Does this sound like you? You’ve got all your precious memories bundled away in a box under the bed and you really want to enjoy sharing them with family and friends. You know it would be fantastic to have them all in a beautiful scrapbook that you could proudly share with friends and family, but you just don’t know where to start.

At this point you’re probably feeling the pain and frustration of “scrapbookers block” so you go down to your local scrapbooking shop for inspiration, but all this does is compound the frustration because the myriad of choices available is so overwhelming.

Having spent ages looking around, you are no further ahead, just more confused. Unsure of what you need and what you don’t, and totally daunted by all the options, you end up leaving the shop having bought nothing, going home feeling frustrated and a failure having achieved nothing.

More>>> Scrapbooking Layouts.

From: Jennifer Gormly

Dear Friend and Scrapbook Lover,

When you’ve ever wanted to easily create jaw-dropping scrapbook pages in less time than it takes to brew a cup of tea (transforming all those precious photos and recording your treasured memories)…while saving time and expressing your personality…then this will be the most important message you ever read.

Here’s Why . . .

My name is Jennifer Gormly and until 2004, I was your basic scrapbook novice.

I was an emotional basket case.

One day I would have Van Gogh inspirations and creativity. And the next I couldn’t decide which box of photos to start on. I swear I have sat many heart-wrenching hours swearing to myself . . . “I was going to finish ‘at least’ one page before hubby gets home”.

Doesn’t it drive you nuts? I had nothing to show for all my efforts, even after months of working regularly. There was no way to know how each session would end. And it wasn’t for trying, lord knows I tried, I just didn’t know where to start. I had too many options and nothing ever seemed to fit right.

This is when I discovered the ‘real-life’ secrets to producing eye-popping designs. And my scrapbooking life changed forever after just a few short days of trying these new secrets. . .

More>>> 500 Scrapbooking Sketches.

Scrapbooking is one hobby that produces great results. Unlike other kinds of hobbies that only sharpens the skills but do not produce anything concrete, with scrapbooking, you will not only develop your creative skills but you will also create great pieces of artwork in the process.

This is perhaps why scrapbooking is one of the hottest hobbies in the country. Testament of how big it is, are the numerous shows and magazines that have cropped up on the subject. There are also annual fairs and conventions just on scrapbooking. In the Internet, there are websites, webzines and webrings that are devoted to the endeavor.

Scrapbooking might seem daunting at first especially to a person who has no artistic or creative bones in his body. Cutting, sticking, and designing can be a nightmare to a person who is not really much into the practice. Some people even find the prospect of putting together one page of artistic work too much for them to handle.

But making a scrapbook is not so hard. In fact, it can be the easiest thing in the world especially with the tools and gadgets that are coming out and being sold in craft stores. There are now scissors that cut lines with designs in them. There are punchers that do not only punch holes but punches different shapes. Craft stores also sell stickers that scrapbookers can stick into their pages for that more finished touch.

If you just know what to do, where to go and how to go about it, scrapbooking can be a breeze. Below are just some of the ideas and tips on creating quick and simple scrapbook pages.

Buy prepared pages

Scrapbooking products have become more and more sophisticated these days and all are aimed to make scrapbooking as simple as possible. If you feel that you don’t have the talent to put together one page even if your life depended on it or you just don’t have the time to create a layout that will look very nice with the photo that you are thinking of putting; then you can buy those prepared scrapbook pages that already have layouts and designs. All you have to do is to add the finishing touches like the photo and some accessories if you feel like it.

These pages are often thematic. For instance, there are pages that can be used in a wedding scrapbook while others can be used in a baby shower or in a kid’s birthday party. Often, there will be slots where you can put photos and other notes.

Stick them up

Another set of innovative products that has made the lives of scrapbookers worthwhile is the scrapbook stickers. Like the scrapbook pages, these stickers are also oftentimes thematic. Still, the themes are not only limited to occasions and special events.

For instance, in addition to the usual themes of birthdays, christmas, baby showers, weddings and the like, there are stickers that will also depict Christian sayings, kiddie images, business matters. girly stuff and sports. There are a lot to choose from.

These stickers are great in decorating a page that you have already out together. It often adds color and aesthetic appeal to the page without the hassles of drawing, cutting and pasting. All the scrapbookers have to do is to just buy the stickers, peel the sticker off and stick it to the page. Real easy that even a child can do it.

