also see my scrapbooking blog at: http://ihavesomethingtosay.today.com/
Introduction to srapbooking
Since the invention of the camera, preserving the memories of the family has been a popular pastime. However scrapbookers of today, have new tools, techniques, technologies, and information to make their scrapbooks better than could ever have been imagined. In fact scrapbooking has changed from a simple way to view and store pictures to a real personal art form. I have no doubt that the scrapbooks of today will become the family heirlooms of tomorrow, much the way quilts have become collectable objects of art, both modern and folk, and ties to our heritage which are wrought with family history.
Of course there is also the personal aspect of scrapbooking. We all have a different perspective on beauty and art so our scrapbooks not only describe the photo, the events, and impressions of the day it was taken, but they are also expressions of our personal taste, where our own personality will shine through the creative choices we make. We can log and catalog family ancestry, historical moments within our families (no matter how humble), and even family traditions to be passed on from generation to generation. Best of all it will be a source of pride both of your own efforts, and of your friends and family with whose photos you fill the pages. Scrapbooks make you able to share with your loved ones your very special feelings about them and their accomplishments.
Scrapbooks of today, come in all shapes and sizes, from traditional photo sleeve types, to mini accordion albums in a tin, to boxed sets, to wide 12" x 12" pages, and even in a digital format to be viewed on computers, televisions or digital photo frames. In addition there are just as many different tools and supplies for creating in your scrapbooks. It can feel a little overwhelming. Don't worry, the most important thing you need is you own creativity.
My recommendations of what you will need to get started are very simple.
Lots of wonderful papers (look for acid free lignin free or archival quality)
One pair of sharp comfortable scissors
One sharp exacto knife
One pair of tiny sharp scissors (for decoupage)
A steel ruler (look in your husbands tools, one of those steel angle things will work great)
A self healing cutting matt (this one is a little pricey, and you can just use cardboard until you find the right deal)
An Adhesive roller
THAT'S IT TO START
Most any fancy tag or shape you can buy you can cut out yourself with a pair of scissors. Stickers are fun, but there are plenty of fun embellishments you can cut from patterned paper. Use your computer to find and make shapes. Print coloring pictures, cut them out of card stock. The ruler and the exacto knife will allow you to cut straight edges until you find a nice paper trimmer. There is one more thing I highly recommend for a beginner. Find a scrapper friend. Us die hard scrappers have so much supplies and equipment we could probably give you half without really missing it. I myself know I have at least three eyelet setters. I needed to try them all till I found the one I loved most. (I'll tell you later) Also just the plain comradery of crafting together, sharing and inspiring one another will be wonderful. Till my next edition. HAVE FUN!
Cut 'em Up!
When it comes to scrapbooking paper there are two kinds. The sort that you cut and use as you please, and the pages that are premade with frames and places to journal that are made to use as they are. Those pages are wonderful and filled with tags and frames, so why not use them just as they are on one page, and then take a second one and cut it up placeing it's elements on your own backround page, weather solid in color or patterned. These pages can cooridinate with the premade page by keeping themes and color schemes similar. Coordinating pages are great for scrapbooking those life events that just can't be chronicled on one page. Those dozens of pictures you take at christmas, birthdays, vacations. They don't all need to be put in your scrapbook, but even if you only choose the best of the best there will surely be more that one or two and you will need more than one premade page to preserve them. So buy several and cut them up.
Another reason to buy more than one premade page is for embellishing it. Once you have your photos laid on the page perhaps you want some of the pages elements to overlap the photos. Just cut them out of a second page, and here you can also take the opportunity to make a raised embellishment by putting foam dots on the back. Just line it up exactly on the same image on the premade page. This will add a lot of pizzaz to your premade pages, and you will still save a lot of time scrapbooking which is why we usally choose to use premade pages.
Scrapbooking is all about the scraps! Have you cut all the elements out of one of your premade pages and are left with a lot of paper still? Cut tags from the scraps. Tags are just rectangles with two of the corners cut off. Also cut shapes of all kinds. Circle make great tags, add a little bow on top or an eyelet. Cut predecorated easter eggs. Hearts are simple to cut out of patterened paper, boarders are just long strips, title boxes are just rectangles with lettering glued on top.
Got a scrap box? You really should have one. You don't need to keep every tiny scrap, but if you have some of reasonable size, keep them for sure! I just use one of those 12 x 12 plastic boxes made to keep scrapbooking paper clean. Throw in your scraps and keep it right beside you scrapbooking papers. If you get bored pull it out and get busy, make tags and shapes and other embellishments and get them ready for scrapping.
Got your scrapping buddy? Remember I told you in the first article that they were indeed needed. Trade your scrap boxes! You have already used at least some of all those patterns and papers in there. To keep your scrapbooks from becomeing to repeatative, trade your scrap box with someone else. They will get all kinds of tidbits of papers they don't have and so will you!
Printables are wonderful for cutting up. I know my sets have a lot of premade pages and backround papers too. Cut the frames, titles, and journaling boxes off of one and use them on another. Don't worry cut all you like you can just print more. Do you know how to print just a specific page of a pdf file. Use your printer popup and look for where it says "Print all" and where it says "Print pages". Usually the print pages line will have a box to type the pages you want to print. That way you don't have to store the pages you didn't use (except on your computer or a disc as a pdf file), you don't have to waste your acid free paper printing pages you won't use, you don't waste your printer ink, and you can have as much of a certain pattern or element that you need. So cut 'em up!
Two setters to many!
Okay, I told you I would tell you the story of the eyelet setters. I have the hammer and point sort, a silent setter, and a cropodile. Of course I LOVE the cropodile. If you don't know what that is.... It's a big pink hole punch that also pinches and crimps eyelets. It cuts two size holes, and crimps four different types of eyelets. The first one I got was the hammer type. I used it for one day and it broke. I was quickly sick of all the banging anyway. Then came the silent setter. It was on sale and so less expensive than the cropodile, but I just can't get the hang of it, so the cropodile was bought. It is wonderful for eyelets and small holes, but that's about all. In defense of the silent setter, it is one neat looking and feeling gadget. I think some of the problem with the silent setter is me of course, I am sure some folks are useing it to great effect, and loving it. Eyelets are fun, but I don't think they add that much pizzaz. They do make a hand made tag look a little more cool, but on a scrapbook page most of the ooomph comes from die cuts, lettering, even the backgroung page. Don't get me wrong I really love my cropodile, but for a beginner, don't put your money there right away. Paper, stickers, patterns, will yeild more satisfaction. Of course that's just my opinion.