i have found this embellishment for scrapbooking in a site, a few months ago, but i don't remember wich site was, anyone here knows about the site, selling this stuf?
if you really are addicted to embellishment scrapbooking, you have to know!
By: Susie Cortright
The scrapbooking industry has taken papercrafting to an entirely new
level in recent years, and that means there is an amazing amount of
tools, papers, textures, and embellishments to choose from.
But all of these choices can make even the most inspired scrapbooking
artists feel a bit paralyzed. It is helpful to choose a theme for your
albums and mini albums. Doing so can help you stay focused, and it can
help reduce the tendency to buy more products than you will actually
use.
Here are a variety of scrapbooking themes to choose from. Choose one or
two themes to work with at any given time, and enjoy the process of
preserving your memories for generations to come.
Annual Scrapbooks.
Create one album each year, with a two page spread for each month. This
is a great way to stay caught up, without feeling pressured to
scrapbook every photograph.
Significant Life Events.
Of course, you'll want a wedding album, as well as an album spotlighting your other shining moments.
Children.
Have one album going for each child, starting with those first
ultrasound photographs. And remember to record all of the significant
events, including the first tooth, first haircut, first day of school,
etc.
Sports.
If your child or other family member is particularly interested in
sports, have a running sports album going. Include team photos,
rosters, and significant achievements. Record your children describing
big games in their own words.
The Hero Scrapbook.
This is the place for the certificates, awards, and newspaper clippings
for all members of your family. You could also do an album along the
theme of "Good Deeds We've Done" and "Things We Are Grateful For."
About Me album.
Imagine the joy of future generations as they learn about your favorite
books, recipes, TV shows, hobbies, and, most importantly, your life
philosophy. Record all the things that make you, you.
School Years Album.
Create a new layout for each year of school. Ask your children to sign
their name each year and include a photo taken on the first and last
day of school. Also include a copy of their school schedule, a photo of
their teacher and significant achievements throughout the school year.
Holidays.
Have an ongoing scrapbook for each holiday celebration. Bring it out
with your holiday decorations after Thanksgiving and enjoy adding to it
during the festivities. For many families, scrapbooking is a fun family
tradition in itself.
No matter what theme you are currently working on, the key to keeping
it fun is to remember that not every photo needs to be scrapbooked.
(That's what photo albums are for, after all.) Choose the events and
photographs and stories that are particularly significant and enjoy
creating lasting memories for generations to come.
About the Author:
Susie Cortright is the founder of Momscape.com, devoted to providing valuable resources for parents. Visit the site today for the latest online Coupon Codes including special savings two of Susie's favorite online retailers: Dick Blick Art Supplies Coupons and Target Coupons.
Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com
By: Tom Ambrozewicz
As a beginner, you might have one or two tools you use to create pages
for your scrapbook. As someone who's been doing this for years, I, on
the other hand, own so many tools that I could write a book about them,
let alone an article. If you too aspire to own ridiculous amounts of
scrapbooking tools, here's some of the few ways you can begin adding to
your collection. Tools aren't cheap, but watch for the sales, and in no
time your scrapbooking space will be overflowing with products to help
you invent any page your imagination creates.
The most basic way to start collecting tools is to upgrade your
scissors. For as low of a price as one dollar, you can find decorative
scissors that will cut in designs rather than straight lines. The
possibilities are endless, so start with the basics, such as a scallop,
and work your way up to more elaborate decorative scissors. Moving
beyond straight lines, you can also purchase tools to help you cut
perfect circles. These can be a little tricky to use at first, but it's
much easier than tracing around a glass and trying to cut perfectly on
a line. Remember that you'll need some kind of a cutting board to use
some of these cutting options, or you'll wind up with circles cut out
of your tablecloth or marks on the wood.
Another way to cut paper is to use a paper punch. Punches can be used
in two ways. First, you can punch out sections of paper and glue the
pieces to your page. However, for a different look, use the negative of
the punch. For example, cutting the edge of a paper with a decorative
scissors and then using a small punch along the border creates a lace
effect. Punches come in all sizes and shapes, with some even made
especially for punching borders.
Rubber stamps are also popular tools to use with scrapbooks. The
stamping industry started as a separate market, but now acid-free inks
and stamps made specifically for scrapbooks, such as frames, are
available for scrapbookers to use with their albums. Stamping takes
some time and skill, and the stamping world has its own sets of tools
to create beautiful work, so take some time to learn about stamps
before you jump into a project.
These are just a few of the many tools available for scrapbooking.
Others include special markers and paint, paper crimpers, die cut
machines, and computer programs. The possibilities are endless. All you
truly need to begin a simple scrapbook is some scissors and glue, but
exploring the selection of tools at your local craft store will help
you become more creative when designing pages.
About the Author:
Tom Ambrozewicz is one of the pioneers in using breakthrough audio technology on his web sites. You can read, you can listen to professional narrator reading to you or having MP3 files ready to download if you hate to keep printed files. You can check all scrapbooking tips at Ask-How.info now.
Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com
By: Tom Ambrozewicz
It's true-you can make a beautiful scrapbook with less than perfect
pictures. However, if you learn to make the most of your photography,
you will find that you spend less time working on embellishing a page
because the pictures will speak for themselves. Digital cameras make it
easy to delete blurry or otherwise bad shots, but you may not get the
second chance to capture your infant's precious smile or your pet's
latest antic. Be armed with your camera at all times, and keep a few
tried and true rules in your head to take shots that will stun.
This is the most talked about photography technique, and once the
mystery is taken away, you will find that it is also one of the
simplest ways to separate good shots from breath-taking ones. The
initial concept is simple. Imagine you have drawn a tic-tac-toe board
in the frame. Therefore, you have two lines running vertically and two
lines running horizontally, intersecting at four points. Your initial
urge is probably to center an image-and this sometimes proves to be the
best option-but the four points of intersection are what professional
photographers refer to as "sweet spots." Our eyes are naturally drawn
to these places on a page, so when the main points of a subject matter,
such as your cat's face, fall on one of these spots, the picture looks
more appealing and balanced. If you cannot capture this perfectly, you
can always crop your photograph when you scrapbook to help your picture
adhere to the rule of thirds. Remember that you don't always have to
stick to this rule, but it may help you find your shot.
The rule of thirds is not the only composition trick that photographers
use to create beautiful photographs. A lot has to do with subject
matter. Every picture has a background and foreground, but if you cut
most of that out and fill the frame with your subject matter you will
usually have a much better picture. Also, look at the lines in a
picture. This is especially helpful with a landscape shot, because by
placing the horizon on one of the lines you created with the rule of
thirds, you will have a much more effective shot. Diagonal lines should
be used to create interest. For example, railway tracks cutting across
the frame and leading your eye through the sweet spots will give you a
better shot.
Lastly look at color. This is important even in black and white
photographs. Make sure that the light and dark colors are balanced. By
doing this when you take the picture, you will be able to create better
pages that are coordinated to match your photographs, and by following
the other tips your will be able to create better pages in general.
About the Author:
Tom Ambrozewicz is one of the pioneers in using breakthrough audio technology on his web sites. You can read, you can listen to professional narrator reading to you or having MP3 files ready to download if you hate to keep printed files. You can check all scrapbooking tips at Ask-How.info now.
Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com
By: Tom Ambrozewicz
Perhaps the most rewarding type of scrapbook you can make is one that
you intend to give as a gift. Scrapbooks make special gifts for almost
every occasion, because there handmade touches show that you care about
the person. When someone receives your scrapbook as a gift, he or she
may be inspired to create a scrapbook as well, and in this way you can
spread the scrapbooking bug to friends and family members.
There are many different types of scrapbooks you can make for the
recipient. One of my favorite types of themes makes a good gift for a
graduate or someone moving away-use pictures from throughout the years
of the person growing up and end with a recent picture and some blank
pages so the album an be continued. Pages made as a continuation make
good future gifts as well. This is also a good idea for couples
celebrating their wedding or anniversary. Instead of just having a
traditional wedding album, include pictures of both people from before
they met and then create pages of their life together.
