How Can I Crop Interesting Scrapbooking Shapes

CIRCLE CUTTER
Scrapbook tool used to create circles from photos and mounting paper. Circle cutters vary in type from tower to template style, fixed blade to separate knife systems. Different circle cutters suit different people so it is best to try a few before you commit to one.

TEMPLATE
Plastic or card sheet with punched out shapes that can be used to crop photos and photo mounting paper into shapes. Some templates are suitable for drawing outlines or journaling lines.

Birthday Guest Balloons
When it comes to a small kid´s party, it is sometimes impossible to get a decent group shot. Instead, try photographing all the children in small groups. Later, crop the processed photos into balloon shaped head shots. Silhouette a photo of the Birthday Child which can then "hold" the balloons and there you have all the party attendees nicely accounted for on your layout.

Group Layout Idea
Next time you´re at a function, instead of getting a standard group shot of the guests, photograph each individually from the torso up. Ask for double sized prints and then silhouette each one. Placed around the side and bottom of a scrapbook layout these make an interesting border and you´ll have a nice close up of each guest.

How Can I Plan A Scrapbook Album

Planning a scrapbook album - Pencil titles on pages
When planning a theme album you need to think about where in the album your groups of photos will go and what decorations and title you should use. I find the easiest way to remember my choices is to write them in light pencil directly onto the album page. For example - Title Baby´s first bath - lemon and sky blue card, CM girl first years´ bath stickers. Once the page is assembled the pencil writing can be erased. It is a good idea to write the title on the outside of the photo packet as well.

Tribute Scrapbook Albums
Tribute albums can be created to celebrate a birthday, engagement, anniversary or just because you care about someone. If the tribute album is to be presented at a special gathering ensure that you leave a page decorated only at the margins for all guests to sign. Tribute albums lend themselves very well for showcasing something special about the recipient or for adding that extra special touch using journalling, exceptional photos and tribute letters from friends and relatives. At a 40th birthday recently I put together an album for a friend. His wife chose a beautiful baby photo of him holding a toy lamb to use on the title page. At the celebration my friend´s mother presented him with the same toy lamb (still in one piece after 40 years). A perfect photo opportunity to complete the album.

This Is Your Life Scrapbook Album
Whereas a tribute album can concentrate on a certain area of an individual´s life or hobbies a "This is Your Life" album is usually restricted to chronological order starting at birth (or even before if you wish to include pictures of the individual´s parents and continuing to the present. Choose the size of album to suit the number of photos you have. A few photos suit a small album while more will mean a larger album. If there are photo gaps fill in with journalling even if it is only anecdotal. Stories from special friends are also nice to include. Don´t forget that there is also a place for school reports, certificates, resumes and dreadful driving licence photos and a sense of humour in a This Is Your Life album.

12 by 15 inch scrapbook albums
Finding border embellishments for this size album can be difficult as standard album size is 12" by 12". Thinking laterally you can make your album easier to decorate by turning it sideways. Yes it makes them more awkward to read but the landscape pages are wonderful to work on and you will not have to search for extra length borders. A sideways 12" x 15" album page is perfect for the display of panoramic photos.

ABC SCRAPBOOK ALBUM
An album assembled using layouts representing each letter of the alphabet. For example: the A layout would have a large A and photographs, stickers and diecuts along with journalling and labelling highlighting the letter A.

What Scrapbooking Plastics Are Safe?

POLYETHYLENE
A chemically stable, transparent, food safe plastic used in photographic preservation materials.

PVC (POLYVINYL CHLORIDE)
PVC is a common plastic which because it is chemically unstable releases a chlorine gas. When this gas settles onto a surface it turns into hydrochloric acid. This acid will cause photographs to fade and discolor.

PAGE PROTECTOR
These are protective plastic sleeves which cover your scrapbook pages. They are available in a variety of sizes and can be side-loading to cover scrapbook pages that are bound or top loading which means that the protectors themselves are usually incorporated into the binding and require that the scrapbook pages be slipped into them. Polypropylene and Mylar are two of the most highly recommended plastics for protectors.

Showcasing Your Scrapbook Albums

Where are your scrapbooks? Often they are lying in our scrapbook rooms (if the pages are even put away) and not immediately accessible. We have finished the pages, but have we finished the album? Have we made it available for others to peruse? After taking so much time and effort creating our scrapbook albums, we should take equal care to display them. Here are a few ideas of how to display your scrapbook albums, pages and mini-books.

Shelves. The most common way of displaying scrapbook albums is to store them on shelves. Remember to store them upright and side-by-side. Do not squish them, which will avoid causing the embellishments to press into the pages. If you have the luxury of purchasing new bookshelves, measure your albums before choosing your shelves. Deeper shelves are best for 12" X 12" albums. If you do not have room for an entire bookcase consider single shelving units. These are single shelves that are attached to the wall with metal brackets.

