up can especially dig into young adult titles and these will be books that you can enjoy too. Here are some of my favorite book club titles for children and teens:
Children's Book Cub Title Ideas
From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg. This book, about two children that runaway from home to the Metropolitan Museum, is a classic. It's a Newberry Award winner from the 1970's, but the theme is still timeless. You and your children will love reading this adventurous book.
Mandy by Julie Edwards. This book, written by Mary Poppins alum Julie Andrews (Edwards is her pen name) was one of my favorites growing up. It is about an orphan named Mandy, who dreams of a better life. Always creative and nurturing, Mandy happens upon a little, abandoned cottage that she tries to make her own secret place.
The Bully of Barkham Street by Mary Stolz. Young readers will like reading about Martin Hastings, a misunderstood boy who always seems to get himself into trouble.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Raold Dahl. Your kids have probably seen the movie, which starred Johnny Depp (the original version of this movie, from the 1970s was titled "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" and it starred Gene Wilder), which is the story of a poor boy named Charlie who gets to fulfill his life long dream-- to take a tour of a world famous chocolate factory. This book is another classic and one that I would highly recommend as a children's book club selection.
The Harry Potter book series by J.K. Rowling. Unless you've been living under a rock the past few years, surely you have heard of this popular book series. The Harry Potter books are great book club reads-- and adults and children alike love this fantasy type series. If you're a novice to the series, start with book one, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" and work your way through the entire collection.
Your Book Club Meeting
No matter if you are involved in an adult book club or a children's book club, you should set a date for your book club meeting. This means that everyone needs to finish the book by this date. Most book clubs shoot for one book a month, so set a target date of 4 weeks to read the book. You can then meet to discuss the book. This can be a casual meeting at a book store or at someone's home. It's always nice to serve some snacks and make it more of social event. Very ambitious book clubbers can meet for a once a month book club dinner. Potluck style dinners are best-- that is, each member can bring a hot dish, salad or dessert and you can enjoy a feast while you discuss your book. My most recent book club meetings were always held at restaurants, so the club members could enjoy a nice, relaxing dinner out as we discussed our book.
So what do you talk about at the book club meeting? It can get very easy to get off track. If your book club meeting is with a bunch of your girlfriends that you only see once a month, you may find yourself talking about the latest gossip instead of talking about the book! To avoid this problem, set a loose format up and try to stick to it. It could be that you start off with a snack and some talk about the latest news and then you can retreat to the living room to talk about the book.
Book club discussion questions. I have found that the best way to probe into the book is to ask some hard and fast questions. I like to hear how others have interpreted the books -- their opinions may be completely different from mine. Here are a few key book club questions that can work in just about any club situation:
Were the characters in the story well developed? Who was your favorite character and why? Did this character remind you of anyone that you know?
What was your favorite part of the book and why?
What was your least favorite part of the book and why?
Was there a character in the book that you feel that you did not get to know very well?
Were there any issues in the book that you felt were unresolved?
You can also ask each participant to read a passage from the book and then ask the group a question about it.
Other types of book clubs. If you have found that your friends just aren't into the idea of starting a book club, you have several other options. Most libraries and bookstores sponsor monthly book clubs. Talk show diva, Oprah Winfrey, sporadically sponsors her own book club selections and she usually devotes an entire show to the discussion. You can log into her website's message boards to participate in online book club discussions about her most recent selections (some recent books include the controversial James Frey's "A Million Little Pieces" and "Night" by Elie Wiesel). In addition, you can always go online and find an online book club for just about any of the most popular bestsellers and authors.
No matter which way you choose to do it, a book club is a great way to expand upon your hobby of reading. Sharing your thoughts and ideas with family, friends and even strangers will make your book club experience an enriching one.
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Scrapbook Your Own Hopes and Dreams!
By Christina VanGinkel
If you love to scrapbook, but are at a loss for ideas for layouts, how about creating a layout, or even a whole scrapbook, that highlights your hopes and dreams, for both the future and the current day! Do not be shy, as I am sure many of you are saying that you really dislike layouts that are just about you. A layout that is about your life now, or of plans for the future most likely include others, and even if it ends up being a very personal look at what you hope your own, personal future holds, it will still be a fun layout for future generations to look back on.
To get started, make a list of questions that you would ask someone else about their hopes and dreams, about their lifetime aspirations if given a chance, but instead of asking someone else them, sit down with the list and ask them of your self. Use a plain notebook to begin, to record your answers as they come to you. Be as brutally frank and honest as you can be, for what could be a more interesting and enjoyable find years from now, than a look at your past hopes and dreams. In addition, just imagine how wonderfully unique and interesting a discovery it will be for possibly a grandchild or even great-great grandchild in some far off time.
