Scrapbook Layout - Demo Timesavers

One of my favorite parts of my job is something called “Demos.”  Basically this is where I sit at a table in the front of my store and do a quick project while talking up customers about our products and my classes.  If you’ve ever been to a major craft store on a busy Saturday afternoon you have probably seen a Demo in action.  These can be a great resource for customers, and are not just limited to scrapbooking.  I have also done mixed media and general crafting demos.  Other instructors also have demos.  You could catch some great baking tips or learn a new jewelry making technique.  There are schedules of these available online at www.Michaels.com, but the best way to find ones that catch your interest are to check the in-store calendars.

As an instructor there are many challenges that a demo project can present.  You rarely have an electrical outlet or sink, your workspace is very limited, and there can often be messy materials like paint or mod podge involved.  However, I find with scrapbooking demos the biggest limitation I have is time.  This leads me to plan my layouts in advance thinking of impactful techniques that are super speedy.  Here is the layout that I created during my in store demo time this past Saturday:

Meet my cutie niece!

A few products helped make this complicated looking border and color blocked matting technique go quickly. 

They include a white acid free gel pen, glitter roll tape by Recollections, and cardstock stack pad that is pre-cut to border size with the adhesive pre applied.  Since the back is peel and stick you aren’t wasting any time with a messy glue stick.  I am using DCWV brand Textured Cardstock Adhesive Border Stack in the brights color palette for this layout.  They are relatively inexpensive and come with 36 border sheets in a variety of colors.  I also have a neutrals pack which is nice to use for bases in more elaborate border techniques.  The borders are 12” x 2”, but they can be punched or cut to any size.  The color blocked matting featured on the photos is simply border pieces cut to size and adhered to a single mat under the photo.  The white gel pen dashes add a faux stitched look quickly.  The border for this page was created by layering two border strips together, then adding a strip of glitter tape on top.  The glitter roll tape also has a simple peel and stick back and can be cut easily to any length.  It gives an embellishment an extra little pop when used as a border:

In between assisting customers and talking up classes there just simply isn’t much time to complete a demo project in the hour we are allotted.  This layout was put together in under thirty minutes, including stamping and a couple minutes of ink drying.  You still say you don’t have time for scrapbooking?  I bet you really do!