New to scrapbooking got some ?

[princessh]

Ok, I went to my first CM party last weekend. I loved and now I am hooked! I bought two of the disney albums for our Disney cruise and WDW trip. I am planning on taking them, and having the characters sign right in them. Any way, the CM consultant stressed that you should only ever use Cm products in you sb, as other products will ruin the pictures over time. Is this true or was she just trying to get more sales? Also, I have a ton of pictures taken from my digital camera that I would love to use in a scrapbook. Is it ok to use self printed digital pictures, or only ones developed by a store? Please let me know your thoughts, and any other tips you might have. I am really kind of clueless, but really excited to get started!

 

[piratesmate]

Oh boy....this can be a real hot-button topic. It's really a personal preference. There are people on this board who are strictly CM users, people who are very concerned about acid-free & lignin-free products and there are people that will put anything & everything into their books. The first thing you need to do is decided how long you want your books and/or photos to last....just your lifetime or for the next 4 generations.

Good luck with this one....and welcome!

 

[Spinning]

well...scrapbooking is a huge business from magazines to stores to products to everything! LOL!
Is CM the only way to go!??! that is totally a personal choice. Are they the only company who is perfectly safe in everyway?!?!? They make you think that but i personally don't agree!
I think that CM has a good reputation and has good ideas and great tools! But I find that it is very limiting and doesn't keep up with modern trends and changing styles.
I think that the CMC are doing their job, their job is to promote their product and they need to feel comfortable with their products to make you want to buy more of their product.
I buy stuff from all over and use what ever I feel is right for my page. Scrapping to me isn't just getting it in a book and journalling (which is one of CM strong supports, get your pictures done!) If I wanted to just get my pictures organized I can use a pocket album! It is a creative outlet for me with a useful result.
as for printing at home. I really don't know. I know I have prints from an older printer that really haven't held up as well as lab prints. But again they are from 5 years ago or longer. They have faded just a little. But they are not in scrapbooks but frames. I looke at digital this way. if for some unknown reason they fall apart, fade or waht ever I can at least locate the CD! Unlike my neg!

I do worry about real bulky and heavy embellishments and how the adhesive will hold up 50 years from now...But I won't loose sleep over it!
Enjoy! Welcome to the world of scrapping!
And my best advice to you....look around, check out and scrapbook stores in your area, go to ACMoore or Mike's. Or even contact other home sales scrappers! Lots of them out there. Then decide. That is the nice thing about choice! Lots of it! You may find CM is perfect or you may find another that fits you better!

 

[mom2grace]

I started out as a CM scrapper 8 years ago, and am relatively loyal. HOWEVER, it is my opinion that you can put anything that you want in your scrapbook as it is YOURS and I think that almost everything you buy at a scrapbook store/Michael's etc is safe for your scrapbook.

You will not be able to resist all of the cool Disney stuff that is available that is not from CM anyway, so don't stress about it!

You can use photos from anywhere, many people have old polaroid photos in their scrapbooks.

 

[pattyT]

here we go again...
I actually even signed on as a CM cuz I LOVE the albums - nice heavy duty albums...
BUT i have never hesitated to put Micheals crafts or qvc or anyother products into them... I usually try not to put things that might not be acid-lignin free directly onto a picture.
This is a topic that here on the DIS we AGREE to Disagree on!

 

[nicurn]

I am one of the people who stays as far away from cm as possible. (hence the tag "dark side scrapper") I don't like the attitude that I have gotten from the cmc's that I have met. I like to use all kinds of stuff from metal to ribbon and then some. As everyone else has said, it's completely up to you. I do have the sqare punches but that's about it. If you want to branch out, don't be afraid to put non cm stuff in your books. (heck my grandmother glued pictures into one of those brown paper scrapbooks 85 yrs ago, the pictures are fine still, they haven't disintegrated, self destructed, etc. and I'm pretty sure the paper isn't acid free, etc ) maggie

 

[tubachick]

I say use what ever makes you and your scrapbook viewers happy. I also started out as a CM person because that is how I was introduced. I learned the basics and important words like acid free lignin free etc--- now I put what ever makes me happy in my books ( If I am worried about somethings acid content I make sure to "buffer" it with acid free card stock or something.) I say do what makes you happy.

