All about Scrap booking

One way of expressing the creativity of the person is through scrap booking. Students are trained to prepare their hands on how scrap booking is done. Scrap booking is a scheme of protecting family record and personal bibliography in the essence and use of printed media, photographs and memorabilia using scrap books or decorated albums. This way of creativity is similar to photographs.

Ways how to do scrap booking:

With the use of different kinds of paper, pins, and small decorations – a simple scrap book can be done. Paste, scissors, pencil, pens, eraser, crayons, colored pens and pastel are some of the materials needed for scrap booking. Having all the decorations needed, we need the primary thoughts and impact looking into scrap booking – pictures themes and photographs. The way you create your scrap book depends on the materials gathered – may it be on a cheaper style or all-out expense of purchasing the materials.

History of scrap booking:

In the early 15^th century in England, scrap booking was created. It started with the combination of compiled recipes, letters, quotes, poems and more. Each scrap book was created according to the author’s mode of thought. During 16^th century, friendship album became popular in town. In modern times, friendship albums are most likely to be yearbooks, wherein pictures and short captions are there. In Europe, these are known as souvenirs containing memorabilia. In 1570, scrap booking ride into the fashion sense of the generation wherein colored plates portraying popular scenes are used by local artists. These colored plates provide affordable options in comparison to the many original works. These plates are specifically made as embellishments for albums and not as being sold to document in writing a specific event. In 1775, several blank pages at the last part of the book were published in England by James Granger. These pages open the book of the author’s profile being designed relating to his own memorabilia. The preparation of leaving pages behind to personally design at the end of books became common known as grangerizing. And, during 18^th and 19^th centuries, school yearbooks and friendship albums became more popular, giving students a free chance to express themselves in writing personalized information ready to document labeling the photo they want to post. This also enhances their literary skills in describing and re-imagining their friend’s characteristic through writing. During 1826, Joseph Nicephore Niepce created the advent of modern photography, which is a permanent photograph. George Eastman makes photography available to an ever-widening invention in the country during the late 1880s. Kodak Brownie designed a simple camera, specifically for a child in 1900 for mass production. This is the start of incorporating photography in scrap booking.

Photography mounting is the trademark of old scrapbooks. Mounting usually position themselves at the corner of the book or page and had notations when and where the photo was taken. They could also include souvenirs like letters, newspapers or even clippings from magazines and etc. Scrap booking is common in school projects. This is a way in which students express their thoughts in relation to the subject matter.

In relation to our modern technology today, scrap booking could also be into occasions. Most commonly, these could be a token in debut party, weddings or even souvenirs from different countries. However, in shopping malls across all countries, scrap books are into albums and photo frames. They commonly range from the cheapest price depending to the country’s money rate. Scrap book preparations are commonly family ties, friendship bands or even wedding vows. This could also be in a form of a letter in many creative ways.

Most schools had the requirement for every student to know the steps in creating a scrap book. It may not be of use during and after graduation, but it could be a step in revealing the skill of creativeness behind every talent. This is a way in which you can practice how you can recycle things and result from it to be an empowered outcome useful for the environment. Scrap booking itself comes from the word scrap, meaning, and recycling materials. Creating a scrap book is not a requirement but is a talent and skill.

Scrapbooking for Beginners

Scrapbooking is not a new invention or discovery, precursors of today’s scrapbooks already existed and being used during the 15^th century. “Commonplace Books” as it is earlier called is used to compile diverse information that includes quotes, poems, letters, recipes, and a variety of other things.

Another early form of scrapbook is “Friendship Albums” and became popular during the 16^th century. These albums would normally contain names, messages, and poetry of patrons and friends of the owner and closely resembles our yearbooks today. These may also include souvenirs and local memorabilia’s of places visited or works of artisans they commissioned during visits to other countries.

Although scrapbooking is generally associated with girls, it is also popular with boys though it largely differs in terms of contents and design. Girls are naturally gifted with exceptional creativity and talent for hand-crafted creations.

The invention of photography in the 18^th century is a major breakthrough in scrapbooking. Photographs became incorporated in scrapbooks as well as newspaper clippings.

For Beginners, scrapbooking may seem so overwhelming and exciting. Beginners usually have many ideas but don’t know where to start. First thing to do is to know of the basic scrapbook elements. These basic elements essentially build the scrapbook.

1. Photo. Photos are generally the essence of the layout of scrapbooks. Most scrapbooks usually used pictures as main subject and center of scrapbook layout.
2. Title. Title can be a famous saying, name, or quotes that summarize the content of the scrapbook and give the reader an idea what the scrapbook contains. There are many ways to present or write the title; the most important thing is that title should catch the attention of the reader.
3. Journaling. Journaling is the term used to the text or that explains or describes the photo and expands the theme of the scrapbook. These writing may vary from names and dates, captions, quotes, song lyrics, poetry, and basic information.
4. Embellishment. Decorative add-ups and accents used in the scrapbooks are called Embellishments. These are used to support and dress up the pages of the scrapbooks and can be some of the following; ribbons, buttons, beads, stickers, brads, eyelets, and many other enhancements.
5. Mat. Mats are layers of patterned papers, paints, cardstocks, cloth and other decorative materials that are placed underneath photos. These serve as decorative borders and add an effect on the photos.
6. Anchor. Anchors are decorative elements that attract attention of the readers to the photos. Anchors also act as photo corners where photos are affixed for easy removal when updating or changing layouts. Embellishments can function as anchors.
7. Border. Borders are accents placed along the outskirts of the layout. They add visual impacts and promote visual interest in support to the main contents of the scrapbook’s pages. You can use a variety of materials in borders like metal, tags, fabric, papers, and a lot more.

