Scrapbooking

So, do you have what it takes to be a great scrapbooker? Fortunately, all you need is a lot of creativity and you can make an endless amount of beautiful scrapbooks. This guide will provide you with a basic understanding of all the essentials, making you a seasoned scrapper in no time. Luckily, this is a leisurely and relatively inexpensive pastime. Just get your creative juices going.

To start, you'll need an album,  scissors,  adhesives,  pencils,  pens,  and a ruler.  Those tools are the basics, but once you get started, you'll see that there are tons of different decorations and embellishments that you'll want to add.  The most important thing about scrapbooking is that it should reflect your own personal style and flair. Good luck!

Choosing an Album

The first step is to choose an album to use as your foundation. A three ring binder or standard photo album are two great places to start. However, this can sometimes et expensive since you are going to have to buy all of the extras yourself. You might want to consider  purchasing a scrapbook kit,  which comes with plenty of decorations and tools geared toward a specific theme. Stencils, cardstock, adhesives, stickers, borders, and other things will all be in there for you to work with. Not only is this an easy way to experiment and develop your scrapbooking style, but you can always save the unused materials for your next project.

Design

Every scrapbook should have a story that you are trying to tell. Consider all of the different ways that the design of your album could help you show that. From the color to the style of the book, each element should have a purpose and should try to reflect your point of view.

• Colors
• A dark color, like black, navy, hunter green, or burgundy will convey seriousness and importance. This tonal choice would be appropriate for heritage books.  A black book is a nice idea if you are going to be using all black and white photographs.
• Loud and bright colors are fun and silly, as well as a great idea for kids. This is a good idea for books that narrate a vacation or a child's development through school.
• Pastels are good for baby books,  weddings,  and even Easter themed books. 
• Cover Design
• An album with a frame on the cover will give a clue as to what the rest of the album is about.
• Different designs, like florals, are good choices for family albums.
• Materials
• Leather  has a timeless look of importance.
• Cloth  material has a more relaxed look and can be found in a plethora of colors. There's only one drawback-it can get dirty over time.
• Plastic  scrapbooks usually have a print or design on them. They are cute, but they will always feel like plastic.
• Metal  scrapbooks have a severe look, but can be very pretty filled with black and white photos.

Themes

Choosing an album theme is an easy way to get started. Here are some fun ideas. 

Wedding	Baby	Graduation	Travel	School Days

Size

When picking out a scrapbook, make sure that you keep size in mind. If you're about to take on an ambitious project, then you'll need a much bigger album than if you were just doing a week-long vacation scrapbook. For smaller projects, an 8.5x11"  book is usually adequate. Something more over sized, like an 12x12"  book is best for most projects. You will have the ability to decorate more pages and also to play around with different layouts. 

Type

There are four basic types of scrapbook album to choose from, so you should consider your options before settling. Is this a gift? Is this going to be an ongoing project? etc... 

A spiral bound album  is an easy place to start. They are usually inexpensive and easy to work with. You can't add extra pages, you can only remove some by tearing them out.	Three-ring binders  are great because you can add more pages at any time. PVC-free pages are a sure shot at protecting your photos. These are best for storing photos when you want to keep things simple. Check out Scrapworks Bay Box	Strap-bound  (flex-hinge) styles are easy to add and remove pages from. All you need to do is lift the buckles to release the pages, insert more or take some out, then clip the buckle back into place. You can work directly on these albums' pages.	Post-bound albums  are similar to strap-bound albums-they can easily be added to or subtracted from. Simply use standard scrapbook pages to create your design and screw them in to the album's binding. These are one of the most popular and versatile album types out there.

Scissors

When scrapping, it's always good to have a pair or two of scissors  on hand for different tasks that come your way. A flat pair of scissors is good for cropping ans cutting photos. A small pair of scissors is best for all of those little corners that you might need to cut and any other harder to cut area. You might consider purchasing some pinking shears  or some paper punchers.  Creative punchers, also known as paper shapers,  can help you cut the paper in a decorative way. In addition to scissors, a cutting mat  is also useful-it helps to keep your work surface free of marks and cuts. With a cutting mat, you can use an exacto knife  to make straight lines, a less expensive investment than a paper cutter. 

Adhesives

There are many different types of adhesives used for scrapbooking. Here are some choices:

Tape Runners  Safe and easy to use for photographs and other items you don't want to damage. Apply them directly to the back and then pres down onto page to secure them.	Double Sided Tape  Double-sided tape is perfect for use on photos or other flat items. It creates a smooth and flat  stick.	Photo Corners  These photo corners become makeshift pockets for your pictures. They are available in a variety of shapes, colors, and designs.	Glue Sticks  Be careful when using glue. Since it is a permanent adhesive, once you stick it down it can't be moved.

Templates and Rulers

A ruler  is essential to have handy when scrapping. This is the only way you can be sure that the line you're cutting is straight and everything else is lined up. A template is basically a stencil that can be used to trace designs and patterns to cut out on the paper. Templates with eyelids lie flat on top of the page, making them easy to punch around and draw through.

Pens and Pencils

Pens  and pencils  are always necessary when scrapbooking for making lines before you cut. Chalk  and pastels  can also be used, but be very careful to avoid smudging. You can also use the writing implements to draw patterns and designs. Colored pens look great on black paper. Silver and gold paint pens look great in special occasion albums.

Additional Tools

Cardstock,  paper,  and mats  are a great way to add soem embellishment, add some exra pages, or create an entirely new album. Look for ones that are acid and lignin-free.	Eyelets,  brads,  and other embellishments  an be used as closures for your album. Leather, ribbon, or twine are also good alternatives.	Page protectors  are necessary for keeping your work safe when working in a three-ring binder style album.	Usestickers  and cut-outs  are a great way to add some flair and fun to your pages. Match the stickers to the theme of your overall scrapbook