Quick and Simple Scrapbooking Ideas

I enjoy scrapbooking as a hobby because it produces great results. Unlike some hobbies that only sharpen the skills but don't produce anything, with scrapbooking, I not only get to develop my creative skills but also create great pieces of artwork in the process.

Maybe this is why scrapbooking is one of the hottest hobbies in the country. As a testament to how big scrapbooking is, there are numerous shows and magazines that have cropped up on the subject. You can also find annual fairs and conventions just on scrapbooking. On the Internet, there are websites, webzines and web rings that are devoted to scrapbooking.

Scrapbooking products are more and more sophisticated these days and they are all designed to make scrapbooking as simple as possible

Now scrapbooking might seem a little daunting at first if you are a person who feels you have no artistic or creative bones in your body. Cutting, sticking, and designing may seem like a nightmare if you are not really much into the practice. You might even find the prospect of putting together one page of artistic work too much for you to handle.

But I want to tell you that making a scrapbook is not that difficult. In fact, it can be the easiest thing in the world especially with the tools and gadgets that are coming out and being sold online and in craft stores. There are scissors that cut lines with designs in them. There are punchers that not only punch holes but can punch different shapes. Craft stores also sell stickers that we as scrapbookers can stick into our pages for that more finished touch.

If you just know what to do, where to go and how to go about it, scrapbooking can be a breeze.

Below are just couple of the ideas and tips on creating quick and simple scrapbook pages.

Buy Prepared Pages

Scrapbooking products are more and more sophisticated these days and they are all designed to make scrapbooking as simple as possible. Maybe you feel like you don't have the talent to put together one page even if your life depended on it. Maybe you just don't have the time to create a layout that will look nice with the photo or photos you want to use. Why worry about it when you can buy prepared scrapbook pages that already have layouts and designs. You just need to add the finishing touches like the photo and some accessories if you feel like it.

You can buy these pages based on themes. For instance, there are pages that can be used in a wedding scrapbook; others can be used in a baby shower or in a kid's birthday party. Often, there will even be slots where you can put photos and other notes.

Stick Them Up

Another innovative product that has made my life and the lives of other scrapbookers worthwhile is scrapbook stickers. Like the scrapbook pages, these stickers can also be purchased in themes. Luckily, the themes are not limited to occasions and special events.

For instance, in addition to the usual themes of birthdays, Christmas, baby showers, weddings and the like, there are stickers that will also depict Christian sayings, kiddie images, business matters, girly stuff and sports. Don't worry; there are a lot of themes to choose from.

These stickers are great when you are decorating a page that you have already put together. They often add color and appeal to the page without the hassles of drawing, cutting and pasting. All we as scrapbookers have to do is buy the stickers, peel the sticker off and stick it to the page.

Using these techniques makes scrapbooking easy enough that even a child can do it and my grandchildren have done so many times.

Ideas for Magic Mesh & Scrapbooking

Magic Mesh is a textured scrapbooking medium that is self-adhesive and movable. This craft material is available in many colors and is packaged in 2-1/2 inch rolls and 12 inch square sheets. You can cut Magic Mesh with scissors or die-cut machines, and enhance it with glitter and rhinestones. Magic Mesh adds pizazz and dimension to handmade greeting cards and scrapbooking layouts.

Magic Mesh For Your Next Scrapbooking Project

A Zoo Theme

After your next trip to the zoo, print out your favorite photos and design an animal-themed scrapbooking page using Magic Mesh. Place several colorful animal stickers along the very bottom of your pages. Apply black or brown Magic Mesh directly over the stickers to create a caged animal display. Randomly position your zoo pictures around the rest of your scrapbooking page.

A Halloween Theme

Use bright orange Magic Mesh for your next Halloween scrapbooking project. Cut the material into circles for pumpkins and then top with green mesh for the stems. Strategically place the pumpkins around your Halloween photos. You can also trim black Magic Mesh into spider webs for a spooky scrapbooking page.

A Christmas Tree

Trace a large Christmas tree image onto a 12-inch-square sheet of green Magic Mesh. Cut the tree out and adhere it to your scrapbooking page. Next, crop your favorite holiday photos into circles and attach them to the tree stems as one-of-a-kind ornaments. Embellish your tree with silver or gold glitter and then top with a yellow Magic Mesh star.

A Tropical Theme

Cut bright blue Magic Mesh into peaked waves and adhere to the bottom of your scrapbooking pages. Trim out simple fish shapes from green and purple mesh and attach to the ocean waters. Embellish the fish with glitter for added sparkle. Place your cropped vacation photos above the waves for a whimsical tropical theme.

A Race Car Theme

If your family members are NASCAR fanatics, consider designing a racetrack-themed scrapbooking page using Magic Mesh. Apply black mesh to the sides of your pages. Next, attach colorful race car stickers directly onto the mesh. Strategically place your race track photos alongside the mesh track.

