Scrapbooking- What are the beginner essentials?

[udsweetpea]

I've just started scrapbooking (just picked up my first few things yesterday at JoAnn Fabrics), and I'm so overwhelmed! What should be the first things I get? Are there certain tools I should get first? There's a class at JoAnn Fabrics for beginners... should I spend the $20 to take the class?

Where do I start first?!?! TIA!

[Chimichanga]

Definitely get a book - that's the most important thing. :) Books come in all sizes. I usually stick with a 12x12 inch book unless I'm doing a specialty book. Books also come in 8x11. This will determine what type of paper you should buy.

I would get some solid paper too. You can use it for backgrounds or embellishments. Places like Wal-mart have a decent paper selection - that's not something you need to necessarily buy at a scrapbook store/consultant.

I would invest in a collection of pens. Get ones with thin and thick tips. They can get costly, but trust me - they will LAST FOREVER.

Decide what type of attachers you'd like to use. There's glue (for the lack of a better word), mounting squares and tape (again, for the lack of a better word). I use mounting squares. They are .25x.25 inch double sided squares. I love them.

I'd pick up a few pieces of "specialty' paper - Disney themed, trip themed, holiday themed - whatever. But don't pick up a lot until you know what you need.

Really, that is all you need to get started. Yes, you can get some fun scissors or unique cutters, but you don't NEED them.

I would invest in the class. Many times you can use the instructors' equipment for free. Also, they can point you to some tools (pens, scissors, etc) that they think would be helpful for you.

Once you get the "basics' down, you can branch into so many different areas in scrapbooking. Trust me, you'll be adding to you collection for many years. You can get the fun stuff down the road - right now this is about all you need.

[snowzilla]

Once you start, Andrea, you'll be hooked! :)

If I can suggest skipping the glue - it usually ends up getting dry and brittle once completely dry, and your photos and other elements will end up popping off the page. Unfortunately, too many of us scrappers have found that out the hard way.... ;) I use a tape runner now, and wouldn't use anything else. I use a Tombo Mono Adhesive tape runner, purchased at Office Depot (I'm not sure if O.D. is a store in the US or just in Canada?) - they are cheaper there than anywhere else (our Michael's charges almost three times the price). They look like this:

http://www.officedepot.com/pictures/SK/MD/677996_sk_md.jpg

You'll also need a decent paper cutter/trimmer. A really popular one is the Fiskars model - but there are others on the market (Cutterbee is another one). The Fiskars model runs at about 20 bucks, and you just buy little refill blades as you need them. It has an arm that swings out, so you can work on 12x12 layouts without a problem.

http://www.accucut.com/stores/5//images/images/O-P/pt1200-sd.gif

Before you invest in a bunch of patterned scissors, you might want to see how your style develops. I currently own in excess of 40 pairs of scissors - and I almost NEVER use them. I got sucked into a couple of bulk sales when I was starting out, but my style developed and I realized that I prefer very clean lines most of the time. Instead, I use a lot of hole punches, like corner edgers or various fun shapes.

I don't know what you have near you, but I've found a couple of great little local stores that have the best deals on paper and cardstock. I avoid buying anything fancy at Michael's or the big retailers. But, check Costco from time to time - they have been carrying some great deals on scrapbooking supplies over the past year or so, including cardstock, scissors, and stamping supplies. :)

Good luck! It's a lot of fun, and highly addictive!

[emschwar]

I'd take the class.

You'll need an album. Cardstock. Scissors, paper cutter. Adhesive. Maybe 1 or 2 pens, but honestly, I don't use mine much, so I don't have a lot of them. It depends on your style whether you'll use them or not.

Honestly, that's really all you need to start. You'll pick up more as you develop your style.

[DiscoDiva]

Here's an article I found on the net about getting started. When you see a comment in parenthesis, that's my comment. Otherwise, it's by the author.

What You Need to Get Started Scrapbooking
From Rebecca Ludens, Your Guide to Scrapbooking.

Supplies to Get You Started
You have the photos and you have seen gorgeous scrapbooks that friends or relatives have made. You even have a budding desire to be a scrapbooker, but when you enter the scrapbook aisle at the craft store or walk into a scrapbook store, you feel lost and don't know where to begin. There are so many products available in the scrapbooking industry that it is easy to feel lost or overwhelmed. Print this list and take it with you when you go shopping and you will be able to focus on those things that you really need to get started making beautiful scrapbooks!

