Thursday, September 29, 2011
Free Digital Scrapbook Templates
Free digital scrapbook templates can make the job easier for you. The scrapbooking paper, frames, titles - even embellishments or stickers are already placed for you. You don't need to find or prepare each element. Just slip your photographs into place, add a journaling note or caption, and you have finished pages. Free digital scrapbook templates are, in a sense, scrapbooking kits.
Free digital scrapbook templates are a great way to learn digital scrapbooking. They are also a great way to see, before you invest money, whether you enjoy digital scrapbooking. Templates show you what you can do, and take the work out of it.
These free digital scrapbook templates are often provided as samples, with themes that appeal to a large number of people. The hope is that you will enjoy your experience and return to the website to purchase more materials.
Understanding Free Digital Scrapbook Templates
Free digital scrapbook templates are nearly-finished scrapbook pages. Some call them pre-made pages, or pre-made layouts. To use free digital scrapbook templates, you follow a few easy steps.
1. Download your free digital scrapbook templates. They should be in "png" format. Many will be zipped to reduce size. Unzip your downloads, and place them in a computer folder.
2. Open the software program you will use with your free digital scrapbook templates. Many programs you may already have will work well. Microsoft Word, PhotoShop, and similar programs are good. You may have purchased digital scrapbooking software.
3. Scan photos for your digital scrapbook pages.
4. Open the free digital scrapbook template you want to use. Open photo files, and place your photos on the page. Crop photos, if necessary to fit the opening. Send them to the back layer, and slide them into place.
5. If the colors of the papers in your free digital scrapbook templates do not complement your photos, simply use your
paintbrush" tool to change the colors.
6. Add a small box on your page, and type in a note about memories that go with the photos. This "journaling" might be as short as a caption, or a paragraph that will help viewers understand the photos.
7. When you are satisfied with your page, flatten all layers, and save it as a new file.
8. Now you are ready to print. Use acid-free paper so your colors will remain bright and true for years. Print it as a page of a larger scrapbook. Or print your page as a scrapbook card.
9. Optionally, you may want to save your pages to a CD - or send a finished page to a friend or family member. You might even want to send your completed free digital scrapbook templates to a "print-on-demand" company to have them bound into a permanent book.
Free Digital Scrapbook Templates Changes
As mentioned above, you may want to make changes to your free digital scrapbook templates. At first, those changes may be as slight as changing the color of the scrapbooking paper. As you learn more about digital scrapbooking, the changes may take in other elements.
You may want to add digital charms to empty spots - or place charms across corners or edges of your photos. If you have a photo of a child receiving a skateboard for Christmas, you might want to place a couple of skateboarding embellishments on a page. These extras add a personal touch to the themes of free digital scrapbook pages.
Helpful tip: Even if you are a veteran scrapbooker, you will find free digital scrapbook templates a help in getting fresh ideas. Start with downloads of free digital scrapbook templates, and customize them to your creative satisfaction.
©2007, Anna Hart. Anna Hart invites you to read more of her articles about free digital scrapbook stuff at http://www.scrapbooking-for-fun.com. Anna is posting new articles regularly on that site. You won?t want to miss her recent articles on digital scrapbook free downloads.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Scrapbooking Ideas Are Everywhere
Scrapbooking has become an extremely popular hobby. To begin scrapbooking, you must choose a theme or group of themes on which to base your material. There are many possibilities on which you could base your scrapbooks, but a good rule of thumb is to scrapbook things which are of importance and have sentimental value to you.
Scrapbooking is a hobby that is rapidly increasing in popularity. Everyone has photographs and bits and pieces of their lives that they would like to preserve. Scrapbooking is an excellent way to do this. You will not have to look far to pinpoint which parts of your life you would like to preserve in a scrapbook. Many people begin their scrapbooking by chronicling their wedding day photos and small mementos such as wedding invitations, guests lists, and perhaps dried flowers.
Possible scrapbooking themes do not end with weddings. The birth of a child is a time that is precious to all parents. Scrapbooking ideas for a new baby include baby shower photos and invitations, ultrasound pictures, and perhaps even ribbons and balloons. Any items of sentimental value can easily be incorporated into your scrapbook. Most parents like to continue this theme with scrapbooks that follow the growth and development of their child.
Another excellent topic for a scrapbook would be an activity or club that a person cherishes. Sports and similar activities are great ideas for a scrapbook. A collection of team photos, rosters, and team memorabilia would create a permanent record of these special times in a person's life. You could even consider having teammates or club members 'autograph' your scrapbook beside team or individual photos.
Family reunions and activities are fantastic themes for scrapbooks. Family photos, amusing happenings or anecdotes, and a schedule of events are great ways to remember the treasured times spent with family. Bringing your scrapbooks to each year's reunion is sure to spark conversation and fond memories. You could even create a scrapbook to be given away to the family member who brings the oldest family photo or as a prize for the oldest or youngest family member present
There are numerous ideas for scrapbooking based on various aspects of your life. Office parties, job promotions, and starting your own business are fun scrapbooking concepts. Work related scrapbooks give you an opportunity to introduce a bit of light-heartedness into what is normally a professional, routine atmosphere. Caricatures of staff members, business cards, photos, and humorous quotes from coworkers are excellent ideas for a work related scrapbook. Your coworkers will surely be impressed and appreciate your efforts.
The possible themes for scrapbooks based on your life are almost endless. The only requirement for scrapbooking is that you base them on the people and activities that are important in your life. Over time, your scrapbooks can become an important tradition to you and your family. Scrapbooks can invoke laughter, tears, and most importantly, create quality time spent with your friends and family reminiscing about the precious moments in your lives.
Adam Daniels offers a Free Video on Scrapbooking. Watch the video at [http://www.ScrapBookProfit.com]
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Your Wedding Scrapbook - Preserving Your Special Occasion
There are many events that are perfect for archiving such memories, and what better occasion to do so than your own wedding. Whether you had a small, intimate wedding with only a few guests present, or opted for a large celebration with everyone you know, and perhaps some you didn't, there are plenty of items you could include in your wedding scrapbook, and many ways to arrange them in order to recapture that very special day over and over again.
Selecting Photos for your Wedding Scrapbook
The first items you will probably want to scrapbook will be your wedding pictures. Photos can, and often do, tell a story. They can walk you through the events of that special day every time your scrapbook is viewed. The only difficulty may be choosing which ones you should include, since you will probably have many from which to choose. They will also give your children and grandchildren something to talk about as the book is passed down through generations.
Your wedding scrapbook would not be complete without pictures of the building where the ceremony took place, you walking down the aisle, and, of course, the wedding ceremony itself. You may also want to include photos of the reception, the cutting of the cake, and you and your new spouse leaving the building. These special events will then be cataloged for years of enjoyment in your very own special wedding scrapbook.
Choosing a Theme
Creating a theme that depicts your thoughts and feelings you had on your wedding day is important. A distinctive wedding scrapbook or album is essential, as it will help you to always remember the people who helped to make your day what it was. Writing down the events and the emotions you had when they occurred will also serve as a record or journal, and will supplement the pictures quite nicely.
Organizing Your Memories
There are several ways to organize a wedding scrapbook, and many layouts from which to choose. When putting together your wedding scrapbook, color is extremely important, as it will accentuate the photos and other material. Many people choose to use their own wedding colors, but you can choose other color combinations if you prefer. Even if you do choose to use your wedding colors, you may want to use other colors to add variety to your scrapbook pages and layouts. For example, if your colors were burgundy and green, you could add cream, light pink, or yellow to accent the darker colors. Putting different colors together will give your layouts a distinctive look and set them apart from other wedding scrapbooks.
Your wedding scrapbook should look elegant and charming, so you might want to add embellishments. These, as well as the right color scheme will make your wedding scrapbook unique and appealing. One option is to use vellum paper. Vellum looks elegant and is easy to find. Eyelets, brads, and ribbons are also suggested embellishments that will add character and personality to your wedding scrapbook.
Floral patterns also work great for wedding scrapbooks. They tend to match well with wedding décor, and lend themselves to the overall wedding theme. Your choices are numerous, so don't be afraid to experiment until you find the color scheme, embellishments, and patterns that work best for you.
There are many different themes you can use to capture the love and affection felt by everyone on your wedding day. One idea is to include marriage tips from more experienced individuals. These tips may serve as simple ideas or advice that might be useful to you and your spouse on down the road. Interesting anecdotes may also serve as a fun read. You can even incorporate this as an activity at your bridal shower or bachelor party, whereby, other married people write down their tips and give them to you for the scrapbook. You can also include photos of the married couples that will serve as captions for the tips.
Another wedding scrapbooking idea is to incorporate any interests of the bride and groom that may have been a part of the overall wedding theme. For example, some couples choose to make personal interests a part of their wedding. If you or your spouse to be enjoys playing golf, you may depict this at your wedding reception. Guests may be provided with wedding favors that are golf-related and have been customized for the event. You might want to devote a page or two in your wedding scrapbook to this, and include photos or items small enough to fit on a page. This is your opportunity to be as creative as possible, while making a wedding scrapbook that will truly record your very special day.
A More Personal Approach
You may want to create a wedding scrapbook that is not considered to be traditional. There are many ways to set yours apart from others, thereby, taking the untraditional route. When planning your wedding scrapbook, you should focus around your lives together, while catering to your individual personalities. If desired, you can include pictures of memorable events that took place before your marriage, their respective dates, and any photos you may wish to add. You may also want to include your spouse in the scrapbooking activities. This will allow both your personalities to come through, and will be something the two of you can work on together.
