Thursday 28 July 2016

At the Drop of a Hat: Using Metaphors in Scrapbooking


As I'm editing my holiday photos and working out how to tell my stories from far away, I'm going to share a page about home today.

Sian Fair scrapbooking for Get It Scrapped

It's the layout which changed its mind halfway through. Get It Scrapped had asked me to begin a page with a metaphor, for this article Use a Known Phrase as Metaphor so I tossed around a few ideas and came up with the hat plan. 

We were discouraged from using well rehearsed metaphors in our writing at school, in English class, but especially in our History essays, so I was intrigued to discover how my journaling might be shaped by the trick of starting out with a well known phrase.


Ah, now what happened was that I started out at one place and ended up somewhere else. I had intended to use "drop of a hat" as a trigger for a list of activities I enjoy - at the drop of a hat I'll log into my Amazon account, turn my music up loud, head for a museum - but a dinnertime conversation and a couple of special pocket page cards (from a Cocoa Daisy kit which I bought as a one off treat and keep coming back to) and my idea took a turn. The resulting layout has turned into a favourite.

So how about it? Could a phrase you have repeated many times in the past turn into an idea for a new scrapbook page for you? More suggestions at Get It Scrapped.

14 comments:

Susanne said...

Oh that turned out to be a very cute and effective way to tell us a bit about you all.

Lizzy Hill said...

I don't think my brain works this way....but I really enjoy reading how yours does!!! And I LOVE how the eye leads down the page to the hat photo = brilliant!!!

Anonymous said...

What a stunning page Sian and I am now thinking about how I can adapt your idea.

Barbara Eads said...

I love using metaphors to start a page. You can make just about any topic fit the phrase. I love your take on using "at the drop of a hat" to list things that can happen in an ordinary day! You always have such a good imagination when it comes to making connections! That's what makes your pages so interesting.

Melissa said...

This turned out lovely! Isn't it FUN when the starting point takes us in a new direction!

Patio Postcards said...

FUN FUN FUN - I do like your use of the metaphor, at the drop of a hat, much friendly than my first thoughts on the photo which were "here's your hat, what's your hurry" which is so opposite of your friendliness. Could be me having to deal with so many door to door salespersons today ...(col).

Jennifer Shaw said...

Beautiful page. Love the palette! Great metaphor and such a good idea for titles.

alexa said...

What a great idea, Sian! I can think of a few which would make great titles for stories ... Though I don't think I'd be able to produce such a pretty page. You have such a knack for layering and mixing/matching with very subtle colour palettes ...

Maggie said...

I find myself using well known phrases in my blog posts but of course some can be very local and not so widely known. I smiled at the talking about the weather. I seem to discuss this with nearly every customer but then us farmers worry about it a lot!

Missus Wookie said...

Hmm, I like the idea of starting with a metaphor for the journaling. I've often started with a turn of phrase or pun, even if that doesn't end up as the title.I like the way you've used that clip die cut, such fun.

Karen said...

I love the soft colors of this page, the journaling, but most of all, the process. I don't often think of using metaphor in my PL journaling. Your post makes me think I need to be much more thoughtful!

Ruth said...

Everything about this page is pleasing, especially as I have been invited in and you've put the kettle on. Twice!

Jo said...

That really did change direction! It's a great page x

Debbi Tehrani said...

Gorgeous page, and I love your journaling so much!

Related Posts with Thumbnails