1) An Album - Select the size album you want to work in and find a color or pattern that works for the theme of your album. (I personally like the Pioneer top loading post bound 12x12 size - but many people prefer the Creative Memories strap hinge 12x12 albums)

2) Refill pages for your album. Refills are not standard sizes, so it is best to pick up a few packs when you purchase your album so that you get the same manufacturer and size. This way, you won't have to hunt for refills later.

3) A nice sharp pair of scissors. My favorites have very fine tips and are comfortable to hold in my hand. You want a pair of scissors that are dedicated exclusively to your scrapbooking. This way they are always with your supplies and always nice and sharp.

4) Adhesive. There are many, many different styles of adhesive. To get started you want an acid-free adhesive that will work well on both cardstock and photos. (A couple of my personal favorites are: Pioneer brand photo Mounting Squares and the Creative Memories Tape Runner)

5) Cardstock and Printed Papers. Select paper to go with the colors you wish to accent in your photos. You may want to purchase paper at your local scrapbook store so that you can select individual sheets for each page.

6) Journal Pens. Look for acid-free, permanant, pens with fine tips for hand writing your journaling. If you wish to hand write titles for your pages you may wish to purchase pens that have a fine tip on one end and a wider tip on the opposite end.

Those are the essentials, but as with any craft, there is always more that you may want to add to your supplies. Here are the ones that I would add next.

Very High on the "Want" List:
1) A 12" Paper Trimmer.
2) Embellishments that coordinate with your pages, such as stickers, 3-D Stickers, buttons, and more. (I personally don't use buttons or any other type of thick embellishment as I'm afraid it will harm my pages.)
3) An Idea Book. My personal favorites are all from Becky Higgins. Take a look at Becky Higgins' Creative Sketches for Scrapbooking. (I recommend subscribing to Making Memories Magazine or the Creative Memories magazine)

Additional Items to Consider When Budget Allows:
1) A Die Cut Machine with an Alphabet Set of Dies. (forget this - it's a few hundred bucks!)
2) Full Set of Journaling Pens (definitely)
3) Circle/Oval Cutter (definitely - the Creative Memories cutting system is the best out there!)

From: http://scrapbooking.about.com/cs/gshowtos/a/supplies.htm

Also, I HIGHLY recommend going out and buying the Scrapbooker's Survival Guide put out by Memory Makers. It is the November 2004 issue, but I imagine you can still get it at book stores or order it online. It is the "Ultimate How-to manual, with 230 tips and tricks for journaling, photography, organization, and more" It tells you about each type of album so you can compare, how to mat photos, how to print fonts on your computer, you name it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Choosing An Album
by: Your Family Legacy http://www.webYFL.com

Documenting your family history in charts and forms is important, but putting it into an album will allow you to creatively display your treasured family legacy. Imagine showing album pages to your kids, grandkids, and other relatives that have pictures, facts, and stories. Think of the ooohs and aaaahs! The first step, is to select an album, and you have two choices to make: size and type.

Album sizes fall into two basic choices: 8½ x 11 or 12 x 12. Anything smaller is unrealistic for displaying your family info. The 8½ x 11 is a familiar size, but has the disadvantage that the space on the page is limited, so its difficult to put multiple items on a page, such a photo, chart, and writing.

The 12 x 12 size has much more room, making creative page layouts possible. You can’t print in this size from your standard desktop printer, which is a limitation when compared to the 8½ x 11, but you can always cut out items from your print-outs and paste them onto the larger pages. There is plenty of 12x12 paper available in a plethora of colors, themes, and styles so you needn’t worry about availability.

Your next choice is the type of album, which are basically (but not exclusively) 3-ring, post-bound or strap-bound. Three ring albums are the easiest to use and allow you to rearrange pages readily. (We recommend that you put album pages inside archival page protectors for lasting protection. Most albums you buy – regardless of type - will come this way and refill paper and protectors are readily available.) The 3-ring album is limited in the number of pages they can hold, based on the size of the ring, but they are usually a large capacity ring. When opened, however, adjacent pages will be separated by the rings, which may be objectionable for a two-page spread.

