Beginning Scrapbooking

Hey T., If I were you, I'd start with a kit to make a 12 x 12 book. You will still need a paper cutter and acid-free adhesive. Michael's sells a lot of supplies and even Target has some. Just pick colors you like and get a kit that has an album in it. Usually the kits come with papers, an album plus embellishments (buttons, ribbons, stickers). Have fun!

Another good place to look for stuff is the dollar store. Some are better than others in terms of stickers they have to offer. Michaels is a great place too. They have a dollar spot that always has some neat embellishments. They are always putting there stuff on sale. I am scrapbook er, my email address is ____@____.com so please email me if you want. I can tell you all the "tricks" I know.

Good luck and happy scrapbooking,
K.

Oh, you will love it.
First of all, I am an expert ;-) I have a business with two friends; we sell primarily homemade greeting cards but also some completed scrapbooks and pages. The methods are the same. I am also a creative memories consultant, however, I do not by any means use only CM products. I think some of their products are by far the best quality (such as albums) but they do not offer all of the variety of media available.
Please feel free to contact me. I would love to help get you started.

I get a lot of my supplies from the dollar tree, they have cute paper and stickers as well other supplies. I am not a pro and besides some basic materials( paper,glue sizzors some ribbon (walmart has good prices)buttons stuff like that ) I dont have much. Your scrapbook should be how you want it to be, I like lots of photos so I usually use about 4 and sometimes crop them ect. You should go to a bookstore and look thru a magazine like Scrapbooks ect (thats my fav) and they show lots of neat ideas, I occasionally buy a mag just for fun and ideas they are usually around $6 though. The best way to learn is just to do it, I have seen vast vast improvement in my pages over the last 4 years I have scapbooked, but 1 thing stays the same I love this hobby. Have fun and happy scapping.

My daughter is 14 months and I started when she was born. We take alot of pictures, so Whenever a special occasion arrives or something like walking or first teeth, we take lots of pictures. I send them to wal-mart.com and pick them up there later. I go to Michaels and Hobby Lobby for my supplies. You can go online and they run sales alot! I absolutely love it. Its something for just me to do by myself. Plus is makes me feel good doing it because one day the books will go to my daughter! Good luck, hope you have fun!!!

Well, I was lucky in that my grandmother gave me a beautiful kit from Creative Memories when my first baby was born. It was all I needed to get started. But check out Hobby Lobby--they have aisles of scrapbooking stuff. They also put it on sale frequently and don't forget to check their website and the Sunday paper for coupons. Same for Michael's. Most of the time it is a 40% off coupon for both of these places. I'd say to get started you need your photos, an album, acid free papers, scissors, some cute acid free stickers, some good scrapbooking markers, and the tape for photos. Good luck and have fun! I haven't scrapbooked in a while--I'm hoping to get all my stuff out soon!

hi. I am a scrapbooker but I am by no means a pro. I just do what I like. I started with stock paper, pictures, photo safe tape and glue, and stickers. There are tons of things you can buy like photo trimmers, punches, and tons of stuff. It is a very exspensive hobby. I try to buy on clearance, goodwill, thrift shops and such. There are websites that can help and give examples. Good luck and remember, it's what you like not if it will look good in a magazine of book.

I would think that being part of a scrapbooking club would be helpful. I know that our local MOMS Club has a scrapbooking club that meets once a month. Check out www.momsclub.org.

I am on a tight budget, so my advice is start small, see if you like it, go for quality of products, not dollar store stuff, and have fun! There are several techniques out there and you just need to find one that you like. Try taking a couple of classes at Archivers (www.archiversonline.com). They offer several (the tools class was awesome and FREE!) including stamping, beginning scrapbooking etc. Feel free to email me privately if you would like!
K.

