Notable Things About Scrapbooking Stores

Notable Things About Scrapbooking Stores

Scrapbooking is one of those activities that people enjoy because it gives them a sense of accomplishment. Sure, you may complain when you are in the process of putting together the scrapbook. However, we all know just how much pride and joy you feel when you behold the finished product.

Scrapbooking is also a popular activity because of its simplicity. There are people who try to make their scrapbooks into personal masterpieces. However, practically everybody can put some memorabilia and pictures together to make a scrapbook.

One thing most people tend to overlook about a scrapbook is the fact that it contains so much more than memories. You see, the way you put a scrapbook together says a lot about your emotions. The arrangement of the objects and pictures tell the reader exactly how you think a particular moment affected your life.

The colors and textures of a scrapbook page actually speak to a reader and tell him or her all about the joy and the pain of a certain point in your life. You see, the amount of materials and effort you put into a scrapbook reveals volumes about your history that the pictures alone cannot show.

So where do you get materials for scrapbooking? Thankfully enough, there are actually a lot of scrapbooking stores out there. These stores can sell you different types of supplies concerning scrapbooks. Here are some things you can get from scrapbooking stores:

1) Literature – Scrapbooking stores sell books and magazines that can help you put a scrapbook together. These books offer you different tips on what to put in your scrapbook. In reading these books, you will get valuable insights regarding the significance of making a scrapbook.

Different types of books that scrapbooking stores offer also offer you great inspirational ideas to help you with the overall theme of your scrapbook. Scrapbooking stores also carry books of famous quotations which you can use on your scrapbook to better explain an object or picture’s significance.

2) Materials – Scrapbooking stores also carry different materials for your creation. The materials sold in scrapbooking stores range from:

a) Basic – This includes special kinds of paper and cover materials for your scrapbook. Scrapbooking stores carry these materials for the scrapbook enthusiast who prefers to add his or her designs to the scrapbook. These materials act like a blank canvas for the enthusiast to create a masterpiece on.

b) Add-ons – These materials consist of the little bits of odds and ends which enhance a scrapbook’s appearance. These add-ons are put in by scrapbook enthusiasts to emphasize certain points in their scrapbooks. These can also be used to send subtle messages to the reader about the significance of a picture or memorabilia.

3) Tools – These are sold in scrapbooking stores for the sole purpose of making scrapbooking easier for people. These tools help put the materials together in order to form a scrapbook. In a sense, these tools were designed to bring order to chaos. Included in this category are scissors, glue, tape, pens and others.

Aside from purchases, however, you can also get other things from a scrapbooking store. Well, these can’t be called “things” exactly. But, you’ll understand:

1) Advice – You see, scrapbooking stores are usually put up by scrapbooking enthusiasts. By going to scrapbooking stores, you open yourself up to the possibility of getting advice and tips from all manner of enthusiasts. This makes the scrapbooking store the perfect place for you to hang out.

2) Companionship – Putting together a scrapbook can be a pretty lonely job. There you are, reminiscing about the good times, and you realize that you have no one to talk to about it. Well, scrapbooking stores can be full of people whom you can relate to. You can just hang around the stores, share stories about your scrapbook ang how it’s coming along. You can also share tips on different materials and how you use them. In other words, scrapbooking stores give you the chance to mingle.

Remember that the past can be sweet to remember, but the present is always facing you.

Hopefully, this short article has been helpful to you in your quest to know more about scrapbooking stores. By researching more, you could eventually find yourself on the path to making the perfect scrapbook for you.

Tips on Using Scrapbooking Stickers

Tips on Using Scrapbooking Stickers

There are many mediums in the scrapbooking world that are popular even among other industries. And the stickers, being one of the most versatile options we have can be found useful in crafts aside from scrapbooking.

Since the first stickers were created, there are obviously hundreds of developments in the sticking world, all are for the name of making things lovely and playful.

Making your own stickers
If there is one thing covered in the midpoint of scrapbooking, it might be proper to assume that it is all about bring out your personality in the craft. After all, your uniqueness will radiate in each page and design that you make. Or in the layout that you have planned and is planning to finish.

Personalized stickers are anything from making stickers with your names on it or any designs that would better represent your being you.

Sticker makers, on the other hand, are so popular among scrappers since these can be manipulated to produce stickers of your own concept or of your own choice. This is best when you have a specific theme in your mind and nothing may provide you with the embellishments needed to complete the needed components.

Create lines
Normally, stickers when done incorrectly would create almost permanent mistakes. If you would want to get around such incorrect decisions, you may try the old school technique of pencil marking for guideline. However, if you would not want risking your page with rubbed pencil marks, you may choose the alternative of setting Post-It-Notes as your outline. You can lace these sticky friends on any position you want and use them as your guide, without the hassle of making pencil marks.

Back-ups
In scrapbooking, there would be times when too few ideas pass your thoughts. In case you need an immediate result for your album, you can try using stickers as your background. Again, you might prepare this one or buy them from craft shops.

Long nails work wonders
You can take advantage of your long nails when peeling-off stickers. Many types of peel-offs are delicate or very sensitive to folding. If you have long nails then you might be able to lessen the possibility of creating "dents" on the sides of the stickers. If however, you have none then make use of scissors and grab a hold on the edge.

Make the layers
Stickers are partly meant to be layered. You can simply attach the stickers on blank papers or cardstocks and spice up the design with other sticky buddies. This is normally used for concepts that portray scenes. Say a floral design with lots of butterflies and blooming flowers on it.

Greeting Stickers
Make a neat alternative or handwriting. Any self-respecting bookstore, craft shop or scrapbooking vendors will have some supplies of stickers that say something. You may even enhance peel-offs with permanent markings and accessory colors to get the hues you want.

Dealing with sticker mistakes
Often, no matter how sure we are in placing stickers, we still might find flaws in doing them. Sometimes they are so misplaced that they tend to unforgiving on our pages. And when this incident occurs, most people would normally despair and leave everything in their incorrect places.

How to fix stickers:

§ The common solution would be to carefully peel off the stickers by using adhesive removers or erasers. This solution might cause some damage on the stickers but with gentle operation, your layout would be safe from any scratch.

§ If you cant remove the sticker with any other way possible, you might fix it by covering it by a larger one or an embellishment that would cover the entire stuff.

§ Coordinated papers may work best for your misplaced stickers. The trick here is to make everything intentional.

§ Sometimes, it is from the mistakes that we create better. Who knows how many ideas may sprout from your out of place sticker.

Waste nothing
Now you're done with your sticky works, the last thing you would want to do is to throw the sheets left. Its amazing how much these left-overs would do for you once you've collected them in bulk. You may use a paper trimmer to create boarders or punchers to produce small designs.

Great Scrapbooking Supplies for Starters

Great Scrapbooking Supplies for Starters

You have seen several of your friends’ scrapbooks. You have also developed a growing interest to make one of your own. You finally decide to make some moves and go to the scrapbooking shop and grab some supplies. But once you enter the shop and see what is in store for you, you found yourself totally lost with hundreds of items to choose from. The same feeling of being lost also happens to other starters like you, believe it or not. Surely, you don’t want to end up picking up some items you just thought you might need but you really do not. You want to have specific list of scrapbooking supplies you can use.

To help you out on this, here are some of the scrapbooking supplies must haves to start you with your scrapbook making:

Album – When selecting an album, consider the size and the theme you want to achieve. A definite size would help you plan the overall look of your scrapbook while the theme would help you choose the style of album you need. Try to find a large album if you want a good space for elaborate decoration; of course, this would depend on the theme you want to adopt. A small album is also okay if you prefer a manageable space. Sometimes, scrapbook enthusiasts have small and large ones but as a beginner, you may want to start on one size and improve from there.

Album refill – You may want to include album page refills the moment you buy your album. This is because album refills do not have standard sizes and you may not see refill that matches the size of your album in the future. Grab some packs so that you would not have to worry about finding one when you need them. Make sure also that when you buy an album, refills are available. Pick refills from the same album manufacturer you have bought.

Adhesive – There are several types of adhesive. There are also several brands of adhesives you can buy. Pick one or two that would match the exact need of your scrapbook. Glue Dots, Mod Podge, Triple Thick, EZ, 3D Dots, and Xyron are some of the brands you might want to pick.

A Pair of scissors – It is always advisable if you have a separate scissors for your scrapbook. This will let you keep it as sharp as possible. Your mom does not want you to use the kitchen scissors is another good reason why you should have your own pair of scissors exclusively for your scrapbook.

Papers – Different kinds of papers would let you have a beautiful scrapbook. But if you select one, make sure that the colors you pick match your chosen theme. You may want to go to scrapbooking shop and get different types of paper sold in sheets. This will give the pages of your scrapbook some variations.

Journal pens – If you buy journal pens, consider the permanent marking, fine tips, and acid-free ones. Acid-free pen is a must because it will keep the album clean and free from chemical reaction that would cause the pictures and the album to deteriorate.

Additional supplies:

Acrylic paint – For more vibrant look of the pages of your scrapbook, colored pens and papers may not be enough. You may want to add some acrylic paint on your shopping. You can buy them in batches or individually.

Rubber stamps – Rubber stamps could add more color and style to your scrapbook. Rubber stamps come on different shapes, sizes, and styles. Choose some that would enhance the look of your scrapbook.

Rub-Ons – To free yourself from cutting or writing texts on to your scrapbook, rub-ons are nice alternatives.