Gathering pictures for these albums might call for you to be a bit
sneaky. Talk to friends and family members. Remember, never scrapbook
using a person's original photographs without asking first. Instead,
make high-quality color copies at your local photocopy center. If you
use the machine correctly, you shouldn't be able to tell the different
between the originals and the copies. By careful to replace the
photographs exactly as you found them, not only to prevent the
recipient from finding out the surprise, but also as a common courtesy.
Even some people who do not do scrapbooking have very precise systems
for keeping their photographs in order.
If you don't have access to photographs or want to give a gift to
someone who likes to do the scrapbooking on their own, try making a
layout album for the person. This is an empty album of sorts-you do all
the page designing and let the person crop and add their own
photographs. They can use the album as given or remove the pages in
groups or singularly to add to an album they are currently creating.
Perhaps your best bet for an avid scrapbooker is not an album, however,
but a box full of supplies or a gift certificate to a local craft
supply store. You can still personalize this gift by choosing papers to
coincide with specific events in a person's life-for example, buy
beach-themed paper for someone who recently bought a beach house, or
buy letter stamps that spell out specific names. With a little
creativity, you can use your love of the craft to give a perfect gift
to anyone.
About the Author:
Tom Ambrozewicz is one of the pioneers in using breakthrough audio technology on his web sites. You can read, you can listen to professional narrator reading to you or having MP3 files ready to download if you hate to keep printed files. You can check all scrapbooking tips at Ask-How.info now.
Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com
By: Tom Ambrozewicz
Most people who enjoy the art of scrapbooking spend a lot of time and
money creating each page, so it's a real letdown when you're almost
finished with a page and you make a mistake. Goofs happen; it's part of
life, and no matter how careful you are, you will make a few in every
album. However, there are steps you can take to prevent accidents from
happening and ways in which you can fix your album so that nobody knows
the difference.
The most common way to ruin a page, as with a shirt or a rug, is by
spilling something on it. It's not something you think about a lot of
the time, but protect your work by keeping food and drink separate from
your crafting station. Make sure your family knows that rule as well,
or your child may set a cup near your things, right where you're bound
to not notice it and knock it over, potentially destroying hours of
work. Also, immediately put your pages into page protectors when they
are finished. Most albums come with these plastic protectors, but in
case you run out, have a back up plan. I like to keep extra page
protectors in a binder, and use them to store pages until I can buy a
refill pack that will fit my album. This will help keep your pages safe
from spills and messy hands.
Other mistakes come from human error when creating the pages. Always
check your spelling before you begin journaling. It's a good idea to
write it out on a piece of scrap paper before you write it on your
scrapbooking paper. Write your words on the paper before gluing it to
the page if possible; that way, if you make a mistake you can start
over without having to ruin the whole page. If it is necessary to glue
the paper down first, before you do so, cut another piece of the same
paper the exact same size, using the first as a template. If you make a
spelling error, you can easily glue the second piece of paper over the
first and no one will be able to tell. Other mistakes made when
journaling, such as stray marks, can be covered with stickers or die
cuts.
Be open to reworking your design. It is easy to mistakenly lay a
picture or embellishment in the wrong place, off center, or crooked.
Make the most of the goof-often times you will be surprised that the
new look is actually better than the original. If all else fails
carefully cut each element from the background sheet and start again.
At least this way you only ruined one piece of paper instead of
multiple pictures and embellishments. If you find that your hands are
unsteady and you often mislay elements, you might want to invest in
removable tape or glue. You can easily reposition these kinds of
adhesives, so you'll make fewer mistakes.
Try to laugh at your own mistakes when they are unfixable. Scrapbooks
are homemade, so they will never be perfect. That is part of the charm
of the craft. Blunders are often avoidable or fixable, but those that
are not only give your album character.
About the Author:
Tom Ambrozewicz is one of the pioneers in using breakthrough audio technology on his web sites. You can read, you can listen to professional narrator reading to you or having MP3 files ready to download if you hate to keep printed files. You can check all scrapbooking tips at Ask-How.info now.
Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com
By: Tom Ambrozewicz
When designing pages for your scrapbook, the two most important
elements will be design and color. Even if you have great designs,
without brilliantly coordinated color schemes, your album will be
nothing more than mediocre. Choosing good color combinations does not
have to be difficult. By following a few simple steps, you can use
color to make a statement in your album.
Black and White
The two most effective colors to use in your album are black and white.
Both create a clean slate for your pictures and embellishments. White
tends to hide as a background color, while black will give you a bolder
look. If you have black and white photographs, these two colors work
very well on the page, but your pictures will stand out more if you
also add a third and maybe even fourth color to the mix. Beware of
using too much color with black and white pictures; you will distract
the eye from the photograph.
Contrasting and Complementing Colors
Just as black and white are opposites, every color has its exact
opposite, and these two colors usually work well together because they
balance one another on the page. To find a color's opposite, you can
use a color wheel. The most basic pairs are purple and yellow, orange
and blue, and green and red. Another way to group colors is by using
complementing colors. Three colors that are next to one another on a
color wheel (blue, purple, and red for example) will create a nice
effect.
Color Families
Yet another way to think about colors is to chose a single color (brown
for instance) and use all the tints and shades of that color family
(tan, medium brown, chocolate for instance). This works stunningly well
with black and white photography as well, just as black and white do.
You may even try using all the colors in a family plus black and white
for a modern look.
Choosing Colors
Once you have an initial color to use as a starting point, choosing
colors to create your layout is not difficult. However, how do you
choose that first color? If your page has a holiday theme, that might
be easy, but in all other cases look at your photographs for a cue. If
your subject matter has bright blue eyes, for example, use blue papers
that will showcase this. Also try to pick colors that will complement
the idea behind the pictures-a child's birthday party will probably
look better with bright colors than natural browns and greens. In the
end, go with your gut and experiment with color and design in your
everyday life, and use this as inspiration when creating pages.
About the Author:
Tom Ambrozewicz is one of the pioneers in using breakthrough audio technology on his web sites. You can read, you can listen to professional narrator reading to you or having MP3 files ready to download if you hate to keep printed files. You can check all scrapbooking tips at Ask-How.info now.
Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com
By: Tom Ambrozewicz
Simply sticking pictures and memorabilia to colored paper can make a
basic and beautiful scrapbook, but if you find that there's a little
something missing, try spicing up your pages with some embellishments.
The term "embellishments" is catchall for supplies that don't need to
be on the page functionally, but are eye pleasing and fun. Next to the
paper isle in your local scrapbook supply store, the embellishment isle
will have the largest and most diverse section of products.
Stickers are the most popular and abundant kind of embellishment. These
aren't like the gold stars you got in grade school-stickers today come
in just about any shape and size. One handy type of sticker is the
letter sticker. These come in sheets featuring the entire alphabet so
you can use them to create titles on your page. This works especially
well for scrapbookers who don't like their own handwriting. Stickers
also now come in three dimensions. Because your pages are most likely
themed, the most common way to buy stickers is by theme as well. Some
companies offer kits that have matching papers and stickers to make the
process easier, and there are also kits on the market to make your own
stickers just in case the store doesn't have exactly what you need.
If you want a look that's a little more simplistic, try die cuts. These
paper cutouts look great on the page alone, or can be used for matting
or journaling. The most elaborate kinds of die cuts are paper dolls.
These are not unlike the paper dolls you may have played with as a
child, but are meant to be glued to the page when you are done dressing
them. You can buy paper dolls in every race, and with every hair color,
so many scrapbookers like to create paper dolls to match their subject
matter and then dress them in one of the countless outfits available in
stores.
Ribbons and strings are fun embellishments as well, but can be
difficult to attach to the paper. You can buy ribbons and strings
separately or in a sample kit that includes many colors and varieties.
Make sure these products are made for scrapbooking-they should be acid
free. This is a rule that holds true for any scrapbooking supply.
Almost anything can be stuck to a page as an embellishment as long as
it is safe for your photographs. Browse through your local stores to
find embellishments and inspiration for you pages, and you may be
surprised at the new additions to your scrapbooking inventory.
About the Author:
Tom Ambrozewicz is one of the pioneers in using breakthrough audio technology on his web sites. You can read, you can listen to professional narrator reading to you or having MP3 files ready to download if you hate to keep printed files. You can check all scrapbooking tips at Ask-How.info now.
Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com
By: Marcy Larsen
Whether you are new to scrapbooking or a veteran, it is always fun to
imagine a new layout idea, and watch it come together on your pages. If
you are an avid scrapbooker, then you have come up with ideas that have
worked and some that haven't. Trial and error are necessary processes,
because there are many ways to display your photos or memorabilia.
Who Will View
When contemplating a layout idea, you should first determine how many
pictures you have; how many will fit comfortably on your pages (two
pages next to each other); how many pieces of memorabilia you want on
the page; how busy the page will be; and who will be viewing the pages.
A memory book created for a child's grandmother in another city or
state will have different things on her pages than the scrapbook you
make for your home, since you have access to different bits and pieces
of information that might only be of interest to the immediate family.
Map It Out
A successful layout is one that has been selected from among several
others that you've considered. Start with basic colors that will draw
out some of the subtler colors in your photos, and then choose a
"frame" color to either set your pictures on. If there is not enough
room for another picture on the page, is there room for embellishments,
journaling, or other detailing? Do a few different selections at a time
and really choose the design that best fits the need and feel of those
photos. Try laying out the photos to fit across the layouts with half
the photo on each page. Add additional journaling in a corner. Put some
ribbon our buttons in the corner. Layouts are not just 2 12X12 pieces
that site next to each other, try carrying your ideas to cover the full
24" spread.
Pros and Cons of Consistency
A layout that showcases every page in the same way becomes boring to
make, as well as boring to look though. After the first or second page,
people will stop seeing the pictures. Mixing up the layouts with
different photo arrangements, embellishments, decorations, and
memorabilia not only adds some excitement to the pages, it keeps the
people looking and reading, as there is so much going on within the
page. You can use the same color scheme throughout the book, just mix
it up with the difference in the layouts and designs.
About the Author:
Marcy Larsen Close To My Heart Consultant. CTMH offers much more than just scrapbook supplies, including opportunities to make money while scrapbooking. Please visit my website - Marcy Larsen.
Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com
By: Marcy Larsen
We all love a bargain! It seems that spending to much money on
something that should otherwise cost less seems to leave us with an
empty feeling. That is why we should never miss the opportunity to buy
at a discount. If you can buy at a discount, it makes it easier to
start your scrapbooks.
We all love a bargain! Well to be politically correct, most of us love
a bargain. It always seems that spending too much money on something
that should otherwise cost less always seems to leave an empty feeling.
That is why you should never miss the opportunity to purchase discount
scrapbook supplies. These discount scrapbook supplies really help give
your money that much needed stretch. There is so much treasure in
memories and in the preserving of them, but if it means that your
pocket will get a hole in it, the\an this can easily deter you from
ever starting on this quest.
Discount Scrapbooking Supplies
It does not matter whether you consider yourself a professional or just
a beginning scrapbooker, getting discount scrapbooking supplies will
enhance your excitement. You will see your scrapbook grow and you will
love your finished project. You will also find that once you start
buying your supplies at a discount, you will be able to focus more on
your goal. When you find your supplies at a discount, it always feels
like Christmas which makes you even more excited to get started.
Shop Around to Get the Best Deals
The best thing you can do for yourself is shop around for your
supplies. All most all scrapbooking stores including online stores have
discount sections. This does not necessarily mean these supplies are
outdated or not wanted. It simply means that the maker is getting ready
to launch a new line of materials. What you need to remember is that
discount supplies are priced differently from store to store, and some,
although they are discounted, will cost more than others. Remember to
check out the online stores as well. You would be surprised and the
deals and discounts you can find from them. Once you find the store
that best fits your style and you are comfortable with the pricing and
savings, you should stick with it. It always helps to be loyal to your
scrapbook supply store, weather it is a local store or online store,
you are always able to get the best deals and you will also know when
they are having their sales on regular and discounted products.
About the Author:
Marcy Larsen Close To My Heart Consultant. CTMH offers much more than just scrapbook supplies, including opportunities to make money while scrapbooking. Please visit my website - Marcy Larsen.
Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com
By: Mark Washburn
Like most things, scrapbooking isn't always easy to learn right off the
bat. It can take patience and a development of your own creativity to
get the most out of it.
Learning all about the various tools and techniques can also take some
time. Scrapbook paper patterns and styles run the gamut of designs.
Paper punches, rubber stamps and even the glues have a unique purpose,
so it pays to know how to work with all of them.
If your just starting in scrapbooking, try not to get overwhelmed. Our
advice is to focus on one project, and a single task and learn to do
that well. You don't have to tackle learning everything it once and
there's no worry or hurry. Simply enjoy the process one step at a time.
If you work on the process of creating your scrapbook project, with an
eye on the end result, you'll find yourself getting pulled in the
direction of completing the project. One of the greatest challenges is
staying motivated when you can't finish everything at once. It's what
stumps a lot of beginners in a world where quick gratification only
comes through some work and effort.
Stick to it though and you'll find yourself greatly rewarded. My sister
was always one to put off starting a new project on her kids. She used
to say, "They'll be grown up and moved away before I finish this baby
scrapbook!" Amazingly though, one day she simply buckled down and got
to work and in a few days,the book was done. Today it stands proudly on
a mantle where friends and family can view it and it really is a
showpiece of sorts.
If you need motivation in the challenging times be sure to visit some
online scrapbooking forums and talk about your project there. Not only
will you get some terrific support but you'll also come away with some
new ideas you may not have thought of before.
The same goes for picking up some good scrapbook magazines or dvd's.
While it's true, they won't finish the job for you, they can help get
you back on track and fire you up enough to finish the job at hand.
Afterall, it's never an issue of you not being able to create the
greatest journal ever...it's just a matter of being motivated enough to
focus on it and finish it.
Getting started in scrapbooking isn't always the easiest thing in the
world to do, but with the right guidance and the right attitude, you'll
be looking at some wonderful memories on your mantle sometime soon.
About the Author:
Mark Washburn is a freelance writer with experience on creative memory scrapbooking and scrapbook instruction.
Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com
By: Tom Ambrozewicz
Scrapbooking is a fun pastime, but don't lose sight of the main goal
any scrapbooker is trying to achieve: to produce a quality product that
can be shown to friends and family and eventually passed on to future
generations to provide a record of your life. Therefore, one of the
most important steps to creating any page is the journaling.
Unfortunately, this is also one of the most forgotten steps. Journaling
is important because it is a written record of what is happening in the
pictures for people who weren't there or don't know you.
I like to begin by creating a title for each page. This can be
something simple and straightforward, such as "Mom and Dad's 50th
Anniversary" or it can be creative, heartwarming, or funny. Think of
your page as a story and then name it. Use big bold letters for the
title to draw attention to it, but make sure it does not overwhelm the
most important elements of the page-the pictures.
Each picture on your page should have a few words as a caption. Name
the people and/or places photographed; although it may seem obvious to
you right now, you may not be able to remember names when you look at
your album 20 years from now. Others who do not know all of your
friends will also benefit from these labels. Captions should be small
elements on the page, and occasionally two similar pictures will not
each need a caption.
Work a block of text into your page design. I like to keep this text
around the same size as the smallest photograph, but of course this
depends on the page layout. Many pre-made layouts will already include
a space for text. Use this element of the design to record the "story"
behind the pictures. Pretend you are looking at your photographs with a
friend-what would you say as he or she flipped through the pictures?
All of this information is readily forgotten, so it is important to jot
down a few words on a piece of notebook paper and save it with your
photographs if you think that you won't get the chance to create your
pages right away. Always include a date if relevant, because as time
goes on, the years run together.
Occasionally you may forget your camera at an important event, lose
your pictures, or not be allowed to use a camera in the space. Whatever
the case may be, if you don't have photographs of an important event in
your life, you can still create a beautiful scrapbook page to document
the day. These pages will be mostly journaling. Use descriptive words
to take the place of the photographs.
If you have a fear of hand-writing, don't let that stop your from
journaling. Letter stickers or cutouts provide fun options for titles.
