Do you have piles of photos stuffed into cabinets? Boxes of them? Old style "magnetic" photo albums bursting with photos, clippings and memorabilia? Have you ever looked at them and wished you could create them into stories and share with other habitancy your feelings about the events and habitancy in those photos?
Have you ever seen a modern day scrapbook? Wished you could express yourself creatively straight through telling stories about your ancestors, your children, your daily life? Thought it was so daunting that you didn't know where to start?
Have you ever walked straight through a scrapbook store or the scrapbook agency in a craft store and been fully overwhelmed, not knowing what you need, what's the "best", how to start?
Agonize no more! This record will provide you with the very basics you need to dip your toe into the world of scrapbooking. Obviously there is much more you can learn about scrapbooking such as page composition, color theory, an infinite whole of techniques and ornament tips; the list is endless. Of course, with so much to offer, getting started can seem very marvelous and here I will try to give you some facts and steps to begin with confidence.
Scrapbooking has been nearby forever and was a popular pastime in the Victorian era. Women saved dried flowers, scraps of fabric from popular dresses, letters, ticket stubs, all kinds of memorabilia and notes in books. The current scrapbooking craze was started by a woman who created any "memory books" in the 1970's to quote her ancestors. She brought these books to a consulation and habitancy were inspired to originate their own. In 1981 she opened the first known Scrapbooking store and the rest is history.
Now, scrapbooking is a multi-billion dollar industry, spawning magazines, books, stores, websites, blogs, consulation groups; anywhere you turn habitancy are scrapbooking!
Why Scrapbook?
So, why do habitancy scrapbook? There are as many reasons as there are scrapbooking styles, but the main reasons are that habitancy want to preserve their photos and memorabilia and thoughts and words for future generations and they enjoy having a creative outlet in creating books that depict everything from extra occasions to daily moments.
Watch For Acid
One of the most important things to know when embarking on your projects is to remember to ensure that everything you use in your books is archivally safe. This term means that all your products will do everything to improve the preservation of your books and not cause them any damage. One of the most important things to reconsider is to make sure that all your products are acid free. Acid will finally destroy your photos! Most, but not all, products that are made for scrapbooking are acid free. You can verify this by examining the container for the words "acid free" or to use an acid testing pen in an inconspicuous place to test the item for acid content; there are corrective deacidification sprays available.
One of the important publications on scrapbooking, Creating Keepsakes, endorses the products of many manufacturers and notes these products with a "Ck Ok" logo and fastener on the packaging. Any container you see with this fastener is safe for use in your books.
Non-acid free items Can be used, but you will want to make sure that you do one of the following: whether spray the object with a deacidification spray Or place the object on your page in a way that it is not touching your photos. Using buffered paper will help tremendously in this case, as it will preclude acid from migrating to the photos. Look for papers that specify that they are buffered if you are planning to use an item containing acid on your page.
You will also want to watch out for Pvc, polyvinyl chloride. Pvc was once a popular material used in photo albums, but it finally breaks down into acids and also finally destroys those photos!
Lignin
You will also want to ensure that any paper you use in your scrapbooks is lignin free. You know how when you leave a newspaper out in the driveway it turns yellow? This is because the lignin in the paper is breaking down and yellows and becomes brittle. Eventually, whatever containing lignin will do the same in your books. Most, but not all, papers sold for scrapbooking are lignin free. If you purchase papers specifically in scrapbooking market and departments you will be safe but using papers that are Not specified for scrapbooking should be reconsidered before using.
Protect Those gorgeous Pages!
Once you have completed your pages, you will want to protect them from minuscule sticky fingers, big sticky fingers and dust and daily grime. You will do this by using page protectors designed for the type of album you choose. I highly, highly encourage habitancy to use them all the time. They also protect your embellishments from catching on each other and pulling off the page and help to originate a "slide" between pages, preventing wear and pulling on the photos.
Pick A Theme, Any Theme
Another thing to reconsider before you jump in is what kind of album do you want? Will it be a book of your daily house life? A book commemorating a relative? One recognizing a extra event? An daily book will naturally need to be larger than, say, one you originate to welcome a new niece or nephew into the world. Keep your projects in mind as you shop for your album and materials.