Die Cut Machine – To have a perfect cut every time you make some texts, purchase a die cut machine.

Scrapbooking kit – a clean and exclusive compartment of all your scrapbooking supplies is a must. Thus, you may want to have your own scrapbooking kit.

These are some of the things you could have as you start your own scrapbook. Make sure you have the primary things before buying other supplies that are more expensive.

Gook luck and happy scrapbooking!

Tickle Your Scrapbooking Idiosyncrasy

Tickle Your Scrapbooking Idiosyncrasy

Scrapbook is an essential haven for timeless memories. It can record your family history, celebrations and other gatherings. It is sometimes accompanied with journalizing. Through the same, additional memories will be recollected. A scrapbook can last a lifetime if you know what materials to use and what not to.

Parents often resort to scrap booking when they wanted to personalize their photos. Aside from that, scrap booking is also resorted by parents to keep the artworks, cards, letters and other vital stuffs that their children are giving them. Hence, they preserve the memories and materials without getting overwhelmed. With a scrapbook around, you can do away with memorabilia boxes and other hefty packages.

If you are not busy on a weekend, why not create a scrapbook with your children. Doing an activity like the one mentioned will make you closer to them. Aside from that, you are also honing their creativity and art potentials.

Here are the steps to do a scrapbook of your children’s keepsakes:

1. Create a reduced version of the keepsakes. Paste them on a textured paper or thin mat.

2. Use ribbons, tassles, paper clips, dried flowers, clippings and other tiny objects to embellish the album.

3. Also paste a small piece of paper beside the keepsakes and make a short note to describe them. You can also make a message board for your children to write on.

4. Cut out some letters to be used for the title of the scrapbook. After that you can show the scrapbook to the entire family and reminisce the past.

Scrap booking is not only entertaining and fun to do but also worthy and advantageous. Individuals who are exposing themselves to scrap booking are honing their artistic capabilities. In fact, their works spell sophisticated scrap booking.

Sophisticated scrap booking is doing the thing with elegance, superiority and cleverness. From color combinations, to design, layout and embellishments – everything must complement and blend.

How do you go about sophisticated scrap booking?

1. Pick materials with classic colors. Examples of which are sepia, black, white, red and navy.

2. Pile or overlap papers to draw an impact and to make elements interact.

3. Use straight lines rather than curves and circles. Straight lines make clean and classic aura. If your scrapbook appears too rigid or linear, soften the lines or make a torn edge.

4. Select photos that will blend naturally with the colors, material and feel of your scrapbook.

5. Shallow dimensions are preferred. Use embellishments that are not that bulky. Moreover, you can use charms, alphabet tiles, foam tape, laces and tassles to emphasize dimension. Nonetheless, do not overdo it so as to distract the photos.

6. If the photos have theme or motif, be sure to dress your scrapbook according to the latter. The theme, color and embellishments must add to the beauty of the scrapbook not the contrary.

Speaking of embellishments, one of the most preferred embellishments that artists use is tassles. Tassles are ornaments consist of loose threads, embroidery floss, yarns, straw, raffia or cords. They are not only best for scrap booking but for knitting projects, scarves, bookmarks, pillows, draperies and afghans as well. You can find tassles ubiquitously. Nonetheless, if you desire to do it personally, tassle-making is pretty much easy.

Here are the simple steps in making tassles:

1. Cut a piece of cardboard based on the size of tassle you want to have.

2. Wrap a piece of yarn (or any of your desired material) around the cardboard. Cut the yarn at the untied end.

3. Wrap the long piece of yarn around the tassle. If you are satisfied with the look and style, insert its end (through a needle) to anchor said tassle.

4. Trim excess ends to give the tassle a clean look.

Now, you have your own version of tassle. You can use it in any art project you have including scrap booking.  Just bear in mind that scrap booking represents the individual personality of the creators. Nonetheless, if you want your own version of several things – you can. You can bend the rules. You can even break them. Its all our bringing out the bet of you and the best of what your personality can give - your piece of idiosyncrasy!

Different Types of Scrapbooking Templates

Different Types of Scrapbooking Templates

Here are some different types of scrapbooking templates which you might think about using:

1) Environmental – These scrapbooking templates incorporate the design of nature in their theme. These templates often include motifs of plants and animals and are designed to showcase the natural beauty of the earth. This type of scrapbooking template is ideal when you are planning to use nature-oriented materials in your scrapbook. This scrapbooking template can be useful if you are planning to include that pebble you brought home as a memory of a walk in the beach, that piece of leaf that serves as a reminder of a very eventful autumn day, and any other organic materials.

This scrapbooking template may also prove valuable when you are trying to put together a scrapbook of different types of “nature trips” such as hiking activities and jungle safaris.

2) Technological – You could also go with a technological scrapbooking template and try to showcase the distance which civilization has come. Technological scrapbooking themes incorporate images you associate with technology. This includes (but is not limited to): computers, microchips, cellular phones, vehicles, gadgets and all other types of symbols used in the world of technology today.

By using technological scrapbooking templates, you actually show to the people how up to date you are on the modern world. You also show a certain mindset that comes with being techno-savvy. By using this type of scrapbooking template, you show that you are open to the evolution of civilization and that your mind can take new ideas. For, in essence, that’s what technology is all about.

3) Sports – Probably one of the most popular types of scrapbooking templates, sports are more often chosen by men to be the overall theme for a scrapbook. This may be because of their upbringing or it may be just because of the fact that it is what society expects them to choose. Sports scrapbooking templates can be divided into three categories:

a) Persona – This type of scrapbooking template showcases different sports personalities and are most often chosen by avid fans. By using this scrapbooking template you actually show your support for a certain player, no matter what current team he or she is playing for. This is also popular for those who follow individual sports, as these sports tend to make celebrities out of the different players.

b) Team – This type of scrapbooking template can be based on a team symbol or team ideal. Images of different team members are also sometimes used in the different pages of the scrapbook. Sometimes, this type of team scrapbooking template is used to signify the unity of a single group. More often, though, this type of scrapbooking template is used to show support for a team or an institution.

This type of scrapbooking template is often supported by alumni of certain schools or residents of certain states.

c) Equipment – This type of sports scrapbooking template showcases the different types of equipment used in a game. This actually is used to signify the virtues of the game as a whole. Whatever game the maker favors can be portrayed using the different equipment used in that game.

Another option is to use different types of equipment to signify sports as a whole. This showcases the athleticism of a scrapbook enthusiast and shows his or her passion for any sport.

4) Emotions – There are actually different scrapbooking templates that use emotion as a base. These templates often signify the chosen emotion through different manners. Here are some of them:

a) Colors – The brightness and darkness of the hues used sometimes show the emotion within the scrapbooking template. If you observe, we sometimes associate different emotions with different colors. Some scrapbooking templates take this further by separating each color into shades and showing the intensity of the emotion vary with the shade.

b) Characters – Different characters are also used to portray different types of emotions. Some characters may be shown with facial expressions that transmit the different emotions. They can also be shown doing different activities, depending on the mood of the scrapbook. Background drawings can also be used to try and reflect on the character what the person is feeling. A rain, for example, can show sorrow or sadness.

How to Choose the Perfect Quotes for Scrapbooking

How to Choose the Perfect Quotes for Scrapbooking

Many people are taking interest in Scrapbooking. Scrapbooking is a simple activity that most people love to engage in because it involves creation. We all love to do something with our hands. Scrapbooking is an activity that is simple enough to be done by everyone and can show immediate and wonderful results.

You see, people engage in Scrapbooking because we love to reminisce. Scrapbooks help people think about different events, which had significant impacts in their lives. You see, no matter how intelligent a person can claim to be, nobody can remember completely all the events in their lives.

In Scrapbooking, you collect objects or pictures that allow you to remember the different events. These objects or pictures touch you in a way that no diary can. These pictures and objects allow you to re-experience the moment of your history.

Many people say that a picture is worth a thousand words. However, dealing with memories can be a very difficult experience. Memories get clouded, and pictures can sometimes be interpreted in a thousand different ways. However, writing down your memories of an event can be quite boring and it takes the thrill of mystery from rediscovering your history.

So what is a good compromise between writing a diary and making a very vague scrapbook? Most people choose to find scrapbooking quotes in order to help them get the initial feel of a memory. Scrapbooking quotes give you the general idea of a memory, but let you fill in the blanks yourself. By making use of scrapbooking quotes, you actually have the advantage of touching hearts. Using the combination of photos, memorabilia, and scrapbooking quotes can prove to be a most effective way of initializing a good reminiscing session.

However, in order to have this effect, you'll need to choose your Scrapbooking quotes properly. So what qualities should you look for in a scrapbooking quote?

1. Mnemonic quality - a good scrapbooking quote should be easily remembered. It should have that quality that makes it stick to your head. By having this quality, you can be sure of at least one impact of the scrapbooking quote.

You realize, of course, that the best songs often have this quality. Ever wonder why some singers fade away after 2 albums while some old singers still remain popular even decades after their last song was released? You see, the mnemonic quality of a phrase helps people associate it easily with certain things.

2. Relevant - Of course, a scrapbooking quote should be relevant to what you intend to portray. The scrapbooking quote should be able to bring across your message and enable whoever is reading the quote to relate to the object or picture in your scrapbook.