For children's albums consider putting them on a lower shelf so they can have easy access to them.

Many of my albums are arranged on a bookshelf. I arrange my family albums by date and then I have miscellaneous albums in another section. I add albums, even if they are not completed yet.

The visual look of albums together can be striking and it will show off your efforts. For a fun look intersperse mini-albums on the shelves as well.

Tables. Coffee table books are common so why not add your scrapbook albums to the mix? This is particularly attractive for albums with striking covers or albums that cover a single subject or event. Arrange the albums nicely and keep the table as uncluttered as possible. Add mini-albums to the table display if desired.

Display Stands. Do you ever have to prop up books or special framed photos? When I'm cooking, I often have a cookbook open on a stand. In the same way, you can display your scrapbook albums. Use picture frame holders, cookbook holders, etc. They come in wood or metal and can hold various sizes. Chose a size that fits your album when open. It should rest comfortably without any tipping. Leave it open to a special page or one you particularly enjoy.

Page Frames. Page frames are acrylic holders for individual scrapbook pages. Some manufacturers such as Clear Scraps have acrylic page displays which allow you to display one scrapbook page. You can place several next to each other for a two-page layout or artistic design. The acrylic displays can be put in a stand or hung on the wall. They are available in various sizes. While a page frame will not display an entire album, it will allow a few of your pages to be displayed. Consider different spots in the house where they can be displayed. Also consider different locations such as a work place.

Alternatively, you can get a custom-made frame for your scrapbook page.

I have three page frames in the kitchen. They are on an otherwise bare wall. Whenever we have visitors they always see it as they pass through the kitchen! Narrow hallways also make great display areas.

Baskets. Empty shelves, tables, windowsills, etc. are all great places to tuck an attractive little basket. In the basket, arrange several mini-albums. Larger baskets can be purchased and set on the floor for larger-sized albums.

Here are a few more hints on how to make the most of displaying your albums, mini-books and pages:

• Keep Things Clean. Before displaying an album make sure it is clean. Wipe any dust or dirt off the album. Periodically, check the albums and clean them as necessary to keep them in good condition.
• Finish the Album. Before displaying an album, finish it as much as possible. While you may be waiting for photographs or for a page to be finished, go ahead and display it. Just don't forget to add the pages you may have done already. If the album has a window display on the cover, remember to take out the manufacturer's picture and add your own.
• Match the Décor. If you are unsure of which album to display, consider the décor of your room. Will it match the color and/or pattern scheme? Will it fit the mood of the room?
• Change Albums and Pages Regularly. For albums in a stand or pages in a frame, consider changing the albums and pages on a regular basis. You could change them monthly or seasonally.

Look around your house. Find those spots where you could put some shelving, display stand or a basket. Maybe you have a great spot for hanging a page frame. Find that space and get your scrapbook albums displayed.

While I do not have a traditional coffee table I am still able to use an old family cedar chest that is located in the family room. Use whatever flat, uncluttered surface that would make a good display area.

• Wall-hanging display shelf - I've found this is a great way to display mini albums or smaller themed albums.
  
  
• Podium - I'm still on the lookout for one of these, either desktop or full standing podium, but wouldn't that be a great way to display your albums? Use the lower shelves to store them, and then the top can display a most recent album in a place where people can easily flip through them. You could even add a stool for your album viewers.
  
  
• Plate rack - I don't collect plates, but I love to put framed photographs into plate racks on the wall. As I was contemplating what photographs to put into this plate rack, it dawned on me that an album might just fit. It has to be a thin one, but this theme album from a close friend of mine fits and looks great!

• Lower shelf of a console table- My entryway is screaming for a console table, where I would store a row of my larger albums in the bottom shelf. Then perhaps I could find a desktop podium to put on top of it for easy viewing...

Slowly, I'm finding places for all my albums. The sheer number of them has required some creative displays. But in the end, it's been nice to have them displayed in different rooms, in unique ways. Then they're looked at and enjoyed more frequently-like they should be!

Video Scrapbook Lessons - Scrapbook Classes at Home

Scrap Tutor - Scrapbook Classes at Home



Are You...
too busy to attend scrapbook classes?
too far from a local scrapbook store to attend classes?
too distracted in a traditional class setting?
Now you can take scrapbook classes on your computer!
Scrap Tutor lets you learn at a pace and place that's comfortable for you.

Thousands of people have taken our scrapbook classes, and like them you won't find a better price—about $1 per class! Click here to learn more about online scrapbooking classes

We offer an alternative to costly classes at local scrapbook stores and conventions. Our 28 classes teach you techniques and concepts that are useful in any scrapbook.

