Scrapbooking Tips...

I was deleting old files while waiting for some data to transfer this morning and I came across these scrapbook tips that I used at a class once. I thought it would be fun to post them here on the blog for all those new scrapbookers out there :)

Important things to remember:

Journaling is the heart and soul of your albums!! Scrapbooks are created to remince with your photos. Without the stories or information your memories will be lost whether you have made beautifully decorated pages or not. You could work 6 hours to create a gorgeous page that will tell nothing about you or the photos on the page or you can create a page in 20 minutes with words that will go on forever.

Error on the side of simple. It is far easier to add to your scrapbook page than it is to undo your work. Very easily pages become overdone and the decorations begin to overtake the photos. The object of scrapbooking is to enhance your photos and stories. Unless you have a special event to highlight, it is best to place your photos down, then add the stories, then if the page looks like it needs something else…then add some decoration.

Try to create a decorative edge, border or title rather than to just “splash” stickers and die cuts into every blank spot on your page. Your page will look cleaner and more “professional”.

Tips:

* Match the colors you use on the page with the photos you are using. Generally it is not appealing to mix bold colors with pastels. Try to keep softer colors together and brighter colors together. Of course there is always exceptions to every rule.
* Try not to use more than 3 colors per page as the colors start to overwhelm the eye. Remember we are enhancing the photos.
* Decorate more on the pages using 4 or less photos if you have only a little journaling to add then decorate less on the pages with 5 or more photos so as not to distract from the pictures and their stories.
*Cropping will allow you to add more photos to the page but you must remember not to crop out all the details of your life. It is a good idea to leave one “whole” photo for each situation to show the area in which the event takes place. Remember that the photos with the price of gas in the background and the cars show the era of time we are in. If you take all the excess background out you are also editing how your family will be able to view their history, let them see the “yucky couch” you once had.
*Memorabilia will enhance the stories in your scrapbook with variety and interest. Treat them as decoration; things you put in are generally detailed and/or colorful and you won’t need to add much more color to your page once the photos and stories are along side.
*Keep the photos and memorabilia separate. Do not let the photos overlap the memorabilia as it can contain acid that will harm your photos.
*Newspaper deteriorates very quickly. The best way to preserve an article is to copy it onto acid-free paper.