You can add mementos and items such as the wedding invitations, reception napkins or cards. Scrapbook stores sell memory pockets for these types of items, and are easy to incorporate in your wedding scrapbook. You also might want to include any congratulatory notes or cards from friends and family you may have received during your engagement. This will add a more personal touch, and will further personalize your scrapbook. It will also serve as a reminder of your feelings during such an anticipatory time.
No matter what you decide to include in your wedding scrapbook, choose carefully. Take as much time as you need when deciding on colors, a theme, and the various photos and items you will include. Your wedding scrapbook will be a very important part of your new family, and will help preserve memories for many years to come.
Michele Cardello, director of marketing and creative for Life Imprints, a wedding scrapbook [http://www.lifeimprints.com] and scrapbooking supplies company in Cleveland, Ohio, has worked in the photo packaging industry for 10 years. Cardello helps customers find creative ways to preserve and appreciate a lifetime of memories.
Debunking the Myths About Digital Scrapbooks
Many traditional scrapbookers resist the temptation to experiment with digital scrapping because of some prevalent myths about going digital. This article will debunk these notions and explain the advantages of dipping your toes in the digital scrapping world.
Digital Myth #1.
To create digital scrapbooks, I need to be a computer guru and learn complicated software.
Fact.
Today's digital scrapbooking software is easier than ever to use- even for the amateur. Most programs offer free 30-day trial downloads, which is generally enough time to give it a try. And while it might take a little time to learn, you'll find that the endless array of beautiful, innovative scrapbook designs and photo collage frames is well worth the minimal effort.
Digital Myth #2.
My digital scrapbooks will look amateurish because I lack experience with them.
Fact.
Even the beginner digital scrapper can produce professional-looking photo collages with the wide variety of easy-to-use scrapbook designs and collage frames available today. Electronically edited photos are of higher quality, computer text is consistently straight, and computer font is always legible. Generally, digital scrapbook pages look more professional than traditional creations and boost the pride scrappers feel in their projects.
Digital Myth #3.
Digital scrapbooking is more expensive than traditional scrapbooking.
Fact.
By switching to digital scrapbook designs, you can actually save yourself money ... and time. If you already own a computer, all you need to buy is the scrapbook layout software and digital scrapbook kits, which are fairly inexpensive. The equivalent in paper, scissors, glue, embellishments and albums is far more expensive, and once you use them, they're gone. Digital scrapbook designs and collage frames, on the other hand, can be used indefinitely. Think of the money you'll save on gas driving to and from the craft stores, and the money you could save on gifts by giving personalized photo collages to friends and family.
Digital Myth #4.
Switching to digital scrapbook designs will limit my creativity.
Fact.
You can take your creativity to exciting new levels with the variety of digital scrapbook designs and collage frames available now. Choose any design you like and turn it into just about anything you want. You can mix and match or create your own unique styles. Adjust the colors, sizes, patterns, arrangements ... add audio and even video... your options are limitless.
Digital Myth #5.
I don't have time to learn how to make digital scrapbooks.
Fact.
Today's digital scrapbooking software programs are so user-friendly and intuitive that they make learning them a breeze. Once you get the hang of it, digital scrapbooking is a great timesaver. Correcting mistakes, editing, moving items around and revising are much easier and quicker to do digitally than they are by hand. You can size and resize your backgrounds and photo collage frames with a few simple mouse clicks and create beautiful keepsakes in no time.
Digital Myth #6.
I need to own a digital camera to create digital scrapbooks.
Fact.
Even if you only have a film camera, you can still create digital scrapbooks by scanning your images onto a computer or having your film images put on a CD. And you can finally put to use those electronic photos your friends and family members have e-mailed to you. Of course, with today's digital camera prices going down all the time, you may find you'd like to buy a digital camera anyway!
Digital Myth #7.
If I move to digital scrapbooks, I'll have to give up the traditional art of scrapbooking and the social and bonding aspects that come with joining my friends and family in making scrapbooks.
Fact.
On the contrary, digital scrapbooking broadens social circles. Many digital scrappers get together to share their digital resources and knowledge about editing programs. They go to scrapbook conventions and meet others in online digital scrapbooking chat rooms. Plus, you can take advantage of the digital scrapbook's ability to help you keep in touch with faraway friends and relatives via e-mail, Web sites and easily printed copies of scrapbook pages that you can mail to them. You can also burn them to CDs and DVDs.
Of course, you can still make traditional albums and consider integrating your digital scrapbook designs into them. And as you learn new techniques and tricks digitally, you're apt to spark your creativity with traditional scrapbooking.
You don't need to become an expert digital scrapbooker overnight. Start out small by making a simple digital photo album, then work your way up to a full-fledged scrapbook. Happy scrapping!
Digital scrapbooking diva Sasha Byers explores the world of documenting memories digitally, providing insight and ideas on how to create digital photo collages and scrapbooks. She offers tips on scrapbooking important events, travels and major life periods such as childhood, school athletics and a child's transition out of the nest. She also debunks common myths about digital scrapbooking and addresses frequent questions on this popular new hobby. Sasha's blogs provide answers, tips and digital scrapbooking ideas to help you create sharper, more attractive scrapbooks in half the time.
Connect with other photo collage enthusiasts at the Artopia Photo Collage Maker Community.
Share your scrapbook pages and download others at the Artopia Photo Collage Maker Community.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Starting a Successful Creative Scrapbooking Business, Part III
Every scrapbook is unique and inviting; as a creative scrapbooking professional, your marketing should be as eye-catching and irresistible as your creations. Even if you have only a few hundred dollars to spend, you can absolutely woo clientele using grassroots methods to showcase your creative scrapbooking acumen.
Educate Others in the Art Form of Creative Scrapbooking
One of the fastest ways to turn yourself from an unknown scrapbooker into a creative scrapbooking "expert" is to teach a class on the art of creating a fabulous, memorable scrapbook.
Though you might initially be wary that if you tell others your creative scrapbooking "secrets", they won't use your creative scrapbooking business, that usually doesn't happen. Instead, what occurs is that your students see you as a professional in the arena of scrapbook design and development. Thus, when they want an important scrapbook (e.g., for their daughter's Bar Mitzvah or husband's retirement celebration), they will immediately think of you. After all, they might enjoy creative scrapbooking, but they don't necessarily feel confident enough to construct a special scrapbook on their own.
You can work with many community centers, schools, college campuses, and libraries to offer your creative scrapbooking courses. Expect to spend a bit of money on advertising, room rental (though you can often snag a free space if you're a start-up), and creative scrapbooking paraphernalia, though it's still much less of an investment than if you paid for a full page, 4-color ad in the Sunday paper.
Write About Scrapbooking
Another way to become an instant creative scrapbooking "guru" is to write articles or tips about creative scrapbooking. Sometimes, smaller community papers will print such items as "filler" for their circulars. Alternately, if a local sewing center or arts and crafts store offers a newsletter to patrons, you might be able to become a "guest columnist." (Or perhaps you can offer to write your own "creative scrapbooking newsletter" gratis if they agree to pass it out to consumers.)
Will you receive a ton of creative scrapbooking business from this type of subtle "marketing"? Probably not. But you will be building your reputation as your area's premier creative scrapbooking authority. You will also be able to tell prospective customers that you've published items on the topic of creative scrapbooking, always an impressive credential to tout (and a resume booster as well.)
Start a Scrapbooking Blog and/or Web site
In today's cyber society, blogs and Web sites are fairly inexpensive, so there's no reason not to get online and start talking about your creative scrapbooking know-how and burgeoning creative scrapbooking company.
For example, you could quickly set up a blog 100% devoted to the tricks of the creative scrapbooking trade in an effort to attract persons from around the world to your site. Though most of them won't become clients, you stand to gain instant exposure. And who knows? The family down the street may wind up stopping by your creative scrapbooking Web site and hiring you to redo their three sons' baby books!
Never Stop Selling Yourself or Your Scrapbooking Abilities!
It's critical that you never stop selling yourself and your creative scrapbooking business if you are serious about succeeding in this infant industry with huge profit potential.
This may mean stepping out of your "comfort zone" and becoming a master at self-promotion. If you have an innate fear of networking, it's time to overcome your worries and learn how to shake some hands. Remember that you won't be the first entrepreneur who took a plunge into the unknown.
To become a better press generator on behalf of your creative scrapbooking business, you'll have to force yourself to try again and again. However, if the process becomes achingly difficult and hampers your desire to scrapbook, it may be time to hire someone to promote your business on your behalf. Yes, this is a "last ditch" measure, but if it keeps your dream alive, it's worth the cost to bring on a partner who isn't afraid of a good sales pitch. (And many individuals will work with start-ups on a commission basis, which is terrific news for your budget!)
A Final Note about Ethics and Your Scrapbooking Venture
Though it's imperative that you keep up standards and operate ethically and legally (the tax man will cometh whether you like it or not!), that doesn't mean you can't be innovative. Constantly seek out ways to differentiate yourself from other scrapbook artists and allow yourself to grow personally and professionally.
Love your work, and that positive attitude mingled with creative scrapbooking talent will draw customer inquiries and have you wondering why you didn't begin your creative scrapbooking company sooner.