Dinosaur Scrapbook Ideas

Making scrapbooks is a fun and educational activity, especially for children. If your child likes dinosaurs, keep him busy and creative by helping him make a dinosaur scrapbook. A dinosaur scrapbook can come in many forms and serve a variety of functions. Work with your child to come up with design ideas that best suit his interests. While the finished product will be something he can enjoy for years, putting the scrapbook together is equally enjoyable.

Dynamic Dinosaurs Digital Scrapbooking

Magazine Pictures

One idea for a dinosaur scrapbook is to cut out pictures from magazines. Find nature, biology and dinosaur magazines. There won't be photographs of dinosaurs, for obvious reasons, but there might be illustrations or computer-generated pictures. Cut them out with your child. Organize the pages in any way you see fit. Try making one page for each kind of dinosaur, or organize them alphabetically by name. You can also sort them by their diet or behavioral characteristics, which will force your child to do some independent research and learning.

Drawings

Another way to make a scrapbook is through illustrations done by your child. Plan the order of your scrapbook in advance. You can make it tell a story about one dinosaur or make it a thematic organization, from least scary dinosaurs to most scary. On each page, have your child draw her favorite dinosaur that fits the theme. Use colored construction paper to cut out other elements in the scene, including grass, mountains, sky and rocks.

Silhouettes

While more difficult to pull off, making dinosaur silhouettes can produce a beautiful scrapbook that looks professional. Get some black construction paper. Either use a stencil of a dinosaur or draw your own outline. Cut out the dinosaur shape and glue it onto the scrapbook page. Use black construction paper to make a border around the page. The result will be a shadowy looking dinosaur. Make a different one for each page of the scrapbook.

Dinosaur Theme

You can also use the dinosaur theme to make a conventional scrapbook, which contains pictures of your child and his memories. Buy some wrapping paper with pictures or drawings of dinosaurs on it. Also get some dinosaur stickers. Organize a scrapbook to show pictures of your child and your family's experiences. On each page, help your child glue pieces of the wallpaper and some of the stickers to make a dinosaur background that he will love.

Black & Gray Scrapbooking Ideas

Scrapbooking is a great way to record your memories while giving your creative side a chance to express itself. Scrapbooking helps to combine your favorite pictures with sentiments, ideas thoughts and art. If you are fond of vintage black-and-white photos, there are many ways in which to create a work of art around these iconic snaps.

Black Background To Really Make Your Scrapbook Page Pop

Grunge Look

Grunge is a popular theme for boys or for memories from the 1990s. Use black or white backgrounds to create a neutral palette. Stick the photos onto your background, and then border them with a black painted with uneven brush strokes. Write tags on old white diner napkins, pieces of brown paper or scraps of newspaper print. Tear paper edges rather than cutting them. Cut out headings from black-and-white magazine print, as though they were ransom letters. Embellish with nuts, bolt washers and paper clips instead of lace and stickers.

Back in Black

Use a black background to really make your scrapbook page pop. Use a 1960s vintage look to best display your picture. Use a pair of scissors to scallop the edges of black-and-white shots. Stick the photos to the black background with metallic picture corners. Embellish the page with cutouts of cat-eye glasses studded with rhinestones and red lipstick lips like those of Marilyn Monroe. Headlines and tags should use classic 1960s vintage cursive fonts.

Zen Minimalism

Use black and gray to create a peaceful, minimalist look. Use a white background for a clean working surface. Here, the whole page is dedicated to a single thought. One or two pictures in black and white that show a quiet thought or emotion. Print out a white paper with a single word in bold, black letters. Phrases like, "Peace, Love, Healing" are all appropriate for this kind of look. Page decorations must be kept to a minimum, but consider a simple line drawing in black pen of an ohm sign, a lotus blossom or namaste hands. Write a poem or leave the page as stark as possible to create a minimalist feel.

Cinema Show

Black backgrounds show off your black and white snaps. Use a film strip of snaps. These can be made in a graphic design program or in a photo booth. Use old film negatives for decoration. Headings and tags should be written in Hollywood movie fonts. Add touches of red popcorn boxes and cinema ticket stubs for pizzazz.

Scrapbooking Tips For Travelling

Keep a journal of your travels. I have found that a lot of memories get forgotten if you don’t write it down. I went on a 8 week trip to New Zealand and didn’t keep a journal. I regret that because I have forgotten so much that happened. I won’t make that mistake again.

Make sure you take your camera with you all the time in your travels. No doubt the time you leave it behind will be the time that you most want it.

Along with photographing the main sites of the location take time to photograph things like signs, unusual people, food and anything else interesting about the place.

Keep all your receipts, ticket stubs, wrappers and brochures. You will find these useful when your make your scrapbooking pages up back at home.

Try to write something in a journal every couple of days while things are still fresh in your mind.

Don’t forget to ask someone’s permission before taking a photo of them. Some cultures don’t like you taking photos of them.

It is better to collect more than you need, so make sure you save everything you can think off. Look out for thinks that could be used as embellishments. These could be things from the local markets and shops

I like to buy postcards when traveling. They have great photos on them and can be used in place of your own photos if yours don’t work out. I also like to buy little stickers and other souvenirs that could be used on a scrapbooking page.

