Scrapbooking is a creative outlet for those who like making photos look pleasurable. Here are some tips and tricks that can make scrapbooking fun and fresh.
Scrapbooking is a craft and an art. For some it is a hobby, while others have turned it into a lucrative business with scrapbooking parties. Whether you do it for enjoyment or for profit, the tips below may help keep scrapbooking fun and fresh to keep you motivated.
Computer Tips
~~Measure your picture and use Power Point to draw one rectangle to that size, then another one just a little bigger. You can use the rulers provided with the program to have the exact size you want and then you can align them perfectly centered horizontally and vertically. Simply print the page with the rectangles on your matting paper and cut out.
~~There is a computer program called Print Artist that helps to create background pages, graphics, shapes, symbols, text effects, cut outs, frames, borders, and other cool options. The choices are endless.
Troubleshooting Tips
Sticker problem. If you have ever put down a sticker in the wrong place, here is a possible solution. Use the paper the sticker comes on (waxy side up) and slowly slide it under the sticker. It takes a little time but it saves your sticker and might even save your page.
Matching colors. If you have found that some decorative pages don't match the colors of your pictures, even though they are the perfect design, here is a possible solution. Rather than compromise the colors of your pictures, use an Exacto knife to cut out the design that you want to save and use. That way you can use them on more than one page, too.
Cropping problem. When cropping photos, there may be times when a template cuts off part of the subject that you want to include. Draw around the template until you get to the part that is outside the boundaries of the template. Then cut the photo in the shape of the template and cut around the excluded area. It makes your photos look interesting and allows for close cropping without sacrificing detail.
Just Plain Good Ideas
~~If you are running out of ideas check out magazines or catalogs. Even if you look at the stickers they are selling they can give you ideas.
~~For baby's scrapbooks, include labels from their first bottle of formula, first jar of baby food and first box of cereal, etc.
~~Save all of your scraps. Even little 1-inch squares of paper can be used to make colored photo corners by cutting them in half diagonally.
~~When doing paper piecing patterns, try tracing the pattern onto tracing paper and cut the pattern out of the tracing paper. That way you have your original pattern on one piece and you don't have to worry about losing the pattern pieces.
~~Take your child's shirt or favorite blanket to the copy store and make a color copy (on acid free paper). You can use it as personalized background paper.