For smaller letters, you may be able to trade skills with someone who
had trouble with something that you can do, such as cropping. I tend to
believe that personal handwriting, even if it is not perfect, give the
page character. A final option is to use your computer to print out the
journaling elements on your page. However you choose to do it,
journaling is one step in the scrapbook process that needs to be
important to help create a first-class album.
About the Author:
Tom Ambrozewicz is one of the pioneers in using breakthrough audio technology on his web sites. You can read, you can listen to professional narrator reading to you or having MP3 files ready to download if you hate to keep printed files. You can check all scrapbooking tips at Ask-How.info now.
Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com
By: Tom Ambrozewicz
Scrapbooking starts when someone has a lot of pictures that he or she
wants to organize in an eye-pleasing way. To do this, you can start
creating pages on a whim and produce a random collection of photographs
mounted on paper, or you can take the more effective approach and plan
out a theme to your album. There are many album themes to consider when
choosing the option that will best fit your needs.
The most often used theme for your album really isn't much of a theme
at all-chronological order. Most beginning scrapbookers use this method
of organization because it is convenient to use if you are trying to
get all of your photographs out of boxes and into acid free albums.
Chronological scrapbooks also make it easy to keep up with the album as
you get new pictures developed. However, this is not the only type of
album that can be created, and you should weigh all options before
starting to scrapbook.
Consider creating a birthday or holiday album, which work especially
well for scrapbookers with children. Rather than including pages with
all your pictures throughout the year, choose one holiday and start an
album with one layout for each year. The result will be a book that
shows the progression of a child from year to year, and these make
excellent graduation gifts or can become keepsakes as your children
move out of the house. These are on-going projects, so you will need to
devote many years to an album before it is complete.
Another theme that makes a beautiful album is people. This works nicely
with the random pictures you may have that were not used in your
chronological album. To make this kind of album, create one layout for
each person, and show them throughout the years. Alternatively, if you
take many pictures, you can create a single album all for one person.
An album themed by people makes a good gift for someone with many
grandchildren or for someone moving away from a group of friends.
However you chose to theme your album, think of its function before you
start. Who will be looking at the album? Are you giving this album as a
gift? What kind of pictures do you have available? Scrapbooking
according to theme creates well-organized albums, and by choosing a
theme before you start creating pages you can make an album that works
well in your collection or as a gift.
About the Author:
Tom Ambrozewicz is one of the pioneers in using breakthrough audio technology on his web sites. You can read, you can listen to professional narrator reading to you or having MP3 files ready to download if you hate to keep printed files. You can check all scrapbooking tips at Ask-How.info now.
Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com
By: Tom Ambrozewicz
You're never too young to learn the art of scrapbooking. In fact,
teaching kids a few simple skills can help you create time in your
schedule to scrapbook while still spending quality time with your
family. Different ages can learn different scrapbooking techniques, but
all ages should be able to help you make an album or produce albums of
their own.
Toddlers
Even the youngest age group can learn beginner skills to scrapbooking.
One way to get them involved is to have them try their hand at choosing
colors and embellishments that they like. You may be surprised at how
quickly a four-year-old picks up on concepts such as color schemes and
layout design. You can also ask your child to help with the journaling.
This works especially well when you create pages where your child is
the main focus-ask for his or her thoughts on the day and include this
in your journaling. You might be surprised at what they say, so be
ready to write down some great quotes! Toddlers can also be given paper
and markers to draw pictures about the event, and these can make
heart-warming embellishments to your page.
School-age Children
As your child learns basic motor skills, such as how to use scissors,
you can let them practice at making their own pages. Let them use the
doubles of your pictures or pictures from the roll that are fuzzy or
otherwise undesirable for your own album. Scrapbooking paper can be
expensive, so unless your child has a genuine love for the craft, you
may want to have them use construction paper, which is not acid free
but will help you save money if all your child wants to do is play. At
this stage, your child may be able to help you choose all the elements
for a page or look through scrapbooking layout ideas to pick some of
his or her favorites that you can then create. As a pre-teen, your
child may have the skills to begin creating his or her own album and
using real scrapbooking paper and supplies. This is an investment that
will depend on your child's particular interest and skill level.
Teens
If your child continues to scrapbook at this stage, he or she probably
can handle creating a beginning album. A good start is to use the
school pictures your child has surely acquired over the years from
friends. Encourage your child to be creative and to design pages that
interest him or her. If you do digital scrapbooking, this is also a
good time to introduce your child to some of the programs available
online. The love of scrapbooking may continue past the teen stage and
into adulthood, and soon your children may be creating albums that
rival your own and teaching their own children how to scrapbook.
About the Author:
Tom Ambrozewicz is one of the pioneers in using breakthrough audio technology on his web sites. You can read, you can listen to professional narrator reading to you or having MP3 files ready to download if you hate to keep printed files. You can check all scrapbooking tips at Ask-How.info now.
Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com
By: Tom Ambrozewicz
With the hundreds of thousands of scrapbooking papers and
embellishments available on the market, it is easy for your craft area
to become overwhelmed by scrapbooking supplies. This becomes an
especially difficult challenge for scrapbookers who live in small
spaces such as apartments or dorm rooms. Never fear-with a little
effort you can follow a few easy steps to create a space for your
things that is organized, clean, and beautiful.
You will likely need the most time and space to organize your papers. A
good option for this is a paper saver, as made by most of the larger
scrapbooking companies. Usually made from plastic, these folder-like
portfolios are large enough to hold hundreds of papers and include tabs
to separate your pages into categories for easy organization. If you
find that you do not have enough room in a paper saver, you might also
find it useful to invest in a filing cabinet or one of the sets of
drawers made especially for scrapbooking. These are available at all
craft stores and online.
Once you own a tool for organization, the next step is to decide how
you want to categorize your supplies. The option most often used is
color, but you can also separate your paper into themes (holidays,
wedding, etc) or by marking, such as solids and stripes. You can also
use this system to organize flat embellishments, such as die cuts or
stickers.
You also need a place to store your tools and embellishments that are
not easily filed. One good way of doing this is by using baskets and a
shelving system. Store cutting tools in one basket, glues in another,
markers and paint in a third, and so on. By buying baskets in bulk, you
will save more money then if you use photo boxes, and the display will
be uniform and attractive. Remember to label your baskets so you save
time when you're looking for a particular item.
If you need to save space, however, a basket and shelving system may
not work for you. Instead, keep all your tools and supplies stored
somewhere safe and out of the way and keep a "kit" of your most used
items close at hand in a photo box, basket, tote bag, or other
container. That way when you only have time to do a quick page or two,
you can use your kit to complete it and then quickly clean up. On the
other hand, when you can devote an entire day to scrapbooking, you can
pull your supplies out of storage to complete many pages of your album.
Try to remember that keeping your space clean and organized will make
scrapbooking easier and more enjoyable in the future. By labeling your
storage containers and sorting your papers, you will be able to quickly
find the tools you need. Organization is the key to stress-free
scrapbooking and creating beautiful albums.
About the Author:
Tom Ambrozewicz is one of the pioneers in using breakthrough audio technology on his web sites. You can read, you can listen to professional narrator reading to you or having MP3 files ready to download if you hate to keep printed files. You can check all scrapbooking tips at Ask-How.info now.
Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com
By: Tom Ambrozewicz
One of the most fun ways to network with other people who enjoy a
similar hobby is to attend a convention. Scrapbooking is no exception.
Every year, venues across the country hold state, national, and
international conventions for scrapbookers from beginners to experts.
Going to a convention can be a great way to immerse yourself in your
hobby along with others who also feel passionate about the art of
scrapbooking-it truly is a scrapbooker's heaven.
A huge part of any convention is the showroom. Here, you'll find
products that are old standbys as well as stuff new on the market. Grab
a bag and be prepared to purchase some supplies and tools. If you're on
a budget, go freebie hunting-many booths offer idea sheets or samples
of their newest products at no cost. You also get to see these new
products being demonstrated by representatives of the company.
Beware-this people have been trained extensively on how to use a
product, so they may be making it easier than it looks. If it's not too
crowded, don't be shy. Ask to try the tool to see if it really is easy
and effective to use.