Post-bound albums allow adjacent pages to lie relatively flat when opened, with no separation between them. They use the same page protectors as the ring albums, which allows you to have both types of albums and buy refills that will work in either. Additional posts can be added for expansion making the capacity variable to suit your needs. Rearranging pages is not as quick and easy as 3-ring albums, but is not difficult.

Strap-bound albums have an expandable strap hinge. A disadvantage of this type of album is that the album must be taken apart to move pages. These albums, when opened, allow adjacent pages to lie flat without the hinge being seen. If you get an album where the page is bound to the strap, then you’ll need to get special page protectors. Some albums have the page protectors bound to the strap and pages can be slipped in and out through the top of the protector.

Whatever type or size you choose, make sure the album you get is archival. This means that it’s made with acid free materials and any included paper is also lignin free. A word of caution here, stay away from “magnetic” albums. They are most likely not archival and can ruin your pictures and documents in a few years. Just last week, we received an e-mail from someone who was transferring photos from an old magnetic album to a 3-ring archival album, and found that her pictures were sticking to the album pages and that the backs were covered with a “sticky” substance. Don’t make the same mistake. Treat you family heritage items safely. By the way, we recommended they use Un-du adhesive remover on the problem pictures.

[DiscoDiva]

Simple Steps to Creating Your First Scrapbook Page

Getting Started Scrapbooking
by Rebecca Ludens
http://scrapbooking.about.com/library/weekly/aa053104a.htm

Once you decide that you want to start scrapbooking that first page can be a little daunting. Choosing an album, gathering supplies, and getting out your photos are just the beginning of a hobby that will preserve your family's most treasured moments for years to come. In the book Scrapbooking: A Step-by-Step Guide to Preserving Your Memories from Creating Keepsakes Magazine the following eight steps are presented as a beginner's guide to getting started:

1. Sort your photos into themes or topics and select a set to work on.
2. Select 2-3 colors of acid-free paper or cardstock that will work well with your photos.
3. Pick one photo to be the main focus of your page. If needed, crop your photos. (See below when to crop and when not to crop.)
4. Select photos to mat. This is a good way to highlight the focal point photo.
5. Add journaling.
6. Add a few extras (such as stickers and embellishments).
7. Arrange all items on your pages and adhere.

While working through these steps there are a few things you will want to consider.
What type of album do you want to create? Are you planning to start a chronological scrapbook that follows your family's events year after year, expanding into more scrapbooks as the pages fill? Do you want to create an album for a specific event or for a gift - an album that will have a definite beginning and ending point. While you think about this, read "Permission Granted" by Stacy Julian to get an idea of how "Simple Scrapbooking" works and see if this may be the direction that you wish to go. If you have 40+ years of pictures in boxes, you probably will not be planning to scrapbook everyone of them; therefore theme albums such as "All the Places We Have Lived" or "My Favorite Photos" may be perfect projects to get you started.

Journaling is very important. Your pictures only tell half of the story and with out the narration to go with them their meaning may become lost over the years. Think about not only including the basic "who, what, when, and where" style of journaling but also incorporating the feelings, thoughts, and memories that these pictures bring to you. This type of journaling will more accurately and interestingly convey who you are when read by future generations.

And last, think before you crop. Many new scrapbookers begin by cutting their photos into shapes with templates or decorative scissors. Before you crop your photos keep these tips in mind:

To Crop or Not to Crop:
It is pretty easy to get carried away with cropping and then wish later that you had cut a little less off of some of your photos. Keep in mind some things your should never crop:

1. Do not crop Polaroid snapshots - The chemicals inside the photos can leak and ruin the picture and your page. Instead, if you choose to, you could conceal the photo edge with paper frames on your layouts.
2. Do not crop out all historical or place references - cutting too much out of a photo can remove a significant part of the story.
3. Limit the number of shapes that you crop your photos into on each layout. Sketches by Becky Higgins has hundreds of fabulous examples of layouts and sketches for layouts that use rectangular or square photos. Take a peek at her sketches and layouts online for some great ideas.

From “Trends in Photo Cropping” by Rebecca Ludens:

Trimming your photographs is one of the first things that most scrapbookers are taught. We do this for several reasons: to be able to include more pictures on a page, to create a focal point for a picture, or to remove distracting background images. As you flip though recent scrapbooking magazines and idea books, you will find that cropping has taken on some new trends that can greatly enhance the overall look of your scrapbook pages. Here are three cropping methods to consider before you cut into your very next photo.