The scrapbooking quote may come off as trivial to the reader. However, the meaning of the scrapbooking quote should not be so vague that the reader has to use all of his or her brainpower to understand it. That is, unless you intend for the scrapbook to take on an air of mystery and clue-finding.

3. Short - A scrapbooking quote should be able to get the message across with very few words. You see, the focus of the scrapbook should remain on the objects or photographs. In choosing a scrapbooking quote, you should make sure that the quote does not take the center stage from the other objects in the scrapbook. However, you should make sure that the quote is just enough to form a bridge of thought between the words and the objects.

4. Touching - a good scrapbooking quote should not only touch your brain, but it should also move your emotion. You see, scrapbooks trigger memories not for the purpose of giving your brain a workout, but to enrich your soul. Thinking about past events, whether delightful or forlorn, helps you rediscover yourself and what made you the person you are today.

These are just some qualities that you should look for in a scrapbooking quote. Never forget, however, that the most important factor is you. You should decide whether or not a quote is appropriate for your scrapbook. This is the reason why some people choose to write their own quotes instead of borrowing the words of another. A scrapbook is a very personal item, which needs to relate to you.

Scrapbooking Quotes and the Power of Words

Scrapbooking Quotes and the Power of Words

There are those who say that a picture is worth a thousand words. However, humanity came up with words because of a very good reason. You see, pictures can be viewed from different angles and interpreted in different ways. However, words do the job of clearing up those interpretations and giving you the privilege of getting your message across.

Of course, words do get misinterpreted at times. However, you should bear in mind that words are the best tools for communicating your meaning. There are certain words that touch not only the mind, but also the heart. Words are actually meant not only to convey messages, but also to convey a person’s emotions. They are used to let people know about the way we perceive things. After all, none of us can really claim to see things from another person’s point of view, can we?

For all we know, our whole lives can be a big dream. Nothing could be real. Nothing really confirms that our lives are real. Any explanations, any theories, any evidence can just be a part of the unreality of life.

However, words somehow five us the assurance that other people do experience. Somehow, words anchor us to a place of stability, somewhere between unbelief and fanaticism. Words help us cling to our own understanding.

People do not share much emotion, but when they do, they use words. Sure, you can think of love and say that there are a number of easy ways to express love without resorting to words, yet ask yourself this: “When all those actions and gestures are done, how does it translate in your mind?”

Love is a word. However, that word holds more power than anything on earth. It is actually easy to ignore a certain feeling. However, once you give a name to that feeling, it grows. That is the power of words.

Scrapbooking quotes are just that: words. However, having these words in your scrapbook can result to very powerful effects. You see, words like these give you power. These scrapbooking quotes allow you to convey meaning. These words allow you to convey emotion.

Whether borrowed or your own, scrapbooking quotes can give clarity to the pictures you use to convey your thoughts. You see, the right scrapbooking quote can affect people in a very strong manner. The right scrapbooking quote can serve as the bridge that connects:

a) The person to the memory – A scrapbooking quote can actually help people relate to the memory being portrayed by the different pictures or memorabilia. Many people do not realize this, but certain words trigger reactions from us. In the same manner, a certain word can cause us to recall certain memories or feelings.
The right scrapbooking quote can prepare the reader’s mind and allow that reader to grasp the significance of a photograph.

b) Memory to other memories –A scrapbooking quote can also allow a person to connect one event with another. You can use a scrapbooking quote to show how one item on your scrapbook is related to another.

We all know that events form our history. We also know that no actual event is isolated and that all happenings had to have begun somewhere. Using scrapbooking quotes can actually help you show the significance of one object to another and their relationship to a certain event. This way, you can actually use your scrapbook as a tool to tell your story.

c) People to people – Using scrapbooking quotes can actually help other people relate to you. This means that you can use scrapbooking quotes as tools to actually help people understand your emotions. This way, you’ll actually be using words to their full potential. By using scrapbooking quotes this way, you will be able to get people to listen.

As you can see, there are a number of ways that people use words to bridge gaps. Words are even more powerful because of the fact that, without them, our civilization would not have progressed. Words share knowledge. We use words to pass on what we have learned to the generations after us. Through this, we are always on the quest for progress and ever-increasing technology. Words make evolution possible.

Scrapbooking Sites: Haven For Your Priceless Memories

Scrapbooking Sites: Haven For Your Priceless Memories

Memories are precious. They make you laugh, cry, abstemious, upbeat and more. Simply, memories make you feel. Sweet memories are kept. On the other hand, painful and awful memories are disregarded. Nonetheless, memories are to be cherished, whether they belong to the negative feeling or not.

Memories are not capable of pecuniary estimation. Hence, no amount of money can bring back good old times. Your childhood memories, your memorable gatherings and celebrations and other worth-remembering moments of your life cannot be literally extracted from the future. Moreover, there must be some sort of channels to bridge the gap between the past and the present.

These channels may come in several forms. With today’s advancements in technology, nothing can hinder you to linger on the happiest days of those life as well as those days that have taught you lessons to live by. Memories can stay for a lifetime, if and only if you allow them to hang around.

People use different ways to capture the essence of memories. During special occasions, camera, videos and other sort of gadgets are used to seize the moment. After that, the mementos are saved and kept. In the case of photographs, they are placed in albums to preclude harmful elements and other circumstances from spoiling them.

Photo album is the most common haven for precious memories. Ages ago, photo album was discovered for this purpose. Nonetheless, the passage of time cannot trim down its importance. In today’s time, photo album is still used for the same purpose. However, due to the advances introduced to it. The same has become more functional, stylish and versatile.

One of modifications introduced to photo albums is scrap booking. It is another way of preserving the momentum of memories similar to that of its ancestor – photo album. The only difference is that it is more flexible, artsy and captivating.

Scrap booking is placing photographs into albums and embellishing the later with word, design and style. Scrap booking may also include memorabilia, stories, testimonials and quotations. In fact, embellishments such as beads, yarn, threads, buttons, trimmings and the like can also be incorporated in a scrapbook to make it more stylish. This is done not only to make memories last but to make them more appealing as well.

The scrapbook that has evolved in the 90s is new and different. In this milieu, scientific knowledge about scrap booking was utilized to create longer photo preservation duration. This is to ensure that photos are not just contained in the scrapbook but said scrapbook must prevent the pictures from deteriorating.

Earlier, pictures don’t survive long enough to satisfy their possessors. Nowadays, technology has brought picture preservation to a new level. The pictures’ durability and façade are now improved. In fact, in today’s generation, cranky, faded and yellowed photos can be spared because of modern methods of storing them. Moreover, the life span of pictures has significantly soared.

Modern scrap booking ideas, methods and products are now in great demand. Said demand has paved way for the spawning of scrap booking businesses. In just a short span, scrap booking has been converted into a million dollar industry.

In fact, scrap booking has not missed the Internet for its haven. There has been hundreds of scrap booking sites that have sprung the online interface. Moreover, you can even find free scrap booking sites to learn some techniques and valuable tips about scrap booking.

Another important advancement in the field of digital photography is the introduction of various hardware and software to manipulate and transfer photos. These advancements resulted to scrap booking online. Electronic scrapbook is deemed a ‘permanent scrapbook’ since it can stay in the World Wide Web for a lifetime depending on the choice of the owner.

Nowadays, photo gathering, sharing and preserving are made easier and more convenient. Moreover, when an individual feel like reminiscing, he can easily get hold of the pictures and videos. Having a quick sojourn to the past is easy nowadays, because of the advances in technology, memories are easily kept and stored at the same time, they are also convenient to pore over or replay.

Scrap booking can be had in the traditional or modern way. The first one speaks of gathering materials and decorating a photo album while the second speaks of utilizing your computer skills plus technology to arrive at a striking scrapbook that every one will enjoy.

Scrapbooking Software: Making the Craft Easier than Never

Scrapbooking Software: Making the Craft Easier than Never

Who said that scrapbooking can only be made the traditional way, that is, the employment of the maker’s hands crafting the materials? Who told you that you can only create your scrapbook by burning the midnight oil just so you will be able to come up with it? Nah, forget about these things! There is a lot better way of creating your scrapbooks if you want to enjoy doing it less the stress to suffer from.

These days, as with the help of technology of course, scrapbooking can be wonderfully made through the use of the computer. Yes, you’ve read it right! Scrapbooking is now accessible through the computers! There are scrapbooking software that allow you to save your crafted album on the computer itself. Aside from allowing you to save your album right on the computer, you can also design and conceptualize your layout in the same venue. Talk about going digital! With your digital photos, you can now create the scrapbook which you’ve always dreamed of.

Wouldn’t it be nice to present your friend or loved-one with a scrapbook which you’ve designed through the aid of the scrapbooking software? Yes, that is what they are for. Scrapbooking software is downloadable from the internet. At times you may come across with free download scrapbooking software and there are also times when you have to subscribe in order to avail of them. Which ever is your choice, you can opt for either of the two.

If you are a true-blooded scrapbooking bug, might as well set your nerves to another dutiful venture with the help of the scrapbooking software. Scrapbooking software includes features concerning the layout. Also included are the ready-made layouts where you can freely choose. After choosing the color combinations which you opt to include, you are now ready to situate your photos. For sure, you will enjoy the task of going digital.

Now when you still want it personalized, you can still do that. After all, if the person you want to give a scrapbook is that special, might as well create something which you have personally worked on. So what do you want to use? What materials do you prefer to buy? Do not forget that an online inquiry will help a lot.

