tips for scrapping newbies?

[skoi]

I'm new. I've always wanted to "do" a scrapbook. I tried to making them for our two kids, but everything is just sitting in a box in our bedroom. I also planned to do them for our trips to DW and Italy, all the pictures ended up in regular albums because dh got tired of tripping over the boxes in the bedroom. (The man has no patience). I'd like to do one of our first cruise this fall, but maybe I should start out with a smaller project?

How do you start? Where do you get your ideas? Any advice from experienced professionals would be greatly appreciated! WARNING: I'm not very visually artistic, and my creativity doesn't go that way at all. I look at people's pages and think, wow, that's cool, but could never come up with anything like it on my own. Music, writing, and cooking are more my thing, but I love to try new things - as evidenced by the lopsided crochet snowflakes we had at Christmas this year.

Thanks. It was great reading all the posts.

Julie

 

[bananiem]

BEWARE- Scrapbooking is addictive!
Where to start? I'd suggest finding a Creative Memories consultant in your area and ask to go to one of their classes. Or go to a local craft or scrapbook store and find out when their beginner classes are held. Then you can usually find a group of people to scrap with and get ideas from.
How to get ideas? Steal 'em from others! Truthfully, I get ideas from other scrappers at crops and from magazines and a couple of idea books I have. Several people I know have one style: triangle in opposite corners, a couple of stickers, pics and journalling. I tend to have pages that are all different in my books.
Welcome to the club!

 

[OurDogCisco]

I agree it is very addicting. One thing I find much easier than leaving your photos in a box is that I actually put the pictures in an album. I have been buying these albums from ROSS that hold 5 pictures on each page. It even fits my double prints in the same pocket. Each album holds like 500 pictures and it is acid safe. Anywho, the pictures are in order for the like the last 10 years of my life. Now, when I see a layout that I think will work for one of my pictures I just go to that album. Granted, I'll have all kinds of holes of missing pictures through my album but the albums aren't expensive and it is better than them sitting in a box. This way too people can look at those as well until I get some of them in a scrapbook.

I don't know if you get DIY cable network, but if you do they host a daily Scrapbooking show. Also, your public network station should have a scrapbooking show too. Ours is shown on Saturdays. Also, if you LSS (Local Scrapbooking Store) you can take a class there too.

Another option are some of the online stores sell scrapbooking kits to kind of give you an idea how to do a layout. Here's a link to one store that does:

http://www.gonescrappin.com/cgi-bin...ant.mv+Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=monthlytheme

The kits are reasonable priced. I really would scope out your options before you buy a hole lot of stuff.

Also, you can buy album kits on QVC that include the everything from the album, stickers, die cuts, etc... It also helps to watch a show where you can see how the products are being used. Here's a link to the QVC site:

http://www.qvc.com/asp/frameset.asp?class=9945&cp=index&cont=mh

I believe the next show is on April 14th from 6 to 7 pm EST. The shows are live so, if you live in a different time zone you must adjust the time for your area. This particular show is called Creating Keepsakes. Also, there is another show called Preserving the Past and Simple Scrapbooks.

I also, get a lot of layout ideas from magazines. My favorite magazine right now is Simple Scrapbooking.

That's all I can think of right now but you'll love it. And, welcome to the board. Also, if you have anymore questions, I'm sure we can help.

GL, Tina

 

[RRBB]

If you're just starting out and don't know where to begin, then I suggest go simple. All you really need to begin with is a good album, a pair of sharp scissors, an acid-free pen, and some acid-free adhesive. You might also want a bit of colored card stock to add a bit of color. The most important thing to remember is that you're doing this to preserve your pictures and memories, so be sure to journal. It doesn't have to be fancy words either - just names, dates, places, and maybe what or why will work. My first album was really basic, but it was fun to put together.

This is my first album. I basically just used my photos, some colored cardstock, stickers here and there, and postcards/brochures I picked up about the area. I really didn't go into any detail, except names and cute captions, for the journaling. And as you can see, even my titles were hand written.

I guess the best advise I can give is to have fun and not stress about it.

 

[DiznEeyore]

You've gotten really good advice. The one thing I'll say is KISS -- keep it simple, sweetie! For me, scrapbooking was a lot more fun (and I was a lot more productive) when I first started and didn't have all sorts of embellishments and doo-dads I wanted to use. I've recently returned to a simpler way of scrapping and am enjoying it much more.

I think the tools you really need to get started are a good trimmer (I like the Fiskars 12"), good scissors, a good acid-free black pen, acid-free adhesive (I like the double-sided photo squares best), some pretty paper and cardstock, and of course a good album. You can get all of these things at places like Michael's or Hobby Lobby with coupons. (Although I will say that before you buy an album from one of the chain stores you might want to check scrapbook stores or scrapbook company consultants to see all the different types that are out there.)

There are lots of scrapbooking magazines available -- my recommendation for someone just getting started would be Simple Scrapbooks. It won't overwhelm a beginner like some of the more "artsy" magazines might.

Hope this helps. Let us know how it goes!

 

[beansmom]

also check out www.twopeasinabucket.com a great site. you might also check out www.creatingkeepsakes.com

I would start by going to the local scrapbook store and buying a couple of packages of stickers in the theme to match the pictures. I believe I saw some for travel to Italy last night at HObby Lobby. And there are tons of Disney stickers.

