Want to Start Scrapbooking but Dont Know Where to Start.

Hi A.,

Scrapbooking is so much fun but can be rather expensive and time consuming. (A fun way to consume your time though!) Try asking on the Base to see if there is a local group of ladies who like to scrapbook and can give you ideas, that's how I got started. You might even try the Art & Crafts Centre on base if you have one there. Failing that see if there are any scrapbooks you can view which might give you some ideas. Basic needs would be acid free paper, some stickers or stamps with stamp pads of various colours (English spelling)and may be a couple of pairs of edging scissors and acid free glue. Best of luck getting started. Have fun!

M.

A.,
The most basic stuff you need is an album; acid free paper, glue and pens; scissors; and your favorite pics. And a little imagination goes a long way...

As far as albums go, it depends on what you want to do. Do you want to make a album for each child and keep adding pics to it? Do you want to send copies of the pages you make to the grandparents so they can watch the kids grow up too? If you do, you may want to go with an album that has 8.5x11 in paper - it will make it easier to color copy the pages (Just make sure you tell the people at the copy store that you took all the pics yourself - they have issues with copying photos that the studios take.)

I'm not fancy with the scrapbooking. I don't use all the little embelishments and "pop-up" things that some people use. They can get really expensive for just one piece.

The cost of each piece of paper can be a deal or it can steal money away from your wallet.

By the time you're done with your page you can spend anywhere from two to ten dollars a page.

I use basic colors for paper, most of the time. (I get more paper that way when I buy it) Then I make my own borders and draw things on paper or make cut outs to go with the theme of the photos. I use very few stickers. My "pop-up"s end up being the things I've kept like name tags, locks of hair, and other things I didn't feel like throwing away because of the memory it invoked.

I hope this helps.
HP

Looks like you've gotten a lot of responses already but I figured I'd go ahead and add. I'm actually a scrapbooking addict....even though I haven't done any pages in quite awhile I have tons of stuff. If you go to www.diynetwork.com and check out their stuff on scrapbooking they have quite a bit of ideas. When I was in the states I watched their shows frequently and they have lots of great ideas for beginners and advanced. I actually prefer to order my supplies online as there is much more selection and its much easier to do once my kids are asleep :). My two favorite sites are joann.com and scrapyourtrip.com. Joann's offers free shipping very frequently with a minimum purchase plus I do a lot of other crafts as well so I have no problem getting enough for free shipping. Scrap Your Trip has a lot of fun stuff. Including Military items as well. They ship to APO/FPO addresses for free (no minimum order....even if you only want a single sheet of paper) so I frequently order from there as well. I'm not sure if I caught what area you're from but I'm always looking for others to scrap with because its so much more fun with friends....We live in the Graf/Vilseck area. Hopefully that helped a bit.

Hi A.,
I'm a Stampin' UP! consultant and LOVE scrapbooking! It's very simple to start a page. If you want, I can send you a bunch of inspiration sheets to help you start out. You can send me a personal e-mail and I'll get your information from you then. I hope this helps! Just make sure you have a paper cutter too! ;)

All my best,
V.

Like all new hobbies, create limits! You can start amassing supplies very quickly if you don't put limits upon yourself. Start by using the supplies your mother bought for you. The fun in scrapbooking is the creative time you allow yourself to put the pages together. Whether it be with friends or by yourself when the kids are asleep, try to focus your energies on putting together the pages, decorative cards, etc. in lieu of shopping around the crafts stores for all the best supplies. Steer clear of catalogs (Close To My Heart is my weakness) because they can really rope you in. Although they provide you with excellent ideas, they are designed to sell product, which inevitably you will want to buy. Even those scrapbooking magazines can overwhelm you with advertisements for equipment you never thought you needed.

The joy in scrapbooking is cherishing those memories surrounding the photos as you create the collage to display them. When you find yourself taking photos to match the scrapbooking paper you couldn't resist at the arts and crafts center, then the scrapbooking bug has got 'cha.