 

[goofymom/pop]

My CMC loves the CM products and so do I....esp their orgnizational tools. But I also buy my paper at the local stores to save $$$, I used to do alot more in my albums Now I do simple clean pages that show off my pics and allow me to journal more. $$$ is a big problem for me with a daughter in college, and I like my simple pages alot. Although there are times I see something new......oh my. And I love to do the Dis board swaps as it gets me all the goodies I crave and I can make some pages really cool! Do what makes you happy. And welcome to our little addiction......hide your charge cards.

Have fun!!!

 

[heather31]

I am also a "dark side scrapper" and I also stay away from CM. I don't like the fact that they want you to use only their products in your books. It is my book and I choose what to put in it and where to spend my money. Of course, I own an LSS, so most CMC's don't agree with what I do. I look at it in the way that I don't buy any one particular brand of everything on anything that I use. I buy what I like.............plain and simple.

 

[ajksmom]

welcome princessh to the wonderful world of scrappin'!! you may come to find it quite an addiction but at least you'll be recording your families history!!

I was introduced to scrapbooking through CM also and my then consultant stressed using only CM products also. It is a great way to start - lots of emphasis on journaling so that you are telling the story and getting your pictures into the albums and out of the boxes. Their tools (IMO) are the best, and they do have quite a variety of papers/stickers to work with. I also love the quality of their albums.

That being said - they don't make every product for every occasion I scrap so it has led me to buy from other companies. My current CMC understands that one company just cannot make all that people will want in their books so she just stresses to not let these other items touch your photos. I believe their album pages themselves are "buffered" so as to reduce the "flow" of acid or other yucky stuff to your photos.

Now this is what works for me. I love going through the boxes of photos my relatives all have stacked in their attics, I'm sure my children (and theirs) will love going through my albums - admiring the photos and reading the stories. I want my albums around for a long time and think that the "restrictions" taught to me by CM will help to keep them in good shape.

You'll have to feel your way and decide just what works for you. If you continue to use CM products and this current consultant isn't right for you (keeps raggin' about non-CM products) do a search for a new consultant on their website. Head to a craft store and spend some time looking through the scrappin' magazines out there, or check twopeas for layout ideas. You'll find your own niche.

As for home-printed photos - I don't have a ton of experience with this. I can tell you however that a photo that I have framed, hanging in a dark hallway has faded ALOT. It was printed just less than 5 years ago on a good quality printer with good photo paper. It amazes me just how bad this picture looks, heck the photos of my parents in their old-style albums look better than this one!!

 

[onedisneylover]

i do not and have never scrapped cm style. i started scrapping (all 5 pages until then) and went to a cm party that one of my friends was holding. well, let me tell you...

i am in no way bashing cm, i like some of their stuff, i have some of their stuff, but i do not and repeat do not like how some of the cm reps use scare tactics on you, or the new people. i think that is absurd. that in itself has steered me away from cm. i cringe when i hear people saying these things.

i do like the idea behind cm though....to get the pictures and stories in albums to share with your future generations.

just with everything it is a personal preference.

on the disney side of it, i wouldn't have the characters sign directly on the pages, as sometimes it leaves no room for paper or pictures or embellishing. i would put a piece of cs that you want them to sign on on the pages, then you can work around that.

 

[Mom-to-2-Princesses]

I have been finding that it costs less money and I get better pictures by having my digital pictures printed at a photo developing place. I choose a place where the picture prints from the big machine which is printing pictures developed from film. I do not use the small printers (in a big box by the photo department) to print my photos, the paper isn't as sturdy and the color not as bright. Most places have a machine where you place your digital card, disk, etc., select your pictures, and then get them printed. The price I pay is 19 cents for each 4x6.

I personally use Walgreens and was very happy to find out that I can even send my pictures to them on-line and they will be ready for pickup in 1 hour! I tried it last week and it was awesome.

Good Luck and have Fun!

 

[nicurn]

hey again, forgot to post about digital pics. I have printed my own out, and they look pretty good. (if I have a ton though I won't print them myself). I use winkflash and love it! 12cent pictures (4x6) 29cents for 5x7 and the shipping is 99cents no matter how many pictures you order. they are pretty quick too. www.winkflash.com. maggie

 

[Merandab4]

Just wanted to post my 2 cents!