Scrapbooking Ideas To Add Interest To Your Page Layouts

Sometimes all a scrapbooking page needs is just a simple accent or element to add interest to the layout or to enhance the photographs. Here are a few quick and easy ideas you can use on your scrapbook pages today.

Add Something Extra To Your Paper Layout

1. One of the easiest scrapbooking techniques to learn is paper tearing. Paper tearing adds a soft edge to your cardstock and texture to your pages. You can choose to tear just one edge of a paper or tear completely around a mat or frame. Try tearing the bottom edge of a tag or mount a sticker to cardstock and tear around the ends.

2. Matting highlights photos and page elements. Double or triple mat a special photo on the page. Match the mat color to enhance the photo. Photos aren’t the only page elements that can be matted. Mat a sticker or dimensional embellishment.

3. Add metal embellishments to your pages. Scrapbooking isn’t just about paper. Use brads, paper clips, eyelets and staples as accents on your pages. You can also use them to attach other embellishments, like ribbons and tags, to your page.

4. Ribbons can be used as borders on your layouts. Take both ends of a ribbon piece and tie them together. Now cut the ribbon so the knot will be positioned as an accent on your page.

5. Add something extra to your paper accents. Run your paper edges and frames along an ink pad to add some additional depth to your page.

6. Take out the sandpaper. Distressing your page elements is quick and easy. Just rub the sandpaper along the edges of your chipboard. You also can sand some cardstock paper giving it a different effect.

7. Keep journaling simple. The important thing is to document the photograph. Use bullet lists for journaling or just stick with who, what, where, how and when.

8. Use your own handwriting. Instead of printing out journaling from your computer, try using your own handwriting. It is much more personal, and future generations will appreciate seeing your handwriting.

9. Tags are one of the most versatile page elements available. Put your page titles on tags. Photos or journaling blocks can be mounted onto tags as well.

10. Scrapbooking page kits keep everything coordinated. Using page kits makes putting together a scrapbooking layout fast and simple. All the paper and page elements work together, and most kits have instructions and ideas for layouts.
These scrapbooking ideas are quick and easy, and they can inspire you to get more pages done. Keep your layouts simple, and try one of these ideas to add interest to your next scrapbooking page.

Feature and Guideline on how to Effectively use the Digital Scrapbooking

Let us begin with Stamps and Brushes

Stamps and Brushes are perhaps the most versatile products in the world of digital scrapbooking. They are ABR files that must be loaded into your photo editing program. Once loaded, they can be used as a rubber stamp, an eraser, a paintbrush, a laser cutter, a distressing tool, and more. They can enable you to change size, change color. You are also able to rotate, and duplicate in order to create patterns. The possibilities are truly endless. Downloads also include PNG versions of the brushes that can be used if your software does not support brushes. Another feature is the digital quick pages.

Digital Scrapbooking Technique

Digital Quick Pages are scrapbooking, which you get when they are already designed. These pages are ready for use and you use them to drop in your photos to them. They are PNG files that are flat in nature of their design. This implies that the aspects of the features on the page are impossible to manipulate. In other words, it is impossible for the users to change their features in any way. On the contrary, they give the users an opportunity to add more decorations to them and make them look more beautiful.

Scrapbooking & Adobe Photoshop

Actions consist of files you can easily load into Adobe Photoshop and use them in performing different kinds of many step functions. There are actions, which you can use for adding drop shadows, edges with ink, edges that are sane sanded, and many other things. You can also access photo actions, which can automatically make your photo sharp, soft, bright, and convert them to black and white. After loading an action, you can use it readily by clicking on a button. This will give you enough time to do other things concerning your layout.

Another important feature is the digital layered templates, which is used for scrapbooking. They are the same to a layout of a paper or a sketch. The product's features are always in PSD files, which can include all layers of layout that waiting to be designed. They are different from the quick pages in that you can manipulate them to fit your demand. You can remove, change size, or change their position in any aspect. You are able to use your own choice of papers layout and decorations to beautify your photos yourself and simply clip the photos in order to the placeholders in on your photo file. You will get the guidelines for using the templates in the download. Digital Scrapbooking eBooks provide users with original design.

It also provides the books with ideas that are created in PDF formats. Digital Lesson Packs are scrapbooking guidelines packaged with everything you need to create the layout being taught. They include a full-color PDF with screen shots to walk you through every step of creating your layout. All papers and embellishments required to complete the project are included and you can use them repeatedly in any future layouts you create. Another feature in this list is Fonts, which you can use to add journaling and titles to your layouts. There are custom fonts available in the Designer Digitals Store on MAX scrapbooking site.

Using a Focal Point Photo in Your Scrapbooking Layouts

Have you ever tried making a scrapbook layout with photos

If you have been scrapbooking very long, you're familiar with the four elements of design: color, layout, accents, and journaling. Following these basic principles helps you create beautiful, eye appealing scrapbook pages. Using a focal point to create some pop in your layouts is easy and gives your eye a natural place to start off a page and allows the viewer's eye to flow through the layout.