Basic Tools
At the very minimum you will need a paper trimmer, a good pair of sharp scissors, some adhesive and a journaling pen. In addition, of course, you will also need papers or cardstock, pages, page protectors and any embellishments you want to add but here we will cover just the tools.
I advise that you purchase the best tools you can afford. Scrapbooking tools are one area where you no ifs ands or buts get what you pay for. For instance, inexpensive decorative scissors (scissors that originate a decorative edge) are tempting since they are priced so low, but, and I speak from sorry personal experience, they are far inferior in potential and persisting power than those from a brand like Fiskars.
There are many different forms of adhesive that are specifically designed for use in scrapbooks. I advise that you purchase a merge of different kinds and try them out to see which style you prefer. What you choose to use will depend on your relax level and the ease of use you have with them. It is worth repeating here that you should Never use rubber cement or white glue in your books! Both dry out, crack and your pages will fall apart!
A journaling pen is an primary because you will all the time want to note the basics - who, when, where - on every page. You may choose to note some of facts straight through your title and captions but I all the time advise that habitancy consist of a small bit of their own handwriting somewhere on each page. Wouldn't you love to know what your grandmother's handwriting looked like? Think of future generations discovering your world straight through your eyes in your hand.
On To The Good Stuff!
Ok, you say, enough with the warnings - I want to scrap! How do you start? It is easier than you think!
1. Choose your photos - pick the photos that depict the field you want to scrapbook. Edit them carefully; reject any that are fully out of focus, show habitancy who are not integral to the story, are blurry, etc. Carefully look over the ones you have remaining. Remember that you do not need to scrapbook every photo. You want to pick the ones that best account for the story you want to tell straight through your page.
2. Select your colors - take a good look at the photos you have chosen. Are the colors in them bright? Jewel toned? Is there one color that is predominant? Sample any colors with your photos and choose the one(s) that best complement your photos. Determine which color(s) you want as your background and which one(s) as accent colors.
3. Crop your photos - Ok, I can hear you now; "I can't Cut my photos!". Yes, you can! It might be hard to get over, but once you start you will do it without hesitation. Simply trim off from the photo whatever extraneous; people, background, someone's foot, a stain on a shirt........just lop it right off! Your photos will look better and thus your pages will, too!
4. Begin to create your page(s) - lay your photos out, with your background color(s) under them. Choose a photo to serve as your focal point, that is where you want habitancy to look first, to look to learn what your layout is about. Work the other photos nearby it in an arrangement that you find pleasing. There is no right or wrong with this! This is Your creation and you should have fun with it.
Now pick your embellishments. Here is where you can no ifs ands or buts show your creative side! You can choose from ribbons to stickers to die cuts to charms to premade titles and phrases to nothing extra at all. The most important thing to remember is this is supposed to be Fun and there are no real rules other than manufacture sure that your items are archivally safe.
One note - all the time be sure to leave room for journaling. Journaling can be as easy as the "who, what, why, when, where" of the page or you may want to originate a record that will give the reader all the details you have of the chance depicted. Just make sure that, at the very least, you have the name of the field and the date on every page. People 100 years in the future will thank you!
5. Begin to assemble your layout - mat your photos on your accent colors, originate your background, adhere your photos, add your borders and accents. Add your embellishments. Do your journaling. Step back. Admire your work!
Congratulations!!
You have completed a page! Wasn't it fun?
Now that you know the basics, you can expand your repertoire of techniques and experiment until you seek your style. Some habitancy like the simplicity of one or two well-chosen photos with pure colors and easy lines. Some habitancy love the "collage" look with loads of embellishments and hand lettering. And there is everything in between, so experiment and play and you will find your own groove.
How to Get Started Scrapbooking
I buy School Works Squishgrip Scissors low price from Amazon.com, I highly recommend Fiskars 28859_14 Price is AWESOME ITEM !
I buy Red Handle Safety Scissors 5-1/2" (Pack of 12) low price from Amazon.com, I highly recommend S&S Price is AWESOME ITEM !
I buy FSK95037197 - Childrens Safety Scissors Classroom Pack low price from Amazon.com, I highly recommend Fiskars Price is AWESOME ITEM !