[article] History of modern Scrapbooking - by Erin Reason

Welcome to the world of scrapbooking!

Scrapbooking is not only a fun hobby, but also a way to share your family's special moments.

Scrapbooking has been around for generations, but it really seemed to gain momentum in popularity in the late 80's. Today, there are a multitude of papers and embellishments available to create everything from the most basic pages to absolute works of art.

Manufacturers have heard the call of preservationists and have created photo-friendly products. Albums of the past utilized PVC page protectors, acidic pastes and lignen ridden papers. The harsh chemicals caused photo deterioration, which resulted in color distortion and fading. Today's products are acid-free, lignen-free and pvc-free, leaving scrappers nothing to fear when assembling their precious family albums.

Often times, new scrappers may find it a bit intimidating to layout the perfect page and find coordinating materials to use. Many books, magazines and online websites offer detailed instructions for page design. Stores have multiple offerings with page kits that have all coordinating elements included, as well as classes educating participants on how to put it all together.

In today's technological world, many scrapbookers have discovered digital scrapping. Photos can easily be uploaded from a camera and added to pre-formatted pages in a software program that also allows photo editing. No matter what you choose, there is something out there that appeals to every type of scrapbooker. The best part about scrapbooking is that it is something you can do and share with others. Many friendships and family relationships benefit from the time spent together creating and sharing.

If you have any questions about scrapbooking, please contact Erin at heronline scrapbooking store.

About the Author
Erin Reason has been in the business of scrapbooking and scrapbooking supplies for over 10 years.

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[article] Other ways to use scrapbook paper - by The Scrapbook Paper Site

There are so many ways to use scrapbook paper to enhance and add texture and dimension to your scrapbook pages and albums. We will try and cover some of the ways we have seen it being used, other than just a background. The first technique we have seen is tearing. This technique requires no tools and is very easy to do. Here are some of the ways you can tear and what it gives you. Tear toward you for a rough white edge, tear away from you for a rough edge without the white, use water to draw the design and to make tearing easier. You can crease the scrapbook paper with your nail and use your thumb to make more intricate tears.

To add more dimension to your torn paper, chalk the edges. You can roll the torn edges for an even more dimensional look. Here are a few uses for torn scrapbook paper: journal blocks, borders, flowers, mosaic with torn cardstock pieces, water, sand, mountains, and mats for photos.

You will also find that there is scrapbook paper out there that has asymmetrical shapes for placing the pictures on the paper. When you use this paper, you can use tracing paper for a perfect photo fit. Simply trace the design onto the tracing paper. Then place it over the portion of picture required. Using a little adhesive on the part of the photo to be discarded, trim along the traced line and place the photo where the shapes indicate.

If you are pressed for cash, a good way to go is to download digital scrapbook paper. We don't recommend this because you might use regular paper to print out the scrapbook paper designs. See our other post on why you need to have special acid and lignin free paper. If you do choose to use downloadable designs, digital designers have created inexpensive alternatives to papers by popular manufacturers such as Basic Grey, Ki Memories, K & Company, Chatterbox, My Mind's Eye, and American Crafts. When you download scrapbook paper from a digital scrapbooking website, it is very easy to create affordable and memorable layouts for your albums.

Other ways to use scrapbook paper is for cards. It is like making mini-scrapbook pages and your friends and family will love to receive handmade cards. Use embellishments such as brads, fabric, gel, buttons, glitter & confetti, inks, dyes & chalk and rivets to add that extra flare. And make sure you never throw out any so-called "useless" scraps; they might be good to add that extra dimension to your pages.

One of the most creative things we have seen is to use it is to bring a specific theme into a tablescape. Look for camping-themed paper and use it as placemats or you can use coordinating scrapbook embellishments such as stickers and chipboard cutouts to make mini-signs for the table or food area, decorate drink ware or even as coaster.

As you can see there are many ways to use scrapbook paper and you are only limited by your imagination.

About the Author
Your complete Scrapbook Paper guide. What to use and some ideas to get you on your way!
The Scrapbook Paper Site

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[article] Photo Books - by Melanie Cath

Our grandparents had photo albums with grey or brown pages and little corners to hold their sepia photos in place. Then photo albums progressed to white pages with magnetic strips to hold the many, coloured photos we took. The next step was scrapbooking for those crafty people who could be bothered, while others preferred digital photos. But digital photos are limited too. You need a computer, TV or digital photo frame of some kind to display them on.

But how about printing your favourite photos into a real book, just like one you would buy from a bookstore? This is the next option and must surely be a delight to many, especially when it is so easy to do online. All you have to do is download the picture book designer, choose what size you want and the style of cover you like best, insert your images into the templates and add text if you want it. Then you will need to preview it all to catch any mistakes or change something around before ordering however many copies you want.

The whole thing is quite cost effective, when you compare what it will cost you to buy your photo album plus all the accessories you need. Then some years down the track you may find that the photos are degrading, or the adhesive is drying out and it must all be done again. But with your precious photos made into a areal book you will have something that lasts in a beautiful form forever.

About the Author
Mel writes about photobooks, digital printing and other photo gift topics.

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[article] Scanning Photos For Your Digital Scrapbook - by Pete Fontaine

The art of digital scrapping is soaring in popularity. A quick online search will give you an idea of how many free or low cost tools, templates, and tutorials there are for the taking. It's easy to find design concepts, creation software, and personalized help. Online scrapbooking chat rooms and communities help with technical information and ideas. It's never been easier to produce gorgeous custom creations.

Restricting yourself to using just your digital photographs is no longer necessary. You can add hundreds of your older photos to your digital photo gallery for as little as 5 cents each. By sending your pictures to an inexpensive scanning service you can fill in those missing decades in your digital scrapbooks.

Scanning photos for your scrapping hobby has the added advantage of preserving them from deterioration due to moisture, mold, or age. Saving your photos to a DVD also allows you to store a copy in two or more places permanently shielding them from loss or damage. Scanning services make it possible to give a complete set of all your pictures to family members.

Once you've gotten your photos scanned for scrapping you can use them to build photobooks online and upload them to a free photo sharing site to share with your friends. Online businesses that sell photo novelties like cards, calendars, and T-shirts are easy to find and use. With a few services you can even build a slideshow with music that you can view on a TV or on a digital picture frame.

Make sure your photo scanning service will scan at 300 dpi. No more, no less. 300 DPI is the best choice for almost all photo scanning purposes, so don't pay for more. Also make sure that your photos are saved as a high quality jpeg. You will be using jpeg files in your scrapbooking efforts, and though high quality jpegs have bigger files, you can always use your photo editing software to reduce the file size for a copy of the original.

Automatic photo enhancement can improve many of your photos. But don't pay a lot for this service because it won't perform miracles, and it won't make a difference on some photographs. Insist that your photo enhancement is performed on a copy of your master scans. Manipulation of your scans causes them to be recompressed and that, if repeated, will cause quality issues. Make sure your scanning service provides both set of master scans and a set of enhanced scans.

The web is loaded with digital scrapbooking accessories, communities, and educational materials. You can find e-books and embellishments of every kind. Put these tools together with scans from an economical photo scanning service and you're on your way!

About the Author
Scanning photos for digital scrapbooking has the added benefit of permanently protecting them from destruction and deterioration. Photo Scanning makes it easy and inexpensive to share a complete copy of your family's photographic history with everyone in the family. Learn more about photo scanning at Pete's website http://www.nickelscan.com/

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[article] Starting a Successful Creative Scrapbooking Business, Part III - by Michele Cardello

Author: Michele Cardello

Every scrapbook is unique and inviting; as a creative scrapbooking professional, your marketing should be as eye-catching and irresistible as your creations. Even if you have only a few hundred dollars to spend, you can absolutely woo clientele using grassroots methods to showcase your creative scrapbooking acumen.

Educate Others in the Art Form of Creative Scrapbooking

One of the fastest ways to turn yourself from an unknown scrapbooker into a creative scrapbooking “expert” is to teach a class on the art of creating a fabulous, memorable scrapbook.

Though you might initially be wary that if you tell others your creative scrapbooking “secrets”, they won’t use your creative scrapbooking business, that usually doesn’t happen. Instead, what occurs is that your students see you as a professional in the arena of scrapbook design and development. Thus, when they want an important scrapbook (e.g., for their daughter’s Bar Mitzvah or husband’s retirement celebration), they will immediately think of you. After all, they might enjoy creative scrapbooking, but they don’t necessarily feel confident enough to construct a special scrapbook on their own.

You can work with many community centers, schools, college campuses, and libraries to offer your creative scrapbooking courses. Expect to spend a bit of money on advertising, room rental (though you can often snag a free space if you’re a start-up), and creative scrapbooking paraphernalia, though it’s still much less of an investment than if you paid for a full page, 4-color ad in the Sunday paper.