A focal point is the place on your scrapbook page where you eye falls naturally at first glance. A clear focal point gives your pages an uncluttered appearance, makes them enjoyable to view. It also helps you understand when enough is enough and to hold back from adding anything more to your page. The purpose of focal point is not to neglect the other photos on your page, but to enhance the overall effect of the photos by giving the eye a place to start and flow on the page.

There are many ways to create a focal point. Gather your photos and choose which picture you want to be the main focus of the page. Here are a few basic ways to help you decide. If your photos are of people, are they in the center of the picture? Can the photo be cropped to center on their faces and expressions? Is one person wearing a special smile or that look you know so well? Do the actions of the people define what the layout is about? Your might select a picture of the kids with their Easter baskets or just one child's expression as they find their first egg. Use the focal point to set the mood of the page.

There is no rule that says that a photograph has to be the focal point of your page. You can use a heading, journaling or even a keepsake from an event, like a report card or a theater program with the subject highlighted. You might choose this option if there is not special picture or a clever title to your page.

Avoid using all white backgrounds on your pages and use color on color instead. This adds another dimension without being overpowering or competing with the focal picture for attention. White can be used to accent if the picture warrant. I prefer to use white sparingly anyway. Choose 3 colors from the color wheel and stick with them.

Using a focal point gives your scrapbooks a nice, natural flow that makes them enjoyable to look at year after year.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7502930

The Scrapbook Digital Collage Technique: How to Use It

Digital Scrapbooking Technique

This looks easy! This is called digital scrapbook collage and it really is easy to do. Now, you may be thinking, "I thought collages were only for old fashioned hand scrappers and crafters!" You just need to remember, digital scrapbooks are everything scrapbooking has always aspired to be. In short, digital scrapbooks can do and be anything, so let your imagination run wild!

Now that we have that out of the way, let's move right in to learning the 4 things you need to know to make this as simple as possible? Here we go:

1. How can I use digital collage techniques in my family memory or school days scrapbooks?
2. How do I plan what to use on a page and what to leave out?
3. Do I need a theme?
4. How do I know when to stop the scrapbooking composition?

Just follow along and we'll discuss each one in simple fashion and have you creating your own digital scrapbook page collage themes in no time. One of the things that make this technique so great is that it lets you use many collected odds and ends, your good or even badly composed photos and makes great use of inexpensive home made supplies. Even better yet, once they are digital, you can use them over and over as many times as you like. Digital Power! Isn't it great?

Let's get started.

Question 1. How can I use digital collage techniques in my family memory or school days scrapbooks?

Most scrapbookers, including me, don't consider ourselves as artists. But since anyone over the age of 5 can place layered objects on a background, we all have the fundamentals of collage. Digital Collage is just the twenty-first century version of the art form. Collage in simple terms means the layering of objects, mostly found or collected, in a way that evokes a mood or message to the viewer.

That sure sounds like scrapbooking to me!

To use collage in digital form all you need do is to scan or photograph your collected objects and then use the crop and/or transparent functions of your scrapbook or photo editing software to make them look like you cut them out with scissors. The best part is that even if you don't know how to do this, since you are layering your now digitized images, it doesn't matter as long as you can place all the articles over one another. What's more, digital can be a combination of hand scrapped and digital as there are no limits except your imagination.

In the case of a family memory book or school year scrapbook, you collect things like old homework, party invitations, school ribbons, awards and in this day and age... even your Tweets and text messages. Save the digital items in a directory and scan or photograph the rest and add them to the same directory so everything you need is in one place.

Don't forget your digital photos and by all means, don't worry if you have too much, you may use it all, not use some or even need more. We are just collecting stuff at this point so don't limit yourself.

2. How do I plan what to use on a page and what to leave out?

Once your collecting is done and you have everything in digital form, it's time to do just a little planning. Not a lot as your collection will change and adjust as you add and move things around. We just need to get a direction planned so we have a starting point.

Take a couple minutes and decide how realistic you want the mood of your collage scrapbook page to be. Consider how full you want the page to be and how wild or reserved you want it. Just hint at a theme and maybe start with a base color for the background. I don't want you to worry too much about finalizing the design. Your best ideas will most often come only as you begin laying out your digi-scrap page.

Question 3, Do I need a theme?

The real answer is both Yes and No. Yes you want to have a high level theme in mind such as "The First Day of School" or "My Daughters 10th Birthday." On the other hand, no you don't need to have it so detailed as to limit it's final look and design. For example planning on a 3-2 picture two page matching layout will only serve to slow you down and limit your creativity.

Remember, this is more of a "Scrapbook Art Project" and in art, there is no right or wrong way for your page to turn out. Enjoy the process.

Just start by choosing a background size and color. White, black, or your darker solid colors are great neutral backgrounds for a digital scrapbook collage page. What you will find is that not much of the background will show by the time you are done layering your collected materials but you may want a little extra dimension as a border and for the parts of the page that do show.

Question 4, How do I know when to stop the scrapbooking composition?

This is really the easiest of our questions and the most fun in the digital scrapbook collage process. Stop when you like what you see and it tells the story makes you feel the emotion you are looking to tell.

