Paper Selection

Paper Selection

The papers you choose can change the entire look and feel of your photographs and page. There is a huge variety of paper to choose from, based on color, texture, pattern, theme, and even opacity. When choosing the style and color of paper to use in your layout, there are a few things to consider to best highlight your photos and to pull the photos together.

Decide whether you want to focus on the event, the subject or person in the photo, or the emotion that is evoked through the photos. Your focus will largely depend on each individual set of photographs. When starting a new page, ask yourself the following questions in order to decide the type and color of papers you want to use for your layout.

Cardstock, Patterned, or Specialty Paper?

Cardstock is a staple in scrapbooking. Available in a wide variety of shades and colors, cardstock can be used on any layout for backgrounds, matting, embellishments and titles. The solid colors of cardstock anchor photos to the page very well, and are very non-distracting, keeping the focus of the page on your photographs.

In contrast to cardstock, patterned papers include swirls, stripes, plaids, flowers, dots, stars, hearts, landscapes, animal prints, and more. Depending on your photos, you may want to choose a print simply to match the colors in the photograph, add elegance to a cardstock background, or illustrate the theme of the layout. For example, in a Valentine's Day layout, you might want to use a heart-patterned paper. While patterned paper can be used in a variety of ways, larger patterns usually work well as background paper and smaller patterns look wonderful as frames and borders.

Specialty paper goes beyond cardstock and patterned papers to add interest to layouts. Specialty paper usually has a unique opacity and texture and is often handmade. Whether you choose vellum, handmade, metallic, textured, embossed or exotic, each type of paper has its own advantages. Translucent vellum tends to soften bright colors and loud patterns; handmade and mulberry paper add softness and elegance; textured cardstock and embossed paper adds dimension; and metallic paper and diamond dust provide glitz and shine to a layout.

Whether your preference is cardstock, patterned paper or specialty paper, with the wide variety available in the scrapbooking industry, you can find nearly any type of paper to fit your layout perfectly. Each type of paper will have its own personality on your page.

What colors match the photos?

Choosing colors is as simple as comparing and matching the colors of your paper and the colors in your photos. Using this system will create an eye-pleasing effect nearly every time.

To focus on the subject of the photograph or set of photographs, take a look at the colors that are present. Choose a color that is common to them, or that compliments the tone of the photos well. You can also choose what elements of your photos you want to focus on and choose a color that makes that element the prominent item. Choosing a paper that is the same or similar color of a person's shirt or eyes (in a close up photo) brings out those elements of the photograph well.

What colors present the mood I want to create with this page?

Choosing colors for a scrapbook page is similar to choosing colors for a room in your house. Your choice will determine the mood and feel of the page. Whether you choose yellows and browns to create a warm and cozy feeling; reds, purples, and blues to bring a regal and passionate feel to your page; blues and greens for a fresh and clean look; or neutral tans and creams for a calming, non-distracting background, you'll notice that color really does make a difference in the mood of your layout and can completely change the look of your photograph.

If you are using black and white photos, or a special photo that you want to evoke a certain emotion or feeling, think about the mood you want to create before choosing colors.

What colors represent the event or subject of the photos?

There will always be layouts that feature traditional holiday colors, school colors, baby boy blues and little girl pinks. And what's a St. Patrick's Day layout without green? Using this version of choosing your colors allows you to use many of the themed patterned papers, stickers and die cuts that are created by many companies with the "traditional" colors in mind.

When you choose your paper, remember these basic questions and you'll have an easy system for deciding what paper to use for each set of photographs.

Other tips to consider when choosing papers:

1. If you have photos with a very light background, matting with a darker color will provide a very nice contrast. Likewise, dark background photos look very nice matted on a lighter colored paper.

2. Try a monochromatic look, which means using different shades of the same color. This works especially well for black and white photos and photos with only one or two visible colors.

3. If the colors in your photos do not compliment the paper colors that you want to use, try converting your photos to black and white using photo editing software.

Choosing Photographs

                       Choosing Photographs

Your photos are the first ingredient for a layout and will help you decide on all other aspects of your page. You can choose your photographs for each layout based on several criteria. How you have chosen to organize your album will play a big part in how you choose your photographs for individual layouts.


If you have just started scrapbooking, you may think that you don't have much of an option about what kinds of photographs you can use in your scrapbook. Just because your old photos are 3 ½" x 5", yellowing, and feature those lovely seventies styles and colors, doesn't mean they have to stay that way. Using today's computer technology, you can scan, crop, and enlarge your photos.

