April 30, 2008

Printing Digital Scrapbook Layouts

Printing Your Digital Scrapbook Layouts

Digital scrapbooking layouts can either be printed at home on a photo printer or you can have them printed at the photo lab. If you print them at home, you need to make sure you have a quality photo printer and the capacity to print the size you want. Not all printers can print the 12 x 12 page size. Since photo printers are fairly inexpensive, purchasing a printer for home use might be a wise investment. Even with the cost of ink, you can typically print a digital scrapbooking layout for under $1.

Be sure to tell your printer the paper size and what type of paper before you start to print. When the printer is not in use, it is a good idea to keep it off; this will help your ink last a little longer. Remember to frequently clean printer heads and run a nozzle check periodically before you print to make sure your ink colors are flowing properly.

If you decide to take your digital scrapbooking layouts to the lab, you should first make sure your layouts are sized properly. If you layout is not a size that the photo lab offers you will have resize it. Always save your pages in the .jpg format. Sometimes the lab will crop the page a bit so you should make sure you keep your text at least ¼ “away from the edge. A 12 x 12 layout will be printed at a 12 x 18 size, so you can add smaller layouts, like 6 x 6, to fill in the extra space.

Whether you choose to do your digital printing at home or in a photo lab, the digital scrapbooking pages will be ready for display in a short time and you can share your memories with everyone.

Digital Scrapbook Pages from Scratch

How to Create a Digital Scrapbook Pages from Scratch

Creating your own digital scrapbooking page from scratch doesn’t have to be difficult. Computer scrapbooking is cost-effective and mess-free. Just follow this simple step-by-step process and you will be on your way to designing your own digital scrapbook layouts in no time.

First, open the digital scrapbook program you will be using and set your page size. Traditionally 12 x 12, 9 x 9 and 6 x 6 sizes are used for scrapbook pages. If you don’t know how to run the basics of your program, be sure to use the tutorial or have the instruction manual handy while you create your digital page layout.

Second, you should select your background design and color fill for the page from your digital scrapbooking graphics. You can do this by opening the background papers and adding the desired background to your page.

The third step is to locate your photos, copy and paste them to your layout, then resize them and rotate them into the right position.

Now, use the text options to select a font and add a title to your page. Then using the text tool, insert some journaling on your layout.

You are almost finished. Next, add some embellishments to the page. You can do this by using the embellishment files in your specialty digital scrapbook software or downloading digital scrapbooking graphics from another source and dragging and dropping the embellishments on to your page.

Once your have completed your page and everything looks fabulous, save your work and get ready to print.

It’s that easy. Use your photo-friendly printer to print out the beautiful digitally-enhanced page you just created and add it to your book of memories.

April 29, 2008

Scrapbooking Free Online Video. Using Non-Traditional Items For Scrapbooks

Learn how to add non-traditional items to scrapbooks and record memories in this free video series on scrapbooking and collecting.

Srapbooking Ideas That Are Cheap. Scrapbooking Free Online Video

Srapbooking Ideas That Are Cheap

Watch the pros do their scrapbooking

Scrapbooking Online Videos. Watch and Learn Scrapbooking

Scrapbooking Online Videos. Watch and Learn Scrapbooking

Cool scrapbooking video. Watch scrapbooking techniques

Basic Scrapbooking Tips

Basic Scrapbooking Tips

Scrapbooking has become one of the most popular crafts in the country as it is both creative and practical. It is both easy and fun for anyone to create exciting, artistic pages to enhance their photos. In addition this rewarding hobby provides a family treasure that will endure for countless generations. To get you started try to think of planning a scrapbook page or layout like planning a greeting card. All this craft requires is a theme, a bit of time, and your creative ideas. So if you are looking to get started on creating your own beautiful album here are some basic scrapbooking tips-

•It all starts with organization! The first thing you need to do is get those pictures out of shoeboxes and onto the coffee table where they can be enjoyed. Begin by organizing and sorting your photos by subjects, such as Activities, Events, People, Places, Things, Time, etc. Then move on to sort each category into chronological order. Many people begin with a memory book for each child, a Christmas book, a birthday book or a vacation book. After your photos are organized then gather your decorating materials. This can be as simple as gathering some basic tools and supplies around your house or a visit to your local craft store can show you everything you need. Just remember that everything that touches your photos should be of archival quality and photo safe.

•Create your pages-Since you have decided what your theme will be you want to make sure that you select photos that reflect that theme for your page. If needed or desired, crop photos to desired shapes, using die cut templates, scissors, corner borders, craft punches, etc. Then you can select enhancing papers or stickers, or create a background with rubber stamps. Make sure that before adhering anything to your page you experiment with the layout by moving things around until you are satisfied with the results. After you are fully satisfied then assemble and glue the page.

•Now is the time to assemble your finished pages into your scrapbook. Make sure that you assemble your finished pages in chronological order to tell the story. Then it is fun to add memorabilia to facing pages, such as letters, awards, programs, tickets, etc. in order to more fully tell your story. Just make sure that you leave room for journaling. Be sure to add information and details that will enhance your pictures.

Now that you know the basics of assembling your pictures here are some tips to help you with the composition of the pages in your scrapbook.

•Color is the basic premise of any scrapbook. So be sure to keep your eyes open to look all around you for great color palettes and colors that work well together. Be sure to pay close attention to advertisements, nature and even interior decorating samples and clothing combinations; this can give you great ideas for you scrapbooks.

•It may be helpful to keep an "Idea Journal". Many scrappers find it useful to keep a small notebook in their purse or bag and jot down ideas as they see them. You can even sketch a layout and then use colored pencils to convey what you would like the color palette to look like when finished in your scrapbook. This works well when you are stuck for ideas; you can just pull out your idea journal and get to work.