43 Things Tags: Scrapbooking, Simple Scrapbooking

There are many ways to make an excellent scrap book. Although there are templates in the internet and books written about it, nothing comes close to the power of imagination that is something each person has inside.

Scrap books are made of many things and the backbone of this are the pictures. Those who have been doing this for years should take as many pictures as possible so a story can be created from the beginning to end.

Those who are still regular camera after having this developed should write something in the back while those using digital camera should make a note on each frame to help recall what happened when making the layout.

Other details such as tickets, cards and souvenirs from the event should also be part of the layout. These will serve as good backdrops or as the title for each corresponding page.

When everything has been collected, this is the time to choose the right colors that will go well with each photo. This means getting the right colored crayon, marker, pen, colored paper and other accessories that will be useful when working on a page.

Some people find it easy to coming up with ideas for the layout of the scrap book. Those who are suffering from a mental block should try relaxing like watching television or doing something else since the image or the activity may simply pop a vision in the head.

Those who view the scrap book will usually view two pages at once especially when these are placed side to side. There must be coordination from left to right given that there is a story being projected here which is the basic idea of the scrap book.

There are many ways to come up with the layout for each corresponding page. There is nothing wrong with using the same colored background because the photos used are different for each one and no one will pay that much attention to it.

The person should just be careful not to overdo it because this could make the succeeding pages boring.

This may not apply all the time so before applying the glue on the backside of the photograph and the everything else on paper, it will be a good idea to put the things together first and then decide whether to continue to do so or think of something else.

After working on a few pages, it will be a good idea to look back to avoid losing track of what has happened previously. Again, the key here is project continuation from one page to the other just like how a writer starts and ends a story.

Completing the scrap book will take days or even weeks especially when the hobbyist has other things to work on. Should other ideas come later on, it will be a good idea to write this down and then review it when it is time to work on it again to be able to come up with a better one each time to show to family and friends.

Each page of a scrap book starts from nothing and turns into a work of art. There are many ways of making this happen so the right idea can preserve that moment in time not only in the minds of those who were there.

43 Things Tags: Scrapbooking, Scrap Booking Layout

Scrapbooking is one the favorite hobbies of America. And what is there not to like? It is addicting. It is involving and it helps you tap into those dormant creative energies. What is more, you get to recreate and preserver special memories on paper while doing something that you really really love.

Scrapbooking though can be really costly with all the materials that you have to buy. There is the scrapbook itself or the album, which you can find in craft store. There are also the special papers and decorations like little metallic buttons and ribbons not to mention the tools like scissors and glue. Scrapbooking can really eat away a large chunk off your monthly savings.

But this should not be the case. If you really want to, you can turn your scrapbooking activity into a cost-free adventure. All you need to do is to be resourceful and find items around the house that you can reuse as decors and emblems. Below are some tips that can help you get started.

Recycle paper.

There is actually no need to buy an already prepared scrapbook or album because you can easily create your own. In fact, most of what is being sold in craft stores and department stores are scrapbooks that you can do yourself.

If you have the time, you can recycle your own paper from the newspapers and scratch papers that your kids use in school. Recycling your own paper is real easy although there are many steps that you have to follow. It can also be time consuming because in addition to tearing the paper into smaller pieces, you also have to dry them up after the recycling process. But if you are really decided and have a lot of free time in your hands, research on the specific steps in the Internet. Who knows, you might find it real fun.

If however, you find recycling your own paper mighty tedious. You can use plain bond paper or use sheets of newspapers or magazines without really recycling it. Use those pages with ads on them for its color and graphics. The details can add some great touches to your scrapbook pages.

Look into your old stuff

There are a lot in the house that you can use as decorations for your pages. You don’t really have to buy decorations just to make your page nice. In fact, sometimes, what you find in your home can add a touch of memory into your page that decorations in craft stores cannot achieve.

One example of things around the home that you can use are old buttons that you get from clothes that you don’t wear anymore. Buttons are great decorations for the pages. Another possible decors are faux gemstones from costume jewelries that got broken. You can also tear some fabrics in your old clothes and use some parts to add texture to your pages. Broken chains and ribbons in dresses can also be reused as borders and linings.

Papered memories

If you are the type who keeps absolutely everything for the memories, you can actually fill up a whole scrapbook without having to buy anything. For instance, bus tickets, movies tickets, concert tickets and even parking tickets that remind you of special occasions can be used as decorations for scrapbooks. The same goes with any kind of receipts. Greeting cards are another great source of graphics and decorations.

