Scrapbooking

If you're someone that's asked the question, Where did scrapbooking originate, the bad news is that there is no real definitive answer.  Putting keepsakes and mementos in albums or other safe places is something that has been practiced probably since the beginning of time.  Imagine Caveman Grog hiding away the dinosaur tooth from his first successful hunt and scratching out a symbol he thought represented him, so that his sons could remember what a great caveman father he was – and you have the world's first scrapbook.  Okay, it probably didn't happen quite that way, but when talking about the question of where did scrapbooking originate, you might want to fast forward several million years.

More of a Male Hobby

Believe it or not, when considering the question of where did scrapbooking originate, you need to pay homage to men like Thomas Jefferson and Mark Twain, both of whom were known to keep their favorite mementos in decorated books.  Wanting to remember souvenir and reminders was actually more of a male hobby for many years.  Mark Twain actually received a patent for a self-pasting scrapbook in 1873.

Where Did Scrapbooking Originate as It's Known Today?

The history of modern scrapbooks as they’re typically referred to now began in 1976 in Utah, when a woman named Marielen Christensen began designing creative pages for her family’s photo memories.  She kept these pages in 3-ring binders, and after assembling over 50 volumes of these memories, was invited to display her albums at the World Conference on Records in Salt Lake City.

The interest that Marielen generated led to her actually traveling to demonstrate her techniques and materials, and eventually to her opening the world’s first scrapbooking supply store in Spanish Fork, Utah, in 1981.

Where Did Scrapbooking Originate Online?

Of course it's impossible to say who opened the first online scrapbooking supply store, as many scrapbook supplies were probably used from simple craft supplies at first.  However, these online supply stores generate tremendous success, as they are easier to operate and manage and have such low overhead.

So chances are you didn't realize all those interesting facts when you began thinking about the question of where did scrapbooking originate, but there you have it.  From a caveman's dinosaur tooth to important historical figures to modern-day websites, scrapbooking is a hobby that grown to worldwide success and is obviously here to stay.

Some scrappers like using templates that they purchase from the scrapbook supply store, as these have everything all planned out for them and simply need the photograph or some wording added.  However, some may prefer using scrapbooking lesson plans which also give you some direction in how to compose your sheet but give you much more freedom and latitude in how to make those pages personal to you.

Scrapbooking lesson plans are similar to what you might expect from any other type of lesson plan that addresses a hobby.  You begin with the basics of what makes a good scrapbooking page versus one that looks busy or cluttered, and cover all the different elements of a page.  This would include embellishments, the subject of the page, borders, wording, titles, and so on.  Once you've covered what everything is, scrapbooking lesson plans then may take you to the next step of how to put all those things together for a basic page.  Typically you would start with a basic page with just one main subject and then add some embellishments.  Many scrapbooking lesson plans will tell you to avoid gluing or adhering anything until you've gotten it all laid out on the page and are sure of how you want things to be finalized. 

You might also be shown how to try different arrangements in order to dress up your page.  For example, most scrapbooking lesson plans will have you try your photo or subject in the middle of the page, and then suggest you move it off to one side to see how it looks more personal and unique.  They typically suggest you do the same with the wording - try it across the top like a regular page title, then switch to having it go down one side of the page, or have just the first word much larger than the rest of the words, and so on.  By seeing how these different changes really dress up a page as opposed to just a plain layout, these scrapbooking lesson plans really demonstrate how to make scrapbooks unique and personal.

There's no reason you shouldn't investigate using scrapbooking lesson plans, at least when you're first starting out with scrapbooking.  They can provide invaluable tips and pointers to really make your scrapbook pages come alive, and can be useful for anyone regardless of how long you've been scrapping!

If you're new to scrapbooking and are wondering how to document an event by scrapbooking, keep in mind the following simple tricks and tips and you're sure to come up with some beautiful and attractive pages that you'll love.

The first step when learning how to document an event by scrapbooking is to think of the event itself.  Some are more serious than others; your wedding will probably have a different theme or tone than a child's birthday party.  One is more serious and formal whereas one is fun and maybe even silly.  By keeping in mind the overall feeling you want to create, you're taking your first step in learning how to document an event by scrapbooking, and will use this theme or tone throughout the entire scrapbooking process.

The next step when learning how to document an event by scrapbooking is to look at the keepsakes or reminders of the event.  Photos are the obvious choice but what about other items?  This might be a program from a child's school play, a piece of sheet music from someone's recital, the corsage from your teenager's prom, and so on.  Sometimes you need to be selective in picking these items or otherwise you'll overwhelm yourself in trying to include absolutely everything.  This is a common mistake for those learning how to document an event by scrapbooking but remember that you don't want your pages or your scrapbook as a whole to look cluttered or messy.  Choose the best items first and then of course you can always go back and add others if needed.

The last step when learning how to document an event by scrapbooking is to be creative no matter what the event.  For weddings, cut heart shapes out of coordinating paper and put these behind your pictures as a frame or border.  Use construction paper to cut out a simple top for a dress and tissue paper to make up a skirt for it so that it looks like a little wedding dress.  For baby pages, use yarn in pink or blue for borders as this recalls a baby's blanket.  If the event is for a man such as his participation in a fishing tournament, use real lures (dulling the hooks), or if he was in a car race, use a stencil of a car and washers (the type that go around bolts) for the wheels. 

