Scrapbooking is a very fun hobby, when you mix friends in with it there just isn’t anything better!  If you don’t have any friends that enjoy scrapbooking with you, it is time to find some!

Joining a scrapbooking community is one more way to make scrapbooking enjoyable.  Here are a few words of advice about joining a community.

 If you prefer to scrapbook alone, but like to talk with others about scrapbooking, getting advice and such, then an online community will be the best thing for you.  Online you can find thousands of scrapbooking groups and clubs.  There are many that have a focus, like for people that enjoy digital scrapbooking or those that are doing a wedding scrapbook.  You will be able to find a group that fits you!
 Check with your favorite scrapbook store.  Many stores have classes and clubs that you can join, and usually they are free.  They might be able to meet at the store, which is great for crop nights because you have access to the stuff you need to buy!  They might also have email addresses for those in your group so that you can keep in touch between get-togethers.
 Don’t forget to ask around your neighborhood.  Many close neighborhoods will have a group of gals that get together to scrapbook.  They might be organized by a community member, a local church group, or even through the city.  Check around to make sure that you aren’t missing out!
 Be a trend setter and start your own scrapbook group!  Find some friends and neighbors that enjoy scrapbooking and arrange times to get together.  You can advertise at a local craft store if you want to open it up to everyone, or you can pass it word of mouth through those you know.  You might be surprised how many people want to join a group but don’t know where to look or how to start one.
 Become a strong part of whatever group you join.  Actively share ideas and feelings.  You will find that scrapbooking becomes even more fun when you have others that are involved with you and that can help you when you need it.  You have the potential to create some warm and lasting friendships with those that you spend time scrapbooking with.
 Carefully guard your thoughts, make sure that you aren’t comparing yourself to those in your community.  You will find that there are all different skill levels involved in your group, know that it doesn’t matter where your skill fits in.  If you find someone that is very good and you want to have her talent, ask her to help you.  Use her as a mentor and listen to what she has to say that can help you improve, but don’t just sit there and wish you were as good as her.  At the same time, don’t look down on others in the group if you don’t think they are very artistic.
 Whatever you do don’t pay money for a group, unless the money buys supplies and things for the group.  If you contribute a little bit of money so that there is food when you get together, that is not bad.  But if you pay a monthly fee and all you do is get together once and month for a few hours, you are getting ripped off.  You can find some great groups that don’t charge money or only have you pay for things that you get.
 Invite friends that don’t scrapbook to come to a get together with your group.  Sometimes the environment will help them to see that there is more to scrapbooking than scissors and stickers.  You might just find a true scrapper at heart!

Posted by Don under Scrapbook Embellishments , Scrapbook Techniques on Mon 31 Dec 2007 No Comments 

How to use distressing ink.  There are some photos that scrapbookers would like to change the look and add a little distress to the photo.  For this there are distress inkpads and they work great.  These distressing inkpads are like other inkpads but they distress the photo or paper.  The users need to be sure to close the lid right after use so the inkpad does not dry out.

The distress inkpads need to be used with a sponge of some sort like a cosmetic sponge, something small and easy to work with.  Fingers will work too. These distressing inkpads come in a variety of about 24 colors to match most any distressing photo need.

When deciding to distress a photo think of why the photo will look better distressed.  Will using distressing ink on the photo add to the scrapbook page?  Will using distressing ink on the photo make the contents of the photo look better?   Will distressing some paper add to the look and feel of the scrapbook page?  Whatever the reason make sure to use acid-free distressing inkpads that are meant for distressing photos and adding a vintage look. 

Will using distressing ink on the photo add to the scrapbook page?  When using distressing ink on photos it can greatly contribute to the scrapbook page.   Some scrapbook pages need an added feature of an old or vintage look.  What needs to be done first is pick the color of distressing ink that will match the scrapbook page.  Then get a little of the ink on a sponge or finger and rub it on the edge on the photo.  The ink will take a little of the photo away and make it look weathered.

