Graffiti-exploring famous artists and their techniques to inspire our scrapbook layouts, cards, and projects

If scrapbooking records life and art imitates life, then, scrapbooking imitates and records life with art. I believe this follows the distributive property of mathematics, but don’t check me on that. However, I do know that scrapbooking (and card and project making) are art. Maybe Picasso and Van Gogh made cards (maybe). Maybe, O’Keefe and Monet created memory books to share with their families. If not, they should have. What matters is that we believe that we are artists. Even if your scrapbook pages are never going to hang in the Louvre, and no one is calling to ask you if they can use your cards to Mod-Podge the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, you are an artist. And sometimes, artists need to use other artists for inspiration.

Jackson Pollock (1912-1956), considered an abstract expressionist artist, used a “drip and splash” technique for his creations. He would place his canvas on the floor and drop and throw the paint directly from the can. Using sticks and knives (rather than brushes) to move the paint, he sometimes added sand or glass for texture. While I don’t know if you need to attempt this exact technique for your next scrapbook page, you can look to him to inspire your next creation.

5 Things to Discover by Katie Turner

Supplies: Cardstock: Discount Cardstock, Gauche Alchemy, Journaling Cards: Sassafras Lass, Alphabet Stickers: G.C.D. Studios, TPC Studio, EK Success, October Afternoon, Chipboard: Scenic Route Paper, Paint: Plaid Enterprises, Apple Barrel, Pigment Powder: Ranger Industries, Adhesive: Mod Podge (Plaid Enterprises), Other: thread. Tools: Punch: Martha Stewart Crafts, Stamps: For the Luv of Art.

Design Notes: Aside from the bird stamp, the rest of the For the Luv of Art stamps are actually the branches from the tree stamp -- I simply cut them off the tree. Since the stamps are acrylic, they can easily be pieced back together on an acrylic block so that the whole image may be used again. Using Ranger Perfect Medium, I stamped the branches in random places before applying Perfect Pearls in bronze over the images, creating a metallic look.

Journaling: 1. I count the European way — thumb first. 2. I am allergic to elastic. 3. I once worked in a photography studio. 4. My first autograph was from Kevin Zegers. 5. My favorite fruit is pomegranate.

Wonder Wheel by Michelle Hernandez

Supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper, Chipboard: Dusty Attic, Specialty Ink: Tattered Angels, Flowers: Prima Marketing, Buttons: BasicGrey, Brads: Oriental Trading Company, Gold Pen: Sakura.

Design Notes: My challenge for True Xoxo Girls.com was to use Ingvild Bolme as inspiration. I decided to use some of Ingvild's most frequent motifs- Prima flowers, white background and turquoise paint. I taped the paper to the wall, loaded my largest brush with Glimmer Glam and dabbed at the paper till these "trees" were formed by dripping paint. I also dyed a large pink rose Turquoise by dipping it in a jar of Tattered Angels Patina mist. I then added some Tattered Angels gears and left them unpainted to add more contrast to the page.

Journaling: January first 2011 You jumped into the ocean with hundreds of other New Yorkers but I didn't have the nerve Your sense of adventure... that's why I love you!

OK Mom, Enough Pictures by Nicolle Kramer

Supplies: Paper, Stickers: Crate Paper, Cardstock, Flowers, Lace: Recollections, Clips: Making Memories, Brad: Making Memories, Acrylic Paint: Craft Smart, Adhesive: Recollections, Aleene's, Other: buttons, tags. Tools: Border Punch, Paper Trimmer: Fiskars.

Design Notes: When I am working with so many layers, I position them first then glue them down.