The internet, as everyone is aware of, is an endless spring of information. There are endless ideas sponsored by the internet. Scrapbooking software can thus help you think of better ideas to employ to your craft. It would not hurt to consult websites that offer scrapbooking software. Available are various themes, color schemes, images, supplies, and ideas that will make your scrapbook all the more artistic.

There is what is known as the scrapbook clip art that most of the times come for free. The websites such as Google and Yahoo are reliable sources of free scrapbook clip arts. After downloading it, start printing it. If you want some variations, you can go for coloring books. With the help of the scanner, you can scan the images and then edit them to your desired style. Technology is in a fast pace these days and we just have to be thankful for that.

Have you ever imagined a technologically illiterate world? For sure we would not be convenient with this set up. But luckily, technology plays a big role when it comes to any venture we want to dwell into. One of which is its help when creating scrapbooks.

Scrapbooks generally allow you to create a memorable keepsake of an important event in your life. Artistically employed with colors, designs, and some more products, these memories are kept to be always alive and fresh even if several years pass by.

Scrapbook the vital years of your baby. Include the first time he crawled, the first time he toppled over, the first time he stepped a foot to walk. Or create a lasting keepsake of your memories with a loved one. There are several benefits that can be reaped out of scrapbooking. All you need is just to think of wonderful designs and themes. In fact, you can also give it out as a gift. You and your artistic thought plus your effort will total to a wonderfully made scrapbook!

Scrapbooking Dos and Don'ts

Scrapbooking Dos and Don'ts

Pretty much everyone in the country has had an experience with scrapbooking. Scrapbooking is a way through which we try to connect with our past through different objects and images. Scrapbooks serve as time capsules, preserving our memories for when we have trouble recalling events.

In making a scrapbook, do:

1) Get creative - scrapbooking is an activity meant for you to release your creativity. You see, you have to let the scrapbook take on your personality. Only through this will you be able to create a scrapbook worthy of being called yours.

How do people release their creativity when scrapbooking? Well, you might want to think about the significance of different objects and how they stir your emotions. Try to express those emotions using these factors of the scrapbook:

A. Arrangement -the arrangement of certain objects in scrapbooking can reveal a much deeper message than the object itself. It actually speaks to the beholder how you feel about that certain object. Does it remind you of something painful? Do you feel joy when you see that object? Try to reflect your feelings on the arrangement of the object.

B. Colors -Different colors convey different emotions. Scrapbooking often requires you to add color to different pages in order to get your message across. Through the colors you use in a particular page, you can get your message about a specific event across to the reader.

C. Texture - in scrapbooking, you get to add texture to your creation. Unlike photo albums where only the pictures count, scrapbooking requires lets you get your message across through different textures. Touch is a very important part of scrapbooking. By adding texture to your pages, you can get your point across much better.

2) Gather resources - when scrapbooking, you need to have all materials you could possibly use. This means you have to prepare beforehand. If you do this, you won't waste time trying to find this or that colored pen.

By gathering resources, you free your mind and time to the actual creation of the scrapbook. Making a great scrapbook requires that your concentration be on the scrapbook itself, not on finding stuff you need.

3) Plan - when you are scrapbooking, always make sure that you have a plan as to which item goes where. You need to plan the overall look of your scrapbook and even the little details that go with it. You see, if you take the time to plan your scrapbook, you will be able to scan your ideas and choose which one is the best for you to go with.

Another advantage with planning ahead is the fact that you will be able to limit your budget and buy the stuff you need to make your scrapbook. By planning ahead, you also make putting the scrapbook together easy because of the fact that you do not really have to spend time changing designs.

4) Consider interpretation - Scrapbooking involves pictures and objects. As you may know, symbols can be interpreted in a million different ways, depending on the beholder's perception. In order to avoid your scrapbook from offending anyone, you could try to give clues as to how a certain page is significant to you.

Scrapbooking quotes are always a good option, considering the fact that they are a compromise between narrating events and using vague pictures.

Scrapbooking don'ts:

1) Copy - copying another scrapbook robs you of the self-satisfaction of having a unique creation. Remember that a scrapbook should reflect your personality. As human beings, we are all unique. This means that you have the potential to create a scrapbook that truly shows your soul.

2) Be vague - remember that a scrapbook is supposed to help you remember. It's not supposed to confuse you even more. In scrapbooking, you should learn how to relay your message without resorting to narrating the significance of each item.

3) Change - leave objects as they are, do not try to make an object more significant than it really is. You also cannot try to change events to suit your perception. You see, trying to change bad events into good, or vice versa defeat the whole purpose of scrapbooking. In order for your scrapbook to be effective in keeping your history, you should be honest to yourself.

Scrapbooking Materials: Know What to Buy

Scrapbooking Materials: Know What to Buy

Originally, it was quite hard to find suppliers and retail stores that would sell you scrapbooking materials. But with enthusiasts settling their own local scrapbooking stores and with online vendors that would sell you everything and anything in between, the hard part becomes the choosing.

Many beginners find it confusing to choose the basic materials once they get into the store. This is of course due to the fact that there simply are too many choices. Add to it the excitement of seeing various colors and designs, samples and layouts and concepts and ideas that will overpower your initial choice of materials.

This is a common mistake. However it must be understood that for beginners, there are only several things that you must buy. In fact, you need not buy them all at once. It is best to check several pieces and test the grounds if scrapbooking lifestyle would work for you.

Planning what must be bought and what must be reserved for other days usually work well when shopping for scrapbooking materials. Many times, the beginner's excitement plus the array of overwhelming choices without enough knowledge on them overshadow a scraper's best judgement in the selection of materials. And later, this would be dealt with regret.

Even veterans fall into this common mistake. And many of us, at one time or another have found ourselves in situations when we were faced with a good sale. We might not need the stuff for the present or might not use them at all yet the urge to buy is harder than our willingness to subdue the impulse.

To help lessen this possibility, it is best to have a definite plan of what materials to buy. In this article, we will tackle about the major scrapbooking material that will prove useful even to the end of your activity.

Album
The most important scrapbooking material and the one that completes the stuff is the album. For album alone, you may already find hundreds of various designs, formats and sizes that would lead you to deciding which would best fit you. We would not discuss the many types of albums here, we'll just provide an overview for some of the basic choices.

Conventional albums appear in 8½×11" or 12"×12" pages. However, smaller albums have become more popular with the integration of newer scrapbooking formats. Other smaller sizes appear in 6"×6" to 8"×8".

Page protectors
The main function that page protectors serve is to help lessen the susceptibility of your photos, memorabilia and the pages, as a whole to damages and tears. And the added value of holding them inn place to avoid stick-on from falling out. There are basically two choices when it comes to protectors; a) clear protectors that let you retain the normal hues of the layout and, b) non-glare protectors that appeal easier to the onlookers.

Paper
Many scrappers turn to papers when it comes to adding designs and choosing the background of their layouts. Patterned papers are among the main choices. For background, however, it is best to use papers with subtle colors so as to help focus the eye's attention on the photos rather than on the background.

Cardstock
A staple in the scrapbooking world, cardstocks are more like cardboards than papers. These are effective in securing the foundations when placing memorabilia, embellishments and photos.

Adhesives
Well these materials simply hold everything together. These are widely available but be careful in choosing one though. Always look for acid-free adhesives and make sure that they are photo-safe. If they are not, they are most likely to cause oxidation of the pictures, the condition when the colors of the paper, photos and other similar stuffs fade.

Paper cutter
This material normally completes scrapbooking as they tend to add the finishing touches. Many scrappers find it hard to keep away from overdecoration., this normally is the case when using paper cutters and especially true with cutting pictures. Tip: It is always nice to keep the edges of photos straight. Reserve the use of paper cutters with papers alone.

Scissors
A definite must-have. Scissors greatly help in manipulating further the designs and additions into the scrapbook. They help transform objects such as fibers, ribbons and fabrics into manageable size that will coordinate with the design you have.

Rulers
Precision, that the rule. Obviously, this material will save time when it comes to drawing clean, straight lines.

There are many other scrapbooking materials that you will find useful. Among them are the following: vellum, exacto knife, self-healing cutting mat, white plastic eraser, glue eraser, lettering and fonts, black pens, colored pens or pencils, grease pencil, photo corners and tote.

Where to Get Scrapbooking Page Ideas

Where to Get Scrapbooking Page Ideas

Scrapbooking is an activity that requires some inspiration and a lot of effort. Now, we all know that every person can make the effort to be creative. However, inspiration is hard to come by. Inspiration is that one little spark that guides you where to direct your efforts.

Scrapbooking page ideas can be hard to come by. They can be sought after, yet never found. They can be ignored, yet just pop up in your mind. However, there are a lot of places where you can get scrapbooking page ideas. Here are some of them:

1) Conversations - sometimes, just talking to another person can help you get a scrapbooking page idea. By engaging in conversations, you can often catch glimpses of a person's soul, and that can serve as your inspiration.

There are two ways to get scrapbooking page ideas from conversations:

a) Directly - you could try asking for other people for some scrapbooking page ideas directly. You could discuss different scrapbooking page ideas and talk about the virtues and disadvantages of each one. By asking people for ideas, you save yourself the trouble of having to find an overall theme. However, by doing so, you cannot really claim a scrapbook as your own, since the idea came from somewhere else.

b) Indirectly -this happens when you are talking to a person about something unrelated to scrapbooking and suddenly, you gleam from a certain word or phrase, a scrapbooking page idea. Getting a scrapbooking page idea this way can be quite hard, as you will be focusing on two things: the idea and the conversation.

