The Gift of Paper Scrapbooking

Since time immemorial scrapbooks are created out of papers-the most versatile material one could use in many ways.  Truth is, scrapbooks are not possible without them.  Every print from old to modern age has been built around exploiting the use of paper.  Needless to say, paper scrapbooking still evolves today.

No matter how complicated the process of scrapbooks turn out, papers are out of question as main material.  Stores now offer pre-maid paper, which can be bought and compiled based on personal taste.  But is this satisfactory enough?

Making use of recycled paper for scrapbooking:

Sentimental scrapbook collectors are not always satisfied by commercially available layouts found in stores.  They would still prefer doing their own cut out from old magazines for a treasure surprise they can by combining different images they prefer.  This is not all about saving money but it is all about making use of art talent and skill.  Yes, scrapbooking is also an art in itself.

PAPER SOURCES

There are different kinds of papers used by magazine publishers.  Usually vogue images are printed in sturdy, glossy pages.  It takes an eye to spot good magazines fit for use in scrapbooking.  Sometimes you will not know how priceless piles of magazines can do for an effective scrapbook.  If you are collecting stuff for serious scrapbooking, there has to be different photography on them.

Do not stick on just specific publishing, but rather, collect various kinds with different colors, motifs and articles accompanying good shots.  Expensive magazines are more likely qualified to suit your needs.  Be wary in throwing them away.  If you don’t want to file too much bulk in storages, you can cut out pictures at once and throw away or sell the unused old pages to junk paper buyers.

ELEMENTS OF DESIGN LAYOUT

If you have a hardbound scrapbook, you can at once assemble your layout.  You can plan it beforehand by starting with the theme played on a specific color scheme.

Remember the proper elements of good design.  It takes understanding the color wheel to know what it takes in having the confidence of combining colors.  A good tip is to look at different fabrics.

Choose a favorite one and try to apply it to your scrapbook theme.  Fabrics had been pre-designed by manufacturers before releasing them to the market.  It means the colors are already in the right combination.  This could inspire you and help you in case you do not have the flair with colors.  Consider repetition of patterns, rhythm, harmony and sense of emphasis.

MAINTENANCE AND RESTORATION

How long do you want to preserve the scrapbook?  Papers last long, but it will depend on its make.  There are papers that can attract specific insects and do different changes to the scrapbook pages.  If you can stretch out a budget, it is best to keep pages covered by plastic bounds.

Several kinds are available commercially, which you can buy even during the pre-design stage planning.  Use synthetic glues and not those made out of organic materials.  Keep the scrapbook in a box or drawer free from dusts and make sure not to expose it to moist and damp places.  If brought outdoors, do not expose for long to sunlight.  Keep it away from children’s reach.

Paper scrapbooking is a very rewarding hobby.  If you make good ones, you can even give it away as a gift to a loved one.  It will be appreciated more!

Teaching kids to preserve memories through scrapbook

Memories are always meant to be preserved because these will remind people of the good experiences they had in their life times. In order to preserve good memories and experiences, more and more parents encourage their children to create their own scrapbooks at such an early age so they can keep their childhood memories intact.

Indeed, scrapbooking is one of the most effective and enjoyable ways of keeping memories safe and fun to look at. By collecting and keeping bits and pieces of memories together, anybody can create and tell a story. For children, scrapbooking can be a learning experience because this can teach them the value of resourcefulness, creativity, patience, and perseverance.

GETTING STARTED

Scrapbooking is one enjoyable activity you can share with your kids. It can also be one of those activities they can share with their playmates and friends. But, before you get excited in starting to teach your kids the beauty of scrapbooking, there are some things you need to consider.

The first thing to consider in encouraging your kids to get into scrapbooking is their interest in the craft. If your child is one of those who are into arts and into collecting mementos to create another work of art. Then she or he is the perfect candidate for the activity because she/he already has the drive and the creativity to create another masterpiece.

But if your child is not yet interested with crafts and arts, it doesn’t mean he/she cannot indulge into scrapbooking. In fact, this is the perfect time to introduce him/her into a new world of exciting and enjoyable activity.

Aside from the interest of your child in crafts and arts, another thing you need to consider is the availability of space where your kids can do the activity. Since scrapbooking requires a lot of materials, you will need a space big enough for them to sprawl and to scatter the materials they will use for making the scrapbook. It is advisable that you provide a space where kids can do their scrapbook and a place where they can leave their stuff.

