By: Brandie Valenzuela
Pages of the Heart Design Team Member
It is so simple, it makes me wonder why I didn't think of it
years ago. Recently there has been a surge of scrapbook
products to hit the market that are based around an
extremely simple concept: definitions. Take a look at
your local scrapbook store -- companies such as Making
Memories, Foofala, 7 Gypsies, and more, all have items
that feature defined words.
I loved the idea of using definitions in my layouts and I
quickly bought up whatever I could find that would show
my love for words. But my definition passion didn't end
there. I decided to combine my passion for definitions
with my love for one of the most popular scrapbook
accents around - tags!
The beauty of tags for scrapbooking is that they can be
simple, or complex, and they can be designed for any
theme. Wait, isn't that true for definition as well?
Definitions and tags are a perfect combination.
To create a very simple definition tag, follow these
following steps:
Using your computer, open your word processing
program.
Adjust your margins -- your definition should only take
up no more than about 3" of space.
Decide on the word you would like to have defined on
your tag.
Look up the word in your dictionary, or make it even
easier on yourself and go to http://wwww.dictionary.com
and look up the word.
Type in the definition for the word into your program.
If you are using a definition from dictionary.com, simple
copy and paste the definition into your program.
Highlight your defined word - choose a font you like
and choose a font size that will be slightly larger than the
actual definition.
Highlight the first line of the definition. Choose another
font and choose a font size that will be slightly smaller than
the defined word.
Continue highlighting lines of the definition and giving
each line a different font. Of course, you can make all the
lines the same font, but I love the unique look of different
fonts.
Print out the definition onto cardstock or pattern paper
you have chosen.
Trim the definition, taking care to leave a little extra
space on the left side of the definition so you can punch
a hole for your ribbon or fibers.
Mat your definition on coordinating cardstock or
pattern paper. For extra style, tear your right side and
add an eyelet where you will add your ribbon or fibers.
While the "cute" look of the above tags is suitable for
some layouts, there may be a time when you wish to
have a definition that is more formal. One option is to
actually photocopy or scan and print definitions from
your own dictionary. However, if you are like me, you
would like something even more simple. Follow these
steps to print a much more beautiful definition:
At this point you have two options. One option is to
download the djvu browser plug-in which can be found at
the bottom of the left frame. This option will allow you to
print more perfect quality of definitions and you will be able
to zoom in and out. If you are not able to download the
djvu plug-in, you have a second option which is to simply
view the definition in jpeg format.
In the left frame, you can enter a word into the search
box, or you can utilize their other features which are found
on buttons in the left frame. Let's say I wanted to find the
word "family". I would type that in the search box and
then click on "find entry".
In the main screen you will see something like:
Century Dictionary Online Lookup for 'family' (or whatever
word you chose to look up). In parenthesis's you will see
words 'DjVu', 'DjVu Highlighted', and 'JPEG'. If you
successfully downloaded the DjVu plug-in, you will most
likely wish to select a djvu option. If you do not have the
djvu plug-in, you will want to select the 'JPEG' option.
After selecting your option, you will be provided with
the dictionary page that your definition is located on. I use
the 'JPEG' option. With this option, if I wish the dictionary
page to be smaller or larger, I simply click on the appropriate
word at the bottom of the frame.
For the tag above, I simply printed the smaller JPEG
view of the dictionary page with the word "family" on it. I
tore out the definition for "family" and mounted it on to a tag
I created of red cardstock and a red pattern paper.
Here is an assortment of definition tags created by scrappers
who joined a scrapbook swap of mine. Enjoy!
Adorable was created by Shelley Wagner
Beauty was created by Marcie Geiser
Curiosity was created by Danielle Busby
Family was created by Jamie Powell
Muse was created by Amanda in Australia
Wonder was created by Inger Robertson
About the Author:
Brandie is a wife and homeschooling mom to three children, who
also works fulltime from her home designing custom scrapbook
albums. To view Brandie’s scrapbook layouts and find out more
about having your own custom scrapbook album created, visit:
http://brandievdesigns.4t.com
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This site was last updated on December 31 1969 17:00:00.
