Blurring the lines between scrapbooking and art
where does one end and start?
Boundaries
I love to push them...
Over the years, the line between scrapbooking and art has blurred, intersecting more than ever, with mixed media and art journaling having steadily found their place in the scrapbooking scene.
But trends aren’t really my thing. I prefer to lead rather than follow the crowd, letting my heart guide me instead. A little serendipity, if you like...
I’ve learned that when I stay true to myself and create from the heart, I’m sharing something real—putting a part of myself out into the world.
Collage
It’s always been a passion of mine. Thinking back, my love of collage started in high school, sparking memories of those early creative explorations . . .
Yes that’s me . . rocking the 90’s perm . . .
I remember working in scrapbooks with magazine cuttings in the tech block, exploring mood boards, playing with color cohesion, and discovering the world of collage. And here I am, more than forty years later, still loving a glue stick, working with color theory, and piecing together scraps of paper...
Collage has woven itself into my memory-keeping products and my creative process when scrapbooking. I love layering bits of paper scraps to build a page, and I can’t help but experiment with collage-inspired designs when creating papers for my collections.
Inspiration
Today, I’m sharing some of these experiments with you—background papers I’ve designed for my digital kits and collections. Alongside them, you’ll find finished scrapbook pages to show how art and memory keeping can be combined.
These ready-made art papers are perfect if you’re short on time or when your mojo has gone AWOL—they’re great for jumpstarting the creative process.
When selecting a paper, try this:
Look for areas where design elements intersect.
Follow the leading lines.
Find focal points—spots with interesting marks or textures to build around.
Notice the shadows and lighting on the paper. Are there calmer areas or highlights where you could focus your design?
Seek out papers with pre-made marks, stamps, or embellishments to support your overall layout and help to evoke a mood or tell a story.
Identify visual points of interest. Where could marks provide a backdrop or mount for a photo?
Play with shapes and intersections—or create calm spaces as a contrast.
Compare the blank paper with the finished layouts below, and use these tips to mentally deconstruct the designs.
Examples shown above are from the This is Me, This is Us, Happiness is Homemade, Concerto and Eden and Friends Collections.
Flash Sale
On Wednesday’s at the LilyPad selected products are reduced in price for one day only, if you are reading today, find all these products on sale here, some of them are almost 70% off . . .
If you read this note after the sale has ended I have linked up the collections individually within the text.
Reminiscing
Thinking back to my school days, my youthful aspirations, and where I am now, raising a family and building a creative business, it fills me with gratitude.
Today, I’m pausing to reflect on the twists and turns of life that led me here, and the honour it is to show up in your inbox, connect with you, and hopefully inspire you.
I would love to hear from you, a little like or comment goes a long way and reminds me that I’m not alone and that you’re here and listening.
Have a wonderful Wednesday x
