Choosing a layout for your scrapbook is probably the most challenging part of the whole scrapbooking process.  While some simply choose page-by-page layouts based on the photos or mementos that they have, others decide to make their entire scrapbook with a specific theme in mind.  Choosing a layout for your scrapbook pages and choosing a layout for your scrapbook itself present their own unique challenges. 

When you are deciding on a layout for your scrapbook you will most likely need to decide on a very general topic. Such topics might be things like the Holidays, birthdays, individual children, vacations, baby books, school books, etc.  This general layout can then guide you when you decide what types of things you will include in your scrapbook.  Generally if you want to carry the same layout type throughout the whole scrapbook you will also want to think of how you will coordinate the photos that you wish to include with the paper, patterns and other embellishments that you will be using.  Generally a themed scrapbook will not vary too far from a specific look that the scrapbooker is trying to achieve.

Now if your dilemma is choosing a layout for your scrapbook’s individual pages that is an entirely different issue to address.  Many scrapbookers find themselves in a type of creative block when it comes to choosing layouts because they themselves are out of ideas or the ideas that they do come across simply do not fit into the theme that they are trying to achieve or incorporate the use of materials that they do not have. 

Choosing just the right layout for each of your scrapbooking pages will certainly take some time.  But for many, that time spent contemplating the layout is recreational and relaxing.  If you are not the type of scrapbooker who enjoys brainstorming, here are a few tips that may help you to choose a layout for your pages:

    Use what you have - With so many different layout ideas floating around out there and hundreds if not thousands more being printed and otherwise made available to us; it is hard to know where to start when it comes to your own layouts.  An easy answer is to simply start with what you have.  Go ahead and look at those scrapbooking magazines and find layouts that you like, but only after coming to the conclusion that you already have in your scrapbooking collection what you will need to follow the layout through form start to finish.  Make adjustments if needed but try your best to stick with what you have now. 

    Scrapbook with others - Scrapbooking with others is a great way to get help both with inspiration for layout ideas and suggestions for when those layout ideas do not turn out exactly as you had planned.  Scrapbooking with a group could also provide you with access to materials that you may not have in your own collection, not to mention good company.

    Photos as inspiration - Often times the layout of the page takes precedence over the purpose of having the page to begin with, the pictures.  Try using the photos that you have as your inspiration for a layout.  Pull out the colors and themes of the photos to get the layout that will best display your memories.

    Don’t forget the journaling - You know not to forget the photos, but also remember not to forget the importance of journaling or somehow recording in your own words what is taking place in the photos that you have placed in your layout.  By planning ahead where you will include the journaling portion of your scrapbook, you can get a better idea for what you overall layout will need to look like.

Posted by Don under Scrapbook Embellishments , Scrapbook Layouts on Mon 3 Mar 2008 No Comments 

Scrapbooking is a great way to record your memories in an attractive and interesting way.  It can be relaxing and enjoyable while producing a useful and beautiful product.  So if you’re passionate about scrapbooking, then you may be interested in hearing a few ideas for festive scrapbook layouts.  So keep reading this article you’ll learn what you ought to know about festive scrapbook layouts. 

The most important thing you realize is that there is no right or wrong way to scrapbook, so anything said in this article are simply suggestions that you may apply or discard at your leisure.  You should be trying to make your scrapbook into an extension of your life, so do that by using your own creativity to make your pages. This is the best way for your scrapbook to feel like your family’s personality and lifestyle. 

Now that you know you can be as creative as you’d like, here are a few ideas of where to find festive scrapbook layouts.  First, talk to your friends who also like to scrap.  They can help you find some interesting scrapbooking layouts, or simply turn your generic layout into something personal and unique.  You’ll be surprised by how much you can learn from your friend’s scrapbooking and from asking their advice for your own layouts. Look through their scrapbooks to see if you can get inspiration and ask them for ideas about your own layouts.  If you have specific pictures that you want to use, then show them your pictures and ask them for ideas for layouts and themes for your pages. You may be astonished at how much inspiration and help that they can give you.

You can also find many different sources for scrapbooking layouts online.  There are many websites that offer resources for scrapbooking, including ideas, elements, and layouts. These websites can be a great way for you to get some free information about scrapbooking and things to use in your scrapbooks, so that you can spend your money on other things.  All you need to do is type, "festive scrapbooking layouts" into your search bar and hit enter. You will be amazed at the large number of websites that will come up.

