Oh, all this talk of postcards has me dreaming about holidays! Here, we're starting to gather our bits and pieces together for our July journey. For the last week, The (Not So) Small One has been carrying about with her The Big Book Of Florida: a pink exercise book filled with everything she feels she might need to know, and a lot more besides. She has been saving all winter for this trip, and the list - colour coded, cross referenced - of Things I Might Like To Bring Home? It's a long one.
When I was about the age she is now, we went to the seaside for our holiday
and the souvenirs came from shops of the bucket and spade and candy floss kind. Nothing cost very much, or lasted very long. Except for one little token I have kept for all these years in a little china pot beside my bed. It's a copper bracelet with my name stamped on and I told its story for Storytelling Sunday last year. When Get It Scrapped asked for a page using a staged still life photograph it immediately came to mind
I have a year's worth of still life photographs to scrapbook. The writing is done, only the cutting and sticking remains.
With a big block of journaling here I wanted to add interest as I was pulling it together. Maybe it's hard to see in the photo, but I made the background by piecing together lots of punched out postage stamp shapes (from a Martha Stewart postage stamp punch). I thought they looked like Morrocan tiles and gave a nod to the design of my little storage pot.
The pot became part of my still life photo because the bracelet on its own looked lost. It couldn't tell its story without its home. Maybe that sounds odd? I think that's the thing about a still life, though: it has to have a story to make you take a second look. (And the story it has isn't always the one the photographer intends: I'd be willing to bet my bracelet makes you think of a holiday souvenir of your own). You can find other thoughts on the process over at Get It Scrapped and Ideas For Scrapbook Page Storytelling With Staged Still Life Photos
My tip? If you are using a white background to enhance your photo, make sure it's clean and free from wrinkles. Better than a tablecloth or a sheet? A roll of cheap white drawing paper you can tear off and keep fresh after every picture.
22 comments:
I just love it. So much to look at - and I remembered the story as soon as I saw the bracelet!
The colours are beautiful [you know how *every time* I saw your pages make me nostalgic for whne I scrapped in 12x12? ... Yep ... that ...]
p.s: I found local postcards eventually!
That's a lot of work you put into that background! I love that you referenced StoryTelling Sunday on the layout. And I miss it so much that I'm taking Stacy Julian's class "For the Love of Things" just as an excuse to continue documenting some of the stuff around here!
Wonderful page...and I love how you've made the background...and you're quite right about the bracelet needing the pot.
Great page and I also,agree that the bracelet needed the pot.
First of all, I'm in awe you created that gorgeous background :) and next, I bet looking at your daughter must be like having a mini you running around. Come on tell the truth, you have a list too lol.
I adore this layout and thank you for the tip. I need to plan my photography better
Oh I really like the background you created & how FUN to see the Storytelling Sunday story being preserved on a page!
i thought you'd used a patterned 12x12. It wasn't until you pointed out the postage pieces that I noticed. A wonderful page about a wonderful story. As for Florida...I'm Well Jell!!
It's a stunning background, and just perfect for the subject!
Funnily enough, just as I sit here there is a conversation on the radio about holiday destinations and how much easier it is for people to contemplate and actually have an overseas trip .... from down here it is long and extremely expensive, well, it is still long but not as expensive these days.
Your layout is a good reminder that I have a treasure trove of stories to scrap from the StS days ... some were at the time but most weren't.
Amazing background Sian, I love the way you make your posts so very interesting and informative too. I'm actually on hols at the moment and it's so nice to catch my breath and do some blog hopping xxx
Did you get my comment about joining in the postcard swap? because I haven't had an email from you.
As always, this is so lovely. A good reminder to me to start doing this more often, though I have done a few pages over the years. I also appreciate the reminder that I must take more time and plan my photographs better. Thanks for sharing.
You have put so much detail into this background, Sian, and it goes beautifully with your pot - such lovely subtle shades. The little additions - buttons? pearly bits? - are perfectly chosen for the colours. It's this kind of detail I love about your work.
Lovely page. I'm intending to work on some of my Storytelling Stories too - they need to be on pages. And I might just use your postage stamp idea for a background too.
Love this! Those postage sized bg shapes look fabulous against all the journaling on the front....& your still life photo is gorgeous! For me, poor little girl, we only had 2 holidays 'away' that I can remember...& no money to spend on either...how times have changed! Mostly it was off to Mam's for the hols....but that was pretty special cos I got spoilt rotten with love & food & time:):) The BEST sort of holiay:):)
Oh I love this one. I remember your story. I love how you have attached that little clock face... and yes - I was sat here wondering how you got that background so white. Thanks for the tip.
I also remember this one. I think it's wonderful to be scrapping these.
Rinda
You know i am a fan of your stories of objects and putting them on a page is like "the cherry on top"! 💕
I remember this story---perfect for your still life project. I love the background and appreciate the time it took to make it. The envelops as part of your photo mat is fabulous. I also love the little labels to hold your subtitle. Great layout all the way around!
Your staged photos are very impressive Sian, thank you for the tips and I love how you use objects to add interest.
I'm impressed with the background--what a lot of work! But, ultimately, to good purpose as I think it works very well with both the pot and the copper bracelet.
We will have to wait awhile to hear the stories of this vacation's souvenirs, won't we?
Oh I remember that story - so nice to see a layout made for it. Thanks for that tip. I have a white posterboard I use but keep it rolled up so it's always a pain to get it flat. :)
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