All You Scrapbookers... Come HERE!
Moms View Message Board: General Discussion Archive: Archive September 2005:
All You Scrapbookers... Come HERE!
I am officially starting my first ever scrapbook. I have to find my disk with all the pictures on it from when Kaitlyn was a baby, while Steve was in Iraq, us as newlyweds... the works. I don't know the theme yet but i'm sure i'll have a baby one for Kaitlyn, one of the whole family, a "moto" Marine one for Steve and a book of just the two of us. I know it will take a few years to finish all that. My question:
I've never scrapbooked. I've never watched someone do it. I know most of the supplies to buy like the different types of paper, decorations, stickers, fancy cutting scissors etc...) but are there any secrets you want to share on making a scrapbook to help me get started? Materials that work better than others, great buys, good stores to shop at etc... Today i'm going to Michael's, the Dollar Tree, Walmart and the 99 cent store to see what they have.
I've done a few, and once you get on a roll they're easy to do. One thing to save is wrapping paper - the scraps that you might throw away at birthday parties, etc.,....those are great to use!
Ditto Kay.
The best thing that I have is this paper cutter. You can buy different blades too. Some of the blades make lines like the scissors. I just have the straight edge cutter now, but am going to buy more blades shortly. I got it from Michael's.
Also, look into ABC Distributing. They always have great deals on Scrapbokking stuff.
Walmart always has cute stuff too, and so does Target. Oh...I could go on and on.
I go to Michaels, JoAnn Fabrics, Pat Catan's, and the various scrapbooking stores around. I do get all my cutting (circle and oval cutters) from Creative Memories. IMO those work the best.
Get some good scrapbooking type pens, too!
The one thing i use the most, other than pens is the corner rounders.
I could go on and on....have fun. You will be so happy you did these scrapbooks!
LOL Rayanne, at the "i could go on and on..." in both our posts!
I say go to a Scrapbooking class at a craft store or go to a Creative Memories Party. You don't have to buy anything but the consultant will walk you through scrapbooking. There is so much involved in it that it can be a little overwhelming.
I know a great consultant in Oceanside and she has home workshops at her house all the time, infact I think she is having one next week.
Let me know if you want her info.
I also love the circle and over cutter from Creative memories that I bought. They are a little pricey, but are soooo worth it.
I personally love the CM stuff. To start scrapbooking you need to ask yourself some question. Why do I want to do this? Is it for a hobby and to be crafty and cute, or is it to preserve photos? If you are worried about preserving your photos then you need to be more careful with the products that you use. (A lot of my friends get doubles, they keep on set in regular safe albums and the scrap a second set for fun). Safe products are acid free, lignin free. If you use all CM products, or well known products then your pictures will not fade or discolor for literally hundreds of years. If you use wrapping paper, or things like that, then you could ruin photos. How long does that take, it depends, probably not for 10-20 years, but some products are so acidic you will see a difference in a year.
Question two...what is your plan? Make a plan, it will cost you less and you will be happier in the long run. Ideas are, Kaitlyn's 1st year, or your courting. You can make a list of pages you want to do and work from that. I sometimes will lay out 12x12 paper and put the pics on each page, because I am visual. Oh i have a huge stack of birthday photos, this will take 4 pages, etc. I also suggest starting a album that has an end, that way you complete a project and know if you want to continue!
Question 3, what is your style? When you look at pictures are you more basic, like simple pages with lots of photos, or do you like lots of color. There are two basic types of albums, the CM albums have white pages (or sand or black) that you add photos and use other papers for accent. Or top loading pages that you take a sheet of 12x12 and put photos on that. If you really like a lot of color, then it doesn't make sense to use the CM albums because you will end up "wall papering" every page. It is a double expense that way. There isn't a right way, and no one says that if you try one album that you have to stick with that type.
So what to buy: An album, a black pen (you can use colors also), an adhesive...i recommend using a tape runner or hermafix, not those little squares or glue sticks. Some pretty paper, and something to cut your pictures with.
Literally there are lots of supplies out there, a lot are fun, but they all add up in cost and really you want to get started before you invest too much! Items that I have that I can't live without anymore are my cutting system by CM, i love this whole system. my 12 inch fiskars cutter, I have the big roller one and don't use it much, but I have a 12x5 inches that they blade slides up, I LOVE THIS! It is only about 15 dollars. CM has a new 12 inch cutter that makes wavy lines, I love this too
The other thing I have learned is I buy some stickers in advance, stars, butterflies, dots, etc, that can just go anywhere, but those themey stickers don't get bought until I have an idea. I use to waste a LOT of money on stickers, but it seems I don't often have exactly what I want, or what I bought doesn't work into the page that I have. I love to use those long stickers, I am a little border crazy, I make a lot of borders on my pages.
As you can see I am a fanatic. I have scrapped for over 10 years now. I have completed about 15-20 albums. I do a lot of gift albums. I do each child's first year alone, then I do a "yearbook" for the family. I start on new years and go through Christmas. I have one of these for each year since 1997 ( minus last year..although I am current this year). I then do seperate vacation albums if it seems to make sense, like disney needed it's own book. Also we have a scout book for my dd, a christmas album, an album of my mom's pictures, and a few other special occasions.
I also seem to own way too many items. I should photo my scrap spot so you could understand my addiction!
Ditto Andi. That's the best way to 'get started' and get an idea for what you will do. Scrapbooking can be sooooo overwhelming! Just take it ONE project at a time. If you can join a stamp/scrap club in your area, you can make a minimum purchase each month and really build up your supplies on a budget.
Also, having a party of your own is a great way to get started on getting some free supplies. I also watch my local Hobby Lobby and Scrapbook store for their sales each week to see what I need and if I can grab it on sale.
Kaye - we were posting at the same time. Good suggestions!
This is a great thread. I am interested in scrapbooking, but don't really know where to start.
Kaye, it would be so neat to see a sample of your work! You sound like you are very creative.
okay nicki, you asked, i posted photos on the photo board. I need to be studying, but thought this was more fun..LOL
Thanks for the advice. Me neighbors scrapbooks too so she's been giving me advice as well.
Kaye, you do great work!
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