Scrapbooking Veterans - Where Do I Begin?

[CHIPSTER]

Never scrapbooked in my life so where do I start? Is there a book you would recommend for how to's?

We had a scrapbooking store locally and I had signed up for a class but it closed overnight and never got to class!!!

My supplies locally would have to be purchased at AC Moore or Michaels.

I especially want to scrapbook my upcoming trip as we are taking 5 nieces and nephews who have never been there before.

Help!!! Thanks.

Chipster

 

[Franne]

Originally posted by CHIPSTER
Never scrapbooked in my life so where do I start? Is there a book you would recommend for how to's?

Chipster

Why don't you host a Creative Memories class. You can go to Creativememories.com and find a consultant located in your area. She will come and do a class for you and a few friends and show you how to get your first page done as well as a lot of other information on scrapbooking. It's free and you earn coordinator credit based on how well your class does. If you want to get started, that's a great starting block.
Franne

 

[DiznEeyore]

Another idea would be to check out the idea books at Michaels. I believe there's a new one out called "Scrapbooker's Survival Guide" by Memory Makers. IIRC, it's a sort of get-started manual. You could use this week's 40% off coupon!

I also recommend Simple Scrapbooks magazine. It has lots of straightforward scrapbooking ideas, with some advanced ones thrown in for good measure.

As far as supplies, when I worked at an LSS, this is what we recommended as a "basic kit":

Album of your choice w/refill pages
Acid-free adhesive (photo squares are great to start with)
A good cutter (Michaels sells the Fiskars -- get it with your coupon)
A good black acid-free pen
Good scissors (maybe a long-bladed pair and a smaller pair for detail work)

To that you could add some cardstock, patterned paper, letter stickers....the list is endless.

HTH a bit!

 

[Alice28]

I agree with the Creative Memories suggestion. I know even as a scrapbook veteran, I get overwhelmed in scrapbook stores and such cause there is SO much! A good Creative Memories consultant will show you how to make nice albums in little time using their organizational tips and tools. And, like Franne mentioned, if you invite some friends and they purchase as well, you can easily start earning some products for free. And even if no one buys, you get to learn the basic steps and most consultants love passing out a free sheet of stickers, or handouts, door prize, etc. At least I did when I did it!

For the very basic, you will need:

An album
A good acid free pen
A paper cutter & nice quality scissors
An acid free/lignin free adhesive
Embellishments such as colored papers and cardstock, stickers and die cuts.

I would start off with a small event you want to scrap - a birthday party, or maybe a wedding you went to. Buy just what you need for that event (it's SO easy to buy lots of stuff just cause it's so cute!) and then start that way. That way, you have a set amount of pictures (not an endless amount like if you wanted to start scrapping your life or the year 2000) and you will really feel like you accomplished something and can start getting your scrapping style down. What I like about Creative Memories, is how all their papers, stickers, pens, die cuts coordinate so it's very easy to make an attractive page.

As you evolve in your scrapping you might want to invest in a circle cutter (I like Creative Memories the best, but there are other brands out there), more pens, learn layering techniques with paper, check out some fonts you can buy or download for the computer so you can do some journaling on the puter, etc.

Have fun! We're here for ya!

 

[TN Traveler]

I've been scrapping for 4 or 5 yrs now and one thing that is an obsticle for me is ideas on how to do different things. I would suggest that you get w/a friend that has been scrapping for a while and get her help, ideas and suggestions. You could also get on a couple scrapbook sites and get some ideas from them.
I like TwoPeasinabucket.com. They have some great Layouts
(LOs) to get ideas from.

In addition to the lists to start off w/I would add that you get a couple folders or a file box for your paper and stickers. This will help you get to what you need easier and not have to worry about anything getting torn or ruined.

Above everything else, HAVE FUN!! Remember this is a hobby, not a chore. If you can't have fun doing it, then it becames a pain and you won't want to stick w/it. Your albums reflect you. Just b/c you may not use all the fancy embellishments that some folks do, doesn't mean your albums aren't good too. It's just different tastes.

ENJOY!!

 

[ToDisney]

I agree with TN Traveler and DiznEeyore. I know a lot of people swear by Creative Memories, but that really is a whole style in itself and in my personal opinion, a very limiting one, depending on the CMC you get in touch with. Mine here turned me off forever!!

Check out Creating Keepsakes' Store Locator and see if there is another store in driving distance where you can take classes and attend crops.

Definitely check out magazines like Paper Kuts and Simple Scrapbooks (a sister to Creating Keepsakes, which is really advanced). I started out by copying layouts and when I got confident enough, started doing my own layouts, although one book I swear by that was a great investment is Becki Higgins Creative Sketches. It will give you sketches on how to layout your layouts (lol) and then give you samples of how Becki Higgins and readers have used those sketches. You can also find some examples of these on their site.

 

[llggood]

I have to say I would NOT with CM unless you want about the easiest style out there and it's not very fun but just my opinion. I would use the 40% off coupon at Michael's as well. I would also start with a kit. That is a great way to start. A kit usually has an album, some stickers, some embellishments. I also get alot off QVC.

 

[LindaBabe]

with the very first post on this board - Scrapbooking F.A.Q. - there are links to tons of answers there!

 

[nicurn]

you could also go over to the two peas website and look through the gallery for ideas and they also have a scrapping message board. (they get a little cranky sometimes over there, but the gallery is awesome and most posts are pretty helpful). I'm not a big fan of the creating memories style myself but they do have some good tools. If you find a good rep they don't mind if you branch out and try new stuff. personally, I really like the top loading albums by pioneer (you can get them at michaels) basically just have fun with it. maggie


www.twopeasinabucket.com

 

[TN Traveler]

I agree w/Maggie--I LOVE the top loading albums. IMHO, it gives you more flexibility to move your LOs around and change them if
necessary. I also use Pioneer but have found that it's better if I wait until I'm completely done w/an album before I load all the pages in it. Again, you have to find what works for you. I have friends that swear by CM albums and won't use anything else--so
again WHATEVER WORKS FOR YOU!!
Karen

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

Ok, I'm going to back up one step here....

decide what to scrap and determine how you will organize the photos!