You can also talk to companies who sponsor scrapbooking parties. There
are many opportunities to become a hostess for a party, and depending
on how far you are from home, you may be able to book a party during
the convention. If not, they will be able to give you a phone number or
website to find a local representative. You can also get information on
how to start a scrapbooking business of your own. Much like Avon or
Pampered Chef, scrapbooking companies train individuals to teach
classes at parties, and if you have free time and want to make some
extra money, this might be a good idea for you.
Another part of any large convention is classes. Here, the experts show
you tricks for creating perfect pages and demonstrate new techniques or
products. Sign up for classes or arrive early, because seating is often
limited and classes fill fast. Some classes are taught in
workshop-style. For a small fee, you receive all the supplies you need
to follow along with the instructor and create a page of your own.
Scrapbooking conventions are most useful for networking purposes. You
will meet many people from all walks of life who are interested in
scrapbooking. By meeting some people who live in your area, you can
create local clubs or discuss other scrapbooking-related issues in the
community. These are good people to invite to your scrapbooking parties
where the hostess can earn free products for every person invited to
the party. Keep these people in mind for carpooling to more conventions
in the future or for advice about new products or layout design. By
attending conventions, you can make lifelong friends while learning new
skills and seeing cutting-edge products being demonstrated.
About the Author:
Tom Ambrozewicz is one of the pioneers in using breakthrough audio technology on his web sites. You can read, you can listen to professional narrator reading to you or having MP3 files ready to download if you hate to keep printed files. You can check all scrapbooking tips at Ask-How.info now.
Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com
By: Tom Ambrozewicz
Scrapbooking takes three things-time, space, and dedication. Anyone
interested in this craft has the dedication needed to complete an album
masterpiece, but what about time and space? With the countless papers,
stickers, and other supplies (not to mention photographs), scrapbooking
requires room, both for creating pages and for storage. The sheer
volume of supplies is part of what makes scrapbooking so time
consuming; by the time you get everything out and organized, you've
already wasted 15 minutes or so, and the time spent looking for that
perfect stamp leaves you little time to create a page before you have
to clean up. It can be frustrating, and if you're nodding your head in
agreement, the perfect solution for you might be digital scrapbooking.
Don't be intimidated by this concept if you have no computer skills.
Digital scrapbooking is easy to learn and can make designing pages and
creating albums go more smoothly, leaving much more time for the other
things in your life. By following a few simple steps, you can begin
digital scrapbooking in less time than you think.
First, you need to find a way to put your pictures online. This is
easily achieved with a digital camera, but hard copies of photographs
can also be put onto your computer. Even if you do not know how to
transfer pictures from your digital camera to your computer, you can
put your pictures onto a CD at any photography center. At one of these
centers, you can also scan your printed pictures and put them onto a CD
as well. If you want to take it a step beyond the basics, you can
register for a website on the Internet that hosts photograph sharing.
You can also use photo-editing programs to change the look of your
picture, but this is not necessary for beginners. In any case, once
your pictures are on your computer, you can use them to create
scrapbook pages.
There are many programs available that help you design and print pages.
You can buy a program at the store, or you can purchase a downloadable
program on the Internet. This is an especially good option if you want
to share your album online. Compare prices and services on the programs
before making a purchase-not all programs are made the same way, and
you'll want to find one that's appropriate for your skill level. When
you've chosen and purchased a scrapbooking program, take some time to
go through the tutorial. Learn to use all the functions of the program
from the start, and you'll save yourself a lot of time when you're
trying to create pages.
Every program works differently, but after you've created pages you can
print them out or post them on a website. This is not only easy, but
also convenient for family members and friends who many want to print
their own copy of your work or view your entire album. Having your
pages online is also security-if anything ever happens to the hard copy
of your album, it is simple to print the pages again. Digital
scrapbooking is worth the initial cost and time to learn for beginners
who have little space or time to create hand-made albums.
About the Author:
Tom Ambrozewicz is one of the pioneers in using breakthrough audio technology on his web sites. You can read, you can listen to professional narrator reading to you or having MP3 files ready to download if you hate to keep printed files. You can check all scrapbooking tips at Ask-How.info now.
Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com
By: Tom Ambrozewicz
You don't have to spend hours every day creating painstakingly perfect
pages, but scrapbooking does take a certain amount of time and care.
Don't despair if you're already busy with your family and job-there are
ways to make beautiful albums that don't require as much of a time
commitment as traditional scrapbooking. By learning some alternative
options, even the busiest person will be able to scrapbook in the few
spare minutes of the day.
The first step to quickly designing pages is organizing your tools and
photographs. Take an afternoon to sort through your supplies and throw
out anything that is unusable or unwanted. These items might be good
candidates for things to use when scrapbooking with kids. Sort your
tools by use-cutters should be placed in one spot, while adhesives
should have a place of their own. Sort your papers as well, either by
color, type, or design. This way, you'll be able to easily grab the
paper you need instead of searching throw unorganized piles. Also, take
a few minutes when you get a set of prints to categorize them or even
group them into sets of three or four to put together on a page.
You can create a very simple and quick kind of album without much work
simply by using a solid colored background and matting your photos
uncropped. This option looks similar to the photo albums you can buy at
the store, but your photographs will be safe on acid free paper and you
have room for journaling. You can also create a brightly-colored and
more pleasing album this way for not much more time than it would take
you to slide your pictures into the slots of regular albums. This way,
you can also add more embellishments if you have time later on and want
to get more creative.
If you want that traditional scrapbook look however, pages can still be
created in a short time. Many kits are available in craft stores to
create ready-made pages. These kits come with all the elements of a
completed page, so all you have to do is cut your pictures to size and
glue everything together. For a more inexpensive option, look for
papers that are conducive to quick layouts. These pages will not need
much embellishment, so again you just need to cut your pictures to size
and stick them to the page. A step beyond this is to create pages by
yourself by using other people's designs. The Internet, scrapbooking
magazines, craft books, and friends are all good sources for ideas.
This way the planning is done for you and you don't have to make color
decisions; it is just a process of mimicking what you see.
Once you have mastered the art of quick scrapbooking, you might find
you have time now and then to sit down and design new pages from
scratch. Pre-made layouts will help get your creative juices flowing,
so in no time you'll learn that creating your own designs does not have
to take long either.
About the Author:
Tom Ambrozewicz is one of the pioneers in using breakthrough audio technology on his web sites. You can read, you can listen to professional narrator reading to you or having MP3 files ready to download if you hate to keep printed files. You can check all scrapbooking tips at Ask-How.info now.
Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com
By: Tom Ambrozewicz
Scrapbooking stores and online sites are popping up around the world,
and these are places scrapbookers can visit to take classes and buy
endless amounts of paper, stickers, adhesives, embellishments, and
tools. Unfortunately, not everyone has an unlimited scrapbook budget
for these products. Working with a small bank account to create a
beautiful album can be a challenge, but with a little effort and
creativity, you can scrapbook frugally and no one will know the
difference.
Starting an album is always going to be the most expensive part of the
scrapbooking process, because you have to purchase the empty album. One
way you can side step this expense is to create a digital album
instead. However, for those of you who want the traditional bound
album, my best advice is to watch the sales fliers at your local craft
stores. Don't skimp on quality-you want to be sure you're getting an
album that is well made and safe for your pages, but you can often find
albums at up to 50% off during annual scrapbooking sales. Stock up if
you are an avid scrapbooker; you're sure to need another album before
sale season comes around again.
This is a good time to buy other supplies as well, but if finding store
sales is not convenient, another good way to save money during start-up
is to buy online. Many discount companies offer scrapbooking kits for
beginners that include an album, paper, and embellishments. Beware of
poor quality since you cannot physically touch the items you are
buying, but you shouldn't have problems if you buy from reputable
companies or make sure the company has a good return policy. Television
channels such as QVC or catalogue companies such as Oriental Trading
also periodically offer scrapbooking specials, so keep your eyes peeled.
Once you have some starting supplies, use them frugally. Save your
scraps-my personal policy is to keep any piece of paper larger than a
credit card. Many times, I've used these scraps to create mosaic-like
pages, and I've been very happy with the results. Also save papers
which are slightly damaged. You may be able to create a page at a later
time to cover the mistake, or at least you can use the white back for a
simple page. If you have friends who also scrapbook, you may want to
organize a scrapbooking party. That way, everyone can use one another's
tools and you might be able to trade some of your unneeded supplies for
things your friends no longer need but that you can use.