I'm not sure what part of Germany you are located in. I know where I live there is an Arts and Crafts store that offers different classes. See if your community has one. Another option is to find someone who sells Stampin' Up products. I used to buy Stampin' Up products, the demonstrator always had some good tips and got several people started on their scrap-booking. There may also be a scrap-booking club in your area, keep an eye out in newspaper for your area or on bulletin boards, or maybe you could even put up your own notice saying you are looking for a scrap-booking club, or an experienced scrap-booker to help you get started. Good luck.

Scrapbooking is a great way to show off your memories. I love doing it. I think the basics are a 12X12 cutter (so you can always have a strieght edge), sicsors, paper and things like stickers/ ribbon to go with it, glue stick, pens to journal on the page, and of course what every pictures you want to start with. then you just decorate your page as you want. Maybe put the pictures down on that page to get an idea of how you want it to look then start adding the deco. You can also cut your pictures different shapes or matt them on different paper so they pop out with a different back ground. I hope this was helpful and enjoy doing it. Have fun and dont stress!

A.,

Hi. I just want to say that Scrapbooking can be fun and challenging at times. I have been scrapin’ for almost a year and I never seem to be caught up. I know this sounds bad, but I tend to do more parties for others and help them work on their books than my own that needs work. (I am a Close To My Heart Consultant.) The few things that I suggest for anyone that is just starting out or has been doing it for a while and gets stuck, is to get How To Programs. I love that Close To My Heart sells these products. You can find others as well, but I always refer to my Cherish, Imagine, and Reflections books for layouts. These are so easy to use and have step by step instructions in them. So if you need any help what so ever please feel free to contact me. My email is ____@____.com

I have a lot of friends that are stationed around the world who always scan me their stuff, where I can tell them what to add and where to add it. So don’t feel bad about asking me anything I am honest.

~In Best of Health,
K. Preston

The best thing to do is lay out the pictures you want to scrap with and pick 6 or so pictures. This will be enough for one or two pages. You don't want to have too many pics in front of you, to get overwhelmed. Then, choose the materials you want to start with. Just be creative, it's really your choice as to how you want the page to look.

Where are you in GErmany? I'd be more than happy to get together with you to help you out. :) I have a few friends who get together for scrap nights, every other Monday as well.

I am not an expert nor do I do the fancy things, but I didn't start scrapbooking until I had boxes and boxes of pictures. I found the easiest way to start was to begin with the present day pictures and when I have extra time to work on catching up on the past time pictures. Good luck, keep it simple until you know what you are doing, and enjoy. It is a great stress reliever for me.

Well, that is the hard part. I am not an expert, but I will tell you how I do it. First I print out all of the photos that I want to use and put group them together based on activity, people, etc. That way when you want to create your pages you know which ones you have to choose from. Then, I look on the internet and get an idea for layouts that that work for me and the ones that I like. You can keep these in a binder in case you want to use them again for referennce. Then I set a goal to finish at least one page in a sitting and plan the next. I get supplies as I need them seeing as though they are expensive. IF I know ahead of time that I am going to create multiple scrapbooks with the same theme, then I buy in bulk. For instance right now I am making Baby Boy scrapbooks for a couple of expectant mothers in my family. I also try to get a few things like paper, stencils, paper photo frames, ribbons, and other embellishments when I see them and have the extra money. Good luck:)!

Hi A., I can give you a few pointers. I love to scrapbook!

Since you are just starting out, maybe you should make a list of all the things you want to scrapbook. Like, your daughters' birthdays or other special moments, your favorite holidays, where you live, etc. There are some good websites out there with tons of examples of other people's scrapbooking layouts, to give you good ideas. One of my favorites is www.scrapjazz.com Check out their layout gallery! Also make sure that all the paper and stuff you use is acid free/lignin free. It's better for your photos in the long run.

Where are you in Germany? I'm in Heidelberg. ~A.

