Scrapbooking Tip 2: Scrapbook Page Title

Scrapbooking Tip 2: Title

Don't forget to create a title for your scrapbook page. Though adding a title might seem to be obvious or unimportant, a title defines the whole basis of your scrapbook. The title instantly tells the viewer what your page is all about. In one word or one short phrase, the title tells the reader the theme and purpose of your scrapbook.

Titles can be as basic as the date of an event, the name of an individual, or a specific event.

Titles can also be more interesting and exciting. These can include quotes, sayings, fillers, or simple phrases. The best places to look for title inspiration are in greeting cards, advertisements, and commercials.

Scrapbook Pages: Photo Cropper

I think that this idea from Paper Fections on getting multiple photos all the same size to fit on your scrapbook page is a super one. Very often the simple scrapbooking ideas are the best!


Photo Cropper




Ever have a problem getting multiple photos all the same size for scrapbook page? Or if you've ever cut off too much of someone's head and ruined your whole photo, this tool is for you! I found this easy way to size photos . . . just take an 8" x 8" square of cardstock and cut 1" in from each side, so that you cut a 6" square out of the middle.
Then cut it in half diagonally so you have two separate triangles. Next, take a ruler and mark 1/2" and 1" increments up to 5", starting at the corner and working your way outward.




To size a photo, just overlap the two pieces to form a square or rectangle the size you'd like. Now you'll be able to position the correct size just where you want it, and never chop off a head again . . . Enjoy!

Scrapbooking Ideas: Basic Color Theory

If you are like me, you probably sometimes find co-ordinating colors to create that eye-satisfying scrapbook layout very time consuming. This article by Jay Moncliff on using the color wheel may help you speed things up. I very often employ this technique and find it a useful tool.


Basic Color Theory Scrapbooking Ideas

Looking for a simple, versatile scrapbooking idea that can make your pages interesting and great looking? Try using the color wheel that you learned about in grade school to design well-coordinated eye-pleasing pages that really shine. The simple color theories that you learned in grade school can serve you very well in scrapbooking today, and after reviewing the basics you’ll be ready to create an unlimited number of great looking pages.

Remember the color wheel? Colors arranged in a circle, similar to a rainbow, and all of the colors related? Red combines with yellow to make orange, yellow and blue combine to make green, and red and blue make purple, remember? Visit your local craft store and invest in a simple color wheel to get you going. Most of the art departments will have one, and EK Success now makes a fancy one just for scrapbooking. Any color wheel will allow you to use these simple ideas.

Let your picture be your guide in choosing a color scheme for your page. Choose one color from the photograph to be your “key” color. It may be a color from a flower in the foreground, or the color of the shirt your child is wearing. Whatever you choose, it will be the starting point for your color themed page design.

The first color scheme is monochromatic. Say you’ve chosen the blue of your son’s eyes. Since every color comes in many values, choose two or three additional values of the blue color you want to use. You may choose one lighter value and one darker value, or two lighter or darker values, it’s up to you. Now do all of your work on the page in these three colors. The result will be restful, calming and cohesive. Your page will be pleasing to the eye and stylish, no matter how you accessorize.

Choosing two or three adjoining colors is called an analogous color scheme. These combinations tend to be either warm (from the red side of the color wheel) or cool (from the blue side of the color wheel). They are pleasing to the eye, restful and attractive. Certain combinations lend themselves very well to different themes as well. Consider a combination of red, orange yellow and orange for a striking fall layout, or a combination of icy blues and purples for a frosty winter page.

The third basic type of color scheme is complimentary. Choosing colors across the wheel from each other creates contrast and is a good way to make the items on your page stand out. On a blue page, mat the photos in orange and use orange toned accents and your details will really stand out. Red and green are also complimentary, another reason that those Christmas pages are usually so striking. Every color on the color wheel has a compliment. Consider basing your page on one color and accent with its compliment for a striking, impressive effect.

The basics of color theory that we learned in grade school are worth reviewing when you’re looking for ideas to get started on your next scrapbook page. Invest in a color wheel and put those great papers to work for you!

About the Author:Jay Moncliff is the founder of http://www.scrapbookingcenter.info a website specialized on Scrapbooking, resources and articles. This site provides updated information on Scrapbooking. For more info on Scrapbooking visit: http://www.scrapbookingcenter.info

Scrapbook Embellishments: Folded & Stitched Paper Ribbon

Hi Scrappers,

Just to get the creative part of your brain in gear, have a look at this fascinating technique from http://scrapbooking.about.com/b/a/255756.htm for folding and stitching strips of patterned scrapbooking paper to create "ribbon-look" embellishments.

This is similar to a project I did some time age. It really looks great. Try it!

