Scrapbooking: Safe Photo Storage

To scrapbook or not to scrapbook? That is the question. How do you currently store your photos? Are you happy with this method? Let's look at some photo-storage options:

Do you put them in an old-style non-scrapbook album? These old-style albums contain lots of photo-damaging chemicals, such as acid (which deteriorates the quality and clarity of the image), lignen, (which can send your photos yellow/brown) and PVC (which lets off a chemical gas which can damage them). It is clear that it is wise, then, to go with the modern idea of scrapbook albums, as most are acid-free and lignen-free. Scrapbook pages which are buffered are even better, because buffering keeps them acid-free and lignen-free.

Do you store your photos in a box in the attic or somewhere else? This is probably not the most desirable option, as you run the risk of them getting lost or damaged, although it is definitely better than housing them in non-scrapbook albums. Take note, though, you would want to make sure your storage box is dark, weather-proof and waterproof. You don't want mould creeping in, do you?

Do you leave them in the packets they come in and have them scattered all over the house? Again, the packets are less damaging than old-style non-scrapbook albums, but there are still disadvantages with this method, too. One of the most obvious is that you may not be able to find the photos you want when you want them. I've been in that situation (before I knew about scrapbooking) and I must say it's no fun trying to find what you want. Of course, if you need to evacuate your house for a fire or other natural disaster, you can say goodbye to most of your photos, as you'll never get them all in time. Scrapbook albums can be grabbed in a couple of seconds and taken to safety much more easily than packets everywhere.

Do you throw your hands up in the air and say "I'll never be able to get these photos organised!?" I can honestly say I've tried that and guess what - it doesn't work! Of course, this theory doesn't work with anything!

Do you ask a scrapbooking friend to organise a scrapbook album for you? This could be a good option if they remember or have the time to spend on it! But let's face it - they probably don't have enough time to work on their own scrapbook albums! That is exactly what all my scrapbooking friends and customers would say to me!

Do you create your own scrapbook album, when you get time, which may or may not ever happen? Even if you do eventually find the time to have a go, will you remember all the details by the time you get to make it? Most of us are busy these days and finding time for ourselves is very difficult.

So, which option will you choose? I firmly believe that you will find time to do anything if it's important enough to you! May I encourage you to make the time, as you never know what is around the corner. Tomorrow may never come. Seize the day - make your scrapbook albums today! They don't have to be creative if you don't want them to be - just DONE!

Tamara have been writing articles for nearly 2 years. Come visit his blogs more often for tips and advice that helps people with the interest for scrapbooking supplies and great passion and knowledge for scrapbooking and all the different options & providers available in the market today. Find out for more info also herescrapbookingtools.org

Scrapbooking: Safe Photo Storage

To scrapbook or not to scrapbook? That is the question.

How do you currently store your photos? Are you happy with this method? Let's look at some photo-storage options:

   1. Do you put them in an old-style non-scrapbook album? These old-style albums contain lots of photo-damaging chemicals, such as acid (which deteriorates the quality and clarity of the image), lignen, (which can send your photos yellow/brown) and PVC (which lets off a chemical gas which can damage them). It is clear that it is wise, then, to go with the modern idea of scrapbook albums, as most are acid-free and lignen-free. Scrapbook pages which are buffered are even better, because buffering keeps them acid-free and lignen-free.
   2. Do you store your photos in a box in the attic or somewhere else? This is probably not the most desirable option, as you run the risk of them getting lost or damaged, although it is definitely better than housing them in non-scrapbook albums. Take note, though, you would want to make sure your storage box is dark, weather-proof and waterproof. You don't want mould creeping in, do you?
   3. Do you leave them in the packets they come in and have them scattered all over the house? Again, the packets are less damaging than old-style non-scrapbook albums, but there are still disadvantages with this method, too. One of the most obvious is that you may not be able to find the photos you want when you want them. I've been in that situation (before I knew about scrapbooking) and I must say it's no fun trying to find what you want. Of course, if you need to evacuate your house for a fire or other natural disaster, you can say goodbye to most of your photos, as you'll never get them all in time. Scrapbook albums can be grabbed in a couple of seconds and taken to safety much more easily than packets everywhere.
   4. Do you throw your hands up in the air and say "I'll never be able to get these photos organised!?" I can honestly say I've tried that and guess what - it doesn't work! Of course, this theory doesn't work with anything!
   5. Do you ask a scrapbooking friend to organise a scrapbook album for you? This could be a good option if they remember or have the time to spend on it! But let's face it - they probably don't have enough time to work on their own scrapbook albums! That is exactly what all my scrapbooking friends and customers would say to me!
   6. Do you create your own scrapbook album, when you get time, which may or may not ever happen? Even if you do eventually find the time to have a go, will you remember all the details by the time you get to make it? Most of us are busy these days and finding time for ourselves is very difficult.

