Five Things You Must Know to Have the Best Scrapbooks!
You can read articles, books and talk to other scrapbookers -- but it all boils down to 5 things you must know to have the best scrapbooks.
You don't have alot of time? Not alot of money? Want you scrapbooks to be cherished for generations to come? Follow these 5 simple things and you'll be on your way to making scrapbooks that you'll be proud to share!
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Five Simple Things You MUST KNOW to have the Best Scrapbooks!
1) PICTURES:
Not all scrapbooks contain pictures, but most of them do. In this age of digital photos many of us are probably taking many more shots than we used to with traditional film. If you don't like the pictures, you can just delete it!
But the MOST IMPORTANT thing to know about pictures is: you do not have to put every photo you've taken into a scrapbook. If you have 6 or 7 pictures from a birthday party and can't find a layout that looks right with all of the pictures, you can "weed out" some of them. USE ONLY THE BEST PHOTOS. You are going to spend a great amount of time working on your scrapbook, and you hope it's going to last for generations. Why would you use anything but the best photos?
If you only have old instant camera (Polaroid, etc.) photos and want to use them, then go ahead. Sometimes one photo is better than none. But we highly recommend that you scan those old Polaroid photos and then have them printed on QUALITY photo paper, preferably by a professional photo finishing place.
2) QUALITY PAPERS / ADHESIVES:
Just like the recommendation above to print your memories on QUALITY photo paper, you will want to consider the papers & adhesives you use to make your scrapbooks.
* adhesives: there are many different types of adhesives on the market. When I first started scrapbooking (a long time ago), they recommended using rubber cement. UGH! I couldn't stand the terrible fumes!!! I'm not sure that rubber cement was really the best thing to use, and I can't say how it would turn out because I never used it. But the manufacturers have come a long way with adhesives for archival works (like scrapbooks). Some people prefer tape runners, some glue sticks, some a 2-way glue stick. Just make sure that the brand is reputable (don't purchase stuff from the Dollar Store).
* papers: the base of your scrapbook is the papers that you use. The variety of papers available today is astounding. What started out as just plain paper has blossomed into a whole industry of companies producing nothing but patterned papers. Like the adhesives, pick the papers from a reputable company (not something from the Dollar Store bargain bin). There are pens that you can rub on papers to check to see if they are acid free. This is important because papers that are highly acidic will turn brown & crumbly over time (like newspapers).
3) PAGE PROTECTORS:
Most scrapbooks come with the page protectors, you just slide your completed pages in and you've got your scrapbook all completed. If you want to insert pages, you can just remove pages and re-arrange. These are the best and most versatile type of books.
However, some books come with pages that do not have plastic protectors. Some books have pages that are designed for you to adhere your pictures and embellishments right onto the page. The drawback with these type albums is that you cannot insert a page if you are making a chronological book. We have used these type books in the past, and have tried to add pages ... it doesn't work ... especially if you do your "spreads" as only 1 page each.
Why are page protectors so important? After all the hours of work that went into the book, you want your friends & family to be able to open the book and look at it -- many times! Little children LOVE to look at scrapbooks -- especially pictures of them. Don't leave your pages unprotected from the dust and the dirt on little (and big) fingers! In addition, page protectors help against accidental liquid drips too.
We think Page Protectors are a unappreciated part of the scrapbooks! They will make your scrapbooks more memorable. Why? Because you'll be more eager to bring them out when a crowd of family or friends comes over and wants to look and TOUCH your books!
4) JOURNALING:
Most scrapbookers will tell you that they save the journaling for last, or that they actually never get to it. There are some pages and photos where the picture tells the story and a quick name and date will suffice. But then there are those pages where you NEED to tell the story.
* telling the STORY behind the pictures is important. you might remember it now, but when your children or future generations look at the pictures -- they won't know why you have chocolate pudding all in your hair.
* journaling is essential for those older photographs (some people refer to these as "heritage" pages or albums). There may only be a few of these precious pictures (they were very expensive), or fewer relatives who can identify the people in the pictures and the events and dates.
* What if you don't know the people in the pictures, why scrapbook them? What if those pictures are of your mother, grandmother or other relative when they were a baby, 2 years old, etc.? Most of us would be unable to recognize even our own mothers or fathers when they were young. Clothing, hairstyles and more make it difficult to distinguish between baby / young boys and girls!
* stumped for something to say? try Who, What, Why, Where & When questions.
Journaling can subsitute for pictures! What if you had gone on a vacation, attended an important graduation or wedding and were taking tons of pictures, just to find out your camera wasn't working or it was broken? You can write about your vacation and put those memories into your scrapbook.
Write stories from the heart, don't worry about grammar or spelling. Let the little ones write their own description of the event -- in their own handwriting! These will become as cherished as the pictures they describe.
5) DESIGN:
Design does not refer to sketches, but rather an overall sense of design purpose. Take a look at magazines for home decor, clothing fashion and others. Pay attention to those designs and styles that you are more attracted to. You will be more happy with your scrapbooks if they are visually appealing to you.
Several basic points for design:
* balance -- balance in weight (color) and size. One side of the page with too much "weight" will make the whole design seem off-balance.
* repetition -- using too many colors and different types of embellishments can be distracting from the photos. Try to concentrate on using just one or two types of embellishments.
* alignment: use clean lines. Simple geometric designs, easy to line up and make it easier for the eye to find the focal points.
Keeping all the information above in mind, remember scrapbooking is a personal expression. There really is no right or wrong way to do it. Soon you'll find your own personal style, maybe experiment a little, and have fun!