Will using distressing ink on the photo make the contents of the photo look better?  When deciding to distress a photo to make the photo look better, think of the color that is going to go the best with the subject in the photo.   When a photo is sepia or black and white adding a little frayed burlap or black soot will ensure the vintage look on the photo. Using distressing ink on the photo to make the tones, like a sepia or black and white, make the photos look better? Leaving the ink on longer will distress the photo more and more.  Wipe off any excess distressing ink with a soft cloth.  This can allow the subject within the photo look the part of being authentic and rustic. Giving the scrapbook a page for all to enjoy.

Will distressing some paper add to the look and feel of the scrapbook page?  Using distressing ink is not just for photos.   There is a whole new world of distressing the paper that is put in a scrapbook.  Use the same procedure as photos.  Which is first, pick the right color to go along with the paper to be used.  Second get a sponge to get the ink out of the ink pad and then press the ink onto the paper.  Then third, wipe off any excess ink to ensure the right amount of distressing or weathering wanted on the paper.  Distressing the paper by using distressing ink is a fun way to change the paper accents used on the scrapbook page. 

Most distressing inkpads bought in scrapbook store will be acid-free and Tim Holtz has a line of distressing inkpads that are fade resistant and non-toxic as well.  These Tim Holzt distressing inkpads are available in stores and online for under $5.00. 

So how to use distressing inkpads is not too difficult when using distress inkpads.  These great pads enable a scrapbooker or card maker to create vintage and weathered looking photos, paper and cards.  Whether using distress ink is wanted for enhancing a photo itself or the whole scrapbook page choose the right color, apply the ink with a sponge until the right look is achieved and then wipe off any excess to ensure a great looking project.
Inkjet printing and scrapbooking

Meta description: Inkjet printing and scrapbooking
Keywords: scrapbook, scrapbooking, inkjet printing, inkjet printing and scrapbooking
Tags: scrapbook, scrapbooking, inkjet_printing, inkjet_printing_and_scrapbooking

Scrapbooking is a great way to store your memories forever.  It’s easy; it’s fun; and everyone loves looking at a well-done scrapbook.  There are many new technologies that make scrapbooking even easier, including being able to print your own pictures from the comfort of your own home.  No more mailing film or camera cards into the developer.  No more driving down to the store to pick up your developed pictures.  These days you can simply buy your own inkjet printer and print your pictures from home, or you can simply print what you want in your scrapbook on special scrapbooking paper.  The possibilities are almost endless!  Here’s some useful information about inkjet printing and scrapbooking. 

Using your computer and printer as a tool for scrapbooking is a brilliant idea.  You’re using tools that you probably already have around the house and incorporating them into your scrapbooking activities.  Scrapbookers can use their computer and printer for many things, including: printing digital scrapbooking pages; printing digital photos at home; printing journaling blacks; and printing clip art or other graphics to use as page embellishments.  Some scrapbookers even enjoy using their inkjet printer to print on ribbon or even fabric!  And it’s not even hard to do!  You don’t have to be extra tech savvy or have anyone set things up for you.  It’s easy to use your computer and inkjet printer to create beautiful layouts quickly and easily!

The quality of the images you’re going to be printing is also something to consider.  Resolution is measured in Pixels Per Inch (PPI) and must be a high enough number or your prints will not turn out well.  150-300 PPI is usually suggested for decent quality resolution. 

The first thing you need to do in this process is be sure that you have the correct type of printer for scrapbooking.  There are many printers out there that are very affordable.  You’ll find that you will usually get the best results if you use the same brand of printer, ink and paper.  This is especially true if you’re planning on printing photos with your inkjet printer- use the type of photo paper the manufacturer suggests so that your pictures turn out as nice as possible.  You may want to do some research on printers before you make a decision.  Be sure that you’re getting one that will allow you to do the range and size of papers that you want. 