•Remember the feelings and emotions you felt during whatever you are scrapbooking. Be sure to pay special attention to your color choices so that you give off correct emotions.

•Keep in mind that busy isn't better. You may want to avoid busy background papers with lots of colors and objects scattered all over them. Remember that the key is to keep the focus on the pictures, and when you use distracting colors and objects, you lose sight of what the main intent of the layout is.
.

Paper Bag Scrapbook. How To Make A paper Bag Scrapbook

Paper Bag Scrapbook. 3 Tips Unique to the Paper Bag Scrapbook

Can you guess the best way to make a scrap book? Out of scrap, of course! I’ve been enamored with paper bag scrapbooks ever since my son’s pre-school teacher made one for each of her students a couple of years ago. Such a great use of materials and the results are a weight and feel that I just love. Surprisingly, we don’t see very many of the around so I thought I’d try to spread paper bag scrapbook love by offering some simple instructions.

Making a paper bag scrapbook is very easy and would make a great project to do with your children on a rainy day. They generally make a good project for just about anyone!

Simple Instructions:

Place a few paper bags – no more than 4 or 5 – on top of each other in alternating directions (alternating open ends and closed bottoms).

Fold your stack of paper bags in half.

Staple along the fold about ½” from the crease – this creates the spine of your paper bag scrapbook.

Embellish the spine to hide the staples – options:
Cover the staples with a strip of ribbon, paper, cardstock, fiber or other embellishment that you think suites the theme of the paper bag scrapbook you are creating.

Punch holes along the spine and run with ribbon or fibers – tying knots and/or weaving in and out of the punched holes.

Sew a line through the fold in the paper bags (note: this is my favorite way to bind a paper bag scrapbook)

Be creative – eyelets, snaps, rivets and other scrapbooking tricks can be used to make an excellent binding for your paper bag scrapbook.

Once you have embellished your spine, you’ll want to get creative with the use of your scrapbooking skills. Photo treatment, journaling, embellishments including decorative papers, borders, rub-ons, paints, fibers, ribbons and fabrics can all be used just as with a traditional scrapbook project – to create lasting memories in a unique presentation.

3 Tips Unique to the Paper Bag Scrapbook:

Most importantly, remember that a paper bag scrapbook is essentially made of very cheap paper that is not acid free. So this will not be an archival quality project. Be sure to use copies of your original photographs or inkjet prints on photo paper.

The open end of each paper bag ‘page’ can be used as a unique pocket space for journaling, photos, slide out cardstock pages and other dimensional items.

The closed end of each paper bag ‘page’ can be utilized in much the same way by lifting the folded flap to reveal your additional journaling, photo, etc. You could also trim the closed end of the paper bag ‘page’ to make another open end

April 24, 2008

Scrapbooking Journals. Jumpstart Your Journal

A Dozen Ways to Jumpstart Your Journal Ideas to help you get writing in your journal.

Keeping a journal is a great way to gather your thoughts, capture creative ideas and also to release stress by expressing your emotions. But sometimes when keeping a journal, you can wind up coming to the page feeling like you have nothing to say at that moment. You really have a lot to say, deep inside of you, all of the time. Lots of dreams, daydreams, memories and goals that you want to achieve are inside of you - that you can put in your journal. People keep journals for different reasons, at different times in their lives. Sometimes using a "jumpstart" can help you get to a deeper issue, or to a creative brainstorm that is just waiting to happen. Whether you already keep a journal, or are interested in starting one, here are a dozen ways to "jumpstart" your journal writing.

What's in there? -- What has been catching your eye over and over? What song can't you get out of your head? We all pick up on outside images and words around us. Explore why you are focusing on something in your world at this time, what it could mean to you, or what you already are aware that it means to you.

What trend do you love? -- What new style, technology or entertainment trend appeals to you? Is there an object that you would love to own, something that you are saving up for? Is there a television show, or technology that fascinates you?

Envision your future -- What will your life be like five years from now. What will it be like a year from now? Be as descriptive as possible, using words and images to picture your family, career, hobbies and personal goals. What issues or goals does this future vision bring to your present day for you?

Childhood lessons -- Not all of our lessons come from a classroom. What did you learn as a child? Who motivated and inspired you? Who challenged you to do things differently -- and made your life better for it? What talents developed during your youth? Delve into your childhood and explore its gifts.

The season -- Fall/Winter/Spring/Summer... the seasons are always changing, always subtle shifts around us. Each has its gifts and its challenges. What has the current season brought to you? What have you treasured from other years from the same season? What do you love about this season, and what rituals do you return to each year for this season (apple picking in the fall, building a snowman in the winter, planting new bulbs in the spring, going to the beach in the summer).

Presents and Presence -- What was the best gift you were ever given? Who gave it to you and why? What was the most memorable gift you received? What gifts have you given that were special?

Home Sweet Home -- How do you feel about your home? If the rooms could speak, what would they say to you? What would you say to them? What would you like to change about your home? What is the most powerful memory that occured in your home?

Pages and Screens -- What books and movies have motivated you to think differently, or inspired you to take action? What are you reading or viewing now and how does it make you feel? What books or movies would you give a child? An adult?

Beautiful Music -- What songs did you love as a child? As a teenager - what songs remind you the most of this time? What songs have great meaning from your adult life?

Dreams -- What are your dreams telling you? Dreams are full of their own language, imagery and words and sensations. The more you practice remembering your dreams, the more you are able to remember them.

