Misc. Scrapbooking Tips

Including Quotes on Your Scrapbook Pages

Originality in scrapbooking is essential. You can create original pages with exclusive ideas. Including journaling on your layouts is one way to tell about the photographs and help you remember what was going on during that time period.



Srapbooking quotes for your pages are a wonderful way to add some "elegance" to your page layouts. Famous quotes for your era are fun to have in your books. You can also include quotes from family members about the people in the pictures.



For baby books you can quote your child or record "first words" and funny sayings and phrases.



Including quotes in on your pages will make them unique but make them interesting for others to view.


Cropping Corner Tip: Five Ways to Accent Your Scrapbook Pages Using Patterned Paper

Scrapbook pages don’t have to be fancy or time-consuming, simplicity is just as attractive. You can use patterned scrapbook paper to achieve an appealing page layout in just a few minutes.

Here are some suggestions for accenting your page layouts with patterned scrapbook paper:

1. Cover your patterned scrapbook paper with a piece of vellum or a transparency to make your 12 x 12 scrapbook paper unique. You can add a soft, subtle background to your page by covering some baby scrapbook paper with a piece of vellum.

2. Cut out accents, like shapes or letters, using patterned scrapbook paper to add a splash of texture and color to your pages. Use baseball scrapbook paper to spell out “home run” on your baseball-themed layouts.

3. Cut or tear your patterned scrapbook paper into large shapes to make a distinctive background. The shapes don’t have to be an object; just start cutting in any direction and see what you come up with. Try cutting a long, curvy shape that covers the top or bottom half of the page. Use your imagination and see where it takes you.

4. Use your patterned scrapbook paper for photo mats. Make sure the mat is ¼ “ to ½ “ larger than your picture so the pattern will make your photo stand out on the page.

5. Buy coordinating papers so your color schemes match exactly. Match your patterned scrapbook paper with your cardstock. Buy the same brand of papers like Karen Foster Design; this will ensure that the colors match exactly. Make sure your patterns compliment your cardstock.

Pattern scrapbook paper can accent your layouts in many ways. Use the paper to create exclusive designs and don’t be afraid to experiment with different techniques.

Craft Punch Templates

Craft punches are terrific little tools and they come in so many fantastic shapes. One downfall to the craft punch is its size. The punched shapes are usually only an inch or two in dimension. The figures would make great die cuts, but size is an issue.



Here is a solution:

Use the negative punched out portion of your punches. Punch your shape onto a scrap paper, place it on a copier with a dark sheet of paper covering the punched out portion. Then, enlarge it to the desired size. Next, cut out the black negative punched pieces for templates. Now you have some new templates and some fabulous shapes for your scrapbook layouts.


Cropping Corner Tip: Christmas Recipe Scrapbook

Recipe scrapbooks have many themes and one popular theme is Christmas. Why not create a Christmas recipe scrapbook? You can fill this cooking scrapbook with your favorite Christmas recipes, including traditional family recipes and Christmas treats.

One suggestion is to include Christmas traditions in your recipe scrapbook so you will remember fun activities you did as a family when you were growing up.

Buy a red, green or white album that you can embellish with Christmas decorations and trimmings. Give your Christmas recipe scrapbooks a unique look with lots of ribbons and a fun title. Also include pictures of food and other Christmas memories.

Scrapbook Matting Techniques: Using Decorative Scissors

There are several different scrapbook techniques you can use to add interest to your photo mats. One way is to use decorative scissors. When double or triple matting with decorative edges, start by cutting the smallest mat first. Adhere the smaller layer onto the next larger before making the next cuts. This makes it easier to evenly cut the second mat.


Cropping Corner Tip: Photo Frames Using Paper Punch Art

Scrapbook punches can be used to create distinctive photo frames for your scrapbooking layouts. Decorative paper punches are a great tool to use for photo mats to craft unique edges and designs. You can use scrapbooking punches to cut out the edges of your photo mat and use it as an overlay. In order to do this, cut your photo mat about ¼” to ½” larger than the size of your photo. Use your craft punch to form a design around the edge of the photo mat, place your photo in the center of the photo mat and cut another mat slightly larger than the first in a coordinating color. Use the largest mat as your base and place your decorative mat over the base mat. The paper punch art will stand out with the colored mat behind it.

Another photo mat idea is to use a corner punch on your photos or photo mats to create decorative or rounded corners. You can also use a scrapbook punch to make a scalloped edge around your photo mat by punching the edges and connecting the shapes all the way around your photo mat.

Creating unique photo mats for your scrapbook pages is just one of the many things you can do with your scrapbook punch tools.

Scrapbook Matting Techniques: Attaching Photo Corners

Do you have trouble getting photos and memorabilia on straight when you use photo corners? Here is a scrapbooking technique to make the job easier. Using a pencil, lightly draw on your page where you want the photo to go. Place photo mounts in opposite corners on the item, and place it on the page, using the pencil guide. Then apply photo mounts to the two existing corners. Don´t forget - if you are using lick and stick corners, use a sponge not your saliva. Saliva is acidic.