Searching for the best scrapbook sites online is no easy task.  There are literally hundreds if not even thousands of sites that sell materials and equipment, and some who don't even sell anything but just have forums and boards and galleries meant for those who love this hobby.  If you go online and just type in best scrapbook sites you'll probably get far too many returns on your search then you bargained for, so how can you pick through all your responses and really know which are the best and which are just going to waste your time?

Of course there's no easy answer for determining the best scrapbook sites, and the term "best" is subjective.  What's best for you will not be the best for someone else because they're looking for something different.  This is probably your first step - determining what you want from a site and why you're visiting in the first place.  Are you looking to purchase papers, machinery, embellishments, and other accessories?  Then the best scrapbook sites for you are the ones that sell lots of product and that keep their inventory updated as often as possible.  If you're looking for materials then you don't want a site that just has forums and boards or where the site owner just allows members to post but doesn't sell items as well.  Again, the best scrapbook sites for you are the ones that offer what you want and what you're shopping for.  Don't waste too much time at sites that don't sell materials and equipment if that's what you're looking for.

On the other hand, the best scrapbook sites for those who want tips and guidance are those that offer just those.  Some don't like to shop online or purchase their scrapbooking supplies online but they enjoy looking at the works of others.  How are you going to do that at your local scrapbook supply store?  For scrappers who need inspiration or who enjoy browsing another person's creation, the best scrapbook sites are those who have lots of room for forums and boards and examples of work.  Shopping for supplies is one thing but seeing how those supplies are used by other scrappers is a real help!  Some of the best scrapbook sites you find do nothing more than allow their members and guests to chat with other scrappers, post work, and so on.  These sites are especially useful for beginners or those who just need inspiration.  When looking for the best scrapbook sites such as these, be sure to browse all the pages.  You might not be looking to create a Christmas page or theme but the way another scrapper has laid out such a page can be an inspiration for that winter scene you want to create.  Their Fourth of July page can help you with your summer vacation page, and so on.  Don't limit yourself to just one type of layout or design when browsing the best scrapbook sites you've found but take your time to really look at as much as possible.

Sometimes too the best scrapbook sites are those that are connected with a local retail store.  This is because these sites can keep you up to date on sales and other specials connected with that store so that you can run in and pick up new materials and supplies when they're on sale.  Sometimes these prices will rival those of the best scrapbook sites you'll find anywhere else!  They may also be offering classes and workshops and other interesting events in their store and of course you want to keep an eye on those things since you may be able to learn something new in one of those classes.

There are many other determining factors for the best scrapbook sites.  Do you want to interact with other scrappers and be able to post questions and share your work?  Then of course you want a site with a very active member board.  Check and see when the last comment was posted; if the boards are not visited on a regular basis you may want to move on to another site.  The best scrapbook sites are those that have active members, not those that sit dormant for weeks or months at a time.  If you don't see a lot of activity, then move on to another site.

You also need to see how often they update their merchandise.  The best scrapbook sites are those that offer new equipment and materials on a regular basis since of course you probably always have new mementos you want to scrap!  Using the same types of papers and embellishments will just make your scrapbooks look old and tired and of course you don't want that.  Since there are always new pieces of equipment being made and new materials being designed and produced, the best scrapbook sites will be those that offer these new and updated materials.  If you see materials that look somewhat old and dated, then move on.  If they haven't offered anything new lately, they probably won't keep up with today's styles and offerings.  The best scrapbook sites are those that keep their eyes on the trends in the industry and which are there to help their customers, not those that offer material that works for their convenience and nothing more.

There's no way to just make a list of the best scrapbook sites on the internet and expect all of them to be perfect for you or to work for what you want.  You need to take some time to figure out what you're looking for and which sites seem comfortable to you.  This may take a bit of effort and research but once you find the best scrapbook sites from which to choose, you know it will have been worth it.  You'll connect with other scrappers, get inspiration and ideas, and be able to shop for the latest products and materials all at the same time.

Is there any better way to preserve your family memories than with heritage scrapbook albums?  These are scrapbooks that preserve more than family photos but are also a place where you can commemorate special events and occasions from your family history.  This might include military medals, wedding invitations, special awards, diplomas, certificates, postcards, and even old legal documents such as birth certificates and passports.  Many find that making heritage scrapbook albums is a fun way for different generations to spend time together - grandparents, parents, and children alike can all work on one album or page.  But before you begin to make your own heritage scrapbook albums for your family's history, consider a few quick tips and pointers.

One of the first things you need to do when getting your heritage scrapbook albums together is gather all your mementos you want to put in the album.  This might mean photos but all those other items we've mentioned as well.  Some even collect recipes from past generations to put into heritage scrapbook albums so these are a good idea as well.  Once you have everything together then you'll have a better idea of how your albums will be created and how things will be put together.