Scrapbook Pages: Add Value & Uniqueness

You can make your scrapbook pages stand out from the rest by being creative and prepared to try something new. The following article gives an idea using gemstones to make your scrapbook pages a little different:


How To Add Value And Uniqueness To Your Scrapbook Pages

by: Dawn Williams

It is very easy and affordable to add value and uniqueness to your scrapbook pages with loose Gemstones. Gemstones come in so many shapes, sizes and colors, so it is very easy to incorporate them into any theme. I have been using gemstones in my scrapbook pages for quite a while, and I always recommend them to my friends and family. There are many advantages to using gemstones as well. Gemstones are very easy to apply with glue dots, they will never fade or tarnish and it does not take any special techniques to create a very dramatic page.

What I like best about using Gemstones in my craft projects is how easy they can be added to finished pages as well. If you are like most Scrapbookers you already have expensive 3d stickers in your creations that have plastic stones in the design. All you have to do is carefully take the plastic stones off and replace with Genuine Gemstones. Here are a few ideas of ways I have used Gemstones in my pages:

* Square sapphires for butterfly and bee antenna tips
* Super star page with diamonds in the background
* Polk-a-dots on Easter eggs
* Eyes on the 3d animals
* Ornaments on a Christmas tree
* Birthstone Pages
* And much more.

There are many other crafts you can use Gemstones in as well so the possibilities are endless on what you can create. This Christmas I will be giving away shadow box frames with a Scrapbook page with Gemstones accents. They will be a very special and truly unique gift!

I hope you have enjoyed my article and Happy Scrapbooking! And remember be Creative Gemstones are only the beginning to using Jewelry in your Scrapbooking!

About The Author:
Dawn Williams has been using Gemstones in her scrapbooks for quite some time now. She is using her website to help promote the idea of "Gemstones are not just for Collecting" http://www.gemdeals4u.com/

Thought you guys might like the following piece written by Kim Bolyard who is a 2007 design team member at http://www.scrapbooks.com/blog/index.php


'Do you have a certain scrapbook style? Today I wanted to talk about different scrapbook styles and what that means as a scrapbooker. Many of us of been scrapbooking for years and have seen the world of scrapbooking evolve into this huge industry with thousands of products available at our finger tips. I myself have changed my style of scrapbooking throughout the years. I even change from week to week depending on what inspires me.

The important elements of a scrapbook page should be a title, photos, journaling and of course your own style. It is the look, the feel and the mood that demonstrates a scrapbook style. We are individuals that have developed our own styles. Find what works for you .

Here are a few examples of styles that I see right now:

Clean and Simple, which is exactly that. This tends to come from a more graphic design prospective. You have to think minimalist. The layout has straight lines and a minimum of embellishments.




Another very popular style right now is Freestyle. This being the polar opposite of Clean and Simple has taken the scrapbooking world by storm. Remember to think out side the box if this is your style. No rules-no boundaries. These pages are eclectic and artistic.



Let's not forget Trendy. Just like the fashion industry, which I feel drives this style, is the latest and greatest products. I don't know about you but I tend to go with what is hot in the market. Trendy does not only mean the products that you are using, but also what the latest techniques may be.


You can also throw some shabby chic in there and you have a well rounded mix of styles to chose from.


Scrapbooking allows you to experiment with the latest trends, colors, and techniques. Remember there is no right or wrong way to scrapbook. The important thing is to enjoy this wonderful hobby and keep stretching your mind and creativity. Always be true to yourself, and if you like your style and what you are creating that is all that matters.

To quote Ali Edwards "I believe style is a continual evolution. That it is constantly changing and growing. I love the idea that it is wonderfully perfect to have a style which is in motion. That ebbs and flows and never has to stay the same."

More Tips To Improve Your Scrapbook With Stickers

After many devoted hours, you have assembled your precious photos and memorabilia and arranged them artistically on your scrapbooking pages. You sit back and look at them carefully. You think to yourself, ‘they look great, but...they need a little extra something…of course, scrapbook stickers!’

What can scrapbook stickers do for your scrapbook pages?

Scrapbooking stickers can help to transform your great looking scrapbook pages into scrapbook pages that have that ‘WOW’ factor. Just by using scrapbook stickers, your scrapbook pages can miraculously change to something special…artistically special. There is a huge selection of scrapbook stickers available for every occasion and they are relatively inexpensive.

Prevent damage to your memorabilia by purchasing the right sort of scrapbook stickers.

Before indulging yourself in this virtual ‘Treasure House’ of scrapbooking stickers however, make certain that the scrapbook stickers that you buy are acid and lignin free to help prevent yellowing and damage with age.

What can you use scrapbooking stickers for?