43 Things Tags: Scrapbooking, Cost-Free Scrapbooking

When you visit different scrapbook stores, you will find different scrapbook kits that will trigger your desire to be a budding scrapbooker. But then, these kits, scrapbooking magazines, and materials can be quite expensive. If you are interested in scrapbooking but don’t have enough budget to buy such expensive materials and scrapbook guides, here is a simple guide in do-it-yourself (DIY) scrapbooking.

Focus on the basics. Just like in doing artworks and crafts, scrapbooking requires a lot of materials and supplies, but this doesn’t mean that you have to allot a huge amount of money in order to create a scrapbook. Today, so many products are being offered by the scrapbooking industry. Since these products are especially created to provide ultimate comfort to those who are greatly indulged in scrapbooking, they can be quite expensive.

If you are just a beginner, you don’t need to be overwhelmed by these products. What you need to do is focus on buying the basic materials and supplies which include album and sheet protectors that come in different sizes and colors, scissors or paper trimmers that will allow you to cut lines without hassle, adhesive that is inexpensive but easy to use, photo tabs or photo splits to keep the back of the photos clean and can be easily removed, papers and cardstocks that is the foundation of the scrapbook page, and journaling tools such as a wide variety of pens. Remember, all your supplies should be acid-free and lignin-free to ensure that safe preservation of your photos.)

Learn the basic scrapbooking techniques. Scrapbooking magazines can be quite expensive because these are created for a special segment of the market. If you are tight on budget and you would want to create scrapbook all by yourself, it will pay if you start pumping out your creative juices.

Aside from creating your own style, you can also get ideas from the Internet about the basic techniques used in scrapbooking. Here are some basic scrapbooking techniques that you can use in creating your d-i-y scrapbook.

- Inserting Eyelets. Indeed, eyelet is a great means of attaching things to an album or a page, or to add color and embellishment to a certain page. Eyelets usually come in various shapes and sizes that can help draw attention from a focal point in the page. In inserting an eyelet, you will need a puncher, an eyelet setter, a hammer and a mat.

You can do this by selecting the place where you would want to insert the eyelet and by laying the paper on the mat face up. Hole the punch upright and use the hammer to hit the top of the punch. After this, you can now insert the eyelet and turn the paper over. You can also place the eyelet setter on top of the eyelet and then tap the top of the eyelet setter using a hammer to flatten the eyelet ridge.

- Paper Piecing and Using Patterns. Another basic technique that you can use in your d-i-y scrapbook is paper piercing and the use of patters. In using patterns, you need to lay a piece of tracing paper over the pattern.

With the use of a pencil, draw over the outline and transfer the pattern to paper. You can now place the tracing on the patterned paper and then slip the transfer paper underneath to draw over the lines. In creating paper-pieced embellishment, just follow the steps in using patterns then cut out the pattern pieces.

Aside from the two techniques mentioned above, you can also use chalk and vellum papers in creating wonderful scrapbooks.

43 Things Tags: Scrapbooking, DIY Scrapbooking

If you really think about it, scrapbooking is the process of putting together seemingly different images and items together to create a synergized layout that tells a story through a visual dialogue. Not all photographs are created equal.

Some photographs can convey a complete story all by itself but more often than not, some photographs are too vague or simple to be able to tell the viewer something. If the person viewing a photo has no personal memory of that particular snapshot, it is difficult to be able to tell much about the image.

Thanks to scrapbooking and its many practitioners, we now can share and enjoy photographs enhanced by other visuals to be able to convey emotions, memories and the story behind them. While scrapbooking may not be for everyone, it can hardly be argued that anyone who views a wonderfully made scrapbook will enjoy the experience.

While there are no set rules and guidelines on how to create a scrapbook, the most important and basic trait one will need is creativity. Afterall, the person who makes a scrapbook will need to be able to tell a story from photographs and some other items.

You can cut out and make your own elements for use in a scrapbook but if you are pressed for time and cannot find the right visuals within your own things, you can always resort to the vast items available for purchase from scrapbooking stores and supplies. More and more people use these items for their scrapbooking and this is backed up by the fact that more and more scrapbooking items and elements are introduced in the market to answer the consumer demand.

Using these commercial scrapbooking items need not take away from your creativity in producing your scrapbook layouts. Your use and ingenuity in utilizing these items needs your creativity. Creativity is the ability to be able to think out of the box so limitations are a no-no for the scrapbooking process. While it may be easy and ideal to use the traditional scrapbooking elements in your layout, why not go step further and use materials you can scrounge up that actually belong to that snapshot. You can use actual materials to create further depth, texture and color to your showcase.