You may want to consider themes for your heritage scrapbook albums as well.  All those recipes might go in one album.  Or you may want to document your family's military history with another.  Other themes for heritage scrapbook albums include weddings, occupation, geography, men of the family, women of the family, family reunions, family traditions, or national history.  Looking over those mementos will help tremendously for you to create those themes.  You can then separate and sort them accordingly, and remember that for many you can even make copies to put in more than one album.  A desktop scanner can help or you can take them to a local print shop or even a pharmacy for a copy.

Typically heritage scrapbook albums follow a certain order just like other scrapbook albums.  For example, if you're creating an album of grandma's recipes you may want to organize them into main dishes, side dishes, and desserts, or organize them into special holiday dishes and then everyday recipes.  Having some type of order for your heritage scrapbook albums make them more enjoyable when it's time to read or browse them after they're finished.  The order doesn't need to be exact and of course there are no rules for how this is done, but just give it some thought before you begin.

A good color scheme or theme is also nice for heritage scrapbook albums.  Many use black and white or sepia tones for that aged, antique look but of course this isn't always necessary.  You can use modern designs and colors for your heritage scrapbook albums if you want; the choice is up to you.  Using what you're comfortable with can mean bringing out your best when it comes to creativity, so don't limit yourself to what you think your album "should" look like.

Wording is going to be important for heritage scrapbook albums as the pictures and other mementos might not be so easily recognized.  Just adding a paragraph of words is not going to be the best for your heritage scrapbook albums since of course wording is like any other embellishment - you need to have it coordinate and work well with the other aspects of your page.  When you have a lot of wording you also need to be careful of your font or typestyle.  When they're fancy they look very busy and become difficult to read.  Usually fancy fonts and typestyles are good for titles or just short phrases but block or simpler fonts are better for paragraphs.  You may be tempted to use bold fonts or those that look like lettering from antique wedding invitations and other documents for your heritage scrapbook albums, but try simpler fonts as well and see if they don't work better.

Some have found that when they begin creating heritage scrapbook albums that they're inspired to take better care of their family's history.  If you haven't already begun a family tree, you may find it an enjoyable hobby when done in conjunction with creating these heritage scrapbook albums.  Of course families are always growing and changing so this is a project that is never finished and one that the next generation may very well appreciate keeping up.  You can typically find materials and supplies for keeping your family's tree updated in the same locations where you find supplies for heritage scrapbook albums.  This might mean some research on your part as you try to find out missing pieces of your family's puzzle but typically once you start this type of project you don't want to quit!  Many are also surprised by what they find once they begin their family's tree or legacy.  You might find that you have relatives from a country you didn't know about or may discover long lost cousins or other distant relatives.  This means that your heritage scrapbook albums then take on a whole new meaning as you're not just documenting your family's past but are discovering some missing pieces as well!

There are some challenges to putting together heritage scrapbook albums and they may actually involve more work than other albums.  For most scrapbooks you choose a photo or memento and compose a page however you want it to look but with one for a heritage, you usually want some sort of order to your book and some type of theme.  These albums aren't as hodgepodge as other albums which might mean some preparation and work beforehand.  But once you begin working on heritage scrapbook albums you may find they're some of the most enjoyable you've ever created.  After all, what's more enjoyable than learning about and remembering your own family's history?  So give these tips some thought and you may find that these albums are the best you've ever created!

When talking about embellishing baby food jars for scrapbooking, obviously the baby food jars themselves cannot go in the scrapbook as they just won't fit!  Not to mention the fact that they're made of glass and just not safe either.  So what do we mean when we talk about embellishing baby food jars for scrapbooking; how do you do this, and how does it work into a scrapbook?

A great suggestion for creating baby scrapbooks is to keep records of many things about the baby's first moments and years of life so that you can look back and remember all those details many years later.  For instance, you might take pictures of the nursery, the outside of the house, the car you're driving, and things such as these so that you can recall what your life was like the moment you brought that child into the world.  Embellishing baby food jars for scrapbooking means dressing them up in such a way that you can take photos of them that are appropriate for scrapbooks.  You can add personal messages or notes that you want to preserve and use these as labels and then take pictures of them for the pages.

Another idea when it comes to embellishing baby food jars for scrapbooking is to simply save the real label from the baby food jar and use these as subjects of the page.  Some good ideas and suggestions for dressing them up might include using photos of the baby in the high chair trying to eat the food; if they have some on their face, all the better!  Babies are usually cuter when they're a bit messy and more realistic.  If you're embellishing baby food jars for scrapbooking in this way, be sure to use some wording and paragraphs to express your thoughts and feelings right then.  You can use fun and silly phrases such as, "Some actually wound up in his mouth!"  Or, "Carrots obviously aren't her first choice!"

You might also consider keeping other mementos when embellishing baby food jars for scrapbooking, such as the lid of the jar (washed thoroughly of course) or baby's first bib.  Use food elements for added decorations; you can have stickers of different vegetables as picture borders, or if you're very artistic, try using a large sketch of a high chair as a background to make your page unique and personal.

If you're wondering how to document an event by scrapbooking, you're certainly not alone!  Scrapbooking is a very popular hobby that has not faded over the years, but even the most experienced scrapper may be wondering about some pointers for how to document an event by scrapbooking.  There really are some simple, basic steps for doing this and for getting the most out of your scrapbooking pages, so let's cover a few of these pointers here.

