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!

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.

For those who don’t know, a podcast is a brief video that one would play online or can download to play on your MP3 player, such as an iPod.  There are many types of videos available as podcasts, including many of your favorite television shows.  Additionally, there are many free subscriptions to scrapbooking podcasts that you can get as well.  For those who love the hobby but have a hard time following directions in plain black and white, podcasts can be a great way to see actual designs being demonstrated.  They can also help to inspire you for your own designs.

What’s the Catch to a Free Subscription to Scrapbooking Podcasts?

For the most part, there usually isn’t a “catch” to these subscriptions.  Most are available even online, with no need to download them to your MP3 device or other handheld player.  Free subscriptions to scrapbooking podcasts are available at many scrapbooking sites online and usually don’t require a credit card or any other information when subscribing.

Which is where you need to exercise some caution.  Some sites will require a credit card or other personal information for their so-called free subscriptions to scrapbooking podcasts, but use your better judgment.  If these sites are free, why do they need your personal info? 

Your email address is a bit different; many sites require an email address just to track their members or to send the podcast to your email rather than having you dial them up online.  Many people find that having a secondary, “throw away” email provided by a free site such as Yahoo or Hot Mail works for these occasions, as you can always expect a certain amount of spam once you hand it out.

Where Can You Get a Free Subscription to Scrapbooking Podcasts?

There are many places online that offer free subscriptions to scrapbooking podcasts; you don’t need to be a member of any special organization and shouldn’t need to subscribe to a magazine or any other requirements.  You can simply do an online search and find many sites that offer these, however, don’t limit yourself to just scrapbooking sites.  There are many sites that offer a variety of podcasts themselves, and may include scrapbooking as well.

A free subscription to scrapbooking podcasts may be a great way to see visual demonstrations of the latest and greatest scrapbooking designs and materials, so they’re definitely worth checking out.

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.

They say there's no such thing as a free lunch and that you get what you pay for.  Sometimes with free scrapbooking sites the same can be true.  You can find some great ideas and even templates and downloadable forms for your own scrapbook pages, but usually the things you find useful on these free scrapbooking sites are few and far between.  Often you need to sift through many blank templates that are not decorative at all before you find ones that are useful and that work well on your own pages.

One of the reasons for this of course is because there are many businesses that sell scrapbooking supplies including pages and templates, so of course they don't want to give too many things away on these free scrapbooking sites.  Most scrapbooking websites prefer to sell some products as well, so of course they can't give away all their products for free.  Usually the offer of free products is done just to entice potential customers to the site so that they'll purchase the other items.

This doesn't mean that you can't find anything useful in free scrapbooking sites.  Most do have templates and designs you can download or copy.  The real key to getting the most out of these free scrapbooking sites is to use those that have forums and boards for those who want to share their own experiences with scrapbooking, and where they can post photos of their completed pages.  While you don't want to copy these pages completely or exactly, you can get a lot of inspiration when it comes to the theme, layout, decorative elements, placement of photos and other items, and even the wording and lettering used for the wording.  You might see a very nice page that centers around a baby picture that doesn't look too silly or fancy and want to try your hand at something similar or see how a wedding page is laid out and feel inspired to try the same.

Wanting to start out with the fun and creative hobby of scrapbooking is a great endeavor.  Scrapbooking is a pursuit that can not only preserve and honor your memories and photos, but it's a pastime that can be enjoyed by young and old alike.  The youngest of children can help with scrapbooks, and there's no better way to spend a rainy Saturday.  So if you're looking for a basic beginner's guide to scrapbooking, especially when it comes to the terms, the supplies, the page designs, and everything else, you've come to the right place.  While this article is of course not an exhaustive or all-inclusive beginner's guide to scrapbooking, we can definitely get you started and help you with your first page design.  After that, you'll be designing your own albums in no time!  So if you're ready, let's begin.

The Beginner's Guide to Scrapbooking Terms

No beginner's guide to scrapbooking would be complete without reviewing some of the basic terms used by those who pursue this hobby.  Like any sport or field of business, scrapbooking has some terms and words they use just among themselves.  The most common that you should be familiar with are scrapper, crop, template, embellishment, and focal point.  These are not very difficult terms to understand and remember, and this little beginner's guide to scrapbooking can explain them quickly.  A scrapper is someone who does scrapbooking as a hobby.  You may hear someone be referred to as an experienced scrapper.  A crop is like a quilting bee, where many scrappers gather to share their designs, work on new scrapbooks, and swap tips and hints.  These can be arranged online or in person, such as when a host or hostess reserves a block of rooms at a hotel for a weekend and scrappers get together like a business conference or retreat.