Write About Scrapbooking

Another way to become an instant creative scrapbooking “guru” is to write articles or tips about creative scrapbooking. Sometimes, smaller community papers will print such items as “filler” for their circulars. Alternately, if a local sewing center or arts and crafts store offers a newsletter to patrons, you might be able to become a “guest columnist.” (Or perhaps you can offer to write your own “creative scrapbooking newsletter” gratis if they agree to pass it out to consumers.)

Will you receive a ton of creative scrapbooking business from this type of subtle “marketing”? Probably not. But you will be building your reputation as your area’s premier creative scrapbooking authority. You will also be able to tell prospective customers that you’ve published items on the topic of creative scrapbooking, always an impressive credential to tout (and a resume booster as well.)

Start a Scrapbooking Blog and/or Web site

In today’s cyber society, blogs and Web sites are fairly inexpensive, so there’s no reason not to get online and start talking about your creative scrapbooking know-how and burgeoning creative scrapbooking company.

For example, you could quickly set up a blog 100% devoted to the tricks of the creative scrapbooking trade in an effort to attract persons from around the world to your site. Though most of them won’t become clients, you stand to gain instant exposure. And who knows? The family down the street may wind up stopping by your creative scrapbooking Web site and hiring you to redo their three sons’ baby books!

Never Stop Selling Yourself or Your Scrapbooking Abilities!

It’s critical that you never stop selling yourself and your creative scrapbooking business if you are serious about succeeding in this infant industry with huge profit potential.

This may mean stepping out of your “comfort zone” and becoming a master at self-promotion. If you have an innate fear of networking, it’s time to overcome your worries and learn how to shake some hands. Remember that you won’t be the first entrepreneur who took a plunge into the unknown.

To become a better press generator on behalf of your creative scrapbooking business, you’ll have to force yourself to try again and again. However, if the process becomes achingly difficult and hampers your desire to scrapbook, it may be time to hire someone to promote your business on your behalf. Yes, this is a “last ditch” measure, but if it keeps your dream alive, it’s worth the cost to bring on a partner who isn’t afraid of a good sales pitch. (And many individuals will work with start-ups on a commission basis, which is terrific news for your budget!)

A Final Note about Ethics and Your Scrapbooking Venture

Though it’s imperative that you keep up standards and operate ethically and legally (the tax man will cometh whether you like it or not!), that doesn’t mean you can’t be innovative. Constantly seek out ways to differentiate yourself from other scrapbook artists and allow yourself to grow personally and professionally.

Love your work, and that positive attitude mingled with creative scrapbooking talent will draw customer inquiries and have you wondering why you didn’t begin your creative scrapbooking company sooner.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/hobbies-articles/starting-a-successful-creative-scrapbooking-business-part-iii-177994.html

About the Author:

Michele Cardello, director of marketing and creative for Life Imprints, a creative scrapbooking supplies company also offering contemporary picture frames, in Cleveland, Ohio, has worked in the photo packaging industry for 10 years. Cardello helps customers find creative ways to preserve and appreciate a lifetime of memories.

Article is licensed under a Creative Commons License
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[article] Starting a Successful Creative Scrapbooking Business, Part II - by Michele Cardello

Author: Michele Cardello

It’s ironic; what makes a creative scrapbooking business unique attractive to entrepreneurs seeking a work-at-home venture is also what makes it so incredibly challenging. After all, there are no definitive “rules” when it comes to pricing your scrapbook creations or determining where and how to advertise your services.

However, there are general business planning techniques you can use as a starting point to give your creative scrapbooking company the best chance of long-term success.

Setting Your Creative Scrapbooking Price Rates

Whether you specialize in wedding scrapbooks, memory scrapbooks, award/honor scrapbooks, or other creative scrapbooking creations, you’ll need to develop a price guideline. Otherwise, it will be difficult to negotiate with clientele.

Determining your creative scrapbooking business price guideline may seem daunting at first blush, but it’s actually not that complicated when broken down into “bite sized” pieces.

Hourly Rates or Standard Price per Scrapbook?

First, you’ll need to determine whether you want to set prices per project or per hour.

One huge advantage to charging per creative scrapbooking project is that consumers are accustomed to paying for products this way. After all, people don’t purchase a pair of shoes based on how long it took a cobbler to make them; they simply look at the price tag or retail value and decide if they feel it’s a worthwhile investment.

That being said, setting a price per creative scrapbooking project may not always be beneficial for you. If you discover you’re spending inordinate amounts of time on each scrapbook you create, your originally quoted price might not match your efforts. (Remember the old adage: Time is Money.)

Essentially, you can expect to experiment with your creative scrapbooking cost methods at first. Perhaps with some clients, you could offer a “per project” rate, but with others, you might try an hourly approach. There’s no “right or wrong” process–you simply want to find the best one for your creative scrapbooking business.

Remember to Consider “Hidden Costs”

Before “going public” with your scrapbook price structure, make sure you’ve accounted for the many costs (both direct and indirect) associated with owning a creative scrapbooking business. Be certain to include the amount you expect to spend on basic creative scrapbooking supplies such as specialty paper, a scrapbook, adhesives, stickers, markers, and fabrics.

Add into your creative scrapbooking price figures telephone calls, mileage (if you’ll travel for consultations), babysitting costs, and any overhead.

At this point, your initial price estimates may seem too high or low. Consequently, you can modify them accordingly, although you should never underestimate what people will pay for a one-of-a-kind scrapbook.

Selling Your Creative Scrapbooking Services

You’ve determined your basic scrapbook price. Creative scrapbooking supplies are on hand and on order. You’re organized, primed, and ready to go. But wait! You still need to attract that first key customer.

Advertising and marketing are stumbling blocks for many creative scrapbooking business start-ups; consequently, plenty of scrapbook enthusiasts shy away from becoming entrepreneurs because they assume they’ll never be able to publicize their talents. However, if you approach the selling of your creative scrapbooking services pragmatically, you’ll have an excellent chance of attracting clientele.

Initially, you may want to try a technique that has worked for many other creative scrapbooking aficionados – scrapbook “parties”. These get-togethers are akin to the “tupperware” gatherings made famous in the 70s. Put simply, a friend offers to host a scrapbook party at his or her residence for several persons interested in the world of creative scrapbooking.

Your role at the scrapbook party will be to introduce them to creative scrapbooking and to talk about what you can do for them. Obviously, it will be crucial to bring along business cards (why not design handmade “mini scrapbook cards” for the occasion?) as well as sample scrapbooks you’ve created. Coupons for discount scrapbook services make nice add-ons and will encourage scrapbook party guests to hire you. From this party, you can expect to get a few “nibbles” and perhaps one or two customers.

Naturally, it’s essential to do a fabulous job on your first scrapbook assignment. You must give it “your all”; that way, your client will have a reason to brag about and show off your customized (and exceptional) creative scrapbooking services to friends, family, and coworkers. You can also use your satisfied customer (if he or she agrees) as a “spokesperson” for your creative scrapbooking business in future advertising campaigns.

Next … Beyond Marketing 101

In the final article of our three-part creative scrapbooking business piece, we’ll examine particularly creative scrapbooking business marketing ideas and provide hints on running your creative scrapbooking company wisely, ethically, and efficiently.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/hobbies-articles/starting-a-successful-creative-scrapbooking-business-part-ii-177992.html

About the Author:

Michele Cardello, director of marketing and creative for Life Imprints, a creative scrapbooking supplies company also offering contemporary picture frames, in Cleveland, Ohio, has worked in the photo packaging industry for 10 years. Cardello helps customers find creative ways to preserve and appreciate a lifetime of memories.

Article is licensed under a Creative Commons License
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[article] Starting a Successful Creative Scrapbooking Business, Part I - by Michele Cardello

Author: Michele Cardello

Creative scrapbooking has taken the world by storm. It’s relaxing, fun, social… and, let’s face it, incredibly addictive! After all, what scrapbooker doesn’t smile with pride when she or he finishes a decorative project?

If you have the talent to create eye-catching, creative scrapbooks, you can actually turn your hobby into a lucrative creative scrapbooking career. In this three-part series, we’ll show you some of the secrets to running a home-based creative scrapbooking company that regularly adds extra coins to your coffers!

Why Creative Scrapbooking?

People from all walks of life have photos and mementoes cluttering their homes. They’d love to organize and arrange them, but don’t have the time (or, in some cases, the ability.) That’s where you, as a professional scrapbooker, can step in!

Through creative scrapbooking, you can create delightful, entertaining, and touching memory books that will be certain to have a very long shelf life. Imagine… your scrapbook creations could someday become precious family heirlooms passed down from generation to generation!

What Types of Scrapbooks Sell?

Creative scrapbooking is an incredibly versatile field because you have virtually no boundaries. Graduation scrapbooks, family tree scrapbooks, baby scrapbooks, wedding scrapbooks, and achievement scrapbooks are only a few of the countless styles of creative scrapbooking inventions you can market.