Lastly, stay organized and clean. Look at your supplies and albums as
an investment; all of the papers, tool, and other supplies you purchase
cost a lot of money, so they need to be protected from things like
water spills and over-excited pets or children. Acid-free boxes placed
on high shelves or in drawers work well for this. Clean your tools and
your space when you are finished for the day to keep everything in good
working order. By doing this, you can stay an active scrapbooker even
if your budget is small.
About the Author:
Tom Ambrozewicz is one of the pioneers in using breakthrough audio technology on his web sites. You can read, you can listen to professional narrator reading to you or having MP3 files ready to download if you hate to keep printed files. You can check all scrapbooking tips at Ask-How.info now.
Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com
By: Tom Ambrozewicz
Learning to scrapbooking is something that takes commitment, just like
learning any art. If you think that it's a craft you'd like to enjoy,
there are a few basic tools, supplies, and skills you will need to get
started. Creating albums takes time, but the projects are rewarding and
the end result is a family heirloom that can be enjoyed and then passed
down to your grandchildren, along with your love for scrapbooking.
To get started, you first need pictures. Almost everyone has boxes or
photo albums full of pictures, and you may notice that some of these
are discolored or warped due to their poor storage. The world around us
in our homes is full of acid and moisture, which breaks down the
chemical balance used to produce photographs and causes them to change
appearance. By scrapbooking with acid free supplies, you can protect
you pictures for many years to come.
There are only a few basic tools you need to begin. Every good
scrapbooker needs a cutting tool. Sharp scissors will work well, but
there are also tools on the market to cut scalloped edges, perfectly
straight lines, and circles, among other things. You will also need
some form of adhesive. Beginners may find that the easiest products to
buy are photo mounts, which are tiny pre-cut pieces of tape, and glue
dots, which are pressure-sensitive strong spots of glue to hold larger
embellishments. Beyond a cutting tool and adhesive, you really don't
need any other tools to get started, but if you want to create fancier
pages, many options are available including rubber stamps, paper
crimpers, and punches. Start with a few smaller items and increase your
inventory as you learn more and more scrapbooking skills.
You will also need a few basic supplies before you begin, the most
important of which is the album itself. Make sure whatever you purchase
is large enough to hold all the pictures you want to include; two to
five pictures will fit on a standard 8 1/2 x 11 page with cropping,
with the most balanced layouts having three pictures. You can also
choose from larger or smaller albums. The only other supply you need to
get started is paper. Most albums come with a white piece of paper in
each sheet protector, but there are many colors and designs to choose
from to help spice up your album. Other supplies that add interest to
your pages include paper dolls, stickers, die cuts, and
three-dimensional elements.
Most of the skills you need to start scrapbooking can be easily learned
by mimicking pages you see in magazines or on the Internet. However, if
you are still unsure how to use your tools extremely well, you can
attend or host a scrapbooking workshop. Stores and companies offer this
option for people who are new to the craft, and it is the best option
to help you create your first page. Remember that learning to scrapbook
is a process, and you will learn new skills as you fill your album with
pages.
About the Author:
Tom Ambrozewicz is one of the pioneers in using breakthrough audio technology on his web sites. You can read, you can listen to professional narrator reading to you or having MP3 files ready to download if you hate to keep printed files. You can check all scrapbooking tips at Ask-How.info now.
Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com
By: Tom Ambrozewicz
Ticket stubs, newspaper clippings, and other forms of memorabilia can
add that something special to your scrapbook. Alongside pictures,
memorabilia acts as an embellishment, but also helps tell the story of
the pictures on the scrapbook page. Memorabilia, unfortunately, is not
always safe to use around your photographs because of their high
acidity. Don't count these items out completely; there are now many
items on the market that can help you include memorabilia while
protecting your photographs from harm.
An easy but expensive way to safely add memorabilia to your pages is to
purchase an agent that will equalize the acidity of the item. These
come in the form of aerosol sprays and work well, but one can of the
neutralizer might cost fifty dollars or more, so this is not a cheap
option if you have lots of memorabilia to add to your scrapbook. Also,
some products are made of better quality than others, but you will not
be able to tell if your equalizer is made to last or not until many
years down the road. By that time, a low-quality product will have
ruined your photographs.
A more effective way to add memorabilia to your pages is to use photo
safe plastic pouches. These acid free pockets are clear and can be
mounted to your page to hold items while creating a barrier between
your photographs and items with high acidity levels. Pouches are
extremely convenient to use with items such as locks of hair, which are
otherwise virtually impossible to mount to a page. However, it can be
difficult to stick the plastic to the page, and you might find that the
results are undesirable when the plastic of the pouch clings to the
plastic page protector.
Another option that can be used with some forms of memorabilia is to
photocopy your ticket stubs, playbill covers, etc onto scrapbooking
paper. This is a sure-fire way to protect your photographs from the
acid in the original items. Using photocopies can lose some of the
effect and memories brought by the original piece, but it's a good
option if you want to quickly and safely add some details.
The best and most effective way to add memorabilia to your scrapbook is
to create two-page layouts. Keep your pictures on one side and add
memorabilia and other embellishments that are not photo safe to the
other side of the layout. The plastic protector will save your pictures
from yellowing. With this option, always keep in mind that page
protectors are double-sided, so put two memorabilia pages back to back
to keep the layout behind the first memorabilia page safe. Of course,
with this option, you do not get rid of the acid in the item, so your
pieces of memorabilia will most likely fade and discolor over time.
The most important thing when choosing a way to add memorabilia to your
album is to keep your pictures safe. By protecting your photographs by
one of these methods, you can keep your album looking like new for many
years, but still include memorabilia to help remember events.
About the Author:
Tom Ambrozewicz is one of the pioneers in using breakthrough audio technology on his web sites. You can read, you can listen to professional narrator reading to you or having MP3 files ready to download if you hate to keep printed files. You can check all scrapbooking tips at Ask-How.info now.
Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com
By: Tom Ambrozewicz
The many adhesive options available on the scrapbooking supply market
may leave you mystified as to which ones you need for your project.
Not only are countless types of adhesives available, but you often are
given choices between a number of brands as well. This can leave
beginners frustrated and ready to go home and use a hot glue gun for
the whole project.
A word of caution, however-learning to use the different types of
adhesives will help protect your photographs and keep your work in tact
for many years.
There are three basic types of adhesives: glues, tapes, and corner
mounts. The first, glue, is probably the item you are most familiar
with using with your other craft projects.
Hot glue and tacky glue, both common items around the house, are not
good for your scrapbooking project. Although these adhesives are strong
and permanent, the heat and acidity that comes with using them will
ruin your photographs over time. Another common option is the glue
stick.
These are inexpensive, but remember that you get what you pay for-glue
sticks lose their stickiness over time, and your pages will come
undone. Many other glue options are available on the market especially
for scrapbooking. These products will always say "acid free" and "photo
safe" on the label to let you know that they are ok to use with
pictures. Glue pens are popular, but one of the most innovative
products in recent years has been glue dots.
This product is pressure-sensitive and works very well for adhering
embellishments to the page. Another helpful scrapbooking glue product
comes in an aerosol can. When sprayed to an item such as vellum or
tissue, you can adhere the light paper to the page without leaving
marks showing through. Glue dots and aerosol sprays can be pricey, but
are effective when used correctly.
When sticking your actually pictures to the page, however, glues are
probably not your best option. The best way to go about adhering
pictures to your page is to use a tape product. Again, be sure that the
product label ensures that it is safe to use with photographs, since
not all tapes are made the same.
Traditional tape options, such as foam mounting tape or double sided
tape are good to use in your album, but also check out the products
made exclusively for scrapbooking. Mounting squares are a popular item,
as are roll-on tape dispensers. Some temporary products are also
available in case you don't want to permanently attach your photographs
to the page.
This is also where corner mounts work well. Related to the tape family,
these little triangles allow you to stick photographs to the page
without commitment. Corner mounts work especially well with valuable
photographs, but can only be used when you have cropped your pictures
in a square or rectangular shape.