Most beginner's guides to scrapbooking will also include samples of templates, embellishments, and focal points.  These refer to the actual page elements of your scrapbooks.  A template would be a pre-made page available at your supply store or online.  It may have a photo frame and some wording already applied to the page.  Templates are good to work with for those just starting out who may be a bit unfamiliar with how to pull all the elements together.  As any good beginner's guide to scrapbooking will tell you, embellishments are those "extras" on the page that are used for decoration.  They may be something store bought, or may be things you think of yourself, such as buttons, yarn, and so on.  Your focal point is just that – the most important part of the page.  Usually it's a picture, but it doesn't always need to be.  For example, you may have ticket stubs and a program for a night at the opera or a play.  You may have sheet music for your child's recital, and so on.  When reviewing any beginner's guide to scrapbooking you'll notice they use the term focal point quite a bit, and it's important to remember that it may or may not be an actual photograph, so don't get confused.

The Beginner's Guide to Scrapbooking Supplies

One of the best parts of the hobby of scrapbooking is that you are not bound by just what you see in a supply store or online.  If you have things around the house that you want to add to your pages, you can certainly do that, and many experienced scrappers have great results when adding buttons, yarn, scraps of wrapping paper and ribbon, dried flowers, and so on.

But for a basic beginner's guide to scrapbooking supplies, let's cover some of the standard supplies you'll find in your store so you know what they are and how they're used.  Your page is obviously the most basic, and supply stores carry an endless abundance of scrapbooking pages.  Usually the problem is not finding something you like, but making a decision on just which sheet to choose!  Most scrapbook pages have wording added to them, and any beginner's guide to scrapbooking can give you tips and hints on how to add these words, whether it's just one single word (such as "beautiful" or "love" or "sunshine!" or something else) or a paragraph or two.  Supplies for wording can include stickers of letters or the words themselves, stencils for words, special pencils and markers for scrapbooking paper, and so on.  Any wording that you want to add, you're sure to find some supplies for it. 

Papers and wording are the basic supplies.  So, what else is there?

A Beginner's Guide to Scrapbooking Embellishments

Embellishments are those extra touches that are meant to be used as decoration for your pages.  They can be metal eyelets, stickers of virtually anything, stencils in different shapes, rubber stamps, borders for your focal point, dried flowers, cutouts, and so on.

There are some beginner's guides to scrapbooking that will tell you to stick with the embellishments that come in a kit with your paper so that everything coordinates and complements, and of course this can be good advice.  However, don't limit yourself to just these pre-made kits.  Again, if there is something you have from the home or from that special occasion you're trying to remember, include it.  A picture of your grandmother knitting embellished by some yarn, or of your grandfather all dressed up embellished by material from his favorite tie, these things can make your scrapbooks really personal and unique, and very special.  So while a beginner's guide to scrapbooking may be used and referred to as a guide, don't think that there are any hard and fast rules or right and wrong answers for your own albums.

So hopefully this article has helped you somewhat with wanting to begin the exciting hobby of scrapbooking.  Remember, the beauty of this hobby is that your creations are truly and uniquely your own, so let your imagination run free and you're sure to have some amazing pages that will be treasured forever.  That's really the best advice you'll get from any beginner's guide to scrapbooking.

If you're looking for some great products for your scrapbooks and some support for your projects, you might want to consider 2 peas in a bucket scrapbooking supplies and website. Not only is this company a producer of some of the best scrapbooking supplies on the internet, they are also very devoted to the hobby of scrapbooking and offer support, forums, and so many other helpful tips and hints. Many experienced scrappers turn to 2 peas in a bucket scrapbooking for some great ideas no matter how long they've been enjoying the hobby of scrapbooking or how experienced they are with it.

