ScrapFriends Community Forum: ScrapFriends Community Forum -> Ethnic Scrapbooking

I knew I would love Ethnic Scrapbooking right away, because I think it's an exciting subject for anyone interested in exploring their roots and learning more about fellow human beings. Ethnic Scrapbooking focuses on ideas to explore, reveal, and celebrate ethnic connections through scrapbooking.

Author Lisa Sanford speaks to scrapbookers on every level, from the beginner to the advanced. She invites everyone to take up ethnic scrapbooking with her warm writing style and a wide range of layout examples from her own collection as well as layouts by fellow designers. There are tips and techniques at the end of each chapter, as well as a scrapbooking basics section so that anyone can feel more confident in choosing supplies and creating a creative space on their own. The book itself is spiral-bound and 116 pages long, not including introductory pages.

One of my favorite layouts and inspiration ideas featured "Nia", an advanced scrapbook layout by Cynthia Baker and Lisa Sanford. I loved the painted handprint and the idea of researching the ethnic origins of my son's name. His name has special family origins, but we didn't consider ethnic origins when choosing his name. Oliver was highly amused to learn the German ethnic origin of his name meant "Host of Elves" or "Elf Army". Nice. It was a meaningful project to me and a novel piece of information my husband and son were happy to share with anyone who would listen.




Title: Oliver
Products Used:
Idea Book Inspiration/Design Lift (Ethnic Scrapbooking by Lisa Sanford)
Patterned Papers (Basic Grey, Hang 10)
Title Letters (Tim Holtz Grungeboard Alphas, Stripes)
Stickers (DaisyD's, Autumn, Hearts)
Acrylic Paint (Making Memories, Plaid)
Ink (Ranger Distress Ink, Weathered Wood)
Pens (Itoya - brown, Sharpie - black)
Sanding Block (Making Memories)
Other (Hand stamped by Oliver, Hand-drawn, hand-cut olive branch)

I appreciate that Lisa doesn't push product in this book, but I was surprised there wasn't a more substantial list of ethnic scrapbooking product supplies in the back. I can only guess that perhaps this is because of the seasonal nature of the scrapbooking industry? I suspect it's more from Lisa's can-do, "put your foot in it", DIY approach: If it's not available, make it yourself. For example, I wanted to do a layout about Colours Bahamas, a world-famous Junkanoo troupe. With a little bit of research, I learned that many of the costumes are traditionally made from paper, fabric, glitter, feathers, and aluminum. I was able to find glittery ribbon, feathers, and paper from my own supply stash to create a highly dimensional and colorful background inspired by costumes of the musicians and dancers. It's one of the busiest layouts I've ever created, but it looks like the Junkanoo parade we saw that day - wild, wonderful, exuberant.




Title: Junkanoo
Products Used:
Idea Book (Ethnic Scrapbooking by Lisa Sanford)
Cardstock (Prism Papers)
Patterned Paper (Prima Eire - yellow, solid back, Dove of the East, India Journey)
Specialty Paper (Memory Star - gold and silver mulberry paper)
Flowers (Heidi Swapp Large Florals, Yellow, Kiwi)
Paper Flowers (Heidi Swapp Rounded Florals, Kiwi; Prima Quick Picks)
Punch (EK Success)
Jewel Brads (Karen Foster Princess Brads
Ink (Ranger Distress Ink, Peeled Paint)
Glaze (Judikins Diamond Glaze)
Font (laundromat 1967, dafont.com)
Other (Glittered Ribbon, Punchanella, Feathers, Staples)

My final project for this Ethnic Scrapbooking review is a work in progress - one that I hope will never end. Lisa suggested so many different ways to incorporate ethnicity into scrapbook projects and got me excited to "scrap" one of my strongest ethnic connections to home in the form of a functional recipe box. As a "far flung" Chamorro, I can't speak my mother's native tongue, but I can a few foods, and my mom, aunties, and uncles are always happy to share recipes with me. They're even happier when I share them with my own nuclear family, in-laws, and friends.

The original recipe box avaiable by Studio 18 is country-themed - definitely not island style. Thankfully, islanders don't have to look too hard for tropic-themed supplies that reflect the Pacific islands to alter items for a more culturally-specific theme. Some of the supplies were actually inspired by Asia and Europe, but the colors reflected a toned-down palette of the Guam flag, the rich woods, and the lush flora my family remembers so fondly. I wish ethnic-specific products were available for all ethnic groups, but with companies like Dove of the East, Arte Latin-Oh!, Eco-Africa, 7gypsies, and Grassroots (just a few off the top of my head) the selection of ethnic-inspired products is getting better and better all the time. Lisa's Ethnic Scrapbooking idea book is a great source for anyone to see different ways to add some global beauty to their projects, whether it's inherited by blood or enjoyed by experience or admiration for folk art.




Title: Santos Family Recipes
Products Used:
Idea Book (Ethnic Scrapbooking by Lisa Sanford)
Recipe Box (Studio 18)
Patterned Papers (7gypsies Sushi, Reef; Imaginisce; Chatterbox (solid back)
Stickers (7gypsies 97% Complete Stickers, Home; Heidi Swapp Rolled Stickers, Arrows, DaisyD's French Market)
Patterned Tape (Heidi Swapp Tape, Travel)
Rub-Ons (Tinkering Ink Floral Frippery, Wild Woodland; Basic Grey Wholy Cow, Family, Scrapworks Brown and Cream Letters)
Foam Stamps (Making Memories Foam Stamps; Heidi Swapp Hibiscus Foam Stamps)
Rubber Stamp (Coronado Stamping Island, Twin Palms)
Paint (Making Memories)
Inks (Clear Snap Colorbox Fluid Chalk, Dark Brown; Ranger Distress Ink, Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap)
Adhesive (Mod Podge)
Pen (Sharpie, Black)

I think ultimately what I liked most about Lisa's book was her enthusiasm for ethnic scrapbooking and the way she teaches the reader to think about it. This was the most interesting journaling and inspiration-focused idea book that I've read in awhile. Lisa inspired me to seek deeper meaning for my layouts, celebrate my and my family's cultural connections, enjoy the journey - and scrapbook about it!

On page 116, Lisa wrote, "I believe that one of the ways to instill curiosity into the minds of our children is to constantly expose them to the world around them and abroad, to help them understand the majesty of God and his creations. I whole-heartedly believe that by embracing other cultures, we can build a bridge of understanding that will help us to love one another as we are commanded to do." What a beautiful way to live life and to approach scrapbooking.

Many thanks to Lisa Sanford and ScrapFriends for this wonderful idea book.