Turn your photos, clippings, and memorabilia into works of art with these tips for creating beautiful memories that last a lifetime.
❑ The Scrapper's Shopping List:
Make sure you have the basics before starting out. Take my shopping list with you to your nearest scrap booking store!
Paper:
___ Primary Colors
___ Bright/Neon Colors
___ Classic
___ Muted
___ Pastel
___ Patterns
___ Vellum
___ Corrugated
___ Metallic
___ Specialty Packs
___ Embossed
Pens:
___ Black felt-tip
___ Colorful gel rollers
___ Paint pens
___ Coloring Pencils
___ Colorful felt-tips
Decorative Tools:
___ Scissors
___ Punches
___ Stamps
___ Shape cutters
___ Crimpers
Stationery:
___ Full Sheet
___ Varying Card Size
___ Punch outs
Page Toppers:
___ Pre-cut shapes
___ Die cuts
___ Handmade scraps
___ Stickers
___ Letter Shapes
___ Frames
Templates:
___ Basic Shapes
___ Elaborate Shapes
___ Alphabet
___ Border Buddies
___ Journaling Genies
___ Puzzle Mates
Miscellaneous:___________________________
Turn your photos, clippings and memorabilia into works of art with these tips for creating beautiful memories that last a lifetime.
❑ Templates:
Start with a template for your basic layout. Trace and cut out favorite templates from a variety of colors and layer or for added dimension, cut your template from a patterned paper. For a change, trace your favorite template with an acid-free pen and color it in or sponge paint it for a softer look. Add hand-drawn doodling for an added effect. Store your template between pieces of card stock to prevent tangling and mangling. Store in categories for easy access
❑ Get Into It:
To avoid unnecessary trips to your local scrapbooking store, always take your photos with you for inspiration and correct purchases Brush-up on your skills and make scrapper friends by taking a class, no matter what your skill level is. Do your homework before you get to class: gather and organize pictures and supplies before class starts
❑ The Write Touch:
Choose a pen that meets all the prerequisites and will perform the way you want it to on your pages both now and later.
Make sure your pen is:
Permanent
Waterproof
Fade-Resistant
Quick-Drying
Pigment Ink
Non-Bleeding
Non-Toxic
Try some of my favorite acid-free pens:
Calligraphy Pens for grand titles and elegant captions
The Zig Writer available in 0.5mm for journaling and 1.2mm for borders, titles and captions
Fine and Chisel: for versatile scrappers, this pen is available in all colors and can be used to create all lettering sizes
Scroll and Brush: for the advances scrapper who wants to create unique lettering in all types of styles
Paint Pens: for use when felt pens won't show up
Gel Pens: for beginners and experts alike, great journaling pen
Coloring Pens: especially made for coloring (in AND out of the lines)
Colored Pencils: be sure to look for the acid-free variety packs
❑ Size Matters:
Scrapbooks come in two sizes: 8 1/2 x 11 and 12 x 12. There are both advantages and disadvantages to using both. Select the size that works best for your needs:
- 8 1/2 x 11:
Advantages:
Larger selections and varieties of decorative paper
Paper is cheaper
Books are readily available in an assortment of colors and designs
Smaller and therefore easier to transport
Smaller pages are sometimes easier to work with
Easy to rearrange pages
Disadvantages:
Holds fewer pictures and less information per page
Pages do not lie flush and are therefore not continuous
A wide variety of supplies can sometimes lead to spending more money
- 12 x 12
Advantages:
More pictures and information per page
Flush pages and continuous layouts
Book encourage organization since both front and backs of pages are used
Size creates a classic look
Disadvantages:
Albums and pages are generally rarer and therefore mo expensive
Pages are often challenging to move around
Smaller selection of decorative papers
❑ Feeling Punchy:
Punches come in all shapes, sizes and prices ($2.99 - $13.99) and can be a scrapper’s best friend. Don't overlook them for fancier and more expensive alternatives.
Types:
Basic: hearts, stars, circles and clouds
Silhouettes: cuts out the surrounding space, outlining the shape
Corner: cuts page corners
Border punches: thin cuts that create borders at the bottom of your pages
Uses:
Page borders
Frames for pictures and memorabilia
To add flair
To create different designs through layering