Clothing & Jewelry -- What clothing and jewelry remind you of important times in your life? What did your mother wear for a special occasion? What did your sister wear? What was the first piece of clothing that was bought for you that meant you were "growing up"? What clothing did you like the most from your teen years?

Planes, trains and automobiles -- Write about memorable trips you have taken -- whether by car, air or rails. Where did you go? What was unexpected about the trip? What did you love/hate about travel? Where do you want to go in the future?

Source: Abigail Amy Beal is a journal writer and publishes the ezine Capture Memories Create Treasures, an ezine for scrapbooking, journal writing and memory crafts. Each monthly issue features projects and ideas to capture memories and create treasures. Contact: capturememoriescreatetreasures@yahoo.com. To subscribe: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/capturememoriescreatetreasures/

Scrapbook Journaling . Stress-Free Scrapbook Journaling Ideas

Adding journaling to your scrapbook pages doesn't have to be a cause for writer's block. Use these helpful tips.

Do you find it intimidating when you come to journal your scrapbook pages?

You are not alone! Many scrapbookers find it hard to get started when it comes to adding journaling to their scrapbooking layouts.

If you are one of those people who go blank at the thought of having to journal, don’t worry. Here are some stress-free scrapbooking journaling ideas to help you write the right words whatever your page theme.

Make a list
This is a fairly simple journaling technique that is suitable for use with any type of page theme, for example:

Doing a friendship page - list how you met, where you met, how long you have known each other, include what you like about your friend and why you are both pals.

Doing a recipe scrapbook page - then make a personal top 10 list of reasons why you like Grandma’s chocolate cake so much.

Doing a baby layout - do a list of baby’s favorite foods, you can even do one for the foods they don’t like!

A variation of this technique is to use bullet points to mark each line on your list, giving you an opportunity to empathise each item of your journaling:

Anguilla
April 2004
My first trip to the Caribbean
This is the view from my hotel balcony overlooking the cove – I can’t wait to go swimming the sea looks so nice!

Make sure you have fun experimenting with all the different kinds of embellishments that you can use as your bullet points!

Another bonus with using the list technique is that you do not need to worry about the structure of your sentences or that your journaling makes sense because the list breaks down what you want to say into it’s basic readable form.

Write a Letter

This is one of those great scrapbook journaling ideas that’s fairly simple to do and it’s also a lovely, personal way to journal your layouts too.

All you have to do is pretend you’re writing to a friend telling them what is happening in your photographs and including the “Dear ….” at the beginning of your writing will give your journaling an intimate feel.

Sent any emails lately? Like letters, emails are also a good source of journaling material that you can use for your layouts.

If you are unsure of your own journaling then doing it in a letter format could help your writing flow more easily, as you describe the people and the events taking place, letting you tell the story naturally and in your own words.

Ask a question

If you are completely stuck and cannot think of anything to write this can be a good quick fix technique to use. Just ask some simple questions like, “What was your favorite part of..?” or “Did anything funny or embarrassing happen?”.

This technique can be very effective when used for a special occasion layout, like a bridal shower, where you can ask each of the guests to tell you about their favorite memory of the bride-to-be.

Why not take it a stage further? Give each shower guest some suitable decorative paper and let them write down their own memories rather than journal all of them yourself.

For an extra special touch, you could get the guests to bring with them their favorite photo of the bride-to-be. Ask them to journal why they picked that particular picture and then do a separate layout for each individual photo.

This is an effective way to make a wonderful and unique scrapbook that is quick, simple and full of memorable pieces of journaling that add a very personal feel to the album.

If you are one of those people who find it difficult to begin the journaling process these fun scrapbook journaling ideas will provide you with some basic tips and techniques to help make it easier.

So go on, try out the scrapbook journaling ideas above for yourself and add some stress-free journaling to your pages... Once you’ve finished you’ll see that it’s been well worth the effort.

Source: Elaine Clay is the owner of Online-Scrapbooking-Guide.com - your one-stop online scrapbooking resource. Find inspiration, increase your creativity and have fun with our helpful tips, ideas, articles and much more.

Chemicals That Can Destroy Your Scrapbook

Various chemicals in your scrapbook materials that can damage your scrapbooks over time

Once you spend your precious time and energy creating a scrapbook, make sure it lasts! There are a few simple things you can easily do to ensure that your scrapbooks look just as good as the day you finished them, for years to come.

The first thing to avoid is paper that is not lignin-free. You've probably heard that before, and it is true, but what is lignin anyways? Lignin is a stiff component of a plant that quite literally holds it together. Although lignin is necessary for plants and trees, you want nothing to do with it! After a while, lignin will cause photos, fabrics and other paper that touch it to turn brown. Yes, lignin-free paper does cost more, but it is a vital part of preserving your cherished scrapbooks.

If the paper is not lignin-free, it will eventually discolor your photos and other materials touching it. So when buying paper for your scrapbooking projects, be sure to look for packages that say "lignin-free," because if it doesn't say it, then it most likely isn't.

Fabric is a big concern for preserving your scrapbooks, but unfortunately it is often overlooked. Many people assume that all fabrics are acid-free, but they aren't. Silk actually goes through an acid bath during the manufacturing process, as well as many tie-dyed fabrics. This isn't to discourage you from using it, not all. Just try to make sure that no photos directly touch fabric, and if you need them to overlap, make sure there is a layer of paper between the two.

Another consideration when using fabrics is if the color will bleed off onto your page and other things touching it. To test for this, cut a square inch off and soak it in a glass of water over night. If there is no color bleeding from it the next day, then there isn't any risk to your scrapbook. But if you do see color in the water, or collecting at the bottom of the glass then don't use that fabric in your scrapbook at all.