First, make sure you're selective about the photos you use when considering how to document an event by scrapbooking.  Trying to add every single picture may not only be impossible, it might also be redundant or just clutter up your album.  Choose the absolute best and discard those that are only repeating other pictures or that are of poor quality.  Also, when considering how to document an event by scrapbooking, remember that you don't need to use just photos.  For instance, if documenting a wedding, keep an invitation, a program, napkin, or anything else that might go well in the scrapbook.  If it's a family reunion, also keep an invitation or a postcard from the location if it was someplace far away.

Another thing to remember when considering how to document an event by scrapbooking is to make your scrapbook page and elements match the theme or tone of the event.  If it's an elegant wedding, of course you want elements that are elegant.  If it's a baby shower, choose fun and whimsical decorations.  Keep your font for your wording and your borders also along the same theme and tone.  This is one thing that many people forget when considering how to document an event by scrapbooking; they have their decorations all match but then use a fancy font for a fun page or a casual font for an elegant page.

And lastly, consider just how to document an event by scrapbooking when it comes to the way you'll have all your subjects arranged.  Will your pictures go in chronological order or will they be grouped by subject?  A wedding scrapbook might start with the engagement party and continue through the wedding reception, whereas a family reunion might have photos based on family groups.  Remember when considering how to document an event by scrapbooking that there are no right or wrong answers, which is what makes this hobby so much fun!

If you're looking for some beautiful and creative scrapbooking materials and supplies, of course you want to consider 2 Peas scrapbooking products.  One of the leading suppliers in the industry, 2 Peas scrapbooking offers a wide range of papers, decorative elements and embellishments, digital kits, and so much more.  When thinking about visiting their website you might want to set aside some serious time in your day since there is so much to see and learn just from their online pages!  But what sets 2 Peas scrapbooking supplies and materials apart from other companies and how can you get the most out of their products and company overall?

First, keep in mind that although they're named 2 Peas scrapbooking this doesn't mean that they cater just to babies or twins, as you might think when you hear "2 peas."  Whatever the inspiration for their name, they have a wide range of materials in a variety of themes to satisfy and scrapper for any occasion.  They also specialize in designer kits, ribbons, cutouts, and embellishments so you're sure to find whatever you need when shopping for 2 Peas scrapbooking materials and supplies.

At the website for 2 Peas scrapbooking you'll also find many helpful hints and tips, as well as materials you're sure to be happy with no matter who you and what type of book you're producing.  For example they have a section just for beginners where you can find suggestions for page layouts and design elements.  They also have many kits available if you love scrapbooking but are a little challenged creatively.  No matter your level of expertise, 2 Peas scrapbooking supplies are sure to have something perfect just for you.  You may also find that the boards and forums they have posted are perfect for getting new ideas and suggestions or for getting questions answered as well.  You can even review the work of others for inspiration.  Of course, when visiting the boards at 2 Peas scrapbooking or at any other place you want to be sure that you're just getting inspiration and that you're not trying to copy someone else's work completely.  Scrapbooking is like photography or decorating a home - your efforts never will be and never should be the exact same as someone else's.  This too is one good thing about 2 Peas scrapbooking materials and supplies; they have such a wide range of options and materials available that you will probably never need to create something identical to someone else's work!  So while checking out other page layouts can be good you don't need to copy those exactly, which allows for some creativity.  Remember this when checking out the boards and forums at 2 Peas scrapbooking.

If you've already been shopping at 2 Peas scrapbooking supplies your next question might be how to get the most out of those materials and supplies.  While they have many kits and templates that are available to, of course you're still going to want to put something together on your own.  As with all other types of materials, when using 2 Peas scrapbooking be sure you lay out your entire page with all your elements without gluing or adhering anything.  Once you've made your final decision then you can go back in with glue or tape and make your page permanent.  Remember that the materials you'll get at 2 Peas scrapbooking will always be beautiful but this doesn't mean they'll just put themselves together properly!  Use some discretion and allow yourself the chance to change things around before your final decision.

You can find many coordinating pages and elements when shopping for 2 Peas scrapbooking supplies and materials but again, don't limit yourself to just what you see.  Scrapbooking is a hobby that allows you to express your own creativity, so don't hesitate to mix and match what you see.  For instance many designs at 2 Peas scrapbooking incorporate striped papers with polka dots, but remember that you can also use papers with butterflies, hearts, or other basic shapes as well.  When using 2 Peas scrapbooking materials you're limited only by your imagination!  So use their templates or kits as a guideline and not as some type of unspoken rule.

Another suggestion when visiting the website of 2 Peas scrapbooking is to really get involved yourself when it comes to the message boards and forums.  As with most hobbies, you're only going to get out of scrapbooking what you put into it.  The more involved you are with other scrappers you see at the 2 Peas scrapbooking website, the better you'll become at this great hobby.  You may also wind up inspiring someone else new to the hobby or may be able to share different techniques you've tried yourself.  This can mean an even greater appreciation on your part as well!  So remember that the boards and forums at the 2 Peas scrapbooking website are for your use but that you should get involved as well, as much as possible.  You can even share favorite photos which in turn may inspire others to use the same types of shots on their scrapbook pages; viewing someone else's pictures too can mean being inspired to take great shots yourself.  There's virtually no limit to what you can find on the 2 Peas scrapbooking boards when it comes to inspiration.