Some sample questions, depending on where you are currently at in your life, could include some of the following:
What would your dream job be, if you could choose any profession?
If it is different from what you are doing, is there a reason why?
Do you hope to be married some time in the future?
If you are already married, how did you meet your spouse, and where do you see the two of you ten, twenty, fifty years from now?
Do you hope to have kids some time in the future?
If you already have children, do you plan to have more, and what are your hopes for your children's futures?
Do you want to own your own home?
Where would you live if you could live any place in the world you chose, and why?
Would you like to travel?
Would you like to do any volunteer work of any kind? Do you now?
What do you like to do for fun?
Who are your friends?
Do you have any fears, and if you do, do you know why or how they came to be?
Are you a religious person, or do you have a personal story of faith that you want to share with others that might someday have possession of your scrapbook?
Was there a struggle in your life that was difficult to deal with? Did you make it through it, and if so, did you learn anything?
(This last question is actually my favorite. The struggle, which I always think of when I hear this question asked, was not even my own, but that of my husband. He was crushed by a tree some three and a half years ago, and I remember thinking that life was not fair, and how would we ever make it through. We did make it, and he was not only walking six months later, he is now working again full time! )
Keep in mind that these questions are just a jumping board for your own questions. Think of the aspects of your life that you would like to share with your future generations.
Also, include a sampling of photographs and memorabilia that relates to the questions and answers. For example, if you hope to someday volunteer for the Peace Corps or travel to Paris, include some information in regards to the steps you might have already taken to make those dreams come true. Have you sent away for information on what is required to volunteer, or have you checked you frequent flier miles to see how close you are to obtaining your flight of a lifetime? Include details such as these to make your layout or scrapbook that much more interesting to those who read and peruse the pages of it both now and in the years to come!
If you love to scrapbook, but are at a loss for ideas for layouts, how about creating a layout, or even a whole scrapbook, that highlights your hopes and dreams, for both the future and the current day! Do not be shy, as I am sure many of you are saying that you really dislike layouts that are just about you. A layout that is about your life now, or of plans for the future most likely include others, and even if it ends up being a very personal look at what you hope your own, personal future holds, it will still be a fun layout for future generations to look back on.
To get started, make a list of questions that you would ask someone else about their hopes and dreams, about their lifetime aspirations if given a chance, but instead of asking someone else them, sit down with the list and ask them of your self. Use a plain notebook to begin, to record your answers as they come to you. Be as brutally frank and honest as you can be, for what could be a more interesting and enjoyable find years from now, than a look at your past hopes and dreams. In addition, just imagine how wonderfully unique and interesting a discovery it will be for possibly a grandchild or even great-great grandchild in some far off time.
Some sample questions, depending on where you are currently at in your life, could include some of the following:
What would your dream job be, if you could choose any profession?
If it is different from what you are doing, is there a reason why?
Do you hope to be married some time in the future?
If you are already married, how did you meet your spouse, and where do you see the two of you ten, twenty, fifty years from now?
Do you hope to have kids some time in the future?
If you already have children, do you plan to have more, and what are your hopes for your children's futures?
Do you want to own your own home?
Where would you live if you could live any place in the world you chose, and why?
Would you like to travel?
Would you like to do any volunteer work of any kind? Do you now?
What do you like to do for fun?
Who are your friends?
Do you have any fears, and if you do, do you know why or how they came to be?
Are you a religious person, or do you have a personal story of faith that you want to share with others that might someday have possession of your scrapbook?
Was there a struggle in your life that was difficult to deal with? Did you make it through it, and if so, did you learn anything?
(This last question is actually my favorite. The struggle, which I always think of when I hear this question asked, was not even my own, but that of my husband. He was crushed by a tree some three and a half years ago, and I remember thinking that life was not fair, and how would we ever make it through. We did make it, and he was not only walking six months later, he is now working again full time! )
Keep in mind that these questions are just a jumping board for your own questions. Think of the aspects of your life that you would like to share with your future generations.
Also, include a sampling of photographs and memorabilia that relates to the questions and answers. For example, if you hope to someday volunteer for the Peace Corps or travel to Paris, include some information in regards to the steps you might have already taken to make those dreams come true. Have you sent away for information on what is required to volunteer, or have you checked you frequent flier miles to see how close you are to obtaining your flight of a lifetime? Include details such as these to make your layout or scrapbook that much more interesting to those who read and peruse the pages of it both now and in the years to come!
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