The Photo Is The Word

Click on any of the above for a closer look!

They say a picture is worth a thousand words and I agree! Photos can sometimes express things that verbal or written messages cannot. More often, we try to combine photos with a written message to get memories recorded in our albums. And, ironically, sometimes when you scrapbook, the pictures can even BE the words themselves! As Martha Stewart would say, "That is a good thing!"

This week I created an alphabet that allows you to use your photos and border stickers or line drawing as headline lettering that also showcases your picture theme with wording. You think up a message and let the photos become part of the wording!

Use this special alphabet as a guide and allow spaces for the photos as directed for each letter. Print out the ABC page as a guideline so you won't have to keep running to the computer to check how each letter is shaped or where the photos go. If you like, you can save off the ABC page and resize it in a print shop program if that makes it easier for you.

I encourage you to try this technique even if you only use one-word messages. Most one-word messages take only two or three photos. If you want to do a longer message and have not yet taken a group of photos that will work for this technique, you can take your next event's photos by holding the camera so that you get half the shots horizontal and half the shots vertical. That will give you plenty to work with for this type of headlining page. In the meantime, try it with just one to three photos for a simple word like "MOM" or three photos for "DAD".

You can spell anything out for your 'headline message' that you like! You are only limited by the size of your letters and the amount of room on your page! And with panoramic page protectors you have even more room to make your message count! I used four 8.5x11 pages here to make the words "Summer Sparkle."

• Materials:
• several related photos
• one piece of scratch paper
• paper for matting the letters (mine was white shown above)
• paper for the background of the page (mine was yellow as shown above)
• ruler
• pencil
• re-positionable glue
• black marker or border stickers
• the ABC letter guide sheet shown here (see figure 5)
• personal paper trimmer or scissors

You will need several photos for each word in your message. You may use border stickers to form the shapes of the letters or you can simply draw the lines with marker. Basic solid lines work great for this technique but I chose to use border stickers from my stash for this article. Plan to add photos cut as rectangles and squares with a personal paper trimmer. You may need a ruler as well to keep things lined up and even.

*First
Gather up your photos and decide on your message. Simple is good! The most basic words come to life with photos beside them! A loved one's name is the perfect place to start! Some other words to begin with might be:

*Second
Draw out the letters on plain scratch paper as a rough draft . This will give you an idea of how much space vertically and horizontally each letter will take. Decide if you like the letters in straight lines or 'jumbled'. You can fit anywhere from one to four letters on an 8.5x11 page. If you try to put any more than that, the photos need a lot of trimming. If you have very tiny pictures, perhaps you can fit up to 6 letters on an 8.5x11 sheet.
Just play around with the scale of the message on scratch paper before you start. Remember to add the square and rectangular 'boxes' where the photos go when drawing out the letters. You don't want to get it all drawn out and find out you have forgotten the photos! Not every letter needs a photo. Some letters can remain plain.

*Third
Sketch them onto the paper you plan to use for matting. After you have figured out what size your letters should be, you
can sketch them lightly onto the matting paper. Be sure to allow a little extra room between letters for cutting around. I allow about two inches around each letter on all sides at this stage. Draw with an easy touch and use the ruler to make straight lines. You will be erasing those lines later, so keep it light!

*Fourth
When you are sure of your letter placement on the page, find a photo to fit each letter. Don't be afraid to trim! Most of the letter shapes take an upright narrow rectangle photo well and some need a square one. The secret to this is to keep the photos trimmed in straight lines. Your personal paper trimmer will be great to use on these pages! Start measuring and trimming!

*Fifth
Lay the photos onto the letters in correct placement. If they look good, glue them down with repositionable glue onto the matting paper. You are doing great!!

*Sixth
Now go back and add the border stickers or the dark marker lines for the letter shapes. I used a variety of border stickers on my "Summer Sparkle" sample. You can coordinate border sticker strips or the solid colors of the line drawing with the theme of your photos.
Do not press the border stickers down firmly until you are sure the letter looks the right size and shape. I placed my stickers right on top of the edges of the photos but if you are not comfortable with that, just place the stickers beside the pictures. When you like the look of the letter, then press down the sticker strips firmly.
Add your line drawing now if you are not using stickers. A simple black marker or other solid color work wonderfully here! Just make sure it is thick enough to be clearly seen. You want the letter to be easily recognizable. Let ink dry and erase any pencil lines from step three above.

*Seventh
Cut out the letter on it's mat. Carefully go around the matted letter and its connecting photo with straight or decorative scissors. The photo and it's letter are now one unit mounted on the mat paper.

*Eighth
Reposition the finished letters on the background paper in your album. No journaling is necessary unless you want to add some. The message is now complete! Your page set is done. A picture is worth a thousand words and you have just created a masterpiece!!