I like to start the scrap page with the main photo first. I start by placing the photo slightly left/right of center on the digital background. It usually moves as I continue, but I've found it's a great way to start the creativity flowing. Even if I'm using multiple photos on the collage page, there is usually one that will serve as the focus. The others can then be placed randomly around the page.

Now that you have your digital photos on the page, you will want to start with your larger collected digital objects and begin layering them down to the smaller ones. You also have the option to print the page here and hand scrap the rest, but I find I waste a lot of photo paper that way as I end up wanting to move things around as I go. All digital is so much better as I can play with size, layers and position all I want and it costs me nothing.

Digital Scrapbook Layout

Don't forget your wording! Journaling, poems, quotes or other handwriting gives not only a story reference message but serves to set the mood.

Now it's just layer, layer, layer! When you think you like the setup of your digital scrapbooking collage, go ahead and save it. Try not to revise it too much at this point. There is usually a temptation to start straightening things... Don't! If you must play, use a copy so that you can compare to the original.

That's it! You are done! And the fun thing is that no two collages look the same --even when you use the same photo! It's also a great holiday activity for the kids.

Finally, I have said that this can be some digital and some traditional handscrapping, but I must point out that going full digital has many more advantages that old fashioned handscrappers can't compete with.

With digital you:

• Never damage your original photos
• Have no limits on space as it's all in your computer
• Have no mess to cleanup or glue to dry
• Have zero cost to play and arrange until you hit print
• 3D objects don't cause damage to other pages in the book
• Have no acids/chemicals to worry about
• You can send your finished pages by email
• You can add your pages to presentations and videos
• Your scrapbooks can be printed as true hard bound books

I'm sold on the advantages that digital has and I'm hoping that if you have never thought of going digital with your scrapbooks before that this will at least get you thinking.

In summation:

Digital Scrapbook Collage Techniques is a simple and very entertaining endeavor. Anyone over about the age of 5 has the needed abilities to create a collage and most 5 year olds know more about computers than many seniors.

Scrapbook collage pages make great themes for both family and school scrapbooks and use mostly items that you already have in your home and on your computer.

You don't need a detailed theme plan, you can play and rearrange your page until you like what you see and you only stop when you tell the story you want to tell.

Now, it's time to start gathering up your objects and start your own digital scrapbook collage page.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7405229

Scrapbook Tools For Beginners and Professionals

The scrapbook industry has exploded making more and more tools that help you turn your pictures into works of arts that save your memories for the rest of your life.

As a scrapbooker there are a few tools that you should have to help you create the simplest to the most advanced scrapbook pages you have ever seen. In your basic bag you should have tools for journaling, adhering your pictures and elements, paper, embellishment and a cropping tool. As you become more vested in the scrapbooking craft you can add more advanced tools such as die cutting tools.

The point of scrapbooking is to tell a story about the event that led to the picture. Journaling is an element of every page. To properly journal you should pick out markers or pens that are acid free. They should be archival quality. Pens and markers come in many colors that will coordinate with your pages. Be sure to check the tips. Some markers are for coloring and are less effective as writing instruments.

Adhesives. Adhesives should be acid free and archival quality as well. Office tape or glue can damage your photos and yellow your pages. A tape runner would be a good basic tool for a beginning scrapbooker. Tape runners can be refilled or throw away. You should check your tape runner can come with strips, dots or wider bands. Your tape runner could also come with permanent or repositionable adhesive. If you are testing your page use repositionable. If you are happy with your design use permanent adhesive. For more advanced scrapbookers you can get adhesive machines that will turn paper or other thin materials into stickers. Adhesive machines can work with items up to one inch wide up to several inches wide. Again these machines can work with repositionable or permanent adhesives. Some of these machines will also work with magnetic mediums or act like laminators.

Cropping tools can be as simple as a set of scissors or paper trimmers to circle and other shape cutters. A paper trimmer will help you crop your pictures by cutting out background areas that deter from the true meaning of the picture. Paper trimmers are also helpful for resizing your papers for mounting your pictures. Paper trimmers can cut straight lines, some can also come with extra blades to cut scallop and wavy edges.

Every scrapbooker will have a wide variety of pages. Card stock will be very useful. Card stock is a little heavier it is excellent for making cards and mounting pictures. Card stock will come in the most basic colors but will also come in patterned, textured, metallic and glittered. Papers are come in other weights and styles. You will also find vellum, lighter weight papers and mulberry and more. Paper come out every day in different weights and mediums. This is what makes scrapbooking so exciting because the limits are pushed everyday. Papers come in 12x12, 8x11 or 5x5 formats. Albums also come in similar dimensions so that your scrapbook pages will fit.

Embellishments include ribbons, eyelets, buttons, stickers, brads, chipboard and die cuts. Just about anything you can adhere to a page is an embellishment. The sky is the limit with elements. Some embellishments require additional tools. To work with eyelets you will need an eyelet setter and a hole punch. Die cuts can be purchased or you can use electronic machines like cricuts or manual machines like quick cuts to cut your own diet cuts. Manual and electronic die cutters are for the more advanced scrapbooker.

