How do you learn how to do a scrapbook??

[TwingleMum]

Where or how can you learn to do a scrapbook?? Do places like Michael's give classes. The things you are all doing is way beyond my level. Half the time I don't even know what your talking about. I'm not crafty. Is there hope?

 

[MikeScott8]

Being a new scrapper, I can help (I hope )

I took a intro to scrapbooking class last summer at JoAnn's ETC. It was good to be helped with the basics on that first page. All I really had to bring was some pictures.

You can also try to find a LSS (Local Scrapbooking Store) and they will usually have classes.

Most "intro" classes will give you an overview of the basic tools you should buy to start with, and then go over the basic of using them. After that they will talk about the basics of planning a layout. And usually finish with everybody doing a page with help as needed.

I would suggest you take an intro class. I was nervous about getting into scrapping, but the intro class I took really was great.

Mike

 

[MikeScott8]

I forgot, where in NY are you located?

If you are in my area, I could try suggesting some LSS for you.

Mike

 

[tigger2esq]

I discovered scrapbooking when I was invited to a "beginners" class by a friend of mine with a Creative Memories consultant. it was a great way to learn the basics. Everything else I learned by 1) reading and viewing lots of stuff on the internet, 2) subscribing to several scrapbooking magazines (Memory Makers, Creating Keepsakes, Simple Scrapbooks --you can find single issues of all of these at your local books store or Michaels) 3) taking classes at my local scrapbook store on different techniques (like using color, journaling, chalking, etc.) 4) just flipping though completed pages/albums by friends of mine---you cant imagine the ideas you can get just by that!!! 5) hosting an occasional crop at my house where I invite a group of friends over and we eat drink and scrapbook for the night! a great "girls night out" that is also productive!!!

 

[BevS97]

I am not near an LSS so I started by reading a lot of information on the internet - there is a very good guide called the NewBees guide on graceful bee.

www.gracefulbee.com

there is a ton of info out there, but some of the website are for people who have been scrapbooking for years, so don't let them overwhelm you, (I am thinking specificaly of TwoPeas here, which has a wealth of info, but can be quite cutting edge)

Also, Creative Memories will do a class for you - www.creativememories.com they advocate a much simpler style which is great for getting started. once you are going, you may find you want to get into fancier pages, or you may decide that simple is for you - either is fine - it's your book, so you can do whatever makes you happy

Bev

 

[DMoss3377]

Hi -

Glad to hear your a new scrapper. It's such a rewarding hobby.

All the suggestions so far are great. Creative Memories, LSS, classes, magazines, websites, etc. All great resources.

I just wanted to recommend something. You should be able to find this offered at most LSS's. It's from EK success, it's called SDU or Scrap Design University. It's a scrapbooking course that consists of 5 lecture classes and 5 hands on classes. You get a handy 3 ring binder about 6X9 to keep all the handouts, class instructions and examples in as a reference. The classes are Basics, Tools, Matting, Color, Stickers, Punches, Lettering, Journaling, and a couple more that aren't coming to mind just now. I've been scrapping for 4 years, I took a short break this past summer when I went back to college for a semester. I took it more as a refresher course and to learn techniques that were new or that I had not learned yet. I saw several people in each class that had never scrapbooked a day in their life taking the classes and really coming along. My LSS had a midnight crop party as part of "graduation" where we cropped (for free) for 7 hours, got diplomas, and gifts. It was awesome.

I learned quite a bit, remembered things I'd forgotten, and saw every new scrapper complete their first pages at the crop with very little apprehension and all looked like they'd been doing it for years.

I highly recommend this course.

As for cost - our LSS gave you all 10 classes and the binder/materials for $99. You can take the classes in any order and take as long as you need to finish them. We had the option of paying for the classes individually rather than doing the package, but then we had to pay for the binder, so it saved us to do the program as a whole.

Good luck...check out Creating Keepsakes website. They are a pretty large scrapbook magazine. They have a search engine that you can search for LSS's near you.

Have fun! And if I can answer anything else, feel free to ask.

 

[TwingleMum]

Thanks everyone for the great info!

Mike- I live on Long Island. I don't know any stores other than Michael's.
Hope to start scrapping soon

 

[pas2]

I am too shy to take a class at a store. I read all I could on scrapbooking and saw some demos on tv crafting shows. I just jumped right in and started with some photos of a trip. This didn't seem as hard as tackling family photos and it had a central theme.

I would recommend buy a good starter book like Scrapbooking Secrets by Becky Higgins (it can be found on Creating Keepsakes website look under shop/idea books) and pick up some scrapbooking magazines like Simple Scrapbooks. I also agree with getting info from the internet, there are many great sites that cover every technique with step by step instructions.

