Handwritten
journaling is considered best by some scrapbookers who see
handwriting as valuable for posterity, but many people journal
on the computer and print it onto a variety of surfaces
including vellum, tape, ribbon, and paper. There are no
hard and fast rules to scrapbooking as it is considered
an art form. Some prefer pages where the photograph is the
central element and embellishments are minimally applied,
others include a variety of embellishments to add to the
design.
This is a personal choice, each can be
effective and create stunning designs. Embellishments may
include small, two-dimensional items such as ticket stubs
from the theater, love notes from a special someone, or
newspaper clippings. Items such as brads or eyelets can
be used rather than tape or glue to adhere pictures or papers
to be used decoratively. Additional elements may include
stickers, quilling, decorated die cuts and flowers (punched,
dried, and artificial). Generally, the focus of the page
is the photograph or photographs.
It is best to stick with one to three
good photos when starting out. The page is then decorated
and embellished with items only limited by the creators
imagination. Sketching is an optional step in which the
scrapbooker will create, sketch, a layout of what the page
will look like upon completion. Sketching is usually done
on a scrap piece of paper which is discarded upon completion
of the page. This step assists a scrapper in seeing the
final page before all elements are modified to fit on the
page to ensure the look is as desired by the scrapbooker.
Some of the basic scrapbooking tools include:
Acid-free scrapbook albums, Acid-free and lignin-free papers,
Acid-free tape, Acid-free glue, Archival marker or pen,
Scissors, or some cutting instrument, Photographs and Acid-free
stickers. With the popularity of scrapbooking growing daily,
there are more and more resources available to the amateur
and professional scrapbooker alike. Digital scrapbooking
is in its infancy, but shows great promise as the medium
of the future for scrapbooking enthusiasts.
Scrapbooking can be very easy for anyone
who wants to give it a try. Acid-free and lignin-free products
are encouraged to prevent the pictures from turning brown.
Spend time with your photos. Really examine the details
of the photo and allow your mind to take a mental journey
back to that time and place before you write your journaling.
Don’t always use plain white paper for your journaling.
The white (even on the smallest pieces of paper) can really
stand out and detract from the rest of the page, especially
on colored pages where the theme is carried through on the
embellishments, papers and photos. A white journal block
can really detract from this theme.
Use journaling
papers that coincide with your theme.
Scrapbook Totes
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