When scrapbooking and buying special background paper, do you still use the album paper?

I am just getting into scrapbooking due to the new addition in my family. I am wondering, when you go out and purchase the nice pretty background paper, do you glue that to the provided white paper of the scrapbook or do you omit the white paper and just use the pretty paper?

I have chosen to not glue anything to the scrapbook white board. I figured if I need to change my mind on order of the pages, it’s impossible with something glued to both sides. So I just get a background paper and attach everything to that, then slide it in (in front of the white page). If you mean, do you utilize the white paper as part of the background, and just decorate the white paper…no, I don’t do that either. I like lots of decoration and cover every square inch.
Either way, your choice.

Scrapbooking: Five Ways to Get Organized

I am the first to admit that I feel most at home and relaxed when everything is put in its place in a perfectly organized manner. In fact, I am almost overly organized to a fault. But there is something so satisfying knowing that everything has a place and it is sitting there comfortably until I need to use it. So I am going to share the plethora of knowledge I have of organizing. Of course, we will focus on scrapbooking! I have tried to summarize my favorite and best things to do to organize your scrapbooking supplies (keep in mind that I am branching out from the traditional ways to store things):

1. Embellishments Spice Rack: Use a spice rack to organize your embellishments. Many stores sell racks that are perfect for wall-mounting or you can get one to rest on a desk like a lazy susan. Either way, the containers are the perfect size for flowers, tacks, staples, tiles, brads, eyelets, etc. Make sure to get clear ones so you can see the embellishments. Check out the bathroom and kitchen section on your local stores (like Target, Wal-mart etc.). You would be surprised what types of storage solutions you can come up with for your scrapbooking embellishments.

2. Hanging Jars: You can adapt the above idea and make is really cheap too. You can make hanging jars by affixing old canning jars, baby food jars, or other jars with screwing lids to a shelf. All you have to do is drill a hole through the lid and the shelf and then screw the jar to it. If you don’t want to permanently have holes in your shelf, just use double-sided sticky Velcro and attach it to the top of the lid and then under the shelf. This would work the best with the baby food jars or lighter plastic jars.

3. Traveling Scrapbookers: If you are a nomadic scrapbooker, there are many things you can use to store all those little embellishments. I have a tackle box that works really well for storage. Probably the best thing that I have seen besides the traditional storage totes, is the Caboodle (it was a plastic makeup container). I used to have one when I was a teenager. It works great with all those compartments. Find one at a garage sale (or in your own garage . . .) or check out your local stores for something similar in the cosmetics aisle.

4. Paper storage: We all know that you can buy lots of fun shelves, boxes, and trays for your paper. But while we are all trying to save up for those somewhat expensive items, what are some other ways to store your paper? I like the idea of using a dish drain (I am not kidding –I actually tried it and love how accessible the paper is!). Find this idea and other “kitchen” organizing tools at: http://scrapbooking.about.com/library/weekly/blsstips5.htm

5. Hanging Paper Storage: Ok, this one is a little more traditional for storing your papers, but I think it is so unique that I had to talk about it. I love the idea of being able to use closet space to store your papers and other scrapbooking supplies.

Still having trouble organizing? Try a book organization ideas for scrapbookers. You too can become an organized scrapper!

Robin M. King
http://www.articlesbase.com/hobbies-articles/scrapbooking-five-ways-to-get-organized-105707.html

Does anyone have an idea of how to organize scrapbooking templates?

I have a bunch of scrapbooking templates that I use to crop photos, and I need a way to keep them organized. If you also love scrapbooking I would assume you would be able to help me the most, but I’m open to all suggestions!

I used to keep mine in 3-ring binders, because most of them came already punched with holes for storage. I recently changed my whole craft area and now use a filing cabinet. I’ve placed the templates in hanging folders, filed by shape: circles, hearts, squares, rectangles, and ovals. I usually know what shape I want before I pull out the templates, so it is just a matter of pulling that file and sizing the template to the photo.

Scrapbooking Materials – 4 Things Scrapbookers Must Have

Scrapbooking is one among the hobbies which has brought the entire United States in frenzy. From mere putting the ribbons and cutting of pictures, the scrapbooking craze has gone to cover more sophisticated depth.

These days one need not dye papers, cut of the graphics to paste and decorate. People don’t even have patience of drawing anymore. Furthermore, not many of them go about stitching their own scrapbooks.

People now buy blank and readily made scrapbooks to start with their hobby. They pick good decorations and stickers from the nearby craft store and follow up the craze. Most of them come up with great looking scrapbooks in this manner.

For new comers in the field of scrapbooking, the fundamental tools still hold the best. Starting with the old stuff to go about sticking and decorating, would give you an idea about the touch and feel of your scrapbook-to-be. It is true that every readily available item would save your time in the structuring of a scrapbook; however, you would not be aware of what to purchase and how to compile when you have just entered to develop the hobby.