Our Teaching Method

Scrap Tutor is a collection of lessons about scrapbooking that you take using your computer. Each lesson uses a variety of teaching methods. These methods have been combined to help you learn (and retain) the design principles we teach for life.

Video Scrapbook Lessons

These step-by-step videos show you how each technique or concept is used in your scrapbooks. You'll actually watch someone scrapbook in front of you, with the ability to watch the videos over and over again.

Example Layouts from Top Artists

These quality, larger-than-life layouts come complete with the artist's comments so you hear directly from the creator of each layout. They also provide a supply list for the layouts, tell you how they did each one.

Printable Scrapbook Lessons with Examples

We've gathered some of the best scrapbook teachers together to create extensive yet easy-to-understand lessons. You can read them using your computer or print them off for a handy reference.

Tips and Tricks

Each lesson contains helpful "tips and tricks" that will give you extra pointers beyond the core lesson.

Online Message Boards

The learning doesn't stop at home. You'll get access to the Scrap Tutor message boards. There you can ask questions directly to our teachers and other scrappers.

These lessons include:

45 Minutes of Video Instruction
125+ Layouts from Top Artists
14 Printable Step by Step Lessons
Access to the Scrap Tutor Message Boards

Chalking - Chalks are a great way to add subtle dimension to page embellishments. We'll show you how to create shadows and highlights using chalks to enhance your designs.
Color Blocking - Simple color blocking is a classic way to design your pages. Our lesson and pages examples will show how to create the many different variations of color blocking.

Dry Embossing - Discover tips and tricks for dry embossing. The subtle raised design is a fantastic way to embellish and decorate a page.

Embellishments - We'll tell you all about the different types of embellishments that are available and show you how to use them on your pages.

Eyelets - Eyelets are great fasteners and design elements. Learn how to set them and see how to use them as accents on your page.

Heat Embossing - We'll take you step by step through the process of heat embossing and tell you all about the different techniques and variations of using heat embossing on your pages.

Mats and Frames - Framing your photographs is a great way to draw attention to them. Learn some design tricks for highlighting your photos with mats and frames.

Mosaic - Mosaics add an artistic element to photos and paper designs. We'll demonstrate how to create various styles of mosaics and discuss when to use them effectively.

Paper Tearing - Paper tearing is a simple technique that adds wonderful texture to a page. We'll show you how easy it is and give some handy tips to make every tear come out just right.

Quilling - Quilling uses rolled papers strips to create wonderful and intricate designs. We'll show you the tools and the tricks to easily create quilled designs.

Shabby Chic - Learn the aging and weathering techniques associated with the Shabby Chic style.

Stitching - Stitching isn't just for fabric anymore. We'll give you ideas for using hand stitched and machine stitching in your scrapbook pages.

Template Lettering - Discover template lettering techniques and learn ways to use your templates more effectively.

Wire - Find out how to twist and bend wire to create titles and embellishments. Learn about the tools and tips that make wire-working easy.

Borders - See how a border can be an excellent design feature for your layouts. We'll demonstrate a variety of techniques used to create unique borders.
Journaling Design - We'll help make your journaling unique and exciting to read by giving multiple ideas for how to format and display your words.

Photo Corners - Whether you're creating functional or decorative photo corners, we'll give you some great ideas for designing photo corners that help to enhance and protect your photographs.

Pockets - Learn to create pockets to hold precious memorabilia. We'll show you many styles and functionalities of pockets used on scrapbook pages.

Shakers - Shakers add excitement to your pages. We'll spark your imagination with ideas to design, create and fill fantastic shaker boxes.

Tags - Tags are popular page embellishments. We'll help you discover the versatility of using tags in all kinds of ways on your layouts.

Title Design - Designing an appealing title is often overlooked when creating a layout. We'll teach many variations of lettering and design ideas to help you create better titles.

Color Coordinating - Learn more about color combinations that work, how to pick the right colors for your layout, and how specific colors can evoke different moods and emotions.
Composition - Creating balance and unity in a layout isn't always easy. We'll teach you easy principles that help create balanced layouts every time.

Focal Point - A focal point tells what a page is about at a quick glance. We'll give you ideas to make the focal point shine on your scrapbook pages.

Negative Space - Even the space is empty on a layout is an important part of the overall look. Learn how to use the negative space of a page in an effective way.

Photo Cropping - We'll teach you multiple photo cropping techniques to draw focus and add artistic appeal to your photographs.

Photo Editing - Just because you don't have the perfect picture, doesn't mean you can't create it with some creative editing. Learn techniques to alter your photos to enhance and add interest to them.

Typeface - Fonts and lettering make all the difference in the look and feel of a layout. We'll show you how to pick and choose fonts, which type of fonts look best together, and how to use typeface to enhance your pages.

Click here to learn more about online scrapbooking classes