I scrapbook and I am not an expert, I do what I think looks good. I use stickers and stamps a lot and of course background pages that are more exciting than solid. Examples are strawberries for my strawberry picking pics and baby background for my baby books. Tons of ideas are online and there are always scrapbook magazines. You could maybe get a book at the library also for ideas. I matte pictures alot to add to the pages too and started doing eyelets, brads and more complex stuff. And kits are very helpful. Like others said, micheals, joanns, and hobby lobby sell kits and there are always coupons. You can probably sign up online for their flyers and the ads are in sunday papers. And I love to go to archivers, the one i go to is mall of ga area, not sure where you live. They do scrapmania where you use their room and cutouts and they give you dinner and crop 5-11pm and its $15. They are there to help you and then you can shop in the store to find stuff. good luck

First of all, you are one of the lucky ones if you have some spare time. :)
I'm a scrapper. Like a true scrapper. Everything in my life goes down in a book. I have 2 children and it's hard to find time to do anything much less scrap but if you look at it in the perspective that you're creating an heirloom, something that you'll show your family and pass on to show where your roots are, then it can become more than a project---but a new way to see your life. I don't sell anything, so my advice it totally from experience and starting out just where you are. The good thing about scrapbooking is that if you decide you don't like it, you have the tools to go right into hundreds of other projects or hobbies because scrapping tools are extremely versatile. If you buy quality tools, you'll have them on hand for quite a long time too...so it's worth the investment to buy quality. Start by visiting scrapbooking stores or your local craft store. DON'T BUY ANYTHING, just make a list of things that you'd like to learn more about or what catches your eye first. If you're doing this to fill in spare time, even better!!! Not only are you learning your craft, but you have the chance to get out and possibly meet others who scrap as well (some of my closest friends are ones I've met at crops!). Once you have an idea of what scrapbooking is to you, you can build up the knowledge of what tools will suit you better because scrapbooking is one of those hobbies where you can really overspend. Some scrapbooking stores will have crop rooms where you can use cutters and punches and die cutters for free. Some will charge a small fee, but in respect to what you'd spend buying all the tools, you'll save money AND you won't have the huge problems with scrapbooking storage (which becomes a hard task once you start to get into it, it's addictive so you'll buy everything!). Get comfortable with knowing the different tools and decide if it's just something to do for fun, or if you want to really learn about the craft. True scrapbooking is saving things for a lifetime so the first thing to understand is about making your pages archeival safe. That just means that they're made with products that won't tarnish or turn yellow or crack over time. If you want to do it as an heirloom, then use acid/lignon free papers. Same thing with your glues. And...that's it! Once you have done your research then begin with the most important thing...finding your voice. What's your style. Are you romantic? Are you funny with lots of color? Do you like flowery motiffs??? Are you a black and white kind of person? This is what will determine the papers you purchase. Really though you'll want to decide just what it is you're scrapping...if you're doing pictures of children, you'll want primary colors...pictures of babies are pastels...nature pictures can be vibrant, or neutral...you get the point. Buy papers you know you will use, not just buy "in case" you'll use them. Next? Your paper cutter. This is tricky because there are so many different kinds. Some you have to replace blades all the time and others they may be harder to use. Next you'll want to find an adhesive. Glue sticks are great! There are also things called Glue dots and they'll work on glueing anything down. Once you have your pictures in mind, the paper to go along with it, adhesive, and a cutter...you pretty much are ready. There are NO RULES to scrapping, only a million techniques to choose from!! Remember that no one is judging it. If you use a picture that is meaningful to you then it doesn't matter if the page you make is too simple or too overdone...or even if it looks like a total mess, if that picture makes you smile, or remember a moment in your life...seeing it is the most important thing. So don't be afraid to be too simple, or to be wild!!! It's about the picture, your memories. I've seen too many people get so overwhelmed by tools and technique that they just stop. But please don't. You are an important person in this life. What you want to save for yourself is magic, it's your treasure. I scrapped a page with a copy of a check I bounced! I scrapped it to remind myself that I'm not perfect but I'm trying, and some days, you've just got to get formula for your kid no matter what!! I've scrapped gum wrappers because I LOVE GUM!! I'm a nobody. I'm just a mom. But I'm a person...and I'm worth loving. I learned to love myself through scrapbooking and I've learned that I'm human. I make mistakes...and I do truly wonderful things. I just hope to pass that on to others, that belief that you can't change the world, but you can change YOUR WORLD into something truly wonderful. I'm the queen of everything, in my scrapbooks at least!
Ok, I'm writing a book here so I'll just answer your question.