Cropping for Balance and Focus
Cropping and Enlarging
Cropping Creatively

[DiscoDiva]

Journaling Your Memories

by Your Family Legacy
http://scrapbooking.about.com/library/weekly/aa080701a.htm

In preserving your family heritage, journaling is the addition of written details often done to compliment a picture or document. The most common kind of journaling is noting the names of people in a photograph, but as easy as this is, there is one all too familiar mistake made here – the habit of referring to people in relation to oneself. You may have already encountered this in your own quest to discover the identities of people in old photographs even when someone went to the bother to include names, such as “Great Aunt Claire, Mom, Dad, and Sis.” You may find yourself asking, “Whose Great Aunt Claire? Whose Mom and Dad!” The frustration can be maddening, so always use first and last names. Remember that journaling isn’t just for your own reference but for future generations who may not know who made the notations. Of course the paper and ink you use should be archival quality and you should avoid writing on the actual photo or document. Journal next to, beneath, or on an adjacent scrapbook page. Include dates, names, events and any other details you may know.

Think of journaling as telling a story – write down the sort of things you say when you show someone your scrapbook or genealogy collection. Perhaps an ancestor was a privateer during the American Revolution, or a blacksmith who fashioned his wife’s wedding ring himself out of gold he panned in the Black Hills.

Journal notations are the perfect way to hand down family lore too, noting of course that they may not be fact. You may note that the tree in the background of a photo was where a known outlaw was supposedly hung, or that an ancestor was the first to suggest to Abraham Lincoln that he go into politics, or that the family home in the last century was thought to be haunted.

You may wish to dedicate the first page or first section of your heritage album or notebook to family stories and lore. Don’t be afraid to include family superstitions since they say so much about the times, including our own.

Of course journaling doesn’t have to accompany pictures or documents. You could keep your own journal of your daily life or take a notebook along to genealogy libraries, cemeteries, record rooms of private libraries, anywhere you go to do your family research, and jot down your thoughts, ideas, questions and theories. They may help you in future searches or give clues to genealogists researching your family a hundred years from now.

No matter how you journal – with a few words jotted next to a photo or dozens of pages in a notebook, don’t let your family’s past and present be lost to future generations who want to know who they are and where they come from.

[DiscoDiva]

Getting Started with Scrapbooking

Whether you have 100 photos or 1,000, one thing is certain - each one is irreplaceable. Each photo captures a “moment in time,” not to be repeated or duplicated. Preserving these memories in a scrapbook to be held for future generations will create a priceless heirloom for all to come.

BASIC SUPPLIES:

Paper - Use only acid-free, lignin-free and buffered paper to protect your photos from yellowing and deteriorating over time. Pre-printed stationary and card stock that are acid-free are all safe for mounting photos. If in doubt of the quality of your paper, be sure to not allow any photos to touch the paper.

Page Protectors – To safeguard your completed pages for years to come, use archival-safe polypropylene page protectors that won’t yellow with age. Be sure these pages do not contain any PVC or plasticizers that can be harmful to photos. Poly pages are available in several types and sizes at your local craft store, or at an online distributor.

Adhesives - Any adhesive used to mount photos MUST be acid-free. Other safe alternatives for mounting photos include photo corners, double sided tape, and acid-free glue (in a stick, pen or water-based form).

Pens - Permanent, acid-free pigment pens and pigment ink colored pencils can be used to safely write text and decorate pages.

Stickers and Decals – Choose from a variety of acid-free stickers and archival safe decals that will stand the test of time without harming photos.

Scissors – Straight edged scissors are the easiest tool to crop photos. Decorative scissors can add a variety of sculpting to photos and borders.

You DO NOT have to be an artist or prolific author to record your memories in scrapbook albums. Simple pages can help you focus on your photos and the memories behind them. Decorative pages can be extremely time consuming and sometimes take the emphasis off the photo and/or memory; however, this is a matter of style and preference.