Sometimes, a conversation can actually help free your creative spirit and actually unleash the scrapbooking page idea within you.

2) The environment - look around you. There are many things out there which can give you different scrapbooking page ideas. What can the environment give you?

a) Overall theme - One good scrapbooking page idea is capturing the beauty of the sunset in the overall theme of your scrapbook. In fact, there are many other things besides nature that you can use as great scrapbooking page ideas. This way, you actually tie the different pages of your scrapbook together.

b) Specifics - by looking at your environment, you can also gain specific scrapbooking page ideas. This means that you can enhance the little details of your scrapbook using your inspiration from outside. The details may mean something to you alone, or may also broadcast a page's significance to the world.

c) Materials - by observing your environment, you can also get scrapbooking page ideas about what materials to use. Remember that, in a scrapbook, materials say so much about your personality. In doing so, you open yourself up to the possibility of recycling.

3) Yourself. -look inside yourself for any scrapbooking page ideas which you might want to try out. Remember that only you can best judge what you want. Look towards your personality and get inspiration from it. One activity you can do is listing on a piece of paper your different traits. This would give you some scrapbooking page ideas on how to best present your scrapbook. By looking within you, you can try to convey to the readers your personality and how you feel about a certain event and page in your scrapbook.

4) Mass media - You can also take several scrapbooking page ideas from the mass media today. This includes:

a) Television - Admit it: you love watching television. So why not try to take inspiration from it? By taking scrapbooking page ideas from your favorite TV shows, you can actually try to incorporate another facet of your personality into the scrapbook.

The television also allows you to see different types of visual themes and this can give you a very good idea as to how your scrapbook should look like.

b) Music - getting scrapbooking page ideas from music can be a bit hard, since only a few can really translate emotions form words into visual information. However, if you are able to do so, you can actually come up with a pretty deep message. You might also have your friends guessing as to how a page relates to the song.

c) Computer - of course, you could also get scrapbooking page ideas from the computer. Do you wish to portray a game? Do you want to incorporate a theme from the internet? By using the computer, you can access a ton of information to give you scrapbooking page ideas.

Getting Over With Your Weakness, Learn Scrapbooking Papers Storage Techniques

Getting Over With Your Weakness, Learn Scrapbooking Papers Storage Techniques

If there were one common denominator aside from their passion to scrapbooking, you would immediately know that theirs is the weakness on papers. From patterned and plain papers to unique cardstocks, we normally make use of the logic "buy the paper now and the inspiration will come after". And for the moment, your scrapbooking will lay scrap by scrap or page by page, waiting to be used.

If you don't have a photographic memory (which most of us don't have) it is best that you store you scrapbooking papers in more organized manners. Or else, you might find yourself lost with "out of sight, outs of mind" brain. You might already have a huge collection of paper stacks but not knowing it. A waste of an investment. And besides, it is always a good practice to get organized to really know what your resources are.

We can't forever buy papers and store them in disarray. And buy another set and go on with that same process. Somehow, clutter must stop.

We cannot exactly provide you with strict guidelines of storage. In scrapbooking, so long as the methods fits you, it will work. Let's move out from the box and do our own things in our own ways.

We have covered some general techniques here, which you may apply. Only you have to fill in the gaps if you require some modifications.

Most scrappers find it hard to know their organizing style. In general, you have two options. One, that is horizontal stacking and the other, vertical. It ill always be your preference to choose. There is no best way for everyone and you can do whatever fits your case.

Most stores keep their papers in horizontal stacking, either by racks or by shelves. This is largely because they are equipped with much space to work with. Unfortunately, most of us don't have that enough space so the best solution would be to furnish snap top cases for better organization. Not only are these cases great for paper stacking, they also work well for storing other scrapbooking materials that you normally or presently use.

If you have no other option but to store your papers in horizontal formats, you may always try using vertical solutions.  Storing papers vertically works best for cardstocks and for papers that you often use. Storage papers for vertical positioning normally comes with dividers, thus the capacity to store multiple files all at the same place. Just be reminded though that this method will require you tall shelves.

Second, you must know what kind of scrapbooker are you when it comes to shopping papers. There are again, two types. One, the organized people and the other are those that adhere with any-thing-goes principles.

The organized group are those buyers ho take time to bring with them photos and memorabilias as reference for when buying. They browse aisles by aisle and choose specific types of papers according to their immediate needs, matching their choices with the materials that they have.

And these people will most likely gather sample die cuts and embellishments and stick-ons for each planned page. Thus, they tend to choose the right pieces together for their possible layouts. At the end, they will collect other stiffs that will match their themes.

The unorganized group though is the exact opposite. They arrive at the store with hardly an idea to focus to. They would grab random kinds of scrapbooking papers depending on what catches their eye. While tossing cool and pretty papers, they would soon realize that the cardstocks at the next eye "might" be of future use. Lastly, they'll run to the register and the whole thing is over. Once they start the project, they'll soon discover that several things are missing.

The second attitude is easier to do, however you must learn to accept the risks. The first one obviously will require you to plan prior to shopping but will create lesser chances of committing mistakes. If you are dealing with scrapbooking papers, it will always prove best to choose the latter one.

Organization of papers will require you to pay attention to details. The more chaotic your files get, the more attention you will have to invest. It is far less time consuming in the end to start organizing stuffs and keep things that way than to organize and reorganize over and over again. Besides, when your papers are arranged, you would have better pictures of what are available to you and you will be able to work on them better.

Scrapbooking Products: Stuffs that will get you started.

Scrapbooking Products: Stuffs that will get you started.

Do you love to take pictures? Are you a camera bug? Do you intend to capture the memories of all the important events in your life? If you are, then good for you. So where do you keep all those photos? Do you love scrapbooking? Well, the better! Keeping them in the most traditional albums can be duller. Why not put on something which is much fun and artistic?

One of the most popular uses of scrapbooks is the preservation of the cherished memories in one’s life. Pictures ultimately provide memories which you can cherish for a lifetime. Cameras are no doubt experts in capturing the moments which you would never fail savoring all through the years of your life. At times like these, scrapbooking will be an avenue to keep these memories alive and kicking.

Going Online Shopping

When you have the thought of scrapbooking, you will need scrapbooking products so you can readily start up with your venture. Scrapbooking products range in a variety of kinds and brand names. Their availability is not a thing to be worried about. In the local arts and crafts shops located within your area comes a bunch of scrapbooking supplies from where you can lavishly choose from. Now if you want a hassle-free shopping, why not go online?

For a serious scrapbooker like you, finding the scrapbooking supplies which you need and want is not a problem at all. If you want to be rid of all the inconveniences of going from one store to another, you can always check out the scrapbooking supplies made available online. Online shopping is very easy, convenient, and affordable too.

There are bunches of websites that host scrapbooking products within their midst and all you have to do is track and surf them. For sure you will enjoy doing that. Furthermore, right within the confines of your home, you can shop for the best scrapbooking supplies that you need without the worry of getting overly stressed from the visits to various arts and crafts shops.

The Must-Have Scrapbooking Products

So what do you need to get started with your project? Check out the simple list below.

The Album. Choose the right size of the scrapbooking album which you will be using. Also take note of the color details that will add more of an artistic and personal touch to it.

The Refill Pages for the Album. The refills for the album do not come available in one standard size. It is only proper that you first buy the album so as to know what size will be right for the refill pages that you will purchase.

A Good Pair of Scissors. The scissors that you must use should be sharp and the handles should be comfortable in your hands. Make sure that they don’t hurt you or else your cut outs will not turn out to be right.

Some Adhesives. There are obviously different kinds of adhesives which you can buy from the educational supplies. For a scrapbook, the acid-free adhesive is very much advisable. They work well both on photos and cardstocks.

The Printed Papers and Cardstocks. The printed papers that you will choose must complement the photos that you will include. They should be able to provide accent in the overall appearance of the scrapbook.

The Journal Pens. The pen that you will make use of must be acid-free, with fine tips, and permanent. It would not be good to look at pens with ink that smudges.

Now these are the basic and essential scrapbooking products which must not be left out in your shopping. But then if your budget allows you, you can always add more. Ribbons, glitters, sequins, stones, and many more items which you think will serve as great embellishments can be included in your list. You may also add some more items such as the die cut machine, set of journaling pens in various colors, oval or circle cutter, and so on.

Actually, the ideas presented online can help you a lot in your scrapbooking venture. You always have a choice when it comes to design, color schemes, and layouts. The more artistic you get... the better. Good luck then!

Different Scrapbooking Tools You Need

Different Scrapbooking Tools You Need

Scrapbooking can be a very challenging task for the beginner. For one thing, you need creativity in order to create a beautiful work of art. You also need to think up a distinct theme which forms the backbone of the scrapbook. The items you put inside the scrapbook should also be arranged in such a manner that their significance is unmistakable. With all these complexities, many people would be hard-pressed to complete a scrapbook without the proper tools.

So what tools would you actually need to put a scrapbook together?

1) Scissors – Everyone knows what scissors are, right? Well, here is a metaphor for the scissors in scrapbooking. Scissors are like bringers of order. Scissors shape the little bits of paper into forms that you can use in your scrapbook. This scrapbooking tool is very important in making pieces fit together. Some people may refuse to cut the pieces of paper, but only through this, can the scrapbook be completed.