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Scrapbooking Designs For the Budget Conscious

If you find you are spending too much money for your scrapbooking designs, instead of giving up the hobby you may want to learn ways to cut corners while still creating beautiful scrapbooks. While scrapbooking can be an expensive hobby, many scrappers have learned how to get many of their scrapbooking supplies on the cheap. One of the ways in which you can do this is to get more creative about the embellishments you use in your scrapbooks.

Use everyday items in their scrapbooking designs, which not only saves a lot of money on fancy embellishments

Embellishments are what many scrappers consider to be the most expensive part of scrapping. If you stick to only using embellishments that are designed for scrapbooks you can spend quite a bit of money on these adornments. However, by getting creative and brainstorming you can come up with everyday items that you can use in your albums that will cost only a fraction of the cost of the fancier adornments.

Many people use everyday items in their scrapbooking designs, which not only saves a lot of money on fancy embellishments but it also lends a more personal dimension to your scrapbooks. You can use everything from paper clips to clothing tags in your memory albums. You can get a lot of free ideas online about how to make these items stand out and look just as good, if not better, than expensive adornments.

Many people include keys and other special mementos in their scrapbooking designs. If you don't want to adhere the item directly to your scrapbook pages then you may want to purchase small, see through envelopes to hold your special mementos. Buttons and bottle caps also make great embellishments for your scrapbooks. Some scrappers even cut out words and lettering from items in their pantry, such as cracker and cereal boxes. These can make great additions to your scrapbook pages and if you don't already know how to incorporate items like this into your pages then you may want to peruse the Internet for ideas.

Charms are another popular item scrappers use in their scrapbooking designs and these can be quite expensive when you purchase them from scrapbook suppliers. However, if you get really creative, you can find your own charms much cheaper. Just look around the house for old costume jewelry and you might also want to visit garage sales and flea markets for charms and other items you can use in your scrapbooks. Creativity begets frugality and you may be surprised at all the great items you will find on the cheap once you start looking for them.

Helping Children Discover The Joys Of Scrapbooking

Use layouts with templates.

Whether you design the templates, download from the internet or purchase a scrapbooking kit that contains templates, a template will help children get started. Do a sample layout in advance so that the kids can see what the final product will look like. Review each section of the template so that the kids have a clear understanding of what they'll be adding to the layout, such as photos, journaling and embellishments.

Limit the supplies.

Kids get excited when they see a lot of supplies and quite often will want to experiment with all of the supplies. By limiting the supplies, kids can quickly choose what they want to use and it will reduce any potential messes.

Switch to adhesive dots.

Although glue sticks work well for scrapbooking, consider having the students use adhesive dots instead. Kids tend to overuse glue sticks and there's a good chance that a few items such as other paper, the table and clothes will become sticky from the excess glue.  With adhesive dots, you can assist children with adding a couple of dots to whatever it is that they want to add to the layout.

Use die-cut journal squares.

Create journal squares in advance. Use a square of cardstock for the base. Add a small square of lighter paper to the cardstock. Embellish the corners with tacks or sequins. Have the children fill in the journal squares before adding them to their layouts. If a mistake is made, simply remove the lighter paper from the square and glue in a new piece of paper.

Have embellishments ready.

On a tray, place embellishments that the kids can use for their layouts. Give a few choices such as stickers, buttons, sequins, rubber stamps and small feathers. Have the kids tentatively place their selections on the layouts before actually gluing them down. If a child appears to be using too many items, encourage him to use fewer.  You might need to show your sample layout again.

Have fun.

A child won't do a scrapbook layout exactly the same way you did yours. That's okay. Encourage the kids to have fun and to move things around in their layouts before gluing items down. Praise the kids for doing a good job. By following these tips, you're well on your way to spending an enjoying time crafting with kids. Who knows, they might ask to scrapbook again in the near future!

Scrapbook Ideas To Save Money With Creative Scrapbooking

Many people are a fanatics of scrapbooking. It’s allow them to save and relive the treasure memories of life. It’s a passion to create something unique with creative scrapbook ideas.

But your passion can actually become a very expensive activity. You need to purchase the pretty scrapbooks, a mess of particular cardstock and papers, embellishments to enrich your scrapbooks. And get some scrapbooking tools. So you can spend a great lot of your money.

But I am sure scrapbooking can be not so expensive.It can be often a cost-free spare-time activity. Everyone has a creative talent and can use it to find all scrapbooking elements you need from environment.

Recycle all kinds of paper.You don’t have to buy premade supplies. You can create your own one’s by recycling them.

Spend some time and prepare own textures paper from newspapers, magazines, used paper. Find and learn a new scrapbooking techniques to recycle paper. Also you can simply use the pages from newspapers or magazines. You can use images, pics, advertisements associated to your theme and enhance your pages.

You can find various embellishments from your environment. Check your cabinets, office, boxers, and closets and you find many items that allow you to create a new creative projects. Re-use office supplies, sewing notions and children items.These unique things will add your personal touches to your scrapbooks. Use old buttons from clothing, old lingerie, or ribbons, old or broken jewelry, scraps from old clothing.