Taking that first step is hard but oh so much fun! Enjoy.

 

[MICKEY M0USE]

Please don't worry about not being crafty! That was my main concern when I picked up this hobby. At first I relied on the wealth of stuff that is out there to help us non-artistic types: stickers, punches, die cuts, but now I've started to trust myself and my abilities and branched out a bit more. Good luck!

 

[MikeScott8]

Originally posted by MICKEY M0USE
Please don't worry about not being crafty! That was my main concern when I picked up this hobby. At first I relied on the wealth of stuff that is out there to help us non-artistic types: stickers, punches, die cuts, but now I've started to trust myself and my abilities and branched out a bit more. Good luck!

GREAT TIP!

I was the same way.

MIke

 

[bananiem]

I started out with really foo-foo-y paper and funky scissors and I HATE those pages when I see them now. My style has evolved several times in the past 2 1/2 years. Wow- Has it been that long?
Anyway, don't worry. Just get started. By the end of your first album you'll be wondering why you didn't start sooner!!

 

[Spinning]

I am a self taught scrapper and it shows HAHAHA First books are terrible! But I didn't have the internet to find sources and it wasn't that popular when I started!
Anyway this is my take on it....
Start simple, stay away from embellishments until you figure out your style. By stickers only when you need them, same with pens! I have more stickers than I will every use, I just loved them and thought they were great....so I bought tons when they were on sale! I also bought every pen I saw! Now I know I love gel pens, white, black, gold or silver!
Stay away from fancy cut sissors unless you have double prints or your neg. in order and labled!
Look at lots of layouts on the web.
Journal! To me that is just as important as the picture, maybe more!
Easy on the paper! I buy way too much paper because I love it but then find what I love and the pictures I take don't always blend!
As others have stated. Go to a class or an all day crop. Look at other people's work. and Most important, enjoy what you are doing!
Try different things.
Another thing I did when I first started out was always get double prints. That way if I screwed up a picture but cutting to much or using sissors on them I could fix the problem. Now I just get singles unless I want to share the pictures.
Have fun!

 

[Octoberbride03]

I'm another newbie(or should I say wannabe?) scrapper here. This is actually Fh's idea, to do a scrapbook of our wedding planning and such. And I decided to do 1 of my growing up years for my mom&dad's wedding gift. I haven't started putting anything together yet, just collecting items for the time being. Any help would be great.

TY
Maureen

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

Find a scrapping buddy! Preferably someone that has been scrapping for a while, perhaps that has a common interest. Don't think there is someone you know out there?

Chances are they are under your nose. I'd been muddling along trying out different approaches but not particularly confident in what I was doing - although I liked the results well enough. Then one night at a Boy Scout Court of Honor I was chatting with a woman I have known for years and discovered she'd also been scrapping for years. I turned the conversation to that topic by asking some questions and she invited me to come scrap with her one weekend.

Well that was the turning point - I learned so much from her (her style is pretty basic - she is scrapping for 4 kids plus family and trip albums!) about tools, supplies, and some techniques. We now scrap together on and off but always have each other to call if we get blocked! Plus since several of our kids are in the same activities we always get doubles of our photos and trade. We've added several other newbies to our group and spent all of New Year's Day scrapping while the guys watched football.

Just having the assurance of someone that has been doing it, can answer questions and give you positive reinforcement is great help.

Deb

 

[PrincessAli]

Scrapbooking is one of the fastest growing NEW hobbies at the present time--aren't you glad that you want to get started?? There are soooo many new items and books to help you. This is something that you are going to make for your family that they will cherish for years and years to come. Once you begin its VERY addictive-Ü Have fun!!

Gini #10441
Scrap in a Snap
Independent Consultant

 

[giatocj]

I think the BEST way to get into scrapping is to find a basic beginner class to take just so you know the absolute MUST HAVES and then go from there. I took a couple of classes at Michael's but didn't find them very useful or informative...I learned more on my own from looking at websites for layout ideas and new techniques. I've been scrapping for "real" for about 3 years, since my grandson was born, and found that I just HAD TO re-do the book from his first 6 months...I had progressed so much in that time that I HATED my earliest attempts...and I've known a lot of people to do this. There's no comparison between how I scrap now and how I scrapped then, but I know I still have a lot of room for improvement...I think what matters is if YOU'RE happy with your work.

It will probably take a little while to find your own "style", but once you do you'll be amazed how happy you'll be with each new layout. Scrapping involves a lot of trial and error until you find your groove, but it is SO worth sticking with...it's a great hobby.

When it comes to learning new techniques, there are so many great websites that have tutorials and how-tos. I love tags and just picked up a few of the laminate chips at Home Depot to try...a technique I read about on a scrapping board. I love the look.

HTH,

Donna C.