Now, if you decide that you want to print directly on your scrapbooking pages, you must remember that you need a special kind of paper to make this look right.  Inkjet scrapbooking paper is easy to find at nearly every scrapbooking specialty store, as well as craft stores and even some office supply stores.  Here are a few types of scrapbooking paper that are commonly used in scrapbooking:
 Paper with subtle backgrounds or decorative borders
 Textured cardstock
 Glossy photo paper
 Matte photo paper
 Inkjet canvas paper
 Vellum
 Transparencies
 Self-adhesive sticker paper
You should also be aware that the price of your special inkjet scrapbooking paper will vary according to the size, weight, finish and manufacturer.  Name brand paper will be more expensive than a local brand.  And you should also be aware that just because one particular type of paper is more expensive does not mean it is better quality than another type.  The best option is probably to examine a sample of the paper before you purchase an entire large package.  Then try experimenting at home with your printer until you find a type of paper that fits your needs. 

Posted by Don under Scrapbook Embellishments , Scrapbook Techniques on Sun 30 Dec 2007 No Comments 

How to use distressing ink.  There are some photos that scrapbookers would like to change the look and add a little distress to the photo.  For this there are distress inkpads and they work great.  These distressing inkpads are like other inkpads but they distress the photo or paper.  The users need to be sure to close the lid right after use so the inkpad does not dry out.

The distress inkpads need to be used with a sponge of some sort like a cosmetic sponge, something small and easy to work with.  Fingers will work too. These distressing inkpads come in a variety of about 24 colors to match most any distressing photo need.

When deciding to distress a photo think of why the photo will look better distressed.  Will using distressing ink on the photo add to the scrapbook page?  Will using distressing ink on the photo make the contents of the photo look better?   Will distressing some paper add to the look and feel of the scrapbook page?  Whatever the reason make sure to use acid-free distressing inkpads that are meant for distressing photos and adding a vintage look. 

Will using distressing ink on the photo add to the scrapbook page?  When using distressing ink on photos it can greatly contribute to the scrapbook page.   Some scrapbook pages need an added feature of an old or vintage look.  What needs to be done first is pick the color of distressing ink that will match the scrapbook page.  Then get a little of the ink on a sponge or finger and rub it on the edge on the photo.  The ink will take a little of the photo away and make it look weathered.

Will using distressing ink on the photo make the contents of the photo look better?  When deciding to distress a photo to make the photo look better, think of the color that is going to go the best with the subject in the photo.   When a photo is sepia or black and white adding a little frayed burlap or black soot will ensure the vintage look on the photo. Using distressing ink on the photo to make the tones, like a sepia or black and white, make the photos look better? Leaving the ink on longer will distress the photo more and more.  Wipe off any excess distressing ink with a soft cloth.  This can allow the subject within the photo look the part of being authentic and rustic. Giving the scrapbook a page for all to enjoy.

Will distressing some paper add to the look and feel of the scrapbook page?  Using distressing ink is not just for photos.   There is a whole new world of distressing the paper that is put in a scrapbook.  Use the same procedure as photos.  Which is first, pick the right color to go along with the paper to be used.  Second get a sponge to get the ink out of the ink pad and then press the ink onto the paper.  Then third, wipe off any excess ink to ensure the right amount of distressing or weathering wanted on the paper.  Distressing the paper by using distressing ink is a fun way to change the paper accents used on the scrapbook page. 

Most distressing inkpads bought in scrapbook store will be acid-free and Tim Holtz has a line of distressing inkpads that are fade resistant and non-toxic as well.  These Tim Holzt distressing inkpads are available in stores and online for under $5.00. 

So how to use distressing inkpads is not too difficult when using distress inkpads.  These great pads enable a scrapbooker or card maker to create vintage and weathered looking photos, paper and cards.  Whether using distress ink is wanted for enhancing a photo itself or the whole scrapbook page choose the right color, apply the ink with a sponge until the right look is achieved and then wipe off any excess to ensure a great looking project.

Posted by Don under Scrapbook Embellishments , Scrapbook Techniques on Sat 29 Dec 2007 No Comments 

You see so much in your child.  Now you need to capture it in a picture to remember them by.  So how do you take photos that really capture what you see in your child?  Keep the camera ready.  By charging the battery and having it readily available and handy. Take those "Kodak moments" even if you have to put your child back in the pose to take the picture do it.  Take lots of pictures of the same moment, you never know how many you might want.