So, which option will you choose? I firmly believe that you will find time to do anything if it's important enough to you! May I encourage you to make the time, as you never know what is around the corner. Tomorrow may never come. Seize the day - make your scrapbook albums today! They don't have to be creative if you don't want them to be - just DONE!

Timmy have been writing articles for nearly 2 years. Come visit his blogs more often for tips and advice that helps people with the interest for scrapbooking supplies and great passion and knowledge for scrapbooking  and all the different options & providers available in the market today. Find out for more info also here scrapbookingtools.org

Creating a Digital Scrapbook Page in 7 Easy Steps

The steps to create a digital scrapbook page are not very different from creating a paper layout. Its just a case of knowing how to use your photo-editing software and then applying the same layout design elements. There are similarities between different programs, but which ever you use, this article will help you discover the key steps to creating your own Digital Scrapbook Pages.

Of course, we do recommend you read the instructions of your particular program or, if you are like me, get someone else to read them and then tell you how it works.

Step 1: Open a Blank Canvas

Here's how to open a blank canvas in Photoshop:

    * Open your photo-editing software
    * Open a new blank canvas (file, new, blank file)
    * Decide the size & resolution to adopt for your page (aim for 250-300 dpi for a good result when your page is printed)
    * Choose RGB color mode, unless you want a monochrome grayscale finish
    * Set background color to transparent (I find the checkered background you see is very good for aligning photos and embellishments)

You now have a canvas and are ready to start computer scrapbooking...

In PhotoShop, each part of your design will be placed on a separate layer and you can adjust how far forward an item is by moving it up and down the layers.

Step 2: Select the photo(s)

Decide how many photographs you wish to use, and what size they will be. You can change your mind later, which is all part of the fun and ease of digital scrapbooking.

Just as in paper scrapping, look at the colors in the photographs and choose a color on which to base the layouts color scheme. If the colors in the photos clash, if your photo is very busy, if there are too many colors, or no main color, consider making some or all photos black and white. This will reduce the busy-ness and set you free to choose your favorite color scheme.

If your photograph is not already a digital image, you have two options to get it onto your computer: scan the photo, or take a photograph of the photo with a digital camera.

Step 3: Create the background

Having determined the canvas size and the photo(s) to use, you will want to select your paper background. There are many free products available online for you to download and use. This is a great way to start, for if you decide digital scrapping is not for you, you will not have wasted any money.

You may find your photo-editing software already has images you can use as backgrounds. Alternately, you can create your own simple backgrounds with textures and other effects.

Another popular option is to use a photograph as your background, enlarged to fit the page, and edited with perhaps a little fading or other effects.

Step 4: Make Your Photograph(s) Stand Out

The eye finds it easier to distinguish the photograph if it stands out from the background which is why we usually use a photo mat in paper scrapbooking. This separation can be created with a simple rectangle, a little larger than your photo, which is placed on the layer behind the photograph. Adding a tiny amount of shadow to this layer will give depth to your layout and prevent the whole thing looking flat.

Step 5: Add Titles and Text

Some digital designers create alphabets to coordinate with their design collections. Although these can be resized, it is better to use them for titles and not journaling, which is easier with the text editor.

Step 6: Add Embellishments

Another alternative for titles is to use some of the ready-made phrases you sometimes find in digital scrapbook collections, just as you'd use in paper scrapbooking. These might be called embellishments or word art.

And then you have all the swirls, flowers, brads, journaling blocks, etc., you'd find in your local scrapbook store.

Its the choice of embellishments that helps distinguish different styles and personalizes your layout.

Step 7: Apply some finishing touches

As mentioned already, adding shadows creates depth and makes your layout look so real you will expect to pick up the buttons and ribbons scattered across it. However there are other effects which can be used to great effect, too.