So let’s say, for example, that you’d like to create a page or two focusing on the past 4th of July.  First, you need to pick out the pictures you’d like to use.  Count them up and then decide about how many you’d like to use per page (3-4 is usually the average, unless you have a wide variety of sizes of pictures).  Next, you need to pick some paper that will reflect the holiday you’re portraying.  Since we’re looking at Independence Day, you might choose paper with American flags on it, red white and blue paper, or something else very American.  Then, take your pictures and crop them the size you’d like them, placing them on a mat, where appropriate.  Then place your pictures on the paper and arrange them neatly.  Here’s where you can use a lot of different embellishments.  Using stickers, brads, eyelets, die-cuts or quotes can really make the difference on a festive scrapbooking page.  Find some stars and stripes to place next to one of your pictures.  Mat all the photos in red, white and blue.  Use a patriotic quote to inspire your readers.  There are many ways to do it. 

Scrapbooking is a form of art that is great for almost anyone because it can be done very uniquely regardless of the skill of the scrapper.  You can take a generic layout and make it festive based on the embellishments you use and the keepsakes you include.  So don’t worry about having a boring layout- as long as the contents of the page are festive, you’ll have a great page. 

Posted by Don under Scrapbook Embellishments , Scrapbook Layouts on Fri 10 Aug 2007 No Comments 

There are so many possibilities with a scrapbook.  Scrapbooks are cool because instead of just a plain old boring photo album, they offer embellished pages, colorful prints, clever quotes and all sorts of other extras that making looking at old photos that much more interesting.  And turning generic scrapbook layouts into something unique can not only be a slight challenge, but can be a whole lot of fun in the process.  This article will aim to give you a few suggestions about how you can make generic scrapbooking layouts into something unique and personal. 

First, talk to your friends who also like to scrap.  They can help you find some interesting scrapbooking layouts, or simply turn your generic layout into something personal and unique.  You’ll be surprised by how much you can learn from your friend’s scrapbooking and from asking their advice for your own layouts. Look through their scrapbooks to see if you can get inspiration and ask them for ideas about your own layouts.  If you have specific pictures that you want to use, then show them your pictures and ask them for ideas for layouts and themes for your pages. You may be astonished at how much inspiration and help that they can give you.

Next, you’ll find that doing other things to make your scrapbook personal, such as using your own handwriting or including special keepsakes, will turn any generic layout into something unique to you.  For example, your handwriting says something about you and adds a different dimension than a computer-printed font.  There are many ways to include your handwriting in a journal or scrapbook.  You can use pockets, folded cards, matchbooks, or simply descriptive paragraphs to include your handwriting.  

Including important tickets, letters, trinkets, etc in your scrapbook can make it a much more interesting personal history.  For example, on a page where you talk about the birth of your second child, you may want to stick both of your hospital bands on the page somewhere.  Or include a ticket to your favorite concert or theatrical production.  These types of things can add depth and personality to your journal or scrapbook.  It’s just up to you to choose which ones!

Use embellishments.  Die-cuts, glitter, stickers, beads, sequins, etc, can all add to your pages and make them more interesting and unique, even if the layout isn’t the most original.  You can place them on the corners of pictures, on the corners of pages, on the center, around your journaling, or anywhere else that seems appropriate.  Embellishments are a great way to turn a boring and generic layout into something special just to you. 

Don’t be afraid of not scrapping "correctly."  There is no "right" way to lay out scrapbook pages; it is entirely up to you. You should be trying to make your scrapbook into an extension of your life, so do that by using your own creativity to make your pages. This is the best way for your scrapbook to feel like your family’s personality and lifestyle.  Always be sure that your layout is legible and that none of your pictures of journaling is swallowed up in embellishments or fancy paper. 

Scrapbooking is a form of art that is great for almost anyone because it can be done very uniquely regardless of the skill of the scrapper.  You can take a generic layout and make it special to you based on the things you say on the page, the embellishments you use, the keepsakes you include, and the feeling you put into it.  So don’t worry about having a boring layout- if the contents of the page are interesting it won’t matter.  Have fun! 