Use your imagination; anything that’s relatively flat can go into a scrapbook, so the sky’s the limit.

Can Scrapbooking Really Be Profitable?

Creative scrapbooking, as with any legitimate business, won’t make you rich overnight. But if you’re determined and plan your creative scrapbooking operation pragmatically, you can absolutely make money from this burgeoning industry.

Best of all, creative scrapbooking is a low overhead industry. You’ll need to start with a modest amount of scrapbooking supplies, but you can build your stock over time thanks to fast shipping and wholesale prices offered at Internet scrapbooking supply stores.

How Can I Start Professionally Scrapbooking?

Obviously, the first step to starting a creative scrapbooking company (even one with a single employee, aka “you”) is to develop a business plan. This document should include an overview, financial information (including income and expense projections, marketing ideas, local competition statistics, and realistic growth rates.

Though you may not be able to find exact data to work into your creative scrapbooking business plan, try to be as complete as possible. The more information you include, the better your chances of success.

Do I Need Any Formal Training?

Though there are no credentials needed to call yourself a creative scrapbooking pro, you may want to take a few community courses on scrapbooking design. Doing so will keep you “in the know” as far as the latest products and trends are concerned; it will also provide you with fresh ideas to propose when working with clientele.

What Do I Need in Terms of Stock?

One of the most essential items you’ll need to start a creative scrapbooking venture is scrapbooking paraphernalia. Chances are, you already have some supplies around your home, but if they aren’t organized, it’s time do so.

Invest in some bins (dollar stores have a plethora of options) and label them according to scrapbooking supplies, such as stickers, papers, backgrounds, adhesives, albums, markers, scrapbooking magazines (for inspiration), and borders. This way, you’ll always know exactly how much of each scrapbooking necessity you have and can order more before you run out.

Do I Need to Rent a Space for My Scrapbooking Business?

Though it would certainly be wonderful to have an “offsite” locale for your creative scrapbooking enterprise, it’s more likely that you’ll need to make due with your current digs.

Anything from a corner of your family room to a renovated closet can serve as your creative scrapbooking “headquarters”. Just make certain that you have enough space and light to work your magic and store your scrapbooking supplies!

What Will I Tell My Family?

If you’re worried about “breaking” the news to your family that you’re setting off on an entrepreneurial scrapbooking journey, you’re not alone. Many first-time business owners are reticent to reveal their plans to loved ones for fear that their significant others will not be supportive.

With that said, it’s critical to the long-term success of your creative scrapbooking business that you have the “buy in” of your kin. So take a deep breath, muster up all your courage, and boldly state, “I’m going to become a professional scrapbooker! And when the money starts coming in, the first dinner out is on me!”

The Next Step

Are you eager to start your creative scrapbooking adventure? In our next article, we’ll explore how to set your prices and market and advertise your home-based scrapbooking services…

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/hobbies-articles/starting-a-successful-creative-scrapbooking-business-part-i-177988.html

About the Author:

Michele Cardello, director of marketing and creative for Life Imprints, a creative scrapbooking supplies company also offering contemporary picture frames, in Cleveland, Ohio, has worked in the photo packaging industry for 10 years. Cardello helps customers find creative ways to preserve and appreciate a lifetime of memories.

Article is licensed under a Creative Commons License
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[article] Baby Girl Scrapbooking Kits - by Tracy Ballisager

For the old fashion photo album, it does take time, patience, or creativity to pull together a masterpiece. A scrapbook, on the other hand, is something that can be stressful, take time, and quite frankly, isn't for everyone. So, what do you do if you really want a scrapbook but you don't want to put in the work ? You buy a baby girl scrapbooking kit. And don't worry; there are options to choose from!

Pre-Made Book

Chances are, you're reading this because you're not sure you have what it takes to create a handmade scrapbook.

Your local craft stores and the internet do sell premade scrapbook kits that are more like completed books with very little work left to do. Here, you just have to print out your photos and have them ready. The book is already completed (every page is stuck together and embellished) and you just have to add your photos. It's a simple way to get a scrapbook made without all of the work.

Pre-Made Pages

If you're semi- creative, but not as patient, this option may work for you. Instead of purchasing a completely finished book, you can buy completed pages at craft stores. The baby girl scrapbooking kits have everything you need to complete the page, all you have to do is insert your photos and put the pages in a book. This option requires a little more work on your part, but definitely doesn't cause a huge mess.

Go Digital

If the thought of tape and cardstock makes you want to cringe, then head for the computer. Many photo sharing sites offer digital scrapbooking kits. This means that you get to pick all of your options on the computer (including theme, photos, text, etc.) and then the company prints it, binds it, and ships it to you! A few hours at the computer will totally pay off!

Completely Personalized

Some companies now offer completely personalized books to fit your needs. Instead of you purchasing a baby girl scrapbooking kit that requires work, tape, and time, this option lets you pick a design and theme and someone else creates the book for you. The price is usually a little higher, but the work is uncanny and it will be wonderful to look at such a masterpiece knowing you didn't have to do the work!

Your options for baby girl scrapbooking kits are endless. Just put into perspective the time that you really want to spend and go from there.


About the Author
Tracy Ballisager is a stay at home mum. To read more on baby scrapbooking go to http://www.babyscrapbooking-ideas.com


Article source: http://www.goarticles.com/

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[article] Scrapbooking Trends: What Are Artist Trading Cards? - by Christine Perry

Author: Christine Perry

In the scrapbooking industry, artist trading cards (or ATC's) are becoming more popular as trendsetting companies like 7 Gypsies release more ATC supplies and holders. These miniature pieces of art, or in the case of scrapbookers, mini page layouts, are as much fun to trade and collect as they are to create. There are few rules and limits on artist trading cards, and they are quick to make and adapt to scrapbooking materials.

The only strict requirement for artist trading cards is their size. The standard is 2.5" x 3.5". This is based on the size of sport trading cards and collectible card games like Pokemon and Magic. The orientation for your design can be either vertical or horizontal. You can use any medium you like, paint, paper, pencil, watercolor, pen and ink. Digital media and collage are very common. Any materials used on a scrapbooking page can be used on an artist trading card. Modern interest in these cards began around 1997 in Zurich, Switzerland. M. Vanci Stirnemann, a Swiss artist, is credited with popularizing ATC's by starting trading sessions. However, we can trace miniature art back to Impressionist era artists who used business cards showing a sample of their work.

One expectation of artist trading cards is that they should not be sold, but traded or shared. They are usually original works or made in limited editions. This may be one reason why they have gained such popularity with today's scrapbookers. They are a perfect item for scrapbooking swaps. Online message boards have special sections just for swaps. One scrapbooker usually organizes the swaps and then opens it up for others to participate. Each member of the swap creates an ATC and then makes enough for each member in the group. They sign their name, contact information, title of the ATC, and the number of the card if it is part of an edition. At the end of the swap, everyone has a collection of different artist trading cards.

Swaps and limited editions are often created around themes. Some popular artist trading card themes are animals, seasons, quotes and holidays. In some cases, the theme may be defined by the medium used. For example, you may have a digital media theme or a collage theme. In fact almost any theme used for scrapbooking circle journals could be used for an ATC swap as well. Creating an artist trading card follows the same design principles as a scrapbooking page, only on a smaller scale. You will need a focal point, background and an embellishment or two. Arrange your card first, and then adhere it to the card. Remember to sign the back.

Once you have a collection of artist trading cards, you will want to store them or display them. You can easily store them in the plastic sleeves meant for sports trading cards. A small decorative box also makes a good container, especially if it is archival safe. You may want to purchase an ATC holder to display your cards. These specially designed holders look like a rolodex. They are available from a few manufacturers and can be found in either a vertical or horizontal format.

Artist trading cards are only limited by your imagination. They are a perfect opportunity to try a new scrapbooking technique on a small scale. Gather a few scrapbooking friends and start an artist trading card swap today.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/scrapbooking-trends-what-are-artist-trading-cards-414443.html

About the Author:

Christine Perry is an avid scrapbooker and has over 10 years of scrapbooking experience. Her favorite scrapbooking subjects are her reluctant teenagers. She invites you to her website, http://www.intoscrapbooking.com for more scrapbooking tips and information on scrapbooking forums.

Article is licensed under a Creative Commons License
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[article] Cool Scrapbooking Ideas and Free Scrapbooking Software to Use - by James Kara Murat

Author: James Kara Murat

Crafts, especially unique and interesting ones, never go out of style. These also never run out of loyal followers. One very good proof of this is the continuous popularity of both cross stitching and knitting. Up to this day, these types of crafts still count thousands, if not millions, of devoted practitioners all over the world.

These days, another emerging type of craft is gaining ground – scrapbooking. Craft aficionados, especially those who love visually appealing products, have started to promote this. What makes scrapbooking interesting for a lot of aficionados is the fact that you can insert your personal style without any limitations.

