Hey, friends! After nearly a year in development, my scrapbook album system and kit are getting very close to launching. I'll be revealing the first Messy Box and albums here in a few short weeks!! So to lead up to that, I am going to spend the next couple weeks sharing fun, EASY ways to make things for your scrapbooks from scratch. This week we'll make pocket cards! In my album system, there are four pocket sizes—9×12 (which is a full page), 4×6, 3×4 and 3×3. We do have a few ledger packs available that fit the pockets, but since I want even more variety, I decided to make some. Plus—I LOVE making cards. It's super fun and addictive.
Today I'll share three easy ways to create your own custom cards from scratch!
Prepping paper: I always like to have a stash of 3×3 and 3×4 cardstock on hand. I prep this in advance by cutting down cardstock to size. It's nice to have a stash always available.
Watercolor paint: I love watercolor paint because depending on how much water you use, you can really control the color intensity. I like cards that are easy to journal on and messy but have soft patterns.
Markers: Use markers and a ruler to create your own grid and line patterns for journaling. I like to use soft colors for journaling so that the black pen shows up better.
Stamping: Stamping is a super fun way to create patterns. I am a big fan of repeating patterns and usually just fill the card with one stamp impression over and over. I also love letter stamps. My "no way bae" card is a joke for my husband because he won't stop calling me Bae. Good story, right? No? OK… moving on.
So anyway! On the red cards you can see I am using white ink. It's super fun to play with. I normally avoid a color base on my cards, but that white ink is a game changer!
The stamp set I am using for all of these cards is the newest Ali Edwards Story Stamp. I like that they are small and text based. Easy to mix and match.
Here's a completed page. You can see here that these cards are super easy to mix and match. I like that the patterns are soft, but personalized. If there is one pet peeve I have in scrapbook products, it's when stuff feels really generic. Making my own cards and customizing them really eliminates that problem. I like my books to feel simple, but personal!
Hope you guys have a great Sunday! Who's watching the Oscars? I am! xx. Elsie
PS. Learn more scrapbook techniques in my new e-course Capture Real Life in 52 Weeks.
Credits// Author and Photography: Elsie Larson
57 Comments
Love love this ideas!!!!
I have to star my project life for 2014 family photos …
Oh my goodness..
This is the best news I’ve been waiting since last year.So excited for the Messy box.
Thanks a lot, Elsie!
I’m so happy you’re excited!! I can’t wait to share more!
xx- Elsie
You can do it!!
xx- Elsie
I love it! Great post.
http://bluecoastofdreams.blogspot.com/
Your scrapbook album system? Elsie, I am so, so excited! I have never scrapbooked before, but your Scrapbook Sunday posts have inspired me to start. Can’t wait to stock up on scrapbook goodies from you in just a couple of weeks!!
http://mostlysalty.blogspot.com
This is so cute http://www.hannamarielei.com
They’re adorable!
That is such a lovely idea and it looks so cool! You always have some amazing things to show, thanks! With love,
Vera
http://theflashwindow.weebly.com/
The colors are matching, the pictures are cute and the post is very inspiring.
jeansandmacaroons.blogspot.com
Absolutely love these!
Working with watercolours is my fave.
Definitely going to try this out!
Elise
http://coffeeandpine.blogspot.ca
I love this idea! so creative! I think i’m going to try it out!
http://totallyglam16.blogspot.com/
What paint brands and pens work well? Love this series. I’ve never kept a scrapbook, but now with kids, there is so much to document. Thanks for all the inspiration and how-tos
I love this so much. Thinking of doing a series as a ‘card’ for my fiancé. My favourite are those watercolour cards 🙂 will make them as my weekend project!
Why have I never thought of this? Y’all are geniuses:)
Adorable! This post makes me wanna start making scrapbook. Love it!
http://youthfulblog.blogspot.com/
love this idea
http://www.modeography.com/2015/02/colorful-dress/
Yay! Can’t wait for the whole ABM scrapbooking enchilada!
I ordered the bow, floral & alpha stamps + all the inks + a mini album + 9×12 ledger + washi set for the first of the ‘Capture Real Life’ class challenges, and I can already tell I’m in LOOoOoOoOVe with scrapbooking! I’ve even got a Sunshine edition Project Life going. Bring it, lady! 🙂
xo hil
PS Hope you’re feeling better!
Love this, thanks so much for sharing! I’m getting ready to take my first trip to Milan and then Paris – I will definitely be scrapbooking when I get back and these cards are perfect! 🙂
Love the idea and the beautiful colors you used. I’m gonna start making my own scrapbook next week aka my break week. Thanks for sharing!
x Rita
Love the original artwork. I think these are a great project for the kids and make a terrific collage. Thank you for the inspiration!
Love these! Wish i could scrapbook like this
http://www.endlesshouseaffair.com
This is really cool, I have a ton of vintage post cards from my grandma that I want to scrapbook, but I might have to cut some down to use the pockets…I wish they invented customization pockets!
