With so much focus on mixed media, altered art and DIY, we don’t ever want to forget what led to all the great papers in the market, the amazing designs and the preservation of memories. Some have built many a scrapbook, while others have never made a layout, but somehow there is a love of paper that does not seem to slow down. We laugh when the Crew shares their paper stack measurements, proudly I must say.
We thought it would be fun to highlight some of our favorite Crew Layouts and let you see how versatile our papers are. While we do put them in “collections,” we love that they work so well with each other and with our paper brands. Unlike many papers, we maintain our papers over time, only removing those papers across the brands that are just not performing. We think that is better for our stores, our consumers and for us!!!! We kind of get attached.
What makes Canvas Corp Brands papers unique and perfect for Scrapbooking is that they are all printed on cardstock weight paper. By the way, the paper is, of course, acid and lignin free. It is also made with recycled materials – the kraft has the most, then ivory and finally white, but they all can boast that they are recycled. They are also all made in the USA and printed here as well. We actually design each paper in our studio and print them locally so we can keep an eye on the color and the printing. We get to specify the color on all Canvas Corp papers and even use a soy based ink. Pretty cool that our papers are environmentally friendly. 7gypsies papers are also printed with soy based inks, we just use a different process to get the vintage feel.
While we can talk all day long about our paper, what we really want to do is highlight how great it is for scrapbooking. The heavy weight makes it a great base paper – you can die cut the papers or punch them to add dimension. Rip and distress them. Paint and ink them. They are ready to take a beating or keep them clean and simple if that is your style.
Here are some helpful hints and how papers from Canvas Corp Brands might lend a hand in your scrapbooking adventures.
Choose Papers That Show Off Your Photos: One of the other things about our collections is we try to offer a wide range of themes and ensembles that work for a variety of pictures, adventures and events. The goal is to show off your photos, your way. For example the 7gypsies American Vintage Collection is all about travel in the USA – to places big and small. The colors are neutral and vintage and are the perfect background for this amazing layout.
To check out Erin’s blog, click here.
Make Your Own Collections: Looking for a specialized theme and cannot find it? Mix and match to make it your own. Christine shares a fun layout using the 7gypsies American Vintage papers mixed with some Canvas Corp papers… Achieving a cool American West feel that just works. Love it! Canvas Corp offers simple red and kraft stripes, assorted stars and even features that all come together to make your own collection.
To see how Christine built this layout stop by her blog, Christine’s Scrap Shack.
Find Papers that Match the Feel of your Photos: We switch to a softer side of 7gypsies with this mixed media layout that Tatiana created with the Gypsy Moments Collection, where this beautiful vintage photo takes center stage. Starting with this collection, we print on 80# weight paper, so making layered layouts like is so easy and the paper stands up to more mixed media madness.
To see more of Tatiana’s work, check out her Facebook!
Paint Your Papers and Embellishments to Make Them Your Own: If the colors are not right, choose black and white or neutral papers and color them yourself. We have to say, we love the job Tattered Angels does in transforming your papers, stickers, ephemera, die cuts, embellishments into your color palette. So if you find yourself with a photo of two cute boys buried in the sand with great hats on, you need to find the perfect collection of papers and create your own layout! A combination of 7gypsies Maritime, Canvas Corp Bon Voyage and Tattered Angels Paints, in all the right colors, allowed Sanna to create this warm and cozy, relax layout that is all about sun, sand and being a kid. 7gypsies offers a range of black and white art in travel, nautical and African art that is ready to be colored in to match your layout and allow you to make it your own.
To view Sanna’s video on how to make this layout, please click here! Also, check out her blog!
Make Your Own Embellishments: If the baby paper you have is not the right look or color for your photos, cut out the pieces that you want and make it your own. Starting with Kraft paper is a great base to build your layout on – highlighting the colors you want to stand out with paint, fabric, burlap and embellishments.
Jump over to see the layout on our blog – My Little Man
Focus on the Photos: Choose papers that lend themselves, but don’t necessarily match the photo. This travel layout is a great example of how to do that. Choose a collection that works together and becomes the background to make your amazing photo stand out. Sometimes the photo, the papers, the embellishments, the paints all match so well the photo gets lost. Creating a monochromatic look is great too, you just want to make sure that photo stays front and center.
When in Doubt Choose Kraft: If you cannot find a paper or embellishments to match the theme you are looking for, consider a basic kraft paper like this Kraft & White Mini Dots or any of the other Kraft & White papers to start your layout. Then, build on it with touches of color, choosing embellishments you have, color some to make them work, metal accents and for texture neutral fabrics and fluted paper. The photos pop and the layout looks as if it was meant to be.
In this layout, Erin mixes a variety of textures and mediums to showcase these precious photos of her two boys showing off their pearly whites – how adorable! To see more of Erin’s work, please click here.