Get photos, a paper cutter, some glue...and find your voice. BOOM! Instant scrapper. You'll be great at it and don't judge yourself. You've got to learn to skate before you can do all those crazy flips...give it time and a chance. And if you totally hate it?

Use your scrappin' tools and pick up card making. Everyone loves a homemade card. Become a stamper. Rip up your papers and start decoupage or learn to alter books or furniture into art pieces. Scrapping isn't limited to just albums.

Personally? 12x12 is great. But you're just starting. The best bet for your money and to get more out of your papers is to do 8x8 or my favorite 8 1/2 by 11. I like that size the best because you can do tons with it, you can buy more sheet protectors and binders in bulk at your local office supply store. PLUS, it's not as hard to store them and you can print easily on them if you don't like your handwriting. I cut down my 12x12 papers and save the excess for cutting out shapes and letters, borders for pictures, etc.

I hope the best for you and hope that you have yourself more than a project, but a newfound sense of importance and love for yourself. Scrap everything!!!

Have fun, I know you will love it.

I started scrapping about 12 years ago. I was a die hard paper scrapper, mostly with Creative Memories. Then I found I was just not scrapping as much once my kids were born. I was introduced to Heritage Makers about 4 years ago. I became a consultant and since then realized that digital was the way I wanted to scrap.

So that is another option for you. Digital is great because there is less investment but you can use it more. If you'd like a quick workshop on Heritage Makers, I'd be happy to help.

Well, as I'm currently sitting in my craft room surrounded by scrapbook supplies I hope I can handle this one! lol!

First you shuld decide if you orefer to scrapbook on paper or digitally. I have done both and like both for different reasons. Your digital albums can be printed out and book-boud by places like Shutterfly, so it's not like it stays digital. Some good things digitally are on www.digiscrap101.com I found tons of helps there and do my digital work on photoshop elements.

Now for paper scrapping, there are loads of things you can get. The trick is limiting yourself, which I am no good at! lol. I sell stampin' up products, so if you want you can look at my website http://bethwoodard.stampinup.net We sell lots of scrapbookijng supplies. I would say necessites for starting out are...an album, proper adhesive, a good cutter that will cut up to 12 X 12 paper, and then your decorative stuff. The decorative stuff is where you can end up with tons! We sell some Simply scrappin kits that are based on themes, like home, or baby boy, or such and they have solid papers, printed papers and adhesive die cuts in them. These are great for beginners.

Creative memories also has interesting merchandise. I also like the mag Creating Keepsakes for ideas. they have a website, www.creatingkeepsakes.com You can get a lot of thing from craft stores, but qualty really matters to me in my scrapbooks and I've been less than impressed a few times. I've stuck with Stamin' Up because they really care about quality. Besisdes, I live in the middle of no where and the closest craft store is more than an hour away!

Happy Scrappin!

I've been scrapbooking since my 10 year old was a baby and I love it! I think a great way to start is with a few essentials. A paper cutter, a glue runner, and a kit. I've found that QVC has great kits that come with albums, papers, stickers, and everything is all ready coordinated- great for starters and they are priced really well.

Hi T.,

Four things.

1. start small and see how much you like it.

2. Be careful of where you buy scissors, punchers anything you use to cut with. Cheap ones are not sharp or don't last. I buy from various places but my sharp items come from Creative Memories.

3. My CM representative is not a pushy sales person. I can give you her contact if you live in Atlanta area or you can go online.

4. Try to buy paper, tape etc. that is ligin (sp?)and acid free. If not it may ruin your pictures in the future. You can buy stickers that are free of the chemicals but don't put them on your paper.

Have fun.

I have to scrapbook and haven't finish neither but go with what is in your heart. I just got a scrapbook and got the sticker I like and made more than one copy of my picture just in case I messed up. Just have fun with your scrapbook.

My first response is don't! hahaha! Try your local arts and craft store. I go to Archivers by the MOJ in Buford. Take an initial class. You will want to get started as soon as possible so you don't get behine, but I will warn you, it can be addictive!