Whatever adhesive choices you make, remember that it is important to
use the products correctly. Not all glues and tapes are made for the
same purposes, so learning to use these products is vital. By
experimenting with technique and following the usage guidelines you can
create a beautiful and long-lasting album.
About the Author:
Tom Ambrozewicz is one of the pioneers in using breakthrough audio technology on his web sites. You can read, you can listen to professional narrator reading to you or having MP3 files ready to download if you hate to keep printed files. You can check all scrapbooking tips at Ask-How.info now.
Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com
By: Marcy Larsen
Scrapbooking is one of those things that keep our memories alive and
brings smiles to people's faces for years to come. It allows you to
relive the feelings and occasions as if they happened yesterday.
What is Scrapbooking?
Scrapbooking is basically a journal in which you keep your records thru
out your life. You can capture events that mean the most to you and
your family. For instance you can capture birthdays, anniversaries,
holidays, and family vacations. You can scrap anything that you find
special and want to share for years to come.
Scrapbooking Page Layout
Now that you are entertaining the idea of a scrapbook, it is important
you make those memories as alive and beautiful as possible. Here are
some layout ideas:
1 Depending on the occasion, make the page have color coordination. Use
themed paper and/or matching colors to accent the photos.
2 Pictures, take and record as many as possible, whatever the occasion, and later on you will be glad you did.
3 When you get photos back from developing, write a few memories on the
back so that you can remember all the little details you want to
preserve. Sometimes we forget the smallest things that made the
occasion special, writing them down will make it a lot easier when you
start the journaling.
4 Keep mementos from the occasion to add to the pages. Birthday cards,
airline tickets etc. Use these as backdrops for photos or as the title
to the page.
5 Use accents such as brads, photo clips to add to the layout. A little dimension adds to the character of the pages.
There are several different ways to make a scrapbook layout. These
pages are very personal to each of us for different reasons. Chose for
yourself what works best, however, there are many ideas and examples
available in case you run out of scrapbooking page layout ideas.
Whatever way you choose to record your memories, a scrapbook has to
represent you and the ties you what to capture and save, so even if
there are many ideas, it is what connects you to the memory that will
be the right choice.
Take the time to create a scrapbook, if you don't have one already; it
is sometimes better then an album or a standard journal and can become
a bit of yourself. Memories created in a scrapbook live beyond you, to
be cherished and enjoyed forever, so don't just create a scrapbook, put
a bit of love and soul into it. You will be happy that you did when you
look back in years and live those times again.
About the Author:
Marcy Larsen Close To My Heart Consultant. CTMH offers much more than just scrapbook supplies, including opportunities to make money while scrapbooking. Please visit my website - Marcy Larsen.
Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com
By: Marcy Larsen
Nothing is more special than the union of two people, and a wedding can
be the inspiration behind starting to take up scrapbooking as a hobby.
Wedding scrapbooks ensures that the day of joy and celebration lives. A
couple can bond through reminiscing on the feelings and events of their
weddingand can be captured through your wedding scrapbook.
Your Wedding Scrapbook is more then just memories
It is clear that as time goes by so do the memory of events in our
lives. Your scrapbook can be worked on as a present to yourself and
others in the future. The crucial thing to remember when starting your
wedding scrapbook is that you need to work on layouts. This will ensure
that you have a firm foundation upon which the wedding pictures will be
showcased. Wedding scrapbooking is more than just putting pictures into
a fancy book. It is a story of its own that can be retold with the
visuals provided, and in the end you could use your wedding scrapbook
for your children to see and experience the beginnings to their past.
Helpful tips for creating Wedding pages
You do not have to feel alone and overwhelmed with your project. There
is a whole lot of help to be found so that you get the right steps in
making your wedding scrapbook project a reality. You can often go to
search engines and find out how to tackle the project and get some
great advice. There are books and magazine written out there that will
help with layouts and techniques you can use to liven up your pages.
Save your favors, cards and wrapping papers to add dimensions to your
pages. If you haven't had you wedding yet, try having your guests write
a special moment they remember of you or your spouse and leave it is a
vase at the guest table. Use these thru your scrapbook pages as part of
your journaling.
Remember that a scrapbook is a journal as well as a photo album. Take
the time to write memories down shortly after your wedding so you don't
loose the little details that you remember so much at the time. A great
way to do this would be to write them on the back of family pictures
when they are returned from the store.
Find a color combination that will bring the colors of your photos out. Try and stay with that theme thru out the book.
At the end of your project, remember that this will be a cherished family gift for years to come for all to enjoy.
About the Author:
Marcy Larsen Close To My Heart Consultant. CTMH offers much more than just scrapbook supplies, including opportunities to make money while scrapbooking. Please visit my website - Marcy Larsen.
Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com
By: Ken Snow
All of us have heard of scrapbook but not all of us have really
ventured into creating one. One sometimes really wonders whether
creating a scrapbook is something we should attempt. These books filled
with pictures, quotes and memories were definitely in vogue when we
were kids and most of our parents had one wherein they stored memorable
moments of us growing up. With the digital cameras taking over, our
parents definitely had many more photo albums than we do.
A scrapbook is a book that aids in collecting scraps of memory to keep
safe till the time you decide to take a walk down memory lane and
revisit school or college days once you are too old to have vivid
memories. It is something like a 'pensieve' in which Dumbledore saves
his memories except the one that you have will have will need to be
created without the aid of magic.
Magic or no magic, you can conjure up a delightful scrapbook by a
little bit of creativity. It can recount events of certain specific
important days, have pictures of your first crush, include dried up
petals of the first rose you ever got and be personalized with hand
written comments from friends and dear ones.
Each scrapbook is personal and speaks a million words about the
individual. Many secrets are hidden in the folds of the book and may be
revisited years later. For many it is a fantastic way of capturing
memories that you might forget later to share with your children and
your loved ones once you are ready. Scrapbooks can form a lovely
intimate gift to give someone you love, be it your kids or spouse.
Some people have the urge to create their own scrapbooks but feel that
they are not creative enough to do justice to the concept. For such
people many companies have made life easier by providing solution and
easy do-it-yourself guides. There are many pre-packaged scrapbooks
available that have various sections to kick-start the creative
process. These are fairly inexpensive and can be purchased even if you
are not sure whether you shall see light at the end of the tunnel. If
you are crazed about the idea of a scrapbook and do not have the time
to do it yourself, then hiring someone to do the job can also be
considered. Even though the professional might do justice to the
individuality that you want to lend to the book, creating a scrapbook
on your own has its own charm.
About the Author:
Discover more articles about arts and crafts by visiting craft-tips.com
Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com
By: Marcy Larsen
One of the most important things in a scrapbook is the journaling. A
picture can tell a million words but somehow, they leave out the
sentiments and the emotions of the occasion. If you think about it,
scrapbooking today is equal to the journals of our ancestor from the
past. The benefit we have today is that we can journal showing the
actual event as well and capturing the stories that accompany them. If
done right, with archival materials, these can be passed down for
generations.
Journaling can be done in several different ways. Here are a few of my favorites.
Your personal hand writing
Nothing can compare when it is written in your own handwriting. This
adds to the sentimental value of the scrapbook. As each of your albums
are passed down form generation to generation, that is the one thing
that adds the personal touch of years past.
Computer Printed
Some people are not the excited about their handwriting. Nothing is
wrong if you would rather print out your story. Write your story and
glue to your pages as your journal.
Pre-printed Journaling
There are several other ways to capture those special days. You can use
your favorite quotes, pre-printed stories or sayings. These make
journaling easy and simple, but still say what you want about the
photos.
Journaling Ideas
There are several ways to liven up your journaling.
Use a tag that you can stick behind a picture. If you need, use several
to tell a story or different stories about the same event. Slide behind
a photo and add ribbon to the tops so that you are able to pull the tag
up to read about the event.
Run a piece of Vellum thru the printer with your story and over-lay on
a photo or a square of paper to make it stick out from the rest.
Run your journaling onto both sides of the layout.
Use different shapes and sizes to add character to your layouts.
Use a scrap of wrapping paper from an occasion and write your journaling on the top.
Use Close to My Heart Stick Stock. This is a new linen vellum that is
ran thru the printer and adds a whole new look to your journaling.
