Start Scrapbooking - You'll Never Regret It!

Start Scrapbooking - You'll Never Regret It!
By: Genie Balfour

Have you considered how to start scrapbooking? No? There's never been a better time you know. You can find supplies almost everywhere you look from specialty stores to Wal-mart and beyond. You've probably noticed them in passing - scrapbook papers and cards in every conceivable size, color and pattern, kits, stickers and what they call 'embellishments' - little things that add interest or sparkle to your project.

I'd heard about scrapbooking for ages before I did anything about it. I'd even made some as a child, although none as fancy as those around today. And judging by the stories I hear about what happens when you get hooked, it's maybe just as well. What am I talking about? Neglect of house, husband and family - but maybe I exaggerate - a little (lots of laughs!)

I'm just like everyone else. The minute my first child was born I knew she was the most beautiful child who ever existed. Everything she did, she did sooner and better than anyone who had gone before - you thought that was your child? No sorry it was mine! (Tongue-in-cheek and grins!) The camera became permanently attached to my hand as I recorded her every move. I frequently heard, "Are you keeping a diary of when she does things?" A diary? Don't be silly, I'll never forget a thing she does! Two sons, and many years later I hear myself say those same words to other unsuspecting new moms, and I say it again here in case that is you write down the story of those first steps, that cute word he had before he could say the proper one, that funny story she told you. Do it WHEN IT HAPPENS for life encroaches all too quickly and robs us of many memories.

Older, Wiser and more Organized?
OK ... I'm older and wiser now - and have more time on my hands, so maybe I'll get around to actually organizing the photographs even if I can't remember the exact dates and the whole story behind each photo. And that's where scrap booking comes in.

Scrapbooking could be said to be capturing the 'who, what, why, when and where' of life. Scrapbook supplies company, Making Memories (makingmemories.com) says that to reminisce, record and relish are the most powerful motivators when it comes to scrap booking. Because relationships, thoughts and feelings are so close to the female heart the world over, scrap booking has become the biggest activity in the craft and hobby industry.

What should I scrapbook?
Thinking about the purpose of your ]scrapbook will help you identify what to put in it. For example do you want to document one child's life - baby to graduation, wedding and beyond? Or your family life - doing things together or family vacations?

A scrapbook can cover a short period: hours of a special birthday; days of a vacation; weeks of a school year; or a lifetime, as in a heritage album of your parents or grandparents. The decision is yours and your decision will define your scrapbook.

Your purpose will also determine the scrap booking products you may wish to use. Consider whether you want to make your own from scratch or buy ready to use scrap booking supplies. As a beginner I'd suggest looking around for free scrapbook layout advice and buy some of the items suggested to get you started as these are all coordinated to work together. I still make the mistake of buying things that catch my eye without thinking far enough in advance about where and with what I'll use them. As a result I have many scrap booking stickers papers, brads, ribbons, flowers and other embellishments I'm still waiting to find the right colors to match with them!

The internet is a great resource for scrapbookers. Many online shops also show you how to do things. Take a look at paperwishes.com for example. Scrapbook.com even has a university!

Go on, start scrapbooking today - join one of the largest, friendliest hobby groups around.

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Which precious memories would you like to relish most over the years? For more inspiring articles, ideas, tips and help to start scrapbooking, go to Genie Balfour's web site at www.ScrapbookingGems.com/

Scrapbook Tips And Techniques

By: Vicki Churchill

If you have never made a scrapbook before and are going to start on your first one you are about to enter the wonderful world of scrap booking and I promise you you will be hooked as soon as you start.

Creating a scrap book is a way of displaying pictures and memories with stunning paper designs and added little extras.

There is no right or wrong way to make a scrapbook page as this is down to your individual taste however when I created my first scrapbook page I did run into a few problems, so this article will hopefully give you a few tips and ideas should you come across the same issues as I did.

The most important thing to remember is to always use acid free products and papers when creating your scrapbook. Using products that are not acid free could potentially cause your photos to color and your papers to deteriorate faster than you would have liked.

One of the problems I came across time and time again was finding the right color brad to attach photos and embellishments to my scrapbook page do I embossed the brad to match the paper. Simply dip your brad in pigmented ink then sprinkle the embossing powder color that matches your project or use clear embossing powder if you have used a colored ink then heat emboss as normal. Try not to over heat as this can cause the brad to become fragile and snap.

Try not to make your pages too perfect sometimes throwing things together on instinct can have a much better effect.

If you are using rubber stamps for your scrapbook pages try to keep them as clean as possible, baby wipes are great to clean the actual stamp but take care not to make the wooden mount too wet, one way round keeping the wood dry is to carefully peel the stamp from its wooden mount then varnish the wood with a clear varnish and remount the stamp, doing this will not only make the stamp waterproof but will mean you can easily wipe away any ink.

If you want to cut a circle there is no need to spend huge amounts of money on expensive templates and cutting guides I found keeping lids off old bottles and the actual bottles themselves can make fantastic templates and if you save them from different products soon you will have all different size circles.

Sometimes I found that once I had created a page that I thought was finished id look at it and feel there was something missing, id try adding something to the page but felt that it then looked over done so my solution was to mounted the whole page and it finished it off a treat, you can try using as many different colors until you find the one that works.

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Vicki Churchill writes for a site that specializes in Card Making Ideas providing you with excellent tips and ideas for Scrap Booking and Brads including where to find the best bargains

Choosing A Camera: Should You Go Digital?

By: Jim Brown

The past two years have been the glory years for those picture snapping buddies. The camera has been incorporated to almost all mobile devices like cellular phones, portable music players, personal digital assistants and even as an extension device to some mobile gaming devices. But first we go to the basics, to the camera itself, should we buy the analog or the digital camera.

Analog cameras are becoming cheap nowadays that you can buy it with just the fraction of the cost of the digital camera. Though prices for the digital ones are also reasonable enough for everybody to buy one! New models keep popping up. The development of the core CCD processor has been a vast improvement that an upgrade in mega pixel capture is inevitable.

Why should you buy a digital camera?

Instantaneous that is what's making digital cameras click in the market. Snapping with your friends and viewing the result at an instant shortens the anticipation time and if you don't like the picture you can just instantly snap again. Unlike with the analog camera, you'll have to wait for the film to develop and often get disappointed of the results. Sadly, the moment has already passed by.

Convenience since all pictures are instantaneous, you don't have to go to your local film developing shop just to have your pictures developed. You can just plug it to your Mac or PC through the interface wire and print it. You could even edit it to make it more exciting. It is also convenient to share the photographs online since the format that digital cameras use is common graphic format for computers. With just the simple step of attaching the files, you are done. Since digital cameras (even the very basic point and shoot models) come with different shooting modes, it's not a hassle changing from one ISO film rating to the other. You can shoot a scene indoors and the next picture is an outdoor beach setting and all you have to do is flick through the menu.

Cheaper browsing through the taken pictures through the computer, you can choose which of those you should make a print and which of those should only be on the hard disk. You can even print it at the convenience of your own home, without any prior graphics or photo printing experience if you have your own printer. All you have to do is beef up your memory card so you could take more pictures.

Interface Friendly with an entry level digital camera you can switch it to a manual setting and use some settings found in your analog camera. You can change the aperture speed or choose to opt for a manual focus to capture that expressive moment that you have been waiting for.

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Jim Brown writes about Shutterfly Coupons, dotPhoto Discounts and http://Photo Camera Deals Online