Scrapbooking 101

I have been teaching individuals to scrapbook for five years. The first thing I tell me students is, You don't have to be creative to scrapbook. You just need to learn the techniques." Anyone can make a simple, nice scrapbook you just need to follow a few guidelines and learn some scrapbooking techniques. You can learn new techniques by taking classes, either online or at your local scrapbook store, or by reading articles like this and specialty scrapbooking magazines. You could even scraplift your entire scrapbook. Scraplifting is taking someone else's idea from a magazine, tv show, or other source and copying the idea. Change the colors and add your own photos to make the layout yours. Let's get started by examining each part of a scrapbook layout.

Photos
Obviously your main reason for scrapbooking is to preserve your memories that are represented in your photos. So to keep the main focus the photos, nothing on your scrapbook layout should be larger than your photos. Use photos that are in focus and that are close-up. Before adhering the photos to your scrapbook layout you may need to crop some of the photos. Cropping is cutting a photo down to eliminate unnecessary background and people or to help focus in on the person or thing you want to standout.

Tips for taking better photos:
Step forward. Move closer to the person or group that you are photographing. Eliminate as much unnecessary background as possible to reduce your need for cropping later.
If you are shooting against a wall move the person or group a few feet in front of the wall. This will help eliminate harsh shadows in the background.
Turn the camera. Not every picture needs to be horizontal. Turn your camera vertical and snap the picture.
Be off center. When photographing a single person or item move the person or item to the left or right side of the view screen and snap the picture. This technique works especially well when the background landscape is part of why you are taking the picture.

Journaling
There are two types of journaling, labeling and story-telling. I am usually a labeler. Which means that most of my scrapbook layouts only have very basic and necessary information like location, date, and names. Most of my layout pages are just cute, sweet, everyday photos of my son, husband, or pets that just don't require an explanation. You can tell a story-teller by the amount of journaling that is on their scrapbook layouts. Story-tellers will have large blocks of journaling that describe in detail the events that took place. Sometimes I envy story-tellers, it seems that many times I have writer's block when it comes to journaling and I end up resorting back to just labeling. Oh well, there is nothing wrong with either technique, just write what you feel comfortable saying and be sure to include the vital statistics like names and date.

Layout Title
Not every page has to have a profound and creative title. I know many scrapbookers who get hung up on the title and become frustrated because they can't come up with some pun or phrase to set the tone. It's ok if a page doesn't have a title, your pictures, journaling, and embellishments will help tell the story. However, if you would like to add a title to your scrapbook layout just keep in mind that the title does not have to be at the top of the page. Your title can be a side border, bottom border, or anywhere in between. Your title can be stamped, computer generated, stickers, rub-ons, etc.

Embellishments
Your scrapbook will most likely includes hundreds of embellishments once complete. An embellishment is anything you put into your scrapbook that is not a photo. A first-timer stepping into a scrapbook store can be overwhelmed at the massive selection of embellishments that can be bought. Companies make embellishments for almost anything you can think of, many embellishments are even 3-dimensional to really make your scrapbook layouts pop. Embellishments are available as stickers, rub-ons, chipboard, cardstock, fabric, metal, and oh so much more. Part of the fun of scrapbooking is shopping for just the right embellishments to enhance your photos.

Tips for adding embellishments:
An odd number is usually visually more appealing.
Small groupings in empty areas around your photos can add to the theme.
Don't be afraid to layer.
Don't be afraid to overlap, even over a part of the photo.
Avoid straight lines when possible, put items at a slight angle here and there to add more visual appeal.

Designing a Scrapbook Layout:
Now that you know the basic parts to a scrapbook layout grab some photos and head to your local scrapbook store. At the scrapbook store you will want to find a pattern paper that coordinates with your photos colors and theme, like birthday or red, white, and blue. Once you chose your pattern paper you'll need one or two solid cardstocks that coordinate. Now head over to the birthday section (or whatever theme your working on) and choose some embellishments that coordinate with the cardstock and pattern paper that you chose. Purchase these items and some roll on adhesive, I recommend Tombow Mono Adhesive Permanent, and head on home to create your first scrapbook layout. I have included some sketches below to help get your creative juices flowing.