Keep camera ready
"Kodak" moments
Take lots of pictures

Keep camera ready.  Always have your camera battery charged and keep your camera were you can reach it at a moments notice. This will help capture what you really see in your child.  Have the camera ready and be willing to take pictures that are spontaneous.  Pictures taken in a casual environment reflect the casual feeling everyone has.  When your child is casual he or she can really be himself or herself and then you can capture that in a photo.  It also helps to have a fast shutter speed on your camera so you get the moment captured fast, before the moment is lost.

By having your camera ready you can get yourself ready to take the picture.  To get yourself ready be steady, if you are not lean against a door or tree or anything to steady the camera so there won’t be any blur.  Especially if you are going to zoom, you need to keep the camera steady and still.  Tripods can be used but not for anything spontaneous.  The photographer also needs to be able to have the option to move around incase one-side shows what you see and really want to capture with your child better than another.

Know your camera, new cameras take some time getting used to.  Spend some time taking trial shots to see how it works and be sure to know what the capabilities of the camera are.  Use the different modes and coloring to help bring out what you see in your child.

"Kodak" moments.  These are the moments when everyone goes ohh. she’s so cute! or hey! He looks great did you get that?  Take these pictures even if they seem not so great.  Take pictures that may not be perfect.  You’ll be amazed at how those pictures capture what you see in your child. 

Take picture right away when you child has an expression on his face that you love and want to remember.  Take the picture.  A fast shutter speed can help you capture what you se in your child in the photo, but it’s not a necessity.  Take pictures of the kids sideways, this way or that way.  This will help capture what you see features.   And do this at different times of the day. 
It is possible to capture in a photo what your child is feeling or what you see and want to remember.  Just keep trying.   Anytime a camera is pulled out to take pictures, make them real.  To capture what you see in your child, take pictures of what they love and what they love doing. 

Take lots of pictures.  With digital or traditional, take lots of pictures.  Take them so you can decide later after the moment has passed which one you like best.  Take them so you can use more than one on a scrapbook page.  Take lots of pictures and at least one of them will show in the photo what you see in your child.  Take lots of pictures so that you can give some away and share what it is you see in your child. 

So to take photos that capture what it is you really see in your child, remember to keep the camera ready, take the "Kodak moments" and take lots of pictures.   Do these few suggestions and you will be able to capture what it is you really see in your child. 

Posted by Don under Scrapbook Embellishments , Scrapbook Techniques on Fri 28 Dec 2007 No Comments 

Many of us take pictures and put them into scrapbooks.  But how do we take incredible pictures to put into our scrapbooks?  To begin with be selective.  More is not always better.  Sometimes just one picture of the right subject is great and all you’ll need for your scrapbook page.  And sometimes when10 pictures are taken, know not all of the pictures need to be used in the scrapbooks.  If your photos are digital just put the extra photos on a disk and save them for future reference.  If the extra pictures are not digital, then you’ll have to just set them aside or give them to family and friends that might enjoy your wonderful talent for taking great scrapbook photos.

You can take incredible scrapbook photos with certain scrapbook page ideas in mind.  Like, if you are at a soccer game for you boy or girl, think of what you’d want on the scrapbook page.  You might want a picture of your child playing in the game, or in other words an action photo to put into your scrapbook.  Then you might want a picture of him or her posing for you so you can see his or her face very well. Then you could get a picture or two with him or her and some of his or her teammates either before or after the game so they can remember the friends they have made on the team.  Remember, action pictures are great and show personalities and talents of those being photographed, but they don’t always show the subject, or whom the picture is of very well.

Take pictures in different settings.  Take action pictures.  Take posed pictures.  Take posed pictures in the light here and over there.  There is nothing wrong with posing your children, spouse, family or friends for just the right picture.  Position him or her so you can see each face and personality.  Put so and so in the back because he’s taller and put the little one in front so she’s seen.  Have this friend put her arm around that friend to make it look cozier. 

