Paper piecing is another technique for embellishments in your scrapbook layout.

Are you into patterns? Make your own paper piecing patterns, recreating motifs and elements in your photos, use tole-painting patterns, rubber stamps, clip art or coloring books for basic designs.

Steps for making your paper piecing pattern: Step 1: Print or copy a pattern and reduce or enlarge to size. Better Homes and Gardens 1001 Full-Size Patterns, Projects & Ideas is a good place to find some really cool patterns. Step 2: Trace each paper onto the desired shade of cardstock or patterned paper and trim. To keep your original pattern intact, try using vellum or tissue paper to trace each piece. Eliminate the need for a second tracing by placing the tissue over your cardstock and cutting both at the same time. Step 3: Assemble your paper piecing design, attaching the pieces either to the background or to other pieces. Read more at www.scrapbookingideasinspired.com

Picture Mosaic – create fantastic borders or turn the entire photograph into a picture mosaic for the focal point of your page. The basic way to do it is to gather together a paper trimmer and some adhesive materials to turn into borders, mats, or even backgrounds for tiles, journaling or other snapshots. Get really creative and just use the scissors to cut your pictures up in waves or vertical and horizontal lines, squares and so on.

First, select a picture with a scene or a favorite person. Be sure to have a copies on hand in case you are unhappy with the results. Second, using a paper trimmer or a craft knife (or even a good pair of scissors), cut your photograph into uniform squares. Three, reassemble the photo on cardstock, adhering with tabs, glue stick, etc. and leaving some space around each piece.

You can also create a picture mosaic using a computer program Read more at www.scrapbookingideasinspired.com

“Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults. Also, keep back Thy servant from presumptuous sins: Let them not rule over me; Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be acquitted of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19: 12-14.

The Playground – My first job was as a ride operator in an amusement park. I was in it a long time. These were my first stomping grounds, sometimes my playground. Life is like a playground. When I think of the playgrounds in my life, I recall times when I fell and skinned my knees. Sometimes we skin our knees in life. When we do, we hurt not only ourselves but others too and in the process our relationship with the Father. But the Lord is merciful. Who knows our hidden faults so well! You know, the ones we try not to think about or maybe even feel hopeless about.

The playground can be tough, but I think necessary to grow, even spiritually. Read more at www.scrapbookingideasinspired.com

Mirror Mirror

I think of the part of Snow White, where Maleficent asks “Mirror, mirror on the wall, whose the fairest of them all?” Like Maleficent, sometimes we are reminded of the fact we are not so perfect, that it is best to start with our reality. Who after all, is truly the fairest of all? Of course, the wizard in the mirror reminded Maleficent of this, but we have our own mirrors in the form of God’s word to remind us of who we are and where we stand. But we must be doers, not only hearers. When the gospel is preached, everyone in the crowd hears it, but only those who act upon what they have heard can be saved. We are responsible for working out our own salvation personally. A life changed, changes. Read more at www.scrapbookingideasinspired.com