Posted by Don under Scrapbook Embellishments , Scrapbook Layouts on Sun 5 Aug 2007 No Comments 

Scrapbooking is a great way to record your memories in an attractive and interesting way.  It is one of the most popular hobbies of people, especially women, today.  And journaling in your scrapbook is an even better way to record your memories.  If you’re interested in either one of these (journaling and scrapbooking), then you may also be interested in hearing some advice about font choices for scrapbook layouts and in your journaling.  So here are some tips on improving your scrapbooking in general, as well as advice on font choices. 

Scrapbooks are cool because instead of just a plain old boring photo album, they offer embellished pages, colorful prints, clever quotes and all sorts of other extras that making looking at old photos that much more interesting.  There are so many possibilities with a scrapbook.  Some of the best ways to make your scrapbook personable and memorable are doing as follows:

1.    Include your own handwriting.  One of the best ways to make your journaling more personal is to use your own handwriting.  Your handwriting says something about you and adds a different dimension than a computer-printed font.  There are many ways to include your handwriting in a journal or scrapbook.  You can use pockets, folded cards, matchbooks, etc to hide your handwriting on scrapbook pages (in case you don’t love your own handwriting).

2.    Write your feelings.  Yes, writing your feelings can sometimes be difficult.  But as you look through your pictures and memorabilia, think about the feelings you have for each person and event.  Use detail to describe what happened.  It will tell your readers more about you and the great kind of person that you are.

3.    Keep special keepsakes.  Including a ticket to your favorite concert, the bracelet from when your son was born, cards you received for special occasions.all of these things can add depth and personality to your journal or scrapbook.  It’s just up to you to choose which ones!

4.    Choose the proper paper.  The paper you choose for each page in your scrapbook or journal can dictate the tone of each page.  It can also make your page look cheesy or interesting, depending on your choice.  Be careful of paper that is too busy or silly for the content. 

5.    Include a range of topics.  Your journal or scrapbook will be very memorable and personal if you include pages of friends, home, family, neighbors, etc.  You might enjoy putting a few pages together as follows: a photo of the place your son was born, the neighbors you had when you lived there, the family that visited when he was born.  Your son may not remember those things but if you record them in your journal or scrapbook you will always have that information with you.

There are a lot of fonts out there to choose from.  And if you use too many on the same page, it can get a little font crazy.  Before you start downloading different fonts onto your computer, take a look at the fonts you already have.  Certain fonts are better for certain types of pages and scrapbook layouts.  For example, the fonts Kidprint, Comic, or Comic Sans are great for a fun, kid-like look.  A typewriter-style font is great on masculine pages, or when you want a simple, classic font.  Papyrus is great for travel pages or "grown-up" layouts.  A fancy script, like palace script, is excellent for weddings, anniversaries, or special occasion pages, as well as family history pages.  Just remember that the most important thing is that the font is easy to read!  You computer may already have your "must-have" font styles.  You should also have some traditional fonts in use, such as Arial, or Times New Roman that can be used on any scrapbook layout. 

Posted by Don under Scrapbook Embellishments , Scrapbook Layouts on Wed 18 Jul 2007 No Comments 

Scrapbooking is appealing to people for many reasons - it’s a great way to put your creative and artistic talents to use, a good stress reliever, and it transforms boring photo albums into works of art.

Part of the fun of scrapbooking is experiencing with new techniques. Not only is it fun, but it also improves the look of your layouts overall. If you would like some new techniques to enhance the look of your scrapbook layouts, consider trying some of the following:

Stamping
Stamping is a good way to improve your scrapbooking layout. You can stamp using colored inks, or you can stamp an outline and then color it in. Regardless of which technique you decide on, practice first on white paper, in case it doesn’t work out. This way, you won’t be potentially ruining a good scrapbook page. You can also emboss your stamped images with clear embossing powder. If you outline your stamps, you can color them in on the paper using a number of mediums, including pens, chalks, pencils, and paints, depending on the look you like the best.

Punched paper for backgrounds
You can liven up your backgrounds by punching the paper you are using for them with small die cut punches. For this, there are many options. You can layer paper so a different color shows through the punches, or you can opt to leave it unlayered. Punch around the borders for a different border, or you can punch through the entire background.