Michele Cardello, director of marketing and creative for Life Imprints, a creative scrapbooking [http://www.lifeimprints.com] supplies company also offering contemporary picture frames, in Cleveland, Ohio, has worked in the photo packaging industry for 10 years. Cardello helps customers find creative ways to preserve and appreciate a lifetime of memories.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Scrapbooking - Organize a Special Room
Scrapbooking can be addictive. Creative individuals, browsing a scrapbooking supply store, often find themselves purchasing items for which they have no present use or future plan. A particular pack of paper is too pretty to resist. A certain embellishment is new and exciting. A kit would be just right if a friend has a baby sometime. Eventually, the scrapbooking supplies begin to overflow a box. Then they overflow two boxes. Papers become dog-eared or torn. It's time to organize.
Such people eventually reach a point where they begin to despair, and question how to organize a scrapbook room. They don't want to give up the craft, but it takes so much space.
Perhaps you find yourself in the same predicament. Maybe you are wondering how to organize your scrapbook room.
How to Organize a Scrapbook Room
Wondering how to organize a scrapbook room, you may have started sorting supplies into separate boxes. That kept them organized, but not readily accessible. Also, the scrapbooking tools weren't in boxes.
Perhaps these suggestions will help.
Divide a scrapbook room into two areas. The first area will be for working on scrapbooks. The second will be for storage.
1. Work Area: This area will need a scrapbooking table or desk. The scrapbooking work area should be large enough to hold a large album, papers, photos, other elements, and tools. If you enjoy working with other family members or friends, select a scrapbooking table that provides space for 3 or 4 workers. Provide comfortable chairs for your scrapbook room so that your back is supported while working. Good lighting is also essential in a scrapbooking work area. Add a big wastebasket!
2. Storage Area: Adequate, organized storage in a scrapbook room will make your work easier and keep your supplies fresh and clean. There are many ways to store scrapbooking supplies. You can purchase furniture made especially for scrapbook rooms. Scrapbooking desks offer drawers of various sizes to fit the most common supplies. Scrapbooking paper storage units are often similar to those used in large offices. Clear plastic bins that stack are very useful. You will need different kinds of storage for different products so they will stay organized.
Once you have divided your scrapbook room and acquired the necessary furnishings, it is time to organize things.
Scrapbooking albums are probably your largest items. Keep them on a bookshelf where you can easily select the one on which you want to work. If you have more than one size, arrange them by height to give your scrapbook room an organized look to go with your organizational efforts. If you have idea books or instructional books on scrapbooking, put them on the bookshelf. Magazines can be stored there, too. Magazine holders from am office supply store will keep them tidy.
Scrapbooking papers and cardstock are the next largest items. These can be organized in a Paper Station such as scrapbooking stores use. Or store them in clear stacking plastic bins. Sort all of your papers and get them safely out of the way before moving to another scrapbooking element.
Sort your paper and cardstock in a way that fits your creativity. Some people sort by color, placing all blues in one location, yellows in another, etc. Others prefer to sort according to occasion. Papers related to nostalgic themes go together. Papers that fit a sports theme go in another storage bin. Baby scrapbooking paper goes in a third.
Once papers are sorted and put in storage bins or drawers, label the bins so that you will know at a glance what is in each.
Kits should be stored separately from your paper and cardstock. Your scrapbook room might have a dedicated box or drawer just for kits. Keep them in their wrappers if you want to be sure you have all the pieces when you are ready to use them. Label your kit box or drawer.
Ribbons can tangle and fray if not stored properly. Invest in a ribbon holder for your scrapbook room - more than one if you have a lot of ribbons. Make sure each roll is tidy, and store them on the ribbon holders. You may want to organize these by color also. If you are putting them in a box or drawer, attach a label.
Your scrapbook room is probably looking better by now. The small things are left, though, and they can cause clutter. Take time to sort through all of the stickers, embellishments, eyelets, brads, and other items. Once they are sorted, place each in an appropriate drawer or box, and label them. A scrapbooking desk is especially convenient for these small items. Its many drawers and nooks will soon have the scrapbook room well organized.
One essential in a scrapbook room is a place for tools. If they are on your table or desk, you may not have space to work. Put them away.
Helpful Tip
Still wonder how to organize a scrapbook room? Remember the old maxim: A place for everything and everything in its place. Put things away when you're done and it will stay organized.
©2007, Anna Hart. Anna Hart invites you to read more of her articles about scrapbooking at http://www.scrapbooking-for-fun.com. Anna is posting new articles regularly on that site. You won?t want to miss her recent article on scrapbooking with a designer's eye.
Top 10 Reasons to Digitize Your Scrapbook
Digital scrapbook pages have become all the rage in scrapbooking. Even diehard traditional scrappers have begun to integrate some digital scrapbook pages into their layouts and albums. More and more, they're realizing it's an exciting, yet simple way to expand and enhance creativity while helping to preserve their memories for generations to come.
To create your first digital scrapbook pages, you don't need to be a computer guru, nor do you have to learn complicated software.
Moreover, unlike traditional scrapbooking, digital scrapbook layouts enable you to easily try out different types of backgrounds, designs and embellishments before you commit. Anything you do to your page can be redone many times over without wasting time, effort and money. And that's only the beginning of the advantages that going digital has to offer the modern-day scrapper.
Top 10 Reasons to Go Digital
1. Timesaver
Implementing digital scrapbook pages will save you time. It's no longer necessary to print your pictures before you put them into your scrapbook pages. Just download your digital pictures to your computer or scan your hard copy photos. You can buy premade scrapbook layouts with spaces for your photos and then simply drag and drop your digital pictures onto the scrapbook pages. No need to redo handmade scrapbook pages; no need to spend hours going from one store to another looking for the right color paper.
2. Tidier
Traditional scrappers have required a permanent space in their homes for their volumes of paper, ribbon, lace and other embellishments, along with unfinished projects vulnerable to accidents. Digital scrapping means no mess on your dining room table, no need for extra physical storage space, no cutting your photos. Save all your layouts and supplies directly to your computer or external storage device.
3. Greener
Digital scrapbook pages allow you to literally reuse any digital scrapbook element as many times as you like, so say goodbye to buying extra paper to avoid running out of a certain pattern or color. Goodbye to the glue and piles of leftover paper scraps and unrecyclable materials. Good riddance, reject scrapbook pages- you can quickly fix them before printing!
4. Cheaper
If you already own a computer, all you need to buy is the scrapbook layout software and digital scrapbook kits, which are fairly inexpensive and include paper and embellishments. The equivalent in physical materials is far more expensive, and once you use them, they're gone. Digital kits can be used indefinitely. And because there's no need to spend hours going from one store to another looking for the right color paper, you'll save money in gas too!
5. Goof Proof
Photos are often the most precious items in your scrapbooks, so why risk butchering them with scissors? With digital scrapbooking, there's no chance of destroying the only photo you have of your mom's mom's mom. Scan the photo and make as many copies as you like. Digital scrapbook pages allow you to experiment with infinite combinations until they look just the way you want. And if you misspell a word in your journaling, you're free to correct it without damaging your scrapbook layouts.
6. Photo Doctor
Basic photo editing programs allow you to restore old photos to make them look just like new. Conversely, you can take current photos and make them looked aged. Vanish wrinkles, blemishes and moles, and fix that pervasive red eye. Resize, crop, sharpen, and correct lighting. Nearly every photo you take can be improved with a little doctoring.
7. Professional
Cropped photos always have perfect edges, computer text is always straight, and computer font is always legible! Digital scrapbook pages look professional and boost the pride we feel in our creations.
8. Versatile
Take any design you like and turn it into just about anything you want. Adjust the colors, sizes, patterns, arrangements ... your options are limitless.
9. Easy to Share
One of the biggest advantages of digital scrapbook pages is that they can be easily shared in so many ways. Print multiple copies to share with family, upload pages to a family Web site or blog, or e-mail pages to relatives wherever they live.
10. Endless Supplies
You'll always have what you need in the right size, color and style, and you'll never need to worry about running out of glue. With digital scrapbook layouts, you'll always have the supplies you need.
With both traditional and digital scrapbook layouts, you're limited by only one thing: your imagination. If you're a scrapper, you owe it to your craft to try digital scrapbooking! An infinite assortment of exciting new scrapbook layouts awaits, and it's only a few clicks away.
Digital scrapbooking diva Sasha Byers explores the world of documenting memories digitally, providing insight and ideas on how to create digital photo collages and scrapbooks. She offers tips on scrapbooking important events, travels and major life periods such as childhood, school athletics and a child's transition out of the nest. She also debunks common myths about digital scrapbooking and addresses frequent questions on this popular new hobby. Sasha's blogs provide answers, tips and digital scrapbooking ideas to help you create sharper, more attractive scrapbooks in half the time. Learn more about our photo collage maker at the Artopia Photo Collage Maker Community. Connect with others and share your scrapbook layouts at the Artopia Photo Collage Maker Community.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Scrapbooking Techniques For Your Scrapbook Albums
Lets begin by asking ourselves, "What are Scrapbooking Techniques?". Let's distinguish this two-word phrase. Scrapbooking is a way of preserving,keeping and saving your precious memories in the form of scrapbook layouts or scrapbook pages. This layouts ranges from different sizes but the 12x12 and 8.5x11 layouts are the common choices of scrapbookers. I personally like 8x8 scrapbook layouts.
Techniques,in any case, are steps/ways implemented to perform or materialize a definite objective.
In short, Scrabooking Techniques are formula and application needed to put your scrapbooking into fulfillment/attainment.
Observe that I put emphasis on fulfillment/attainment. This explains that these techniques fulfill your need to scrap those memories in your scrapbook pages.
And because you are the one who determine on what to capture from your moments in daily lives, scrapbooking techniques that can be applied in your scrapbook layouts are infinite. The only limit is the sky! You make unique scrapbook layouts, hence unique techniques.