Cropping Corner Tip: Ideas for Scrapbooking

There are so many scrapbooking resources for beginner to advanced scrappers. Ideas for scrapbooking can be pulled from on-line resources such as scrapbooking sites, scrapbook guides, scrapbooking tutorials, online scrapbooking lessons, etc.

Here are some other scrapbooking resources where you can get tips and ideas for your scrapbooking needs:

Scrapbooking magazines are a great resource for scrapbook project ideas, scrapbook page layout ideas and scrapbook tips.

Scrapbooking books contain valuable information concerning scrapbook tips and ideas, how to create a scrapbook page and artistic techniques.

Scrapbooking lessons are a good idea for serious scrappers who want to learn first-hand how to implement techniques and keep up on the latest scrapbook trends.

Scrapbook crops are fun places to mingle with other scrappers and get page ideas and view scrapbook examples.

There are numerous resources to turn to for scrapbooking ideas, tips, instructions, graphics, supplies and more. You can get information and advice at the click of a button on your computer or you can peruse scrapbooking books for further help. These resources are right at your fingertips so if you get stuck with a page layout or idea, you can easily find a solution.

Scrapbooking Techniques: Mulberry Paper

Mulberry Paper is a fibrous paper which adds a lovely soft touch to a mounted photo, journaling or title. There are several scrapbook techniques to keep in mind when working with this paper. Take care to use only paper which is acid free and lignin free. For best effect Mulberry Paper should be torn. The trick to tearing Mulberry Paper to the desired shape is to moisten it using a paintbrush dipped in water before gently easing apart the fibers. The wider the area moistened, the more ragged the edge. Make sure the paper is dry before mounting.

Scrapbook Techniques: Cropping Quickies

One of the most important scrapbooking techniques to remember is cropping your photos. When cropping photos, show only the most important parts of the picture. This makes the page more interesting and allows room to place more photos and for journaling. There are several different scrapbook techniques you can use for cropping photos. You can use scrapbook templates, you can try silhouetting, i.e. cutting around the main subject, or bumping part of the picture out beyond the “frame”. Feet, hands, hats, balloons, are ideal - you are limited only by your imagination.

Choosing the Right Paper for Your Project

There is a variety of scrapbook paper available for your scrapbooking needs. Some of the most common varieties of papers for scrapbooking are:
Cardstock, which is a heavy weight paper used primarily for the "backbone" of your page layout. It is also used for photo mats; paper piercing and die cut images too.
B&T (Background and Texture) paper is used for a decorative background on your scrapbook pages. It can be used for a photo mat backgrounds or to accent your stamps, die cuts, stickers, etc.
Gingham (patterned paper) paper is a common "checker board" patterned paper that can be used for background accents on your scrapbook pages, greeting cards or other craft projects. It is pleasing to the eye and a popular, versatile pattern.
Mulberry paper is used for adding a bit of “flair” to your pages. This thick paper can be torn while wet and used for making “tear bears” or other characters. Just tear the paper and the result is chic, fiber-rich edges.
Vellum is a translucent paper that looks very elegant and it can be used for masking an image, embossing and is great for journaling. It is typically placed over a colored paper and it is used to "dress up" your pages and give them a distinctive appearance.
The most important thing to remember when you are choosing scrapbooking paper to go in your memory books is to choose a paper that is memory-safe, meaning it is acid-free. You want something that is going to preserve your photographs not ruin them.

Scrapbook Size: "What is the best albums size for your needs?"

Scrapbooking albums come in all shapes and sizes. There is no one specific album size that is "best" to use, but here are some tips on the various sizes available:

The 12 x 12 papers are readily available and this particular size seems to be a good size to fit pictures and other memorabilia on the pages without too much crowding. You can also buy ready-to-make pages kits in the 12 x 12 size.
If you want a smaller size book go with a 9 x 9 or 6 x 6 size. These sizes are great for children to start with because they are smaller and easier to work with for tiny hands. The 8 1/2 x 11 size is becoming almost obsolete. There are not many scrapbook papers available in that size anymore and the industry seems to be steering away from the 8 1/2 x 11 size and going to the square sizes instead.

Storing your scrapbooking supplies

Keeping your supplies organized is an important task, but one that can seem overwhelming. You can purchase special organizational kits for your scrapbook supplies, including folders, binders and carrying cases. Another idea is to purchase your own plastic containers for storage of your scrapbooking supplies. Store your stickers in zip lock bags and place them in a plastic tote. Make sure to store your paper flat so it does not get wrinkled. Try hanging folders for this.

Scrapbook Matting Techniques: Cropping effects

Cropping effects are a great scrapbooking technique to add character and personality to a page. However, try not to go overboard. It is easy to fall victim to wanting the scrapper's high and try new and exciting effects on every page. Remember you want to get your pictures into a safe album with journaling – not waiting in boxes for years while you cut paper into intricate shapes for ever single shot! For a quick and easy photo cropping effect, try using a decorative photo corner

Scrapbooking Techniques: Sticker Art

Working with scrapbook stickers can be tricky. You want to make your design is laid out properly before you adhere them to the pages. An easy scrapbook technique is to lay out your design on wax paper or plastic wrap. As wax paper and plastic wrap are transparent, you can move it around over the page and get some idea of where the art will look best before having to commit.