If you do pose those you are photographing please take more than one picture in a row.  There is always the chance someone was looking away or had their eyes closed and if you have two or three pictures to chose from you can pick the overall best or most incredible to put in your scrapbook.   When posing younger children try to take the pictures fast before they get too restless and start to cry or scream.  Even if not all the children are happy and looking forward at once, don’t sweat it.  Take at least 5 pictures of groups of children.  It does help to have someone keeping the children’s attention towards the camera and not on the floor or off in right field.

Remember you might be cropping some of these incredible photos; so take pictures with your subject centered.  It also helps to have your subject not the only thing in the picture.  Meaning don’t make all your photos close ups of just one person.  Let some of the scenery show in your picture.  You may crop off the scenery in your photo but you may also like it and keep some of it with the main subject of you photo. 

If you don’t have a digital camera yet, think about getting one.  The advantage is that you can see the pictures before you get them developed or printed.  But even if you haven’t got a digital camera, you can still be selective in the pictures you take and get some incredible pictures for scrapbook. 

So the next time you have your camera and you are ready to take your next picture, make it incredible for your scrapbook.  Remember you are going to be selective and chose your subject and picture before you click.  Have an idea of what it is you want in your scrapbook and take pictures accordingly.  Take different settings, poses and placements of your photo’s subject.  Don’t limit your pictures to just close ups of who or what it is you want a picture of.  You can take incredible scrapbook photos.

Posted by Don under Scrapbook Embellishments , Scrapbook Techniques on Wed 26 Dec 2007 No Comments 

When taking old scrapbook pages and making them look better think of what you don’t like about the page in the first place.  Is it too bland?  Is it too busy to see the pictures?  Is it not working with the pages it’s next to?  Is it unorganized?  Is it not special enough for the special occasion of the photos?  Whatever the reason is to take an old scrapbook page and make it look better, here are some helpful ideas. 

Change Format
Change the Photo
Add new Embellishments

Change format.  If it was all traditional, try digital.  If the page was digital, try traditional.  It’s fun to mix traditional and digital for a nice hybrid. 

The traditional page is how scrapbooking began.  Pictures were sent in and printed, then picked up and brought home.  They were then cropped, pasted and made into scrapbook pages.  If changing a traditional old scrapbook page to digital to make it look better the first thing to do is to make the pictures digital.  Scanning them into the computer is the best way to have them ready and on hand.   There is the option to have a store or friend put them on a disk for ease of use.  If the pictures are digital and then were printed out to scrapbook, great use what is already on the computer or disk.

The digital scrapbook page starts on the computer with downloading the pictures then making great pages with software for scrapbooks.  To make these digital pictures into a traditional scrapbook page all that is needed is to print them off onto photo quality paper.  Once the pictures are printed out they can then be trimmed to fit the scrapbook page needs. 

Taking old scrapbook pages and making them into a nice hybrid page to make it look better can be fun.  It’s possible to get the best of both worlds.  Printing photos out on partially decorated paper then adding different embellishments to improve the page greatly.  Or to even print out a scrapbook page and then add the photos to the page.  The photos have a
3-D effect and can be added to easily. 

Change the Photo.   To make an old scrapbook page look better, there is an option to change the photo itself.  If the photo started out colored it can be changed to a black and white or sepia photo.  This is easiest with digital but not impossible with traditional.  For traditional scanning or copying will be necessary.  There are other colors and options depending on the software available.

Change the size or shape of the photo and it will change the old page greatly, giving it a new, fresher look.  Make the photo bigger.  Make two of the same picture and background one with the other.  Make the old square photo oval or round.  Silhouette the old photo and add a new background.  Take the old large photo that took up the whole page and make it smaller so other shapes and features can be added to the scrapbook page.

Add new Embellishments.  Sometimes the picture and format are just great and all that is needed is a few new stickers or stamps to help the old scrapbook pages look better.  If it happened that the page was done it a plain, ordinary way, adding new lettering, ribbons, or tags that are new to the scrapbook market can give the page all that is necessary to make it look better. 

So as the old scrapbook page needs improvement think of why and what needs to change.  A whole makeover is not always necessary.    Change the format.  Change the Photo.  Add new Embellishments.  Try one or two, see how much better your old scrapbook page looks now.

