| Scrapbook 101 |
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What's the Big Deal
About Scrapbooking?
Taking pictures and putting them in photo albums has been a tradition in many families ever since the camera was invented! The hobby that is now known as scrapbooking has taken that tradition, improved on it, and become a wildly popular pastime for both genders and all age groups. More specifically, scrapbooking allows you to place your precious photographs in albums that are safe, and use them in ways that tell interesting stories about the lives of your family members. No longer will your photo albums be page after page of pictures without names and important details. With proper scrapbooking methods, your memories will be remembered for generations to come in an album that is fun, interesting, and enjoyable to view! |
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Why Should I Scrapbook? In addition to the reasons above, scrapbooking is a pleasurable hobby with a dual purpose! Not only does it provide enjoyment for the scrapbooker, but also for the entire family as they see their memories come alive again in scrapbook form! Scrapbooking done correctly, will also keep photographs from deteriorating at the usual rate. See the Safety section for more information. The first thing to do is get organized and purchase a few basic supplies. |
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A Word About Safety "Acid-free" and "Lignin-free" are two terms that you will hear over and over again in the scrapbook world...and there's a good reason why. Acid is used in paper manufacturing to break apart the wood fibers which holds them together. Acid + paper = deterioration. Acid reacts chemically with paper and other materials so it’s imperative that all materials used in scrapbooks be acid-free. The adhesive in magnetic albums, for example, is highly acidic, so if you have photographs in magnetic albums, get them out now! That should be your first objective. A pH level of above 7.0 is considered alkaline or "acid-free". Most acid-free paper has a pH from 7.0 to 9.0. Lignin-free is an important characteristic as well. Lignin is the bonding element that holds wood fibers together as a tree grows and will turn paper products yellow and brittle. An example of this is old newspapers. You may
be wondering about how you can possibly get those ticket stubs, newspaper
clippings, and other similar memorabilia into your scrapbook without
compromising safety. You have several choices: Many people are "strict" acid-free scrappers and will not allow anything in their scrapbooks other than acid-free items. However, as scrapbooking has evolved and become more of an art as opposed to simply preserving memories, many people are finding it artistically oppressive to limit themselves to 100% acid-free scrapbooking. These scrappers will typically keep acidic embellishments away from photos and I believe this is a great compromise. In the end it is only you who can make the decision about how strict you adhere to the "acid-free rule". In the end, if you keep safety issues in mind when working on a scrapbook, your treasured memories will last longer than a lifetime! |
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Basic Supplies
Photographs You can
scrapbook with the above basic supplies, however, rare is the scrapper who
limits themselves to these few items. |
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Journaling Too often overlooked, especially by new scrapbookers, journaling is just as important as the pictures themselves! Of course, you know everyone in that photo, but will you remember in twenty years? You know why your family eats ice cream for breakfast every Fourth of July, but don't you think your great-great-grandchildren will want to know? Journaling gives the kind of details that differentiates a scrapbook from ordinary photo albums. Use your own handwriting or let the computer do the journaling for you! A simple who, what, when, and why is all that is necessary, or you can write a lengthy, heartfelt observation. Sometimes a quote or song lyrics will do the trick! |
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Create Your Layout 1. Select Photos: As a general rule, choose 1-3 pictures for your scrapbook page. Any more than that can make your page seem crowded. There are always exceptions, of course. If you have several smaller, cropped photos, you can use more. Just don't try to cram every photo you have onto the page. Select only the best quality pictures and eliminate the duplicates. 2. Select Papers: You may want to use patterned papers that are theme specific or you can choose your papers based on colors in your photos. If you want to mat your photos, you should also choose a coordinating solid cardstock. 3. Arrange Your Layout: Layout the photos on your page, deciding where you will place the title, journaling, and embellishments. It is best not to adhere anything to the page until you have made up your mind where everything will go! 4. Finish up! Place your completed layout in an acid-free page protector then into your album. |
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