When using glitter, be sure there is a top layer of spray adhesive to lock them down, or better yet use special glitter glue where the glitter is mixed right in. If this is not done right the glitter will slowly fall off, and loose glitter means scratched photos.

After you have planned the layout for your photos, be sure that you are using the right kind of mounting tape for them! Regular mounting tape is fine for buttons and bottle caps, but when it come to mounting photos you need to use special photo mounting tape which is completely acid-free. If you don't, your photos will slowly discolor. The tape should say "acid-free" right on the packaging.

These are just a few simple things you can do to ensure that your scrapbooks last and last.

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Scrapbooking Tools for Beginners. Cropping Corner Tips

Cropping Corner Tip: Scrapbooking Tools for Beginners

If you are new to scrapbooking or just have not done many pages you are considered a beginner. To begin your scrapbook regimen you should be armed with some essential scrapbook supplies before you get started.

1. Eyelet setter--eyelets are common embellishments and you cannot use them with your an eyelet setter tool. They are fairly inexpensive an entire set that includes a hammer will probably cost you around $20.

2. Decorative scissors. These scissors can be used for many purposes. They can be used to cut photo mats, pictures, etc. The scissors can be purchased at any scrapbook supplier or craft store. They cost about $3-$5.

3. Paper Trimmer. This is essential for anyone attempting to scrapbook. A personal paper trimmer will help you cut straight and make square mats for your page layouts. Paper trimmer are available wherever scrapbooking supplies are sold. A quality paper trimmer will probably cost $15-$20.

There are so many scrapbooking products to choose from. As you become familiar with the products and get a feel for what you want to use you can buy more tools. The products mentioned above are some suggested scrapbooking starter tools.

Easy Page Layouts for Scrapbooking Beginners

Easy Page Layouts for Scrapbooking Beginners
Scrapbooking for beginners should include simple page layouts.


Here are step-by-step instructions for constructing an easy scrapbooking page layout.

· Select 1 or 2 pictures for your page.
· Pick out 2 or 3 colors of scrapbooking paper that match and accent each other and your photos.
· Plan your page by using elements that balance each other.
· Add your “Title” or “Header” to your page.
· Now crop your photos, by removing unwanted backgrounds and unnecessary space.
· Create photo mats and choose your embellishments.
· Use your adhesive to glue your photos and accents on your page.
· Leave room for journaling.
· Finally do your journaling. Record your feelings and tell your story.

Creating a simple, yet appealing page layouts will assist beginners in starting out on “the right foot.” As you become more experienced you can attempt to create more complex designs.

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Scrapbooking Layouts. Aging Paper for Scrapbook Layouts

Scrapbooking Layouts. Aging Paper for Scrapbook Layouts

Making your paper look aged or weathered is becoming a popular technique for scrapbookers. There are several ways you can make your cardstock or scrapbook paper look "aged".

One techique is to wad the paper into a ball and make it wrinkled. You can do this with dry paper or for a bolder impession mist your paper first. After you have wadded the paper in a ball unwrinkle the paper, let it dry and sand the inside with a fine grained sand paper. If you are using damp paper then you can iron the paper by covering it with towel and using the heat from the iron to dry your paper. This technique will set your creases and give the paper a sort of "weathered" look.

Sand paper can be used alone to sand off some of the color of on your paper, which will make it look "aged".

Texturizing your paper with dry embossing or other methods and then sanding the images can also give that "aged" image on your layouts.

Scrapbooking With Paper Bag Albums. Paper Bag Mini Scrapbooks

Paper Bag Scrapbook Albums. Paper Bag Mini Scrapbooking Technique

Paper bag albums are little books that make wonderful mini scrapbooks
. They can be assembled in a limited amount of time. Did you know you could use plain brown bags to make an appealing little scrapbook album?

Typical brown or white lunch bags can be folded into a small memory book that you can use for gifts, school memories, brag books, etc.

Here is what you will need to make your Scrapbook Paper Bag Album:

Paper bags (brown or white)
Heavy-duty hole punch or eyelet punch
Stamps, stickers or die cuts
Scissors
Adhesive
Embellishments (ribbons, eyelets, brads, tags, etc)
Cardstock and background paper (variety of matching colors)

The first step is to fold your paper bags into a book shape. You can use as many bags as you would like but three to five is recommended. Lay out your bags alternating the flaps so all the thickness doesn't end up on one side. Now, put them on top of each other and fold them into an album. You might want to sew down the middle of the book in order to keep the bags in place and prevent them from shifting and tearing your binding. Next, punch holes down the folds (binding) and use ribbons or other materials to bind the book together.

Cut your papers into squares that will fit the size of your album and adhere them to your pages. Decorate your pages just like you would a typical scrapbook. Make photo mats for your pictures, use background papers, etc. You could dress up your pages with stamps, stickers; die cuts and other scrapbooking embellishments.

These books are great for kids to experiment with, too. Paper bags are not memory safe so you might want to treat the paper with an acid reducing spray in order to protect your pictures and preserve your album.

Originality in Scrapbooking. Including Quotes on Your Scrapbook Pages.

Originality in Scrapbooking. Including Quotes on Your Scrapbook Pages.

Originality in scrapbooking is essential. You can create original pages with exclusive ideas. Including journaling on your layouts is one way to tell about the photographs and help you remember what was going on during that time period.

Srapbooking quotes for your pages are a wonderful way to add some "elegance" to your page layouts. Famous quotes for your era are fun to have in your books. You can also include quotes from family members about the people in the pictures.