Scrapbooking Techniques dismay many scrapbookers specifically tyro scrappers. You must take into consideration the following points to assure to yourself that these are for everybody.
1. Scrapbooking Techniques are explained as techniques used to make scrapbook layouts.
If you used embossing in your scrapbook page, then you just helped yourself and dove in the world of scrapbooking.Where I am pointing at? You are the only person who can determine what techniques are perfect for your scrapbook pages. Therefore, rooms for improvements are inspired.
2. Remember that YOU are the artist of your scrapbook page.
It is common to artist to have own definition and techniques on how a scrapbook layout should be finished. Hence, your techniques are always accepted and heartened.
3. Don't compromise to try techniques that is not your cup of tea.
Even though a specific technique is the current trend,who cares? You are constructing your "life memories scrapbooks" and your variety should not be reliant on what others are making but with how you visualize your scrapbook layouts. Scrapbooking will not be as advance as it is now if all scrapbookers would work on same techniques.
4. Refine old scrapbooking techniques.
People are incomparable with each other. Thus, scrapbookers have specialized groove and inclination. Harness your own choice, preferences, priority and scrapbook page ideas on your scrapbook layouts. Don't ambition to perfect these techniques. Instead refine scrapbooking techniques to match your inclination and creative talents.
5. Be persistent with scrapbooking.
Be understanding to yourself while you study and research more about scrapbooking. Don't frustrate yourself by expecting to learn everything in one night.
6. Provoke yourself by making your own Scrapbooking Techniques.
Increase your awareness by letting yourself in creating your own techniques. Moreover, time is an important factor. Don't be discouraged if you couldn't make outstanding and excellent techniques.
7. Rejuvenate the scrapbooking techniques in you.
Scrapbook page ideas that uses scrapbook techniques set your mind and body to produce and execute more of these techniques. Therefore, focus on reinforcing your talents and work on your impotent aspects. I will discuss more on establishing these skills in my next article.
My name is Ramintessah Aihara. I mainly blog about scrapbooking techniques for scrapbook layouts and my other crafty ideas at Scrapbooking Techniques For Scrapbook Layouts.
Making Use of Scrapbooking Supplies
Scrapbooking tools are essential to creating a successful scrapbook. The supplies for scrapbooking are what make your scrapbook come to life. What most people don't know is that there are many ways that you can use ordinary scrapbook supplies and do something extraordinary with them. I'm going to walk you through a few tips and tricks of scrapbooking, and teach you techniques to come up with your own scrapbooking ideas!
Take a rubber stamp, a scrapbooking material that every scrapbooker should have. You can use this scrapbooking tool to stamp images beside your photographs, or you can take it a step further by stamping a collage on solid-colored scrapbook paper to create a custom scrapbook page layout background. Also, you can color in your stamped images to bring them to life and make them pop out more on your scrapbook page.
Another scrapbooking tip to make use of your supplies for scrapbook is using scrapbook templates creatively. It's easy to become stumped while using this scrapbooking material. You can decorate around a photo, or even the border of a page. These scrapbook supplies can be used to draw an area the put your scrapbook journaling in, also. One other useful technique for scrapbook templates is for making a page header. There are many attractive letter templates that make for beautiful scrapbook page headers, or even write words around the border of a page with the letter template.
You can do creative things with a pair of scissors, also. Although decorative scissors with different patterns on the edge are nice, they are not a necessity of scrapbooking supplies. Cut mats for photos with creative borders, or use them with templates to cut out letters and other things to give a 3D effect on your scrapbook page.
Those are just a few of the many ways you can use scrapbook supplies. Be creative with your scrapbooking tools. To come up with original ways to use your supplies for scrapbooking, simply look at what others have done. Take ideas that you like, and alter them to fit your scrapbook. Use scrapbook tools in any way that you like. There are no rules.
Test your ideas out on scrap paper before you actually put it into your scrapbook. This way, you can see if you really like the idea or not, and tweak the design a bit to your liking. If you come up with something that you like, but don't know when you will use it, write it down for later reference.
Remember that there are no rules to using your scrapbooking materials and scrapbook supplies. Be creative!
There are all sorts of scrapbooking materials online [http://www.start-scrapbooking.com/suppliesreview.html]. T. Ashley has been scrapbooking for many years, along with teaching other to scrapbook, and is also the founder of and maintains [http://www.start-scrapbooking.com]
Friday, September 23, 2011
5 Reasons You Should Be Scrapbooking
Do you need a new creative outlet? Do you have pictures of your children and your family just sitting around in various boxes, and plain old photo albums? Do you not have a lot of money to spend on hobbies? Perhaps scrapbooking is the right hobby for you. Five reasons that you should try scrapbooking are outlined here.
Do you wish you had a unique way to document your family's memories? Do you have beautiful pictures of your children that look plain sitting in a traditional picture frame? If you do, you should create a scrapbook. In fact, five reasons why you should at least give scrapbooking a try are outlined below.
1 Scrapbooking Is Easy
You've probably been to a craft show, and you've seen several crafts there, that just look too difficult for you to attempt. Scrapbooking is a craft, but it is not a difficult one. Creating a scrapbook is very easy to do. You may find that the hardest part is choosing which of your photos to use. You may very well choose to use them all, and create several scrapbooks.
To make a scrapbook, you purchase an album that is very much like a regular photo album. You'll mount your photos and other memorabilia on the blank pages inside. You can then use markers, stickers, colord paper, or other embellishments to turn those blank pages into something unique. It's that easy.
2 Scrapbooking Makes A Great Hobby
Many people find that scrapbooking is an addicting hobby. You may very well be the same way. You'll start creating a scrapbook, and you will not want to stop. As you get better and better at scrapbooking, you may well find yourself enjoying it more and more.
Scrapbooking is also a good hobby for children. Even young children, with some help, can make a scrapbook. If you enjoy making scrapbooks, you may want to involve your children as well. You can have them help you create your scrapbook, or let them start their own scrapbooks. Scrapbooking is a fun, safe, and creative activity for your children.
3 Scrapbooking Supplies Are Not Expensive
Most hobbies and crafts have some expense associated with them, some more than others. With woodworking for example, you can spend a lot of money on tools and lumber to build even a small piece of furniture. Scrapbooking, on the other hand, is extremely inexpensive. You can purchase scrapbooking supplies very cheaply from craft stores, from dollar stores, and from many online sources.
You don't have to start with a big scrapbooking kit. You can start small, and expand your scrapbooking kit after you've gotten some practice. You can find scrapbook albums at your local craft store for $5-$10. Some acid free glue and some markers will only set you back a few more dollars. You can then pick up some printed scrapbook sheets for less than a dollar, or you can make your own with construction paper.
4 Scrapbooking Options
The options available in scrapbooking are another good reason to get into this hobby. You may think that scrapbooking involves a lot of cutting and gluing. If you want to put together a traditional scrapbook, yes, this is true. You will need to do some cutting and gluing. In these modern times, however, you also have the option of creating a digital scrapbook.
You'll find several options for digital scrapbooking software, some are free, while others will need to be purchased. Hundreds of background pages are available, and with a lot of digital scrapbooking software, you can add in your own pictures. Digital scrapbooks are easy to create, and easy to share with others.
5 Uses For Scrapbooks
You can certainly create a scrapbook for your own personal use, to save pictures and memories that are important to you. You have many other options, however. If you're a new parent, you can use a scrapbook to document the life of your child, from birth through graduation and beyond. You can make scrapbooks to celebrate an wedding, graduation, anniversary, or many other occasions. A scrapbook would make a great gift to a couple for a landmark anniversary, such as the 25th or 50th.
Photos may look nice when they are framed, or placed into a photo album, but there is just so much more that you can do with them. Placing those photos into a scrapbook provides a unique way to treasure your memories, and to pass them on to others.
Be sure to visit Scrapbook Resources & Supplies for more scrapbooking ideas and resources.
Evolution of the Scrapbook
What are the roots of today's digital scrapbook? A scrapbook is a visual method of storytelling to preserve a legacy of history in the form of photographs, printed media and memorabilia presented artistically in decorated albums. The digital scrapbook can be traced back to ancient Greece, where a special notebook known as a "hypomnemata" was used to record events people had heard, seen or read that they wanted to preserve and remember.
In early America, some of the most well-known scrapbookers included Thomas Jefferson and Mark Twain. An avid scrapbooker, Mark Twain devoted entire Sundays to the hobby and then sold his books through Montgomery Ward.
In the 15th century, books called commonplace books, often used by students, were used to record prayers, poems and information such as weights and medical formulas. Eventually, commonplace books also held illustrations, newspaper clippings and recipes, and proved to be a valuable way to share information.
With the advent of photography, scrapbooks began to feature mounted photos with handwritten captions. A scrapbook layout might include letters, newspaper articles and other mementos. Young women in the Victorian period created memory books, friendship albums or visitor's albums containing signatures, cards, locks of hair, poetry and pictures of their family and friends to give as gifts or preserve memories.
The Traditional Scrapbook
In the United States, Utah's Marielen Christensen is often credited with reviving interest in scrapbooking. She began designing creative pages and three-ring binders for her family's photo memories and displayed them at the World Conference on Records. She and her husband published a how-to book, Keeping Memories Alive, and opened a scrapbook store in 1981 that remains open today.