In that sense, a pair of scissors can symbolize the truth. Why, you ask? Well, the truth hurts. But it has to hurt, doesn’t it? It has to hurt if it is to set you free.

There are two distinctive types of scissors you can use as scrapbooking tools:

a) Conventional paper-cutting scissors – These scissors are made to cut and to cut straight. This is the type of scissors people encounter from the very beginning of their childhood. You need to be able to trust your scissors to cut straight, because it just looks ugly if you unintentionally use dull scissors and mess up the cut of the paper.

b) Crafting scissors – This type of scissors can be bought at different art supply shops. These scissors are distinctively shaped in order to produce different types of cuts. Using this scrapbooking tool can be a whole lot more convenient than trying to follow a pattern using straight-cutting scissors. You see, using conventional scissors can give you carpal tunnel because of the stress your fingers will be taking. And that’s not good at all, is it?

2) Puncher – This nifty scrapbooking tool is used mainly to punch holes into paper. There are, once again, two types of punchers available out there:

a) Conventional – This type of puncher produces round holes. Funnily enough, this type of puncher was not designed as a scrapbooking tool, but as an office supply. For those of today’s generation, files are known as the thing you keep documents in your computer. However, for other people, files consist of important papers and documents which are organized together. Punchers were used to put holes into those documents in order to accommodate a fastener.

However, punchers are now used today to make perfect circles on scrapbooking pages.
b) Shaped – This type of puncher, pretty much works in the same manner as the conventional puncher. However, the edges of the punching mechanism take different shapes in order to accommodate your crafting needs. This scrapbooking tool is used to make different shaped holes in the pages of the scrapbook.

3) Tweezers – Tweezers are often used as scrapbooking tools in order to enable the crafter to put in a design or to glue in a bit of paper neatly. You see, when making a scrapbook, you will be working with different materials together with a lot of glue. Because of this, there is a high risk of you smudging the different pictures of the scrapbook. Tweezers are excellent scrapbooking tools to maintain the cleanliness of your handiwork.

4) Computer – This can be an excellent scrapbooking tool because of the fact that it can do a variety of things. On the computer, you can do research on what scrapbooking theme to use. This means you are given more resources on the varieties of different themes and the ways you can incorporate them in your scrapbook. You can also use the computer to get more images to put in your scrapbook. By using the computer, you get all the advantage of modern technology and can therefore, make your scrapbook into anything you like.

Scrapbooking tools allow people to have an easier time crafting their handiwork. However, you should remember that sometimes. Mistakes actually make a scrapbook more personal. Mistakes show the human side of you. Like the memories you show on a scrapbook, the making of it should not necessarily be perfect, but it should be fun.

Why not Lean on Scrapbooking Websites

Why not Lean on Scrapbooking Websites

So you’ve gotten married and you hover at all those pictures. Finally you spot some poses and memories which you intend to set apart from the rest. Keeping them in the traditional album would not necessarily give them the touch they need. So why not try doing a scrapbook of those photos? Certainly, it will be all worth it.

When the idea of scrapbooking has hit your thoughts, you tend to look over several sources such as magazines, print ads, newspapers, journals, and of course some internet websites. These sources nevertheless give you a clear picture of what your finished product will exactly reflect about.

They also provide you with insights on how to start your project, what materials will be worthy to use, and how to go on with the steps of scrapbooking. You may have also heard of your friends talking about what they do with their scrapbooks or the photographer during your wedding had talked about keeping these photos in such an impressive manner. In this case, you might want to explore the thing for yourself.

You may not be a professional photographer and it may be your first time to deal with scrapbooking. Are you a little afraid? Better not be. There are a lot of scrapbooking websites that can help you out with your plan. So what will really add flavor to your scrapbook? What things will accentuate your photos? How will you deal with the steps of creating a scrapbook?

Getting Started

Thinking about how you would start can go on for days. After all, the hardest part in scrapbooking is conceptualizing the layout and the design that you prefer to employ. But then after such considerations have finally been thought of, you can now go forward into thinking about the scrapbook products which you will utilize. In all of these dilemmas, the scrapbooking websites that you will consult can provide you with the most needed help and advices you seek.

Behind a greatly made scrapbook is the load of quintessential scrapbooking supplies which have been artistically mixed and matched. Without these scrapbooking supplies, there will be nothing to cherish in a scrapbook, so to speak. Personally, the scrapbooking supplies which are sold by many online stores can take your breath away. They come available in several colors, designs, shapes and sizes of many kinds. When scrapbooking is all you’ve got in mind, you simply have to choose and decide on which scrapbooking supplies to make use of. After all, it is only you who know what kind of output you expect.

So the theme of your scrapbook will be your wedding day. Choose the colors that will suit your theme and the clothing posed by the people in the pictures. The combination of all the colors of the material must complement the colors contained in the photos.

The most basic colors that suit the wedding theme will be gold, silver, and white. But of course you can always change them as you prefer it. After dealing with the colors, get it on with the content. In the very first page you can paste the wedding invitation so that the storytelling can be started with. The rest of the photos will follow in the succeeding pages.

Remember to make use of appealing borders and embellishments. However, the scrapbook may or may not contain all those wedding pictures. You can just choose which you would like to include. But then an exception comes in when you prefer the wedding memorabilia to be presented in a scrapbook manner.

Scrapbooking Websites in Action

Online surfing for scrapbooking ideas is a very much acclaimed step by many people. By simply visiting scrapbooking websites, you will come across with the bunch of ready-made layouts and sample of contents for your scrapbook. You may likewise print them is the scrapbooking website allow it. If you know how to maximize the capacity of your computer and your internet, you surely can find hundreds of valuable ideas from scrapbooking websites. After all, they serve such purpose.

Scrapbooking websites are also tutorial websites that instruct you about which materials can be easily crafted into a great scrapbook product, what simple steps may be followed by beginners, what designs would be trendy, and many more.

Thinking that scrapbooking is a stuff for the amateurs?

Add Some New Touch to Your Album, Try Using Scrapbooking Charms . Thinking that scrapbooking is a stuff for the amateurs? Well, this time think again.

It takes so much creativity before a theme is produced. For sure, we are not the only ones who sat on the layout with a blank look. In fact, many scrappers experience that. These may be the days when no inspiration comes into mind. This is when inspiration seems to have dried down and concepts don't even pass your thoughts.

Well, there of course are many choices for you to resolve this. One, you can stop trying for sometime and go back to your project sometime later. This will provide "rest" for your mind. Don't do anything that you may associate with scrapbooking and don't even attempt to look at the materials. However, you may always go back to your works and see what you can do next. Afterwhich, you will be surprised at how many ideas would roll once you sit on your working area again.

The second would be to continue trying until a spark of inspiration comes in. This happen often, especially when you set your thoughts free. Who knows how much work will be done after you poured all your imagination on a page.

The bottom line is, there will always come a period when you become so drained and following after is the spread of inspiration.

When this time comes, try to imagine newer ideas. Then once you are done with your evaluation, you will see that in your past works have some flaws in them. Or if you are a beginner, the works of other people may have lacked something or provides an idea with the extra pop.

Your new layout theme screams for something cool, for something that is beyond papers, photos and markers. Probably, the album you are about to start requires embellishments, charms perhaps.

Indeed, scrapbooking has matured since your first trials on the filed during your grade school days. Many of the techniques, methods and materials used have all developed substantially that you can actually put all things that you want in an album, but of course with careful planning.

Because the plethora of scrapbooking materials have evolved dramatically during the past years, it is easier for us to use anything and everything in making masterpieces.

You may have tried using stick-ons, peel-offs and rub-offs. They all allow creative concepts, which are rather common. Or say glitters and chalk powder for added dimension and effects.

Charms are one of the many favorites among scrappers. Well they maybe the charms that you've been given since you were a kid or the charms you have bought some years back. Any of these two revolve around memories and that exactly what scrapbooks contain. They preserve memories of youth, of events or of things that are nearest to your heart. They are like memory keepers that you would one day visit.

Not all of us have these tokens though. Good thing, charms for scrapbooking are available in many local scrapbooking shops in wide array of pre-packaged designs, types and assortments. They are of course easy to find. Most craft stores have them and its just a matter of choosing the charms that you want to see a few years from now or choosing what you think will best fit your concepts.

Unlike bottle caps and a number of in the industry, charms will always provide the assurance that you get the worth of what you bought. There are certainly simple choices that would provide plain and basic designs that give you the advantage of manipulating them towards the goal you desire. And there are those that are intricately made that their mere presence in your album would be enough to consider them as parts of your memories. After all, charms have that touch of uniqueness that may never be had with ribbons, fabrics and bottle caps.

Charms are normally mounted on cardstocks, papers or on any mediums you use as your foundation for scrapbooking. Ensure though that when using charms, you are also equipped with strong adhesives and glues to assure better hold.

If you are not comfortable with this, you can try an alternative that is rather "cute". Turn your charms into danglies. Not only that they are fun to do, they also create less bulky pages.

How to Lengthen the Lifespan of Your Scrapbooking Albums

How to Lengthen the Lifespan of Your Scrapbooking Albums

Among the major materials that you would need to deal with in the scrapbooking world are the albums. They are in fact, the body that builds the bulk of papers, cards and embellishments. They don't only act as protectors of your memorabilia, they themselves contain and preserve them for you.