For baby books you can quote your child or record "first words" and funny sayings and phrases.

Including quotes in on your pages will make them unique but make them interesting for others to view.

Create a Digital Scrapbook Pages from Scratch

How to Create a Digital Scrapbook Pages from Scratch

Creating your own digital scrapbooking page from scratch doesn’t have to be difficult. Computer scrapbooking is cost-effective and mess-free. Just follow this simple step-by-step process and you will be on your way to designing your own digital scrapbook layouts in no time.

First, open the digital scrapbook program you will be using and set your page size. Traditionally 12 x 12, 9 x 9 and 6 x 6 sizes are used for scrapbook pages. If you don’t know how to run the basics of your program, be sure to use the tutorial or have the instruction manual handy while you create your digital page layout.

Second, you should select your background design and color fill for the page from your digital scrapbooking graphics. You can do this by opening the background papers and adding the desired background to your page.

The third step is to locate your photos, copy and paste them to your layout, then resize them and rotate them into the right position.

Now, use the text options to select a font and add a title to your page. Then using the text tool, insert some journaling on your layout.

You are almost finished. Next, add some embellishments to the page. You can do this by using the embellishment files in your specialty digital scrapbook software or downloading digital scrapbooking graphics from another source and dragging and dropping the embellishments on to your page.

Once your have completed your page and everything looks fabulous, save your work and get ready to print.

It’s that easy. Use your photo-friendly printer to print out the beautiful digitally-enhanced page you just created and add it to your book of memories.

April 21, 2008

Scrapbooking Growing in Popularity

A colourful book of memories; Scrapbooking growing in popularity

If you know a Cuttlebug, a Cricut and a Crop-o-dile are neither insects nor reptiles, then you've either done some scrapbooking or know someone who has.

Scrapbooking is the craft of placing stickers, fabric, die-cuts, embossed letters and other embellishments onto decorative paper-covered pages that highlight treasured photographs, mementoes and souvenirs. The pages are then either placed into a plastic sleeve or simply placed into an decorated album.

Laurie Hucal took up the hobby in 1999 after the birth of her husband's nephew, Adrian.

Hucal, a local real estate agent, says the craft is a good hobby for those who enjoy working with their hands.

"I've always loved putting anything together," she says. "I'm really detail oriented, so when there was a craft that could combine creativity, colour and detail with family, friends and memories, it was the perfect hobby for me."

Scrapbooking is popular in the United States and is growing swiftly in Canada.

Scrapbooks are usually based on a theme that reflects not only the subject, but the creator, as well.

Hucal completed a second book detailing a real-estate convention she attended in Nova Scotia. It's filled with colour, smiling faces, unique cut-outs and plenty of lobsters.

"I've got to get into it again," she says, her enthusiasm growing with each turn of the page. "I used to do this on a regular basis. I got away from it, but it is so important.

"Some people are just as happy to let the memories go," she adds. "I remember when I showed (Adrian's book) to my sister-in-law, his mother. She almost cried.

"It ties memories together and it's a recognition of a life. It's something anyone can do and can be as easy or as difficult at you make it. Another bonus is that it's portable."


Support workers at Community Living Greater Sudbury assist its members in making personalized scrapbooks. The non-profit organization provides services to individuals with developmental disabilities.

"The individuals get to choose the colour, theme, format and style of their pages and they work at their own pace," says Dorice Dusty, family home program and public relations spokesperson.

"The organization's members do not always know their natural families or their own siblings," she says. "Having a photo of the home and the family with whom they now share a home helps them to process some of their loss. It helps them to belong somewhere.

"We've had positive results from those in our special population who have taken part. They're so proud of their completed albums."

The hobby has a growing fanbase in Sudbury, says Patsy Bell, store manager of Michael's Arts and Crafts on Marcus Drive.

The store offers free "Make it and Take it" days once a month and also provides free demos on the use of various cutting machines.

Bell says scrapbooking is showing no signs of slowing down. "It's more popular than ever," she says.

Michael's, Linda's Photography in Lively and Sandy's Scrapbooking on Durham Street keep up with the latest trends and sell equipment, decorative papers, materials and tools specific to the scrapbooker.

Both Sandy's and Linda's offer classes for beginners and often holds "crop nights" - social gatherings where crafters spend a few hours enjoying each other's company as they work on their albums. Cropping sessions are also held occasionally at the Valley East library branch.

Linda Kluke, owner of Linda's Photography, has a suggestion for rookie scrapbookers.

"They can bring in their materials, with no obligation to buy anything, and I would show them how to use all the tools and equipment," Kluke says. "Don't buy anything until you've come in and shown me your pictures. The materials you choose have to match the style of your pictures."

Aside from specialty stores, you can also find basic scrapbooking supplies at local dollar stores.

A local school has caught the scrapbooking bug.

Lise Orsini, an educational assistant at Northeastern Elementary School in Garson, founded a scrapbooking club for children from grades three to eight. An avid scrapbooker, Orsini says the club meets weekly and is in its fourth year.

She says the craft helps to foster children's creativity, to let them develop skills and to share ideas with others.

And the craft isn't exclusive to women and girls: there are stickers, decorative papers and other materials with "masculine"-themed designs, such as fishing gear, NASCAR racing and tools.

Source: http://www.thesudburystar.com/

Inking Scrapbooking Techniques. Inking Scrapbooking Hints

Inking Scrapbooking Techniques


Inking is a scapbooking technique that offers lots of variety. There is no specific way to ink your pages or images. You can't use as little or as much ink as you would like for your project. The creativity is up do you. Ink as much as desired.