For example you can add a bevel to a shape, emboss it, and add various textures. Some of these come with your program, and you can buy others like pearl, chipboard, distressing effects, borders, metallic, fabric, and many more.

In writing these steps to create a digital scrapbook page, some directions are based on PhotoShop Elements. Your digital scrapbooking program may be different and you should check the program instructions for specific details of how to use it.


Glaidel have been writing articles for nearly 2 years. Come visit his blogs more often for tips and advice that helps people with the interest for scrapbooking supplies and great passion and knowledge for scrapbooking and all the different options & providers available in the market today. Find out for more info also here scrapbookingtools.org

Beginner Scrapbooking: Three Skills You Need to Master

As a beginner scrapbooker, you're probably overwhelmed with all the product and style choices. Should you pick an 8.5 x 11 album, or a 12 x 12? Do you print your photos yourself, or get them developed online? Should you use a glue stick or a tape runner? The options go on and on!

And while these are all very important elements of scrapbooking, there are some basic scrapbooking skills that can help you along the way. If you master these three items before you start adhering photos to your pages, you'll enjoy the hobby even more:

1. Cropping photos. The idea of trimming your precious pictures may send shivers up your spine. But photos these days are cheap compared to what our parents paid, and what we may emotionally think of. Our parents often paid $20 or more to develop a roll of 36 pictures, half of which didn't come out! Now, we can print and reprint for pennies a shot. And by cropping your photos, you're focusing in on the elements of your pictures that are the most important and interesting. Don't be afraid to take a paper trimmer (or pair of scissors) to your pictures to make them more focused and eye-catching. An added bonus: If your photos are smaller, you can fit more of them on the page!

2. Making decisions. Time and time again, I hear from scrapbookers that they agonize over every decision on their pages. Do they choose the polka dots or the stripes? Do they opt for three pictures or just two? Should they use red ribbon or orange, or no ribbon at all? Enough already, I say! When it comes to scrapbooking, there are no absolute "rights" and wrongs." Instead, there's only what is pleasing to YOUR eye. If you master the art of making decisions and moving on, you'll get more scrapbook layouts done -- and you'll become a better scrapbooker, too. The more you do something, the easier it is.

3. Journaling. Journaling is tough, I'll admit it -- and I'm a professional journalist! Knowing what you want to say and how to say it can be one of the most difficult parts of any scrapbook page. If you're not a natural writer blessed with the gift of written gab, I suggest you practice. Carry a notebook with you to record small snippets of conversation, thoughts that occur to you, quotes, and even song lyrics, all of which can provide context on your scrapbook page.

Joshi have been writing articles for nearly 2 years. Come visit his blogs more often for tips and advice that helps people with the interest for scrapbooking supplies and great passion and knowledge for scrapbooking and all the different options & providers available in the market today. Find out for more info also here scrapbookingtools.org

Military Scrapbooking Provides

Developing scrapbooks for army users may be challenging. Numerous times the only time any patriotic themes and accessories are available is in the course of the month of July around Independence Day. Even then, these little numbers of elaborations, webpages and other products are not geared in direction of army associates or their households. Army scrapbooking supplies might be tough to find.

Creatingmilitarymemories.com is often a web page that delivers army scrapbooking supplies for customers of the Marine Corps, Military, Air Power, Navy, and Coast Guard. They provide branch specific alternatives at the same time as common military add-ons. As an example, an individual can invest in report that consists of the department emblem, or simply normal camouflage paper. You can find numerous solutions to select from which are inside the form of paper, stickers, die cuts, stamps, and gildings. They also provide digital scrapbooking provides. General this web page has a great layout that is uncomplicated to navigate and moves rapidly.

mymilitaryscrapbooking.com also offers scrapbook goods for army users. Additionally they have solutions for firefighters and police officers. They don't have as an extensive quantity of material as the previous website; however they still possess a large variety to pick from. This contains albums, report packs, stickers, gildings, and die cuts. They also offer several bundle and album options for each branch of program, making it an easy to assemble tour of duty scrapbooks. To uncover various designs on this internet site can take clicking as a result of numerous pages of graphics. The product selection is good, however the webpage style could be a little much more person pleasant.