Hi A.,
I've been scrapbooking for 6 years now and love it. There are a few avenues you can take with this. The basics is cutting down your picture so you get rid of all the excess and focus on the main point, aka cropping. Then you figure out how you want your pictures on a page. I dedicate one page to the same topic, like going to the zoo. Pick out your paper and stickers and plan out the page before you start taping everything down. You can make a paper background for the whole page, or leave the page white and cut the paper to frame the pictures. You can also make a cool border or title with the paper and stickers. It's really whatever you want to do with it. There are several books out there with ideas so you could go to the craft store or to the library if you don't want to buy one. Also, look around on the internet for example pages. You can keep it very basic or very detailed depending on how crafty you are. Don't forget that with scrapbooking, you get to do a journal entry also. Sometimes I write a short paragraph explaining the pictures or I write along the top of the pictures who is in them like Daddy and Livy goofing around. Hope this helps start you off.

Where is the meddac? I know someone in Baumholder. You may want to check the Arts and Crafts center where you are.
Thanks,
J.

I love to scrapbook! I haven't done it nearly enough lately. Where are you located? I'm in Kaiserslautern (Vogelweh). I also have a 2 year old (and a 4 month old and a 10 year old). So, if you are in our area, you are welcome to get together with us and I can show you some of my books to help you get started. I can show you how to use some of the tools if you need that too. If you are in the KMC, you can come by and let the kids play while I show you some stuff if you would like.

I saw somewhere there is a scrapping day on Saturdays. Somewhere around. Are you in the KMC area? You can get a lot of ideas from other people. Its better to me to get with people to scrap. Helps get you motivated. I havent done anything in awhile and I am wanting to get back to it myself.

Start with your most recent photos and work backward. Don't worry about it being perfect. Once you get started it will get easier. All you need to start is the album pages, page protectors, sticky stuff to stick photos to page, photos, writing implements and imagination.
Enjoy

Hi, My name is N. and I live in Heideberg,Germany if you ever come this way,stop by the arts and craft store on Patton Barracks excellent place for scrapbooking, but I bought a small book for my daughter that has everything in it, so I just took some pictures got a pair of scissors that cut different edges, and started just putting pictures together. Start with gathering pictures first. Look on line and get ideas from what materials you have. I'm a crochetor but I can find my self liking this past time too. I am not that creative but I did like my first project, just had to sit down, when she was sleep, and put my creative mind to work.
Happy scrapbooking, they have magazines out there too, just see what you like. My mother in law bought me a scrapbooking kit which has its own case and all the fixins, so good luck.

Ladybrown1024

well.. welcome to the wonderful world of scrapbooking! it can be quite addictive. i'd start by calling the craft store (you're in heidelberg??) and finding out if they have any classes or groups you can join. here in stuttgart we have a small group call the stuttgart scrappers. there is a website complete with QnA section - just google stuttgart scrappers and sign up.

i started with my wedding pictures and worked forward. lots of people start with their most recent events and work backwards ... some do the holidays first and then go back and fill in the rest.

see if some of your friends scrapbook & have them help you out a bit. or you can go to a crop & watch/ask questions. usually you can borrow supplies until you figure out what you're going to use all the time vs. what you'll use every once in a while.

have fun!

Hi there. What part of Germany are you in. I know a lady in the k-town area that does scrapbooking. I'm getting together with her next wednesday to learn how to do it. If you are in the area, let me know! Have a good day!
R.

A.,

I'm actually a Creative Memories consultant and get this question all the time. It can definitely be overwhelming to start scrapbooking!! I used to feel that way as well. Before you even open any of your albums to place pictures, you many want to sort through your pictures and organize them how you'd like to see them in albums. ~ regardless if it's most recent pictures or the past up through the present pictures. For example, do you want separate albums for the kids? Or do you want family albums where everyone is in them? ~ And so on...

Anyway, I'd suggest doing it one of two ways, start from what you have taken while in Germany and then get yourself caught up with your most current pictures. Or first organize all your pictures (and memorabilia), deciding what kind of albums you'd like to have done, and then proceed from there. Getting all your pictures organized and into albums may take you awhile, but it's all worth it!! Don't get bogged down with fancy pages. Make it simple and press on. ~ Just don't forget to journal (doesn't have to be much, just the basics of your pictures ~ like the who, when and mabye why) because your albums will mean that much more to you and your family in the future.