You will need:

· Scrapbooking paper (cardstock, B&T paper, vellum, etc.)
· Sponge (dry and clean)
· Ink pads (your choice of colors)
· Other scrapbook supplies of your choice such as stamps, scrapbooking die cuts, stickers, scrapbooking templates, etc.

First, cut out your desired mattes and papers.

Then, dab the paper onto the inkpad turning it in various directions. You will have smudged color on your paper. You can use a sponge to fill in the color in uneven areas if you would like. The easiest route is to rub the edges of your paper against your ink pad, this will make a border around the image or your entire page.

Inking is used to add depth to your pages. It also gives it an "antique" or "weathered" look. It enhances your paper and adds color to the overall layout.

Inking Scrapbooking Hints:

You want to make sure you lightly dab the paper onto the pad and don't press too hard or you might get a large, dark ink spot in one isolated area.

Lightly brush the ink across corners and edges of paper. You can also use a stipple brush for a different type of "inking effect".

This technique works best with non-glossy papers.

You can softly ink around your photo mats to give them texture and make them stand out behind your photograph.

Inking your pages or card creations can add a unique twist to your scrapbooking creations. Instead of coloring your images dab them in a little ink for shading and your done.

11 Scapbooking Beginner Tips. Getting Started With Scapbooking

Scapbooking Beginner Tips. Getting Started With Scapbooking

Scrapper Block
You know what this is, kind of like writers block. The best solution for this is to pick up a Scrap booking magazine or go online and search for page layouts. My e-Book also has some very creative ideas.

Storage Idea
With Scrap booking, you will have small craft items such as eyelets, ribbons, buttons or glitter Try storing them in your empty film canisters.

Picture Placement
Always make sure that all your pictures and stickers fit onto your page and are placed exactly where you like them best. Some types of glue are very adhesive and you may have a hard time pulling them up once they have been
glued down.

Cheap Embellishments
Check out the gift-wrap department at your local Target or Wal-Mart store. You can find some really cute die cuts with sticky foam already attached in may themes and colors.

Duplicate
If you are nervous about cropping your original pictures, an easy solution is to always get duplicates when developing your pictures or copy them on a color copier.

Postcards
When traveling, record your experiences by mailing yourself postcards that detail your trip that can be used later in your album or store them in a minialbum with a picture from your trip.

Information
Always use a photo-safe marker to record who, what, where and when onto the back of each photo.

Rubber Stamps
When using a new rubber stamp, always test it 3 or 4 times on a scrap piece of paper to ensure even distribution of ink.

Titles
Your title should immediately identify the subject of the page or of you book. They can be done freehand or you can use stickers or letter templates to add texture and color to your title.

Journaling
Journaling brings your album to life. Your journaling piece should include who’s in your photo, what they are doing and when it happened. It should tell a story that will bring back your memories for years to come.

Storage
Never store your photo or memorabilia in a cardboard box. They are not good for photos. Always store these precious items in archival-safe photo boxes or page protectors.

April 19, 2008

Scrapbooking Sticker Placement


Scrapbooking Sticker Placement

Scrapbooking stickers can either make a page or ruin it visually. Sticker placement can be tricky and if you put a sticker in the wrong place it may be hard to move it once it is stuck to your paper. When using small stickers you want to refrain from using a large amount. This prevents the page from looking cluttered. You can make a large sticker look neat and more noticeable by outlining it with a solid color of paper that matches your original scrapbooking paper (this can also be done when using letter stickers).

Another sticker placement solution you can try is to cover strip of cardboard with waxed paper. Arrange stickers or letters on it and place it on page to see how it would look and/or fit. Stickers and letters can be easily removed from waxed paper.

Also, with your sticker sheet you can cut each section apart, keeping your backing intact and rearrange the pieces until your get them where you want them. Then, peel off the backing and adhere the sticker to your page layout.

Fast, Easy Page Layouts for Scrapbooking Beginners

Fast, Easy Page Layouts for Scrapbooking Beginners
Scrapbooking for beginners should include simple page layouts.

Here are step-by-step instructions for constructing an easy scrapbooking page layout.

· Select 1 or 2 pictures for your page.
· Pick out 2 or 3 colors of scrapbooking paper that match and accent each other and your photos.
· Plan your page by using elements that balance each other.
· Add your “Title” or “Header” to your page.
· Now crop your photos, by removing unwanted backgrounds and unnecessary space.
· Create photo mats and choose your embellishments.
· Use your adhesive to glue your photos and accents on your page.
· Leave room for journaling.
· Finally do your journaling. Record your feelings and tell your story.

Creating a simple, yet appealing page layouts will assist beginners in starting out on “the right foot.” As you become more experienced you can attempt to create more complex designs.

Digital Scrapbooking.

Digital Scrapbooking


The advent of scanners, desktop publishing, page layout programs, and advanced printing options make it relatively easy to create professional-looking layouts in digital form. The internet allows scrapbookers to self-publish their work. Scrapbooks that exist completely in digital image form are referred to as "digital scrapbooks" or "computer scrapbooks."

While some people prefer the physicality of the actual artifacts they paste onto the pages of books, the digital scrapbooking hobby has grown in popularity in recent years. Some of the advantages include a greater diversity of materials, less environmental impact, cost savings, the ability to share finished pages more readily on the internet, and the use of image editing software to experiment with manipulating page elements in multiple ways without making permanent adjustments. A traditional scrapbook layout may employ a background paper with a torn edge. While a physical page can only be torn once and never restored, a digital paper can be torn and untorn with ease, allowing the scrapbooker to try out different looks without wasting supplies. When you create a digital layout, you do it in much the same way that you would a traditional layout, in that you layer papers and elements on top of one another. Each paper, photo, or embellishment exists on its own layer in your document, and you can reposition them at your discretion.