Decorate your scrapbooks by using a paper memories. Use old tickets for films, concerts, old parking tickets, old programmes from school plays, greeting cards, party invitations, old grocery list to accent your thoughts. You are able to virtually fulfil a pages without spending a dime. Scrapbooking doesn’t have to be expensive. Activate your own creativity to find creative scrapbook ideas to save your budget, enjoy your passion and make phenomenal pages!

Scrapbook Retreat Ideas

Scrapbook retreats offer avid scrappers the opportunity to spend a few precious days immersed in their art while basking in the company of others who share their passion. While days at scrapbook retreats tend to be relatively unstructured, having some planned activities breaks them up and nudges people to try new things.

Paper Drawing

Hold a drawing for scrapbook paper or supplies every day of the retreat. Before the retreat, instruct participants to bring a certain number and type of supplies to donate to the drawings. (For example, three sheets each of the following kinds: green, blue, striped, polka-dotted, and metallic.) Collect the sheets at the beginning of the retreat and sort them so that you end up with "themed" piles of paper, one for each day. At a designated time each day, conduct a drawing. The winner gets to take the day's loot of paper.

Retreat Photo Session

Plan a specific day and time an hour or so before sunset, which photographers sometimes call "the golden hour" for the buttery quality of the light for participants to go around and photograph the retreat setting and their fellow participants. Even if the location is unspectacular, taking pictures of the overall environments and small details of the location will help participants later when they put together their scrapbook retreat scrapbooks. Also, having a designated photography time will remind people to snap photos of things they notice. An article on scrapbook photos on Kodak.com suggests photographing signs and food. Consider designating someone the official retreat photographer.

Literary Page Challenge

Schedule a time to put together scrapbook pages commemorating favorite books. (Call it an homage to Mark Twain, who was an avid scrapbooker. In fact, according to PBS, Twain's "self-pasting scrapbook" invention was his only invention that made money.) Encourage participants to bring their favorite books to the retreat. At the end of the literary page challenge, invite participants to share their pages and favorite books and explain why they are so important to them.

Scrapbooking Ideas - Working With Photographs

As your photographs play a key role in your scrapbooking, it is important to explore various techniques and treatments so that your photographs can be displayed to their best effect. A photograph should always take centre stage or be the main focus on your layout, and it is important that your embellishments do not overpower your photographs. Your embellishments and the rest of the layout should all serve to enhance your photographs.

If you are using precious photographs that cannot easily be reproduced, it is important to plan your page carefully and ensure that the techniques that you choose will not damage your images. In the next few articles, I will look at different methods and techniques that you can use with your photographs, and how to choose the method that best enhances them.

Scrapbooking With Photographs

If you have precious or old photographs, and you don’t want to use the original on your layout. Instead, you can make a good quality photo copy to use. If you colour copy an old photograph, the copy will show the sepia colour that makes old photographs look so attractive. If you do not have access to a colour photo copier, here is how you can take your black and white copy and sepia tint it easily.

First of all you need to mix a strong solution of instant coffee and hot water. Once cool, dampen a cotton pad with the solution and wipe it onto the black and white photo copied photo. Wait for the photograph to dry completely before working with it. If it crinkles or bends, place it underneath a heavy book overnight to flatten it. You can use the above method of sepia tinting to age any contemporary items so that they will fit into a old fashioned or heritage themed page.

Once your photograph has been prepared, you will need to crop or cut it accordingly. Cropping a photograph can transform a rather ordinary or poorly composed photograph into a strong and interesting image. You can also use cropping to help the eye to focus on the main point. By cropping your photographs, you can also remove unwanted items on the background. An unusual shaped cropping of your photograph can also be very effective.

Here is a great scrapbooking idea and solution to help you with the cropping of your photographs. Using a sheet of card stock, draw two 6cm wide right angled shapes, and make them as long as you can. Cut out the two L-shaped pieces, and you can use them to make a square over the photograph that you want to crop. By sliding them towards each other and out, you can see what your photograph will look like with various different parts cropped off. Use your newly made stencil to mark the four points on the photograph that you would like to cut.

L-shaped crops are best made from black card stock, but white or neutral grey should work just as well. Avoid cutting out your crops in bright colours, as they can influence the colours on the picture that you are working on.

Scrapbook Sketch Ideas

Sometimes you may want to forgo traditional cut-out embellishments in lieu of freehand or traced sketching to decorate a scrapbook. Sketching can also be a tool to help design a page in your scrapbook--forging ideas for layout of pictures, borders, ribbons, buttons and other design elements, before committing to it all with glue.

Seasonal Sketch

Collect seasonal items to design sketches for a scrapbook. For fall, collect leaves, acorns or pumpkins and trace their shapes or freehand sketch them. Fill in the sketch with colored pencils to add fall color to the drawing.

In winter, find pine cones or snowflake designs to copy. Trace around the shape of pine cones and needles, or sketch berries and mistletoe for a festive holiday design.

Sketch drawings inspired by spring: newly bloomed bulbs in the garden, birds, Easter eggs and baskets all signal spring.

