Operation Scrapbook

Archive for June, 2009

You don’t have to invest hundreds of dollars and hours of time to create your own special scrapbooking albums. With the right tools and supplies, anyone can get started scrapbooking right away. No need to feel intimidated as you peruse isle after isle of memory book products. Stay tuned and you’ll find out how to start preserving your cherished memories without too much muss or fuss.

First, you’ll need to choose what photos you want to work with. Rather than choosing many photos that would fill an entire book about a family vacation, it might be easier to begin with just a handful that focuses on a smaller event, such as junior’s first baseball game. Once the photos are selected, arrange them to determine what size each should be, keeping in mind the total size of the page.

Next, choose the background paper. This can be a solid or patterned paper that coordinates with the event of the page you are creating. If you would like to highlight the photos, they can be matted onto cardstock. You are welcome to use as many or as few colors as you’d like. Photos can have a uniform frame all around or they can be placed at interesting angles. For added pizzazz, decorative edge scissors may be used to cut the mat. Take care that all paper and card stock is lignin and acid free.

Once, the photos are in place, you might consider adding a border on some or all the sides of the page. Simple strips of paper or ribbon would work as well as wavy strips or polka dots. You get to be as creative as you want.

Next, think of a title or name for this page. Both the color and style of the lettering will draw attention to it. Use alphabet stickers to spell out the title, die-cut letters, or ready-to-use title strips that you simply peel and stick. Stickers should also be acid and lignin free.

Now, take those special pens or markers and write about the event, note important dates, names and descriptions of places and activities. If you’re worried you might make a mistake, write on a separate piece of paper and apply it to the background paper when it looks just right. Only use pens that use pigment ink.

When used strategically, embellishments can turn a nice looking page into a work of art. Embellishments are considered anything that is decorative such as ribbons, buttons, tags, stickers, eyelets and charms. Remember that less is more so resist the urge to add too many do dads.

Keep in mind that until you become more proficient, it’s best to lay out all the components of the page and play around with them before deciding on the final layout. Once you know how the final page will look, then it is okay to start gluing things in place.

If you get stuck for ideas, there are tons of books, magazines and websites you can look at for inspiration. These precious creations even can be created on and printed from your computer. Whatever method you choose, don’t be afraid to dive right in because every page is a unique creation.

Anyone who wants to begin custom scrapbooking will probably be a little intimidated when they start looking around the craft stores for scrapbooking supplies. Memory pages can be basic or complicated, whimsical and colorful. Whatever the style or taste, the same products work for every need. It involves more than purchasing an empty album and some page protectors in which to slide photos. While there is a veritable plethora of products to choose from, most everything one needs can be grouped into simple categories.

Cardstock and paper – Solid colored cardstock and paper are the basic building blocks for matting and embellishing photos. Paper can be found in every color of the rainbow and then some. Solid colored paper can be used as the background for the photos or it can be cut into shapes, letter or borders, for example. Patterned paper also is available in a wide array of colors, patterns and themes. Papers that depict some theme, such as holidays or sports, is an easy way to tie a memory page together. Patterned paper is often used as the base for the page or as a decorative element. Only buy paper that is lignin and acid free. Only this type of paper will hold up while regular paper will turn yellow and crumble over time.

Scissors and Trimmers – Scissors are constantly utilized in the making of memory books. They should not be used for everyday use but should be reserved for photo pages only. This will keep them sharp and clean. Trimmers are useful for cutting paper and cardstock to the desired size as well as cropping photos. Some types include both a guillotine cutter and rotary trimmer. It may be helpful over time to purchase a trimmer that is self-sharpening or that comes with replacement blades.

Adhesive – There are so many different types of adhesive from which to choose because the types of materials used in memory pages are so varied in texture and weight. Read the product label to help select the appropriate product for the job. Some examples of the different kinds of adhesives are glue dots, double-sided tape, glue stick, photo corners and liquid glue. Make sure that the adhesive states that it is safe to use for archiving photos.

Embellishments – This is the area that can make a person afraid to even start. There seems to be no shortage of stickers, rub-ons, letters, borders, tags, felt pieces brads, buttons and ribbons, just to name a few. There isn’t a theme that hasn’t been covered in this area.

Pens – It should be no surprise that memory page pens come in a wide variety of colors and tip styles. Black is an essential choice since it will coordinate with anything. Pens used in making memory pages must only contain pigment ink and be fade proof and water proof. Recording precious moments, noting dates, journaling and writing names and descriptions are done quickly and easily with these kinds of pens.

As daunting as it is to begin to start a memory book project, the multitude of choices can also be extremely fun once it gets started. There is just no limit to what can be created.

You don’t have to invest hundreds of dollars and hours of time to create your own special scrapbooking albums. Armed with the essential tools and supplies, anyone can get started scrapbooking right away. No need to feel intimidated as you peruse isle after isle of memory book products. Stay tuned and you’ll find out how to start preserving your cherished memories without too much muss or fuss.

First, start by selecting what photos you want to work with. Rather than choosing many photos that would fill an entire book about a family vacation, limit yourself to just a handful that focuses on a smaller event, such as junior’s first baseball game. Once the photos are selected, arrange them to get an idea of what size each should be, keeping in mind the total size of the page.

Next, choose the background paper. This can be a solid or patterned paper that coordinates with the event of the page you are creating. If you would like to highlight the photos, them mat them onto cardstock. Feel free to use as many or as few colors as you’d like. Photos can have a uniform frame all around or they can be placed at interesting angles. For added pizzazz, decorative edge scissors may be used to cut the mat. Take care that all paper and card stock is lignin and acid free.