The traditional art of scrapbooking has often brought women together socially to make scrapbooks and share their work and memories. These hobbyists, known as scrapbookers or scrappers, still gather at each other's homes, local scrapbook stores, scrapbooking conventions and retreat centers. The term "crop," a reference to cropping or trimming printed photos, was coined to describe these events.
In the late 1990s, many U.S. scrappers opened stores to turn their hobby into a business. Between 2001 and 2004, the scrapbooking industry doubled in size to $2.5 billion, with more than 1,600 companies creating scrapbooking products by 2003. In America, the hobby has surpassed golf in popularity: One in four households has a golf enthusiast; one in three has a scrapbooking enthusiast!
Scrapping Goes Digital
Naturally, scrapbooking has modernized with the computer age. Creating a digital scrapbook is the process of using a scrapbook layout to create pages using photo- or image-editing software. Digital scrappers import electronic photos and scrapbooking graphics into their image-editing programs and arrange them to create digital scrapbook pages.
Digital scrapping was inspired by the methods, style and culture of traditional scrapbooking. Today's scrapbook layout and computer programs are designed to capture the look and feel of traditional scrapbooking and provide creative control over all the elements--even ones on premade templates.
And the social element remains intact in the digital scrapping world. Many digital scrappers get together to share their digital resources and knowledge about editing programs. They read blogs, attend scrapbook conventions and meet others in online digital scrapbooking chat rooms and forums. It's easier than ever to share a digital scrapbook with anyone, anywhere!
Time and money savings are among other benefits digital scrapbookers realize over glue-and-paper scrapping. In addition, while a traditional scrapbook layout and photos can fade or yellow over time, a computer-generated scrapbook layout is archived in a digital format where it's kept safe from the effects of time, heat, oxidation and other factors. A digital scrapbook layout never loses its detail or color.
Another feature people love about the digital scrapbook is that they can add small notes or embellishments to each photo in the scrapbook layout to convey the story more vividly. This allows them to add their own creativity to the scrapbook layout.
With digital photography rising quickly, many scrapbookers edit all their photos on the computer before they ever put them in an album. They remove red eyes, crop distracting backgrounds and enhance the color of images, sharpening the overall effect of their digital scrapbook and giving it a professional look.
Traditional scrappers are realizing they don't have to learn programming to create a digital scrapbook or photo collage. This part of the digital scrapbook has been catered to by professionals and is served to the scrapper on a platter in the form of a premade template and scrapbook layout, often featuring themes carrying mass appeal.
Scrapbooking has come a long way since ancient Greece, but its purpose and effects remain the same, and the digital scrapbook will only boost the popularity of this ancient art, helping preserve special memories for centuries to come!
Digital scrapbooking diva Sasha Byers explores the world of documenting memories digitally, providing insight and ideas on how to create digital photo collages and scrapbooks. She offers tips on scrapbooking important events, travels and major life periods such as childhood, school athletics and a child's transition out of the nest. She also debunks common myths about digital scrapbooking and addresses frequent questions on this popular new hobby. Sasha's blogs provide answers, tips and digital scrapbooking ideas to help you create sharper, more attractive scrapbooks in half the time
Learn more about our photo collage maker at the Artopia Photo Collage Maker Community
Connect with others and share your scrapbook layouts at the Artopia Photo Collage Maker Community
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Free Digital Scrapbooking Themes
If you are a digital scrapbooking beginner, you probably have many questions. You like the idea of digital scrapbooking, but you don't want to sink a lot of money into it until you know whether it will be rewarding.
Definition of Digital Scrapbooking
Digital scrapbooking is the act of creating images, photos, journaling, and extra "touches" to preserve your memories in digital instead of physical form. Scrapbooking software is available free on the Internet, or you can use a standard Microsoft Word program.
Digital Scrapbooking Themes
Scrapbooking looks most professional when the entire publication has a theme. A digital scrapbooking theme helps you focus on one style, rather than have each page different. Once you have a central theme, you can set themes for individual pages. These should follow the main theme, but in smaller pieces. For example, an main vacation theme might have page themes of transportation, hotel, beach, restaurants, and activities. You can get free digital scrapbooking themes for both overall and individual pages.
Free Digital Scrapbooking Theme Kits
Free digital scrapbooking themes are available in kits at several Internet websites. You might combine similar themes, or use the elements for your own theme. For example, downloading two or three free digital scrapbooking theme kits that are focused on sports would give you elements to complete several coordinated, but different pages in a sports-themed work.
DIY Digital Scrapbooking Themes
Your status as a digital scrapbooking beginner does not mean you cannot approach digital scrapbooking themes as do-it-yourself projects. If you are willing to invest a little creativity, you will find an abundance of free digital scrapbooking themes on the Internet. One website gives the digital scrapbooking beginner many hints in their descriptions of themes for sale. Consider three of them.
1. Memories of school days will be placed on backgrounds specifically designed for school. Stop and think. What kind of background fits the description? Imagine back-to-school advertising. Pencils, books, backpacks, apples, desks, and alphabets spring to mind. With very little work, you can create your own backgrounds for free digital scrapbooking themes on school days.
Picture a page with a faded school building background. A large school bus sits in front of the building. A child's kindergarten photo fills one window. Friends' photos fill two more windows. A note about the first day of school is "tacked" to the page with a small, bright backpack graphic. Another page theme might begin with a background of alphabet letters or "spelling words" written in script and arranged at angles. Great for showing off a perfect spelling test, or photos of the spelling bee. The same letters, or bright trophies, could be added as embellishments. In a matter of moments, you have two free digital scrapbooking themes for school memories. Each is do-it-yourself. Each fits the mood you are trying to create.
2. A 50th wedding anniversary scrapbook might have a nostalgic, antique theme. Close your eyes and picture antique things. Imagine an antique store or a trunk of old clothing and faded letters. Lavender, satin ribbons, old lace, and antiqued paper come to mind. With imagination, you can create your own backgrounds for free digital scrapbooking themes on old memories.
A large photograph of a county fair, faded and antiqued, would make a great background page for photos of the dating couple and a ticket stub or two. Cotton candy or carousel horse embellishments could spice up the page. If it's a 2-page spread, a piece of an old love letter can be the journaling. Colorful photo mats in candy-striping will carry out the couple's happy feelings. A second page theme might be antique cars, a faded background of vehicle graphics setting the stage for photos of the couple's first car, or every car they ever owned. On a third page, clipart or photos of ornate mirrors could be repeated on a faded background. A single, enlarged mirror frame could frame the main wedding photo. Smaller mirrors, lace and ribbon elements could complete the theme. With a few minutes of thought, you have three free digital scrapbooking themes for your 50th wedding anniversary scrapbook.
3. If you want a digital scrapbook cowboy hat theme, begin by thinking of symbols you connect with that idea. Your background might be rodeo scenes, a desert, or the colors of the outdoors. You might make a page that looks like the inside of a stable. Hang rope on a board in the stable, and set a pair of cowboy boots on the floor. Scatter straw at the bottom. Then add your photos, tacked in place with small cowboy hat graphics. Be sure one photo shows the subject in a cowboy hat. Add rope letters to spell out a caption such as "Ride 'em, Cowboy!" A "scrap" of torn paper with the date, name, and a comment would be appropriate journaling so that future generations can fully appreciate the occasion. You have just given yourself another free digital scrapbooking theme.
Gleaning Digital Scrapbooking Themes
Another source of free digital scrapbooking themes is the website postings of those who are eager to share their own work. These are easily found by doing an online search. If you have a basic theme in mind, you can often glean themes for individual pages from the examples offered.
Scrapbook stores and magazines offer many themes, some digital. If you are creative, you can adapt non-digital themes with a little practice.
Final Tips on Digital Scrapbooking Themes
Wherever you get your digital scrapbooking themes, keep in mind that backgrounds should always complement the colors in the photographs that will go on each page. Journaling adds great interest. If you don't know what to write, think: who, what, where, when, why, and how. "Elements" are extra decorative objects added to the page. Scrapbook Bytes offers many free, downloadable elements.
© 2007, Anna Hart. Anna Hart invites you to read more of her articles about paper and digital scrapbooking themes at http://www.scrapbooking-for-fun.com Anna is posting new articles every week on that site. You won?t want to miss her recent article on free digital scrapbooking frames.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Various Scrapbooking Tools You Need to Start Scrapbooking Now
Scrapbooking can be a very challenging task for the beginner. For one thing, you need creativity in order to form an attractive work of art. You also need to think up a definite theme which forms the spine of the scrapbook. The things you put within the scrapbook also should be arranged in such a way that their significance is unmistakable. With all these complexities, many people would be hard-pressed to finish a scrapbook without the correct tools.
So what tools would you actually need to put a scrapbook together?
1 ) Scissors. Everybody knows what scissors are, right? Well, here's a allegory for the scissors in scrapbooking. Scissors are like bringers of order. Scissors shape the small bits of paper into forms that you may use in your scrapbook. This scrapbooking tool is very important in making pieces fit together. A few individuals may refuse to chop the bits of paper, but only thru this, can the scrapbook be finished.
In that sense, two scissors can symbolize the honest truth. Why, you ask? Well, the truth hurts [*T]. But it has got to hurt, does not it? It has to hurt if it is to set you free.
There are two specific types of scissors you can use as scrapbooking tools:
A ) Standard paper-cutting scissors. These scissors are made to chop and to chop straight. This is the type of scissors folks encounter from the start of their infancy. You have to be able to trust your scissors to chop straight, as it just looks ugly if you unintentionally use dull scissors and screw up the cut of the paper.