No matter what your level of interest in scrapbooking, you're sure to find something you love with 2 Peas scrapbooking materials and supplies.  They have a wide range of papers and embellishments, stamps, ribbons, cutters, digital kits, albums, fonts, and even organizers!  But above and beyond the materials you may find, you can also meet new friends and fellow scrappers as well when you visit the 2 Peas scrapbooking website, and get inspiration from their work.  And who knows, you may even become an inspiration to someone else when you share your own work and creations at one of the 2 Peas scrapbooking forums or boards.

If you enjoy scrapbooking and card making as hobbies, then you’ve chosen two great pastimes.  Both are very relaxing, fun for young and old, and of course you don’t need to be an artist or graphic designer.  But if you’re a visual learner, you may wonder if you need to, or should, buy online card making and scrapbooking videos.  Can they enhance your abilities when it comes to your hobbies?  Are they worth the investment?  How can they help?  Let’s investigate some of these questions and then you can decide if you should go ahead with the purchase of any type of online card making and scrapbooking videos.

Are You a Visual Learner?

It is sometimes difficult to understand the instructions that someone gives you regarding visual hobbies, and so you may find it easier to understand an instructor or coach when you see them in your online card making and scrapbooking videos.  You might compare trying to learn painting or karate by reading a book.  It’s very difficult to understand the concepts they’re talking about when reading about them in cold, black and white words.

Online card making and scrapbooking videos may be a good idea for those just starting out with the hobbies as well, as you may still be unfamiliar with the terms and the practices.  You may be in need of some ideas or feel overwhelmed with the many options and examples you see in different websites.  By following a video, you can simply be orientated to the overall ideas, themes, and equipment used, and then come up with and follow your own ideas.

What About the Kids?

If you’re involved in these hobbies with your kids, online card making and scrapbooking videos may be a great tool for them as well.  Kids usually respond better to videos than they do just verbal instructions – think of how many kids are drawn to and thoroughly enjoy shows like Sesame Street, as opposed to how much they enjoy cold instructions in a classroom.  So in order to get them involved and to keep their attention, these products may very well be a great investment.

So the final decision is yours, but you can see that there are some good reasons why you might consider investing in online card making and scrapbooking videos, for yourself and for your kids as well!

If you're a serious scrapper, chances are you've visited at least one scrapbooking message board in your lifetime.  You may even have one or two favorites that you enjoy looking up on a regular basis.  If you're considering sharing or joining in any of these scrapbooking message boards, we have some tips you should keep in mind as to the right way and the wrong way to participate.

Respect Others' Work

Remember that when you see examples of other scrapper's work on those scrapbooking message boards, you need to respect the work they've done by not copying them completely.  You can of course be inspired by their work and try copy their color combinations, lettering styles, use of embellishments, or other such elements of their pages, but their work is their work.  You certainly wouldn't want someone copying your original ideas for their scrapbooks, so don't copy theirs!  Respect those who are posting examples of their scrapbooks and don't use them as your own.  They don't put pictures of their work on those scrapbooking message boards so that others can just steal them!

Share Your Own

There's probably nothing worse than those who go on scrapbooking message boards only to take from others and not to share their own examples and tricks of the trade.  If you're just starting out, of course you should feel free to ask questions and to just browse around for other people's examples, but you should also contribute something as well.  If you visit scrapbooking message boards time and again without ever sharing something, you're like a scrapbooking pirate!  You want to share something with everyone else rather than simply taking things for yourself.  Even if it's just an example of a lettering style or a new online site that you've found for neat supplies, definitely post something, sometime.

Be Prepared to Browse

You can spend literally hundreds of hours on these scrapbooking message boards and never see everything that's on those boards!  From examples of wedding scrapbooks to sites that sell supplies for scrapbooking, there is really no end to the amount of things you can browse.  So, be prepared!  Set aside some time to really look over what's offered on these boards; don't just pop in and pop out.  If you do really look at what other scrappers have to offer, you might your inspiration right in front of you!

If you have shoeboxes crammed with old family photos that you find a little overwhelming, or have just returned for an event like a wedding or family reunion and have more photos than you know what to do with, don't worry.  We can help you decide on the best order to start scrapbooking a large volume of photos without wasting your money or missing some elements you'll need.

The first step when deciding the best order to start scrapbooking a large volume of photos is to figure out the theme or tone of your photos.  If it's a wedding then you immediately know you're going to need some wedding related elements.  But if it's a family reunion or just family photos in general, to decide the best order to start scrapbooking this large volume of photos you need to decide if you want a fun theme, a whimsical theme, or something else.  You can of course just choose something neutral but it's best to have some common elements - this might mean all your pages are rainbow colors or pastels or stripes and dots, and so on.  While there are many kits that can be the best order to start scrapbooking a large volume of photos you probably want to avoid mixing up kits that don't match.  Many are complementary - soft pinks and blues, for example, or all earth tones - and using complementary kits is a great idea, but mixing pastels with earth tones or with primary colors can make your scrapbook look disorganized and scattered.