You can also colorize them to make them sepia tinted or black and white and enhance them in many other ways. If you happen to have the negatives for old photos that have yellowed, having them re-developed from the negatives will bring the original color right back as if the photo was taken yesterday.

As you take photographs of your family and friends around you, think about what kinds of things you want to remember, and how you might use the photos in your scrapbooks. Take a variety of vertical and horizontal photos, close up and far away shots. Panoramic photos also create added interest and can show the subject of your photo in a different way. Take photos of the scenery to help bring the whole feel of the day or event into your page. Catch people in action enjoying the day.

While photos are important and help to tell the story visually, a layout can easily be made without any photos, and may be even more special without them. For layouts without photos, you can include extensive journaling, memorabilia or other items that represent the subject of your layout.

Organizing an Album

Organizing an Album

There is no "right way" to organize your albums and layouts. The style, theme, or combination of many styles and themes that you choose to use is what makes it a special album for you and your family. Feel free to use the styles and ideas that you are comfortable with and that make you happy.

Some of the more common ways to organize scrapbook albums are:
Make chronological albums by showing your family's life throughout the years, organizing your photos by date.

Using detailed journaling helps create albums that focus on the character and personality of an individual or many individuals.

Designing alphabet albums is an easy way to organize your journaling and photos. These albums use each letter of the alphabet to organize important words or events within an album. They are wonderful for scrapbooking events with many photos that require an album of their own, such as vacations, weddings and anniversaries.

Themed albums about sports, holidays, hobbies, or seasons are also interesting ways to organize your photos and layouts.

When you choose to divide your photos and create your scrapbook pages, keep in mind that there isn't a wrong way to do it. You can choose one album idea, mix and match many ideas within one album, or create ten different albums! It's all up to you.

Basic Supplies

Basic Supplies

While many scrapbookers can easily fill an entire room with all of their scrapbooking tools and supplies, there are a few items that are essential. To create pages you will need some or all of the following items:
Paper trimmer - Since many papers come in only 12" x 12", you will often need to be able to trim a sheet of paper down from this size. A 12" paper trimmer is recommended whether you scrapbook in 12" x 12" albums or 8 ½" x 11" albums. Heavy duty desktop paper trimmers are wonderful if you have the space for them. You can also purchase smaller trimmers that are great for going to crops and keeping your supplies manageable.

Scissors - A pair of small, sharp scissors is important in order to cut smaller pieces and to have greater control over your cuts. Hold off on buying decorative scissors until you have a specific layout for which to use them. While they certainly have their uses and can make wonderful designs and embellishments, most scrapbookers regret cutting their photos with decorative scissors.

Adhesives - Each type of adhesive is appropriate for different needs. You will probably want to have a selection of adhesives to use for your layouts. A liquid glue pen is good for adhering small pieces, a strong liquid glue is good for larger and bulkier embellishments, photo squares work well for adhering photos, and repositionable glue dot adhesives are great when you want to move your elements around. Be sure to use an adhesive that is acid-free to prevent damage to your photos.

Acid Free Black Pen - Eventually you'll want to have a collection of pens and colors, but a black pen is a must right from the beginning! It's used for outlining, journaling, titles and drawing details.

Album and Page Protectors - Choose an album and corresponding page protectors in the size you wish to use. Albums typically come in the following sizes; 12" x 12", 8 ½" x 11", 8" x 8", and 5" x 7". Buy page protectors designed for the album you buy to be sure that they will fit correctly.

Other supplies can be purchased as you go, such as papers, templates, stickers, die cuts, and embellishments. To save money, it's best to buy supplies with specific pages in mind, so that you don't buy things you won't use.

Scrapbook Basics

Scrapbook Basics

A scrapbook is a storybook that you create, telling about the things that are important to you and your family. It includes photographs and memorabilia that remind you of special times, people and places. Scrapbooking is a way to organize your thoughts, dreams, hopes and fears. A scrapbook is a treasure, an heirloom, and artwork that is meant to be shared.

In recent years, scrapbooking has become an extremely popular hobby for women (and men) all over the world. While it's been around for ages, scrapbooking has evolved from a way to show off photographs and movie ticket stubs into a way to express yourself and free the artist within you, all while preserving your memories for generations to come.

Scrapbooking is no longer construction paper and tape or just putting your photos in an album. Now you'll find that there are scrapbook stores all over the country, thousands of products to choose from, and techniques to learn to make the most of the art of scrapbooking.

Digital 101

Digital 101 

What is Digital Scrapbooking?

Digital scrapbooking, like traditional (paper) scrapbooking, basically involves telling a story or relaying memories in a visually appealing way. In digital scrapbooking all of the elements involved (photos, memorabilia, embellishments and text) are digital files. The scrapbook “page” is generally referred to as a layout, and it may be printed out and entered into a book, or left as a digital file.