B ) Creative scissors. This type of scissors can be bought at different art supply shops. These scissors are markedly formed to produce different types of cuts. Using this scrapbooking tool can be a full lot more practical than trying to follow a pattern using straight-cutting scissors. You see, using conventional scissors can provide you with carpal tunnel thanks to the stress your fingers will be taking. And that's not good at all, is it?
2 ) A punch, also called a hole punch. This nifty scrapbooking tool is used typically to punch holes into paper. There are, once again, 2 types of punchers available out there:
A ) Conventional punch. This type of puncher produces round holes. Strangely enough, this type of puncher wasn't designed as a scrapbooking tool, but as an office supply. For those of today's generation, files are known as the thing you keep documents in your PC. for people, files consist of vital papers and documents which are organized together. Punchers were used to put holes into those documents to accommodate a fastener. Punchers are used today to make perfect circles on scrapbooking pages.
B ) Formed punch. This kind of puncher, just about works in the same manner as the conventional puncher. However, the edges of the punching mechanism take different shapes to accommodate your creating needs. This scrapbooking tool is used to make different shaped holes in the pages of the scrapbook.
3 ) Tweezers. Tweezers are typically used as scrapbooking tools in order to enable the crafter to put in a design or to glue in a bit of paper tidily. You see, when making a scrapbook, you'll be working with different materials together with a large amount of glue. Due to this, there's a heavy risk of you smudging the different footage of the scrapbook. Tweezers are glorious scrapbooking tools to maintain the cleanliness of your handiwork.
4 ) Computer. This can be a brilliant scrapbooking tool due to the fact that it can do a whole host of things. On the PC, you can do research on what scrapbooking theme to use. This implies you are given more resources on the types of different themes and the ways that you can incorporate them in your scrapbook. You may use the computer to get more photographs to put in your scrapbook. By utilizing the PC, you get all a benefit of modern technology and can therefore, make your scrapbook into anything you like. But, more importantly it allows you to explore digital scrapbooking software.
Scrapbooking tools permit people to have a less complicated time crafting their scrapbook pages. However, you need to remember that in some cases mistakes actually make a scrapbook more personal and make you, the scrapbooker more touchable. Mistakes show the human side of you. Like the memories you show on a scrapbook, the making of it shouldn't always be perfect, but it should be fun.
C. Gibson is a scrapbooking and photography enthusiast who loves scrapbooking for friends and family. If you are interested in digital scrapbooking software or scrapbook storage she highly recommends these places.
50 Ideas to Get Organized and Enjoy Your Scrapbooking Hobby
Scrapbooking is a wonderful hobby! Besides being relaxing and fun, it also allows you to be creative and to spend quality time with your family and friends. Plus, it results in a storybook of lifelong memories.
One very important element of scrapbooking is getting it all organized. This includes, but is not limited to:
storing all of your supplies in an organized fashion so they can be found instantly when you need them.
remembering what supplies to pick up at the store, and eliminating duplicate purchases.
finding time to research new and creative ways to spruce up your scrapbooks.
finding enough time to enjoy the art of scrapbooking in your busy life.
TELL A STORY.
Plan your photos, before you shoot. Instead of taking random shots of someone standing here, or someone else sitting there, tell a story. For example, let's say it's Halloween. You may plan on taking four photos of your child:
on the hayride taking him/her to the pumpkin field.
looking for a pumpkin.
finding a pumpkin.
with the carved pumpkin later.
GREAT PHOTOS.
Photos for your scrapbooks can be extra nice if you take a little bit of time to learn some basic photography. Visit http://www.kodak.com for a quick photography tutorial. Getting organized has a lot to do with preparation and this site is filled with helpful tips and ideas.
WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN.
Organized documentation is important for the serious scrapbooker. The main goal is to eliminate future questions such as "Who or what is that?", "Where and when was this photo taken?", and so on. Document photos as you're taking them, so you'll know exactly what is on each roll of film. That way you'll be prepared when you're ready to organize the photos in your scrapbooks.
TAKE CARE OF THAT UNDEVELOPED FILM.
If you find rolls of film around your house that are ready to go to the developer, bring them today. You may consider mailing all of your film to a supplier such as http://www.mysticcolorlab.com so you don't have to spend time dropping off film or picking up photos. Simply mail your film out, and you'll get your photos back in the mail a week later. From now on, always get your film developed as soon as you take the used rolls out of your camera.
STORING PHOTOGRAPHS.
Once your photos are developed, you need a place to store them until you're ready to put them in your scrapbook. Keep them separated by year or event, in Ziplock bags. Label each bag with a number, and put a corresponding number on your Documentation Form. Then, store them in a photo box. Keep the box in a dry, cool place to protect your photos until you're ready to put the photos into your scrapbook.
ORGANIZING BOXES OF PHOTOS.
If you have boxes of photos that span from the beginning of the 1900's to now, it's time to start getting them organized. Schedule a day and time to begin sorting through them and stick with your appointment when the day rolls around. Get your kids, or friends, to help out. Begin by making piles, categorized by event or year. If you don't know the exact year, at least sort them by decade. This may take a little while, but once everything is separated, scrapbooking your photos will be much easier and more pleasant. Once they're all sorted, store your photographs as mentioned above.
WORK BACKWARDS.
If you're planning to scrapbook lots of photos from way back, start with the most recent photos you have, and work backwards. Chances are, you have a journal describing recent photos, and even if you don't, you can probably recall the details more easily. Older photos--the ones that you don't have a journal for--will take a little more thinking.
BABY STEPS.
If your scrapbooking hobby seems like a colossal job to you, it's not going to be fun. Don't feel like you have to put ALL of your photos into scrapbooks. You can always put the majority of your photos in acid-free photo albums or photo boxes where they will be safe. Choose a small set of photos to begin scrapbooking. Once you're done with this small set, you can then decide whether you want to dig into your photo albums or photo boxes and continue scrapbooking them, or leave those photos where they are, and simply scrapbook any new photos in the future.
DOUBLE PRINTS.
Double prints will do you no good if they're just sitting in your photo box taking up space. Do something with them. Perhaps send them to someone who is in the photograph. It's a great way to keep in touch. Or, pass the doubles onto your young children who may like to create their own scrapbooks. It's a great way for them to learn your beloved hobby and decide if they would like it to be a hobby of their own.
RELATED STUFF.
Sometimes, for the purpose of creatively decorating your scrapbook, you may wish to keep tickets, brochures, maps, postcards, and so on, that are related to a particular trip or event. Use manila file folders or catalog envelopes for this purpose. Label the folder/envelope so that you know which photos/Documentation Form it corresponds to. File these until they're ready to be used.
KEEPING IT ALL TOGETHER.
Already have a pretty good idea of stickers, diecuts, etc. that you're planning to use with a particular set of photographs? Keep them in the same Ziplock bag with the photos until you're ready to put them into your scrapbook. This way, everything will be in one place and ready to use.
STICKERS AND SHAPES.
Stickers and punched shapes can be kept in acid-free sheet protectors, plastic baseball card sheets, business card sheets, or even Ziplock bags that are 3-hole punched. Each sheet should be categorized and labeled by theme: birthday, Christmas, Halloween, wedding, springtime, etc. Insert these sheets into a 3-ring binder. If you have a large number of stickers and shapes, you may want to use index dividers labeled with general categories. For example, a general HOLIDAY category, may hold Easter, Christmas/Hanukkah, Halloween, etc., a general SEASONS category, may hold Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring, and so on.
TINY STUFF.
For very tiny diecuts and other small items, consider storing then in empty film canisters. The clear ones are best, but if you only have opaque ones, simply stick a label--or the actual diecut attached with a piece of tape-- on the canister indicating what is inside. Baby food jars serve the same purpose well.
PAPER.
Where do you keep all of that cool paper until you're ready to use it? You can get a plastic, portable filing container--research its composition to assure archival safety--that holds hanging file folders. Label the hanging files by theme or color. You may want to place a manila file folder into each hanging file folder, to keep your papers from curling. Or, you may buy file folder pockets or sheet protectors that fit into a 3-ring binder and store your papers inside each pocket, categorized and labeled. By the way, be very careful not to store acid-free paper with other paper.
STORAGE CONTAINERS.
Do a little bit of research and purchase a scrapbooking organizer, which will hold papers, supplies, etc. There are many products on the market that can help you keep it all together. Many office supply stores carry six-drawer organization stations. They're vertical and have 6 see-through drawers of equal size. Each drawer can be designated for a different purpose--papers, templates/diecuts, stickers, etc. Plus, they have wheels, which makes them very easy to transport from one room to another. Or, if you often bring your scrapbooking supplies outside of your home, such as to a friend's house, use a portable system that isn't too heavy or cumbersome, and comes with a handle.
STENCILS.
Put your stencils/templates into sheet protectors that can be purchased at any office supplies store. Then insert them into a 3-ring binder for easy access. By the way, you can store two templates in one sheet protector with a piece of paper in between each--white or colored depending on the color of your template. This will make it easier to see the designs and eliminate them from catching onto each other.
SUPPLY CADDY.
If you always scrapbook at home, use a kitchen utensil caddy with a number of divided compartments, like those you normally keep tall kitchen spoons, ladles, and spatulas in. The ones that spin will keep everything you need at your fingertips.
HANG IT UP.
If you're lucky enough to have a room specifically designated for your scrapbooking hobby, hang a large pegboard above your work area. You can then attach scissors, templates, crimpers, rulers, stencils and more, all within easy sight and reach. In addition, you might hang a small ledge or shelf nearby, to store all of your corner rounders, photo corners, and so on. If you prefer everything out in the open, this system will work like a charm.