If you decide to start with the upcoming trip then decide if you'll use a photo storage box, slip in page album, or one of the accordian holders to hold the photos.

If you're going to start with something else then make sure those photos are organized.

Whatever, you start with (the trip for instance) decide if you're going to scrap it chronologically, by park, or whatever. It will make the ultimate start to actually scrapping so much easier.

Although CM's approach does have it's limitations it is a reasonable start up option. If you don't want to do that see if someone you already now (church, school, etc) is a scrapper and if so if they would be interested in doing an afternoon or evening with you. Maybe even a shopping excursion to help pick out some of those basic supplies.

Deb

 

[pjlla]

Hope this isn't redundant information...... DON'T SCRAP WITH PHOTO ORIGINAL!! Be sure to make copies (either bring the negative or photo to a store to be copied or scan and print a copy.... or easier still if you are digital!)

It gives you much more freedom to try things and make mistakes if you aren't worried about ruining a precious photo.

At the VERY LEAST.... be sure you have a negative or a digital copy of a photo before you start cutting it or glueing it.

Don't be afraid to "scraplift" ideas that you see in books and on website... "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery"...........P

 

[DiznEeyore]

Originally posted by ToDisney
... one book I swear by that was a great investment is Becki Higgins Creative Sketches. It will give you sketches on how to layout your layouts (lol) and then give you samples of how Becki Higgins and readers have used those sketches. You can also find some examples of these on their site.

ITA with Diane!! I've been scrapping for years and this is my all-time favorite idea book. It literally "lays it all out for you". This is a SUPER starter's book!! And I believe they sell it at Michaels, too.

 

[nicurn]

in terms of supplies...

must haves: a good paper trimmer (I have a fiskers and I like it)

scissors

some kind of adhesive either a tape runner of some sort or the tab stickers that leave blue tabs all over your house (or there is a glue runner now which is great when dealing with bazzill)

little x (zyron 150) I can't say enough how much I LOVE mine. it's a sticker maker basically and you can use it for pretty much anything that is an inch or less wide

pens

that would pretty much be the absolute basic beginning stuff. once you decide what you like there are all kinds of other stuff to play with. I'm going thorugh a ribbon phase right now and michael's has some awesome ribbon.
Also, on qvc they have the "perfect layers" tool, which I finally broke down and bought. I love it too and now I get very nice perfect mats all the time.

enjoy! maggie

 

[Spinning]

Where in PA are you from? I live in Media! I find if you go to a crop or hook up with someone who is a scrapper you can learn a ton!
You really don't need much to start. I say buy the minimum and build upwards! LOL! I second top loading albums. I did start with CM and do love their tools but don't care for much else. Not a huge fan of their stickers.

My starter kit when i made one for a friend included:
top loading album
paper trimmer
12 inch paper cutter
hermifix tape runner
black pen
basic solid colors
coordinating prints
a box to hold pictures


Hope that helps!

 

[wtpclc]

If you're looking for a place to start, I second the CM approach. You should come out of the class with a basic page and a list of basic tools to get you going. (including some organizaitonal tools)If it's too simple for you, go beyond. It will cost you only the cost of the refreshments to hold a class and if you don't have an LSS or a friend that does it, there are not many other options to get a hands on class.

Good luck!

 

[diznygirl]

The Michael's here has scrapbooking classes - less expensive than at a scrapbook store.

There is also probably a group of people in your area that gets together to scrap. Start asking around.

I'm a CM consultant and I have people over to my house for Beginner's Classes. I'm not pushing the product, but beginner's usually have lots of questions about photo-safe materials, organization, and how to get started. I answer all those, and may never see them again! You can use the CM web site to find a consultant in your area - but it's not always accurate.

You'll know what your personal style is once you get started. Good luck!

 

[4greatboys]

I just recently started scrapbooking too. Its very overwhelming. So many things you can do, so many pretty things. I just start my LO's simple and I add in new techniques as I get comfortable with one, then I can add something else. A beginners class was very helpful getting my bearings.

 

[scottygirl]

I am new to scrapping too. I went to a CM party and got started with my first page. I purchased few basic things. I just bought a Coluzzle starter set at Michaels with my 40% off coupon. I really don't want to spend the money for the CM circle cutters. I used them at the CM party and didn't find them that easy to use. Do you think I will be disappointed with the Coluzzle? It was only $12.00. The CM system is 3x as much.

 

[ajksmom]

CHIPSTER,
Have you looked into Creative Memories(CM) yet? Although their layouts are very simple that is exactly the reason I feel that they are a GREAT starting point for someone new to scrapbooking. They go over the basics plus they really emphasize the "photo-safe" quality of products, which may or may not be important to you. However, you will at least get the information necessary to make an informed choice about having a "pretty" book vs a "safe" book. If you like their style, stick with it. If not, you can adjust what you've learned and add to it until you find your style. I love their tools and albums, but I tend to shop elsewhere for papers, stickers, and other embellishments.
While you are at Michaels or ACMoore try to browse through the scrapbooking magazines to see what interests you. You'll get alot of ideas from there. Use their coupons to purchase materials.
On www.allearsnet.com there is a section that gives you some ideas of what to bring home from WDW that make great additions to a scrapbook. You may want to read/print the list before you go.
Check the bulletin boards at grocery stores, local churches, your job,and ask anyone if they know of a "crop" going on in your area. It is alot of fun working with others and sharing ideas.
Kristy