There simply are lots of scrapbooking album choices that you can take into consideration. There are hundreds (maybe even thousands!) which make it impossible for us to categorize them into groups rather than basing on their sizes.

Modern scrapbooking normally features albums sizes 8½×11" and 12"×12". However, many scrappers these days prefer smaller sizes such as those of the 8"×8" down to 6"×6". The size of course is a matter of personal preferences.

The albums may provide protection for your memories. However, they sometimes would not be able to cover natural tendencies for depreciation. In this article, we have gathered some fundamental scrapbooking album care that will help lessen the immediate damages that may be brought by a number of harmful elements to your "memory keepers".

To avoid disasters, it is best that your album is keep away from liquids. Liquids do not only spoil the outside covering of your scrapbook, they may as well cause damage on the photos, memorabilias, negatives and other water non-resistant materials. Also, keep your working area clear from liquids.

Direct sunlight can undoubtedly cause colors to fade. Thus, diminished album quality. This goes side by side with extreme temperatures. Too low temperature will moisten the album itself and the same goes with too hot environment, especially for storage.

Initially the damage of oily hands may not be as apparent. If you need to follow the puritan's way, you will have to secure your hands with cotton gloves. But you can always choose to frequently wash your hands with acid neutralizing agents or simply refrain from touching the photographs with your entire hand so as to prevent the deterioration caused by skin oils.

Learn to store. Proper storage of negatives, layouts and other materials will not only prevent tears, scratches or bends from occurring, they will also largely affect the lifespan of each. Provide sturdy containers or acid-free envelopes for filing.

Plastics are commonly used as sealers or protectors of memorabilias and photos. However, we must always remember that they are not all created equal. If you are not as keen to details, you may find that you are better off without specific types of plastics as they may cause larger problems in the end as compared with not protection at all.

To be safe, never use vinyl plastics as they contain the destructive material referred to as polyvinyl chloride or PVC. This substance is unstable and will therefore cause corrosion in your precious items. The effects may not be obvious at first though. Look for polyester or acrylic materials instead. They have more stable properties and will help ensure the longevity of your items. 

Always look for acid-free papers. Be warned though that many types of acidic papers found in your local scrapbooking shops. Additionally, it does not mean that if the light colored papers of a specific manufacturer are acid-free it does not follow that their darker shades are the same. Often, pigmentation and die will affect the acid level of a specific paper. If you are quite doubtful, always check the label or test any unlabeled papers.

Why the fuss with acids and acid levels? Simply because acids are large contributors to immediate deterioration of quality in your scrapbooking materials. This condition is obviously seen in newspapers where pages turn yellow over time. If you would not want any damage or loss of quality in your scrapbooking album, it is best that you keep watch acidity levels in the materials your are using. After all, scrapbooks are used to preserve memories.

Proper documentation is crucial when making scrapbooks. Years from now, as you look back to your photos, you would be glad that you took time to label them. However, assure to it that you use the appropriate materials in labeling.

Never use ballpoint pens as they tend to require you to write with pressure plus the possibility of ink transfer from one photo to another, especially when they are kept or glued in a photo stack.

All these guidelines are not only intended to cerate better impressions on your work. They would also help lengthen the quality preservation of your memory keepers.

Scrapbooking for Cousins: Recording Family History

Scrapbooking for Cousins: Recording Family History

You cant be further from the truth if you say that scrapbooking are for kids. Well, it is still the same thing. Only that scrapbooking is for kids age 7 to 99.

Scrapbooking has set the trend for keeping memories and memorabilias, which obviously came from the past. And the past as we know will always retain its state for there is no other way to have it wheel back. The things that we did with our time given in the past will always be shelved in our recollections.

And with the latest photographs coming, what would you want to do with them. As you flip through the faces of people who remain close to your heart, families and friends that has revolved around your memories and the relatives and cousins that caused you joy, you cant fight the urge of smiling. Remembering all the fun you had when you were actually at the moment of doing the memories.

You won't keep those precious memories in the drawers right, or in the box or anything away from the light. All you want to do is to have them face you each moment you want to flip through them again. So never put them in the dark.

Our families are the closest people to us. We may sway away from them at times and wish that we were in a different family. But you see, when all things turn away from us, the only people that we can fall back to are our families. They are literally, the persons we cant get away from.

We Americans are not as family-oriented though as compared with those of the ties that we may see from other cultures. We don't give as much credit to family extensions and we have ample reasons for that. In many occasions, we may even have lost faith in our families and brought ourselves into destruction and separation. That's normal for us but this must not be the case. This should never be but its happening.

However, to all things there are exemptions. For some Americans, their foundations on family ties are so solid that they seem to have sprouted from another culture. They're like Orientals who have grown and lived through life within the boundaries of their family ties.

They have seen grandpa celebrated his 75th year. Or see Uncle Sam wed beautiful Sally. Or has enjoyed the cake that mom baked during cousin Anne's debut. These memories of family deserve to be preserved, in any fashion that would enhance them and will help leap you back through ages and experiences.

And what can be more special than making a scrapbook album for them?

Then main aim of scrapbooking your family photos is to preserve tokens of the past with your relatives. Everyone has a story to tell and you would be glad that you took time preserving them all for the next members of the family to see.

Once the faces of your cousins, aunts and uncles and everyone are put in an album, they would no longer be forgotten. When they see your work twenty years from now, no one would have to wonder who were the people in the photographs. This normally is the case and you would not want trying to identify that the man in the suit is Uncle Jim and the baby on Grandma's lap is cousin Jenny.

Scrapbooks can be of any theme, it might be a scrapbook dedicated for your cousins or scrapbooks for your best buddies in the family. It may even be the stuff that will tell stories of a specific events involving your clan.  

You need not fear the failure on your first attempt or the failure of disappointing the people you would be putting in you album. If this is your first trial then forgive yourself and do good on your consequent attempts. It is best that you do your first scrapbook with the help of a close relative. Or if you can gather a group of relatives then better. That way, you'll enjoy saving memories while making new sets.
And some day, when all your family member grows old, you will leaf back through the pages of your scrapbooks. And as you do, smiles will be on your face and laughter would fill the air as you remember how you created those memories and how you created the memory keepers.

Scrapbooking Frames: A Look Inside And Out

Scrapbooking Frames: A Look Inside And Out

Have you ever tried scrapbooking? In truth, a lot of people are so much hooked into scrapbooking that they literally spend hours and hours of conceptualizing the design which they think will be the best for their work of art. Of course, they spend money on this scrapbook venture too.

The basic problem which many scrapbookers face is that they tend to have an overflow of ideas right on the first page that they eat up too much time on it. But then this is not something to get disappointed with since the finished product will always be worth it.

Why waste time for scrapbooking? What can you actually get from it? As everybody knows, scrapbooking is one avenue of keeping memories alive and continuously fresh. It has been everybody’s custom to take photos of every single important occasion in their lives whether they may be in the past, present, or in the future. Why just stick them in plain-looking photo albums when in fact you can add some artistic and personal touch to them?

The real score in scrapbooking is not really to include all those photos you’ve taken. It is all about choosing some pieces that best stand as the representations of the certain occasion. Remember that scrapbooking balances the role of the photos plus the chosen layout for all those photos. Frankly speaking, the design of your choice will aid in telling the real story behind the concept more than those pictures will do.

When you had never tried scrapbooking but you are actually craving for that experience, you can watch other people do it so you will be able to grasp some essential ideas. You can likewise take the opportunity of attending classes. Yes, there are classes especially held for the benefit of the budding scrapbookers.

There are certainly a lot of local arts and crafts shops that conduct classes for individuals of all levels. You may opt whether or not to buy your supplies there. Likewise, several community colleges make such classes available also for outsiders.

These courses can really be of great help for the beginners in the world of scrapbooking. For a minimal fee, all supplies are included and you can start enjoying the experience.

Some classes will already provide you with the ready-made scrapbooks while there are those that will require you to bring your personally-owned scrapbooks. But of course, you’ve got to bring your very own pictures! For sure you can’t wait how your scrapbook frames will look like in the end.

A Warning for all Scrapbookers

When choosing a scrapbooking frame, you should be cautious. There is a wide array of choices of scrapbooking frames made available in arts and crafts shops. Scrapbooking frames vary in styles and designs so you’ve got to bear these things in your mind.

Also take note of the theme which you need to employ in your scrapbook frames. Scrapbook frames come in a variety of themes such as the Halloween, Christmas, baptism, and so on. But of course there are some traditional scrapbooking arts stores that can provide you with cheaper alternatives so that you will be able to save a lot of money.

Some Scrapbooking Secrets to Remember

When scrapbooking is what you wish to do, always never fail to conduct research. Always look for little things which can be employed in your scrapbook frames such as trinkets, ribbons, stickers, and many more. Where should you conduct your research? Take a tour from among the arts and crafts shops in your area. Also never forget to browse through the internet as it is a deep well of information. Online shopping has never been boring. Via the internet, you’ll grasp the essential and the hottest materials in scrapbooking. Scrapbooking frames are nonetheless all available online.

Scrapbooks as Gifts

Among the best attributes of scrapbooks is that they count as a gift for all seasons. Whether it is for Christmas, graduations, birthdays, weddings, and many other events, scrapbooks are always one of the best gifts to give to people. So always find time and collect your photos of friends and family members. You can certainly paint a smile on their faces as you hand them your scrapbook gifts. 