One of the main uses for scrapbook stickers is as a border. This could be either around the edge of your scrapbook page or around your photos or items of memorabilia. There are many themed scrapbook stickers that are ready made for you to use.

If you find difficulty in laying the border down straight, instead of applying it direct to the background paper, mount in on cardstock first. Then, cut round the scrapbooking stickers and mount it on the page as you would a cut out.

You could use scrapbook stickers to fix photos and memorabilia in place. Try scrapbook stickers that enhance the theme of the page.

There is a huge range of alphabet scrapbooking stickers available that you could use to create artistic titles for your scrapbook pages. Word stickers can be employed for journaling.

Apply scrapbook stickers to pre-made tags and use as scrapbooking page embellishments.

Scrapbooking stickers are excellent for decoration and emphasizing a theme. Examples of this are using scrapbook stickers of footballs, baseballs etc. on scrapbook pages that have a sports theme. Glitter stickers, dress stickers, high heel stickers etc. would emphasize scrapbooking pages with a theme of a party or prom.

If you desired to include bullet points for emphasis, then scrapbook stickers could be used.

Are there any special fun type scrapbook stickers that you could use?

There are many varieties of this category of scrapbooking sticker available. It pays for you to look around and see what is available that would enhance your scrapbook pages. Some of these are of a layered type that produces a kind of 3D appearance.

• Thin wooden scrapbook stickers that you can paint or decorate.
• Rubber scrapbook stickers.
• Quilted scrapbook stickers.
• Vellum scrapbook stickers have a translucent quality to them.
• Crystal and epoxy scrapbook stickers have a raised layer over them.

Remember to use scrapbook stickers to enhance your scrapbook pages and not detract away from your photos and memories, so be careful.

As you can see, there is a vast variety of scrapbooking stickers available to enable you to use your artistic talents to enhance your scrapbook pages to make them just that bit different.

Your scrapbook album is a record of your precious memories, scrapbook stickers can make even more precious.

More Tips To Improve Your Scrapbook Layout

Are you struggling to come up with a scrapbook layout for your project?

It can be very frustrating when every scrapbook layout you try just does not seem to work.

First of all, it is worth taking your time when designing a scrapbooking layout because page appearance will make a difference to your finished scrapbook album.

Your scrapbook layout is really a personal preference so you can let your imagination be your creator. Try arranging your photos, memorabilia, journaling and embellishments on the page size you have chosen and see how they look. Move them around into different positions to try all combinations.

Consider using sketches to help you fit your memorabilia and embellishments on the page.

Lots of different layouts for various scrapbook page sizes can be found online and in scrapbooking magazines. It’s worth studying other people’s work too as you can see if their layouts and color combinations would work for you.

Keep your scrapbook layout simple. Just use two or three colors of paper and once you have decided on a style of frames and borders, keep them throughout.

For scrapbook pages, you could select scrapbooking paper that is color coordinated or scrapbook paper that has a background depicting your chosen theme.

Place your scrapbooking photos and memorabilia on the scrapbook page and see how they look. Try moving them around to different positions until you are satisfied. You may want to ‘crop’ your photos if they have irrelevant space around the main subject. Offer a frame to your photos, add stickers and embellishments, but don’t attach them until you are satisfied with the final appearance.

Remember to leave enough space in your scrapbook layout to enable you to insert your descriptions and notes. Journaling makes the scrapbook pages ‘come alive’ by adding your thoughts and emotions to the photos and memorabilia.

Make sure that the scrapbook page depicts the mood that you are trying to create.

Take the guesswork out of coordinating your scrapbook pages, by using a scrapbooking kit.

A scrapbook kit includes everything you might need such as stencils, frames and scrapbook paper, matched on a theme. A scrapbook kit saves you having to choose and purchase all your required materials separately. There are quite a variety of scrapbooking theme kits available especially for special occasions like birthdays and weddings.

Another way of designing a scrapbooking layout is to use your computer.

Digital scrapbooking as it is called is the use of graphics software to create layouts. This dedicated scrapbooking software contains many different layouts, usually geared towards themes, that you can use. The scrapbook paper, scrapbook stickers and all the other embellishments are coordinated to the particular theme that you have chosen.

You can then scan in your photos and other memorabilia and insert them onto the scrapbook pages. All the embellishments can be added to enhance the memorabilia and you know that it is all coordinated. Finally, your journaling can be inserted to finish the scrapbook album off.

Your layouts can be stored on your computer, shared online with others, or printed out. When printed out, digital scrapbook layouts look similar to the traditional ones.

Whatever method you decide on to create your scrapbook layout, you will have the freedom to be able to use your artistic talents and experiment with different looks.

By adding your personal touch to your scrapbook layout you can have real fun.