Thanks again to Jared’s wonderful mom, who bravely volunteered to spend 4 days watching our kids, we had the opportunity to head east to Asheville, North Carolina and spend a few days relaxing in the mountains. I wanted to create an album of this trip, and I envisioned a calendar as my title page, with the month of June laid out into the background and then lots of focus on the four days of adventure. I wanted to incorporate some handwritten elements in this page to help play up the fun, spontaneous nature of the weekend, so I used the Bamboo to write labels, as well as captions on the photos. I followed the same color scheme with my other pages in the album, which meant they came together with a snap. Through the entire book, the handwritten captions really help bring a handmade feel.
Thanks again to Jared’s wonderful mom, who bravely volunteered to spend 4 days watching our kids, we had the opportunity to head east to Asheville, North Carolina and spend a few days relaxing in the mountains. I wanted to create an album of this trip, and I envisioned a calendar as my title page, with the month of June laid out into the background and then lots of focus on the four days of adventure. I wanted to incorporate some handwritten elements in this page to help play up the fun, spontaneous nature of the weekend, so I used the Bamboo to write labels, as well as captions on the photos. I followed the same color scheme with my other pages in the album, which meant they came together with a snap. Through the entire book, the handwritten captions really help bring a handmade feel.
We don’t get out much. With work and travel schedules, and now with two small children, it has become much easier for our family to stay home than to go to the effort of planning and going away. But when we do – boy is it worth it! We had the chance (thanks to Grandma!) to take a few days away in 2006 and head out to the Outer Banks in North Carolina. As we drove up the coast, we passed the dunes at Kitty Hawk, and saw a huge sign for a hang gliding school. Oh yeah. We were THERE. So we signed up for that afternoon, and spent 3 hours soaring down the very dunes on which the Wright Brothers first experimented with flight. It was a little bit history, a little bit adventure, and was just our style. For the layout, I chose a nontraditional shape to place focus on the photos and add interest to the page. I incorporated handwritten words into my journaling, which arcs around the large photo block. To do this, I simply added spaces in my line of type where my handwritten words would be, and then went back with my brush tool and the Bamboo pen stylus to fill in the gaps with the words I’d planned. Creating the handwriting in a different color helped them pop out even more.
Making it to eight years of marriage is no small thing. I wanted to incorporate a photo of my husband and myself on our wedding day, and then include a photo we took while on our anniversary vacation just a couple of months ago. The “now” photo was a simple one – one of those “turn the camera on yourselves and smile and click” type photos (something that I recommend that EVERYONE do every few months, just for record keeping), but it really shows the joy we continue to have in our life together, and it provides a great comparison to the photo of us eight years ago. I used the Bamboo tablet to handwrite a little note to my husband, incorporating some of my thoughts about all we’ve been through, with the extra benefit of having these words in my own handwriting.
Jessica came to scrapbooking like so many others do: She had a baby. She started collecting photos and memorabilia like never before — and wanted to create an album to display them. With her background as a web designer, digital scrapbooking was a natural fit.
Today Jessica enjoys helping others learn how to get comfortable with their computers as a scrapbooking tool. In addition to her instructional videos and teaching at live events throughout the country, Jessica also writes a monthly column for Creating Keepsakes Magazine called “Computer Tricks.” Check out her blog for a free weekly Photoshop tutorial (spraguelab.squarespace.com), along with others tips for mastering the latest tools and technology of digital scrappers.
Jessica…you are a freakin’ rockstar. Love.
Yep, I second that Jessica!! You ARE a rockstar!
WOOHOO! Another feather in your cap, Jes! Keep soaring, my dear friend, you are Absolutely Amazingly Awesome! YEAH!
this is so cool!
hugs, r
I love your work Jessica! Not only do you I love your designs - I love the stories you tell!
well, first: congrats on 8 years! LOVED your photos!
and secondly: you are so fun to watch & listen to! Love your sense o’ humor! you rawk!
R
Phreshly Phantastic Photoshoppin’ as always! You are my official IDOL!
Jessica, It is a great tutorial.
Well, you have me convinced - went straight out to our local Harvey Norman store here in Perth Western Australia to have a look at one. Love your pages - stupendous, you certainly do rawk! Could not watch the vid because I am an Internet Explorer rather than a Firefox - must have something to do with my age LOL.
You are a shining star and I am glad to be a student - mini star! Love your layouts as always.
CindyB
Jess- Love “seeing” you again!
Your layouts and creativity are so inspiring!
I can´t see the video
Once again… YOU ROCK… you make this look so effortless. Love the video and the tut. TFS!
Jessica, love your stuff and your stories and your kids and your guy and your mom. It all speaks volumns about a happy woman and that makes me happy!
I love this! I’m so loving being one of your many students…you make it look easy, girlfriend! Thanks!
As always your teaching is top notch and your work is inspiring! Very cool!
So proud of you.
{cheering}
Always loving your stuff, Jessica! You must carry a Sharpie with you at all times! (Rock-star speak for YOU ROCK!!!)
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it all! You are such an inspiration! I love taking your classes!
Your scrapbook layouts are phenomenal!!! You are really the best…
The link is broken and I really, really want to see it. I love your other tutorials.