I'm just begining to become more "serious" about scrapping.
I like CM style as in I like to do journaling and "tell the story" of our vacations.
However, I do agree with Karen (onedisneylover), that CM people that I have encountered do try to use the scare tactic as if their product is the only one that will be able to preserve your memories. I don't know if I am just being nieve, but I don't agree with it. I have found just as nice products at LSS.
Just a side note: I don't particularly care for the CM albums because I don't like the strap hinges, and why should I have to pay extra for the plastic protectors when I can buy a top loader album that already includes the protectors?

Like Maggie, I have been ordereing my pictures from Winkflash. The price is cheaper then what I have found anywhere and like she said, shipping is only .99 no matter how many prints you order. I like ordering from here because you are not limited to only 4x6 prints. If I plan on putting more pics on one page, I can order them 3x5 and that works too. This beats waiting in line at Wal Mart or CVS to print my pics at .19 a print, and just so happens that everytime I go there is a line, and you always get that one person that doesn't know how to use the machine and it takes them forever...lol. Also, printing them online saves time as you don't have to wait around at the store for an hour, or drive back (with the price of gas who wants to do that).

I would not reccomend printing from your home computer either. I print pics from my printer on "everyday" photo paper just if I need to print something quick to show somebody, but not for archive purposes as a home printer is not as good of quality as a professional printer, (unless you have a real fancy printer). If you do want better quality prints from your home computer, I would suggest buying the more expensive photo paper. I think it's called "classic" the cheapest is called "everyday".

Okay, that was a long post. I hope I helped in some way. Good luck with your new hobby! ~M~

 

[thelionqueen]

CM is a good company but their tactics I believe are questionable..being nice . Anything acid & lignin free is best, doesn't matter who manufacturs it. Do whatever you want.

I AGREE WITH PREVIOUS POSTER, I would not use paper printed pictures in any scrapbook, only prints on photo paper. The ink will break down and run over time (lots of time) and will ruin the image and page. It's actually cheaper to print pictures from Sam's Club than to print at home.

Welcome to this very expensive and wonderful addiction!!!

 

[Merandab4]

O, I just wanted to add something else, and maybe someone has an opinon on this...
I am torn between putting "other memoribilia" in my book such as room keys, and paper work that we got before our trip, like the room recipts and stuff like that. Or should I just keep a file folder with disney paper work in it.

Also, to save $ on SB supplies, I will make color copies of my Disney stickers and print them out at home on sticker paper. This way I get double or triple use out of one pack of stickers. I also save $ on embelishments by cutting out things from Disney brochures. I know some would argue that these types of things are not safe to put in your book, but as long as it is not directly on the photos I don't see the harm. Also I am more liberal scrapping now that I am using all digital. if I pic goes bad, i can alway print another!

 

[princessh]

Wow, thanks for all the replies! Can anyone tell me what LSS stands for? I feel alot better after reading what all of you said.I really like Cm but, already spent almost $150 and I only got a few things. I will be off to Michael's tonight to take a look at supplies. Thanks also for all the tips about digital pictures. I never knew it could be so inexpensive to get pictures printed that way! Can anyone tell me how long it takes to rec. your picures from Winkflash? TIA!

 

[ajksmom]

LSS stands for local scrapbook store.

Don't forget your michael's coupons, they often have them in their flyers for 40-50% off one regular priced item.
If you have a Joann's near you sign up for their mailing list, you'll receive flyers in the mail with coupons much like michael's. They are offering free shipping from their website right now too.
ACMoore also has coupons in their flyers.

 

[onedisneylover]

like some of the previous posters...i don't print my pics at home either...

i like to know that they are "professional" quality and hopefully they will last longer...who really knows 100 years down the road...

anyway, i tend to think that it is cheaper to have them be done. when you take into account that you have to buy paper, and ink, it comes out to the same or more.

karen

 

[onedisneylover]

princessh,

don't worry, if you like scrapping, you'll keep doing it....it seems like a huge investment when first starting out, but once you have all the big stuff, the rest is relatively cheap....unless you buy doubles and tripples like i do.

just buy what you need to buy for the thing you are working on. that will also save on impulse buys.

get and use those coupons...get extra papers or get coupons from family and friends that don't scrap and either make multiple trips or round up all your kiddies and take them with you to do it in one trip...that is what i do...usually requires some candy purchase for their cooperation....my kids hate going to m's or *the paper store*!!!