Do not stop there however. How about exercising your creativity further by using some sketches in your scrapbooking projects. Instead of using other mediums to develop your photographs to tell a story, why not expand your snapshots by making actual sketches around it. Perhaps you can creatively sketch images or ideas that cannot be conveyed by a simple snapshot.

Simply put, you do not have to limit yourself and your creativity by simply adding other items and materials to your scrapbook layouts. You can creatively use your own sketches in scrapbooking. If you don’t happen to be good at sketching, don’t let this stop you from this endeavor.

You can also create or transform certain images into sketches by using your personal computer. It is in by no means cheating if you do this. Applying the aid of technology simply helps your creative juices to continue springing forth. The creative sketch you use in scrapbooking need not even be your own or even electronically achieved.

Why not incorporate a sketch done by the subject of the photograph or photographs you are trying to showcase. For instance, if you are making a layout for your young child, you ca add their personal sketches into the layout for a truly creative scrapbook.

43 Things Tags: Scrapbooking, Images Scrapbooking

One of the reasons that people do scrapbooks is because they want to preserve the memories of some great occasion or event. In fact, a scrapbook has long been synonymous with albums because it is primarily filled with pictures and memories. One difference with an album and a scrapbook is the fact that you can put a whole lot more in a scrapbook than just photos.

You can place three-dimensional objects that make the occasion more memorable and meaningful. Below are some occasions that people often create a scrapbook for. Read on and you might get some ideas on how to preserve memories in those occasions into paper.

Coming of a Baby

An ordinary baby album will probably contain the baby’s first photos but a scrapbook can contain not only the first photos but also some of the special milestones that the baby will go through in his first year. All the firsts that he will experience in his life can be documented in a scrapbook.

For instance, you can include the baby’s strands of hair after he gets his first cut. You can bind these and then place in a piece of see-through plastic. Another first are the nails that were first cut, both from the fingers of the hands and the feet. Parents can also include copies of special documents such as the birth certificate and the baptismal certificate.

Another great idea is to put the baby’s thumbprint, handprint and foot print. Some will also paste a piece of the baby’s first ultrasound photo, his first medical certificate and his first vaccination chart.

Wedding and wedding anniversaries

A wedding scrapbook may contain pictures at the wedding but it can also include wrappers from the gifts of the guests, wishes that the guests gave for the newlyweds and the gift cards that they have put on their gifts. This is one way to preserve the day not only for the newlyweds but also for their guests.

Another good idea is to document not only the wedding itself but also the days or months of preparation for the wedding. Photos can capture events like the bachelor’s party, the bridal shower and even the pre-wedding practice.

The scrapbook may also contain the invitation for the wedding, dried flowers from the bouquet of the bride, a piece of the garter, mayhap even the souvenir if one can manage to paste it on the scrapbook.

Graduation

Another event that is worthy of reminiscing is the graduation. This marks the ending and the beginning of an old and a new chapter in a person’s life. A graduation scrapbook can contain the invitation for the event, the investiture that is usually given to the graduates, some pieces of strings from the tussles, and of course the photos of the graduates.

Corsages that are dried may also be put in the scrapbook if one can find a way to paste it in a flat surface.

If you can, you can also include messages from the graduate’s classmates and friends as well as to his or her teachers. Put the messages in a kind of message board.

If there are awards merited, one can put the medals or copies of the certificates in the scrapbook. If the graduate did a special address, a copy of the speech should also be included in the scrapbook.

43 Things Tags: Scrapbooking, Memories on paper

Scrapbooking is a wonderful and creative means to be able to preserve memories and share them with other people. To make a scrapbook, one should be able to create a visual and tactile delight by showcasing photographs along with other “scraps” or bits and pieces of something that when put together tells a complete story of that particular slice of life depicted in the particular photo.

For instance, a photograph of a person hardly tells a story especially if the photo has no other particular merits or characteristics other than it containing a face. Creatively making a layout of it in a scrapbook allows you to tell the story behind the photograph. By adding other elements from different mediums, you can explain the photograph and the memory behind it without using something as blatant as actual statements.

The challenge of scrapbooking is in being able to utilize various elements to enhance a photograph while being limited to a finite area. Sometimes, in our zeal to tell a story, we tend to clutter and create a busy layout for our scrapbook. While there is no right or wrong way to layout a scrapbook, it may be important to note that sometimes, less is more.