Summer conjures up images of beach balls, sand, swimming, fireworks and picnic blankets. All can be inspirations and ideas for scrapbook sketches.

Personal Touch Sketches

Sketch people's faces using photographs as your guideline for a truly unique and meaningful scrapbook idea.

For a gift idea, sketch designs depicting the recipients' favorite past times, hobbies or accomplishments. Have they won a significant award or reached a milestone in their life? Sketch a picture of a trophy, graduation hat or scroll.

Theme Sketches

Stick to a theme. Choose landscapes as a theme and sketch beautiful trees, meadows, sky lines and even cityscapes as an attractive backdrop to your scrapbook photos.

Create borders in your scrapbook that include your theme, which for a sports enthusiast could include sketches of people racing to a finish line, basketballs or volleyball nets.

4 Things You Must Know About Creating A Scrapbook Layout

1. Arrange Your Photos

I know how exciting it can be to go out to your craft store and buy card stock and embellishments but before you do, I strongly recommend that you spend time arranging your photos.

I like to organise my photos into themes and I find the best way to do this is to have separate filing cabinet sleeves that I label. So I might call one sleeve "vacations" and another "birthdays". And slowly, bit by bit I sort through all my photos and put them into each folder.

Also if you're really keen you can create folder beneath those more general folders, so instead of stopping at a folder called "birthdays" I would have a sleeve inside that and label it "kids birthdays" and include all the relevant photos there.

Arranging your photos means you won't waste time looking for the right photos for your layouts!

2. Settle On A Subject Matter

You need to be clear on what your page is going to be about. When I approach a new page I ask myself questions - how many photos will I use? Will I include journaling etc.

The clearer you are about what you want your page to look like the easier and faster it will be to create!

In fact a lot of professional scrapbookers recommend that you sketch your page out first BEFORE you glue anything down. This is a great technique that can really help your designs.

3. OK... NOW you can go shopping for supplies!

If you're off to the store, make sure you have a budget in mind BEFORE you walk through those doors. Scrapbook stores are amazing places, and it's so easy to get side tracked and end up purchasing half the store.

If you're new to the craft, then you need to get yourself some basic equipment like scissors and some nice card stock. But careful you don't spend a fortune.

Also you might want tot pick up a paper trimmer (this saves a heap of time), plus some general quirky embellishments such as buttons and stickers.

4. Make Up Your Mind About Materials And Get Started...

So at this stage you should have a pretty good idea of what you want your layout to look - so now you need to get your materials.

By materials I mean paper. And one of the best tips I can give you about this, is to take your photos into the supply store and sit them next to paper to see what compliments and what doesn't. This way you're never in danger of getting home only to find that nothing co-ordinates (this has happened to me before and boy is it frustrating!)

As a side note - if you want everything to blend nicely it's a good idea to get a scrapbooking kit. They include paper and embellishments that are all designed to look good next to each other. It's a great shortcut and always guarantees you a good layout!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7500176

Scrapbook Ideas to Get Started

Interested in scrapbooking? Here are some scrapbook ideas to start. Most experts will recommend you begin by purchasing the best quality albums and supplies you can afford . . . don’t use “magnetic” albums (the kind with the sticky pages) but don’t feel compelled to dress up every single page you do. In many cases, less is much, much more.

You can consider the following to get started:

• Find and sort your photos in chronological order. Depending on the number you have, place the photos in boxes by year until you’re ready to tackle them.
• Be selective when choosing the photos you’ll keep. You don’t need six shots of Bobby blowing out the birthday candles.
• Ready to scrap? It’s less overwhelming to start with your most recent photos first. There’s some logic in doing this, because at least you won’t put yourself any further behind.
• Plan to make a family album, and then at least one album per child.
• Document, document, document. Date photos with photo marking pens, identify the subjects, but also write down feelings, quotes and what was actually happening when the photo was taken.
• Be creative about cropping. Trim pictures that have too much background — or too much going on.
• Don’t crop out generational clues, like a car or the apartment you lived in.
• Save memorabilia and include it on pages: Locks of Suzy’s hair, ticket stubs, report cards, post cards from a family vacation.
• Don’t store negatives in the same place you store your photos. If something should happen to the albums, the negatives would be gone, too.

From the start, scrapbook enthusiasts have been concerned with the “archival quality” of albums and supplies — with good reason. In the past, many materials used for the storage of photographs have in fact contributed to their deterioration. Today, “acid-free” has become something of a mantra among scrapbookers.

While it’s a fact that photos stored in albums and away from light and temperature extremes will last longer than framed photos displayed on a mantel, it’s nearly impossible to find photos that have not been contaminated in some way.

The chemistry used at one-hour photo kiosks, for example, is most certainly not pure. So does it matter if you back a photo processed there with a paper that is not touted as “acid-free”? And how much longer a lease on life will “photo-safe” pens give to that priceless portrait, anyway?

Still, advances in technology have changed the face of photography. Seventy years from now, your grandchildren will be hard pressed to detect a change in quality in a photo you have displayed on your desk right now.