Scrapbooking is a hobby wherein a person preserves photographs, cards, tickets and other symbols of memories in a very creative and unique way. A practitioner, usually called a “scrapbooker,” protects and presents these symbols of memories through various themes, which may range from holidays to events to describing how it was like then. For instance, a mother may preserve memories of her newborn by preparing a single scrapbook spread with at least two photographs embellished with cut-outs, stickers and perhaps tags found on the baby’s crib at the hospital. As you can see, the idea is to make the photographs more meaningful and more unique compared to just placing them in regular photo albums.

If you want to start developing your scrapbooking abilities, here are a few tips and ideas you may want to consider for your projects:

1. Use your favorite quotes and perhaps samplings of your diary as embellishments. Give your spread a personal touch by inserting your favorite motto printed in a nice, fancy font.

2. To give emphasis to the name of a person whose photos you want to preserve, you can make one or two letters bigger than all the rest. Alternatively, you can print one or two letters using a different font or a different color.

3. Go for the 3D effect! Arrange pictures in such a way that the end result will be a cool 3 dimensional effect.

4. Scan or insert actual tickets, menus, stubs or tags. If you’re doing a photo diary of your recent travel to the U.S., for instance, saving and inserting the actual train tickets and airplane flight booking papers can add pizzazz to your project.

5. Use personalized templates. If you want to preserve photos of your family’s first ever trip to the beach, you may want to use a background full of seashells, beach balls, slippers and sand.

You can also go to supplies stores or hobby shops to purchase ready-to-assemble scrapbooking kits. These kits usually contain ribbons, craft thickers, vellum quote stacks, rickracks and perhaps buttons and kitchen paper. You can use them based on the instructions based on the kit or add more embellishments. Just don’t overdo it though!

On the other hand, you could first try your hand on scrapbooking via free scrapbooking software programs. Two free scrapbooking softwares which you can use are Picaboo and Scrapbook Flair.

Features of these two are basically the same – you can add personalized backgrounds to your spread, you can frame your digital pictures with stylish corners, you can come up with a photo collage and you can instantly create a 3D effect.

Given these, one can truly see why people are getting hooked with scrapbooking. It’s a hobby where a person can exercise creativity, thought and imagination on meaningful projects.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/hardware-articles/cool-scrapbooking-ideas-and-free-scrapbooking-software-to-use-251386.html

About the Author:

James Kara Murat the contributor of Printer Paper & Photo Printer. A longer version of this article is located at Cool Scrapbooking Ideas and related resources can be found at PrintCountry Photo Printing & Sharing Ideas.

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[article] Scrapbooking Ideas And Quotes For Exciting Pages - by Karen Lincoln

Author: Karen Lincoln

When it comes to scrapbooking there is never a shortage of ideas to use. Scrapbooking is only limited by the person putting the album together. To help get your creative juices flowing, take a look at some of these suggestions for making scrapbooking more fun and more meaningful. There is also a section on a few quotes that are just too cute to pass up.

Tips and Tricks for Scrapbooking

If you want to scrapbook, but are overwhelmed with all of the photos that you have piled in draws and cabinets, here's a tip for you. Start scrapbooking with your next roll of film and go from there. From this point on, you can keep up with your scrapbook with ease. Scrapbooking should be an enjoyable hobby, not a cumbersome task. If you find you have time to work on the older photo collection, great; if not, then no sweat.

Page titles can sometimes be a challenge to come up with an appropriate and catchy name. In order to solve this problem, try going through your CD and video collections. You are bound to find a title that fits your scrapbook. You can also try looking through old greeting cards or using scrapbook Internet sites for tons of ideas. Speaking of greeting cards, be sure to save the ones that you get from others. The pictures on greeting cards make great die cut images for your scrapbooks.

Making your own stickers to personalize your scrapbook is a breeze. Simply purchase full cover label sheets from your local discount store and print your personal pictures onto the sheets. Cut around the images and you have instant stickers to place in your album. This is fun to do, but can become addictive because it is so easy.

Quotes Galore ideal for scrapbooks

Here are some quotes that will give you great ideas for your picture captions. Feel free to use these on your current and future projects.

Babies

• A star is born!

• A sneak peek at baby (ultrasound)

• A time to be born

• A Whole New World

• Bear-y Cute!

Kids

• Having A Ball

• Accidents Happen

• Me & My Teddy

• Daddy's Helper

• Cute as a Button

Gardening

• Gardening adds years to your life and life to your years.

• Gardening...just another day at the plant.

• Gardening: A labor that begins with daybreak and ends with back break.

• Weed it and Reap

• A beautiful garden is a work of heart.

Love

• Can't Fight This Feeling

• Happiness is being married to your best friend.

• Loads of Love

• Love "bears" all things.

• My love for you is like a circle, it has no end.

Dogs

• Dogs leave paw prints in your heart

• Bad to the bone

• Dog-gone cute

• It's a dog's life

• No bones about it

Cats

• Purrrfectly Adorable

• Cool Kitty

• When you have a cat, Everyday is purr-fect

• Cats don't have owners... they have staff.

• Cats are just children with fur!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/scrapbooking-ideas-and-quotes-for-exciting-pages-424840.html

About the Author:

If you liked these scrapbooking ideas then visit our site for more information on scrapbooking aswell as beading, quilting and candle making.

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[article] Why the Concept of Scrapbooking Rooms is Gaining Popularity by the Day - by Muna wa Wanjiru

Author: Muna wa Wanjiru

Scrapbooking is an activity practiced all over today. Many people have fallen in love with the concept of Scrapbooking and are willingly creating their scrapbooks. Though it may be a rage in the modern times, Scrapbooking is quite an ancient activity. In ancient Greece people would write their thoughts, ideas and feelings in notebooks called 'Hyponemata'. No such evidence of preservation of written memorabilia in the history of any other region. The concept evolved over ages and reached its true destination when the art of printing evolved.

Today, people preserve their ideas, likes and dislikes and feeling and emotions through the art of Scrapbooking. Photos, albums and other memorabilia are preserved through the visual medium employed in Scrapbooking. People of all age groups indulge in this activity for their own different reasons. Embellishments like stickers, stamps, chipboard elements in several sizes, rub-ons, eyelets and ribbons are used in the decoration of scrapbooks. The aim of Scrapbooking is to combine visual beauty with inner thoughts.

Like many other concepts, the concept of Scrapbooking rooms related to Scrapbooking is gaining popularity by the day. More and more people are indulging in the art Scrapbooking today. Putting down their personal emotions on pieces of paper, people wish to explore the other avenues which allied to Scrapbooking. The popularity of the activity is expanding its horizons and scales of operation.

Scrapbooking is no more confined to a single person behind four walls expressing his emotions with a few A-4 size papers and felt pens and photos. With its increasing popularity, the activity is emerging as a public affair. Scrapbooking rooms are places where people come together indulge in the art on a large scale. In this type of arrangement, several people can access to Scrapbooking with a vivid variety of mediums and material.

Scrapbooking rooms are generally run by Scrapbooking enthusiasts or private associations. The aim of these rooms is to encourage people create beautiful scrapbooks and also help each other in doing so. They comprise of mediums like papers in different sizes, files, background materials which include printed and card-stock papers etc. some of these rooms also have digital mediums like printers, scanners etc for use of digital resources.

Scrapbooking rooms are quite interesting for most of the visitors owing to the variety of materials they house. They have ample supplies of basic stationary like felt pens, sketch pens, rubbers, erasers, scissors, art pens, color paints, archival pens, mounting glues etc. Acid free albums and papers which assure preservation of the beauty of the scrapbook in the long run are made available in such rooms. Other important materials like templates, rubber stamps, stencils, craft punches, eyelet setters etc too are available here. Decoration material is made available in ample quantities and varieties here.

The aim of Scrapbooking rooms is to create a very well-organized and functional atmosphere for the activity of Scrapbooking. Emotional and mutual aims can be achieved well through such places. Many people in several cities run Scrapbooking rooms on different scales. The trend is on a boom.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/hobbies-articles/why-the-concept-of-scrapbooking-rooms-is-gaining-popularity-by-the-day-310812.html

About the Author:

Muna wa Wanjiru Has Been Researching and Reporting on Scrapbooking for Years. For More Information on Scrapbooking Rooms, Visit His Site at SCRAPBOOKING ROOMS

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[article] Some Different Christmas Scrapbooking Ideas - by Michele Cardello

Author: Michele Cardello

How can you give a gift that will go on giving long after it is unwrapped, lauded and put away? If you are considering making a personal scrapbook for some of the special people on your list, check out some of these Christmas scrapbooking ideas listed below. (You may have to concentrate on a few people if you are pressed for time. Next year, you can do the people you missed this time around.) It’s no small job, and will require planning on your part, but when you are finished, your Christmas scrapbooking idea is sure to be the talk of all the family this holiday season.