Furthermore, digital scrapbooking is not limited to digital storage and display. Many digital scrappers print their finished layouts to be stored in scrapbook albums. Others have books professionally printed in hard bound books to be saved as keepsakes. Professional printing- and binding-services offer free software to create scrapbooks with professional layouts and individual layouting capabilities. Because of the integrated design and order workflow, real hardcover bounded books can be produced cost effectively.

Scrapbooking Materials. Most Important Scrapbooking Materials

Scrapbooking Materials. Most Important Scrapbooking Materials


The most important scrapbooking supply is the album itself, which can be permanently bound, or allow for insertion of pages. There are other formats, such as mini albums and accordion-style fold-out albums. Some of these are adhered to various containers, such as matchbooks, CD cases, or other small holders.

Modern scrapbooking is done largely on 12 inch square or 8½×11 inch pages. More recently smaller albums have become very popular. The most common new formats are 6, 7, or 8-inch square.

Basic materials include background papers (including printed and cardstock paper), photo corner mounts (or other means of mounting photos such as adhesive dots, photo mounting tape, or acid-free glue), scissors, a paper trimmer, art pens, archival pens for journaling, and mounting glues (like thermo-tac). More elaborate designs require more specialized tools such as die cut templates, rubber stamps, craft punches,stencils, inking tools, eyelet setters, heat embossing tools and personal die cut machines. No you dont need all of this, a simple book and picture wouls work lovely.

Various accessories, referred to as "embellishments," are used to decorate scrapbook pages. Embellishments include stickers,rub-ons, stamps, eyelets, brads, chipboard elements in various shapes, alphabet letters and ribbon. The use of die cut machines is also increasingly popular; in recent years an electronic die-cutting machine, similar to a printer, can be connected to one's computer to cut any shape or font.

One of the key components of modern scrapbooking is the archival quality of the supplies. Designed to preserve photographs and journaling in their original state, materials encouraged by most serious scrapbookers are of a higher quality than those of many typical photo albums commercially available. Scrappers insist on acid-free, lignin-free papers, stamp ink, and embossing powder, and pigment based inks, which are fade resistant, colorfast, and often waterproof. Older "magnetic" albums were not acid-free and thus caused damage to the photos and memorabilia included in them.

Modern Day Scrapbooking. Hobby Of Scrapbooking

Modern Day Scrapbooking


Marielen Christensen of Spanish Fork, Utah is often credited with reviving interest in scrapbooking in the United States. She began designing creative pages for her family's photo memories, inserting the completed pages into sheet protectors collected in 3-ring binders. By 1980, she had assembled over fifty volumes and was invited to display them at the World Conference on Records in Salt Lake City. Marielen and her husband AJ authored and published a how-to book, Keeping Memories Alive, and opened a scrapbook store in 1981 that remains open today.

In addition to preserving memories, the hobby is popular for the strong social network that scrapbooking can provide. Hobbyists, known as "scrappers" or "scrapbookers," get together and scrapbook at each other's homes, local scrapbook stores[5], scrapbooking conventions, retreat centers, and even on cruises. The attendees share tips and ideas as well as enjoying a social outlet. The term "crop," a reference to cropping or trimming printed photographs, was coined to describe these events.

In the late 1990s, many scrappers in the US opened stores to turn their hobby into a business. Within approximately 5 years, many of those stores were forced to close due to a downturn in the economy and the fact that many store owners mistakenly assumed that loving to scrap was enough to run a retail store. Many owners simply didn't know how to run their stores. During this time, more multi-level direct sales companies were formed. Several were closed due to mismanagement, while others weathered the tough times. It also gave rise to a new breed of business - the home-based retailer. Companies arrived to provide information for individuals who wanted to break out of the direct sales mold and go out on their own. While vendors had traditionally stayed away from the home-based market due to fraud, they began to warm to the idea of the non-traditional sales channels as a way to get their products in front of more consumers through home parties and workshops. Working with a company like this enabled them to tap into legitimate home-based retailers.

The scrapbooking industry doubled in size between 2001 and 2004 to $2.5 billion with over 1,600 companies creating scrapbooking products by 2003[4]. Creative Memories, a home-based retailer of scrapbooking supplies founded in 1987, saw $425 million in retail sales in 2004. This hobby has in the US surpassed golf in popularity: one in four households has someone playing golf; one in three has someone involved in scrapbooking.

Scrapbooking History

Scrapbooking History


Scrapbooking is a method for preserving personal and family history in the form of photographs, printed media, and memorabilia contained in decorated albums, or scrapbooks. The idea of keeping printed materials of personal interest probably dates to shortly after the invention of printing. This trend is probably similar for photographs. Historically, scrapbooking was a tradition similar to storytelling, but with a visual and tactile, rather than oral, focus.

In ancient Greece hypomnemata were a form of notebook for recording one's own copies of what one had heard, read, or thought that might be worth remembering. There is little evidence in the archaeological and historical record that this practice was undertaken anywhere else previously. That one had to make one's own hand-written copies of what someone else had written reflected the expense of hiring a scribe to do so. More recently commonplace books reflected the same practice. Only with the availability of abundant printed material is it likely that the content of such books shifted away from one's own hand-writing or drawings or those of one's family members toward commercially available printed material.