GETTING STARTED:

1) Selecting a Theme
First, you will want to decide on a theme for your album (i.e., birthdays, holidays, vacation, chronological order by year, baby, wedding, lifetime, special event, family, etc.). There is no particular right way to do it, it’s all how you want to present the memories. You may choose to record the memories strictly in chronological order, making a family album for each year. Or you can make a holiday album housing Christmas holiday memories over the years, a vacation album depicting various family adventures, or school albums with memories from each of your child(ren)’s years in school. Most croppers do a variety of theme albums. If you are just getting started, it might be easier to begin with a family album or child’s album. As you work on those, it might become more clear as to whether you would like to create something especially for other memories.


Storing negatives in protective sleeves helps keep them safe for years to come.
2) Storing Negatives and Photos
If you were "handed down" family photos, you will probably spend a good deal of time sorting photos before actually starting to scrapbook. Photos and negatives should be stored in a climate-neutral environment, like a closet on a living floor, preferably not in the basement, attic, or garage. By employing some simple storage strategies, one can preserve precious negatives, and store photos in a way that you will be able to find them when you need them.

We recommend storing negatives in a large 3-ring binder in regular negative sleeves that you can pick up at any camera/photo shop. These are clear archival-safe polypropylene pocketed pages to fit a variety of negative sizes. There is a place for a title and date identifying the photos, then storage for 12 – 42 frames per page. Stored this way, negatives are easy to access when you may want to look for additional photos for a particular date or theme.

There are a variety of photo storage options. Large 4 x 6 or 5 x 7 file drawers work well and usually allow enough space to archive a year of photos at a time. You can get file boxes at any stationary or office supply store. Craft stores sell a variety of different sized boxes for safe photo storage. Avoid the once popular glassine envelopes. They are acidic and can damage your photos over time. Paper envelopes are fine for storage as long as they have seamed edges and the paper is acid-free and non-buffered.

Know your enemies! The worst enemies to your photo collection are heat, humidity and light. Keep your photos in a main living area, or closet, not in a basement or attic. Examine the contents periodically to avoid contamination of dust, insects, or mold. Photos should be stored in a place with good air exchange.


It's important not to overcrowd your layout with pictures, leaving room for titles, journaling and more.
3) Photo Selection for Layout and Cropping
Toss the blurry photos, unless they are the only ones you have of something/someone special. Look at how the photo can be "cropped" or cut to highlight the most significant part. Get rid of the excess background (leave the background in place if it contains things that may be special to you – like grandma’s kitchen, pictures on the wall, etc.).

Cropping tools can be purchased at your local craft store, or through independent consultants catering to scrapbookers. The most common shapes when cropping photos are rectangles, squares, circles, and ovals. However, almost any shape will work. Diamonds, stars, hearts, triangles and abstract shapes can all be used. When cutting photos, rectangular and oval shapes are most pleasing to the eye. While there are exceptions, it's good to limit circle and other geometric shapes to 1-2 per page.

cont....... next post

[DiscoDiva]

...... cont from previous post

4) Consider the Size of the Page for Layout
Do you have enough photos for a double page layout? Would you like to highlight a single photo for the starting page of an album, such as a baby or wedding photo? Do you have so many photos of the event that it will take a few pages? Lay out the photos in several arrangements until you are satisfied with their placement, and that you have enough room for journaling or explaining the story behind the photos, as well as enough room for a title or embellishments such as die cuts or stickers.


Journaling can simply describe the photos or add in your feelings about them for more intimacy. Adding the prayer that the girls recite each night was something I wanted to share with them.
5) Consider Journaling Space
Consider for whom you are creating the album. Is it a creative outlet for yourself, or documentation of family history and events made for future generations? When you have answered these questions, you will have a better idea of how much room to leave for journaling.

For the creative and visually artistic individual who likes beautiful detailed pages and generally doesn’t like to have journaling on their pages, you can add a decorative journaling box that matches the photo layout.

For others, journaling or telling the story behind the photos is paramount. This style tends to prefer simple pages with lots of space for writing. For those who want to provide a history, we recommend journaling on every page. Pretend your future daughter-in-law wants to know more about her husband’s childhood; or, if you should pass from the earth today, what would you want your children to know about a particular person, event or family tradition?

Journaling answers the following questions: Who is in the photo? Where and When did it happen? What is the story behind the photo? Use blank spaces, or dedicate a page to share future dreams, etc.