You then need to spend some time with your photos, picking and choosing the ones you really want to keep and display.  Some may need to just be put in albums while the best ones should be displayed in a scrapbook.  Remember when shopping for the best order to start scrapbooking a large volume of photos is that you may not be able to have a page for every photo, so cut down that large volume by using some discretion.

And remember that you may get overwhelmed when you start scrapping all those photos.  So, the best order to start scrapbooking a large volume of photos may be one that has a lot of pre-designed templates with nearly completed pages so that you don't get tapped out when it comes to creativity.

Do you enjoy scrapbooking?  If so then you're not alone.  Many find that it's a great creative outlet that not only gives you a great memento of your cherished photos and other items but that it's also a very affordable hobby as well!  But some people find themselves a bit creatively challenged when it comes to coming up with unique and original ideas, and this is where online scrapbooking blogs can really come in handy.  On these blogs experienced (and sometimes not so experienced) scrappers post not just their own ideas and samples but tips and techniques as well.  What can you do to make sure you're getting the most from scrapbooking blogs you see online?

For one thing remember that whatever you see on scrapbooking blogs should be used by you as inspiration; don't just copy pages you see.  The point of scrapbooks is that you want to create something that is unique and original to you and if you just copy what someone else has done you've taken a lot of fun out of your own hobby!  At least try to change up some fonts or wording or move embellishments around a bit.  You might see something you really like on those scrapbooking blogs but you want your own albums to be personal.

Many tips and techniques are posted on scrapbooking blogs and these tips can really help the new scrapper and even one that is very experienced as well.  Scrapbooking is all about trying new and different things and when your creativity is tapped, others can step in and share what they've done and have used.  As an example, many who share on scrapbooking blogs talk about "real" items they use for embellishments rather than just stamps and stickers.  This might be creative ways to use yarn for baby pages, wrapping paper or tissue paper for party pages, and things like sand, pebbles, and twigs for vacation pages.  By cruising scrapbooking blogs with an open mind you can find great tips for your own pages or find things that you can use as an inspiration for your own.

Using scrapbooking blogs is like any other tool when it comes to your hobby.  They'll only do you any good if you actually use them.  Those that host these blogs and sites put a lot of time and effort into creating them so that you can benefit, so don't hesitate to visit and get some help!

For some long-time scrappers, it seems as if they have more ideas than they do supplies and albums.  The themes and words just seem to pour right out of them.  For others, however, it's easy to become a bit lost when it comes to creating scrapbooking ideas.  If this sounds like you, there's no need to worry.  This article will give you some simple tips and tricks to keep in mind that will get your creative juices flowing every time you feel stuck in creating scrapbooking ideas.  Ready?  Let's begin.

What Is Your Theme or Feel?

Take a look at your focal point.  Is it a picture or some other memento?  If so, what is it saying?  Something fun and whimsical, or more serious?  Your first step to creating scrapbooking ideas is to remember this theme or tone for all parts of your page.  As an example, if your picture is your newborn baby, chances are your theme or tone is something very serious as you try to communicate how precious your baby is.  If it's a picture of your puppy playing in autumn leaves, then it's more fun and whimsical.

This theme or feel will be your first key to choosing colors, shapes, embellishments, wording or quotes, and everything else that's needed when creating scrapbooking ideas.  So don't deviate from this thought as you proceed.

Choosing Colors

You cannot underemphasize the importance of choosing colors.  Soft pastels are good for focal points that are softer in feel, such as that newborn baby, lovers strolling hand in hand, wedding photos and the like.  Bolder colors are better when they match your focal point.  When choosing colors in creating scrapbooking ideas, you want them to complement the colors and the theme of your focal point.  A picture of a puppy playing in autumn leaves should have autumn colors – brown, rusty red, gold, yellow, and so on.  If the focal point is of a wedding, you would want to mimic the colors of the wedding itself, if it's navy blue or hunter green or whatever else.  Choosing colors is not a difficult part of creating scrapbooking ideas, but it's a very important part of the process.

Choosing Your Wording

Do you want just a few phrases or a word or two?  Do you need to include an entire paragraph?  When creating scrapbooking ideas, you need to remember that your wording shouldn't be so long and involved that it overpowers your focal point.  There may be times when you want to have longer or more involved wording, and if this is the case, you need to have a simpler focal point.  Your wording should also match the theme or feel.  If your focal point is a fun picture, then just a few strong words, such as "fun," "excitement!" or "springtime," can be enough.  If it's a simpler picture or something more serious, use words that reflect this.  Just a simple "love" or "adoration" or "beautiful" can be sufficient.  Remember when creating scrapbooking ideas that your wording is probably not going to be the focal point of the page, so you want it to work as an accent, not to detract from anything else on the page.