Next, you need to consider the amount of materials your child will need. Since you are about to teach him /her basic scrapbooking, you will need the materials which you can find in the four walls of your house. Here’s a quick list of the materials and supplies your kid needs: paper or scrapbook paper usually 12×12  in size, pens and colored pencils, photos, scrapbooking die-cuts and cut-outs, scrapbooking tools such as punchers, scissors, trimmers and rulers, stamps – rubber, clear and foam, adhesives and removers, stickers of different designs, color, and sizes, tags, different templates, totes and organizers, transparencies, albums and old scrapbooks, alphabets, books and scrapbooking magazines for scrapbook ideas, old cards, embellishments such as eyelets, brads, nails and tacks, colored and specialty papers, and scrapbook apparels such as scrapbook kits for starters.

Here are some cost saving tips for parents who wish to teach their children scrapbooking but don’t have the means to buy expensive scrapbooking supplies and materials:

1  Gather old pictures and let your kids scrap the photos you no longer need.

2. Whenever you go to the developing center, ask for the double prints and let your children experiment with the doubles.

3. After completing a specific project, make sure that you put the leftovers and unused scraps in a container so the kids can use it for another scrapbooking session.

4. Go over your old stuff and bring out the supplies you will no longer use.

5. Guide the kids in making scrapbooks so they will not consume supplies, time and effort in doing projects they cannot use.

The essentials of do-it-yourself scrapbooking

When you visit different scrapbook stores, you will find different scrapbook kits that will trigger your desire to be a budding scrapbooker. But then, these kits, scrapbooking magazines, and materials can be quite expensive. If you are interested in scrapbooking but don’t have enough budget to buy such expensive materials and scrapbook guides, here is a simple guide in do-it-yourself scrapbooking.

Focus on the basics. Just like in doing artworks and crafts, scrapbooking requires a lot of materials and supplies, but this doesn’t mean that you have to allot a huge amount of money in order to create a scrapbook. Today, so many products are being offered by the scrapbooking industry. Since these products are especially created to provide ultimate comfort to those who are greatly indulged in scrapbooking, they can be quite expensive.

If you are just a beginner, you don’t need to be overwhelmed by these products. What you need to do is focus on buying the basic materials and supplies which include album and sheet protectors that come in different sizes and colors, scissors or paper trimmers that will allow you to cut lines without hassle, adhesive that is inexpensive but easy to use, photo tabs or photo splits to keep the back of the photos clean and can be easily removed, papers and cardstocks that is the foundation of the scrapbook page, and journaling tools such as a wide variety of pens. Remember, all your supplies should be acid-free and lignin-free to ensure that safe preservation of your photos.)

Learn the basic scrapbooking techniques. Scrapbooking magazines can be quite expensive because these are created for a special segment of the market. If you are tight on budget and you would want to create scrapbook all by yourself, it will pay if you start pumping out your creative juices.

Aside from creating your own style, you can also get ideas from the Internet about the basic techniques used in scrapbooking. Here are some basic scrapbooking techniques that you can use in creating your d-i-y scrapbook.

- Inserting Eyelets. Indeed, eyelet is a great means of attaching things to an album or a page, or to add color and embellishment to a certain page. Eyelets usually come in various shapes and sizes that can help draw attention from a focal point in the page. In inserting an eyelet, you will need a puncher, an eyelet setter, a hammer and a mat.

You can do this by selecting the place where you would want to insert the eyelet and by laying the paper on the mat face up. Hole the punch upright and use the hammer to hit the top of the punch. After this, you can now insert the eyelet and turn the paper over. You can also place the eyelet setter on top of the eyelet and then tap the top of the eyelet setter using a hammer to flatten the eyelet ridge.

- Paper Piecing and Using Patterns. Another basic technique that you can use in your d-i-y scrapbook is paper piercing and the use of patters. In using patterns, you need to lay a piece of tracing paper over the pattern.

With the use of a pencil, draw over the outline and transfer the pattern to paper. You can now place the tracing on the patterned paper and then slip the transfer paper underneath to draw over the lines. In creating paper-pieced embellishment, just follow the steps in using patterns then cut out the pattern pieces.

Aside from the two techniques mentioned above, you can also use chalk and vellum papers in creating wonderful scrapbooks.