6) Choose a Title for Your Page

This is important, as it gives a quick reference to the subject and prepares the viewer. Titles can be placed anywhere on the page, including down the side(s), through the middle or across the top or bottom. They are brief captions such as Happy Birthday, Summer Fun, First day of School or Me and My Daddy, that pull the photos together for that particular page. Simpler titles can be hand written, stenciled or spelled out with die cuts or stickers. More involved titles may be multi faceted with tags, wire, and/or glitter. The possibilities are endless!


Using angel stickers with stars and complimentary colored paper, a simple border emerged. Adding a simple swirly line gives a sweet and feminine look.
7) Photo Layout
Now it’s time to lay out the photos on the page to get an idea of how to space them, or cluster them. If you have much journaling, it’s good to cluster the photos together so that you have a designated space to write. Darker photos look best towards the bottom of the page. At this stage, your page may look stark. Don’t be afraid of the blank, bare space. There’s lots to do to jazz it up!

Photos should be mounted with an adhesive that is photo safe.

8) Paper Enhancers
Make photos jump off the page by using multi-colored paper to mount on scrapbook pages. You can create a matte or template out of colored card stock in any desired shape or size. Trim the mat with decorative scissors for a whimsical look. Mount the photo to the mat before attaching it to the page.

9) Journal
Journaling should be left until after the photos are mounted. It is much easier to add a sentence or increase the size of the letter than it is to remove and move photos once they are mounted.

10) Stickers and Embellishments
Stickers, die cuts, brads, eyelets, beads, feathers, etc. can all be used to jazz up the page in coordinating colors and patterns. These should be applied after journaling in the spaces still left unfilled. These items can also be used to cover a journaling error or to fill an open space that still needs that little something. When adding any embellishments, be sure they are photo-safe or do not allow them to touch the photos.

From: http://www.cropclassix.com/basics/gettingstarted_print.html

[KristyK]

QUICK QUESTION....

Are you using the paper cutter only for your pictures? Is that what it's for? I have one made by x-acto that I've rarely used, should I get a different one or will this one suffice?

TIA!!

[emschwar]

QUICK QUESTION....

Are you using the paper cutter only for your pictures? Is that what it's for? I have one made by x-acto that I've rarely used, should I get a different one or will this one suffice?

TIA!!
I use the paper cutter to cut the pictures, but I also use it to cut paper. Cardstock for colorblocking, titles, whatever. The paper I do my journalling on, I cut with the paper cutter. And if I didn't have my matting tool, I'd use the paper cutter to cut mats as well.

[udsweetpea]

Thank you so much for your help, ladies!

[LeslieR]

Personally, I couldn't live without my patterned scissors (you can get these for super cheap), patterned paper, paper cutter, stickers, and photo corner mounts (I think that's what they're called). As you go on, you'll develop your own style and figure out what your must have tools/supplies are. I can't stand a lot of white space on my pages, so I like stickers to fill in those spaces. If you think you'll be into stickers, I'd suggest taking a list of what pictures you are planning on using on certain pages so you don't forget what themed stickers you're looking for (i.e. summertime, food, friendship, Christmas, what have you).

[KristyK]

I had a whole container of scissors, never used them and "loaned" them to my work when we started scrapbooking there, they now can't find them. :rolleyes: So, I have to start over there. I looked at my paper cutter and I'm not sure I can remove the blades or not, so I might just have to buy a different one.

I bought several packets that had all the different shapes and sizes, plus zig zags etc at Wal-mart, so I might not even have to cut anything. Oh well, I guess I'll see!

[DiscoDiva]

bump for mrstim :)

[MandyMaloo]

Oooh! I never saw this before!

I agree with the ladies here! You've all gotton some great ideas. One thing I would suggest before starting would maybe be to pick up a scrapbooking/layout magazine. I just picked up my first scrapbooking mag and I chose scrapbooks etc. by Better Homes and Gardens. What a life saver! Amazing layouts- really great ideas, and I know this month's issue is great for anyone beginning their first scrapbook. It has a list of tools, and some beginner tutorials for decorating your pages and even taking pictures! This is something I wish I would've done before I got started! I've been scrapping for awhile, but this magazine is great even for us old scrappers!

Hope everyone has a great time creating your albums. This is such a wonderful way to preserve your memories and pass them along to your children, friends, or other family. Have fun--and post your finished pages on the layout thread!!

