One thing I've learned about scrapbooking over the years is that any embellishment I make myself is better than the crazy expensive stickers you buy in the store. I've also learned I really can make more than I think...even a rickshaw. Final lesson: Use real scraps.
I had gathered lots of items during my trip to China...even the rippled cardboard that the hotel used to store our toiletries in the bathroom. I took every piece, knowing the texture would work well in a layout. In this spread, I decided to cut up that cardboard to make the road for my Rickshaw ride. There is nothing like using actual scraps for your scrapbook, right? Now, when I show people this page I say...that's what the hotel used to package my toothbrush!! I just cut it up and made a winding path.
I really wanted a big rickshaw on one full side of the layout. There is no such embellishment for sale in the craft store. I was on my own and that was kind of exciting. I used pictures of the actual rickshaws to guide me, so mine would match the pictures. At first, I had made everything with paper...but it didn't pop. Instead, I put real fabric on the roof...just like the real rickshaw. Much better. Then, I added the runner's handles...using chopsticks from my trip that I chopped down to the right size. The first thing people say is..."Oh wow...those are chopsticks...very cool. Are those from China?" Yup. I found bamboo circles for my wheel and made the spokes out of chopstick pieces. The whole embellishment really jumps off the page...and it is handmade. I love my China album. I'll show you another page Friday.