Working in Embellishments

Your embellishments can really make your picture feel personal and unique.  When creating scrapbooking ideas, always use embellishments that coordinate and complement your page and your focal point, but be creative as well.  Don't fall into the trap of thinking that there are right and wrong ways to use embellishments, or that you should only use the ones that came with your packs of pages.  And your embellishments don't need to be something you purchase specifically for this purpose as well.  One of the joys of creating scrapbooking ideas is that you can really express yourself and your personality.  If you want to use a dried flower because you like the color, or see someone else's scrapbooking page that uses ribbon, yarn, or something else unique, consider mimicking this as well.  And remember that embellishments can be used in any creative way that you like.  They do not need to simply frame your focal point in a square or run along one side of the page.  Mix and match your items, and move some around.  Try that dried flower on one side of the page and some colorful trim on the other side.  When creating scrapbooking ideas, this is not the time to be strict with yourself or keep everything matched and in a straight line.

Pulling it All Together

One of the best bits of advice that any scrapper can get when creating scrapbooking ideas is to be sure that you make a mockup of your page before gluing or using adhesive on anything.  Lay some things out, and then move them around.  Try a different angle or position of your focal point.  Take some embellishments or wording away, or add some of either.  Remember that you can add adhesive when you make your final decision, but it's very difficult to change your mind once the glue is applied!  This is very helpful when you're not as experienced in creating scrapbooking ideas, as you may need a few attempts before you find just the right layout or combination of elements.

You'll Get the Hang of Creating Scrapbooking Ideas!

Chances are that those experienced scrappers that you admire so much weren't that skilled when they first started either.  Probably quite a few had to try many of the tips we've outlined here before they got the hang of scrapping, so give yourself some credit and be patient.  And remember, there's no reason you can't mimic the great designs and layouts you see in galleries when creating scrapbooking ideas, but be sure to tailor your designs to your own personality.  A good scrapbook is as special and unique as you are; if you remember that, then you're sure to be a successful scrapper in no time.

Do you live in Canada?  Do you love scrapbooking?  Then it's time to visit some Canadian scrapbook message boards to get some encouragement and tips for your great hobby!  But what can you really learn from these sites and why is it worth your time to browse these boards when you could be spending the time actually creating scrapbooks and enjoying your hobby?  Let's take a closer look at what you can actually get from Canadian scrapbook message boards and see if you don't agree that it's really a great way to learn more and even enjoy more about your scrapbooking.

For one thing, it's not as if Canadian scrapbook message boards are that different from American message boards and forums, but if you live in Canada you may want to browse some boards that are close to home since very often there will be products recommended or scrapbooking crops advertised.  If you're really interested in your hobby and want to spend time at a crop or shop for new items you may need to find something that's close to home.  Good Canadian scrapbook message boards will have a wealth of options for you when it comes to these gatherings or local stores you can shop at for just the right product. 

You may want to visit Canadian scrapbook message boards if you live in Canada because very often scrapbooks revolve around certain vacations or locations that families visit.  Americans often visit the beaches of Florida, the city of New York, the Grand Canyon, and so on.  But if you live in Canada and visit Canadian scrapbook message boards you may get tips on how to commemorate the cities of Toronto, Montreal, or Vancouver.  You might also see how those who visit the Canadian side of Niagara Falls have put together a scrapbook for the visit.  Since many parts of Canada have longer winters than what you find in the U.S., Canadian scrapbook message boards might have more suggestions for winter sports and themes that really help, not necessarily for just vacations but for day trips you might take with your kids.  Went ice skating over the weekend or sledding?  You can find new and interesting ways of scrapbooking those photos on those Canadian scrapbook message boards. 

Keep in mind too that very often on message boards hosted by U.S. websites concentrate on many activities that are more popular in the U.S. than what you'll find in Canada.  For example, many Americans play football and baseball whereas hockey and curling are more preferred in much of Canada.  If you're looking for ways to commemorate that curling tournament in a scrapbook you would do well to browse around Canadian scrapbook message boards!  Very rarely are you going to find this sport in an American forum or board; it's just not that popular in the U.S.  So you can spend a lot of time hunting through an American message board looking for something that is appropriate for you whereas on Canadian scrapbook message boards you'll find these types of things quickly and easily.

Another interesting bit of information about Canadian scrapbook message boards is that many people in the more rural areas of Canada are used to doing things on their own rather than simply buying a product; for scrapbooking, this means that many who visit and post to Canadian scrapbook message boards usually have more tips and techniques for making up your own embellishments and decorations rather than just recommending products you can buy.  They may have more suggestions for frames for photos you can make from yarn, scraps of material, and bits of wood.  Many American boards have recommendations for product you can buy but if you're someone that likes to be very creative you can find these types of suggestions more readily on Canadian scrapbook message boards.  Even if you don't think you have any interest in doing these things for yourself you might want to give them a try; it's surprising how often people are just hesitant to try to be creative simply because they don't know where and how to get started, but once they get those helpful suggestions like you find on Canadian scrapbook message boards then they really enjoy doing these things on their own!