Once, the photos are in place, you might consider adding a border on some or all the sides of the page. Simple strips of paper or ribbon would work as well as borders cut using decorative edge scissors. You get to decide what looks best.

Next, think of a title or name for this page. Both the color and style of the lettering will add a lot of character to the page. Use alphabet stickers to spell out the title, die-cut letters, or ready-to-use title strips that give you plenty of options. Read packages to make sure stickers are acid and lignin free.

Now, grab your special pens or markers and write about the event, note important dates, names and descriptions of places and activities. If you want to be extra careful, write on a separate piece of paper and apply it to the background paper when it looks just right. Check that your pens use pigment ink.

When used strategically, embellishments can turn a nice looking page into a really spectacular one. Embellishments are anything decorative such as ribbons, buttons, tags, stickers, eyelets and charms. Remember that less is more so resist the urge to use them all.

Keep in mind that until you get more practice, it’s best to lay out all the components of the page and play around with them before deciding on the final layout. Once you know how the final page will look, then it is okay to start gluing things in place.

If you get stuck for ideas, there are tons of books, magazines and websites you can look at for inspiration. These precious creations even can be made on and printed from your computer. Whatever method you choose, you’ll be sure to enjoy it because every page is a unique creation.

Having a collection is a method of de-stressing. It can take your mind off of things and help you relax. Collecting items is also not that hard. Basically, you have to look for something that you really want. There is an endless variety of things that you can collect. From postal stamps, to coins to even Pez dispensers, the kind of objects you can collect is vast.

Look For Something Your Are Interested In

First of all, you must collect something that you can really devote into. This can be something as simple as a coin. If you are having a hard time choosing something that you want to collect, try to remember things that you are simple fascinated by. Were you amazed by badges of different kinds or perhaps postal stamps with animal designs? Most people even get fascinated by several different designs of cufflinks.

Create a List to Help You

If you still find it hard to look for something that fascinates you, simply making a list of several different things that interest you can be very helpful. You can also put all the things that you can possibly collect in this list. Once you have listed everything you can think of, simply omit anything that seems less interesting to you. You can also choose not to collect items that are simply out of reach or impossible for you to collect.

Know Your Limitations

In any kind of hobby there are limitations. Fortunately, you are the one who can decide which these limitations are; is it going to be the cost or the availability? If you find the thing you want to collect a little bit expensive, you are better off looking for something else. For instance, collecting mechanical pocket watch can be expensive. Instead, look for an alternative that you can easily buy and collect at a lower price.

Know About the Item

It is important to know anything and everything about the item you want to collect. Do a simple research about the things you want to collect. This would give you the general clue on how hard or easy it is for you to collect these items. Once you finished your research and knew everything there is to know about the items, you can start collecting.

Be Unique and Protect Your Collection

Getting used to something that you collect can be a breeze. You will come to a point where you become familiar with the prices and other concerns about the things you collect. Once you get to this point, it is time to make your collection unique. There several factors that you can take into consideration in order to make your collection unique.

For instance, you can create a theme for your collection. Why not try collecting stamps that mostly contain animal prints or coins from a single continent? You can also make use of the age, quality and rarity of the objects as measures to make your collection unique.

Lastly, always remember to protect your collection. If you are collecting coins, women’s or men’s valet is not enough to protect your them. Dedicate a part of your house or even as simple as a cabinet for your collection. Just make sure that whatever space you give your collection, provide it with enough security.

As an artist, I am aware of the importance of having the best art supplies, the right tools and the finest resources for all of my artistic needs available to my everyday constructs. At school, I am provided with all of the necessary supplies and all of the things that I could possibly be in want of. I am able to achieve anything I want. After I complete a pastel rendering, for example, my teacher supplies me with any king of foam board necessary to mat my final work. Thus, I am able to show my artistic potential to everyone.

Unfortunately, not everybody has access to such a great wealth of supplies. There are children in inner city school districts that go to schools which don’t have enough money to buy enough artistic supplies. They may be aspiring artists, but their dreams are cut short since they do not have the resources their talent requires. I am lucky to be in such a school district where the community is supportive of the arts and has enough funding. It is too bad that not every school does.

I am certain that there are children in these poorer school districts that have as much if not more talent than the best artist at our school. Their art may also have more of a story to share with the onlooker, something with a deeper meaning even. Their art could possibly depict their lives and what it is like to be in such a crummy situation as they may be in. For example, if one artistically talented child who did not have the resources available to him lived in a home where his parents abused him, his artwork may be therapeutic to him and also have a deeper meaning, a hidden message even, told through the paint.

These reasons and many more are why there are programs out there that take donated art supplies and distribute them to schools where the arts department is lacking. These organizations will take new or lightly used paintbrushes, crayons, canvas, matting board, colored pencils, pastels, and many, many other items and give them to the schools and the children that need those supplies the most. When you donate to such a cause, you get that happy, warm, fuzzy feeling in your heart that tells you that you’ve done something good for someone else, that you may have just enabled a child to pursue their dream. What could be better than that?

In school, we run canned food drives, and coat drives, and pennies-for-patients fundraisers, but I wish that we also had the capacity to start a donation for art supplies too. Since I go to a fairly well off school district, I’m sure that it wouldn’t be a problem to get one up and going. Our arts department could sponsor it and we could get other schools that are nearby to join in as well.