Scrapbooking Directions - Exclusive Mini-Course, Lesson 1

How and Why We Scrapbook

Scrapbooking is very much like writing a story or documenting a piece of your history for others to see.

Your Scrapbook Page tells others what the images are about, the date they happened on, where they happened or who/what the people or subjects are in the picture. It also helps you document what little or big moments happened, what usually happens, how you feel or felt about the people or subject(s); more or less, your Scrapbook Page is focused on why the image(s) means something to you.

NOTE: Your Scrapbook images do not even need to include the people in your life. They can be dedicated to photo's of flowers, birds, celebrities, favorite meals etc. Some even focus only on the patterned paper / colors and how they make you feel or nostalgic memories they bring up.

They can be about anything or anyone that you wish to talk about.

Your images can vary in size as well.

In such a busy world, Scrapbooking is a timeless and visually pleasing way to relive past memories and preserve memories for generations to come.

What do people scrapbook most?

This is completely open. The opportunities are endless. Many people scrapbook about their children/grand children, family, friends/loved ones, pregnancy journeys, pets, vacations, weddings, work related events and general life events that take place.

But some of the more unique Scrapbook Projects we have seen or done, include:

• Cookbooks/Recipes (Drinks, Desserts and Food)

• Favorite Songs (Lyrics and images of the Artist)

• Concert and Events Attended

• Love Letters

• Scripture

• News/Current and Past

• Activities (Cataloging the favorites)

• Jokes

• Affirmations

• Dreams (Planning out your future visually)

You can scrapbook anything you wish.

Some people plan ahead for their projects - and others look to the past.

The question is - how do YOU decide what you will scrap?

Again, the choice is yours - but to give you a head start with this, here are our suggestions:

1. Browse through the photo's you already have.

2. Choose only those that inspire you at first.

3. Determine what sort of common "theme" you can apply to them.

   • You are always safe with a "My Favorite Photo's" theme; telling WHY you favor them.

• But other themes like Indoors, Outdoors, Year in Review, Special Events and so on will also do.

4. Then - you can choose an album that properly supports the theme.

NOTE: At this point you can chose a KIT that would best support the "theme" you have decided for your album. There are many Scrapbooking kits available for the more common subjects. Some come with albums, some do not, some are very specifically themed, others are more generic (color, pattern or design themed). Some come with instructions, some do not. Some also include rubber stamps, pads and even embellishments.

But if you employ the "power searching commands" referred by your favorite browser, you may also find a kit in your "cowboy" theme. (Click on Cowboy and see how we used a simple power searching command in Google to look for cowboy and scrapbooking kit).

Now...if you have tried the Scrapbooking Kit approach and you still felt lost or possibly even that your Scrapbook lacked the personalization you wanted, it might be good reason to continue creating your own Scrapbook Pages from scratch.

Either way...below represents the next step in starting your own Scrapbook. Choosing your album.

What sort of Album variations could there be? (Sizes etc)

Most common sizes are 6 x 6, 8 x 8, 8.5 x 11 (portrait or landscape) and 12 x 12.

There are also 3x3, 4x4, 8.5x8.5, 12x6 and other more unique album sizes to choose from as well.

Essentially, your Scrapbook can be whatever size you want it to be, it is yours to decide, however - if you are just starting out - a smaller size might be less intimidating and easier to work with.

Types of Scrapbook Albums you can choose from:

	Box Albums - We are currently researching the longevity of these.
	Board Books - We are also researching the longevity of these. Although we know that many are made from Chip Board - which has become a wildly popular form of media to use for Scrapbooking in the more recent past.
	Glued Spines - Used for short term journals. Even though we have seen these sold in photo depts. We would not advise for photo use over the long run, they fall apart way too easy.
	Post Bound - By far the most popular and favored by Scrapbookers. Bound by 2 or 3 steel posts or screw pins. Some page protectors are included. Advantage: Easy to add more page protectors and move page order. Disadvantage: Moving pages may be cumbersome. For instance, if you have page in the middle of your book, you will need to take all the pages before you can put that particular page in.
	Ring Binders - Bound with 3 steel rings. Sometimes includes page protectors. Advantage: Clips open and shut and allows more pages to be added with ease. Disadvantage: If you drop your ring binder, your rings will likely open, unless you get the locking binder.
	Strap Hinges - Metal staples embedded in metal is glued to thicker pages and held together with flexible plastic strapping. Protectors available. Advantage: Can hold more paper, within limitation. The straps will not release if accidentally dropped. Disadvantage: Your background color pages are limited to white, tan or black. Your album may become too thick, should you place pattern papers to your page. By do this, the number of pages will be limited in your album.
	Spirals - Spiral wire metal ring holds book together similar to a cookbook spine. Disadvantage: Cannot add pages. No page protectors included.
	Sewn /Tied Spines - Some people make these by hand and use them for photos or gifts. Be sure that your choice is sewn with a long lasting fiber. However, keep in mind no fiber is as long lasting as steel. View these as short term only. They normally do not withstand years of handling.

*Whatever album size or type you choose, please do ensure that your papers are acid, lignin and buff free - as these will prevent your pages and their contents from deteriorating.

Your tasks for this part of the course are:

1. Choose the subject matter (children, family, friends etc) that you wish to scrap this week.

2. Choose the album size and style you wish to scrap with. *For this project, please choose no more than an 8 x 8 size.

3. Purchase the album.
   

Congratulations! You have completed Part 1, of your 9 part mini course!

Next lesson we will go over how to choose and use your photo to create the perfect Scrapbook!

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*This lesson was written by Liz Holloway and Cijaye DePradine.