These elements are the basics of scrapbooking, although these elements may not be always present in a scrapbook altogether. Combinations of these elements are up to your desired layout.

Now that you know the basics and starting to create scrapbooks, here are some useful tips in scrapbooking. These tips are generally helpful for beginners.

1. Learn from others. Try looking and observing other’s scrapbook. It can give you ideas you can also use and incorporate in your design and layout. You can also learn some insights from their mistakes.
2. Be original. Although it is helpful to occasionally copy other’s ideas, modify it and imprint some of your own creativity on it.
3. Organize your ideas and photos. Sort your photos and ideas accordingly; it could be by chronological order, by importance, or by themes. Make sure similar and related photos are grouped together.
4. Use indigent materials. Aside that these materials are abundant and less costly, it can also provide a unique appeal and a peculiar look to your scrapbook.
5. Avoid over-propping. Beginners have too many creative ideas and the tendency to apply these ideas altogether instantly. This results to over-propping the scrapbook. Over-propped scrapbooks are definitely not good to look. It looks very crowded, chaotic, and untidy. Select just few ideas to exploit per scrapbook.

Scrapbooking: As Hobby and As Money-Making Venture

So many craft enthusiasts and even ordinary homemakers are into scrapbooking these days. Scrapbooking is the pleasing and creative way of collecting and keeping photos and mementos in personalized albums. Unlike the conventional photo albums, modern-day scrapbooks use various decorative and specialty papers, buttons, beads, ribbons, sequins, shells, cut-outs, and other items as embellishments for the album pages.

Scrapbooking makes an enjoyable and artistic hobby. It gives you the chance to dig into your collection of photos and preserve the best ones by mounting them on acid-free paper. Then you get to exercise or practice your creativity by decorating around the photos and all over the pages to make them look nice and interesting. Shopping for embellishments, or looking for pretty little items around the house which you can use for your scrapbook pages, can also be fun in itself.

Aside from mounting photos and gluing the embellishments together, scrapbooking also involves journaling. This means telling the story behind a photo. You indicate who is in the photo, where and when it was taken, and some little anecdotes about that moment. This particular task relieves stress and allows you to reminisce and feel nostalgic.

If you are a new scrapbooking hobbyist, remember that the most impressive and beautiful scrapbook pages are actually those that are simple and clutter-free. Remember that embellishments are there to enhance the photographs and make them look more interesting, not to steal the viewer’s attention from the photos. Remember that the real essence of scrapbooking is to preserve the photos and the memories that come with them. More important than the aesthetic aspect of it is the time and care you devote into preserving your photos and your memories.

So there is no wonder so many people are turning to scrapbooking during their spare time.

And because scrapbooking is so poplar these days, scrapbooking businesses are also sprouting like mushrooms. When before you’d be contented collecting old buttons, ribbons, old gift wrappers, and other unused knick-knacks at home to use on your scrapbook pages, now, you can’t help but get your hands on so many cute and pretty scrapbook materials displayed in craft stores. Commercial stickers, papers, and decorative items of all colors and designs abound.

If you are one who wants to take advantage of the popularity of scrapbooking and get into a scrapbooking business, then take time to know everything there is to know about scrapbooking. Your customers will expect you to be an expert on this kind of craft and may come to you to ask certain questions and suggestions about their hobbies. Read craft books, visit scrapbooking or hobby-related websites, and interact with other scrapbooking enthusiasts.

If you want to try your hands on scrapbooking as a business, this information or pointers will be of great help to you:

* High-quality scrapbooking products, especially those made of 100% acid-free paper and tape can be expected last around 15 to 20 years without discoloring. Scrapbook materials made of mediocre or poor-quality paper (or fake “acid-free” paper) will fade out and discolor after only a short time. Thus, it is very important that you source or get your materials from reputable and reliable suppliers. It is also important that you distribute only products and materials that bear a credible and well-respected brand.

* Make it your hobby as well. Or at least try creating your own personalized scrapbooks in order to get acquainted with the craft. This is the only way for you to understand the nature of your business and to understand what customers or what your market wants and needs. This is also the only way for you to establish a personal relationship with and an attachment to your business and to really learn to love it for what it is.

* Know your market well and establish your business and customer network by joining or attending scrapbooking seminars and workshops. Through events like these, you will get to interact with your market customers and learn about what would sell. This is also a good chance to advertise the products or services you offer and expand your client database.

* Think up of new promotional ideas and projects that would help sustain the people’s interest in the craft or in the hobby. This also helps sustain the interest of your customers in your business.