RUBBER STAMPS.
Store rubber stamps in shallow, plastic containers, a rubber stamping organizer, or a plastic organizer with shallow drawers. Don't stack stamps. They should be stored in a single layer, so that you can always see the top of the stamp showing the design.
OTHER STORAGE IDEAS.
Fishing tackle boxes--with compartments and levels that expand and collapse--are wonderful for storing scrapbooking supplies and tools. Plastic tool boxes, with many see-through drawers are also great for this purpose.
SCRAPBOOKING MAGAZINES.
Is your closet full of scrapbooking magazines? There are a few things to do about this dilemma. 1) You can go through your magazines, find the articles you wish to keep and organize them into file folders by category. In other words, keep the article, toss the magazine. 2) Or you can keep the magazines in cardboard magazine boxes. If you do this, you should always keep a list of the title/issue of the magazine, the pages that interest you, and a few words describing why they interested you. This way, you can just scan your list, instead of going through the entire magazine to find what you're looking for. You can even use your computer and create the list in a word processing file. Then using the Find feature, you can simply search for key words in your document.
HOLD THAT THOUGHT.
Rather than keeping all those great scrapbooking ideas and tips in your head--you know, the ones you pick up from magazines, web sites, etc.-- keep a 3-ring binder with some notepaper inside for all your thoughts and ideas. Plus, when you see something in a magazine, you can simply tear the page out of the magazine, 3-hold punch it, and place it in your binder. The same goes if you see something on a web site that you wish to refer to later; just print it out and insert it into your binder. You can even separate the binder into a few different sections, such as page layout ideas, organizing ideas, neat tools/supplies, etc.
CHOOSE A DESIGNATED WORK AREA.
Scrapbooking is more fun and less of a chore, when everything is in one place and in close, accessible proximity to your working area. Designate a room, or a portion of a room, in your home for this activity. You should be able to retrieve your supplies, photos, etc. in seconds, without having to walk into another room, or rummage through a closet.
SHOPPING.
Use an organized shopping system so you remember what you want to pick up for your hobby --scissors, crimpers, papers, etc. This will also eliminate purchasing items that you already have. When you think of something you need, immediately put it on a SCRAPBOOKING PICK UP list, and bring this list with you when you go shopping. Using 3 inch x 5 inch index cards, make examples of your cuts and punches on them. Label and keep them in your day timer, or a tiny 3-ring binder. Bring these cards with you when shopping for scrapbooking items, and you'll never buy duplicates. This also works great for remembering what color pens/pencils you have. Just draw a line on your index cards and label them.
USE WHAT YOU HAVE FIRST.
Resist the urge to buy a million new papers, punches, and so on, until you've used some of the craft supplies you already have. Unless you're planning on opening a scrapbooking warehouse, it's best to be choosy before emptying your wallet on new items, when you already have items you could use in your current supply.
SHOP ONLINE.
You'll save a lot of time running back and forth to the store, if you commit instead to making your purchases online.
TRADE.
If you have something that you haven't used in a year or more, such as craft scissors, stickers, etc., swap them with a friend. Who knows? Perhaps your friend will find immediate use for this item, and you will get something you can use right now in return.
GOALS.
Always set goals for your scrapbooking hobby, perhaps one to two pages a week. This is especially necessary if you're creating a scrapbook for an upcoming special occasion.
PLAN.
Before you start working on your pages, plan ahead. Arrange your photos in chronological order and gather stickers, diecuts, etc. that correspond with your photos. Think about your layout and how you plan to document each photo. This will ensure you're going to be happy with the final results, and will reduce the need to redo things.
DO THE TWO STEP.
Step One: Assemble your pages with your photos, documentation and critical diecuts.
Step Two: Decorate with stickers, stamps, etc. The two-step process will help you get the critical part (step one) done faster, and then you can continue with the second step (less important) later on.
KEEP YOUR PAGES SIMPLE.
Although you may really feel the need for creating a work of art on occasion, if your goal is to get a scrapbook done as quickly as possible, keep it simple. Getting photos and documentation in the album is the main goal. Save your really creative moments for extra special scrapbooking projects. And remember, too much stuff on any one page, takes away from the photos.
QUICK COLOR SCHEMES.
Quickly, organize your scrapbooks with colors that compliment each other, by referencing a good color harmony book. You can pick one up at your local bookstore. They include hundreds of color combination examples. Color Harmony, by Hideaki Chijiiwa, is an excellent book for this purpose.
MULTI-TASKING.
Looking for a few minutes here or there to catch up on your scrapbooking? Take and make all your phone calls in the same room as your designated scrapbooking work area. Then, while you're on the phone with your friends or family, you can crop, frame or mount at the same time. Or, instead of making punches when you need them, make a bunch of punches at once while you're watching television, or are on the telephone, or when you're waiting for a pot of water to boil. This will save time later because your punches will be ready when you need them.
GET YOUR KIDS INVOLVED.
Many people like to get their kids involved with the actual project, such as arranging stickers, applying diecuts, etc. If you would rather your kids were not involved with the actual project, give them a project of their own. You can always find a few photos that you're not going to use in your scrapbook, some inexpensive paper, kid scissors, etc. Then have each child make their very own scrapbook. Either way, the kids will be occupied, which will give you time to enjoy your hobby.
ELIMINATE BICKERING.
If you have more than one child that is involved with a scrapbooking activity, get them each their own plastic storage box and/or accordion files to keep their own supplies in. This way, when they want to work on their scrapbook, all of their supplies will already be separated. You may even color code their supplies, plastic boxes, etc. so they always know which stuff belongs to them. For example, blue container, blue scissors and markers labeled in blue for Billy, and all pink for Sally.
FAMILY TIME.
Scrapbooking is a great way to spend some time with your family. Get the whole family involved and around the table at the same time. It's a great time to share ideas and dreams with each other. Can't seem to get the male family members involved? Perhaps they can sit at the table while the females are scrapbooking, and they could do something they enjoy at the same time. At least everyone will be together and having fun.
TEAM UP.
Scrapbooking is a great way to spend time with your friends and catch up with each other. Start a scrapbooking club and meet at each other's homes one day every few weeks. Make a party of it!
IDENTIFY.
The next time you get together with friends, or a scrapbooking club, put a little piece of colored tape on your scissors' handles, the sides of your punch tools, pens, etc. Then, everyone could share, but you'll be sure to get your tools back when it's time to go home.
DON'T TAKE THE KITCHEN SINK.
If you're going to be scrapbooking at a friend's home, take a few minutes to plan what you want to work on. By doing this, you will only have to carry those supplies you're going to use. In other words, if you're going to be working on a wedding theme, there's no reason to be carrying all of your holiday items with you.
CLEAR THE WAY.
If you are spending too much time looking for supplies, background papers, photos, frames, that great rubber stamp and so on, then, it's time to organize your work station. Declutter and toss out or trade those items you don't need, you don't like, etc. Organize your supplies into binders and storage containers. You should always be working on a clear surface, with only the current project in front of you.
CLEAN UP THE SCRAPS.
If there is a wastepaper basket right near your work station, all of the scraps that you're not planning on using can be tossed immediately. Don't leave trash on your work surface. If you visit a friend's home, you may want to carry along an empty tissue box so that all scraps can be discarded immediately, and make clean-up for your host quick and easy.
PUT IT AWAY.
Always have a home for your supplies, and when you're finished using them, take a few moments to put everything away. You should be able to start fresh with a clear mind and a clear surface.
BIG ITEM/SMALL ITEM.
Never place a big item over a smaller item, because if you do, it will be out of sight, and difficult to find quickly.
ERGONOMICS.
Organize your work area for increased productivity. Make sure it's well lit. Have a comfortable chair to sit on. Your supplies and tools should be within arms reach.
SAFETY.
Organize your scrapbooking with safety in mind. Use a protective covering for your table. Craft mats are great for cutting on. Scissors and other sharp tools should be face down in a holder, and out of a young child's reach.
MAKE IT EASY.
Different personality styles require different organization systems. Make sure you use an organization system you can live with--one that works with your style and that allows you to find things without delay. If you find things easier when they're alphabetized, then use that type of system. Perhaps you're better at finding things by color. Then use that system. Your organization system must work in harmony with your personality.
DON'T DO SO MUCH.
Finding the time for your scrapbooking and/or rubberstamping hobby can be difficult if you have too many things going on in your life. Reduce or eliminate the activities you don't truly enjoy. Reduce the activities of your children. Get on an organized cleaning schedule, so you're not wasting the entire weekend cleaning up. Make easier dinners that are healthy, but take half the time to prepare. Get your family to help out with household chores and obligations.
SPARE TIME.
Those spare minutes that we all have can be put to good use. Have to wait at the doctor's office for your appointment? Sketch out a quick layout idea. Waiting for the wash cycle to finish? Sort out some photos, or gather supplies for tomorrow's scrapbooking project.
WRITE IT DOWN.
Don't ever leave your home without a small notebook in hand. You're bound to come up with a thought, or a cute caption, for your scrapbook. If you don't write it down right away, you may forget about it. You may also want to keep a small pad and a pen right near your bedside, in case you have a bright idea in the middle of the night.
ENJOY!
Plan, organize and schedule some time to enjoy your creations with family and friends. Scrapbooking is all about fun, laughter, memories, and touching moments!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Setting Up Your Dream Scrapbooking Table
When we first think of embarking on the project of scrapbooking we immediately think about the materials that we will need to get the job done. The usual materials that come to mind are the actual scrapbook or the scrapbooking paper and the binder that will keep our scrapbook pages orderly and intact.