Free Scrapbooking Tips: How to Create Scrapbook Page

Free Scrapbooking Tips: How to Create Scrapbook Page

Here’s your situation: You are done shopping for your scrapbook supplies. You have collected all photos you need for your scrapbook. Everything is prepared; the album, pair of scissors, adhesive, embellishments, papers, pens, and many more. But you are staring blankly on this pile of things thinking what should you do and how to make this work according the outcome you want to achieve. 

The thing is, you don’t have to put too much burden on yourself trying to come up with a magnificent work of art. All you have to do is to get everything organized and let your imagination take over.

For some help, here are the steps on how to create a scrapbook page:

Draw up a page-by-page plan. Yeah right! Do can’t even start a page. Well, to be honest, the best way to have a good scrapbook page is not about making a plan. It is about creating freely. So, scrap the idea of making a page-by-page plan unless you have a good sense of imagining things. But if you don’t, well, you might start by organizing your photos according to the theme you want to achieve.

Let us say that again in another way: ORGANIZE.

As was mentioned, organize your photos according to the theme. You may not use every photo you have prepared. Just select the best and those you think would be great once combined with other scrapbook supplies you will use.

Group the photos that would fit to one page. You may use variations on each page. For example, you will place 5 photos in one page. Then on the next page, you will use just 4. Chronological arrangements will keep things easy for you.

Can you see where we are going here? Yes, after you have organized your photos, you found yourself with a page-by-page plan. We just make the term easy for you.

Now, let us work on one page...

With the photos you have grouped, take 2-3 colors of papers that would compliment them. Select a background that would enhance the image of your selected photos. If you don’t have a background, create one that would let the photos stand out. You can use the internet to get some ideas for a great background. There are also printable backgrounds you can download. If you prefer making one on your own, use the tip above.

Make decorations on the page together with the photos. Select one photo that would become the focal point of the page. Spread other photos on the page. Decorations come on the sides of the photos. Do not use adhesives yet so that you can change the arrangements and the decorations if you need to. Glue them if you have finally decided on the look of the page.

Also, use borders to highlight the photos. Double or triple matting would make a good border. Shape the photos according to your desired outcome. Shapes such as squares, circles, rectangles, and ovals are more pleasing and more common. Do not over flood the page. If you think you have overly decorated the page, do not hesitate to remove some decorations.

Create journaling. Expressing your thoughts, experiences, and feelings would bring out better expression on the page. Take time to write some information about the page’s content.

Pay close attention to the details and elements such as balance symmetry, and scare. Observe how your eyes move in Z direction as you stare at the page. If you think there are changes you need to make, do not hesitate to do it before you glue them permanently.

After you finish doing this, you have already made a page on your scrapbook. Do the same process on the succeeding pages. Try to use different variations. Make each page unique from another. Try other colors. Use different arrangements. Make different styles.

Add more embellishments as you go along. Use stickers, die cuts, and rubber stamps. If you find that there is a need to add or change embellishments on some of the pages you have already made, do them carefully so as you don’t destroy the existing decorations. Good luck!

Baby Scrapbooking Ideas

Baby Scrapbooking Ideas

Kids love to hear all kinds of stories. But one story they probably would want to hear over and over again is the story of their birth. This is why, many would prefer creating baby scrapbook to tell in a more tangible way how they come out in this world. But it does not mean that baby scrapbook is limited to the “how” of giving birth. Even the minor details are important to create a more wonderful baby scrapbook your kid would enjoy and would be proud of as they grow up. And since baby scrapbook is somewhat a kid’s bibliography, your kids will appreciate how much they mean to you.

If you are planning to make scrapbook for your baby to come, then here are the things you should consider so that you wont limit yourself from creating a statistical baby scrapbook (baby scrapbook that only tells the time, weight and size of the baby).

To create a baby scrapbook, you should define your starting point. It could be the baby shower or the day of his or her birth. You should also set when to end the scrapbook. Usually, baby scrapbook would cover the child’s first year but you can always go longer if you want to. In the process, you should collect things that can be included on the scrapbook like the gifts you receive on the baby shower. Some would even include the baby’s first haircut and other events that the child has experienced for the first time.

Choose a color that would define the theme of the scrapbook. The usual color of a baby boy’s scrapbook is powder blue while the baby girl’s scrapbook is pink. You may or may not adapt these colors and use another.

Now you ask: “What should I include on the scrapbook?”

Most baby scrapbook would include the details about the baby upon birth. These are, the length at birth, weight at birth, time of birth, the length of labor, the color of the eyes and hair, and doctor’s name and the names of the staff who assisted the doctor in giving birth. Plus of course, the pictures of you and your child at the hospital after you gave birth.

Some would include pictures of you while you are still pregnant. Moments such as this will keep your child reminded how you, as a mother took care of him/her while s/he was still in your womb.

Other moments you should include are the photos of the baby’s growth month by month with a size reference (usually a stuffed toy), photos of the house you live in and the nursery, photos of the family members including the baby, photos of the baby sleeping, photos taken while the baby is bathing, photos with his or her favorite toys, and other happy moments that include him or her.

As was mentioned above, many baby scrapbooks would include the baby’s firsts. These are the baby’s first smile, first bath first crawl, first roll over, first sat up, first steps, and so forth. Baby scrapbook can include his or her favorites like the favorite song, toys, bedtime stories, and the family tree.

The nice thing about this is that you can always add anything that is related to your baby as he or she is growing up.

For other significant events that may or may not be captured by memorabilia can be written.

You can write about the meaning and significance of the name, your length of stay at the hospital, other people who were present at the hospital, their reaction after you gave birth, their feelings after they carried your baby, and the way they entertain the baby. You can also write about stories that would further illustrate those events that are captured in photos. Stories like the baby’s first outings, babysitting, and mannerisms (did he or she often suck his or her thumb… and things like these).

You have the photos, the things to write about and the scrapbook to put it together; what else?

Well, creating baby scrapbook is really a personal thing so it is up to you what other things you want to add for as long as your child will know how did s/he grow up.

Scrapbooking How Tos: From Nothing to Something

Scrapbooking How Tos: From Nothing to Something

So you have decided to create your own piece of work of art. Here is the step-by-step process you can follow to creating a one of a kind scrapbook…

·    Shopping.

Yes, the best part of everything. It is as exciting as your birthday celebration. And no one can resist it. Shop for the supplies you need. Shop for the essentials such as the album, album refill, adhesives, card stock, embellishments, papers, pens, punches, stamps, embossing, stickers, a pair of scissors and everything you need for your scrapbooking.

Tip: Buy only acid-free adhesive, permanent marking and non-fade pens and inks. Your aim is to preserve memorabilia for years. These things will save you from messing up with your scrapbook.

·    Gather your memories.

Get as many photos as you can. Depending on your theme and the aim you want to achieve, you can sort them according to their relations to one another. For example, you can make a bibliography through scrapbook, then, you grab pictures from your childhood up to now. Sort them out according to the year they were taken.

Tip: If you are grabbing old photos, make sure that your hands are clean. Old photos can easily be destroyed with oil and dirt from your hands. Old photos are also brittle so you may want to handle them with extra care.

Another tip: If you want to preserve old photos, you can scan them to your computer and make a copy. Doing this would also let you edit the quality of the photo or crop the particular portion you only want to have. 

One more tip: If you want to take some recent photos, use digital cameras. In this way, you can take as many photos as you could without wasting film. Upload all the photos you have taken, then, print the ones you have selected.

·    Gather your supplies

Let your imagination takes you anywhere. From the supplies you have, create a scrapbook that is truly yours. Decorate the front page of the album with your chosen general theme. A delicate combination of colored papers, pens, photos and creativity would let you create a good front page. On the inside, decorate each page with distinct designs.

For additional decorations, you can consider using paper trimmer, punches, circle cutter, decorative rulers, paper rolling ball glue pen, or putting on some templates, stickers, computer clipart, rubber stamps, and colorful decorations you can find on magazines. Use the right adhesives to secure what you have placed on your scrapbook. There are several of these: double-sided adhesive dots, photo tape, glue pens, photo corners, non-permanent glue, squares or strips, glue sticks, and bottled glues.

·    Putting them all together

The most difficult part of the whole scrapbook making is putting all the stuff together, so here are some of the tricks:

Your options are more flexible if you are using photocopied pictures. You can cut them in to different shapes and sizes or you can decide the picture’s size. Placing them to the pages is easier if you keep the space free, then decorate it afterwards.

The best way to cut papers and photos would be using this trick: think twice and cut with no hesitation. Use a sharp pair of scissors. Exploring your creativity in cutting would give better impact to every page of your scrapbook.

·    Journaling

Adding some handwritten text also involves creativity. Putting some captions, names, dates by your hand would let give some personal touch on each page. The use of templates and paper cut outs would also be great.

When using pens, make sure that they are acid-free to avoid degrading the scrapbook’s image. Use different colors for each page.

You can ask your friends and family members to help you write something on the pages.

·    Finishing touches

Put some additional decorations for final touches. Stickers, handwritten shapes, and paper cut outs are some of the things you can add as your final touches. Compile the pages carefully and share it with friends.

Now that your have your own scrapbook, you can add pages anytime you want to and you can keep your memories alive for as long as you keep your scrapbook alive.