Posted by Don under Scrapbook Embellishments , Scrapbook Techniques on Tue 25 Dec 2007 No Comments 

Scrapbooking is a great hobby, but sometimes it seems like it would consume all of your time and money if you would let it.  The trick is to not let it take lots of time and money.  Here are a few ideas for saving time and money when you are scrapbooking.

 If you don’t have lots of time to devote to scrapbooking, get the most out of your time.  Keep your pages simple so that you don’t spend lots of time perfecting the little additions to the page.  If you have something that you know you are going to need cut out, take the time to cut it when you are talking on the phone or watching TV, then it doesn’t take time away from your crop time.
 Make sure that you only scrapbook important events.  If you want to save time and money, then only highlight important events in your family.  This means that you might not include some cute pictures of the kids playing in the yard, but they can be kept somewhere else if that is what you decided on.  If you feel like you should include all of the small moments too, then budget your time to fit them in too.
 Finding friends to scrapbook with can have many benefits.  You can share tools, which can be expensive.  You also have an easier time making time to work on your books if you have others to do it with.  And friends are usually great for sharing supplies with so that you don’t have to make an emergency trip to the scrapbook store in the middle of a page.
 If you can set aside time regularly then you won’t get behind in your books.  Staying caught up is one of the best ways to maximize your time for scrapbooking.  Sometimes it can seem overwhelming when you get behind with your pictures.
 Try your hardest to limit the number of pictures that you include in your scrapbook.  If you went on a week long vacation and took 300 pictures, pick out your 10 or 15 favorites to put in your book.  If that isn’t possible, then you will want to spend the extra time and money to create a book that is designated especially for that event.
 When buying supplies and tools for your scrapbook, make sure that you are shopping around.  Check online as well as at your local stores for the things that you need.  You might be surprised to find some of your supplies cheaper than you ever thought.  If you settle for the first one you find, you might be sorry for the price you paid.
 Don’t limit yourself to what you find in the scrapbook isle at the store.  You will find amazing things that go great in a scrapbook in all of the areas of a craft store.  If you can be creative with what you use, you just might be able to save lots of money!
 Always watch for local stores that go out of business.  Although you don’t want to lose your favorite stores, you will find incredible deals when stores are getting ready to close.  Watch for all kinds of sales, some stores like to clearance out everything and start over with new products occasionally.  Just keep an eye out for great deals.
 You can find pre-made pages that will only require a picture and a caption, these are quick and usually cheaper than buying all of the materials to make a similar page.  These are great occasionally, but they won’t satisfy your scrapping habit for very long!

Posted by Don under Scrapbook Embellishments , Scrapbook Techniques on Tue 25 Dec 2007 No Comments 

Scrapbooking is a fun hobby that can be relaxing and enjoyable.  It can also be fairly affordable, if you know where to spend your money.  True, some of the supplies can be expensive- paper, if not on sale, can be around a dollar a piece and supplies can range in the hundreds of dollars.  But luckily there is a way to get around all that!  For example, shopping for paper only during paper sales can save you tons of money.  Instead of costing a dollar per sheet, maybe it’s only 20 cents a sheet.  The same is true of expensive scrapbooking supplies- buying them on sale is the best way to go.  Another clever method of saving method when scrapbooking is buy being thrifty with the supplies you already have so that you don’t waste money buying new things.  An easy and fun way to do this is to save your paper scraps so that you can spend your money elsewhere- like on expensive scrapbook supplies.  Here are a few tips why and how to organize your paper scraps so that you can get the most out of the more expensive scrapbooking supplies. 

