Where to start scrapbooking?

[hgsmom]

I would like to start scrapbooking but have no idea where to start. I have just found this board and I know you can help. I live in a relatively small town (Memphis is about 1&1/2 hours away) with only a Hobby Lobby and Wal Mart to find supplies. The problem is that even if I could find a store with supplies, I'm not sure I would know what to buy. Can you buy a "starter kit" and if so what kind? Any help or links would be great. Thanks in advance!! Karla

 

[going2wdw]

Welcome to the DIS hgsmom!

I bumped one of the best threads for beginners, there are several hints and ideas within the pages of posts here also!

You also may want to find a Creative Memories Consultant in your area. They can help you get started.

 

[Duckfan]

I thought these things helped. I am able to take a class or two as I have a scrapbook shop near me. I see you don't have one so I would also look for scrapbooking magazines because this would give you some ideas of layouts to start with or ideas you might like to try. Hope this helps.

 

[BevS97]

I wouldn't advise you to buy a starter kit - I bought one from Michaels, I think it was $50 and I have used nothing from it - I will use the album eventually but I can't see myself ever using any of the other stuff.

To get started, really all you need is

acid-free cardstock in your preferred size (I like 12x12, some like 8x11)
some acid-free coloured paper (plain - patterned paper is quite hard to work with so I would wait till later for that)
scissors
safe glue
safe pen

You might want to get an album too but you could wait and get one once you have done a few pages.

Very nice to haves would be

Paper trimmers
circle/oval cutter (I like my coluzzle, others like CM)
lettering templates - but you can print loads of fonts of the internet


as you discover your style you can add die-cuts, stickers, paper piecings etc - but you can order all that stuff online if you don't have a store nearby (in fact I get everything online except for a few things I can pick up in the art shop)


for ideas - try the internet again, the graceful bee site is good, and also www.twopeasinabucket.com has 1000's of layouts to browse - take a look and see which appeal to you. Also look at the links in people's signatures on here, they have some lovely disney albums for you to look at.

Hope that helsp

Bev

 

[chessie]

Another place to start is the library. I didn't have the Internet when I started scrapping. I checked out several books on scrapbooks.

It really took me a long time to get started. I can't tell you how long I agonized over that first blank white page. When I look back at my first pages I think, how awful, but that's part of my beginnings. It takes a few pages to get what I call "your eye." You will soon develop your own style.

My favorite site is www.gracefulbee.com. They have a wonderful newbee section. They also have a newsletter you can subscribe to.

The main thing is to keep coming back to the board. Everybody here is pretty friendly and are happy to answer any questions you might have.

Welcome, and have fun,

Chessie

 

[bananiem]

Welcome to the world of scrpabooking!! It's just like WDW-You'll never want to leave!
Think about what size book you want to start with. My first was our trip to Disney so I choose a 12x12. I find I like that size but some people prefer the 8x11. You could do a 5x7 one of a birthday party or something but I find the big pages help when you are starting out.
Take some of your pictures with you when you pick out paper so you can see if it compliments your pictures or clashes. I have the same problem about stores. My closest GOOD one is and hour away. I tend to get gobs of paper when I'm there and then just store it 'til I need it. I agree about the post with really "busy" papaer. It can distract from the picture but everybody has their own style.
I like my coluzzle for cutting shapes but I find what I use most is my Creative Memories (CM) corner rounder. It takes the corners off the pictures and rounds them. It's easy and fast.
I tell people to try to go to a crop when they first get started because you can see different styles of scrapping and people are generally good about letting you try there stuff to see if you like it. Since you don't have any stores near you I would go to the Creative Memories site and see if there's a consultant near you. Mine has crops every month, usually on Friday nights but about 4 times a year she'll have an all day Saturday one.
Oh, and I love my Fiskars 12 inch paper cutter. I can trim paper to any size for borders or what ever. I crop my pictures with it too.
Good luck and come back here often!

 

[lisaschu]

Definitely go to www.creativememories.com and check out the consultant locator. You should be able to find a consultant near you. Give her a call and let her know you'd like to get started and ask if you could do a one on one. This would help you immensely. You'll get a lot of good information and you should be able to try out her tools. You'll be given the opportunity to purchase some items if you'd like. Don't feel pressured. Feel free to look around at other items. Find out when her workshops are and attend one. You'll be able to talk with other scrappers and see what projects they're working on and what different styles are out there. You could also coordinate a class with the consultant. Have a bunch of friends and family over, learn about scrapbooking, earn free product and then you'll have some scrapping buddies! HTH

Lisa

 

[hgsmom]

Thanks so much!! This is all a little overwhelming, but at least now I know where to start. I'm sure I will have many more questions to come. You guys are the best! I'm so glad I found these boards. Thanks again Karla

 

[Tulirose]

Great info here for newbie. However, that gracefulbee website link did not work.

 

[Mamu]

I also recommend finding a Creative Memories Consultant in your area.

When first starting out their system of scrapping and their 1st rate supplies are the best to learn on.

I took an 8-week CM Scrapbooking Class our local High School offered at night. What was so great about the class is they will help you to understand what supplies you need to get started, how to use them and the best way to lay-out your pages.

We learned a new technique each week. The best thing was you got to use all the products, while your acquiring your own.

The consultant also hosted a monthly scrap at one of the local hotels in the area. Some 40 people attend this monthly scrap. You sure do learn a lot from watching others. Contact your local CMC and find out whats available in your area. I'll bet there's a lot.

 

[castlegazer]

CM is how I started too. I now have my own style whichvaries remarkably from CM style, but I use all my CM product to get that style.


Just remember that scrapbooking is simply getting those photos onto acid free paper - if you want to embelish, fine, if not just getting them cropped onto good paper and into a good album is a good start. Adding frames, papers, stickers, and all the other accrutrements that are on the market is for later, just start by learning about archival methods through creative memories. Then don't be afraid to stray and experiment with papers and layouts.

 

[DMoss3377]

Welcome to Scrapbooking.

Creative Memories is a great way to start, I know a ton of people who got their start there.

I know you're not near many stores...but you might be and not realize it. Check out creativekeepsakes.com, it's a scrapbook magazine but they offer a store locator on their website.

If you are near a store, check out if they offer SDU, Scrapbook Design University. I've been scrapping for nearly 6 years, not couting the years of non-archival scrapping I did before that. I took the course last spring, even though I'm a seasoned scrapper and found it quite informative. It's a great way to learn all about the basics, design principles, colors, tools, everything. It was designed by a friend of mine, who works for EK Success now, but even though they do "offer" and use as examples EK's products, it's not a sales pitch and my instructor at least did not hesitate to share products from other companies she liked better.

Good luck and happy scrapping!

 

[hockeymom7691]

Originally posted by Tulirose
Great info here for newbie. However, that gracefulbee website link did not work.

I tried the gracefulbee website link too and it didn't work. Darn it!

 

[chessie]

Gracefulbee was a wonderful site, especially for newbees and for learning new techniques. Unfortunately they went off line about a month or so ago. They used to send out a monthly online news letter that was good too. I will really miss them. It was truly my favorite scrapbook site.