Interview with a Sommelier – Champagne Facts You Need to Know!
I like the pics the most 🙂 So cute!
Have a nice day!
mtrjschk.blogspot.de
What an amazing idea! Definitely going to do this the next time I scrapbook 🙂
These are super duper cute! You guys are my scrapbooking inspirations! #DIYgoals!
http://annescribblesanddoodles.blogspot.com/
Ohh I love scrapbooking!! this is so cute <3
https://aspoonfulofnature.wordpress.com/
I absolutely love this post! I have been wanting to start a Smash Book recently… I just need to collect some more supplies, and what a great idea to make my own!
Only good ideas comes from this blog, thanks!! 🙂
These are super cute. I think I would use them for gift tags, too! I love the watercolors and have, recently, decided to try my hand at them. Not a lot of experience… but I’m excited to explore!
Thanks for the cute post!
This was such a cute post! I want to start my own scrapbook now!
http://dainty-confessions.blogspot.com.es/
Hooray! I can’t wait to share and I’m so honored that I’m inspiring you to try scrapbooking for the first time!!!
-Elsie
I like all kinds of brands of watercolor paint, although I prefer liquid. These pens are Pentel. Any pen is great as long as it’s acid free (so avoid Sharpie pens!)
xx- Elsie
How cute!!!
-Elsie
Eeeek!!! Please share your progress! I would love to see!
xx- Elsie
Ohhh! so exciting! You’re making us all jealous.
xx- Elsie
Awesome! You’ll have so much fun!!
You totally can! I promise!!
-Elsie
I am so excited for Messy Box!
I’m so excited (for you and for us!) about you getting back in scrapbooking mode. Bravo!
Carrie
http://www.wearwherewell.com
It’s awesome how simple the designs are but I would never think to do them! So cute!
I’ve been waiting for the messy box for so long, I am soooo excited!! Just a question, will you make like a “price deal” for the ones who already subscribed to happy mail? cause i don’t think i would be able to afford the two kits and having to choose between them is breaking my heart :(((
Ooooh, I’m getting excited! Ever since you mentioned the 9×12 format layout, I’ve eagerly been waiting for it. Once the albums started to show up on the Studio Calico site, it had to be a matter of time before ABM’s Messy Box started up. Your scrapbooking posts really have inspired me and I just finally finished my first book using the 4×4 We R Memory Keepers album. The ABM photo app was my only source of fonts to put on pictures (of all the shelter cats I visited with in 2013) and also used the backgrounds in the app as print-it-myself journal cards. Thank you so much for the inspiration and the great tools that help make it easy for me. <3
Hooray!! Good job finishing your first album!
xx- elsie
Sadly, I don’t have control over coupon type stuff and I don’t think there will be a group deal. Both kits are priced super well, though, so I hope you can at least try Messy Box and see what you think!! 🙂
xx- Elsie
Love the simple, yet personal touch. Much better and more appealing to me than – here’s a kit I assembled.
Love your perfect grid! I have been stock piling sketch paper squares for years, (don’t have the heart to throw it out when I’m making notebooks) Maybe I should just send them your way. Let me know if you want to co-create.
http://www.makemynotebook.com
You got it…. but don’t laugh! At least not more than I laugh at myself. As I mentioned in a past comment, it is def not intuitive for me, and I haven’t tapped into that side of my brain in a looooooong time. Like 10 years. And even then the results were… um… like bad Steampunk Somerset. Bwahaha!
But thanks to you (literally… no exaggeration) I’m attempting paper-based creativity again with my more modern esthetic. Here we go! xo hil
This is just what I have been needing to see! I have a two-year old, another on the way, and I want to document and scrapbook and have something physical that they can see down the line. But ugh, every time I have tried to scrapbook, I’m so hugely uninspired because the options are always so cookie-cutter and meh. But this!
Are you just using something like a baseball card sheet? I really like how this is laid out. Going away for the weekend and would love to bring along some materials to start this project!
these are so cute!
xx nikki
http://www.dream-in-neon.com
It’s like a potluck of crafts! Painting to stamping all in one project!! May I suggest some washi tapes and stickers, too? I think they would be fun to use for making your scrapbook =)
Juju
http://www.jujusprinkles.com
I love the way you mix colors, patterns, and photos on your pages!
Cute!!! You are seriously my go to blog for inspiration.
Hey ladies! How do you store your completed scrapbooks? Mine are all different sizes and shapes, and they look a bit messy together on one shelf. Do you spread them throughout your house, or keep a special spot for them?
Yay! I love these so much, thanks for the inspiration 😀
Super love your ideas!
Love these so much! I’ve recently become REALLY addicted to watercolors. 🙂 Elsie, do you ever write on top of your watercolor cards? Sometimes I find that my pen gets messed up after doing that – but maybe I’m just not using the correct type of pen that can withstand that medium?