One of the first creeds of every scrapbooker is "Never throw away your scraps!"  This will save money on buying more paper later on as well as allow you to set aside more money for the more expensive, unavoidable costs of scrapbooking.  Paper scraps that come from trimming or cutting out pieces for your scrapbooking layouts can have many uses.  You don’t have to waste your scraps; you can use them for other projects and scrapbooking pages.   Here are a few suggestions of what you can do with your paper scraps:
 Use your scraps to cut out shapes with hold punches.  Hole punch shapes are usually only a few square inches, so you don’t need a lot of paper to create these little paper embellishments that look great on any scrapbooking page. 
 Depending on the size, your scraps of paper can be used in die cutting machines to make cute little die cut shapes.  Most die cut machines require that the paper be slightly bigger than the size of the die that you’re cutting out.  Square or large rectangle pieces of scrap paper are ideal for making die cut shapes.
 Scraps can make excellent borders and backgrounds.  If you have 1-2 inch thick scraps from a 12 x 12 page, you can cut the edges with decorative scissors to make a simple and beautiful page border.  Or you could get really crazy and create a colorful weave using strips of paper (of the same length and thickness) to make a cool background. 
 Scraps of cardstock are great to use for your journaling.  Sometimes you don’t have too much to say about a particular event, place or person, and using old scraps to write on are ideal. 
 Scraps of paper also go really well in a mini scrapbooking albums.  You might even have scraps that are big enough to be an entire mini page!

Now, since you know how expensive scrapbooking paper and supplies can be, it’s essential that you save your scraps for future use.  But you also need to be able to find those scraps of paper when you need them.  All too often, perfectly useful scraps of paper become lost and therefore wasted because they are not organized in an appropriate manner.  You should keep your scraps of paper in an easy to find, organized location.  Many people find that the easiest option is to buy a stack of drawers and simply dedicate one entire drawer to scraps of paper.  That way you always have your paper on hand when you need it, you won’t have to spend lots of money buying more paper and you can instead spend your money on more expensive scrapbook supplies. 

Posted by Don under Scrapbook Embellishments , Scrapbook Techniques on Mon 24 Dec 2007 No Comments 

Taking photos is great.  Taking so-so photos is not so great.  But the scrapbooker can still make those so-so photos look incredible in the scrapbook.  The scrapbookers just need a few ideas of how to make those picture pop out at anyone looking at scrapbooks.

Fun papers.
Don’t be afraid to crop.
Embellishments.

First start with a fun paper to background the so-so photos with.  This can be anything almost.  There are so many different prints on pages these days for the scrapbook.  Most people won’t have to look hard to find a paper to fit the scrapbooker’s photo needs.  The photos do need a strong base paper like cardstock or regular paper a little on the heavy side.  It can be a single colored paper, a sparkled colorful paper, or a soft printed color paper.  To jazz up a so-so photo start the project with a print that shows the event the scrapbooker was photographing.  For example if there was a so-so photo of a birthday party, get some fun birthday printed-paper to start the incredible scrapbook page with.  Birthday ideas can include balloons, party hats, presents, bright colors, scenes with a birthday party on the page, or just Happy Birthday written across the top. 

The scrapbooker can put pretty paper over the back paper like vellum, which is just a colored see through paper.  The scrapbooker can have a busy paper in the background then use a solid or plain paper to frame the photo with.   To do this the scrapbooker would just put the picture on the plain paper mark what size is wanted and then cut out the solid paper and glue picture to solid and solid to the background paper. 

Don’t be afraid to crop the so-so photos to take out something the not too great about the picture.  If the pictures are not digital it’s possible to get double prints then save one that’s not cut or pasted.  Or just remember there are negatives incase there is a need to get the picture again.  If the pictures are digital crop them before you print them out or keep the originals on a disk and print the pictures them crop with fun scissors. Digital pictures can be put into a scrapbook software program and cropped with in the program however wanted.  Even a fun trim around the picture.
 
The scrapbooker can silhouette the main subjects of the photo.  To silhouette is to cut very closely around the person or persons in the photo.  The scrapbooker can then take just that part of the picture and put it on fun paper.  The scrapbooker can even put it on a few different papers to make it stand out. 

