Keeping Scrapbook Layouts Affordable

Scrapbook fans no longer have the excuse of limited funds to explain boring layouts. These days all you need to create eye-popping page designs that look like a million bucks is a computer and printer. The boom in technology has led to a slew of websites offering free scrapbooking embellishments. If you are working with a strict budget and can’t afford to run out and purchase new scrapbook elements for each new layout, let the Internet be your assistant. Sites, such as ScrapbookScrapbook offer hundreds of free scrapbook embellishments, including clip art. You don’t have to spend a dime to … Continue reading

Space Savers

Most crafters make use of traditional 12×12 albums to create memorable scrapbook layouts. However, there are times when 12×12 simply isn’t enough space to showcase all of your photos, mementos and embellishments. You can typically avoid having to redo your hard work by blocking your layouts prior to adhering items onto your page. While you are arranging your materials to create a cohesive design, consider the amount of space you are dealing with and how you can make use of every inch. For example, if you are suffering from picture overload, consider using photo corners instead of frames or mats. … Continue reading

Get Kids Involved in All Aspects of Scrapbooking

My 7-year-old has been scrapbooking since she was a preschooler. She started by helping me place stickers on layouts. Eventually, she learned how to stamp, and then mastered the art of adhering mementos to the page. These days she designs her own memory albums using a variety of embellishments; however, she is still working on including her own photos on the layouts. I am a huge advocate of getting kids involved in all aspects of scrapbooking, especially picture-taking. The boom in digital photography has made it much easier for children to snap scrapbook worthy shots without a ton of training. … Continue reading

Quick and Easy Scrapbooking

Scrapbooking has never been so easy. If you’ve admired memory albums from afar, but didn’t think you were creative enough to craft elaborate layouts, it’s time to squash your inhibitions. Fortunately, the Internet has made scrapbooking simpler and more accessible than ever before. With the introduction of online scrapbook kits, skill level, income and creativity no longer come into play. Digital kits feature all the design elements, paper and tools necessary to construct a memory book that will be appreciated for decades to come. Contrary to popular belief you don’t have to be a computer geek to complete a digital … Continue reading

When You Hate Your Handwriting

Hate is such a strong word. Still, there are some scrapbookers who refuse to handwrite journal entries, page titles or photo captions because they despise the look of their chicken scratch. Fortunately for all of you haters out there, free fonts are just a click away. ScrapbookingFonts.com is a saving grace for people who shy away from adding their own handwriting to memory album layouts. The site has a slew of cursive fonts to choose from. You can either print out the fancy writing and add it to a traditional scrapbook or use the fonts directly on the page of … Continue reading

Tropical Layouts

With so many people heading south for spring break, now is the time to stock up on tropical-themed scrapbook embellishments. Even if you are not planning a spring fling to the Caribbean, Hawaii or Mexico this year you can save the materials to use on a summer beach-themed layout or a page design for honeymooning friends. Since we visit my parents in Hawaii twice a year, I typically purchase a bunch of unique local Hawaiian scrapbooking supplies in the Islands rather than stocking up online or in shops here in Wisconsin. However, if you prefer to choose from the myriad … Continue reading

Chinese New Year Layouts

Xin Nian Kuai Le! Happy Chinese New Year. The Year of the Dragon, the most powerful sign in the Chinese zodiac, kicks off on January 23rd. For 15 days you will be able to commemorate the popular holiday at massive public festivals complete with parades and firework displays. Whether you are planning to take part in city-wide celebrations or you’re keeping it simple by hosting your own Chinese New Year party, you’ll want to document the festivities and add them to your scrapbook. Fortunately, there are many amazing Asian-themed digital scrapbooking elements that can help embellish your Chinese New Year … Continue reading

Organizing Holiday-Themed Layouts

I just spent an hour going through the Christmas photos I snapped earlier this morning. My goal was to select about a dozen or so to email to my mom in Hawaii, as she is trying to finish a year in review scrapbook and needs shots of the grandkids opening their presents. The rest of the photos will be featured in my holiday-themed layouts, which will be dramatically less elaborate than my mother’s page designs. Unlike my mom, I didn’t go wild buying a ton of new Christmas embellishments this year. Whereas I plan to look for scrapbook supply deals … Continue reading

Can You Afford to Go Digital?

For some, embracing digital scrapbooking has led to an economic windfall. Several women from my scrapbook club are masters at finding free downloads for their projects. As a result, they have been able to save hundreds of dollars on scrapbooking supplies. In that regard, digital scrapbooking can yield huge savings. However, when trying to figure out if you can afford to switch from traditional scrapbooking to an online version, you also have to consider time and computer knowledge. For example, my mom willingly admits that she is about as tech-challenged as they come. It would take her weeks to fully … Continue reading

Are You Ready to Go Digital?

It’s going to take more than a few free kits to get my mom to experiment with digital scrapbooking. To say that my mother is set in her ways is a severe understatement. The woman wouldn’t even make a sample layout despite the hundreds of digital scrapbooking freebies that are available on the Internet. I, on the other hand, am all about free. This summer I have been taking a crash course in digital scrapbooking. My main objective is to see how many scrapbooking items I can accumulate without having to spend a penny in the process. As I mentioned … Continue reading