I usually have a photo in mind and then shop for it. Like I bought a package of patriotic themed vellum die cuts for the pic of my dd at the Military Ball. And some baby boy die cut for gs pics. And some wedding type things for a pic of my dad and mom's wedding day.

I used to just buy what I saw that I liked...that got very expensive and not much went with the photos I had. So organize and group your photos. And check out two peas.

Good luck.

 

[skoi]

Thanks for all the advice and encouragement. I think the big problem is that I see all these really fancy/artistic pages, and I look at the couple pages I did and think, "ewwww what were you thinking?" I love crafts, but can never quite get them to come out right. The idea of a very simple project would be a good place to start.

Of course my dh's idea is to wait until the kids move out, or at least go to school-- we homeschool so I tend to spend free time writing, catching up with letters, research, etc. Once I finish up my attempt at cross-stitch, I'll try a few simple pages.

Thanks again.
Julie

 

[Lainy67]

I echo the above.... Find a CM Consultant. They tend to push simple pages with a little color, and simple embellishments(I am one, although I tend to do more froofrooy pages than most consultants). . CM also has simple books like Fast Formulas and the Page Patterns that give easy to copy / change page layouts that can be applied to all sorts of pictures. Finally, consultants almost always have workshops that will give you a chance to see what others are doing and get help.

Also, if you want to start small and get confidence, they have things called snap packs and 7x7 albums. These are designed to allow the scrapper to follow the formula and finish a simple album in a few hours. It really gets the confidence built.

I also think it is great to just start collecting pages off the net or out of magazines, etc... that you like, and then putting them in a folder to copy later as you get going. But try to keep it simple. There are lots of pages out there that use brads and eyelets, tags, mulberry paper, shadow boxes, etc.... those are really things that are best left until you get confidence in what you are doing. I was stupid when I started, and started with really fancy pages, and frankly while some are really neat, they took forever, and some look ICKY!

Good Luck.

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

Keep your ears open when you're around those other home schooling moms and any other outlets you have - church, etc. Sooner or later you will find someone saying something that leads you to believe they scrap.

Strike up a conversation - most of us get so addicted to this that we love seeing what others are doing and scraplifting from each other. And having our ideas lifted! No greater compliment than mimicry.

That is how I started, I weasled my way (and it wasn't hard) to a Saturday crop at the home of an acquaintance from Scouts. We are now great friends and scrap together fairly regularly. And over New Year's we pulled another newbie into the fray.

It is a fun way to start and if you're feeling hesitant there is someone there to bounce ideas off.

Deb

 

[aurora19]

Hi & welcome to scrapbooking - yes it is addictive!

I would also recommend the book "Scrapbook Basics" by Michelle Gerbrandt (of Memory Makers Magazine). It is an excellent resource for the newbie srapper - starting with photo archiving - moving on to why you need archival products, various photo cropping styles to explanations of the various adhesives and other tools available. It costs about $15 but I think it is a resource you would refer back to.

Kim

 

[DiznyMagic]

I had to smile as I was reading your post. You sound the way I did a few months ago. I started in July of last year and I have been hooked ever since.

My advice is go the Creative Memories website and find a consultant. Attend a class and get started from there. Warning: It is very addictive!

 

[skoi]

Thanks for the advice. I was leaning towards getting some "professional help" to start out. If it's addicting, I'll be in trouble. With homeschooling (but only two so it's not horrible) and all of my other projects I don't know if I have time for another addiction!

Julie

 

[SplshMtn99]

My answers going to come from a different angle. If you have enough on your plate, like me, and the pictures sitting in a box will bother you (like another thing on your list that needs to get done).....then do what I did with one trip just to get it done.

I took a regular photo album (3 ring binder style -- 3 photo sleeves per page side). Any style album will work I would guess. I slipped my pictures into the book, leaving empty spots whereever I would want to put in titles (beginning of each WDW park for instance....) and other empty spots where I might want to add journaling.

Later, on the computer, using fancy appropriate free fonts & free clipart (from the web) or even stickers or borders.... I created 4x6 size "pages" that had the title & journaling. Then just slipped them into the book where appropriate.

If I had a LONG story to share..... I typed it up...not worring about the size. Printed it. Laminated it. Then poked 3 ring binder holes in it....and just put it in the book nearest the photos as a new page.

This let me get a 10 day trip to WDW done rather quickly. It was an emotional trip....and I didn't think I could scrap it the "traditional" way. But I didn't want to forget anything that happened ..... or all the emotions. (WDW trip week of 9/11 & tropical storm).

I WILL use this method again. The album turned out very nicely.
And best thing........ IT's DONE!!!!!!!! (Wish I could say that about my first album --- WDW 2000)

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

I have a series of photo albums with the plastic sleeves in them. I always put one set of photos in those sleeves as soon as they are developed. Sometimes I include notes and sometimes not. That way everyone gets to see the photos right away and they are not getting finger prints on them!

When I am ready to scrap that page/theme/etc. I can go back and pull what I need. Periodically I rotate photos so that I can take the "empty" pages out and reuse them.

I usually get double prints but by the time I scrap I have given at least part of the doubles away! So I always compare the sets~

Deb