The so-so photo can be cropped to go along with the event or occasion.  For example, say I had little boy out playing in the water.  Of course this was so cute so and I had to take a picture.  The picture turned out so-so because my boy was not centered, he was at the bottom, and he was a little fuzzy looking because of the water and I want it to look incredible.  So I can the photo itself and start at the top and cut strips of the picture out to make it look like a sprinkler was coming out of my boys head.  Really it just looks incredible as I have made it look like the water clouding the picture was part of the plan and water is everywhere.  On lookers can almost feel the water on the scrapbook page. 
Then there are always the embellishments that can be used to make the page and photos pop off the page to those looking at the scrapbook.  Embellishments can be simple like stickers, tags and punch-outs or they can get detailed like brads, 3-D decorative features, stamps, clips and textured tape.  There are so many different ideas that it’s best to get the so-so picture that is in need of looking incredible and then look at what there is to embellish the photo with.  Embellishments can be found online and in scrapbook stores.  With the picture in hand go see what there is to make the photos the most incredible photos around.

So how to make so-so photos look incredible?  Start experimenting by starting with fun paper, then don’t forget to crop, and last add a few stickers or embellishments.  You will make your so-so photo incredible in no time. 

Posted by Don under Scrapbook Embellishments , Scrapbook Techniques on Sun 23 Dec 2007 No Comments 

Tips for taking care of your stamps.  Stamps are a great way to add to any scrapbook, but they do require some care to prevent ruining them.  First tip,  always clean them.  Second tip, store properly.

Always clean any scrapbook stamps, care of your stamps is important.  By cleaning the stamps after each use it allows them to be used when they are wanted.  Clean each stamp when finished with each color being used.  This will ensure not mixing stamp pad colors, which can mess up stamps and the next scrapbook page that gets started on. 

There are a few ways to clean a scrapbooking stamp, there is the stamp cleaner in a spray bottle. This is bought at a scrapbook store with the stamps.  It is necessary to use a scrubber or stamp cleaning pad, after you spray the stamp.. The scrubber or stamp clener are also available at scrapbook stores.   A sponge can be used as a scrubber.  A stamp cleaning pad is a large looking white stamp pad that the stamp is rubbed vigorously back and forth on.  After spraying the stamp and scrubbing it off on the sponge or cleaning pad, the stamp needs to be blotted dry with a paper towel or something similar. 

Another way to clean scrapbook stamps, because you want to take care of your stamps, is to use a wet sponge (with plain water or a little bit of dish soap) and start scrubbing the stamp.  Be careful not to leave any little sponge pieces on the stamp .  Otherwise the next time the stamp is used it could have a blemish in the design. 

One of the easiest ways to clean and care for your stamps is to use a alcohol-free baby wipes.  They clean the ink up fast and there is no water close by to get spilt.  If the same color is always going to be used by one stamp, it is not require to clean the stamp after each use. 

Do not soak any stamps in water to clean, this can take off the adhesives of the stamps to the handles.  Clean the stamps quickly after each use to prevent dried on ink.  Ink dried onto a stamp will affect the coloring of the next stamping session wanted.  For example, if red was used and not cleaned off good then the next time when green is used , the green will have red showing through as the stamp is used.  Some inks do stain the stamps and the ink stains cannot be removed.  Just be sure the stamp is cleaned.  Maybe even get excess ink off the stamp by stamping on some scratch paper before cleaning. 

Where to store stamps is almost as important as cleaning them when caring for you stamps.  When storing rubber stamps keep them away from direct sunlight.  The sunlight can damage the rubber.  It’s a good idea to keep all the stamps together.  Get some containers for the stamps.   Containers keep the air from the scrapbook stamps.  Air deteriorates rubber.  One layer containers with see through lids is an ideal way to  store stamps and makes it possible to see where the stamps are and not require opening every container to find what is needed.

Keep in mind the wood handles on the stamps.  Don’t put them in a humid place.  Humidity ruins and warps wood.  Keep the storage area cool and dry.

Unmounted stamps can be stored in regular sized CD cases.  It would be easy to make a lable for these containers.  Lableing any containers saves time when finding the stamps need for a specific project. 

Enjoy the stamps you have and care for them by cleaning your stamps and storing them properly.  By taking care of your stamps you’ll be able to have them for a lifetime.

Posted by Don under Scrapbook Embellishments , Scrapbook Techniques on Sat 22 Dec 2007 No Comments