[DiscoDiva]

One of the VERY BEST magazines I've ever read for the beginning scrapbooker is Scrapbooker's Survival Guide: The Ultimate How-To Manual. It is published by Memory Maker's Magazine and is the November 2004 Special Issue. I HIGHLY recommend every beginner go to the Memory Makers website and order this back issue. It goes through all the techniques and explains how to use them. It explains everything from the basics to the fanciest. The whole issue is devoted to tips, hints, and how-tos.

[endymion411]

i just found a LOAD of scrapbooking books at the local library---now i don't have to go and buy them!!!! i can just flip through these for ideas and spend the book/magazine money on supplies to do the acutal pages

[tgr68]

Subscribing!

[roxanna]

i just found a LOAD of scrapbooking books at the local library---now i don't have to go and buy them!!!! i can just flip through these for ideas and spend the book/magazine money on supplies to do the acutal pages

GREAT TIP :) Hope to get to go to the library soon and look for some books! :) Never even thought about that.. lol

[tgr68]

Where can I find pg protectors for an oddly shaped spiral album that I picked up on sale?

TIA!

[emschwar]

Where can I find pg protectors for an oddly shaped spiral album that I picked up on sale?

TIA!
I don't know, but you could put contact paper over your pages. I'm 99% sure it's acid free.

[tgr68]

I thought of that, but I wasn't sure if it would be safe or not.

Thanks!

[DiscoDiva]

bump!

[MrsD108]

Do you have a Pac Catans in your area. I scrapbook and have always found what I needed there plus you can get a discount card for 40% off

[Mrs.Pfeiffer]

**subscribing**

[tinkerbelljenny]

This is a great thread. I think I have everything I need, I just need to figure out what to do first.

[Mrs.Pfeiffer]

This is a great thread. I think I have everything I need, I just need to figure out what to do first.


I think I am going to go to a Beginner Scrapbooking Class at a local craft store by my house. I also invited a few friends. The class is two hours long and you just have to bring $15 and 8 - 10 photos of an event/theme. Maybe you could check for a class around your area. I am sure that would be an awesome place to get ideas and more info about starting up a scrapbook of your own. :) Goodluck!

[Sunshine]

subscribing:D

[DiscoDiva]

Some tips for newbies:
The only thing I can say to beginning scrapbookers is to avoid the mistakes the rest of us have made. Here are the top 4 mistakes us beginners all have done:

1. We all put way too many stickers on a page, and they were randomly scattered around. Try to use stickers is in a small group, or on a border, not just here and there on a page. As our individual style develops, many of us find that we don't use that many stickers anymore.
2. Don't trim most of the pictures into shapes (ovals, circles, hearts, triangles, etc). When we all started, we were so excited to trim everything in shapes. Try to leave most pictures in a square shape, and have maybe one pic per page in different shape.
3. Don't go crazy with edged scissors (you know, wavy edges, etc.). We all probably went overboard with those in the beginning. Limit them use of edged scissors. I rarely use them now.
4. Limit each page to 2 or 3 colors only. We've all went crazy with color on a page at some time or another. It's better to have one main color and a few accent colors - it gives the page more unity.

For some good, simple ideas for beginning scrapbookers, check out www.CreativeMemories.com. Here's a page that shows some of what I'm talking about:
http://www.creativememories.com/Main...fLargeImage%2f

[Chimichanga]

Adding onto Disco's list...

JOURNAL!! Even if you hate your hand-writing, you will eventually forget the event/people in the picture. Make sure to include first AND last names of people. Date things whenever possible. Put titles one the page - even if it's a small title/not a cute play on words - make sure you know what's going on.

I look back on some pictures from college (about 5 years ago) and I can't for the life of me remember who these people are! Nor can I remember where I took the picture (a party? Class? What?)

[DiscoDiva]

So true - don't forget to journal!!!

[DiscoDiva]

bump!

[Tracie]

I have a suggestion for those who hate their handwriting - you can type up your journaling and print it out. You can print it onto colored paper if you want, and use different fonts and styles. Although I like my handwriting, I do this from time to time because it gives a really clean look.

[MandyMaloo]

I don't know if it's an ESSENTIAL...but it's certainly helped my scrapping. Transperancies.They're see through- and when you print on them, you can put it on either patterened or soild color papers. I REALLY love this look and I think it's made my pages look worlds better! Hope this helpes someone!