Embroidering pages
A pretty, delicate touch to your backgrounds involves embroidering the pages. To do this, first print the background or title on cardstock. The background paper needs to be heavier in order to support the stitching; otherwise, the paper will just tear. Next, use the embroidery needle to punch holes through the cardstock at the points of the designs. You may want to put the paper down on a soft but stable background to catch the needle as it goes through while giving the paper support. A mouse pad turned upside down works well for this. Next, use straight stitches to connect the holes with embroidery floss.

Layering
Layering pages is another way to improve your scrapbook techniques that is simple and has great results. Choose paper that complements your photos or sets a specific mood. Matting your photos with colored paper is a great way to accentuate the colors in the photos, making them stand out more. In addition, decide how many layers you want for your page or matting. Try not to do more than triple matting; any more than that and the page will look cluttered or overdone. Trim the inside pages of your backgrounds enough to show the bottom layers of paper. Experiment with different colors and types of paper; for example, vellum over colored paper looks especially nice.

Use photos for your backgrounds
One way to liven up your backgrounds and layouts is to use a photograph as the background for the page. If you have a good scenic or group shot that doesn’t have too much going on, have it blown up and use it as your background. You can also have the image washed out, so it blends into the background more. This is a good way to personalize your pages even more. 

When it comes to improving your layouts with new techniques, there is no end to what you can do. Creativity is part of the fun of scrapbooking, so let yours show!

Posted by Don under Scrapbook Embellishments , Scrapbook Layouts on Sun 15 Jul 2007 No Comments 

Finding free scrapbook layouts worth your time, where to look. There are several different sites you can go to in order to find great scrap booking layouts for free. Depending on what you are looking for will depend on where you will wan to go.

For instance, Squidoo has some great layouts at:
http://www.squidoo.com/free_scrapbooking_layouts/.

Simply, give them a little information about yourself, and you have a wide range of information available.

Everything-about-scrapbooking.com has some wonderful layouts also. You simply go to:
http://www.everything-about-scrapbooking.com/

This site has ideas, tips, downloads and much more. Their selection of layouts gives you a good idea of what is available as a whole. This site is a basic starting point for many beginner scrap bookers.

Smilebox.com has some fun layouts that are easy to use and fun for the whole family. Check them out at http://www.smilebox.com/designTypes/scrapbooks.jsp?partner=google&campaign=content_scrapbook

There are layouts for holidays, seasons and much more through this site.

ScrapWow has many different scrap booking layouts and other multiple downloads that will make scrap booking easy and fun. Here is the link to look into them. http://www.scrapwow.com/taf13fdsk125432.asp?gclid=CI_M3cm6z4wCFQlQWAodp2Gwtw

Kodak has some very good layouts that are available at:
http://promotion.kodak.com/simplypictures/simplyScrapbooking.html?en_US&CMP=KNC-621V82Y12352

Learning to scrap book is hard at first for some because they are not sure how to create the layout for the pages in the scrapbook. There are many ideas that work well for layouts. The main thing is to create the layout look that tells the story of the pictures you are using.

When you are wanting to you a patterned paper for the scrapbook layout, it is a good idea to follow these tips.

Tip #1
Do not use a layout pattern that is larger than the smallest photographed head.

Tip #2
The patterned papers are second to the photo, so no added concern is necessary for the pattern used. They can be accommodating to the theme involved, however, it is not necessary that they be detailed.

Tip #3
Try not to use colors that clash with the colors involved for the base pictures.

Tip #4
When you use a nameplate layout, the bold letters will make a bold effect. The fun thing with this is that if they are not already printed, you can use stamps to create the style you want.

Tip #5
When you use hand printed layouts, it adds your own artistic skill and style to the scrapbook page.

Tip #6
Another fun layout that you can find, and work with is one that is in the form of a front-page newspaper.

Tip #7
Rub on transfer layouts are great because they are both easy and tricky. The easy part is you just rub it on. The tricky part is that you need to practice in order to get a smooth good look.

Tip #8
If you want a layout that looks aged, a weathered paper layout look is very popular. The way you can do this is by wetting the paper and ironing it dry. This creates a great look and is an easy free layout.

Whatever layout you are looking for, you can find many good free layouts on the Internet that are worth your time and effort. Remember the layout is only as good as the skill and art you apply to it. Therefore take the time you need to make the layouts work for you. Then you will be able to make the scrapbook that will be around for your family to enjoy for a lifetime.