Think of yourself as the FBI and that maniac, J. Edgar Hoover. Keep secret files (photos, etc.) just like he did on everyone who is the subject of your Christmas scrapbook idea. Only work when inspired. It will show otherwise. Gather photos and ephemera enthusiastically. Use only those items that make you laugh, cry or seriously reflect on that person, or you with that person, or something along those lines. Sort the wheat from the chaff (but not necessarily in that order). If you are ambivalent about including pieces in your Christmas scrapbooking ideas, they probably don’t belong.

Decide on the type of scrapbook you want to make. Here are some thoughts on that.

• If you want a recipe album, concentrate on a few recipes that are especially meaningful to the subject of your Christmas scrapbooking idea. Follow the course of history for the particular family member as connected to that recipe or recipes (photos eating, making, transporting, enjoying, etc). Considering the levity of the occasion, focus on desserts for your Christmas scrapbooking ideas, if you can.

• Christmas scrapbooking ideas for young children

ABC scrapbooks are the perfect Christmas scrapbooking ideas for kids and they are very easy to make. Devote each page of your Christmas scrapbook idea to one letter of the alphabet. Use photos and other ephemera to illustrate each letter in a personal way. For example, A is for Aunt Betty, etc.

• Teachers appreciate homemade gifts from students. For your Christmas scrapbooking idea, consider helping your child make an album for a special teacher on your gift list. If you really are organized and start early enough in developing your Christmas scrapbook idea, you might even be able to coordinate a “group gift” by sending each child in the class a page to make for your Christmas scrapbooking idea.

•Teenagers and pre-teens are a more difficult group per se, as their ideas are constantly changing with the different fads and trends. Two weeks from now an adored rock star may well be a thing of the past, and thus, developing Christmas scrapbooking ideas for this age group can be a challenging venture. Consider a “friends” scrapbook for your Christmas scrapbooking idea with pre-made pages for photos, addresses, phone numbers, email (and MySpace) addresses for each special friend.

• One simple Christmas scrapbooking idea for grandparents should involve photos. Try to get everyone in the family involved. For different grandparents, you can duplicate pages to make multiple scrapbooks.

• Special, unexpected touches to your Christmas scrapbooking ideas can include the kind of trappings you use to decorate your unique Christmas scrapbooks. Save pieces of wrapping paper to use for the picture backgrounds of your Christmas scrapbooking ideas. Use the ribbons from your Christmas gifts for decoration by tying bits and pieces along the spine of your Christmas scrapbooking ideas. Have the children write letters to Santa and save, scan or reduce them for use as embellishments for your holiday pages.

• If you are really strapped for time like so many of us are but are determined to execute your homemade Christmas scrapbooking idea nonetheless, consider purchasing some of the many bound hard cover digital photo books that are available on photo Websites. You can still be the captain of the desired design with your own digital photos, albeit online. This Christmas scrapbooking idea can be very cost-effective and you can order multiple copies for several people on your Christmas scrapbooking idea list.

• Finishing touches for your Christmas scrapbooking idea can include a last section that includes your thoughts, feelings, plans and hopes for the years to come.

Start working on your Christmas scrapbooking ideas now while there’s still a bit of time. A rush job always shows and if you organize yourself, you can get these Christmas scrapbooking ideas completed in plenty of time for Christmas. Celebrate your memories and give them a way to live again and again. They are the gifts that last.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/hobbies-articles/some-different-christmas-scrapbooking-ideas-276321.html

About the Author:

Michele Cardello, director of marketing and creative for Life Imprints, a creative scrapbooking supplies company also offering contemporary picture frames, in Cleveland, Ohio, has worked in the photo packaging industry for 10 years. Cardello helps customers find creative ways to preserve and appreciate a lifetime of memories.

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[article] 20 Items to Spice Up Your Scrapbooks - by Mei Galang

Author: Mei Galang

A creative way to save and preserve your treasures is through Scrapbooking. You can place your photographs, newspaper clippings, poems, and tickets into your scrapbook to display and preserve your memories. These days Scrapbooking have gradually evolved and there are new items that can be used to decorate it.

Your own unique embellishments can add a special personal touch to your scrapbook pages. It can be used as the main focus of your page, to highlight items, or as borders. Below are 20 best items that can be used:

1. Stickers.

Stickers are fun and easy to stick to scrapbook pages and can be used for captions, thought bubbles or even to hide mistakes. It is recommended to add stickers that are related to your theme or have a personal significance for you so that it can represent a specific experience or hobby.

2. Ribbons and Lace

Can be considered a common border embellishment but it can always add beauty and elegance because of the flowing nature of both materials encourages a touch of softness and elegance.

3. Embroidery Cotton

It’s individual fibers can be used to highlight items or used to add dimension to pictures or your items. You can also choose to twist or braid for use in artwork or as imaginative borders.

4. Hemp

Single, twisted, or braided fibers can be used to accentuate focus objects, as picture frames, or along the edges of the scrapbook page as borders.

5. Sequins

It can be placed randomly in a variety of colors to give a dramatic, abstract, playful attraction to items and pages or it can be arranged in specific patterns and colors the effects can be elegant and dainty.

6. Rhine Stones

Rhinestones add color and shine to your scrapbook pages making any dull page more exciting.

7. Dried Flowers

Dried flowers can be used to add elegance and as an accent in scrapbooks.

8. Popcorn Garlands

Create a cloud punch out of popcorns from a regular paper, crinkle it and roll into tight balls. Glue it together to make garlands, a sure eye candy for your scrapbook.

9. Glitter

Glitter can add a wonderful sparkle to your borders and fonts but it can also create a huge mess if you don’t apply it properly so be careful!

10. Acrylic Paint

Acrylic paint can be use to draw and paint embellishments or create accents around focus objects.

11. Liquid Appliqué

Liquid appliqué can be use to draw and paint embellishments or create accents around focus objects. Simply squeeze the liquid gently onto or around the desired image or form.

12. Fabric

Fabric can be used as a background or as a border to add dimension and texture to your scrapbook.

13. Pockets

You can temporarily store objects in a pocket added on your scrapbook.

14. Eyelets

Eyelets are round stub-like pieces of metal. These items are generally used as a way to anchor difficult or heavy objects to your scrapbook pages.

15. Hinges

Hinges are used to make permanent and strong pop up windows.

16. Moldable Foam

Moldable foam allows you to create three dimensional object, borders or backgrounds. You can even use moldable form to make your own rubber stamps.

17. Buttons

Adding buttons to a scrapbook page can as simple as adding a ready-made button. You can also create customized buttons that match your theme.

18. Charms

Charms can be added to memento, graduation, or gift scrapbooks to create a personalized feeling to the page.

19. Crystal Lacquer

Crystal lacquer adds shine and protection to your photographs. This shine adds a soft elegance to any scrapbook page.

20. Beading

Beads can add color and design to a scrapbook.

Over the years, scrapbooking has matured into an art. It is no longer about pasting newspaper clippings into messy bundles of paper. It has evolved into an art with no rules, creativity and imagination are your only limits. Now armed with a few helpful hints and ideas on items that can add life to your scrapbook it’s time for happy scrapbooking!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/diy-articles/20-items-to-spice-up-your-scrapbooks-380036.html

About the Author:

Mei recommends Oz Free Classified Ads site for your online resource of best buy sell trade deals. Great finds for scrapbooks and other arts and craft classified ads at OzFree.

Article is licensed under a Creative Commons License
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[article] The Downfall of Digital - by Michele Cardello

Author: Michele Cardello

A century ago, families would take pictures, have them developed, and store them carefully in albums that would be lovingly passed from one generation to the next. Photo albums then were rather like the family bible; it was an official record of family history frequently shared and consulted by friends and family alike. The same kink in little Jimmy’s nose could be seen in great great uncle Albert’s, and that continuity was both comforting and important.

Well, times have changed. Or have they? We’re still taking family pictures, and family genealogy is bigger than ever. What does seem to have changed, though, is our ability to put together the family album. And the advent of the digital camera has to bear some of the blame.

Memories don’t belong on memory cards. Let’s be honest. How many of us are sitting with pictures still on memory cards? They’re not doing anybody any good there! Whether it’s a matter of time or difficulty doesn’t really matter. Pictures left in the camera aren’t pictures at all. Move them to the computer, and don’t stop there.

To print or not to print: that is the question

A picture is worth a thousand words, right? Wrong. A picture is only worth a thousand words if it can be viewed and appreciated, which makes pictures stored on hard drives and/or CDs pretty much meaningless. Sure, they can be shown on screen, but have you ever tried to pass around a monitor? It can’t be done. Even moving a laptop from person to person is awkward, and looking at pictures in a bunch over someone’s shoulder isn’t very satisfying. No, pictures are meant for albums … or scrapbooks … or even frames on walls or tables. But they’re definitely not meant for computers and CDs – not if you want them to last.

