Welcome to Scrapbook Techniques Weekly Scrapbook Layout Challenge!

#scrapbooktechniques202301
I am so excited to kick off this new version of teaching scrapbook techniques with a new weekly scrapbook layout challenge, and I hope you will enjoy playing along as much as I have enjoyed creating these challenges and the sample scrapbook projects that I made with them. Every Monday, there will be a new post on our BLOG with the weekly challenge requirements so please be sure to SUBSCRIBE to get the most current updates.
These challenges are designed to help you use supplies, tools and embellishments that you may not have used in a long time. Each week, there will be a new technique VIDEO on Tuesdays to support each challenge and the selection of tools and embellishments will vary each week.
These challenges are best completed as you use our FREE SCRAPBOOOK PAGE PLANNER and utilize the 10 areas to focus on when planning and creating your scrapbook layout since our challenges use those same focus areas to create your challenge entry.
Here is how the challenge works:
- A new challenge will be posted each Monday of the month and you will have until the end of that month to complete your entries.
- For example, Today, April 3 is a new challenge and you have until April 30 to complete it and post your layout.
- To be considered for the Stamp of The Month random prize drawing, you must use hashtag #scrapbooktechniques202301 for this challenge and post on either Facebook or Instagram or send to me for posting in our Facebook Group.
- You will get a bonus entry if you post your layout in our SCRAPBOOK TECHNIQUES FANS Facebook group
- Each entry for the weekly challenges will be place in a random number generator and a winner will be chosen on the first of every month. The winner will receive that month’s STAMP OF THE MONTH for free.
- You can enter one or more times for each challenge to increase your odds of winning.
Now lets get to our first weekly challenge. This challenge is focused on creating a scrapbooking layout and must contain the following items:
- Supplies
- The storage and size are completely up to you.
- Focal Points
- You can have as many or as few of photos and memorabilia as you like.
- Papers
- You can use only one patterned paper (but it an be double sided to give you some variety)
- No limits on cardstock or other types of paper besides patterned paper
- Ideas
- #scrapbooktechniques202301 challenge
- Techniques
- Use a water reactive ink (or other coloring tool) to create texture and interest in one or more of your page elements
- I will upload a technique video on Wednesday to show you how I created mine
- Colors
- Any colors you need to convey your story
- Tools
- You must use at least one handmade die cut in the form of a shape, word, etc.
- This can be from a STAMP + DIE collection, Sizzix or other metal dies, Cricut, Sillouette, etc.
- You must use at least one handmade die cut in the form of a shape, word, etc.
- Coloring Tools
- To complete this technique you will need some type of water reactive ink, crayon, etc
- I recommend either Distress ink or DISTRESS OXIDE inks
- To complete this technique you will need some type of water reactive ink, crayon, etc
- Embellishments
- You must use a border or ribbon on your page or both
- Remember to look at your zip strips, old borders, ribbons, border dies, etc.
Lets take a closer look at my layout for this challenge, entitled, REMEMBER THE STORY, which documents all of our events for April 2023.

Scrapbook Techniques April Schedule
- Supplies – My layout is a 12×12 layout that will go into my 2023 chronilogical scrapbook inside a page protector. It has no photos so no flip flaps are required.
- Focal Point – This is a non photo layout and I love making these as they tell a great story with all the tags for journaling.
- Papers – I used one double sided patterned paper only. All other papers are either cardstock scraps that I stamped, inked and die cut or a calendar template that I cut out.
- Ideas – All from this challenge #scrapbooktechniques202301
- Techniques – I am all about vintage themes right now, so this Cosette kit was perfect to try out some new techniques.
- I distressed all of my die cuts including the doily and all stamp labels using distress oxide inks. Technique video on Wednesday.
- After using my technique to create the aged feel of all the stamp labels, I used my left over distress oxide inks to create splatters all over the page to continue to tone down the white calendar and make it all a consistent texture.
- I used the second generation stamping technique to stamp the clock faces onto the background of the calendar to give it a more vintage look
- I also double layered the stamped/die cut butterfly and used foam adhesive to separate the two layers giving it a more dimensional look
- I could not find a border for the bottom of the calendar so I cut one from a thin cut using my sizzix. It was not 12 inches long so I cut several of them and glued them together to form the length that I needed.
- Colors – I used the Close To My Heart colors of Toffee, Mocha, Mist, White Daisy, Pine, & Honey butter
- For the distressed vintage look, I used Distress Oxides in the colors of Vintage Photo, Fossilized Amber & Peeled Paint
- Tools – I used a combination of thin cuts and stamp + thin cuts to create all the embellishments on this layout.
- Coloring Tools – I used Distress Oxide inks, paint brush, and a water mister with my favorite porcelain tray to contain the mess.
- I also added just a couple of hints of shimmer with my clear shimmer brush on the butterfly and the flowers.
- Embellishments –Â
- I applied both the border and a ribbon to this layout and I just love how much texture it gives it. The burlap and the doily border on both the top and bottom just fit great together with all the little scraps of lace. I can’t remember the last time I used an actually ribbon on a layout, how fun. I love the lace burlap ribbon along the top of the calendar – I have been wanting to use this forever.
- For my top border, I simply used the sip strip from this piece of patterned paper and its the one element that actually spans the entire 12 inches of my layout
- For my die cut shapes of the doily and the stamp labels, the aging technique of this challenge was perfect to give it all a very vintage feel.
- I also used a few stamped and die cut flowers, leaves, bird and butterfly to continue giving a very vintage feel.
Here is my completed scrapbook page planner so you can see how it might be used for this challenge.
I can’t wait to see what you create with this challenge and please ask any questions below.
To shop the supplies listed below, please visit my CLOSE TO MY HEART store.
- CC5226 – Fancy Doilies Thin Cuts
- Z4701 – Cosette – Scrapbooking Stamp + thin cuts
- Z4700 – Cosette – Cardmaking Stamp + Thin cuts
- X7291B – Cosette Paper Packet + Sticker
- Z3682 – Fancy Borders Thin Cuts
- Z2863 – White Daisy Exclusive Inksâ„¢ Pigment Pad
- Z4522 – Vintage Photo Distress Oxideâ„¢ Ink PadItem Number: Z4522
- Z2828 – Toffee Exclusive Inksâ„¢ Stamp Pad
- Z6539 – Mist Exclusive Inksâ„¢ Stamp Pad
- Z6540 – Pine Exclusive Inksâ„¢ Stamp Pad
- Z6536 – Honey Butter Exclusive Inksâ„¢ Stamp Pad
- Z6531 – Mocha Exclusive Inksâ„¢ Stamp Pad
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Happy Scrappin!