Write it Down: Journaling is a big part of scrapbooking, but sometimes it is hard to find the right place to do it or to figure out how to include it in our layout. We know that so many people do not want to show off their own handwriting, but we promise that those reading your scrapbooks for years to come will cherish your personal touch. Canvas Corp has a series of Little Pages which are 12×12 papers that feature 6 different 4×6 pages that have lines to help keep it straight – they coordinate so easy. You can see them all here Canvas Corp Little Pages. You will also find journal cards from 7gypsies if you are looking for a vintage feel. You can also slip them into envelopes if you have more to say than the page will hold. Irit uses simple patterned papers and the beauty of a hand written note to make this awesome layout. We LOVE the colors and the repetition of pattern in this layout.. So hip!
To see more of Irit’s work, please click here.
Show off Your Color Style: Mandi brings together a pastel palette as she chooses eclectic pieces as the background for her layout. With a class photo from the past as the centerpiece, the mixture of fabrics and icons of the past take you to that place. While we tend to go vintage when we look at old photos, this modern twist offers another option for vintage.
To see more of Mandi’s work, click here!
Create Themes That are Inspired by Design: Do you have an amazing photo and you are not sure where to start to find the inspiration for the layout? Why not look into the fashion and design world and be inspired? Look for garments that speak to you, art on the wall in the right colors or symmetry that just works. Once you find your inspiration, begin finding pieces that help you achieve the look starting with you stash of papers, embellishments and scraps – pulling out everything that might work. Don’t worry if it is not perfect, you never know what will come together to make the look you are going for. This pretty layout was inspired McKenzie Child’s work. Ilana perfectly captures the cute, sassy attitude of the little girl in the photo. We are obsessed with this layout!
To see the blog post on this cute layout jump over to Ilana’s blog and to see more of her work.
Mix and Match Brands and Products: Today there are so many great brands and collections out there as well as many from the past. We know that some wait for the newest releases while others design when and how they want to. We designed our papers with the hope that they would play well with other brands, other papers, embellishments…. we love when you find something in your stash that just works or add a paper that ties it all together. We don’t mind being the supporting role in your layout, we just love being a part of it. When you mix brands and products to create your layouts, your true style comes shining through. Don’t get us wrong, we love to see our products filling a layout, but the contrast is so nice when other brands are shown off too. Agnieszka shows us just that in this aqua and brown layout that uses a nice mixture of Canvas Corp Brands products starting with Tattered Angels Tattered Tangles to Canvas Corp’s Handmade Papers and adding her own fine touches.
To see more of Agnieszka’s work, please click here!
Paint it Up: Start with white everything and paint each piece your color and your way. Valerie shows us how to make this bright and cheerful layout with what was once white. It is like picking out a great new outfit to wear. Try different combinations until you find the one that works for you. Each page in your scrapbook can simply burst with color. A challenge might be to make a scrapbook with just white products and color them all to create a book that just radiates color. Tattered Angels Mists make it easy to transform anything white to the color of your choice, perfect for paper, lace, silk, stickers, die cuts, book board, chipboard, doilies, fabric, burlap and more. So never again can you say I cannot find the embellishment to match.
To check out Valerie’s Facebook, click here!
Make it Eclectic: First, we have to say, this layout took our breadth away. While we love bright and cheery layouts with loads of color, the composition of this layout is simply stunning. Mandy’s choice of photo, colors, embellishments and accent pieces is a work of art. Choosing random, eclectic pieces such as scraps of burlap and paper, a special charm or metal piece, a uniquely tied piece of jute and pieces of textured items layer together to show off this photo in an amazing way. While this layout has a lot happening, it is simple in design and shows off the photo so well. The background is also a work of art in itself and can be made to set the mood of your layout. While this layout features a bit of 7gypsies, a touch of Canvas Corp and a collection of Tattered Angels, no brand stands out and takes center stage, letting the art and the photo move up front.
To see more of Mandy’s stuff, click here!
Make it Metallic: We are seeing exciting paints and embellishments on the market that are bright and shiny like Tattered Angels High Impact Paints. With this paint, you can make virtually any surface transform to a bright and shiny metal-like finish. We really like the contrast of the metallic with the Black and White Diamonds as the backdrop in Tatiana’s layout. Working with Black and White, touches of color and metallic is on trend and is so fun to work with. Such a great idea for showing off Black and White photos too.
Build the Layers: Mixing and Matching Canvas Corp papers is one of the most fun parts of the line – they all somehow kind of go together, you just have to blend them your way. We are always adding new papers to bring out the beauty of the current line and this layout Debbie created brings together some of our newer papers with some oldies… We bet you cannot tell which ones are new and which are old – we love that. You can build your paper collection around the papers you like and know that around the corner new goodies might show up where some of your favorite pieces (even the scrap) are ready to be used again.
To see more of Debbie’s work stop by and visit her Facebook page or on Scrapbook.com where you will find her gallery of layouts.
While no two are even a little bit alike, each one is amazing in its own way. We embrace the uniqueness of our Crew and the creativity, style and life they give to our products. We hope that these layouts and hints inspire you to try something new and explore your scrapbooking world to take a new chance.
Happy creating!