Using CDs for photo storage

CDs are made of plastic with a reflective coating. That means they’re not immune to damage. Scratches, dust and fingerprints on the reflective side can make some data unreadable. CDs can be dropped, broken, and stepped on. They won’t survive fires, being left on a car seat in the summer, or deposited in the trunk in the middle of winter. Humidity can also adversely affect them. And even in the best of circumstances, CDs won’t necessarily last forever. Life span estimates are all over the board. Recordable CDs are estimated to last from 30 to 200 years. Rewriteable CDs (the kind you can erase and re-use) are estimated to last 30 years. Because CD technology is only about twenty years old, these estimates are based on accelerated aging tests, which mean they could be right, or they could be wrong.

Photo storage on hard drives is iffy, too

There are all kinds of things that can happen there, too. How about disk errors, power surges, or accidentally deleting the wrong folder? These are the kinds of things that can wipe out years of irreplaceable photos. Of course you can back up your hard drive with CDs (see above) or online services, but how many of us do that?

No, it’s much better to print out the photos and put them in albums, scrapbooks and frames. Then you can see them, share them, and enjoy them for years to come. Just like families used to do.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/hobbies-articles/the-downfall-of-digital-248267.html

About the Author:

Michele Cardello, director of marketing & creative for Life Imprints, a scrapbooking supplies company based in Cleveland, Ohio, has worked in the photo packaging industry for over 10 years. Cardello helps customers find creative ways to preserve and appreciate a lifetime of memories.

Article is licensed under a Creative Commons License
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[article] How To Start A Home Scrapbook Business - by John Caskey

Author: John Caskey

If you love scrapbooking, you've probably thought about staring a home scrapbook business. Are you the kind of person that finds just the right colors, papers and accessories to make memories last, and do you love to share with others? Are you passionate about scrapbooking, and want to see if you can make income from something you love?

The power of the internet can make your dream come true. You can start an online home based scrapbook business by providing a number of goods or services online. To make money with a home based scrapbook business, you can offer services, such as advisory services, idea newsletters, sale alerts and send these out periodically to your subscribers. Include tips and tricks, offer free how-to publications on scrapbooking, or critique and advice columns. You can even set up your mailings as part of a paid-membership site. If you're creative and can show others how to do what you do, there is no limit to what you can offer your readers and subscribers. You could also offer to make scrapbooks for others, or help other scrapbook hobbyists enhance their memory books. Display samples of your work online to show your style and product.

If you want to sell scrapbook products, you can either locate a distributor to sell the to you directly, or you can go the easy route and set up an affiliate account to allow you to sell scrapbook products provided by another merchant. For example, you can join an affiliate program for a variety of craft stores carrying scrapbook products. Using their affiliate tools, you can list scrapbook products for sale on your website or in your emails and newsletters. When one of your visitors or members purchase from your craft store merchant, you get a percentage of the sale for he referral. No need for inventory, a storefront or the costs of opening a store - and your market can be world wide!

If you build up to a full website, you might consider offering your own hard goods sold direct, as you find wonderful items to bring to your site visitors. With a website, you can even add demonstration video, audio files such as interviews, discussion groups your members can join and much more. Making a site valuable and content-rich means you'll build a large and loyal following of people who share your love of scrapbooking.

The best part is that you can start for little or no money. You can join affiliate programs with just an email address, and build a website later when it becomes useful. By posting in scrapbook forums and including a good signature file on your emails, people come to know and visit your site, and buy from you. From there, you can build a mailing list that becomes more valuable as your members grow and know and trust your advice and ideas.

One of the best ways to make cash with a home scrapbooking business is to write an eBook with ideas and how-to tips for readers to purchase from you. Information is a big seller on the Web, and by writing your own eBook, you can sell it from your own website or newsletter, as well as offer it to other internet marketers looking for eBooks to promote. For example, a site such as ClickBank offers a variety of eBooks and other digital information that resellers can promote. You pay them a percentage of the sale and they do all the marketing. It’s perfect for craft business owners who are seeking ways to extend their income while doing something they love.

Today even video and audio files can sell - how-to videos both sold online or in DVD form are big sellers across the Web. As a scrapbook enthusiast, you can sell patterns and other information online too. Is there information you can deliver to others that would make their scrapbook experience better or more fun? Why not publish your own information.

Today there are plenty of Internet based tools to help you put your information, newsletter or even website up online in short order. Building a home based scrapbook business is a perfect topic for a profitable website.

When you build a website based on something you love, it shows. Combining enthusiasm for your work- your passion about it - and offering great ideas and good products to visitors who share your passion and interest can be a lucrative combination that can help you make a home scrapbook business profitable and fun.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-business-articles/how-to-start-a-home-scrapbook-business-103920.html

About the Author:

John Caskey writes on a variety of small and home-based business topics. You can learn more about building a profitable home based scrapbook business at http://www.bestwebsite.biz/craftbiz.html.

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[article] Scrapbooking Your Home Remodel - by Devin Hansen

Author: Devin Hansen

Home remodeling project is a fun and easy way to preserve your memories of the process in both photos and words. Whether you are redoing your kitchen or knocking down entire walls, scrapbooking can provide you with before-and-after pictures you can show off to your friends, family, and coworkers. You will also have a physical document of the process you can keep for the rest of your life. Below are some tips and tricks for creating a home remodeling scrapbook that will be as amazing as your actual remodeling project.

1. Buy your scrapbook before you start your home remodeling project. Take a trip to your local crafts or art supply store and browse through the available scrapbooks. In recent years, scrapbooking has become so popular that there are now thousands of scrapbooks and scrapbooking materials on the market. Choose a scrapbook that reflects your personality and the feel you want for your remodel. For instance, if you'd like your home remodel to have a classic but stylish feel, you may want to choose a scrapbook with a dark leather cover. If you prefer a more contemporary feel for your home, you might purchase a scrapbook with a bold pattern or stripes. Your choice should reflect how you envision your home to look after its remodel.

2. Use your scrapbook to generate ideas for your home remodel. By keeping a visual reference of the colors and styles you're drawn to, you will be able to generate many creative ideas for your home remodeling project. Browse through magazines and websites for images of home interiors you love. What does your dream bathroom look like? Does it include a clawfoot tub? Classic molding and built-ins? Even if you know you can't afford what you see in magazines, go ahead and clip out the images and paste them into your scrapbook in your Ideas section. You will be surprised at the affordable options that are available for your remodel. Remember, just because it looks expensive doesnt mean there isnt a cheaper way to do it and still retain quality and durability.

3. Use your scrapbook to display paint samples, carpet and flooring samples, and wallpaper and fabric swatches. Scrapbooks arent just for photos and text, you can use your scrapbook to preserve and display a wide variety of items. Think of your scrapbook as your own mini museum. What would you like to remember most about your home remodeling project? While you're in the beginning stages of your remodel, use your scrapbook to compare and contrast various elements, such as paint samples and fabric swatches. After you have decided on these elements, you can create another section in the scrapbook that displays the products you eventually choose for your remodel.

4. Keep a journal during your home remodel. Keeping a journal is an easy way to preserve your memories of your remodeling project while also personalizing the experience. You dont have to write ten pages a day (unless you want to!), your entries can be brief and to the point, or you can include humorous anecdotes about your experiences, especially if you or your family members are helping out with the remodel. If your scrapbook is organized chronologically, you can add your journal entries as your remodel is being completed. If you choose to organize your scrapbook differently, perhaps dedicating a section to each room that is being remodeled, you may want to focus on one room at a time in your journal, such as Living Room: Day 1 or Kitchen: Week 2. After each day or week of the remodel, you can paste your handwritten journal entries into your scrapbook, or you can type them up and print them out and then paste them into your scrapbook. Your scrapbook will feel much more personal with your own retelling of your home remodeling story.

5. Take photos before, during, and after the process. Use a Polaroid camera or a digital camera to take photos of your home remodel. If you use a traditional camera, you will have to wait for the photos to be processed, and the best, most efficient way to scrapbook your home remodel is by doing it as the remodel progresses. This way, your photos and journal entries wont pile up and turn into an unwieldy project. The idea is for your scrapbooking to be fun, not a duty you feel like putting off because it seems like too much work. Remember not to just snap photos of your home: take photos of everyone involved in the project. If you like, you can create smaller scrapbooks to give as gifts to the people who worked on your home remodeling project. Its a nice way to say thank you, and the people who contributed with have their own mini museum displaying the great work they've done on your home.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/scrapbooking-your-home-remodel-177393.html

About the Author:

Devin Hansen - Suburban Construction, Inc. was founded in Bettendorf, Iowa in 1985.