If you're shopping around for Canadian scrapbook message boards remember that you can still find lots of useful information on American boards and there's nothing wrong with any of them.  It's just that when you live in Canada you're likely to enjoy sports that are more popular in Canada, visit cities that are in Canada, and spend time with your family doing things that are also more popular in Canada.  You just might not find as much personalized and useful information on those American boards.  Spending time browsing through Canadian scrapbook message boards can be very helpful to anyone that lives in Canada and that enjoys scrapbooking as well.  You'll find practical tips for the hockey games, the curling tournaments, the trips to Toronto and Vancouver, and all those other things that might be missing from American boards.  And of course if you live in Canada and are interested in spending times at scrapbooking crops or gatherings you'll want to check out Canadian scrapbook message boards.  They typically advertise their crops online at these sites and have others who have attended before talk about the experience so that others know what to expect and can look forward to attending.

Of course you can find all these things on any scrapbooking site and don't always need to worry about who is hosting it and from where, but sometimes those who live in Canada just find more useful information on Canadian scrapbook message boards.  They usually have tips and techniques that are perfect for your own vacations and pursuits and can find info on local crops.  So if you live in Canada, don't feel bad about searching for boards that are closer to home!

Even experienced scrappers are often interested in how to improve scrapbooking, whether it's learning some new techniques, finding out about new merchandise, or just visiting other scrappers' galleries to get inspired.  Whether you're an experienced scrapper or just starting out, you too may wonder about the secrets of how to improve scrapbooking, and this article can reveal to you some of those secrets in quick, easy-to-follow formats.  There's nothing here that's too difficult for you, no matter how many years you've been scrapping or how many albums you've created, or even if you're brand new to the hobby.  Here are a few of those tips:

How to Improve Scrapbooking Color

One of the secrets of how to improve scrapbooking has to do with the colors or color schemes you use.  It's unfortunate that many people don't understand that too many bold, strong colors can really overwhelm someone when they look at a scrapbook page.  You might think that you're washing out your page when you add neutral, cool colors such as white or softer shades of your main color, but this really act as an accent to your focal point.  It's important to remember this if your main color is something strong and bold, such as fire engine red, black, forest or hunter green, or navy blue.  A very good tip on how to improve scrapbooking is to mix up these colors with opposing accent colors to make them stand out.  Try forest green with black and gold, or some softer yellows and tans with that brick red.

And use backgrounds of opposing colors as well in order to have your elements really stand out.  Borders, frames, and other embellishments can be opposing colors as well.

How to Improve Scrapbooking Embellishments

A common mistake that many scrappers make is trying to include every single embellishment or item that they like on any one page.  One of the best tips on how to improve scrapbooking pages is to start with less embellishments than you plan, and try different arrangements and groupings before actually gluing or adhering anything permanently.  When you start with less, and then take an honest look at your page, you can see that perhaps less is more, as they say.  You don't want to overwhelm or overpower your focal point with the decorations around it, as this will only detract from the feeling of the page overall.  When learning how to improve scrapbooking, remember that you can always add more items later if you think your page needs it, but it's much more difficult to take things away.  So start out using less than you think you should, and then go from there.

How to Improve Scrapbooking Layouts

Another common mistake made by new scrappers is taking your focal point and putting it in the exact center of the page, as if you're framing a picture.  Scrapbooks are meant to be fun and even whimsical, so you may want to consider working to get away from this thinking.

One of the ways to consider in how to improve scrapbooking layouts is to move your focal point off to one side.  Or, better yet, use more than one picture as your focal point.  Try different shots of the same pose, and ladder these down one side, or use other shots in a smaller size to frame your main picture or focal point.

This is important to remember when working with scrapbooking wording as well.  If you're thinking of how to improve scrapbooking wording, consider using less words, or mixing up your fonts.  Have one or two main words in a strong, bold color and fancy font, and then a corresponding paragraph or sentence or two in a smaller, simpler color and font.  For example, on a page that features your newborn, you could have the phrase "baby boy" or "baby girl" or the baby's name at the top of the page in big fancy letters.  Then, underneath or in another spot, in smaller letters, have a nice phrase or sentence, such as "We had each other, then we had you, and now we have everything."  This way your wording won't overpower the focal point or compete for attention.  This is one of the keys of how to improve scrapbooking layouts, that is, not having your elements compete with one another but complement and harmonize.  And move your wording away from the center as well – have a paragraph off to one side, or going up the edge of the page, or something else creative.

How to Improve Scrapbooking Templates and Kits

If you purchase scrapbooking templates, either online or from your supply store, it may seem like something of a letdown as your entire project has been done for you – kind of like the difference between creating a watercolor on your own or using paint by numbers.  However, there is a secret of how to improve scrapbooking templates and kits, and that is to add your own personal touches.  Templates and kits are great starting points, but this is all they are – starting points.  Your own unique vision can come to life with embellishments and other touches.

Also, remember that when working with online templates, you usually have at least some leeway to move things around, remove items, and so on.  Don't think that you need to use everything on the page, and the same is true of kits.  If you're not crazy about a certain element, don't use it.

The Real Secret of How to Improve Scrapbooking

The most important rule when it comes to how to improve scrapbooking is to make your own pages and album unique and original to you.  Don't feel bound by rules; everything you read about scrapbooking is meant to only guide you, not dictate to you.  Be inspired by the galleries of other scrappers, but don't try to copy their pages completely.  Your own colors, themes, embellishments, and everything else should express your own personality and your own expressions.