Scrapping Idiot

[Chris & Boys]

Ok, I have never scrap-booked before. How about starting with an Idiot's guide to scrapping??

[Kathy Wilson]

I LIKE that idea, being another 'idiot'! :D

[Jersey, Jasmine, Jypsy and Diane]

I believe there is a book by that title out there to help new scrappers. When I started, I just took some pics with the same theme, picked up some scrapbook paper (picking up the main colors in the pictures), embellishments and started to mat the pictures, arranged them on the page, along with the embellishments. Don't forget to leave room to journal what the pictures are about and a title for the page. Before you paste anything on the page, mark which is the top and bottom (on the back) and cut the paper to fit in the protective sleeve in your album. You'll be surprised how easy it is and you get better as you go. It doesn't have to be fancy, just tell the story of the pictures. Use Scrapbook magazines for ideas on layouts. The page shown was not done by me and I believe it was digital, (I do 99% paper) Just wanted to give you an idea.

[Chris & Boys]

I love this page. I have set a goal. Once the boys are in school, I am going to work on scrapping while they do homework. So, I am going to start buying my supplies so by September 10th, I will be ready to go.

Any one have good experience with online scrapping or software? Maybe this won't be as intimidating?

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I tried on-line scrapbooking and felt like an idiot. I need some instruction also. Who can write for the Idiots Guide to OnLine Scrapbooking in easy to grasp words?

[Penny, Comiskey & Beemer]

There is a website called Scrapbook Flair....you can download their free software and from there you can download templates to make digital pages save them and have them printed or print them yourself...(if I created a 12 X 12 page...I print it in 8 X 8...there are a lot of 8 X 8 scrapbooks out there)......I personally use Adobe Photoshop Elements (which is photo editing software also...but you can get a whole host of free quickpages (these are predesigned pages) that you just plop your photos into and add your journaling) as well as small versions of the designers kits to create your own pages....you can see some of this on my page....digital scrapbooking is addictive....and equally fun to use on traditional scrapbook pages as well....one of the websites I use is DigiScrapDepot.com There are a lot of very talented designers that are generous enough to share some of their graphics.....

[Chris & Boys]

Ok, I bought the Adobe software and cannot for the life of me figure it out. Do you have to go online to use it? All I can do is edit the picture so far. OK, I am not just a scrapping idiot, I am also a techno-idiot!!!!! I need an instructional video or booklet otherwise forget it.

[Penny, Comiskey & Beemer]

What version of Adobe do you have?.....I use Adobe Photoshop Elements because it has a very short learning curve...but if you understand layers then you can scrapbook in Adobe....you don't have to go online to use Adobe....but unless you are designing your own graphics, I suggest going on line to the site I mentioned (or any other...there are a lot out there) and download a quick page....unzip it....open it in adobe (this becomes your first layer) open a photo in adobe, drag the photo onto the quick page...go to your layers palet drag the photo under the quick page and size it to fit into the opening in the quick page....there are also a lot of sites that have wonderful turtorials...hope this helps....

[Chris & Boys]

I bought Adobe Photoshop Elements....how pathetic am I??? I can't figure out their easiest program. I should try to search it on youtube. Maybe I can get some instruction on their to figure out the basics before I go to the site you recommended. Or maybe I should meet you for coffee next time I am in Chicago! LOL, I'll buy you a cup o'joe if you give me a lesson!

[Penny, Comiskey & Beemer]

Chris.... Try this link...I just ran across it and I am sure it will help.....

http://www.designerdigitals.com/digital-scrapbooking.html

[Karol J.]

For a traditional scrapbook:
To start: I would pick some pictures that are a similar theme, like sleeping or playing etc. Then try to pick out your accessories (paper, stickers) that are the same theme, and will compliment the colors of the photos.

For example; if I have 4 pictures of Hershey (Brown) sleeping in the grass (green) I would crop the pictures (cut off anything in the picture that would be distracting) and I know that 4 pictures will fit on a 12x12 page. I might find some paper with brown or green on it to add to the page. Maybe some stickers with a "sleeping" theme and I would make a Title, like: "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie" with some alphabet stickers and then write a blip about the scene; ie. "Hershey played so hard, he wore himself out and slept so soundly he even snored!" Or something like that.

Think of your album as a story book. You know when you show someone pictures, and you kind of look at the pictures with them, over their shoulder and tell them what's going on in each photo? That's what scrapbooking is! If someone were to look through your album 100 years from now, they would know exactly what's going on in the pictures because you wrote a "blip" about what was happening.

It doesn't have to be elaborate or over-the-top, it could be just pictures on a page and some writing.

The biggest key, and I can't stress this enough, Make Sure ALL products you use are Acid and Lignin Free and Archival Safe! I use Creative Memories because they have been tested and are Acid and Lignin Free and Archival Safe for your photos, I trust their guarantee.

[Chris & Boys]

Thanks Karol. So, you cut most of your photos, or just the ones that have stuff in the background that you don't like? See, I wouldn't have thought to cut it out, I just wouldn't have used that one. Isn't Creative Memories kind of expensive? With the salary cuts I have had to take, I am trying to be as economical as possible. Can't I get most of that at a craft store?

[Kathy Wilson]

Hi Chris, I'm not Karol, but I have a bit of experience in "making do" with what's available. I don't know if this would be sufficient for you but I have gone to craft stores and asked for scraps, which are free. The papers I got were archival, acid and lignin free. Some of the scraps were also a decent size. Hope this helps a little.