Article is licensed under a Creative Commons License
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[article] Scrapbooking Supplies That are Essential in the World of Scrapbooking - by Muna wa Wanjiru

Author: Muna wa Wanjiru

Scrapbooking is defined as an activity to preserve memorabilia and legacy through a notebook called a scrapbook comprising of a person's thoughts and ideas, which is decorated in a beautiful, interesting and alluring manner. The activity is widespread and extremely popular. The whole aim of a scrapbook is to create a visual impact and make the scrapbook an interesting need for the maker. Surely, a beautifully decorated scrapbook with interesting anecdotes, quotes and ideas is what will surely enchant its maker for a long time.

The traditional form of Scrapbooking includes paper, cards, pens, glue, scissors, and paper trimmers etc all which are used to make or design a scrapbook. Tools for specialized designs include inking tools, heat embossing tools, stencils, eyelet setters, craft punches, die cut templates etc. for decorations, materials like sequins, embellishments, stickers, snow globes, eyelets, rubber stamp-ons etc are used. Digital Scrapbooking involves the use of scanners, printers, desktop publishing, internet etc.

Scrapbooking supplies are extremely essential in the world of Scrapbooking. These supplies help you enhance the beauty and dimensions of your scrapbook. Various brands manufacture a wide range of these supplies and several stores all over outsource them to a large number of consumers. Online stores sell the same products to a much wider scale of consumers. Without the availability of these supplies, Scrapbooking would be a mundane and monotonous activity.

The huge world of Scrapbooking supplies include supplies like albums and scrapbooks, stickers, brass templates, cards, chalk-ons, rub-ons, rubber stamp-ons, papers, cardstock papers, scissors and trimmers in attractive shapes, craft punches, eyelets, brads, embellishments, cards, page protectors and refills, die cuts, cutouts, storage materials, memory kits, idea books, quote books, snow globes and snow globe stickers, photo corners, ribbons, totes and organizers etc. the list goes on and on.

The basic Scrapbooking supplies include albums and scrapbooks which form the basis of Scrapbooking. These come in several types, shapes and sizes. The other basic and important supplies include background papers (printed and cardstock papers), paper trimmer, art pens, archival pens, mounting glues, scissors etc. all are manufactured in a wide variety. The supplies for the scrapbook content available all over. They include interesting quote books with a huge variety of quotes and idea books for writing interesting content in your scrapbooks.

The most demanded Scrapbooking supplies include decoration materials for scrapbooks. Stickers representing several emotions, actions and aspects of the other walks of life are hugely popular. These low priced, easily available decoration supplies make the perfect decoration materials for your scrapbooks. Colorful embellishments certainly add a lot of style and beauty to your scrapbooks. Fibbers and ribbons add that slight bit of charm to your scrapbooks.

Punches, scissors and trimmers, photo corners, stencils, templates, die cut machines, heat embossing stencils, eyelet setters and others are the Scrapbooking supplies that can be used for changing or enhancing the physical shapes of your scrapbooks. Storage materials, totes, organizers etc all serve as storage materials for your scrapbooks. These important Scrapbooking supplies help you organize your other supplies in a systematic way.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/hobbies-articles/scrapbooking-supplies-that-are-essential-in-the-world-of-scrapbooking-310819.html

About the Author:

Muna wa Wanjiru Has Been Researching and Reporting on Scrapbooking for Years. For More Information on Scrapbooking Supplies, Visit His Site at SCRAPBOOKING SUPPLIES

Article is licensed under a Creative Commons License
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Copyright (C) 2000,2001,2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.

51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA

Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies

of this license document, but changing it is not allowed.

0. PREAMBLE

The purpose of this License is to make a manual, textbook, or other functional and useful document "free" in the sense of freedom: to assure everyone the effective freedom to copy and redistribute it, with or without modifying it, either commercially or noncommercially. Secondarily, this License preserves for the author and publisher a way to get credit for their work, while not being considered responsible for modifications made by others.

This License is a kind of "copyleft", which means that derivative works of the document must themselves be free in the same sense. It complements the GNU General Public License, which is a copyleft license designed for free software.

We have designed this License in order to use it for manuals for free software, because free software needs free documentation: a free program should come with manuals providing the same freedoms that the software does. But this License is not limited to software manuals; it can be used for any textual work, regardless of subject matter or whether it is published as a printed book. We recommend this License principally for works whose purpose is instruction or reference.

1. APPLICABILITY AND DEFINITIONS

This License applies to any manual or other work, in any medium, that contains a notice placed by the copyright holder saying it can be distributed under the terms of this License. Such a notice grants a world-wide, royalty-free license, unlimited in duration, to use that work under the conditions stated herein. The "Document", below, refers to any such manual or work. Any member of the public is a licensee, and is addressed as "you". You accept the license if you copy, modify or distribute the work in a way requiring permission under copyright law.

A "Modified Version" of the Document means any work containing the Document or a portion of it, either copied verbatim, or with modifications and/or translated into another language.

A "Secondary Section" is a named appendix or a front-matter section of the Document that deals exclusively with the relationship of the publishers or authors of the Document to the Document's overall subject (or to related matters) and contains nothing that could fall directly within that overall subject. (Thus, if the Document is in part a textbook of mathematics, a Secondary Section may not explain any mathematics.) The relationship could be a matter of historical connection with the subject or with related matters, or of legal, commercial, philosophical, ethical or political position regarding them.

The "Invariant Sections" are certain Secondary Sections whose titles are designated, as being those of Invariant Sections, in the notice that says that the Document is released under this License. If a section does not fit the above definition of Secondary then it is not allowed to be designated as Invariant. The Document may contain zero Invariant Sections. If the Document does not identify any Invariant Sections then there are none.

The "Cover Texts" are certain short passages of text that are listed, as Front-Cover Texts or Back-Cover Texts, in the notice that says that the Document is released under this License. A Front-Cover Text may be at most 5 words, and a Back-Cover Text may be at most 25 words.

A "Transparent" copy of the Document means a machine-readable copy, represented in a format whose specification is available to the general public, that is suitable for revising the document straightforwardly with generic text editors or (for images composed of pixels) generic paint programs or (for drawings) some widely available drawing editor, and that is suitable for input to text formatters or for automatic translation to a variety of formats suitable for input to text formatters. A copy made in an otherwise Transparent file format whose markup, or absence of markup, has been arranged to thwart or discourage subsequent modification by readers is not Transparent. An image format is not Transparent if used for any substantial amount of text. A copy that is not "Transparent" is called "Opaque".

Examples of suitable formats for Transparent copies include plain ASCII without markup, Texinfo input format, LaTeX input format, SGML or XML using a publicly available DTD, and standard-conforming simple HTML, PostScript or PDF designed for human modification. Examples of transparent image formats include PNG, XCF and JPG. Opaque formats include proprietary formats that can be read and edited only by proprietary word processors, SGML or XML for which the DTD and/or processing tools are not generally available, and the machine-generated HTML, PostScript or PDF produced by some word processors for output purposes only.

The "Title Page" means, for a printed book, the title page itself, plus such following pages as are needed to hold, legibly, the material this License requires to appear in the title page. For works in formats which do not have any title page as such, "Title Page" means the text near the most prominent appearance of the work's title, preceding the beginning of the body of the text.

A section "Entitled XYZ" means a named subunit of the Document whose title either is precisely XYZ or contains XYZ in parentheses following text that translates XYZ in another language. (Here XYZ stands for a specific section name mentioned below, such as "Acknowledgements", "Dedications", "Endorsements", or "History".) To "Preserve the Title" of such a section when you modify the Document means that it remains a section "Entitled XYZ" according to this definition.

The Document may include Warranty Disclaimers next to the notice which states that this License applies to the Document. These Warranty Disclaimers are considered to be included by reference in this License, but only as regards disclaiming warranties: any other implication that these Warranty Disclaimers may have is void and has no effect on the meaning of this License.

2. VERBATIM COPYING

You may copy and distribute the Document in any medium, either commercially or noncommercially, provided that this License, the copyright notices, and the license notice saying this License applies to the Document are reproduced in all copies, and that you add no other conditions whatsoever to those of this License. You may not use technical measures to obstruct or control the reading or further copying of the copies you make or distribute. However, you may accept compensation in exchange for copies. If you distribute a large enough number of copies you must also follow the conditions in section 3.

You may also lend copies, under the same conditions stated above, and you may publicly display copies.

3. COPYING IN QUANTITY

If you publish printed copies (or copies in media that commonly have printed covers) of the Document, numbering more than 100, and the Document's license notice requires Cover Texts, you must enclose the copies in covers that carry, clearly and legibly, all these Cover Texts: Front-Cover Texts on the front cover, and Back-Cover Texts on the back cover. Both covers must also clearly and legibly identify you as the publisher of these copies. The front cover must present the full title with all words of the title equally prominent and visible. You may add other material on the covers in addition. Copying with changes limited to the covers, as long as they preserve the title of the Document and satisfy these conditions, can be treated as verbatim copying in other respects.