One of the reasons that 2 peas in a bucket scrapbooking is so enjoyable is because they have many kits that are available regardless of what type of event you're looking to commemorate or what type of theme and tone you want to have as well. Some scrappers love to create every element of their page from scratch and come up with their own borders and other decorative elements, but some need just a little bit of prodding in this area. Sometimes it's hard to imagine all the different things you can add to a page or how to do this and make it look professional and planned. With 2 peas in a bucket scrapbooking supplies you may not need to waste a lot of time tapping your creative juices to figure all that out; you can purchase a kit but still add some of your own personal touches to it as well.

At the 2 peas in a bucket scrapbooking website you can also get a lot of help and support for your scrapbooking as well. They have forums and boards where you can post a question and get answers from experienced scrappers or where you can just go in and peruse and see what other hobbyists are going with their own pages. If you need inspiration you're sure to find it there. Many experienced scrappers appreciate the other ideas they'll get from others on the boards at 2 peas in a bucket scrapbooking but also enjoy sharing their own ideas and tips and tricks as well.

So whether you're an experienced scrapper or someone just starting out, it's worth your time and attention to check out 2 peas in a bucket scrapbooking and see how they can help, and how you can help others.

Walk into any bookstore and browse the Craft Section and you'll see that there is virtually no limit to how many glossy, full-color volumes there are that are dedicated to scrapbooking.  Rather than spend all your extra money on these books, you might consider using diy.net scrapbooking techniques and helps.  As with so many other tips and tricks that are on this website for free, diy.net scrapbooking techniques can really help someone that is stuck for inspiration or that even needs to be instructed on where to begin with scrapbooking itself.

One of the great things about the diy.net scrapbooking instructions is that it gives you practical ideas on how to use scrap materials and things you may already have around the house for your scrapbooks.  While there is absolutely nothing wrong with purchasing scrapbooking kits and just using them to set up your pages, this does take a bit out of the creativity and uniqueness that is the entire point of scrapbooking.  Using kits can be a good idea for those who are new to scrapbooks, but this is something like having someone else do the project for you.  If you just browse the diy.net scrapbooking site you can find yourself inspired by the materials they use and how they incorporate these things into unique and original pages.  This is great inspiration for anyone.

They also make sure to give you a list of necessary materials and equipment for any page they show.  This can be a very handy feature as many hobbyists can attest to!  This feature of the diy.net scrapbooking page means that you won't get halfway through the creation of a page only to find that you're missing wire or cutters or something else.  They also have many of their pages organized by holiday, event, color theme, etc., so that you can easily find the right inspiration without having to hunt around for too long.

Of course, for those who still need a bit more help they do have many templates available on diy.net scrapbooking pages.  These are usually in PDF format and can be easily printed on your color printer. 

If you're looking for something much more affordable than all those glossy books you find at the bookstore, start your hunt for inspiration at the diy.net scrapbooking website.  They have helpful pictures, instructions, and support that any scrapper would find very handy.

It's interesting how many people don't truly understand how the internet works.  Often they will punch in a search, such as when looking for the top 25 scrapbooking sites, and expect the internet to review these sites and return what it thinks is the best as far as content, samples, and so on.  However, the internet doesn't really review the content of websites when it brings up such a search; it merely finds the ones that are the largest sites and that have the most content.  Whether or not that content is any good is another matter!  But if you are looking for the top 25 scrapbooking sites and have come across what you think are the best, there are some things that you should definitely be looking for and that you can use to learn for your own scrapbooking hobby.

For example, how many samples do they have of real scrapbooking pages done by real individuals, and not just assembled kits?  Anyone can buy a scrapbooking kit at a supply store and follow the directions completely, but this really loses out on some of the uniqueness and individuality of the scrapbooking hobby.  The top 25 scrapbooking sites should have enough space dedicated to those who assemble their own scrapbooking pages and who use materials from around the house and things such as this.  If they don't have these types of examples, you might ask yourself if they're just selling a product and not really trying to teach you anything!

Of course, there's nothing wrong with selling product either.  The top 25 scrapbooking sites that are found in any search engine will of course at least have links to where you can find good scrapbooking supplies.  If they don't sell these supplies themselves, they can at least direct you to where you can purchase them.  And it's usually best if you find the top 25 scrapbooking sites that have forums and boards where other scrappers share their experiences and what has worked for them, etc. 

So this is how you can learn from the top 25 scrapbooking sites.  If you find that your internet search doesn't return sites that measure up to these standards, ignore what it deems as the top 25.  Keep searching and make up your own mind as to what are and what aren't the top 25 scrapbooking sites.