Posted by Don under Scrapbook Embellishments , Scrapbook Layouts on Thu 12 Jul 2007 No Comments 

There are so many possibilities with a scrapbook.  Scrapbooks are cool because instead of just a plain old boring photo album, they offer embellished pages, colorful prints, clever quotes and all sorts of other extras that making looking at old photos that much more interesting.  And finding free scrapbooking layouts can make your scrapbooking even more fun, because you’re saving money and finding great layouts to give you guidance in laying out your pages.  So, where exactly can you find some of these free scrapbooking layouts?

First, talk to your friends who also like to scrap.  They can help find some interesting and unique scrapbooking layouts.  You’ll be surprised by how much you can learn from your friend’s scrapbooking and from asking their advice for your own layouts. Look through their scrapbooks to see if you can get inspiration and ask them for ideas about your own layouts.  If you have specific pictures that you want to use, then show them your pictures and ask them for ideas for layouts and themes for your pages. You may be astonished at how much inspiration and help that they can give you.
Great sites for downloading free fonts

Meta description: Some great sites for downloading free fonts
Keywords: scrapbooking, free fonts
Tags: scrapbooking, free_fonts

One of the best hobbies you can get is doing something you’re passionate about.  Scrapbooking is a great way to record your memories in an attractive and interesting way.  It is one of the most popular hobbies of people, especially women, today.  Along with scrapbooking comes the similarly interesting and effective way to record memories: journaling.  If you’re interested in either one of these genres (journaling and scrapbooking), then you may also be interested in learning ways to download free fonts to make your journaling look great.  So here are some tips on improving your scrapbooking in general, as well as a list of great sites for downloading free fonts. 

Scrapbooking has become a big business in the world today, due to its status as one of the most popular hobbies.  Instead of just a plain old boring photo album, scrapbooks offer embellished pages, colorful prints, clever quotes and all sorts of other extras that making looking at old photos that much more interesting.  The appeal of scrapbooks is not just the fact that they hold a precious photo of a loved one, but that there are so many possibilities with a scrapbook.  Some of the best ways to make your scrapbook personable and memorable are doing as follows:

1.    Include your own handwriting.  One of the best ways to make your journaling more personal is to use your own handwriting.  Your handwriting says something about you and adds a different dimension than a computer-printed font.  There are many ways to include your handwriting in a journal or scrapbook.  You can use pockets, folded cards, matchbooks, etc to hide your handwriting on scrapbook pages (in case you don’t love your own handwriting).
2.    Write your feelings.  Yes, writing your feelings can sometimes be difficult.  But as you look through your pictures and memorabilia, think about the feelings you have for each person and event.  Use detail to describe what happened.  It will tell your readers more about you and the great kind of person that you are. 
3.    Use appropriate quotes.  Quotes are a great way to express a feeling or describe a moment without having to think of your own words.  They also make your scrapbook more personal and memorable.  They show your creativity.  If you choose wisely, they can add greatly to your scrapbook or journal. 
4.    Choose the proper paper.  The paper you choose for each page in your scrapbook or journal can dictate the tone of each page.  It can also make your page look cheesy or interesting, depending on your choice.  Be careful of paper that is too busy or silly for the content. 
5.    Include a range of topics.  Your journal or scrapbook will be very memorable and personal if you include pages of friends, home, family, neighbors, etc.  You might enjoy putting a few pages together as follows: a photo of the place your daughter was born, the neighbors you had when you lived there, the family that visited when she was born.  Your daughter may not remember those things (and you may forget over time) but if you record them in your journal or scrapbook you will always have that information with you.
6.    Keep special keepsakes.  Including a ticket to your favorite concert, the bracelet from when your son was born, cards you received for special occasions.all of these things can add depth and personality to your journal or scrapbook.  It’s just up to you to choose which ones!

So now that you’ve made some general improvements on your scrapbooking, here are some ideas of where to look for downloading free fonts: www.dafont.com; http://www.webpagepublicity.com/free-fonts.html; www.1001freefonts.com; www.acidfonts.com/; www.urbanfonts.com; www.top20free.com/; www.freewarefonts.com/.  Most of these sites give instructions for how to download and install you new fonts.  Have fun with it- unique fonts make your scrapbooking and journaling that much better!