If the required texts for either cover are too voluminous to fit legibly, you should put the first ones listed (as many as fit reasonably) on the actual cover, and continue the rest onto adjacent pages.

If you publish or distribute Opaque copies of the Document numbering more than 100, you must either include a machine-readable Transparent copy along with each Opaque copy, or state in or with each Opaque copy a computer-network location from which the general network-using public has access to download using public-standard network protocols a complete Transparent copy of the Document, free of added material. If you use the latter option, you must take reasonably prudent steps, when you begin distribution of Opaque copies in quantity, to ensure that this Transparent copy will remain thus accessible at the stated location until at least one year after the last time you distribute an Opaque copy (directly or through your agents or retailers) of that edition to the public.

It is requested, but not required, that you contact the authors of the Document well before redistributing any large number of copies, to give them a chance to provide you with an updated version of the Document.

4. MODIFICATIONS

You may copy and distribute a Modified Version of the Document under the conditions of sections 2 and 3 above, provided that you release the Modified Version under precisely this License, with the Modified Version filling the role of the Document, thus licensing distribution and modification of the Modified Version to whoever possesses a copy of it. In addition, you must do these things in the Modified Version:

• A. Use in the Title Page (and on the covers, if any) a title distinct from that of the Document, and from those of previous versions (which should, if there were any, be listed in the History section of the Document). You may use the same title as a previous version if the original publisher of that version gives permission.


• B. List on the Title Page, as authors, one or more persons or entities responsible for authorship of the modifications in the Modified Version, together with at least five of the principal authors of the Document (all of its principal authors, if it has fewer than five), unless they release you from this requirement.


• C. State on the Title page the name of the publisher of the Modified Version, as the publisher.


• D. Preserve all the copyright notices of the Document.


• E. Add an appropriate copyright notice for your modifications adjacent to the other copyright notices.


• F. Include, immediately after the copyright notices, a license notice giving the public permission to use the Modified Version under the terms of this License, in the form shown in the Addendum below.


• G. Preserve in that license notice the full lists of Invariant Sections and required Cover Texts given in the Document's license notice.


• H. Include an unaltered copy of this License.


• I. Preserve the section Entitled "History", Preserve its Title, and add to it an item stating at least the title, year, new authors, and publisher of the Modified Version as given on the Title Page. If there is no section Entitled "History" in the Document, create one stating the title, year, authors, and publisher of the Document as given on its Title Page, then add an item describing the Modified Version as stated in the previous sentence.


• J. Preserve the network location, if any, given in the Document for public access to a Transparent copy of the Document, and likewise the network locations given in the Document for previous versions it was based on. These may be placed in the "History" section. You may omit a network location for a work that was published at least four years before the Document itself, or if the original publisher of the version it refers to gives permission.


• K. For any section Entitled "Acknowledgements" or "Dedications", Preserve the Title of the section, and preserve in the section all the substance and tone of each of the contributor acknowledgements and/or dedications given therein.


• L. Preserve all the Invariant Sections of the Document, unaltered in their text and in their titles. Section numbers or the equivalent are not considered part of the section titles.


• M. Delete any section Entitled "Endorsements". Such a section may not be included in the Modified Version.


• N. Do not retitle any existing section to be Entitled "Endorsements" or to conflict in title with any Invariant Section.


• O. Preserve any Warranty Disclaimers.

If the Modified Version includes new front-matter sections or appendices that qualify as Secondary Sections and contain no material copied from the Document, you may at your option designate some or all of these sections as invariant. To do this, add their titles to the list of Invariant Sections in the Modified Version's license notice. These titles must be distinct from any other section titles.

You may add a section Entitled "Endorsements", provided it contains nothing but endorsements of your Modified Version by various parties--for example, statements of peer review or that the text has been approved by an organization as the authoritative definition of a standard.

You may add a passage of up to five words as a Front-Cover Text, and a passage of up to 25 words as a Back-Cover Text, to the end of the list of Cover Texts in the Modified Version. Only one passage of Front-Cover Text and one of Back-Cover Text may be added by (or through arrangements made by) any one entity. If the Document already includes a cover text for the same cover, previously added by you or by arrangement made by the same entity you are acting on behalf of, you may not add another; but you may replace the old one, on explicit permission from the previous publisher that added the old one.

The author(s) and publisher(s) of the Document do not by this License give permission to use their names for publicity for or to assert or imply endorsement of any Modified Version.

5. COMBINING DOCUMENTS

You may combine the Document with other documents released under this License, under the terms defined in section 4 above for modified versions, provided that you include in the combination all of the Invariant Sections of all of the original documents, unmodified, and list them all as Invariant Sections of your combined work in its license notice, and that you preserve all their Warranty Disclaimers.

The combined work need only contain one copy of this License, and multiple identical Invariant Sections may be replaced with a single copy. If there are multiple Invariant Sections with the same name but different contents, make the title of each such section unique by adding at the end of it, in parentheses, the name of the original author or publisher of that section if known, or else a unique number. Make the same adjustment to the section titles in the list of Invariant Sections in the license notice of the combined work.

In the combination, you must combine any sections Entitled "History" in the various original documents, forming one section Entitled "History"; likewise combine any sections Entitled "Acknowledgements", and any sections Entitled "Dedications". You must delete all sections Entitled "Endorsements."

6. COLLECTIONS OF DOCUMENTS

You may make a collection consisting of the Document and other documents released under this License, and replace the individual copies of this License in the various documents with a single copy that is included in the collection, provided that you follow the rules of this License for verbatim copying of each of the documents in all other respects.

You may extract a single document from such a collection, and distribute it individually under this License, provided you insert a copy of this License into the extracted document, and follow this License in all other respects regarding verbatim copying of that document.

7. AGGREGATION WITH INDEPENDENT WORKS

A compilation of the Document or its derivatives with other separate and independent documents or works, in or on a volume of a storage or distribution medium, is called an "aggregate" if the copyright resulting from the compilation is not used to limit the legal rights of the compilation's users beyond what the individual works permit. When the Document is included in an aggregate, this License does not apply to the other works in the aggregate which are not themselves derivative works of the Document.

If the Cover Text requirement of section 3 is applicable to these copies of the Document, then if the Document is less than one half of the entire aggregate, the Document's Cover Texts may be placed on covers that bracket the Document within the aggregate, or the electronic equivalent of covers if the Document is in electronic form. Otherwise they must appear on printed covers that bracket the whole aggregate.

8. TRANSLATION

Translation is considered a kind of modification, so you may distribute translations of the Document under the terms of section 4. Replacing Invariant Sections with translations requires special permission from their copyright holders, but you may include translations of some or all Invariant Sections in addition to the original versions of these Invariant Sections. You may include a translation of this License, and all the license notices in the Document, and any Warranty Disclaimers, provided that you also include the original English version of this License and the original versions of those notices and disclaimers. In case of a disagreement between the translation and the original version of this License or a notice or disclaimer, the original version will prevail.

If a section in the Document is Entitled "Acknowledgements", "Dedications", or "History", the requirement (section 4) to Preserve its Title (section 1) will typically require changing the actual title.

9. TERMINATION

You may not copy, modify, sublicense, or distribute the Document except as expressly provided for under this License. Any other attempt to copy, modify, sublicense or distribute the Document is void, and will automatically terminate your rights under this License. However, parties who have received copies, or rights, from you under this License will not have their licenses terminated so long as such parties remain in full compliance.

10. FUTURE REVISIONS OF THIS LICENSE

The Free Software Foundation may publish new, revised versions of the GNU Free Documentation License from time to time. Such new versions will be similar in spirit to the present version, but may differ in detail to address new problems or concerns. See http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/.

Each version of the License is given a distinguishing version number. If the Document specifies that a particular numbered version of this License "or any later version" applies to it, you have the option of following the terms and conditions either of that specified version or of any later version that has been published (not as a draft) by the Free Software Foundation. If the Document does not specify a version number of this License, you may choose any version ever published (not as a draft) by the Free Software Foundation.

How to use this License for your documents

To use this License in a document you have written, include a copy of the License in the document and put the following copyright and license notices just after the title page:

Copyright (c) YEAR YOUR NAME.

Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document

under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2

or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation;

with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts.

A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU

Free Documentation License".

If you have Invariant Sections, Front-Cover Texts and Back-Cover Texts, replace the "with...Texts." line with this:

with the Invariant Sections being LIST THEIR TITLES, with the

Front-Cover Texts being LIST, and with the Back-Cover Texts being LIST.

If you have Invariant Sections without Cover Texts, or some other combination of the three, merge those two alternatives to suit the situation.

If your document contains nontrivial examples of program code, we recommend releasing these examples in parallel under your choice of free software license, such as the GNU General Public License, to permit their use in free software.