Perhaps it is important to remember that when we do scrapbooking, the inclusion of “scraps” or other creative elements into a layout is done to enhance a photo and tell a story that the photograph simply cannot do on its own. Our layout of the elements we incorporate however should not take away from the photograph. Remember that they are there only to improve its capacity to convey a thought or memory and not steal the show entirely.

This means that although there are no set rules in scrapbooking, it may be a good guideline to maintain a clean and simple layout for scrapbook projects. Although it is easy to get lost in the project and with all the items and “scraps” commercially available for use in scrapbooking endeavors, we must always keep in mind that a clean and simple layout may be more manageable to create and maintain.

By a clean and simple scrapbooking layout, we don’t mean that you necessarily use less materials resulting in a Spartan like or anemic look to your scrapbook pages. A clean and simple scrapbooking layout simply means that you incorporate more synergy and symmetry in your layout instead of a haphazard collection of images, textures and colors.

The look and feel of a scrapbook is subjective to the viewer, which makes it even more important to maintain a clean and simple layout in scrapbooking. What looks like creativity to you may look too chaotic to another. This is why, being guided by trying to achieve a clean and simple scrapbooking layout is a good way to ensure that your scrapbook and memories can be easily shared and enjoyed by yourself along with your friends and loved ones. A clean and simple layout for scrapbooking cannot be achieved by curtailing creativity. Instead, more creativity should be exercised so that you can craft a better visual layout.

If however you are new to scrapbooking or you may not be sure about what clean and simple scrapbooking layouts mean, you can use ready made scrapbook layouts or use a software for scrapbooks. You don’t necessarily have to convert your scrapbooks into digital forms but you are sure to be able to get wonderful ideas from these computer layouts.

43 Things Tags: Scrapbooking, When Less is More in Scrapbooking

There is no right formula to scrap booking except the skill to use papers, scissors, glue or pastes, and the heart to do the hobby. Yes, it is a hobby. Assuming you lived in an isolated coast without any influence, do you know how a scrapbook looks like?

From the word scrap, a scrapbook is a collective book size pages containing memories of collaged images. A sophisticated scrapbook can be bought at bookshops, where you can get them hardbound ready for filling up. Actually, it is nothing but empty pages. If you are fond of laborious details, you could create collective empty pages, bind it in a fashionable way, then that’s it—you got yourself a scrapbook!

Anybody in intermediate years had done scrapbooks without ever remembering when they started them. For beginners, the knack is when you have a good concept to start with. Usually scrapbooks are motivated by good memories with peers. When two people combine ideas, work hand in hand in putting up personal scrapbooks, then the outcome is priceless.

Scrapbooks do not need to be perfect. Most of the time, they are random combination of pictures with cut outs from magazines to give relevance to the expression and mood related to the picture being collaged. Without too much dwelling on the result, there is the tendency to create very informal compositions. The creator has no one to blame, after all if it is a personal scrapbook.

Nowadays, because of the advent of digital printing, pictures to be used for scrapbooks need not be original developed photos from film. Original photos could be copied, scanned and printed digitally. This will save important photos from being accidentally ruined, in case something goes wrong with the pasting and cutting.

If you are a beginner, how will you start doing your own scrapbook?

It could start with a definite theme coming from grouped sets of pictures. You can do it your own or invite companions to come along to help you. If the pictures contain many people who are close to you, it is best to recopy the pictures to have the freedom of cropping each photo at your own discretion. The over all color scheme of your concept can enhance harmony in composing each page. A sunny beach party could make use of bright earth colors to blend with the overall theme.

Think that you are recycling and making use of old magazines instead of just throwing them away. Sometimes, there are images that can make your composition richer than you expect them to be.

Once you feel accomplished with your compilation, you can include it as your personal memorabilia. Keep it away from dusts just like the way you take care of your photo albums. Scrapbooks are livelier to look at than just photos in a cold album. When shown to friends, scrapbooks are more entertaining.

For beginners, it is important to consider the use of creativity by making use of what is available at home. It does not have to be expensive, unless you really want to use special materials relevant to what you want to accomplish.

Remember the most important ingredient in doing scrapbooks. The sentiment and heart for it comes first. Then you will realize how fun and productive it will turn out to be.

43 Things Tags: Educational Toys, Scrapbooking