Posted by Don under Scrapbook Embellishments , Scrapbook Layouts on Tue 3 Jul 2007 No Comments 

There are so many possibilities with a scrapbook.  Scrapbooks are cool because instead of just a plain old boring photo album, they offer embellished pages, colorful prints, clever quotes and all sorts of other extras that making looking at old photos that much more interesting.  And finding free scrapbooking layouts can make your scrapbooking even more fun, because you’re saving money and finding great layouts to give you guidance in laying out your pages.  So, where exactly can you find some of these free scrapbooking layouts?

First, talk to your friends who also like to scrap.  They can help find some interesting and unique scrapbooking layouts.  You’ll be surprised by how much you can learn from your friend’s scrapbooking and from asking their advice for your own layouts. Look through their scrapbooks to see if you can get inspiration and ask them for ideas about your own layouts.  If you have specific pictures that you want to use, then show them your pictures and ask them for ideas for layouts and themes for your pages. You may be astonished at how much inspiration and help that they can give you.
You can also find many different sources for free scrapbooking layouts online.  There are many websites that offer free resources for scrapbooking, including ideas, elements, and layouts. These websites can be a great way for you to get some free information about scrapbooking and free things to use in your scrapbooks, so that you can spend your money on other things.  All you need to do is type, "free scrapbooking layouts" into your search bar and hit enter. You will be amazed at the large number of websites that will come up.

Find free layouts may be simple, but don’t be afraid to use your imagination to come up with your own layouts as well.  Finding free layouts may be easy, but they will not express your own individuality and personality like layouts that you have created from scratch for your very own scrapbook.

Don’t be afraid of not scrapping "correctly."  There is no "right" way to lay out scrapbook pages; it is entirely up to you. You should be trying to make your scrapbook into an extension of your life, so do that by using your own creativity to make your pages. This is the best way for your scrapbook to feel like your family’s personality and lifestyle.  Other ways to make your personality shine in your scrapbook are by doing the following: include your own handwriting on each page; write your feelings; include special keepsakes where possible; choose most appropriate paper for each layout; include a range of topics in each section; use special fonts appropriately for each layout.  Always be sure that your layout is legible and that none of your pictures of journaling is swallowed up in embellishments or fancy paper. 

Free scrapbooking layouts can make your scrapbooking hobby even more fun and enjoyable. By taking advantage of the things that you can get free, you will find that you have money to spend on other things like scrapbooking supplies.  This may allow you to buy some scrapping materials that you might not have otherwise been able to work into your budget. It doesn’t matter where you get your free scrapbooking layouts.  Be it from friends, family, online, or a scrapping class, you are sure to find that you can use scrapbooking layouts to customize your pages and make them feel more like you and your family’s personality.  And that will be so priceless when, in years to come, you are looking back at the pages and remembering. 

Posted by Don under Scrapbook Embellishments , Scrapbook Layouts on Mon 2 Jul 2007 No Comments 

Scrapbooking is a more hands-on alternative to storing your pictures and keepsakes in a typical photo album.  Many people start scrapbooking in order to creatively display everything from photos, to school projects and awards.  There are many different eye catching elements that you can incorporate into a scrapbook.  With a little creativity and time you can create scrapbook layouts that you will be proud to show off. 

Color

Color is a very basic and yet very important part of scrapbooking.  Coordinating colors and patterns helps the page look put together and complete.  You can add color to a page in many different ways.  Of course there are limitless options when it comes to paper.  Scrapbooking paper usually comes in either an 8′10 or 12′12 sheet (depending on the dimensions of your particular scrapbook album).  Re-use scraps and feel free to mix and match.  Color can compliment your pictures and make them seem even more interesting.  If you do nothing else to catch the eye of your scrapbook reader, add color!

Texture and dimension

Adding texture and dimension to your page is as easy as incorporating items that are not flat!  Common everyday materials such as fabric, wrapping paper, and ribbon can be used to add interest to your page without making it too thick to still fit inside a book. 

Frames

A very popular technique that people frequently use when scrapbooking is to frame their pictures.  A picture can be framed a number of different ways.  Obviously we are not talking about the kinds of frames you would hang on your wall, but rather a piece of paper that frames out the picture on your page (some people call it a mat).  A frame or mat can be made however you wish but most people either cut out the center of the paper they are using to frame out the picture so that the part of the picture that should be see is visible.  Other people cut the picture down to the size that they want and then place a complimentary paper behind the picture.  Although simply putting the paper behind a picture is easier, it does waste more paper.  Obviously this may be more of a problem for some than others so the choice is yours.