How is Digital Scrapbooking Accomplished?

The process of digital scrapbooking involves almost exactly the same elements and steps as paper scrapbooking, except everything is done digitally. Even items that are not digital (like ticket stubs or wedding invitations) can be included by using a scanned image or photo.

As the popularity of digital scrapbooking increases, there are more and more software programs on the market that cater to the needs of scrapbookers. Programs range in price from expensive to fairly inexpensive, depending on the complexity of the features. It is certainly possible to create great layouts with some of the simpler programs.

The most important feature needed for software used in digital scrapbooking is the capability to design using layers. This is because when designing a digital scrapbook page, the same steps are used as in paper scrapbooking: 1) gather the elements to be used, like digital photos and papers; 2) arrange them in the layout in a pleasing way; 3) add text. Using the software, all elements (including text) will be on separate layers, so they can be manipulated until just the right look is achieved, much like in paper scrapbooking. Digital scrapbooking allows a great deal of creative flexibility because photos can be made larger or smaller, colours can be changed or muted and so on. Most programs offer at least a handful of interesting effects that can be applied to images; some of the more sophisticated programs have seemingly limitless capabilities!

What Supplies are Needed to Get Started in Digital Scrapbooking?

Aside from the computer and software, there are a few other supplies that are needed for digital scrapbooking. Depending on personal preference, one can use as few or as many additions to the layouts as desired.

Like in paper scrapbooking, most layouts start with photos. Even if the original photo is not digital, it can still be used in digital scrapbooking by either scanning it, having a CD made from the negatives or even taking a digital photograph of the original print.

The rest of the elements used can be found online for free or for purchase from the many online scrapbook stores. Pretty much anything one would use to embellish a paper scrapbook page has a digital equivalent (papers, stickers, buttons, brads, you name it)! Anything that cannot be found online can most likely be made using the same software used for the digital scrapbooking. Helpful articles and tutorials abound on how to make or do just about anything you can dream up.

Beyond what is needed to get started in digital scrapbooking there are plenty of other supplies that might be useful and can expand the possibilities even further; a digital camera and accessories; a wide format photo printer (for printing 12×12 layouts); a flatbed scanner; a tablet and pen for hand drawn text and elements. The list is ever growing.

How Can Digital Scrapbook Layouts be Preserved?

It is very important to back-up (make copies of) digital files. Just as paper scrapbooks can be lost or damaged, so can digital layouts. If prints are made of the digital layouts, it is a good idea to use acid free inks and papers. There are printers, papers and inks on the market formulated specifically for this purpose.

Why is Scrapbooking so popular ??

Why is Scrapbooking so popular ??

What makes an adult collect coloured papers and stickers and become a connoisseur of delicate cutting tools and adhesives? It's easy to find reasons as to how scrapbooking has become popular - improved tools, computer technology, media publicity, and an army of mentors marketing the hobby have encouraged its spread. But there are subtle, psychological reasons as to why scrapbooking is so popular.

You can bring order out of chaos.

There is a deep satisfaction in taking a stack of photos, museum brochures, ticket stubs and postcards of a vacation and instead of having them sprawl in a drawer or file folder, have them neatly arranged between scrapbook covers. In a world of random, haphazard events and activities, there is within the covers of a scrapbook an intoxicating illusion of order, sequence, and stylized control. The response to "How was your vacation?" can go from "Crazy - I hardly know where to start" to "We saw and did so much!"

You can make the intangible, tangible.
Digital photography is fast, efficient, and provides tremendous creative control for the person sitting at their computer. But when the power goes out, the hard drive crashes, the photo files get corrupted, or you are away from your computer, where's the evidence that what you say you captured on film was ever there? For any born before Generation Y there is often a mistrust of electronic media and a security in pages you can turn.

You can stimulate a variety of senses.
Show someone a single photograph and you share a single moment in time from a particular perspective. Take a scrapbook page of photos from various angles and include the feather that fell from your hat at the reception, the pressed flower from the bridal bouquet, the scented lace that went round the shower favours  and the scraps of paper upon which the groom wrote his vows and you have something that stimulates vision, touch, smell, and hearing as you read the vows and hear them again in your mind.

You can enjoy selective memory.
You can put a lovely sticker at the corner of the beautiful photograph of your relative stuffing their face with pineapple souffl without including any of the nasty comments or hurtful looks she gave before the party was over. In fact, you don't have to include photos of her at all if you don't want to remember she was there. I've noticed in my own scrapbooking that I take photographs of happy times and tend to leave