Beginner Scrapbooking
May 5th, 2008 by wwaddell
Beginner Scrapbooking
By: Wes Waddell
Beginner Scrapbooking - Scrapbooking for Beginners
You may come across various definitions of what a scrapbook is and you may even have come up with one for yourself. But you see, of all those meanings associated with scrapbooks, there will always be one thing central to it - keeping and preserving memories.
Just like photos, scrapbooks are keepers of treasured moments in time that you would always wish to revisit from time-to-time. The moments that you have captured in photos and the stories that go with them are deeply embedded in every page, note, caption and journaling page within your scrapbook.
One day, you’ll take a look at the scrapbooks you have created and they will safely deliver you back in time… back to the very moment the memory was created so that you can experience the emotions all over again.
Not all of us are avid scrapbookers. Indeed, many of you reading this may not even have tried starting one yet. However, we all have an inherent need and an idea of how to preserve our past. Well, scrapbooking is like that, only you would have to add in just a little creativity and planning.
The hardest part of scrapbooking might be to start from scratch. Scrapbooking may look simple for some (and it really can be for almost anyone…) yet the hours and the ideas you have to invest on old fashioned traditional hand scrapping are so enormous that many find themselves initially frustrated. Or possibly, on wits end before a single page is finished. Of course, digital or computer scrapbooking has almost none of these heartaches, but that will have to wait for another time.
To make sure this doesn’t happen for you, we have prepared some guidelines in here that you may modify and apply in your own personal way. Basically, this is just a collection of ideas that will help shed light on the thoughts stirring around in your mind.
Somehow you have to find your own style.
Get comfortable with your personality. After all, it will show in your craft. If you are not confident with what truly is your style or preference when coming up with the design of the layout of your scrapbook, it is best that you step back and analyze your self first. Knowing your own personal tastes and refraining from following the hypes and fads designed by the scrapbooking industry just to take your money… is one sure way to empty your pocketbook while detracting from what is really important. Your MEMORY! By concentrating on capturing the emotions and preserving the memory, in this way you will be more likely to produced original and personal ideas that will work best for what’s important to you without breaking the bank.
Sometimes, we have to find outlets for our personalities to show through. Some people do writing and journals, some delve into less serious practices such as drawing or cartoons. Scrapbooking may just be what you are looking for to fill the gaps between both.
If it is really that difficult for you to produce an original idea, that’s perfectly alright. Not everyone is born with built in creativity and artistic abilities. Just search the internet for digital scrapbook templates and scrapbook kits and bits.
Many find great uses in other pre-made scrapbook page designs. Sometimes, they even bring out the best from adapting a concept into a customized design of their own. This technique is called scraplifting.
Other people may not choose to follow this concept. However, for beginners it is always easiest to start by following page ideas and scrapbook designs that have worked for others. Eventually, along the way, you will find your own methods and way of doing things.
As a beginner, it won’t harm if you check out some great scrapbook pages created by others. That’s how we naturally learn… by imitating others and Then modifying the designs using your own elements, embellishments, photos and personal touches. Then, once the inspiration and creativity breaks to the surface, the beginning scrapbooker will soon find themselves immersed in the confidence of doing things their own way.
Create your own mood board.
Mood boards are commonly used in the fashion industry as testing grounds for new fashion lines and ideas. These are simply cork or white boards wherein cutouts, drafts of designs and fabric swatches are tacked up to provide initial impressions of the new trend. For the beginning scrapbook creator, anything that will help you to see the direction and concepts of the designs you are looking to create, is an avenue you should explore.
By making use of mood boards, a scrapper may easily find their own style. Placing concepts into more tangible mediums will simply construct foundations for your future layouts and intentions.
One quick note here… don’t be too critical in this process. While flipping through magazines and scrapbook websites, you need not know why a picture or an image attracts you. If it produces a positive emotional reaction then go ahead and tear it out. You’ll soon find that this is a good test to determine your overall style as simple patterns in your tastes emerge.
Finally, you will want to check on color combinations. For some of us, we have already set definite grounds on what our favorite color is and what patterns we may most likely not want to use. Using a single group of shades, such as pastels, is good so long as you can manipulate and mix them into varying combinations.
Just watch out as most people sometimes find it hard to detract themselves from a single concept or color theme. As the saying goes… “too much of anything is not good.” It won’t be a bad idea if you will get into the habit of experimenting on some other hues and styles. If all else fails when inspiration turns bad and there seems to be no color you like available for you… just look to the butterflies for inspiration.
Happy Scrappin’
Kathy and Wes
www.MyPrincessCrafts.com
www.EZScrapbookGuide.com
www.PrincessCrafts.com
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