To start with, following are a few pre requisites one should keep with them.

1. Scrapbook paper

One could apparently not begin the hobby of scrapbooking when they don’t have a regular scrapbook to give the ignition. Several blank scrapbooks are available in craft stores which would cater to your requirements and assist you to get started.

You could begin by pieces of recycled papers, specialized papers, colored papers, construction papers or art papers which could be designed with your creative ideas. This would be a good start so that you do not give that uniform look to all your pages. You could also make a cover and stitch all the pages within the covers.

2. Scissors

Your tool box should contain some good pair of scissors, without which a scrapbook would not be possible. This is perhaps one fundamental tool required to cut and shape out graphics so that they could be constructively designed.

Scissors which cut in shapes other than simply straight could also be purchased to give your cuttings a varied look. Such scissors are similar to those of pinking shears which are used in sewing. Specialized scissors come handy in cutting almost all decorative graphics and shapes for your subject.

3. Cutting boards and cutters

At times a cutter is required so that things are done at ease. A few cuttings are not possible with scissors. When you use a cutter, you would require a cutting board below so that the papers underneath are safe. A cutting board would ensure that your table gets no cut lines on its surface. Furthermore, a cutting board would guide to gut the paper straight in the line saving time with sketching work and ruler. When precise cutting of paper is needed, especially when the lengths are mentioned, cutting boards would be handy as they have measurements on them.

4. Sticky Stuff

This encompasses the fundamentals in the hobby of scrapbooking. People often use the glue gun when decorative items are bulky, such as the gemstones or the buttons. If you are dealing with papers, you could make use or regular paste and glue. In such cases, glue gun would give the paper a wrinkled and bulky look.

Abhishek Agarwal
http://www.articlesbase.com/scrapbooking-articles/scrapbooking-materials-4-things-scrapbookers-must-have-739861.html

What are a few book books for digital scrapbooking beginners?

I have been doing traditional scrapbooking for 9 years. I now want to start digital scrapbooking. The trouble is I have no clue on how to procede. I am also fairly cyber challenged. I do not just need a book for dummies but one for complete idiots. I have a photoshop CS2 program that I am just learning. I also have Corel Paint Shop Pro XI. Can anyone recomend a few books that will take me through each and every little step?

There are tons of good message boards out there that will help you. Scrapgirls is a very good one that comes to mind. They also have online tutorials for some of the software. Check them out! www.scrapgirls.com

Essential Rubber Stamping & Scrapbooking Supplies

Are you new to rubber stamping or a professional? The following supply list will assist the novice rubber stamp hobbyist and even the scrapbooker as well as spark some interest for the advanced paper craft artist. While there are thousands of various supplies that can be used in rubber stamping and scrapbooking, we have tried to highlight the most important ones.

Stamping Ink: Rubber stamp pads come in a wide variety of colors and shades. Outside of their usual usage, stamp pads can be used to tint and colorize embellishments as well as distress paper and chipboard.

Stickers: Sticker options available are endless and you’ll be excited to find unique types and styles including velvet, gel, and even three-dimensional brands. If you’re very creative, you can even make your own stickers with any one of the commercially avaible sticker adhesive machines. Why not recycle those adorable magazine pictures as stickers in a timeless scrapbook album?

Ribbon: Rubber stamping and scrapbooking ribbons come in many widths from 2″ to 1/8″ depending on what you need for your specific format. Color coordinated ribbons can be purchased at your local hobby store. Scrapbooking ribbon today is especially designed for the current trends and styles.

Staples, buttons, and metal fasteners: Scrapbooking embellishments include metal fasteners, colored staples, faux flowers, buttons, and paper clips. Items usually found at an office supply store have now become important to have on hand while scrapbooking stamping. Create coordinated sets of embellishments by purchasing white embellishments and colorize them with stamp ink or paint. Having embellishments that perfectly match your paper and are coordinated to compliment each other will add a special touch to every project.

Card stock: Handmade, hand dyed, printable fabric stock paper are all available for your scrapbooking pleasure! Acid free products, which will keep your memorable albums from harmful deterioration for the longest time possible, are important for your memories to last forever.

Scrapbooking Albums: You’ll want to make sure that your memories last many lifetimes and finding a good album is very crucial. The standard album sizes are 6x 6, 12 x 12, and 8.5 x 11. These sizes are perfectly suited to the most common sizes of scrapbooking paper. They can also be found in smaller sizes, however, and can even be custom-made for special projects.

While you only need a few supplies and your creativity to have fun in stamping and scrapbooking, these supplies will make your time spent scrapbooking and rubber stamping even more enjoyable.

Kathy Williams
http://www.articlesbase.com/hobbies-articles/essential-rubber-stamping-amp-scrapbooking-supplies-82910.html