Scrapbooking in its earliest form was a way to blend ephemera, memorabilia collections and journaling.[citation needed] People have been scrapbooking since printed material became available to the average person. Some of the earliest and most famous American scrapbookers include Thomas Jefferson and Mark Twain

Scrapbooking with photographs has been around since photos became available to ordinary people. Old scrapbooks tended to have photos mounted with photomount corners and perhaps notations of who was in a photo or where and when it was taken. They often included bits of memorabilia like newspaper clippings, letters, etc. Modern scrapbooking has evolved into creating attractive displays of photos, text, journaling and memorabilia.

I. BEGINNINGS OF SCRAPBOOKING: THE EARLIEST HISTORY
The earliest known reference to what we would now call a scrapbook is from 1598, but the use of notebooks to collect information started much earlier during the time of Aristotle and Cicero. These men, and their pupils, used this earliest form of the scrapbook for philosophical, religious, and rhetorical discussions. The word 'album,' in fact, comes from Greco-Roman times when a praetor's public notices were recorded on paper tablets or white tables.

During the Renaissance, which took place between the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries, the soon-to-be termed commonplace book came into its own as the period's overflow of information and culture needed a place to reside. An intense renewal of popularity in the study of Greek and Roman culture as well as the rise of libraries and philosophical schools such as Humanism provided the perfect opportunity for the creation of commonplace books as scholars and other literary-minded people copied their favorite passages or poems into blank books to create personal anthologies of works that had inspired or touched them.

In addition, Giorgio Vasari, an Italian author in the sixteenth century, advocated in his book of Italian artists the saving of prints and drawings by placing them in albums, a recommendation that influenced the creation of museums and libraries during that time period and a practice that continued to be popular in Europe up until the 1900s. The philosopher John Locke focused enough attention on the commonplace book in his 'New Method of Making Common-place Books' manual, published in 1706, to create a new and separate genre. His book discussed the proper technique for the preservation of proverbs, quotations, ideas, speeches, and other forms of written or spoken word that paved the way for the modern day idea of journaling.

In 1769, one of the direct predecessors to our modern day scrapbook was created when William Granger published a history of England with extra illustrations of his text as an appendix. Later, he expanded on his idea by including blank pages which readers could use to add in their own illustrations or prints as desired. This process, known as grangerizing, came to mean any book that was rebound into a different edition with new additional prints, letters, or other memorabilia. These types of books were also known as extra-illustrated books and achieved the most popularity during the 1800s.

Our third president, Thomas Jefferson, was one of the first well-known American scrappers, in a manner of speaking, as he saved newspaper clippings from and during his presidency into a series of albums for future reference. Other people during this time period saved notes, news articles and other clippings, illustrations, craft instructions, and even diary entries into homemade albums with wallpaper and cardboard covers. Some folks who could afford to 'waste' books in their collections actually pasted their ephemera, printed paper memorabilia like tickets or playbills, onto old book or catalog pages.

By the early 1800s, albums had evolved into ones resembling those of today with embossed covers, engraved clasps, and locks. Along with Granger books and commonplace books, people in the 1800s kept diaries, journals, and friendship albums. Friendship albums were almost exclusively owned by women and kept a lady's favorite quotes, poems, calling cards, and hair weavings in one place. Hair weavings, which started in Germany, were intricate weavings of pressed ribbons and flowers into a friend's cut strands of hair to display in an album along with a poem or remembrance of that friend.

II. EVOLUTION OF SCRAPBOOKING: IMPROVEMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY
In 1826, the scrapbooking craze really took off with the publication of John Poole's 'Manuscript Gleanings and Literary Scrapbook while the year previous had seen the publication of a serial titled 'The Scrapbook' which defined a scrapbook as a blank book which held newspaper articles and pictures for preservation. The actual term 'scrapbook' had been coined just a few years earlier because of the bright pieces of paper left over from a printing job, or scrap, that people had begun to paste into their albums for decorative purposes.

Scrapbooks of this time period would have included calling cards, the decorated name cards men and women left at their friends' homes at the start of their visits or to indicate they had stopped by with the intention to visit, national advertising trade cards, religious cards with Biblical inscriptions, rewards of merit for good grades and good behavior for schoolchildren, and carte-de-visite photographs which are better known to us as postcards.

Surprisingly, one of the biggest supporters of scrapbooking during the late 1800s was the author Mark Twain! He loved the hobby so much that he devoted entire Sundays to the creation of his personal scrapbooks and even patented a series of scrapbooks in 1872 to be sold by Brentano's Literary Emporium in NYC as well as through the Montgomery Ward catalog. His scrapbooks contained alternating gummed and non-gummed pages with perforations on the non-gummed pages for easy removal. An article from the St. Louis Dispatch in June 1885 states that Twain made about $50,000 on his scrapbooks. In comparison, the sale of all his novels combined had netted him about $200,000.

The invention of photography, and its direct ancestors, obviously changed the art of scrapbooking forever as scrappers now had the means to capture scenes of their lives in a way that wasn't possible before with only printed media. Louis-Jacques Daguerre invented the daguerreotype in 1837, but it wasn't until 1839 that this process was made public, so the latter date is often given for the birth of photography. Others quickly refined and added to the evolution of photography with the invention of halftone plates and photo engraving in the last half of the nineteenth century until George Eastman marketed his Kodak camera and photographic rolled film in 1888 and completely revolutionized the entire photographic industry up to that point.

There was a sharp decline in scrapbook popularity around 1940 as photo albums were being mass produced and people began to focus on photography as a hobby, but luckily for us, the publication of Alex Haley's 'Roots,' a story which alleged to tell his family's history and autobiography back to eighteenth century Africa, in the mid-1970s as well as a surge in genealogical research gave rise to a renewed interest in scrapbooking and preserving family history in such a fashion.