The most important thing in journaling is to capture what you remember
most about the occasion and what you want others to see in your pages.
As much as we think we will always remember these special times, the
time flies too quickly and we forget without even knowing we have. Keep
a journal handy at all times to write down special moments and what you
remember. When you get your photos printed, write the important things
on the back of each. This will help if you are not able to get your
layouts completed as quickly as you wished. Most of all make them
special and remember this is the way to let your generations remember
you and your family.
About the Author:
Marcy Larsen Close To My Heart Consultant. CTMH offers much more than just scrapbook supplies, including opportunities to make money while scrapbooking. Please visit my website - Marcy Larsen.
Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com
By: Marcy Larsen
Never underestimate the power of simple things, like the surprise of
your infant the first taste of real food or the first time the feel
grass on their feet. These moments are the ones that you want to last a
lifetime! The same emotions hold true for scrapbook pages. When you
design using a few images and select a few decorative embellishments,
your eye is drawn to the photograph and the story. Discover the
technique of focusing on a single accent can add life to your favorite
photos and ensure that the ordinary becomes extraordinary.
Keep your eyes open for clean, simple and easy accent ideas. Limiting
yourself to only one accent my make you feel a little limited in your
layouts at first, but you will be amazed at how much can be achieved by
the simple elegance of the design. Here are a few ideas and tips for
keeping it simple.
Recreate the image from your photo. If you are taking pictures of kids
playing in the sand box, make a simple shadow box with vellum and fill
it with sand. Dry a leaf from the fall background. You can always use
stickers, acrylic stamps, die cuts, punchouts, or clipart images that
match the theme of your photos and pages.
Use a tag as a cute accent. Tags, on their own are very versatile. Use
them as the base of another accent or on their own. Use them as your
journaling item or to bring something out in the pictures on your pages.
Small groups of the same item can make unique accents. Use the same
delicate item, such as a simple overlay of two lacy skeleton leaves.
This is a beautiful way to make tiny items noticeable yet still keep
the photos the focal point of your page.
A decorative accent can visually connect secondary photos to the
primary photo. They can also add meaning to the whole layout. Accents
can also help highlight the tile or text of your pages. To keep your
accents in a supportive role, keep them small and on the same paper as
the text or title. Try accents in different shapes, colors and styles.
For a unique look, try dangling the accent from photo. Little accents
like eyelets and brads can add to your pages without distracting from
your photos.
Just remember the simpler the better on some of your pages. This will
keep your pages clean and different form each other but be able to show
your photos and the special time that you want to express in ever page.
About the Author:
Marcy Larsen Close To My Heart Consultant. CTMH offers much more than just scrapbook supplies, including opportunities to make money while scrapbooking. Please visit my website - Marcy Larsen.
Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com
By: Marcy Larsen
Add a little drama, extra texture, dimension and character to your
photos. It is natural to reach for the color film when taking pictures
instead of the black and white. But, even though color photos give you
the beautiful realism, there is always a place for B&W photos too.
They have a brilliance of their own, and can transform a simple image
into something more. Also, the black and white photos are less likely
to fade over time like color photos.
Remember that practice makes perfect. Plan on shooting a lot of pictures before you master the art of B&W.
Lighting is everything.
Ambient or natural light works well with B&W photos. Turn off the
flash and use the natural light that Mother Nature provides us.
Remember that black and white is not just for portraits. Just because
it is "artsy" doesn't mean that it can't be fun. Experiment with candid
shots at the beach, the zoo or a wedding reception.
Pay close attention to the composition by simply paying attention to
the placement and number of objects you see in your viewfinder. With
B&W photos, a simple composition works best. Capture patterns with
recurring visual themes such as wooden fense.
Some of the special touches of a black and white photo are:
Color freedom
B&W photos match any decor or decorating theme you are looking for.
It frees you to use colors that communicate a mood or feeling to
enhance your images and stories.
Less is More
Simple backgrounds or silhouettes can add to your project. Weather it
is decorations or a scrapbook, black and white will add that extra
dimension that is needed to complete your work.
Emotional Beauty
A black and white photo naturally evokes the emotional traits that seem
to get lost in the overwhelming hues of color of a color photo.
Remember that photography is an art and these B&W photos help you
create art form the ordinary everyday things you see. Follow these few
tips and you will create a masterpiece!
There are two different ways to get black and white photos these days.
You can use your traditional camera and use a true B&W film or use
your digital camera and have them developed in black and white. Either
way, you will need to spend some time finding a developer that you
trust or the quality of prints you want. Some developers may end up
with a warm sepia tone or an icy blue tone, once you find the
developer; you are on your way to creating beautiful pictures for you
and your family to treasure for years to come.
About the Author:
Marcy Larsen Close To My Heart Consultant. CTMH offers much more than just scrapbook supplies, including opportunities to make money while scrapbooking. Please visit my website - Marcy Larsen.
Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com
Scrapbooking may seem like a hands on hobby, but there are many online
scrapbook resources that can help you create more meaningful and
coordinated layouts that you can cherish for generations.
Some of the most popular websites that offer valuable guidance are
Close to My Heart marcylarsen.myctmh.com
Complete online store which includes Paper, Albums Acrylic Stamp Sets,
Stamp pads, Embellishments and helpful Technique and Cutting guide
books and recipes.
Creative Memories
creativememories.com
Online store for papers, album, and stickers
Scrapbooking 101
scrapbooking101.net
Basic guides for beginners complete guides for techniques and designs for layouts.
Creating Keepsakes
creatingkeepsakes.com
An online site to join for newsletters and specials. Creating Memories
is a great place to find all the different suppliers for your
scrapbooking needs.
Some of the ways in which these sites offer online resources include:
Inspiration: We love our photos and want them to be preserved in an
exquisite way that doesn't take up much of our time or our cash. Many
of the websites listed above provide free layout pages to serve as
inspiration for your next masterpiece.
Tips and Techniques: If you've been to a scrapbooking store recently,
you must have noticed the myriad of different gadgets and materials
available. Online scrapbooking sites can give you a heads up on what's
hot and what's not. From product reviews to actual step-by-step
instructions for learning a new technique like heat embossing or rubber
stamping, you can find it online.
Downloads: If you're not too proud of your handwriting, simply download
hundreds of fonts from online scrapbooking retailers and experiment
with sizes and colors. You can also download tip sheets and
instructions in a PDF format to print and save for future reference.
Related topics: If you have begun to enjoy this art, online
scrapbooking sites can provide you with links to other topics that
might interest you. For example, now that you have some supplies, how
do other scrapbookers organize them? What kind of scrapbooking folders
and storage systems are available? Can you use your scrapbooking talent
for a good cause? Answers to these and other questions can be found on
such online scrapbooking pages.
Forums: Online scrapbooking can have a different meaning if you start
making new friends who share similar interests. Ask a question on a
chat board or start your own blog about how you use materials readily
available at home to use on your layouts.
Make money: Online scrapbooking can even become a source of income for
you in a number of ways. You could become a consultant for scrapbooking
supplies with Creative Memories or Close to My Heart and earn
commission on your sales as well as generous discounts on products for
yourself. You could have your own website and offer to create
customized websites for clients or you could offer to teach a
scrapbooking class and advertise in an online directory.
The possibilities with online scrapbooking are endless. Every one of
them has different advice, techniques and supplies. Show around find
what works for you and your style. Do be afraid to join several
different groups and forums. The least you will do is make new friends
and learn a whole new way in the world of scrapbooking.
About the Author:
Marcy Larsen Close To My Heart Consultant. CTMH offers much more than just scrapbook supplies, including opportunities to make money while scrapbooking. Please visit my website - Marcy Larsen.
Article Source: http://www.therealarticles.com
Scrapbooks are an ideal way to preserve memories and retrieve them for
later reference or use. They allow for a trip down memory lane without
struggling about what someone had said on a particular even or what you
were wearing on your first prom party. These fun books keep precious
memories safe and tucked away in a corner till the time you are ready
to revisit or share them with someone. By including our thoughts in a
scrapbook, not only can you hold memories for a long time but can also
utilize your current time in doing something creative and meaningful.
Given the op