Every time I start pulling art together for a stamp set, I feel like I’m doing a puzzle–making little changes to sizing, making things fit, even trying to make it aesthetically pleasing. Every time I make a set, I move things around in the given rectangle shape to see how I can maximize space.
I’m also really good at packing a suitcase and packing up a car too. I always say I’m using my ‘Tetris skills’. ;)
Of course, the same can be true for designing a page when you try to making all the needed components work. It’s that whole process of figuring things out. I think this is why I like puzzles and mystery books in the real world. I also used to do a bit of coding (aka, macros) when I worked at WordPerfect 30-ish years ago (30??? Taking a moment to let that one sink in….). Part of my job was to figure out how to make our process for editing and adding text to a database of information quicker and more efficient.
It’s a big part of my inner core to figure things out.
Of all the things I’ve puzzled and found solutions for, you’d think I would have dipped my toes into the digital page/book realm. It’s something I always want to stop and do, but never have the time to decide what to use, gather photos and all that stuff.
Well, today we have the lovely Miss Shannan Manton and this girl is rocking what I would like to do. I discovered Shannan a little while ago on Instagram and have become completely smitten with her clean, typographical, big-photo style. Don’t take this the wrong way, but she’s the girl of my dreams. ;) I have truly dreamed of doing this for years and she makes it look so easy and fabulous! She’s done the most amazing Blurb books that you need to check out HERE on her IGTV.
And today she’s here at the party and does not disappoint with this awesome digital spread!
See what I mean? Big photos. Typographical wonderment. White space. All the makings for this completely fresh, magazine-style look. Ack! I love it!
Here’s Shannan to tell us more:
Hi, I’m Shannan (shannan_pages on instagram) and I’ve been a scrapbooker for 12 years, mostly digital, and still love it. I make simple, minimal pages that focus on words and photos so digital stamps are one of my favourite supplies.
I made this 8.5×11 spread using a bunch of different Kerri Bradford Studio stamps (Kerri’s style suits mine perfectly). I love layering stamps on a full page photo – this spread documents our weekend walks that have become one the positive things COVID has bought to our family. Putting a page together with photos, journaling and word stamps feels like a puzzle. Love when it all fits together.
[ Digitals | Block of Headlines, Block Party, Happiness Captured, and This Is Our Happy Place ]
Thank you so much for being a part of our celebration, Miss Shannan. I will always be in awe of your magnificent work. And you and me girl….puzzling…it’s a fun thing to do. :)
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First of all – puzzles, yes! Tetris, yes! and macros, yes! We’re soul sisters! Second of all, Shannan, yes! I’ve been a HUGE fan for some time. I buy her digitals and I love her books. Everything she makes is awesome!
Oh my gosh! Not many people know what macros are, that’s why I usually use the word ‘coding’. Do they still exist in other programs? I miss WordPerfect. It was the best!
Kerri, WordPerfect in the 80s? And macros? Oh yes, I totally know what they are and even made some for the law firm where I worked. Oh.my.gosh, type it once and pull from the data source a million times for court documents. Loved ’em. If I had pursued WP’s offer, we might have been besties! I would have loved that. Thanks for introducing me to Shannon and for all the birthday fun; I am really enjoying it.