Scrapbooking Tips(an interview with Linda!)
Here are some useful scrapbooking tips from an experienced scrapbooker! We are always looking for some good tips and advice on our topics! So, we thought that we would ask Linda to share some of her expertise and share some of her scrapbooking tips, with you. NEW! Linda just sent us her ten-step list on "How To Make A Scrapbook!" Check it out!
(Special Note: If you would like to share some of your advice, tips, and photo's, just follow this link!) Scapbook Examples Page . Here's our interview: Collecting Paper Memories (CPM): Linda, thank you for taking some time and answering a few of our questions. We're sure that our audience will benefit from your knowledge. Linda, first of all, why don't you tell us how you first became interested in scrapbooking. Linda: A friend of mine got me started. I was cleaning out the attic and literally came across over 1000 photographs! I didn't know what to do with all of them. She suggested that I use some of them in a scrapbook. That's my first scrapbooking tip, I guess! So, I began sorting. Obviously, I kept our family pictures! But there was still a ton of pictures to sort through. CPM: What did you do? How did you decide? Linda: I decided to send the rest (wherever possible) back to the people that we took them of. I figured they were way more interested in having them than I was, especially the older ones! CPM: That's a good idea and a great way to eliminate some of those pictures from your attic. Kind of like recycling, I guess. Linda: Yes, I think that most of the people enjoyed getting a surprise package in the mail. After that, I began to re-sort through our family pictures and group them together! CPM: So, now, you have an organized stockpile of photo's to use at your fingertips. Linda: Exactly! CPM: Just how many of these albums have you completed? Linda: I am currently finishing my 12th!
CPM: Wow! That's great! Have all of your subjects been on people, or do you have other subject matters, such as animals, sports, travel, etc...? Linda: Most of them have been people. But, I have done some with other subject matters. CPM: For example? Linda: Well, we have lived in several parts of the country. We used that opportunity to visit many other parts of the country! So, I put one together on all of the States that we have lived-in/visited. Also, we've also traveled out of the country several times, so I put one together for those trips too! And, I've done a couple on animals for my nieces and nephews, when they were younger. CPM: Nice! That's a good idea! We've seen many vintage travel scrapbooks in our antique shop adventures. Many people will even put together a scrapbook for every vacation that they take! It's a good place to keep everything together. Linda: Plus, it's fun to do! I enjoyed doing those scrapbooks the most. It was like getting to take the trips all over again! CPM: That's great, and good advice too. So tell us, how do you decide what to include and what not to include? The possibilities are endless! Where do you draw the line? Linda: I think about what interests me and what may be of interest to my kids. For example, when I go to my folks home, or my husbands parents home, I try to imagine what I think my kids will be interested in the years to come. CPM: That's interesting! So you design most of them with your kids in mind? Linda: Yes, I guess so...that's kind of how I look at it. I mean, when they're older and look through these scrapbooks, I want them to see then, what I see now. CPM: But not everything, right? Linda: No...no! They might love to see that Dad went panning for gold in Colorado but not necessarily that he bought a beer in Germany. CPM: HA! Point, well taken! CPM: Okay, we all know that scrapbooking takes some time and effort. You can't just do this overnight! Can you give us any "helpful scrapbooking tips" that will help out our audience?
Linda: Yes! There are two things that really help. First, make sure that you have a large area to work with. Before you know it, you're going to have craft supplies scattered all over the place. Give yourself plenty of room to to lay things out. CPM: What if you live in a small apartment and don't have the extra space? Linda: If you don't have extra room, buy a folding table. I bought one so I can set it up anywhere in the house. Use it when you need it...then store it away when you're finished. CPM: And the second tip? Linda: Lighting! Always have good lighting! I take a table lamp and move it to my work table before I start. If that's not possible, I set my table up in a room with good overhead lighting! CPM: In other words, prepare your work site, before you go to work! Linda: That's it! CPM: Organization sounds like an important concept here! How do you organize all of your scrapbook tools and supplies? Linda: Lay them out, in the order that you will be using them. Don't clutter your table up with tools that you don't need!
And, if you are right-handed don't put the handle of the paper cutter to your left, it will drive you crazy; move it to your right. Place small things in little boxes so they don't roll away or disappear under a piece of paper. It can be very frustrating looking for a sticker that was accidently misplaced. CPM: Sounds simple, but useful! Kind of like the "practice makes perfect" concept! Linda: Yes, the more scrapbooks you do, the better you will get! You learn from you past experiences. It gets a little easier every time. CPM: Since we're talking about scrapbook supplies... We have included a page on scrapbook supplies that might come in handy. Is there any special tool that you use? A "must-have" scrapbook tool? Linda: I feel that the biggest time saver is a paper cutter. You can find an inexpensive one at Costco, or some place like that, that does different styles of cutting. CPM: Good advice, this is one hobby that definitely requires a lot of paper cutting! Linda: Another time saver is the P-Touch labeler. CPM: The P-Touch labeler? What is that? Is it expensive? Linda: The P-touch labeler works with your computer (at least the one that I have does). For example, you select your sentence, date, etc. that you want to add to the picture by typing it on your computer. Hit print, and it makes you a label. Then, just stick it in your scrapbook...DONE! As far as cost goes, there are many different kinds of labelers on the market. You can buy a label making machine anywhere from $20.00, on up to several hundred dollars! I would suggest doing some research first. Ask around for some advice before buying one! CPM: Sounds like they could be fun to use! And, a great way to "spice-up" your scrapbook a little. Linda: It definitely helps. You can use it to document almost anything: photo's, newspaper clippings, etc. CPM: Much of our site is designed to help the "first-time" collector! How about the "first-time" scrapbooker? Any advice for those people who have never attempted a scrapbook before? Linda: I would suggest starting out with "not so expensive" books and stickers in case you don't like the hobby. That way, you are not stuck with $25.00 books and $4.00 (a page) for stickers. In the begining, I would get your books and stickers from places like Kohl's or Michael's. They always have something on sale and plenty to choose from! CPM: Is there any other advice or tips that you would like to pass on to our audience? Linda: Well, most scrapbooks include pictures! They are an important part of the scrapbook process. So, let the picture selection process be "liberating".
CPM: Can you explain what you mean by that? Linda: Sure! Let's say you have 7 similar pictures of your family, all sitting in chairs out on the lawn. Look at them closely! Is everyone in the picture, looking at the camera? Are there any blurry pictures...was someone moving? Pick the one picture where everyone has the best look on their face. Make sure the color is right, etc. Remember one important thing here; this is a scrapbook! You can cut out any and all "dead space(s)" from the picture; it saves room on your page and no one needs to see two inches of sky. They just want to see the people sitting on the lawn. CPM: Good point! Edit your pictures at your own discretion. Linda: Yes! Space is sometimes crucial to a particular page, so editing and cropping your pictures definitely helps! CPM: Great! Well Linda, it was very interesting talking to you about scrapbooks and how you go about putting yours together. You have shared some great scrapbooking tips with us today. We here, at www.collectingpapermemories.com would like to sincerely thank you for your time. Linda: Any time, it was fun talking about it! Random Notes...We hope that you enjoyed our interview...and perhaps, even picked up a few interesting and helpful scrapbook page ideas and tips! Care to share some of your scrapbooking tips? Follow this link to our Scapbook Examples Page. Then, just fill in the form! It's easy! You can even include a picture, if you want. We'd love to see what you're working on...
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