Scrapbook Ideas for Laser Tag Photos

Many families enjoy playing laser tag because it is an exciting way to spend time together. If this is an activity your family participates in regularly, you may have photos and mementos from these events that you would like to preserve so that your children can revisit them in the future. Scrapbooks are a creative way to preserve photos and mementos of life's most precious moments. Even with only the most basic supplies, you can create beautiful laser tag-themed scrapbook pages that are visually intriguing and subject-appropriate.

Glow-in-the-Dark Pages

Scrapbooks are a creative way to preserve photos and mementos of life's most precious moments.

At many laser tag facilities, the game is played mostly in the dark; there are usually a number of glow-in-the-dark items or graphics around the arena for decoration and navigation purposes. Recreate this effect by composing your laser tag scrapbook pages on black construction paper. Use a sturdy photo glue to adhere your photos into place. Once your photos are in place, use craft supplies like glow-in-the-dark paints and highlighters to add glowing decorations to the page. The page will be visually intriguing in the light and your kids will have fun looking at their scrapbooks with a flashlight in the dark too.

Themed Scrapbook Pages

Many laser tag arenas are decorated around a certain theme, like space travel, jungle war or alien invasion. Similarly, you can use one of these themes to create your laser tag scrapbook pages. Adhere your photos to your craft paper of choice and decorate them according to your chosen theme. For a space theme, small plastic glow-in-the-dark stars are great, as are stickers, pictures and drawings of planets, aliens and spaceships. Using a theme to create a decorative scrapbook page will give the page flair and cohesiveness.

Laser Illusion Pages

The game of laser tag involves the use of lasers which are aimed and '"shot" at opponents to score points. The lasers are luminescent and colorful, and these characteristics can be easily recreated in visually exciting scrapbook pages. To create page decor that looks like lasers, feature a thick, black piece of construction paper as your scrapbook page and use neon-colored chalk, gel pens or even yarn to create straight lines randomly on the page. The lines should be of various lengths and angled in different directions to really give the page a laser feel. Create your laser lines before adhering your pictures to avoid marking on your photos.

Paint Splatter Pages

Laser tag is played in the dark and is an exhilarating mix of darkness and flashes of color. Play up these components of the game with splatter paint-themed pages. Using dark-colored paper and neon paints, splatter paint on your paper with a paintbrush. The paint will create intriguing patterns on the paper and, after it dries, you can apply your pictures and mementos with craft glue as normal. Splatter painting can be messy so this activity is best done outside where there will be less cleanup.

Tap Your Creativity with Digital Scrapbooking

All of us are fond of pictures as they capture our memorable moments. Whenever we view these images, we tend to become nostalgic. But, sometimes, just checking out the simple album of photographs might become an unexciting and boring event. Therefore, the activity of scrapbooking came into the limelight, and it was enjoyed by various people of all ages and classes. The main reason is that it enables them to stock up photos in an album and then attach a comment. The comment is usually something that matches the mood captured on the photo. Many people have found this medium to be the most effective in keeping the memories alive. Even though they cannot remember the person every day, the scrapbook helps them to relive the whole situation where the photo was captured. With the advent of computer, digital scrapbook got prominence and newer and more exciting ways got unveiled.

Apart from creativity, the advantages of digital scrapbooking are that it is more convenient and less messy

You are entitled to accumulate all the photos and albums on the computer's hard drive, and the digital scrapbooking will allow you to attach graphics on them to enhance the outlook of the simple photographs. Additionally, you can also create a digital scrapbook with a theme work. While you are using the graphics and themes to adorn the picture or an album, you are actually tapping your creativity. There is no training available for creating a digital photo album; all that is required is your personal approach and emotions. Once both the factors are added in the creativity aspect, you will notice that you have reached the heights of originality. Without any special or prior knowledge about graphics, you will be able to design a beautiful digital photo album. In case you find any difficulty, then a simple, affordable and high quality solution to your scrapbooking needs is at your service.

Apart from creativity, the advantages of digital scrapbooking are that it is more convenient and less messy. You will notice that unlike conventional scrapbooking, this completely avoids the use of any paper cutting or pasting work. Once you have created a digital scrapbook, you might fall in love with your design and collection. And, you would be eager to have it in a physical form.

Your wish will be granted, thanks to digital photo printing. It is easy to do because there are various service providers that are dedicated to deliver the superior quality print outs in their sequential order and even bind them together for proper storage. Moreover, you can even add colored papers to the digital photo album. Similar to traditional scrapbooking, the digital scrapbooking will also let you write comments on them.

Other than that, you can even upload your striking digital scrapbook online so that your friends and close ones can appreciate your creativity and beautiful collection of photographs, even though they reside on the other side of the world. So, be it a wedding album, or birthday parties' photographs or graduation pictures; digital scrapbooking will keep all the memories alive.

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.

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

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.