Shapes and punches

Scrapbooking is a medium that we can use to rid ourselves of the straight lines and harsh angles that make ordinary photo albums boring.  You can use different shapes, hole punches and scissor patters to add interest to your pages.  With a few tools all you need is paper to make an ordinary page seem much more visually interesting.

Paper

Scrapbooking is all about the paper.  Paper is not only what you use as the backdrop for your entire page, but paper is also used for journaling, matting, and decorating.  Having the right paper can make even the novice scrapbooker seem skilled.  Many scrapbook supplier companies create entire lines of scrapbooking materials around the use of a paper with a particular pattern.  Start with the paper for your page and work your way through the rest of the page from there.

Interactive pages, brads, buttons, stickers, etc.

There are too many scrapbook page layout techniques and tool to name and more are being created every day.  Your best bet is to use your imagination and discover the techniques that work best for you.

Now that you have so many new ideas to choose from feel free to mix and match different ideas on the same page.  Obviously you do not want to crowd a page with too many extras (after all, your scrapbook is to show off your photos not necessarily your embellishments).  Be creative and find the styles that you like best!

Posted by Don under Scrapbook Embellishments , Scrapbook Layouts on Tue 26 Jun 2007 No Comments 

Notes and letters can be wonderful additions to any scrapbook.  Notes and letters often tell a very important story especially if there is a picture that can be placed near the writing.  Many times it is only our notes and letters that remind us of a time, even, or person that is dear to us.  Often times it is difficult to incorporate notes and letters in a scrapbook tastefully because of the issues with the size of the notes.  Many standard size letters and notes are just as big as or a few inches smaller than the scrapbook page.  This means that there is very little, if any, room at all to add embellishments, photos, explanations through journaling, etc.  Many people just choose to store their notes and letters elsewhere than to simply glue them to the scrapbook.  Notes and letters provide an interesting challenge to a scrapbooker but there are ways to get around the size and shape dilemma.  Below are some possible options that you have when you are trying to tastefully incorporate them into a scrapbook page.

Pockets

Simple pockets can be formed on the scrapbook page out of envelops or simple cut pieces of paper. These envelopes can store folded notes that can be taken out of their envelopes when someone wants to read them, and stay protected and secure on the page when you are not looking at that specific letter or note.  Another important element that you will want to include on the page if you choose to use an envelope is to make a note somewhere on the page that indicates that there is something in the envelope that can be removed, read, and then replaced to its spot. 

Separate sheet protector

For a larger note or letter that is not folded and you do not wish to fold it, consider using a standard size page protector to encase the note and then adhere the covered letter to the scrapbook page.  This is especially useful when you have notes or letters that are doubles sided.  You can easily reach in the sheet protector cover to retrieve the letter (just as above) and both sides of the paper can still be access and read.

Cut the page protector itself

If you do not want multiple sheet protectors on a page you can simply cut the main sheet protector so that readers can get to the documents to be read.  There are a number of ways to allow for a piece of your page to be handles without jeopardizing the safety of that particular scrapbook item.

Attach with a string

Some scrapbookers who worry that a piece of their scrapbook may get lost if it is mean to be removed, can attack some kind of string or twine to the note or letter to ensure that the letter and the scrapbook album do not become separated from each other.  Attaching a small piece of string should not cause too much damage or distract form the overall look of the page.

Scan and shrink

With the increased availability of high quality and resolution scanners and printers, you have a lot more options when it comes to altering the look of a document.  Many times people have very delicate and aged papers that they are afraid to handle or to have adhered to another piece of paper.  To preserve such delicate documents, you can scan and print a copy on a more durable paper.  You can still have the words of the note without worrying about the loss or damage of the original.  Scanning and printing is a great idea if you just want to save space.  An idea of how you can save space by scanning and printing size reduced pieces it to scan all of your kid’s school projects.  Over the course of 12+ years of schooling it is likely that you will accumulate quite the stack of school work that you want to have as a keepsake.  Reducing the size of these papers allows you to scrap them, file them neatly, or store them in a much more area efficient manner.

Posted by Don under Scrapbook Journalling , Scrapbook Layouts , Scrapbook Lettering , Scrapbook Products , Scrapbook Techniques on Fri 22 Jun 2007 No Comments