Then of course, one may think of the photographs or snapshots to be used along with other elements or "scraps" that will be used to enhance to the photos to be able to tell a story.
Certainly, great care will be taken in the considering what types of scrapbooking materials will be purchased. For instance, only acid-free materials will be used in the making of the scrapbook to ensure that the stories and memories recounted by the scrapbook project will remain intact and safe throughout the years.
After you have all the scrapbooking materials that you can think of like the scrapbook paper and binder, scrapbooking stickers and other scrapbooking items along with the snapshots to be used and some personal effects to enhance your layout, you're pretty much set to begin on the wonderful endeavor of your scrapbooking project right? Wrong.
Seldom thought of in the preparation for a scrapbooking project is the scrapbooking table. While you can use any surface to work on your scrapbooking project, it would be very ideal to have your own craft or scrapbooking table to be able to have the best output from your scrapbooking work.
After all, your computer has its own desk and the television set has it's own stand too. You might as well get a scrapbooking table that can be totally devoted to your scrapbook work.
The difference between having a scrapbooking table and using just any surface for your project is that a scrapbooking table is made specifically for that task and it will have the proper ergonomics that is needed to be able to do your scrapbooking projects comfortably.
It will also have the proper storage for all the scrapbooking materials and knick knacks that may be otherwise lost or damaged in any other type of storage. What's more, the scrapbooking table can be easily fitted with a scrapbooking lamp to allow you great visibility way into the night.
Another benefit to having a scrapbooking table is that you can rest assured that you will go undisturbed while you work on your project. There will be no having to set your materials and project aside to make room for dishes if in case you use the family table as the surface area to work your scrapbook on. If you work on the floor, you won't have to constantly make room or get in the way of people passing if you have your own scrapbooking table.
The best part is, it is not difficult to get a scrapbooking table. These are available from usual craft stores. What's more is that most craft tables are multi-faceted and double up as scrapbooking tables. This way, you can use your scrapbooking table for other types of crafts so that you can get more out of it.
Whatever the case, any scrapbooking project or endeavor will benefit from you having your own scrapbooking table to work on. Your scrapbooks are important and valuable and need the proper workspace and work environment to ensure comfortable execution all the time.
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Monday, September 19, 2011
Digital Scrapbook Flourishes
A digital scrapbook is an exciting project. With minimal mess, you can gather photos and memories into an electronic scrapbook. From there, you can share individual pages or the entire digital scrapbook via e-mail. You can save the digital scrapbook on CD. You can print your digital scrapbook - as many copies as you desire.
Digital scrapbook flourishes make your work look professional. Well-placed and limited in number, digital scrapbook flourishes can soften sharp corners and add feeling to any page.
Define Digital Scrapbook Flourishes
Digital scrapbook flourishes are decorative touches added to photos on the page of a digital scrapbook project.
As in writing, a flourish is an ornamental embellishment, added to make the page showier. Such embellishments appeared frequently in Victorian writing, but are now reserved for things such as certificates where calligraphy appears.
A digital scrapbook flourish might be a sweeping stem of flowers placed across the corner of a photo. It could be a circular "doodle" of intricately interwoven lines. Sometimes, digital scrapbook flourishes take a free art form, flowing loops of color or black sweeping onto the photo from opposite corners.
Brushes or Rubber Stamps
The forerunners of digital scrapbook flourishes are done with "brushes" in conventional scrapbooking. The term "brushes" can be misleading, however, as no artist's or painter's brush is involved. These decorative touches are added with rubber stamps in conventional scrapbooking.
Since digital scrapbooking is done solely on the computer, the "brushes" or "rubber stamps" may be previously created designs placed on the electronic page atop the photo. Another way of producing digital scrapbook flourishes is to use a digital brush to doodle or swirl a design onto the finished page.
Advantages of Digital Scrapbook Flourishes
Many advantages can be gained through the use of digital scrapbook flourishes. A page that is other wise little more than a simple photo album page gains interest, and tells a more complete story through the addition of flourishes. How do flourishes accomplish that?
1. Digital scrapbook flourishes give cohesiveness to a page. For example, a page that features two similar photos can look bare if the two photos sit alone on the background. Look at what a digital scrapbook flourish can do. A flourish can sweep between the photos, crossing one corner of each, and tying them together. A flourish can be echoed from one photo to the next. Place identical flourishes across matching corners to show the photos' relationship. A few small flourishes can flow between the photos, overlapping each photo slightly at one or two spots. All of these, and more, are ways to pull page elements together with digital scrapbook flourishes.
2. Digital scrapbook flourishes can also be used to convey emotion. A photo of a young girl, just home from her first dance, can become wistful and nostalgic if a spray of flowers floats across one corner. A photo of a boy's first baseball game recalls his excitement when a flourish of a trophy is added.
3. Finally, a digital scrapbook flourish can simply make a dull page showy. Think of an official royal decree. It would carry as much power on a plain piece of paper, provided it had the proper seal. But a flourish or two makes it showy - gives it importance. Digital scrapbook flourishes can do the same for your electronic page.
Sources for Digital Scrapbook Flourishes
The best source for digital scrapbook flourishes may be your own skill and a good computer graphics program. If you are comfortable with using such a program, and know your way around it, you can find many built-in flourishes, as well as tools to create your own flourishes.
If you do it yourself, you can create digital scrapbook flourishes from a bit of your digital scrapbook paper design. Simple capture the flower or design element you want for a flourish and "clean" it, removing unwanted background colors. Place the finished flourish on your page and see how well it ties in with the background. Change its color, if desired, for more contrast.
Most digital scrapbook software includes flourishes and embellishments. If you are using such a program, look for "brushes" or "stamps" to use.
Websites that retail digital scrapbook supplies will also have digital scrapbook flourishes. Look at their samples to get ideas. Purchase packages of digital scrapbook flourishes from them.
Helpful tip: When you come across a term such as "flourishes" in your digital scrapbook work, pursue it until you understand it. Understanding the "technical talk" is a big part of making a great digital scrapbook.
©2007, Anna Hart. Anna Hart invites you to read more of her articles about digital scrapbooking at http://www.scrapbooking-for-fun.com. Anna is posting new articles regularly on that site. You won?t want to miss her recent review of digital scrapbook software.
National Scrapbooking Day - 12 Ways to Celebrate
Scrapbookers have their own holiday. National Scrapbooking Day is the first Saturday in May. As the hobby has grown so has the popularity of this celebration of all things scrapbooking. Don't let the day go by without making it special. How can you celebrate? Here a just a few ideas to make this year's National Scrapbooking Day memorable.
1. Check out your local scrapbooking store to see what activities they are offering. Many local stores have sales, but quite a few offer make-and-take projects, special workshops, or crop time just for National Scrapbooking Day.
2. Learn a new scrapbooking technique. You can do this all on your own. Pick up a scrapbook magazine and try a new skill. It can be something simple or complex. Now make a page layout using that technique.
3. Shop for a new scrapbook tool. We all have one of the latest tools on our scrapbooking wishlists. Indulge yourself this May with one on your list. Take it home and try it out on a new project.
4. Gather your friends for a crop party. Throw a National Scrapbooking Day party with your fellow scrapbookers. Just add some refreshments and lots of workspace for scrapbooking and you're ready to enjoy your favorite activity with your friends.
5. Browse your local bookstore for a new scrapbook magazine or book. It's fun to find out what the latest trends in scrapbooking are. Books and magazines are a great way to keep up to date on your design skills.
6. Shop for new supplies online. Online scrapbooking stores are known for running fantastic sales on the first weekend in May just for National Scrapbook Day. You'll find some of the best deals on Saturday, but many will run the sales through the whole weekend. Check your favorite online stores first, because some run the best savings during early bird hours or night owl specials. Be sure you know what time zone they are in so you don't miss out.
7. Introduce a friend to scrapbooking. Do you have a friend who has always wanted to learn how to make an album? National Scrapbooking Day is a great time to show her how. Either invite her over to scrapbook with you or take her to an event at your local store.
8. Attend an online crop. Check scrapbooking message boards for online crops. Many offer virtual crops. You and other participants scrapbook at the same time and chat with each other online as you create pages. Many crops will have challenges to see who gets the most pages done. Some will have contests, and some may have a gallery where you can upload your designs.
9. Take some photos. If you can't get out to a scrapbooking event, take some time during the day to photograph the special people in your life. Upload them to your favorite online printer and start to plan your next album.
10. Organize your scrapbooking space. You just might find some supplies you forgot all about. A little organization can help you get more pages done the next time you sit down to create a page layout.
11. Attend a scrapbook convention or go on a scrapbook retreat. Check your area for expos and scrapbooking events. The weekend of National Scrapbooking Day might be a great time to organize a getaway with your girlfriends.
12. Read "A Page Out of Life" by Kathleen Reid. This novel is about a group of very different women who belong to a local scrapbooking club. While they share their love of scrapbooking, they uncover secrets hidden in their photos. The book will be released just in time for National Scrapbooking Day.
Enjoy this year's National Scrapbooking Day! No matter how you decide to spend the day, remember to enjoy your hobby with family and friends.
Christine Perry is an avid scrapbooker and has over 10 years of scrapbooking experience. Her favorite scrapbooking subjects are her reluctant teenagers. She invites you to her website, http://www.intoscrapbooking.com for more scrapbooking tips and information on scrapbooking drop shippers.