Another web page that presents navy scrapbooking provides is servicememories.com. They offer items for that Marine Corps, Army, Navy, Air Pressure, Coast Guard, too as for firefighters, police provides, and general patriotic supplies. A nice feature they offer is items certain to conflicts as well as other time specific occasions for example Globe War II or Vietnam. They've a wide range of alphabets, stickers, stamps; die cuts, embellishments, newspaper packs, overlays, and albums. Service recollections site is effortless to use and makes finding goods a breeze. They also offer special clearance sections and common patriotic items to enhance pages.

A considerably smaller variety of military provides is obtainable at collectedmemories.com. This internet site doesn't have practically as very much of a variety because the over talked about. It does, even so, consist of stickers and daily news for the various branches at reasonable prices.

Navy scrapbooking provides may be challenging to uncover. If you do see them, it is best to choose them up while obtainable. For probably the most component, though, ordering these supplies through ecommerce web-sites is going to present a wider collection. Usually research any site and determine if they're a legit corporation just before giving out personal information or perhaps a credit card. Try employing web sites which can be backed by established businesses and also have funds again ensures. Employing web sites that accept payment through PayPal is a way to secure your monetary details from unscrupulous companies. Constantly make sure you realize who you are buying your goods from, the firms return policy, and any charges or other expenses together with taxes and shipping before making a buy.

Shakira have been writing articles for nearly 2 years. Come visit his blogs more often for tips and advice that helps people with the interest for scrapbooking supplies and great passion and knowledge for scrapbooking supplies and all the different options & providers available in the market today. Find out for more info also here http://www.scrapbookingtools.org

Scrapbook Embellishments

Today's scrapbookers use all kinds of scrapbook embellishments like metal accents, rubber stamps, ink, paint, stickers, ribbon, buttons and more to embellish their pages.

In the past, scrapbookers embellished their albums with the following items.

In the nineteenth century, scrapbookers decorated their albums by cutting and pasting colorful pieces of scrap into their books.

Another popular embellishment? The Prant Company printed "album cards" that were packaged in a set of ten. The cards featured pictures of birds, flowers, landscapes and friendship verses and were specifically designed for album use.



Almost every nineteenth century scrapbook includes calling cards, elaborately decorated cards left by visitors at a host's home.

Here are some other great ideas for scrapbook embellishments:

Acrylic Shapes - Lightweight, colorful plastic pieces cut into shapes that are plain or etched with designs, letters or words.

Alphabets - Offered in metal, wood, acrylic and fabric varieties, these small, dimensional shapes feature letters either printed or etched onto the surface.

Bottle Caps - Dimensional metal pieces topped with words, patterns and motifs.

Buckles - Shaped closures created from etched metal or acrylic that allow ribbon and other fabrics to be threaded through.

Buttons - Decorated closures in various shapes, sizes, thicknesses and themes that can be adhered by stitching through holes or a shank.

Charms - die cast metal pieces in a wide variety of themes. Ideal for stringing with ribbon, embroidery floss or fibers.

Jewelry Findings - Metal jewelry parts such as hooks, clips, chains and charms.

Leather Shapes - Shaped accents, frames or corners cut from plain, colored or embossed leather.

Metal Plaques - Thin metal plates (often pewter colored) etched with themed designs.

Pressed Flowers - Real flowers and leaves that have been pressed and dried.

Rocks - Often flat on one side for easy mounting, these pebbles are etched with designs or words.

Sea Glass - Small chips of colorful, clear glass used in mosaics or as dimensional accents.

Shells - Tiny dried sand dollars, seahorses or shells.

Silk Flowers - Lightweight faux flowers in a variety of styles. Also offered in paper formats.

Washers - Flat metallic circles with the center punched out. They are frequently etched with themed expressions.

Wax Seals - Melted wax accents pressed with designs such as leaves, hearts, swirls and letters.

Woven Labels - Fabric tags, similar to those found in clothing, with colorful themed words and expressions.

Zippers - Self-adhesive metal or plastic closures that can "hold" two sides of an accent together. Often adorned with charms or etched acrylic zipper pulls.

Lovely have been writing articles for nearly 2 years. Come visit his blogs more often for tips and advice that helps people with the interest for scrapbooking supplies and great passion and knowledge for scrapbooking supplies and all the different options & providers available in the market today. Find out for more info also here http://www.scrapbookingtools.org