[SunnyAB]

MandyMaloo - do you use 8 x 11 transparencies? (have an 8 x 11 album) :)

[MandyMaloo]

SunnyAB- Yep! I just cut them down as needed. It's REALLY been a huge save for me. I really like the idea of creating a wonderful title in PSP and being able to print it out and use it. They may be a little pricey depending on where you go (I go to Walmart), but I honestly don't know how I scrapped without them!!

[DiscoDiva]

To me, transparencies aren't a beginner essential. They definitely weren't for me. I had to learn my 'style' first before I expanded into transparencies and computer journalling and things like that. But hey, JMHO. :)

[vee05]

This thread is going to be a life saver to my dying wedding scrap book that i need to get cracking on again!

Thanks Ladies.

[DiscoDiva]

bump!

[Kanga]

To save money, Michaels always has a 40% off one item coupon in their add. I'm just getting started (ok, i started a while ago, but it's a sllooooow start;) ) and it helps a lot with the more expensive items.


Oh no. I just flipped through a Michaels add while I was typing this, and there were tons of scrapbooking stuff on sale. (I assume it's the same everywhere? Anyways, it's stickers, edge scissors, paper, and page kit, stamps and all kinds of other stuff)

Also a local craft store here has a professional die cut machine you can use for free if you buy the paper there. Sometimes I dig through the scraps other people leave and use them.

[Roxygirl]

I just wanted to let all of you know that are first starting out that if you're looking for ways to learn techniques and get your scrapbooks done you should try contacting your local Creative Memories consultant. I know a lot of them (including me) have workshops and crops all month. Those would be a great place to learn some new things and get things done. You can search for someone local on www.creativememories.com

[DiscoDiva]

bump

[quest]

If I may bump this thread again....

I have to put 2 scrapbook pages together for my daughters "Teacher Appreciation" scrapbook the class is putting together. They supplied the pages, so I went out and bought a few packs of themed stickers (from the scrapbook section) and I plan to fill out the rest with pictures from the school year. My question is...if I only need to create 2 pages...what adhesive for the pictures should I use? I see there is a tape runner and also corner squares (I'm not sure I'm calling those the right thing) that seem to get good reviews, but I need someone to make the decision for me, since I'll likely never use it after this.

Any advice is welcome and appreciated.

TIA!

[sea74]

I use the tape runner for all my pages. I love it :)
http://www.exposuresonline.com/ExposuresOnline/Shopping/ProductDetail.aspx?CID=Albums+&SCID=Accessories&ProductID=0000150889&SiteNum=0&siteID=WUqD6wTpSTg-3t50.Pescot2gPdTgcCrdA

[tgr68]

I've used the Creative Memories brand tape runner for going on 4 years now, and I love it! They also have frosted splits (pre-cut tape) and liquid adhesive that I've used. Here's a link to all of their photo mounting supplies: http://www.creativememories.com/MainMenu/Our-products-and-services/Traditional-Scrapbooking/Tools/Photo-Mounting

[endymion411]

since you're not ever going to use it again, i would go with an acid-free glue stick or tape runner from the scrapbook section (rather than a box of hundreds of photo squares, corners, refillable tape runners, etc)

[Chimichanga]

Ditto. Find something that's small or has only a few uses from it (like a glue stick or some squares). It will cost more because it's from the scrapbook section of a store and you're not getting the economies of scale, but if you're only doing one project then it's worth it IMO.

[quest]

Thanks, everyone!

So I found out this morning that the pages were actually due TODAY, not in 2 days, like I thought. I'm sure I could have turned them in tomorrow, but I didn't want to be the one who held up the 'assembly of the book', you know?

I came home from dropping DD off and went to town...of course, I had no adhesive for the pics, no place on the way home to stop and a fussy toddler in tow, so I used a regular glue stick (don't shudder), but I also sealed some of the edges with the scrapbook stickers I had bought...it kind of looked cute. I figured when the glue stick adhesive tuckered out, these would be my back-up ;).

But I just have to say, I can totally see why scrapbooking can be addictive. I was having so much fun putting those 2 pages together! Someday, when I have time....

Thanks again!

[looch]

Just the other day I needed some adhesives and was kicking myself for not having a box of those adhesive dots around. They can come in handy for so many small projects. I am going to put together a small "kit" of a glue stick, adhesive dots and double sided tape for my kitchen utility drawer.